[√]Lady of the White Rose

34: Death

VESPER

No matter what she do, no matter how angry she get, it didn't change the fact that she hasn't landed a single attack towards me. Lahat ng atake niya ay naiiwasan ko ng walang kahirap-hirap.

Ngunit kahit hindi ako nito natatamaan ay hindi rin naman ako nakakaatake sa kanya. Kaya parang wala rin lang nangyayari.

Nasaan na ba kasi si Gran? I don't believe that he's done just like that. I have this strong gut feeling that he's not dead yet.

"What are you doing?!" Singhal ni Zero. Napunta sa kanya ang atensyon ko. Halos bumakat na ang mga ugat sa noo nito sa sobrang galit at inis.

"What kind of magic are you using?" She demanded ngunit binelatan ko lang ito kaya mas lalo siyang nainis. Sunod-sunod ako nitong inatake ngunit gaya kanina ay hindi pa rin ako nito natatamaan.

And that's when her eyes turn towards the kids behind me. Her brow raise but then a smirk form on her lips like she thought of something not very nice. She's planning something evil.

Agaran akong tumakbo papunta kina Ren, kasabay ko ang mabilis na pagkilos ni Zero. Bago pa man dumapo kina Ren ang espada nito ay mabilis akong gumawa ng barrier. Doon tumama ang talim ng sandat niya. Hindi ko pa masyadong gamay ito kaya naman nabasag ang barrier ng hampasin ni Zero ng makadalawang beses.

It's a good thing Ren immediately pulled Kyle to a safer place.

Zero immediately chase after us. I panicked and created multiple barriers. Two barriers form beside Zero, sandwiching her. Her movement was halted for a moment. Kinuha kong pagkakataon 'yon at mabilis na hinatak ang dalawang bata upang tumakbo.

"Why are you suddenly helping us?" Ren ask. Hindi ko na masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin ang tanong niya nga sa natataranta na ako.

"Wag ka na masyadong maraming tanong at tumakbo na lang!"

Nang lumiko kami ay may dalawang nakaitim na lalake kaming nakasalubong.

Ah, shit.

Sana naging patatas na lang talaga ako. Magandang patatas.

A golden whip was form on my hand and I attack them. Sa tuwing ihahampas ko ang whip ko sa kanila ay panay sigaw naman ako. Pakiramdam ko kasi ako 'yong nasasaktan para sa kanila. Nangingisay ba naman sa tuwing matamaan, kahit daplis lang.

Marami pa kaming nakasalubong na mga men in black. Hindi ko na binilang kung ilan, basta marami. Sa sobrang dami ay nandidilim na ang paningin ko sa pagod. I don't know if I can even move my hand to slash my whip one more time. I'm so damn tired.

We'll all die if Zero suddenly appears in front of us -

"That took a while. Damn, napagod ako kakahabol sa inyo, ha."

Speaking of the devil.

"A-ate," nanginginig na humawak si Kyle sa laylayan ng damit ko. "Ayos ka lang ba? P-pwede mo na lang kaming iwan dito. Tumakas ka na!"

Tila nabingi ako sa sinabi nito. 'Yan din naman ang gusto kong gawin noong una palang, bago pa sirain ni Gran ang mga selda at bago pa ako nawala sa sarili at kinalaban 'tong mga goons na 'to. All I want a while ago was to escape but I don't think I can do that anymore.

"Shut up!" Iniharan ko ang kamay sa harap nila at hinarap si Zero.

I can feel my legs trembling. What should I do?

Biting the inside of my cheeks, I created another barrier to block her attack. However, due to my weakened state I can't maintain the barrier longer. It even broke even before her blade can touch them. I gasp everytime her sword pierce right through my flesh.

Napangisi naman ito dahil sa wakas ay natatamaan niya na rin ako. Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin.

Sinipa ako nito sa sikmura, natumba ako sa lupa. Iniapak nito ang paa niya sa dibdib ko at muling itinutok ang espada sa leeg ko. But before she can cut my neck someone tackle her from behind. Tumilapon silang dalawa at nagpa-ikot-ikot sa lupa.

"Gran!" I gasp in relief. He's alive! Thank goodness!

"Run!" Lalapitan ko na sana ito upang tulungan ngunit bigla naman siyang sumigaw. Mababakas ang pagmamadali sa boses nito kaya nataranta rin ako.

"G-Gran, this time I don't want to leave you behind -"

"No, Duchess! You need to run, now!"

Bigla itong tumilapon palayo kay Zero. She then stood up, still holding unto her sword and jump towards me. I was surprised and couldn't move immediately. However before her sword can reach me an aura went flying towards her. She has no choice but to block it. Napaatras ito ng ilang hakbang.

Naramdaman ko na lang ang mga maliliit na kamay nila Kyle at Ren na hinahatak ako upang muling tumakas. Sinubukan kong tumayo ngunit biglang bumigay ang mga bente ko.

"Ate, bilisan na natin!"

"I-I can't move...?" Confusion was written all over my face. I don't understand, why can't I move my legs? Even my arms? I can't move my body...

Nang naigagalaw ko na ang mga bente ko ay tsaka naman muling lumitaw si Zero sa harapan namin. The thing I saw was her wicked smile and the glint in her eyes before I held the kids to protect them and tightly close my eyes.

I waited for something that'll pierce my body. Something painful but nothing happened. Kahit kinakabahan ay iminulat ko ang mga mata ko upang tignan kung ano ang mga nangyayari. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita si Gran sa harap ko, nakadipa ang mga kamay na para bang pino-protektahan kami.

"G-Gran..." My voice crack as tears fell from my eyes when I saw his condition. Iniangat nito ang mukha kong nakatingin sa sikmura niya.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I wanted to protect you for a longer period of time but I guess, luck's not on my side. It looks like my duty ends here," tumulo ang dugo sa gilid ng labi nito nang hugutin ni Zero ang espada niyang nakatarak sa sikmura ni Gran.

We both look down to his wound but he immediately raise my head again and shake his head. "Ayos lang ako,"

No, you're not fine! "Gran, d-don't,"

Itinulak kami nito ng mahina. "Go, you need to live. The kids also need to live. The Duke and Young Master Iklis are waiting for you."

Umilaw ang katawan nito as he release his aura. He send us flying away from him while keeping Zero in one place. I shouted his name at the top of my lungs with tears streaming down my face.

Isang malakas na pagsabog ang naganap bago kami tumilapon sa kung saan. My ears were ringing because of the loud explosion. My visions are blurry, I couldn't see anything properly. I think I saw several shadows running towards us.

I don't remember all the scenes that took place. I think I was scared, hurt, confuse, enrage and grieving. But my hand immediately, as if frantically look for the small hands of Kyle and Ren. I remembered Gran words wishing for these kids to live.

I remember using the remaining mana inside my body to teleport us anywhere but here. We landed on a hard wet ground. It was raining heavily, thunders boom like a loud explosion in the sky as lightning erupted, giving momentary light in our surroundings.

It was cold. I feel cold... And numb.

My body slam on the cemented ground as my strength slowly seeping away. I couldn't move, my eyes are heavy and my breath are shallow. I saw blurry and tiny figures of kids in front me. I think they're calling my name, their lips are moving but I couldn't hear anything.

They're shaking my body, trying to wake me up but I could barely feel their touch.

"I want to go home..." My eyes close and everything went black.