Chapter 111: Removing Crimson
"What is happening? Tell me!"
Umalingawngaw ang aking tinig sa mansion ng mga Lumier. Good thing the Lumier's were not around, only the guy who brought me at such place; Gleeson Aiden. He looks so guilty and sad, dark and gloomy aura is covering his entirety. He looks unsure of what to do, and he looks frustrated. Mas lalo pa siyang nafufrustrate sa mga pagsigaw ko sa kaniya.
I am getting confused, and it's making me weak. Kanina lamang ay nakatayo ako habang binubulyawan si Gleeson, ngunit paunti-unti ay nanghihina ako at ngayon nga'y nakaupo na ako sa sofa habang nakatayo si Gleeson sa harap ko. He's sweating hard, I never thought a vampire could sweat this hard. Meaning he's under a very hard situation, just like Intrepid Dauntless. Both of them are under a situation they couldn't just sneak out so easy.
My breathing is uneven, I am really tensed and it's crapping the hell out of me making me weaker than usual. Naramdaman ko ang pag-aalala ni Gleeson dahil kanina niya pa ako pinapakalma.
"Luna, please calm down..."
I tried my best to stand up. Dinuro-duro ko pa ang kaniyang dibdib, "How can I? Pupugutan ba talaga ng ulo si Intrepid? Sagutin mo ko!"
"Y—yes,"
Ganoon na lamang ako nagitla, nahinto ako sa pagduro ng kaniyang dibdib. Naghuramentado ang puso ko, pakiramdam ko'y hihimatayin ako anumang oras dahil sa tensyon. Alam kong hindi marunong magbiro ang mga bampira lalo na ang council, ngunit hindi ko kayang maniwala. Pupugutan daw ng ulo si Intrepid! Kahit na parang hinihila ako ng mundo palayo sa maharlikang iyon, pilit namang bumabalik ang puso ko sa kaniya sa pinaka imposibleng paraan.
Ayokong maniwala, ang lalaking pakiramdam ko'y sobra kong mahal ay pupugutan ng ulo. Ngunit bakit?
"Why?"
Gleeson is now on his knees. Nakaluhod na siya sa aking harapan. His face touching my feet, his hands caressing it like a servant. My heart clenched, this is hurting me even more. I feel like getting mad right at the moment, but seeing him break down like this breaks my heart into pieces. Now I don't know what to do, this world is so frustrating and these people will be the death of me.
Intrepid Dauntless for giving me confusions about my feelings. Now he's about to get beheaded. And Gleeson Aiden on his knees begging for forgiveness. I could also add Kentson Ferdinand for visiting my mind and making everything more complicated. Are these royals playing on me? Am I the unconscious victim here? Baka naman planado na 'tong lahat upang baliwin ako, pagkatapos ay bibigay ako at magpipyesta sila?
Now I'm overthinking...and this is too much.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." He said on his knees, I can feel his anxiousness.
I trembled, "Why? Ikaw ba ang nagpapapugot ng ulo niya?"
"No!" He exclaimed and looked at me with broken stares, "It's just that...I am the reason of your confusions and queries. It's time to remove the crimson spell. I'm sorry for putting it to you, I thought it was the best move to keep you safe. To keep you away from Intrepid."
"What?"
He did not answer my question. Sa halip ay tumayo siya at hinawakan ang aking noo. Mapait siyang ngumiti atsaka pumikit. Ganoon na lamang ako kabilis na napaluha nang makita ang luha sa kaniyang mga mata. Nakakahawa ang kaniyang lungkot, sobrang nakakahawa na gusto ko na lamang siyang yakapin. Ngunit nanatili ako sa pagkakatayo at hinayaan siya sa kaniyang gagawin.
He looks really sad, "May the Lumier's forgive me. But I can't stand watching your suffer more." He whispered very low that I did not understand even the most lucid word.
And then suddenly, my dilated when as I felt my forehead hurt as fuck. Nanghina ako at natumba, ngunit kaagad niya rin akong nasalo na animo'y inaasahan na ang aking panghihina. Mabilis niya akong niyakap, pagkatapos ay naramdaman ko ang kaniyang pag-iyak sa aking dibdib.
"Crimson spell is gone, you are free now, my lady..." He whispered while sobbing on my chest.
I just froze there trying to compose myself and understand everything. Sa pagkakataong iyon matapos ang sobrang sakit na naramdaman ko sa aking ulo ay napasigaw ako nang ang katawan ko naman ang hinataw ng sakit. Ganoon na lamang ako napaigtad at napasigaw. It was too painful that if not for Gleeson Aiden's embrace, I will dance like and idiot and arch too much that everyone who sees me would think of me as a psycho.
I screamed and yelled and wailed in pain. My voice thundered the big hall, it went across the mansion and I am pretty sure everyone who's around could hear my agony. It's so hard that I find difficulty in breathing, the pain is consuming me. Burning fire was traipsing my veins making me feel a very hot sensation of extreme pain.
And that pain did not stop, it became worse instead when memories flashed in my mind. Everything, as in everything that I used to forget when I was still under that Crimson spell. Everything I used to be filled my mind. I gasped for air, I arched for strength, but it was never enough because the pain was too consuming that my eyes rolled back with tears.
"Nemesis Luna. My beautiful daughter." I literally teared up when I saw my mom, "You're too beautiful that you might summon some majestic creatures. My beautiful daughter."
"Ate!" And then I saw Python. My younger brother.
"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa inyong bawal kayong maglaro sa puno ng Daru? Mga pasaway!" And then my grandfather flashed in my mind with his unknown words, "Amo man adi aagyan sadi, lubak-lubak. Kuno na raw matigrak ading matris 'ta!"
And then Matron Grasya with Bree and Pyra appeared on my mind smiling and waving at me making my heart clenched. It's been so long since I last saw them, since I last joined them, how are they?
"Ang ganda mo, binibini."
Just then Darius appeared, "I like your scent!"
I cried my heart out when the important persons in my life flashed in my memory. Mas lalo pa akong napahagulgol nang lumitaw sa aking paningin ang dalawang lalaking sobrang-sobra naging parte ng buhay ko. At kung wala sila'y hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko habang naglalakbay ako para sa misyon kong hindi natuloy-tuloy.
"Lady Nemesis is mine!" Kentson in his majestic aura said with a victorious smirk.
But the ever victorious man with him clicked his tongue and stared at me so possessive that my world stopped only to stare at him, "Now, now, my goddess. Where have you been? I'm looking for you all over this wilds. Have you already forgotten that I marked you and you are mine?" He has this mischievous and sheepish smile once again, but it turned into a soft one that melted my heart that instant, "Need I remind you that even in our next and next lives, you're mine and you'll still always be mine. Sa akin ka lang, Nemesis Luna." I teared up when he slowly vanished from my sight together with everyone, "Ah, you're Nemesis Dauntless. My ever loving wife. Come here, my goddess, my wife."
"I—Intrepid!" My eyes dilated when he slowly vanished. I tried running to him to get his hand, just then when I looked at everyone they're still smiling but their fading away.
Ganoon na lamang ako napaiyak at pilit ns inabot ang mga kamay ni Intrepid na hindi ko maabot-abot.
No, he's fading away. He's vanishing from my sight! The light is blinding me, but I don't want to close my eyes. Natatakot akong pagdilat ko'y hindi ko na siya makita, natatakot akong pag pumikit ako'y tuluyan na silang mawala at pagdilat ko'y maiwan na lang akong mag-isa. But it's too blinding that I cannot help but to cry as I close my eyes.
And when I opened my eyes in agonizing ambiance, they're gone.
"Intrepid!" I literally yelled when I pulled myself together in the real world. I blinked a hundred times, I panted so hard trying to catch my breath, I composed myself. "I—Intrepid..." I whispered when I realized it was all in my head.
They're all in my head because in reality, I am amidst Gleeson Aiden Lumier's embraces. Ganoon na lamang umusbong ang galit ko, matinding galit na pakiramdam ko'y nag-apoy ang aking pinakaloob-looban. Matinding galit na hindi ko napansin ang takot, hataw na galit na awtomatikong kumilos ang aking palad upang sampalin siya ng pagkalakas lakas.
My hands swayed to his cheeks hard and strong that I left a red mark. But I was furious and far from being scared, I am really mad for what he did to me. He took my freedom away, he fooled me!
"Walanghiya ka! Anong ginawa mo sa akin?"
I remember everything now. Maging ang katangahan ko sa ilalim ng sumpa ay naalala ko. Lahat lahat, maging ang nangyari sa amin ni Intrepid...at ang katotohanang pupugutan na ng ulo si Intrepid. Naalala ko ang lahat, walang pumapalya, maigi kong natatandaan ang lahat.
"Sorry," he kneeled once again. He's on his knees once again begging for my forgiveness after I slapped him that hard.
"Hayop ka, ano'ng ginawa mo? Bakit mo ako inilagay sa sumpang iyon? Para pahirapan si Intrepid sa pamamagitan ko? You are worse than him! There I thought you guys are good since you have good reputations than of the Dauntless. Tapos mali pala ako, maling-mali!" Sigaw ko at muli siyang hinataw ng hamaps, "You are a bunch of insecures!"
He tried to hug me but I pushed him away. The mighty Gleeson Aiden Lumier is breaking down in front of a human, in front of me. The person who dominated Adastreia Saffira is now on his knees begging for Nemesis Luna, kneeling and asking for my forgiveness.
"I'm sorry, forgive me. I just...I just love you, Luna." He said full of emotions.
I can feel his sincerity, and it's confusing me. But I can't get fooled this time. I need to get out this place and save Intrepid.
"I am Nemesis." Giit ko.
Tumayo siya at taranta akong hinarap, "Yes, yes, you are indeed my nemesis. I am now getting punished because of my wrong deeds before. You finally came, my karma."
"What?"
A tear fell from his eyes making me froze on my spot. Did he just...let out a tear? Is Gleeson Aiden Lumier crying? I blinked and just when I thought it was not real he shred another sad tear. I lost my words, I froze and my head went blank.
Candidate for Minister Gleeson Aiden is crying in front of me!
"You are literally our karma...and his justice. You are Nemesis, our nemesis." He said reaching for me, but I stepped back and it pained him even more.
"What the heck are you talking about? Dalhin mo na ako kay Intrepid, ngayon din!" Matigas kong saad, hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa acting niya, "Hindi mo ba alam na napakaraming araw ko nang nasayang dahil sa ginawa mo? Hindi ako napadpad dito sa mundong ito upang magliwaliw at paglaruan ninyo. Napunta ako dito para sa isang misyon at kinakailangan ko iyong matapos bago pa iyon ang tumapos sa akin! Ginawa mo akong tanga, Aiden. Hindi ka ba sa akin naawa? Hindi mo ba naisip ang kalagayan ko?"
Ganoon na lamang kabilis na nagsipatakan ang kaniyang mga luha. At sa oras na iyon ay nasisiguro kong hindi palabas dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagsisisi at katapatan sa bawat luhang pumapatak mula sa kaniyang mga mata.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me. Please, please, I love you so much my Luna. Forgive me, I'll do anything for you. Please forgive, I'll do anything."
I looked away and sighed, "Take me to Intrepid."
He was taken aback. He stopped crying and stared at me with dilated pupils. He tried grabbing my hand but he failed, "W—what? No!"
I narrowed my eyes on him and stare at him like a predator taking a prey to devour. And I spoke with determination and command in each words, "Take. me. to. him."
He swung his head repeatedly, "Hindi niya magugustuhan na dalhin kita doon. Pareho kayong mapapahamak! He's accused!"
"Then I'll prove the council wrong! I am a living proof that Intrepid Dauntless is a good man, he's far better than all of you! I will prove the council wrong about him, about the Dauntless clan. They are good people for freaks sake, they're not the best clan in this world for nothing! They're literally the best!" I bellowed back.
He got on his knees again, "Please, don't do this."
I know he's concerned about me, I can feel it. But I am concerned about Intrepid Dauntless, and I will do this. This was supposed to happen, the truth must be revealed. Intrepid Dauntless is innocent of the accusations yet he was punished at the tree of suffering. Now those who have sinned must take the consequences, and Intrepid Dauntless is far from being the bad guy. He deserves justice, and I will be his justice even if it means my own demise.
"I'm going to do this." I said in full determination, "Take me to him."