Valdemior and Adrius
Jerastus 4, 2196

__________________

GEORGIA
Georgia Kaye Alas | Heidi Laquisha Calafiore

Sleep would not come- could not come. Instead, there was wind, the biting cold, moonlight on snow, and fire from torches. The wind gusted around, shifting the direction of the boat we're on. Lucifuge, being the crown prince he is, excused me and Lowell from this week's classes, just so that we can go to Merhey, where the house of Adrius can be found.

"Malayo pa ba tayo?" tanong ni Lucifuge sa helmsman ng barko. My eyes became drowsy while looking at him. He's not what I expected to be. He cares for his people greatly, and I can see that even now. Ni hindi pa siya nakakatulog buong biyahe- kung sabagay, hindi rin naman ako. Hindi ako mapakali.

The helmsman shook his head as response. They were quite far that I couldn't hear more of their conversation. Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang umalis ang helmsman at si Lucifuge na ang pumalit sa kaniyang posisyon.

Ah, I assumed he let the helmsman rest first. Wala sa sarili akong napangiti, ngunit binura ko agad 'yon at nag-iwas tingin na. Sinubukan kong i-pokus ang sarili ko sa pagbabasa ng mga mami-miss kong lessons sa Academy. Napaisip tuloy akong mabuti nalang ay pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang aking pag-aaral sa Fall. Hm, hindi man ako nakapasok sa eskwelahan ay marami naman akong natutunan sa mga librong nabibili ko.

Lumipas ang ilang oras at nakatapos na rin ako sa pag-aaral, ngunit hindi pa rin kami nakakarating sa Merhey. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang maaari kong gawin. Naisip ko tuloy na... mag-ayos ng dahas? Ah, baka iba ang maisip nila 'pag ginawa ko 'yon. Napabuntonghininga nalang ako't panandaliang pinikit ang mga mata... hanggang sa 'di ko namalayang tuluyan na akong nakatulog.

***

In the quiet of the night, I awoke to an odd sound- silence. My senses activated and I realized that someone had moved me from where I was earlier to a cabin. Napatingin ako sa isang lampara sa may mesa, at kinuha 'yon. The lamp hung from my hand as I stood, swaying and casting great shadows.

Lumabas ako at lubhang nagtaka sa katahimikan ng paligid. I passed along cabins after cabins until I reached the end of the hallway. I heard- no, I felt something move in the darkness. I froze and felt the sounds of feet padding somewhere behind her.

Someone had detached my vampire abilities from me. That is why, I awoke to silence and darkness. The fire in the lamp guttered, leaving my vision in the dark. Napakuyom ang aking mga kamao nang biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko. As much as I hate too much light, I hate it when it's too dark, too.

"Sino ka?" Mabagal kong tanong, at pilit pa ring pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. Tumigil ang paglalakad ng kung sino man at natukoy ko kung nas'an ang tao. I moved silently circling around a silent figure. With rapid movements, I crept behind the figure, so that I could keep myself defended.

Narinig kong tumawa ang misteryosong tao. "Ba't mo naman pinoprotektahan ang sarili mo? Hindi ba't dapat ako pa nga ang matakot sa'yo?" My eyes widened when I recognized the voice. Jax Damien Morrison, the one I met at the academy and jokingly introduced himself as my fiancé.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"I've been observing you for a while and I don't understand why the Crown Prince keeps clinging on to you, but you're sus," he answered. "The spear that hit Aeryn, it was poisoned by your-"

"Indeed," pagputol ko sa sinasabi n'ya. There's no point in denying when he knows already- though, hindi ko alam kung pa'no niya nalaman. Gusto niya lang sigurong kumpirmahin ngayon. "Then, what do you plan to do to me?" tanong ko.

"W-what? You're just admitting your crime? Aren't you being naive?"

"Yes and no," I answered. "Lucifuge and Lowell already know, so if you try to harm me, then you'll have to fight them. Surely you won't do that, huh? And actually, we're on our way to find an antidote for her. Do you want to join?"

Pakiramdam ko'y gusto niya na akong murahin. Hm, hindi ko alam kung ano'ng klaseng relasyon ang mayroon sila ni Aeryn, but I can see that he greatly cares for her. I wonder if he knows that I'm not Heidi Calafiore?

"Paano mo pala nalamang may lason 'yong-" I stopped talking the moment I felt another presence. This air seems familiar- and why am I stuck in my position? Hindi ko magalaw ang aking mga paa, at maski ang paningin ko'y hindi ko rin maibaling. Hm, one of the Surize clan members.

"Aeryn?!" Jax exclaimed in surprise. He moved forward but was suddenly taken aback by his own feet. Ako rin naman ay nagulat nang magulat siyang narito si Aeryn. "Why are you here?"

"Jax Damien, why are you threatening Heidi? You know that she never intentionally caused me harm. Ako ang nagpumilit na makisawsaw sa laban nila."

This time, I was able to move on my spot while Jax still couldn't. My eyes squinted when I realized that there was a shiruken floating besides me. If it didn't stop mid-air, it would have wounded my waist. Hinawakan ko naman 'yon at pinaikot ko sa'king mga daliri. Tiningnan ko si Jax, ngunit walang bahid ng galit o pagtataka roon. Sa halip ay kay Aeryn ako nagtaka.

"You shouldn't have followed me, Aeryn. You need to rest! Kakahimatay mo lang," Jax answered back.

Kakahimatay? My eyes, then, wandered at Aeryn. My senses have now been returned to me, so I can see her clearly in the dark. My lips trembled upon the sight of her hands... which were as pale as ice. Her pink eyes had also turned to a darker color, meaning the poison is spreading faster than I thought. At this rate, she would only survive for a year.

"Are you okay?" I blurted out, out of nowhere. Her eyes widened for a second, but she swapped that expression with a little smile.

"I came here to talk about the posion spear you made. You mentioned earlier that you were looking for an antidote, right?" she asked, calmly- as if I wasn't the one who poisoned her. How can she remain this calm and collected?

"Your eyes are giving you off, Heidi," dagdag niya't bahagyang natawa. "You are not at fault here... Oh, maybe, a bit? Kung hindi pa lalabas ang mga side effects, hindi mo pa sasabihin sa'kin, hindi ba?" Once again, she chuckled. "But it's clearly not your fault. I was the one who put myself in danger... and I underestimated you. If I trusted you back then at your battle, then you would have finished the monsters too, right?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Hindi ako makasagot. What she said was true but... I couldn't find myself innocent on this incident. If she knows that I'm not Heidi, she might have a different perspective. But I'm not too naive and gullible to let them know.

After a few moments of silence, I breathed heavily before speaking. "The poison would kill you in three years if we don't find an antidote for it. Kahit na ako ang may gawa o galing 'yan sa kapangyarihan ko, wala akong alam kung pa'no gawan ng antidote ang lason sa katawan mo."

"Then, how are you going to find the antidote? Do you have any plans?" She asked again, still keeping Jax under her control. I could hear him seething his teeth at me, but he's obedient enough to just observe and let Aeryn talk alone. Wait, why does that sound like he's a smart dog?

"Balak naming pumunta sa mga Warlocks," sagot ko. "But we still need to seek Adrius' powers first- to ask if there are still Warlocks in this age, and where to find them."

"Adrius?" This time, it was Jax who spoke. Mukhang nakawala na siya sa kontrol ng kapangyarihan ni Aeryn. "Lucifuge really plans to see and visit House Adrius? I'm sure he's aware that they do not want anything to do with other nobles and Houses- especially with the crown prince. Mahihirapan kayong makausap ang mga Adrius n'yan. Ni hindi natin alam kung sino'ng Adrius head ngayon."

"Is that so?" I muttered. "But Lucifuge and Lowell wouldn't push going here if... hindi nila magagawan ng paraan, hindi ba?"

Umiling naman si Jax. "The Adrius are strong-willed. If you'd really like to enter their land, then... allow us to join you. I'm well acquainted with Ezjei Andrius. Maybe he can grant me this favor."

Hindi na ako nagulat na gusto n'yang sumama sa'min, ngunit nagulat ako nang may tumawa sa gilid ko't biglang may kamay na yumakap sa'king balikat.

"Well, you're already here, Morrison. What's the sense of turning your offer down?" Lucifuge answered as he appeared behind me. He scoffed and I couldn't help but crouch my neck down because of his breath trickling my ears. Why's he close?

"I also have my own ways, Morrison. There's no need for you to be that boastful. I'm also well-acquainted with the Adrius family."

Napangiwi naman ako lalo sa sinabi ni Aeryn.

"Sorry for intruding your ship, Crown Prince. But there's no need to threaten Jax. He did nothing to your fiancé," aniya nang may pagdiin pa sa huling mga salita. "Anyways, since I'm the victim here... it wouldn't hurt you for us to join, right?"

Lucifuge growled and as I looked up to him, he was still scowling at Jax. He shut his eyes before answering.

"Wala na naman ata akong magagawa."

And thus, they joined us to Merhey.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!