Chapter 20: The Light
It was a relief that we reached our destination and the two were still unconscious. Inumaga na rin kami. Si Lord Caezar ang sumalubong sa amin.
"Ipasok mo na si Lady Brienne sa kanyang silid," utos ni Lord Caezar kay Chris. Saka siya bumaling sa akin. "We don't have a vacant room."
"Callum can stay with me," I said.
He nodded. "I have to go for now. Babalik ako mamayang gabi."
Pinasok ko si Callum sa tirahan ko. There was only one small bed. Kaya nung hiniga ko si Callum doon ay wala ng space para sa akin. Hindi ko rin naman kailangang magpahinga.
Iniwan ko si Callum sa kuwarto saka ako bumalik sa sala. I sat on the couch. Saka ko isa-isang nilabas sa bag ko ang mga gamit na kinuha ko sa Mansion.
These were the books I wrote about us. About Cardinals. I was glad they didn't find it. Alam kong sa oras na mapasakamay ito ng mga kaaway, hindi sila mag-aatubiling sunugin ito.
After taking over the Nightfall Clan, I had a hunch that their next step was to eliminate all the Cardinals. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ang nalalaman ni Lord Wenson tungkol sa amin. Alam ba niya na hindi lang ako ang natitirang Cardinal?
I couldn't risk it. Ngayon na nabawi ko na si Callum, puwede na akong gumawa ng hakbang nang walang inaalala na naiwan doon.
On the pile of dusty books, I picked up the last one on the bottom. It was an empty book. Wala pang nakasulat pero halos balutin na ito ng alikabok.
What is to write about me?
Why am I writing? Ever since my father passed away, I've been plagued by the fear that someday, we would be forgotten. With the next generation already underway, that possibility seems all the more real.
I knew that my family had been infamous for many things, but that didn't erase the fact that we had also contributed to the progress of our secret society. We had made significant contributions to the vampire world. As the last standing Cardinal from the first, I felt responsible for keeping our legacy alive.
"Where am I?"
Napatingin ako kay Callum. He was standing in the doorway of my room, looking straight at me with confusion in his eyes.
"Is this your place?" he asked. "I don't belong here."
Isa-isa kong binalik sa loob ng bag ang mga libro ko. Saka ako tumayo at lumapit kay Callum.
"I am a Nightfall," he said.
"So am I."
He smirked. "You already abandoned us."
"Alam mo ang totoo, Callum. I never abandoned you or the clan—"
"You abandoned us the moment you chose your own happiness over us."
"Kasalanan ba 'yon? Kasalanan bang piliin ko rin ang magpapasaya sa akin? Kahit na sa maikling panahon lang? Kahit na sa panaginip lang?"
Hindi siya nakasagot sa tanong ko. But I could see that my statement somehow made him realize I didn't like how things turned out. However, I didn't regret anything.
"But you know deep down how much I care about you and the Nightfall Clan. It hurts me that my absence led us to this crisis. However, the times when I was around, that was when I felt like the real me. Those were the times when I felt something after a long time. I can't regret it because it gave me the light that I needed."
"I'm not mad at you, Oscar," he said, letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry if it sounded like that. I just felt betrayed. That's all."
"I'm back now. I will slowly make up for my neglect."
