Chapter 27: The Accomplice

"Wow. The confidence he got here," nakangiwing sabi ko.

"Because Prince Rosh is the proud, elegant, and beautiful prince of Deltora," Divina said supportively.

Ngumiwi rin si Rosh nang marinig ang sinasabi ni Divina. "What is your business with me?"

Hinayaan ko muna si Divina na pagaanin ang sitwasyon namin sa pagiging makulit niya, at naghintay lang ako nang tamang tsempo. Kaya nang sabihin ko na kay Rosh iyong ilan sa napansin ko at naranasan namin ni Divina na hindi ko agad nasabi sa lahat, malaki ang kaba ko sa magiging reaksyon niya.

"A-And what made you think that I'd listen to this—" Divina cut him off.

"Because you're Prince Rosh and you like taking so many sides!"

Napakamot ako sa pisngi ko habang naalala iyong sinasabi sa akin ni Tobias na kung sakaling mali ang desisyon ko ay maaaring si Rosh na lang iyong sumali. Minsan ay gusto ko na rin bawiin ang sinabi ko na mahal na mahal ni Tobias ang mga kapatid niya, ipinain niya lang naman si Rosh sa amin ni Divina.

"Ugh, because your brother recommended you?"

Napabuntonghininga siya. "Why do I have this feeling that I am forever the woman's accomplice? Come, let me hear it."

"Why do I have this feeling that I am forever the woman's accomplice? Come, let me hear it."

Nang maupo na kami, hindi ko na talaga mapigilan ang sarili kong magtanong kay Rosh. Ano ba iyang mukhang iyan?

Well, Tobias's the most handsome vampire I'd ever seen in this world. Berdeng mga mata niya pa lang, nag-iinit na ang buong katawan ko na tila nais ko na laging maghubad, ngunit totoo nga ang naririnig ko tungkol kay Rosh. Even Tobias admitted that his brother is known beyond the word handsome, he's a damn beauty. Unang titig lang sa kanya, wala nang maiisip na ibang salita, kundi guwapo, makisig, at perpekto.

"Ano pala ang skin care mo, Rosh?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Huh?"

"Ano ang facial wash mo? Cleanser? Toner? Cream?"

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "What are you talking about?"

"Ano ang inilalagay mo sa mukha mo para ganyan kakinis? May pores ka ba? Alagang belo ka yata Rosh."

Nang sabihin ko iyon ay bigla nang tumawa si Rosh.

"My dear sister-in-law, though I am not familiar with some of your words, I can quickly understand the admiration. Everything I have right now is natural. I am born perfect. I don't need efforts or prayers to be this elegant. I can understand the sentiment because humans are born well. . . you're pretty for a human, but still lowly, it's good na kinagat ka na ni Tobias," inabot ni Prince Rosh ang ilang hibla ng maiksi kong buhok. "And a bushy hairstyle at that, you're a rare type."

Napangiwi na ako. Nagbago na ang isip ko. Guwapo nga, mayabang naman, thank you, next na lang, Rosh.

"To be honest, hindi ko lahat sinabi ang nangyari sa amin ni Divina sa palasyong iyon. Dahil nasisiguro ko na hindi na rin magbabago ang pasya ng lahat sa sandaling sabihin ko iyon, or they would find it as a weak reason." Panimula ko.

"I know, and don't think that everyone's not aware of it," mabilis na sagot ni Rosh.

Nagkatitigan kami ni Divina. "Alam nina Mama't Papa?"

Rosh nodded. "Do you think you can fool them? In this whole group, you two have the least experience. We've been on several journeys for years and we've encountered different scenarios and faced different decision making. Not because one of you decided to hide it from us, means that you've successfully done it. We've heard different versions of stories, Kezalli."

Sinabi ko na rin kay Rosh na alam kong buo na ang desisyon ng lahat kahit may idagdag kami sa mga natuklasan kay Atlas, and when he asked us if why we decided to seek his help I told him that his dear brother recommended him.

"And that fool allowed me to take this? Hindi ba dapat ay kay Tobias o kaya'y kina Zen at Claret ninyo sinasabi ito at hindi sa akin? I am the most untrustworthy individual in our group. Aren't you aware of my reputation, Kezalli?"

Sinabi na iyon sa akin ni Tobias, and if it was true, I'd be glad to be a witness in one of his villain episodes.

"But Mama and Papa are already determined to kill him—Atlas," dagdag ni Divina.

"And do you think that I am not?" tanong ni Rosh sa akin.

"Because you wish her to be saved, your sister, and we're all aware that her life is connected with Atlas. And the thing that I've mentioned? That her body is just a hollow? I just said that because that's what everyone wishes to hear. Why do you think Atlas is still clinging to that body? You have to do something, Rosh. Alam ko na kung bakit hindi magkakapareho ang desisyon ninyo ni Tobias sa sandaling ito. Tobias has been righteous that all his decisions were not just for him, but for his kingdom, he has that big responsibility and position that he has to put aside himself as a brother. Kaya niya ako itinulak sabihin sa 'yo ang mga nalalaman ko dahil kilala ka niya at alam niya ang kakayahan mo. He told me that you never cared about your image and how your empire looked at you—well except your handsome face."

"And then what do you want me to do? Spare him? Save him against our group? Have you seen what he's done to those goddesses? To Claret? To Freya? To this little village of Trafadore? the innocent lives, this forest? To animals? To our family?" Lumalakas na ang boses ni Rosh.

Huminga ako nang malalim. He had a point. Si Claret ay pilit lumaban sa kanya. But that damn Freya?!

Gusto ko nang sabihin na kalaban siya, ngunit malaki ang tiwala nila sa kanya. She already had everyone's trust. How would everyone take it if I suddenly told them that she's an enemy?

"We saw him, Prince Rosh. He offered us food and he might have threatened our lives, but he allowed me and Divina to go. He should have taken that opportunity to have Divina and use her power gaya nang inaakala nating lahat, but he's weird and unreasonable for someone who has this image of destruction, hinayaan niya kami ni Divina," umiiling na sabi ko.

"He's kind! He gave me cookies, and he saved me from the fire," dagdag ni Divina.

"He bribed you." Mariing sagot ni Rosh. He looked frustrated.

"To be honest, at first, I tried to keep my guard up, Rosh. As someone who's introduced to his name, with the stories I've heard about his evil deeds, the hatred I've seen, and the damages I've witnessed, of course, my loyalty would always lie with our group—us. Still, when we had our short conversation with him, I knew that he could pretend or play with us because that what's he's good at, I kept convincing myself and pulling Divina away from him, but no matter how I deny it, I could notice it. He's conflicted as if he doesn't have a choice. He's torn and I think helpless. . . there's a part of me that I want to reach him and force him to sit in this chair and extract the truth from him, kung hindi man niya ibibigay ng kusa ay gagawa tayo ng paraan para ibigay niya iyon nang walang laban. I felt like he was just trying to keep that image— our enemy."

"I think he's good naman," Divina added.

"And that's why we were sent there. Because no one from us could see it, but Divina and I. Divina with her innocent nature— and me, na sumabay lang dahil iyon ang pinaniwala sa akin at narinig, but now that I have my own judgement, what if there's someone behind him?" nagsimula nang mangatal ang buong katawan ko.

"What do you mean? Another goddess? Sa panahong ito wala nang higit na papantay kay Leticia, Kezalli. Sina Dastan at Leticia na ang siyang pinakamalakas na nilalang sa mundong ito. Siguro nga ay hinahayaan na lang nila kami na tumapos ng suliraning ito, pero sa sandaling sumali na silang dalawa, nasisiguro ko na hindi na tatagal pa si Atlas."

"Isn't Atlas an ancient demon?" I asked.

Rosh sighed. "Wala na akong maisip ng possibleng nasa likuran ni Atlas, Kezalli. And he has a reason to avenge his brother after what happened in the past. And now that Seth's already plotting his plan to ambush that old castle . . . I already had an encounter with him, and I never felt any goodness in him, hesitation and such that you've mentioned."

"This is a world that villains have their stories. Kung hindi man niya nais malaman ng mundong ito, at least, someone from us should know his real story— at nasisiguro kong gugustuhin din ito ni Veda."

Alam kong malaki ang posibilidad na mali ang nararamdaman ko sa mga naging reaksyon ni Atlas. But to witness how genuine his emotions and how he looked fondly at Divina? Someone they told me who wanted her ability? Dapat ay wala na ang prinsesa sa mga oras na ito.

I felt like his a prisoner.

"My sister? She killed herself to stop Atlas."

"S-She was killed sabi ni Atlas," sabi ni Divina.

"Atlas made her do it! She killed herself to stop him." Mas mariing sabi ni Rosh.

"Is it real? What if we don't know the real story? How sure are you with Freya? Is this whole thing all about Veda as your sister? Isn't Seth somewhat related to Atlas? What's with Blair and his sister? Hindi lang kayo ang konektado kay Atlas. What if everyone has their own story to keep?"

"W-What are you talking about? That one from them might have another reason for killing Atlas and you're asking me to save him? To side with him and his evil deeds?"

"I am not asking you to side with him, it's just that maybe someone from the group might still have another reason—" naiiling na sabi ko.

Kung sa isa pa lang ay nahihirapan pa akong kumbinsihin na may traydor sa grupo—sa nilalang na sinabi sa akin ni Tobias na kayang makinig at handang sumalungat sa plano ng grupo, ngunit kung ganito ang nakikita kong reaksyon mula kay Rosh, ano na lang ang matatanggap ko sa buong grupo?

"What made you think like that? You're the newest in this group. You never know the sacrifices, adventures, pain, and battles we've won together. How dare you—" umiling na ako.

Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Hindi nila ako agad pakikinggan dahil bago ako. At kung suportahan man ako ni Tobias, iisipin nilang ginagawa lang iyon ng hari dahil ako ang babaeng itinakda sa kanya.

I couldn't just tell them my side and expect that they would believe on me.

"He knows how to manipulate emotions. That's how he's been surviving for years. He held creatures through their emotions. He's trying to wreck our group apart, and he's staring with you."

Nagpatuloy ang palitan ng mga salita namin at halos humanga na ako sa sarili ko dahil sa bawat bato ng mga salita ng prinsipe ay may naisasagot ko.

"Everyone might be a culprit. Claret told me everything she'd learn from Freya and even from Cora and Pearl, but let's get it straight, Rosh. Mas maganda kung ito ay manggagaling mismo mula kay Atlas." Mas mariin ang pagkakabanggit ko sa pangalang Freya.

Bakit ni isa sa kanila ay hindi man lang nanghinala sa kanila?

He huffed. "As if he'd tell you the truth."

"That's why we're asking for your cooperation. Malaki ang posibilidad na kamatayan na niya ang siyang katapusan ng plano ng grupo natin, but this time allow us to talk to him again. We need your help to save him, capture him, or do anything possible to tie him. Divina and I will talk to him again."

He looked at us exasperatedly. "You want me to hold him. You want to extract the truth from Atlas that you failed to do a while ago? Ano ang pinagkaiba niyon sa ginawa ninyo kanina?" tanong muli ni Rosh.

"Because I only know how to use arrows! And I am still not familiar with or aware of how to use this vampire gift kung mayroon man ako. I heard you have a way to enter someone else's mind?" sagot ko.

Ngumiwi si Rosh. "If it is a woman. Atlas is not a woman, and I don't think he's attracted to me for him to be under my charms and be manipulated."

Nagpatuloy pa kami sa sagutan at akala ko'y hindi na namin makukumbinsi pa si Rosh na tumulong sa amin ni Divina, ngunit napapahanga na lang ako sa mga salita namin ni Divina. It was like another Atlas episode— the conflicted Prince of Beauty accepted our invitation to be our accomplice. Tila wala siyang nagawa.

As if someone from us had the ability to change someone's mind or decision. Could it be Divina's other ability?

"But are you going to help us now, Prince Rosh?" tanong ni Divina.

Rosh sighed. "Do I have a choice?"

"Now tell me how we are going to capture him first without letting our group kill him the moment we ambushed his palace. You might have a plan to deceive them, right?"

Sabay kaming umiling ni Divina. "That's why we asked your help, Prince Rosh. Divina and I will try to talk to him again."

Ngumiwi si Rosh. "How am I going to fool our group and hold Atlas at the same time? Are you trying to ask me to do something impossible?"

Huminga ako ng malalim. "No. This time, it's not just the three of us. We have to select the real ace of this situation. Someone who knows more about Atlas and his real story. Someone who's been trying to hide something."

"And do you have any idea on who is it? Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi na lahat ng naririto ay may posibleng dahilan o kaalaman tungkol kay Atlas."

"Freya, Prince Seth, Prince Blair, and even Prince Zen. The prophecy of the blue fire is not always about the visions and how the priestesses from the human world will prove us in this world. This whole journey is not about how Claret, and I will adjust in this world— hindi lang kami ni Claret ang pinakikitaan ng nakaraan at propesiya, dahil naniniwala akong maging kayo rin, Prince Rosh. I don't think anyone from the princes of the prophecy has been honest to us, even you."

"What are you talking about, human?"

"Hindi ba ako nagkakamali? The prophecy and everything are in proper place with the idea that Atlas is the villain in this story. Just like how Andronicus was pictured in this world."

"You're aware—" I cut him off.

"I am."

Nagsusukatan na kami ni Rosh nang tingin sa isa't isa.

"I may be weeks old in this world, but I grew up exposed and aware of this world's situation. I might have chosen to live, act, or even continue to be this reckless human in this dire situation, but I know everything. Siguro sa katulad mong bampira, isang dugong bughaw, prinsipe at tinitingala ng lahat ay masyado nang mababa ang pagiging taong katulad ko— but I lived not as a simple human being. I grew up in the underworld where anyone can turn into a traitor, stab you from the back, push you to the burning fire, and even make you a decoy. I lived my life to survive, not being killed."

Kumuyom na ang aking mga kamay. "And this world is the worst, Prince Rosh."