A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 16

It was almost night when we reached our haven in the sky. We kept Rigo's father unconscious with the use of my magic until we reached an empty room in the dungeon with walls enforced with a spell that repels any other power aside from mine.

Siniguro naming komportable si Tito Harvey sa kwarto niya bago namin siya iwan. Binilin namin sa bantay niya na ipatawag kami sa oras na magising siya.

Tita Selena was waiting for us in the living room so we went there instead of planning our next move with Kuya Alaric and the dragon knights.

"Anong nangyari sa lakad niyo? Bakit binitbit niyo dito ang daddy mo?" Tanong ni Tita kay Rigo.

Nanlulumong napaupo siya sa sofa at nakapikit na sinandal ang ulo niya. He looked so miserable and tired at that moment that I wanted to go to him and kiss all his worries away.

He answered his mother's queries in a somber voice. "He's being controlled, Ma. We think he's been that way since Lia's accident." Saglit na naputol ang pagsasalita niya nang napabuga siya ng hangin. He absently thumped his chest to ease off the pain he was feeling. "Why didn't we notice it sooner?" He opened his eyes and trained a haunted gaze at his mother. "Why was it so easy for me to accept that his change was brought on by greed? Bakit hindi ko naisip na posibleng labag sa kagustuhan niya ang mga ginawa niyang masama?" His voice breaking at the end.

Napaluhod si Tita Selena sa harap ni Rigo. Bakas sa itsura niya ang pagdadalamhati dahil sa pinagdadaanan ng kanyang nag-iisang anak. Hindi din mawawala sa ekspresyon niya ang pagsisisi. "You were blinded by anger over his actions against Cordelia. Ako dapat ang nakapansin sa nangyayari sa daddy mo dahil ako ang asawa at mas kilala ko siya. But I was too consumed with pity for myself because of my suspicion that he was having an affair with his assistant."

Agad pumasok sa isip ko ang nakita ko habang paalis kami sa opisina ng tatay ni Rigo. "Are you talking about Alex, Tita?" Paninigurado ko.

Napapikit siya habang marahang tumatango. "I could never prove it then, but I noticed that they act too familiar with each other. I shut him out instead of confronting him about it. Kaya nung namatay ang magulang mo Lia at sinabihan niya si Rigo na hiwalayan ka, naisip ko na lang na kung nagawa niya kong pagtaksilan, magagawa niya rin na talikuran ang pagkakaibigan nila ng Daddy mo." Gamit ang isang kamay, tinakpan niya ang kanyang mga mata bago hinayaang tumulo ang mga luha na kanina pa niya pinipigil.

Nang marinig ang paliwanag niya, saglit akong nag-isip. I wanted a minute to organize my thoughts so I can tell them what's been nagging at me.

Mukhang napansin ni Rigo ang pagkatahimik ko kaya agad niya kong nilingon. "What's wrong, Lia?"

Napatingin ako kay Tita Selena bago ko nilipat kay Rigo ang tingin ko. I cleared my throat before speaking up. "Nakita ko kung sino 'yung mga nagtangkang pumasok sa opisina ni Tito Harvey kanina. Tatlong tao ang nakilala ko nung saglit akong lumingon habang lumilipad tayo palayo. I also saw a bird that fit the decription of the one that delivered the message to Callixto right before he became a puppet. Alex was one of them. She was with Clarisse' parents."

Ibinaling ko muli ang tingin kay Tita, before conveying my thoughts. "I think the doubts you have about Tito and Alex were planted, so you won't question his actions towards me. I think everything that happened years ago were planned very carefully. From the seeds of doubt, to my parents' death, manipulating Tito Harvey and the leader of the Seekers. I have a feeling they're all linked, a part of one big sinister plan."

Nakuha kaagad ni Rigo ang tinutumbok ko. "If they're after the dragon's heart, why would they antagonize you by making you an outcast? Hindi ba dapat ay sinuyo ka nila?"

That was the one thing I didn't get, too. It was like a piece of a puzzle that didn't quite fit. If they knew who and what I was, why go to extreme lengths in making me feel angry towards the Council and Rigo's family?

Si Tita Selena lang ang nakapagbigay ng posibleng paliwanag. "They think that Rigo has the heart. That's why they've been pushing my son and Clarisse together. For you two to happen, they had to completely alienate Lia from you. You have a very powerful aura Rigo and Clarisse' mom felt it the moment she saw you. She has a slight feel for auras because she has an ancestor who was a Seer. I knew about your destiny through a dream the moment I conceived you, I knew you would be half of the dragon's heart, but I never told your father because I was forbidden to speak of it. Siguradong hindi nila alam na hawak din ni Lia ang kapangyarihan ng draconis corde. And that you are her protector."

"Then it's a blessing that Father never knew about my previous lives. His ignorance might just be the only thing that will keep Lia safe from them. As long as they don't know about her being the vessel, she won't be targeted. We'll just have to use that to our advantage." He said with a straight face, his forehead creased in concentration. He took out his phone and typed something.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, tumayo siya at lumapit sakin. He took my hand in his and led me out of the room. His mother closely followed us to the huge dining room where Kuya Alaric and a few dragons were waiting for us. Rigo probably texted Kuya Alaric earlier about an emergency meeting.

Rigo went to the head of the table and held out a chair for me while Kuya Alaric offered Tita Selena a seat.

Nanatiling nakatayo si Rigo at Kuya Alaric sa magkabilang gilid ko. Pinabatid ni Rigo sa kanya ang nangyari kanina sa opisina ni Tito pati na ang napag-usapan namin nila Tita Selena. Sa tingin ko ay hinihintay pa namin na makumpleto ang lahat bago pormal na simulan ni Rigo ang pagpupulong.

The dragons in charge of relocating the families of the knights are still not back kaya hindi kumpleto ang bilang namin. Kasama na din nila ang grupo ng mga Seekers na tumulong samin dahil napag-usapan nila Kuya Alaric at Rigo na sa kanila muna titira ang mga pamilya ng mga knights habang hindi pa kami nakakahanap ng ligtas na lugar para sa kanila. Mas magiging ligtas din sila dahil palipat-lipat ng teritoryo ang mga Seekers kaya mahihirapan ang mga kaaway na hanapin sila.

Nang makasama na namin sa kwarto ang mga dragon na nandito sa palasyo, tumikhim si Rigo para makuha ang atensyon ng lahat.

"There's been some progress with our investigation. By now, all of you probably knows na inuwi ko dito ang Daddy ko. Alam ko na may galit kayo sa kanya dahil sa mga sinapit ni Lia after her accident, naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman niyo dahil kinamuhian ko din siya noon." Saglit na tumigil si Rigo sa pagsasalita para magpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. "When Lia and I confronted him earlier, Lia realized that my father was in the same condition as the leader of the Seekers. Kaya hihilingin ko sa inyo na sana maintindihan niyo kung bakit namin siya dinala dito. I couldn't leave him there knowing that he needs our help."

Nagsalita ang isang pamilyar na babaeng dragon. Si Freya. She was the one who led me to the courts before I transformed. Siya din ang madalas kong makita na kasama ni Rigo noong panahon na hindi pa kami nagkakaayos. "We understand. Pinanindigan mo lang ang layunin ng grupo natin na protektahan ang mga kalahi natin, kakampi man o kaaway. That's what you and the draconis corde live for. Hindi mo naman kailangan pang ihingi ng permiso samin ang bawat kilos mo." Saglit na napatingin siya sa gawi ko pero agad din niyang binalik ang paningin kay Rigo.

Nagsitanguan naman ang iba pang dragon bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi niya.

"Nang piliin niyo ko bilang pinuno niyo nang mabuo ang samahan natin dalawang taon nang nakakaraan, I promised myself that I will be the kind of leader who will hear the voices of his people always. I just broke that promise today by not telling you my actions first and listening to your opinions. Maswerte ako dahil malaki ang tiwala niyo sakin at ipinagpapasalamat ko 'yun."

Matapos magsalita ni Rigo, may isang dragon ang naglakas-loob na magtanong. "May naisip na ba kayong plano? Kung anuman 'yun, maasahan mo kaming lahat na sundin 'yun."

I was taken aback when Rigo smiled in a wicked way. It was as if he had an evil scheme. And his next words confirmed my suspicions. "They're after the dragon's heart and they think I possess it. I guess I'll just have to be bait so we can find out their plans and capture all the traitors."

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