Some of the scenes contained mature theme. You can skip the part or read at your own risk.
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Chapter 31: Alpha's Mark
Nanatili ang tension sa bayan. Half of the orders were injured. Ang mga natira at maayos ang kalagayan ay salitan sa pagbabantay at pagpapatrolya sa bayan. Nag iingat ang halos lahat maging ang mga normal na taong naninirahan sa lugar. Ngayon lamang ulit nagkaroon ng ganito kalaking pag atake sa bayan.
Naging busy si Zander. Halos hindi ko na siya makausap. Aalis siya ng umaga at darating ng hating gabi. Minsan ay hindi na siya natutulog sa mansion. He stayed at the borders and campsites with the orders. Lumipas na ang mga araw pero hindi ko parin masabi sa kanya ang mga pangamba ko. Maaaring may kinalaman ako sa lahat ng nangyayari sa bayan, na alam ko kung sino ang nasa likod ng mga pag atakeng ito. Natatakot ako na totoo ang lahat ng sinasabi ng mga tao sa amin. This is what they were warning us about. I will bring destruction to Van Zanth. At natatakot ako na tuluyan makita ni Zander na totoo ang lahat ng sinasabi nila.
If I could only talk to that person. Ang lalake na may alam ng lahat ng ito. Ang outsider. Sinubukan kong muli siyang puntahan. He said last time he would wait for me there. Ngunit wala siya sa lugar na tinutukoy niya. Wala na akong pagkakataon na hanapin siya. Masyadong delikado kaya kinailangan kong umalis agad. Hindi ko maiwasang mangamba. Nahuli ba siya o bumalik siya sa bayan na pinangalingan niya? I hope it was the latter.
Kinabukasan matapos ang aking pagpunta sa border, nabalitaan ko mula kay Miss Loraine na may mga tagalabas na nahuli ang mga orders. Nakapasok ang mga ito sa north border. Kumakain kami ng almusal noong oras na yon. Halos malaglag ko ang hawak kong kobyertos. Tumigil ako sa pagkain.
"North border?" Tanong ko.
Tumango si Miss Loraine. "According to Sebastian there are at least three to five people."
"Saan sila nakadetain?"
Natigilan si Miss Loraine. I know it was odd for her to hear those words from me. Pero maaaring kasama sa mga taong yon ang lalakeng nakausap ko.
"In the order's quarter at the back of the town hall building." She stared at me. There was a bothered look on her face. "Why?" She asked.
"I... I was just wondering."
"Wag kang masyadong mag alala, Laura. Natural lamang ang mga nangyayari sa bayan na tulad ng Van Zanth."
I tried to smile. I wanted to say sorry for causing all of this. Alam kong pareho silang nahihirapan ni Zander sa mga oras na ito. They are the two remaining people from the ruler family. They are the front row when a larger chaos hits the town. Hindi ko gustong isipin na dahil sa akin mapapahamak sila.
--
Matapos ang breakfast nagpaalam ako kay Aunt Helga na may pupuntahan.
"Delikado ang sitwasyon, Laura. Hanga't maaari mas makabubuti na manatili ka sa mansion."
"Mabilis lang ito, Aunt Helga," sinabi ko. "Babalik din ako agad."
Aunt Helga wanted to say something. Subalit bumuntong hininga siya saka tumango.
"Kung ganoon mag iingat ka."
Umalis ako sa mansion gamit ang sasakyan. Ilang araw na ang nakalilipas mula noong nangyari ang pag atake pero hindi parin bumalik sa dati ang bayan. The peaceful, small town atmosphere I fell inlove with was gone. Napuno ng takot ang mga tao para sa kanilang kaligtasan. Ito ang kailanman hindi maiintindihan ng mga normal na taong taga labas. These people may be monsters in their eyes, they may have extra ordinary skills. But they can also feel. They can feel pain, suffering, fear, and the need to protect themselves. They are people like us. Their skills may protect them, but it can never excuse them from pain.
Nakarating ako sa lugar na tinutukoy ni Miss Loraine. It was the order's quarter. Karamihan sa mga meeting ng mga orders at iba pang importanteng bagay sa bayan ay dito pinag uusapan o ina-asikaso. It was an old two storey building located in a secluded compound away from the main downtown. Ang pinakamalapit na landmark dito ay ang town hall.
I parked the car in front of the building. Ngayon lamang ako nakatapak sa lugar na ito. Ngayon ko napagtanto na madami pang lugar sa bayan ang hindi ko napupuntahan. Nagkalat ang mga orders na makikita sa lugar. High concrete walls surrounded the place. Alam kong wala dito si Sebastian at Zander. They are patroling the border.
Nagtaka ang mga orders noong makita ako. Sinalubong nila ako pagbaba ko sa sasakyan.
"Miss Laura, ano po ang ginagawa niyo dito?"
"Can I check the detainees?"
Nagtaka sila. Nag alangan sila bago sumagot.
"Miss Laura, sa ngayon hindi pinapayagan ang kahit sinong sibilyan na bisitahin ang mga bilanggo."
"I'm not a civilian."
Napansin nila ang mariin kong tono. Wala na akong masyadong oras. Kailangan kong malaman sa madaling panahon kung tama ang hinala ko.
"Pero Miss Laura..."
"I'll tell Zander later. May gusto lang akong malaman."
The mere mention of their alpha made them reconsider my request.
"Kung ganon sumunod po kayo."
Naglakad ang order papasok sa building. I walked behind them. Bahagyang madilim ang paligid. Halos walang ingay na maririnig maliban sa yapak ng aming mga paa. Noong makarating kami sa dulo ng hallway natigilan ako nang makita ang isang underground staircase.
Bumaba dito ang order. Tuluyang nawala ang natural na liwanag mula sa labas. The hallway was lit by vintage lamps and torch. Kasing luma ng halos lahat ng bagay na makikita sa building. Pagdating namin sa ibaba dalawang orders ang nakabantay sa pintuang rehas. Yumuko sila noong makita kami. Binuksan nila ang pintuan.
I was greeted by a narrower hallway. Halos isang tao lamang ang makakapaglakad ng malaya dito. Nanguna ang order. The two orders at the doorway stood on guard. Nang makarating sa dulo huminto ang order. Humarap siya sa akin.
"Nandito po sila."
Hindi ako nakagalaw sa aking kinatatayuan. Tila ba natatakot akong kompirmahin ang aking hinala. Was he here? Sino sino ang mga taong nasa likod ng mga seldang ito? Sino ang mga taong dahilan ng mga pag atake sa bayan?
Unti unti akong humakbang palapit. Hangang sa maging abot tanaw ko na ang loob ng seldang tinutukoy ng order. At first all I saw were silhauttes. Ngunit unti unting naging malinaw ang kanilang mukha dahil sa liwanag ng torch na kinuha ng order mula sa pader. They blinked. They stared. Hinanap ko ang kanyang mukha. Ngunit hindi ko siya nakita sa alin man sa limang nakakulong sa selda. I didn't recognize the faces in front of me, but they seem to recognized me. I heard them talking in hushed voices.
"Nandito nga siya."
"Kamukhang kamukha siya ng kanyang Ama."
"Hindi maipagkakaila na isa siyang Arden."
Bahagyang yumuko ang ilan sa kanila na tila binabati ako. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Umatras ako. What are they doing? Humarang ang order at agad akong pinabalik sa hallway sa itaas.
"Miss Laura, mas makabubuti kung bumalik na kayo sa itaas. Sasamahan kayo ng isa sa mga order."
I was escorted upstairs. Nang makabalik ako sa hallway mabilis na sumara ang pintuan ng aking likuran. One of the orders approached me. He was telling me something. Nagsimula kaming maglakad. Pero walang ibang pumapasok sa aking isip maliban sa mga nasaksihan ko kanina.
"Miss Laura,"
Hindi ko namalayan na nasa labas na ako. The sudden exposure to light hurt my eyes.
"Ihahatid ko na kayo."
"No need."
Pumasok ako sa loob ng driver's seat. I searched frantically for my keys. Doon ko napagtanto na nanginginig ang aking mga kamay. The order asked me if I'm okay. I assured him I'm fine before I drove away from the compound.
--
Hininto ko ang engine ng sasakyan. The driveway of the mansion became silent. Naisandal ko ang aking noo sa manibela. Pumikit ako ng mariin. Muli kong naalala ang mga taong nakakulong sa selda. What I saw from them were recognition, they bowed as if respecting me. At wala akong magawa kundi ang lumayo sa kanila.
One of them mentioned my father. Nakilala ba nila ito? Nakasama ba nila? Anong klase siyang tao? Ang aking pamilya, ang mga Arden, what were they like? Sari saring tanong ang nasa aking isipan. Tanong na gusto kong mabigyan ng kasagutan. Ang mga taong yon, are they my people?
Kinalma ko ang aking sarili bago lumabas sa sasakyan. Tahimik akong pumasok sa mansion. Paakyat na ako sa kwarto nang matigilan ako sa paglalakad.
"Kung lalala pa ang sitwasyon maaaring maki-alam na ang Council." I heard Miss Loraine said.
Nag uusap sila ni Aunt Helga sa balkonahe ng mansion.
"Sa ngayon mino-monitor na nila si Zander at ang bayan. They are waiting for this moment."
"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" Tanong ni Aunt Helga.
"Hinihintay nilang mapatunayan na walang kakayahan ang natitirang Van Zanth na pamahalaan ang bayan. Zander was the remaining heir of this town. Walang sasalo sa position kapag naalis siya. Van Zanth is an inherent hybrid town. Isa sa bayan na may pinakamalaking populasyon ng mga hybrid. They are long been waiting for a ruler transition in this town."
Tumahimik ang buong paligid. Kahit si Aunt Helga hindi nakapagsalita.
"Isang pagkakamali pa at mawawala sa amin ang bayan. Zander is too young to face all of the consequences of my family's mistakes which filed up in his reign. Things are too difficult and destructive, and to think the chaos are just getting started. But even in the midst of it, Zander loves Laura too much to let her go."
"Makakaya ba ng bayan? Makakaya niyo ba?"
Habang nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan ng balkonahe hindi inaasahang pumatak ang aking mga luha.
"I'm still hoping there is another way. I don't want to think of what will happen in the future. But I never saw Zander fight for something or someone like this before. There's only one thing I'm sure of. He's the only family I have. His fights are my battle."
--
That night I was staring at the town below from the terrace of my room. I was wearing a pale night dress. Bahagya itong nililipad ng hangin. The evening was chilly and quiet. Tulog na ang halos lahat ng tao sa mansion.
Hating gabi na ngunit hindi parin ako makatulog. I heard a noise below. Ang pagbukas at pagsara ng front door ng mansion. Nakauwi na si Zander. Huminga ako ng malalim at pinagmasdan ang buong bayan. The lights were like fireflies in the dark.
Ilang minuto pa ay narinig kong bumukas ang pintuan ng aking kwarto. He always do it. Kissing me goodnight. Minsan maalimpungatan ako at mararamdaman ang kanyang pagdating.
"Bakit gising ka pa?"
Naramdaman ko ang kanyang paglapit. He stepped in the terrace. Lumingon ako sa kanya.
"I can't sleep."
He stood beside me. Pareho naming pinagmasdan ang bayan sa ibaba. I stared at him from the corners of my eyes. Tahimik siya. We are both thinking of the same situation from a different perspective. Was is hard, Zander? Napapagod ka na ba?
"The orders told me you went into the quarters."
Natigilan ako.
"Laura, no matter what you heard or saw, and what you will hear or see in the upcoming days, I want you to know that I will never let you go. We've come this far. I can't see myself not having you beside me, or touching or kissing anyone other than you."
Lumingon siya sa akin.
"I want this. To see your face before I sleep, or waking up beside you and be greeted by your smiles. I want to see your face and know I made it home. We may be young but I'm going to wait for that day, work my way up to that day, when I can finally see you in that white dress and freely tell the world you're mine."
Zander...
"So please, hold on into me. We will make it."
I held his face on my hand. Tinitigan ko siya. At noong oras na yon doon ko napagtanto ang isang bagay. I'm selfish... I'm selfish for wanting him to choose me. To hear those words knowing the consequences behind it. But I can't... I can't lose him. I won't let go. Not this time, not ever. Even if it's the last thing I will do.
"I love you." Pinagdikit ko ang aming mga noo. I closed my eyes as tears started to blur my vision. "I love you, Zander."
And then I kissed him. I held him and I kissed him. The taste of his lips, his crisp outdoor scent, the light stubble on his face, and the way he took deep breathes, chest rising and falling in sync with mine. I breathe him all in. Not minding the world below. Because under the silver moonlight, all that matters is him and me.
He kissed me back, with the same longing, the same warmth and intensity.
"Laura..." He whispered. "The bond is nothing compared to what I feel you. No one can destroy us."
He held the back of my head as his kiss deepens. I was breathless, dizzy, weak from all the sensations he's giving me. I moaned. Zander cursed. My bare feet was lifted from the floor. Binuhat niya ako papasok sa aking kwarto.
"Zander..."
"Sshh..."
Naramdaman ko ang malambot na kama sa aking likuran. He laid me in the bed. His deep ragged breathing, his rough tan skin. Ang kanyang makapal na buhok sa pagitan ng aking mga daliri, ang kanyang palad sa aking bewang. He was towering over me and all I can think of is him. I look like a fragile glass next to him.
"God knows how I've waited to hear those words from you."
Napaangat ako ng katawan nang maramdaman ang kanyang halik sa aking panga. Hindi ko siya magawang tingnan sa mga mata. I was too busy savoring his lips on my skin. Bumaba ang labi niya sa aking leeg. Leaving scorching spots on my soar skin.
"You're mine, Laura Katherine Arden. I won't let anyone take you away from me."
Tinitigan ko siya. Zander was staring intently at me. Tumango ako. Because no matter what happens, whatever this impending future has in store for us, I want Zander to know I'm all his, now and forever.
One by one the fabrics of our clothes left our skin. Zander kissed every exposed part of my body, slowly, gently, as if marvelling a piece of art. I place my hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat as loud as mine. His lips enveloped mine. Until I felt the searing pain. I gasped. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kanyang buhok. Halos masabunutan ko siya.
"Zander..."
His name, all I can think of at the moment is his name. My fingernails on his skin. Him, whispering words to ease the pain. My body shifting to and fro against the mattress. Our silhouettes dancing in a slow rhythm.
"Sshh."
A tear slipped from my eyes. Zander gently wiped it with his thumb.
"I love you, Laura. You, everything about you. From your biggest happiness to your smallest fears and doubts. I want you."
The pain slowly subsided. It was replaced by an intense overwhelming sensation. My breathing became rapid as Zander's move became rushed. Tila pareho kaming may gustong abutin. Napapikit ako sa tindi ng sensasyong dulot nito. I clawed the mattress with my fingers.
As we hit the peak, another pain flooded me. A different nerve wracking pain. Bumaon ang dalawang natutulis at nagbabagang ngipin sa aking balat. Tuluyan napasigaw dahil sa sakit. I arched my body, scraped Zander's skin, and gasped for air. The two sensations drowning my body completely send me into the edge. I shouted his name as we both reached the peak.
Zander kissed my forehead. "I love you. You and I. We will get through this together."
***