Chapter 16: The One

Sinubukan kong tumayo dahil nakaupo ako at nakasandal sa pader. Ngunit hindi ako makagalaw. Alam kong dala ito ng pagod mula sa mundong pansamantala kong tinirahan.

May hinagis sa akin si Brienne. It was a pocket of blood. Alam kong kailangan 'yon ng katawan ko, pero hindi ko kinuha.

"Mas mabuting uminom ka muna," ani Brienne. "You need to regenerate your strenght. May mga bagay kang dapat na malaman na alam kong ikagugulat mo."

"Like, what?" I smirked. "Na habang wala akong malay ay dinala mo ako sa Caligo Clan?" Saka ako bumaling kay Lord Caezar. "I've always thought you were better than this."

"Marami ka nang nasabi, Oscar," ngumisi si Lord Caezar. "Pero wala sa mga nabanggit mo ang dapat mong marinig."

Dumiin ang tingin ko sa kanya. Inabot ko ang dugo na binigay niya. Using my right fang, I tore the edge of the pocket and quickly gulped it. I felt a surge of electricity coursing through my throat.

Gumalaw ang kandado sa labas. Pumasok sina Brienne at Lord Caezar para lumapit sa akin. Nanatili akong nakaupo kahit na kaya ko nang bumangon.

"Did you know how long you have hibernating?" Lord Caezar asked, his lips curved into a smirk with a visible anticipation in his eyes.

Bumaling ako kay Brienne. Walang emosyon lang siyang nakatingin sa akin. No. She didn't trick me this time. She just took advantage of my situation.

"It has been a year since the Nightfall Clan last saw their king," Lord Caezar said, and I immediately felt a burst of confusion. "Tama, Lord Oscar. Isang taon kang walang malay."

"I helped you, Lord Oscar," sambit ni Brienne. "Alam kong nagtagumpay tayo sa nais mong mangyari. Binalaan din kita sa una pa lang. There were stages of grief. This is the last stage. Reality."

Lord Caezar crouched in front of me. Tiningnan niya akong mula paa hanggang ulo. Nanunukso ang kanyang ngiti.

"How's your reunion with the love of your life?" he chuckled, trying to push my buttons even more. "I bet it was magical. Unfortunately, the magic ended right after you left that world."

"I don't believe you—"

"I don't think there's a reason for us to lie," bumuntonghininga si Lord Caezar. "You abandoned your clan."

I growled and lunged at him, fueled by a surge of anger and frustration. But my attack was immediately repelled by Brienne, sending me stumbling backward. I struggled against her grip, but she was too strong for me to break free.

"I didn't abandon anyone!"

"Poor lad," Lord Caezar stood up and shook his head. "You must preserve your energy. Hindi na tayo magkalaban ngayon."

"Listen to him, Oscar," ani Brienne na madiin ang tingin sa akin. "May mga dapat kang malaman. Please remain calm!"

"Screw you!" I screamed. "You will pay for this!"

"Hindi kami ang kalaban mo!" sigaw ni Brienne.

Natigilan ako pero mas lalong naguluhan. Nung mapansin ni Brienne na tumahan ako ay dahan-dahan niyang inalis ang pagkakahawak sa akin. Muli akong napaupo sa kanina kong posisyon.

"Are you willing to listen this time?" Lord Caezar sighed.

Hindi ako sumagot. I'm not sure if I will believe whatever they will tell me. Gano'n pa man ay nakuha nila ako no'ng sinabi ni Brienne na hindi sila ang kalaban ko.

"Let me ask you, Oscar," kalmadong sabi ni Lord Caezar. "Ang tinuturing mo lang bang kaaway ay ang mga bampirang harap-harapan kang kinakalaban?"

I remained silent, looking down and lost in thought. Amidst the chaos in my mind, I suddenly realized I had returned to my messed-up and confusing reality.

"Have you never considered," Lord Caezar continued, "that your most dangerous foes may be those who were once your allies?"

"I know Lord Reggar," I said, still looking at my feet. "He hates my family. I understand him. Alam kong naging makasarili si Papa at muntik nang ipahamak ang pangkat namin. But I don't think he can ever betray me."

"You betrayed him first," ani Brienne na ikinaangat ng tingin ko. "A week after you hibernated in this world, he found out our whereabouts. Alam niyang tinakas mo ako."

"To cut it short, Brienne helped you escape death by taking you here," ani Lord Caezar na ikinangisi ko.

"In a jail?" I mocked.

"Hindi namin alam kung kailan ka magigising. We had to protect you, even from reckless self. Alam naming sa oras na magising ka ay nanaisin mong tumakas para bumalik sa dati mong pangkat," pagpapaliwanag pa ni Brienne. "You just cannot simply return."

"Dati kong pangkat?" I laughed scornfully. "The last time I remember, I was the leader of the Nightfall Clan—"

"Not anymore," Lord Caezar cut me out. "You are not the leader of Nightfall Clan anymore. You're the leader who abandoned them. That's how they see you now."

My fists clenched. I still couldn't believe in what I was hearing. Gusto kong isipin na isa na naman ito sa mga panlilinlang ni Brienne. Na baka nasa ilalim pa ako ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Ngunit hindi ko maitatangging posibleng nagsasabi sila ng totoo.

"As I mentioned earlier, you were in hibernation for a year. A lot has happened while you were unconscious," Lord Caezar added. I wanted him to stop because I was still processing everything, but I also wanted to know more.

Lord Caezar continued speaking, "Under the new leadership, the Nightfall Clan has achieved a new level of glory. He's even more ruthless than your father and perhaps even worse than your brother. Since taking over, he has declared war on all vampires."

"No," I sniffed. "Stop."

"You don't have a clan now," he even said.

Doon ako tuluyang natigilan. I don't have a clan now.

"They stripped you of your power and banished you—"

"I think we should leave him for now," ani Brienne saka hinawakan ang balikat ni Lord Caezar. "He just returned from hibernation. Mas mainam na hayaan muna natin siya sa kanyang mga bagong kaalaman. He must be overwhelmed."

Sa dami ng sinabi ni Lord Caezar ay isang ideya lang ang tumakay sa isipan ko. Lord Reggar had initiated another war, using my clan. This time, it was against the entire vampire race. It was a conflict my father would never have condoned.

"The door is unlocked," dinig ko pang sabi ni Lord Caezar. "Kung gusto mong lumabas ay maari. Pero kung ang gusto mo ay bumalik sa Nightfall Clan, hindi pa maaari. Hindi ka pa handa."

I heard their footsteps slowly fading away until there was complete silence. No'ng ako na lang mag-isa ay mas naunawaan ko ang mga sinabi nila.

If everything was really true, then what is Lord Reggar's motive? Bakit kailangan niyang gawin ito? Maybe he has been planning this since the very beginning. Nagkaroon lang siya ng pagkakataon no'ng mawala ako.

Nanatili pa ako roon nang ilang minuto bago napagdesisyonan na lumabas. I walked in a dark, narrow pathway leading to the exit of the jail room. Napapikit ako nung tumama sa mukha ko ang sikat ng araw.

The sun blinded me for a moment. No'ng makabawi ay tila tuluyang nagising ang diwa ko. Wala ni isa sa mga nakikita ko ang makapagsasabing nasa Nightfall Clan ako. Lahat ay bago sa aking paningin.

Wala nga talaga ako sa Nightfall Clan. Maybe they were telling the truth all this time. I have abandoned my clan. I don't belong here as, well. That means that I have no clan anymore. I am an insurgent.

I started to walk as I tried to make some sense of everything. Ilang minuto na akong naglalakad at marami-rami na rin akong nakasalubong. I felt so lost.

"Bagong salta ka?" tanong ng isang lalaking lumapit sa akin. Bumaba sa paa ko ang kanyang tingin. "Wala ka pang sapin sa paa. Hulaan ko. Inatake rin nila ang pangkat mo, 'no? Ikaw lang ang nakaligtas?"

I couldn't utter a word. Does he mean that Caligo Clan has been helping those who the Nightfall Clan targeted?

"Alam mo ba na minsan ko na ring pinangarap na makapasok sa Nightfall Clan?" aniya habang nakangiti pa. "The name of the clan alone could bring a sense of pride. Siguro ay gusto ko rin na kapag nalaman nilang Nightfall ako, magdadalawang-isip silang kalabanin ako."

"H-have you changed your mind now?" I asked.

He sighed. "I wouldn't say my mind has completely changed now. But I became doubtful. If being powerful means, you get to bully others. Maybe it's not for me."

"I see..." I said as I looked around.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay napansin ko si Brienne. Nakatingin siya sa akin. Ngunit nanatili siya sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

"Sige na. May mag-aasikaso naman siguro sa 'yo," tinapik niya ang balikat ko saka na rin umalis.

"I think you need to take a shower," sabi ni Brienne na nakalapit na pala sa akin. "If possible, mas magandang huwag ka munang lalayo. Baka may makakilala sa 'yo."

"Why? Hindi ba dapat?"

"Sumunod ka sa 'kin."

Reluctantly, I trailed behind Brienne as she led the way. Yumuko ako no'ng may isang bampira ang napatitig sa akin, parang kinikilala ako. Nakayuko ako hanggang sa dumaan kami sa tahimik na eskenita.

"Have you ever lived in a crowded place before?" she asked. "We're unfortunately quite packed in here. We're doing our best to rescue as many vampires as possible."

"You made me sleep in a jail for an entire year," may halong paklang sambit ko. "Saka hindi naman ako magtatagal dito."

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad saka humarap sa akin. "If you want to reclaim your throne, you need to make a concrete plan."

"Reclaim my throne?" I laughed, sarcastically. "Alam kong sa oras na makita nila ako ay ibabalik nila ang dapat na sa akin!"

"Oscar..." Huminga siya nang malalim. "Alam kong mahirap tanggapin—"

"Brienne..." pagtawag ko rin sa kanyang pangalan. "You've helped me reconnect with my past, but you can't dictate my present."

"Brienne!"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa lalaking tumatakbo papunta sa amin. It was a young boy with brown hair, wearing tattered clothes. There was a wide grin plastered across his face as he approached us.

"Where have you been?" tanong niya kay Brienne at agad na humawak sa kanyang kamay. "Did you meet with Lord Caezar again?"

"Why did you wear those clothes again?" nakangiting tanong sa kanya ni Brienne. "You have brand new clothes in your closet, Owen."

The young man, Owen, shook his head. "I don't feel comfortable wearing them." He replied, turning toward me. "Hello, sir. Are you also new here?"

"He will live with us, Owen," said Brienne, giving me a sidelong glance. "I mean, for now."

"I'm Oscar," I introduced myself.

"Cool. I'm Owen!"

Bumitiw siya kay Brienne para humawak sa akin. Napangiwi ako sa ginawa niya. Hindi siya bumitiw hanggang sa makarating kami sa compound kung saan sila naninirahan.

Sa bungad ng compound ay may lamesa kung saan may nakaupong dalawa na lalaki. Maingay sila habang umiinom ng alak. Napatayo ang isa no'ng makita kami. Gulat ang mga mat anito.

"L-Lady Brienne..." Kumamot sa batok ang nakatayong lalaki. He was bulky and bald, and looked so embarrassed that Brienne caught them drinking. "Akala ko ay hindi ka makakauwi."

Tumawa lang 'yong kasama niyang lalaking nanatiling nakaupo. He looked so unbothered while sipping on his drink.

"I told you she was coming home, Baldy!" Owen scowled at the man, then chuckled and corrected himself. "I mean, Baldo."

"Halika nga ritong bata ka—"

"Lady Brienne!" Nagtago sa likod ni Brienne si Owen na humahagikgik.

"Mukhang may bagong salta, ah?" puna no'ng lalaking nakaupo habang nakangisi at nakatingin sa akin. "What a lucky bastard. Si Lady Brienne pa talaga ang nag-asikaso sa 'yo."

Nag-init ang dugo ko sa tinawag niya sa akin,

"What did you just call me?"

His upper lips twitched, suggesting that he had not anticipated my assertiveness. Then, he chuckled and shook his head.

Brienne cleared her throat. "This is Oscar," she said, motioning her hand to indicate me. "Siya ang bago nating makakasama rito."

Baldo, the bald man, looked me up and down before crossing his arms and saying, "Mukhang hindi ka masaya, bata."

"He's just exhausted," sagot ni Brienne. "Oscar is a friendly guy. Alam kong magugustuhan niyo rin siya. Just give him time to cope."

"I'm not here to stay," I made that clear.

"Why not?" Owen asked. "It's not safe to be an insurgent right now."

"I'm not an insurgent!" I insisted.

Napasinghap ako nung biglang tumayo ang lalaking nakaupo. Marahas na hinawakan niya ang kwelyo ng polo ko saka ako tinitigan gamit ang nanlilisik na mga mata.

"If you're not meant to be here but you are, that just means you're an insurgent," he said with conviction, glaring at me. "Just be grateful that the Caligo Clan took you in."

"Speak for yourself," I retorted with a smirk, noticing his anger intensifying. "You don't know me and what brought me here."

"I have no time to get to know you," he shot back, his voice filled with menace. "But mark my words, Oscar. If you step out of line, you'll be kissing my fists."

"Chris!" Pumagitna sa amin si Brienne saka hinatak ang braso ko. "Ihahatid ko muna si Oscar sa kanyang magiging kwarto. "

Saka na ako hinila ni Brienne palayo roon. Sinundan pa ako ng tingin ni Chris na nanlilisik pa rin ang mga mata. Hinigpitan ni Brienne ang pagkakahawak sa braso ko na parang naramdaman niyang gusto kong balikan si Chris.

"How many of you are here?" I asked, ignoring that asshole. "All men and one asshole?"

"Apat. Ako, si Baldo, Chris, at Owen," sagot niya. "Lalaki lahat. Ayos lang naman sa akin. They are good men."

I chuckled at the thought and remarked, "To call that guy, Chris, a good man is quite a stretch."

Brienne led to a vacant room. Nauna akong pumasok saka siya sumunod. I thought it would be a small room, but it was spacious.

"May mga damit ka na sa closet," sabi ni Brienne na nanatili sa gilid ng pinto. "Nasa tapat lang ang kwarto ko. Katabi mo ng kwarto sina Owen at Baldo."

I roamed my eyes around. The sala has complete furniture. Sumilip din ako sa kwarto. Malinis din at malawak 'yon.

"Are you good here?" Brienne asked.

"I don't like that guy," I said.

Brienne sighed, "Sige. Maiwan muna kita. I will cook food for us."

"Wait!" pigil ko sa kanya no'ng paalis na sana. "How about Lord Caezar? Saan siya nananatili? Hindi ba siya rito?"

Marahan na tumawa si Brienne, "He's the leader, Oscar. Syempre may sarili siyang lugar. But now that you are here, sa tingin ko ay mapapadalas ang dalaw niya."

"Just know that I still don't consider you my ally," I stated plainly.

"That's fine," she smiled, then held onto the doorknob as she slowly closed the door. "Take a shower and go out after. Maghahain lang ako."

Once Brienne left, I made my way to the private room designated as mine. Inside, I found a small bed with grey sheets, an antique closet filled with various clothes, and an empty small study table. Lumapit ako sa bintana at hinawia ng kulay grey na kurtina. Tanging malawak na palayan lang ang nasa labas.

Nakaramdam ako ng gutom kaya minabuti ko nang maligo. I changed into a comfortable pair of grey sweatpants and a black tank top. As I ran my hands through my hair, I realized it had grown longer than usual. My face also felt rough due to a thick mustache that had grown over time.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. "Oscar?" I heard Owen call out. "Lady Brienne asked me to come get you for lunch. Are you ready?"

Binuksan ko ang pinto. I looked at Owen, who seemed to have just gotten out of the shower like me. Maayos na rin ang damit niya. As I studied his face, I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't from around here. His features were different, almost foreign.

"Did I disturb you?" he asked, hesitant.

I think I got him scared the way I acted earlier. He looked hesitant to even talk to me. Pinaglalaruan pa niya ang mga daliri sa kamay habang nakatayo sa harapan ko.

"Not at all, Owen," I said, flashing him a reassuring smile as I ran my fingers through his hair. "May I ask if you could only speak English?"

I noticed a shift in emotions in his eyes. Despite his youthful appearance, it seemed as though he had been through a great deal, as a simple question was enough to trigger a response. I felt a pang of guilt for asking.

"I-I'm not from around," he said, hesitant. "Well, aren't we all?"

I chuckled. "Where are you taking me?"

"To the front yard," he smiled.

Owen brought me to the front yard. May pabilog na lamesa roon kung saan maraming pagkain ang nakahain. Naroon sina Brienne, Baldo, at Chris.

"Oscar!" Nilapitan ako ni Baldo saka inakbayan. Giniya niya ako sa bakanteng upuan. "Kumain ka lang. Masarap magluto si Brienne."

Brienne stood to give me an empty plate. Pinagsalin niya rin ako ng alak sa baso.

I heard the man sitting next to me fake a cough.

"You are not our servant, Lady Brienne," said Chris. "Sigurado naman akong may lakas si Oscar para galawin ang kanyang mga kamay at braso."

"It's okay, Chris," Brienne reassured him, giving him a subtle hint to cut it out.

Tahimik lang akong kumain. Si Baldo lang at si Owen ang nagsasalita. Halos hindi nga rin sila magkaintindihan dahil hindi sanay si Baldo sa ingles. Si Brienne ay paminsan-minsan lang nagsasalita.

After lunch, I came back to my room. Kumuha ako ng leather jacket. Mabuti na lang ay may mga sapatos kaya nagsuot din ako.

Palabas na sana ako no'ng biglang pumasok si Brienne. Sa mukha pa lang niya ay alam kong alam niya kung ano ang gusto kong mangyari.

"Hindi pa maaari," sabi niya.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Nilagpasan ko lang siya. Hinawakan ko ang doorknob at pinihit ngunit bigo akong mabuksan ang pinto.

I sighed as I turned to Brienne, "Let me go."

She shook her head.

"I need to go back now," I said.

"You have changed," she noticed. Umupo siya sa sofa habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin. "You look more confident than last time. However, returning to Nightfall Clan without a proper plan will only worsen things."

"Ang plano ay bumalik ako para bawiin ang sa akin—"

"He will kill you," madiin niyang sambit.

I shook my head. "I am a Cardinal."

"You are a Cardinal, that's right." Tumayo si Brienne saka lumapit sa akin. Tumitig siya sa aking mga mata. "The last Cardinal of Nightfall Clan. You are our last piece."

I looked at her ridiculously.

"I'm not some pawn you can use in your game," I said, my frustration clear in my tone. "I didn't come here to play your game."

"Everyone is suffering because of me. My vampires, my land, my friends. Akala nilang lahat ay inabandona ko na sila!"

"Then, help us defeat our common enemy from the very start. The one who controlled your mother, the one who supported your father's ideals, and the one who banished you. The man behind the Cardinals."

Tumitig ako sa kanya at hindi nakapagsalita.

"The one who manipulated us," she whispered.

Naguluhan ako sa tono ng pananalita niya. Parang pinapahiwatig na mali ang inaakala ko. Lumunok ako at naglakas-loob na itanong.

"You are not talking about Lord Reggar, are you?" I asked.

"I am talking about the new leader of Nightfall Clan," she stared into my eyes as she unfolded the truth. "Lord Wenson."