Update! Yes naman, medyo bumilis!
Vo-mments, ROAHSies! (^_^)>
***
~• Twenty Three •~
Memories of Darkness
"Let's have another date, shall we?" Nakatalikod niyang tanong sa'kin habang nakasuksok sa bulsa ang kanyang mga kamay na kanina lang ay tila ayaw ko nang bitawan.
Ni hindi pa nga rin ako nakakamove-on sa mga nangyari ng araw na ito ay wala pa rin pala siyang awat sa pagdedate kahit ngayong gabi na. He can be full of surprises when he's into it.
We transported back to our underground kingdom, Black Clandestine, through a celestial portal.
Teka, anong gagawin namin dito ngayong kaming dalawa lang, sa ilalim ng puting ilaw, sa dilaw na buwan...
"Saan tayo pupunta, Drey-Drey?" Sa totoo lang ay hindi na mahalaga sa akin kung saan niya pa ako dadalhin, ang importante lang ay kasama ko siya ngayon.
Hinila niya ako sa loob ng secret room niya at bigla akong ihiniga sa kanyang kama. Shet! Mapusok naman pala ang bebe ko!
Just as when my heart beat's going haywire, he took something from his bookshelves that appears to be a grimoire. He lied down beside me, in one bed, and tossed the book up in the air until it hovered and magically opened on its own. Kita ko pa ang mahiwagang aura na bumalot mula dito.
"We're going to Magique Fortress, our home." Nagningning ang aking mga mata.
I'll finally get to see our dimension again. Hindi kasi naging maganda ang aking karanasan noong dating isinalang ako ni Dreyxin sa isang simulation kung saan tila napunta ako sa Magique Fortress. Nakita ko nga noon ang aming mundo, pero nakalaban ko naman ang aking mga magulang. I don't want to see them hating me again. The memory of that horrible simulation still haunts me.
Lumipat pa ng pahina ang mahiwagang libro at doon ay nabasa ko ang mga nagliwanag na salita. He casted a Dream Spell.
Vivid mind it seems
I console and summon my dreams
Let's make a deal
Let it feel real
Magic, magic, only good magic
Not a nightmare, not as well jinx
Hear both hearts, let's see a work of art
Blessed be enchanted, wish be wanted
Seconds later, it feels like I woke up in a dream. I never closed my eyes when he read the words of the spell yet it feels like my body is on rest while my mind and soul are wandering around. We are situated in the highest area of the land, which he described to be the gate of the Fortress. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa napakagandang tanawin sa aking harapan.
This is surreal!
"I suppose you like the view, but this is not what I want you to see." Isang pitik niya lang ay bigla na namang nagbago ang aming paligid. Napunta kami dito sa isang liblib na lugar na kung aking huhulaan ay nasa gitna ng kagubatan. An old small and creepy village entered the scenery.
Then I noticed two graves beside a dusty and aged water well. Names were spelled out as Greya and Danix Vlontir.
"Lupe, these are my parents." Kikiligin na sana ako sa ideyang ipinapakilala niya ako sa kanyang mga magulang pero mukhang iba ang kanyang gustong ipahiwatig at ipaintindi sa akin.
"And they killed each other in front of my old young self." Sinabi niya iyon na parang walang kahirap-hirap. Yet it pains me to know how he can manage to talk about it like he has already endured that stage of torment through the years.
"Our village was treated as the cursed one among the other Gemlack clans. Pinaniniwalaan nila noon na mga isinumpa ang mga Vlontir at laging kinamumuhian ng marami dahil sa kahirapan ng aming bayan, at sa bali-balitang ninuno namin ang mga demonyo. The Vlontir clan specialized in dark magic that's why we were easily treated as an outcast in the magic community. Napakatangang ideya hindi ba? Dahil lang marunong kami ng dark magic ay iniisip na nilang masasamang tao kami? Isang kahangalan. Dark magic is equivalent to Light magic, and those two are essential to balance the dimension. Thinking that it was evil was absurd." Umiling-iling siya sa pag-alala ng mga nakaraan.
"I was only young that time when our village was in the verge of destruction. I refuse to accept the fate of our clan so I worked hard as I can just to advance my magical abilities. Hindi ako pumayag na ganoon na lang ang kahihinatnan ng kinalakihan kong bayan. We have nothing, yes, but we are not to be treated as non-living. Sinunog ng mga kapit-bayan ang Calle Vlontir at doon ay nadiskubre ko ang aking mga kakayahan. Nagawa kong buhayin ang mga halamang namatay, ang mga hayop na nadamay, at maging ang mga tao sa village na nag-aagaw buhay. I was their hope that time. I was able to heal and rehabilitate them. I was the genius kid they look up to."
Taimtim akong nakikinig sa kanya, pinipigilan ang sariling magbitaw ng anumang kumento na maaaring makasira sa kanyang pagsasanaysay.
"But then my parents are the worst. They were not even proud of me. My father was a drunkard, monstrous beast who will beat the shit out of me for no reason at all. Habang ang nanay ko naman ay isa ring sugarol at walang ibang ginawa kundi pagkakitaan ako nang paulit-ulit. She would made me do dark spells and magic that I don't like to use just to entertain some of the elites from other clans. As long as she gets paid for what I do, she doesn't care even if I rot in hell. That's how I was born with this family."
"Drey..." hinawakan ko siya sa kamay pero inalis niya lang. Tumalikod siya sa akin at humarap sa dalawang puntod.
"Then one day, it happened. Tinaga ng tatay ko ang nanay ko dahil sa pagtataksil nito sa iba't ibang lalaki. And knowing my mother, ginamitan na niya agad ang aking ama ng isang control spell na patayin rin nito ang kanyang sarili bago pa man siya masaksak. Nagpatayan silang dalawa sa aking harap at dumanak ang magkahalo nilang dugo sa aking balat. I don't know what to do that time, Lupe. The only thing I was thinking was I want to escape the memory of them lying cold and dead to the ground. Itinapon ko sila pareho diyan sa balon."
Tila bigla ko munang pinigil ang aking hininga ng ilang segundo. Hindi ko na rin alam kung gusto ko pa bang makinig sa mga susunod na parte ng kanyang kwento.
"But the masochistic side of me prevailed, so I still tried to revive them. For thirteen days, I trained day and night just to master the forbidden spell. They say that nothing can bring back the dead, but it was just a lie. Gemlacks who were born with natural dark magic has a way to bring back life, but it was a risk, Lupe. Hindi rin lahat ay nagtatagumpay na gawin iyon. Most stories told me that they all failed and died instead. Iyon ang pinakamakasalanang mahika sa Magique Fortress pero sinubukan ko pa ring gawin. At kapag ginamit mo ang spell na iyon, parang isinanla mo na rin ang buhay mo sa kasamaan. You will never be a pure and decent wizard ever again. But then I still pursued for it in the hopes for a better life with my family. Gusto ko silang buhayin ulit dahil sa pag-asang magbabago sila, na mamahalin na rin nila ako gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa kanila. I did revive them. I was happy to see them alive again, but then they were still not glad to have me as their child. Kahit pasasalamat ay wala akong natanggap mula sa kanila. At ang masaklap pa, naulit muli ang nangyari. History repeated itself. They are arguing again with their wands ready for full combat. Pero bago ko na naman masaksihan ang pagpapatayan nilang dalawa, ako na ang gumawa."
I grasped and covered my mouth with my hands in shock. "Surprised? Don't be. In the first place, they were already dead. Nag-aksaya lang ako ng oras para lang makasama ulit sila. All I wanted was validation, acceptance, and love from my parents, but I received nothing from them. That was the last time I cried. Nagsisisi ba ako sa ginawa ko? Of course not. Nagbago na ang pananaw ko mula noon. Because from there I realized, love won't change anything."
Gusto ko siyang yakapin. Gusto kong hawakan ang kamay niya. Gusto kong pawiin ang lahat ng masasamang ala-ala niya. Hindi ko akalaing ganito kalungkot ang kanyang kinalakihan. Hindi ko lubos maisip na may ganito siyang kapait na karanasan.
"I don't care anymore if you believe me or not, but this is the truest among everything I may have told you. Over the years I tried to redeem myself. But I guess doing a sinful magic would only make you more worse than you already are. It feels like you are cursed to be miserable. Like there was somewhat like a demon manipulating your life. Pinanindigan ko na lang rin ang kanilang mga akusasyon na masama kaming nilalang. I am bad? Then be it. Hindi na ako makatakas. Napuno na ako ng kasamaan. Nagpatong-patong na ang aking mga kasalanan. Nabalot ako ng poot at paghihiganti sa mundong lagi akong pinagkakaitan. Even the kindest heart like yours won't even fix this broken soul who has been shattered for more than a hundred years. I have been alone all my life, Lupe, so why do you have to come? Bakit ka pa dumating?"
Nang humarap na siya sa akin ay halos mabasag ang aking emosyon. Hindi siya umiiyak at lalong walang nag-iba sa kanyang seryosong mukha, pero ang kanyang mga salita ay tila may sariling damdamin na pumupukaw sa aking puso.
"I came for you, Drey. Hangga't narito ako, hinding hindi ka na mag-iisa."
His plain and serious face suddenly changed. He laughed like he is mocking my reasons. "Matatanggap mo pa kaya ako nito?"
He waved his hands again and the scenery changed. Nabasa ko sa gate ang pangalan ng lugar na ito. Fortress Cemetery Hill.
Napakaraming puntod na may mga nakatarak lamang na mga nangangalawang nang espada. Napalunok ako sa mga nakikita. Tila madugo ang kanilang mga sinapit.
"Those were the lives I have taken in the light of my revolt. Even though the most were not killed by my own hands, they were still executed under my orders during the last war. And I'm not yet even satisfied until I break them all down. I also don't regret a single soul I have taken. I am considered the greatest enemy of my own land."
Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin na tila ba tinatakot ako para lumayo sa kanya. "Now tell me, are you still not afraid of me? Can you still accept the monster I have become?"
I take a small breath and touched his chest with my both hands, trying to calm him down.
"I know you have your reasons, Dreyxin. Nagawa mo lang naman iyon dahil naging masama sila lahat sa'yo hindi ba? You already made yourself worthy and you proved them that you are amazing. Naging Proclaimed Prince ka nga noon, hindi ba? Inaagaw lang nila ang mga bagay na dapat ay sa'yo kaya ka ngayon naghihiganti." Katwiran ko sa kanya na hindi ako sigurado kung pagkumbinsi rin ba ito sa aking sarili.
"Regardless of my personal reasons, Lupe, I still killed many souls. Living a lifetime might not be even enough to atone for my sins. Naiintindihan mo ba kung anong klaseng nilalang ako?" Tumataas na ang kanyang boses at bumibilis ang paghinga.
"So don't be a hostage to your own fucking feelings and get away from me while you still can! Go away, Lupe! Umalis ka na! You're free to go! Don't make me change my mind." A portal to somewhere suddenly appeared. Sinigaw na rin niya ang mga huling salita na kulang na lang ay itulak talaga ako paalis.
"This is your last chance." Mataman niya akong tinitigan na tila salungat sa kanyang mga sinasabi. Pinapaalis niya ako pero ang mga mata niya ay nangungusap na huwag ko siyang iiwan. Tumalikod na siyang muli at naglakad palayo.
"My love is stronger than your past and bigger than your mistakes. Nice try, Dreyxin. But sorry, my love for you is inescapable. Wala kang takas."
It was a hasty decision, I know, but it is actually the only decision when it comes to him. And that is to stay. To keep staying while I can.
Tila nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan bago muling humarap sa akin na matalim ang tingin.
"You idiot," aniya sabay malalim na nagbuntong-hininga. Ngunit sa likod ng mga iyon ay ramdam ko ang bakas ng kanyang kaalwanan.
Bumaling ako ng tingin sa kabilang ibayo kung saan matatanaw ang magandang kapatagan. The bright, town lights and sparkling castles of Magique Fortress. "Can we live here?" I genuinely plead.
"This is just a dream, this is not reality."
"Then let's make it real." It takes every ounce of my courage to walk towards him, tip my toe up, and put my lips onto him.
Just as I thought that we're alone here, beautiful fireflies and pixies began surrounding the both us. I shove away all of my worries and fears as I let my lips stayed locked with his.
It was the most wonderful thing that has happened to me.
And it was worth it.
***
(Dreyxin's POV)
Damn it.
I'm not even entitled for her kindness.
I don't deserve her warmth and love.
I am a devil but I am being blessed with an angel.
Are you trying to impossibly fix my life or you're only making it more miserable?
I need a way out.
Or else, I'll be dragging her down with me to hell as well and I would completely detest that.
Because angels don't belong there.
Despite showing her my bloody past and deeds that I was not even lying about, she still easily refused to go away from me.
What is wrong with this girl?
I was supposed to hate her and even kill her but...
Tangina, bahala na.
***
ROAHS
© pixieblaire