Chapter II - Keeper of the Key

Hindi ako makapaniwala. I was wondering who was the keeper of the key pero si Mommy lang pala? And then all of the sudden sa akin ipapasa? Like how lucky I am to experience this?

"Mommy told me you were the new keeper of portal's key," biglang pumasok ang kapatid kong si Prea.

Ivanka Prea Montruex. The second to the last but the smartest of us. Matured siya kung mag-isip at minsan, maiisip mo na mas matanda siya sa akin. Gayang-gaya niya ang kilos ni Mommy. Pati ang ugali nito. Her short blonde hair was the proof that she is the most domineering compared to me ,Priela, and Praise.

"I am," simple kong sagot.

"Why does it always has to be you?" she said bitterly.

"Because I am the eldest, Prea," I said with bored tone.

"Nakakainis ka! You don't even exert an effort para maging tagapag-mana! And now you are the keeper! It was always you! At ako?! Wala! They treat me like I am some damsel princess that always needed your help! Well, guess what? I am not a child anymore, Raia! I can do whatever you can do at kaya ko pa iyong lagpasan!"

Tiningnan ko nang mataman ang kapatid ko. She was insecure, there's no doubt on that. I understand what she feels dahil totoo iyon lahat. She felt neglected dahil sa pangatlo siyang anak. And she is thirsty to prove herself. Not just to me but to the whole city.

"Prea-"

"Don't worry, hindi pa naman huli ang lahat. After all, you're not yet crowned as the crown princess. I still have the chance to prove myself," she said then smirked.

I got the chills on my spine. Hindi ko akalain na ganito ang bunso kong kapatid.

"Nilalamon ka na nang inggit mo, Prea," malumanay kong sabi pero inismiran niya lang ako.

"Sa tingin mo naiinggit ako sa'yo? Sorry to burst your bubble, Ate! Pero hindi ko kailangan mainggit sa'yo dahil alam kong kaya kitang higitan!"

"Why are you being like this, Prea?" masama ang loob na tanong ko.

"Really, Ate? You're asking me that?" puno ng hinanakit niyang sabi.

Napayuko lang ako. I know what she meant.

"Hindi ko iyon ginusto-"

"Yes, you do! You were threatened by me that's why you did what you have to do five year ago! I begged you that day but you didn't even listen."

I felt a hard lump on my throat.

"Hanggang ngayon ba hindi mo pa rin ako napapatawad?"

"No! You made me bad in the eyes of our parents! I was loved less! I am the vile princess who hurt her sisters!"

Five years ago. I finished my senior year. Priela is about to enter on senior. Prea was third year highschool and or youngest sister, Praise is just grade seven.

"Priela, I want you to take good care of Prea and Praise. Hindi ako makakasama sa downtown dahil may ensayo ako ngayon kasama si Sir Riam. Maaasahan ba kita?" I asked my sister.

Pinayagan kami nina Mommy at Daddy na pumuntang downtown pero sa isang kundisyon-no monkey business.

"What? Ate! Gusto ka naming kasama, eh!" Prea said pouting.

"Susunod ako kapag natapos agad kami. Okay, Prea? And Praise, huwag kang bibitaw kay Ate Prea at Ate Priela, okay?" paalala ko.

"Yes, Ate," nakangiti niyang sabi.

Hinatid ko ang tatlo sa downtown pero agad din naman akong humiwalay dahil hinihintay ako ni Sir Riam sa SMU.

"You're late, Princess Raia," paalala sa akin ni Sir at yumuko lang ako.

"Sorry, Sir. Hinatid ko lang kasi ang tatlo sa downtown,"

"Okay, let's start our practice. Go get your sword."

Nagsimula akong mag-ensayo. Ang una ay single fight ang ginawa ko at sunod ay si Sir Riam ang kalaban ko. My goal that day is to defeat him. Tatlong taon na akong nag-eensayo sa sword fighting pero hindi ko man lang matalo-talo si Sir Riam.

"You focus next time, Princess," sabi niya sa akin nang papalabas na kami.

"Tatalunin kita next time, Sir," determinado kong sabi at tinawanan niya lang ako.

"That's good though,"

"Sige, sir. Mauna na ako. Baka maabutan ko pa ang tatlo,"

"Ihatid na kita,"

"Naku, 'wag na po!"

"You're the princess and the future crown princess. Hindi ko hahayaan na mag-isa kang pumunta roon,"

"Sige na nga!" nakangiti kong sabi.

We teleported ourselves papunta sa downtown. Sa may plaza kung saan may funfair ay kumpol-kumpol ang mga kalahi namin. Nilingon ko si Sir Riam at nagtaka ako kung bakit nakakunot ang noo niya.

"Is that...Princess Prea?" he asked.

Dahil hindi ako katangkaran ay kailangan ko pang makisiksikan paunahan. Hinahawi ni Sir Riam ang mga bampira para paraanin ako.

"What is happening?" I asked but no one answered.

"I told you we didn't steal anything!" Prea shouted at the man.

"Nakita ko kayo! Kinupit niyo ang laruan at ginamit mo ang kapangyarihan mo para gawin itong invisibl!" bintang ng lalaki.

Napamaang naman ako at napatingin kay Prea. She has the ability to make things disappear.

"What I did? May ebidensya ka ba? Hindi mo ba alam kung sino ang kinakalaban mo?!" matalim na wika ni Prea.

Maging ako ay nagulat sa pananalita ni Prea. Sa likod niya ay si Priela at pilit siyang pinipigilan. Si Praise naman ay nakayuko lang.

Nakita kong namula ang mga mata ni Prea. Her undeveloped fangs shows and everyone gasped. Dinuro niya ang mga kamay niya at bigla akong kinabahan.

Prea's active strength is to make things disappear. But her passive power is to eliminate someone with just one snap of her finger.

"Ate, umalis na lang tayo," halatang natatakot na sabi ni Praise.

Para namang walang naririnig si Prea at mas lalong tumalim ang mga mata niya.

"How dare you accuse us a thief! Brace yourself lowlife vampire because I am going to end your life without the trace of your remains!"

"Prea, tama na iyan!" saway ni Priela.

Nagulat ako nang itulak ni Prea si Priela at tumilapon ito sa may puno. Praise is about to stop Prea pero itinulak din siya nito. Mabilis akong tumakbo at sinalo si Praise.

"Prea stop this!" sigaw ko.

She was stunned. Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa akin. Nakayakap sa akin si Praise habang nakahiga sa lupa si Priela.

"A-Ate..." she stuttered.

"What have you done, Prea?" I asked with disappointment.

"A-Ate, hindi ko sinasadya. H-hindi ako nag-isip..."

"Umuwi na tayo," mababa kong sabi.

Si Sir Riam ang nagbuhat kay Priela at nakayakap pa rin sa akin si Praise. Si Prea naman ay nakayuko lang.

Nakapasok kami sa palasyo. Nagulat ako nang hawakan ni Prea ang braso ko.

"Ate, please 'wag mo akong isusumbong kay Mommy at Daddy!" she said pleading.

"You almost kill someone, Prea. You even hurt Priela and Praise!" mariin kong sabi.

"Nadala lang ako nang galit ko, Ate. Si Praise kasi kinupit ang laruan sa stall. Nahuli siya ng tindero kaya ginamit ko ang kapangyarihan ko. I didn't mean any harm! Ate, you have to believe me!" she said almost desperate. Nanunubig ang mga mata niya.

Nilingon ko si Priela na walang malay at si Praise naman na parang traumatized.

Iba kung magalit si Prea. She's kind, sweet, and lovable pero ibang ugali ang pinapakita niya kapag nagagalit siya. At natatakot ako na may ganito siyang side. Our parents should know about this.

"I'm sorry, Prea. But as your older sister, I won't tolerate that kind of behavior,"

"Ate, please!" a tear fell down her cheeks pero iniba ko lang ang tingin ko.

"Tara na, Sir Riam." Was all I could say.

***

Kapag nag-aaway kami ni Prea ay madalas akong pumupunta sa kuwarto ni Praise. Pero ayaw ko siyang istorbohin ngayon dahil kasama niya si Mommy.

Dumungaw ako sa bintana ng kuwarto ko. I teleported myself from the tower. I could see everything. All I could hear are the leaves dancing with the air.

Peace.

I look up from the sky. Madilim na. The gradient colors of the sky are scenic. I wonder what's beyond the sky that borders us. Ganito rin ba sa labas? Ano kayang hitsura ng mundo ng tao? Is it even worth escaping for?

Now that I have the key, maaari na akong makalabas without them knowing it. Pero paano kung hindi ko magustuhan doon? Madi-disappoint ba ako? Paano naman kung magustuhan ko roon? Do I have the strength to come back here? Ipagpapalit ko ba ang trono ko para maging malaya sa labas?

I am fully aware na rogue vampires ang tawag sa mga vampires na hindi nakatira sa vampire city. Blood suckers are exempted because they have their own town.

But...is this what I am destine for? To secretly wish that this wasn't my life? Wouldn't I be making any move to make this wishful thinking into reality?

***

Katatapos lang ng traning ko with Sir Riam. My energy is drained that all I wanted to do is to drink blood.

I am fully aware that not all vampires are good. Some undisciplined vampires drink blood from humans. And the only thing that the elders and council is still following from the old culture is to never consume human's blood by means of killing them. That is also the reason why the portal was closed. In order to keep our existence unknown, we have to stop our kind from preying humans.

Papasok na ako sa kusina nang palasyo nang makita ko si Praise. She was pouting while staring outside the backyard. Pinapanuod niya ang mga kawal na nagbabantay sa tarangkahan ng palasyo.

"Praise, why are you here?" I asked. From gloomy pouting face ay biglang nagliwanag ang mukha niya.

"I'm bored, Ate. I asked the royal guards if I can play with them outside pero ayaw nila. They are so boring!" she pouted again that earn me a chuckle.

"But Praise, you're already a highschooler. Pang bata lang ang paglalaro," sabi ko.

"Playing is for everyone, Ate. Don't tell me nahawa ka na kay Ate Prea na ang bitter sa buhay?" pinameywangan niya ako at hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti.

Praise is so adorable. She is the cutest and the sweetest. You can't say no to her even our parents and grandparents. That's her active ability, her charm.

Kapag magkakasama kaming apat, hindi mo made-determine kung sino ang matanda o kung sino ang bunso dahil sa magkakapareho ang build ng katawan namin. Idagdag mo pa na pare-pareho kaming nasa teenage stage. Our age may mature but our appearance will stay the same.

"Gusto mo bang maglakad-lakad?" I asked pero napangiwi lang siya.

"Saan? Dito rin sa loob ng palasyo? Ayaw ko,"

Natawa na naman ako.

"Saan pala?" I asked.

"How about the downtown? Or the open road. Puwede rin tayong pumunta sa province or south-"

"Never the south, Praise," paalala ko at tumango naman siya.

"I know, Ate. Sanguinarian's territory is off limits." She answered.

Sanguinarian vampires. They have a huge part of the history. They were once the number one nemesis of the Kang family. But then the former King Hunter reigns, Sanguinarians was accepted by the whole. It was after the reign of Kang family that the elders decided to give what the Sanguinarians desired. To own the whole south part of Vampire City. It was a treaty. That they shall never set their foot outside their territory or even harm the others.

"Why don't we go to the open road?" I said instead.

"Okay lang kaya kay Mommy?" she whispers.

"She doesn't need to know," sabi ko at pareho pa kaming napahagikhik.

"What I don't need to know, princesses?"

Pareho kaming natigilan ni Praise at dahan-dahang lumingon sa likod namin.

"M-mommy..." we said stuttering.

"Are you planning on sneaking out, you two?" salubong ang dalawang kilay ni Mommy. I am pretty sure na narinig niya ang pinag-uusapan namin ni Praise.

"N-no, Mommy," sabi ko yumuko.

"Narinig ko kayong dalawa," she said calmly. "Praise!"

"Yes, Mommy?" nanginginig niyang sambit.

"Go back to your room and study your lessons!"

"Yes, Mommy," mababa niyang sagot.

"And Raia?"

"Yes po?"

"Stay at the library and read books."

"Opo," I answered quietly.

Umalis si Mommy at nagkatinginan lamang kami ni Praise. Her resignation sigh tells me that we have to follow our mother's order.

"See you later, Praise," sabi ko bago kami naghiwalay.

I headed to the library. Siguro iniisip ni Mommy na parusa ang pagbabasa ng libro. She doesn't even have an idea that I've almost read everything inside the royal library. Hindi rin niya alam na nakakapasok ako sa restricted area.

Nang makapasok ako sa royal library ay nilagpasan ko lang ang mga bookshelves na madadaanan ko. huminto ako sa harap ng isang painting. It was a portrait of the former King Aric and her wife Queen Lorelei. Matagal na akong pabalik-balik dito pero hindi ako nagsasawa na titigan ang painting nila. Hindi pa ako na-inlove pero nararamdaman ko ang pagmamahal nila sa isa't-isa.

Binuksan ko ang frame ng painting at sa likod nito ay isang pintuan. There is a password panel at agad kong ti-na-ype ang nine combination code.

The restricted part of the library has a clear isle. Sa gilid ay may glass bookshelves. The books looks ancient but it will always piqued someone's curiosity. Hindi ko pa lahat nababasa dito dahil bukod sa makapal, hindi ko siya maipuslit. Pinipili ko lang iyong mga kaya kong maitago sa damit ko.

Sa pinaka-gitna ako pumwesto. May limang stand doon na yari sa kahoy. Sa bawat stand ay may nakalagay na makapal na libro. It was closed and the jacket of the book was made of rubber and steel.

I opened the biggest book. Tumambad sa akin ang engraved na letter K sa first page. My fingers traced its letter.

K must be the Kangs. Lahat naman kasi ng tungkol sa pamilya nila, sa history nila ay nakalagay dito sa restricted area. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit, eh. Para bang may gusto silang itago.

I quickly flipped the pages.

"You are to marry a mortal, son,"

"No, dad! I am not going to follow your footsteps!"

"Calliope's blood is cursed! We cannot let a cursed blood be part of the royal family!"

Halos mapaupo ako sa sahig. I can hear voices. A conversation that is foreign to my ears. Namamanghang tiningnan ko muli ang libro habang tumatayo.

"What was that?" I murmured.

Was it a premonition? But who is Calliope? Wala akong maalala na naging reyna na ang pangalan ay ganoon.

The book is somehow enchanted. I can feel it. And the voices talked about curse. Nandito kaya sa librong ito ang sagot sa mga tanong ko? Do the elders and the council know about this?

_________________

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