The Enchantress

CHAPTER 16: Father

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Father

It was one of the most heartbreaking scenes that everyone there had seen. Tahimik pa rin ang pag-iyak ni Scott. He was rocking Susanna's body as if he was only making her sleep. They were quiet for a long time until Veronica finally came back.

"Oh my god!" She screamed.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata at kinakabahang nilapitan si Susanna. She didn't know what to do also. She tried casting the spell she knew that could cure people but it was useless.

"May pulso pa siya.." she confirmed. "I think we should bring her to hospital. Kahit sa hospital ng mga tao. I don't know any Enchantress kaya sa tingin ko iyon lang ang pinakamagandang solusyon."

"Bernadette is an Enchantress.." biglang sabi ni Christina. "Pero ang alam ko hindi naman siya nanggagamot."

Ganoon pa man, pinapunta pa rin nila ang babaeng Council. Pahirapan pa sila dahil ayaw bitawan ni Scott si Susanna. Pero ilang pakiusap rin mula kay Feliciah ay pumayag na ito.

"She's still alive," kumpirma ni Bernadette. "Hindi ako marunong manggamot pero kung may kakayahan siya ay kaya niyang pagalingin ang sarili niya mismo."

"Is that possible?"

"Of course." Tumango ito. "Matatagalan pero isa iyon sa kayang gawin ng mga manggagamot na Enchantress."

"Pero her . . father stabbed her," pagsasabi ni Rosalinda. "At ang sabi nila mapapatay ang mga Enchantress ng pinakamamahal sa buhay."

"Tama 'yun," sabi nito. "Pero kung totoong pinakamamahal niya nga ang kanyang ama sa kasalukuyan ay malamang patay na siya isang saksak pa lang ng kutsilyo sa puso niya."

Natahimik ang lahat. It wasn't making sense.

"Hindi na kailangan pa ng ikalawa o ikatlo. Hindi naman kasi ang pagkaubos ng dugo o kung ano man ang ikinamamatay ng isang Enchantress. It is the betrayal. It is too painful for someone like us to handle it kaya naman nagreresulta iyon ng mabilis na kamatayan."

"Ang ibig sabihin.."

"Yes." Tumango ito. "Her father is not the one she loves the most. Maswerte siya kung ganoon, hindi ba?"

Para silang nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib sa nalaman. Napangiti si Rosalinda. She knew her sister would survive. She was one of the strongest people she knew. Alam niyang kayang-kaya nitong pagalingin ang sarili.

Nabaling naman ang tingin niya sa lalaking katabi. His face was emotionless as usual but he was slightly frowning while staring at Susanna.

They went home that night. Bitbit nila ang pag-asang gagaling rin si Susanna. Wala rin naman kasi silang kayang gawin.

"Did you kill Madeleine?" After almost two days, Scott finally asked that Feliciah.

Natigilan naman si Feliciah sa pag-aayos ng kumot ni Susanna. Tiningnan niya ang kanyang Kuya na tila ba nakatulala sa mukha ni Susanna habang hawak ang kamay nito. His eyes were pure black and almost emotionless. But she could see the worry in his eyes. It wasn't something that he could never hide from her.

"I killed her," simpleng tugon niya at hinaplos nang marahan ang buhok ng hindi pa rin niya nagigising na kapatid.

Walang naging tugon si Scott tungkol doon bagkus ay binalitaan lang siya. "They escaped."