Discovering Summerland

Chapter 12

Valdemior and Adrius
Jerastus 4, 2196

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GEORGIA
Georgia Kaye Alas | Heidi Laquisha Calafiore

Sleep would not come- could not come. Instead, there was wind, the biting cold, moonlight on snow, and fire from torches. The wind gusted around, shifting the direction of the boat we're on. Lucifuge, being the crown prince he is, excused me and Lowell from this week's classes, just so that we can go to Merhey, where the house of Adrius can be found.

"Malayo pa ba tayo?" tanong ni Lucifuge sa helmsman ng barko. My eyes became drowsy while looking at him. He's not what I expected to be. He cares for his people greatly, and I can see that even now. Ni hindi pa siya nakakatulog buong biyahe- kung sabagay, hindi rin naman ako. Hindi ako mapakali.

The helmsman shook his head as response. They were quite far that I couldn't hear more of their conversation. Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang umalis ang helmsman at si Lucifuge na ang pumalit sa kaniyang posisyon.

Ah, I assumed he let the helmsman rest first. Wala sa sarili akong napangiti, ngunit binura ko agad 'yon at nag-iwas tingin na. Sinubukan kong i-pokus ang sarili ko sa pagbabasa ng mga mami-miss kong lessons sa Academy. Napaisip tuloy akong mabuti nalang ay pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang aking pag-aaral sa Fall. Hm, hindi man ako nakapasok sa eskwelahan ay marami naman akong natutunan sa mga librong nabibili ko.

Lumipas ang ilang oras at nakatapos na rin ako sa pag-aaral, ngunit hindi pa rin kami nakakarating sa Merhey. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang maaari kong gawin. Naisip ko tuloy na... mag-ayos ng dahas? Ah, baka iba ang maisip nila 'pag ginawa ko 'yon. Napabuntonghininga nalang ako't panandaliang pinikit ang mga mata... hanggang sa 'di ko namalayang tuluyan na akong nakatulog.

***

In the quiet of the night, I awoke to an odd sound- silence. My senses activated and I realized that someone had moved me from where I was earlier to a cabin. Napatingin ako sa isang lampara sa may mesa, at kinuha 'yon. The lamp hung from my hand as I stood, swaying and casting great shadows.

Lumabas ako at lubhang nagtaka sa katahimikan ng paligid. I passed along cabins after cabins until I reached the end of the hallway. I heard- no, I felt something move in the darkness. I froze and felt the sounds of feet padding somewhere behind her.

Someone had detached my vampire abilities from me. That is why, I awoke to silence and darkness. The fire in the lamp guttered, leaving my vision in the dark. Napakuyom ang aking mga kamao nang biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko. As much as I hate too much light, I hate it when it's too dark, too.

"Sino ka?" Mabagal kong tanong, at pilit pa ring pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. Tumigil ang paglalakad ng kung sino man at natukoy ko kung nas'an ang tao. I moved silently circling around a silent figure. With rapid movements, I crept behind the figure, so that I could keep myself defended.

Narinig kong tumawa ang misteryosong tao. "Ba't mo naman pinoprotektahan ang sarili mo? Hindi ba't dapat ako pa nga ang matakot sa'yo?" My eyes widened when I recognized the voice. Jax Damien Morrison, the one I met at the academy and jokingly introduced himself as my fiancé.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"I've been observing you for a while and I don't understand why the Crown Prince keeps clinging on to you, but you're sus," he answered. "The spear that hit Aeryn, it was poisoned by your-"

"Indeed," pagputol ko sa sinasabi n'ya. There's no point in denying when he knows already- though, hindi ko alam kung pa'no niya nalaman. Gusto niya lang sigurong kumpirmahin ngayon. "Then, what do you plan to do to me?" tanong ko.