Eteilla. 

Hindi man pisikal na nagbago ang chamber na 'to mula noong napadpad siya rito, ramdam ng prinsesa ang paglakas ng mahikang bumabalot sa silid. It felt like an invisible curtain brushing pass her, leaving a strange feeling in its wake.

The good kind of strange.

'Thankfully.'

Habang napapalibutan siya ng pitong arko, para bang naririnig pa rin niya ang boses ni Acontes nang ipinaliwanag nito ang kailangan ninyang gawin.

"Matagal nang patay si Miss Evelyn. Because of her power, that witch's body aged and decomposed, but her soul remained in the world of the living. Sa kasamaang-palad, hindi namin siya nahanap bago siya namatay. Her death only gave birth to a prophecy that will help us break the curse. You see, every time a member of the Waite bloodline curses someone, they're always obligated to yield a prophecy that can break it. That's how it works to keep the balance of good and evil...

Anyway, the prophecy told us that we'll be needing the assistance of the chosen maiden of Eteilla. Para mabasag ang sumpa, kakailanganin mo munang maglakbay sa nakaraan para hanapin ang limang nawawalang Tarot cards ng lima naming kapatid. Ikaw lang ang makakahanap ng mga ito, my empress. Because your goal is to complete the twelve cards that became a channel for our curse. From there, we'll need to do a ritual and destroy them."

Huminga nang malalim si Red at sumulyap sa pitong barahang hawak-hawak niya. Earlier, Acontes already gave her his card (The Emperor) and Nyctimus' "The Magician". Hindi na siya nagulat nang makita ang representasyon nila.

'I knew these Tarot cards are more than just aesthetics.'

From the moment she laid eyes on them, a part of her already had a hunch. Mabuti na lang at naitago ng magkakapatid ang kanilang mga baraha.

But of course, that witch doesn't want them to succeed.

Kaya noong tinalikuran nina Socleus, Corethon, Thyreus, Pallass, at Eumon ang kanilang pitong kapatid, itinago ng itim na mahika ang kanilang Tarot cards sa nakaraang nakapaloob sa pitong arkong bato.

Amber eyes glared at the seven portals in front of her, noticing the light coming from them.

'Anuman ang mangyari, kailangan kong panindigan ang tungkuling ito.' Isip-isip ng prinsesa.

"It's looks like you're already prepared."

She spun around, just in time to see Acontes, Nyctimus, and Macednus entering the chamber. Kamuntikan pa siyang matawa nang mapansing nakasuot sila ng pulang dress shirts (bukod kay Macednus na naka-pulang leather pants lang). They were obviously mocking the theme color. Still, she couldn't help but smile.

"Red looks good on you guys," she commented.

Agad naman siyang hinila ni Macednus, inikot na parang mananayaw, at nilagyan ng pulang rosas sa likod ng kanyang tainga.

"Ahh...ma cherié! I'd wear red for you any day." He winked at her, that silly grin on his lips.

She rolled her eyes. "Why don't you try to wear a shirt first?"

Natawa naman ang mga kapatid nito. Nang inilibot ng prinsesa ang kanyang mga mata, napansin niyang wala roon ang iba. Acontes noticed this and explained, "Kinausap kami kanina ni Ynara, ang isa sa mga forest muses. Ayon sa kanya, dumoble ang bilang ng mga natatagpuang bangkay sa kagubatan ng Eastwood. All the kingdoms are becoming alarmed at this sudden increase. After our meeting, we already decided that Carteron, Helisson, Linus, and Lycros will scout the area tonight."

Even while he was saying this, hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ni Red ang pag-aalinlangan sa boses nito. With what he told her this morning, alam niyang hindi magiging madali ang harapin nila ulit ang kanilang mga kapatid. For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder how Lycros will react when he sees Socleus again.

No.

She has to trust them---all of them.

Hindi masasayang ang kanilang mga sakripisyo.

When the alpha finally lit the twelve black candles on the golden candelabra at the center of the room, tila lalong gumaan ang kanyang pakiramdam. Dumako ang mga mata ng prinsesa sa unang portal. Mas maliwanag na ito kaysa sa iba.

Agad na ipinaliwanag ng alpha ang nangyayari.

"The seven stone arches lead to seven different settings in our past. Ayon kay Nyctimus, lima sa pitong portals na 'yan ang maghahatid sa'yo sa kinalalagyan ng limang Tarot cards while the other two are most likely bewitched by Miss Evelyn herself. Traps. May labindalawang minuto ka para mabalik dito sa chamber. Magiging hudyat ang mga kandila. Every lit candle represents a minute. "

"At paano kung hindi ako makabalik agad?"

Nagkatinginan ang tatlong werewolves. Mukhang hindi rin nila sigurado kung anong mangyayari sa kanya.

'Well, that's definitely a bad sign.'

"Wag mo na lang isipin 'yon. You'll make it back in time, ma cherié! Ipusta ko pa ang mga libro ni Linus." Macednus tried to cheer her up.

Tumango na lang si Red, kahit na masama pa rin ang kutob niya rito. Nang nilapitan naman siya ni Nyctimus, marahan nitong tinapik ang kanyang hearing aids. At first Red was bewildered at what he was doing until...

["Can you hear me, Princess Rieka?"]

Napanganga na lang siya.

"A-Anong ginawa mo?"

Nakita niyang ngumiti si Nyctimus. Half of his face was still concealed under that hood. Kinakausap siya nito kahit na hindi bumubuka ang kanyang bibig.

["I casted a telepathy spell on your hearing aids. Para may paraan kaming kausapin ka kahit na nasa loob ka ng portal. This way, I'll be able to update you about the time. If something bad happens, isipin mo lang ang kahit sino sa amin para makausap mo kami at mailabas ka namin agad."]

Napangiti na lang si Red.

"This is so cool!"

Humakbang na papalapit sa unang portal si Red. Tinitigan niya ang puting liwanag na kumakawala mula rito. Before she was able to step inside, the alpha gently grabbed her wrist and reminded her, "This is only the first out of seven. You have twelve minutes, my empress. Time starts the moment you cross it. Isang beses mo lang pwedeng balikan ang nakaraan sa bawat portal. If you need any help, just contact us."

"Yeah.. Do us a favor and come back, ma cherié. Dadalhin pa kita ulit sa Garden of Broken Hearts!"

"...." ["Be careful."]

She nodded at them, a reassuring smile on her red lips.

"Don't worry. We'll break the curse..."

At tuluyan nang humakbang papasok sa portal ang prinsesa.

---

O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

---"The Sick Rose", William Blake