A/N: Five chapters left before Shattered Souls ends! Salamat sa pagsubaybay sa kwento nila. I really... really enjoyed writing this story. I hope you enjoyed it too. I am more thrilled for the next stories which are all connected to this. Hehe.

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Chapter 35: The Truth

His blood helped me recuperate my strength instantly. Just like every time he presses his lips against mine, it left me craving for more. If only we had enough time. If only we had more time.

"Stand beside Erikson. Ako na ang bahala," Brix whispered, his voice was shaky. The fury in his eyes matched his voice, too. He, then, tried to help me up but I resisted and remained laid on the ground.

Not that I was enjoying the rain dropping on my face or the mud that felt like a soft bed, but because Brix was topless and soaking wet while staring down at me. The universe was staring down at me. My universe.

"Cover them up!" It was a command from Prince Nigel Hezuera. Everyone surrounded us like we were some treasure everyone was trying to go after. "Don't worry. Pwede kayong magpahinga kahit na ilang minuto lang. We got you."

Hinawakan ko ang mukha ni Brix. Nakita ko ang unti-unting paghilom ng mga sugat niya. Naramdaman kong nagbalik din ang kanyang sigla. He looked better now.

"A-Albina is gone..." I muttered.

"This is war, Astra," he reminded me as if that thought left my mind.

"I-I want to end it now..." Tila naging hangin ang tinig ko na madaling tinangay ng ulan. "Tama na. A-ayoko nang may mawala pa. Natatakot na ako..."

He just stared at me.

Lumandas sa pisngi ko ang luha. "Habang tumatagal ang digmaan na ito at unti-unti tayong nalalagas, parang nawawala ang saysay ng pinaglalaban natin."

I couldn't bear to lose another one.

He stood up and offered a hand.

Brixton Wenz Cardinal smiled at me.

"Let's end this, then..."

Nakangiting hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay. Dahan-dahan, inalalayan niya akong makatayo. Unti-unti ring nahati ang mga kawal na nakapaligid sa amin.

My eyes darted at Lady Majika, the leader of witches. The rage look in her eyes didn't budge even after Brix broke their shield. She knew they wouldn't stand a chance against us now.

It's over for them. They need to yield to save themselves. But I don't think that will happen.

"Time's up..." Brix walked forward. "Binigyan ko kayo ng pagkakataon kanina pero masyado nang malaking panggagambala ang ginawa ninyo."

"You are really intimidating, Brixton." There was a bit of amusement in her words. "But... we have nothing to lose anymore. You took everything from us!"

"Well, I still have mine." Brix shrugged his shoulders.

Sa isang iglap ay nakalapit sa kanila si Brix. Mabilis na gumawa ng panggala ang mga manggagamot pero isang kamao lang ni Brix ang ginamit niya ay nagawa niyang basagin 'yon. Tumalsik ang mga manggagamot na agad ding nakabawi.

"Holy shit," Nigel cursed.

Nathalia chuckled. "He could have easily broken the shield earlier. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit pinatagal pa niya at hinayaan niyang masira ang kanyang damit."

"No. He didn't want to hurt them," ani Erikson. "He was holding back but they crossed the line."

"We will make sure to get our revenge..." Lady Majika said. "Even if it means losing everything. I don't care anymore. As the leader of the witches, I swear to make this happen."

I knew they wouldn't give up.

Naghawak-kamay ang mga manggagamot. Sabay-sabay na umilaw ang kanilang mga kamay at sa itaas ay namuo ang isang nakakasilaw na liwanag, palaki 'yon nang palaki.

"Umatras lahat!" Finally, Lord Oscar appeared. He was panting.

Hinila ko si Celeste nang hindi ito umatras. Malamang na napukaw ni Oscar ang kanyang atensyon. Ngumiti siya sa akin na tila nahiya dahil nawala siya sa ulirat.

I smiled back. I knew the feeling.

Tumuwid uli ang tingin ko. Brix was walking slowly, fists clasped, towards the danger where the sphere of energy was being molded by the witches.

"Lalamunin siya ng apoy!" ani Celeste.

Nigel giggled. "Ang cool talaga ni idol!"

"They are pouring all their energy in that light," Nathalia noticed. "It would be risky for both."

"Look at Brix," Erikson chuckled. "Does he even care?"

"Hindi ka namin kahit kailan mapapatawad, Brixton Wenz Cardinal." Tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ni Lady Majika kung saan bakas ang pagkabigo. "Sinira mo ang tahimik naming mundo. Ikaw ang dahilan kaya lagi kaming nangangamba na baka maulit ang nangyari."

The sphere of light kept on increasing like a tornado, spinning and gaining more power. Hanggang sa ang pagtingin dito ay mapahdi na sa mga mata. Huminto ang malakas na ulan at hangin. Tila hinihigop ng bilog na 'yon ang lakas ng kalikasan.

"This is bad," bulong ni Erikson.

"That ball of light could burn anyone alive," Randolf added. "Ano pa ba ang ginagawa niya? He should stop them immediately!"

"Don't let that ball of energy touch the ground, Brixton!" Nathalia warned him.

But, how? How could he stop it? Ang nakikita ko lang na paraan para hindi ito dumapo sa lupa ay ang pasabugin na agad habang nasa ere pa ito. It would still cause huge damage but not as vast as if it touched the ground.

"Do you want me to confess?" asked Brix.

"You did it, right?" mahinang tanong ni Lady Majika, bakas na ang panghihina sa kanya. Nilagay na nila ang kanilang lakas sa bilog na liwanag. "You never answered us. We want to hear it now!"

"Brix! The energy could kill them, too!" I screamed loudly. I hope he could still hear me. "Please do something!"

"What? They deserve it!" ani Randolf.

"So does Brixton." Tumawa si Erikson.

No. I don't want them to end up like this. I may not agree with them but I, somehow, understand them. Naiintindihan ko kung saan nanggagaling ang poot na nararamdaman nila.

"Wala na akong pakialam." Ngumiti si Lady Majika. "I'd rather die fighting than to live like a coward. Tapos na akong manahimik. Tapos na..."

"Well here is my answer..." Brix stopped. He looked at the ball of light as he bent his knees, preparing to jump. "I would never do such a thing. Halimaw ako sa mga halimaw rin sa akin pero hindi ko kayang saktan ang mga walang kasalanan sa akin."

"You did it!" pagpupumilit ni Lady Majika. "That's how you achieved your fog ability! Stop denying it!"

"Who even said I wanted this ability?" Brix smirked.

Nalula ako nang biglang tumalon si Brix. Mabilis siyang nilamon ng malaking liwanag. Lumipas ang ilang segundo na walang nangyari. Nagsimula na akong kabahan.

"W-what happened?" tanong ni Celeste.

"The light swallowed him whole," ani Nigel. "H-he's good, right?"

"Everyone down!" babala ni Lady Majika.

Gaya ng sinabi nito ay dumapa kaming lahat. The enormous blinding light ate us up. Just after the light came the sturdy wind, sweeping everything on its way. Nabitiwan ko si Celeste kaya nawala siya sa akin.

No matter how I strained to remain steady, the wind kept pushing me away. Hindi ko pa gaanong nabawi ang lakas ko kaya nagawa akong itulak ng hangin kung hindi lang may humawak sa akin.

"Hold on!" Erikson shouted as he tightened the grip.

"S-Si Celeste—"

"Randolf got her!"

Napapikit ako nang marinig ang malakas na pagsabog. Hindi rin 'yon kinaya ni Erikson kaya niyakap niya ako bago kami sabay na tumalsik. Nagpagulong-gulong kami pero hindi niya ako binitiwan.

Tila panandalian akong nabingi sa lakas ng pagsabog.

What happened?

"Ayos ka lang?" tanong ni Erikson.

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. He took all the damage yet he was the first one to check on me.

He was smiling. "Ang lakas no'n. Hindi ko rin kinaya."

Alam kong hindi lang 'yon ang dahilan. Alam kong pagod na rin siya gaya ng iba.

"S-Salamat..."

Binitiwan niya ako at sabay kaming bumangon. Doon ko lang napagtanto na halos ng mga kasamahan ko ay nakabangon na pala. Lahat sila ay sa iisang direksyon ang tingin.

Nanlumo ako nang makita ang pinsalang ginawa ng pagsabog. Sobrang laki rin ng apoy na tinupok maging ang mga nakapaligid na puno. Lumikha ang pagsabog nang malaking butas sa lupa.

"W-where's Brix?" Luminga-linga ako sa paligid. "Brixton!"

Hinawakan ni Erikson ang baba ng mukha ko at tinuwid sa direksyon.

I saw a silhouette of someone behind the tower-level fire. Dahan-dahan na lumabas doon si Brix at dala ang mga walang malay na manggagamot. May nakakapit pang apoy sa kanyang butas-butas na pantalon.

Umihip ang malamig na hangin. Tumahimik ang lahat.

"H-how?" takang tanong ni Lord Morales na halatang gulat. "How could he endure that massive energy?"

"Because he's Brixton Wenz Cardinal," Lord Oscar said.

"Idol..." bulong ni Nigel.

I got teary-eyed. He's safe and he even achieved to save the witches including Lady Majika. He could have let them get buried alive but he still chose to save them.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili. Patakbo ko siyang sinalubong.

"Nawalan sila ng malay, Astra," bakas ang pangamba sa kanyang mukha. "They are safe though. Medyo naapektuhan din sila ng pagsabog pero ayos naman sila. Sorry."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What?"

Mas lalo itong kinabahan. "Are you mad? Hindi ko naman sila sinaktan. I swear, they are just exhausted."

Dinaluhan siya nina Erikson at Randolf para kuhain ang mga walang malay na manggagamot. Nanatiling sa akin ang kanyang atensyon. Mukha pa rin siyang kabado.

His face was full of dirt as well as his body. "Uhmm. Your silence is frightening me."

Slowly, I hugged him.

"Oh..." he chuckled. "No worries, Milady."

"Y-you scared me again," I mumbled.

He hugged me back. "Kinailangan kong pasabugin ang liwanag sa itaas para hindi malaki ang pinsala. Akala ko nga rin ay masusunog ang buhok ko."

Ngumiti ako bago siya hinarap. "You did it again."

"For you..."

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko kaya napahawak ako sa kanyang braso.

"A-Astra? What's wrong?"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang manlabo ang paningin. It felt like my soul was being pulled out of my body. Until everything got vague and until the darkness swallowed me.

The next thing I knew... I was standing in a different world. The place looked familiar... even the feeling. I've been here before. And before I even realized where I was, I've heard voices.

There was fog everywhere.

"Brixton..." One of the voices mentioned.

I've noticed two silhouettes from a distance. Nasa parehong panahon at lugar ako nung huli kong nasaksihan ang eksena na ito. It seemed like a continuation of a disrupted movie, the most significant scene.

No. Not again.

"Give me the power I need!" Brixton insisted. "Or else..."

"What?" My father was wheezing. May mga sugat na rin siya sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan.

"You know what will happen." Meanwhile, Brix still looked fine.

Errold, my dad, shook his head. "Our power comes from our ancestors. Hindi namin ito kailanman ibibigay sa 'yo. Hindi para gamitin mo sa masamang hangarin."

"Then, you left me with no choice."

Napaatras ako nang umatake si Brix. He was fast and so was my father. He put quite a fight but Brix was still a vampire and there's a vast difference in their physical strength.

"No—" I mumbled when Brix throttled my father. He elevated him up from the ground. My father struggled to breathe. "B-Brix... stop. Please? Stop!"

No matter how loud I screamed, they couldn't hear me. Of course they wouldn't. This scene already happened and I was just here to spectate... to hurt me with the truth.

I felt something weird going on with my necklace that Lola, my auntie, gave to me. There was a tiny light coming out of it. Hindi ko alam kung para saan 'yon o kung ano ito.

"Babalik sa 'yo lahat ng ginawa mo!" sigaw ni Papa. "Magtagumpay ka man ngayon pero babalik din ito sa 'yo."

"Ako pa rin ang mananaig sa huli, Errold."

Umangat uli ang tingin ko. Unti-unting naglaho ang hamog. Naging malinaw sa akin ang pangyayari. Malamang na ito ang epekto ng ilaw sa kwintas, ang makita ko ang pangyayari nang mas malinaw at buo.

"P-paano mo ako nakilala?" tanong ni Papa.

"W-what?"

"Paano mo ako nakilala?!" Tumaas ang boses ni Papa. "Hindi ka manggagamot. Imposibleng makilala ako ng isang bampirang katulad mo. Paano?"

Brix... smiled.

Shit.

I've seen Brix smiled many times now that it was not hard for me to say... I couldn't recognize that smile. Hindi ko kilala ang ngiti na nasa kanyang labi.

"You are really something, Errold. Fine."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang unti-unting magbago ang anyo niya. Mula sa maikling buhok ay humaba. Naging magkasingtangkad na lang kami.

What? All this time... it was her?

"G-Grenda..." Bakas ang gulat at pagkabigo sa mukha ni Papa. The thought that he has been fighting with what he thought was an ally hurt him more than his wounds. "B-bakit? Bakit mo ito ginagawa?"

"Brix slaughtered half of your kind, mercilessly. From the elder witches to the young ones. From those who tried to fight him, to those who knelt down and yield thinking he would spare their lives. This is the story everyone will believe in. How Brixton Wenz Cardinal killed them all."

I was shaking in so much emotion. All this time, they thought it was Brix. They have been thinking he was the villain and they even tried to kill him. When in fact... it was Lady Grenda.

It's always been Lady Grenda. She put Brix in a situation and blamed him for the crime he didn't even commit. Just like what she tried to do with me.

The fact that she was the main reason why Brixton's life has been hell was adding fuel to the scorching fury I was feeling. What infuriated me more was the thought that Brixton was still longing for her attention... ang kinilala niyang ina.

"N-no. Remember that truth always prevails, Grenda!"

"Who would tell the truth?" Mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa leeg ni Papa. "No one is around. It's just you and me. Who? You?"

Napaupo ako, hinanghina, nang makitang pinasok ni Lady Grenda ang kanyang kamay sa dibdib ni Papa. Napasigaw si Papa sa sakit pero nagawa niyang makawala. Pinalibutan siya agad ng hamog at naglaho.

Lady Grenda laughed loudly. It was echoing... infuriating.

Another transition happened. It felt like a hole swallowed me, spinning while falling into oblivion. Wala na ako sa lugar na 'yon pero naiwan pa rin sa utak ko ang halakhak ni Lady Grenda, ang tuwa sa kanyang mukha.

Gustong-gusto kong burahin ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha.

After that groggy transition, I stood in an unfamiliar place. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid. Lahat ng mga kawal ay nakatumba. Mukhang may labanan na nangyari dito.

May narinig akong umiiyak.

Napatingin ako sa isang lalaki na nakaupo at yakap-yakap ang isa pang lalaki. Puno ng dugo ang katawan niya. Nanginginig pa ang kanyang katawan.

Namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata. The scene melted my aching heart.

"K-Kelly..." Brix muffled his name. "Ang daya naman. Akala ko ba tatanda ka hanggang seventy years old? Iniwan mo rin ako agad. Ang daya!"

Mapait na napangiti ako.

"B-Brix..." I called his name but he couldn't hear me.

I wanted to hug him but someone suddenly appeared. My father fell on the ground, holding his bleeding chest. Malakas ang pagsinghap nito, kinukulang sa hangin.

Mabilis na tumayo si Brix at nilapitan si Papa.

"S-saan ka nanggaling? Sino ka?" tanong ni Brix.

My father held Brix's hand. He said words Brix couldn't understand. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Brix. Nakita ko ang puting usok na gumapang sa mga kamay ni Brix hanggang sa lamunin siya nito.

That's how my father transferred his fog ability to him.

Just like what Brix told me, it was a gift.

Brix didn't steal it. My father lent it to him wholeheartedly.

"W-why?" Brix questioned, confused.

Ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak ni Papa sa kamay ni Brix ay unti-unting lumuwag. Nung nawala na ang hamog ay tuluyan na siyang nabitiwan ni Papa.

"S-sir?" Brix nudged.

Nung mapagtanto na hindi na ito kahit kailanman makakasagot ay hinayaan na rin niya ito. Bumuntonghininga siya. Humiga rin siya sa lupa at tumingala sa kalangitan.

"I hate this world," Brix whispered with a bitter smile.

Tumabi ako sa kanya. Hinawi ko ang kanyang buhok pero tumagos lang ang kamay ko sa kanya. Nakita kong lumandas sa kanyang pisngi ang isang patak ng luha.

That was the first time I've seen Brixton Wenz Cardinal cried a tear.

"Where do I really belong?" he asked himself.

Before reality sucksed me out of that scene, I remembered what my father tried to say to Brix.

"I'm sorry..."

Pagkamulat ko ng mga mata ay napahinga ako nang malalim. Parang nalunod ako sa kailaliman ng tubig... basang-basa, hinang-hina ngunit hindi nawalan ng malay dahil alam ko lahat ng nangyari. Lahat ng detalye.

In the blur of my eyes, I saw Brix trying to nudge my shoulders. His eyes looked anxious and he was telling me something.

I'm sorry, Brix. I'm sorry for what you have been through.

But it all ends now.

This time, I will make sure you will get nothing but the genuine love that you deserve.

"What happened?" That's what I've heard from him. "You've passed out."

What happened?

What happened made me clench my fists.

What happened boiled my blood up to a degree I didn't even know was possible.

What happened to Brix needs justice.

Slowly, I pulled myself up.

"Astra?" takang-tawag ni Brix sa akin.

Suminghap ako. I was such a fool not to notice it. How the witches managed to get in without our knowing. Nakapasok sila dahil... pinapasok namin sila.

"I'm done playing," I said as I turned to Lord Morales. "How about you? Lady Grenda..."