Chapter 57: Reflection

My head rested in Tobias's arms. His peaceful breathing was rhythmic and soothing, like music to my ears. When I looked at him, I couldn't help but fall in love all over again. With his eyes closed, a perfectly shaped nose, a defined jaw, silky hair with strands falling over his cheeks, and a bit swollen lip— that made me realize that I could be worshipped.

I was about to touch his lips— those lips that made me feel as if I hadn't been aware of how to breathe, but I stopped myself and allowed him to rest soundlessly.

Mas inilapit ko na lang ang labi ko sa tainga niya at bumulong ako. "I love you."

Hinayaan ko na lang ang sarili kong tumanaw sa buwan. Tobias told me that there were those days when the moon was a vampire's weakness— that it could even kill them but as years passed with Queen Leticia and priestesses working together, little by little with the blessing and spells, its effect against the vampires is getting weaker.

I snuggled closer to Tobias's chest.

The last thing I remembered that night was how the moon was so beautiful—I suddenly wished that I could reach it. I lifted one of my hands and moved it slowly as if it was dancing, the gentle touch of the filtered moonlight with the dust of glimmering glitters inside the flower felt so magical, as if my own hand was glowing. "Sleep, Love . . ."

And then Tobias reached my hand, brought it to his chest, and embraced me tightly.

My eyes wide opened when I heard a loud slap and the cry of a little girl, but the moment my blurry eyes started to get clearer, all I could see was the same bright moon— in the reflection of a running river.

I was sitting near the bank of the river. I could see my reflection on the water below the full moon, and the familiar figure of a woman at my side— a woman who looked exactly like Claret. As I quickly turned to see the woman beside me, suddenly the crows from the trees around us, in the middle of this forest flew—hurried as if desperate to escape.

I thought I'd see her again, but I was welcomed by the warmth and reflection of the blue fire. My eyes mellowed as I watched that burning blue color that I thought I'd hate for bringing me into this world.

Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na sa sandaling magkaroon ako ng pagkakataong muling makaharap ang ang asul na apoy ay sisigawan ko siya at sasabihin ko ang lahat ng galit ko. Ngunit sa halip na gawin iyon ay tanging pagtitig lang ang nagawa ko sa kanya kasabay ng paglalakad ko ng aking dalawang palad na pinagdikit ko upang doon dumapo ang apoy.

The light from the blue fire illuminated my cheeks, there was a sudden gush of the wind with the swirl of the fallen leaves around us.

I was trying to find the hatred, but all I could feel was warmth. After all, this fire brought me to the man who'd love me that I never thought I'd deserve.

"This is a dream . . ." I whispered.

I knew that she would never visit us just like how she guided Claret on her journey. It was Claret who told me that we were already on our own, and if the blue fire visited our dreams, it was because she already left her messages way before she knew that she was destined to leave this world—us.

Wala akong narinig na boses mula sa asul na apoy, sa halip ay tumayo na ako sa pagkakasalampak sa lupa at sinundan ko ito nang humiwalay sa akin— sa lugar kung saan naririnig ko ang iyak ng batang babae.

It didn't take me too much time before I found the little girl.

I remained hidden behind the tree as I watched the crying little girl, she had her old, tattered dress, her skin was filled with bruises and fresh cuts, and even her face was all swollen.

"S-sinabi ninyong babayaran ninyo ako sa aking trabaho, hindi ba't natapos ko naman, Ginoo?" sabi niya habang lumuluha.

Kasalukuyan nang nakasalampak ang batang babae habang lumuluha.

"Hindi ba't binayaran na kitang bata ka! May utang pa ang iyong ama! Ikaw ang dapat magbayad noon!"

"G-gaanon po ba? Maaari po bang kahit kalahati—"

"Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo!"

The huge drunken man was about to hit the little girl again. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko, patungo na sana ako para tulungan ang bata nang may panibagong bata ang biglang nagpakita.

Napakabilis ng pangyayari na hindi ko man lang napansin ang pagdating ng batang babae. Behind the young girl were royal guards disguised as commoners with swords strapped around their waist. I took a step back, covered my mouth, and looked at those little girls.

Veda was already in front of the wounded girl, her arms wide and her eyes as sharp as any sword, even as a young girl— a real Le'Vamuieovos in her demeanor, brave, tough, and confident.

"This is a crime! Child labor! Physical abuse!"

"Who are you to—" The drunken man was about to hurt Veda and the crumbling Freya with her arms around herself when the royal guards stopped the drunken man. He was pinned on the ground as Veda, the little girl slowly stepped closer and towered over him.

At a very young age, I couldn't see the innocent reflection on her face with her eyes screaming for power and threat. I saw how her expression darkened. "Remember this face, the queen that will stop someone like you. Bring him to prison!"

I thought this past would just let me see the tight connection between Freya and Veda, and how Freya would do everything for her, but as the days passed and the girls from different worlds grew closer, Freya's weak heart was challenged.

"No . . ." I whispered to myself, aware of the possibilities.

A black smoke in the form of a floating woman approached her— an innocent girl with a weak and wounded heart. Freya was in front of the mirror, for a moment, I felt like it was me—Kezalli with Freya behind me.

"Do you want to help her? Do you want to serve that warm-hearted princess who vowed to serve this world for the greater good? For her to fulfill her dreams, she needs a loyal subject . . . a friend . . . someone as powerful as her. And that's you, Freya."

I gasped. I took a step back. I turned to the blue fire and started to shake my head. Kusa nang tumulo ang luha ko at nakagat ko na ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

I should hate Freya, Veda, Mitchelle, and even Atlas. They were the villains and they had been killing innocent lives. It is their fault that they chose their terrible fate.

When I saw how Freya— the little girl who looked resigned in her life nodded. Napasigaw na ako. "No! Fuck no!"

Nagawa ko man tumakbo at lumapit sa kanya, ang tanging nagawa ko na lang ay manuod. Napasalampak ako sa madilim at maliit na tahanang iyon habang hawak ng batang babae ang kanyang leeg at unti-unting pumapasok ang itim na usok sa kanyang bibig.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko, napahilamos na ako sa aking sarili at halos mapasabunot ako habang pinagmamasdan na ngayon ay gumugulong na sa sahig ang tila nag-aagaw buhay na batang babae.

"There are five witches who vowed to ruin this world, Kezalli, and now that they discovered that someone else have the same goal, hindi na malayong magtulong-tulong sila sa huli. One became our friend, one is dead that they failed to revive, the other two tried to ruin Claret and Zen but they escaped, one came back and appeared as someone else— Freya. Naghiwa-hiwalay sila ngunit iisa ang mithiin, iyon ay mabuhay ng matagal, magtago at muling gumanti sa sandaling alam nilang mahina na ako at wala nang higit na makatutulong sa inyo. They're all starting to appear now that they're all aware that you, Claret and the remaining three would be the last women from the mirror."

"One became a friend?" Nalilitong tanong ko.

I heard something about a vampire woman that Claret admired so much, but I couldn't just quickly remember everything.

"They were witches that weren't saved, Kezalli. And Claret, instead of killing one chose to save her— Danna. While everyone chased Danna to kill her, my daughter chose to save her— freed her."

Hindi na ako nagulat sa narinig ko tungkol kay Claret. I knew that she had that kind of heart, bagay na wala ako.

Napayuko ako at napatitig sa aking kamay. "That means Freya chose me as her opponent and those remaining two could be . . ."

Hindi ko man nakikita ang kabuuang kaanyuan ng asul na apoy alam kong sumasang-ayon siya sa akin— that those two witches that escaped Claret had their eyes for the remaining two women from the mirror.

"H-how about Astrid—" ngunit natigil din ako sa katanungan ko nang bigla kong maalala ang imahen nina Veda at Atlas.

Unti-unti akong tumayo. Huminga ako nang malalim kasabay nang muling pagtanaw sa batang babae na ngayon ay gumugulong na sa sahig habang tila aagawan na ng buhay habang pilit hinahawakan ang kanyang leeg.

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ko.

Since Freya grew up still with her identity and mind intact, her every decision was not just about her being the witch, but as someone who grew up with the princess, with a vow to serve her.

Hindi malayong mangyari na hindi siya mapapansin ng mga babaylan lalo na't isang malakas na prinsesa ang siyang matalik niyang kaibigan. Maybe Freya could pick any other woman from the prophecy, or maybe she dared to harm Rosh's mate instead of me, but with her experience—maybe a part of her could see herself to a fragile girl like me. Ang pagkakaiba lang namin, lumaban ako, na sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap na pinagdaanan ko, panghihina at pang-aabuso, hindi ako sumuko.

Mariin akong pumikit bago ako tumalikod at nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng maliit at madilim na tahanang iyon.

Or maybe because she was approached by a black fire rather than blue . . . but she chose to succumb to her weakness and accepted the fate of being the villain. She surrendered and didn't fight back.

"Thank you . . ." bulong ko sa asul na apoy.

As I took more steps outside that house, my fists balled tightly. If Claret chose to save a witch and befriended her, then this is going to be a different fight because I am not as forgiving as her.

"I'll kill her."

***

"Kezalli . . ."

I felt the back of Tobias's hand on my cheek. "Are you alright?"

Nanatili akong nakaulo sa braso niya habang siya'y bahagya nang nakabangon para higit akong pagmasdan.

"A bad dream?"

Umiling ako sa kanya. Inangat ko saglit ang ulo ko at mabilis kong hinalikan ang labi niya. "No."

Hindi siya kumbinsido. "We can talk about it, or did I hurt you?"

Ngumisi ako. Hinawakan ko na ang kamay niya para tanggalin iyon sa pisngi ko at agad kong pinahid ng kamay ko ang pisngi ko. "Hurt? No way."

Muli akong nag-angat at mas inilapit ko ang labi ko sa tainga niya. "Sarap mo kaya . . ."

Mas humiga na nang maayos si Tobias at nagsimula na siyang tumawa. This time it was me who got up a little, I pressed my elbow on the pillow as I looked at him. "Nakakangalay lang. Ang sakit sa likod at tuhod."

Mas lalong lumakas ang pagtawa ni Tobias, inabot niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko at marahan niyang nilaro iyon. "That's because you kept insisting that you want on top."

I rolled my eyes. "Didn't you enjoy, Your Majesty?"

"I enjoyed."

Humalik na siya sa dulo ng buhok ko.

"Don't you think we'll have an heir soon?"

He arched one of his brows. "Maybe we can try to be sure?"

This time he moved closer, held my chin, and gave me a light kiss. "I mean, according to Claret vampire pregnancy is quick. We don't need to wait for nine months."

Tobias nodded.

"But I saw how to drink something before . . ."

Nawala ang ngiti niya sa sinabi ko. Nahiga siya nang maayos at napahawak siya sa kanyang noo. "Don't make me remember. I will definitely abolish that business of that—" napailing na siya.

"If that drink has an effect like I couldn't get pregnant for a while, maybe it's a good thing."

Marahas napalingon sa akin si Tobias. "What?"

I smiled at him. Hinawakan ko ang dalawang kamay niya. "Of course, I want to bear your child, but not now that I am determined to kill Freya."

"She escaped and damn hiding with those fools."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "She will hate it when she learns that I conquered my mind, and I didn't surrender. Gusto niyang maging katulad ko siya, Tobias."

"You are not like her."

"The only way that I can kill her is to make myself look vulnerable again and she'd target this," I pointed my head. "Allow me to bring her to Deltora, Tobias. Allow me to seek revenge. Because Freya is my fight as the woman from the prophecy."

Tobias sighed and then nodded. "I am always by your side."

That's when I opened my arms again and welcomed him, allowing us to spend a moonlit night with our intertwined bodies dancing in rhythm, thoughts of pleasure and love—until sunlight embraced us, making us feel as though we were in a timeless world, filled with nothing but tender kisses, whispers, desire, and . . . ecstasy.