Beneath the Vampire King's Desire

Chapter 10

Before the sun had risen, she was already awake. She prepared herself and secured the dagger in the sheath attached to her waist.

As she stepped out of her tent, she was immediately greeted by the breeze. She smiled at the few people and elves she encountered. The morning silence was deep and calming. The world seemed still, with only the faintest hints of a breeze. It was a peaceful quiet that felt almost sacred, as if everything was holding its breath.

They disguised themselves as humans. They needed to erase the memories of the humans who had seen them in their elven forms and as creatures like vampires.

"Ate Elara." Ngumiti naman siya kay Lia.

She is a human and one of the few who survived the incident in Lira. She met her last night. Her father was killed while fighting a vampire, but thankfully, reinforcements arrived, and the elves and griffins were able to rescue the survivors.

"Lia." Bati niya dito. "Ang aga mo naman nagising." Sabi niya sa babae at bahagyang hinaplos ang buhok nito.

"Oo. Naghahanda kame ng agahan para kahit papaano ay makatulong kame dito." Nahihiyang sabi nito.

"Magaling na ba ang mga sugat mo?" Tanong niya at sinipat ang dalaga.

Marahang tumango naman ito. "Ito pala pandesal, ate." Inabot nito ang basket na naglalaman ng tinapay.

"Salamat." Kumuha siya ng dalawang pandesal at ngumiti dito. "Kumain ka na din para makainom ka ng gamot mo." She smiled at the girl.

"Sige, ate. Maglilibot muna ako." Kumakaway na umalis naman ang babae.

She went to the long table where the drinks were arranged. As she was preparing her herbal tea, she felt a familiar presence behind her.

"Nakatulog ka ba ng maayos?" She heard Vesto voice.

Kinuha niya ang baso matapos magtimpla at nilingon ang lalake. Bahagyang ngumiti siya dito.

"Good morning." Bati niya at humigop sa tasa. "Oo. Ikaw? Kamusta ang tulog mo?"

"I sleep fine." He replied.

Silence settled between her and Vesto. She quietly ate her bread and sipped her herbal tea. May ilang elves na siyang nakikita na pakalat-kalat sa loob ng kampo. Sa malayo naman ay nakikita niya ang ilang bantay na nakapalikod.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, Elara. Hindi dapat ako nagsabi ng ganun sa iyo." Basag nito sa katahimikan.

"I already said it's fine." Binalingan niya ang binata at ngumiti. "I heard Mira and Varek will go here later." Pag-iiba niya ng topic habang naglalakad sila papunta sa ibang kasamahan.

"Yeah, they will help secure the place." He confirmed.

"Did their mission in Mystara done?" She asked him referring the mission at Mystara.

Mahigpit pa rin ang pagbabantay at pagmanman nina Mira at Varek sa Mystara dahil may ilang bampira na namamataan sa lugar na iyon.

"Oo. Kumalma na din sa Mystara kaya dito muna sila hanggang masiguro ang kaligtasan dito sa refugee camp." Paliwaga ni Vesto.

Tumango naman siya. Nang makarating sa isang lamesa ay agad na binati sila ng mga kasama. Ngumiti naman siya sa mga ito at binati pabalik.

When the sun set, everyone became busy. They began checking the people for their medicine. She also assisted Ekeri in preparing herbal remedies for them.

"Elara, ito ba?" Liwayway asked while holding a branch of leaves.

Tumango siya at kinuha iyon sa pixie.