The Rose In His Darkness

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

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NIKOLAI'S POV

.    .     .

"Once the burning light falls,
Under darkness's embrace, she calls
Twilight will be born in it's halls
The light is now the rose, blooming in his walls"

.    .    .

Darkness surrounds my soul as my eyes read the poem written in my papa's journal. It was composed of a single stanza, yet the words embedded on it were deep, with the message lying as a mysterious riddle playing in my head.

Tiningnan ko si papa sa isang seryosong ekpresyon. Kasalukuyan kami ngayong nasa opisina niya. Ako'y nakatayo sa harap ng desk nya habang siya'y nakadekwadro't nakasandal sa swivel chair na inuupuan niya. Ang seryoso kong ekspresyon ay tinugunan ni papa ng isang matalim na titig.

"Do you have an idea kung bakit ko iyan ipinabasa sa iyo, mi figlio?" tanong niya sa akin sa isang baritono at seryosong boses.

Umiling ako. Then, I approached papa's desk and placed the book there. My eyes narrowed as I put both of my hands to my suit's pockets. I sighed.

"No, papa," simpleng sagot ko. Kinuha ni papa ang libro atsaka ngumisi.

"It's easy, the darkness represents you, Nikolai, my son," ani papa habang nakangisi. "While she represents the burning light."

My breathing hitched. Wala akong naiintindihang kahit na ano. I stared at papa in confusion, whilst the smirk in his face remained. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Papa, non capisco," I told papa honestly.

Papa chuckled in amusement and stared at me with a smirk that seemed more penetrative than earlier. He took the book and then closed it as he looked at me sharply.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong kabahan, matuwa, o ano. Base kasi sa titig ni papa eh mukha siyang naaliw, na para bang nanonood siya ng isang napakagandang palabas.

Well, I'm not gonna lie, hindi ko mapigilang kabahan ng kaunti. Sa tuwing nagkakaganto si papa, siguradong may mangyayaring matindi at hindi inaasahan.

Well, not that I'm afraid or concerned of what might happen, it's just that papa's presence still intimidates me. Why? Because if people call me a monster, then wait till they meet my papa.

"Hindi mo pa naiintindihan ngayon, anak. Alam ko. But you will, in due time," papa told me with a smirk, cutting me off my thoughts. "You will make me proud, very much. In fact, you already are, and you're always making me proud."

Ahh ok... Sige... Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko atsaka ako huminga ng malalim. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang agam sa isipan ko, ngunit anuman iyon ay panigurado ako that papa will have it under control.

Papa's penetrative gaze on me remained. I have no idea what's going on inside his mind, but I have a feeling that papa will spin a game of his own once my beautiful flower chooses me──once she chooses our side.

And whatever that game was, I'm pretty sure that it will be a child's game for his enemies, while it will be the complete opposite for his enemies.

"I know, and I won't let you down, papa. I'll make sure she chooses me, and she will," I told papa sternly and then smirked.

Papa chuckled darkly, adding up a heavy and dark yet fun ambiance in his office.

"Ahh... Wonderful, now let the games begin."