The Song of Teardrops (Van Doren Series #3)

Chapter Twenty-six

Knight

I don't know why she was in Axiom. Maybe to kill the Queen or Laurent while King Lavislous wasn't there. Or maybe to seek power inside the castle--I don't know. Pero isa lang nasisigurado ko ngayon. Hindi ako pwedeng bumalik muna roon... Hindi muna ako makakabalik sa hinaharap... Sa takot na malinlang ulit ako ng kung sino lang.

Lysandra... All of this time, I thought she was a Princess of Axiom who was sent somewhere to marry someone. But, how did she end up like this? I don't understand... Ito ba ang rason kung bakit wala na ang mga larawan at pangalan niya sa loob ng palasyo? Dahil naging mangkukulam siya kagaya ng kanyang ina? Pero... bakit?

Why would she choose this?

And she did so well... She pretended to be a goddess so naturally. I believed every single word she said... I almost even stepped inside that gate for her.

She was... so real. If it weren't for her blood trick, I wouldn't have known she was deceiving me. Napakagaling niya sa pagpapanggap sa puntong kahit ang Valleyria ay kusa siyang papasukin.

Dismayado akong bumalik sa nakaraan kung saan nagaganap ang pagpupulong. It's the same past where I saw Cassius with his twin. It's the same past where everything was still in peace. Kung ito lang sana ang mundong ginagalawan ko, hinding-hindi ako magsasawa na manatili rito.

I went to the garden where I saw the two of them. Pumunta ako sa parte kung saan marami ang mga bulaklak na tumutubo at lumuhod roon. Pumikit ako at mas lalo pang pinagsisihan ang nangyari.

I can't go back...

Not like this. Not when I'm so easily deceived like this. 

Ayoko ring paulit-ulit nalang akong nasa hinaharap at sumusunod lang kay Laurent o sa reyna... o sa paghihintay na makita ang prinsipeng Van Doren na nakilala ko sa mundo ng kadiliman. For how many months, I felt like I've grown tired of it. I've grown tired of their presence. I've grown tired of only going back to the past if I need something. Why would I visit the past again and again if I can stay in it? Nyx never embraced this kind of power his because he never knew he had it... But now, I do... and I can. 

Ngayon nakikita ko na kung bakit ayaw ni Nyx sa kanyang pagkatao at kung bakit sabik na sabik siyang kausapin ako noon. Being a phoenix... a shadow... it was too lonely. Even for a goddess like me. 

Umupo ako ng maayos sa lupa at pianglaruan ang maliliit na mga bulaklak roon sa kamay ko. Niyakap ko ang mga binti ko at pinilit na mag0-isip ng maiigi. Inalala ko ulit ang mukha ni Lysandra. I have no doubt that she looks like a goddess. Beautiful in every way... Her skin was the fairest I've seen, and her eyes were like jewels. Kahit ang pamamaraan niya ng pananalita ay parang isang dyosa din. Paano niya nagawang manggap sa ganung paraan ng hindi ko man lang napapansin--

"It hurts to be left in the ballroom, my lady." 

I gasped in shock and lifted my gaze. The stranger I danced with suddenly appeared behind the fountain. Naglakad siya papalabas roon at tinawid ang daanang puno ng mga bulaklak. Unti-unting gumuhit ang ngiti sa kanyang labi nang makalapit siya sakin. "I was starting to enjoy our dance..." he said then took off his mask. 

The moonlight hit his face. It was only then I get to look at him properly than before. Nakalugay ang mahaba niyang itim na buhok at nakasuot ng kulay gintong kasuotan. I noticed it looked more like an armor than a princely garment. The armor was half-covered by his white cape. The reason why I didn't saw it when we danced.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kanyang mukha. May tila galos sa kanyang kanang mata hanggang sa kanya pisngi. It looks like a scar he got from a sword. Regardless of it, his face still looks strong and mighty, as if he's ready to charge at a battle in any moment.