Kianna Marie
***
I woke up feeling so drained, the feeling that I can't even move a single muscle. But as soon as I opened my eyes, bumungad kaagad saakin ang pamilyar na kwarto na kilalang-kilala ko. An extravagant room where gold and white are the motif.
Huminto ang paggala ko ng tingin sa kamay ko. Caspian Rayver is holding it while he was only sitting on a little stool, leaning on the bed— that I am lying on and it seems to be a table for him.
Is it uncomfortable? I guess it is.
“Mi Reina..” I heard him whispered softly as he rubbed his eyes.
“Cas..” it came out to be a rasp voice. My throat hurts a little and my mouth is arid.
He got some water and handed it to me. Mabilis ko namang tinanggap ito at dahan-dahang ininom ito.
I looked at him once more before remembering what I did. “What happened? Why am I here? How was Scarlett?” sunod-sunod na tanong ang ibinato ko sakanya.
He looked at me intently before answering in a soft voice. “You need to rest first Mi Reina. Don't worry too much.”
I sigh and let out a loud breath. “What happened Caspian? Why I can't remember a single thing?”
Imbes na sagutin muli ako ay kaagad na tumayo siya at linapitan ako. “Stand up, I wanna show you something.” sinunod ko siya at doon ko napagtantong ipinaharap niya pala ako sa salamin.
I let out a small gasp at napaatras ng makita ko ang repleksiyon ko sa salamin. “What happened to my hair? To my eyes?” nanlaki ang matang tanong ko habang sinusuri parin ang buhok at mata ko.
My eyes changes its color. From dark gray, it turns into bright gray. Sobrang liwanag na ng mga mata ko habang ang buhok ko naman ay naging platinum blonde. Wow, Ariana Grande is on the bag. Char.
“That’s the transformation you did when the blood of bathory empowers your system.”
Hindi ko nagawang makapagsalita dahil sa narinig. My hair grew longer too. Kung ikukumpara mo ang itsura ko noon at ngayon, you could tell that I looked like a completely different person.
Nilingon ko si Caspian and stare into his ocean deep calming eyes. “My punishment.. What would it be? I harmed Scarlett and her friends.”
Thinking about my punishment makes me so worried. Kasi baka paalisin ako ng university at hindi man lang makagraduate. Mahihirapan na akong maghanap ng iba pang university rito sa mundo nila since I don't know the way to get the hell out of here.
“You’ll know once your back at the university Mi Reina. But for now, you have to rest. Your body is not yet recovered Mi Reina. Better take a rest. I already ordered the servants to prepare you lunch.” tumango-tango nalang ako sakanya hanggang sa nagpaalam siya saglit na may aasikasuhin na naman.
I sighed as I sit comfortably on his couch. Hindi nagtagal ay may kumatok at kaagad na pumasok ang isang maid habang may tulak-tulak na trolley. It was full of foods kaya kumalam na tuloy ang sikmura ko.
“Good day Lady Kianna.” yumukod ito bago inilapag ang mga pagkain sa mesa bago umalis.
Kaagad na tumayo ako at nilantakan ang pagkain. It was all delicious kaya ng matapos ako ay busog na busog ako. Mahina pa akong napatawa ng nakitang naubos ko lahat ng mga pagkain.
Bumalik na ulit ako sa kama at doon nagmukmok thinking about where the hell Caspian Rayver could be.
Caspian Rayver
***
“Your majesty, there is this news that spread around the whole kingdom. It is you claiming someone as your possession,” hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi sa mapang-usisang tanong ng isang Elder. The father of persistent Valentine Klar.
“Is the news perhaps true your majesty?” balik na namang tanong niya.
The Elders gathered after they hear the news of me claiming Kianna as mine.
Hindi parin ako sumagot at nanatiling nakatalikod sakanila habang tinatanaw ang malawak na kaharian mula sa veranda ng silid na pinagpupulungan namin.
“The news might be true or not, but your majesty the elections of queen must continue.” dinig kong saad pa n'ong isa.
“We all agree to that your majesty.” nilingon ko sila at kaagad na naglakad pabalik sa pwesto ko kanina.
“In order to avoid any hindrance, we request to have the election within this month your majesty.” napangisi ako sa narinig
“The opening of the election will through a ball. A masquerade ball that will be held in the castle.” sambit ko pa.
Kita ko kung paano umaliwalas ang mukha ng lahat dahil sa narinig. “Yes your majesty. We will make sure that the representatives will give their best into the royal masquerade.”
Hindi na ako nagsalita pa hanggang sa matapos ang maikling pagpupulong. As I stepped outside the room, I immediately feel the strong force that came from my room. Mabilis na nagteleport ako sa loob ng kwarto ko at doon ko nadatnan si Kianna.
She is holding one of the servants while looking at her coldly. I clenched my teeth.
“Mi Reina...” I called her out in a cold tone.
She looked at me with her merciless eyes before looking back at the poor girl who seems so scared at her situation right now.
“Didn’t know there are rats in here Mi Rey,” napalunok ako sa narinig. She’s...hot. Fuck.
“L-lady Kianna.. please let me go.” the servant whispered.
Naglakad ako palapit sakanila ay ipinitik ang daliri dahilan para mawala ang traydor sa harapan ko.
Kaagad na kinuha ni Kianna ang alcohol na nasa mesa at naglagay noon sa kamay niya.
“You didn’t told me you hide rats inside Caspian.” she commented as she looked at me.
I smiled. “We’re playing hide and seek Mi Reina. I'm glad you caught them before I did.”
She snorted and used her index finger to point her nose. “This freaking nose is acting kinda weird. It can smell rats since they're stinky.” napatawa ako ng malakas dahil sa narinig ko.
“Really?” I looked at her with full of admiration. “How’d you find it out then?”
She stopped a bit and made her way into the side of the bed. She sat there, and crossed her legs while looking at me, and she’s so fucking sexy.
“Well, she’s tryna poison me. Guess she notice how big my appetite was.” napatango-tango ako sa narinig. Though, I clearly did not see any mess inside our room. Maybe she already had it cleaned up before I got here.
Mi Reina is making me so much proud.
“I should ask the Schatten to make a move then. Your parents are now moving. I know they're having their clue and a plan now.” sambit ko pa sakanya habang nanatiling nakatayo lamang sa harapan niya.
She sigh heavily and looked at me with frown. “Cas? Can I go back to the university tomorrow? I now missed a lot of trainings and activities Caspian. I don't think I'll be able to cope it up that fast.” mahinang sambit pa niya.
I looked at her for a minute before nodding my head as I kneel infront of her, para mapantayan ang height niyang nakaupo.
“Okay, but expect the changes within you Mi Reina. But always bear in mind that no matter how much you change, I will still accept you whole heartedly alright?”
Corner of her eyes watered as she pulled me into a hug and sobbed. “Y-you never fail to lift me up babe. It means a lot to me.”
Parang asong ulol akong napangisi dahil sa narinig. Lahat nagsink-in sa utak ko pero mas nangingibabaw saakin ang tinawag niya saakin.
She pulled out of hug and looked at me with a frown. “What’s with that wide smile Caspian?” napanguso pa siya. Damn!
“You called me babe.” I stated habang sobrang laki ng ngiti. Like damn, you can't blame me. I was broken and a mess in my entire existence, searching for Kianna and having her in my arms, calling me babe makes me wanna marry her as soon as possible.
Napangisi siya sa narinig. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at mabilis na ipinagpalit ang pwesto namin. I am now sitting on the bed while she's straddling me.
“Woah, you're fast Mi Reina..” natatawang saad ko pa.
She chuckled. “Am I? I just notice this kind of change now. It’s strange but I like it.” napangiti ako ng malapad sa narinig.
“Hmm..” silence filled the air until I decided to speak.
“Wanna go back?”
Kaagad na nahuli niya ang mga mata ko. “Now?” tumango ako dahilan para sumilay ang magandang ngiti niya.
Emma Moore
***
Two days after the incident, the news is still fresh inside the university. They are obviously finding Kianna and confirming if she is indeed El Rey’s beloved. Naibalita narin sa TV na may nahuhumalingan daw’ng babae ang hari but the castle haven’t confirmed the rumor yet.
Malakas na bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ko kaya naman ay kaagad na napabaling ako rito. It was Kennedy and her eyes were wide.
“Anong problema mo Ken?” nakakunot-noong tanong ko sakanya at mas itinuon ang pansin sa paglilipat ng pahina sa isang men’s magazine.
“She’s back.”
Kaagad na napatayo ako sa narinig. Malalaki ang hakbang kong narating ang pintuan kung saan nakatayo si Kennedy at akmang lalagpasan siya ng mahawakan niya ang braso ko.
“You may not notice her Ems. She’s.. she’s different.”
Kumunot ang noo ko at kaagad na tinanggal ang pagkakahawak niya saakin. “What do you mean she’s different?”
Napalunok siya bago naging mailap ang mga mata niya. “Her physical appearance changes, and what I mean by that is that her eyes changes its color. Her hair becomes more longer. She’s like a complete different person!”
Hindi ko nagawang makapaniwala sa narinig ko mula kay Kennedy. If my instincts were right, if Kianna is not really a human then she could be one of us. But looking back to what she’d done to Scarlett and her friends it seems like she’s one of us but kinda different. Hybrid vampires are just normal vampires, they only possess the hearing ability and the strength. Nothing more. Unlike Kianna, she possess something strong. More like a power that Headmistress have. Knowing Headmistress Lucy, she’s not one of us too. She’s part of a royal family and who happened to be the head of the university.
“I’ll go see it by myself.” maikling sambit ko sakanya. Since that incident happened, I distant myself to Kennedy too. She always fear everything.
I do understand her, from Theo to Kianna. I know it has a big impact to her. But can she understand the word chill? Everything is still under control. Siguro kung hindi niya napagsabihan si Kianna about her and El Rey maybe this thing wouldn’t happen. But argh, I don't know. I shouldn't blame her.
When I was able to get out of our dorm, I was starstruck when I saw a beautiful maiden at Kianna’s dorm step. What the hell.
“K..” I suddenly called her name out.
Mukhang siya nga dahil kita ko kung paano siya natigilan ng naisambit ko ang pangalan niya.
Humarap siya at isang mahinang singhap ang kumawala sa labi ko. “K..you changed.” I uttered in disbelief.
She chuckled. “Good changes I think Ems.” hearing her, calling me my nickname wants me to hug her so much. How I missed her.
Napalunok ako. “C-can I atleast have a hug? I-I’ve missed you.”
The moment she opened her arms ay walang pagdadalawang isip na yinakap ko siya. Minutes later we pulled out of hug.
“Okay na ba? We’ve been so worried K. We’re sorry.” taos puso kong paghihingi ng tawad sakanya.
She smiled but it didn’t reach in her eyes. “It’s okay Ems. It’s no one’s fault.”
Nakangiting tumango nalang ako sakanya pero kaagad ring napawi iyon ng makita ko ang mga nilalang na nasa likod niya.
It’s the Schatten. They’re complete, together with our King.