Chapter Thirty-One

CLEO REVEALED TO us what happened to her while she's waiting for us to wake up. Sinubukan pala nitong humingi ng tulong sa medalyon na nakalagay sa dibdib nito dahil naniniwala s'yang ito ang nagbibigay ng kakayahan n'ya bilang isang Augur.

Nagugulat kami sa kanyang sinabi. Ang tungkol sa Vasileio, ang tungkol sa babaeng nagngangalang Vortex, sa tatlong ring force na nakapalibot sa mundo at ang pagsisiwalat na dating Ancient Ones ang Joker.

"I'm not sure how are you all connected to me. Basta malakas lang kompiyansa kong gano'n nga. If you want to know then we can talk about it some other time. Mas importante muna kung ano ang gagawin natin ngayon. We can't just hide here and just wait for the Kings' plan of making me viral works. We have at least to do something." Mahabang untag ni Cleo sa amin.

"May mali..." rinig naming utas ni Clementine tapos ay mabilis nitong inabot ang isang folder. Naglalaman iyon ng mga impormasyon patungkol sa Primeval Union. "Ang sabi rito, tama ngang isa s'ya sa mga Ancient Ones noon ngunit hindi talaga s'ya kasama sa byahe papunta rito sa ating mundo. He secretly joined the trip and because of the power he possesses, the other Ancient Ones decided to stop him."

"Iyan actually ang plano namin nang makarating kami rito." Thyra responded at lumingon rito si Clementine upang makinig. "We are here to start to move on our own as well. And... Savannah suggested to know the Joker's existence."

May bahid pa rin ng galit ang tono ni Thyra nang mabanggit nito ang salitang Joker pero naiintindihan ko naman kung bakit. She lost too much because of that creature.

"... in which we can get here or at least from you?" dugtong ni Cleo kay Clementine.

Nagulat naman si Clementine nang personal siyang tinukoy ni Cleo. "S-Sa akin?"

I rolled my eyes because of her question? "May iba pa ba kaming kasamang tao na may pangalang Clementine rito sa kwarto? Kaloka ka." Anas ko.

Siniko naman ako ni Cleo at muling ibinaling ang tingin sa dalaga. Nauutal namang tumugon ito. "W-Well, initially, ang buhay ng Joker mismo ang tunay kong pakay nang kagatin ko ang proposal ng Jack of Hearts na si Thibault. When I was in Mindanao to cover the operations between our military forces at mga rebelde, I saw few of the rebels wearing an arm band with a logo of a local design Joker sa playing Cards. From then on, I know something was not right. As if something has been kept to the public."

Ako na ang dumugtong. Ang tagal magkwento 'eh. Nakakaantok.

"... but they gave you something big. Something worthier to reveal than the Joker."

"So, basically, you don't know anything about the Joker himself. At least, a personal information?" Pagbibigay tuldok ni Cleo sa sinasabi ni Clem.

"S-Sorry," tanging naisambit ni Clementine at napayuko.

I groaned because it seems like we are in the dead end already. 'Di pa nga kami nagsisimula ng bongga tapos natuldukan na agad?

"May iba pa ba tayong mapagkukunan ng impormasyon sa... Joker?" Thyra asked, still trying her very best not to explode.

"We can get information from the people here. They are related naman lahat sa Primeval Union, 'di ba?" I suggested.

"But not all knows him," Thyra interjected. "We just knew his existence when he attacked before. Kungbaga, para s'yang sumulpot sa kung saan at nagpalaganap ng katarantaduhan."

"Para rin s'yang Ancient Ones na hindi rin alam ang katauhan at ilan lang ang may alam." Komento naman ni Cleo.

"What if..." napatingin silang tatlo sa akin. "... we ask the Primeval Union?"

Cleo and Clem gasped with what they have heard while Thyra's brows met upon hearing it.

"Uhm, Sav? Baka nakakalimutan mo, tinutugis nga nila ako para makalas 'di ba?" Cleo awkwardly reminded me.

As if namang nakalimutan ko 'yon? Duh!

I rolled my eyes on her. "Of course, naalala ko bruha ka. What I'm trying to say... we should ask someone who's related to them. Yung may direct contact do'n." Paliwanag ko habang binibigyan ng ngisi si Clementine. "... got it?"

Para namang may umilaw na bombilya sa ulunan nito nang panlakihan ako nito ng mata tapos ay ngumisi na rin tulad ko. "I know someone who!" she even exclaimed.

That settled then,

"Basta hindi ako kakausap sa kanya. Baka mabigwasan ko lang 'yon kapag nakita ko kahit anino man lang." Nagsusungit na wika ni Thyra. Nakuha nito kung sino ang tinutukoy namin kung kaya't bad blood na naman s'ya.

"Grabe naman kayo sa kanya." Natatawang wika ni Cleo.

"Kayo nang dalawa bahala sa kanya. Maiiwan nalang kami rito ni Cleo. Aurius tech and parts are amazing. He got all the parts I need to fully repair her." Sambit ni Thyra at muling lumapit kay Cleo.

Ang taray, kumpleto pala talaga sa rekados 'tong East Heart. Hindi lang dahil sosyal ang kanilang bayan kung'di dahil sa pagiging handa nila sa kahit na anong possibility. Very good, palipat kaya ako ng bahay? Bili kaya ako rito ng mansyon? Tutal hawak ko na pera ni Nico, pwede ko na 'yon gamitin para makapagpatayo ng branch ng Escort club ko.

Hmmm, magandang ideya. Marami pang mayayaman rito. Mas malakas kikitain ko rito panigurado. Makabawi man lang ako sa lahat ng sakit at luha na ininvest ko sa gagong 'yon.

"Baka naman kabitan mo ng pakpak 'yang si bakla, ah. Puro pa naman eroplano ang nasa bayan na 'to." Tanong ko kay Thyra, slightly teasing Cleo.

Namutla naman si hitad sa sinabi ko. Ini-imagine siguro na may dalawa s'yang flyers sa likod. Gosh, nakakatawa! Na-imagine ko rin tuloy.

Nginisian naman ako ni Thyra tapos ay tinapik ng medyo malakas ang balikat ni Cleo. "Akong bahala, same size ba ng eroplano nila rito para mas mataas ang lipad?"

"Ang taray, magiging ibon ka girl!" irit ko kay Cleo tapos ay sinamaan lang ako nito ng tingin habang naka-pout. How cute! "Magiging isa kang big bird! 'Di ba no, Clem?" siko ko pa sa babaeng nasa tabi ko na biglang natigilan.

I scoffed with her reaction. Ba't biglang namula ang mukha nito? Oh my... ako naman ang humampas sa balikat ng malanding 'to. "Hoy! Ano ibon 'yang iniisip mo? Ikaw ah! Ibong nakakawasak yata 'yang nasa utak mo. Huwag kang tigang, girl."

Nanlalaki naman ang mukha nito sa akin nang marinig ang huli kong sinabi. For sure, nagulat 'to sa mga words ko. Aba masanay na s'ya, isampal ko pa sa kanya ang nakita niyang ibon 'eh.

"Oh, may gulat factor ka pa. 'Wag kang pa-virgin d'yan. Amoy warak ka na 'day."

"WALA BANG MAKE-UP artist 'yang Fiancée ng FuBu mo?" bulgar kong tanong kay Clementine while we are walking in the corridor of Aurius' Manor.

Hindi ko naiwasang purihin ang mga mwebles at mga kasangkapan ng bahay na 'to. It's too grandiose, regal and classy. Halatang mga antigo ang mga furnitures at mga palamuti. Even the choices of painting. Hindi man ako maalam sa mga ganoong bagay pero ramdam ko na tama lang ang mga disensyong napili para ihelera sa bawat komedor ng lugar na 'to. Hindi na ako magugulat kung ang bawat isa'y nagkakahalaga ng milyon milyon.

Kuha kaya ako isa, ta's benta ko?

Nico's Spanish-styled mansion was almost the same as this. Ang kaibahan lang, Aurius' Manor was more vibrant unlike with Nico's monochromatic theme as if he's welcoming dark ghost dahil sa pagiging madilim ng lugar.

I mentally shook my head when I realized what I'm doing. Hanggang dito ba naman nagagawa ko pa ring isingit ang kahit na anong kinalaman ni Nicodemus sa mga napapansin ko sa kapaligiran? Enough, Sav. Hold your tits in place, please.

"A-Ano 'yung FuBu?" namumulang tanong ni Clementine sa akin habang pilit nitong hindi mapalingon sa gawi ko. I rolled my eyes, I'm not sure if she saw that but as if I care. Mapagkunwari ang bruha.

"We are not in the twenty-first century, Clem. Baka sabunutan kita riyan ng wala sa oras. You know exactly what's the meaning of it. Sabi mo walang namamagitan sa inyong dalawa ni Aurius, sex lang. Hindi mo dyowa, so, technically... bed buddies?" sunod sunod kong litanya sa kanya at pagpapaliwanag.

I sighed mentally when her eyes almost lashed out on her face with the words and terms I used. Understandable naman. Hindi pa s'ya sanay with my vulgarity. Well, dapat masanay na s'ya. She's involved in this fiasco.

"Hindi siguro s'ya... marunong mag-make-up?" tugon niya sa una kong tanong, clearly changing the Fubu part.

Huminto ako sa paglalakad. Nang maramdaman ni Clementine ang ginawa ko, she did the same at lumingon sa akin.

Seryoso ko lang s'yang tiningnan. Mga ilang segundo rin. Nakita ko kung paano s'ya naasiwa sa paraan ng paninitig ko. My stares are like daggers, that's for sure. I just can't help doing this because I noticed something I don't like.

"A-Ano 'yon?" 'yan! 'Yan ang kanina ko pa napapansin.

"Show me what you really are, Clementine." Seryoso kong utas sa kanya, almost commanding her. Maging ako ay nagulat sa paraan ng pagkakasabi ko ng mga katagang 'yon, maybe the Queen aura did the magic, I don't know.

"A-Anong i-ibig mo sabihin?" she nervously asked.

Humalukipkip ako sa kanyang harapan at tinaasan s'ya ng isang kilay. I'm frequently doing this, showing my bitch side whenever I'm encountering pretentious people. That's what I really hate the most.

"Are you that intimidated to always stutter? Too shy to converse with us? Changing topic when it's not in your favor?"

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa sunod sunod kong tanong. For a reporter like her, noticing this attitude she's showing in front of me was kind of irritating. She's like creating a big wall against us and showing another persona instead.

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa akin.

"Stop doing that if you're going to be with us in this journey, Clementine. I know it's not your call to do my bidding but I just really hate someone who's only pretending for their own convenience. I'm not discrediting anything because you might have experienced something traumatic..." then I glanced on her wrists full of healed scars. "... but please, I would appreciate if you're going to be true to yourself."

I can definitely feel her changing moods, attitude or whatsoever. I was able to ask few maids when they assisted me after that villainous Vicky, and they're mentioning her name as that woman's official menace. She's a brave woman, that's I initially thought. When I heard the way and talk to Mayordoma Hilda, her smiles are genuine as if she really missed talking with them. Same as how she talked to Cleo as well. Pero kanina? A sudden change of mood, being shy, then she would smile to us silently.

Ano girl? Gaano kagulo ang mood natin? Araw araw tayong may dalaw para magpalit ng mood at personality? Naii-stress na ako sa kanya kanina pa, 'di ko lang pinapahalata. And I'm trying my very best here to be friendly.

"Enough building walls against us. We're not your enemies here."

Isang buntunghininga ang ginawad ni Clementine sa harap ko at napapikit na animo'y nahihirapan na magdesisyon. When she opened her eyes, I already knew that she let go herself from what bugging her.

"I saw my brother... na dapat ay patay na."

While we are walking ay kinukwento niya kung paano nawala sa kanya ang kanyang kapatid. Kung paano ito napatay ng mga pulis nang matokhang ito na gumagamit ng pinagbabawal na droga. She didn't mention anything about her parents. Kung nasaan ang mga ito, pero I stopped myself from asking it. It seems very traumatic na maging ang kapatid niya ay nakaka-trauma na ang kinasadlakan noon. She would eventually tell it to us.

"Baka naman buhay pa talaga?" I commented nang matapos s'yang makapagkwento.

Hindi naman daw kasi niya nakita ang katawan ng kapatid niya. Dinala nalang sa kanya raw ang cremated version ng katawan ng kapatid niya.

"Iyon nga rin ang naiisip ko." She agreed with my idea. "Pero bakit hindi s'ya nagpakita sa'kin 'di ba? We... can help each other. He became like that because our parents got killed."

HIndi na nito siguro napansin na napasobra ito ng kwento nang mabanggit na rin nito sa wakas ang mga magulang na wala na pala.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Malungkot kong komento rito. Natigilan si Clementine sa'kin, ngayon niya lang yata na napansing nabanggit niya ang tungkol sa kanyang mga magulang. Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng sakit sa mga mata nito.

"A-Ayos lang." Tugon nito tapos ay muling umilag ng tingin sa akin. Doesn't want me to see her teary eyes.

"How was he?" I asked next nang lumiko na kami sa isa pang pasilyo.

HIndi nakasagot ng ilang sandali si Clementine at bahagya pang kumunot ang mga kilay nito na parang may naalala.

"I saw something on his arms. May—"

Hindi na natapos pa ni Clementine ang sinasabi sa'kin nang biglang may sumulpot na piranha sa aming likuran at tinawag ang pangalan ko.

"Queen Savannah? Oh gosh! I missed you!" nagulantang yata ang katawang lupa ko nang biglang yumakap sa'kin ang babaeng hinahanap namin.

Napangiwi na agad ako dahil sobrang lapit ng mukha niya pisngi ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang make-up niyang mamahalin nga kaso mali naman ang pagkakagamit. My god!

"Ouch!" daing ni Vicky nang hilahin ni Clementine ang kwelyo ng blouse nito palayo sa akin.

"Lakas mong makalingkis akala mo naman close na close kayong dalawa?" medyo may pagka-bitchesang anas ni Clementine kay Vicky. Nakataas pa ang mga kilay nito sa naturang babae.

Oh, what interesting thing that I'm seeing here, hmm.

"Can you get off me!" igkas ni Vicky then threw an arm attack in which Clementine immediately dodged.

Pero mabilis na akong sumingit sa kanilang dalawa dahil ramdam kong baka magkasapakan na sila rito ng tuluyan. We have to get the info as soon as possible.

"Enough, bitches!" ani ko tapos ay parehas silang natigilan. Both of them were staring— oh no, glaring would be the better term, at each other. Wow, this is the first time I saw Clementine to be this... ferocious towards someone.

"You have to inform Aury about her, Queen. Para mapaalis na s'ya rito ng tuluyan. Masyado na kasing magulo ang bahay ni Aury nang dahil sa babaeng 'to." Sumbong ni Vicky sa'kin tapos ay pumwesto pa sa tabi ko habang nag-aayos ito ng sarili kahit wala na namang iaayos pa. Gosh!

"Aury?" takang tanong ko sa kanya.

"Aurelius," it was Clementine who replied and she continued glaring at Vicky.

Ah, okay. Gets ko na, at gets na gets ko na kung bakit parang g na g itong babaeng 'to kay Vicky. Selosang tunay.

I mentally rolled my eyes. I tilted my head to Vicky to respond. "Sige, I'll talk to him." Pag-aalo ko at pinanlakihan naman ako agad ng mata ni Clementine.

I gave her a knowing look. Then, I faced Vicky again who's now smirking towards Clementine. Nang mapansin niya na nilingon ko uli s'ya, she sweetly smiled at me and said, "Thank you so much, Queen Savannah. Buti nalang at naiintindihan mo ako. Alam mo bang she's bullying me as well?"

"Really?" I exaggeratedly responded then looked towards Clementine na ngayo'y napapailing iling nalang pero halata ang galit para sa babaeng kausap ko ngayon.

"Yeah! Like totally! She's verbally and physically abusing me. Buti nalang talaga at marunong ako to defend myself kasi if not? You won't be seeing this beautiful face anymore."

Sana lang talaga nakikita ko. Nasa'n, girl?

I awkwardly smiled at her when she gave me another batch of cheek kisses. "Thank you talaga! I'm looking forward to it."

Tumango tango naman ako at pinagpatuloy ang pakikipagplastikan.

"How 'bout we talk over dinner later?" I suggested. Lunok pride pa 'yan jusko. Ba't ko ba ginagawa 'to?

Para namang nagningning ang mga mata ni Vicky sa sinabi ko at nagtititili tili. "Oh gosh! That would be very lovely! I have to inform Daddy about this—"

Nanlaki ng husto ang mata ko sa gusto niyang gawin. "No!" I immediately responded when she was about to call his Dad.

"It's better for you not to inform your Dad about it." Kinakabahan kong wika.

Napakunot noo naman si Vicky. Nagtataka kung bakit. "Why naman? Matutuwa s'ya kasi alam niyang ka-close ko ang kapwa ko Queen, hello?"

Pinigilan ko ng sobra ang sarili na huwag ikutan s'ya ng mata sa sobrang kaartehan n'ya. "Huwag muna... kasi... for sure he's busy." Anong klaseng dahilan 'yan, Savannah?

"Oh, don't worry. Dad always has time for me. I'm her Princess kaya!"

"You better not muna." I replied. "Balita ko kasi may mga Buffoons na nakapaligid ngayon. Not sure if you're aware with the threat right now. And you must be! You'll be the Queen so dapat alam mong may mga kalaban ngayon na nakapaligid. What if someone is spying on you to get information about me? I got harassed already upon going here by those mongrels."

Halata sa mukha ng bobong 'to na nakuha niya ang gusto kong iparating. Mabuti nalang at nagawa nang tumulong 'tong si Clementine at sumegunda.

"Kung 'di mo naiintindihan boba, nasa panganib ang buhay niya lalo na't may mga kalaban kayong nakapaligid. It's better to be safe than sorry." Mataray na wika ni Clementine.

Vicky rolled her eyes to Clem and looked at me again with her plastic and no-so-genuine smile.

"Alright, sure! Tama ka! Ngayon lang nagkaroon ng Queens kaya dapat we have to protect each other, right?"

Gusto ko na talagang sumuka sa pagiging epal niya at pag-f-feeling na Queen rin s'ya.

I gave her an awkward smile again. "Yeah, that's right. Let's have dinner later and let me know what your town can offer. I really love it here, you know."

Vicky bit my scheme. Kung kinakailangan namin makakuha ng impormasyon patungkol sa Joker then we have to use every resource that we have. Kung kinakailangan kong makipagplastikan rito sa babaeng 'to para lang makapiga ng impormasyon then so be it.

"Are you really sure from what you are planning?" Clementine asked me when we headed back to Thyra and Cleo's room.

Seryoso ko lang s'yang tiningnan nang nasa harapan na kami mismo ng kwarto.

"We are in the middle of war, Clementine. Gagawin ko lahat para lang maging ligtas si Cleo." Seryoso kong wika sa kanya.

Napatingin naman ito sa akin ng seryoso. Waring sinusuri ako. I'm assuming she's been thinking why I'm doing this. "I'm doing this because Cleo is a family to me, not just a friend. And you don't know what I can do for my family." I commented before I held the door knob.

Ngunit parehas kaming natigilan ni Clementine when there's this eerie and heavy feeling we felt. Napahawak kaming parehas sa aming dibdib. Nahirapang huminga. What's happening? It's almost the same of what we are feeling kapag nakikita rin namin ang nakikita ni Cleo.

Halos sabay kaming napahawak sa aming sentido when there's a glimpse of picture I saw.

Two growling silver and yellow wolves. An angry greenish fox. And a crying red Phoenix?

Below to those gigantic creatures are men screaming and scorching in pain. Their eyes are glistening the colors representing the creatures.

Clementine and I gasped when it was done. Kasabay niyon ang biglaang pagbukas ng pinto. Cleopatra immediately attended us at inalalayan kaming makapasok sa loob.

I saw Thyra was on the sofa gaping at us as well.

"W-What... was that?" nanghihinang tanong ni Clementine nang iupo nito ang dalaga sa kalapit na couch.

Bakas naman sa mukha ni Cleo ang pagkataranta, pag-aalala, at takot? Thyra assisted me para makaupo katabi ni Clementine.

"This is bad." Komento nito habang naglalakad lakad ng pabalik balik sa harap namin habang nag-iisip ng malalim.

She's not wearing her eye-patch. Just like before, it's glistening with bluish color but now, her whole right eye turned into silver and gold combined.

Her sclera is pure silver and not white like the usual. Her Iris is gold and her pupil has three incomplete ring-like figures, circling around the entire pupil in clockwise and counter-clockwise manner.

"Lalo ako nahihilo sa'yo girl." Komento ko nang nakaka-bente na yata siyang pabalik balik ng lakad.

Then she stopped and looked at us with worry. "What you saw are the Familiars of Clubs, Heart and Spade. They're in trouble! The possession of those three remaining Relics are in a lot of trouble! Even the Kings!"