LUNA: The Rebellion

53: Lies and Truths

The air seemed colder, heavier, and I wondered if Cayden had to do anything with it. Then I realized he wasn't doing anything and the room seemed like a suffocation area because the tension between rulers had grown more and more intense after Shiki revealed the real intention behind this meeting. I didn't move. My eyes didn't. My fingers refused. My head stilled. For a few seconds I listened to the beat of my own heart.

Because from here on I had no clue what would happen next.

Oh, we came prepared, but what were the chances we'd get out of here unharmed? Zero.

We knew that. We were very aware of our situation the moment we stepped into the enemy's territory. It was the easiest thing to guess.

This was an opportunity for the Emperor and we decided to go along with it. As steady as the momentum we have right now, this Gathering was meant to hold us down. And we decided to go along with it.

Shiki's eyes--- once again--- roamed as if to evaluate, assess. I took notice of his fingers tapping on the armrest of his own chair, the way it looked like he was eager to do something he wasn't allowed to do gave me the impression he was anxious despite the calm image he was showing to everyone. Pansin kong matagal itong tumitig sa gawi ni Midnight bago niya inilipat ang tingin sa iba.

I couldn't help it. My eyes finally moved even before I thought better of it. Ganoon parin naman ang pagmumukha ni Midnight. Blanko. Nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sakanya ay roon lamang siya lumingon sa gawi ko. For half a second I figured he read the emotion on my face, because after he gave me a small nod as if to reassure me of something.

Heat scattered. But it wasn't pleasurable. It was the kind of heat you feel when things were about to turn ugly. I felt sick and I wanted to vomit. Diablo, as if he could read the tension happening, had now become eerily still around me.

"Hindi ko na siguro kailangan magbanggit pa ng mga pangalan" Bumalik kaagad ang atensyon ko kay Shiki. The Ambassador leaned back onto his chair and heaved a deep sigh. Mas lalong humigpit ang mga kamao ko sa narinig.

King Druse even went for a scoff to convey his disgust. He loathed us, alright. "Still naive all along. These children"

"Even angering the Emperor. What kind of madness devours those souls?" Queen Mayalila calmly commented and yet the judgment in her eyes said otherwise. "A pity"

"Indeed..." It was Queen Quintessa who second the motion, "... a pity" an indecisive commentary. A player whom we do not know where the loyalty stands.

Sandali ko siyang tinitigan. Naiinis ako sa mga mangkukulam na kagaya niya. Hindi na ako nagtaka pa ng maramdaman niya kaagad ang tingin ko sakanya. With the subtlest movement of her eyebrow, I stared at her blankly for more than five seconds before calmly averting my attention to the next person speaking.

Which only ruined my mood more.

"Kailangan natin iwasan ang galit ng mga ibang kontinento" Pagpapatuloy ni Shiki. "Hindi natin ito magagawa kung may mga lider tayong matitigas ang mga kokote. We need to understand the fact that what we are doing is for everyone's sake. This is for our own people. For the children. For the future. If you can't understand that, I do not think you are fitted to be sitting here with us right now"

Nagsimulang tumango tango ang mga rulers sa sinabi ni Shiki. All but the ones Midnight and I pledged allegiance with. Hindi na napigilan ng sarili ko at pumanget ang aking ekpresyon sa pagmumukha. I felt the three pack members shifted their weight behind me as though to convey their uneasiness.

"Are you implying that..." Zarax trailed off, her dark brows knitting together behind those perfect-lined bangs.

Midnight confirmed Zarax's suspicions by speaking the words she couldn't even say out loud and for some reason, everyone was extra silent and cautious as if the alpha of the pack has finally spoken in the middle of a fight. "They want to dethrone us" his voice colder than the very air surrounding us.