CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MASAKIT ang ulo ko. Pakiramdam ko ay umiikot ang paligid ko. Unti-unti kong idinilat ang aking mga mata. Medyo nahihilo pa ako pero pinilit kong bumangon. Where am I?
I tried to remember what happened. I saw Phoenix sleeping beside me on a bed. We are inside of a dim room that is made of bricks. Walang mga bintana rito at ang tanging nagbibigay liwanag sa kwartong ito ay ang kandila sa may lamesang malapit sa kama. Naalala ko na kung anong nangyari. We were kidnapped!
"Phoenix, Phoenix gising!" Niyugyog ko ang kasama ko. Pinilit ko siyang gisingin. Napaupo siya mula sa pagkakahiga at napayakap sa akin.
"A-ayos ka lang ba, Aia? Nasaan tayo?" Naiiyak niyang tanong. Halatang-halata na natatakot na siya. Ako rin naman pero hindi ito ang panahon para panghinaan ng loob.
"I'm fine. Ikaw? Wala bang masakit sa'yo?" Tanong ko habang chine-check ang katawan niya kung may sugat ba siya or something.
"Ayos lang ako. Nasaan tayo?" She also roamed the room with her eyes. That is the problem. We don't know where we are.
"We got kidnapped. We need to get out of here now," nagmamadali kong sabi saka sinubukang tumayo. Tinulungan ko rin siyang makatayo dahil nanghihina pa siya. Our kidnappers made a really bad mistake. They didn't tied us up. But that would be futile because I can just burn ropes.
Akmang maglalakad na kami papunta sa may pinto nang bigla iyong bumukas. The door made a loud thud. I immediately yielded fire on my palm and pulled Phoenix behind me. A guy entered the room. He's not familiar to me but his hair is white. He must be an ice descendant with a royal blood. But, why would he kidnap us?
"Who are you? Make your self known!" I asked in a louder than normal voice. The man gave me a wide smile. Napaatras ako nang humakbang siya palapit sa amin.
"Sorry my ladies if I scared you. I am—" Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya nang magsalita si Phoenix mula sa likod ko.
"Lord Brand?" Napalingon ako kay Phoenix na ngayon ay nasa tabi ko na. She knows this man? Wait wait wait! Did she said Lord Brand? That name rings a bell. Sino nga ulit si Brand?
"Indeed, I am," the man in front of us said with a huge smile on his face.
"Lord Brand? You are Blaze's brother!" I exclaimed. Wala na ang apoy sa palad ko nang ituro ko siya. Agad siyang tumango sa akin. This is insane! Blaze has been really upset that his brother escaped his obligations and he's still waiting for him. He keeps going back to the marketplace even if he's fully aware of the dangers of it. He's the reason behind my boss's issues and here he is, standing right before me.
"I am, my lady. I bet you already met my brother," Lord Brand replied. Pareho pa kaming natulala ni Phoenix habang nakatitig sa kaniya. I can clearly see his resemblance to his mother, Queen Fiona, her majesty. He have this heart-shaped face with a beautifully carved nose and thin lips. What makes him unique is his white long hair that lies below his shoulders and is tied on a ponytail. He is glorious despite the rug-like garments he is wearing.
"So tell me, why did you left? Why did you surrendered your title? Bakit hindi ka na bumalik? At bakit mo kami kinidnap ngayon? Anong kailangan mo?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong nang makabawi ako sa pagkagulat.
"Well, I'm afraid I couldn't answer those questions just yet. But I want you to meet someone. Follow me, please," he stated in his formal tone. He led the way out of this dark room. Nang makalabas kami ay bumungad ang isang madilim din na hallway. Grabe, ang hirap talaga ng buhay kapag walang kuryente.
