Zendaya of the Night

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Hindi ko napigilan." He grinned. "Anyway, the house of my friend is on the innermost part of the Capital." Aniya. If so, then that means his friend is a noble or aristocrat. Sa lahat ng lugar dito, city or town, there is a structure that segregates people. Mula sa pinakalabas ay ang mga mahihirap at habang papaloob ka, ibig sabihin ay mas may kaya ka sa mga nasa labas. Those who lie at the center of cities and towns are usually the elites and aristocrats. That's how it has always been-a constant reminder than one can never associate with another of a different breeding. I hated that.

Muli kaming bumalik sa kalye at naglakad ni Enzo, sa gitna nito'y napansin naming dalawa na ang lahat ng tao ay biglang nagtitipon-tipon papunta sa Plaza. May hinarang si Enzo na isang sibilyan na papunta rin doon, "ano ang nangyayari?" Tanong nito.

"May anunsyo mula sa Palasyo at lahat ng tao ay sinabihan na pumunta sa Plaza upang manood muli ng broadcast." Aniya, "may problema ata dahil biglang nawala ang broadcast ng koronasyon ng prinsesa kanina."

"Salamat." Enzo said, the man nodded and walked towards the Plaza. Nagkatingin kami ni Enzo, it was enough. We both followed the crowd as well until we were finally at the Plaza. Sa taas ng isang matayog na gusali ay ang Reflector Mirror kung saan makikita si Pope Mateo. Kumunot ang aking noo nang mapansin na siya na ang nakaupo sa Grand Throne.

"Ano ang nangyayari? Asan ang prinsesa?" Rinig ko na ang tanong ng mga tao sa paligid. They were all confused by what they were seeing at the Reflector Mirror, gayon din ako ay naguguluhan.

"Everything was a setup to get rid of you." The voice in my head whispered. "They'll set you up again and turn all people against you."

Bigla kong naintindihan ang mga susunod na mangyayari. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Enzo nang mahigpit, he just looked at me with a worried expression, I faked a smile.

"I am Pope Mateo Xavier III, the head of the Church." The broadcast started; the voice of Pope Mateo echoed across the Capital. Everyone was watching intently as they waited for answers, and they all fell silent when the pope has spoken.

"Tonight, there was a tragedy that has occurred on a time that is supposed to be for celebration. However, I am saddened to say that the old King, Zenovia Exellencia Nightingale, was murdered."

The broadcast moved towards the remains of my father, kumuyom ang aking kamao at muling nagilid ng luha sa aking mga mata. Suminghap ang mga tao at halata dahil sa kanilang nabalitaan. They were already asking who did it.

"I am saddened to announce as well that the killer happens to be his daughter, Zendaya Zandeyi, who is supposed to be crowned as our new King. The broadcast was suddenly interrupted because of that. All this time, we have been fooled as well. Zendaya Zandeyi is a wielder of Cursed Magic, the magic that has been strictly forbidden by the Church for it is an evil form of magic."

Suminghap muli ang mga tao dahil sa kanilang narinig. Ako naman ay napatulala sa kawalan dahil sa aking narinig. Ako ang pumatay sa aking ama? Liar!

I finally got it. Like what the voice has told me, this was all a set up to bring me and my family down. I finally connected the dots-as to why Pope Mateo is now sitting on the Grand Throne. He also wanted power himself. Now, he has it. Wala akong ibang naramdaman ngayon kundi ang galit at pighati.

I looked at the pope's face on the screen. I will take him down. I will do any means just to do it... And I will take back what is mine, that is now his. I will make him pay along with those who helped him to fulfill this scheme.

"At a time of crisis like this, there is hope though. In the absence of the royal family, as there is no longer a Nightingale to rule over this land and the Church is second to power with the Royal Family that has come to its conclusion, given my wisdom that has been blessed upon me by God himself, I will serve as your new King, Pope-King Mateo Xavier III."

"In addition, I would like to announce that we have failed to capture Zendaya Zandeyi-she has escaped the palace, however, I have already sent men and deployed magicians as well who will try their best to capture her, dead or alive, we will no longer address her with the title of a royal highness as she is stripped off her title, properties, and everything. Besides the fact that she has killed the king, she has also killed thirty-five holy knights." The broadcast once again turned over the stone-cold bodies of the knights who came after us and the Grand Hall that was in a state of ruins. "This is the evil magic of Zendaya Zandeyi, she has finally shown her true colors to us."

Biglang nagsigawan ang mga tao sa paligid, they were all mad and screaming my name, telling me to go to hell already. A lot of them screamed, mostly were women, that they rooted for me, the poor cried in disappointment as well, and said they thought I was better.

I cried. I felt my soul breaking apart. They were screaming that and here I was, hidden in plain sight.

Hinila ako ni Enzo at saka niyakap nang mahigpit, sinuksok ko ang aking mukha sa kaniyang dibdib at muling umiyak.

"I also would like to ask for the kingdom's cooperation. By virtue of the Sacred Scripture, any wielder of Cursed Magic shall be executed and those who will try to protect them will be prosecuted as well. If you happen to know or have any information about Zendaya Zandeyi, and also, her knight, Enzo Machiavelli, who decided to protect and help her escape, tell us. We will give you rewards."

And with that, the light from the Reflector Mirror vanished, and everyone was in a state of confusion by what just happened. The crowd dispersed after the broadcast-the celebration has stopped and everyone looked sad-they all loved my father, the King, after all.

"We need to get moving." Enzo stated as I was still out of my mind. "Snap out of it, Zendaya."

"This was all a setup."

"Yes..." He sighed. "And if you really want to have your revenge, you need to be strong."

I nodded and tried to clear my thoughts. "You are right... The truth shall prevail."

And with that, we moved again towards the center of the Capital, to the place were Enzo's friend lies.