The Curse

Chapter 8

"Tignan nyo lahat ng libro." Utos ni Thrax na may hawak ding libro.

We're now here in our library—at our palace. Not the mansion where we're staying.

Dito kami nagsimulang maghanap.

"Paano natin yon makikita?" Inip na tanong ni Eira.

"It's a special book," Yesenia answered while also looking at the books.

"This won't do," iling ni Atlas at binaba ang librong hawak.

"Then do you have any suggestions?" Taas kilay na tanong ni Thanara. Umiwas naman ng tingin si Atlas at nagtuloy sa pagbabasa ng libro.

Napalingon ako kay Freya na kagat kagat ang labi na parang pinipigilan ang sarili na magsalita.

"Uhm guys..." she said after minutes of silence. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"The book of prophecies...we can find it at Cerrannos." She said. She couldn't look at me even though she knew that I'm looking at her.

Ever since that day, palagi na syang nakikielam sa takbo ng tadhana. I mentally reminded myself to talk to her one of these days.

"Let's go there immediately." Atat na sabi ni Eira at binagsak nalang ang libro basta basta. Tumayo na din sila at lumapit sa amin ni Ashvin.

I felt him held my hand before teleporting.

"Cerrannos?" Marius asked confusedly while looking at the place.

Isa lamang itong lumang gusali at parang inabandona na.

Freya nodded, "The Book of Prophecy lies here."

Tumango naman sila at pumasok na sa loob. Ashvin looked at me before pulling me inside. Nasa likod lang nila kami at tumitingin tingin din sa paligid.

"Where is it?" Thanara asked, getting impatient.

"I...don't know." Freya said while looking around too.

"I just know that it is located here, I don't know how to call or where to find it." She said, almost whispered that made them groaned.

"Maghahanap ba ulit tayo?" Cloud asked.

"Obviously," Yesenia replied and started walking away to find the book. Ganoon din ang ginawa namin.

But three hours had passed, wala pa ding kaming nakikitang libro.

"Sigurado kaba, Freya?" Belle asked, I can see her sweats from here. Tumango naman si Freya.

"My mind won't lie," she said while still looking for the book.

Wala na silang nagawa kung hindi maghanap ulit. Panay ang reklamo ni Cloud na wala namang pumapansin.

"Sa sobrang pogi ko, pati yung libro natakot." He said while removing some of the things on the dividers.

"Tama." An unfamiliar voice commented. Kanina ko pa din nararamdaman na may kasama kami sa kwarto ngunit hindi ko alam kung sino.

"Diba! Sabi ko sa inyo—what the fuck?" Halos mapatalon si Cloud sa gulat dahil nakita nya ang lalaki sa gilid nya.

Nakasuot iyon ng sira sirang damit, madungis din ang itsura at mahaba ang buhok.

"Why?" Kunot noong tanong nito at nilibot ang paningin sa amin. I heard some of them gasped.

"Sino ka?!" Atlas asked loudly that made the man laughed.

"I am the one who's supposed to ask you that question," naglakad sya at pumunta sa gitna ng lugar.

"What are you doing in my territory?" He said, malamig na ang boses ngayon.

"W-we're here to find the book of prophecy," Belle answered that made the man laughed again.

"Walang libro ng propesiya dito," he said. I saw how Freya's jaws dropped. Napatingin naman sa kanya lahat ng kasama namin.

"My visions can't lie!" She frustratedly said and closed her eyes hardly.

"Don't trust anything or anyone." Parang umeko ang boses ng lalaki sa buong lugar. Natahimik naman kaming lahat at walang gumagawa ng ingay.

The man glance at me, "Don't trust anyone, even yourself."

"What do you mean?" Eira asked with brows furrowed.

"You don't know what might happen. All of us make mistakes that leads to pain for ourselves or for someone. All of us are betrayers—."

"We can trust each other. I'm sure of that." Freya said seriously that made the man laughed again.

"Who told you that? Your visions again? I told you that you shouldn't trust anything." Natatawang komento nito.

"And why would we believe in you? Sino ka ba ha?" Inis na tanong na nito. Instead of getting annoyed, the man laughed again.

"I'm just the only way for you to know what's the first prophecy." Sabi nya na nagpatahimik na naman sa kanila.

"You c-can help us?" Venice asked. Eira glared at her but she didn't even look at the woman.

The man nodded, "That's right!"

"At paano namin mapapatunayang nagsasabi ka ng totoo?" Yesenia asked.

"I'll tell you where the book is," he said, serious. Napalapit naman sila ng kaunti para makinig.

"Where is it?" Desperadong tanong ni Marius.

"Go at the Village of Scale, demigods. Eighteen over eighteen. People there will bow before you, for you are powerful and a warrior."

———

"Village of Scale..." Cloud whispered while staring at nowhere. Nasa bahay na ulit kami dahil nagpasya silang kumain muna.

Ashvin and I are both quiet the whole time. Parang pareho kaming malalim ang iniisip. I'm not trying to read his mind though, I don't want to know what he's thinking about.

"That place is located at—."

"At your kingdom." Thrax cutted Cloud. Napakurap naman ang lalaki at dahan-dahang tumango.

"That place is indeed a village." He nodded but confusion is still evident on his face.

"Why do you guys trust that man?" Inis na sabi ni Eira at umirap pa.

"We have no choice," Belle said that made them agree. Umirap na naman si Eira at wala nang sinabi.

"I'm bothered by his words." Napalingon kaming lahat kay Eleena ng bigla syang magsalita. Her eyes are closed while leaning on the chair. Hindi din sya kumakain at akala namin tulog sya.

"Don't mind him." Thanara shrugged and continued eating.

Nagmulat si Eleena ng mata at inilibot ang paningin sa aming lahat. Her eyes are cold as usual. Umayos sya ng upo at biglang nagbago ang atmosphere ng paligid.

"If ever that there's a traitor on one of us, I'll be the one who will kill him using my bare hands."

<33