F I V E : THE START OF THE BEGINNING

“YOU CAN do that but not now, Montavros.” Matiim na saad ni Amara. “Our force is not enough to take down Primo’s Rogue Empire. At sa nangyari sa pack, our Alliance with others were blocked. The mission was unsuccessful. This is….” Nanghihinang napahawak sa ulo niya si Amara. “Those damn rogues…”

Hinawakan ni Adam sa balikat si Amara at iginiya paupo sa sofa. Nakasunod lang sa kanila si Andrel na balisa rin at iniisip ang pack na kinuha ni Primo.

“Rest a bit, Amara” Tumingin siya kay Andrel. “Don’t get tensed up, Beta. This is what Primo wants, he’s messing with our heads and mental state, so hang on. We still have a way out.” Aniya na naging dahilan nang sabay na pagtingin sa kaniya ni Amara at Andrel.

“What are you talking about, Montavros?” asked Amara.

“Andrel, take care of the Coven. Protect the Great Adria, I  trust you, Beta.” Mababakas ang kalituhan sa mukha ng Beta ngunit tinapik niya lamang ito sa balikat. Binalingan niya si Amara na naguguluhan na rin sa mga sinasabi niya. “Amara, gather the Coven and the rest of the commoners,” he’s talking about the werewolves who doesn’t have the blood of Elites but still have the strength that can match up with vampires.  “Tell them that a great war is coming and we must strengthen up our force. Witches will cast the spell barriers around the borders, and Andrel will train all the commoners. We have to hurry.”

“What about you? Why are you telling us this?” sabat ni Andrel na gulong-gulo na sa nangyayari.

“I’ll go build some alliance with other races. Primo must have taken our Elite pack, but he doesn’t know that the Alpha is back. I’ll take him down his grave, that damn old fart.”

“What about, Ember?” ani Amara.

“Oh, about that, can you please make something that can ease the pain, better if it can make her don’t feel the pain whenever I’m around? I want her to come with me. Isusugal ko kung siya ba talaga si Selene, at kapag kasama ko siya sa mission na’to, maaaring matrigger ang mga ala-ala niya sa mga lugar na pupuntahan namin. Trust me, Amara, Andrel, I’ll sort this all out.”

NAKATUNGHAY si Ember sa labas ng bintana at pinapanood ang napakagandang tanawin sa ibaba. Para siyang bumalik sa sinaunang panahon kung saan hindi pa natutuklasan ang gadgets. Nilanghap niya ang hangin, ang sarap sa pakiramdam. Malayong-malayo sa nakagisnan niya sa siyudad. Bumalik siya sa kama at naupo. Naiisip niya ang  nangyayari sa buhya niya. Parang noong isang gabi, payapa siyang naglalakad pauwi sa ilalim ng buwan. But look at her now, confused sa nangyayari sa buhay niya. Magmula sa mga ala-alang binubulabog siya, ang lalaking may luntian at asul na mga mata, ang babaeng tinawag na Ina ang Grandma Desirina niya, ang Coven at ang pack. Damn, parang sa isang kisap-mata lang, tuluyang nagbago ang buhay niya.

Napalingon siya sa pintuan nang bumukas iyon at bumungad si Zey. Her cold tantalizing eyes really resembled her Grandma’s.

“I know you’re thinking about my resemblance with your Grandma.” She shivered as she heard Zey speak. Even their voice are alike.

“W-Well, yeah. I can s-see my Grandma in you. You know, younger version?” A small smile crept into the other witch’s lips. She smiled as well and with that, she knew that a bond has been established between them.

“You know, I don’t really know your Grandma. Kanina ko lang nalaman na we’re kind of related since my mother, magpinsan sila ni Amara. That makes Desirina my Grandma, too.” Nakangiting saad ng witch. Ember’s smile turned lame as she remembers something.

“At least, you know, your origin, your roots. I was born with only Grandma Desirina by my side. I don’t really know if we’re even blood-related. That Amara. She said, nanay nya si Grandma. Do you think, possible na ina ko si Amara?”  Bakas ang kalungkutan at kaba sa boses ni Ember. Zey smiled more and hold her shoulder.

“Wait! If ever na Mother mo si Amara, that makes the two us, cousins?? Owemjiiii!” Tumitiling saad ni Zey. Natawa si Ember. Prim and proper ang first impression niya sa babae pero eto ngayon, kavibes nya pala.

“Stop, haha. Di pa sure na Ina ko nga siya.” Malungkot niyang saad. “Isa pa, wala akong maramdamang lukso ng dugo. Alam mo ‘yon? Sa movies? Haha. Pero nung nakita ko siya kanina, may iba talaga, eh. As if kilala ko siya. Na para bang matagal ko na siyang kilala. I don’t know.”

“She called you, Selene-”

“Isa pa ‘yang Selene na’yan. Mula pagkabata, sumasagi sa vision ko ang pangalan na’yan. Then may nakikita akong babaeng blurred ang mukha. She-she’s crying…pleading.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Zey with matching patakip-takip pa sa bibig.

“Is that true?”

“Yeah. Then, that guy. The one with blue and green eyes… he’s kind of …familiar. I don’t know! Baka epekto lang ‘to ng muntik ko ng pagkamatay, haha.”

“Wait, you mean…the Alpha? The one who has blue and green eyes? Shit! Oo nga pala! They’re talking about you, being his Luna. I mean, that Selene which he pertains as you.” Tila hindi makapaniwala si Zey. “Damn girl. Your life’s a mess.”

“But, I’m a witch. How come I’m his Luna?”

“To be honest, hindi ko rin alam. You see, lampas 200 years na natulog ang Alpha. ‘Yon ay nang mamatay ang Luna niya, 230 years ago. He swore na hindi siya magigising maliban na lamang kung muli niyang mararamdaman ang presensiya ng kaniyang Luna. Ni Selene. Kaya nga nagulat kami nang makita namin siyang kalong ka habang wala kang malay kanina paglampas ng alas dose. We already knew he’s the Alpha because of his presence. Ang hindi ko maintindihan, ay paano at bakit ka nila tinatawag na Selene? Sa tingin mo, may possibility na ikaw nga si Selene?”

She took a deep breathe. Hindi niya maintindihan. Gulong-gulo na ang isip niya.

“He carried me? Do you mean… when I lost my consciousness earlier? Shit! So sya nga yun! Damn, damn, damn!. I don’t know, what’s going on, anymore.”

Kinabig siya ni Zey at niyakap. Bakas din sa mukha nito ang awa at lungkot para sa kaniya.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa noon si Amara kasama si Alyana. Napabitaw silang dalawa sa yakap at sabay na tumayo.

“Oh! You’re here, Zey.” Ani Amara. Zey only smiled at yumakap sa Inang si Alyana. Natatawang ginulo naman ni Alyana ang buhok ng anak. Ember smiles too as she think of her having a mother.

“You want hugs too? I can give you one or two? How many do you want?” Nakangiting tanong ni Amara. Wala ang maootoridad nitong aura kaya naman ang gaan ng atmospera ng paligid.

“Nah, but thank you.” Matipid niyang sagot sa pinuno ng Coven. “Why are you here, btw?”

“Oh! We came to let you know about the condition of your heart. It hurts, right?” Tanong nito na nagpakunot sa noo niya.

“Yeah?”

“But do you have any idea, why does it hurts?” She shook her head.

“I have none.”

“It’s because of the Alpha. Hindi rin namin alam, kung bakit. But isa lang ang sigurado ayon sa obserbasyon ko. You’re in pain whenever the Alpha’s around like at least 10 meters from you?” Naguguluhan man, ay tumango-tango siya. Naalala niya noong sobrang nanakit ang dibdib niya kanina paglampas ng alas dose. Kasabay noon ay ang paglitaw ng Alpha. At pagbaba niya noong tinanong niya si Amara kung ito ba ang nanay niya. Noong binuhat siya nito, halos mawalan siya ng ulirat. Ngunit nang dalhin na siya ni Zey paakyat ay unti-unting nawala ang sakit. What Amara had said, makes sense. It seems like, the guy who possess the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen, is the one who’s been inflicting her the pain.

Lumapit si Amara sa kaniya at ipinatong ang kanang kamay nito sa kaliwang bahagi ng dibdib niya. She flinched but she didn’t moved away. Maybe because she wants to know the reason why Amara did that. Naramdaman niya ang pangangatal ng kamay ni Amara nang alisin nito ang kamay mula sa dibdib niya.

“What’s wrong?” Alyana asked. Amara only shooked her head and pulled out a thin square small box and opened it. Zey’s and Ember’s eyes widened as they saw what was inside the box.

“A ring made of diamonds?” asked Zey.

“And golds?” asked she.

“Yes. You both are right.” Nakangiting sagot ni Amara. Bumaling ito sa kaniya at nagsalita. “Ember, you have to wear this. This is the only solution I could think of for your heart not to be in pain whenever the Alpha’s around.”

“Hindi na rin kailangan ‘yan, Amara. Well, Ardin told me na I’ll stay her for the meanwhile until my wounds are healed. Now it’s all healed and I think, siguro, pwede na ako umuwi?” Aniya kahit ang totoo ay gusto niyang manatili upang malaman ang tunay niyang pagkatao.

“Oh, dear. I’m afraid you can’t leave. As of this moment, the pack is in danger because of the mission.”

“What do you mean?’ Zey asked with her forehead knitted.

“Andrel didn’t tell you?” Alyana asked making Zey’s forehead crease even more.

“Arch has died on Drianna. And the rest of the pack except Axe and Art na kasama ni Arch, ay kinuha ni Primo. That means the pack is now in danger and we don’t know what Primo will do to them.” Paliwanag ni Alyana na nagpailing kay Zey.

“No.. Arch… that can’t be.” Tears started streaming down her face. Hindi man alam ni Ember ang relasyon sa pagitang ni Arch at Zey pero dama niya ang sakit sa bawat pagbagsak ng luha ng dalaga. Tumalikod ito at walang paalam na umalis. Alyana looked at Amara. Amara nodded and smiled a bit.

“Go, follow her.” Saad niya at agad namang tumalima si Alyana.

“Now, wear this, Ember.” Baling ni Amara sa kaniya. Isinuot nito ang singsing sa daliri niya at isang pakiramdam ang napukaw sa dibdib niya. Pakiramdam ng pangungulila.

“Don’t lose this ring. It will also serve as your protection.”

“Why are you doing this, Amara?”

“Because you are going with the Alpha. You will gather the different races, to start the war against the Rogue Vampire Empire, Primo is intending to do.”