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

Chapter 12

"Now we're in business, aren't we" saad ni Orellis habang nakaupo sa kaniyang trono.

We are given our own seats beside her throne. Hindi ito katulad ng sa syudad na parang malaking bulwagan. Isa lamang itong malaking kwarto na may ilang nakahilerang upuan at nasa gitna ang upuan ni Orellis.

"We are." Larco said in a cold tone.

"Everybody knew your city stood still through time because of your alliance with the vampires." Eulises in his business like self. Kakaiba ang paraan ni Eulises sa pakikipagsalita kung nasa pagpupulong at kung nasa normal lang na araw.

"Yes. I take full responsibility of that alliance. But, look we stood still for years. Walang kahit na anong nilalang ang nagkaroon ng pagkakataong lumusob sa amin dahil protektado kami ng konseho ng mga bampira." saad niya na pilit pinapakita sa amin na tama ang kaniyang mga desisyon.

Now I think I understand. Vampires are born mischievous. Hindi sila makikipag-aliyansa kong wala silang makukuha sa mga tao ng Cohen.

"Your city's been providing them human blood." I just said out of nowhere.

Bahagyang natigilan si Orellis at tumingin sa akin ng masinsinan. Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang naghari sa buong lugar. Cohen is a city a few miles away from ours. We may received intels but absolutely limited for our intels are from spies, with no cities, no sides, no kinds, no race to defend and protect. Tanging pera lamang at kayamanan ang kanilang sinasamba. They are outcast but decided to live in a way they wanted. From city to cities until they find services for intels. In short, they are just provider of a few minor informations. Kaya halatang nagulat ang aking mga kasama sa kanilang nalaman ngayon. Bago pa siya makapagsalita ay mabilis na pumasok ang isang babae, dala-dala ang kanyang anak na may malaking sugat sa braso. I stiffen. Her blood smells so sweet and so damn familiar.

"Ipagpaumanhin ho ninyo ang biglaan kong pagpasok pero nadulas ho si Neryl sa daan patungo sa bahay. Naiwan ho ni Damon ang itak na gamit niya sa pangangahoy. Yun ho ang nadaganan yata ni Neryl, mahal na Orellis." magalang na saad ng ginang sa harap ni Orellis.

Nilapitan ni Orellis ang bata habang inilagay ang kanyang mga kamay sa banda ng sugat. A light appear slowly healing the child's wound. Mabilis na yumuko ang ginang sabay dala ng kanyang anak paalis ng kwarto. Orellis look at me like she knew I am thinking something.

I hiss when I realize why her blood smells so familiar.

"YOU MURDEROUS SOUL! YOU GIVE ME THAT CHILD'S BLOOD, DIDN'T YOU ORELLIS!?" sigaw ko sa kanya na bahagyang ikinagulat nang lahat.

"This is outrageous. That is beyond the line and you need to be punished by the law of the council, Orellis of Cohen." Larco said in a tone that seems he can kill Orellis any minute now.

"I need to do, what I did. Pure-bloods and half-bloods needs a child's blood. You were dying when we found you in the woods, Agnes. You were bitten by a pure-blood and you need to have her blood in your system to regain conciousness." Litanya ni Orellis habang nakatayo na sa kanyang upuan at pilit na ipinapaliwanag ang nangyari.

Bitten?

"We were under an illusion, priestess Agnes. Akala namin kasama ka pa namin ng marating namin ang Cohen dahil may babae ring kamukha mo na sumabay sa amin patungo dito. Tanging kami lang pala nina Ophelia, Demor, Jay at ako ang totoong nakarating ng Cohen. Si priest Larco, priest Angus at priest Eulises ay nasa loob rin ng isang ilusyon. Humingi kami ng tulong kay Orellis para mahanap kayong apat." Mahabang salaysay ni Verleen sa nangyari.