Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 37: Roses Have Thorns

"Ano'ng... Paano..." halos hindi ko na maituloy ang gusto kong sabihin. "B-bakit?"

Dalikamata stared right into my eyes. She looked very different now. Gone was the calmness in her face. Gone was sweet smile on her lips. Gone was the brightness in her eyes. She looked grim,  dark and powerful. Hindi ko na nakikita sa kanya ang diyosang naging kaibigan at parte ng buhay ko. Ang diyosang handa akong ipagtanggol at iligtas kahit ikapahamak pa niya.

"Dalikamata, magpaliwanag ka! Ano ang ibig sabihin nito!" Singhal ni Carlos sa kapatid.

Maguayen gave off a chuckle behind Dalikamata. She flicked a finger in front of us.  "Hanggang ngayon talaga Aglawin mahina ka pa rin. Hindi mo ba napansin ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga bagay-bagay? Hayaan mong ipaliwanag ko sa iyo ang lahat at ng ikaw ay matauhan diyan sa katangahan mo. Si Dalikamata... ang pinagkakatiwalaan ko. Siya ang espiya ko sa inyo... at siya mismo ang nagdala sa inyo rito sa harapan ko"

I felt a bitter taste in my lips. I didn't know what to say. I just want to cry and break down. My stomach turned and twisted. Gusto kong maglumpasay sa katotohanang aking natuklasan. Ang katotohanang ayaw kong paniwalaan. 

"All this time... ikaw..." I want to cry at each word I speak.

"Ooh Allysandra. Ako. Ako ang... ang nagtaksil sa inyo. Nasorpresa ka ba?" mahinang sagot ni Dalikamata. The last words of her sentence were wobbled but it sounded mean enough.

Nakuyom ko ang kamao ko. All this time... all this time I thought she was one of us. All this time I thought she was a friend. My friend.  I even considered her as a sister. I couldn't accept the fact that it was her. It was her all along. Siya ang tinik ng dapat kong tanggalin.

"Hindi totoo 'yan."

Napalingon ako kay Juan Carlos ng magsalita siya. He wasn't looking back at me but I can feel the emotions he is about to unleash. He balled his fist, the other gripping tighter on his sword.

"Sabihin mong hindi totoo 'yan!" He sounded even more mad.

"Totoo ang sinabi ni Ina Aglawin" mahina pero mariing tugon ni Dalikamata. "Hindi si Sarayan ang magsuplong sa inyo kay ina. Hindi rin siya ang dahilan kung bakit alam lahat ni Ina ang bawat galaw natin at ang bawat direksiyong tinatahak natin. Ako. Ako ang dahilan ng lahat ng 'yon. Ako ang tumulong kay Ina"

The hope that was building inside me earlier suddenly vanished. I couldn't swallow this truth. Maguayen looked bored as she sat there on her throne made of gold. I bet she would not even bat an eye if her children starts cutting themselves to pieces right infront of her. And right now, it seems likely to happen.

"Paano mo nagawa sa akin 'to?" Each word Juan Carlos utters screams of hatred. "Dalikamata, simula noong mga bata tayo ikaw na ang naging kakampi ko! Bakit? Bakit mo nagawa sa akin 'to?"

"Aglawin-"

"Pinagkatiwalaan kita!" Sigaw niya sa nakababatang kapatid. "Buong buhay ko inakala kong nasa panig kita! Bakit mo ginawa sa'kin 'to!"

"Dahil wala akong naging ibang silbi kundi maging sunod-sunuran sa'yo!" Dalikamata unleashed this dark energy as she yelled. I saw the curving of Maguayen's lips when she witnessed what happened.

"Tama ka, buong buhay ko ikaw ang nakasama ko. Pero simula't sapol hindi ko 'yon nagustohan! Alam mo kung bakit? Dahil hindi naman talaga ako naging mahalaga eh. Isa lang akong anino na natatabunan ng nakakasilaw na liwanag mo. Mahalaga lang ako sa iba kapag wala ka. Pero kapag  nandiyan ka na, wala na akong kwenta. Sino ba ang minahal ni Ama? Hindi ba ikaw? Ikaw lang at si Sarayan!  Dahil ikaw ang makapangyarihan! Ikaw ang mabait! Ikaw na lang lahat! Ikaw na lang palagi!"

"Dalikamata, alam mong hindi totoo 'yan! Minahal kita! Inalagaan kita!"

"Minahal?" Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Dalikamata. The sarcasm in her tone made me want to knock her off. Baka sakaling matauhan siya.

"Nagpapatawa ka ba Aglawin? Hindi mo ako mahal! Dahil wala kang ibang minahal kundi ang mga walang kwentang mortal na wala ng ginawa kundi ang ipahamak ka!"

She was glancing at me with distaste. I just it realized it now. All this time... all the smile she had given me, all the kindness she had shown me, all the love, care and concern that I felt from her was all a part of her mascarade. None of it was real. And I felt horrible for believing in her.

Why didn't I notice it? Bakit hindi ko man lang naramdaman na siya ang nagtatraydor sa amin?

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "Nararapat lang ang nangyari sa'yo at kay Ariella!"

I glanced at Juan Carlos. Gusto ko siyang ayaing maglaho na sa lugar na 'to.

"Hindi si Sarayan ang totoong naglaglag sa'yo. Ako. Wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan simula pa noon. Bulag ka lang talaga kaya nagtiwala ka sa'kin." She chuckled, probably enjoying the reaction she was getting from Carlos. She threw a ring at us. It bounced a few times before landing infront of my feet. Agad ko itong namukhaan.

Pinulot ko ito at nanlaki ang matang hinarap si Dalikamata. "Ano'ng ginawa mo kay Alunsina?"

"Simple lang. Pinatulog ko lang naman siya habambuhay. Kahit kailan ay hindi na siya magigising! At ang Guinaksilon? Huwag kayong mag-alala. Sinira ko na ang lahat ng naroon kabilang na ang kambal mo"

"Hayop ka!" Juan Carlos yelled. "Wala kang kasing-sahol!"

"Talagang wala!" She laughed. "Kahinaan ang pagiging mabait Aglawin! Tingnan mo ang sarili mo. Tingnan mo! Nakakaawa ka! At walang magagawa 'yang kabaitan mo para iligtas ka. Hindi ko inakalang ganoon lang kabilis ang paikotin ka. Hindi naging mahirap sa'kin ang saktan ka gamit si Ariella. Sayang nga eh at hindi ka nanatiling mortal. Para maramdaman mo ang sakit na maging anino, sunod nag sunod pero walang namang silbi. Pero hindi na mahalaga 'yon. Mamamatay ka rin naman. Ang lasong inilagay ko sa katawan mo ay tiyak na bumibisa na ngayon"

"Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa mo ang lahat 'to sa'kin! Wala kang kasing sama!"

Carlos charged at her. Hindi ko na siya napigilan. But before he could reach the goddess, Maguayen stood up from the throne and waved her hand like a stop. A strong wave of energy sent Juan Carlos a meter behind me. Napatakbo upang tulongan siya. On normal occasion, one attack like that couldn't have made him weak. Pero dahil sa lasong nasa katawan niya, kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya ang panghihina.

Napalunok ako. Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong gawin.

Nilingon ko si Dalikamata. She had this satisfied smirk seeing her brother being tossed away like that. Namuo ang galit sa dibdib ko.

"Dalikamata, ano ba ang ginagawa mo? " I said while holding Juan Carlos' arm. I was trying to help him get up. "Hindi ikaw 'to! Hindi ka ganito! Mabuti kang tao! Huwag mong hayaang gamitin ka ng kasamaan!"

"Nagkakamali ka Allysandra" she replied. "Ito ang tunay na ako. Hindi ako mabait at hindi rin ako magdadalawang-isip na ipadala ka sa impyerno!"

With a smirk, she lifted her arm in the air. It glowed in purple. Before I knew, she fired it directly at me.

"'Wag!" Juan Carlos was swift enough to get up and shielded me. Napaupo ako sa sahig at nasa harapan ko siya kaya sa likod niya tumama ang kapangyarihan ni Dalikamata.  Alam kong nasaktan siya pero pinilit niyang itago 'yon sa akin. He was already turning pale.

From behind him, his sister rolled her eyes as if she was a bitter person watching a romantic movie. Behind her, Maguayen was sitting still. Kulang na lang mag-popcorn siya habang nakatingin sa amin.

"Umalis ka diyan" I whispered at Juan Carlos. I didn't want him taking all the shots lalo na at nanghihina na siya.

Umiling siya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makitang may kasunod ng tira si Dalikamata. But Carlos turned to her and aimed an arm, firing a strong wind that threw the goddess away near Maguayen's feet. The elevated steps on the throneroom where Dalikamata landed left cracks when she got up. Pero mukhang hindi naman siya nasaktan. Maguayen on the other hand, didn't even budge. She didn't even went to rescue her daugther.

Tumayo si Dalikamata mula sa pagkakatumba. Mas matalim na ang tingin niya sa amin. Mas madilim na ang mukha niya. Mukhang kailangan ko ng isuko ang pag-asang babalik pa siya sa Dalikamatang nakilala ko.

"Tama na! Hindi mo na kailangan gawin pa'to! Hindi kita gustong saktan" Juan Carlos shouted. He stood infront of me habang ako nakatayo lang sa likuran niya. There is little I can do right now. At kahit hindi ko gusto wala rin naman akong magagawa.

The goddess smirk. "Pwes ako, gusto kitang patayin!"

She produced round energies on each hand. They glowed in funereal purple. Parang pinaghahandaan niya na talaga ang libing namin ni Carlos. She lifted them both in the air and yelled as she released them at us.

Juan Carlos maneuvered the wind with his hands. When he lifted his arm again, saka ko lang napansin ang mga purple lines na namumuo dito. I've seen those before in movies. The poison was taking it's effect on Juan Carlos' body. It won't be long before it takes control of his powers and strength.

The energies clashed with the wind and exploded into purple light. Pareho naman silang hindi naapektohan. Kung  ganito lang ang magiging labanan ay maaaring magkaroon kami ng chance na matalo si Dalikamata. Pero hindi hinayaan ni Maguayen na maging madali para sa amin ang lahat. She has to do something to make this scene even more interesting for her.

"Allysandra, lumayo ka na dito! Ngayon na!" Juan Carlos yelled at me. Panay tira si Dalikamata sa kanya at panay ilag at balik naman siya.

"Hindi kita iiwan!" I yelled stubbornly. It was ironic for me to say that kasi wala naman akong naging silbi dito.

But then Maguayen lifted her arms in the air. The ground rumbled beneath the throneroom. Sa gitna na malalindol na pagyanig, hindi pa rin tumigil sa paglalaban ang magkapatid. They continued firing shots at each other.

Natumba ako sa sahig ng mawalan ng balanse. Then from behind me, the ground cracked. Then stones and the bricks shot out of the marble floor. Parang may kung ano sa ilalim noon ay gustong kumawala.  The shaking subdued and a growl escaped from underneath. Kahit sa pagbabagong nagaganap sa paligid, hindi tumigil ang dalawang diyos sa paglalaban. They both flew in the air, shooting powers at each other.

I immediately stood up. More cracks appeared on the floor. Then a meter infront of me, out of the cracks emerged one monster. It was different from monsters I have seen and fought before. It has a round, bald head in the color of ash, black dots for eyes, a missing nose like that of a skeleton and a muscled body.

"Arrrrrrr." It growled and sneered at me. Then more emerged from the throneroom floor. Hindi ko na sila nabilang dahil parami sila ng parami. At hindi lang 'yon. Nagsilabasan din ang mga LiGwardiya mula sa mga pintuan ng silid. Pinalibutan nila ako kaya hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makalabas.

I did the necessary. I pulled one arrow and shot the monster who snarled at me. I need to shot at it consecutively before bago ito mamatay. It thrased at me, kaya napayuko ako. Tumakbo ako ng ilang metro palayo rito bago ito natumba at namatay. I had to shoot again. Parami ng parami ang LiGwardiya at mas apat pang mga halimaw ang natitira. I gripped on my bow, grabbed my arrows, nocked them one at a time and starting shooting randomly. Malawak ang silid at ilang metro din ang layo nila sa akin kaya minabuti kong bilisan ang pagtira. My arrows zoomed in the air like bullets. Hindi ko na rin alam kung paano ako naging mabilis sa paggamit ng pana. Maybe it was adrenaline but I didn't really know.

I fired, randomly turning on different directions dahil napapagitnaan ako ng mga kalaban. I was able to to kill about a dozen and a half but they still keep coming up. I fired a shot thay went zipping into a forehead of one LiGwardiya. Umatras ito ng tamaan ng palaso sa noo at sa kasamaang palad ay tumama rin sa espada ng kasamahan niya. They both popped into green mist and disappeared.

The unknown monster advance at me in a fast pace. Napaatras ako bago pumulot ng panibagong palaso. Pero wala akong naabot. Napalingon ako. To my horrendous dismay, I found my quiver empty. Damn it! Ba't ngayon pa?

From the corner of my eye, I saw Juan Carlos firing a strong wind energy at his sister kaya bumagsak ito sa sahig. I didn't have time to focus on them. I had my own battle down here. Gagawin ko na sanang pamalo ang pana ko ng may biglang isang malakas na hangin ang bumagsak mula sa taas. Tumilapon ang lahat ng LiGwardiyang sumugod sa akin. Bumunggo ang iba sa pader at nagsisabog sa isang green na usok at nag-iwan ng c***k sa dingding.

Juan Carlos landed beside me. Nadapa pa siya sa sahig ng mawalan ng balanse. I helded him up to help to get to his feet. Pero hindi na namin nagawang tumayo ng may biglang sumabog sa amin. Dalikamata had managed to get up from her fall and fired her energy balls at us. Tumilapon kaming dalawa ni Carlos. The energy made me kind of dizzy pero minabuti kong gumapang palapit kay Carlos. Napaupo siya sa sahig mga dalawang metro mula sa kinatatayuan ko. He raised his one arm near the beam. The wind grew stronger around him.

Pinilit kong tumayo palapit sa kanya pero nahilo ako. Hindi ko rin kinaya ang lakas ng hangin na nakapalibot s kanya. He was grunting and yelling as he raised his arm higher. The beam slowly cracked. Dalikamata's eyes widened as the cracks grew bigger. Before she could produce her energy shots the beam broke off and Carlos threw the pieces on her.

Still, it was hopeless. Dalikamata could have been dead by now. Only if Maguayen did not intercede. Right when Juan Carlos released the broken pieces of the beam, Maguayen stood up from her seat. Lumitaw sa kamay niya ang isang itim na tungkod na may gintong ahas na nakapulopot. Tinoon niya iyon sa direksiyon namin. The bricks and cement stopped midair. Juan Carlos tried to push them through pero hindi niya kinaya ang lakas ni Maguayen. Maguayen was able to stop the debris and toss them sideways. Then she pushed Juan Carlos away.

I screamed for his name as he was smashed into the ground. Tinakbo ko siya.

"Carlos, Carlos!" I pulled on his shirt.

He grunted as he tried to sit up. Red blood flowed from the side of his lips. He wasn't looking any better. Purple viens are appearing on his neck. I couldn't let anything happen to him. I just can't.

I pulled his sword from his grasp. Mabilos akong tumayo. Mabigat 'yon pero hindi ko na napansin ng ibato ko ito sa pagmumukha ni Maguayen. "Go to hell!"

The blade went past Dalikamata and straight into Maguayen's face. Pero hindi ito tumama sa kanya. The blade stopped an inch infront of her eyes... and it disentegrated like it was nothing.

When the blade was gone, she waved her arm on the air and vines sprouted from the ground. It entangled me and pulled me into the ground kaya napaluhod ako. I had to resist pero masiyado itong malakas.

"Maguayen, tama na!" Juan Carlos stood up and tried to untangle me. The vines were getting tighter every second. "Ano ba ang dapat kong gawin para pabayaan mo na si Allysandra? Ako naman ang kailangan mo 'di ba? Ako na lang ang patayin mo at hayaan mo na siya!"

The goddess remained nonchalant. She made another set of vines below Carlos and entangled him beside me. Pero nanatili siyang walang reaksiyon sa mukha. Dalikamata was the who stepped up near us. "Hayaan mong ako na ang tumapos sa kanila!"

Another purple light flickered from her palms. She raised it just above me head.

"Tama na 'yan!" Maguayen yelled in a cold voice.

"Pero Ina? Ano ang ibig mong sabihin? Dapat lang na sila ay mamatay! Hind ba't iyon naman ang gusto mo?" Dalikamata looked disappointed.

"Mamamatay sila pero hindi sa kamay mo!" Maguayen called out four LiGwardiyas.

"Sa pagsapit ng bukangliwayway bukas. Ako mismo ang hahatol sa kanila"