Takipsilim

Chapter 62: Devoured

"Bago ko iwanan si Yael kaninang umaga, naramdaman ko ang unti-unting paglabas ng demonyo dito sa loob ko. Yung demonyong gustong makapanakit ng iba, yung demonyong walang ibang alam kundi karahasan..." Katherina said with a heavy heart while staring at the lake before her. Cedric was stung with her words, because the demon she was describing and was afraid of becoming fitted him well. "Yung demonyong gustung-gustong patayin ang Sugong Ahren." She turned to face him, and he saw how tears started to well up in her eyes.

How many times have you shed tears in your entire life, Katherina? Cedric's heart broke for his sister, aware that he was guilty of causing her pain and sadness.

"Are you saying that it's hard for you to control the demon in you?" He asked.

Of course it is. Cedric knew the answer even before he asked it. He badly wanted to help her, train her to control her powers like what he did to Hunter years ago. But he knew well enough that the powers of the chosen Kataha was beyond his capacity.

"Kaya ko siyang kontrolin kapag ako lang mag-isa." Katherina admitted in defeat. "Pero kapag nandyan na si Yael, hindi ko na kaya. No matter how hard I try to stop the demon from surfacing, kusa itong lumalabas at pakiramdam ko ay nakakulong ako sa sarili kong katawan. It's as if it was really meant to fight Yael and come out automatically when he's around. Mabuti na lang talaga at nakaya ko pang umalis kanina habang hindi pa ito tuluyang lumalabas."

Cedric tried hard to think of a solution on how to help Katherina but he could not come up with anything. He walked towards her and put his hand on her shoulder. It was his way of letting her know that he would stand by her no matter what.

"They're no longer here." He declared. "Ang mga Ahren at Kataha. Malayo na sila dito sa kinalalagyan natin."

Tumango lamang si Katherina. Pagod na pagod na ang kanyang damdamin, at alam niyang kahit pa gaano siya kalayo sa mga Ahren at mga Kataha ay patuloy siyang hahabulin ng kanyang tadhana saan man siya naroroon.

"Alam kong walang pang gagawing hakbang ang dalawang grupo sa ngayon. Maraming sugatan at namatay sa mga Ahren.." Pagpapatuloy ni Cedric. Katherina winced with what she heard. "..at alam kong nag-iisip pa ng hakbang ang mga natirang Kataha. Napilayan ang grupo dahil ang alam nila ay nawawala tayong dalawa, si L-lucille, at dahil na rin sa pagkamatay nina Elder Ursula at ni Hunter.."

Kumuyom lalo ang mga kamay ng dalaga. "I killed Hunter with my own hands..." Tuluyan nang humagulgol si Katherina. "I pierced Hunter's chest, and when I touched his heart, I saw our past that was erased from my memory. He was my friend. I killed my friend. I also hurt and killed Ahrens who wanted nothing but peace for this world."

Si Cedric man ay nasasaktan rin ngunit alam niyang hindi dapat sisihin ang kanyang kapatid sa mga nangyari. "Shhh. Hush, my sister. It's not your fault. It was the demon, not you."

He gently hugged her, knowing fully well that while she was now physically strong because of her power, all the pain that went with it had made her heart fragile.

Minutes of silence were shared between the twins. They gazed at the calm waters of the lake before them, a complete opposite of what they felt in their hearts.

"I can tell that your body is not yet fully recovered from the shock. Magpahinga ka muna ngayong magdamag." Ika ni Cedric. "Try to get some sleep. Babantayan kita."

Walang imik na naglakad ang dalawa patungo sa isang malaking puno. Naghanap ng mga sanga at dahon si Cedric at gumawa ng apoy upang labanan ang malamig na hangin sa kagubatan. "Are you h-hungry?" He asked her. Gusto niyang saktan ang sarili dahil hindi na niya maalala kung kailan pa huling kumain ang kapatid. They chained her and left her on her own to deal with her impossibly painful transformation. "W-wait, just stay here, I'll find f-food for us--"