SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

8

ALICE

This feels like I'm back from the start. I run away, I get away, and then they catch me.

Maybe this is my fate. Baka hindi ko naman talaga matatakbuhan ito. Tumingin ako sa labas ng chariot. Three or four chariots arrived para dalhin kami sa South. Chariots are a griffin-flown vehicle and are the fastest mode of transporation here. Griffins are creatures with a lion's body and with a head and wings of an eagle. They're very gentle creatures and are usually owned by wealthy families, mostly by royal families and those of noble birth.

We're high up the clouds at tinatawid na ang kahabaan ng Dark Forest. Tanaw ko sa malayo the snowy mountain of the North. It made me realize na ang layo ko na from where we started. I haven't even eaten yet.

I looked at Clyde na nakaupo sa harap ko. Kanina ko pa iniisip kung bakit sumama siya. He didn't have to, but he did. Come to think of it, he didn't also have to save me from Captain Hook, but he did. Kanina lang namin siya nakilala pero ang dami niya nang naitulong sa amin ni Seth.

"What?" he asked. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Nakatitig na pala ako.

"Wala," I mumbled.

Seth on the other hand kept repeating his confusion kung bakit dinadala kami sa South ngayon. "Si Madam ba may kagagawan nito?"

I shrugged. "If she is the one behind this, hayaan na natin."

"Ano?!" inis na tanong ni Seth. "Papayag ka nalang sa gusto niya?"

"Is someone going to tell me the details na kung ano ba talaga ako tinatakbuhan niyong dalawa?" tanong ni Clyde.

Me and Seth both looked at each other. "Madam, the woman who took care of me, told me that I was going to get married to someone I don't know."

"So, tumakas kami. Mali 'yon, hindi siya dapat magpakasal lang kung kani-kanino," singit ni Seth.

"Are you two... together?" Clyde asked.

"Together?" sabay naming tanong ni Seth.

"Together. Together as in lovers."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Seth before we burst out laughing. Tinulak niya pa ako palayo na parang nangdidiri pa siya sa akin. No way! I'll never be attracted to Seth even if he's the only man left. At this point, he's my brother.

"Hindi," natatawa niyang sagot. "Alice is like a sister to me."

Clyde nodded. We all quieted down nang mapansin naming papalapit na kami sa South Castle. I feel my stomach rumble. Lagpas na siguro sa oras ng hapunan. Like I said kanina, hindi pa kami nakakakain ni Seth simula noong tumakas kami.

We felt a thud which means lumapag na ang chariot na sinasakyan namin. Then there was a knock on the door bago ito bumukas. Pagbaba namin ay sinalubong kami ng mataas at malawak na castle ng South. Dark, blue-grey stone walls. High towers with small slit-like windows. Stone gargoyles on every corner. This really is a castle fit for the vampire nation.

We followed the row of guards papasok ng castle. The inside of the castle is overwhelming. It is dark and dreary even if the place is adorned with candlelight. In the middle of the two large staircases is a large oil painting of a woman, full of regal elegance. Her name is written at the bottom. Queen Ruby Vladimir.

Sinundan naming ang mga kawal at huminto kami sa harap ng isang malaking itim na pinto. The castle guards opened the door and we followed again the men that took us here. At the front there's an iron throne and sitting on it must be King Vincent Vladimir, the current king of the vampires. He has this dark aura around him.