Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 39: Against All Odds

I felt like I'm being torn apart as I stared at him. Gustong-gusto ko siyang takbohin at yakapin. Gusto ko siyang ilayo sa lugar na ito. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve any of this.

I felt Sarayan's grip on my hand. Sa ilalim ng hood ng coat niya, tiningnan niya ako ng mariin. Though he had a fierce facial expression, I can feel the pain intensifying in his eyes as we watched his brother.

"'Wag muna Ally. Kailangan natin ng tamang tiyempo."

Hindi na lang ako nag-react. Juan Carlos still wasn't moving. He was just kneeling there and letting everyone see his battered self. Hindi ko alam kung buhay pa siya o ano but I tried my best to remain optimistic despite his horrible appearance.

Tuluyan ng nagningning ang araw sa silangan. How I wish Liadlaw would prevent it from actually rising. If it was even possible to do it. I would trade anything right now for Juan Carlos. I cannot see him suffering like this just because he chose to love me, a mortal.

My eyes shifted to an elevated area behind Juan Carlos. There were three golden seats. The one in the middle appears to be bigger than the two others on each side. They were all empty.

May isang nilalang na naglakad sa parisukat na entablado na may dalang trumpeta. Kabayo ang ulo nito at tao ang katawan. Hindi ako sure kung ito ba ang tinatawag na tikbalang. Naglakad ito palapit kay Carlos at biglang inihip ang trumpeta. Ang mga mamamayan, nagbubulongan at nag-uusap usap kanina lang ay biglang nagsitahimik. Nabalot ng kakaibang katahimikan ang buong Erenna. Wala ng ni isang nagsalita pa o kumilos.

My eyes drifted into the three people walking from one side of the arena and into the center. They all exude this aura that could make anyone run away in fear. Maguayen, Lalahon and Dalikamata went to the three seats. They looked like the complete evil mother plus daughters package.

Then my attention went to the wood Maguayen had in her hands- the Tungkod ng Dilim. It was her source of power. If I could just find a way to destroy it...

"Ang lahat ay nasa presensya ng makapangyarihang si Inang Maguayen,  and Diyosa ng Kamatayan, Reyna na Guindara"sigaw noong tikbalang.

Nagsiluhod ang lahat ng naroon and yumuko sa presensiya ng kanilang reyna. How I love to resist kneeling in front of her. But Sarayan grabbed me downwards along with everybody. We couldn't risk our identities here, specially not right now.

Maguayen gave a sort of hand gesture for "please rise" and everyone rose to their feet. Sarayan and I followed along the crowd. Naglakad pababa ng entablado ang kabayo at may isang pumalit sa kanya. I recognized this guy in the flower fields. Siya iyong muntik ng makapatay sa akin. So this jerk actually survived Ribong Linti. He looked like a high-rangking LiGwardiya. A general perhaps?

He stepped into the stage and walked towards Juan Carlos who still isn't moving.

The LiGwardiya general unrolled a parchment scroll and read the words inscribed there aloud so all could hear.

"Mga mamamayan ng Guindara sa ilalim ng pamunuan ng Hukuman at sa pamamalakad ng Reyna Maguayen, ibaling ang inyong atensiyon sa inyong harapan. Sa araw na ito ipapataw ang hatol sa diyos na si Aglawin, ang Diyos ng hangin. Ang mga diyos at diyosa ng Guindara at ang lahat ng nilalang na namumuhay rito ay kahit kailanman ay hindi maaaring magkaroon ng koneksiyon sa mga mortal. Napatunayan na ang diyos na ito ay nagkasala sa harapan ng Hukuman. Dahil sa paglabag na ito, si Aglawin ay hinahatolan ng... kamatayan"

Napapikit ako. The word pierced inside my head and sunk in my heart, crushing it.

"Ally..." Sarayan whispered on my left ear and gave me a small nod. "Maghanda ka"

Walang katiyakan ang gagawin namin ngayon. Dalawa lang kami laban sa libo-libong imortal na narito. Pero kahit   ganoon, tumango ako.

Bumaba sa entablado ang LiGwardiya at may pumalit sa kanya na isa pa. Nakasuot ito ng armor at may hawak na kakaibang espada. The sword was obsidian black, black mist sorrounding it. Naglakad ito papunta sa likuran ni Juan Carlos. Carlos was still in the same position but then I noticed something. He's fingers were moving. He was slowly snapping them. I felt the air grew chiller. Oh ako lang kaya ang nakakaramdam? Parang wala namang epekto sa iba eh. Whatever it is that he was trying to do, somehow, it gave me assurance that he was still alive.

Tuluyang nakalapit ang LiGwardiya sa likuran ni Carlos. All eyes were glued on them as the LiGwardiya raised the blade upwards.

Biglang nagdilim ang langit. Natabunan ng ulap ang liwanag ng araw. Lumakas ang ihip ng hangin kahit hindi na naman gumagalaw ang mga daliri ni Carlos. Nagkaroon ng pagbubulongan sa pagitan ng mga mamamayan ng Guindara. Pati ang mag-iina sa aming harapan ay napatigil at napatingala na lang sa langit.

The skies even grew dimmer as the clouds darkened the world. Then suddenly it thundered. It was so loud the world seemed to c***k beneath my feet. I saw the sudden anxiety on Dalikamata's face but Lalahon and Maguayen were barely affected with the current changes in the stratosphere.   Lihim akong natuwa sa reaksiyon ni Dalikamata sa bagsik ng langit. Pero si Maguayen ay walang planong itigil ang eksikusyon. 

"Ituloy ang hatol!" Utos niya sa LiGwardiya at binalik naman nito ang atensiyon kay Carlos. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, itinaas nito ang espada sa likuran niya. Pero hindi nito naituloy ang pagpatay kay Juan Carlos. I saw Sarayan pulling his sword from underneath his coat.

Dalawang punyal ang lumipad mula sa ere at tumama sa noo ng LiGwardiya na ikinatumba nito. Nagkatinginan kami ni Sarayan. Pareho ang tumatakbong tanong na nasa isip namin. We weren't responsible for that attack. Saan galing 'yon?

From the crowd to our left came a tall person. Hindi namin siya nakilala dahil kagaya namin ni Sarayan, nakasuot din siya ng  hooded coat na deep maroon ang kulay. Naglakad siya pataas sa entablado, nakatago pa rin ang mukha sa ilalim ng hood.

The skies even grew wilder as the thunder continued to rumble in the skies. Lahat ng atensiyon napako sa mistertoyong tao o nilalang. Walang nagsalita o gumalaw man lang. Lahat sila nakatigitig sa taong nasa harapan ni Juan Carlos. I turned to Sarayan for answers but he only gave me a shrug. Then out of the sky came lightning followed by loud thunder. Dahan-dahang ibinaba ng tao ang hood niya.

He smirked as he faced Maguayen and the crowd. "Magandang umaga, Inang Maguayen"

Ribong Linti, I thought.

"Hukbo ng Guinaksilon, sulong!" sigaw niya. Mula sa mga mamamayan, nagsilabasan ang daan-daang hukbo ni Ribong Linti. Hindi lang pala kami ang tunay na naririto.

Gulat na gulat ang mukha ng mga tao ng magsigawan ang mga sundalo ni Ribong Linti. The men just popped out of every corner, dressed and disguised in commoner clothes. They ran towards the LiGwardiyas  who were overwhelmed with surprise attack and started cutting them down. Nagkagulo na ang mga mamamayan ng Guindara dahil sa bigla at sa takot na madamay sa patayang nagaganap. Kahit si Maguayen at ang mga anak niya ay nabigla rin at hindi nakapag-react agad.

Ribong Linti summoned one strong lightning and hit the three seats. Napaatras ang dalawang dalaga but Maguayen met the crackling electricity with her Tungkod.

Ribong Linti's powers clashed against Maguayen's and it suprised me that he was actually strong dahil napaatras si Maguayen.

"Mga LiGwardiya, taposin niyo silang lahat!"Sigaw ni Dalikamata sa mga tauhan nila. More LiGwardiyas came inside the Erenna and fought the armies of Ribong Linti.

A huge fireball came in and smashed at Ribong Linti. Mabuti nalang at nakailag ang Diyos ng kidlat mula sa bolang apoy ni Lalahon.

"Allysandra! Bilisan mo pakawalan mo si Aglawin! Tutulongan ko si Ribong Linti" Sarayan yelled at me and hurried off into the back of his cousin.

Hindi ako nag-aksaya ng panahon. Tinakbo ko ang kinaroroonan ni Juan Carlos. Sa may likuran niya naglalaban sina Ribong Linti at Lalahon. Napapaligiran naman kami ng mga nagpapatayang mga LiGwardiya at mga sundalo ni Ribong Linti. Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya at hinawakan ang pasa-pasa niyang mukha.

"Carlos! Carlos gumising ka! Aalis ka tayo rito!" I called out pero wala akong natanggap na sagot mula sa kanya.

"Carlos pleaseeee wake up! It's me."

"A-Ally..." His voice was almost inaudible. "A-anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Iaalis kita rito" I told him. I pulled on the manacles. "Ah" napaatras ako ng mapaso ang kamay ko. Napakainit nito. Si Sarayan lang din ang tiyak na makakatanggal nito sa kapatid niya. Pero busy siya ngayon sa pakikipag-laban Lalahon.

"Hindi mo na 'yan magagawang buksan" Carlos whispered.

"We could try! Please don't give up on me because I am not and I will never give up on you"

Tiningnan niya ako ng matagal. Then he snapped his fingers and a gust of wind blew past my face and sent a squadron of LiGwardiyas off from the platform. I grabbed my bow and started shooting on LiGwardiyas trying to advance up the stage.

Then I pulled the sword Sarayan and I took from the palace stockroom.

"Ally, ilag!" Sigaw ni Carlos. I had just enough time to notice the LiGwardiya charging at me. I dodged its blade and ducked sideways then slashed, cutting it off on the stomach. The LiGwardiya popped into ash.

More LiGwardiyas ran towards the stage so I grabbed my sword and sliced at Juan Carlos chains. They were actually made of gold with a powerful spell on them but surprisingly I was able to cut it off.

When severed, the manacles unlocked themselves off Juan Carlos' hands kaya natumba siya sa harapan ko. I kneeled infront of him and tried to steady him.

"Halika na! Aalis na tayo rito!"

"Ally hindi! Hindi tayo pwedeng umalis hanggat hindi natin nakukuha ang tungkod ni Maguayen!"

"Pero Carlos, hindi mo na kaya." I tried to stabilize him.

"Nanghihina lang ako Allysandra pero kaya ko pang lumaban. Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi na huwag kitang susukuan. Hindi ako sumuko at hindi ko gagawin 'yon hangga't humihinga pa ako"  he said.

"Heto." I handed him the sword. He lost his original sword againts Maguayen but I think he can manage with this old one. Mas magaling siya sa espada kaysa sa akin kaya mas magagamit niya 'yon. "Ano'ng plano mo?"

"Kailangan kong makapasok sa dating silid ng aking ama. Naroon ang Sandata ng Himpapawid na siyang espada ni ama. Maaari ko iyong magamit laban kay ina."

"Sasama ako sa'yo" I said.

I had a feeling that he wanted to say no. Pero alam niya rin sigurong likas na matigas ang ulo ko. He pulled my hand and we ran down the stage.

Up above, lightning bolts are electricuting LiGwardiyas and Harantas. Marami pang mga nilalang ang nagsilabasan at nakipaglaban sa mga sundalo ni Ribong Linti.

Lalahon, Sarayan and Ribong Linti were shooting and firing at each other. Jan Carlos and I made our way throughout the battle. A fireball swooped overhead and we narrowly avoided it. Tinamaan nito ang dalawang sundalo na nakakaawang nagpumiglas sa pagkasunog ng kanilang mga katawan. I wanted to help them but Carlos pulled me away.

"Wala na tayong panahon!" He said.

Then LiGwardiyas charged at us from different directions. I had to fire my bow. I nocked one arrow after the other, shooting all monsters that charges towards us. Napaatras ako at tumama sa likod ni Carlos. We were cornered by more 30 monster with no way out. I cannot guarantee that I am fast enough to shoot them all.

"Ally, kumapit ka sa'kin" he said.

"What?"

"Kumapit ka!" He repeated as the monsters approached us. Before they could reach us, Juan Carlos wiped them all off with a strong wind. The LiGwardiyas were tosses away in a circular pattern. Then his wings sprouted from his back and we flew in the air. Arrows were being fired at us. The lightning could also hit us if we weren't careful enough.

Sarayan and Ribong Linti seemed to have the upper hand against Lalahon. The skies turned a shade darker and soon a heavy rain begun to pour. Nahirapan si Lalahon sa pagbuo ng apoy dahil sa lakas ng ulan. Sarayan was right. He was Lalahon's weakness.

We flew outside the Erenna and out into the open courtyard of the palace. Nagsisitakbuhan parin ang mga tao roon. Blades and arrows clashed in the air as the heavy downpour grew stronger. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan kaya ni Sarayang panatilihin ang pagbuhos dahil maski siya ay limitado na rin ang kapangyarihan.

Juan Carlos landed into the ground. Matindi ang bagsak namin dahil nahihirapan na siyang lumipad. Agad ko siyang hinawakan sa balikat.

"Okay ka lang ba?" Tanong ko.

"Ooh" sagot niya. His wings shimmered and disappeared behind his back. Itinukod niya ang kamay at pinilit tumayo. Kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya na pinipilit niya na lang tumayo.

"Tara" I said when he was able to stand steadily. Pero tinamaan kami kami ng malakas na enerhiya kaya natumba ulit kaming dalawa.

My head felt heavy. I grabbed Juan Carlos' arm and lifted my head up. Infront of us stood a man I didn't knew. Nang makatayo si Juan Carlos saka ko lang narinig sa kanya ang pangalan ng lalaking nakatayo sa harapan namin.

He had a brown chiseled hair, kayumanggi ang kulay ng balat niya at kakaiba ang kulay ng mata niya. He had a snakeskin vest and a brown shorts.

"Arapayan..." Carlos whispered.

"Who?"

Okay, it's not that I'm semi-deaf or whatever. I was just trying to make sure if what I heard was right. That name rings a bell. Saan ko nga ba narinig ang pangalang 'yon.

"Ako nga Aglawin... matagal-tagal na rin simula ng huli tayong magkita" sagot ni Arapayan kay Juan Carlos.

Then it came back to me. It was a day in the beach, on top of that stone near the flowering tree...

"Arapayan!" Sigaw ni Juan Carlos. "Tama na! Umalis kana!"

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang kinakausap niya pero hindi ko na inalam.

"M-may ahas" mahinang sambit ko dahil sa takot.

"Alam ko" mahinang sagot niya habang nakatingin parin sa may likuran ko...

My mind drifted back to reality. So it was him, the God of Poisons. That explains the color of his eyes. It looks like that of a snakes.

" Hindi mo ako kaaway, Arapayan!" Sigaw ni Carlos.

Tumango si Arapayan sa kanya. "Hindi nga. Pero kaaway ka ng Reyna ko."

He stepped closer towards us and each step his appearance started to change. He grew bigger and taller. His skin turned glittery dark green, his pores changed to scales. He continued growing longer and bigger about the size of a beam. His hands and feet shrunk inside his body, leaving glossy, scaly skin. His head morphed into a daimond, wide emerald eyes glinting with toxicity.

The God of Poison turned himself into a huge serpent.

"Allysandra!" Juan Carlos shouted at me, eyes locked on the serpent hissing infront of him. "Umalis ka na! Ako na ang bahala rito! Pumasok ka sa loob ng palasyo. Hanapin ang natatanging pulang pintuan. Iyon ang lagusan mo papasok sa silid ni ama! Kunin mo ang espadang naroon!"

"Pero paano ka?"

"Kaya ko na ang sarili ko! Bilisan mo! Wala na tayong oras!"

I didn't have any other choice but to run straight into the door of the palace. Tumakbo ako sa loob niyon. It was so silent and I have to figure out which is the red door. Hindi pa ako nakalagpas sa isang beam ng tamaan ako ng malakas na enerhiya kaya tumilapon ako. Tumama ang katawan ko sa pader bago bumagsak sa sahig.

My mind felt heavy. I lips also felt numb. I lifted my head up only to see Dalikamata's face grinning wickedly at me.

"Saan ka pupunta?" She asked sarcastically, purple energy glowing in her left palm.