Chapter 23: Favor

I looked around the charred remnants of the forest. Naapula na ang apoy ngunit nag-iwan ito ng malaking marka. Hindi lang sa kagutaban, pati sa pinaglalaban namin.

Owen was more than just a member of us. Hindi namin maaaring ipagsawalang bahala ang pagkawala niya. Even I was enraged by his tragic fate. All he wanted was a clan he could home.

We failed him.

I had to do something. At isang bagay lang naman ang dapat naming gawin. Ang pag-atake ay mababayaran lamang nang pagbalik nito. That's what troubles me right now. I don't think we are prepared enough for that.

"The burial was done," napalingon ako kay Chris. He was standing a few meters away from me. His eyes were blazed red, and I could feel an intense aura enveloping him. "We need to prepare now."

Malinaw sa akin ang gusto niyang mangyari kaya hindi ako nakapagsalita. Mas matagal ang pinagsamahan nila ni Owen kaya alam kong siya ang labis na naapektuhan sa pagkawala niya. Ngunit kung emosyon ang pairaralin ay walang mangyayari.

"Hindi lilipas ang gabing ito nang hindi natin siya naipaghihiganti," madiin niyang sambit. "We already failed him—"

"We did fail him," I cut him out. "And I will not let another failure consume us by hastily attacking tonight. Alam mong hindi pa tayo handa, Chris."

Gaya ng inaasahan ay hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. "Hahayaan mo lang na lumipas ito?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

"That's all we can do right now," I swallowed. It hurt me to say that. But I had to admit the truth. "Itutuloy natin ang plano na palakasin ang puwersa natin."

Napangiwi ako nung dumapo sa aking mukha ang kamao niya. Sa sobrang lakas no'n ay napaatras ako. Umamba ulit siya ng suntok ngunit napigilan ko agad 'yon gamit ang kamay ko.

"This is a trap, Chris. Ito ang gusto nilang mangyari. Ang sumugod tayo nang hindi handa!"

His veins slowly snaked their way across his neck up to the temple of his head. I was struggling to halt his fist as I didn't want to fight him back.

"Your enemies killed him," he said. "He is an innocent young man who only wanted a room for himself. But you came and ruined everything!"

Nakawala siya sa pagkakahawak ko kaya dumapo ulit sa mukha ko ang kanyang kamao. Hindi lang dalawa o tatlo. Hanggang sa hindi na ako nakapag timpi at pinatulan ko na rin siya. We were both bleeding but we didn't stop fighting.

"You and your family are a curse!" he screamed.

"At matagal ko nang tinanggap iyon!"

"Enough!"

May malakas na pwersang tumulak sa amin kaya nagkahiwalay kami. Sabay kaming tumalsik palayo sa isa't isa. Sinubukan pa akong balikan ni Chris ngunit muli siyang hinatak ni Brienne.

"Alam kong pare-pareho tayong nasasaktan, pero walang mangyayari kung magsisisihan tayo!" sigaw ni Brienne. "And I don't think Owen will be happy to see you two fighting."

"No." Chris chuckled. "There's no happiness if there's no peace. There will be no peace until Cardinals are all gone. Tayo ang nagdurusa sa mga ginagawa nila!"

"Iyan lang ba ang kaya mong gawin? Ang sisihin ang iba?" tanong ko. "Na ibaling sa iba ang kabiguan na nararamdaman mo. Does blaming it to others make you at ease?"

"Does it hurt, Lord Oscar? To know that your family is the root of all this?" he smirked. "Yet, in the end, we are still willing to help you."

"I'm done blaming myself," I smiled. Pinahid ko ang dugo sa aking pisngi. "Let me remind you for the last time. You are not helping me solely to reclaim my throne. You are helping me because I'm the only one who can put an end to this."

"This will be an endless cycle, don't you think, Bri?" bumaling siya kay Brienne. "'Pag nakabalik na si Lord Oscar sa Nightfall Clan, gaano tayo kasigurado na tapos na ang lahat?"

"We are all tired. Mas mabuting magpahinga muna tayo," ani Brienne.

"But I knew a better plan..." Muling pumirmi sa akin ang tingin ni Chris. "If we really want to end everything, then we might as well end it together with those who started it. The Cardinals."

Then he left.

I looked at Brienne. Gaya ko ay mabilis din ang paghinga niya.

"I don't want to start a war," I said.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "You will not start a war, Lord Oscar. You will end it."

"No." Umiling ako. "Ilang digmaan na ang lumipas ngunit hanggang ngayon ay nakikipaglaban pa rin tayo. Parang nauulit lang ang lahat. Maybe. Just maybe. War is not the answer."

This was something I couldn't admit to anyone. Alam kong tatawagin nila akong mahina, duwag, at walang paninindigan. Ang hindi nila maintindihan ay ilang digmaan na ang pinagdaanan ko. I was there from the start until now. The peace after war only lasted for a moment.

"Then what is it?" Lord Caezar appeared from the shadow. "A conversation? A treaty? A truce? What is the solution if not war, Lord Oscar?"

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't know yet. Pero alam kong may paraan."

"Sa tingin mo ba ay may sapat pa tayong oras para mapag-isipan mo ang sagot?" tila nanunuyang tanong niya. "Just a reminder, Lord Oscar. They are all rooting for you. This is your last chance to redeem yourself."

"Nag-umpisa na tayo, Lord Oscar," sambit ni Brienne. "Hindi tayo puwedeng tumigil ngayon. Lalo na't may isang nawala na sa atin."

"Are you scared?" Lord Caezar asked.

"Yes," I admitted. "I'm scared to fail."

"May punto ka naman." Tumango si Lord Caezar. "Naiintindihan ko kung nakikita mong hindi labanan ang solusyon sa problemang ito. Ang tanong... kung hindi labanan, ano? Paano mo ito sasabihin sa mga bampirang narito ngayon para sa 'yo?"

Just like that, he disappeared. Pagkaharap ko kay Brienne ay agad siyang umiwas ng tingin. Napansin kong pinahid niya ang kanyang mukha.

"Are you okay, Brienne?"

"Yes. I think we should go back now."

That was one of the longest nights of my life. Wala akong ginawa kung hindi ang humiga at muling bumangon sa kama. Lord Caezar's question kept spiraling in my head. What is the solution if not war?

Ano ba talaga ang gustong mangyari ni Lord Wenson?

I couldn't confront him directly. If only I could talk to his wife— Lady Elly. Or...

Muli akong napabangon sa kama. Lumabas ako ng bahay saka kumatok sa pintuan ni Brienne. Madilim pa rin pero hindi ko na mahihintay ang umaga. It took her long to open the door for me.

"What is it?" she asked, peering behind the door.

"I want you to do something for me."

"At this hour?" she frowned.

"Yes. This is urgent, please?"

Tinitigan niya ako nang ilang segundo bago pinapasok sa loob. Sinundan ko siya sa kusina. She even offered me a drink but I refused. I noticed the half emptied glass of drink on the wooden table.

"Hindi ka ba makatulog?" pansin ko bago umupo.

"Ano ba 'yon?" diretso niyang tanong.

Dumapo sa kanyang mga kamay ang tingin ko. She was wearing long sleeves and white gloves. Mukhang may ginagawa siya bago ako dumating kaya napilitan siyang itigil muna.

"Oscar..." pagtawag uli sa akin ni Brienne kaya umangat sa kanyang mukha ang tingin ko. "I thought it was urgent? Ano ba 'yon?"

I cleared my throat and asked her, "Can you use your ability now?"

"I'm good now. What do you want?"

I gulped. "Can you send my message to a friend?"

Sending my message to him would take long. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya ngayon. At mas lalong hindi na ako makapaghihintay pa. Alam kong magagawan ito ng paraan ni Brienne.

She stared at me for a moment before nodding. Umalis siya sandali. Pagkabalik ay may hawak na siyang papel at panulat. Binigay niya sa akin 'yon.

"Let's make this quick," I heard her say.

I kept my message simple and straight forward. Nung matapos ay binigay ko 'yon kay Brienne. Hinanda na niya ang mga kakailanganin. A powder and a candle.

"What should I do?" I asked.

Sa halip na sagutin ako ay hinawakan niya lang ang kamay ko. Saka siya pumikit at may nilabing mga salita. Binuhos niya ang pulbos sa papel kasabay ng pag-apoy nito. Pinanuod kong kainin ng apoy ang papel. I didn't know witches send messages by burning it first. Fascinating, I must say.

Hindi sinasadyang mapagawi ang tingin ko sa kamay naming maghawak. Hindi roon pumirmi ang tingin ko. Bahagyang tumaas ang sleeve niya kaya nakita ko ang kaunting parte ng kanyang braso. Was it a scar? No. Hindi ko pa 'yon nakita dati. But it looked crinkled.

"Your message has been sent." Binitiwan niya ang kamay ko saka hinipan ang kandila. "Hindi ako sigurado kung makikita niya agad ang sulat mo. But I've already sent it. Now, what?"

"Thank you."

Napansin niyang nakatingin ako sa parte ng braso niya na kita. Mabilis niyang binaba ang sleeve. She suddenly looked frantic. As if I caught her on something she didn't want anyone to know.

"Kung wala ka nang ipagagawa sa akin—"

"Is that a scar?" I asked.

I should have kept my mouth shut.

I felt the strong wind again. Alam kong kapag hindi pa ako umalis ay puwersahan na naman niya akong paaalisin. Bago pa man mas lumakas ang hangin ay lumabas na ako. Pabagsak na sumarado ang pinto.

She's clearly up to something.

Pabalik na sana ako sa tinitirahan ko nang mapagawi ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakaupo at nakatingin sa kawalan. It was Baldo. Tumingin lang siya sa akin saka uminom sa hawak na alak.

Chris was right after all. We were cursed. Lahat ng bagay na nahahawakan namin ay nawawalan ng kinang. Lahat ng lumalapit sa amin ay nasasaktan.

Lord Caezar was right also. This would be my last chance to redeem myself. Isang malaking dagok na ang iniwan ng pamilya ko. Ayokong dumagdag pa.

I have to make things right.

I will start by making the right decision. Whatever that is, I just know it's not war.

Pagbalik ko sa tinitirahan ko ay nilabas ko mula sa cabinet ang mga librong sinulat ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang natitirang libro at ang nanatiling walang laman. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. Sa tingin ko ay alam ko na kung bakit wala pa ring nakasulat dito.

I hugged the last book, and I lay down in bed. Maybe I was the weakest Cardinal because I never really took risks. I never did something appalling that deserved to be talked about. All I did was hurt myself in silence and take the blame.

Even for the last time, I don't see myself doing something worthy of being remembered. I will always be the missing picture behind the powerful family of Cardinals. I'm good with that.

When the morning came, Chris was nowhere to be found. Maging si Brienne ay hindi lumabas sa kanyang silid. I saw Baldo, but he didn't talk to me. The once loud place suddenly felt abandoned.

Nagkaroon lang ng ingay nung dumating si Arthuro para magbalita ng mga nagaganap sa pag-eensayo. He told me that we are almost ready for the war. Maybe in a few days.

In a few days...

"Sa tingin ko ay umalis na si Chris," sabi sa akin ni Baldo. Iyon ang unang pagkakataon na kinausap niya ako simula nung mawala si Owen. "Hapon na. Hindi naman 'yon umaalis nang ganito katagal."

"Let's give him time..." I wanted to ask how was he. Pero minabuti ko na lang na huwag itanong dahil alam ko rin naman ang sagot.

"Baka aalis na rin ako," bigla niyang sabi. "Akala ko kapag nagkaroon na ako ng pangkat ay mas dadali sa akin ang lahat. Mas naging mahirap lang pala. Kapag napabilang ka sa pangkat ay mapapalapit ka sa mga kasamahan mo. Kapag may kasamahan ka, maaaring mawala rin ito. Masakit mawalan..."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. He got teary eyed. Bago pa man bumagsak ang mga luha niya ay tinalikuran na niya ako saka umalis.

I sighed. Pagtalikod ko ay gumulat sa akin si Lady Mystique. Gaya ng madalas ay siya lang yata ang mukhang walang problema sa mundo.

"Is everyone leaving?" she asked. "Before the war?"

I just shrugged.

Biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng tinitirahan ni Brienne saka siya lumabas. Nagkatagpo ang mga mata namin. Sandali lang 'yon dahil agad din siyang umalis.

"That lady..." bulong ni Lady Mystique.

"Do you know her?"

"Of course," she chuckled. "I've already seen her with Lord Wenson. And if my memory serves me right, I believe I've also seen her with the late Celeste. She's been here longer than you all know."

Kumunot ang noo ko. I've never seen her before. Kung matagal na siya sa Nightfall Clan, imposibleng hindi ko pa siya nakita kahit na isang beses.

"Does she like you, too?" tanong pa niya.

"What do you mean?"

"It means that I like you," she rolled her eyes. "Obviously. But does she like you too?'

I shook my head. "She's a friend."

"A friend..." Tumawa siya. "Then she's been your friend longer than you know. You know why?" Nilapit niya sa akin ang kanyang mukha. Saka niya hinawakan ang ibaba kong labi. "She's wherever you are."

Tatalikuran na sana ako ni Lady Mystique nung hinawakan ko ang kanyang braso. Sa halip na magalit ay napangiti pa siya sa ginawa ko.

"I like your touch," malambing niyang sabi. "Gentle. I don't even like gentlemen."

"Matagal ka na sa Nightfall Clan. Ibig sabihin ay mas kilala mo ang mga Seniors kaysa sa kilala ko sila. Tama ba ako, Lady Mystique?"

Hindi siya sumagot kaya mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa braso niya.

"Ah..." She moaned and bit her bottom lip. "I think I like your touch harder. But you are not wrong. Maybe. I've been a Nightfall since then. Pero hindi kami naging magkaibigan ni Lord Severo."

"Do you know the Ganos clan?"

"Ganos clan?" she asked. "I'm not sure."

"Ganos Clan is the origin of Caligo Clan, the Clan that my brother slaughtered. The previous name of this Clan."

"Oh, right!" Tumawa siya. "How could I forget that? What a shame. In my defense, it was already buried in the past. Muntik ko na ngang makalimutan na may gano'n pa lang clan."

"You are fooling me," madiin ko siyang tiningnan. "Alam mo ang tinutukoy ko. You even left me a piece of puzzle about that. Bakit sa dami ng clan, bakit doon pinapunta ni Papa ang kaibigan ni Brixton? There must be a reason!"

"Hindi ba obvious? Your father wanted that Clan gone!"

"For what reason?"

She smirked. Saka na niya hinatak ang braso mula sa pagkakahawak ko.

"Because your father saw Ganos Clan as a threat," she replied. "Ganos Clan is not solely composed of vampires. It was one of the few clans that also included witches among its members."

Natikom ang bibig ko.

"Why?" she smirked. "We are not thinking the same thing, are we?"

Napalingon ako kay Brienne na muling pumasok sa kanyang tinitirahan. If Brienne originated from Ganos Clan, that would render everything she told me meaningless. Saka sa sobrang tagal na ng clan na 'yon, bakit andito pa rin siya? Why is she still alive? She's a witch, not a vampire. She cannot stay here this long.

I knew she was hiding something. But I didn't expect it to be relevant to our situation.

Lumubog ang araw nang hindi bumabalik si Chris. Umalis na rin kanina si Baldo. Kaming dalawa na lang ni Brienne ang natira sa compound na ito.

How could I still trust her? All she did was spit lies.

Nung gabi ay kumatok sa pintuan ko si Arthuro. I was expecting some bad news, but what I saw when I opened the door surprised me even more.

"You have a visitor," said Athuro. Saka na siya umalis.

Tumitig ako kay Lady Elly.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" she asked.

Pinaunalakan ko ang gusto niya. Umalis kami sa compound at pumunta sa kung saan malabong may makarinig sa pag-uusapan namin. May suot siyang talukbong sa ulo kaya alam kong ayaw niya rin na may makakilala sa kanya.

"What brought you here, milady?" I asked respectfully.

I was worried that someone might caught us. It would be bad for her. Lalo na ngayon na mainit na ang labanan sa pagitan namin at ng asawa niya.

"I came here to give you this," she handed me a piece of paper.

Sa halip na basahin 'yon ay pinasok ko muna ito sa loob ng bulsa ko. Alam kong hindi lang ito ang dahilan ng pagpunta niya rito. She wouldn't risk her life like this.

"Ang sulat na 'yan ay galing kay Lord Wenson. He tasked someone to give it to you. But I took it from that someone to directly give it to you. I wanted to talk to you..."

I just nodded.

"All I wanted was a peaceful life. My husband being part of the Seniors was enough for me. It was not as peaceful as I hoped to. But it was enough..." Nangilid ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "Alam kong umpisa pa lang ay gusto niyang mas umangat pa. Pero hindi ko inakalang aabot sa ganito..."

Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Mabilis naman niya 'yong pinahid.

"I don't know him anymore. It feels like the moment he became the leader, I lost my husband. The one I vowed to stay with my whole life. The one I loved the most. I lost him."

"What is he really up to?"

"He wants us to replace the Cardinals. That will never happen. Not because the Cardinals are irreplaceable. But because I don't want to be part of it. Especially my son..."

"Ano po ba ang gusto niyong mangyari sa pagpunta rito?"

"Nothing..." she shook her head. "Pumunta lang ako rito para magpaalam sa 'yo at para na rin humingi ng kapatawaran sa nagawa niya sa 'yo." Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at hinaplos ito. "Hindi na rin iba ang tingin ko sa 'yo. You have been friends with my Randolf since then. I'm sorry, Oscar..."

"Are you leaving, Lady Elly?"

"I am leaving with my son," she smiled. "To live a peaceful life, even if it means leaving my dear husband behind. Also, can I ask you a favor?"

I nodded.

"Don't make it hard for him," she whispered. "But don't hesitate to do what you have to do. Don't worry about me or my son. We will be good even without him."

Tanging tango lang ulit ang nasagot ko sa kanya. If she's leaving with Randolf, that just means my message was for nothing. Hindi niya ako matutulungan. That's all right, though. Para hindi na rin sila madamay.

"C-can I ask something?" I asked.

"What is it?"

"Sa tingin mo ba ay may anak sa labas si Lord Wenson?"

Natawa siya sa tanong ko.

"That's imposible, Oscar. Ang rason kaya naging ganid sa kapangyarihan ang asawa ko ay para protektahan kami ni Randolf sa mga magtatangka sa amin. He loved us more than anything. And he is not capable of impregnanting a woman anymore..."

Another lie of Brienne.

"I see..." I smiled. "Be safe on your journey, milady..."

"I wish you triumph, milord..."

She hugged me.

My eyes widened when Chris abruptly appeared behind her. His eyes locked mine. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang unti-unting pagluwag ng pagkakayakap sa akin ni Lady Elly. Nung tiningnan ko ang kamay kong nakahawak sa likod niya ay may dugo.

"L-Lady Elly..." Niyakap ko siya bago pa siya tumumba. Her lips parted slightly as she tried to reach for my face.

"P-please protect my son..." she whispered.