Franchetti Xerene's View
"Selene... Selene..." mahinang iyak ko at natakpan ang mukha ko. Hinagod ni Liore ang likod ko at niyakap. Hinalikan niya ako sa noo at iniharap sa kaniya.
"Don't cry. Please stop crying, Angel. Enough." Mahinahon niyang sabi at sinuklay ang mga buhok na humaharang sa mukha ko.
"L-Liore... Ang anak ko..." He faintly smiled. He kissed my cheeks, kissing my pain and tears away.
"It's okay. We'll be fine. You'll be fine. Don't you think it's for the better? She's safe...with them." Natulala ako sa kaniya.
"W-What are you trying to say?"
Pinagdikit niya ang noo naming dalawa, "Dad's invention was finally completed. Nothingness, he called it. He sent an invitation to them. Invitation for a war. An all-out war." My heart skipped a beat. For the very first time in my entire life, I felt fear. A tremendous fear I once felt during the operation before. And now... A war?
"This ain't World War III...right?" W-What about Lorreign!? Kung mamatay kaming lahat... S-Sinong mag-aalaga kay Lorreign!?
He snickere while shaking his head, "It's not. It will be just Phantoms vs. the Dragons. I can't believe it though..." Tumayo siya at naglakad palabas ng balkonahe. Pinanood ko lang siya bago sinundan.
Sa labas ay nagtitipon na ang lahat.
"Everyone under Sinister Phantom will take part in the war. 5,000 mens. All of us will attack their estate by the end of this month." Natutop ko ang aking bibig sa narinig. T-That...many!? Against them na wala manlang atang mga tauhan!?
Vava...
He turned his head to me. He was smiling at me. With tears.
"Will you fight with me, or with them...Angel?" Natulala ako at napipi. Hindi makahanap ng mga salitang dapat na sabihin. It made me weak. The man in front of me...was the same when he was still little.
Innocent and pure.
That's what he used to be before. That's Gerson Liorei Dragunovv.
"I am happy...to have the thing I've been hungry for for so long. Franchetti Xerene Lodge, the one who protected me from Serafim's beatings before. The one who showed salvation to me, was married to me now. I want to...spend more time with you, Angel. I'm scared that I might die in this war. I'm scared that this might be...our last time. I'm scared...to lose you, Xerene..." Natulala ako sa kaniya na ngayon ay nakaluhod na sa harapan ko. Walang tigil ang pag-agos ng aking mga luha habang nakatitig sa kaniya.
He was crying. Full of regrets and fears. He's showing me his vulnerability that no one sees before. He looks so miserable. Ruined. And broken. He've been through a lot...huh?
"I was... I was scared... Xerene, I'm scared. I don't want to die yet. I don't want to... I WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU AND LORREIGN! I WANT TO LIVE LONGER THAN THIS! XERENE!" He snapped as tears keeps rolling down his cheeks.
I smiled at him faintly bago siya dinaluhan at niyakap. He hugged me tight. Like a frightened child. He was sobbing on my neck, mumbling things he wants to do. Liorei's a victim too by their viciousness. He was tainted by evilness by his own parents. Brainwashed. They were the ones who pushed him to the darkness. Without any sense of guilt. And they're happy to see him be one like them. Demons.
"I will fight with you, Liorei. Thank you. For treating me good. I love you." Words that he needs to hear. I won't force myself to say those words. I mean it. I love him for being him. I love him for treating me good. I love him for protecting me. I love him for being a good father to the twins.
"Angel..."
"I'm happy to see that side of you, Liorei. Time to atone for your sins. Rest." Hinawakan ko ang mga pisngi niya at iniharap sa akin. I smiled at him sweetly, "Let's have fun playing with them, hmmm?"
His trembling lips formed a smile before he nodded, "Let's kill them."
~
"Are we all here?"
"Yes, My Lord." Matigas na sagot namin habang nakalinya sa harapan nilang dalawa ni Alessandra.
Ako, si Liorei, sina Kris at Arone, Sharina at France, si Kevin na scientist at walang iba kundi si Lancelot.
Traitor...
"I want you all to be fully prepared in the upcoming war with the Dragons. We are in advantage here. We outnumbered them. Our main goal is to capture DEATH. No matter what happened, TAKE HER! Kill the rest but not her. Bring their heads to me!" Kumuyom ang mga kamao ko. Napayuko na lamang ako at napakasamang tumitig sa sahig.
"My Lord, are you sure Aloisia will partake in this war? We didn't used Vision to her. What if she betrayed us---" mabilis kong itinutok ang kunai sa lalamunan niya.
"I can kill you right now. All of you." Madiin na sabi ko bago siya pinanlisikan ng mga mata.
"I don't break rules. I will do what you want me to do. Don't talk shits about me. If DEATH failed on killing you, well, I can." She shrieked. Ibinaba ni Liorei ang kamay ko. Tsk.
"How beautiful you've become, Franchetti."
"Don't go near me, bastard!" Singhal ko sa kaniya at itinutok ang kunai sa leeg niya. Malakas siyang humalakhak. This bastard... This bastard!
"I know all of you are confuse and has so many questions running in your heads. Why don't we see a movie? For you to be aware of what really happened to us. 2 centuries ago." Mapang-asar na sabi niya at pinindot ang remote na kanina pa niya hawak. My memories starts playing in the cinema screen. Nangilid ang mga luha ko sa sobrang galit.
We can't hear no voices at all. We were just watching all of it. Nakatayo lang ako rito, habang pinapatay na siya sa tingin habang siya ang bukod-tanging lumilikha ng ingay. Ang nakakairita niyang boses. Napaka-itim ng budhi niya! Totoo nga ang kutob ko noon. Buhay pa rin siya!
BUHAY PA RIN SILA!
"That is..." napa-tingin ako sa screen. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakikita. I-It was me. My face...being peeled off by him.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! If only it has sounds, you will be satisfied by her screams! Right, Franchetti!? Right!? It feels so good, right!?"
"DEMONYO KA! HAYOP KA, LIFE! HAYOP KA! HAYOP KA!" Pagwawala ko at akmang susugurin na siya kung hindi lang ako pinigilan nila Liore. Demonyo! Mas masahol pa siya sa demonyo!
"Are you enlightened now?" Ani Alessandra, "Lord Elyxir's greatest masterpiece is now complete. We just want to change this world. We want to TAKE OVER this world! Take control! We will dethroned all the monarchs and replace them with better ones! A new age has come! This whole world will be Lord Elyxir's EMPIRE! The Empire of Inventions! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Baliw na sila. Nasisiraan na sila ng bait! Mga baliw na sila!
"You can't be..." napa-atras sila sa sobrang takot. Dumura ako sa gilid at umismid. Their fear was overwhelming. I can see it in their pale faces. Scared.
"But before that, of course, we need to eliminate all the hindrances. The rest of the Dragunovvs must perish! HAND DEARIL AZAZEL ERNALIN THANA HANCTARY TO US TO POSSESS THE MOST POWERFUL INVENTION IN THIS WORLD! THE NOTHINGNESS!" Nagtinginan kaming lahat sa mga tauhan nilang papasok. Tulak-tulak ang isang...
Crystal ball?
"We already completed it. But it still lacks power. We need to possess the Dragon's Seal to make this work. That's why... We will use him against her!" Malakas na sabi niya bago itinuro ang isang pinto. His mens open the door. A man stepped out. Nabitawan ko ang kunai na hawak ko at napaluhod. Nanlalaki ang mga mata. Hindi makapaniwala.
"Gerevich..."
"Yes, he is. No other than Prince Gerevich of Spain! Pur ace against the Princess of England!" H-How!?
"NAPAKADEMONYO MO TALAGA, LIFE DRAGUNOVV I! Let him be! He died long ago! How could you desecrate his body!? HAYOP KA! GEREVICH!"
"I AM NOT A DEMON BUT A GOD! I AM GOD! Damn your Jesus! Damn your Buddha! Damn your Allah! The only God is me! I AM A REAL GOD! NOT THOSE FICTIONAL GODS! I AM!" At pagkatapos noon ay isang nakakabaliw na tawa. Lumuhod sa harap niya si Alessandra. Napa-awang na lamang ang aking bibig habang nakatulala kay Gerevich na walang buhay ang mga mata. Gerevich...
"BOW DOWN AFTER HIM!" Singhal ni Alessandra. Sapilitan kaming iniluhod ng mga tauhan niya kaya walanna kaming nagawa. Nagsitulo ang mga luha ko. Can we really kill him? Can DEATH kill him? Could they?
"I can't..." napa-tingin kami kay France at Sharina. Itinumba nila ang may hawak sa kanila at mataas na tumindig.
"You're sick, Godfather! You're mentally SICK! You're INSANE!" How imprudent. He'll serve what you ordered. And it's death.
"What are you...saying? I'm not sick. Nor insane. What I just wanted is change." Wala sa sariling sabi niya habang nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa dalawa.
"Perish." May kung anong ipinakain sa kanila ang mga bouncers at pinalayo kami sa dalawa na ngayon ay mga nakahawak sa lalamunan. Pilit na isinusuka ang kung anong isinubo sa kanila. We were just watching. What will happen---
"AAAAAAHHHHHH---"
Their body exploded.
A long period of silence.
Fuck.
"That's what will happen if you'll revolt against us." Naka-ngising sabi ni Alessandra habang naka-tingin sa akin na para bang ako ang pinatatamaan.
Nanlambot ako sa nasaksihan. Ramdam ko ang pagtulo ng dugo sa aking pisngi. Nagtalsikan sa aminnang mga dugo at lamang loob nila. Nakakadiri. Nakakapangilabot.
Kumuyom ang mga kamao kong muli at pinanlisikan sila ng mga mata habang nangingilid ang aking mga luha. Mga walang puso!
"Oh, I remembered. We have your daughter's neck too. We still doubt that you'll betray us both so, we'll take her as hostage." Mapagbirong sabi ni Alessandra na nagpa-milog sa mga mata namin ni Liore.
"MOM!?"
"Sorry, Son. Makukuha niyo lang siya once na mapatay natin silang lahat. Don't worry, she's safe." N-No... She's not. You'll just make her into something...monsterous. Alessandra...
"YOU BITCH--!!!!" Matamis lamang siyang ngumiti sa akin. L-Lorreign! M-My daughter... Ang anak ko... PAPATAYIN KITA, ALESSANDRA!
"So mean, Alessandra. You're making my daughter sad." Ani Godfather habang pababa at papalapit sa akin. Wearing his usual evil smile!
He removed the last piece of mask he was wearing in his face. I snapped.
"PAPATAYIN KITA! LIFE!!!!" I enraged at sinugod na siya ng tuluyan. Tawa lamang siya ng tawa habang iniiwasan ako. Papatayin ko siya! Putangina niya! Papatayin ko siya!
"What? Aren't you happy to see your father's face again?" Nanginig ang buong katawan ko sa galit. Father...
Napaluhod na lamang ako at malakas na sumigaw habang umiiyak. I'm completely... I don't stand a chance. Wala akong laban.
"Everything became possible because of J.T Lodge! He's the reason why I managed to went this far. It is because of him. Hahahahahaha!"
"When he died, I took his brain and did a very, very risky and dangerous operation. I did it myself. I combined our brains." Napa-singhap kaming lahat sa sinabi niya. Com...bined? Just by thinking of it makes me...puke!
"And by luck, it was successful." Muli siyang tumawa. Tumagaktak ang pawis ko. How could such thing be...possible? There's no way in hell that's possible...right?
"And to show my grattitude and great admiration towards him, I put his face that I peeled from him and sewed it on mine. We are now one, Franchetti. I am your father. At the same time, enemy."
"FUCKING DEMON! NO! THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! FUCK YOU, LIFE I! I SWEAR! DEATH WILL KILL YOU, FUCKTARD! SHE WILL KILL YOU! DIE! DIE!" I screamed at pinagsusuntok ang sahig.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! NAPAKAHAYOP MO TALAGA, LIFE I!!!!" Malakas na sigaw ko habang patuloy sa pagluha. I looked at my father's face once again. Natakpan ko ang mukha ko. I'm sorry... I'm sorry... This is all my fault...
Kailangan nilang nalaman 'to. Kailangan kong sabihin 'to sa kanila! Kahit anong mangyari, I don't care how risky it was! Wala na akong pakialam kung mahuhuli ako at mapapatay! As long as they'll receive the message,
I'M WILLING TO DIE.
"So, now, let's discuss our plan and strategy."
Please...end his life.
Volt's View
"That...will be the plan." And she snapped her fingers.
"A hundred of Dragons against thousands of Phantoms? How can we kill them all?" Snow reasoned na halatang nag-aalala.
"Bomb them to death. That easy." Yohanne.
"I see." Snow nodded and sighed in relief.
"Lancelot was accused of treason. After he took half of US' military weapons, he fled to Sinister Phantom and distributed it to them. Most of it were upgraded ones. And if they'll attack all at once, we're doom." Denise.
"What's the purpose of going to our palace? We may not have upgraded weapons but we have ancient cannons. They are way more powerful." Nangungunot ang noong katwiran ni Dearil bago siya inirapan.
"Stick to the plan. Our abandoned palace will be our base. It's a perfect battlefield. No one other than us will get hurt. Sera and her husband, together with my parents won't join us. They will be under US and Germany's protection if ever those Phantoms attacked in surprise. Maxine will be with them with the kids. And we will fight them to death." Malamig na sabi niya bago tumayo. Kinuha niya ang anak niya kay Max at umalis.
"It's a battle to death, huh?" Mahinang nasabi nila pagkaalis nila.
"Ah-eh, tiwala lang, guys. Makakaya natin silang patumbahin. H-Hehehe. Hehehehe." Pagchi-cheer up ng triplets. I felt my phone vibrating kaya naman kinuha ko ito. It was a text message. From Francis.
From: Francis
I need to tell you something. Let's meet.
Nangunot ang noo ko. Pero hindi kalauna'y nakuha ang nais niyang iparating. Walang pasabi akong tumayo at umalis. Hindi ko sinagot ang mga tanong nila at pumunta sa usual naming tagpuan.
"Glad you came on time." Namumutla niyang sabi at hinila ako papasok sa loob ng kwarto.
"Listen to me carefully, man. And tell this to that monster woman." He calmly said at tumingin sa Vision.
"Treason for treason. Vision's yours now, man."
"Thanks." Tipid na sabi ko na ikina-samid niya.
"That's all!?"
"What do you want me to say other than thank you?" Nangungunot ang noong tanong ko na inirapan niya na lang.
"Volt," he called. We faced each other. I watch him as he speak. And all the things he've said made my eyes grew wide and wider.
That 'Nothingness' was finally...complete?
"I'll leave the rest to you, man. I'm betting on you, Dragons, to win. Don't let the Phantoms rule the whole world. You, Dragons, are the last hope. That's why..." ibinigay niya sa akin ang bag niya. I-It was kinda heavy. And something's moving inside.
I opened the bag. And was surprised of what I've seen inside.
"Her safety is what they're wishing for. I will let them know that she's safe. We'll help you win. Goodbye."
"W-Wait a minute! Francis!" Pero hindi niya ako pinakinggan at mabilis na tumakbo paalis. Natanga ako at hindi nakagalaw. He left me... He left me their daughter!
LORREIGN!
Yohanne Minuet's View
"Yohanne, are we going to die?" Natigilan ako sa pagda-dumbell dahil sa narinig. Agad kong nilingon si Denise na naka-yuko sa harap ko, hawak ang isang baril.
"Are we going...to die?" Naibaba ko ang dumbell at mabilis siyang nilapitan upang mayakap ng mahigpit. There, she started crying.
"I don't want to die yet, Yohanne. I want...to live longer...with you."
"Shh, don't say that. Of course we'll live. We'll win this battle, Denise. This is our final battle now. Ngayon ka pa ba susuko?" Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.
"It's the Phantoms we are against, Yohanne! We can't defeat that 5,000 of people! We will all die---" I kissed her to silence her.
"We will win this fight, Baby. Let's trust each other. We have Germany and US' best fighters. We also have skilled assassins too. Don't be scared by their numbers. Be scared by our abilities and skills. We'll bring them down for sure. Trust me. We have a monster in our side, remember?" Pagpapagaan ko sa loob niya at ngumiti. She continued crying and buried her face on my chest.
We stayed like this for a while hanggang sa makarinig kami ng ingay sa ibaba. Para bang nagsisigawan. Nagtinginan kaming dalawa at walang pagdadalawang isip na bumaba. Nagulat ako nang makita si Volt. Kasama ang anak nila Xerene at Liorei na si Lorreign. She was crying. While Van and Dearil's fuming in anger at him.
"Will you fucking listen to me first?" Kalmadong sabi ni Volt at hinagod ang likod ni Lorreign na panay ang iyak. H-Her arm is bleeding! Is it because of Dearil? Did she cut her!?
"Throw that bitch away, Xirquit! This is not an orphanage to take that abandoned child! Bring her back to where she belong or I'll kill her!" Dearil. Gulung-gulo naman kami ni Denise sa mga nangyayari. No, lahat kami ay naguguluhan. Anong---? Paano nakuha ni Volt ang batang 'yon?
"FUCKING LISTEN TO ME FIRST, YOU FUCKING MONSTER!" Singhal ni Volt sa kaniya na nagpa-gulat sa aming lahat. Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko. Calamity...is angry. He's fucking angry!
"If you both won't listen to me, then don't. What I want is people who will listen to what I need to say. And don't worry, bitches. I'll take care of this bitch. What a shame, Van. Xerene will truly be hurt if she'll knew you're throwing her daughter away. You two are not different. Both of you are monsters." Madiin na sabi niya bago kami tinalikuran at umalis. He left us dumbfounded. Napakabigat ng atmospera sa pagitan namin. That was the first time I saw him snapped and he's truly scary.
A friendly reminder from me, never anger Calamity.
~~~
"So, you're saying they took Lorreign from the both of them and made her a hostage? Para lang masigurong hindi nila tatraydurin ang Godfather?" We guessed and we are right. He nodded.
"Fuck. Then does it mean, even Liorei, will help us kill them? His own comrades!?" Nahampas ko ang lamesa. What's with him!? Wasn't he an enemy!?
"Yes. My spy told me that France and Sharina is dead. They killed them after they objected his scheme. That leaves Liore, Aloisia, Kris and Arone as the top fighters. If ever Liore and Aloisia will help us kill them, that will be good and easy."
"Liore is an enemy! There's no way in hell susuway siya sa ama niya." Frozt. H-He has a point. Liore's truly a demon. What if this is just a trap?
"There's a possibility. But if they truly will help us, we'll still get Liore's life. Just because he helped us doesn't mean bayad na siya sa mga kasalanan niya. We'll kill them. Together with Aloisia." Napa-singhap kaming lahat sa sinabi niya.
"Are you nuts!? It's Xerene! Why are we going to kill her!?"
"It's for the better. It's better without her. We should let her rest already. She've done enough. She've felt enough. She sacrificed enough. 223 years is enough. Let's give her peace already." Mahinang sabi niya na nagpatahimik sa amin. Napa-yuko na lamang kami. He's right...
"We will keep Lorreign. I will be her guardian. She's still Xerene's daughter. Even though her father was a demon, I will promise Xerene to raise her well. As kind as her. As strong as her. As ambitious as her. But a bit taller than her. And I think that will make Liore happy too." Liore? Happy? Nagpapatawa ba siya? He sees everything as toys. Useless. He takes down the weak and kills the strong. He's heartless and merciless.
I'll pray for him to die already and go to the deepest depths of hell.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dragon's Seal: DEATH after LIFE (UNDER REVISION)
Science FictionPrevious Title: Their Final Battle THE REVISED VERSION IS UP.
