Zendaya of the Night

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Habang naglalakad kami ni Enzo ay may nakita kaming ilog. Agad naman kaming tumungo roon upang linisin ang sarili. I rinsed off the blood on my fingers, naghilamos din ako at nilinis ang ibang parte ng katawan. As I was thirsty as well, I took a drink from the freshwater.

It was already midnight. From this distance, we can still see the palace that stood on top of the hill. Its structure screamed of power and richness. I cannot believe that I used to live in that place. I cannot believe that I no longer am.

"Kailangan nating makapunta sa Capital, may kilala akong kaibigan doon na maaaring makatulong sa atin," ani Enzo.

"Can we trust that person? We are the most wanted person right now in this kingdom." Sagot ko naman sa kaniya.

"I trust that man. We're like unrelated brothers." He replied, "don't worry, I can assure you that he won't betray us." He assured.

Tumango naman ako. Hinubad ko na ang koronang suot ko pa rin hanggang ngayon, tiningnan lang ako ni Enzo habang nakatitig ako sa bagay na ito-the symbol of being the head of this kingdom. This treasure that has been handed down to those who were destined to rule. Kahit pa man na nasa akin ito, hindi pa rin maikakaila na wala na sa akin ang trono. It's just another useless piece of gold.

Binato ko ito sa ilog, pinagmasdan ko itong lumubog sa katubigan hangga't sa unti-unting kumupas ang kulay nito't nawala.

"Let's go." Utos ko kay Enzo.

He just shook his head in dismay, "puwede sana nating isanla ang korona o ibenta. Wala tayong pera. Sayang."

My jaw dropped upon realization of my stupidity, "oh my."

He just chuckled, "it's alright." He grabbed his sword and helped me up. Afterward, we started walking again to the Capital where his friend lies.

It took us nearly two hours until we reached the gate of the kingdom's Capital. It was the biggest city of Nephyria and the center of slave trade. I've only been out of the palace for several times and I basically lived my whole life inside it, so seeing the world as it is right now is quite frightening and fascinating at the same time. I would have had enjoyed if the circumstances were different.

Nakatago kami ngayon ni Enzo sa likod ng puno habang nakasilip sa tarangkahan na binabantayan ng dalawang guwardiya. Pinapalibutan ng matayog na pader ang Capital at ang natatanging pasukan lang nito ay ang tarangkahan na aming minamasdan. The security was tight too.

"How can we get pass them without them noticing us?" Enzo asked out of the blue, as if he was thinking of ways that will ensure that no one will see us. By now, the entire Capital must be shaken along with the other cities and towns of the kingdom, as they have found out about what happened. I cannot believe that I am fighting to protect a kingdom that is against me.

"Use me." The voice whispered in my mind.

By now, I have already recovered a quarter of my strength. Muli kong hinubad ang aking suot na singsing at saka ako tumingin sa aming dalawa ni Enzo. Power came back to my body again and they were screaming once more to be used. I feel it twisting inside me-it felt beautiful. I felt powerful in my insides, and at the same time, exhausted physically.

I looked at the guards at the gate, "sleep." My mind commanded as my eyes were on them, as if on cue, they fell on the floor.

"What did you do?"

"Put them to sleep. Let's go." Naglakad na kami ni Enzo papasok ng Capital. Agad namang bumungad sa amin ang maraming mga pamilihan sa kalye. Sinuot ko muli ang aking singsing, afraid to be separated due to the crowd, I held on Enzo's arm.

"The place is lively as always." Aniya. "And given how lively it is, mukhang hindi pa nakakaabot dito ang balita tungkol sa nangyari kanina."

Right. The two magicians somehow stopped broadcasting midway the coronation, so people outside the palace are unaware of what has happened. But if they do, will they side with me or with the Church? As I have been branded a reincarnation of the devil, I guess most people, if not all, will side with Pope Mateo.

It was a good thing that the street was crowded and filled with people though, it was easier to camouflage. Tumingala ako at nakita ko ang mga lumulutang na ilaw-I was mesmerized. They were fairy lights. Tila nasa isang selebrasyon ang Capital ngayon. Oh, right. Today was supposed to be the coronation of a new King, my coronation. The whole kingdom is celebrating... Little do they know, though.

So, I guess that explains why the place was very lively. There were a lot of people wearing their traditional Nephyria dress-women wore jewelries that matched their dresses, and most had tiaras on, while most men wore their tuxedos, with some wearing crowns over their head.

There was music too and most people were dancing. We stopped by at one of the stalls selling cloaks, Enzo bought two, we both wore that and we hid our faces with the hood.

Habang naglalakad kami ay may lalakeng bumangga kay Enzo, the man was already drunk. "Tingnan mo ang dinadaanan mo!" Gigil na sabi ng lalake.

Sumimangot lang si Enzo, the drunkard looked at me afterward, bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking kamay at kay Enzo na magkahawak, "ang ganda naman ng alipin mo!" Aniya, ngumisi pa ang lasing na lalake at saka bumulong kay Enzo ngunit narinig ko naman, "magkano ang alipin mo para sa isang gabi?" Bulong nito. "Ako ang anak ng mayor ng lugar na ito, kaya kitang bayaran kahit ilan pa ang gusto mo."

Naramdaman ko ang pagkulo ng aking dugo, bago ko pa man masampal ang lalake ay nagulat ako nang bigla na lang dumapo ang kamao ni Enzo sa mukha nito dahilan upang mapaurong siya ng ilang hakbang at mapaupo sa ladrilyo. The drunkard looked at Enzo in shock. "Hindi mo ba ako kilala?!"

"Ikaw ang anak ng mayor ng Capital." May pang-aasar na sagot ni Enzo, "e ano ngayon?"

Galit na tumayo ang lalake at saka sumigaw, "guards! Sinuntok ako ng lalakeng ito!" May mga lumapit agad na mga guwardiya ngunit nahirapan din sila dahil sa dami ng tao sa kalye. Humakbang si Enzo palapit sa lalake at saka niya ito tinitigan nang masama, bigla ko namang naramdaman ang takot sa mga mata ng lalakeng tumawag sa akin ng alipin. "Ipagdasal mo na hindi pa muling magkrus ang ating landas dahil sa susunod, hindi lang suntok ang makukuha mo sa akin. Hindi ko papalampasin ang pambabastos mo sa kaniya." Aniya sabay turo sa akin.

Napaurong naman ang lasing na lalake at tumakbo papunta sa mga guwardiya nito. Afterward, Enzo took my hand once more and we ran as some of the guards chased after us. We stopped at a dark corner in between two old buildings, sumilip si Enzo upang tingnan kung nawala ba namin sila. He looked at me and chuckled, "that felt good."

"Inunahan mo ako. Ako sana ang sasampal sa kaniya."