NYXIE: THE LONG LOST EMPRESS (COMPLETED)

Chapter 39

"ALORA! ALORA!" Napatigil ako sa pagluluto nang marinig ko ang natatarantang boses ni Claudia. I take off my apron, wash my hands, and then walk out in the kitchen.

Kakalabas ko pa lang sa kusina ay sumalubong sa akin ang namumutlang mukha ni Claudia. Her face glistened with fear and fury. She immediately ran towards me when she saw me.

Nanginginig na hinawakan ni Claudia ang kamay ko. Kaya kinabahan na tuloy ako.

"It's Guinevere. She's... she's in critical condition right now." She mumbled, almost running out of breath.

Kinabahan ako sa tinuran niya. I felt like my soul was escaping from my body. 

"W-what? What do you mean by that?"

She bit her lips. "Someone poisoned her." 

A sudden chill embraces my body like ice. My throat went dry, and my heart races like a roller coaster. Para akong nabingi sa sinabi. How did this happen? Hindi talaga kami titigilan ng mga demonyong iyon.

"Where is Claude? Did he know already about this?"

"Yeah, and to be exact, my brother is in Dawson's mansion right now, healing Guinevere." 

I nodded nervously at her. Agad na pinuntahan ko si Anastasia at Rosié na aalis na muna ako. Nagpaalam din ako sa mga anak ko. Afterwards, I send a letter to Aidan, who's on the Crimson battlefield right now, using a dove messenger. Claudia and I instantly teleported to Dawson's residence to see Guinevere.

When we arrived at the mansion, we immediately went to Guinevere's room. When we entered her room, I saw her mother crying while watching Claude do some ritual healing on her, while Guinevere's brother and father comforted the lady in the house. Hindi ako makahinga ng maayos nang makita kung gaano kaputla ang mukha ni Guinevere. It seems she's already lifeless. Si Claude, naman ay todo sa panggagamot. He's using his healing essence on his lover.

Agad na tinulungan ko s'ya at ganoon din si Claudia. Napalingon si Claude sa amin. I literally smiled weakly as I saw how Claude's face was plastered with fear and frustration. He's almost on the verge of crying. I cut off some of my phoenix feathers to slowly kill the poison and protect the child in Guinevere's stomach. Claudia then uses her fox blood to revitalize Guinevere's energy. But the poison is too strong. Hindi kasi kagaya si Guinevere sa amin. She's not immortal since Claude and she are not married. She's still forbidden to eat the ambrosia.

Napasinghap kaming dalawa ni Claudia nang ipinalabas ni Claude ang animal essence niya sabay putol sa kaniyang ikasampung buntot. He cut his last tail, which gives him most of his power and energy. Just like Aidan's dragon scale, Claude's last tail is the most powerful. He is a ten-tailed fox; without it, his animal spirit will weaken.

"H-hermano." Mahinang tawag ni Claudia.

"Just let me be, Claudia. This is the only way to remove the poison," Claude replied weakly. Claudia immediately supported him when he spit blood. 

I stopped healing Guinevere for a moment to revitalize Claude's essence. I put my palm on his back, then shoved my healing essence into his body. I briskly supported Claude's back when he had already finished removing the poison from Guinevere's body. Nahihilo kasi ito.

Kahit nahihilo na ay lumapit ito kay Guinevere at dahan-dahan niyang pinahiga ang finance sa kama. Guinevere's hair, which's white after being poisoned, slowly returns to its original color, the ginger one. He immediately examined Guinevere's stomach to check if their baby was alright. Nakahinga kami ng maluwag nang makitang parang nabunutan ng tinik ang mukha niya.

"S-she's fine now. She's fine." He croaked.

I patted his shoulder to comfort him when he started crying while holding Guinevere's hand. Hinahalik-halikan niya ito ng marahan habang umiiyak at humihikbi. He's crying out of relief and anger at the same time.I stepped back when Guinevere's family stepped in. Gaya ni Claude ay umiiyak na rin sila dahil sa kaluwagan na ligtas na ang mag-ina.