The Dangerous Princess: The Blue-Eyed Lady

Chapter 1

Ashley Renee Evergreen McKnight

"Ma! I told you, I'll be fine. I think there's nothing wrong with my wanting to live alone. I'm already eighteen. I think I can survive," pang-ilang beses na pakiusap ko kay mama.

"Living alone is alright, but living alone in a foreign world is not," aniya. "Mortal World ang gusto mong puntahan, Ash! Who knows what might happen to you there!" sigaw niya.

"Ma naman. No one can harm me there. Ashley Renee kaya 'to."

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Napasimangot ako.

"Biro lang e," bawi ko kaagad.

"Stop being stubborn, Ashley. Not because they don't possess the same strength and powers as we do doesn't mean they're less dangerous. They can be scarier than us," seryosong pahayag ni mama at nagpatuloy sa pagpupunas ng hinugasang mga pinggan.

"Nagbibiro lang naman ako, ma."

"It wasn't a good joke."

Niyakap ko siya mula sa gilid. "Galit ka ba?" paglalambing ko.

Hindi sumagot si mama.

Hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi at mas hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa kan'ya. "Sorry na, ma."

"Nagliligpit ako, Ashley Renee. Bitiwan mo ako."

Napangiwi ako nang marinig ang buong pangalan ko. Galit nga ata siya.

"I love you, mom," bulong ko.

Napabuntong hininga siya saka binitiwan ang pamunas at plato na hawak bago humarap sa akin.

"Anak, Mortal World can be more dangerous than our world. Hindi natin gamay ang pamumuhay nila doon. Kahit na nagre-research ka tungkol sa kanila at paminsan-minsan ay nakakapunta roon, hindi pa rin magiging madali kung doon ka titira," malumanay na sabi niya habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.

"Can't we think of it as another form of training? But this time, it'll be more likely an experience-based one."

"Ash, anak..."

"Please, ma? You know I've been waiting for this day to come. I graduated early and just turned eighteen months ago. Not that I want to leave you but..." Matipid akong ngumiti, "you know how I love trying new things."

"That 'trying new things' is getting out of hand. This time, I can't let you go. It's too dangerous."

"I'll take care of myself, I promise."

"Ashley, living there is like caging yourself. You can't use your powers and you need to limit your actions. You will be like a prisoner. And when they know that someone like you exists, you'll get killed. They will call you a monster and other cruel names. And I don't like that," she then softly said.

I looked at her with a hopeful eyes. "Mom, I can do better. I know better. I am more than who I am right now, and you know that. Please, trust me." I stared at her. "Diba tinanong mo ako dati kung anong gusto ko noong birthday ko? Sagot ko ang tumira sa Mortal World. Please, ma. Let me do this."

Napahilot siya sa kan'yang sintido. "Why are you so stubborn?"

"May pinagmanahan."

Napalingon kami sa kakarating lang.

Dad was with my brother who is currently 15 years old, and our little angel who's 7. Galing silang Magestics Academy. Kakatapos lang ng klase nila, and dad who happened to be somehow working there, waited for my siblings and came home together.

Ash Blake McKnight, the 2nd born of our family. Named after uncle Blake, tho I never met him, after he died. 15 years old.