Dedicated to: Jenny (Thank you so much for attending our TOS meet and greet event! )

Chapter 41: Found

Mariing nakakuyom ang mga kamay ko habang gumagala ang mga mata ko sa paligid.

Different creatures from different clans towered on each side of the aisle. I couldn't see their faces but their shadows, and their eyes glinted in delight as they were about to witness great entertainment.

Kasalukuyan nang umaagos ang buhangin sa naglalakihang butas sa pader at unti-unti nitong tinatakpan ang mga paa ko.

Sa kabila nang daang mga aninong may mga nanlilisik na mga mata, may iilang mga mata akong malinaw na nakikilala. It was how the cloaked woman who was now revealing her face— Harper and the red-haired woman who was standing by her side— were looking down at me, taunting and challenging me.

There was a time in my life when I was in a similar situation, yet this one was quite different. Creatures around me looked at me with contempt, unlike when I stood in a huge arena in Sartorias, where our citizens cheered for my success, not for my suffering.

Kumirot ang dibdib ko.

I used to face tough situations with my brothers and sister, yet in this journey, I had to accept that I'd be alone— with my newfound family. I was grateful to have them— these women and Kreios, but I couldn't help but think of my siblings.

The cut on my cheek stung again. I felt the trickle of my blood, but I chose to ignore it. The way they looked at me— the way these creatures surrounded me to witness entertainment was how the embargoes were treated in Sartorias.

I always thought that it was Zen's power that would make me feel cold— but right at that moment, it felt like I was in the middle of winter, and it felt so suffocating that I had to muster the strength to stop one of my hands from clutching my chest.

When I first entered the Entertainment District, each creature in this place seemed to live in its own world—the sounds scattered everywhere yet it was lively. The moon shone brightly above the dark sky, overlooking the red arc at the entrance. Connected to the arc was a web-like red string, with hanging red strips of cloth spreading from the arc's end to the last house of pleasure on the end of the aisle, like a carpet draped in the air—a roof—with dangling red ribbons with the wind.

Despite the nature of the place—it was no doubt a beauty for its combination of the bright color of red with the dim light of the lanterns— added to the uniform structural old design of each house of pleasure. But the beauty of this place was slowly fading away as my eyes were suddenly engulfed by darkness— shadows of those faces with evil smiles brought by anticipation of someone else's misery.

Bagaman nakararamdam ng ako ng takot at kaba, hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang naranasan ng mga naunang kababaihan na inialay sa larong ito. The way they suffered—the fear, the hope... even the ruthless thought that someone on the other side might die in their place.

Sa mundong ito, higit na mahina ang mga kababaihan. Lagi silang talo. They were mostly known for entertainment. Kahit sa panahong ito'y ganoon pa rin ang karamihan sa tingin ng nakararami. I couldn't blame my father for trying... for seeing a new world where women could show their worth and power— those were his dreams that these women who brought me into this situation saw hope in him. Yet, it was also the very reason that they trapped me here— to make me realize that my father had failed them.

Mas malakas na sigawan ang umalingawngaw sa kabuuan ng lugar na iyon nang sabay na umagos ang tubig na naririnig ko mula sa kabilang panig at ang mga buhangin na bumububos mula sa mga butas ng nagtataasang pader.

I looked down with my feet on the sand. Alam ko sa sarili ko na buhangin ang huling bagay na dapat kong katakutan. Kreios has the power to wield sand, and he'd do everything in his power to protect me, but weren't our opponents aware of it?

I bit my lower lip.

Kung nakikilala na nila akong siyang anak ni Haring Thaddeus at agad nilang naisiwalat sa lahat na mga espiya ang mga kababaihan na kasama ko, nasisigurado ko na may ideya rin sila na narito na si Kreios. It doesn't make sense if they would try to bury me in sand with the knowledge that my mate could do something about it.

There must be a riddle in this situation...

Pilit kong inalala kung paano nilutas nina Kalla, Naha, Reyna Leticia, Anna at Iris ang mga nakaraang paglalakbay nila. My father made sure that he left traces that we could trail... it could be through a riddle or a message that the left to someone, but who?

All I could hear were rumors about him in this place.

Mariin akong pumikit at yumuko.

Ang malakas na ingay sa paligid ay unti-unti kong pinatahimik, maging ang paraan ng pagtawag ni Kreios sa pangalan ko sa aking isipan ay pinili kong putulin.

And I remembered that night...

My mother was thinly dressed in her long white night dress. Her long hair was unusually loose as it was always adorned with expensive stones and accessories, yet tonight even if everything looked bare on her, she looked so surreal and beautiful. She had a pink color shawl draped on her arms with one of her hands clasped with mine.

That night as we walked side by side, the glimpse of the moonlight filtering through the high windows of the palace, as I looked at her, it felt like everything around her was glowing.

When I was young, I thought that my mother was an angel. I heard rumors that her carriage came from the sky. But when I looked at her, she had fangs.

"Aren't you an angel, Mother? You're disguising yourself as a vampire because you love father," I said innocently.

Tumigil kami sa paglalakad sa pasilyong iyon at nakita kong ngumiti si ina sa sinabi ko.

"What made you say it, Harper?"

"Because you're beautiful."

"Aren't vampires beautiful too? You're beautiful."

Hindi nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni ina. Yumuko na siya, lumuhod upang magtama ang mga mata namin. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko.

"You look just like me, Harper. You're a very beautiful vampire."

"Are you sure that you're not an angel?"

She giggled. "You're not listening to me..."

"I heard how the palace servants talk about you. You came from the sky!" itinuro ko ang kalangitan na ngayon ay nababalot lamang ng liwanag ng buwan.

"No. I came from a fallen kingdom, daughter."

"Did father take you from the sky?"

Ngumiti lang sa akin si ina. Mas itinuro ko ang kalangitan at ilang beses akong tumalon bago ako tumakbo patungo sa may bintana at tumanaw roon.

"Sinungkit ka ni ama sa kalangitan! How did he do that?"

Nakatingkayad na ako sa bintana habang nakahawak sa hamba ang malilit kong kamay. I jumped excitedly, imagining how Father tried to pull Mother from the sky.

"That's quite romantic, Harper."

Akala ko ay mananatili si ina sa likuran ko nang umupo siya sa hamba ng bintana. She tightened the shawl around her as she glanced at the beauty of the outside.

"What if it was me?"

"Huh? Sinungkit mo si ama sa kalangitan?"

She laughed.

Binuhat na ako ni ina at ikinalong niya ako sa kandungan niya. Napapikit ako nang marahan niyang pinaulanan ng halik ang kabuuan ng mukha ko.

"Maybe I sent him a message? And I told him to catch me."

Namilog ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni ina. "You really came from the sky?!"

Mas lalong natawa si ina.

Alam kong dapat ay patungo kami sa silid aklatan ni ama ngunit nagtagal kami roon sa may bintana ni ina. Natigil lang kami sa pagtatawanan nang kapwa kami makarinig ng pamilyar na boses.

"There you are, my loves."

Kapwa kami napalingon ni ama sa madilim na parte ng pasilyo. I heard a few footsteps until the silhouette from the dim shadow revealed my father— he was as thinly dressed as my mother with his white long tunic with it loose, and his loose long hair as well.

Sabay kaming ngumiti ina habang papalapit si ama sa amin. Father took me and kissed mother on the lips. "I was waiting for you... and here you are, My Queen with her captor."

Father played the tip of his nose with mine. "Why aren't you sleeping yet, Harper?"

"I am a vampire."

"A baby vampire who needs sleep. How about Casper?"

"He is sleeping," sagot ni ina.

"Mother told me that you'll give me something! What is it, Father?"

When I asked it, I saw how Father and Mother eyed each other. Pansin ko pa na tila nagulat si ama sa sinabi ko.

"It's time to make her choose."

Father tried to open his mouth, but she was cut off when Mother stroked his cheek. "A-Alright."

Ibinaba ako ni ama at kapwa na nila hawak ni ina ang kamay ko habang sabay kaming naglalakad sa pasilyo ng palasyo.

All I could remember that night was how Mother chose to stay outside, she was clutching her shawl tightly. Father was behind me, his gentle hand behind my back while his other hand was on the door.

I looked over my shoulders. Mother was smiling. "I'll be waiting."

When the door closed, I saw an unfamiliar relic on the table. Iniwan ako ni ama at naupo siya sa harapan ng lamesa.

He looked so friendly and warm when we were with Mother, but when we were alone, I felt like Father looked the same when he was in his council meeting.

"Choose, daughter."

My eyes roamed on the unfamiliar things on the table, a bottle with unknown fruit inside, a music box, a necklace, a blade, a lantern, a map.... and then I saw it. A very huge yet intricately designed jar— different from the displayed jar I'd ever witnessed in the palace.

Slowly, with my hand moving its own— I pointed at the jar.

***

Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang pagpiling iyon noon dahil kilala ko naman si ama na mahilig mangolekta ng mga bagay na may mahahalagang simboliko ngunit matapos ang lahat ng paglalakbay at pinagdaanan naming magkakapatid, unti-unti ko nang napagtanto ang ibig sabihin ng mga relikyang iyon.

It was his traces... his riddle, his guidance for us.

Simula nang dumating ako sa Mudelior ay hindi man lang nasabi iyon sa akin ni Kreios.

Si ama ay nag-iiwan ng relikya sa bawat itinakda sa aming magkakapatid. I knew that Kreios was aware of it... but it never crossed my mind just yet.

"Where is it?"

Bigla kong tanong kay Kreios.

"What?"

Habang nagtatanong ako ay ang pag-uusap naman namin ni Casper ang siyang pumasok sa isip ko.

I knew that I shouldn't entertain what happened in the past, but it could be connected right now. Dahil ako lang ang maaaring magdugtong-dugtong niyon dahil wala akong mga kapatid na maaaring tumulong sa akin para sundan ang iniwang bakas ni ama.

"Do you still remember how Father asked you to choose between the given relics, Harper?" my twin asked seriously.

He was sitting by the window, one of his knees was folded while one was outstretched against the frame, and one of his arms was resting on his knee as he looked outside, the autumn leaves twirling as the wind blew against his tousling hair.

He was dressed in a similar shade of clothing as mine— light blue.

As I grew up beside him, with whispers of the palace with his striking resemblance to my father that I chose to ignore when I was still young, now that I started to see it as an adult, I couldn't help but agree.

"Yes..."

"I haven't asked you about it. What did you choose?"

Nanatili akong tahimik. Nakatuon na rin ang mga braso ko sa hamba ng bintana. Simula nang bata pa lang ay dito na madalas kami mag-usap magkakapatid. Maybe because we happened to witness how Father and Mother used to have their casual conversation or even cuddle and kiss while overlooking the beauty of the outside.

"I chose a Jar."

Casper blinked. "Why Jar?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's big? It's different."

Mas sumandal si Casper sa hamba ng bintana. "Now how are you going to use it in the future? You're aware of how Kalla, Naha, and the rest of them solved it. I am impressed."

"Don't you think it's my mate thing, not mine?"

"What if this time it's you? We can never tell."

"Will you help me?"

Sinalubong ni Casper ang mga mata ko. He took a few locks of my hair and brought it to his lips. "Always, sister."

***

Nagmulat ang mga mata ko. Kasalukuyan nang nagpapaliwanag ang lalaki sa itaas ng mangyayari sa laro. Ramdam ko ang biglang paglapit ni Delilah sa aking likuran.

"Before you were sent here, Your Majesty...your father once played this game."

Marahas akong napalingon kay Delilah. "What?!"

"H-He lost."

Umawang ang bibig ko. Halos sabunutan ko ang sarili ko. There... I was just admiring him for trying to build a new world for women yet he allowed a woman to be buried alive...

So... this isn't just how these embargoes would have their revenge? But Father had his own contribution of burying a woman...

Nanlalaki ang mga mata kong yumuko sa buhangin.

Nawala ang atensyon ko nang malakas na sumigaw ang lalaking nag-aanunsyo sa itaas.

"A game of chess that will weigh their lives!"

Chess...

There's no way Father would lose a game of chess to anyone other than... Mother.

I gasped and looked at my feet now which were getting buried in the sand. He lost... that means, a woman got buried... Danna... and her power was sand. And the prince that the owner of the house of pleasure talking about was...

Bigla na lang nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko at napasalampak ako sa buhangin hanggang sa umalingawngaw ang malakas kong pagtawa sa lahat kasabay nang unti-unting pagtulo ng aking mga luha.

Maybe they thought I lost it.

But... Oh God.

"I found it. I found the Holy Land, Kreios..."