The Blood Maiden

Chapter 46 | Little Flower

Elaire's POV

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang hari na hinahabol ng iba't ibang klase ng mga halimaw.

"Elaire!" sigaw niya. "This is not how you strengthen your mind shield!"

"Ito lang ang alam ko!" I screamed back. "The monsters are protecting me from mental invaders like you!"

Kanina lang, tinanong niya ako kung anong pwede kong gawin para patatagin 'yong mind shield ko at naisip kong maglagay ng mga bantay dito— mga halimaw na kung anu-ano ang hitsura. And when they sensed that there was a stranger in my mind, they started to attack him, and are now chasing him in the woods.

"Elaire!" His voice echoed before he disappeared. But he did not leave my shield. Tumakbo lang talaga siya nang malayo hanggang sa hindi ko na siya makita. I could feel him running in my mind. Literally. And if I try to focus on him, I could hear his footsteps and heavy breathing, even if I could not see him.

"I know you can hear me," humahangos niyang sabi sa aking isipan. "And I know you are enjoying this, but I swear, Elaire—"

Binura ko 'yong boses niya. Nasa isipan ko kami kaya ako ang may kapangyarihan dito.

And besides, he's helping me strengthen my mind shield. He was able to break through it the first time and he can always try breaking it again. Key word— try. Dahil mukhang nahihirapan na siyang sirain ulit ito. He's probably realizing as of this moment how fast of a learner I am.

"Little flower."

Nahagip ng aking tenga ang pamilyar na tinig ng babae. Lumingon ako sa pinagmulan nito, at walang nakita.

"Where are you?"

Umikot-ikot ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Did I save you?"

Umalingawngaw ang mga tanong niya sa aking isipan.

"Or did I lose you?"

She seemed to be closer. Mas malinaw 'yong boses niya, pero hindi ko pa rin siya nahahagilap. She was still a voice in my head— Queen Emnestra.

"There was one time I was late to a family gathering..."

"Nakwento ko na ba sa'yo no'ng nahulog ako mula kay Ginger?"

"I prefer sunrises over sunsets because... hope..."

I wasn't hearing her whispers anymore. I was hearing stories. Hundreds of them, and each one came from a different direction. Dumami rin ang mga ito, dahilan para mapaatras ako sa taka, at di kalauna'y gulo, sa tinig niyang lumilibo-libo.

The only thing that silenced her voice was the sound of fire. Napasinghap ako nang isa-isang nagliyab ang mga kahoy sa paligid ko. Mabilis na kumalat ang apoy, tila galit, at 'yong mga dulo nitong pilit umaabot sa'kin, parang mga daliring sinisisi ako.

Humapdi ang aking mga mata sa patinding init. The heat. It was suffocating and disorienting. Binalot nito ang buong isipan ko, pinapakirot ang aking ulo. I accidentally inhaled smoke, and my lungs burned with each breath that followed. Everything around me was engulfed in flames.

"Your Majesty!" Amidst the fire, I started to look for him. Sumasara ang apoy sa paligid ko at sa bawat segundong lumipas na hindi ko pa siya nakikita, bumigat ang takot sa aking dibdib, pinapalala ang naghihirap ko nang paghinga.

I told him. Tears swelled in my eyes. I told him that I was burning! Hurting!

Because pain— "Your Majesty!" Pain is what I truly know. Mas kilala ko pa ito kesa sa sarili ko, at sinabi ko na sa kanya ito— kung gaano kadelikado ang pumasok sa isipan ko, dahil mga hinanakit lang ang totoong laman nito. Ang masaktan lang ang totoong alam ko.