Echoes of the Abyss (Delaney Series #2)

Chapter 15: The Voices

The Voices

Adelaide's POV

I didn't hear anything from the women who just healed my wounds, that was just it. Naghilom ang mga sugat ko, tila walang nangyari.

Mabilis lang ang paglalakbay ko at nakarating agad ako sa sentro ng siyudad, napabuntong hininga ako nang makita na walang mga kalaban sa palasyo.

Ngunit ang mga kabahayan ay nasusunog na at ilan sa mga mamamayan ang sugatan at ang iba ay nakahandusay at... walang buhay.

Bumaba ako sa aking kabayo at paluhod na pumunta sa isang paslit. Pilit ko siyang pinapagaling kahit alam kong wala ng pag asa ito dahil kalahati ng kanyang katawan ay sunog na.

"Come on," I tried so hard to heal the child but I saw how her body slowly turned to dust. Hindi ko pa rin tinitigilan ang bata.

"Adelaide," narinig ko ang tinig ni Leon, humahangos. "Let the child go, flower."

"Hind, magagamot ko siya," I held the kid's hand, half of her face was gone now and just went with the air. "Come on, kid," I called her.

"Adelaide, let her go," hinawakan ni Leon ang aking kamay ngunit tinulak ko siya paalis.

"Kaya pa, Leon."

He held my hand again and made me turn to face him. "Look at her," utos niya. "Her body is disappearing, flower, you can't help her anymore."

I glanced at the kid and reality sinked in, the child was gone. "Bakit ganon?" Mahina kong tanong.

"Leon! Our mother needs us," sabay kaming lumingon kay Prinsipe Tobias na tumatakbo palapit sa amin.

Leon held my hand and helped me to stand up.  "What happened to our mother?" Tanong ni Leon habang nakahawak pa rin sa kamay ko.

Tobias only looked at him, he looked like he was communicating with his brother using his eyes.

Tumingin sa akin si Leon, nagdadalawang isip kung aalis ba kaya hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "Leave, your mother needs you," saad ko. "Tutulong ako, kaya ko ang aking sarili."

He looked hesitant at first but then he sighed and kissed my forehead. "I will look for you," aniya bago umalis.

Tinanaw ko ang pag alis niya habang pinapalibutan ako ng mga halaman na pinoprotektahan ako laban sa mga kalaban.

I looked at where the child was lying before but her body was gone now. A sunflower grow where she died and I smiled because despite not knowing the child, I know for sure that she was a happy kid because of the sunflower.

"You did not save the child."

My hand formed into a fist when I heard the echoes again.

Napaka talaga nito. Walang pinipili, nakakairita na.

"Kapag nakita ko kayo ng mga alagad mo sabay sabay ko kayong papakainin ng tinik galing sa rosas."

Hindi ko na narinig ang tugon nito— buti nga.
I surveyed the surrounding and found out that the plants protecting me are now on fire.

"Hala," bulong ko.

"Tulong..." agad akong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses at halos maiyak ako ng makita ang isang bata na hawak hawak ng kanyang ama't ina.

Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanila at doon ko lang napagtanto na hindi sila makalabas ng kanilang mga tahanan dahil sa apoy na nakapalibot dito.

"Need a hand, Lady Adelaide?" My ears perk because of the familiar voice. I turned around and saw Lord Horatio.