moonwake

III

CHAPTER THREE

We stop at the secluded part of the forest. I didn’t move a muscle afraid, that he is going to hurt me too.

He also didn’t move. Tumitingin-tingin lang siya sa paligid na tila sinisiguradong ito ay ang tamang lugar.

In his baritone voice, he said. “We’re gonna stay here, just for the meantime. This is a safe place, so you don’t have to be afraid. My horse just need to rest, and we still have a long journey ahead of us.” His voice sounds oddly familiar, but I can’t point out where did I heard it. He also has a nice accent, it’s sounds sexy. I'm glad I can't see his face right now, there are a lot of stories about girls falling in love with their savior. Nako, pero hindi naman ako maiinlove ng dahil sa boses duh.

He's collecting woods, isinalansan niya iyon. Tinitignan ko lamang siya dahil pagod na akong magsalita, at gusto ko nang matulog. Damn, I miss my bed.

Ipina-ere niya nanaman ang kaniyang kamay, itinaas niya ang kaniyang dalawang daliri at napatalon ako nang may lumitaw na apoy nanaman galing dito. Idinikit niya ang apoy na ito sa mga kahoy na kinolekta niya.

“Who are you?” I asked.

He’s not looking at me. Itinatali niya ang kabayo sa matayog na punong nasa harap namin. Alam kong narinig niya ako, inis akong naglakad papalapit sa kaniya. “Sino ka?” ulit ko.

“Magpahinga ka.” sambit nito. Not giving attention to my question. Tinanggal niya ang kaniyang hood at hinarap ako. My gaze was drawn to his eyes, which were misaligned. His left eye is baby blue, whereas his right eye is olive green. He has long narrow nose, and a naturally red lips. His tan was flawless, and his jaw, which is formed to perfection, shouted manliness. I can attest to the fact that this man is quite attractive. I shook my head, hindi healthy ang mga naiisip ko. “Enjoying the view?” ani niya, kunot noo ko siyang tinignan.

“Hindi mo kasi sinasabi kung sino ka. Baka mamaya ay may gawin kang masama sa’kin. I just want to make sure im in the right person plus...” turo ko sa kaniyang mukha. “I’ve seen better.” pag-irap ko, in this place I don’t know. Para akong pinaglalaruan, ayon ang pakiramdan ko. Hindi ako pamilyar sa mga binabanggit nila gayon na rin sa paligid.

He laughed softly. ”I’m sorry, Princess.” he said, in his soft voice. It’s sounds familiar to me, and I felt calm hearing it. “We just need to get in Adarlan, and I can guarantee your safety there.” he added.

“What is, Adarlan?” tanong ko. May inilabas siya sa kaniyang bulsang isang bote, pero hindi ito glass nor plastic. Gawa ito sa kahoy. Binuksan niya iyon at iniabot sa’kin. Nag aalangan ko itong kinuha, baka may pampatulog ito or something. I think he noticed that I hesitate to drink from it, kaya inagaw niya ito sa’kin at siya ang unang uminom.

Tinignan niya lamang ako at iniaabot ulit iyon sa’kin. Commanding me to drink, agad ko itong kinuha at uminom ng tubig mula rito.

“Thank you.” I whispered. I don’t know if he heard me but I didn’t look at him na after that. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagod ng aking katawan, umupo ako sa damuhan rito, at ipinikit ang mata. I want to rest from all these things happening to me.

“You are in Therondia... which is similar to Earth in your world. On earth Kingdoms are called continent, Adarlan, where your mother came from is one of the Kingdoms here.” napadilat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita. “The king of Adarlan, your uncle. He sent me to save you.” it made me even more confused, I’m so tired with this Queen and King thingy at nadagdagan pa ng mga kingdom kingdom na ‘yan.

“So, dadalhin mo ko sa King, ganoon ba?” inis kong tanong. Am I safe there? and kapag nakarating na ba ako ro’n ay iuuwi na ako sa’min? ‘coz I need to go home now.

“Yes, Princess. They will keep you safe until the day comes when you will need to reclaim your father’s throne. Princess Octavia, you are the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Naporia.” he answered, then offer me his hand. “We have to leave, King Garbhan only gave me three days to get you there and if I don't get you there in three days, he will have my head.” sambit niya at inalalayan ako sa pagtayo.

My head feels like it’s going to explode right now from the confusion. So basically, I’m in another earth which he called Therondia.

“So, I’m in another planet?” I asked, still confused.

“You’re in another Universe, Princess. This is where all myths are real. Fae, mage, witch, warlock, healer, seer, alchemist, and of course those creatures that go bump in the night such as vampires, ghouls, ghosts, wolves and Demons. Some of them are being controlled by Queen Verena, so if you want to stay alive, stick with me because they we’re all hunting you.” he simply answered. My body went cold, ano naman ang kailangan ng mga ‘yon sa akin?

“What? why me?” I asked.

“Because you are you, Princess.” sgot nito at unti-unting inilapit ang kaniyang mukha. Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili na titigan siya, inaayos niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na nakaharang sa mukha ko. His eyes, para ba akong hinihipnotismo ng mga ito. Bumalik ako sa wisyo nang marinig ang kaniyang pag-ubo. “I know you think I'm attractive, but don't look at me like you've seen God, Princess.” he freaking smirk! this asshole. Akala ko ay seryoso sa buhay, ‘yon pala ay may tinatagong kawalanghiyaan sa katawan.

I glared at him. “Feeling.” I said, dahil sa hiya ay tinalikuran ko na siya at naglakad papunta sa kabayo, nag-iinit ang pisngi ko. “Anyways, how about you? where do you fit in all these magical creatures?” I asked. Baka mamaya ay bampira pala ito o aswang.

Pinasadahan niya ng suklay gamit ang daliri ang kaniyang kulot na buhok, napatingin siya sa langit. It’s about to rain.

“This is my job, I was paid by King Garbhan to deliver you safely in Adarlan.” he answered.

Kung binayaran siya ng mga kuya ko ay mas kapani-paniwala iyon. “Am I really that important?” I almost whispered that, I was just a normal teenager who enjoyed playing Sims in my phone while eating fries and burger. Why it has to be me? I already love my own life in earth with my brothers.

“Yes.” sagot nito, at umakyat para makasakay sa kabayo, sunod naman ay binuhat niya ako ng marahan para makasakay na rin.

“If we arrive in Adarlan, will the King send me home? I need to be home, paniguradong nag-aalala na ang mga kapatid ko sa’kin.” pagtatanong ko.

He didn’t answer me, instead he just began to run the horse. Naiwan na naman ang tanong ko na walang sagot mula sa kaniya, dahil doon ay hindi ko na siya kinulit pa nagdasal na lang ako na sana ako makabalik na ko sa mga kapatid ko.

--

It’s been 2 days since we’re travelling, and it was a long journey. Nandito kami ngayon sa kweba para makatulog at magpahinga. At night, he will just drag me on whatever caves he feel like sleeping in. Kahit tako ako sa kweba ay wala akong choice.

Because of the few days we’ve spent together, I’ve learned now to trust him since siya rin naman nagligtas sa life ko.

He always has his mask on, same as his cloak he never takes it off unless syempre kapag mag tatake na ng bath. You know, his outfit looks good with him din naman.

Napayakap ako sa’king sarili dahil sa lamig. It’s raining, and I’m just wearing a denim jeans and crop top ito pa rin ang suot ko simula ng lamunin ako ng pesteng kama ko.

I suddenly felt a thick cloth wrapped around my shoulder. It was his cloak.

I smiled. “Thank you.” iniwas niya ang tingin sa’kin at itinuon sa inipon niyang mga kahoy. It’s still fascinating to watch the fire that’s coming from his hand. Minsan ay gusto kong tanungin kung kamag-anak niya ba si Ace sa One Piece.

“What?” he asked, naramdaman ata ang titig ko. Imbis na iyon ang itanong ay naisip kong magtanong ng personal question sa kaniya.

“What is your name?” I asked, curious.

Mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin, tila hindi na naman sasagutin ang aking tanong. He just pick questions from me that he want to answer, nasanay na ata ako. Sana ay may google rito para atleast ayon na lang ang sasagot sa mga katanungan ko.

I don’t know if he already knew me, since this is the first time that we’ve met. I feel like introducing myself to him dahil ilang araw na rin kaming magkasama pero hindi pa niya ako kilala. “I’m Avia Romullo, I live in Philippines. I have these two brothers whom I really love, Jace and Eli. My parents are both dead due to an accident, I don’t really have a memory with then nor pictures. They died same as the day I born, so my brothers they’re the one who raised me. They actually treated me like a Princess, and I miss them so much especially now that this happened to me.” I sighed. “Anyways, I’m just a normal teenager in Earth who hate mondays, and love playing Sims.”

“Sims?” he asked, confused.

“Oh, it’s a mobile game in Earth and I used to play it as a hobby.” I answered. He just nodded and looked back the woods with fire on it that serve as our light.

We remained silent for a few moments and we both are preoccupied by our own thoughts.

“I understand that you are unaware of your true identity. If you will allow me, Princess, I’ll tell some information about you and your family.” he broke our silence by saying that. He said it very carefully as if it was a special word.

“Funny that you know me better than I do.” I said with a bitter laugh.

Napayuko siya. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not the right person to tell you that.” he almost whispered saying that.

I’m confused. I’m just joking. Nasaktan ba siya doon?

Bahagya ko siyang nilapitan. “Why are you sorry? C’mon of course tell me about myself. Wala naman akong alam dito sa mundo niyo.” curious din ako kung bakit pinag-aaksayahan niya ako ng panahon para lang maihatid doon sa Adarlan.

Iniangat niya ang tingin sa’kin, he just stared at me and didn’t say anything. Para bang inaalam niya kung ano ang iniisip ko.

“It’s really okay.” I said, giving him assurance that’s it’s really okay.

He licked his lower lip and breathe deeply. “Princess, You are Octavia Adarlan Naporia. The only child of Vanya Adarlan and Adorjan Naporia. You are the last descendant of your ancestors, and the true heir to the Kingdom of Naporia. Your mother is a mage, and a Princess in Adarlan, she’s one of the most powerful mage in Therondia until Queen Verena betrayed and poisoned her. Your father is a respectable warlock here in Therondia, to save you he used every ounce of his power to keep you safe and send you in the human realm. He was also betrayed by his sister Queen Verena who is obsessed with power.” he is looking at me intently, and I can feel the intensity of his words.

I don’t want to believe what he is saying, bjt his words appear to be true. I mean, why is fire coming out from his hand, and also why is Severus imprisoned me. I'm scared of the thought that what if gusto niya rin akong patayin? Sa loob ng dalawang araw naming naglalakbay ay ni isa wala kaming nasalubong na kung ano mang engkanto o aswang. What if he’s lying?

I bite my lower lip, at pilit na inaalis sa’king isipan iyon.

“How did you knew all of this?” I asked.

“Your family history is in every history book you can find here in Therondia.” he just shrugged. It seems true, bale ang pinaparating niya ba ay parte ako ng history ng mundong ‘to? oh my god.

“Princess, you should get some rest. We have a long trip tomorrow.” he huskily said, ramdam ko ang pagod at antok doon. Sumandal siya, at ipinikit ang mata.

“Can I have a request?” I asked, changing the subject.

“What is it?”

“Can you call me by my name?” I simply asked.

“I can’t.” he answered with his eyes still closed.

“Please?” I said in a serious tone. “There’s only two person I would like to call me Princess, and that’s my brothers.”

He opened his eyes then stared at me coldly. Hindi ko inialis ang tingin ko para mafeel niya na seryoso ako sa request ko.

He was silent for a couple of moment.

“Octavia.” he stated, still not taking his eyes off me. It came out perfectly with his lips. Hearing it with his accent make it sounds seductive. “Tomorrow, we will arrive in Adarlan. They would be happy to see you.” sambit niya na nagpabalik sakin sa wisyo. Wala ako sa sariling tumango, I must not forget that he is a stranger that was paid to deliver me. Nakakainis dahil ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya, pero kung ano-ano ang naiisip ko.

“Im happy too, for sure ay malaking halaga ang makukuha mo sa pagbantay sa’kin.” I said, bitterly.

He just chuckled. “Of course they will pay me well. You’re a jewel here in Therondia.”

I smiled then hugged his cloak that is keeping me warm. Nang maramdaman na ang antok ay unti-unti kong ipinikit ang aking mata.