Not Even Death Do Us Part

17

17

"It's because of me."

Lumingon naman si Franco sa mga miyembro ng Council. "I'm sorry but can I talk privately first with my fiancée?"

Tumango naman ang mga ito at sila na lamang dalawa ni Franco ang naiwan sa Council Room. "What is it, Franco?"

"Hindi ka sana mamamatay noong si Catherina Hart ka pa kung pinigilan ko lang yung damdamin ko."

"Si Prende ba ang pumatay sa akin?"

Umiling si Franco, "No, baby. P-Prende gave us a different punishment."

Zerina held his hands, "Tell me, please."

"Prende cursed us that we can never have an offspring."

Natahimik si Zerina, "Hindi tayo magkakaanak? Ganun ba?"

Tumango si Franco, "That's the punishment she imposed to you. Kaya niyang gawin dahil siya si Prende. Then, there was Frieda."

"Sino si Frieda?"

Lumunok si Franco, "She's the Scion who is hell-bent to kill you the moment Zojz bestowed the idea on how to kill a Prende's Scion."

"Why she was so hell-bent in killing me?"

Nakatitig nang matagal si Franco, "Because I broke her heart."

Napalayo si Zerina, "Y-You mean?"

Umiling si Franco, "Zerina, she was never a former lover or anything. I did not reciprocate her feelings." Ito ngayon ang humawak sa mga kamay ni Zerina at masuyong hinalikan. "Hindi si Catherine Hart ang unang pinabantay ni Prende sa akin. She asked me to work with Frieda. She was Frieda Dougenis that time and it was in World War I when I met her. When mass rape and other sexual violence among women were happening, Frieda and I teamed up to help and save them."

"D-Did you really not fall in love with her?"

Umiling si Franco, "Dahil hindi ko siya nakikita bilang isang babaeng mamahalin. I never even touched her. She attempted to get intimate with me many times, but I just can't. I was adamant in telling her I have no plans of growing feelings or be casually involved with any Scion. I can never defy the gods."

"But you fell in love with Catherine Hart?"

Franco nodded his head, "That's when Frieda developed her hostility against you."

"Nasaan na ngayon si Frieda?"

Umiling si Franco, "Baby, I don't know. I can't sense her because she is a pure Scion."

"We should tell them. Baka meron sa kanila ang makakaalam kung nasaan si Frieda."

"But like I said she cannot be killed. Not even these vampires, werewolves or any hybrid could help."

"We need to try, Franco." Humawak si Zerina sa likuran ng ulo ni Franco at tinulak iyon papalapit sa kanya upang magdikit ang mga noo, "Franco, kailangan nating sumubok. Hindi na tayo pwedeng maghiwalay at paulit-ulit mo lang akong hihintayin."

Tumango-tango si Franco at pumikit nang madiin, "I feel so fucking weak."

Umiling si Zerina, "No, you're not. Huwag mong isipin 'yan."

"H-Hindi tayo magkakaanak, Zerina."

Ngumiti si Zerina, "Mananatili tayong maligaya, Franco, kahit ang meron lang tayo ay ang isa't isa."

Napangiti si Franco sa kanyang sinabi, "Mahal na mahal kita, Zerina."

"Mahal na mahal din kita."

Kaagad nilang ipinaliwanag kina Galen ang naikuwento ni Franco tungkol kay Frieda. Doon ay nagkaroon sila ng isang negosasyon.