A KING may be the most important piece on the chess board; however, the QUEEN is the most powerful. As she performs more moves than any other token. – Karim R. Ellis

FALL OF THE KING | STANISLAV VAUGHN

CHAPTER TWO | HORNS

SOFIA

Even if I was enjoying the comfort of my travel here at the business class section of this plane, still, fifteen hours straight flight from California to Manila was still tiring. I finished the book that I brought. Three actually. I answered all the emails from my previous boss. I chuckled when I remembered the last time that we talked. She was practically begging me not to go. She even offered to double my pay plus additional bonuses every three months. Free travels with one-week free accommodation twice a year paid by the company. But I declined all of that. Because of one short phone call from my father.

It's time, Sofia. The time that you're waiting for is now.

That was all he said and told me that he would tell me everything once I got home in Manila.

Umayos ako ng upo at sumenyas ako sa flight attendant na lagyan uli ng wine ang basong hawak ko. Nang mapuno iyon ay agad akong uminom. Ramdam ko ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Sa halo-halong excitement. Sa galit na unti-unting nag-aapoy muli sa dibdib ko.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at binuksan ang bag ko. Kinuha ko ang isang magazine at tiningnan ang cover noon.

It was a face of man. A famous one actually. Just the name that he was bearing already yells power and looking at his face it conveys fear. His blue-gray deep-set eyes looked like it was piercing down to anyone's soul. His whole persona bears authority.

I knew him. All my life he was the only reason why I was waiting for this time.

The time that I would face him head on.

Because Stanislav Vaughn Salvador Rozovsky taken something precious from me. And for twenty years, the only thing that I ever wanted to do was to see him on his knees watching his empire burn to the ground.

Just like what he did to the place where I grew up with that he had burned to the ground together with my family.

I felt a lump on my throat and I inhaled deeply. I finished all the wine from the glass and asked for another pour. Binuklat ko ang magazine at featured doon ang napakalaki at napakagandang hotel-casino na pagmamay-ari niya. Fire's Palace.

It was an expensive hotel-resort-casino located at the heart of the Metro. It was built twenty years ago and became a luxury icon that people wanted to go to. They wanted to experience the topnotch service that only the rich and famous could afford. People didn't know that twenty years ago, that land lies those tiny houses where me and my family lived.

Napabuga ako ng hangin at pumikit. Pilit kong inaalis sa isip ko ang alaala ng nagngangalit na apoy. Ang init at paso sa katawan ko. Ang mala-demonyong lagablab ng apoy na kumakain sa mga kabahayan. Ang pagtawag ng tatay ko sa pangalan ko.

Mikayla! Mikayla!

Agad akong nagmulat ng mata at pilit na kinalma ang sarili. I buried that name a long time ago. Mikayla de Castro was dead. She died together with her parents on that fire. They burned side by side to each other inside their house. Their bodies lie under the giant hotel that Stanislav Rozovsky owns. I am now Sofia Michelle Buenaventura and I am the daughter of Don Romulo Buenaventura from an unknown woman. That was the lie that he created for my new identity so no one would ask about my past. He became the father that I lost the moment he saved me from that fire.

I was eight years old when I survived from it. I woke up in a private hospital wrapped in bandage. I had lots of burns all over my body. I couldn't even recognize myself. I remembered I was crying. I was looking for my parents. I needed them to comfort me because I was in so much pain and I watched on the news about the fire. Our house. The whole tiny houses of my friends were caught on fire. I heard the nurses were talking about me. Naaawa sa akin dahil pareho daw namatay ang mga magulang ko sa sunog na iyon. I was eight, afraid and left alone in this world.

Until I met Daddy Romulo. He was the angel that saved me. He was the angel that gave me another chance to live. He took me in. Brought me to his home. Fed me. Clothed me. Itinuring akong tunay na anak. Siya din ang nagdesisyon na palitan ang pangalan ko at isunod sa apelyido niya. Siya din ang may gusto na sa Amerika ako manatili. Ayaw niyang malaman ng mga tao ang tungkol sa akin. Ang lagi lang niyang sinasabi, darating ang panahon kung kailan niya ako ipapakilala sa mga tao. Pagkalabas ko noon sa ospital, deretso kami sa airport at lumipad ako patungong ibang bansa. Doon ako nag-aral. Doon nagkaroon ng bagong buhay.

Pero hindi itinatago ni Daddy Romulo ang totong nangyari sa buhay ko sa akin. Unti-unti, sinasabi niya kung sino ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng magulang ko. Those were the people that he worked for. The Rozovsky's.

I looked at the magazine and Stanislav's face with full of disgust. I wanted to bash his face when I had the chance to see him. And dad told me I will see him in person.

Just like me, my dad waited for twenty years to make his move. He always tells me that I will be an important tool to take down that family. I would be the queen in a chess game that has happening around the lives of the Rozovsky's. I smiled devilishly. A queen in a chess game? I love that. Because I can be the most powerful piece in this game. I would have all the possible moves to make them crawl at my feet.

And the queen always takes down the king.

I still didn't know that was the plan. Basta sinabi lang ni Daddy na bumalik ako ng Pilipinas. My dad had been a partner of the Rozovsky's way, way before. A partnership that still going until now. My dad owns a shipping company and I knew that his company has being used by those monsters as their courier for their smuggling racket. Stanislav Rozovsky was earning millions everyday by using my father's company and what my father gets? A damn thirty percent cut. Not even half.

Lalo lang kumukulo ang dugo ko. My father worked his ass off just for this damn Rozovsky's to get most of the profits. Alam ko naman ang mga illegal na gawain ng pamilyang iyon at mas doon sila kumikita ng malaki. Pantakip lang nila ang hotel-casino, realty estate and construction company sa mas malalaking illegal na negosyo nila. Sinasabi iyon lahat sa akin ni Daddy dahil halos siya ang tumulong at nag-mentor kay Stas para makarating ito kung nasaan man ngayon. The devil was ruling his hell. Claiming his throne even if he had to kill people just to get whatever he wanted.

Ilang beses akong huminga ng malalim. Kailangan kong kumalma. Kailangang nakaplano ang lahat ng gagawin ko. Napakatagal kong hinintay ang pagkakataong ito at hinding-hindi ko ito sisirain dahil lang sa pinabayaan kong kainin ako ng galit ko.

Nilapitan ako ng flight attendant at sinabihan akong malapit na kaming mag-land. Inayos ko na ang gamit ko at umayos na din ako ng upo. Sumilip ako sa bintana at kita ko na ang runway pati ang Manila International Airport. Napangiti ako ng mapakla. Bumabalik ang mga alaala. Si Nanay. Si Tatay. Pero ako na ngayon si Sofia at kailangan kong ibaon ang lahat ng alaala ko bilang si Mikayla kung gusto kong magawa ang lahat ng plano ko.

Maya-maya lang ay nakalapag na ang eroplanong sinasakyan namin. Wala naman akong dalang gamit kundi isang maliit na travel luggage. Iniwan ko ang lahat ng mga gamit ko sa Amerika. Nauna na akong makababa at lumakad palabas. Pagdating sa arrival ay agad kong nakita si Daddy Romulo na nakatayo at nakatingin sa lugar ko. Agad na namasa ang mga mata ko at lumakad patungo sa lugar niya. Ngumiti siya sa akin at idinipa ang dalawang kamay. Doon ko binilisan ang paglakad at nang makalapit ay mahigpit na yumakap sa kanya.

Hindi ko na napigil ang sarili ko at napaiyak ako. Sa tagal kong nakatira mag-isa sa Amerika na ang tanging kasama ko lang ay isang maid na provided ni Daddy, ngayong kasama ko na siya ay naramdaman kong may pamilya ako. May pamilyang masasandalan. May pamilyang matatakbuhan.

"How are you?" Nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin at marahang pinahid ang luha ko.

"I am fine. I am happy to see you." Muli akong yumakap sa kanya at tatawa-tawa lang siya.

"Sobrang miss na miss mo ako? Dinalaw naman kita last month."

Kinuha ni Daddy ang luggage ko at siya ang nagdala noon. Maya-maya ay may huminto nang sasakyan sa harap namin at inalalayan niya akong makasakay doon tapos ay sumunod siya. Sinenyasan niya ang driver na mag-drive paalis doon.

"How's your flight? Direct flight pala ang kinuha mo. Siguradong pagod na pagod ka."

Tumawa ako. "I am okay. Konting tulog lang ito I am sure makakapag-adjust na ako dito." Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakatitig lang siya sa akin. "You are creeping me out. What is going on?" Nagtatanong ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"I am happy, Sofia. I am happy that finally you are going to settle here. For good." napahinga siya ng malalim. "I am happy that I have daughter like you. I will never regret the moment that I picked you up from that fire."

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi at marahang lumayo sa kanya.

"I am sorry if I had to bring that up. I want to know if you are still you. You are Sofia. That after twenty years of that tragedy you already buried Mikayla from your past." Seryoso na ngayon ang tono niya.

"You made me like this. You made me forget Mikayla de Castro, and I did. I buried her together with my real parents." Nakatingin ako ng deretso sa mata niya nang sabihin iyon.

Napatango-tango siya. "Good. Because we are going to a battle, Sofia. And you are my ultimate weapon."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What's going on, Dad?"

Tumingin siya sa driver at nakita kong nakatingin lang ito sa kalsada pero siguradong naririnig nito ang pinag-uusapan namin ni Daddy.

"We are going to war against the Rozovsky's."

Hindi ako nakasagot at muling tinapunan ng tingin ang nagda-drive. Lumapit ako sa kanya at bumulong.

"Dad, be careful with what you're saying. You don't trust everyone." Paalala ko at tinapunan ng tingin ang driver niya.

Tumingin din siya sa gawi ng driver at napatawa.

"Don't worry about Tomas. He is loyal to me. To us. He knows all my plans. And the reason I asked you to come here is to settle the score finally with your ultimate enemy."

Alam kong alam ni Daddy ang lahat ng gusto kong gawin kay Stanislav Rozovsky pero naguguluhan ako sa kanya na biglang-bigla ay mag-desisyon siyang kalabanin ang mga iyon ngayon.

"Did they do something to you? Bakit biglang-bigla na ganyan?"

Alam ko naman ang plano na ito ni Daddy na i-take over soon ang yaman ng mga Rozovsky. Alam niya ang bawat pasikot-sikot ng mga negosyo nito. Bilang second in command ni Fedor Rozovsky, my father's words were power too. Iyon nga lang, hawak siya sa leeg ng mga ito at kailangan niyang sumunod sa mga utos at rules ng pamilya.

"I can't take it anymore. More than twenty years, I am a dog to that family. I always follow what they wanted. I kill who they wanted dead. They even use my company for their own gains. I think it's too much. It's about time that we got what is really for us. And you will do that." Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin.

Tumango ako. I've waited for this for so many years. I can't wait to see that family, especially the self-proclaimed king to kneel before me.

"Remember what they did to your family. To you. Remember what they did to the woman that I love. I've waited for this day too, Sofia. This is our chance to get even and get what is rightfully ours." Hinawakan pa ni Daddy ang kamay ko at marahang pinisil iyon. "Stas is a weak leader. I know that. I trained that imbecile for years. Fedor believes that his son can replace him, but Stas only knows how to be a hard-headed ass. He only loves brutality, pain and fucking women."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Dad. Language." Parang ako ang nahiya sa sinabi niya. Pero totoo naman ang sinabing iyon ni Daddy. Kalat naman sa society kung gaano kababaero si Stas Rozovsky. Mga kilalang babae pa ang nali-link dito pero ang alam ko, kahit kailan ay hindi nagkaroon ng seryosong relasyon.

"Tumanda na nang ganoon na lang si Stas. Ikukumpas ang kamay para sundin ang mga utos niya. Walang katapusang pambababae. But finally, after two decades of being away in the limelight, Fedor decided that he needs to do something about his son."

Napalunok ako. Mukhang matindi-tindi itong mga revelation sa akin ni Daddy. Handa naman ako sa kahit na anong magiging papel ko sa pagbagsak ng mga Rozovsky. At gagawin ko ang lahat para magtagumpay ako.

"You better be ready. We're here."

Tumingin ako sa labas at nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang nasa harap ko naglalakihang buildings ng Fire Palace. Mas maganda sa personal ang hotel-casino ni Stas. Literal na nagliliyab na palasyo sa dami ng ilaw sa paligid. Kumukutitap sa mata ang magandang façade ng entrance ng hotel.

"D-dad..." ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Ganito ba kabilis? Hindi pa ako nakakapagpahinga. Dito na agad kami dederetso?

Bumaba si Daddy sa sasakyan at inilahad ang kamay sa akin. Napabuga ako ng hangin at kinuha iyon tapos ay bumaba na din. Sabay kaming lumakad at pumasok sa loob ng hotel. Halatang kilalang-kilala si Daddy ng mga tao doon dahil hindi na kami sinita ng security. Kung maganda sa labas ang hotel, literal na palasyo ang hitsura nito sa loob. Tatalunin ang mga expensive hotels sa ibang bansa ng hitsura nito.

"Roam around. Check it for yourself how they developed your old land." Nakatingin nang makahulugan sa akin si Daddy. "Check the bar. It's one of the highlights of the hotel. Relax for a bit. Have fun. I'll see you in a while." Humalik sa pisngi ko si Daddy at may ibinigay sa akin. Telepono. "I'll call you, okay?" Kumaway siya sa akin at umalis na.

Luminga ako sa paligid. Pilit kong hinahanap ang dating lugar na sinunog nila pero mukhang nabaon na sa limot kung ano ang dating lugar na tinatayuan ng hotel na ito. Tinabunan ng napakaganda at marangyang lugar na ito ang alaala ng lahat ng kabataan ko. Lumakad ako at tinungo ang bar na sinasabi ni Daddy. Hindi nga siya nagkamali ng sinabi. Pagpasok ko pa lang sa bar ay tila nanghahalina na ang dami ng mga naka-display na mamahalin at imported na alak sa bar area.

Lumapit ako sa bar area at naupo doon. Nginitian ko ang bartender at umorder ako ng vodka tonic. Habang ninanamnam ko iyon ay nakatingin pa rin ako sa paligid. Sa mukha ng mga taong nagsasaya doon. Sa labas ng bar ay kita ang mga taong busy sa pagka-casino. Mga taong walang habas sa pagwawaldas ng pera para sa sandaling kaligayahan.

Go on. Have fun, people. I am here, and time will come this place will crumble to the ground. Just like what Stas did to my house. To my family. To my neighborhood. Even if Stas was telling people that he was the king, the devil himself, he never knew what I could do. I have my horns too. He made my blood cold as ice and my heart hard as stone. He didn't know that I already have a black mark in my soul over the years of seeking retribution. I am going to hold his heart in my hands and I would never let go of it until it was scarred. Until he couldn't breathe. And when he tried, the air that he would breathe would be mine.