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

Chapter 4

"Are you aware that you just went against the most important law of the council?" said a thundering voice of a woman standing in front of everyone with a scroll in her hand.

Tahimik ang lahat ng manunuod. Pagkatapos ng nangyari kagabi ay pinatawag agad ako ng konseho sa isang malaking pagpupulong sa arena. Binubuo ng lahat ng priest at priestess, mga konseho, mga high-priest at high-priestess, mga sundalo at lahat ng gustong masilayan ang kaparusahan na aking matatanggap.

All eyes were on me. Everybody is waiting for my answer. Will I say no, for further trails? Or yes, to receive the punishment, today?

In this world, there is no right or wrong reasons for breaking a rule. Once you break it, either for the people, for yourself, for your happiness, or for freedom, it is not valid. In this realm, you have to follow the rules to survive.

"Yes." I said taking full responsibility of my action.

Everybody gasps. I look at the ten elders sitting in their thrones, the mind and heart of the council. They all look at me with great disappointment. Kahit na ang mga nakaupo sa baba, ang mga leader ng tatlong village na hindi kakitaan ng emosyon. I look at my twin who is looking at me intently. He knows me better but he can't help me for it is also against the rules.

"Because of your actions that endangered the whole village and the city. The council sentence you, the priestess of Vilmore, guardian of the village of the south, one hundred back lashes." The woman said and walk away from leaving the arena so does the council.

Naglakad ako patungo sa pinaka-gitna ng arena. An elevated part of the arena where  we all receive our punishments. May nakasunod sa akin na isang priest. Mas mataas sa akin at malaki ang katawan. May dala siyang isang mahabang latigo na may mga maliliit at matutulis na blade sa gilid na kahit ang pagkakahawak niya dito ay halatang iniingatan na hindi siya masugatan.

Nang makarating ako sa gitna ay hinubad ko ang aking jumpsuit hanggang bewang.
Tanging isang bra-like racerback ang natira. Itinaas ko ang aking mga kamay at iginapos ang dalawa na nakabitin sa dalawang nakatayong poste na gawa sa bakal.

I inhale deeply.

Tumayo na si Larco, ang priest ng Silleret. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin, hindi lang pala siya, tatlo sa mga namamahala ng tatlong village ang nakatitig sa akin na hindi makitaan ng awa kahit pa mismong ang kapatid ko na si Angus.

"May this day be a lesson to everyone who will go against the rules of the city. May this day marks a bad momentum in your life priestess of Vilmore. Proceed." malakas niyang saad sabay ng paghampas sa akin ng latigo sa aking likod.

The first few lashes are fine. But, the moment my wounds went deeper I slowly felt the pain but I didn't scream or cry. I tighten my grip and pursed my lips together. Everybody's watching how miserable I look like. Bahagya akong yumuko at tiningnan ang sahig. Dugo, puno ng dugo ang kaninang puting sahig. Bawat hampas ng kanyang latigo ay nadadagdagan ito.

And I can't even try to heal my wound because I am in no place to go against the order of the council. If I do try to heal my wounds using my vampire abilities, it will make the people doubt my existence behind this walls, it will make them think that I am no better than the vampires we have killed in the past.

That I am just one of those vampires who killed their families, friends, even human foes. And this, accepting this punishment without the need of vampire healing is one of those things I need them to see. I can protect them, I am human, not a vampire.

Isang panghuling pinakamalakas na hampas ang nagpadilim ng aking paningin. Tanging mga nag-uusap, nagtatalo at kumakalag sa pagkakatali ng aking mga kamay ang tanging mga bagay na aking naaninag bago ako tinangay sa isang mahimbing at mapayapang tulog.

× × × × ×

Sakit. Yun ang unang pakiramdam na nagpabangon sa akin. Matinding sakit at hapdi galing sa mga sugat kahapon. I am still at the city's infirmary. Nakadapa ako sa kama dahil hindi ko makagayang ihiga ang aking likod sa matinding sakit. I gather all my remaining strength and tried to sit but I just can't. Before I could have fallen from my back, a helpful hand scoop me and help me up.

Nang maupo na ako ay bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Franco na hindi kakitaan ng kahit na anong emosyon. He look at me as if he knows me more than anyone even from myself. Well, I doubt it.

"Spill it."

I tried to conceal any unintended reactions. Tiningnan ko lang siya sa paraan ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin. Walang bumitaw sa aming mga titig hanggang sa may mga kamay na tumapik sa kanyang balikat. Nang makita kung sino ay marahan na yumuko si Franco.

I look at the man. He has grown older for years but he still has the kind of gaze that gives me chills. He has been the only man who acknowledge me and my brother's whole-heartedly. He has become our father for years.

He was only a 10-year-old high priest that time when they rescued my mother from the attack. Everybody knew a twin existed but nobody wanted us to be in the city.

No one.

But he stood for us and at such a young age and fight for our rights to live. Walang gustong tumulong sa pagpapalaki sa amin kahit na pinayagan na kaming pumasok sa loob ng syudad. Siya ang naging ina at ama sa aming magkapatid.

We were 5, when he started to train us to fight, to survive, to live, in the harshness of the world. Hanggang sa ipasok na niya kami sa loob ng academia ng syudad. He was the youngest member of the council and as his children we were the happiest. Later on, he became the leader of the council and appointed us to guard the villages. Everything went well except the fact that we stopped aging a few years ago and we just can't grow old and live with him in the next eternity promised by the book of gods.

"Iwan mo muna kami Franco."

I remain silent. Hindi ako kailanman nagkamali sa pamumuno ng Vilmore, ngayon lang. If Franco thought that he knows I am hiding something. Well, this man knows why I did it without even asking. That's how much he knows me, he just know the reason without even arguing.

"You found your mate, Agnes."

Sinabi niya iyon ng hindi nagtatanong dahil sigurado siya. Malakas akong bumuntong-hininga. Vampires were destined by mates. Iyon ay ang mga bampirang magmamahal sa kanila at mamahalin nila habang buhay. Which is too cliché, something too dreamy to be true.

In this world where war is raging and survival is the most important, will that word-love ever survive?

"I pledge myself as a priestess of the council and in that way I will serve and die." I said with determination that whatever I am feeling to that vampire will falter.

"Pero sa nangyari kagabi Agnes, tinalikuran mo ang iyong mga tao sa pagbukas mo sa pader ng kanilang kaligtasan sa isang bampirang ngayon mo lang nakita."

Sa paraan ng kanyang pagkakasabi, marahan at walang halong galit, mas gusto ko pa na patawan niya ako ng isang matinding kaparusahan kesa nito. I'd rather have lashes all over my body than to hear his words of disappointment. It hurts more deeply, leaving my mind completely troubled.

"Now tell me, my little Agnes. Do you not believe in mates?" He said as I nod to his words.

I do not believe in mates. If ever it does exists, I will do all costs to stop it even if it kills me. Nakakatakot ang magmahal na alam mong sisira rin sa iyo sa bandang huli. A destined feeling created by the gods that will bring nothing but chaos and tragedy.

"I have nothing to offer to that man father. My soul, my life is only for the city and nothing more. I pledge my loyalty and faithfulness to humans and in that way I'll exists for a thousand years."