Incarnation:The return of Artemis Vamproyale Series #1

Prologue

     Hinihingal si Jona, pawis ang umaagos habang tumatakbo sa tila ba hindi matapos-tapos na pasilyo. She's running from an unseen danger, with no clue about what's happening. Gusto niyang humingi ng tulong, but it seems like she can't open her mouth to utter a single word.

    Ang kawalan ng pag-asa ay dumarama sa kanya, a desperate desire to scream for help clawing at her throat, ngunit hindi naglalabas ng tunog. Fatigue is taking its toll, and it feels like she's on the brink of losing consciousness, yet she continues running with unwavering determination. Ang daang kanyang tinatahak ay para bang walang katapusang labirinto ng kawalan ng katiyakan. It's as if time has no end, and it almost feels like a lifetime is passing by while she persists.

    Her body feels heavy, at ang kanyang konsiyensya ay parang malapit nang bumigay, yet she's still willing to fight for her survival. Even in the midst of urgency, ang pangarap na makatakas ay laging kasama niya, kahit pa ang lahat ay tila walang hanggan.

    Sumigaw siya, ngunit tila ba ang kanyang tinig ay napakaliit na lamang ang naririnig. She closed her eyes habang ang kanyang mga paa ay biglang sumuko at bumagsak na siya nang tuluyan. Hindi siya ganito noon, mas matatag siya, kaya niyang makipagsagupa sa mga tao. Pero ang pakikipaglaban sa mga immortals ay kakaiba, dahil hindi sila namamatay. I cussed inside my head habang papalapit ang pamilyar na mga yapak sa akin. Siya na naman iyon, ang masamang tao na nangidnap sa akin at patuloy na tinatawag akong mga kakaibang pangalan.

    The surroundings seemed to close in on her, ang hangin ay nagsalita ng pangamba, and the shadows whispered secrets of dread. She felt a cold hand on her shoulder, nagpahayag ng takot sa kanyang katawan. Pagmulat niya ng mga mata, naroon na naman siya, ang kaaway na tila walang hanggang naglalaro sa kanyang buhay.

   "Ang yabang mo, Artemis" he sneered, his voice a chilling melody. "You thought you could escape, but you're just a pawn in this immortal game."

    Nang lumapit siya, nanlalamig ang kanyang paligid. She was never meant to be a mere spectator, ngunit sa ngayon, sa harap ng kanyang mga kamalian, she found herself entangled in a battle against beings beyond mortality.

   Jona's heart pounded in her chest, feeling trapped in the dark, damp room. "Just let me go!" she pleaded, her voice reverberating against the cold walls. She could see desperation in her own eyes as she stared at the guy in front of her. His face remained stoic, as if her cries meant nothing to him. Hindi niya matiis ang pag-asa na sumisigaw sa kanya, ngunit tila ba walang epekto ang kanyang mga pananaw sa lalaki. He seemed unmoved, unaffected by her words.

   She wanted to unleash her anger, to punch him and teach him a lesson, pero alam niyang hindi niya kayang gawin iyon. Sa kasalukuyan, she felt weaker than she had ever been. The silence between them was deafening, and their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Hinanap niya ang lakas na bigyang-tinig ang kanyang nararamdaman sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin sa kanya ng may disgusto, her gaze filled with contempt.

    "I would never marry someone like you," mariing sinabi ni Jona, her voice firm and resolute. Sa kanyang mga mata, makikita ang galit at determinasyon na pilit niyang itinatago sa gitna ng kanyang takot. Ayaw niyang maging taya sa kanyang pinakamahiwagang laro, at determinado siyang makawala sa kanyang pagkakahuli.

Ngunit nanatiling walang bahid ng pagbabago ang ekspresyon ng lalaki. Walang reaksyon sa mukha nito, tila ba ang kanyang mga salita ay naglalaro lamang sa hangin. Despite her defiance, wala siyang nakitang epekto sa kanyang kalaban. Ngunit sa likod ng mukha nito, there was a subtle flicker of something, a hint of interest that quickly vanished.

"Artemis, you underestimate the power of our connection," he said calmly, his voice carrying an underlying threat. "You can't escape fate, and you can't deny the inevitable." The guy spoke with an eerie confidence, and Jona couldn't shake off the feeling that he knew something she didn't.

   Ang hininga ni Jona ay bumilis, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She searched for a way out, mentally mapping the room for any potential escape route. Ngunit sa harap ng lalaking iyon, parang nawawala ang kanyang mga pagpipilian. Hinayaan niyang magtagal ang katahimikan bago muling magsalita.

"What do you want from me?" Jona asked, her voice a mixture of fear and frustration. Gusto niyang malaman ang dahilan kung bakit siya nangidnap at bakit siya itinuring na isang pawnsa isang laro na wala siyang kaalam-alam.

The guy studied her for a moment before answering, "You're not just an ordinary person, Artemis. You have a connection to something greater, and I need you to embrace that."

"Anong koneksyon?" Jona questioned, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Hindi niya maintidihan kung ano ang pinagsasabi ng lalaki, at ang kanyang takot ay lalong lumalim.

"You have the blood of the ancients running through your veins," he explained, his tone revealing a mix of reverence and superiority. "You are part of a lineage that holds immense power, and your destiny is intertwined with forces beyond your understanding."

Jona's eyes widened, unable to fully grasp the gravity of his words. Ang mga ito ay tila mga deliryo, ngunit may kakaibang katiyakan sa mga mata ng lalaki na hindi niya kayang palampasin.

"Destiny? Ancients?" she muttered, more to herself than to him. Ang kanyang isipan ay puno ng mga tanong, ngunit ang lalaki ay tila ayaw magbigay ng malinaw na sagot.

"Artemis, you have the potential to shape the future," he continued, his gaze intense. "But you must accept your role and submit to the inevitable."

    Her mind raced, trying to make sense of everything he was saying. She couldn't deny the unease that settled in her stomach, pero sa kabila ng lahat, she refused to be controlled by someone else's idea of destiny. Determinado siyang labanan ang pagiging bihag at itanggi ang kaharian ng kaharian na itinuturo ng lalaki.

    "I don't care about your destiny or whatever connection you think I have," Jona declared, her voice tinged with defiance. "I just want to be free."

     Tumawa ang lalaki, a sinister sound that sent shivers down Jona's spine. "Freedom is an illusion, Artemis. You may run, but you can't escape what's meant to be."

     He gestured towards the door, signaling for her to follow. Nang walang nagawa si Jona, she reluctantly stood and walked towards the exit. Kahit saan man siya dalhin ng lalaki na iyon, she vowed to herself that she would find a way to break free from his grasp.