Chapter 48: Pushed

I was about to ask the cloaked woman when I heard a familiar voice behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see a glowing hand, it was Claret!

When I turned around to see the woman again, my eyes widened when she vanished into thin air.

Fuck, no. I'd fall!

Mariin na akong pumikit dahil sa unti-unti kong pagbulusok. I was just waiting for that sudden pain in my whole body with my hands tightly balled as if it could lessen the upcoming pain when all I felt was softness.

"K-Kezalli?"

I slowly opened one of my eyes and when I was finally convinced that I was no longer in danger, I blinked and looked up at the woman who was staring at me.

I was lying on my stomach on Claret's hand.

"H-how did you find me?"

"What happened to you?" tanong niya naman pabalik sa akin.

I grimaced, realizing my situation and this strange body. I sat in Indian seat on her palm, awkwardly scratched my head, and lowered my head to avoid her gaze. "It's a long story."

"I can feel your presence that's why I can find you."

Nag-angat na ako ng tingin sa akin. "But I can't feel yours."

Did she notice the woman?

Pinagmasdam ko ang ekspresyon ni Claret ngunit tila wala naman siyang ibang naramdaman kundi ako.

But Rosh told me that Claret is the most powerful priestess in this world. Does it mean that the cloaked woman could hide herself from a powerful priestess like Claret?

I shook my head. 

She smiled gently. "You can, Kezalli."

Akala ko ay agad kaming magtutungo sa palasyo ni Claret, ngunit nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang naupo sa madilim na lugar na iyon.

"Claret, it's dirty in this place."

She laughed. "I might be dressed like this. But I can stay in the filthiest place in this world."

I looked away. "I am sorry if assumed that—" she cut me off.

"No . . ."

She suddenly caressed me with her slender forefinger. "You were right. We did not experience the same situation when I was in the human world. And for me to learn all your experiences and how you brave this world and helped us, I couldn't help but admire you. I was not as brave as you when I first arrived in this world."

"Huh? Brave? Can't you see? I am running, Claret. I want to go home. I do not belong here. How did you see me like that?"

She sighed. She leaned on the wall behind her. She tilted her head up as she looked at the small space where they could see the rectangular vision of the cloudless sky.

The small dark alley was filled with hanging strings tied across the buildings facing each other, each string holding fancy fabrics or clothes. The walls had small windows and verandas decorated with beautiful flowers.

Now I realized that this alley wasn't as filthy as I had expected at first glance. May karapatan ba akong mag-isip ng ganoon sa kahariang ito? Deltora is a beautiful kingdom, and I could no longer enjoy this painting-like world when I crossed the mirror.

"In our every journey, it's always good to pause and to take a rest, Kezalli. We're all getting tired. Lalo na ikaw. At karapatan mong mapagod."

Hindi na ako muli tumitig sa kalangitan, sa halip ay nakatulala na ako sa napakagandang mukha ni Claret. She had that kind of face that no one could ever think that she'd be a villain— like a goddess. And even her voice could soothe that most injured heart.

Is this how a woman from the mirror radiates to anyone? Paano nila masasabing katulad ako ng babaeng nasa harapan ko?

"You're so beautiful . . ." usal ko.

Yumuko siya at tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin. Mas inangat niya ang palad niya at mas itinapat niya ako sa mukha niya. "I will respect your decision, Kezalli. I know Tobias, he might have tried to act like Zen or the rest of the Gazellians to hold you, but in the end, he will let go."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. "B-but how about the other women from the prophecy? What will happen to them?"

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Claret. Mas lalong bumigat ang dibdib ko. Nanatili lang kaming naroon ni Claret bago ako magyaya sa kanya na bumalik na kami sa palasyo.

"Would you like to return to your form?"

Umiling ako. "Maaari ba na kapag nasa palasyo na tayo?"

"Yes."

Unlike my previous visit to the floating market where the priestesses made a portal for us, Claret took the usual transport of Parsua Deltora. We rode by a wooden boat, guided by an old man.

Claret let me silently enjoy the scenery around us: the gentle wind brushing my cheeks, the serene music of the flowing water, and the clattering sounds of the passing wooden shops. Suddenly, my memories with Tobias during our date flashed through my mind. Walking on the cobblestoned street, his gentle smile at every shop we visited, the way he walked with his hands clasped behind his back, the flower in his hand, and the necklace he gave me that resembled his eyes.

As we passed by the familiar lover's bridge, I couldn't help but tear up.

Still with Claret's palm, I hugged my legs to my chest and buried my face on my knees. "You'll have to run away. You'll have to end this misery, Kezalli."

Hindi na ako tumanaw sa paligid sa sumunod na mga oras dahil sa bawat lingon ko ay tanging naalala ko ay ang mga panahong saglit kong inisip na maaari akong maging masaya sa mundong ito.

I tightly closed my eyes and hugged myself until Claret told me that we finally have arrived. Nanatili ako sa palad niya hanggang sa makababa na siya ng bangka. She didn't move an inch and we allowed ourselves to witness the beauty of the castle of Parsua Deltora.

At nang sandaling maglalakad na si Claret ay kapwa kami napalingon nang may boses ng lalaki na tumawag sa kanya.

"Claret, wait!"

Two men who dressed like royalty—or maybe they really were royalty—rode off the boat. One of them with raven hair and a small sapphire earring on his right ear looked over his shoulder and awkwardly smiled. "It's been a while since I saw Deltora in this formation."

"Hindi kayo gumamit ng lagusan?" tanong ni Claret.

The raven-haired man rolled his eyes and pointed at the brown-haired man beside him. "Blair wants to travel in a normal way."

Hindi na nasundan ang usapan nila nang kapwa na maagaw ang atensyon nilang dalawa. Even the man the called Blair took a step closer to look at me.

"W-what happened to her? Is it a curse?"

"No. She's alright, Seth. I can turn her back. Sino ang nagpatawag sa inyo rito?"

"Rosh summoned us."

"We received a missive."

Magkasunod na sagot ng dalawa. Nagsimula na muling maglakad si Claret habang sumabay na sa kanya ang dalawang kadarating na bampira. Halinhinan sila ng pagsulyap sa akin.

Hindi man sila magsalita alam kong may ideya na sila sa sitwasyon sa mga oras na ito. "Who are they?" I asked Claret.

She warmly smiled and was about to introduce the newly arrived vampires walking beside her when the two men suddenly stopped. I found them standing in front of me.

"It wouldn't hurt to introduce ourselves twice," one of them, with a blue earring, said with a charming smile.

Just like how Tobias and Rosh elegantly presented themselves, the two men, with their practiced gestures—one hand on their chests and the other behind their backs—bowed to me in unison.

"Prince Seth Theodore Viardellon, the thirteenth prince of Parsua Avalon."

"Prince Blair Phoenix Thundillior from Parsua Trafadore."

"It's a pleasure to meet the second goddess from the mirror," and then they smiled.

I couldn't utter a single word, but instead, my head started to spin, blurry images of myself standing on a tree, the creaking sound of the wood on my ear, the cold metal on my cheeks, the wind splashing, and the familiar eyes of these princes in front of me with the same bow I had witnessed— and the green light.

"K-Kezalli?"

I shook my head. "L-Let's go . . ."

Hindi na ako kinausap ulit ng dalawang prinsipe at tanging sila na lang nina Claret ang magkakausap, ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang minsan nilang pagtitig sa akin.

Nang mapansin ko na higit na kaming lumalapit at natatanaw ko na sina Rosh, Marah at Zen, lumingon na ako kay Claret.

"I want to return to my original form."

Claret nodded.

While Rosh, Zen, and Marah waited for us at the huge door of the castle, I saw Tobias on the third floor, his hands resting on the marbled railing of the veranda. Even with my smallest form, I could see his eyes fixed on me.

Nagsimula nang magliwanag ang kamay ni Claret habang papalapit na kami patungo sa kastilyo, nanatili ang lahat sa kanilang posisyon hanggang sa tuluyan na na kaming makatawid roon.

I felt the sudden warmth around my body as I closed my eyes, and when I heard Claret's gentle voice calling my name, I slowly opened my eyes. I looked down to see my hands, arms, and my whole body.

I am back, yet looking strangely different since I was dressed like a white fairy, with flowers in my braided hair, and decorative glittering vines-like symbols on my skin.

I thought they would hate me for this selfish decision, but when I looked back, everyone gave me that gentle smile.

Rosh nodded at me.

Zen grabbed Claret on her waist and they both smiled at me. Seth waved his hand goodbye, while Blair gave me a gentle nod. Marah rolled her eyes.

I took my long, heavy, and shimmering fairy-like dress and began to climb the long staircase toward the third floor—Tobias's room.

With each step, my pace quickened until I reached the grandest door on that floor. Pushing it open with both hands that revealed the man standing near the window, one hand behind his back while the other held a glass of wine.

As he slowly turned, our gaze met—seeing his emerald eyes felt like something was clenching my chest. I struggled to breathe, my eyes stinging, and my throat starting to ache.

I saw the movement of his eyes as he roamed over me, until he casually gestured with his hand holding the wine, pointing to the mirror. "Go."

Hindi na ako nagsalita sa kanya at malalaki ang hakbang ko patungo sa salamin habang buhat ang kasuotan ko. At nang iilang hakbang na lang ako roon ay muli akong lumingon sa kanya.

"Reject me . . . forget about me. Remove the pain that I caused—"

Bigla na lang nabasag ang hawak niyang baso at matalim siyang tumitig sa akin. "Just fucking go! What do you know about my pain, human?"

Mariin akong pumikit at mas humarap sa kanya. "Because I don't want to leave traces in this world! I want to leave this world na wala nang sinasaktang nilalang! Because I will not be coming back! You should erase me! I should vanish in this world without further hurting—"

Nagningas ang mga mata Tobias at sa isang iglap ay nasa harapan ko na siya. His hands were on my arms, he was trembling, veins prodded on his temple as he lifted me with eyes full of hatred.

"I gave you everything. Ngayon ay uutusan mo ako kung paano ako mamumuhay sa mundong ito na wala ka? Who are you to dictate me if you're leaving me behind? How unfair of you, human girl. Just fucking go!"

Marahas niya akong binitawan ngunit muli niyang hinawakan ang isang balikat ko at hantaran niya akong iniharap sa salamin.

That sudden movement made my head spin again, scenes started to materialize inside my mind— our hands clasped together on the same spot of the mirror with claw marks, the blood spilled on the cracks, the moist on the mirror made as my mouth gasped for air, the sound of my name on his lips, the familiar moans, the pierce on my neck, and the endless kisses.

Those mellowed green eyes—but now so different.

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang luha ko nang marahas akong lumingon sa kanya habang itinutulak na niya ako sa salamin. "I don't need you here! They were right. I'll find a better woman than you."

Kalahati na ng katawan ko ang nakakatawid ng salamin at patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtulak sa akin.

No . . . not these words, Tobias.

I'd go, if he'd promise to forget me and I could no longer hurt him like this. "Reject me . . ."

Mas dumiin ang hawak niya sa akin bago niya ako binitawan. "Go away, human. I don't want to see you anymore."

Then he pushed me and never turned back.