Zendaya of the Night

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

When we were finally in the forest just outside the Kingdom Palace that was built on top of Mt. Aisaiah, Enzo kept on running as he carried me with his bare arms. I wanted to run myself as well but I was drained so much of my energy. I didn't think it'd take a toll on my body, just the mere fact that I am using my newly awakened magic.

"Your body cannot handle the immense power that you hold." The voice in my head said. "You are already at your limit."

"I know." I replied.

"But you've seen what you can do... You are stronger than you think you are."

When we were already far enough and there were no signs of Holy Knights in pursuit of us, Enzo stopped. Bumaba naman na ako mula sa pagkakabuhat sa kaniya at pareho kaming sumandal sa punong acacia. Habol ni Enzo ang kaniyang paghinga. He's been running for half an hour already. It's a good thing that we managed to lose those who were chasing us.

As I felt like my powers are still raging and uncontrollable, muli kong sinuot ang singsing na regalo sa akin ng aking ama. The power that is overwhelming me and my body has subsided automatically, as if they were contained. Bumuntonghininga naman ako at tumingala sa himpapawid. The moon was unusually close and it glowed a different kind of glow-red, sinister, and angry.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at muli kong naalala ang mga tauhan na naging bato at abo. I cannot believe that I killed not only one or two, but more than my fingers can count. Muli kong tiningnan ang aking mga daliri na ngayo'y nababalot ng tuyong dugo ng aking ama. Muling tumulo ng luha sa aking mga mata. I never managed to tell him how I love him so much as well.

"Maybe I really deserve to die, like what Pope Mateo said." Those just came out of the blue as I reflected on the things happened tonight-I just found out that I killed my mother when I was young because of this cursed magic and that my memories of that were suppressed, and secondly, I could have saved my father if only I took off the ring sooner. I was full of regrets. I didn't think I deserved to live after all these things.

Enzo stared at me. His eyes became infuriated immediately.

"If you're planning to die now, then you'll only put the death of your father in vain." Aniya. "Wala ka sa tamang pag-iisip ngayon, which is why you need to rest."

Kinagat ko ang babang-labi ko, I tried suppressing my tears but they wouldn't budge, tila may sarili silang mga buhay. "But you've seen what I can do, Enzo... I'm not the Zendaya you used to know. I don't even know myself anymore."

"Then take your time trying to figure out who and what you are, and as you do, I'd always say you are you, Zendaya is Zendaya, kahit maging ano o sino ka man. Ikaw ang matalik kong kaibigan, ang prinsensa ng kaharian na ito, at ang babaeng marangal."

Hindi ako umimik, mula sa pagkatitig sa himpapawid ay bumagsak ang aking tingin sa kaniya. He looked at me intently, we were in complete darkness, with a little illumination of the bloodshot moon, under the shade of the acacia tree that is centuries older than us, "why did you try and save me, Enzo? Now, for sure, the entire kingdom will also be against you." I felt guilty that I brought this upon him too.

"It is my choice." Aniya, "and I was decreed by King Zenovia to protect you, and I made my vow. My loyalty is with you, Zendaya."

"I cannot give you anything... I'm a nobody now, an exile. I no longer have a place in the world."

"You don't have to give me anything, just let me serve you the way I always do. And you are not a nobody, you will always be Zendaya Zandeyi, and if you do not have a place in the world-make one."

I do not know why, but the words of Enzo gave a calming sensation in my heart. It was as if he was caressing my soul, to put me into tranquility. "Thank you, Enzo."

Tumatak sa aking isip ang muling sinabi ni Enzo.

At first, I thought about dying too-and it was irresponsible of me to think of that. I was only running away from my problems. I had dreams for the kingdom, for its people... I wanted to reform its system. Dying will not solve anything, it will just mean giving those people who took everything away from me what they want. And I don't want that.