Ascend

Chapter 10

Princess Azara Aleyha Cunningham

Everything feels like a hell. Gising ako pero hindi ko maimulat ang mata ko. I've been stuck here in the endless darkness and no matter how much I've tried to wake my body up, it's no use. Pakiramdam ko bawat oras na lumilipas ay nababawasan ang buhay ko. The funny thing is, even I'm stuck here alone, I can't even help myself up. I lied here on the floor, I cannot even feel if it's warm or cold.

Ang tanging nararamdaman ko ngayon ay ang sakit sa bawat parte ng katawan ko. Hindi ko maipaliwanag dahil pakiramdam ko, bawat segundo ay may kimukuha saakin. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang kinukuhang iyon ngunit alam kong ito ag dahilan kung bakit narito pa rin ako, hindi makagalaw.

"Princess.." I can hear General Midwater's voice once again but I cannot answer his call because I can't even move my fingers.

"It's already a week, Princess. They are trying well to recover Amire but you weren't even in the brink of recovering."

Napapikit ako habang patuloy siyang pinakikinggan dahil iyon na lamang ang aking tanging kayang gawin, ang isarado ang aking mga mata at harapin ang panibagong dilim.

"You still looks lifeless."

Because I have less than life, General.

"Where is she!"

I nearly got the strength to get up but the only thing I can do is to open my eyes.

"Your Majesty."

Rinig kong bati ni General Midwater. The only thing that my brain can process is what I can hear so sad that I can never capture the first moment my father had visited me.

What's happening now? Is he sitting beside me? Is he brushing my hair? Kissing my forehead? I just want to know, I crave for him for such a long time now, I can't even see him.

"Does it hurt, my princess?"

And everything felt like surreal. I felt his touch. How his hand brush my hair. And I felt how a tear escaped from my closed eyes and how the king gently brush it off.

"Hush, my baby. Daddy's here to protect you." I felt the gentleness of his lips when it touched my forehead.

Daddy.. it's so dark here.

"I'll stay here for a while."

"Ngunit paano ang palasyo, kamahalan?"

Akala ko ay umalis na siya dahil sa pagdating ng aking ama.

"Naroon ang reyna at ang prinsipe. Kailangan kong manatili hanggang maibalik ang mga nasira sa Amire."

"Pero kamahalan, ang Amire ang sentro ng mga pag atake, hindi magandang naririto kayo—"

"I am not a king for no reason, General."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty and please pardon me to ask. How about Her Highness? We have to keep her secret but you being here will bring more people in this castle."

"Hindi bat kailangan mo ring alalahanin na hindi ka maaring makita rito sa palasyo dahil hindi nila maaring malaman na narito ang iyong misyon?"

"The princess is more important."

Kumabog ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Stay here Nicholas, you can't show yourself to people and don't worry about her, I'm here to protect her."

My father is the most powerful man I know. Alam kong kaya niyang protektahan ang pamilya katulad ng pagprotekta niya sa bansa. His power is one of a kind. Rare and no one knows more than it except for me and the Queen.