T W O : SEEKING HELP

•••

NAGISING si Ember sa ingay na naririnig. Seems like may nagtatalo. Natigilan siya nang may mapagtanto. Hindi ba at namatay na siya kagabi? How come she's still alive? Wait- buhay pa nga ba siya? Baka naman afterlife na 'to? Wait ulit- normal bang may nagtatalo sa afterlife? Inilibot niya ang paningin sa kinaroroonan. She's in room which is designed with white and color coffee paint walls. Maging ang mga kurtina sa bintana ay mixed white and coffee ang color. It's cool and cozy but it somewhat gives off a sinister aura.

"Take her home, Ardin. Alam mong isa sa ipinagbabawal na batas ng mga taong-lobo ang masangkot sa witches na hindi kasama sa coven! Pinagbigyan lang kita dahil nakita ko ang desperasyon mong iligtas siya. Naranasan ko na 'yan at tinulungan mo'ko kaya ibinalik ko lang ang kabutihang-loob mo. Sasapit na ang umaga, babalik na ang Beta at ang pack. Kailangan ko nang maghanda." Anang isang boses ng babae. Nanggagaling ito sa labas lamang ng silid.

"Pero isa ka ring witch, Zey! You should know better than anyone that the girl really needs your help. She's on the verge of dying, kanina lang. At magiging napakadelikado para sa kaniya ang ialis sa poder mo. Your power is the reason she's still alive, so please. Just let her stay even just a day or two? Sa mga oras na'yan, nasisiguro kong maayos na ang kaniyang kalagayan. At kapag nangyari 'yon, iuuwi ko na siya. Please, Zey. I'm begging you." Sagot naman ng isa pang boses. Wari niya ay ito ang iniligtas niyang babae kagabi. So, buhay nga siya? At ang bampirang babaeng 'yon ang nagligtas ng buhay niya?

Dinig niya ang malalim na pagbuntong-hininga ng kausap ng bampira.

"Why are you doing this, Ardin? A war broke out within your Race and you barely escaped from the dungeon but instead of taking care of yourself, you're pleading for me to save her? You're insane!" Sagot ng babaeng tinawag na Zey ni Ardin.

"I'm perfectly sane, Zey. That witch, risked her life just to save me even though she doesn't know me. I may be unconscious earlier but I still saw it all. My subconscious made me see how that witch protected me from Augustus. Please, Zey, just this one." Sagot naman ni Ardin. Nanatili lamang siyang nakahiga at umiiyak habang nakikinig sa usapan ng dalawa sa labas. She's still alive!

Bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa paningin niya ang isang napakagandang babaeng nagtataglay ng abuhin ring mga mata tulad niya. She's a witch too.

"You're awake. I'm Zey, a witch like you." Napahalukipkip siya sa lamig ng boses nito. Her voice somewhat reminds her of Grandma's voice.

She's my friend. Btw, I'm Ardin." Sumilip mula sa likuran ni Zey ang babaeng tinulungan niya kagabi. Something poke her heart and she smiled a sshe saw that the girl's alive and already has a bright smile on her face. Umakma siyang babangon ngunit sumigid ang sakit sa dibdib niya kaya napatigil siya.

"Your wound is still open and barely closed so if you can, please refrain from moving to attain your fast recovery." She heaved a deep sigh and look directly at Zey's gray eyes.

"Thank you, Zey." Bumaling siya kay Ardin. "Thank you, Ardin."

"Nahh, thank you, Ember. If it weren't because of you, baka patay na'ko." Napapikit siya nang maalala ang nangyari kanina. The way Ardin looked at her as she dugged Augustus' heart out.

"I just don't understand how come I'm still alive. I remember Augustus dugged his hand here," itinuro niya ang dibdib na may benda. "And I remember closing my eyes as I ran out of breath. How did I come back to life?" Sinulyapan niya si Zey at napanganga. "This is your doing, right? Ang cool ng ability moooo."

Natatawang lumapit sa kaniya si Ardin at ginulo ang buhok niya. Hindi niya alam kung dahil lang sa sugat niya sa dibdib pero biglang may tumusok sa puso niya nang makita ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Ardin.

"Silly girl, haha. You did not come back to life because, in the first place, you aren't dead."

"The pack is back. C'mon, Ardin. Salubungin natin sila."Saad ni Zey na tumingin sa bintana. Binalingan siya nito. "Stay here and don't ever come out though I know you can't, just don't. I'll do my best to talk this over to the Beta." Iyon lamang at lumabas na ito ng silid kasunod si Ardin.

NAGING alerto ang lalaking nangunguna sa paglalakad papalapit sa isang napakalaking bahay sa gitna ng kagubatan. May nararamdaman siyang isang kakaibang presensiya na hinndi niya mawari. Alam niyang natigil rin ang pito pa niyang kasama.

"Is that Zey's presence?" Lourdren asked.

"I guess not," Rio answered.

"No, it's hers. May nakahalo nga lang." Saad naman ni Sailaxe na naging dahilan ng pagkunot ng noo ng iba pa.

"What do you mean, Axe?" asked Breathery.

"Someone's inside who's been covered by Zeys presence."

Tumango-tango naman sila.

"Andrel!"

Tumatakbong lumabas ng main door si Zey kasunod ang bampirang si Ardin. Sinalubong niya ng yakap ang witch na agad din naman nitong tinugon.

"Shit, sanaol." Dinig nilang bulong ni Rio. Natawa na lamang sila at naglakad na papasok ng bahay.

"Who's inside, Zey?" Tanong ni Axe kay Zey na si Ardin ang sumagot. 

"A witch."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nila at nag-unahan sa pag-akyat sa hagdanan ngunit agad silang naharangan ni Ardin at Zey. Kung mabilis silang kumilos na mga werewolves, ay ganoon din naman kabilis kumilos ang dalawang nakaharang sa kanila. Akmang tatalon sila paitaas ng hagdan nang magsalita ang Witch.

"Don't. You. Dare. Jump."

Napayakap sila sa isa't isa nang marinig ang boses ni Zey. So fvckin' cold. Dang, her girl is a badass. Napailing na lamang si Andrel at nanguna na sa pagbaba ng hagdanan. Nakasimangot naman na sumunod na rin sa kaniya ang mga kasama.

"Follow me to the Dining Room. I'll discuss what's happening."  

Agad -agad na sumunod sila dito at umupo sa designated na mga upuan.

"So, what is it?" Aniya. Tumango-tango naman ang pack.  

"She's a witch like me. I know you already knew that she's not a part of our coven but, I'm sorry. She saved Ardin from death last night and she was dying when Ardin came here. I feel pity for her. I'll accept any punishment you'll give to me, just let her stay for a few days 'till her wounds are fully healed." Nakayukong ani Zey.

"No! It's not Zey's fault. It's mine!" Agad na apela ni Ardin na namumula na ang gilid ng mga mata. Bampira ito at may kakayahang gamutin ang sarili ngunit mababakas pa rin sa hitsura nito ang hirap na dinanas kagabi. "Pero isipin niyo muna. That witch saved and protected me from being harmed by the damn rogue, Augustus. She-she ri...risk her life despite the fact that she doesn't know me." Anito at tuluyan na ngang humikbi. Napabuntong-hininga siya. As the Beta of the pack, Andrel will be the one who's going to make the decision. Beta lamanag ang meron sa pack nila dahil wala pa ang Alpha nila. Ever since the reign of their ancestors, there's no one who stood up as an Alpha. The position is always vacant. Once, his father, the former Beta of the pack, said to him,

"The time will probably come that the Alpha's position will be filled. Only one thing's for sure. HE will come with the thunder and lightning. Together with the raging storm on the 13th. And if that happens, make sure to welcome him with your deepest respect as the Alpha will now reign."

"Tell me what happened last night. That's when I'm going to decide what to do with your guest." Aniya.

The moment I stepped outside the barrier of this land, I already felt the presence of the rogues. I tried to lose them but always failed. That was the very first time my ability failed me. As I reached the border of our colony, I felt more presence. I took the shortcut which leads to my castle only to be captured by Uncle Primo's guards." Napasinok ang dalagita. Andrel can feel what she's feeling and it's heartbreaking. "What happened next shook my world. I was ... I was taken to the grand hall and I saw the King and Queen kneeling on the ground with swords been pointed on their necks." Tears flowed from Ardin's eyes and Andrel cursed on his mind. Anong nagawang mali ng batang ito sa nakaraang buhay nito upang parusahan ng ganito? Napakabata pa nito upang masaksihan ang ganoong pangyayari. Nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita ang dalagita.

"I saw how the Queen's blood spurted as the royal guard slashed the silver sword on her neck. The king looked at me forcing himself not to cry as he also saw how her beloved Queen died beside him. He...he... was k-killed too." Ardin's cries filled the room. He saw the pack lift their heads to not let the tears flow down their faces. Zey hugged Ardin.

Andrel wants to stop Ardin from telling them how the Vampire War broke out but he thought that it would be better if she let it all out. The pain will lessen even just a bit.

"But before the King turned to ashes, I heard him pleading to Uncle Primo to spare my life. That's when I was being thrown into the dungeon. Seems like Uncle Primo has granted what Father wished. Napakaraming nakakulong doon kasama ko. Lahat ng mga 'yon, nasa side ng Hari. That's when I thought of escaping. Luckily, Father's guards helped me. I was only a mile away from the colony when I felt a rogue's presence. We fought. Sa huli, ako ang lugi. Sugatan ako at nanghihina. Fortunately, a girl saved me. And that's the witch we're talking about. I am unconscious but my subconscious was awake and that's how I knew what happened. My physical body surrendered after receiving so many hits from that damn rogue, Augustus. 

But that girl. She helped me and protected me as if she knows me.' Ardin wiped off her tears. " I felt how strong her presence is. It's too powerful but Augustus can't feel it. I don't know why. " Dumilim ang aura ni Ardin nanag muling maalala ang nangyari. "But unfortunately, Augustus managed to outsmart the witch. That's when my physical woke up and dugged his heart out. Did I kill him? No. The witch upstairs killed him. Before I dugged his heart, the witch had already cast a spell that slowly put Augustus into ashes. Pinadali ko lang ang kamatayan niya upang madala agad dito ang witch. Malakas siya, Andrel. Now that a war broke out within my race, maybe she can help me-us. Isa pa, I can feel a spark here." Tinuro ng dalagita ang dibdib, bandang puso. "Feeling ko, may connection kami."

Andrel stood up.

"Zey," tumingin sa kaniya ang babae. "Heal her fast. And please, conceal her presence even more. She might attract the enemies." Tumango-tango ang Witch at umalis na. Binalingan niya si Ardin.

"Ardin. Go to Zey and tell her to heal your wounds, too. Silly girl, you should've made her do it kanina pa." Ardin pouted and said, "We were so busy arguing about what to do with the witch kasi eh."  

Natawa siya. "Axe, magpatawag ka ng isang pagpupulong sa Coven." Agad namang tumalima ang lalaki.

"Ardin, if possible, can you erase the memory wherein your parents got killed?"

"Why?" Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha ng dalagita.

"I don't want you to carry the burden and the pain." Nagtaka siya dahil ngumiti ito. The pain still there but Ardin managed to smile.

"It's possible. But I don't want to erase it. Yeah, it hurts a lot. Seeing how my mother and father died. Pero kase, Andrel, kahit gaano pa kasakit 'yon, ayokong kalimutan yun. Yun kasi 'yong last memory ko sa kanila. Kasi kapag binura ko 'yon, baka makalimutan ko sila. Ayokong mangyari 'yon Andrel. Na kahit parang pinapatay ako sa sakit kapag naalala ko kung paano ako tingnan ni Haring Azrael, kung paano siya nagmakawa kay Uncle Primo upang hayaan akong mabuhay. Ayokong kalimutan ang mga 'yon. At babaunin ko ang ala-alang 'yon hanggang sa kamatayan ko." Tumalikod na ito at naglakad na patungo sa salas. Napabuntong-hinga siya.

"Ano nang gagawin natin, Andrel?" Rio asked.

"We have to stop Primo from dominating the Vampire colony and turn it into a Colony of Rogues. Ardin, the Youngest Princess, managed to escape. That means the Crown Prince and the other Princesses are still alive. Only the Queen and King are the ones who's been eliminated by that damn Primo. We have to find them to help them. I'm sure, the other races already knew about this war too. I'm just hesitant about who will have the courage to help the fallen king. Also, the reason why I called for a meeting with the coven. The six of you will go on a mission. A very important mission." He heaved a deep sigh. 

"Gather those races who are willing to help the Fallen Vampire Clan. You all have to do this quickly. Meanwhile, I will seek several ways how to make our Alpha appear. We need the Alpha now."