Chapter 39: For The Second Generation

All she wanted was to be fought for.

I don't want to look back anymore. I am physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I am on the verge of bursting out into so many emotions I've been trying to hold back.

I have lost enough.

Enough now, please?

"S-she's resting now," Randolf announced. There was a hint of relief in his voice. I could picture him smiling while staring at her peaceful face. "Finally..."

She's finally free.

Narinig kong umubo nang mabigat si Nigel. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko ang mga tinamo niyang saksak mula sa mga kalaban. Mabilis akong tumayo at nilapitan siya. Nadatnan ko itong nakahiga sa damo at nakatingala.

A frail smile has twisted on his dry lips as he looked up at me, gasping hard. May bakas pa rin ng dugo sa gilid ng kanyang mata na dinaanan kanina ng mga mga luha.

He looked so vulnerable.

I bit my arm and lent him some of my blood. Labag man sa loob niya ngunit hindi nito napigilan ang sarili sa halimuyak ng aking dugo. I am also drained but he needs it the most.

I can still bear it. I've hardly fought unlike them.

"Thank you, Nigel," I told him.

"S-shit. Sorry..." As though he just came back to his senses.

I shook my head as I wiped the blood off his face. As soon as his body accepted my blood, his cuts slowly healed up until even the red look in his eyes return to its intense hue.

Pagkatapos ko sa kanya ay lumipat naman ako kay Erikson. Nadatnan ko itong nakapikit. He has cuts on his arms, face and all over his body. I noticed that he's not healing up.

I prepared my blood. Pinigilan niya ang braso ko nang ilalapit ko ito sa kanyang bibig.

"Don't." Bumangon ito at umupo. Umiling ito sa akin. "You are also exhausted, Astra. Kung patuloy kang maglalabas ng dugo ay manghihina ka."

I know it well but I don't care anymore.

"Save it—"

"I'd rather run out of blood than to lose another one," I cut him off. Unti-unti ay nilapit ko sa kanyang bibig ang aking braso. "Take my blood, Mr. Nadija."

"Astra—"

"Take my fucking blood!" Nanginig ang aking labi. Suminghap ako ng hangin at kinalma ang sarili. "You are right. I'm tired. I'm tired not because of losing blood. I'm fucking tired of losing someone!"

A little drop of blood won't hurt me. Mas lalo lang akong manghihinga ngunit hindi ko ito ikamamatay. Hindi katulad ni Erikson na kitang-kita ang panghihina sa kanyang kilos.

"Please?" I pleaded.

Wala rin itong nagawa kung hindi ang sundin ang gusto ko. Hindi gaya ni Nigel ay napigilan ni Erikson ang sarili. Kaunting dugo lang ang nakuha niya sa akin pero sapat 'yon para gumaling ang mga sugat niya.

I smiled when his wounds healed up, too. I gave out a sigh of relief.

"T-thank you, Astra..."

"You did great, Erikson. Thank you."

Tumayo ako at bumaling kay Oscar. He stood still where he was. Wala kang mababakas na kahit na anong emosyon sa kanyang mga mata pero alam kong hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay wala lang sa kanya ang mga nangyayari.

He's keeping it all to himself.

I wanted to be mad at him for not fighting for Celeste – for giving her up easily. I wanted to blame him because Celeste didn't even feel to be loved back by the only man she ever loved.

I wanted to blame him for taking away the only thing that she had ever asked.

"Why are you here? Where are the others?" I asked instead.

I gasped when his eyes darted at me. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi niya ako nakikita o 'di kaya'y hindi niya ako kilala. I suddenly couldn't remember how his eyes used to look like.

Am I still staring at the Oscar I know?

"Brix asked me to help you here." Even his voice sounded so strange to me. "I think I'm kind of late. Si Mr. Wenson lang ang natulungan ko. Hindi ko natulungan ang isa sa inyo."

That confirmed my thoughts.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"I will escort you out of this castle. I will make sure no one will get hurt anymore." How his face stood expressionless while saying that was something I didn't even see coming. "I need to go back after I made sure you are safe."

Bahagya pa akong lumapit sa kanya. Baka sakaling nagkamali lang ako ng pandinig. Pagod ako at sa dami ng mga nangyari ngayon ay malamang na humihina na rin ako sa pag-intindi.

"Oscar..." I tried to call his name, wishing he would laugh at me for falling into a trap. I wish he was just another copycat that witches used against us. "Why are you here again?"

He let out a heavy sigh. "I was assigned to escort you safely out of the castle."

That's not what I want to hear.

"Guys..." Napatingin kami kay Randolf. Buhat-buhat niya si Celeste sa kanyang mga braso. "Hindi pa ba kayo aalis? Mauuna na ako. I need to put Celeste on a safe place."

"Go on," Oscar told him.

My lips parted. I couldn't be wrong this time.

Randolf left with Celeste.

"Are you good now, Mr. Wenson? Mr. Nadija?" tanong ni Oscar. "Kailangan ko na kayong maihatid sa labas para makabalik din ako agad."

"Ask Astra, Lord Oscar," Erikson groaned.

Muling bumalik sa akin ang tingin ni Oscar. "Are you good now?"

Imbes na maasar ay bigla akong nakaramdam ng lungkot.

"Astra?" he called me.

Pakiramdam ko ay lumalayo siya sa amin.

I slightly nodded. "Y-yeah..."

"Good. Let's go."

Nilagpasan niya ako lang ako. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang pagmasdan siya habang naglalakad palayo.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered.

I have no idea what's going on inside his head.

Maybe full of regrets.

Probably a sea of what ifs.

I know what went wrong. He ran out of time.

The love that was never told would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Her death cursed him.

"He needs time." Lumapit sa akin si Erikson. "Things went madly fast."

Time? I don't think so.

Time can undo nothing about this.

This is something time cannot change.

Oscar didn't look back. It felt like the moment we lost her, we lost him, too.

"Tara na?" anyaya sa amin ni Nigel.

Hindi pa kami nakakalayo nang makaramdam ako ng sobrang panlalamig. I shuddered and that triggered a loud gasped from my lips. Napahawak ako kay Erikson nang maramdaman ang kabog sa dibdib.

What's happening?

My chest. It hurt. It felt like I was being stabbed by a thousand swords right on my chest... right where I couldn't tolerate... exactly right where it could kill me.

"What's wrong? Not again, please?" alalang tanong ni Erikson.

There's something wrong but not with me.

Before I even realized what it was, the fog that has been covering the whole place... the one that pushed away all the enemies... suddenly vanished.

The cool atmosphere dropped.

It's suddenly hard to breathe.

"A-Astra... your eyes," Nigel mentioned.

I wiped the fluid coming out of my eyes. Blood.

Erikson ripped up my clothes. Nanghina ako nang makitang unti-unting nangingitim ang dibdib ko. Mabilis ang pagtaas nito na tila bahang bumabara sa paghinga ko.

"You are..." Erikson looked horrified.

Lord Oscar abruptly started to run back. I heard him mutter a curse.

Napatingala kami nang makitang nagliparan ang mga itim na uwak. Nagpaikot-ikot ang mga ito sa hangin na tila nabulabog mula sa pagkakahimbing.

Mas hinigpitan ni Erikson ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

"Brixton..." I cried his name.

Tinulak ko si Erikson at tumakbo pabalik.

Something happened to him.

No. Brixton Wenz Cardinal.

Out of all the words you promised me, I only wanted you to live.

Sa bungad pa lang ng gubat ay alam ko nang hindi maganda ang nangyayari. Naramdaman din 'yon ni Erikson kaya sinubukan niyang pigilan ako pero hindi ako pumayag.

Tama nga. Isang bangungot ang dinatnan ko.

Nakaupo sa lupa si Lady Vienzara at nakapatong sa kanyang hita ang ulo ni Lord Vienzara. Yumuko ito at niyakap ang ama. Napansin kong nanginig ang kanyang mga balikat.

Lady of Vienzara...

Ang sumunod kong nakita ay si Lady Nathalia na nakasandal sa puno at nakayuko. Hindi na rin ito gumagalaw gaya ng iba. Sa kanyang dibdib ay may nakalagay na patalim kung saan may tumutulong dugo.

Nathalia Cardinal...

The next image shattered me.

It was Brixton, kneeling before The Fifth. There were several swords penetrated on his chest. He's not moving. I couldn't even feel him anymore.

Did we lose?

"P-Papa!" Tumakbo si Nigel at nilapitan ang nakahandusay na ama.

I tried to step forward but a force pushed me. It felt like I was being pulled out of my body. I was losing my senses, my vision was starting to get distorted.

I am starting to get numb.

Please let me hold him for the last time.

Napaluhod ako nang bumigay ang mga tuhod ko. Gumapang ako at nilagpasan ang iba pang nakahandusay na kakampi. Nagawa kong makalapit kay Brix.

I smiled at him. "Hey..."

He didn't respond.

Hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay. Bigla itong bumagsak sa lupa. Puno na ng luha... o dugo ang mga mata ko. Isa-isa ay inalis ko ang mga patalim sa kanyang dibdib.

I coughed blood. Napatukod ako.

Biglang nagdilim ang paningin ko kaya bumagsak ako sa kanyang tabi. Humikbi ako bago siya dahan-dahan na niyakap. Marami akong gustong sabihin, hindi ko alam kung maririnig ba niya pero hindi ko mahanap ang aking tinig.

Is this the end?

Dumiretso ang tingin ko sa lalaking nanatiling nakatayo. The Fifth remained standing and just looking down at us. His cloak has been torn apart and he was panting too. Halatang napuruhan din ito sa laban.

"You will never win against The Cloaks," The Fifth reminded us once again.

Right at that moment... I know he's right.

This war should have not happened.

Kung hindi ito nangyari ay marami pa sanang buhay ngayon. Buhay pa sana si Albina... si Celeste at ang iba pang mga nagbuwis ng buhay sa laban na ito.

Natulala ako kay Oscar nang umatake ito mula sa likod. Mabilis na nakakilos ang kalaban namin. Nabitiwan ni Oscar ang kanyang ispada nang pumasok sa dibdib niya ang kamay ng Pinuno.

I think that's it.

Natulala na lang ako sa mga uwak na lumilipad sa kalangitan. Hanggang sa unti-unti nang lumabo ang paligid at hanggang sa tuluyan na akong lamunin ng dilim.

I'm sorry, Aya.

Silence.

Finally... the war has ended.

We really lost.

Silence.

Naramdaman kong may malamig na hangin ang humaplos sa pisngi ko. Unti-unti ay nagawa kong imulat ang aking mga mata. Wala akong makita kung hindi puro puti.

Parang nasa loob ako ng ulap.

What's this?

I felt something. This is not a cloud.

It's fog.

A different kind of fog.

It's not Brix's.

It felt stronger... more powerful.

Iba man ito sa nakasanayang hamog na humahaplos sa akin ay kilalang-kilala ko ang pakiramdam na ito. Ang pangungulila... ang pangamba... ang puno't dulo.

Hyacinth.

Naramdaman kong gumalaw si Brix. "A-Astra?"

Tumagilid ang ulo ko sa kanya.

"Brix..."

He looked confused with what's happening. "I've already lost my fog ability."

Tumango ako.

Brix's lips slightly parted. He looked surprised. "My princess..."

"It's not the end," I told him.

Slowly, I pulled myself up. I looked down at Brix and offered him a hand.

Dahan-dahan ay inabot niya ang kamay ko. Nagawa naming makabangon. Naramdaman kong unti-unting nakabawi ang aking katawan at gano'n din si Brix.

Pinahihilom ng hamog ang aming mga sugat at binabalik nito ang lahat ng nagamit naming lakas.

Brix roamed his eyes around the thick fog. Nakita kong sumilip ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. He looked so... relieved and proud.

"Our daughter wants you to live," I said.

Pumirmi sa akin ang kanyang tingin. "Our daughter..."

"Aya wants to see you, Brix. Will you fail her?"

Nakita kong sumidhi ang pagkakapula ng kanyang mga mata.

"Who am I to refuse her?" he smiled.

Unti-unti ay naglaho rin ang hamog. Sa tuluyang pagkawala nito ay nakita kong nakabangon na lahat ng kasama namin. Nathalia was scratching her arms.

"Oh, my feels! Ang daming langgam sa puno na 'yon!" she complained.

Nagawa ring makabawi nina Nigel at Lord Hezuera. Napansin ko ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak nito sa kanyang Ama. The worried look in his eyes turned into determination as he stared at The Fifth.

Everyone healed up except... Lord Vienzara.

Binuhat siya ni Lady Vienzara at tinabi sa ilalim ng puno. Hinalikan nito ang pisngi ng ama bago tumayo at lumapit sa amin. Nakita ko ang galit sa kanyang mga nag-aapoy na mata.

Binitiwan ni Nigel ang kamay ng ama para lumapit sa amin. Dumating din si Randolf. Halatang hindi pa rin ito nakabawi sa pagkawala ni Celeste pero gaya ng ibang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay, kailangang ipagpatuloy ang laban.

Brixton, Oscar, Lady Nathalia, Lady Vienzara, Nigel, Erikson, Randolf and I stood in front of The Fifth. Sa unang pagkakataon ay nakita kong nasindak ito sa amin.

"Y-you already lost," The Fifth told us.

"We can't lose, Fifth..." Lady Vienzara told him. "Not when you killed my father. Not when my father died while believing we will win. We can still fight."

"You forgot something..." Brix stepped forward. "The second generation has already started."

Fifth chuckled. "Hindi talaga kayo marunong madala." He gave out a heavy sigh as he summoned his allies again. "Then, I will end it this time."

It's been a long night but the sun is about to push away the darkness.

Finally... a new day is about to start.

The war will end soon.

It should be in favor of us.

For the second generation of vampires.

Napatunayan ko kung gaano kalakas at kabilis ang kalaban, kung bakit nagawa niyang patumbahin ang lahat nang mag-isa at kung bakit isa siya sa mga pinakamataas na pinuno.

Mabilis na sinalo ako ni Brix nang tumalsik. Tumango ito sa akin bago humilaway. Bahagya pa akong natulala sa kanya. Sa dami na ng nangyari ay nakangiti pa ito.

"Good job!" puri niya bago uli bumalik sa laban.

The war seemed to last forever.

Maybe I somehow underestimated The Fifth Cloak. He was not just strong, he could read moves, too. His cane seemed to have its on own life. It would do anything to protect The Fifth. His ability was something to be scared of.

Napaatras si Nathalia nang mapuruhan siya. Mabilis ko siyang dinaluhan. Pinalibutan kami agad ng mga alagad ng kalaban na tila hindi nauubos.

Sa isang dako ay nakita kong pasikat na ang araw.

Naputol na ang ispada namin kaya wala kaming nagawa kung hindi ang gamitin ang aming mga pangil. Mas mahirap ang makipaglaban nang malapitan. Kailangang baliin ang ulo para matumba ang kalaban.

"Ah!" Napasigaw ako nang may humawak sa mga braso ko at binali ito sa aking likod. Napatingin ako sa dibdib ko nang may pumasok na ispada rito.

Tumulo sa bibig ko ang dugo.

I guess we still have a chance to win.

It's possible.

Subalit ang manalo sa digmaan nang walang buhay na nagsasakripisyo ay malabong mangyari. Hindi kapani-paniwala na sa digmaan ay ang mga kalaban lang ang malalagasan.

I think that's fine.

It's fine as long as we will win it in the end.

Inakay ako ni Erikson palayo roon. Napansin kong nakatumba na rin sina Nigel, Erikson at Yngritt. Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. Bakas na ang sobrang panghihina nila.

"S-sobrang bilis niya..." ani Nigel. "Hindi kami makalapit."

"The problem is his cane," Yngritt hissed.

"I'm sorry. Wala akong magawa..." bulong ni Erikson.

Napatingin ako sa paparating si Nathalia. Akay-akay nito si Randolf.

Ang nanatiling matatag ay sina Oscar at Brix. They did everything to fight The Fifth. Hindi lang naman kami ang pagod na. Maging ang pinunong kalaban namin ay naghihikahos na rin.

"S-shit..." Nigel cussed.

May isang lalaki ang nakatayo sa hindi kalayuan. Tahimik lang itong nanunuod sa laban. Base sa suot nito, sa kanyang presensya ay alam kong isa rin siya.

"One of The Fifth Cloaks..." Lady Nathalia mentioned. "Two Cloaks now. Fuck it!"

Ilang hakbang pa lang ang nagagawa ni Nath nang biglang bumigay ang mga tuhod niya. Mabilis na nilapitan siya nina Erikson at Nigel. May mga sinabi pa si Nathalia pero hindi ko narinig.

It's not the end. I know.

Natulala ako nang makitang nagtalo sina Brix at Oscar. Alam kong pinapaalis na ni Brix si Oscar dahil sa kalagayan nito ay maaari niya itong ikasawi.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago tumayo.

Kitang-kita ng dalawa kong mga mata nang saksakin ni Brix ng ispada sa dibdib si Oscar. Napaluhod ang kapatid nito sa lupa at dahan-dahan na bumagsak sa lupa.

Brix...

He did that to save him.

That stab won't do anything but to stop him from fighting for a while.

What are you planning, Brix?

Brix stood there like a promise.

He doesn't care if he's alone now.

Even the allies of The Cloaks were just standing around them and watching the fight. Alam kong kagagawan ito ng isa pang lalaki sa hindi kalayuan. He wanted to know who's going to win between them without someone else interfering.

"Give it up!" The Fifth yelled at Brix. "It's over, Brixton."

"Over?" Brix chuckled. "I don't think so."

"Stop fighting now!"

"No." Umiling si Brix. "My queen gave me the signal to end this war but she never told me to give up. I don't take orders from anyone aside from her. You are just The Fifth Cloak... while I am Brixton Wenz Cardinal."

It's now between The Fifth Cloak and Brixton Wenz Cardinal.

"Then I will kill you, Brixton Wenz Cardinal!"

I sniffed when they both attacked at the same time. As usual, the wooden cane of The Fifth disappeared from the thin air. Pero alam kong nakabuntot lang ito kay Brixton. It would appear out of nowhere to stab him.

"His cane, Brixton!" Nathalia yelled.

I trust you, Brix.

Isang atake... parehong lumusot sa mga dibdib nila ang kanilang hawak na ispada. Tila panandaliang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo. Pero hindi natapos sa gano'n ang lahat.

They pushed each other away.

Brix was about to attack again when the spinning cane suddenly got in his chest. Nabitiwan niya ang kanyang ispada at gamit ang natitirang lakas ay niyakap niya ang Pinuno.

The cane stabbed them both.

"M-my daughter is waiting for me..." Brix whispered while coughing blood. "I-I need to fulfill her wish... whatever it takes. Do you fucking hear me? My daughter is waiting for me!"

Halos hindi ko na makita ang paligid dahil sa labo ng mga mata ko dala ng luha.

Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ni Brix nang itulak niya ang pinuno para kumawala sa tungkod na nakadugtong sa kanilang dalawa. Dahan-dahan ay pinulot niya ang isang ispada saka muling hinarap ang pinuno.

The Fifth couldn't move anymore. His own cane got stuck on his chest.

"For the second generation..." Brix smiled at him.

The Fifth smiled, too. He knew at that moment... he couldn't fight anymore.

"Y-you are really something, Brixton Wenz Cardinal."

To end everything... Brixton beheaded The Fifth Cloak. Just like that, he got all his allies kneeling before him.

I sobbed.

Brix pick up the head and turned to the other members of The Cloak. Hinagis niya ang ulo nito sa harapan ng pinuno."I'm done with The Fifth. Are you next?"

The other Cloak walked towards him.

"I can still fight—"

"The Cloaks have some words," he cut him off.

"If you are still against—"

"We have seen everything. We have been watching the battle. You have won against The Fifth and for that..." The Cloak bowed his head. "You made us believe in the second generation of vampires."

Narinig kong nagsigawan ang mga kasamahan ko sa likod. Maging si Oscar na nakatihaya sa lupa ay nakita kong bumuntonghininga at ngumiti.

Brixton slowly walked towards me.

"Astra..." tawag niya sa pangalan ko.

"You did it, Brix."

Niyakap ko siya nang bumigay ang kanyang mga tuhod. Narinig kong tumawa ito.

"Thank you for trusting me..." he whispered.

"Aya is waiting...."

"We are finally going home, Milady..."