Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 66: Sealed Promise

Jared's POV

Three months later...

Maingay ang tunog sa isang bar sa town center. Lights dance in the whole place.

"Hey handsome, you want to dance?" she looks like a foreigner. Kanina pa niya ako tinitignan. She's seducing me  with her voice and body.

Hindi ako sumagot. I averted my gaze saka siya nagmartsa paalis sa pwesto ko.

This is worst than catching that dagger. Ako ang sumalo ng dagger noon para sa kanya. Walang-wala ang sakit noon sa nararamdaman ko ngayon.

She's gone. We promised to leave the battle alive. We are losing hope of tracing her whereabouts.

"Promise me you'll make it out alive." Sa headquarters pa lang sinabi na niya iyon. She looks so brave and determined to finish th war.

"If I can't find you after this" pressing my forehead against hers "Hahanapin kita kahit saan ka pa mapunta. Kahit sa dulo ng mundo."

"Promised?" her eyes asking for assurance.

"Promise." I kissed her pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon. A sealed promise for the both of us.

The tragedy is fixated on our minds. Tulad ng isang video. It keeps playing for countless times. Ang pagtama ng dagger sa likod niya hanggang sa pagkahulog sa bangin.

The both of them left a void in sa grupo. Nalaman din ni Lindsey at Genevive ang tungkol sa pagiging reaper namin

"You almost kill yourself!" sigaw ni Lindsey sa Kuya nito habang umiiyak.

"I'm sorry" he apologize quickly "Pinoprotektahan lang kita."

"Wag kang lalapit sa akin." Genevive glared at Justin "Binibiro mo pa ako kung mawawala ka na?!"

"Tinesting ko lang ang magiging reaction mo." paliwanag ni Justin na hawak ang batok.

"Testingin mo mukha mo!" hinampas hampas niya ito sa dibdib. Amazona.

Paano pa kaya kung magkakasama silang tatlo? I feel sad with the thought.

Madami ang nawala sa amin. Nabawasan ang council pero may pumalit naman sa mga ito. Lolo told me about seating on that council when he is gone.

"Ano ba bitawan niyo sabi ako!" a familiar man screams sa bouncer. He is devastated katulad ko.

Lincoln almost drive himself to death for how many times we can't count. Lindsey can't control him even his parents.

"Pre ako na bahala dito." tapik ko sa bouncer. Iniwan ko ang bayad sa counter ng bar.

We learned everything. Kung paano nagsimula ang pagbabanta sa kanila.
Rafael is a third party providing information at ang ibang nangyari ay utos niya. Daniel's funeral is true his mother new it all along. Aamin na sana ito ng macomatose sa isang hospital, staged by Rafael.

My father should have died years ago pero tinulungan siya ng pamilya Castilleano. They lied to him na ako ang dahilan kung bakit namatay si Mama. He gave the girls—Naia and Artemis—bracelets. Kasabwat niya ang camp ranger to mark who to kill.
He killed himself dahil wala na ang mga taong sinasandalan niya.

Lincoln's too drunk. Pinasundo ko na lang sa family driver nila.

Umuwi ako mansion it's almost daybreak. Hinubad ko ang damit na suot at nahiga sa kama. I opened my phone. I saw her face again. Smiling on the camera. It's a stolen shot sunlight hitting her face.

Tumulo ang mga luhang pinipigilan ko sa bar. She hates seeing me cry pero hindi ko mapigilan.

"Any news?" nakaupo si Salem sa long couch sa sala.

"Wala kaming mahanap." Justin is present "Hindi din naman makausap ng maayos si Lincoln."

"We trace the creek kung saan sila nahulog" The latter commented "masyadong itong malawak."

Another dead end.

The dog on the floor did not whimper. He, also, is longing for her. Lagi itong nasa kwarto sleeping on her bed.

Lincoln entered magulo ang buhok at nakasibangot. Muntik na itong hindi makagraduate dahil hindi napasok kulang na lang ay itali ang sarili sa kama.

We held a funeral for Dan. The real funeral.

"I'm so sorry..." his mother kneeled infront of their parents. Pagkagising sa coma ay nalaman niya ang nangyari. "Dapat ay sinabi ko agad."
Sa kanya pinaalagaan ni Eris ang sanggol bago ito mapatay ng isang reaper.

Eris killed Helen—their grandmother—para makaganti sa pamilya. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi naabutan ng dalawa ang kanilang Lola.

Helen is a pureblooded wolf. She loves humans so much nakipagkasundo siya sa mga hunters. There she meets my grandpa,
he fall in love with her pero ikakasal na siya sa Lolo nila Artemis.

Her sorry made no change. Nangyari na ang nangyari.

"I will find her." I firmly said. Tumayo ako sa couch papunta sa kwartong ginagamit niya noon.

Her clothes is still on the closet. I remember bringing her here for the first time. A bitter smile slips on my lips. She looks fragile back then.

Lolo even changed the bedsheets of this room. Lavander sheets and pillow cases, her favorite color. He treated her like his own grandchild. She has her photo in here wearing her costume.

"I miss you..." Kissing the photograph.
"Please comeback. I need you."

I will trade everything just to have her back. Just to feel her beside me.

"We will train again." Salem announced. "Kailangan natin magfocus para mahanap sila."

Tita Minerva and Tita Asther looks strong but they breakdown everytime na makikita ang kwarto ng mga anak nila. Ang maingay na mansyon ng mga Luna ay tila naging bahay ng kwago.

All that's left is their memory. Minsan maririnig na lang nila ang ingay mg mga ito kahit wala.

"We need to find them as soon as possible" hoping they are alive.

"I'll see what I can do." tahimik na sagot ni Lincoln. Wala itong kagana-ganang sumagot.

"Any possible location kung saan sila dadalahin ng agos ng tubig?" it's a 60/40. Mas lamang ang tiyansang patay na sila.

"Lincoln fix yourself." Salem commanded. "Naia wouldn't like seeing you like this. Isa ka pa." his eyes darting on me.