After Light: Journey To The Empyrean (Agnes, Book One)

Chapter 1

I raise my bow and arrow aiming at the target in sight. Isang babaeng dala-dala ang kanyang anak patungo sa isang masukal na gubat sa ilalim ng tirik ng araw. Ilang araw ko na ring minamanmanan ang babae matapos ng nangyaring kaguluhan sa daan patungong Belmont. Siya lang ang sinasabing nakaligtas sa ambush, but I doubt it.

Nang akmang kakagatin na niya ang kanyang umiiyak na anak habang hatak-hatak ito'y agad akong naalarma. I took the oppurtunity to let my arrow fly in the wind directly hitting her head. I know she's still alive and I never intended to kill her that easy. It is just a distraction for her attention to be directed to me. Tumalon ako mula sa sanga at walang tunog na nalapat ang aking mga paa pababa ng puno sa daan-daang dahon na nasa ilalim nito. Like a predator slowly aiming towards her prey.

Mabilis akong tumakbo patungo sa kanyang kinalalagyan. Batid kong alam na nito ang nagbabadyang panganib dahil agad itong napatingin sa aking kinalalagyan. Sabay sa kanyang pag-atake ay ang pagbunot ko ng aking punyal habang mabilis itong nilapitan. There was no sound other than silent whispers of the wind from behind the trees.

I look at the lifeless body of the woman and just shrug. I took my gloves from my side pocket and wear it. I scan her body and look for any possible entrance of the venom that made her turn into a daylight walking cannibal. Nang makita kong may kagat nga siya sa hita ay agad akong napailing.

Newly turned vampires still has an endurance to heat because they are still part-human but the moment their eyes turned ebony black, darkness is their only survival.

Ilang mga papalapit na tunog ang aking narinig. Kasabay nun ay ang paglabas ng ilan kong mga kasama na tulad ko'y tagapaglingkod rin ng syudad. Wearing our black cloaks, black jumpsuits complete with various weapons and black boots, we are always so damn ready for war. Our every morning is for survival, our everyday struggle is for the human race.

"Jay kunin mo ang bata ipadala mo sa council. She needs debriefing about this incident. Paano sila nakatakas ng nanay niya sa kamay ng mga bampira." I said and turn my gaze to the child who looks at me with her sad and empty eyes like, if she's all grown up she would probably kill me because of what I did to her mother.

"And the body?" Jay ask.

"Burn it." I said and leave the site.

I ride my bigbike to return to Vilmore. Every priest and priestess has this kind of baby, with speed that can outrun an ordinary vampire, no sound machine travels that can mute enemy's hearing upon our arrival and of course, installed weapons, this is everybody's happiness.

With its fast speed I arrive at Vilmore's metal gate for just a couple of minutes. Mabilis akong pinagbuksan ng mga guwardya at sumaludo sa akin. I just nod at them and proceed inside. I park my bike along with the other bikes and proceed at the tower. The highest building of the village, this is where all our defenses are.

I push the button of the elevator leading towards the highest floor of the building. Pagtapak ko palang ay bumungad sa akin ang abalang mga tao na may kanya-kanyang ginagawa.

This village is said to be built for the people, I doubt it. I always believe that this village is created not for the people but a defense against the attack of vampires. Villages has protected the city from attacks for decades. Mas una kaming namamatayan, nalalagasan, nasisira, though this is still a village of lights and built as strong as the city. Hindi parin makakalapit ang mga bampira kong hindi dumadaan sa amin. In which, if ever a war arose we are the first to be destroyed.

I snort at the thought.

"Bad thoughts?." said a man leaning at the door, Franco. Siya ang ipinadala ng council para maging mata at tenga sa klase ng aking pamumuno dito sa Vilmore.

Walang tanong kung gaano siya katalino at ka-madiskarte. If we rank position, he is next to the council, probably the next member of the council which means I need to respect his boastfulness because he is my senior.

"You bet." I fake a smile and left him. All I heard is his chukle at my remark. Lumapit ako sa aking mga kasamahan na nakapalibot sa isang mesa. They are still discussing where and how vampires manage to ambush human carriages in broad daylight.

"I know, the way to Belmont is full of forest. Maybe they manage to lurk themselves in the darkness of the shades." said Verleen in her sweet tone of voice. Someone so sweet yet deadly.

Alam kong hindi nila ako napansin dahil abala sila kaya umupo nalang ako sa gilid at nakinig sa kanilang pinagtatalunan.

"Alam nating lahat na hindi gaano kasikat ang araw ng mga oras ng ambush. Hindi natin alam baka natabunan ng ulap kaya may dilim." saad ni Jay na mas una pang nakapunta dito kesa sa akin. Oh well, baka nung kinulit ako ni Franco ay pumasok na siya dito.

"Sa liit ng mapa ng buong realm, bakit hindi natin makita ang kanilang kota at nang patayin nalang natin silang lahat para matapos nato." the ever so rushing mouth of Demor. I just snorted upon hearing what he said. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin at nakakunot ang noo na parang ako pa ang outcast sa kumpol na ito.

What?

"Care to share even a small amount of suggestion about what really happen?" Tanong ni Verleen na may pa-gesture pa sa kanyang mga daliri kung kahit gaano kaliit ang aking dapat iambag.

"You know how much I despise talks." I said cooly and walk towards my chair. A chair in the middle of the room. A chair only for me, the priestess of Vilmore.

I saw Franco entering the room with his blue cape. Iba ang kapa ng mga katulad niya na maituturing ng high-priest. Kung sa amin ay itim, blue naman sa mga council in training at gold sa mga nakaupo na sa konseho.

"You." I pointed at him na ikinataka niya at agad napataas ang kilay na lumapit sa aming kinalalagyan. Napatingin ang lahat ng nandito sa loob ng kwarto. Oh well, he is always so informative maybe he knows about this matter even before we do.

"Care to share some info?" I said and smirk.

He just sigh. Parang napapagod na sa kakatanong namin sa kanya. Well, we do it in purpose, of course. Ano bang ginagawa niya rito, he is our walking, talking brain so why not make the most of it?

"I already talked with the high-priest at Belmont. May nakuha silang isang bampira sa pangyayari. It's under their full-custody." He said and look at me in a bored expression.

I grin.

"Gather my men. I need to see this vampire myself. Jay, ikaw muna ang bahala sa Vilmore. I'll be back before sunset." I said in full aurhority and leave the hall.

Pagkalabas ko ay may limang naka-itim na lalaki ang napayuko ng makita ako. Nasa gilid na rin ang kanilang bigbike na handa na sa pag-alis namin patungong Belmont.

"Ride as fast as you can." I said and ride my bike. Narinig ko ring nakasunod na sa akin ang lima. Nang nasa gate na kami ay may isang bike na paparating patungo sa aming kinahihintuan.

I snorted.

"Hindi ko alam na kasama ka pala." I said at the man whose bike is next to mine.

"Where the priestess go, I go." He said and cover himself with his helmet. I just rolled my eyes. The door open to its fullest. Only dust particles were seen, no traces of bikes or even noise coming from it were left behind. Mabilis naming tinahak ang daan patungong Belmont. No plan of stopping and if ever we do, it is going to be one bloody hell of a fight.