SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

27

ALICE

"A wedding is a promise not only to each other but also to the heavens."

I looked at Clyde who's also kneeling, facing me. We're in the middle of the Light Forest, surrounded by fireflies and glowing mushrooms. It seemed perfect na inabot na kami ng gabi dito.

"A marriage is a decision, made by two people who promises that they will never separate."

We both looked at Thelessa. She is glowing under the moonlight. The heavens must be with her.

"Clyde Emmett Pearson and..." Thelessa stopped. "Alice...you don't have a surname."

I have a surname when I was Scarlet. It's Scarlet Cress.

"Cress. Cress ang apelyido ko."

"Oh... I see..." So Thelessa continued.

"Clyde Ememett Pearson and Alice Cress. The two of you have been fated from the start. I hereby grant the blessing of the heavens to you two. May your love transcend the heavens."

We smiled at each other. He held my face and kissed me softly. I'll definitely remember this as our official wedding.

It's supposed to be a perfect night. Babalik na sana kami sa East.

But he came.

"King Vincent," sambit ni Thelessa.

He clapped slowly. "I was looking all over the place for all of you. Who would've thought na makikita ko lang pala kayo dito having this sweet moment?" He clapped again. "A forest wedding? How original!"

Clyde hid me behind him. He took out his sword.

"Wala na akong pakialam sa inyo," King Vincent said. "I just need the ring."

The ring? Ang tinutukoy niya ba ay 'yong kakahubad ko lang kanina?

"What do you want from the ring, King Vincent?" tanong ni Thelessa.

"You know what I want," sagot nito. "I want power."

"Alam mo kung ano ang kayang gawin ng singsing na 'yon. The ring will destroy everyone," Thelessa warned. King Vincent laughed. Napansin kong may mga nakatagong vampire sa mga puno. We're surrounded them.

"That's exactly what I'm doing." Tinuro niya ang paligid. "I want this place destroyed. Hanggang sa ako nalang at ang mga tao ko ang natitira. Babaguhin namin ang mundo. Magsisimula kami muli sa umpisa with just our nation."

"Baliw ka na talaga," Clyde laughed at him.

"Hindi ka na tatawa 'pag nakita mong namamatay ang mga mahal mo sa buhay." He looked at me. "Have you seen your friend? Ano nga pala pangalan niya? Seth? I bit him. I turned him into one of us. I wanted him to kill you himself kaya pinatakas ko siya. In the end, siya ang namatay. Stupid boy."

I felt my hand shaking. Nanggigigil ako. I want him dead, right here, right now.

I pulled Clyde away. My head pounded, as if it's going to explode. Wala akong ibang maramdaman kundi galit. I lifted my hands and pointed it at him. The wind started to blow. In one sway of my hands, humampas siya sa isang puno. I saw the tree breaking in half. He screamed. I will destroy every bone in his body.

"Alice, 'wag!"

Without putting my hands down, I looked at Thelessa. Her eyes are pleading. She kept saying no. She kept telling me to let go. I heard Clyde ask why.

"Don't do this again," Thelessa said. Again?

Oh. I killed people before. I killed them with this, with this power. I was a monster before and I am becoming one again.

Labag man sa loob ko, binaba ko na ang aking kamay. Bumagsak sa lapag si King Vincent. He's catching his breath.

"Pasalamat ka," Clyde said spiting. "Patay ka na sana if it weren't for the enchantress."

Biglang tumawa si King Vincent. He stood up and stretched his arms. Parang kanina lang ay hirap na hirap siyang huminga, ngayon ay maangas nanaman siya.

"I just bought time, you fool," sabi nito.

"Time?" tanong ko. Maya-maya'y may lumapit sa kanya, his clothes are dripping wet. Oh, no...Paano nila nalaman kung nasaan ang singsing?

"While all of you are too distracted with me, my soldiers searched every corner of Thelessa's home." Kinuha niya ang inabot sa kanya at agad na sinuot ito. "So, this is what great power feels!"

"Hinayaan mo na sana si Alice kanina na patayin siya," inis na bulong ni Clyde kay Thelessa.

"Alam mo, after ko sana makuha ang singsing ay aalis na ako. Pero I saw something today," sambit muli ni King Vincent at tinuro ako. "You. You're not just Alice. It all makes sense now. Kaya ka pinoprotektahan ng lahat ay dahil it's you. You're that girl. You're Scarlet."

I scoffed. "Bakit mo naman nasabi 'yan?"

"Only she fights like that, only she can do things like that. And your eyes, it's the very same eyes as hers."

"So?"

"I need you with me."

This time, Clyde laughed. "You won't go anywhere near my wife."

"But she will go with me. She has to."

Thelessa grabbed my arm. "Alice, you have to."

"Thelessa!" sigaw ni Clyde. "Kakampi ka ba niyan?"

"Just listen to me!" Thelessa shouted. "Alice, just go."

Tinulak niya ako papunta kay King Vincent. Hindi na naiintindihan ang mga nangyayari. I looked back and saw the pleading eyes of Clyde as I walk away.