STRINGS AND CHAINS

CHAPTER 29

Mas humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Cael sa leeg ko at hindi na ako makahinga. He even lifted me using just his right hand. I couldn't breathe. I was gasping for air. I'm really going to die. Nakatingin na lamang ako sa kisame at hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari sa paligid ko. I felt my body flew on the wall. Sobrang lakas nang pagkakabagsak ko roon pati na rin sa lapag. Hawak-hawak ko ang leeg kong ang sakit pa rin dahil sa mahigpit na pagkasakal ni Cael dito.

I heard loud bickering. They are all shouting. I heard another thump. They are killing each other and they will tear out this place.

"You will not touch her again!"

"You're always a dumb piece of shit. You do nothing but trouble."

"Stop it. Both of you."

Tumaas ang tingin ko sa tatlo. Cael and Raiden are ready to kill each other. Alexander calmly stands between them. Tumingin sa akin si Alexander.

"You're coming with us," wika nito. Tumingin naman s'ya kay Raiden.

"Calm down. We're not going to kill her," pagsi-siguro nito. Huminga ng malalim si Raiden saka siya naglakad patungo sa akin. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at tiningnan akong mabuti.

"Are you hurt?" tanong niya. Agad akong umiling kahit na sobrang sakit sa buong katawan nang nangyari sa 'kin. I don't want to give another reason para makipagsuntukan o makipagpatayan siya sa kapatid niya. I don't even know who's stronger between them. I know Rai is strong, but Cael... Something is definitely wrong with that man. He's someone who you should not mess up with.

Tiningnan ako ni Cael. He just looked at me but no he was not really directly looking at me. He's looking at something else, something inside me. He can see it.

"Days. You only have days," wika nito saka ito tumingin kay Raiden. "Give us the orb."

"I don't have the orb!" galit na galit na sigaw ni Raiden sa dalawa. He doesn't have the orb dahil hawak pa rin ito ng Liverton.

"Where is it?" tanong niya.

"Liverton," sagot ko without thinking that much. If we can't get the orb, these two definitely can. At kapag nakuha na nila 'yon, doon na ako mapapanatag. Liverton will never ever give the orb to anyone. All of these are too much complicated. This is not just an ordinary rivalry between creatures. There is more than this. Raiden was right. This is a long time war na hindi dapat kami nakisali. Yet here we are, damay sa gulong hindi naman namin kayang tapusin basta-basta.

Cael didn't say anything. Tumingin siya kay Alexander. Nagtanguan ang dalawa. Sa isang iglap ay wala na si Cael dito sa sala. Ang tanging natitira ay ako, si Raiden, at Alexander.

"Saan siya pupunta?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Tatapusin ang dapat matagal nang tinapos ni Raiden," sagot ni Alexander saka ito tumingin sa kapatid niya. Umiwas ng tingin si Raiden.

"Once Cael gets back, you are coming with us. You will answer to master and she will decide what to do with you. You committed a mistake once; I hope this is not another stupid mistake. Hindi mo gustong galitin si Lauren, Raiden."

Hindi umiimik si Raiden. Tumingin lamang siya sa akin. I bit my lip at hinawakan ang kamay niya. I want to say that everything is going to be okay. I want to remain positive. Pero ginugulo ng mga salitang binitiwan ni Cael ang isipan ko. Napalunok ako ulit. I'm starting to remember what happened down there, when I was in hell, and what Lilith did to me. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"I have to tell you something," I confessed.

Tumingin ako kay Raiden. "You're not going to like it but promise me you're not going to do anything."

Nakita ko ang pagkalito sa mukha ni Raiden pero tumango at pumayag siya sa sinabi ko.

"But first kakausapin ko muna ang parents ko. I have to—" Muli akong huminga ng malalim. "I have to say goodbye to them."

Tumango si Alexander. Muli akong tumingin kay Raiden. I tightly held his hand before I go.

"Stay here. Don't do anything stupid. I will come back. Okay?"

Muling tumango si Raiden at hinaplos ang pisngi ko. I smiled at him, assuring him that I'm okay and everything's all right. Naglakad ako palabas ng sala. I looked at Trojan and his cousins na nandito lamang sa labas. They're all aware with what happened inside. Trojan looked worried but I smiled at him.

"Where are they?" tanong ko.

"Follow me," sagot niya.

Naglakad kami patungo sa isa pang kalapit na bahay dito sa hacienda nila Trojan. His family are all here. At kung bakit naman wala sila roon sa mansyon, they don't want any business with the Freys. I completely understand them. Wala rin akong gustong maging koneksyon sa kanila except Raiden because he is my everything. If only we could run away, we would. But we can't.

Nang makarating kami roon ay kabado akong pumasok. I went to the living room and saw my parents there. They're worried at mukhang hindi sila mapakali. When mom saw me, she immediately went to me and hugged me. Dad smiled and sighed. I smiled at them too. Pero nawala rin ang ngiti ko. This is probably the last day that I will see them. I have to say goodbye.

"I'm so glad—I'm so glad that you're alive. It was a stupid mistake to let you go on that mission. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have permitted you to go. I'm so sorry, anak."

"Shh... Mom, it's okay. It's a success 'di ba? They're not here anymore. The town is safe, you're both safe, and I will make sure that everyone is safe."

Huminga ng malalim si mama. She looked at me. She knew. She knew that I'm not the same Maru anymore. Her daughter is gone and she's not going back anymore. I paid their safety with my soul. You will do anything, everything, just to survive and make sure that your loved ones are safe. I did it because I love them all and I still also want to live. See them smiling, see them happy.

But dealing with a demon is not something I should've taken lightly. Napalunok ako. I don't want to go. I don't want to stay like this. I want to go back.

But I can't.

And never will.

"Mom, listen. I'm sorry for all the things that I've done. I'm sorry for being so stubborn. I still believe that everything I did was not useless."

Tumango-tango si mama. "Yes, anak. You did a good job. You did great. I'm proud of you. You're a strong woman. And I'm glad you grew up like this. Brave and courageous."

I smiled at natawa sa sinabi ni mama. "You knew that I'm not the same as I was before. But please remember, I'm still your daughter. I may not go back, there's no chance that I will but please always remember me."

Tumango-tango si mama habang patuloy ang pag-iyak niya. "I kept you safe, kept you away from all of this. I—"

Umiling ako. "It's not your fault, Mom."

I smiled. "We both know whose fault it is. And it's mine. It's my decision. So do not blame yourself. And also you, Dad."

Muli akong tumingin kay Mama at hinawakan ang magkabilang kamay niya. "I will go out there and will try my very best to survive. Kayo rin, Ma. Always keep yourself safe."

Mom kissed me on my forehead. Dad also went to us and hugged us all. Ninamnam ako ang huling yakap sa akin ng mga magulang ko. I can't promise that I will go back but I'll try my best na makabalik. I'm a survivor. I will do it. I will.

"One last thing before I go," wika ko.

"May I ask, Mom, if you knew someone who can exorcise demons?" tanong ko.

Kumunot-noo sina Mama at Papa. Saglit na katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin. Nag-iisip sila ng mabuti. Inaalala kung mayroon ba silang kilalang tao na kayang gumawa ng bagay na 'yon.

"I know someone," Mom answered.

"But I'm afraid I had to contact my family again. If they know that we're here they will—"

"Then just tell me her name. It will be enough," sagot ko.

"Her name is Judith. But she prefers to be called Isabelle. She's travelling the world so you will have a hard time finding her." Tumango ako kay Mama. That's enough. I can find her and I will find her.

"Another thing," wika ko. Tumingin ako sa kanila.

"Don't trust the Liverton. Don't trust them."

Nakita ko ang pagkalito sa mga mukha nila. I wish I could have more time to explain it pero wala na akong natitirang oras pa.

"Raiden's brother will come here any minute. Dala nila ang orb. Liverton will probably come here after that, asking for an explanation. I trust the Roscoe that they can protect themselves against the Liverton. But I want you both out of here. Please, Mom. Umalis na kayo sa lugar na 'to."

"But Livertons are white witches they can't—"

"There are no white witches anymore. Mom, I saw it. I was down there. I saw everything. So please trust me just this once. Like me, they're not the same anymore so please keep yourself out of this, away from them."

"We're not going to leave my friends here. We still stay, anak." Dad decided.

"But Dad—"

Ngumiti lamang siya. "Trust us. We can survive this too."

Huminga ako ng malalim at muling yumakap sa kanila.

"Once the orb is gone, so does their power. So you will have a chance to defeat them. I can't stay. They will kill me if I stay here. Those Freys are hard headed too," sagot ko at ngumiti sa kanila.

"I can't promise that I'll be back, but I will try... for both of you. I love you both."

Tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha ko. I licked my lips. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Good bye, Mom... Dad..."

"I will see you soon, anak. And I love you, Maru. Always remember that."

I bit my lip at tumalikod na sa kanila. Pinunasan ko ang luha kong patuloy ang pagbagsak mula sa mga mata ko. Nakasalubong ko si Trojan palabas ng bahay. He also hugged me for one last time.

"Keep them safe, your family, and yourself too. Okay?" I reminded him. Tumango siya at humiwalay sa akin.

"I'll keep you updated, Trojan. But first you have to live."

"And so are you," sagot niya sa akin.

"We both have to live."

"And we will."

He smiled at me for one last time. Umalis na ako at muling bumalik sa mansyon nila Trojan. I saw Raiden and Alexander waiting for Cael. Hind mapakali si Alexander at panay pa rin ang tingin sa orasan niya.

"Where is he?" tanong ko.

"He's taking a lot of time," wika ni Alexander.

"Well if he suddenly barge in a subdivision full of witches, do you think he can get out easily?" tanong ko.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa.

"He will," sagot ni Raiden.

"What if the orb is really hidden carefully and what if the room is full of traps. And who knows what dark magic is in there?"

"Dark magic?" tanong ni Alexander.

"Livertons are white witches, am I correct?" tanong niya.

Umiling ako. "No, they're not. They became black witches too after they signed a contract with this demon named Le—"

"How did you know all of this?" tanong ni Raiden.

"Lilith told me everything. She even let me saw everything."

"It's dark magic. What should we do?" tanong ni Raiden.

"If what she said is true then Cael is fucked. Simple as that," sagot ni Alexander.

Napanganga ako sa usapan ng dalawa. "Are we not going there and save him?"

Parehas na umiling ang dalawa. "He can save himself. He's old," sagot ni Alexander.

"Raiden?" tanong ko kay Rai pero umiling lamang ito ulit.

"Wait for five minutes. He will come," sagot niya sa akin.

And so we waited. Kahit ako ay hindi na rin mapakali. Cael was mean to me earlier pero nakasalalay sa kanya dito ang misyon. Kapag hindi niya nakuha ang orb, we're all fucked. Pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siya. At nangangamba na ako nang tuluyan. What if he's caught? What if he can't defend himself doon?

I was wondering too at first what is the orb all about. How do you use this cursed weapons at paano ito naging gano'n ka delikado lalo na't kapag napunta ito sa maling kamay.

Unfortunately, demons are real, so are these cursed weapons or objects. Now these cursed things have incredible power that can kill everyone or ruin anything. Even the world if the holder wants to do it. At kung paano naman nabuo ang mga ganitong bagay, I don't have any idea. All I know is that they all exist and that orb is just one of those cursed things.

At kung bakit naman I trust the vampires to get and hold of this power is because they're the only one following that person who can save both worlds.

I have to thank Lilith for showing me everything including the real mess down there, the underworld, hell.

After five minutes, like Raiden said, Cael just came out from nowhere. Nagulat ako nang makita siyang napapalibutan ng usok na itim. He's breathless habang hawak-hawak ang orb. I was so amazed to see it. It was so beautiful. It's just an orb with colourful mists inside and golden marks outside. I can feel its power pulling me into it, to hold it, and get it.

I cleared my throat at tumingin kay Cael. He saw me how I looked at orb at mas lalong hindi maipinta ang mukha n'ya sa nakikita niya sa akin.

"Let's go," aya nito saka ito muling nawala. I just blinked and now he's gone. How fast is he?

"After you," wika naman ni Alexander.

"May I ask where are we going?" tanong ko.

Alexander smiled, "To my Master's place."

"And where is it?"

"They call it Labyrinth. Now shall we go?"

Tumango ako at tumingin kay Raiden. He hold my hand. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Close your eyes, Maru."

I did what he told me to do. I closed my eyes while we're both holding each other's hands. Napalunok ako sa kaba.

"Ready?" tanong n'ya.

Tumango ako at muling huminga ng malalim.

"I'm ready."

I felt his lips on my forehead and after that I felt a strong force pulling me in every direction. Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ni Raiden sa kamay ko.

"Don't open your eyes," wika niya. Sinunod ko siya. Hindi ko binuksan ang mata ko hanggat nararamdaman ko pa rin 'tong paghatak sa akin sa kung ano mang lugar. I felt my body floating and pulling me even harder than it was before. Umiikot na ang tiyan ko. Nasusuka na ako. Sumasakit na rin ang ulo ko.

I heard a loud thud and I was next. Bumukas ang mata ko nang mahulog ako sa lapag. Damang-dama ko ang sakit ng pagkahulog ko. Napangiwi ako sa sakit. Agad akong napaupo at nasuka nang maramdaman ko muli ang pag-ikot ng tiyan ko.

I vomited until I could no longer feel my throat. I really hate this feeling.

Someone pulled me up. Tumayo ako ngunit hilong-hilo pa rin ako.

"Are you now okay?" tanong sa akin ni Raiden. Tumango ako.

I will never go through that again. Para akong itinapon sa ere at pinaikot-ikot doon.

"Let's go inside," aya niya sa akin.

"Where are we?" tanong ko habang inaalalayan niya akong lumakad.

"We're here in our place."

"Your place?"

"My master's place and my brothers too."

"You all lived under the same roof."

Tumango siya sa akin. I can still feel my vomit in my mouth. Sobrang nakakadiri. Tumingin ako sa isang malaking bahay na nasa harapan ko. Now, now... Ano namang sasalubong sa akin dito?

Am I going to get grilled too? Or will someone choke me too?

"Let's go to the restroom first. Ayokong humarap sa master mo na amoy suka."

I heard him laugh. "Let's get you washed."

"Not my entire body, Raiden."

"She can wait," sagot niya.

"Raiden," tawag ko sa kanya. "Stop."

"Fine. Fine."

"Alam mo, ikaw na nga 'tong mapaparusahan sa mga kagaguhan na ginawa mo, wala ka pa ring takot sa master mo."

Narinig ko ang paghinga niya ng malalim. "Mapaparusahan na rin naman ako. So bakit hindi ko muna sulitin?"

Napa-iling na lamang ako.

Pumasok ako sa loob at sinamahan ako ni Raiden sa banyo. Nagmumog ako ng mabuti at inayos ang sarili ko. Pagkatapos nang saglitan pero nakakahilong nangyari sa akin, mukha akong tinira ng ilang beses. Pumikit ako at muling huminga ng malalim.

"She's in her office. Let's go."

Sumunod ako kay Raiden. Umakyat kami sa pangalawang palapag. Sa isang mahabang pasilyo ay makikita mo sa dulo nito ang isang malaking dalawang pinto. I guess iyan na ang pinto sa opisina ng master niya. Mas lalo akong kinabahan. Nang makarating kami sa dulo ay parehas kaming huminto sa tapat nito. Nagkatinginan na lamang kami ni Raiden. Pareho kaming kabado. Hindi man niya aminin, nakikita ko ang pangangamba at takot sa mata niya.

"We can do this."

"We can."

Napangiti ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. Sabay naming binuksan ang pinto. Nakatingin lamang ako ng diretso. There's a man standing beside a woman sitting on a swivel chair. They're both talking. Huminto sila sa pag-uusap at tumingin sa aming pareho ni Raiden. She was so beautiful in the picture pero ibang-iba pala talaga kapag nakita mo na ito ng personal. She's different. She has charisma, a strong aura, she's a freaking goddess, intimidating, but you will look up to her. And the man beside her, oh freaking god... That's her husband. As far as I can remember, his name is Yohan.

I can't believe what I'm seeing.

"You finally showed up," wika ng kanyang master.

Tumingin naman sa akin ang master niya. She assessed me first, like Cael and Alexander did to me when they first saw me. Tumaas ang kanang kilay niya at napangiti. Na tila ba may pumukaw ng interes niya.

"So this is the woman," wika niya.

"I'm Lauren Frey," pagpapakilala niya saka nito ipinatong ang kanyag magkabilang siko sa lamesa at ipinatong ang kanyang baba sa kanyang kamay.

"Nice to meet you, Maru. Welcome to my home."

Napalunok na lamang ako.

If Cael has a killer vibe, Lauren is something more than him. I don't know kung matatakot ba ako or what.

Sumandal siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at nagpabalik-balik ng tingin sa amin ni Raiden.

"Now what should I do with the both of you?"

Nagkatinginan na lamang kami ni Raiden. Muling bumalik ang tingin naming kay Lauren na ngayon na tila natutuwa sa kanyang nakikita. Tama bang pumunta kami dito? Parang nagsisisi na ako.