Curse of the Fallen Deity (Zarsothian Tales #1 | Volume 1 & 2)

Chapter 21: His Bloodline

TILA nablangko ang utak ko habang nakatitig kay Shaye. Tahimik akong tumalikod at umupo sa may kalakihang bed sa gitnang parte ng kwarto. My hand started to tremble, not because of fear, but anticipation.

I have been with Shaye for a month now. I knew from the moment I learned her relations, that she could help me... that I could use her. Pero hindi ko lubos akalain na may isang taong makakapagpatunay sa krimen na ginawa ng hayop na hari nila.

I looked up. Her face was filled with confusion. She was staring at me as if trying to figure out what I was thinking.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko at tumayo. I walked towards her. "What else do you know about the king?" tanong ko. Bakas sa boses ko ang lamig at panginginig nito.

Shaye blinked a couple of times bago bumalik sa reyalidad. "That's the only secret I found out about him."

It was enough. Shaye knew about the crime, about the death. Although she wasn't aware that it was me.

"Hold on," pigil sa 'kin ni Shaye bago pa ako tumalikod. Muli akong humarap sa kanya. "You're from Forthill, right? Siguro'y nabalitaan mo rin noon 'yung isyu na pinatay ng magulang ang sarili nilang anak? I was 7 that time when I heard the news. They made it up to cover the king's crime."

Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa tanong ni Shaye.

Pinatay ng magulang ang sariling anak.

Ibang klase rin. Naghugas kamay pala siya pagkatapos ng ginawa niya.

"I don't remember," mahina kong sagot habang nakatitig sa sahig.

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong maramdaman. Unti-unti ko nang nahahalungkat ang mga nangyari pagkatapos ng araw na iyon. Malapit ko nang mabuo ng maayos ang plano ko... Pero bakit ako nagdadalawang isip?

"Okay ka lang?" Shaye asked.

Tumango ako. Naglakad ako papunta sa nakabukas na bintana at dumungaw roon. Mukhang nasa likurang parte ng East Wing ang kwarto na ito dahil puro puno at maliliit na rivers lang ang nakikita ko.

Naramdaman ko ang presensya ni Shaye palapit sa 'kin kaya'y umusog ako ng kaunti sa gilid. Tumabi siya sa 'kin at tumingin sa tinitigan ko.

"You know, I sometimes wish I was brave enough."

Napalingon ako kay Shaye. Hindi siya nakatingin sa 'kin. Tulala lamang siya sa mga puno na nasa baba.

"Hmm?" tanging sagot ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong sabihin.

"I wish I could give the Forthill islander the justice that she deserves." Her voice cracked. Napalunok siya at humugot ng malalim na hininga saka lumingon sa mga mata ko. "Nakokonsensya ako, Ara."

I stared directly at her eyes. She's tearing up.

"You can only give her justice if you uncover the dark secrets of the king, Shaye. The Law will handle the rest," sambit ko.

Mahina siyang natawa. "I thought you hate the Law?"

"Yeah," I uttered. "But you can't put the Law in your hands."

Unlike me. I have killed a lot of people, stole money from the villagers. I grew up with all the hatred and thirst for vengeance.

Shaye is too innocent for that. She will never understand, and she shouldn't risk everything she has for something that happened a long time ago.

A witness is enough.

Umalis na ako sa may bintana at patagilid na humiga sa kama. "Rest, Shaye. As I've said, your secret is safe with me."