Chapter 20: The Light

It was a relief that we reached our destination and the two were still unconscious. Inumaga na rin kami. Si Lord Caezar ang sumalubong sa amin.

"Ipasok mo na si Lady Brienne sa kanyang silid," utos ni Lord Caezar kay Chris. Saka siya bumaling sa akin. "We don't have a vacant room."

"Callum can stay with me," I said.

He nodded. "I have to go for now. Babalik ako mamayang gabi."

Pinasok ko si Callum sa tirahan ko. There was only one small bed. Kaya nung hiniga ko si Callum doon ay wala ng space para sa akin. Hindi ko rin naman kailangang magpahinga.

Iniwan ko si Callum sa kuwarto saka ako bumalik sa sala. I sat on the couch. Saka ko isa-isang nilabas sa bag ko ang mga gamit na kinuha ko sa Mansion.

These were the books I wrote about us. About Cardinals. I was glad they didn't find it. Alam kong sa oras na mapasakamay ito ng mga kaaway, hindi sila mag-aatubiling sunugin ito.

After taking over the Nightfall Clan, I had a hunch that their next step was to eliminate all the Cardinals. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ang nalalaman ni Lord Wenson tungkol sa amin. Alam ba niya na hindi lang ako ang natitirang Cardinal?

I couldn't risk it. Ngayon na nabawi ko na si Callum, puwede na akong gumawa ng hakbang nang walang inaalala na naiwan doon.

On the pile of dusty books, I picked up the last one on the bottom. It was an empty book. Wala pang nakasulat pero halos balutin na ito ng alikabok.

What is to write about me?

Why am I writing? Ever since my father passed away, I've been plagued by the fear that someday, we would be forgotten. With the next generation already underway, that possibility seems all the more real.

I knew that my family had been infamous for many things, but that didn't erase the fact that we had also contributed to the progress of our secret society. We had made significant contributions to the vampire world. As the last standing Cardinal from the first, I felt responsible for keeping our legacy alive.

"Where am I?"

Napatingin ako kay Callum. He was standing in the doorway of my room, looking straight at me with confusion in his eyes.

"Is this your place?" he asked. "I don't belong here."

Isa-isa kong binalik sa loob ng bag ang mga libro ko. Saka ako tumayo at lumapit kay Callum.

"I am a Nightfall," he said.

"So am I."

He smirked. "You already abandoned us."

"Alam mo ang totoo, Callum. I never abandoned you or the clan—"

"You abandoned us the moment you chose your own happiness over us."

"Kasalanan ba 'yon? Kasalanan bang piliin ko rin ang magpapasaya sa akin? Kahit na sa maikling panahon lang? Kahit na sa panaginip lang?"

Hindi siya nakasagot sa tanong ko. But I could see that my statement somehow made him realize I didn't like how things turned out. However, I didn't regret anything.

"But you know deep down how much I care about you and the Nightfall Clan. It hurts me that my absence led us to this crisis. However, the times when I was around, that was when I felt like the real me. Those were the times when I felt something after a long time. I can't regret it because it gave me the light that I needed."

"I'm not mad at you, Oscar," he said, letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry if it sounded like that. I just felt betrayed. That's all."

"I'm back now. I will slowly make up for my neglect."

He shrugged. "Is the witch here?"

Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Bumuntonghininga ako saka kinuha ang bag ko. Pumasok ako sa kuwarto para itago sa loob ng cabinet ang bag.

"You cannot trust them, Oscar. Kasabwat sila ni Lord Wenson!"

"We are one team now."

"You don't understand."

"I do." Humarap ako sa kanya. "They used to work together. But Lord Wenson betrayed them. Kaya nila tayo tinutulungan ngayon."

I walked past him. Balak kong puntahan si Brienne sa kanyang silid nung biglang bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Owen.

"Chris told me to call you for breakfast," he said, looking at Callum. "You have cool hair, Sir."

"How's Brienne?" I asked.

"She's still asleep," sagot ni Owen.

Sumama muna kami ni Callum kay Owen sa backyard. Nakahanda na ang mga pagkain. Nauna na ngang kumain si Baldo.

"Oh. Siya ba 'yung niligtas niyo?" tukoy ni Baldo kay Callum.

"Hindi ako nagpaligtas," pagtatama ni Callum sa kanya.

"He has a cool hair, right, Baldo?" Owen asked.

"Ang aga-aga huwag mo akong ine-English, Owen," sabi ni Baldo saka na bumalik sa pagkain.

Callum and I settled down on our seats. I just had a bread. Sila Baldo, Callum, at Owen ang halos umubos ng pagkain. Si Chris ay alak lang ang inubos.

"Where have you two been?" Owen asked.

"I saved a friend—"

Callum cut him off by slamming his hand on the table. Nagtalsikan ang mga pagkain. Mabuti na lang ay nahawakan ko agad ang alak ko.

"Una sa lahat, hindi niyo ako niligtas. Pangalawa, hindi tayo magkaibigan," paglilinaw ni Callum. "You forcely brought me here!"

"God damn it. Chill out, bro," Chris hissed.

"Sayang!" Yumuko si Baldo para pulutin ang mga nahulog na tinapat. "Kaya ayokong kasabay kayong kumain. Madaming nasasayang!"

"There's more here!" sabi ni Owen saka tinulungan si Baldo sa pagpupulot.

I just sipped on my drink. Hindi pa kami nakaka-recover sa pagdadabog ni Callum ay namataan ko naman si Brienne na naglalakad papunta sa amin. Nagkatinginan kami ni Chris.

"Not now," Chris whispered.

I nodded. Tumayo ako saka sinalubong si Brienne.

"How's your rest?" I asked, blocking her way. "Sigurado ka bang nakapagpahinga ka na? Ipagdadala ka na lang namin ng pagkain sa kuwarto."

"I'm fine now," kunot-noo niyang sabi. "Si Callum?"

"Honestly..." I winced. "I don't think confronting him now is a good idea. Mainit pa rin kasi ang ulo niya."

"What?"

"Callum is still mad at you."

"After we saved him?"

"Yeah?"

"After I overused my power and passed out?"

Sinubukan ni Brienne na lagpasan ako pero mabilis kong hinarang ang mga braso ko. "Can you make him a drink first? Iyong pampakalma."

"No. I haven't recuperated my strength yet."

"Oscar?" dinig kong tawag ni Callum.

Hinawakan ko ang braso ni Brienne saka siya sapilitang nilayo muna roon. Bago kami tuluyang makaalis ay nakita kong pinigilan din ni Chris si Callum mula sa paglapit sa amin.

Nung makalayo ay binitiwan ko rin si Brienne. Nung makita kong nakasimangot siya ay tila naawa ako. She had just recovered but I already dragged her.

"So..." I tried to think of a topic. "Ngayon na natulungan mo na akong mabawi ang kaibigan ko, sa tingin ko ay puwede na tayong gumawa ng hakbang."

"Not until your friend realized we are not your enemy," pagsusungit niya. "I get it. He's mad at me because I failed to save him. I hope he realizes that I save you first because you matter more."

I winced. "I don't think that sounds fair."

"That's the truth."

"Anyway..." Sumandal ako wall habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Ngayon na magkaalyado na tayo, hindi ba tama lang na magkalinawagan din tayo?"

Brienne just stared at me. Ngayon na masinsinan ko na siyang napagmasdan, napagtanto kong hindi sila magkamukha ni Celeste. Wala silang pagkakahalingtulad.

"Why did Lord Wenson help you?"

"I don't remember if I already mentioned it to you, pero siya ang tumulong sa amin para buoin ang pangkat na 'to. From the dust."

"Why did Lord Wenson reestablish this clan?"

"Your brother mercilessly slaughtered Lord Caezar's clan!" she scowled at me. "He was left alone without a home. Kung hindi dahil kay Lord Wenson ay wala ngayon si Lord Caezar!"

"The tragic fate that befell the Ganos Clan has happened a long time ago. Ang ibig mo bang sabihin ay simula noon pa lang ay magkakilala na sila?"

She nodded slowly, her eyes glistening with anger and sorrow. "He was there for him even from the beginning. Now that Lord Caezar was grown enough to avenge his family, Lord Wenson gave him the opportunity to do it. He gave him the power."

"You said Lord Wenson also betrayed him. How?"

Ginamit lang ba sila ni Lord Wenson bilang kasangkapan para makuha ang Nightfall Clan mula sa akin? To confuse me?

"Ang gusto lang ni Lord Caezar ay maipaghiganti ang pangkat niya—"

"Kung 'yon lang talaga, I am here now," I cut her off. Hindi ko inalis sa kanyang mga mata ang tingin ko. "Kung ang angkan ko ang pinagmulan ng galit niya, bakit niya ako tinutulungan ngayon?"

"Because Lord Wenson betrayed him! Pinangako niya na sa oras na mapatalsik ka sa pwesto ay bubuwagin na rin ang Nightfall Clan. After all, Nightfall Clan belongs only to the Cardinals. Lord Wenson betrayed us when, after you got exiled, he still pursued to lead Nightfalls."

I didn't think Lord Caezar could be this fool. Isang Nightfall si Lord Wenson. Bakit niya bubuwagin ang pangkat na kinabibilangan niya dahil lang sa kagustuhan ng isa? Higit sa lahat, bakit naniwala si Lord Caezar? It didn't make sense.

I smirked. "Then why is he helping me reclaim the throne?"

Nakita kong natigilan sa pagsagot si Brienne. Pero mabilis siyang nakabawi. "Because he wants a fair fight. Gusto ka niyang kalabanin bilang leader ng Nightfall Clan. Pinuno sa pinuno."

"I find it ironic how he wants to play a fair game when what happened to his clan was unfair. Mas mahihirapan siyang kalabanin ako kapag nakaupo uli sa pwesto. He will not stand a chance. He is more likely to win against me if he does it right now." I chuckled.

"That's what I am talking about. We will not stand a chance against Nightfall Clan. At least when you are on our side, there's a possibility."

"So inamin mo rin?" natatawa kong tanong. "Kahit anong gawin niyo ay hindi kayo mananalo sa Nightfall Clan. Ang kaya niyo lang ay mapatay ako."

Natahimik si Brienne at napaiwas ng tingin.

"At may pagkakataon lang kayo na mapatay ako ay kapag nahiwalay ako sa pangkat ko..." Bahagya akong lumapit kay Brienne. "I don't have a clan now, Lady Brienne. What's stopping him? This is his only chance to do it."

"I-I already told you. He wants a fair game."

"There's no fair game, Lady Brienne. You will not win against Nightfall Clan whatever you do."

Napasinghap siya nung nilapit ko sa kanya ang mukha ko. She looked away, averting her gaze as if afraid that I might find the answer to my question in her eyes.

"You are lying..." I whispered.

"W-what?"

"Lord Caezar is not from Ganos Clan. Caligo Clan is not a reestablished clan. He is not attacking me for killing his entire generation. Maybe his relationship with Lord Wenson is true, and they had an agreement. But the rest of your story? You made it all up."

Mahigpit na hinawakan ko ang kanyang braso habang nakatingin sa kanyang mga mata. Naramdaman kong bumigat ang kanyang paghinga.

"Who really is Lord Caezar?"

Brienne used her power to push me away from her. Napasandal ako sa pader at hindi nakagalaw. She was holding me against the wall.

"There are only a few things you should know, Lord Oscar," she said, her tone firm and unwavering. "First, we are here to help you reclaim your rightful place on the throne. Second, Lord Wenson betrayed us just as he betrayed you and everyone else. And third, we are not your enemies. Never have been."

"Oscar!"

Lalapitan sana ako ni Callum ngunit may pwersa rin na tumulak sa kanya. Tumalsik siya at bumagsak sa lupa. Saka na umalis si Brienne.

"Fuck!" Callum groaned.

"Oscar!" Owen approached me with a worried look in his eyes. "You should avoid being stubborn so Lady Brienne won't be mad at you."

"What have you done this time?" Chris shook his head.

"Is no one going to check on me too?" I heard Callum ask. Nilapitan siya ni Baldo pero imbes na tulungan siya ay tinawanan siya nito. "Akala ko ba kakampi ko na kayo?"

"Mukhang hindi talaga kayo magkakasundo ni Lady Brienne," pang-aasar ni Baldo.

Iniwan ko ang apat para sundan si Brienne. How she approached my questions gave me the affirmation I needed. The Caligo Clan was a newly established clan. It has no connection to the slaughtered clan.

I was about to open the door to Brienne's room when Chris got in my way. Pinigilan niya ako sa pagpasok saka umiling.

"Huwag na muna, Oscar. She's still recovering..."

Kahit na gusto ko pa ng kasagutan ay minabuti ko na lang na iwan na muna si Brienne. Kung hindi niya masasagot ang tanong ko, sigurado akong si Lord Caezar ang sasagot ng mga ito.

Alam kong ang kailangan ko lang atupagin ay kung paano ako makakabalik. However, I had a hunch that for me to successfully go back, I have to resolve some mysteries.

I have to solve the mystery revolving around Lord Wenson, Lord Caezar, Brienne, and maybe, me.

Paanong napasunod ni Lord Wenson si Lord Caezar sa kagustuhan niya?

As I waited for Brienne, I went back into my room. Nilabas ko ang librong blangko. I badly wanted to write something. I knew I had to start now.

"Oscar?" tawag sa akin ni Callum. Nung hindi ako kumibo ay naramdaman kong tumabi siya sa akin. "What is that book?"

"Nothing." I faced him. Agad kong napansin na matamlay ang mukha niya. "Is there something wrong? Don't you really like it here?"

"I never liked here," he chuckled. "Hindi lang naman dito. Kahit na sa Nightfall."

He looked away and sighed. Pinagsalikop niya ang kanyang mga kamay na nakapatong sa hita. Pumorma ang mapait na ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"It's okay, Callum. You have done enough."

Napalingon siya sa akin kaya nginitian ko siya.

"Hindi naman kita pipilitin na manatili pa. Sapat na ang tulong na nabigay mo sa akin. Sobra pa nga." Hinawakan ko ang kanyang balikat. "I'm glad you cared enough to come back."

"Are you okay now?" he asked.

"I feel better now."

"I want to travel North."

"Sure. When?"

He smiled, "Sa tingin ko ay may maitutulong pa ako sa 'yo. May mga nalaman ako habang wala ka. Gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo lahat bago ako umalis. Baka makatulong din sa 'yo."

I nodded. "I don't think you need two days for that."

He laughed.

"Do you have more wine here?" he asked.

"Sa bodega."

"Do you want?"

Pagkalabas ni Callum ay hinawakan ko ulit ang blangkong libro sa harapan ko. Tinago ko ulit ito at hinintay na makabalik si Callum.

"Four bottles?" natatawa kong tanong kay Callum.

"We have a long conversation, Lord Oscar."

As soon as we sipped our first drink, Callum started telling me the story of the brave Nightfalls who fought for me during my absence—those who believed that I didn't abandon them.

"Lord Wenson looked so threatened. Lahat ng tumindig para sa 'yo ay pinatalsik sa pangkat. Ang iba naman ay kinulong. But I've never seen that before. I've never seen Nightfalls stood up for themselves."

Hindi ko namalayan na nakangiti na pala ako habang pinapakinggan ang kuwento ni Callum. It didn't even sound real to me.

"They are just waiting, Oscar..."

"I know," I wiped my tears. "That's why I don't want this conflict to lead in another war. Ayokong madamay sila."

"Is there really a way to resolve this without war?"

"That's what I want."

Everyone told me to give up. It was not because I was not capable. But because it was not worth it.

When I was crowned the leader of the Nightfall Clan, I didn't feel celebrated. I didn't have anyone to celebrate it with, not even myself.

I thought what I had been doing was proving them wrong. But even though I had exceeded everyone's expectations, there was no sense of honor or satisfaction. It was just tirelessly trying.

It wasn't until I remembered the conversation I had with the man in jail that I realized I had been proving myself to the wrong vampires all along.

I failed to see those who could see me because I was too focused on those who couldn't. I had been blinded by my strong desire to prove them wrong.

"You are the one true leader of Nightfall Clan, Lord Oscar."