The Blood Empress

Bloody 9: Splattered Blood

Bloody 9: Splattered Blood

Roen Astrid.

"Velius, you're back." Bati ko kay Velius nang magkasalubong kami sa hallway patungo sa aking kwarto. Pagkatapos kong asarin si Ryu ay agad akong bumalik sa grand hall dahil sigurado akong may masamang mangyayari sa akin pag nagpakita pa ko sakanya. Teasing him is not that simple. Lalo na't hinawakan ko pa siya. I risked my life just to do that. No regrets though, I was really entertained.

Inustusan ako ni Lucy na magpahinga na para daw may lakas ako bukas dahil marami daw siyang kailangan ituro sa akin. Alam ko namang ayaw niya kong nandoon dahil magdidinner pa sila kasama sila general. I think she doesn't want me to hear what they'll be discussing about. She may be really stupid but I know she's being cautious. Hindi pa niya ko masyadong pinagkakatiwalaan.

That's completely fine. Today is my first day working here and I already got a high position, the empress' personal guard. That's already a huge step and it will be helpful in making the game easier.

Huminto si Velius sa harapan ko at gulat pang tumitig sa akin. He looked around and when he saw no one around us, he suddenly walked towards me and stopped inches away from me.

"L-lady Roen, bakit ka nandito? Baka mahuli ka nila!" Utal niyang bulong sa akin.

"It's Sangria, Velius. You can't say my real name in this dangerous place. Code red remember?" Kalmado kong bulong sa kanya. Naalala ko ang meeting namin kanina tungkol sa pagsasagawa ng matagal ko nang plano. I noticed something odd about him.

"R-really?! B-bakit hindi ko alam?" Nakita ko ang pagliwanag ng mata niya na napalitan ng pagtataka.

"You don't remember anything? We already had a meeting underground. We discussed about the code. I remember you immediately stood up and you said that you understand everything." I crossed my arms over my chest. There's so much happening in my first day. I yawned.

"W-what?! Pero wala ako sa palace kaninang umaga! Nakipagpalit ng shift sa akin yung kakilala kong guard. Sabi niya siya na daw muna sa palace kaninang umaga dahil manganganak ang asawa niya ngayong gabi. Naawa ako kaya umoo nalang ako. P-paanong nakita niyo ako sa baba kanina? Lady Ro- este Sangria, hindi ako yun!" He panicked.

"Can you buy my favorite candies tomorrow? The caramel ones." I need my candies to stay alert all the time.

"B-but Lady, I mean Sangria, wala ako sa meeting kanina! Hindi ako yun! A-and that meeting is about our secret plans, your plans! He must be a spy!" Velius exclaimed. Masyado siyang nagpapanic kaya hinawakan ko ang magkabilang balikat niya.

"Why are you so worried, Velius? We worked for years kaya alam ko kung may kakaiba o may mali sa bawat isa sa inyo. Be calm, I already know what to do." Huminga siya ng malalim. That's good.

"Sangria, who could that be?" He looked at me worriedly.

"What else? He must be a shapeshifter." I said in a nonchalant tone. I must say he's a great shapeshifter. Kahit si Claire na magaling magdisguise ay hindi iyon napansin. The question is, why would he pretend as a guard and enter the palace?

I have a high sensitivity towards people's behaviours, habits, and even mannerisms. Napapansin ko kaagad pag may kakaiba sa isang tao, kahit gaano pa ito kaliit.

I think it's because I haven't socialized with a lot of people. Lumaki akong nakakulong at walang ibang kasama kundi ang aking ina. Siya lang ang nakakausap ko sa loob ng labing limang taon. Maybe that's the reason why I became so cautious and observant towards people.

"A s-shapeshifter huh? Paano niya naman nalaman na wala ako sa loob ng palace kaninang umaga? K-kung ganoon isa rin siya sa mga royal guards? Pero sikreto lang namin ni Robin na magpapalit kami ng shift. H-hindi kaya s-si Robin yun? N-no, imposible! He's a human! Pota, ang bobo ko naman." Mahabang litanya niya. Velius is the most talkative among the team. Lalo na pag nagpapanic siya. Si Claire ang pinaka mainitin ang ulo at si West naman ang pinakaparanoid.