This chapter is dedicated to @Hilary Delle

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Red Ridinghood's eyes drifted to the tray on her bedside table. Noon lang nito napansin ang plato ng cinnamon rolls at kopita ng grape juice. Sa dami ng dramang nangyayari sa kanya, kamuntikan na niya itong makalimutan.

'It's time to pay him a visit.'  

She quickly picked out a pouch from her dresser and shoved the cinnamon rolls inside. Kinuha niya ang drinking flask na nabili niya noon sa pamilihan, at isinalin dito ang juice. Sunod naman niyang sinuot ang isang makapal na roba---the one she found at the bottom of her wardrobe---at pasimpleng itinago ang kanyang mga dala bago ini-lock ang pinto.

The moment she stepped out of her room, napalinga-linga muna siya sa paligid.

'Delikado na at baka mahuli pa ako nina Elpidio!'

When she was convinced that the royal pain in the ass was nowhere to be found, mabilis na tinahak ng prinsesa ang daan patungo sa piitan ng kanilang palasyo.

The entrance to the palace's underground dungeons was located near the stables. Hindi siya madalas napapagawi sa parteng ito, pero dahil kabisado niya ang mapa, she easily navigated through the halls and found herself standing before two guards.

Yumukod ang mga ito sa kanya at hinayaan siyang makapasok.

Napangiti na lang si Red habang pababa ng hagdan. "Well, that was easy!"

...or perhaps she spoke too soon.

Dahil nang marating naman ng prinsesa ang kulungan ng preso, agad siyang kinuwestiyon ng mga nagbabantay. Sa matamlay na liwanag mula sa ilang lampara, a lanky guard frowned at her.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, kamahalan? Mapanganib ang lugar na 'to."

She stood upright and composed herself, acting more like the princess she should be.

"I was about to check up on our prisoner. Sandali lang ako, promise."

The guards looked at her as if she were crazy. Naiintindihan naman ni Red ang kanilang pag-aalala. But it doesn't change the fact that she hates being treated like a fragile figurine. Nakakasawa na rin minsan. Maya-maya pa, agad na sumagot ang mga gwardiya at humarang lalo sa kanyang daanan.

"Pasensya na, kamahalan, pero hindi ka namin pwedeng pagbigyan sa kagustuhan mo. Hindi ka ligtas dito."

Tumango naman ang kanyang kasama, "Isa pa, paniguradong bibitayin kami ni Ginoong Elpidio kapag nalaman niyang hinayaan ka namin."

Damn.

What to do now?

Napalunok na lang si Red. She can't really blame them, though. Naalala niya noon ang palaging sinasabi ni General Simon sa kanya tungkol sa katapatan ng mga gwardiyang naglilingkod sa kaharian nila. These guards pledged to protect the palace and the royals at all costs, and they only take orders from the general. Pero dahil wala na si General Simon, mukhang si Elpidio na ang sinusunod ng mga ito. Unless, of course, they get direct orders from...

'The king!'

Bingo.

Once again, Princess Rieka smiled like a princess and eyed them cautiously.

"Ganoon ba? Well, it's fine. By the way, the king gave me permission to do as I please... Siguradong magagalit ang hari kapag nalaman niya ito, mukhang bad mood pa man din siya ngayon. Oh, well! Have a nice day, gentlemen!"

She smiled sweetly at their horrified expressions.

Tumalikod na siya at akmang maglalakad na sana pabalik ng hagdan nang agad siyang tinawag ulit ng mga gwardiya.

"S-Sandali, prinsesa! P-Pwede ka naman siguro namin hayaang kausapin siya ng ilang minuto..."

"Yeah! B-Basta nakabantay lang kami dito sa labas kung may mangyaring masama... Please don't tell this to the king!"

Hindi niya naiwasang mapangiti. Hangga't maaari ayaw niya talagang ginagamit ang kanyang titulo para mapasunod ang mga tao. Bukod sa ayaw kasi niyang maging isang "spoiled brat", it just doesn't sit well with her.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, indeed.

*

The metal door closed behind her.

Agad na sumulyap ang prinsesa sa maliit nitong bintana. Nang masigurado niyang hindi siya binabantayan ng mga gwardiya, sinamantala ng prinsesa ang sandaling "privacy" at nilapitan ang binatang nakaupo sa sentro ng silid. He didn't even glance up at her, even though he was well aware of her presence.

Dumako ang mga mata ni Red "almusal" nitong hindi pa nagagalaw. Mukhang hinagisan lang siya kanina ng mangkok na may tira-tirang pagkain mula sa quarters ng mga katulong.

"They serve the worse meals here. Even I wouldn't eat that..."

No response.

Red Ridinghood sighed, at sat down in front of him. Sinimulan na niyang ilabas ang pouch at maingat na inilahad sa kanyang harapan ang mababangong cinnamon rolls. She glanced over her shoulder again, making sure the guards weren't watching, and set the drinking flask down.

"It's not much, but I couldn't risk sneaking you a fine coarse dish."

Nang lumapit ito sa pagkain, kumalansig ang kadenang nakatali sa kanyang kanang paa. The light of the nearest lamp gave her a good view of the silver chains that rattled with his every move.

'Silver.'

Her heart tugged at the thought. To say that she felt guilty was definitely an understatement. Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya pa rin maisawang sisihin ang sarili niya kung bakit ganito ang kalagayan ngayon ni Nyctimus.

Last night, before they could even reach the palace, nabigla na lang silang lahat nang bumalik sa kanyang anyong-tao si Nyctimus. Upon realizing that he was a werewolf, the guards quickly fetched a silver chain from the weaponry and tied him up. Sinusubukan niyang lapitan ito kagabi, pero lagi siyang hinaharangan nina Elpidio. Ang huli niyang natatandaan ay noong kinaladkad siya ng mga ito papunta sa palace dungeons.

As worried as she is, hindi rin maitatanggi ni Red na naguguluhan siya sa sitwasyon.

'Bakit ba hindi man lang siya pumalag nang huliin siya?'

Her thoughts were again interrupted by the sound of the chains. Tahimik na kinuha ni Nyctimus ang isang cinnamon roll at kinain ito. Maya-maya pa, inabot niya naman ang flask, binuksan, at sinipat ang laman nito. He just stared at it like it was gonna attack him any moment now.

Was he suspicious?

Napangiti na lang si Red.

"Grape juice 'yan. It's your favorite, right?"

Sa wakas, tumingin sa kanya si Nyctimus. At sa pagkakataong ito, mukhang siya na ngayon ang nawalan ng abilidad na magsalita. This was the first time she saw him without the black hood covering his face.

Striking blue eyes that reminded her of the midsummer sky and tousled locks that were as white as snow.

And speaking of his “appearance”, Red just noticed how porcelain-like Nyctimus’ bare skin was, smooth like the finest silk in their kingdom. He wasn’t particularly “muscular” (unlike his other brothers) but he was charming in his own way. Ngayong napagtanto na niya ito, hindi maiwasang isipin ng prinsesa, ‘Nyctimus is beautiful… Kung naging babae lang siguro siya, kahit sinong prinsesa ay paniguradong mai-insecure.’

The youngest of the Big Bad Werewolves lowered his head as if suddenly embarrassed at his exposure.

Umayos ng pagkakaupo si Red at tumikhim, “I’ve been thinking about this last night... kaya ba hindi mo inilista ang ‘weakness’ mo sa papel na ‘yon ay dahil ayaw mong may alas ako sa’yo? At hindi mo ako hinarang sa kastilyo kagabi, dahil alam mong kakailanganin ko ng tulong?”

Sa totoo lang, hindi na siya umaasang sasagutin siya nito. Bilang lang sa kanyang mga daliri ang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ni Nyctimus mula nang makilala niya ito.

Kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat ng prinsesa nang marinig niya ulit ang boses nito. His voice was just like how she remembered it---the sound of assertiveness with a tad bit of magic.

“It was necessary.”

Nyctimus took a gulp of his grape juice and continued, “Katulad ng alam mo, may epekto ang full moon sa ‘behavior’ ng mga taong-lobo. Halimbawa na lang ay ‘yong kay alpha. The effect of wolfsbane on his is more severe during a full moon; ilang araw siyang hindi makakapag-transform and he’ll be physically weak until the sun rises. In my case, I am able to willingly transform and control my wolf during a full moon---especially during a blue moon.”

Pinilit isantabi ni Red ang pagkamangha dahil sa haba ng sinabi nito sa kanya. Damn. Nakakapanibago palang kausapin ang isang talkative version ni Nyctimus. Nonetheless, she nodded in understanding. “At sinamantala mong hindi ako maghihinala dahil inakala kong hindi ka talaga nakakapag-transform.”

“Yes, that’s the point of everything. Dahil alam kong sa oras na tumakas ka sa’min, tiyak na aabangan ka nina Piped Piper sa kagubatan ng Eastwood. That’s why I was secretly watching over you after you escaped my brothers.”

The magician took another bit of his cinnamon roll.

Habang ngumunguya ang binata, may biglang na-realize si Red. Kung nakabantay na pala noon sa kanya si Nyctimus, bakit hindi sila nito tinulungan agad?

Nyctimus stared at her, para bang nababasa nito ang kanyang iniisip. An unreadable expression on his face.

“It was all part of the plan…”

“Part of the plan? Kasama ba sa plano mo ang hayaan silang mamatay?! Nyct, bakit hindi ka kumilos agad? If you showed up earlier, General Simon and the other guards would still be alive! H-How could you sit there and watch those people die?!” Her voice broke as she recalled those horrible scenes.

Hindi na namalayan ng prinsesa na nanginginig na pala ang kanyang mga kamay. Red released a shaky breath and closed her eyes. Nakakapanlumong isipin na hindi na nila maibabalik pa ang buhay na nawala, pero mas nakakapanlumo pala ang katotohanang may pagkakataon sanang mailigtas sila.

“Bakit mo ba ako tinulungan?” Mahina niyang tanong.

Narinig niyang napabuntong-hininga na lang si Nyctimus. Hindi na nito ginalaw ang pagkain sa harapan niya.

“The consequences of our curse are getting worse, Princess Rieka. Hindi mo pa siguro napapansin, pero dumarami na ang bilang ng mga pinapatay mula sa kaharian ninyo. The ones killing them are our supposedly dead brothers who were revived by the Piped Piper… Kasama ang fortune-teller na nanloko sa heneral ninyo kagabi, they all work under the indirect command of Miss Evelyn, the same witch who cursed us centuries ago. Hangga’t papalapit na ang ‘Day of Reckoning’ sa aming pito, hindi matitigil ang mga patayan…at asahan mong mas marami pang buhay ang mawawala sa mga susunod na mga araw. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they attack and burn your kingdom to ashes,” he said.

Sandaling natahimik ang prinsesa, her amber eyes stared in shock. “Pero anong kinalaman nito sa’kin? Dahil ba ako ang tagapagmana ng trono?”

That seems like the most logical reason why she’s tangled up in this mess. Pwera na lang kung may mas malalim pang dahilan. At base sa ekspresyon ni Nyctimus, mukhang ganoon na nga ang sitwasyon…

"You are already aware that Lycros brought you to our castle in order to determine if you'll be 'chosen' by Eteilla, the chamber you saw on your first night. Nabanggit na rin noon ni alpha ang tungkol sa isang pagsubok na magdidikta kung ikaw nga ang prinsesang tatapos sa sumpa naming magkakapatid." Seryoso lang itong nakatitig sa kanya, at hindi na kailangang isipin pa ni Red kung ano ang ipinapahiwatig sa kanya ni Nyctimus.

"Ibig sabihin nito...?"

The werewolf nodded.

"Last night, you passed the test, Princess Rieka."

Natigilan ang prinsesa sa kanyang sinabi. Fear slowly crept into her as another headache came. Hindi niya alam kung naliwanagan o lalo lang siyang naguluhan.

"Paano ka naman naman nakasigurado, Nyct? I didn't do anything last night!"

"You didn't...but Eteilla did," he spoke slowly, savoring the words in his mouth; willing her to understand. "Emotions trigger the senses, Princess Rieka... That's the reason why we insisted you stay inside our castle. Halu-halong emosyon ang naramdaman mo sa pananatili sa kastilyo---takot, kaba, lungkot, pagkalito, galit, saya... all those emotions grounded you to humanity. Madalas, matagal na proseso ang pagpili ng Eteilla, at hindi kami pwedeng makialam. Acontes wanted us to just wait for the natural course of events.
That's the reason why you weren't allowed to leave the castle. But given our situation and the dangers brought by our enemies, malinaw na kailangan na naming kumilos bago pa mahuli ang lahat..."

"I-Is that why you helped me escape?"

It's all making sense now.

Nyctimus nodded, "I knew how frustrated you were whenever the alpha denies to give you answers. Kaya sabihin na nating sinamantala ko lang ang emosyon mong 'yon at ibinigay sa'yo ang listahan ng mga kahinaan nila."

"Paano mo naman nalamang hinahanap ko noon ang weaknesses ninyo?" She inquired. Ngayong naiisip na niya ito, it was too much of a coincidence. Pasimple niyang inaalam noon ang weaknesses nila, then Nyctimus suddenly gave her the list as if he knew what she was doing all along...

"We watched you through the crystal ball in Acontes' solar. Alam naming inaalam mo ang weaknesses namin, but we just played along and pretended to be ignorant. Anyway, my brothers didn't know I gave you that list. Gumamit ako ng mahika para hindi ma-detect ng crystal ball ang listahan na 'yon. I helped you escape because I already had a hunch that something dramatic will happen during the night of the full moon. Hinayaan kitang malagay sa panganib, para mas mapabilis ang proseso ng Eteilla."

"H-Hindi kita maintindihan... Paano ko naipasa ang pagsubok kagabi?" She was curious and terrified all at once.

Isang malungkot na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ni Nyctimus.

"Emotions trigger the senses. Kapag naging sapat na ang emosyong nararamdaman mo, kusang magbubukas ang senses mo...and if you're the chosen princess, the ancient magic of Eteilla will reveal the face of the real enemy. An apparition. A warning. Last night...you saw her, didn't you?"

Red Ridinghood recalled the trauma of watching the general die before her eyes...

Emosyon.

Mukhang iyon nga ang nag-trigger ng lahat. Naaalala na niya. Pagkatapos 'non, lalong sumakit ang kanyang ulo.

Kasabay ng pagpapakita ng matandang mangkukulam sa kanya.

The princess sat still, her mind was trying to grasp everything and nothing at same time.

'Ano nang gagawin ko?'

Gustong matawa ni Red. Dahil hindi niya alam kung ilang beses na niyang naitanong 'yan sa kanyang sarili. But then again, it seems like fate was cornering her---trying to force her to ask it again. Sa mga sandaling ito, hindi na niya alam.

It was necessary, huh?

Everything caught her off guard, once again.

Nang mapansin ni Nyctimus ang kanyang reaksyon, the magician just picked up the last cinnamon roll and averted his attention to the pastry.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Princess Rieka...kaya nga't mananatili muna ako rito, hanggang sa tuluyan mo nang matanggap ang tungkuling ibinigay sa'yo ng Eteilla." He started munching on the bread, completely ignoring her. "We'll leave this place once you're ready."

Kumunot ang noo ni Red. Napagtanto niyang ito mismo ang rason ni Nyctimus kaya hindi siya nanlaban kagabi. Hindi niya sinubukang tumakas nang huliin siya ng mga gwardiya at hinayaan niyang makulong siya rito...para ihatid si Red Ridinghood pabalik sa kastilyo nila.

Nyctimus knew this was going to happen, and yet, he didn't mind.

'A few moments ago, I was surprised to learn that the world expects me to be a queen in two weeks...now I'm expected to break the curse of the Big Bad Werewolves?'

Nang tuluyan nang lumabas si Red Ridinghood sa kulungan ni Nyctimus, her mind was too preoccupied. Ni hindi na nito pinansin ang request nitong pagdalhan pa siya ng grape juice.

---

If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again
I shall not live in vain.

---Emily Dickenson