© Copyright 2017 - alerayve

Published in Wattpad: June 9, 2017
New prologue published on: July 7, 2023

Date Finished: Estimated to be this August 2023

All Rights Reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the author's prior permission. All characters in this story are fictional, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Author's Note: As usual, read before you judge it. Alam niyo nang masakit sa brain cells ang story ng pamilya ng mga character dito kaya pakihanda na lang po ang pasensya plus pahinga ng utak. If I may, please read the sequel's book version (published under PSICOM) to follow the third book's storyline better kasi mas susundan ko po 'yon. Not that it will cause a lot of changes, though. Just that it's 'better.' Ayun lang, labyu. Para sa mga naghintay, ito na talaga. The end of an era. The last of the trilogy. Thank you sa lahat ng sumubaybay mula book 1.

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"A WOMAN born and married to a Vantress will never have a happy ending, for crossing paths with their family could only entails tragedy."

Nang mahagip ng pandinig ko ang litanyang ito ay napalingon ako sa kumpol ng mga kababaihang kanina lang ay hindi magkamayaw sa pagtitig sa 'min ng pamilya ko nang sabay-sabay kaming gumayak sa piging. Sa oras na naramdaman nila ang tingin ko sa mga leeg nilang kay daling tanggalin sa mga balikat nila, kanya-kanya silang napahawak sa mga ito at saka nabato sa pagkakatayo, batid na may mangangasong nakaabang sa mga 'yon.

That's rich. It's not like any of you will be qualified enough to be a Vantress, anyway.

Before I could see them cover their necks further from my gaze, a gentle hand landed on my shoulder, relieving me of the irritation building on my nerves. "There you are," she beamed. "I've been looking all over for you, my handsome knight."

When I fully turned to its owner, I couldn't see any letter spelling out tragedy; only peace and tranquility. She bent down and got a hold of her knees to match my eye level. Her straight black hair naturally fell from her shoulders, swinging like enchanted tendrils of a willow tree.

"Would you care to join me somewhere?" Amaluna Vantress offered while fluttering her eyelashes. As if she could get any lovelier than she already is now. "You know, like you always do," she winked playfully.

"And where would it be this time, mother?" One of my brows rose. Heto na naman siya, nag-aaya sa kung saan-saan at ako naman itong si kaladkarin.

"Hmm... secret. Does it even matter?"

"I'm sorry but my dear father taught me not to go with a strange woman inviting me to strange places."

"Did he now?" she asked, amused. "I can remember that at some point, he keeps following me everywhere I go. He even swore to me in front of the altar that he's ready to face the blazing pits of hell if that's what it takes to be with me."

Halos magsitaasan ang mga balahibo ko sa kakesuhan ni Mama. "Please. Leave the fairytale narration to Ate Raine and Annie," I scowled, which only pulled the woman's smile wider, yet also brighter. This is how our every interaction goes. Mischievous and playful. She isn't just the woman who gave birth to me, she's also my best friend and formidable ally.

"Aysus. Tingin mo kung hindi ako sinusundan ng Papa mo kahit saan mabubuo ka—"

"Mom!"

Kahit na ba dali-daling napabaling ang mga bisita sa 'min ay walang pagpipigil ang pagtawa ng kung tutusi'y asawa ng isa sa mga pinakarespetadong mafioso sa Underground. At sa kabila ng titulo't ngalang dala niya, hindi niya hinayaang mamatay ang tawa niyang tila makina nang dahil lang sa bulungan ng mga taong kahit kaila'y hindi makararanas ng kasiyahan mula sa mga simpleng bagay.

She always believed that being able to find a reason to smile from the most trivial things is what true happiness really is. Reminded by that charming lesson of hers, I can't help but shook my head, chuckling as I pushed her out toward the garden, away from people's gossip and stares.

"I'm sure Spade and Dad are doing damage control right now," I commented when she was trying to recover what a madame's composure should be, all while a nasty snort slipping for every second or two.

"What's so wrong about laughing out loud?" she looked at me, a bit offended but nevertheless, pouting because she knew I'm only teasing her. "Sasabihin ba nilang lumalabag ako sa batas nang dahil lang tumawa ako? Kung ganoon, ang lungkot ng mga buhay nila," papadyak pa nitong saad.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako sa kakulitan niya. "Everyone in the Underground is miserable in their own way, Mom," I told her in a matter-of-fact way. "We just simply choose our own definition of misery."

Kuryos na ipinahilig ni Mama ang ulo niya, mga kilay ay magkasalubong habang ako ay pinagmamasdan. "Anak ba talaga kita? Hindi ka ba naipalit sa ibang sanggol sa ospital?" seryosong turan nito na ikinamaang ko. "Ang lalim mo masyado. Ang seryoso mo parang tatay mo. Para ka namang apat na dekada nang namumuhay sa mundo, hmph. Alalang-alala ko pa naman kung anong itsura mo no'ng lumabas ka sa pu—"

"Jesus, please!"

Tumalikod siya sa 'kin, ginayak ang dalawang kamay sa kaniyang likuran. Nang maitaas bahagya ang kulay lila niyang gown at naging lantad ang kakulay na sapatos nito ay tila naglalaro ng piko niyang binagtas ang daan. At tulad ng dati, lagi akong sumusunod sa kaniya sa kung saan niya ako nais dalhin, palagiang naiintriga sa kung ano ang bagong maibabahagi niya sa 'kin na hindi niya sinasabi sa iba kong mga kapatid.

After a few minutes of only concentrating on her steps, I lifted my eyes to discover that we were at the center of a maze where a huge fountain stood and solely receiving the drink of the moon's gracious light. Its water flowed not as loud as the crickets' sounds, the ripples silently crept and then gone. The wind blew like a whistle and the sky shimmered with a thousand stars present tonight.

"There's really something about walking at night, don't you think, my son?"

Sa pagbaba ng tingin ko mula sa kalangitan pa sa kanya, natagpuan kong sumasalamin ang imahe ng mga bituin sa itim niyang mga mata. It's as if her eyes could envelope the whole sky and embrace the stars. Alexandra Dela Vega may be the Aphrodite of the Underground— loved, feared and respected—but Amaluna Vantress is undoubtedly its Persephone— a queen who'd brought winter and spring altogether just by her presence.

"Yes, there really is," I said and I looked up once again, smiling at this blissful scene.

They say that in ancient times, those who sail the endless oceans and seas would use the sky and stars to guide their way, to lead them where land floats and a new mystery awaits. Someday, I'll find someone like Mom who carries the sky and stars with their eyes, as well. So that if I ever get lost, I won't have to fear anything. I'll just look at their eyes and I'd know the way.

"Mom, do you believe what those women were talking about?" I somehow blurted out. I wonder why that question came out. I was neither blind nor deaf. My siblings and I knew better than anyone that Mom and Dad deeply love each other. As much as I cringe whenever they shamelessly show it off, their mutual affection means security and assurance to me. After all, the Underground is not lacking love stories with sad endings.

"Na trahedya ang aabutin ng kung sinumang babae ang isisilang at maikakasal sa isang Vantress? Well, I'm not sure," she said dismissively. "Hindi pa tapos ang kwento ko. At hangga't hindi pa 'yon tapos, walang makakapagsabi kung trahedya nga ba ang buhay ko. Kahit na ba ako."

"But what if it really comes to that?"

"Then that's it. Like what you said, everyone has their own definition of misery and suffers from it. The same goes for our life stories. It's up to us to determine whether it's a tragedy or has a happy ending," Mom added softly despite only me hearing what she speaks of. It's as if it's a secret between us, one that the whole world is deprived of knowing. "Ang trahedya sa iba ay maaaring masayang katapusan sa pananaw ng iba. Ang masayang katapusan ng iba ay maaaring trahedya sa iba."

She's right. Life is real just like that. It's never linear. It can't be defined with only one angle.

Sa pagkakaisip na may isa na naman kaming lihim, namumutawi ang galak at pagmamalaki sa dibdib ko. I love how she can be raw and true with me, the only one who genuinely shares her love with the night and its magic. I love that among us, I resemble her the most. I love that despite the hostile environment surrounding our family, she's a fresh bud of evening primrose, flourishing even at night, especially at night.

"As much as I want to stay longer, I think dad would not appreci—" Natuliro ako nang mapagtantong wala na si Mama sa tabi ko. Hindi lang sa tabi ko kundi kahit sa paligid. Wala siya. Wala na siya.

"Mom?" I called, panic begins to crawl at my nerves. "Mom, where are you? We have to go back. We have to go home."

Pero kahit anong ulit ko ng tawag, walang sagot na bumalik. Kahit anong pag-aya ko papauwi, walang lumalapit para hatakin ang siko ko't masiglang bumubungisngis. "Ma, please! Nasaan ka?"

Pinaikutan ko ang fountain, hinawi ang ilang halamanan, at binalikan ang daan na pinagmulan namin, ngunit wala. Maging ang kasiyahang inaasahan kong nasa rurok ng ingay at tawanan ay wala. Ang nabalikan ko ay tanging tila abandonadong mansyon na napag-iwanan ng panahon. May mga baging nang nakapalibot sa bawat haligi nito at maging ang mga bintana'y bungi na't nangangalawang.

What is this?! Where is everyone?!

"Dad? Kuya? Ate? Annie? Nasaan kayo?" sigaw ko, nababahala na parang ako na lamang ang naririto. Halos mabingi ako sa sariling kong paghinga. "Is this a joke? Please stop it, it's not even funny!"

Sa paulit-ulit kong paghiyaw ay halos yakapin ko ang mga tuhod ko sa pagkahingal. Ni hindi ko na alam kung mas mabuting magpalinga-linga ako gayong ang imaheng nakikita ko ay hindi na katulad ng iniwan ko kanina. Sa takot na sa muling paghahanap ko ay hindi pa rin ako matagumpay, dumako sa sahig ang mga mata ko, ngunit mukhang maging iyon ay pagkakamali rin ng taon.

I found my shoes stepping on a scarlet liquid. One that has suddenly filled even the narrowest spaces between the concrete tiles and swallowed the grasses and withered leaves. As it continuously flows, so is my chest heaving high and low frantically. It wasn't Mom's, was it? It's neither Dad's, Spade's, Lorraine's, or Kanaris,' isn't it?

I can undoubtedly feel my body going cold, scared to look back, scared that the liquid is what I really think it is based on its metallic smell. My breathing further trembled as the wind keeps nudging me to confirm my fears. The shiver seems like the only question in the world that I'd like to be left unanswered. No, they couldn't be. They're Vantresses. That's impossible. They just can't!

"They can't be dead..." I murmured. "They can't—"

And when I ultimately push my chin up again, it hit me. A dream. This is a dream. The same dream again and again ever since I took that turn. A dream where half of the moon faded in sight and the other that remains bleeds red, and with that comes the night's death.