Chapter 47: White Horse

Lakad takbo ako para lang makalabas sa madilim na lagusang iyon. Hindi ko na nagawang hintayin pa ang liwanag mula sa lumulutang na buhangin ni Kreios dahil nilampasan ko na iyon.

All I thought was Father and Danna purposely lost their game because the Holy Land was here, and they were searching for it. But here I was, discovering that they had created a realm where all the victims could escape.

When I left the first tunnel, I entered another one. Kreios was just silent as he followed my pursuit, yet his floating grains of sand guided me as I trailed my path. When I reached another dead end, I ran my finger through it, feeling the carved letters of more women.

I should get frustrated with the constant end of this path, giving me unanswered questions, yet my heart couldn't deny this overwhelming feeling—the pain and hope that I could have done something for the victims when I discovered this tradition. And yet, here I was with the realization that it had been fulfilled years ago.

It wasn't just the first tunnel, the second, and the third— every dead end of these tunnels had carved names of the women who had endured the sacrifice of the Entertainment District. Feeling their names beneath my fingertips, I closed my eyes as if those letters would bring me back to the past— until images started to flash inside my mind, voices of the women in a whisper, the metallic smell of their blood, and the silver glimpse of their tears on their cheeks in the darkness as the sound of the rough friction of the stone against another in their bruised hands echoed inside the tunnel.

When I opened my eyes again, a shiver ran down my spine as I embraced myself, and the images felt so real.

"Cassopeia was here."

"I was saved."

"I am free.

"Thank you."

"You will be saved."

Iba't ibang boses ng mga babae. Iba't ibang imahe, haba ng buhok, kulay ng kanilang kutis at maging ang hugis at kislap ng kanilang mga mata

Nagpatuloy sa paglandas ang mga daliri ko sa mga pangalan nila. This was the clue I had been looking for—the traces of blood were here—the drops of blood from their bruised hands as they left their names and memories for the next victims. Father and Danna might have started this, but the women continued to help each other and became each other's guides.

I looked over my shoulder as I met his eyes. "Kreios, those women before me... they were saved. I am so happy."

He gave me a soft smile.

"I know that you will soon abolish it though, but I am glad to know the story behind this place," Kreios said calmly.

"There must be a message in each dead end. It will be difficult to find since the women were extra careful not to lead the path to unwanted creatures." Dalawang kamay na ang inihawak ko sa hangganan habang naghahanap ng maaaring mensahe ng mga babae.

"Let me."

Tumigil ako at ilang beses humakbang paatras.

Kung kanina ay nanatili lang nasa likuran ko si Kreios, ngayon ay lumapit na rin siya sa akin at marahan niyang inihawak ang kamay niya sa hangganan.

"If not through words maybe we could find something..."

Pinanuod ko si Kreios habang kinakapa niya iyong hangganan kung saan naroon ang mga pangalan. Each woman reached the dead end and left their names carved on the stone, but after reaching the dead end where did they go?

Hinintay ko na may makapa si Kreios pero nang tumigil siya at humarap sa akin ay ilang beses siyang umiling.

"Should we return to the circle with symbols?"

Bumuntonghininga si Kreios. "I don't know. I had a fair share of adventures with Desmond and Livius, but we mostly encountered combat and not this puzzle-chasing journey."

We left that tunnel again and we were back standing in the magical circle. Lumuhod na ako roon at hinawakan ko ang bawat simbolo doon. "I don't understand, Kreios. I can't feel anything from this symbol. This felt like an added clue to make us more confused."

Dinaluhan ako ni Kreios at hinawakan niya rin ang mga simbolo sa loob ng bilog. "If not our blood or body sweat..." he grinned at me.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko sa kanya. "How about our power, darling? Just like what I did when we entered this realm."

"At hindi mo iyan naisip kanina?"

"Well, we're distracted by these tunnels around us."

Tumulong sa akin si Kreios, at gamit ang dalawang kamay namin ay pilit namin nilinis ang bilog na simbolo na hindi lang natatakpan ng dumi kundi pati na rin mga lumot.

As we continued to examine the symbol, we realized that some lines were covered by hardened mud and moss, making it impossible to fully understand the circle.

Abala kami sa paglilinis ni Kreios nang magsalita siyang muli.

"Now I regret not asking for anyone to accompany us. Is this really a part of our journey? Cleaning."

Saglit akong natigilan sa sinabi niya at napatitig ako. "You used to live outside your comfort—"

I saw a gentle smile on his lips. "Desmond and Livius are good at cleaning."

I purposely avoided his eyes and looked down. I just nodded. Even if he'd not admit it, I knew how it was important for him, all his adventures and memories with Livius and Desmond. I couldn't help but feel bad about what happened between the three of them.

Ngayon ay ramdam ko na siya naman ang nakatitig sa akin.

"This puzzle adventure you seemed as though you're used to it."

"Of course. I have experienced this with my siblings, Kreios. Not that I am the best one, Queen Leticia and Kalla's good with puzzles. Even Rosh..."

Tumigil si Kreios sa paglilinis sa simbolo at tumingala siya. "Speaking of the devil— I mean vampire. You happened to mention that we needed his assistance. Don't you think it's time to summon him?"

Muli akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siya itong nagsabi sa akin na hindi na namin kailangan pa si Rosh. Hindi na rin siya pumasok sa isip ko.

Though this place wasn't what I had expected, I could still feel like we were about to discover something else.

"I don't know any summoning spell, Kreios. I am not a priestess."

His lips prodded. "Indeed."

"Gusto mo ba siyang tawagin?"

Umiling din siya sa akin. "I don't know any summoning spell as well."

Saglit akong tumingala doon sa pinagmamasdan niya kanina. It was just endless darkness. Bigla kong naalala ang mga iniwan namin sa Mudelior.

Huminga ako nang malalim. I trusted Juniper's intelligence, the power of the Viardellons, and my twin who wouldn't be clueless once the farce I'd created circulated around Nemetio Spiran, and the rest of my siblings that would see through it.

"If not blood... and even their sweat," saglit ngumisi si Kreios nang mas madiin ang sinabi ko sa huling salita. "There must be something similar to all those women," I added.

Huminga nang malalim si Kreios, pinagkrus niya ang kanyang mga hita habang nakasalampak sa gitna ng bilog na iyon, at marahan niyang hinaplos ang baba niya na tila malalim na nag-iisip.

"Similarity..." mahinang usal niya.

"Something that would confirm that the woman is one of the sacrificial maidens. If Father and Danna made this place an escape... I am sure that they made something that would only recognize those women even if someone else discovered this place and realized that those women were not offered and killed during the ceremony."

"Well, you were right. I don't think their blood is the same," dagdag ni Kreios.

"Similarity," ulit ko.

"The strand of their hair? Their voice? It doesn't make sense. It's different."

Nanatili akong tahimik habang naririnig ang iba't ibang opiniyon ni Kreios. It was Father who dug into this place, but what made this place possible was Danna's ability.

I gasped and covered my mouth as my eyes widened in front of Kreios. And I knew that he could read it inside my own.

"Of course. It's that similarity."

"Sand..." bulong ko. "They were brought here by Danna's sand and this circle is not made to receive a spell, but to accept something that was a part of it. Danna left traces of her sands for every woman that will be offered from Entertainment District."

Napabuga ng hangin si Kreios. Naituwid na niya ang kanyang mga hita at itinuon niya na sa likuran niya ang mga kamay niya upang suportahan ang kanyang sarili. He looked up as if he could see something above.

"You know I always admire Desmond and his words, the way he thinks, and how he views life despite his situation. He was a good leader, a friend— a brother. I grew up looking up to him. I heard stories from him about Aunt Danna and how wise she was that she could even compete with the known King Thaddeus, but as I discover more about them and how they left this world with these..."

Tumuwid sa kanyang pagkakaupo si Kreios at marahan niyang inangat ang isa niyang kamay.

And then slowly, he let a few grains of sand flow from his palm between his fingers.

"You know why Desmond has been saving women... even decided to be their groom?" he chuckled. "I thought he just trying to be sneaky, claiming a lot of virgin wives, but then he told me that it was his mother's request— that he should save women from slavery and abuse, and he has to find someone who has the same ability with her."

Natulala na ako sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ni Kreios. Ramdam ko ang panlalamig ko.

"Before Desmond disappeared in this world. I thought we fulfilled his promise... we saved hundreds of women, I met Claret, the princes from the prophecy who helped us with that promise, and maybe Aunt Danna wanted Desmond to find someone with the same power as her because it's powerful enough to support him. I thought that was it, but discovering this place..."

"W-Was that the reason why you... and Desmond spent years sabotaging different houses of pleasure because it was Danna's—"

Kreios faintly smiled and nodded. "But I guess we've been searching for the wrong places for years, Harper. Because here is where she needs my ability..."

Mas inangat ni Kreios ang isa niyang kamay habang patuloy na umaagos ang kumikinang na buhangin mula sa kanyang mga kamay.

The golden grains of sand from his palm were slowly crawling from the unfamiliar lines of the circle, showing the true images of it— the message. My eyes widened as the sand filling the lines started to glow— like golden ink to a parchment.

Ang bahagyang nakabukang palad ni Kreios ay unti-unti niyang itinikom. "I hope he was here..." bulong niya.

Higit na akong lumapit kay Kreios, hinawakan ko ng dalawa kong kamay ang palad niyang patuloy na naglalabas ng buhangin at higit na binibigyang linaw ang bilog na imahe na ilalim namin.

Until the image inside the circle was fully traced by Kreios' sand. Kapwa kami tumayo at lumabas sa loob ng bilog upang higit na pagmasdan ang mensahe pero agad rin nawala ang atensyon namin roon dahil ang lahat na lagusan na tanging kadiliman lang ang ipinakita sa amin ay ngayon ay nagliliwanag.

"Exit..."

Hahakbang na sana ako patungo sa isa sa lagusan nang agad akong hilahin ni Kreios, lalo na ng isa sa lagusan ay tila nagpapakita ng anino na unti-unting lumalapit sa amin.

Kreios quickly made sand blades, while I bear my sharp nails for an attack.

Until the shadows had familiar noise— voices. "Oh, fuck! Get off me! Fly! Oh, God! Not my horse!"

"No! Pasabay lang! I can't walk!"

"I said fly! No! Not my horse!"

"What the fuck is wrong with you? This is just a horse! It's huge. It can carry us both!"

"Seriously! This horse can't carry two! Oh, no! My adorable, elegant, expensive, and mythical— get down, Pryor!"

"Fuck! Huwag mo akong itulak! You idiot, vain, foolish prince!"

"Akala ko ba ay ayaw mong sumama? You told us you changed your mind, and you'll stay? Leave my horse alone!"

As the voices grew clearer, the shadow appeared to be the familiar figures of two princes. Kapwa namin ibinaba ni Kreios ang mga kamay namin nang maglinaw ang anino ng dalawang prinsipe na nakasakay sa iisang kabayo.

Finally, the two distracted princes left that glowing portal, riding a majestic white horse together, Rosh in his usual extravagant princely suit that cost a fortune of a small city, while Pryor with his knight uniform while pushing each other's faces.

Kreios cleared his throat, and I tried to appear not surprised by their sudden appearance, held my dress, and curtsied like a perfect queen who just greeted her honorable guests.

"My, what a pleasant surprise, Prince Rosh, Prince Pryor."

Mabilis nakabawi ang magkapatid— a typical prideful Le'Vamuievos. Tumalon si Pryor mula sa kabayo, bowed with a hand on his chest.

While Rosh had one of his brows arched which made me remember our agreement that I could summon him if I needed him.

Rosh looked around and glanced at Kreios who had his smirk before he met my eyes again. He took the reigns of his white horse he guided it forward. The clip-clop of the hooves overwhelmed the silence of the place until the horse reached a considerable distance between us. Unlike before when we were in the castle, I asked him for a rose, but this time, he summoned it without a word.

I'd witnessed these multiple scenes behind every woman who accepted his flower. I always find it ridiculous, thinking about how better his brother Tobias is than him, but this time— I never thought I'd see Rosh in a different light.

Still riding on his majestic white horse, Prince Rosh extended his hand with a red rose for me. "I have arrived."