Kabanata 43
Devil's Eyes
"Si Dale?!"
Hingal na hingal kong sabi. I ran from my bedroom papunta sa office ni Dale after kong makapag-ayos para lang maabutan siya. Pero ang tangi kong nakikita ngayon ay ang walang katao-tao na silid maliban sa isa.
Inayos ni Kaeden ang salamin na suot at tumikhim. He looks sideways. He does that whenever he's about to lie.
"Master Dale had left the mansion an hour ago. He wants to relay this message to you Lady Amaury, na nanghihinayang siya sa pagliban sa paglibot niyo sa hardin ngayong araw."
Naningkit ang mata ko. That guy! He purposely did this to skip our daily walks! Isang linggo na itong nangyayari! Bukas... Sisiguraduhin kong pag-gising ko ay didiretsyo agad ako sa kwarto niya para hindi na siya makatakas pa!
"Fine! Tell Dale, it's alright. We can do our daily walk tomorrow at sa mga susunod pang araw kaya walang problema doon." I grinned at him, he coughs and sighed.
"Certainly, Milady."
I was about to leave when I noticed that letters on Dale's desk. Did my brother get back from the city? Then should I ask my brother for a walk instead, since pinagtataguan naman ako ni Dale.
"Did my brother deliver that letters? Where is he?"
Napansin ko ang paglunok ni Kaeden as he shifted his eyesight on the table behind. Napangisi ako and took a step back from the door at bumalik mula sa pwesto ko kanina. Hinarap ko siya at ngumisi ng malaki. Mukhang hindi nila nasabihan si Kaeden sa kung ano ang sasabihin at gagawin kapag nagtanong ako tungkol kay Kuya ah?
"Did you know where my brother is Kaeden?" Hindi siya sumagot, lalo akong ngumisi, "Kasama ba niya ngayon si Dale?"
Suminghap siya dahil sa pagtanong ko. Aba aba! Bull's eye.
"Where could they be?" I sang as I speak.
I skipped as I get near on Dale's desk. Kaeden blocked me hastily.
"Milady, shall we go outside and prepare you a tea?" ani Kaeden trying to get me out of the room.
"That would be great! I would like to have a chrysanthemum tea then."
He sighed of relief and smiles, "Let me escort you to the door, Lady Amaury."
I smiled sweetly and nodded, "Shall we go, Dale and Gabriel? Stop hiding on that desk and come out!"
Isang halakhak ang narinig ko. It was my Brother's laugh.
"That move was childlike, Dale. I can't believe na sumama ako sayo sa pagtago dito kay Amaury." wika ni Kuya habang pinapagpag ang damit niya. He smiles at me and I nodded in return.
Dale arrogantly stood up and fix his robe.
"Amaury, I didn't know you were here." aniya at patay malisya na umupo sa upuan niya at inasikaso kunwari ang mga liham sa lamesa.
I sighed. Mukhang walang balak si Dale na umalis ng opisina niya. Nilaan ko ang oras na ito araw-araw para kay Dale. So, he will have a breather and can relax. Pero wala naman ako magagawa kung ayaw umalis ni Dale.
"Will you join me for a tea, Dale, Gabriel?"
I decided to have our tea time on Dale's office. Portia was serving us the tea when Kaeden hurriedly gave us the news.
"Master! Lord Gabriel!" Nanlalaki ang mata ni Kaeden as he held the scroll, iniabot niya iyon kay Dale.
That scroll paper was familiar to me. Napaawang ang labi ko when I remembered kung saan ko iyon nakita. It was from the royal letter na galing kay Princess Olivia! It was the same paper they use. So that scroll was from the castle?
"Dale... What should we do now...?" ani Gabriel. His expression was at lost pagkatapos basahin ang nasa scroll.
Dale's expression was dark. I can't read what's on his mind.
"Kaeden what is happening?" Taka kong tanong. Even Portia was curious sa kung ano ang naka-sulat sa scroll.
"The Emperor has fallen, Lady Amaury. Emperor Alexander is dead."
* * *
Naging maingay ang kaharian dahil sa balita ng pag-kamatay ng Emperor. Madami ang nagdadalamhati sa pag-panaw ng pinuno ng kaharian, madami ang nagalak dahil sa wakas ay tapos na ang pag-hahari nito, at madami ang tila naguguluhan at nasa kawalan. At lost because they don't know what will happen now.
"The pack is complete, Your Excellency. The Crescent Wolf members are all here." Ani Gabriel kay Dale.
Dale was looking outside the window, into the dark ghost town kung saan nakatirik ang hideout nila. Tumango si Dale pero hindi pa din tinatangal nito ang tingin sa walang kabuhay buhay na paligid.
"Do you still remember what's that building years ago?"
Binaling ni Gabriel ang tingin sa labas. Huminga siya ng malalim nang mapagtanto kung ano ang tinititigan ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan at ang Lord na kanyang pinagsisilbihan.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I do still remember. Vividly."
Itinukod ni Dale ang dalawang kamay sa windowsill still looking outside the window.
"This was a lively place back then. Full of life and happiness, as I can remember. And that building is our favourite place. Her favourite to be exact."
Dale gritted his teeth as he saw the memories of her outside the window. Her long curly silver hair dancing in the wind as they eat the bread from the shop. Her giving her food for the children passing by and wiping their dirty faces with her handkerchief. She was selfless. And a loving lady to the people.
"All of my plans... it's now wasted." Dale whispered to himself. "Tell me, Gabriel..."
Gabriel was intently listening.
"What should I do now? How could I take my revenge if the person who brought my suffering was now gone?" Dale's voice was full of agony and grief.
"How could I avenge her? The only family I had?"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency." ang tanging nasagot lamang ni Gabriel.
"I dedicated my life to give justice to her. But in one event all my plans crumbled. I felt helpless. Like I was years ago."
Huminga ng malalim si Dale at umayos ng tayo. "Let's finished this. Let's finish whatever we started. They're waiting for us now."
Tumango si Gabriel. He gritted his teeth as he saw how broken and fragile his friend right now. "Yes, Your Excellency."
For years, he supported his plan for revenge. Helped him to build a strong guild that could overthrow the Emperor on his throne. But now that he's dead, all of their plans were now useless.
"Whatever your decision and path is, I will always be with you, Dale." ani Gabriel.
Dale look at him and patted his shoulder. He grinned at him. "I know, Gabriel. I know you'll always have my back."
With that they went to the conference room. All members of the Crescent Wolf were present. Ito na yata ang pinaka-importante nilang pagpupulong sa lahat. Ito rin ang magdidikta kung ano ang mangyayari sa hinaharap.
"Now let's all discuss on our next move. To finalize the plan... the assassination of the emperor. But now instead of the emperor, it is now the Crown Prince." The guild advisor spoke.
"Let's build the new empire!"
"Eliminate the tyrant family!"
"Prince Dale dela Fleur for the Emperor!"
"Now, shall we start the meeting?" The advisor said, at tumango ang iilan habang tahimik ang nakakarami.
"Before that... I have something to say..." ani Dale as he stood up.
His revenge must be completed no matter what. He will avenge his sister. For that he must do it. He must do what he thinks was right, kahit kamatayan pa ang kapalit.
* * *
"Hindi ba talaga ako pwede sumama?" Muling pilit ni Amaury kay Dale as they walk the pathway patungong karwahe na sasakyan nito patungo sa Kapitolyo.
Dale smile apologetically. Inabot niya ang pisngi ni Amaury and caresses it.
"Isasama kita kung pwede lamang, Amaury. But I am sure it will be a riot on the burial of the late Emperor. Baka mapahamak ka lamang."
Ngumuso si Amaury, "Adam would protect me. Siya ang pinaka magaling na Knight sa guild niyo hindi ba? Atsaka, kasama kita! Ano bang pwedeng mangyari sakin kung kasama ko kayo?"
Dale gave a quick look to Adam that Amaury failed to notice. Adam briefly nodded as he understood his master's order.
"Amaury, I want to bring you along, really. But would it be okay for you to leave your visitor alone in this mansion?"
Takang tumingin si Amaury kay Dale, "Huh?"
Si Adam ang nagbigay ng liham kay Amaury. She read it. He saw her eyes flickered for a moment. She had a different expression for a second pero agad din iyong nawala.
"My cousin Angelina is coming here?" Bakas ang galak sa boses ni Amaury.
Dale arranges it beforehand. Naisip na niya na magpupumilit si Amaury na sumama sakanya sa capital, and that would ruin his plan.
"Yes, Amaury." He smiles sweetly to the girl he loves, "I'll be gone for a few days kaya para naman hindi ka mainip dito sa mansion ay inanyayahan ko si Lady Angelina. Take this time to relax. Both of you."
Ngumisi si Amaury and hugged him. "Thank you, Dale!"
He felt guilty for lying to Amaury pero wala siyang ibang choice kung hindi gawin iyon.
"Please don't be sad when I left. Portia will be here to assist you. And also, Kaeden. Tell them if you need anything, okay?"
Tumango si Amaury, "Don't worry about me."
He squeezed Amaury's hand, "I should leave now."
Amaury lick her lower lip and nodded, "Yeah, I think you should."
Ngumisi si Dale as he realized what Amaury was thinking.
He dived and took a quick kiss from her lips. Mabilis namula ang mukha nito.
"Kiss thief." Amaury muttered na ikinatawa lamang ni Dale.
"Come back safe, Dale. I.. I will be waiting for you here. I will be safe. I will be alive... So don't worry about me."
Those last words rang on Dale's ear habang palayo ng palayo ang karwahe sa mansion nila. What was that?
Of course, she'll be alive dahil sinisiguro niya ang proteksyon nito. Isinandal niya ang ulo sa sandalan at pumikit.
This is it. This is where his plan ends. Isang hakbang nalang. Then everything will end.
* * *
"Hindi ka ba na bo-bored dito? Ganito nalang araw-araw ang ginagawa natin. Gusto mo bang lumabas at mamili sa bayan?" Angelina sat on the chair across mine.
She was holding a book she got from our library.
"I have everything I need in this mansion, hindi ko na kailangan pang lumabas." panimula ko, "At isa pa, this mansion is pretty lively kapag nandito si Dale at Gabriel." Ngisi kong sagot.
Tumango si Angelina as she sipped on her wine.
"I guess you got used to the problems of being the future Duchess of the Brixton huh?" ngumisi siya sakin.
Napakunot ang noo ko, "There isn't much to do here anyway. Wala nga pinagawa sakin si Dale."
Tumawa siya, "Not that! Of course, His Excellency will not let you work lalo na kung napakayaman naman niya!" aniya.
"I was talking about how devastated you look on the debutante ball. Kitang kita ko ang frustration mo dahil sa madami ang babae na nagkakagusto kay Dale. Akala ko nga ay bibigay ka na. But look at you! You look better and confident."
Nanlaki ang mata at natawa sa narinig. I remember that debutante ball night. I was confused and scared at that time, not because of Dale and the girls who likes him, but because of Emeline and Gabriel's entrance that night. Iyon ang unang beses na nabago ang story. Doon nagsimula na mabago ang takbo ng buhay ko. I was so scared that night na inakala ni Angelina na tungkol iyon kay Dale. Iyon din ang gabi na una kong nakilala si Sir Adam.
A lot happened since the debutante ball. Madami ang nabago at naiba simula ng mag-umpisa ang storya ng nobela. Now, that the emperor is dead... The next tragedy would be...
My death...
Amaury's death would happen few days after the Emperor's death. At nakaka-apat araw na simula ng mamatay ito.
Isa pa, Angelina is here. Ang character na kasama ni Amaury na mamamatay. Is the story making a way to make the original story happen? Kaya ba andito si Angelina? Hindi ko alam if my death will happen or not. In the novel, me and Angelina was kidnapped on our carriage. Kaya naman as long as I stay indoors and never leave the mansion, I'll be safe. We will be safe.
Napakuyom ako ng kamao as I look at the horizon. I cannot let Angelina die. Lalo na ngayon na.. pasimple kong tinitigan ang tiyan niya na hawak hawak.
"Martin and I decided na isunod sa pangalan mo ang magiging anak namin." galak na sabi ni Angelina. I figure it out nang i-request niya kay Portia ay ang wine.
Wine was only use for pregnancy sa novel. Pati ang pag-utos niya kay Portia para sa mga cushion para sa kanyang upuan ngayon lamang.
"Blaire if its a girl at Blake naman kung lalaki. Well I hope it was a boy dahil kailangan ni Martin nang taga pagmana. But we wouldn't mind if it's a girl." matamis ang ngiti ni Angelina as she touch her small stomach.
Hindi pa halata ang pagbilog non sa malayuan pero kung titigan na mabuti ay makikita na ang paghugis nito.
My lips were quivering. I cannot let her die. My poor cousin... I cannot let her die again.
"Here is your tea, Lady Amaury." a servant put my tea on my table.
"You're naming your child after me?" I nervously asked.
Tumawa siya ng marahan at tumango, "Yes. Hindi nga ako sigurado noon kung okay ba iyon kay Martin, pero nang masabi ko ay agad siyang pumayag. He said, he hopes our child would be smart and elegant like you, Lady Amaury."
My hands shakes as I lift the cup of my tea. Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong isagot kay Angelina. I was glad but terrified sa mga possible na mangyari pa. I took a large sip on my tea to calm my nerves. But then my head started to spin... My airway started to close... I can't breathe!
Napahawak ako leeg ko and started chocking. Mabilis na tumayo si Angelina para tugunan ako.
"Amaury? Amaury, what's happening?!"
Bago pa man siya makalapit sakin, a large wide arm caught me at binuhat ako.
"Lady Angelina, please don't leave the parameters. I'll alert the guards to get you. Don't drink anything."
Though malabo ang paningin at nahihirapan ng huminga dahil sa unti-unting pagkawala ng malay, I can still understand what Sir Adam said. He grabbed something at saka kami tuluyang umalis. He quickly went inside the mansion. Inihiga niya ako sa kama at mabilis na lumabas ng kwarto. And the only thing I saw before closing my eyes was Portia, Rona and Beth running towards me.
* * *
"This is indeed a poison attack, Sir Kaeden." A healer was immediately called by Kaeden nang mabalitan ang nangyari kay Amaury.
"Then do you know what the poison is? Para makuha agad ang antidote na kailangan." kalmado na wika ni Kaeden.
Ngumiti ang healer, "The poison is now gone on her body. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit, lalo na kung napakalas na uri ng lason ang ginamit sakanya."
Nanlaki ang mata ni Kaeden, pati si Portia ay nagulat sa narinig.
"You mean..." hindi matuloy ni Kaeden ang sasabihin.
Tumango ang healer, "Devil's eyes, Sir Kaeden. The same poison that was used on the Duke months ago."
"Then we must really get an antidote!" ani Kaeden.
"The Lady is safe for now. As I said earlier, the toxins were gone. She'll be awake in a few hours pero tiyak kong manghihina siya. I will heal her sick body so she can recover immediately." Gulong-gulo si Kaeden as he looks at Amaury's sleeping structure.
The poison left her body. How? How could her body survive a fatal poison like Devil's Eyes? His Master survive the poisoning because he had a lot of poison on his body since he was a child kaya naman nakakatagal ang katawan nito sa mga malalakas na lason. But Lady Amaury wasn't used to that. She was just a small fragile noble lady from a small country. How could a frail body overcome a strong poison that was used even in black magic?
Inayos niya ang salamin na suot at tumayo na mula sa pagkaka-upo.
"Sir Adam, Portia please look out for Lady Amaury. Don't leave her even a second. I will send a letter to the Duke to inform her about Lady Amaury's condition."
Portia spoke softly to him, "Please send one too for the Grand Priest. That's the Duke orders to me. If something happens to the Lady, he said I should ask the Grand Priest for help."
Tumango si Kaeden and immediately left the room para isulat ang mensahe na tiyak na hindi magugustuhan ng Duke.