Lutang si Fenris habang nakatayo sa deck at nakatukod ang kanyang mga braso sa handrail. The ocean was magnificent, the view was spectacular. Pero wala roon ang kanyang isip. She just read half of the book and it was enough to tell her that the history they learned at school was made up to accommodate their leaders.
"You okay?" biglang sumulpot sa tabi niya si Linus na nakasuot na ng itim nitong cloak.
"Tell me the real history of Narguille," aniya.
Tinitigan siya nito. "You're really ready to ruin St. Harfeld in your head?"
Tumango siya. "Marami na akong alam. Everything I loved about the Order, about the fraudulent saint, about the gods... they're all ruined already. Wala na akong natitirang pagmamahal sa mga 'yun."
Tumingin si Linus sa malawak na karagatan na para bang doon ito kumukuha ng lakas ng loob. "About two hundred fifty or three hundred years ago, Desmond Harfeld was happily married to Otillie Simmons. They were friends with three Purebloods. Sina Ciro Horton, Draven Brigham at Gregory Bloodworth. Vergaemonth was not a safe place for Purebloods that time. Many mortals want to capture them so they can turn them to vampires."
Nanatiling nakinig si Fenris.
"To escape those people, these group of friends, together with their families, allies and clans founded their small haven. They called it Hellville."
"That's where your family is from," anang dalaga.
Tumango ang binata. "Their new community is smaller so it was easier for Otillie to protect it with her powers. During this time, she was having an affair with Gregory Bloodworth."
Napasinghap si Fenris.
"Yeah, I know. My father's ancestor and my mother's ancestor were nasty," naiiling nitong sabi. "We even thought that my parents were their reincarnation but apparently, that wasn't the case. What they were were part of Otillie's final spell. They had their own love story. Otillie just wanted their bloodlines to be united one day. And it did happen."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a long story. Anyway, my father and mother are not reincarnations of Gregory Bloodworth and Otillie Simmons. She wanted the two families to be united because she knew that her love story with Gregory was doomed from the beginning. Because of that final step, the unification, Hellville was restored to its' former glory. The vegetation came back. It could sustain the whole city again."
Curious si Fenris sa kwento ng mga magulang ni Linus pero may time para roon. Sa ngayon, kailangan niyang malaman ang totoong history ng kanyang pinakamamahal na kontinente.
"Anyway, these mortals who were hunting the Purebloods, they were persistent. They followed Otillie's group."
"Wasn't she powerful? She was a witch. And her friends were vampires. They were supposed to be way way stronger than mortals," komento ng dalaga.
"Of course. But power is useless if they're outnumbered. That's when Otillie gave up her love for Gregory in exchange of powers for all of them. It was a spell she created and she buried that spell with her. Nobody found out what that spell was. Until now, nobody can replicate it."
"What powers did they get?"
"The Brighams were gifted with telepathy, the Hortons became empaths, the Bloodworths got psychokinesis and the Simmons, clairvoyance."
"You're a clairvoyant. You got a Simmons power."
Tumango ito. "Cole and our eldest brother, Deus, they both got the Bloodworth power. Our sister, Tiana, and I got clairvoyance. Anyway, they all got powers, their bloodline. In exchange of that spell, Otillie forgot her love for Gregory. She was deeply madly in love with Desmond again. Unfortunately, she was the only one who forgot. All those who knew of the affair didn't forget."
"And the other witches in Hellville hated her. I read about it. Desmond swore on making her pay. Making them pay. He felt betrayed."
"Which he was. His love was taken for granted by Otillie."
"Kaya sila umalis ng Hellville. Ibig bang sabihin n'yan ay may konting witch blood kaming mga taga-Narguille? Descendants kami ng mga witch immigrants, hindi ba?"
Tumango si Linus. "Hindi lang konting witch blood. Ninety percent of Narguillians are one hundred percent witches. Hindi naman kasi marami ang lumilipat dito galing sa ibang continents. Hindi lang kayo nakapag- Channeling kaya hindi ninyo na-access ang inyong spell making abilities. For generations, Narguillians lived as mortals, without knowing who you really are."
"But Maryan said there are witches in Narguille. She said they are not our friends. Who are they?"
Tinitigan siya ni Linus na para bang tinitimbang nito kung handa na ba siya sa katotohanan.
"It's not safe to talk here. Let's talk later. Mag-focus muna tayo sa anumang madadatnan natin sa Narguille."
Tumango siya. Ayaw rin niyang may makarinig na iba sa topic nila. And the attack on Narguille was more important right now. "Promise me you'll tell me about the three... no, four gods. And tell me why my family is involved in your mission."
"Promise. You'll see."
Nang makaalis ang binata ay muling nalubog sa pag-iisip ang dalaga. They had witch blood. Paano ba i-access ang kapangyarihang 'yun? Linus mentioned about the ritual called Channeling. Sinu-sino pa ang nakakaalam tungkol sa ritual na 'yun? At paano iyun nalaman ng mga masasamang witches na pakalat-kalat ngayon sa bayan nila? Katulad na lang ni Keon Drepan na nagtangkang pumatay sa kanya.
At bakit kailangang hindi nila kakampi ang mga witches? Bakit hindi mabuti ang mga ito katulad ni Linus?
At bakit inaatake ngayon ng three gods... well, three Purebloods ang kanilang bayan?
"Isip. Isip," anang dalaga habang nakatingin sa karagatan.
Inalala niya iyung araw na dinala siya ni Reid sa Holy Mountain. So, those homeless people served as food to those Purebloods. It was their feeding time.
Naalala niyang ang lakas ng ulan noon. Galit na galit ang langit nang araw na 'yun. But the typhoon stopped after Reid sacrificed those homeles people.
Gustong masuka ni Fenris dahil tila hinalukay ang kanyang mga bituka sa nalaman.
It wasn't only horrendous but also monstrous.
At hindi na nga niya napigilan ang sarili. Tumilapon sa dagat ang lahat ng kinain niya sa araw na 'yun. Ang sama ng pakiramdam niya na parang gusto na niyang mawalan ng malay.
If only she would lose consciousness now and wake up later when everything was fine. That was very selfish of her and cowardly but the awful things that the Order had been doing for a long long time was just too much to bear.
"Hala! Ang bilis naman ni Knight Blood. Buntis na agad?"
Napalingon si Fenris sa lalaking biglang nagsalita sa likuran n'ya. Ilang beses pa siyang napakurap upang maaninag ang mukha nito.
"Fen? Are you okay?" There was a second voice.
She realized that Elliot was the first one and Kilmar was the other one.
Bakit magkasama ang dalawang 'to?
Naramdaman niya ang pag-alalay ni Kilmar sa kanya at agad siyang yumakap dito.
"Fen, let's go to your cabin," mahina nitong sabi.
"No, no. I'm fine," huminga siya ng malalim.
"You're gross," ani Elliot saka siya inabutan ng bottled water. "Akin sana 'yan pero mukhang kailangan mong mag-gargle."
Walang hiya-hiya na tinanggap iyun ng dalaga saka nagmumog. Pagkatapos ay ibinalik n'ya iyun kay Elliot kaya napangiwi ito.
"You serious?" taas-kilay nitong tanong.
"Ang sungit," aniya. "Bakit ba kayo magkasama? Bakit hindi si Kruz ang kasama mo?"
"May iniutos si Knight Blood kay Kruz," sagot ng kanyang kaibigan. "Sigurado kang hindi mo kailangang humiga?"
Tumango siya. "I'm fine."
"Ano ba'ng nangyari?"
Sinulyapan n'ya muna si Elliot bago siya umiling. "Just seasick. Malapit na ba tayong makabalik sa Narguille?"
"A couple more days. Nakatanggap uli ng message si Knight Blood n'ong nakasalubong namin s'ya. Galing yata rito sa'yo."
Napatango si Fenris. Buti na lang talaga sinabi nitong hindi safe na pag-usapan nila ang tungkol sa history ng Narguille. O baka naman nakita nito na paparating sina Kilmar kaya ito umalis.
"Ano raw 'yung message?"
"Hindi ko alam. Nagpunta na sila agad nina Kruz, Folk at Big Arm sa captain. Parang urgent kaya mukhang mas ipapabilis pa n'ya ang takbo ng barko."
Nag-aalala na talaga si Fenris sa kung anumang nangyayari sa Narguille ngayon. Ano'ng klaseng atake ba ang ginagawa ng mga Pureblood na nasa loob ng kweba three hours away from their capital city, Saas?
O baka naman nakatakas ang mga ito at ngayon ay naghahasik ng lagim sa buong kontinente.
Her parents... her sister...
"Sa tingin n'yo, inaatake ba tayo ng mga foreign invaders?" tanong ni Elliot. For the first time hindi menacing ang tono ng boses nito. Talagang nag-aalala ito sa kung anumang nangyayari sa bayan nila.
"Hindi natin alam. Kung may alam si Knight Blood, hindi niya sinasabi sa atin," sagot ni Kilmar.
Hindi nagkomento si Fenris pero dahan-dahang tiningnan siya ng dalawang lalaki.
"What?" aniya.
"May nasabi ba s'ya sa'yo?" tanong ni Elliot.
"Bakit naman siya may sasabihin sa akin?"
"Stop it, Paynes. Alam ng lahat na may namamagitan sa inyong dalawa. Halata masyado ang concern n'ya sa'yo," dagdag ng lalaki kaya pinanlakihan niya ng mga mata si Kilmar para tulungan siya nitong mag-deny pero nagkibit lang ito ng balikat.
"Just to make myself clear, walang namamagitan sa amin. We're just friends..."
Sabay na umikot ang mga mata ng dalawang lalaki na tila pinag-praktisan talaga ang reaksyon na 'yun.
"At wala akong alam. Kung ano'ng alam n'yo, 'yun din ang alam ko," pagsisinungaling n'ya. May dahilan kung bakit hindi pa sinasabi ni Knight Blood sa iba ang tungkol sa atake ng kanilang gods.
"Wait, wait. You feel that?" nakiramdam sila dahil sa sinabi ni Elliot.
Mas bumilis nga ang takbo ng barko at naging mas magalaw kaya kumapit sila sa handrail.
"With this pace, makakabalik tayo in five hours sa Narguille," sigaw ni Kilmar dahil mas lumakas ang hangin.
Kinakabahan man ay hindi maikakailang naku-curious din si Fenris sa anumang kapangyarihan ng tatlong Purebloods. At sinu-sino ba ang mga ito? Bakit ikinulong ang mga ito ni Desmond Harfeld centuries ago?
Palapit sila nang palapit sa kanilang bayan hanggang sa tuluyan na nga nila itong nakita. Medyo malayo pa man sila ay huminto na ang barko.
Agad na napanganga sina Fenris, Kilmar at Elliot sa nakikita. They could see a few mountain tops, they could see the glistening Castle of St. Harfeld, they could see tall buildings...
And they could see smoke. Smoke everywhere.
Naramdaman ni Fenris ang pagdating nina Knight Blood at iba pang mga Apprentices. Tumayo sa tabi niya ang Knight.
"I can hear people. I can hear their cries," hindi makapaniwalang sambit ng dalaga.
"I used a spell to hasten the travel but we're still late," mahina nitong sabi.
"Linus," maluha-luhang hinarap niya ang lalaki sabay hawak sa braso nito. Wala na siyang pakialam kung makita sila ng ibang mga kasama nila. "My family..."
Muli siyang lumingon sa bayan at kahit na medyo malayo pa sila ay naririnig pa rin niya ang malakas na iyakan at sigawan ng mga tao.
And there were constant explosions. Mas lumalala ang apoy at usok na nakikita n'ya.
Ipinatong nito ang kaliwang kamay sa mga kamay niya. "They're fine. They're perfectly fine. I can see them," sagot nito kaya nakahinga siya ng maluwag.
She believed him. He wouldn't want anything bad to happen to his bestfriend, right? If he said Maryan was safe, then she was safe. And her parents were his allies. He wouldn't allow them to get hurt either.
"Ano na'ng gagawin natin?" tanong ni Elliot. Saglit itong tumingin sa mga kamay nila pero hindi na ito nagkomento.
"I have to tell you something," anang Knight at agad na bumitaw si Fenris dito. It was time to talk about business.
Agad na pinalibutan nila ang Knight.
"The attacks are not from the foreign invaders. The attacks are from the three gods."
Napasinghap ang mga kasama nila. Fenris remained quiet.
"But... But how is that possible?" ani Folk.
"They're angry. Very angry," vague na sagot ni Linus.
"Bakit?" ani Big Arm.
"Because the Order has been their enemy since the beginning. Everything will be revealed to you in the right time. Sa ngayon, you have to do your best to protect the people of Narguille. They are our priority."
"So, ano na ang gagawin natin?" tanong ni Kruz.
"Wait for my order," sagot ni Linus saka muling humarap sa direksyon ng Narguille. Naningkit ang mga mata nito at alam ni Fenris na tinitingnan nito kung ano ang nangyayari sa bayan gamit ang remote viewing nito.
"Let's prepare our weapons," ani Kilmar at agad naman nilang ginawa iyun habang nanatiling nakatingin sa bayan si Linus.
Dalawang daggers ang inihanda ni Fenris, mahabang espada naman kay Kruz, bow and arrow kay Kilmar, daggers din kina Elliot at Folk at mas pinili ni Big Arm na dumepende sa lakas ng malaki nitong braso.
Well, ano ba naman kasi ang laban nila sa gods 'di ba? Iyun ang pagkakaalam ng iba. But Fenris knew they had deadlier enemies. These captured Purebloods were pissed. Gods could be lenient but Purebloods who were kept in captivity for centuries wouldn't be as forgiving.
"Everyone!" biglang sigaw ni Linus.
Agad silang naging alerto.
"We're going in."
Napahigpit ang hawak ni Fenris sa kanyang daggers.
—-
Halos mabingi ang dalaga sa lakas ng mga pagsabog habang naglalakad sila sa deserted na eskinita. Nakalabas na sila ng seaport at dinig nila ang sigawan at iyakan. Mas nakakapanindig balahibo ang mga naririnig nila.
Loud clangs of weapons clashing could be heard everywhere.
"Bakit wala akong makita ni isang tao?" mahinang bulong ni Kilmar na nasa likuran niya.
Hindi siya sumagot. She didn't know why. Saan galing itong mga sigawan? Nasaan ang mga mamamayan? Nasaan ang mga Knights?
The buildings were destroyed, alright. Nakakalat sa daan ang mga debris. May apoy, usok at alikabok sa lahat ng direksyon.
Dahan-dahan at maingat ang kanilang mga hakbang habang mas pumapasok pa sila sa sentro ng bayan.
Mas lumalakas din ang sigawan at ingay ng mga weapons.
Pinagpawisan ang mga kamay ni Fenris habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa kanyang daggers.
"What the?" halos sabay-sabay nilang bulalas sabay tayo ng tuwid.
Hindi sila nakakilos dahil sa nakita. Hindi sila makapaniwala kung ano ang nangyayari sa bayan. Bumagsak pa sa lapag ang espada ni Elliot.
"Uhm...? What the hell?" 'yun lang ang nasambit ni Kilmar.
Sa harapan nila ay ang mga Knights, suot ang kanilang itim na cloak, fighting each other. They were literally killing each other. Habang may ibang nakikipaglaban sa hangin. They were also the ones crying out loud.
No civilians around. Just the Knights fighting fiercely with one another.
***
@immrsbryant