Halos mabaliw si Maryan nang tuluyang nawala si Fenris sa paningin nila. She didn't even cry. Her sister didn't even scream. Basta lang itong naglaho.
"Fen!" all she could do was scream and cry. Halos hindi na niya marinig ang kanyang mga magulang at si Kilmar na pareho niyang naghihinagpis.
Hindi ito pwede! Hindi pwedeng mawala si Fenris.
"Fen!" she tried to reach for her sister from the inside of the freaking liquid but someone grabbed her shoulders to stop her kaya agad siyang nagpumiglas.
"Maryan, she's gone. She's gone," humihikbing sambit ng kanilang ama na nakayakap sa kanyang balikat.
Warin screamed and fell on her knees. "Ang anak ko."
Elliot looked so shocked, he couldn't move.
Kilmar was on the ground, curled and weeping.
"She's not gone," mahinang sambit ni Maryan saka yumakap sa ama. Sabay pa silang lumuhod para mayakap ang ina niya.
The young people, Mr. Meadows and Beau stayed quiet. Hindi rin makapaniwala ang mga ito sa nangyari.
Hindi maaaring wala na ang kapatid n'ya. Fenris should not die. She didn't deserve to die.
Wala siyang magawa kundi ang umiyak habang yakap ang kanyang mga magulang.
"Ahhh!!!" gulat na napalingon si Maryan sa kanyang bestfriend na muntik na niyang makalimutan at mas sumikip ang dibdib niya nang makitang umiiyak ito habang patuloy sa pagsuntok sa shield.
Lee was sobbing!
Mas binilisan nito ang pagsuntok hanggang sa dumugo na ang mga kamao nito. He couldn't even grieve properly because he still needed to save them.
Maryan straightened when the cracks lengthened and blue lights seeped through them.
"Ahhh!!!" one last punch and the Grand Knight's shield exploded to pieces. The dome was gone together with the black liquid that surrounded them a few moments ago.
Walang pag-aalinlangan na tumalon uli si Linus, this time, he landed behind the Grand Knight who looked shocked. Pero agad itong nakabawi at hinarap si Linus.
"I'm going to kill you," anang binata bago mabilis na nagpunta sa likuran ng Grand Knight. Without warning, Linus broke the man's forearms.
The Grand Knight howled in pain. Not only was the injury a torment but also, he couldn't cast a spell anymore.
"Lee, don't kill him!" luhaang sigaw ni Maryan. Mabilis siyang tumayo at tinakbo ang direksyon ng kanyang kaibigan na kay pula na nang mga mata. She even saw his fangs. "Lee!"
Umiling si Linus bago ibinaon ang mga pangil sa leeg ng Grand Knight.
Maryan covered her mouth and wept quietly. She understood him though. She felt the same pain of losing the person they loved so much. She knew they could never fully recover for losing Fenris. They would mourn her until they draw their last breath.
The Grand Knight screamed, his arms flapping like a fish on land. But Linus didn't stop. He intended to kill the man.
"Fenris!"
Natigilan si Maryan nang marinig ang sigaw ni Kilmar na sinundan ng sigawan ng kanyang mga magulang. Mabilis na napalingon ang babae sa pinanggalingan ng gulo habang napatigil naman si Linus. He lifted his eyes and looked at the direction of the commotion.
Mabilis na humakbang si Maryan palapit sa mga nagkakagulo.
Linus let go of the Grand Knight who fell on the ground, weak and almost drained of blood. Mabibilis din ang mga hakbang nito nang lumapit kina Mr. and Mrs. Paynes.
"W-What do you think is going on?" kabadong tanong ni Maryan.
"I'm scared to look..." mahinang sagot ng kanyang kaibigan at bahagya ngang bumagal ang mga hakbang nito.
"Lee... it must be Fenris. Maybe she's fine," aniya though she doubted it. She could hear her parents' agony.
"Ayokong umasa, Yani," Linus completely stopped on his tracks.
Tumigil na rin si Maryan pero rinig niya ang hiyaw ng kanyang mga magulang. She wanted to see what was going on so bad but like Linus, she was terrified. She wasn't ready to see the state her sister was in.
"Lee," hinawakan n'ya ang mga kamay ng kanyang bestfriend. His eyes were red not because he was a vampire but because he had been crying.
Pinipiga ang puso n'ya sa nakikita. Linus didn't cry. Linus was strong even when they met six years ago. Bata pa ito nang malayo sa pamilya at nagpunta roon para sa isang mapanganib na mission.
He was brave. Strong.
But he cried because of Fenris. Ni hindi nito magawang humakbang dahil sa takot.
"I can't even use my remote viewing. I'm so scared to see her situation."
Maryan understood.
Nakapalibot ang kanyang mga magulang, si Kilmar, Elliot at iyung witch ng Grand Knight na tumulong sa kanila sa isang katawan na hindi gumagalaw.
Maryan knew in her heart that it was Fenris.
Linus tightened his grip on her. Nanlalamig pa ang mga kamay nito.
—-
Literal na pinipiga ang puso ni Linus habang naririnig ang mga palahaw ng mga magulang ni Fenris.
He loved who he was. He enjoyed being a witch and a vampire. The downside of being the latter was feeling the intensity of emotions.
As of this moment, the pain in his chest was indescribable. He could almost hear the tearing and breaking of his own heart. It was too much that it consumed him. Lahat ng parte ng katawan niya ay tila paulit-ulit na sinasaksak ng libu-libong kutsilyo.
His judgment was blurry. His surroundings were unclear.
He couldn't save her because she wanted him to save everyone else. She wanted him to choose all these people instead of her.
He couldn't go against her wishes and it pained him.
Now, after the adrenaline rush, he couldn't function.
Hindi niya matanggap na nawala ang babaeng mahal na mahal niya nang wala man lang siyang nagawa para iligtas ito.
"Lee..." he saw how Yani held his hands as if they were each other's lifeline but he couldn't feel her touch.
He was numb but he also felt the agony of losing Fenris at the same time.
"Lee!" niyugyog na siya nito kaya pinilit niya ang sariling makinig kahit na mahirap. "She's alive."
What? What did she say?
"Fen is alive!" maluha-luhang ulit ni Yani at bigla na lamang siyang hinila palapit sa mga nagkakagulo nilang mga kasama.
But he didn't understand what she said. Para kasing dahan-dahan ang pagbabalik ng kanyang senses.
Then he saw her. He saw Fenris.
Nanigas ang kanyang buong katawan and Yani howled before dropping beside her sister.
Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakikita. Ang sikip-sikip ng dibdib niya.
She was alive alright. Her breathing was shallow but steady. But she was covered in black tar and her whole body was burned. Lapnos ang balat nito maging ang mukha.
Linus shivered. He couldn't imagine the pain she was going through.
Walang salita na tumakbo siya papasok ng castle. Narinig n'ya pa ang sigaw ni Maryan.
But he had to leave.
—-
Fenris tried to open her eyes. Mahirap. At ang sakit ng buo niyang katawan. Ni hindi siya makakilos.
Ano'ng nangyari? Kani-kanina lang ay kinain siya n'ong itim na likido ng Grand Knight. The pain was unbearable hanggang sa nawalan siya ng malay.
She thought she was dead.
Pero bakit naririnig niya ang iyakan at sigawan ng kanyang pamilya?
Bakit niya narinig ang sigaw ni Maryan para tawagin si Linus?
Ginamit n'ya yata ang lahat ng lakas niya para lang mabuksan ang isang mata at nakita n'ya nga si Linus na mabilis na tumakbo palayo.
Bakit?
"B-Baka nabigla lang, Maryan. Hayaan mo muna," mahinang sabi ng Mama n'ya na siyang may kandong ng ulo niya.
"Beau, pwede mo ba siyang gamutin?" boses naman iyun ni Kilmar.
Sino'ng Beau? Hindi yata masyadong gumagaba ang utak n'ya ngayon.
"I gave all my energy to Knight Blood. I don't have enough to heal a single cut," mahinang sagot ng lalaking mukhang pamilyar kay Fenris.
"A-Ako rin..." mahinang sambit ni Maryan.
"Paano ba? Kaya ko 'yan," ani Elliot.
"You can't heal someone without learning the spells first. Human body is fragile. If you patch the wrong nerves together, mas magiging malala ang kondisyon ng pasyente," sagot ni Beau.
"Ano na ang gagawin natin?" hopeless na tanong ng Papa n'ya.
How she wished she could assure them she felt fine but she couldn't move her mouth. And she wasn't fine.
And Linus left her.
Nandiri ba ito sa kanya?
Ano ba kasi ang itsura n'ya? She knew something was wrong with her body. Deformed na ba s'ya?
At ang hapdi ng buong katawan n'ya.
She tried to talk pero tanging ungol lang ang ingay na lumalabas sa bibig n'ya.
"We have to do something. She's in pain," boses iyun ni Maryan.
She was in too much pain. Totoo 'yun.
"Bakit umalis kasi si Linus?" galit naman ang boses ni Kilmar.
He really left. He left her.
Ni hindi niya magawang lumuha kahit ang sakit-sakit ng puso n'ya.
Didn't he say he loved her? Bakit siya nito iniwan?
But she didn't hate him though. She wasn't angry at him. Naiintindihan niya ito. May karapatan itong gawin ang gusto nito. He had the right to feel what he felt.
Bumigat ang pakiramdam n'ya and it wasn't because of her heartache. May mali sa katawan n'ya.
"She has third degree burns. Kailangan siyang malinisan bago maging infected ang mga sugat n'ya. She can also suffer organ failure," ani Beau. Oh Beau. Naalala na niya kung sino ito.
"Paano? Everywhere I touch, lapnos ang balat n'ya," anang Mama n'ya.
She must looked hideous kaya tumakbo palayo sa kanya si Linus.
"I don't know but she needs cleaning," ani Beau.
"Tabi! Tabi!" It was a frantic voice.
Linus!
Gumaan agad ang pakiramdam ng dalaga. He came back. Nakonsensya ba ito?
"Saan ka galing?" singhal ni Maryan.
"I have to make my healing salve in a hurry. She needs to be healed before infection," seryosong sagot ni Linus na lumuhod sa tabi n'ya.
Fenris could open her right eye at kita n'ya ang panic sa mukha nito. Medyo pawisan pa. Mukha itong pagod na pagod at takot na takot.
"Hey, love, ipapahid ko ang salve sa buo mong katawan," malambing na bulong ni Linus sa kanya at impit na napaungol si Fenris bilang sagot.
"I'll help," ani Maryan.
Tumalikod ang mga kasama nila nang sinimulan ni Linus ang pagpahid ng salve sa mukha n'ya at agad siyang nakaramdam ng ginhawa.
Titig na titig siya sa binata na masyadong seryoso sa paggagamot sa kanya.
"You're going to be okay, anak," anang Mama n'ya na tahimik na lumuluha.
Pilit na ngumiti si Fenris at nagulat siya nang nagawa n'ya 'yun.
"Oh, you're getting better na, anak," anang Papa naman niya at agad na napatingin si Linus sa kanya. She saw relief on his face bago nito ipinagpatuloy ang panggagamot sa kanya.
—-
Fenris felt a lot better. Dinala siya ni Linus sa kwarto nito sa loob ng castle para makapaglinis siya ng katawan. Naiwan naman sa labas ang kanyang pamilya at iba pa nilang mga kasama para ayusin anuman ang dapat ayusin doon.
Hindi siya makapaniwalang nalampasan n'ya ang lahat ng 'yun sa loob lang ng isang araw.
She really was a survivor and it would have been impossible without Linus.
Nawala na ang hapdi sa buong katawan n'ya maliban sa kanyang kanang balikat na sadyang hindi ginamot ni binata.
"You have your old scar there. I don't want to accidentally heal it," sabi nito na patagilid na nakasandal sa nakabukas na pintuan ng silid nito.
He remembered how she valued that burn scar from when she saved the Grand Knight and the Master Knight months ago. Why did it feel like years ago?
Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa tuwalyang nakatapis sa katawan niya. Nakaupo siya sa gilid ng kama ng binata dahil kakatapos lang niyang mag-shower. Linus advised her to clean up to remove the deadly tar that burned her.
"Here," lumapit sa kanya ang binata at iniabot sa kanya ang kinuha nitong t-shirt na puti, itim na pants, underwear at itim na boots na kinuha nito sa kwarto n'ya.
"Thanks," mabilis siyang nagbihis at tumalikod naman ito. "Done."
Nilingon naman siya nito at agad siyang sinugod ng yakap. "I thought I lost you. I couldn't accept it."
"I'm here," aniya na mahigpit na nakayakap dito. Her face on his broad chest.
Mas humigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya kaya napangiwi s'ya kaya agad itong bumitaw. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Tiningnan niya ang kanyang balikat. "You can heal it now. I don't want any reminder of the Grand Knight and Knight Hood will stay here," aniya na napahawak sa kanyang dibdib.
Tumango si Linus saka pinahiran ang ng salve ang balikat n'ya. His touch was gentle. Maingat.
Napangiti si Fenris. "Hindi mo ako iniwan."
Kumunot naman ang noo nito. "Bakit naman kita iiwan eh mahal kita?"
Mas lumawak ang ngiti n'ya. "Mahal din kita."
Kahit papaano ay nagawa nang umangat ang gilid ng labi ng binata. Kanina pa kasi ito seryoso.
"Lumabas na tayo. We have to deal with the Grand Knight."
Muli nanamang sumeryoso ang binata dahil sa sinabi n'ya kaya hinawakan n'ya nang mahigpit ang mga kamay nito.
Hindi pa tapos. May kailangan pa silang ayusin.
—-
The Grand Knight was slumped on the ground. Nanghihina ito dahil halos ma-drain ni Linus ang dugo nito. But he was conscious at kanina pa masama ang tingin nito kay Maryan.
Maryan and her parents looked down at the man.
"I despise you," nanginginig sa galit na sabi ni Maryan. Dito ba nanggaling ang dugo n'ya?
Nakakahiya! Nakakasuklam!
"Ah! I heard you're my daughter. I should have tried harder to kill you," anang Grand Knight at napangiwi ito nang ipatong ni Maryan ang paa sa nabali nitong mga braso.
"Anak," saway ng Mama niya kaya umatras ang babae.
"Kung ako ang masusunod, papatayin kitang hayop ka," sabi naman ni Juy, his jaw clenched.
"Bakit hindi ikaw ang masusunod? Hindi ba ikaw ang padre de pamilya? Bakit sunud-sunuran ka?" the Grand Knight mocked and laughed pero agad iyung naputol nang tumama sa mukha nito ang sipa ni Warin na nanginginig sa galit.
"Don't you dare insult my husband! Ni wala ka sa kalingkingan n'ya. Ikaw ang walang-silbi sa lipunan. You are a parasite! Salot!"
Saglit na natahimik ang Grand Knight pero hindi nagtagal ay tumawa uli ito. "Ako ang salot? Binigyan ko kayo ng magandang buhay! Ang mga Grand Knights at ang Order ang nagbigay sa inyo ng buhay. Wala kayong mga utang na loob! Kami ang bayani sa bayang ito! Kayo ang mga kaaway ng kabutihan! Kayo ang mga anak ng kasamaan!"
Hindi makapaniwalang napailing na lang si Maryan. Naniniwala pa rin ang lalaki na ito ang tama. Na ito ang protagonist sa kwentong ito.
"I will go down in history as a hero," anitong nakangisi.
"Oh, sisiguraduhin kong hindi mangyayari 'yan," boses iyun ni Linus kaya napalingon dito si Maryan. Napangiti siya nang makita kung sino ang kahawak-kamay nito.
"Fen!" she ran to her sister at gan'on din ang kanilang mga magulang. Nagyakap sila habang tumatawa.
"You are going down in history as the villain and the weakest of all Grand Knights. Your Order fell under your reign. How damaging is that to your reputation," sabi ni Linus na nag-squat pa sa harapan ng Grand Knight at bumaha ang galit sa mukha nito.
"You, ungrateful brat. Ano pa ba ang ginagawa ninyo? Kill me already! Mahihina ba kayo at hindi n'yo kaya?"
"Hindi kami katulad mo. You're going to rot in the dungeon. You are going to suffer for a long long time in the dark," ani Linus saka tumayo.
"Wala pala kayo. Makikita ninyong lahat, babangon muli ang Order. Magwawagi ang katarungan!"
—-
Fenris was enjoying her family's embrace when the Grand Knight suddenly screamed in pain.
Noong una, akala n'ya sinaktan ito ni Linus pero nakita n'yang nagulat din ang binata lalo na nang biglang lumutang sa ere ang mabigat na lalaki.
"Goodness," sambit ni Maryan nang makita kung sinu-sino ang tatlong kakarating lang.
Gregory Bloodworth was in the middle, sa kanan nito ay si Ciro Brigham at sa kabila si Draven Horton.
"Ibaba mo ako, walanghiya ka, mamamatay-tao!" sigaw ng Grand Knight pero agad iyung nasundan ng atungal nito.
Gregory Bloodworth broke the Grand Knight's legs. Fenris even heard the bones snapping.
Gusto n'yang takpan ang mga tenga n'ya pero hindi niya magawa. Parang nahihipnotismo si Fenris sa ginagawa ng Pureblood.
The Grand Knight screamed again. Akala ng dalaga ay may buto nanaman itong nabali pero mukhang kakaiba ang nangyayari rito. He was looking straight ahead as if seeing something. Then Fenris realized that Ciro might be giving the Grand Knight a vision. He was crying quietly. And it looked like Draven is manipulating his emotions to feel indescribable sadness because he cried in agony after a few minutes.
All of these happened while the Grand Knight was suspended in the air.
"We may be monsters but we don't kill out of enjoyment. Your Order have not only killed thousands of Purebloods, women, men, children but also your mortal citizens who couldn't fatten your pockets," ani Gregory.
The Grand Knight was not moving and his face was still blank but he responded. "You killed those mortals."
Fenris gasped. Of course alam na niya ang bagay na 'yun. Isinama nga siya ni Reid nang isang beses during feeding time. He threw those homeless mortals into the cave where screams were heard but abruptly stopped in a matter of seconds. Pero kahit na alam na niya 'yun ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala.
"When Otillie was alive, those people the Order threw inside the cave lived. Pinapalabas sila ni Otillie when Ciro, Draven and I had enough to survive.
When she passed, we lost our way. Aaminin namin na iilang inosenteng mamamayan nga ng Narguille ang napatay namin. Then Linus found us six years ago. This twelve-year old boy helped us recover our sanity back. We managed to let our preys live again. I believe Linus took them to the beach to let his brother Cole take them."
Proud na napatingin si Fenris kay Linus na tahimik lang na nakikinig. She had no idea how much he had done for this land. For her people.
He was here for his people but he didn't abandon hers. How she loved him.
"I did what's best for my country. I did it because I am their supreme leader and I am their hero," tila nahihirapang sabi ng Grand Knight.
Napailing na lang si Fenris. Hanggang ngayon, naniniwala pa rin ito na isa itong bayani. How misguided could he be?
"They will come back to me. They will bow to me just like before. They will shower me with gifts and praises because they worship me. I am their savior as long as I live," the Grand Knight declared, his voice was full of conviction. He really believed he was god.
Nakakalungkot na hindi nito makita kung anu-ano ang mga pinaggagawa nito.
"Tandaan ninyo, babangon muli ang Order of the Purple Lily at lahat kayo ay yuyuko sa amin. Hanggat buhay ako, buhay din ang Order."
"Then we'll make sure that you're not alive," biglang sinabi ni Gregory.
Then Fenris heard a snap. A bone cracking.
Lahat sila ay napasinghap nang bigla na lamang bumagsak ang Grand Knight. His neck looked disjointed. He landed on an awkward angle but he didn't move.
Fenris was so confused. Was the Grand Knight dead?
"He needed to die," napalingon silang lahat kay Gregory. Madilim ang anyo nito na para bang labag din sa loob nito ang ginawa. "Hanggang buhay siya, buhay rin ang pag-asang muli niyang ibabangon ang Order. We didn't want that."
Napatingin si Fenris kay Linus at nakita n'yang nakatitig din ito sa kanya kaya mabilis siyang lumapit dito nang buksan nito ang dalawang mga braso.
It was easy for her to fit her body in his embrace as if she really belonged there.
Sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari, her heart was light for the first time in months. Para siyang nabunutan ng tinik.
Mas humigpit ang yakap ni Linus sa kanya.
They survived this war. Fenris was given another chance to live, she would live her life meaningfully.
"I love you," bulong ni Linus sa kanya at wala na siyang mahihiling pa.
***
@immrsbryant