A/N Ok, guys. From now on, Señora Esperanza will be known as Doña Esperanza. Please forgive me for being so slow and so stupid. Sorry. Speaking of my ignorance, I forgot to put that Jesus is the Son of David/Root of David through Saint Joseph, his foster father, not Mama Mary. Again, sorry. But, Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, guys! Enjoy reading!
Padre Draco immerses himself in the long river of Filipinos, Spaniards and foreigners. The Filipinos and Spaniards have one thing in common: great reverence for the priests. To show him how much they respect him and wish to please him, they greet him in their Spanish tongues, bow down a bit or even kiss his fat, right hand.
Yes; he loves the attention he is receiving. Yes; he feels supreme satisfaction rushing throughout his body whenever honor pays him a quick visit. But one thing that annoys him is the tiring business his hands are doing. When one comes to kiss his hand, his right hand has to surrender the basket to his left hand. Once the one who kissed his hand goes away, his left hand returns the basket to his right hand.
Why not use your left hand for carrying that basket? That way, your trip will be easier and faster. A thought said.
Shut up, Satan. I would rather use my pure hand in everything instead of my dirty hand. Even if you will cut off my right hand, I will never use my left hand. Padre Draco said back to the thought.
As Padre Draco received Padre Ronald's absolution, God gave him the chance to arrive safely to his destination. May his plan be executed with success.
Instead of being welcomed by a lovely, little maid at the doorstep, he witnesses a furious Don Oscar bursting out of the house like a bullet. From behind, his wife and mother beg him to calm down while catching up with him.
The second thing he notices is a blonde woman's head popping out of the window of a carriage. Since he has not tasted a woman for three months, he decided to treat himself with another one.
"Ah. Good morning, señorita." Padre Draco said, slumping on the door of the carriage.
"Oh. Good morning, Father." Elise said meekly then returned to watching the trio.
"Are you looking at them?" Padre Draco asked.
"Yes." Elise replied. "Father, is Madame Esperanza one of the women following Monsieur Oscar?" She asked.
"Ah. You're a French woman." Padre Draco said, becoming more infatuated with her.
"Yes. But, Father, I want my question to be answered." Elise said, feeling a bit frustrated.
"If you want your question to be answered, get down from that carriage." Padre Draco said, hiding the excitement his heart contains.
Elise withdraws her head and proceeds to open the door. Padre Draco, in a move to sweep her off her feet, helps her get down from the carriage. At the moment she got off the carriage, Padre Draco considers her the most beautiful pearl of France. The army of Spaniard ladies attract him so much that he calls them his dear and sweet angels. The battalion of Filipina servants make him so ecstatic that he calls them his native goddesses. But most outstanding woman is Elise. Her hazel eyes reflect his aging face; her rosy cheeks and rosy lips soften his heart; her aquiline nose astonishes him; her thin body figure forces him to wish that he could invite her to his nightly feasts and make
"Father, what is wrong with you?" Elise asked, feeling very nervous.
"Forgive me, child. But I have never seen a beautiful angel like you." Padre Draco said, causing her to giggle.
"Thank you very much, Father. I have never heard such kind words from a man like you." Elise said.
"Well, you will hear a lot of kind words from me." Padre Draco assured her. "What is your name?" He asked.
"Elise. I am a servant of Monsieur Henri Frollo." Elise said, putting the priest into a trance of shock. "And you must be..." She said, inquiring his name.
"Oh. I am Padre Draco Paolo Borromeo y Buenaventura. I am the parish priest of the mighty Church of San Lorenzo." Padre Draco said, impressing the girl even more.
"Whenever Monsieur Claude comes to visit my master, he would tell him good things about you." Elise said.
"Really?" Padre Draco asked, feeling very elated.
"Yes." Elise said.
Mae-Mae appears, along with her shocked face. Now that Elise is out of the carriage, she knows the truth. Knowing what she must do, she tells Elise to get on the carriage.
"Who do you think you are to give her such commands, Indio?" Padre Draco asked, glaring at her.
"My master sent me here to look after her." Elise replied, calming down Padre Draco.
"Why?" Padre Draco asked.
"Because-" Elise's reply was cut off by Mae-Mae shoving her into the carriage and being the one to give the answer.
"Because Don Enrique said so." Mae-Mae said then kissed his hand. She kissed his hand not because she wants to respect him, but because she does not want him to display his anger.
She gets on the carriage and closes the door. At her request, the coachman takes them away. Padre Draco sighs heavily, frustrated by the fact that he cannot taste another girl. He directs his eyes towards Heaven, thinking that Elise was sent to Earth to tempt him to fall into sin. However, he passed the new test of God. Out of pride, he sends up words of gratitude to God with his Latin tongue. With things settled down, he enters the house of Claude.
"Remember that always, Elise." Mae-Mae said.
"Yes, Mae-Mae." Elise said.
While the carriage was moving away, Mae-Mae taught Elise a lesson about trust. In this world, the sheep walk among the wolves and the wolves walk among the sheep. Therefore, trust must be distributed to the sheep and kept hidden from the wolves. If the sheep were trusted, things will be fine. But if the wolves were trusted over the sheep, things will go bad. With a risky situation in their hands, they must be careful on who to side with or fight against.
Elise thought otherwise. She protested, claiming that Padre Draco is a very nice man. Mae-Mae says that even the wolves can wear the wool of the sheep. Elise, not understanding the meaning of Mae-Mae's statement, asks her to explain it. Mae-Mae tells her that some people are pretending to be nice so they can deceive others. Once again, she reminds her the lesson she taught her. Hence why she leaves Elise the duty to always keep it in her heart and mind.
"Mae-Mae, is Madame Esperanza in Spain or in here?" Elise asked.
"What makes you say that?" Mae-Mae asked.
"I was taking a nap when I heard an angry man coming out of the house. I looked through the window to find out who it was and I found Doña Joaquina and Madame Esperanza following him." Elise replied, causing Mae-Mae to sigh sorrowfully.
Elise is as innocent as a flower and more honest than a Spaniard nun. Therefore, Mae-Mae believes that she is the real wolf in Elise's life, not outsiders like Padre Draco. Little by little, she is deceiving not only God, but also herself; piece by piece, she is disobeying the rule of fortitude her parents gave her before they lost their lives to dysentery. Moreover, she is betraying her precious children, who look up to her and her beloved husband as moral heroes.
If only she could tell the coachman to stop the carriage, allow herself to open the door and throw up somewhere. Thereafter, she could get everything off her chest. However, the justice her masters yearn for stop fulfilling her plan.
While talking about the plan, Claude and Don Oscar force her to accept a new yet dangerous mindset. She must place the truth on an altar for justice as a delicious sacrifice. No matter how high her guilt grows, the truth is still the sole sacrfice. Once the sacrifice is done, she can return to her old life and believe everything that happened was just a dream. Padre Mathias comforts her, assuring her that he will help her repent. Because of his words of comfort, Mae-Mae decided to agree to their plan.
"What's wrong?" Elise asked, alarmed by Mae-Mae's distressing sigh.
"Nothing. I...I am just pressured because of Doña Esperanza's cousin, Doña Amalia." Mae-Mae replied, resting her head on her hand.
"I don't like that woman too." Elise said, staring at the floor as she remembers Doña Amalia's malicious acts. "She is so full of evil like my master. I hope God will take her away soon." She added.
"Don't worry. She will not go to where we are going." Mae-Mae assured her.
"Where are we going?" Elise asked.
"To the mansion of Padre Mathias." Mae-Mae replied.
"Why?" Elise asked.
"I will go to Spain to bring back Doña Esperanza while you will stay there and wait for us." Mae-Mae replied.
"Alright." Elise said.
Back in the house of Claude, Jose leaves to give way to the impatient Padre Draco. Prior to Jose's departure, the priest had to pass through another eternity before seeing Claude.
During his wait, he entertained himself with a cup of hot cocoa and ten pieces of fresh pan de sal. After finishing the whole plate and draining the entire cup, he found himself still waiting for the right time to see Claude. So, he proceeded to hear Quasimodo ring the bells of the church, calling everybody to attend the Mass of Padre Ronald. Once the bells became silent, he moved on to watch the time go by through the grandfather clock and mutter a curse or two. Suddenly, a servant approached him and told him that he can go to Claude's bedroom. He, with relief and irritation, rose up from his seat and marched to the bedroom.
At the doorway, he becomes the second witness to Jose's departure. His departure causes him to be relieved. But what made him more relieved was the sight of the stoic Claude.
"Good morning, Don Claudio." Padre Draco greeted, smiling sincerely.
"Good morning, Padre Draco." Claude replied stoically.
With a wave of his hand, Claude allows the priest to walk further and sit down on a comfortable chair.
"How are you today?" Padre Draco asked.
"Here I am, lying down as I wait for my wounds to heal." Claude replied.
"Yet there are times when you can get out of bed and do things you should not do." Padre Draco said, annoying Claude. "So, can you do the favor I ask from you?" He asked, causing Claude to chuckle fondly.
"Good. You're still the fickle Padre Draco the whole city of San Lorenzo knows." Claude said then went back to chuckling. His statement causes Padre Draco to disguise his humiliation with an awkward laugh.
"Good. You're still the snarky Don Claudio everybody knows." Padre Draco said.
"Forgive me, for I cannot do the favor." Claude said.
"For God's sake, you better be joking!" Padre Draco said, startled by Claude's statement.
"For God's sake, don't tell me you forgot that I am not as humorous as Saint Philip!" Claude said back.
"Why can't you do the favor?" Padre Draco asked.
"Let me explain." Claude replied.
Padre Isaac is taking a serene walk beside a river. Every step that he takes, a memory creeps into his mind. From the day he and Helena fell in love to the day she died; from the day of Pedro's birth to the day he learned how to walk and talk; from the moments of playing with him to the moments of teaching him; from the moments of joking around with him to the moments of disciplining him; from the days of hugging him to the day of letting him go; Padre Isaac considers all of these memories as beautifully sacred things. He stops walking and kneels down to pray.
"Deus, omnipotens Pater, gratias ago tibi pro dans mihi Helenae et Petro quia... (God, Father Almighty, thank you for giving me Helena and Pedro...)" Padre Isaac said wholeheartedly. Subsequently, the thought of them leaving hit him. "Et auferentesque de me. (And for taking them away from me.)" He added, remembering how important it is to thank God whenever one faces a lot of trials.
As if out of nowhere, he feels something pointy touching the back of his head. He turns around and sees a guard pointing his rifle at him. Padre Isaac, not wanting to be arrested, thinks of a plan to escape the guards.
"We have you cornered, Padre Isaac Altamirano." Benedicto said.
"Hijo, please help me stand up. I am too weak to get up." Padre Isaac said, earning Benedicto's pity. He puts down his rifle and assists the priest to get up. "Thank you very much, hijo. But I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." He said, patting Benedicto's arm.
"Forgive you for what?" Benedicto asked.
"For this!" Padre Isaac said then punched Benedicto's face.
Benedicto falls on his knees due to the pain, letting Padre Isaac run away. The commander and a majority of the guards run away whereas the minority are left behind to take care of Benedicto.
"Maayos lang ako, mga kasama. Kaya ko pa naman ito. (I am fine, my friends. I can still do this.)" Benedicto said, standing up to get ready to chase the priest.
"Sigurado ka ba, Benedicto? (Are you sure, Benedicto?)" A guard asked.
"Oo. (Yes.)" Benedicto replied. "Ano pa ba ang hinihintay natin? Sugod na tayo ngayon! (What else are we waiting for? Let's charge right now!)" He said, rallying the guards to hunt down the priest and bring him to the Governor-General.
As they run through the forest, their heartbeats increase, along with the speed of their running legs. They go around a lot of trees and avoid stepping on big rocks. The whole chase overwhelms the priest so much that he swears to God that he can hear a choir of angels singing "Dies Irae". Since the guards are much closer now, Padre Isaac runs back to the river. Having no other choice, he jumps into the river and allows the strong current to carry him away.
"¡Hijo de Satanas! (Son of Satan!)" The commander muttered.
"Señor, ano po ba ang gagawin natin ngayon? (Sir, what should we do now?)" A guard asked.
"Gagawin ko ang dapat kong gawin. (I will do what I must do.)" Benedicto said then did one of the craziest things in his whole life. He removes his hat and coat, leaving his shirt, his pants and his father's rosary untouched.
"Benedicto, huwag kang tatalon sa ilog! (Benedicto, don't jump in the river!)" His commander shouted.
"Patawad po, señor. (Forgive me, sir.)" Benedicto said then bravely jumped into the water.
"Kunin ninyo ang kabayo ko! (Guards, get my horse!)" The commander ordered, witnessing five guards nod before leaving. "Kayong iba, habulin niyo na sila! (The rest of you, chase them right now!)" He ordered, witnessing a large number of them running along with the river.
Padre Isaac struggles to keep himself afloat, but Benedicto excels in fighting the defiant currents of the river. Knowing that Benedicto can catch him at any time, the priest casts his own life in the Hands of God. He sees a rock. With his flailing arms, he goes to the rock and wraps his arms around the rock, casting his own life on that rock. Benedicto seizes the moment and grabs Padre Isaac's waist.
"YOU ARE A PEST, YOU FILTHY INDIO! GET OFF ME NOW! GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF!" Padre Isaac shouted angrily, using all of his strength to push away the stubborn Benedicto.
"I WILL NEVER LET GO, YOU STUPID PRIEST! YOU MUST PAY FOR THE SINS YOU HAVE DONE! YOU MUST PAY FOR KILLING DON JOSE AND HIS DAUGHTER! YOU MUST PAY FOR BETRAYING THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL!" Benedicto shouted.
As if out of nowhere, a bullet appears and hits Benedicto's right shoulder. The severe pain forces Benedicto to release Padre Isaac and permit himself to be carried away by the river. Padre Isaac turns around and sees a man sheathing his pistol. The same man jumps into the river to get him and bring him out of the raging river.
Upon resting on the green grass, their soaking clothes combine the mystical elements of water and earth. Padre Isaac ignores the heavy weight of his robes and his tiredness to reach out to the man.
"Tha...thank you ve...very much...fo...fo...for saving...my life." Padre Isaac said. The man simply nods.
The furious sound of the approaching commander and his guards force them to get on their feet and outrun them. At last, they arrive to the place where Padre Isaac and the man once rested on. The naked eyes of the commander and his guards see nothing, but their ears pick up the sound of footsteps coming from a distance.
But when the river came into the picture, their eyes and ears worked harmoniously. The unit hears Benedicto calling for help. The commanders gets off his horse to take a closer look at the river. Then, his eyes caught a streak of blood flowing in the river. Having the confirmation that Benedicto was the one who was shot, he divides the unit into two. One group is dedicated to searching for Padre Isaac and the other is dedicated to rescuing Benedicto. The first group sets off with a certain guard as their leader. The second group, on the other hand, sets off with their true commander.
The strong currents of the river reminds him of the cruel orders of his former commander. Because of the power they hold, he cannot resist and fight back nor can he run away from it. Hence why he had to surrender his whole body and mind to those orders. Even if he had to kill his own grandfather, he had no other choice but to obey his commander.
Now, with a brutal fate that is waiting for him, he will be as calm and peaceful as his grandfather was when he pointed his rifle at him. Now, his only hope is to go to Purgatory and stay there for a decade or two. Therefore, he stops calling for help and decided to fondly embrace Death. As he embraces Death, he exiles his last thoughts.
Ama, I hope you will be safe, happy and well even if I am gone. I hope you will recover from your grief and move on with your life. I hope you will find a woman like Inay and have children who will be more honorable and greater than me. I hope all of them will be girls so that a son cannot come along and follow my footsteps. I hope your life will be better without me. But don't worry, Ama. I will never forget you, for your rosary that hangs around my neck feels like your warm hugs. This will be my only consolation and my only strength.
Long live life, long live death! Long live joy, long live sadness! Long live love, long live hate! Long live suffering, long live peace! Long live my father, long live my grandfather!
I love you, Ama. Thank you for everything.
God, not wanting Benedicto to die, sends in the commander and the second group to save him.
The commander gets off his horse to jump into the river. He manages to hold Benedicto's collar and wave for the guards to help them. One guard picks up a long branch from the ground to extend it within the commander's reach. The commander firmly holds the edge of the branch, signalling the guard to pull them out of the river.
Benedicto, thinking that the rescue was merely an illusion, looks around his surroundings. Meanwhile, the commander and the second group spot his gunshot wound. Without hesitation, the commander orders a few guards to pick up Benedicto and place him on his horse. Benedicto comes back to reality when he realizes he is no longer lying down on the soft grass.
"Señor, ako po ba ay nabubuhay pa rin? (Sir, am I still living?)" Benedicto asked.
"Oo naman. (Of course.)" The commander replied with a hint of confusion. "Kaya, huwag kang mag-aalala, sapagkat dadalhin ka namin sa isang doktor. (That's why you must not worry, for we will bring you to a doctor.)" He said assuringly.
"Maraming salamat po, señor. Maraming salamat po. (Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much)" Benedicto said sincerely.
"Sige. Alis na tayo ngayon. (Alright. Let's go now.)" The commander said.
The commander walks ahead with the other guards walking behind him. One guard pulls the reins, urging the horse to follow him. Benedicto, happy to know that he will see his father again, gives words of praise and gratitude to God. Although those sweet words escape his mouth in the form of whispers, the commander and the guards can hear him. The guard pulling the horse simply smiles, feeling delighted to hear the words he thought he would never hear anymore. The commander and the other guards, thinking that enemies are nearby, prepare themselves for an ambush.
Padre Isaac and the man outran the guards. Therefore, their trip to a carriage was peaceful. The man opens the door for Padre Isaac and closes it once both of them are inside. From his seat, the man orders the coachman to move. Not wanting the trip to be boring, the priest converses with the man.
"What is your name, hijo?" Padre Isaac asked.
"Lucas." The man replied.
"Thank God! I thought you're an acquaintance." Padre Isaac said, feeling utterly relieved.
"Who are you talking about?" Lucas asked.
"A servant of one of my enemies." Padre Isaac replied, making Lucas feel slightly nervous.
"Really?" Lucas asked.
"Yes. But that doesn't matter, for there is one matter we must care about right now." Padre Isaac said, causing Lucas to sigh in relief. "Lucas, is there anything I could do for you? Any sins to absolve? Any prayer requests?" He asked eagerly.
"Nothing, Padre. But my friends will appreciate the favor you can return to them." Lucas replied.
"Who are these friends of yours?" Padre Isaac asked, placing his clasped hands on his lap.
"You will know them once you meet them." Lucas replied.
"Claudio, are you losing respect for God and His Church?" Padre Draco asked.
"Padre Draco, you know I am a pious man. Of my piety, I am justly proud. You know I am also your benefactor and defender. Of those roles, I feel honored." Claude replied.
"Speaking of your piety, when will your lessons with Jezebel begin?" Padre Draco asked.
"Don't worry about that, Padre. By tomorrow, the bewtiched girl will learn to be the good girl she should be." Claude replied with a smirk.
"You better not screw this up or I am going to send her to the bishop." Padre Draco warned him.
"Don't tell me you forgot what I am capable of." Claude warned back.
"Excellent." Padre Draco said. "Speaking of girls, I have five girls who could be your wives." He said, getting his basket from the floor.
"Kyrie Eleison! I don't want to be married!" Claude said, enraged by Padre Draco's statement.
"Christe Eleison! I don't want that girl to distract you too much!" Padre Draco replied, looking at Claude as if he were a spoiled boy.
But deep down, Claude truly knows the large impact Esmeralda made on him. For five years, her beautiful face and her magnificent body haunted his dreams and fantasies; for five years, her rebellious spirit kept the flame in his heart burn forever; for five years, her angelic nature made him see his mother in her; for five years, her spectacular dances disgusted and amazed him at the same time. Let all of the women in the world do their best to enchant him. Even if they have to be nuns or prostitutes, noble ladies or maids, heiresses or beggars, he will never choose them. Not even the Empress herself can be the victor for such a contest, for Claude will always coronate Esmeralda as the queen of his heart; call her his demonic temptress; anoint her as his holy saint; venerate her as his lovely angel; and, God forbid, worship her as his Aphrodite.
Padre Draco clears his throat, catching the former judge's attention.
"Yes, Padre?" Claude asked.
"So, Claude, what can you say about my niece, Beatriz?" Padre Draco asked, holding up a picture of his niece.
"What is her nature?" Claude asked, playing along with Padre Draco.
"Oh. Believe me, Claudio, she is a piece of Heaven. She is devoted to God, she is an obedient and industrious girl and she is very shy." Padre Draco replied proudly.
"May I see the next girl?" Claude asked.
Phoebus gives a letter to a servant. He orders him to have it delivered to Paris. With a small nod, the servant leaves. After the servant leaves the bedroom, Ramil enters with a servant. He sits down beside Phoebus and watches the servant fill up two glasses with fresh wine.
"Thank you, Ramil." Phoebus said, getting his glass to take a sip.
"Leave." Ramil said to the servant. Once the servant leaves, Ramil brings in his exuberant words. "Oy, Sun God, who's the lucky girl to receive your letter this time?" He asked.
"Keep in mind that Fleur is my favorite mistress, Bloody Rat." Phoebus replied then went on to take another sip.
"What's in the letter?" Ramil asked after drinking half of his wine.
"A lot of words of love and farewell." Phoebus replied, swirling his wine slowly.
"Good. Nobody knows if we will survive this mission or not." Ramil said, pausing before continuing to drink his wine.
"Only God knows." Phoebus said, causing Ramil to spit his wine.
"Are you crazy, Phoebus? Aren't you aware that we are sinners?" Ramil asked.
"Of course I'm aware of that, Ramil! I'm just saying what that old man always says." Phoebus replied.
"Do you want to practice?" Ramil asked, showing off his gun.
"Sure." Phoebus replied, getting off his seat.
"Now, Phoebus, in this scenario, one of our victims escapes from us and runs around the house. Hence why we must be a step ahead of them by hiding in one of the rooms. Now, I'll pretend to be one of the victims while you just stand behind the door and shoot me when I come in." Ramil said, using his hands to explain the tactic.
"Come on, Bloody Rat. Everybody knows how clever they are. That's why they will search the room until they find us. Now, imagine the consequences of that." Phoebus said.
"Fine. We'll just put ourselves under the beds and shoot them from there." Ramil said, demonstrating the new tactic with his hands.
"Better." Phoebus said.
"Let's go." Ramil said.
While Ramil walks out of the bedroom, Phoebus brings out his unloaded gun. He drops to the ground and slides himself beneath the bed. Ramil enters the bedroom once again.
"Oh! Look at this bedroom! It's so big and beautiful! I hope they will not come here to find me!" Ramil said, pretending to be one of the victims.
Phoebus crawls a bit to come closer to Ramil. He pulls the trigger, letting a "Boom!" from his mouth replace a bullet. Ramil pretends to be hurt. After a few more invisible shots, he falls to the floor. Phoebus gets out and tells Ramil to get up.
"Perfect! By then, we will totally defeat them!" Ramil said enthusiastically.
"How would that be impossible?" Phoebus asked, agreeing with him.
"What else should we do?" Ramil asked.
"We're done with punching, kicking and starting a brawl or two. We're also done with fighting with knives and swords. And we're almost done with fighting with our guns." Phoebus said, reciting these tactics so they can think of a new one.
"How about having some allies?" Ramil asked.
"Surely, we cannot have that priest to help us again." Phoebus said, still feeling frustrated about Padre Ronald's failure.
"How about that other priest? Padre Isaac? He's good in designing deaths. Right?" Ramil suggested.
"Indeed." Phoebus said, wanting him to be their accomplice. "But how can we pick him up?" He asked.
"I'll order the coachman to take care of that." Ramil assured him.
"Anybody else to suggest?" Phoebus asked.
"I think three heads are alright." Ramil replied. "I'll go tell the coachman what to do." He said then lefr.
Phoebus goes to his bed to lie down. The tiredness that weighs him down from getting up help the soft matress in casting a spell of slumber upon Phoebus. The deafening silence and the footsteps of Ramil serve as a soothing lullaby for him.
Several minutes roll by and the darkness he can see brings him to a series of dreams.
In the first dream, he appears in the drawing room of his father's estate. Beside him is himself, but as a young boy. There, he sees a young Esmeralda being forced by her governess to greet and talk to the boy.
"Good day, mademoiselle." Phoebus greeted, bowing politely.
"Good day, monsieur." Esmeralda greeted back, sounding a bit rude.
"You look very beautiful." Phoebus said, washing away the anger she feels.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said, giggling a little.
"Do you want to see my gift for you?" Phoebus asked.
"Yes!" Esmeralda replied eagerly.
Phoebus reaches out his hand for Esmeralda to take. Later on, they end up in the stables. Phoebus presents a brown pony to Esmeralda, which delights her and causes her to kiss his cheek.
In that dream, Phoebus remembers how much he loved her the same way she loved him. Within a year, they learned to be pleasing and loving towards one another. But things changed after Phoebus learned a lot about Esmeralda. He was so bored with her that he continued his affair with his stepmother and started his sexual adventures.
In the second dream, Phoebus sees himself as a boy of 19 and Esmeralda as a girl of 13. Both of them are arguing because she walked into him deflowering Fleur. The argument ended in Phoebus threatening to kill Esmeralda if she will tell anybody what she saw. This went on until Esmeralda had enough. Whenever Esmeralda heard rumors about his affairs, she would keep them from reaching her father's ears and secretly weep in the cathedral at night. Starting from the age of 16, she would dare him to break off their betrothal. But Phoebus, wanting to keep his connections to the Lavoies to get their wealth, would threaten to kill her if she will bring up such a conversation.
In the third dream, Phoebus sees himself and Ramil walking towards Boniface and Thérèse. The father and daughter's happy trip came to an abrupt end when Phoebus passed by as he touched her neck and shoulder.
The terrified face of the child inspires her father to punch Phoebus from behind. Ramil caught the fallen Phoebus and assisted him in rising up. The men were about to punch the life out of Boniface when the police interfered and stopped them from doing so. They reluctantly left the place. But the dream does not end there.
For a few days, a male servant of Phoebus went around Paris, spying on Boniface and his daughter. Through this task, he gathers the information his master needed. Once everything is complete, Phoebus tells Ramil to execute the final phase of their plan: murdering Boniface.
In the fourth dream, Phoebus sees his half-sister, Bernadette, in the same drawing room. He sees her sitting down on a chaise lounge. Her brilliant, blue eyes and her petite smile invite him to sit down with her. Seeing her as his valuable gem, he would do anything for her. Thus, he does what he must do. Bernadette holds his hand, making him feel more welcomed.
"You are my father." Bernadette said.
"No. That's wrong, dear Bernadette. I am your brother, not your father." Phoebus replied sweetly, caressing her delicate face.
"You are my father." Bernadette said once again.
"No. I am not your father." Phoebus replied.
The sound of Bernadette's brother, Raphael, bursting into the drawing room interrupts their peaceful moment. He sinks onto the ground to vomit violently. Although Phoebus never cared for the poor boy, he throws himself before Raphael and hugs him.
"What is happening to him?" Phoebus asked, bewildered by what he saw.
"Raphael is sick. Please come home, Phoebus. Raphael and I really need you." Bernadette said, releasing tears from her eyes.
Darkness surrounds Phoebus, making him disappear from the drawing room. He ends up in the convent. In there, he hears Fleur screaming. He goes to her bedroom and witnesses her giving birth to their child. A few pushes and screams later, a stillborn daughter comes out of her womb.
"What happened to my baby? Why is it not crying?" Fleur asked, feeling extremely panicked.
"It is a stillborn daughter, mademoiselle." The midwife replied, causing Fleur to become sorrowful. "Forgive us, but there's nothing we could do." She added then brought the baby out of the bedroom.
"No, come back!" Fleur shouted, trying to get out of her bed as her aunt comforts her and embraces her. "Please come back! I want my baby! Please, please give her to me! Please! She's all I have now! Please!" She said then bursted into tears.
A figure is born out of the wall. Through every step that he takes, darkness starts to envelope the bedroom. Phoebus attempts to escape, but the door would not grant him that chance. The man appears in front of Phoebus, causing him to depend on the wall to save him.
"Please don't hurt me, monsieur! Please, please, please!" Phoebus said, copying Fleur's pleas.
"Never! After all that you have done to my daughter and I, we will never rest until you suffer!" Boniface said.
His wife and their families appeared. As Phoebus gets on his knees to beg for his life to be spared, the people flock around him. Boniface grabs his neck from behind while his wife proceeds to slap Phoebus. He wakes up to an irritated Ramil staring back at him.
"Phoebus, you fool! I've been trying to wake you up for a lot of times, yet you just woke up right now!" Ramil said, sparking his anger.
"Oh. I'll show you what 'waking me up' really means!" Phoebus replied then started to slap Ramil with his pillow.
"That's enough, you imbeciles!" A robust man said, separating them from each other.
The moment Phoebus catches a glimpse of him, shivers ran down his spine. This man is his own mirror, the sword in his heart and the shield that protects him from justice; this man is Monsieur Bernard de Châteaupers.
"Father?" Phoebus asked.
"Of course it's me, idiot!" Monsieur Bernard said then slapped Phoebus' head.
"Including us!" Monsieur Jacob, Ramil's father, said as he enters the bedroom with his wife, who is holding his arm.
"Good day, Monsieur Jacob. Good day, Madame Marguerite." Phoebus replied politely.
"Good day to you too, Monsieur Phoebus." Madame Marguerite replied.
"Pardon me. But I must ask how come you know we're here?" Phoebus asked.
"Your friend wrote to us, telling us to come here and help you in your plans." Monsieur Bernard replied.
"Hence why we brought our assassins with us." Monsieur Jacob said, delighting Phoebus.
"Is it 'The Bloody Five' or 'The Sinful Ten'?" Phoebus asked.
"The Sinful Ten." Monsieur Jacob replied, doubling the delight of Phoebus.
"So, does that mean we don't need the priest anymore?" Ramil asked.
"Why do we need him when we have 13 more allies?" Phoebus asked.
"Who is this priest you are talking about?" Madame Marguerite asked.
"Oh. Mama, this priest we know is the best priest in the whole Church." Ramil replied. "Come. Let us talk about him while we eat lunch." He said, walking ahead of them.
"Shall we, my dear?" Monsieur Jacob asked.
"Of course." Madame Marguerite replied, smiling fondly. The couple depart from the bedroom, leaving only Phoebus and his father.
Monsieur Bernard, wanting to eat, walks a few steps ahead. But, when his son calls out for him, irritation is planted in his heart. He turns around and gives his son a cold glare.
"What?" Monsieur Bernard asked.
"How are my siblings?" Phoebus asked.
"Why are you asking such a question?" Monsieur Bernard asked.
"I'm just...curious." Phoebus said, mindlessly walking up to his father.
"They are fine." Monsieur Bernard said, exhausting his exasperation after a trip on the seas. "Let's go to the dining room. Otherwise, I'll make sure you'll be our lunch." He said bitterly.
"Yes." Phoebus replied then followed his father.
At least he got the confirmation that his dreams are invalid.
In the afternoon, Padre Isaac and Lucas arrive in San Lorenzo. The sight of his second home soothes his heart and mind. Finally, after an eternity of suffering, he can see his dear son and have him in his loving arms again. Along with this thought, he is happy to think that the two friends Lucas spoke of are Padre Draco and Padre Ronald. What else does the merciful Father have for him?
"Padre Isaac, can you please wear this?" Lucas asked, showing him a blindfold.
"Why, hijo?" Padre Isaac asked.
"You'll know why." Lucas replied.
Thinking that his friends are going to suprise him, he gladly receives the blindfold and wears it. Later on, the priest and the man arrive to their destination. The coachman opens the door, letting Lucas bring Padre Isaac out of the carriage. The wet, green grass greets his slippers and partially touches his feet. His curiosity grows within him and forces him to question Lucas.
"Hijo, where are we?" Padre Isaac asked.
"In the forest." Lucas replied.
"Why are we here?" Padre Isaac asked.
"You'll see why." Lucas replied then guided the priest to a certain house.
Padre Isaac hears Lucas knocking on the door. The door opens to let in both of them. Once the door closes behind them, he hears Lucas telling him to be careful in walking up the staircase. He feels the hands and voice of Lucas guiding him in ascending the wooden stairs. At the top of the staircase, Lucas tells him that they are close to the "Room of Truth". They walk through the hallway, producing murmurs among the people within that hallway.
"Hijo, where are those murmurs coming from?" Padre Isaac asked.
"From the people living and staying in here." Lucas replied.
Padre Isaac, knowing that the special room is nearer, silences himself. Lucas knocks once again. When the door opens, the men walk through the open doorway and hear the door close behind them.
"Take off your blindfold." Lucas said.
Padre Isaac eagerly complies. His comply is one of the most regrettable things he ever did. Even his eagerness adds up to his guilt. As of now, he is standing on the chapel of his enemy; as of now, Padre Mathias, Jose, Isabelle and Esmeralda behold themselves to him.
"Mahusay ka, Mateo. (You are excellent, Mateo.)" Jose commented.
"Ngayon, gawin mo ang mga dapat mong gawin. (Now, do the things that you must do.)" Padre Mathias said. With a nod, Mateo leaves.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the priest who should have died along with my father and my sister." Jose said, fiercely facing Padre Isaac.
"How dare you to say that in the House of God, you sick dog!" Padre Isaac said, darting his cold eyes at him.
"How dare you dictate the executions of my father and my sister!" Jose said then spat at his vestments.
Esmeralda comes forward with the most daring glare her green eyes exhaust. Padre Isaac, knowing that Esmeralda will insult him, laughs at her.
"Look at your face, señorita! You got the most hideous mark the Devil could give you!" Padre Isaac said then carried on with laughing. His remark makes her more furious.
"This is for trying to extend our stay in prison!" Esmeralda said then slapped him.
"This is for making fun of my friend!" Isabelle said then slapped him.
"I think that's enough for now." Padre Mathias said, bringing Padre Isaac away from the vicinity of the angry trio. They, including Padre Isaac, stare at him with wide eyes. Knowing how confused they must be, he explains the reason for performing that act. "Christ left each and everyone of us an important lesson: to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us."
"Good one, Padre Mathias." Padre Isaac said sarcastically. "Now that you remembered our Christian duty, can you let me go?" He asked.
"Forgive me, but I cannot do that." Padre Mathias said, patting his shoulder. Padre Isaac breaks away from Padre Mathias' arms. He sighs, preparing himself to help Padre Isaac see the truth. "Padre Isaac, two wrong actions don't make a right action. Therefore, it's time for you to be brought to justice."
"Padre Mathias, have you gone mad?!" Padre Isaac asked. "Bringing me to prison will make me a martyr in the eyes of everybody, including the Church. I'm sure you don't want to another brush with the Holy Father." He said sternly.
"Don't worry, Padre Isaac." Jose said, stepping forward. "The punishment the Governor-General is lighter than a sentence in prison." He added, causing the priest to chuckle.
The chuckle disturbs Padre Mathias, but it disgusts the rest. Out of the blue, Padre Isaac advances towards Jose and confronts him face-to-face. The sudden action alarms Isabelle. She makes an attempt to pull away the priest, but Esmeralda prevents her from taking another step. Jose gives her a calm glance, indicating that he can handle this. Then, he faces the priest with a venomous stare.
"Do I look like an idiot to you, Jose?" Padre Isaac asked. "I will never fall for those foolish tricks of yours!" He said.
"I know what you're feeling, Padre. Believe me, I also hate it when a person deceives me." Jose said, hoping this would calm him down.
"See? You and I are on the same boat!" Padre Isaac said. "Now, tell me the truth or this will happen!" He said, confusing Jose.
Padre Isaac gets his knife from his leg. He advances towards Isabelle to grab her and place the knife on her neck. While Isabelle struggles to get out, the others try to negotiate with the priest.
"Let go of her, Padre! Please! Let go of her!" Esmeralda pleaded.
"Never!" Padre Isaac said back.
"Isaac, you're in the House of God! Don't spill the blood of an innocent woman here!" Padre Mathias said, pointing to the altar.
"It's better to spill the blood of a heretic in here!" Padre Isaac said back.
"What's going on here?" Governor-General Carlos asked, bursting into the chapel with his mistress. The sight of Padre Isaac taking Isabelle as a hostage answers his question. "Padre Isaac Pablo Buenaventura y Montenegro, I command you to let go of that woman!" He said.
"You want me to let go of this brat?" Padre Isaac asked.
"Yes!" Governor-General Carlos replied.
"Alright." Padre Isaac said.
He slits Isabelle's throat before dropping her to the ground. Jose catches her, leading Esmeralda to throw herself to the ground and comfort her friend. With everybody flocking to Isabelle, Padre Isaac escapes the chapel. Maria, seeing him escape, goes out of the chapel and orders the guards to chase him.
"I'll get Doctor Jaime." Governor-General Carlos said then hurriedly left the chapel with Padre Mathias.
"Don't worry, Isabelle. I promise that everything's going to be fine." Jose said.
"Just don't give up fighting for your life." Esmeralda said, squeezing Isabelle's hand. "God, please help her. Please don't forsake her. I beg you, my God, to not despise this prayer of mine." Esmeralda said, desperately facing the suffering Christ on the big crucifix. "Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us now." She said, facing the statue of the Virgin Mary with the same face.
Doctor Jaime arrives to the scene, having the governor-general and the priest behind him. He kneels down beside them, dropping his medical bag to examine the bleeding neck of the woman.
"Thank God! Her wound is not too serious." Doctor Jaime said, feeling relieved. "But I need to patch up her wound right now!" He said, getting up from the ground.
"Then, do it in my bedroom." Padre Mathias said.
Doctor Jaime runs away, passing through the governor-general, his mistress and the priest. Jose slightly changes Isabelle's position as he rises up from the ground. He leaves, passing through the same way Doctor Jaime did. Esmeralda, along with the rest, follow the running men.
Doctor Jaime opens the door, letting in Jose so he can lay down Isabelle on the bed. He had to tell the rest to wait outside until the medical procedure is over.
"I'll see you later, Isabelle." Jose said, squeezing her hand.
"Jose, please leave this bedroom." Doctor Jaime requested, being the cause for Jose to kiss her hand before leaving.
Doctor Jaime places his medical bag on a table to get a bottle of chloroform. He brings out his handkerchief to grace it with half of the bottle. He walks over to Isabelle's side to begin the procedure.
"Don't worry, señorita. When you wake up, everything will be fine." Doctor Jaime assured her.
Then, he places the handkerchief above her mouth and nose. She inhales the handkerchief, which puts her to sleep. Since the blood on her wound is murky, Doctor Jaime calls in a servant to give him a bowl of water and a sponge. Once the things are given to him, he thanks the servant and tells her to go away. He dips the sponge into the water and uses it to wipe away the blood. With the blood gone, he gets his needle and thread.
Up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down. These two movements are the only products of the unity between Doctor Jaime and his tools. Focus, focus, focus, focus, focus. This word, in spite of being a humble one, is a very meaningful word for him. During his messy childhood, he created a tradition to keep himself motivated in life: repeating the word "focus" to himself. The tradition helps him a lot, especially when he goes through tough medical procedures.
Outside the silent bedroom, the atmosphere outside is intense. A strong Padre Mathias prays together with the weeping Esmeralda and Thérèse. The governor-general and mistress have to stay by Jose's side, ready to serve and comfort him at any cost.
When Isabelle entered the room, Thérèse went down from her bedroom to investigate the events happening below her. Esmeralda, who tried to be strong, broke the news to the little girl. Thérèse released a soul-numbing sob. Having nothing to do, her guardian hugs her and allows the little girl to cry on her shoulder. Padre Mathias scooped them up and brought them to the chapel to pray. This left the governor-general and his mistress to be the obedient servants of a depressed Jose.
Even the forest decided to be the copycat of the mansion's intense atmosphere. Once more, Padre Isaac is being chased by the guards. In the midst of his situation, he wonders if he will run away from the guards for a third time today. Not wanting the guards to outrun him, he takes a right turn. Now, they are heading towards the city.
Sometimes, the wild Padre Isaac would hit the passersby, giving way for himself. While the rest of the guards carry on, one guard kindly helps all of them. May it be an old man who fell out of the streets or a woman whose goods fell out of her bilao, he would help them. Sometimes, the passersby themselves have to fly out of their spots to give way to the priest and the guards. Again, the same guard would stop and make sure if they are fine.
In front of the municipal hall, Padre Isaac and Jehan bump into each other. Jehan, not knowing the identity of the priest, helps him get up and dust off the dirt on his vestments. Without a word of gratitude, the priest hurriedly leaves the scene.
"BE CAREFUL!" Jehan shouted, feeling worried for the priest.
"Señor, why did you have to let him go away?" One guard asked.
"Why? Is he a fugitive?" Jehan asked.
"Yes!" The same guard replied.
"I'm so, so sorry. I never knew he was a fugitive." Jehan replied remorsefully. The guard grunts, seemingly not accepting his apology.
"Tayo na! (Let's move!)" The guard said, running away with the rest of his group.
"Bu...but still, señor..." The kind guard said, panting heavily and wiping away his sweat. "A...A...Are you alrigh?" He asked.
"Yes, I am alright. Now, go and catch that man." Jehan said, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulders.
Jehan leaves, hoping the guards can still catch Padre Isaac. But, the opposite happens. Padre Isaac hides himself in a group of rich, Spanish widows. The guards pass by, letting Padre Isaac escape without being detected. A few streets later, he spots a guard flirting with a Filipina maid. Seeing that his horse is empty, he gets on the horse and leaves. Out of frustration, the guard gets his tall, blue hat and throws it on the ground.
"¡Infierno! ¡Siempre tengo mala suerte con ese caballo! (Hell! I am always unlucky with that horse!)" The guard said.
"Tal vez podría obtener uno nuevo que no traiga mala suerte. (Maybe you could get a new one that does not bring bad luck.)" Cristina said, trying to calm him down.
"Pero mi comandante se enojará conmigo. (But my commander will get mad at me.)" The guard said, facing her.
A/N Ok. Here are the lessons:
-For those who don't know, Christianity (and if I'm not to be mistaken, paganism too) considers the left hand as the evil hand. Christ even said that you must not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Translation: when performing good acts, keep those acts a secret. Also, men had to be right-handed is they want to become knights. If they were left-handed, they were treated as the descendants of satan. Ancient Romans considered the left hand as the evil hand because left is Latin for "sinister". That's why they use their right foot to enter a building or a house.
-Pan de sal (Bread of salt) is a sweet bread roll in my country. Usually, this is consumed as breakfast. Believe me, pan de sal or even pandesal is very delicious.
-Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595) was an Italian priest and is the funniest saint the Catholic Church ever had. For most of the time, he would show off half of his beard shaved, he loved to read books of jokes, he would greet people in the market like this, "Well, brothers, when shall we do good?" and give incorrect walking directions to his disciples. One time, a stoic bishop attended one of his Masses. In the homily, Saint Philip mispronounced all of the Latin words. Hence, why the audience...I mean, the church...didn't know if they should laugh or be quiet. Saint Philip did all of these to be humble and patient. The saint's life on Earth was not only filled with humor, but also with kindness and holiness. He was like a father to the street children, he founded the Confraternity of the Blessed Trinity to serve the sick and the pilgrims, he would have ecstasy when celebrating Mass, his favorite devotions are the Forty Hours and Visit to the Seven Churches, he reads the hearts of penitents and he converted several people.
-Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) was written by Saint Thomas de Celano. The song is about the horrors and graces of Judgement Day, which is when Jesus comes back again to judge the living and the dead. This is the song used for Requeim Masses or Masses for the dead.
-Kyrie Eleison is Greek for "Lord, have mercy!" and Christ Eleison is Greek for "Christ, have mercy!".
-Empress Eugénie (Eugenia de Montijo) was 16th Countess of Teba and 15th Marchioness of Ardales before becoming the last Empress of France as the wife of Emperor Napoleon III.
-Chloroform is a colorless, sweet-smelling and dense liquid used for medicinal puproses and industrial purposes. This medicine is used to make the patients sleep during a medical procedure. Despite its' greatness, it is also dangerous when used by a non-professional or practicioner. The use of chloroform can lead to the patient's death. Let's hope Isabelle will survivie this.
Bye! Have a great time! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!