Chapter 55: Sand Scented Jar
When I thought I was about to claim the end of this journey, where I could return to Parsua Sartorias and fulfill my promise, everything shattered in an instant with the image of the lifeless body of the woman I once dreamed of being with me, as a friend, an aide to the queen, and someone I could be trusted.
Luna and her group gave me comfort and assurance that there was an end to this long journey.
I glanced at her lifeless body again, I trembled, and my chest tightened. The metallic smell of her blood felt like a crawling poison seeping through my body— draining and sucking the remaining strength that I had.
Mariin akong pumikit habang nakatuon ang noo ko sa dibdib ni Kreios.
It had always been betrayal that cut deeper than any blades in this world.
I wanted to run after Pryor, chain him, make him bleed, and torture him until I finally extracted the truth from him. His wants, goals, and whys.
Nakakuyom ang mga kamay ko habang nangangatal ang buong katawan ko. Marahan kong itinulak si Kreios upang bigyan ako ng distansya. I looked around, for someone as if I could find something that would help us, in this situation.
I wanted to know what happened. It was so fast. Pryor might be a strange individual, but how could he betray us, his brother, and even his mate? Was he also under the influence of Atlas? But I never felt any other presence from him.
Fuck!
Napahilamos na ako sa sarili ko at napasigaw na ako. "Bring, Livius!"
Walang gumalaw sa mga babaeng naroon dahil ang atensyon nila'y naroon kay Luna. I glanced at Kreios, and he nodded at me, but Delilah stood up.
"I'll take him."
Delilah brushed her tears with her arms, and she passed by me. "Don't kill him. We need him, Delilah."
She nodded.
Hindi ko na magawang sulyapan pa ang katawan ni Luna. "We have to take her somewhere. Not here."
Hindi ko alam kung kaninong kapangyarihan ang ngayon ay nasa paligid namin. It could be from Harper, the angel, as she had been manipulating the light— like a barrier so no one from the other side of the Entertainment District could see us.
"W-would you like me to cover her?" Nag-aalangang tanong ni Kreios.
Huminga ako nang malalim.
If I could just tell him that I didn't know. I didn't want to be in charge. I wanted to kneel there beside them, cry, mourn, and be that weak, and vulnerable—youngest princess that I used to be. But right now, I wasn't that princess with tough brothers, and a sister, but a Queen.
A fucking Queen who just had one of her subordinates got murdered.
"Y-yes..."
Lalapit na sana si Kreios sa kanila nang marahas tumayo si Elena at hinarap ako.
"It was you who ordered her to keep the jar, and it was the same reason why she was killed. You trusted her to be with that traitor!" she shouted.
I tried to look tough— mustered all the unbelievable strength that I had to remain collected as the queen.
Agad humarap sa pagitan namin si Kreios. "Stand back."
"It's fine, Kreios." Marahan kong hinawakan ang braso ni Kreios at humakbang ako para higit na lumapit kay Elena.
She was the most emotional one among them. She was the one who was always comfortable showing her emotions— the ray of sunshine of Luna's group who had that sweetest smile, yet, this time, her eyes were blazing with fire and hatred.
