Chapter 6: Fangs

I was still young when my grandparents exposed me to the prophecy and my future in another world. As I grew up, even with my tough life in the slums, with all of my part-time jobs, debts, and academic problems as a college student, as someone who values the legacy of my grandparents, I kept that old manual beside my bed every night.

Ilang libro din ang iniwan sa akin nina Lolo't Lola kung saan naroon ang kaalaman na gagamitin ko sa sandaling makarating na ako sa ibang mundo—Nemetio Spiran.

Yes, I might be aware of King Tobias and his attachment to me, the mirror, the other goddesses from the mirror, and the ways that would make me a complete vampire.

I am also aware that I have to preserve my virginity, which is for my mate—Tobias.

To be honest, I've never been attracted to any male human, siguro dahil masyado lang akong naging abala sa buhay nang nasa mundo ako ng mga tao, o talagang hindi ako pansinin ng mga lalaki.

Who would like someone like me? Bukod sa matigas na ang buhok ko dahil hindi na ako nakakabili ng conditioner, puro pilat na ang balat ko dahil sa araw-araw na kagat ng lamok.

That's why I couldn't help but feel ashamed as King Tobias—the smooth king of Parsua Deltora—could see how my skin was filled with flaws. When I first saw him, he was literally glowing with the sprinkle of water drips on his body.

Isn't it somewhat unfair?

What if he felt disappointed?

I tightened my grip against the bed sheets under my pillow, closed my eyes, and bit the pillow. His long hair felt so ticklish against my back and shoulders—as well as that poking nine million . . .

"A-are you feeling unwell?" he whispered as he gave me feathery kisses on my back.

Umiling ako. And then, my shoulders shook, and my tears started to fall. Ramdam kong humiwalay sa akin si Tobias sa likuran ko. "I told you, if you're not ready, I will not force you . . ."

Kahit hindi ako lumilingon sa kanya, ramdam kong naupo na siya. "N-no. It isn't like that. I feel ashamed. I am not worth it. You look unreal, perfect . . . puwede ka pang model ng Calvin Klein, but look at my body, puro galis. Ilang taon ding kinakagat ng lamok sa mundo ng mga tao."

"Lamok? How dare—"

Agad akong bumangon bago pa niya isipin na nagpapakagat ako sa kanya. And when I did that, we finally saw each other's nakedness, and I awkwardly pulled the blanket to cover my body.

He sighed.

"It's just an insect, Tobias. Maraming ganoon sa mundo ng mga tao. Those insects feed on human blood, but it's just a little, pero minsan may dalang sakit."

King Tobias didn't cover his body. I saw how his fist tightly balled against our bed sheets. "How dare those lowly insects feast on my queen's blood? Show me."

Umiling ako. Nakita na niya siguro ang likuran ng mga hita ko na may pilat dahil sa pagkakakamot ko. I am a type of girl who doesn't care about my looks. Trabaho, aral, at kung paano kikita sa bawat araw ang laman ng utak ko. Skin care, who?

If I was just informed that my mate was this hot and handsome, dapat ginalingan ko man lang magkuskos ng Safeguard.

"I'm sorry . . ."

Kumunot na ang noo ni Tobias at hinila na niya ang hawak kong kumot. And when he pushed me on his bed, I quickly covered my face in embarrassment. I might have the wildest thoughts, but this is still my first time!

I remember my fresh bites before I went here. Iyon ang isa sa mga kinaiinisan ko sa balat ko, I am too sensitive even if I grew up in slums. Hindi ba dapat ay sanay na ako?

"There's nothing wrong with your body. You're beautiful . . ." he whispered as he pulled my hands that covered my face.

"Do you mean these bite marks?"

I gasped when King Tobias lowered himself until he reached my thighs. His green eyes turned red with his bared fangs when he caressed the tip of his nose to every mosquito bite, fresh and new. His touch carefully marked it with a gentle lick.

Halos manghina ako at hindi na mapabangon.

He chuckled before he kneeled back between my legs. He brushed up his long hair with one of his hands while the other one was busy caressing the back of my thighs.

"From now on, no creatures will ever mark you, not even the tiniest insect you called a mosquito, and if you're worried about these marks, it will soon fade. You'll have my blood. You're beautiful now, but you'll turn more beautiful with my blood as your only meal . . ." He bent down and placed a kiss on my cheeks.

I bit my lower lip. "That's the power of vampire blood . . ."

He nodded with his face near mine. "Because we are born perfect, my love . . ."

Sana all, perfect. Ano pa ang hihilingin mo, Kezalli? He has nine million worth, a yummy chest, was born perfect, has green eyes, CEO ng water district, and is the ambassador of the anti-dengue campaign. Tapos he calls me, my love pa.

Mariin akong napapikit sa boses kong umuugong sa utak ko sa mga oras na ito.

"Sige, dadapa na uli ako."

When I said that, Tobias suddenly laughed and buried his face in my neck. Tawa siya nang tawa bago siya muling humiwalay sa akin.

He brushed away a tear from the corner of his eye, then lowered himself to give me a gentle brush of his lips. With a loving gaze, he whispered those unexpected words: "I love you."

He didn't wait for me to reply as he lifted me. I quickly found myself back in front of my pillow. Since I was still afraid to see him biting my skin with his fangs, I'd prefer this position in the meantime—saka na lang siguro ako haharap kapag kumakagat na rin ako.

As much as I wanted to detail how he started and how good King Tobias was in his lips, tongue, touch, and the way he uttered those steamy words behind my ears, I couldn't do anything but moan his name.

I didn't know how to turn my head. Should I bury it under the pillow? Should I just stare at that old cabinet, or should I just press my cheeks and lie down on my stomach by tightly gripping the sheets?

"Oh my . . ." I gasped as I felt his warm breath against my shoulder. I could hear his breathing behind my ear, the mixture of our sweats, the way I pulled and clawed the covers, how I arched to meet him, and the way I tried to grab anything from him.

Hindi ko na napansin na nahila ko na ang mahabang buhok ni Tobias, and when he claimed me again, I felt my head banged on the headboard (ang layo na pala ng narating namin). I suddenly pulled his hair, kaya hindi lang ako ang naumpog sa kama, nauntog din ang baba niya sa ulo ko.

Napahawak ang dalawang kamay ko sa ulo ko dahil sa tama sa headboard at sa baba niya. "Teka, dahan-dahan . . ."

He chuckled. He gave me feathery kisses on my shoulders again and whispered his consistent I love you.

"Are you sure that you don't want to face me yet?"

Umiling ako. "The fangs . . ."

"I know that it's scary for the first time, but my love, I swear in my nine million inside you—" I gasped.

"D-don't detail, you idiot king!"

"Your vault," he added between his chuckles.

"Ah . . . the vault." My mouth hung open when he made me feel him again, deeper and harder.

He nodded as he caressed his chin on my right shoulder. I felt his palm on the headboard when he moved again, faster.

Hindi na nga naman ako nauuntog.

Hinila kong muli ang buhok niya dahilan kung bakit natawa siya nang halos sumubsob ang leeg niya sa balikat ko.

"Your hair's tickling, and I kept pulling it."

"Would you like it short?"

I nodded. But when I pulled it again, I tilted my head to meet him. "But I like it now. It's convenient, My King."

I knew that Tobias had been stalling his bite. He knew that I was still afraid of his fangs and the pain that it would give me. That's why the king was just pleasuring me in any way possible in this position. Even with the idea that he had been asking . . . begging for me to take while facing his handsome face.

But I am still a human girl—I can take the nine million, but a needle? Karayom pa lang sa hospital takot na ako, malaking pangil pa kaya? Dalawa pa.

But this was unfair to him. "Bite me . . ." I whispered.

"Y-you sure?"

"Please . . ."

"Where?"

"Kahit saan mo gusto."

King Tobias stopped moving. I expected him to bite my neck or one of my shoulders, especially since he had been kissing them so much. But he had always been considerate of me. I felt him gently lift one of my hands and bring it near his lips. He was sitting beside me as I slowly shifted my body, his bared fangs and burning red eyes captivating me. After feeling our bodies' warmth together, he made me experience what it was like to be a vampire's mate.

At first, I tried to pull away because of the pain, but as I watched his every gulp, the way his tongue played with my wrist, and his eyes gazing directly at me, the pain I thought would overwhelm my whole body as he took more blood from me made me feel suddenly as if my chest was burning—as if something inside my blood burst and exploded as well. Na parang nagagawa ko nang makita ang sarili kong dugong nagmumula sa palapulsuhan kong nanunulay sa mga labi niya, patungo sa leeg niya, at sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan niya.

Hindi ko na napansin ang pag-awang ng mga labi ko habang pinagmamasdan siya. And when he pulled away, I suddenly felt like I was asking for more bites . . .

King Tobias licked his lips in front of me. I thought he'd push me again and join me on our bed, but he went down on his own wrist and bit himself. He grabbed me again and pulled me closer, and before I even took any movement, he cupped my face, bent down, and claimed my lips—our first kiss.

His blood felt like a fire inside my mouth, slowly crawling inside, down to my throat, until it reached my chest. My eyes widened; the fingers in my hands moved on their own. I strangely heard how my bones cracked, how the thick blood flowed slowly, and how the pulse in Tobias's wrists beat loudly with my chest.

My arms wrapped around Tobias, the newly grown nails dug into his back, and the way his mouth pulled away, now with my burning eyes against his, our ragged breathing together, and how even without words my whole body was asking for more.

Tobias caressed my cheek with the back of his hand, still with his bleeding wrist. I unknowingly pulled his wrist, and this time, I bit it with my own fangs.

I heard him gasp. I didn't even notice how my hair turned long and bushy—the manual says it will take days for me to transform, but our blood's compatibility made me turn into a vampire in seconds.

My hunger for him felt so uncontrollable that I couldn't stop or help myself—dahil nagawa ko nang itulak sa kama si Tobias at kagatin siya nang paulit-ulit sa leeg, balikat, at dibdib niya.

I cried as I wiped my trembling mouth with my arms filled with his blood. "I'm sorry, I can't stop myself. What should I do? Help me . . ." I asked desperately.

But my eyes and fangs keep arching for him. Sa halip na pigilan ako, mas niyakap ako ni Tobias at hinayaan niya akong paulanan siya ng kagat. He even lovingly caressed my long hair. "Why would I stop you, my love? If I have been begging for this feeling for years? Have me as much as you want. Your little fangs will not hurt me. Never."