Echoes of the Abyss (Delaney Series #2)

Chapter 16: Her Beloved

Her Beloved

Adelaide's POV

Kahit tumatakbo pa ang aking kabayo ay agad akong tumalon pababa. Humahangos ako na para bang ako ang tumakbo ng ganun katagal kahit nakasakay lang naman ako sa kabayo ko.

I sat on the cliff, it was so dark since it was still midnight. Nasa lugar ako kung saan kasama ko si Leon noon.

Ganoon pa rin ang tanawin ngunit ang kaibahan ay sobrang dilim. The plants was still shaking, may kutob ako na kagagawan ito ng Empress.

I was alone in the dark but I wasn't scared this time.

Alam kong nangako ako kay Leon na susunod ako sa kanya ngunit hindi ko magawang harapin siya ngayon dahil sa hiya ko.

The wind was cold from where I was sitting and I couldn't see the bottom of the cliff because it was too high.

My long dress was getting blown by the wind, at ngayon ko lamang napagtanto kung gaano karami ang dugo nakabalot sa akin.

I don't know why but I started tearing up while trying to take the blood stain off from my skin. Marahas ko itong kinukuskus, nagbabakasakali na mawala ito.

I was wiping my tears and wiping the blood at the same time. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sobrang bigat ng pakiramdam ko.

All of a sudden I felt lost. Hindi ko alam kung may tama pa ba sa mga ginagawa ko.

"Adelaide..."

I stopped what I was doing and slowly turned my head to see the Prince who was standing behind me. There was darkness slowly disappearing around him.

Siguro ay doon siya nanggaling.

"I was waiting for you," aniya.

Hindi ako sumagot, nakatitig lamang siya sa akin, binabasa ang ekspresyon sa aking mukha. Narinig ko ang malalim na paghinga niya bago siya naglakad at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Sometimes you think that you want to hide and disappear but all you really want is to be found, Adelaide."

It may be just words for him, but to me, it was everything. It was what I needed to hear.

We stayed in silence when I didn't answer him. Hindi na rin siya nagsalita ulit at tahimik lang na nakaupo sa aking tabi.

Kung tutuusin dapat siya ang inaalo ko ngayon dahil nawalan siya ng ina ngunit nandito siya sa tabi ko.

Why do I fear the darkness again? The darkness is empty, it is cold, it is scary.

But...

Dahan dahan akong lumingon kay Leon, malayo ang tingin niya at nakatagilid siya sa akin.

I could feel my heart beating so fast.

What is this feeling?

The darkness is beautiful, it is selfless.

Could it be?

"Leon..." I called his name and then he slowly looked at me.

Our faces were inches away from each other, ngunit nakayuko siya dahil mas maliit ako sa kanya kahit nakaupo kaming dalawa.

"Hmm?" His deep voice was ringing in my ear. His hand slowly touched my cheek and I'm guessing that he was wiping the tear stains from it.

My heart beats rapidly inside my chest, parang lalabas na ito sa dibdib ko.

"A beloved is someone who makes you feel at ease, Adelaide, their presence is enough to make you feel safe even with war in front of you," I could hear my mother's voice in the back of my head.