I wrote this as a special chapter last 2018. Who can still remember? Haha!

Chapter 41: Piano

Rosh's performance was so hypnotizing that everyone stood in amazement, clapping their hands in fascination. Even I got goosebumps, for the sound of his flute felt like it was naturally intertwined with the elements of nature—the flowing water, the whispering wind, the vines creeping around the city, the fluttering butterflies, and the glint of moonlight behind him.

"It's the usual opening of Parsua Deltora."

"Si Rosh lang?"

Tobias's lips curved. "Would you like to witness my performance?"

"Do you play flute as well?"

"I do play different musical instruments, but I love playing piano."

"Oh . . ."

"How about you?"

"I do play a little."

"Piano?"

"Piano and flute. I have those in our old museum."

Tobias and I didn't stay any longer at the Floating City, and with the assistance of a priestess, we crossed a portal, and we returned safely inside the castle. He brought me to a different room, I was sitting at the edge of the bed, still with the lotus in my hand.

"You can ring the bell if you need assistance."

I nodded.

I wanted to ask him about the mirror, and when I opened my mouth to start, I stopped myself. I didn't think he'd give me information about the thing that would make me run away from him.

"Do you want to ask something?"

I blinked. I shook my head. I might have looked like I wanted to ask him.

"Magpapahinga na ako."

He nodded. "I hope you enjoyed our little stroll."

He took a step closer, but he stopped himself and took a step back. "See you tomorrow."

"Yes."

Another week had passed, and I spent all my time being the obedient guest of this kingdom. I tried so much to remember everything, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't even recall how I ended up here after Tobias power pulled me from the mirror. And I couldn't believe everything he said just because I was attracted to him.

But I was trying to be considerate, he was gentle and kind but until when? He's a king, he needed me as his queen, the queen with power, with her green arrows, someone who was strong enough to introduce myself to this big kingdom, and I wasn't like that.

Bukod pa sa problema sa memorya ko, hindi rin nawawala ang sakit ng ulo ko sa magkapatid na Pryor at Marah. They hated me. Lagi na lang salubong ang kilay sa akin ni Pryor at hindi na ako natatakot sumagot kay Marah sa tuwing nagkaka-engkuwentro kami.

As I wandered inside the huge castle of Deltora, I didn't notice that I was lost in the beauty of this room filled with paintings and antique items. The whole presence of the room felt so familiar, warm— just like home. Tulad ng museleo na iniwan ko sa mundo ng mga tao.

I could even write a book describing how beautiful Parsua Deltora was once I returned to my own world. Siguro ay iyon na lang ang siyang magiging alaala ko sa mundong ito. Na minsan ay naghangad ako nang sobra at humiling na ibang tao ako— isang reyna sa isang magandang kaharian.

But I didn't deserve this, right? Grandfather? Grandmother? With my pasts and everything vilest thing I'd made. I didn't deserve paradise. I had been destined to burn in hell with the path I'd chosen to take.

I sighed and tried to remember my past— those happy moments. Maybe the happiness when I chose my college program, how I had my first salary, ate in a cheap but decent restaurant, had some friends, and the dream that I get to travel around the world with my endless excavation of historical items.

I'd continue to pursue my dream as an Archeologist.

"Kezalli! You unmannered woman!"

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko at ang pagtitig ko sa magandang larawan na nakasabit sa pader. It was a painting of a dessert at night.

I looked lazily at my sister-in-law, Marah. Yes, I started to address her like that, like a miserable protagonist who had to deal with her fiancé's family. Iniisip ko na lang na aalis na rin ako, bakit hindi ko pa siya higit na bigyan ng sakit sa ulo?

Alam ko naman na mainit na ang dugo nila sa akin ni Pryor simula pa lang nang tumapak ako sa mundong ito. It had something to do with their sister and her fate that entangled with mine and the other women from the prophecy. Dahil alam ko na hindi na magbabago ang opiniyon ng dalawa sa akin. I must say that it was way better to provoke them than acting like their wounded prey.

I had a vague memory about my grandparents' stories with mirrors and another world, but I never thought that it was real. I thought it was just a children's story. But here I was inside the unknown world— which I first thought that I was drugged. Mated with a vampire king.

I thought vampires were just from fiction stories, but the moment I saw his fangs—all I could do was stare.

I looked at the door, trying to think of another escape. Where's Tobias? His sister was about to blow the fire from her mouth again.

"Unmannered?" I raised one of my brows.

Hindi ba at siya itong basta na lang pumasok sa silid na ito. I was just quietly enjoying the view of the painting in here.

Tobias told me that I was good with my arrows, should I try it on her sister then?

"Did I allow you to enter in this room?"

"Do I need to ask permission?" sagot ko.

She huffed, placed both of her hands on her waist, and walked closer. "Who gave you the power to get inside—" I cut her off.

"You are just a princess. I am mated to your king." I answered her confidently with my head held high.

I promised myself that even if I lost my memories, and I was about to leave this world that no one could trample me. Wala na nga akong maalala, tapos magiging api-apihan pa ako nitong sina Marah at Pryor?

"What is happening again? Ano na naman ang problema ninyong dalawa?"

Kapwa naagaw ang atensyon namin ni Marah dahil sa boses ng lalaki mula sa pinto. It was Rosh who looked irritated with the mere sight of us. Isa rin ito sa naging responsibilidad ni Rosh nang sandaling dumating ako, ang awatin kami ni Marah kapag malapit na kaming magkasakitan.

I knew that she was way stronger than I was, but if she happened to attack me, I would never back down.

Rosh entered the room with one of his hands on his waist, he frustratingly ran his finger through his hair when he positioned himself between us. With my weeks inside Deltora, I realized how narcissistic he was, or let's say he knew how attractive he was with women.

Hindi lilipas ang araw na hindi ko maririnig ang pangalan niya sa mga labi ng mga tagasunod ng palasyo.

"Ask your sister. Gumagawa na naman ng away. I was just merely watching the painting inside this room, and she barged in." Nanatiling naka-angat ang kilay ko kay Marah,

She grinned at me. "She told me that she has Tobias's neck, and he will do everything that she wanted. She told me that she would ruin my life as a princess of this castle because she has the power!"

Gusto kong tumawa dahil wala naman akong sinabi sa kanyang ganoon. But if she wanted it, I'd gladly give it to her— but it would take just few weeks.

"W-What?" I said, acting like I was startled. Of course, that would annoy the princess more.

Yumakap na siya kay Rosh at nagsimula nang umiyak. What I noticed about Marah was she's a literal brat. Maybe because her brothers spoiled her too much. Dahil sa pananatili ko rito ay pansin ko na ibinibigay pa rin naman nina Tobias, Rosh at Pyror ang lahat ng gusto ni Marah.

"What is wrong with humans? Inagaw na nga sa akin ni Claret si Zen, and then this Kezalli with Tobias . . . Rosh, don't leave me." Marah said dramatically.

Rosh rolled his eyes before he met mine and winked. Yes, I got it.

"You sneaky brat, aren't you always with your pet wolf? What with Zen, Tobias and your don't leave me?"

Marahas na humiwalay si Marah kay Rosh. "He is not a pet!"

Rosh sighed. "Whatever. Don't worry, I don't like Kezalli either! She's not pretty even Claret. A Le'Vamuievos is always prettier, Marah, and it's you."

I knew that it was one of the reasons why Marah hated me, because she was the only woman in this kingdom, and she'd not appreciate a foreign woman who would divide everyone's attention from her.

Marah grinned at me like she won this battle. Duh? Sinasakyan lang ni Rosh ang kaartehan mo.

"What's wrong?"

Dumating na rin sina Tobias at Pryor. Kanina lang ay kalmado ako kahit iritable na ako kay Marah, ngunit iba talaga ang presensiya ni Tobias. I hated it when everything looked so blurry around me but was so clear— that I could ignore everything just to look at him.

It's been a week, saan nanggaling ang bampirang ito?

"Her attitude is killing me, Tobias! Bakit hindi mo na lang siya dalhin sa Sartorias? You tell her to stay with Claret! Magsasama-sama silang mga tao!"

They have been telling me the same name the moment I opened my eyes, and I heard the stories between their kingdoms and their conflict. I knew that if I asked Tobias to be escorted by the woman named Claret, he'd brave their conflict for me. I didn't want it to happen. They should resolve it once they are ready.

"Do you want to visit Claret?" tanong ni Tobias.

"Bring her to Sartorias! Let me adjust and breathe. I don't like human presence!"

"Why don't you just bite her, Tobias?" tanong ni Pryor.

Hindi lang ako ang natigilan nang sabihin iyon ni Pryor, dahil maging sina Marah, Rosh at Tobias.

No . . .

"She's not yet ready," tipid na sagot ni Tobias.

"Ready for what? Ang dami mo namang arte!" sabat ni Marah.

"Shut up! Spoiled brat!" sigaw ko.

"Leave us. I need to talk to her," malamig na sabi ni Tobias.

Hindi na nagsalita ang magkakapatid. Hinila n ani Rosh si Marah at nauna nang tumalikod si Pryor. Agad kaming naiwan ni Tobias mag-isa sa loob ng silid na iyon, dahilan kung bakit higit na lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko.

He took a few steps closer. "W-what?"

I thought he was about to touch me when his hand landed behind my back, and when I looked over my shoulder, he pulled a white cloth, covering a huge piano.

"You can play, right?"

I glanced at the piano, Tobias's fingertips were gently playing the keys. "A little."

"Let me hear it."

"Wala na akong maalalang piyesa." Tumanaw na ako sa labas ng bintana.

"You are lying."

"I don't want to play."

"I'll show you your bow and arrow. And the mirror. Just play a piece for me." Saglit akong napatitig sa kanya. He really knew how to make a deal.

Huminga na ako nang malalim at humarap na ako sa piano. Naupo na ako sa harapan nito.

"Where have you been?" I tried to look calm.

"Sartorias."

Napalingon na ako sa kanya. "I thought you can't meet to anyone from Sartorias?"

Tobias smiled bitterly. "No. I didn't visit Sartorias, just the border, and asked some creatures about them."

Nag-was na ako ng tingin sa kanya. Yumuko at sinimulan paglandasin ang aking mga daliri sa piano. "Harper?"

"I like the fact that you're jealous, but I don't like the things you do when you are."

"I am not jealous. Why would I be? It's about my ego. You announced to your empire that your queen has arrived. Don't you think it's bad for my image to have news spreading about my king rekindling with his old flame?"

He chuckled. "I didn't visit the borders because of her. You're very different from Claret. Zen's mate is gentle and feminine, while you're—how can I say this? Harsher—yet very beautiful."

I ignored him and started to move my fingers over the piano keys. I took a deep breath before my fingertips danced with the familiarity of the melody.

He was still standing behind me as I continued to enjoy the music filling the room—the sounds were soft, warm, and felt like home. Despite this, I couldn't convince myself to calm down with his presence lingering behind me.

This piece was meant to be played by two pianists; it was the music my grandmother and I used to play when the old museum was filled with people. A sudden tear glided down my cheek, and as I was about to play the second verse, another hand, with slender fingertips and an expert touch on the keys, joined mine.

Tila nakayakap sa akin si Tobias na ngayon ay bahagyang nakayuko habang tumutugtog kasabay ko.

He was leaning on me, his face was so near that the moment I looked over my shoulder, the tip of my nose would brush his cheek.

"I missed you ..." he whispered.

My fingertips froze on the top of the piano keys when I felt his lips on my neck.

"Tobias . . ."

And then he stopped, he cupped my face and kissed me passionately. I should push him. I should shout at him, and I should run away from him to stop myself from enjoying and asking more of this—because I had finally decided. I should leave him, this world, even if it broke my heart into pieces.

When our lips parted, I stared at him— lost in thoughts. Lost by those lips . . . lost by my completely insane mind.

Ipinatong nito ang kanyang noo sa akin habang nag-iinit ang mga labi ko sa halik niya.

"When will you be ready, Love?"