Notorious Nightingale

Prologue It was about night time when we finally saw a city, I looked at the map and it said that the place was Encora City, the land of fantasies.I didn’t get what that meant since “So, Wynonah, is this the place where the pearl inside you is leading us?” She nodded. “Yes. I am sure. The sirens are here.” “Alright. Off we go then.” I replied. Tumigil ang karwahe nang nasa pasukan na ito ng lugar, napapalibutan ito ng matayog na mga pader. May isang guwardiya ang lumapit. Nilabas naman ni Enzo ang gintong plaka na binigay ni Marshall bago kami umalis. “Pasensya sa abala, Monseur.” Saad ng guwardiya pagkatapos, “maaari ko po bang malaman kung sino kayo?” I fixed the veil that covered my hair and half of my face, sumilip ako sa bintana pagkatapos at sumagot, “we’re performers.” I replied, pagkatapos ay pinakita ko pa ang aking plauta sa kanila. “Ah, high class performers.” Tumango pa siya habang nakatingin sa gintong plaka. “Andito rin po ba kayo para mag-perform para sa festival bukas?” Tumaas naman ang kanang kilay ko, “ah, yes... Yes. We will perform.” “Medyo gabi na at ito pa lang ang unang pagkikita namin sa inyo, mukhang bago lang kayo sa siyudad na ito.” Saad ng isa sa dalawang mga guwardiya, “nais ninyo po bang idala namin kayo sa pinakasikat na tuluyan?” “That’d be a big help.” Enzo replied, “we are all exhausted as we travelled all the way from the Royal Capital.” “Sundan ninyo na lang ako.” Saad ng kasama ng guwardiya at saka siya sumakay sa kaniyang kabayo. Tuluyan na kaming pumasok sa siyudad habang nakasunod sa guwardiya, ang isa naman ay naiwan upang magbantay pa rin. “I remember, hindi namin kinailangan ng passage key sa Margaux City.” Tumingin ako kay Wynonah upang alamin kung bakit. Kumpara sa lahat ng mga lugar dito, kailangan mo ng plaka upang makapasok. Ang hawak namin ay ang pinakamataas na plata kung saan magiging libre ang lahat ng akomodasyon mo sa lugar basta’t hawak mo ito. Isa itong pribilehiyo. Kaya naman tinulungan agad kami ng isa sa mga guwardiya na maghanap ng matutulugan para sa gabi. “Well, it’s a city on water, mahirap magpatayo ng malalaking pader. Also, Margaux City is a neutral city. It is an open space for everyone, kahit galing ka sa ibang kaharian. We have our own autonomy there and the people have high regards to me, their protector, pero kabilang pa rin kami sa Nephyria. We are just neutral and we usually exclude ourselves on political affairs.” Tumango naman ako dahil sa aking nalaman. From inside the wagon, sumilip kami sa bintana ng sasakyan habang dinadaanan namin ang kalye ng Encora City. Maraming taong nakikipagsapalaran. There were a lot of open stores and the place was noisy—I can see merchants around and there were also gamblers and other performers. May mga ibang tao rin na naglalagay na ng mga makukulay na ilaw. It seems like they are all preparing for the said festival tomorrow. Naging mabagal ang usad namin dahil punong-puno ang kalye, mabuti na lang at mayroon ang guwardiya upang patabihin lahat ng mga nasa daanan para sa amin. “Where can they possibly be? This city is huge.” “They’re here somewhere.” Tanging sagot ni Wynonah. “Alright, dahil pagod tayo at galing tayo sa walang katapusang biyahe ng ilang araw, magpahinga muna tayo ngayong gabi. In the meantime, I want Shinigami to release some of his beasts to do an initial search for the sirens. Since your creatures can disguise in the darkness. It will be easier to mobilize and investigate the city.” Tumango naman si Shinigami matapos marinig ang aking utos, “I also have a heavy feeling about this place. I feel like despite its lively facade, there is something very sinister that is happening within.” “Kinakabahan ako—paano kung may galit din sa akin ang mga sirenang ililigtas natin?” Wynonah sighed, despair can be felt in the tone of her voice. “They won’t.” Lilith replied, “sirens are very reasonable creatures. While they may be surprised to find out that they have a new queen, they will also be indebted to you for saving their lives. So, they will admire you and follow you, as the one who was entrusted with the pearl that symbolizes your power over them. Also, the pearl that Karamela gave you—it did not reject you. The pearl is a way of seeing if you are fitted to be the queen of sirens, and the pearl accepted you. So, they will have no choice but to accept you too—if you are asking how I know of this, sweetheart, I am 699-years-old.” Ngumiti naman si Wynonah matapos, “thank you, Lilith.” She simply nodded. “Instead of worrying whether they will accept you, worry if you can save every one of them.” “Yes, you are right. Iyan ang rason kung bakit nandito tayo ngayon.” Tumingin siya sa akin pagkatapos at ngumiti, “maraming salamat, Zendaya... I am indebted to you. Not only that you saved my city, but you will also save the sirens whom I will rule.” “Like I said, Wynonah, you are already a part of the Night Court. Everyone of you here is my responsibility.”   Chapter 52 When we finally reached the inn, we thanked the guard who paved for our way. Enzo gave him one diamond coin and he seemed astonished for receiving such amount. He left with a smile on his face and he prayed that we will be well. “So, this is the most prestigious inn in the city.” I read the sign that was glowing on its big entry way—Madonnah Inn. Its architecture was majestic. Malalaman mo agad na para talaga ito sa mga mayayaman. Good thing that Marshall offered to us the gold plate. Bukod sa hindi na nila tinatanong kung sino kami, there is also a special treatment for us. May isang guwardiya ang lumapit muli, pinakita ni Enzo ang gintong plaka. Yumuko agad ang guwardiya at nagtawag ng iba pang mga tauhan. “Kami na po ang bahala sa karwahe. Ilang araw kayong mananatili sa siyudad na ito?” Tanong ng isa. He seems to be an attendant. “We do not know. We will be staying here, I guess for two nights and two days. It depends.” Sagot ko kasabay ng pagbaba namin sa karwahe. “Alright. Since you hold the gold plate, I will lead you to one of the best rooms in the inn. No need to trouble yourselves with the payment because as the rules say, any holder of the gold plate will have free accommodations.” The attendant announced. Pumasok na kami sa inn at giniya kami ng attendant patungo sa aming mga kuwarto. We landed on the topmost floor of the inn. We were around the twentieth floor. Good thing there was a lift that was powered with electricity so we didn’t have to walk the stairs anymore. “This room will be for the ladies as there are three beds here... And the room beside will be for the males.” The attendant said, he gave me and Enzo a key afterward. “If you need anything, just pull the bell that is attached on the wall inside the rooms. A maid will immediately come to seek for your needs. Also, free meals will be given accordingly.” “Alright, can we have our dinner sent to our rooms for tonight, then? We are too exhausted to go outside.” I asked. “Yes, Madame. Do not worry.” Ngumiti ang tagapagsilbi. “Iyon lang po ba?” “Ah, we are travelling performers actually and this city will have its festival tomorrow, right?” Tumango ang tagapagsilbi. “What festival is it?” “Magical Festival—this city is popular because of that. Maraming mga salamangkerong mag-aaral sa iba’t ibang akademiya ang gagamit ng kanilang mga kapangyarihan, but for entertainment purposes only, of course. Kaya magical ang tawag sa festival na ito. Kaya dagsaan ang mga tao ngayon dito dahil sa selebrasyon na magaganap bukas. At saka isa pa, may pakulong mangyayari bukas.” “Pakulo?” Kumunot ang noo ni Wynonah. “Yes... Sa gitna ng festival, magkakaroon ng auction.” And with that, the attendant left. Pumasok naman na kami sa aming mga kuwarto. When I searched for Lilith, I saw her grin at me inside the pocket of Shinigami’s cloak as they entered the other room. So, she decided to be with the boys. Nang nasa loob na kami ay agad na humiga sina Marayuka at Wynonah sa kanilang mga kama. Ako naman ay tumungo sa beranda ng silid. We were somehow at the center of the city—from above, I can see clearly of the place. The city seems to glow within the walls that surrounds it. I can see movements of people across the streets too—they were like busy ants. Napatingin ako sa tabi ko nang napansin kong may isang lalakeng lumabas din. It was Shinigami. “What are you doing outside?” I asked. “It’s cold.” “Summoning my night creatures.” Aniya. Oh, right. I commanded him to have his beasts to investigate the area so that we will have initial information on what’s going on, and if lucky enough, so we’d know where the sirens are. “How about you?” He asked. “Admiring the city... I’ve never been anywhere since I was a child. Laking palasyo ako... So, this is also like an adventure to me.” Somehow, the idea that I am able to talk this comfortably to Shinigami was weird. Also, he has this warm tug on my heart. I played with the ring that I wore after an hour of training a while ago. Pinaikot-ikot ko lang ito sa aking palasingsingan habang naghihintay ng susunod niyang gagawin. He unleashed the beasts and they were in the form of black smokes, they had different shapes—some where like birds who flew the sky, some were like wolves who ran across buildings. It was Shinigami’s magic. It was dark, yet beautiful. “I’ve never been anywhere too. I’ve been driven away ever since I was four years old. My family... They abandoned me when I awakened my powers. They were diehard devotees of the Church.” Was he actually opening up to me? Sumandal ako sa berindilya at lumapit nang bahagya sa kaniya. Tumingala ako sa himpapawid, then I admired the moon that is gazing down upon us. “I hated my magic... To be able to summon night creatures... Because it took everything away and I was branded as evil, even if I had no bad intentions. Hindi ko naman ginusto na magkaroon ng ganitong kapangyarihan. I hated it.” He sighed, “but I am slowly learning to love it because thanks to it, I met you and has become a part of your Night Court.” Biglang bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso dahil sa mga katagang binitawan niya. “I believe that you will be able to change the kingdom, Zendaya. That is also why I joined. I know you can turn your fantasies into reality.” I looked at him and he was staring at me intently with his golden eyes, they were glowing, a sign that he is currently using his magic. He was beautiful. And under the moonlight across the night sky that is sprinkled with more than ten thousand stars, his lips curved upwards. He was smiling—for the first time. “Thank you for believing in me...” I whispered. I was in a state of confusion—I couldn’t understand why my heart was pounding so fast and hard. ~*~ Question: What do you think is developing between Shinigami and Zendaya? ;)