M I L L E R

"Pardon my words, my Lord but are you not being too careless?" bungad na katanungan  ni Axel sa Supreme sa sandali na nasa loob na kami ng opisina nito.

Hindi kami naka-imik nang makita si Lord Maximilian sa labas kasama ang kanyang pamilya. We showed our respect, pero hindi kami lumapit sa kanya. At imbes na bumalik agad sa Red Mansion ay pinili ni Axel na manatili na lang sa playground at hintayin na matapos ang pamamasyal ng pamilya ng Supreme.

Binantayan namin sila. Lalo na ang munting batang babae na mayamaya kung lumabas ng mag-isa sa cottage nila para makipaglaro sa mga estranghero na mga bata sa playground.

Kagaya nga ng sinabi ni Axel, that little girl is the Supreme's daughter. We felt her vampire blood, but it doesn't have the same intimidating aura as the Supreme. We just quickly concluded that it was his child by the way he held and looked at the child.

Other than that, after what we have seen, we were already basically hanging there and doing a security and safety job instead of having a date. It has been a long time since we lost interest with our lustful desire and began doing some vampire secret duty.

"Ano ba ang ginagawa ng Supreme sa ganitong lugar?" I remember asking Axel while keeping an eye on the little girl.

"I don't know."

"Who might be that child?" tanong ko kahit alam ko na ang sagot.

The air around us was getting boring, and Axel was slowly drifting back into his work-mode. Isa pa, my question could be interpreted in another way.

Kahit na ilang beses na itong nabanggit ni Axel sa akin. I still couldn't believe that an offspring could form between a human and a vampire.

"Isn't it already obvious, Miller?" Finally, Axel relaxed his shoulder and started to lean on the bench. "Our kind is cursed. We can't reproduce with other types of species, and the only time a vampire could get fertile is during their estrus. The only vampires who can produce hybrids are the Lorenvettis. As their blood is thicker and powerful. Also, as long as the other non-vampire party has a strong body, it's possible. But, since the mortality rate for vampires is low due to infertility, it's often the female that is the other species. That's why we had a lot of half-vampire, half-human Supreme's back then. We even had ones who were half-goblin and many other kinds. The Lorenvettis are the only exception."

Just like how the Supreme's lover is a woman, it must be faster to breed if the other kind doesn't have a picky reproductive system. May mahaba silang buhay pero bawi naman sila sa bagal nilang magparami.

Surely, nature has its way to balance the life forms in this world.

Napaisip tuloy ako kung ano na ang mangyayari kung nagkataon na isang babae si Axel. After his estrus, posible kaya na mabubuntis siya?

As soon as I realized the thought I was making, I simply made a light shake of my head. Kung ano-ano na lang ang iniisip ko. I should just stay still and listen to Axel's conversation with the Supreme. Anyway, regardless if he's a man or a woman, he is still my Axel.

"Alam kong nag-aalala ka, Axel pero hindi naman ako pupunta sa lugar na alam kong ikapapahamak ng pamilya ko." Tugon sa kanya ng Supreme na mahinahon lang na nakaupo sa pwesto nito sa lamesa.

"If-If that's so, were there other vampires roaming to watch you?"

Kumurba ang labi ng ni Lord Maximilian at nagwika ng, "Of course, Axel. Hindi ako pwedeng magpabaya nakasalalay ang kaligtasan ng hinaharap ng mga bampira. Pero, Axel bata pa si Maxine. Ayaw kong ipagkait sa kanya ang pagkakataon na maging masaya. She's still in her growth stage after all, she's nothing but a sprout yet. Ayaw kong ikulong siya dahil lang sa mga humahabol sa kanya."

"But, My Lord..."

"I know you are concerned, Axel. At 'yan din ang pinag-aalala ng marami. I shall take everyone's concern seriously and will be more cautious next time."

Woah. Lord Maximilian is on the other level when it comes with dealing his people. He is not only a leader who dominates full authority. From an outsider's point of view, like me, he seems to know how to lower his pride sometimes and listen to them.

Para bang alam niya na hindi lang kanya ang buhay na mayroon siya. It sounds majestic, but in fact, it's rather selfless to be a Supreme.

"Gayunpaman, binabati pa rin kita dahil kusa niyong nakilala ang tagapagmana ng aking trono. Para bang nakatadhana na kayo ay magtagpo," nakangiting sambit niya. He really mean what he said. "Huwag ka sanang magdalawang-isip na protektahan siya."

Habang nagsasalita si Lord Maximilian ay hindi niya nakakalimutan na tumingin din sa akin. Tila ba hindi lang para kay Axel ang mga katagang kanyang binubulalas, pati na rin sa akin.

I guess I am not a complete outsider anymore.

Wala naman akong angal dito. The future of the vampire society is also Axel's future. And I've seen how devoted Axel is to his lord, so I won't do anything that will oppose him.

"Lalo na kung wala na ako sa hinaharap na iyan. Inaasahan ko na kayo ang gagabay sa aking munting Maxine," dagdag pa ni Lord Maximilian.

Umangat bigla ang ulo ni Axel. Kumunot ang kanyang noo at bumukas-sara ng bahagya ang kanyang labi na para bang nag-aalinlangan siya kung magsasalita ba siya o hindi. Para bang may saglit na protesta na nagaganap sa kanyang isipan. Ngunit sa huli ay sumagot pa rin si Axel.

With his firm voice he said, "I don't believe you'll miss the time the Young Lady grows up, My Lord. but I guarantee you that you can count on us."

As if it was his final speech of a glorious night, Axel bowed. Gumaya lang din ako sa kanya at yumuko na rin. Yumuko rin ng bahagya si Lord Maximilian sa amin. He was acknowledging or leave. Tapos nito ay sabay na kaming lumabas ng silid ng Supreme.

"So, you've seen the young lady." Sabay kaming napalingon ni Axel sa gilid ng pinto nang marinig namin ang pamilyar na boses.

It was arrogant yet controlled. Cold and sound bored. That voice belongs to the one and only Mateo. Nakasandal siya sa gilid ng pinto habang naka-krus ang mga braso. It made me think, with the sharp hearing that vampires possess. It's not wrong if I think na nandito siya sa labas para pakinggan ang usapan namin.

"So, you were listening?" Axel did not bother to ask him directly.

Nagkibit-balikat naman si Mateo.

Umalis siya sa pagkakasandal sa dingding at umayos ng tayo. "Beats me. I did not hear even a single word about the young lady. The Supreme put a barrier around his office."

Oh. There was a barrier?

I instinctively looked around the door to check if I could see the barrier. Kaso mukhang invisible ito maski sa mga bampira dahil wala akong nakitang kakaiba sa matayog na pinto.

"Fair enough. He wouldn't risk talking about his daughter."

"Paano mo nalaman na ang anak nga ng Supreme ang pinag-uusapan namin?" tanong ko.

Mateo raised both his brows and once again crossed his arms. "I was there... at the garden park, I mean."

"Nakita mo rin ba siya?" I asked while purposely not mentioning the person.

Because they said that the identity or even the existence of the heiress should be kept hidden, I should also not mention somebody's name or title out in the open.

"Nope," umiling-iling si Mateo, "I was assigned at the south wing of the garden park. Pretty far from the playground. The vampire's assigned around there were at least in half a kilometer radius away from the Supreme's family. They made us see all the places first so that we could teleport easily anywhere in the park in case an emergency happened."

Half a kilometer away? Isn't that way too far? Ah. Of course it isn't if they are a vampire. Kaya naman pala maswerte kami ni Axel. Mukhang wala pa nga talagang nakakakita sa prinsesa ng mga bampira.

"Aren't you going to do your duties, Mateo?" tanong ni Axel sa kanya nang mapansin na hindi pa rin nagbabago ng direksyon si Mateo kahit na lumampas na kami sa hagdan na patungo sa kanyang opisina.

He quickly came back into his senses and disappeared with a few words, saying, "I'll take my leave."

Pagkatapos nun ay bumalik na rin kami ni Axel sa silid namin. Habang naghahanda sa panibago na namang araw ay hindi namin maiwasan na pag-usapan ang tungkol ulit sa munting bampira.

"I did not expect to see her tottering already." Sinuot ni Axel ang kanyang lab gown. Humarap siya sa salamin tapos ay tinupi ng maayos ang kanyang kwelyo. Hindi pa siya agad natapos at sinuri pa kung maayos din ba ang mga manggas ng lab gown niya.

On the other hand, I am quite busy cleaning the sword Leo lent me. Gagamitin ko na naman kasi ito mamaya para sa isa na namang sparring session.

"Hm? Bakit mo naman 'yan nasabi? Was it too surprising to see a toddler completely standing on her own feet?"

"No. That's not it."

It turns out na iba pala ang nalalaman ng lahat. Ang sabi sa kanila ay ipapanganak pa lang ang magiging tagapagmana ng Supreme. That's why he was expecting a pregnant woman instead of a toddler. Hindi niya inaasahan na nasa isa hanggang dalawang taong gulang na ito ngayon.

"What's wrong about that?" Tumigil na muna ako sa paglilinis tapos ay hinarap siya na nakatalikod pa rin. "Hindi ba't parte rin iyan sa pagprotekta ng Supreme sa pamilya niya?"

Mukhang tapos na sa pag-aayos ng kanyang suot si Axel. Humarap na siya sa akin ay bumungad ang mga mata niya na puno ng pag-aalala.

"Hey, what is it you're thinking about now?"

"Nothing. I just feel that something's going to happen... something unfortunate is going to happen."