Chapter 24: CMC
Lady Elly died in my arms. She died while begging not to save her life, but just to protect her son. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari ay ilang minuto rin akong nakatulala lang sa kanyang payapang mukha.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered as I gently laid her down.
I got up and turned to Chris. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin at tila hindi alintana kung gaano kalaking pinsala ang ginawa niya. He even managed to grin at me.
"Don't bother asking me what I've done," he shrugged, casually wiping the blood off his sword. "Alam ko ang kahihinatnan nito."
"I'm not even going to bother," I said firmly. "But after this, I don't want you interfering with my plans anymore. I don't want to see you getting in my way."
"Huwag mo akong patawanin." Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa ispada. "Alam kong sa una pa lang ay wala ka nang plano."
"My silence doesn't mean I have nothing up my sleeves," I smirked. "Unlike you, I don't let my personal feelings and reasons jeopardize the lives of everyone."
I sighed and looked down at Lady Elly's lifeless body. It was tragic, but I didn't expect her to depart from here unscathed, either. Alam kong gano'n din ang iniisip niya.
"Now we wait," Chris said.
Napatingin ako kay Brienne na naglalakad palapit sa amin. Sa una ay hindi niya pansin ang nakahandusay na babae. Nung tuluyan siyang nakalapit ay napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig.
Based on her expression, she clearly recognized her. Of course, she did. Now thinking about it, Lord Wenson kept everything secret. Even from his own family.
"I-is this..." Brienne gasped. "Lady Elly?"
"I did it," proud na sinabi ni Chris. "She's our enemy. If what I did is considered a crime, then I don't care. Her family will take more from us!"
I just stared at Brienne. I had so many questions for her. Pero alam kong wala akong makukuhang matinong sagot sa kanya. She would just lie over and over again.
Maybe trusting witches was never a good idea from the very beginning. Witches and vampires belonged to different worlds with distinct beliefs. Before I fell into her trick, someone had already fallen prey to her deceit. Ang pinagkaiba lang namin ni Lord Caezar ay hanggang ngayo'y napapaikot pa rin siya.
"Ako na ang bahala rito." Suminghap si Brienne bago bumaling sa akin. "Naghihintay si Lord Caezar sa 'yo."
"Looks like the war is about to start," Chris chuckled. "Everyone is prepared except for one..."
"You should go as well, Chris," said Brienne.
Nauna na akong bumalik. Tahimik at wala akong dinatnan sa compound. Ibig lang sabihin na hindi rito ang tinutukoy ni Lady Brienne.
I went to the training ground, where a wild and bloodthirsty crowd awaited me. As soon as they caught sight of me, they erupted into chants of my name. It was meant to stir something within me. But their energy didn't resonate with me at all.
Lumapit ako kay Lord Caezar sa pinakaharap. He was smiling now while watching me. Nakangiti rin sa akin si Arthuro na gaya ng lahat ay sinisigaw ang pangalan ko.
"Lord Oscar..." Lord Caezar slightly bowed his head to me. "The time has finally come."
I turned to the crowd. Mas lalo silang umingay. It was scary how they all thought the only way out was through a bloodbath war.
"I think you have to say something, milord," Arthuro chuckled.
"Let him savor how he gathered this kind of crowd first." Naramdaman kong inakbayan ako ni Lord Caezar. "I know it is overwhelming, Lord Oscar. You are the reason why they are fighting. Why there's hope. Why we are all here."
