Kabanata xxvi
Distrust

***

CLEOBELLE

Hindi ko maialis sa aking isipan ang nasaksihan ko sa panaginip na iyon.

I managed to awaken my other power, but the tragedy costing Cresia her life still lingers on my mind.

"Bakit hindi mo ikinwento sa akin ang patungkol kay Cresia?" mariing tanong ko kay Elsa. 

"Dahil kahit ako ay walang ala-ala patungkol kay Cresia at ngayon ko lamang naalala ang lahat," napabuntong hiningang sagot niya sa akin. 

"Ikaw Ifrid, may hindi ka pa ba sinasabi sa akin?" baling ko naman kay Ifrid na katabi ngayon si Elsa. 

"I just find it strange. Me and King Titus would actually remember your existence everytime you die. Since you're already dead, it would be too late to save you, and that's a loop," he narrated.

"Paulit-ulit kang nakitang namatay ng iyong ama at napakasakit nito sa kaniya. Kung hindi siya ginising ng maaga ni Vespera ay maaaring masaksihan niya muli ang mapait mong kapalaran," dagdag niya pa.

"Just what happens every time I die?" I again asked with my one of my brows arched. 

"I remembered everything when we went to the Kingdom of Fairies. However, in your past lives, my memory is just hazy. I just remember things that happened within your life since you've summoned me," Elsa stated.

Tumingin naman ako sa gawi ni Ifrid.

"I just remembered things after King Titus did," he shrugged.

"Para bang sinasadya ng kung sino man ito, Sinclair. Mayroong nilalang na gusto kang labis na pahirapan," sambit ni Elsa na ikinakuyom ng kamao ko.

Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa ko sa nilalang na iyon, ngunit huwag lamang siya magpapakita sa akin dahil sobra akong maningil.

I suddenly remembered my conversation with Aslan when I first had my new power.

"Who did you meet when you left that day?" he asked with a dark expression.

"No one," I answered firmly.

"Then how did you suddenly have that dangerous energy within you that time? You've never had it in our past li—" he halted.

How did Aslan felt that energy? Why does it seem familiar to him? Titus only met Yves and not Aslan, isn't it?

"Ifrid," I called the fire spirit King's attention. "Did my father; Titus already met Aslan before?" I asked.

Napaisip siya doon at nailing.

"The only time he met your father is when you died. Titus took your body away from him so he can take you home in the Kingdom of Fairies. Aslan didn't know who Titus was and attempted to fight him to claim your body back, but Titus defeated him and took you away," he narrated. 

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko doon.

"That's bullshit," I frowned. "Why would Aslan fight for me? The witch he loathes?" I hissed.

Napangisi lamang doon si Ifrid. 

"I'm more curious that he seemed to be familiar with that power you have. The way he said it before appears that he considers it as a threat," Elsa commented.

Ifrid frowned. "Why would he consider it as a threat? Fairies are higher beings, instead of a threat, it would be an honor to see their power up close."

He paused a bit after saying those words.

"Well unless he knows the future about how he will clash with Titus when he took your lifeless body away from him," Ifrid shrugged.

Natahimik kami doon. 

Imposible iyon. Dahil kung alam niya ang mangyayari ay malalaman niya rin kung ano ang totoo kong katauhan. 

Malamang ay nagtangka na itong patayin ako kung ganoon man.

"I don't really care about his reasons. I just need to lift his curse and everything will be over for us. We'll finally be free from eah other and ciao, I'm gone forever," I hissed.

"That's good to know," singit ng isa pang boses.

It's my father, Titus who suddenly barged into the green house where we're currently located.

"I don't suggest trusting that man right after everything, Cleo," he hissed.

I rolled my eyes at him. "I know that."

"In fact, I don't recommend trusting anyone at all," he added.

"Nararamdaaman kong nasa malapit lamang ang nilalang na gustong pumuksa sa iyo Cleo. Kaya mag-iingat ka sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan mo," paalala pa ni Titus.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that," I hissed then looked at him with a serious expression on my face. "I trust nobody," I added.

"Good," he tsked. "Who knows? Maybe just like Yves, the demon is just lurking around Aslan. Worse is he actually took possession of his body, just like what happened to Yves?" Titus shared.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," I frowned.

"True or not, you must sta away from him. He brings nothing to you but misfortune. I don't even know why you're willing to lift his curse after everything he did," Titus hissed.

Napaisip ako doon. Bakit nga ba?

Dahil naaawa ako sa kanya. Dahil gusto ko nang makawala sa sumpang tila ba ay gumagapos sa amin. 

Iyon lang at wala ng iba pang dahilan.

Natigilan na lamang kami sa pag-uusap nang bigla na lamang may kumuha ng aking atensyon.

"Duchess, Baronness Catherine is here to pay you a visit," one of the maids announced. 

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko doon. 

Weird, she'd normally tell me if she's gonna visit.

"Take the Baronness here," I commanded. 

The maid bowed her head and started walking to do the task.

***

"Why did you pay me a visit so sudden?" I asked the moment Catherine went inside the green house.

"Solana," she started. 

Napataas ang isang kilay ko roon.

"So?" I said impatiently.

"Something is strange about her these days. . . " Catherine uttered.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko roon. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?" 

Nailing na lamang siya at ngumiti sa akin. 

"Nothing. I shouldn't really have you worry about these trivial things," she stated. 

"Then what brought you here?" I asked. 

"Wala, namiss lang kita," natatawang sambit niyang ikinangiwi ko. 

"Hindi kita miss. Makakaalis ka na," pagsusungit kong ikinatawa lang ng huli.

"Don't be rude to your sister," she pouted.

"Well I'm not—" I halted.

"Hmm?" she hummed with a smiled. 

Umiling lang ako sa kanya. "Wala."

Muntik ko nang sabihin ang tungkol kay Titus at sa aking natuklasan tungkol sa totoo kong pagkatao. Ngunit pinigilan ko ang aking sarili.

Catherine just spent her day fooling around in the dukedom.

Pagsapit ng hapon ay doon siya nagpasyang umalis.

"I'm gonna visit you some time. For now I'll fetch Solana at the temple," she smiled. 

"Temple? Since when Solana learned to have faith?" I mocked. 

"I'm not sure? I do hope it's a good thing," she uttered. 

We bid our good byes before she finally left.

I can feel it. . .  Something is gonna happen tonight so I need to hurry. 

'What's the situation?' I asked one of my spirit summons, through telepathy.

'Not good. A change of fate has happened again, my liege. A batalion of soldiers are coming this way and they're after your head,' he reported.

'What do you mean? The Ice witch?' I asked.

'Mukhang nalaman nila ang tunay mong katauhan. Hindi ko alam kung papaano nangyari iyon gayong napaka ingat mo,' sambit nitong ikinatigil ko saka pagak na natawa roon.

'So there really is a cockroach loitering around near me,' I grinned.

Sumeryoso ang mukha ko saka nagpasyang bumalik sa mansyon. "Nakabalik na ba ang Duke?" tanong ko.

"Opo Duchess, dumiretso po siya sa kanyang opisina," sagot nitong ikinatango ko lamang saka naglakad sa mahabang bulwagan.

Pagdating ko opisina ay walang katok-katok akong pumasok. Naabutan ko siya doong nagbabasa ng isang lumang aklat. 

I recognized it as one of the previous Duchess journals that she left for Aslan. 

'I didn't know he already found it,' I thought.

"If you're planning to get out, do it tomorrow," he stated while his eyes are still glued on the journal.

"I'm not planning to, but why can't I get out? You allowed me to do so every now and then?" I asked with a urious gaze.

Tumingin ito sa gawi ko at umiling.

"Just don't, Sinclair," he stated.

Nakipagpaligsahan pa ako sa mainit na tingin nito sa akin.

Looking at him made me remember Yves. No matter how much I resist, it pains me whenever I'm looking him at I remembered the tragedy between him and Cresia.

Cresia told me that we share the same fate. . .  Does Aslan share the same fate as Yves too? 

May posibilidad bang gaya ng ni Yves ay siya ang kinokontrol ng demonyong iyon? 

Titus is right. I can't trust anyone around me. . .  Not even Aslan.

"What if I want to?" I grinned at him.

He groaned frustratedly. "I said no! Don't provoke me Duchess! Now isn't the time for that!" 

"Why? Do you know what's coming?" I said while looking at him straight in the eye.

Aslan didn't answer. 

"Please not now Cres—" he halted.

"Cres who?" I arched my brows. "Are you really Aslan?" I interrogated further.

Hindi siya nakasagot doon. 

"I. . .  I don't know anymore," he smiled at me bitterly. "I only know one thing. . .  I should protect you," he mumbled under his breath.

Pagak akong natawa doon.

Protect me? B*tch! You're the one who killed me every damn time! Well part of it was my fault, but how could he say he wanted to protect me now, when in all my past lives all he showed me is mixed signals and indifference?!

 "Lies," I smiled at him bitterly and was about to leave, when he suddenly teleported right in front of me.

"Where are you going, Duchess? I'm still talking to you," he said with a dark expression I couldn't read.

"Away from you," I said in a serious tone as I tried to walk pass him. Then suddenly, I felt his strong hands pull me to a tight embrace from behind. 

"Don't. . .  I'm tired Cleo. . . " he whispered on my ears.

Mabilis na tumibok ang puso ko doon.

"Cleo?" I uttered.

"Please don't run away from me again; Don't ever leave me again. . . "