A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 3

Erebus looked at me then at Arson. “Well, well, well. It looks like the former king of Fire Kingdom is still alive.” Erebus has this sick smirk on his face.

It seems like he was enjoying because Arson is suffering right now. Nakikita ko na para bang laro lamang sa kaniya ang lahat ng ito. It seems like he enjoyed watching them living their lives as if they were only a puppet. 

Isang puppet na kapag wala nang silbi sa kaniya, basta-basta na lamang niyang itatapon rito.

I want to punch him to remove that smirk on his face, but I stopped myself because first, I am still inside the cell, and second, pwedeng hindi lang ako ang pagbuntunan niya ng galit. Pwede ring madamay si Arson. At hindi ko makakayang isipin na mangyayari ‘yon dahil lamang hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili. I just glared at him to show him how much I hated his attitude.

“And it looks like you are just waiting for my death, sick Emperor,” Arson said coldly.

I almost clapped at him dahil hindi man lang siya natakot na sagutin si Erebus. Mukhang sanay na siya sa pagtrato sa kaniya ni Erebus at mukhang iyon ang nag-udyok sa kaniya para matutong sagot-sagutin ito kahit na ‘di hamak na mas malakas si Erebus kaysa sa kaniya ngayon.

Erebus just shrugged at him as he put one of his hands on his pocket. “Of course. Why would I waste my time with someone like you? Mas mababa pa ang katayuan mo ngayon kaysa sa mga taong nasa lansangan,” he said that so casually that made me irritated, and he even seems so proud when he said that.

Dahil sa mga salitang binitiwan niya, hIndi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at nagsalita ma. “You are so sick. Worse than anyone I knew,” I said as I gritted my teeth.

And that was the truth. Hindi pa ako nakakakita ng taong mas masahol pa sa kaniya. Parang wala siyang pakialam sa mga taong nasa paligid niya. Ang tanging nasa isip lang niya ay ang sarili niyang kapakanan. He was so heartless that made me even more angry.

Mukhang nakuha ko ang atensiyon ni Erebus dahil napabaling ang tingin niya sa kinarorooanan ko. Lumapit siya sa selda ko at pinagmasdan ako nang mabuti. Makalipas ang ilan pang mga minuto, ikinumpas niya ang kamay niya at nagbukas ang seldang kinaroroonan ko.

He walked inside my cell as he was walking near me as slow as he could. “You know what? You mysterious woman. Who are you really? I know you did something inside my palace but I cannot seem to point out what it is,” he said as soon as he reached my side and he even went near me until our faces were just inches apart.

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinaplos ang pisngi ko and I almost cringe because of that. “You do not look like a beggar on the street.” Tinignan niya ang kabuuan ko at tumango-tango siya nang makita ang suot ko. And I wanted to curse myself again for forgetting to change my clothes. “You wore a dress that only a royal blood can wear.” Then he looked at my face again. “And you have a pretty face. Gorgeous even. I never seen you in those kingdoms that I subdue. Did you just appear out of nowhere?” he asked and my heartbeats raised when he said that.

Alam ko na matalino siya. I already proved it on our world when we were just observing his moves, pero hindi ko sukat akalain na malalalaman kaagad niya ang sikreto ko. BUt for the mission, I acted as if I did not know what he was talking about.

Tinanggal ko naman ang kamay niyang nasa pisngi ko, and I looked at him in disgust. “You do not have the right to ask me such questions.” Bawat salitang binibitiwan ko ay may halong galit. I acted as if I do not know what he was saying and I decided to shift this ‘talk’ we are having right now. “Are you really this mad? Ano bang pumapasok sa isipan mo at ginagawa mo ang mga bagay na katulad nito?” galit kong tanong sa kaniya.

If I will be asked right now, I could kill him myself but that is not enough for the things that he did. He should suffer. Just like what he did to others. He should experience all the things that the people of this world had experienced under him. Kailangan niyang maramdaman ang lahat ng sakit na ipinaranas niya sa lahat habang siya ang namumuno.

I know these thought were not right, but I could not help but to think about it. His actions right now, it angers me to the point that all I could think of was the way on how I could make him suffer like what he did to everyone.

Tumawa siya ngunit ang tawang iyon ay walang emosyon. He look straight into my eyes, and I almost got scared but I did not back down. “Fierce. I like it. But it seems like you are naive with the things that I did. Ito?” Then he pointed his finger at Arson. I looked at him and I can see the helplessness in his eyes. He just looked away from us, as if he did not want to witness the things that will happen. “Is just one of those what you ‘horrible’ things that I’ve done. He is just a mere example of someone who disobeyed me,” ipinagdiinan niya pa ang mga sinabi niya.

He looks so proud as he said that and I want to punch his face to remove that smug look on his face. His whole being really irritates me right now. Wala na siyang ginawa kung hindi ang inisin ako at mukhang hindi niya alam na gano‘n ang nararamdaman ko ngayon o baka naakto lang siyang hindi niya napapansin iyon.

I looked at him again and then I glared at him again as I clenched my fist to stop myself from punching his st*pid face. “You. You heartless man. I-” Pinigilan ko ang sasabihin ko nang maalala ko ang sinabi ni Elysium bago ako umalis.

“Do not ever. And I mean ever reveal your true identity, Menrui. Kahit na ano pang makita mo sa loob ng palasyo niya, kahit na gusto mong tulungan lahat ng naghihirap sa loob no‘n, huwag. Dahil mas lalala ang sitwasyon. Mas maiipit sila sa gulo. Mas hindi natin maibabalik sa dati ang lahat. And it might trigger Erebus to move quickly because he already knows that we are making our move.”

Right. I should stop myself right now. Magkakagulo lang ang lahat kung mas paiiralin ko ang galit ko. At kahit na gustong-gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya ang lahat ngayon, maaaring maging rason ‘yon para mas bilisan pa niya ang pagkilos niya para masakop ang huling lugar, ang Sky Empire.

“You what? May magagawa ka ba talaga? Mukhang puro salita ka lang naman pero walang gawa. I have encountered countless people that has the same attitude as you but you know what? They already meet their end.”

Gusto ko siyang suntukin, sampalin, at marami pa akong ibang naiisip na hindi magandang gawin pero hindi ko iyon ginawa, I calmed myself down. I know that he was just triggering me to do something but I will not fall for his schemes.

Elysium is right. Walang mangyayari kung papairalin ko ang nararamdaman ko. Mas lalo lang magkakagulo. That is why I just close my knuckles until it turned white to stop myself from doing anything. I just continue to glare at him and did nothing.

“You are a very strong woman,” sabi niya at lumabas ng selda. He raised his hands and suddenly, may tauhan nang nasa harap ko ngayon. “Bring her in my room. And ask the maids to dress her with clean clothes. I will talk to her in my room,” tuluyan nang umalis si Erebus habang ako naman ay inutusan ng kawal na maglakad palabas ng dungeon na iyon.

And for the second time this day, Erebus ignored my protest and just leave the dungeon without even bothering to give me a single glance.

Hinayaan ko lamang na hilahin ako ng kawal papunta sa kung saan. I just followed him around because I really do not have an energy to fight anyone right now. Parang feeling ko no‘ng kinausap ako ni Erebus, naubusan na ko ng lakas para makipagtalo o pumalag sa ibang mga tao rito.

“Wait,” sabi ni Arson kaya naman tumigil ako saglit bago ako tuluyang makalabas ng dungeon. Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin at doon siya nagsimulang magtanong. “You were about to say something before Erebus arrived. What is it?”

I just bit my lips and look away from him. I secretly enchanted a spell. A spell that will tell Arson who I really am so that I can give him a hope. A hope that there is still a chance to defeat Erebus and bring everything back to normal.

Pagkatapos no‘n ay tuluyan na akong hinila palabas ng kawal upang dalhin ako sa lugar na inutos ni Erebus sa kaniya.

Makalipas ng ilan pang mga minuto, nandito na ako sa kuwarto daw ni Erebus. Nagdala nga talaga ang mga maid niya ng damit na pamalit ko at tinulungan rin nila akong mag-ayos. I looked clean now and presentable. Well except for the bruise in my lips because of what I did earlier.

“Alis na po kami, Lady,” sabi no‘ng isang maid.

There are a three of them that helped me. Hindi sila pumayag na umals hangga’t hindi nila nasisiguro na maayos akong tignan dahil iyon raw ang utos sa kanila ng emperor, at wala naman akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag sa gusto nila.

I looked at them for a brief second before I nodded I just nodded my head at them. Tumungo naman ang mga ito bago sila tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto na kinaroroonan ko, na sa pagkakatanda ko ay ang kwarto ni Erebus, base na rin sa sinabi niya kanina.

Naiwan naman ako sa vanity table at nakatitig lang sa reflection ko. Iniisip ko pa rin ang mga pangyayari kanina. Wala pang isang araw akong nandito, parang ang dami nang nangyayari at parang ang lahat nang ‘yon ay inubos ang lahat ng lakas ko. At ngayon, tinatanong ko pa rin ang sarili ko kung ano nga ba ang gustong pag-usapan namin ni Erebus.

Hindi kaya, alam na niya kung sino ako? I shook my head. No. That is impossible. I am very careful with my every move. Pero sinabi niya kanina na may napansin siyang ginawa ko sa loob ng palasyo niya pero hindi lang niya ma-pin point kung ano iyon.

Erebus is intelligent. That is one of the reason why he invaded the four kingdoms. Hindi malayong alam na niya pero hindi lang niya sinasabi. But if he really knows, why would he let me live? Marami siyang chance para mapatay niya ako kanina pero bakit hindi niya ginawa? Or maybe he has plans that is why he let me live?

I tried to think of all the possibilities pero wala naman akong maisip. Puro negative thoughts lang ang pumapasok sa isip ko at parang mababaliw na ako dahil sa sobrang dami ng naiisip ko. Only one way to find out then, I need to talk to him to confirm what he wanted to discuss with me.

Mga ilang minuto pa akong naghintay sa kaniya sa loob ng kuwarto nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at pagharap ko, siya pala ang nagbukas nito. He just walk inside casually until he turned his head at me.

He just glanced at me for a brief second before he continued to walk in the sofa. “Sit here and we will talk,” sabi niya habang prenteng nakaupo sa isa sa mga sofa na naroroon.

SInunod ko na lang ang sinabi niya at umupo sa katapat na sofa ng kinauupuan niya nang walang kahit ano mang reklamo. I make myself comfortable as much as I could, even if in reality, cannot do it, then I looked at him without any emotion on my eyes.

“Ano ba‘ng pag-uusapan natin?” I said, coldly.

Umayos siya ng upo at tumingin ng diretso sa mga mata ko. “I want to make you my wife.”

Natigilan naman ako sa sinabi niya at tinignan nang mabuti kung seryoso ba siya sa sinasabi niya, and all I could see in his eyes were void emotions that made me ask myself if he was just pranking me or not.

Nang makabawi ako sa pagkabigla ko, tumawa ako nang pagkalakas-lakas na para bang nakarinig ako ng isang biro. “I am sorry, but could you repeat that again?” sabi ko habang pinupunasan ang mata ko na nagluha dahil sa katatawa.

“You will be my wife. And you do not have the right to refuse,” he repeated what he just said earlier but this time it was firm.

I stopped laughing because of what he said. I looked straight into his eyes with my own cold eyes and I could see that he was really serious about this.

“Are you really serious?” I asked in disbelief, and he just nodded his head at me. I got serious because I can see that he is not kidding. “I am sorry but why would I marry a cold hearted bastard like you?”

“Simple. Because I can give anything you want and your life and future will be secured when I am in your side,” he said, casually, as if it was just a normal reason for me to marry him.

Kung hindi ko lang alam, iisipin ko na baliw na siya. I mean, we just met earlier and now, he was offering me to marry him and he even said that I cannot do anything about it. At higit sa lahat, parang siguradong-sigurado siyang papayag ako sa gusto niya.

I just scoffed at him. Hindi lang pala siya coldhearted, mayabang rin siya. “Kahit na ikaw ang matitirang tao sa buong mundo, I won’t marry you. You murderer and manipulator,” I said in disgust.

That is the truth. Kahit na siya pa ang natitirang tao sa mundo, hindi ko kayang isipin na magpapakasal ako sa kaniya. It was like my greatest nightmare that I don’t want to have.

Kumunot naman ang noo niya at nakikita ko na parang nalilito siya sa sinabi ko. “I thought you did not know me?” he asked.

Napatigil ako. Right. Hindi ko nga pala dapat sabihin na kilala ko siya. I have to pretend. “You just threaten me in that cell. You also said that you are just waiting for that man to die of hunger in that bloody and dirty cell. Tapos magtataka ka ngayon kung bakit ganon ang description ko sayo? Unbelievable.”

Kung hindi ko siguro siya kaharap ngayon, napalakpakan ko na ang sarili ko dahil mukhang nalusutan ko ang paghihinala niya, dahil nakita ko kug paano sumama ang tingin niya sa akin. Mukhang nauubusan na siya ng pasensiya dahil pinapatunog niya na ang sapatos niya habang nakatingin nang diretso sa akin.

He gritted his teeth because of what I said. “If you will not marry me, I will kill you,” he threatened.

Seriously? Wala na ba siyang alam kun’di ang magbigay ng threat sa tao? Is this the reason why he invade the four kingdoms? He looked so pathetic right now. Threatening me to do what he wanted, as if he could make me agree so easily.

“I am not easily to be threaten, Emperor. Think of some other ways please.” I said, sarcastically.

“Then I will kill that man,” he said after a few seconds and he did not even blink as he said that.

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. “What? Are you really that self centered? You will kill a man just for me to say yes?” I asked in disbelief, and my anger is returning because of what he said.

Unbelievable. Ganito pala talaga ang isang Erebus. Tuso. Gagawin niya ang lahat makuha lang ang gusto niya. He does not care about anything as long as he can get the things he like.

“I can kill everyone in that dungeon in just a blink of an eye if that will make you say yes,” he said casually as if he is just making a simple talk but in reality, he can kill everyone he wants to just for me to marry him.

“Are you really that mad?” Tumataas na ang boses ko. “You can kill me. You can threaten me with my own life pero kailangan bang umabot ka sa puntong papatay ka ng maraming tao para lang makuha ang gusto mo?!” Sigaw ko sa kaniya.

Alam ko, kasasabi ko pa lang kanina na hindi ako madaling mapagbantaan pero ibang usapan na kapag ang mga taong nasa paligid ko ang gagamitin niya para lang makuha niya ang gusto niya sa akin.

He just looked at me calmly as he shrugged his shoulder. “As I have said earlier, if that will make you say yes.”

I clenched my fist as I glared at him for who knows how many times I did that day. “Why would you want to marry me in the first place? I am sure marami kang babaeng nakita bukod sa akin. Bakit hindi na lang sila?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“You are different. Kahit na hindi mo sabihin, I know you have a unique magic. And you are fierce. Kahit na pinagbantaan kita kanina, you did not back down. Lastly, you can break a very powerful spell that means you are powerful too. I might never seen a woman like you,” pagpapaliwanag niya. I looked at him in disbelief then he leaned closer at me as he asked, “So what is your decision? Marry me or I will kill them?”

Sinubukan kong kumalma kahit na sa loob ko ay nagpapanic na ako. He knew. He knew that I break that spell when we first met that means if I accept his proposal, that might be a trap. Pero kung hindi naman, kayang-kaya niyang gawin ang sinabi niyang papatayin niya ang mga taong nakakulong sa dungeon ng walang nararamdaman kahit ano pa mang sympathy para sa kanila.

I only have one choice. And that is to enter his trap and play as the prey. Maaaring may makuha rin akong impormasyon kung papayag ako sa gusto niya. Mas marami akong makukuhang impormasyon kung malapit ako sa tabi niya. Kayang-kaya ko ring mapigilan ang mga plano niya kung malalaman ko iyon. And above it all, I could save the lives of the people in the dungeon.

And two can play this game of prey and predator. I just have to think of every move that I make and I will win. I can get the information and go back safely in our world, everyone will be safe, and with that, we can defeat him.

“Your decision, woman?” he asked impatiently when he saw that I became silent. “The clock is ticking. I might get impatient and kill them right now,” he said while tapping his foot on the floor.

He was about to stand up but I beat him to it as I tied to stop him.

“Wait,” I said to him and I could see that his eyebrows raised as if he was waiting for me to answer him. I took a deep breath and looked straight in his eyes. “Yes. I will marry you.”