Chapter Forty-One

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CLEO

"MY AUGUR POWER has seen this new body but not the upcoming disaster." Iyon lamang ang naiutas ko nang kami'y makabalik sa Canali. Nakatulala ako sa ataul kung saan nakalagak ang kapangyarihan at wangis ng Joker.

There is no time to waste. Now that you've finally remembered what happened before you became a half android. You need to help them now!

Anagenissi stated while the urgency in his voice was evident.

My brothers are in danger!

Marami pa ring tanong ang biglang pumasok sa aking isip nang maalala ang mga nangyari years ago. Napakuyom ako ng kamao dahil may isang tao ang ginamit rin ako para maisakatuparan ang mga masasamang plano ni Vikadan.

"How can I help them? I am here in the Canali," she informed Anagenessi.

But you are not a pure human anymore.

"I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult, Anagenissi." I reacted and glared at him.

Canali is not just a dimension to test someone else's fear. It's also a bridge that connects. Any human can't escape this but since you are not human anymore, you can easily free yourself from here.

"But how?"

The metal dragon burst a flame in the sky and looked at me as if I am stupid.

I still clearly remember that you are the very first promulgated Queen and it hasn't changed over the years, Selene.

I scoffed when I got what this creature meant. Oo nga naman. A Queen will only be dethroned if they are dead. And clearly, I had only forgotten it but I am still the Queen of Spade.

"Alright, got it. Now, cooperate with me. I'll save them all before Primeval Union gets a hold of them." Untag ko tapos ay muling tiningnan ang coffin sa aking likuran.

I could clearly feel Vikadan's presence there but... I'll deal with him soon. For now, kailangan ko na munang iligtas ang apat na Hari at ang mga Reyna nila.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. I focused on going back to the deep abyss of water where they came from.

A warmth embraced me, flickering fire and dancing lights are glowing around me. When I opened my eyes. The Tiara of the Queen of Spade glistened on my forehead kasama ang paglagablab ng aking mata.

A gasp escaped from my mouth when I went back to reality. Hingal na hingal ako na tila kinakapusan ng hininga.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang may mga nagtutok ng baril sa gawi ko. Around ten men who are wearing battle gear, it's the same gears na naghabol sa amin sa barko ng King of Diamonds.

"Gising na pala ang ating panauhing pangdangal,"

Umigting ang mga panga ko nang makita ang magmamay-ari ng boses na iyon. A man who just entered a room kasama ang babaeng may pilat sa mukha.

"J-jose Clemente," I uttered weakly.

"Oh, perfect you still remember me?" Natigilan ako nang bahagya sa paraan ng pagtanong ni Clemente sa akin, even his eyes spit curiosity.

Was he talking about what happened before I became an android?

"You are one of Stavros' subordinates," I safely replied that earned a glare from the man.

"You still can't remember, perfect," Jose uttered lowly but I heard that still. Jose looked at me with a beaming smile on his face. "You're right, I am. But that will change soon."

Napakunot noo si Cleo dahil roon. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Gulat na wika ni Jose Clemente pagkatapos ay tiningnan ang babaeng may pilat sa mukha. "I thought Susan told you already,"

Susan-- so, that's her name, faced Jose and bowed to apologize. "Ipagpaumanhin pero hindi pa, Master."

"Ang tungkol saan?" tanong ko muli sa mga ito dahil they only add up the nervousness I feel.

"Since the Kings renounced their rights to use their Relics, they would need to surrender their authority in their respective cities and the Primeval Union will take over," Jose explained with confidence in his voices.

I scoffed at what he meant. So, that's their plan.

"You took advantage of them nang makabalik sila sa kanilang sarili matapos nilang magpasukob sa mga Familiars nila?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong rito.

Jose did an inverted smile and shrugged his shoulders. "Hindi nga naming inaasahan na makakabalik pa sila sa kanilang katinuan matapos ang ginawa nila 'e. We just want to make sure that our Union will be regained its operations fully again."

"You betrayed them... the reason why the Joker wreaked havoc was that you knew who's his vessel. And made a bargain to the Joker himself." I concluded when I finally connected the dots.

Jose made a slow clap in front of me. "You are indeed an intelligent Humanoid, iba talaga gumawa ang mag-asawang Arguelles na 'yon. They are too sneaky because they couldn't move on to their lost daughter that's why they also took advantage of you that night—without us knowing that causes their lives."

I glared at him upon hearing those words from him. Napakahayup n'yo!

"I mean, it took us a year to know what they'd done. Kung 'di pa namin nalaman ang dahilan kung bakit naikulong muli ang Joker ay 'di pa namin matutuklasan ang tungkol sa'yo." Jose added.

"How did you know about me being the Augur inside of a humanoid vessel and about me putting the Joker back to his coffin?" tanong ko rito.

"That causes General Schneider's health... I mean, it's a sacrifice that he needs to take kung ayaw nitong malagay sa alangin ang anak niyang si Savannah." Jose replied that made my eyes wide.

Scheineder—I remember him, I saw the Canali of Nicodemus about meeting this General and his wrath towards him because of making Savannah as his Queen of Clubs. That also triggers to remember Savannah telling me the details of Primeval Union matapos kong makita ang balita patungkol sa pag-revive nitong si Clemente sa Primeval.

Mas lalong namumuo ang galit sa dibdib ko dahil sa mga pinaggagagawa ng lalaking 'to. He was too patient to wait for this to happen.

"You also killed Savannah's father?" untag ko habang nararamdaman ang sariling may nilalabas na electric current. My eyes flared in solid white and red. Madali ko lang natulak ng malakas ang mga lalaking nakahawak sa magkabila kong braso. Pero mabilis rin ang kanilang aksyon dahil may kung anong tumama sa balikat ko.

I saw Susan—the one who tried to killed me before pero hinayaan niya akong mabuhay. She's the one who pulled the trigger and she's just looking at me coldly.

Jose walked near me and held my chin. "I'm glad I asked Susan not to kill you that night kahit pa mahigpit ang utos ng ibang Heneral na ipapatay ka dahil banta ka pa rin sa pagkabuhay ng Joker."

Wait, the Generals want to kill me dahil ayaw nilang ako ang maging sanhi ng muling pagkabuhay ng Joker... that means, Vikadan only made a bargain to Jose.

"You want me to awaken him again," I stated in conclusion.

"Isn't it obvious? He's the only one who can control the familiars all at once. If I'm going to awaken him and make a deal again, no one's going to stop me from controlling the Union at my expense." Jose revealed his plan.

"Kaya ginusto mong kunin muli ng mga Kings ang pagiging Hari nila sa pamamagitan ng paggamit nilang muli sa Familiars dahil kailangan mong gising ang mga ito para mas madaling makontrol ng Joker." Oo nga naman, even if the Kings will give all the rights to Primeval Union, balakid pa rin sa kanila ang mga Familiars. Without the Familiars sa mga Hari, mas madali nilang makokontrol ang Union. Pero ibang usapan kapag nakipag-alyansa uli siya sa Joker.

"Well, it's not that easy I must say since you are too sneaky these past few years but I managed."

"Ako lang naman ang kailangan mo ngayon, palayain mo sila." I tried to bargain even if it's useless.

"And give them a chance to attack me? I know the Art of War... Augur. Your deal doesn't make sense." Jose replied.

"And you'll use them para mapasunod mo 'ko sa paggising sa Joker?" I asked him with a grin. "Do you think that will work on me?"

Mabilis na natigilan si Jose sa tinanong ko. "You are not in the position to bargain—"

"I know... but you are not in the position to harm them now." I confidently said.

I saw the glimpse of uncertainty in Jose's eyes. All I need now is time.

"Killing them would be easy—"

"Do you really think so?" I asked, questioning his confidence in what he knows.

"Don't test me, you are just an Augur." He tried but I sensed something has changed in him now.

"Augur that knew already how you'll die? Oh, wait. Even when?"

Jose signaled his team na may hawak sa mga walang malay na Kings and my friends. Kinasa ng mga ito ang mga hawak na baril na gawa sa substance na nakakamatay para sa kapangyarihang mayroon sila.

"Are you sure? I'll give you a glimpse of why I was asking kung desidido ka na sa banta mo." I tried to walk near him but the guns at my behind are now ready to be fired. "You knew what will happen if you harm the new promulgated Queens right?"

I tried to invoke the Judgment of Death—it was what Sav did sa mga tauhan ni Amadeus nang tangkain ang buhay ni Thyra. The Kings are not officially reclaimed their throne yet. Lalo pa't hawak ko pa si Anaggenissi—ang familiar ni Stavros.

Jose grinned at me if nakahanap ito ng butas. "The Judgement of Death will only apply if the newly proclaimed Queens verbally shared their First Order. Since they are unconscious—"

I stopped him, "I clearly remember that I haven't given mine yet."

Lahat sila nagulat when I activated Anaggenissi. Flame covered me and gave me some few changes physically—red highlights on my slightly curly hair, four gigantic rings floating on my wrists and ankles, and the flaming sword—the Relic itself of Stavros. A Tiara of Spade on my forehead also appeared together with the color white red eyes.

Napaatras sila dahil sa init ng apoy na pinakawalan ko. Gulat naman ang nasa mukha ni Jose Clemente na 'di inaaasahan ito.

"I-ikaw ang—"

"Yes, I am Cleopatra Selene Arguelles—the Queen of Spade, mother of the Flamed Dragon, Keeper of Space and Dimensions." I officially acknowledged myself. "For my First Order, no one shall harm the Kings and Queens in the next three days. Death shall be the consequence and that's irrevocable!"

"No o-one has told us a-about this!" sigaw ni Jose nang sinubukan nitong umiwas sa winasiwas kong apoy gamit ang Relic ni Nessi. I can clearly hear the guns outside, maging ang mga tauhan ni Jose na nasa likuran ko at bumagsak dahil sa mga balang tumama mula sa labas.

"Sorry we are late,"

"Yow! Sensya na, pero sakto naman kami 'di ba?"

"Woooh! Buti nalang sumakto tayo mga ungas, ang babagal niyo kasi!"

"Makapanisi naman 'to. 'Kala mo daming ginawa. Uy! May tumatakas!"

Pinigilan ko silang habulin pa sina Jose nang mabilis silang tumakas dahil sa pag-entrada ng apat na 'to.

"Let's move now, Jacks."

Kassian—Jack of Clubs, Haji—Jack of Diamonds; Clevan—Jack of Spade; and Thibault—Jack of Hearts—immediately made a salute in front of me and immediately called the reinforcements they'd brought.

It was a good thing that I felt their presence immediately and that's the queue that I was waiting for. Alam kong hindi katagal ang kaya kong itagal sa paggamit ng Relic ni Stavros dahil ngayon lang uli ko ito nagamit.

"We need to stay, Your Majesty." Wika ni Clevan sa 'kin nang mailagay na nila sa stretcher sina Nicodemus, Savannah, Amadeus, Thyra, Clementine, at Aurelius. "We have yet to patrol the area to look for your King."

Napakuyom ako ng kamao dahil sa inis. Kanina ko pa ramdam na wala rito si Stavros. Saan kaya nila tinago ang katawan nito?

"No need for that, I couldn't feel his presence here." Untag ko rito.

"Then allow us to stay to further check the island." Clevan said next na s'yang kinatango ko.

"Did you bring the Ten Knights of Spades?" I asked and Clevan nodded in response. "Since the other Jacks need to attend the welfare of their Kings and Queens, I'll approve you staying here basta kasama mo ang Ten Knight of Spades. Report back to me as soon as you've seen any traces kung saan nila maaaring tinago si Stavros."

"All at once, Your Majesty. I'll leave our town in your capable hands." Clevan said and he immediately contacted our Knights.

Nilapitan ko naman ang iba pang Jacks na ngayon ay ready na para isakay sa dinala nilang Jets.

"I can transport us back to Spade town," napalingon silang tatlo sa 'kin matapos kong sabihin ang plano ni Clevan sa isla.

"Kaya pa ba ng kapangyarihan mo, Your Majesty?" tanong ni Haji. Tango lang ang binigay ko.

"I can only do this once, it's better to be there now. I can sense the army of the Primeval Union is moving. Give me the details once I got a chance to rest."

"Masusunod, Kamahalan." Sabay sabay nilang untag. Kahit 'di ako sanay ay hinayaan ko na lamang.

I actually don't know if this would work. The rings floating on my wrists and ankles are telling me they can do the work. I raised my right hand and control the right Ring outside of our Jet. I inhaled with concentration and feel the power of Vortex within me.

Since Vortex can hold the past, present, and future. And Anaggenissi's special power aside from fire is teleportation. Combining the two powers of Time, I incorporated it on the ring outside. I felt it went big—enough para magkasya ang jet na sinasakyan namin.

I signaled them to move now towards it.

As soon as we get past it, my consciousness is drifting away.

Pero bago mawalan ng malay ay narinig ko pa ang tinig ng isang lalaki. I'm sure it's Stavros!