"And when you know that there's a storm coming, it is wise to prepare while waiting..."

AVERY

Aahon na sana si Zirrius sa waterfalls nang matigilan siya dahil sa kahali-halinang amoy na dala ng malamig na simoy ng hangin. Maging ako ay natigilan. His sense of smell and taste were surely enhanced too and this made me nervous. May bigla akong naalala na hindi maganda.

Suddenly, the place smelled like daffodils, dandelions and lavender. A distinct smell of a female elf and it is used when attracting mates or maybe lovers if they couldn't find a mate. And since he was a newborn elf, he would surely react with that smell. Ravenous. He will be ravenous.

Ramdam ko ang paninigas ng katawan ni Zirrius. He ached for that smell. Hindi lang ang amoy ang nagugustuhan niya kundi pati ang pinanggagalingan nito. Hindi pa niya kayang kontrolin ang mga pandama niya kaya madali siyang naaakit dito. Bumaling si Zirrius sa pinanggagalingan ng mabangong amoy.

Aivee was standing near a tree while looking at him intently. Humalukipkip si Aivee at halatang sinusuri si Zirrius mula ulo hanggang paa. Mukhang alam na niya ang iniisip ngayon ni Zirrius at kung ano ang intensiyon ni Zirrius sa kanya. I was sure Aivee could see hunger in Zirrius' eyes. Hunger for release. Hunger to feel and touch her.

Ramdam ko ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ni Zirrius dahil kinakabahan siya sa gusto niyang gawin. He was trying to fight the urge to taste Aivee and take her deep into the woods. Hindi ko gusto ang mga maaari kong masaksihan ngayon kung sakali mang hindi makapagpigil si Zirrius. Gusto kong sigawan si Aivee dahil sa kabaliwang ginagawa niya.

"Zirrius, calm down," mariin pero kabadong wika ko. Ramdam ang pagbabanta sa tinig ko. If he made the wrong move, I will take over.

"I-I want to... but you know I can't..." paos at mahinang wika ni Zirrius. Mariin pa niyang kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Ikinuyom niya nang mariin ang mga kamao. His body was really reacting. He wanted to answer Aivee's silent call. Bago pa ako makapagsalita ulit, mabilis na tumakbo na si Zirrius patungo kay Aivee.

It was fast, too fast that I hadn't seen it coming. Napasinghap si Aivee. Nagtangka siyang tumakbo palayo pero bago pa niya magawa 'yon ay nahuli na siya ni Zirrius sa mga kamay. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na ganito kalala ang magiging reaksiyon ni Zirrius. Na ganito katindi ang magiging epekto niya kay Zirrius. Damn! Tahimik na akong nagmumura sa sarili ko.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ba ang gustong patunayan ni Aivee ngayon. Kung ano ba ang gusto niya mula kay Zirrius. I hate her for being insensitive. Alam naman niya na hindi makokontrol ni Zirrius ang sarili pero inakit pa rin niya si Zirrius.

On a split of second, she was now pinned on the ground. Kahit ako ay nagulat sa bilis ni Zirrius. He was letting his ravenous elf instincts to take over. He started to graze his lips on Aivee's neck while on top of her. He started to smell her seductive and ecstatic scent.

Aivee gasped for air as his hot breath touched her skin. Damn! Bago pa makapagprotesta si Aivee ay nasakop na ni Zirrius ang mga labi niya. And since she was gaping, he got a free access inside her mouth. He grazed his tongue on every corners of her mouth. He tasted her like a drug. Like she's something that can bring him ecstacy and satisfaction.

Naiinis na ako! Damn his uncontrollable urges! "Zirrus!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Kapag hindi pa siya tumigil, mapipilitan na akong saniban siya. He was acting like an animal caged for too long but was now let loose in the forest. Feral but still beautiful. He was too consumed by his instincts to satisfy himself. But I couldn't blame him. Masyado siyang nabibigla sa mga nangyayaring pagbabago sa kanya. Hindi niya kontrolado ang sarili niya.

"Zirrius! Snap out of it!" naiinis na sigaw ko pa rin pero tila hindi niya naririnig ang boses ko. Then suddenly, Liana's face flashed on his mind and he stopped. His self-control came back a bit. But then, there's still a part of him that wanted to forget her for a while. Nasasaktan pa rin siya dahil hindi siya ang pinili ni Liana at gusto niyang makalimutan si Liana kahit sandali lang. Kahit saglit lang.

He slightly moved his face away from Aivee. She was still shocked. Siguro hindi niya inaasahan ang lakas ni Zirrius. Nakadagan ang mga tuhod ni Zirrius sa magkabilang hita ni Aivee kaya hindi niya maigalaw ang katawan. Her legs were surely swelling now.

"You smell.. you smell good," he said hoarsely. "I like your scent..."

He just admitted that he liked her scent and that pissed me off! Totally pissed! Aivee's face suddenly flushed red. No! She wouldn't smell like that if she's not really inviting him to chase her! If she didn't really intend to seduce him! I wonder what game she is playing! I wanted to stop her little game now!

Aivee lazily grinned. Bahagyang napangiwi siya dahil sa mahigpit na paghawak ni Zirrius sa magkabilang pulsuhan niya. "I never thought that you can move that fast. You surprised me," mahinang komento ni Aivee. Napangiti naman si Zirrius. Pinili niyang kalimutan muna saglit si Liana at makipaglaro kay Aivee. He's thinking like an elf now. Kapag nagtagal pa ito, tiyak na hindi ko na magugustuhan ang mga masasaksihan ko.

I tried to cross the line in order to control his body and stop him but a barrier suddenly rose in front of me and stopped me. I hissed. Malakas kong sinuntok ang pader na biglang lumitaw sa harap ko. Mukhang gumagana na talaga ang instincts niya na pigilan ako upang kontrolin siya. This is bad. Definitely bad! Pero mukhang hindi niya sinasadya ang barrier na biglang lumitaw sa harapan ko.

I felt so helpless. Masyadong matibay ang pader. At hindi lang 'yon! Hindi na niya naririnig ang boses ko. He totally shut me out from his mind accidentally! Hindi lang si Liana ang gusto niyang kalimutan kundi pati ako rin!

This is bad! Mukhang mas malakas na ang kaluluwa niya ngayon kumpara dati. Pero alam kong hindi pa niya kontrolado ang kapangyarihan niya. Siguro dahil lang sa pagiging desperado niya kaya siya nakagawa ng harang sa pagitan namin. I can't use any magic to destroy the barrier now. Nagagawa ko lang kontrolin ang katawan niya dahil mahina pa ang kaluluwa niya noon pero ngayon, malakas na siya.

Something hurt inside his chest as he pushed Liana's memories away. But then, the fact that he still can't control himself made him careless and impulsive. He wanted a distraction. And that distraction is already in front of him. He sees Aivee as a willing sacrifice.

Bahagyang napailing si Aivee dahil hindi nagkomento si Zirrius sa sinabi niya. Alam kong nakikita ni Aivee ang pagnanasa sa mga mata ni Zirrius. "As I suspected, you can't control your senses," she commented. Gusto kong magtaas ng kilay. Kung ganu'n talagang sinadya niya na akitin si Zirrius para makumpirma ang hinala niya kaya mas lalo akong nainis. Tumigil na ako sa pag-atake sa pader dahil alam kong masasayang lang ang oras ko.

He gave her a lazy grin. "So you really tried to seduce me with that smell?"

"I have to. Kapag tumapak ka na sa Elven Kingdoms, tiyak na maraming babae ang magtatangkang akitin ka sa ganu'ng paraan. And it will be a problem if you chased them around like some wild animal. You need to control your senses and be familiar with that smell to avoid trouble. Don't be deceived by your sexual instincts," she said with a frown.

"And what if I can't control my sexual instincts?" paos na tanong ni Zirrius.

"You have to! Train with me. That's the only way. You still have three months. If you let those instincts eat you, you will never reach Elfania," seryosong sagot ni Aivee.

I wanted to scream inside Zirrius mind but it will be a waste of time. He couldn't hear me anymore. Talagang pahihirapan na ako ng katawan niya mula ngayon. His power was enough to shut me down and isolate me from him. Pero alam kong hindi niya sinasadya at hindi niya alam ang nangyayari sa 'kin. Ang nakakatakot lang, kapag nasanay na siya sa kapangyarihan niya, madali na niya akong maaalis sa sistema niya.

"I need to keep you alive until we reach Elfania," mahinang saad ni Aivee. Umangat ang sulok ng labi ni Zirrius. He was amused. He released her right wrist.

"Train with you? What exactly train with you means?" he teased softly as his fingers slowly grazed on her neck... down in between her breast... down to her exposed stomach. "That sounds dangerous... Isn't it?" mapang-akit na tanong ni Zirrius. I could sense that he wanted to play with fire. He started to lazily stroke her stomach and she tensed.

She hissed and bit her lips. Her one free hand stopped his hand that was stroking her stomach.

"Too arrogant and fearless now, huh?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Aivee. Bahagyang ngumiti lang sa kanya si Zirrius nang nakakaloko.

"You should have known that I will be like this when I become an elf," mahinang sagot ni Zirrius.

Napasimangot si Aivee. "I thought of you as a lost and pitiful rabbit the first time you entered my room. I never imagined you will have this much power," she admitted.

He lazily grinned. "You think lowly of me," he commented. Dahil hindi naman inalis ni Aivee nag kamay ni ZIrrius sa tiyan niya, ipinagpatuloy lang niya ang ginagawa. His fingers grazed the skin below her navel. Hindi man gustong ipahalata ni Aivee, alam kong naaapektuhan siya. She bit her lips to suppress a moan. And I hate to see this.

"You still have too much to learn. Don't be full of yourself," naiinis na saad ni Aivee. Mahinang tumawa lang si Zirrius. Isinubsob niya ang mukha sa leeg ni Aivee. Akmang kakagatin na ni Zirrius ang leeg ni Aivee pero mabuti na lang pinigilan ni Aivee si Zirrius. Mabilis niyang natakpan ng kamay ang bibig ni Zirrius.

"I will not do that if I were you. Unless you will take responsibility for it," seryosong wika ni Aivee. She's right. A male elf will never dare to bite a females elf's neck unless they are mates. It's a way of marking someone's territory. Gusto ko mang ipaliwanag kay Zirrius ang lahat ng ito, hindi ko magawa sa ngayon. Once he bit Aivee's neck, his smell will blend with hers. At maaamoy ito ng mga lalaking elves kaya lalayo ang mga ito at hindi tatangkaing ligawan pa si Aivee. Tiyak na iiwas sila dahil ayaw nila ng gulo.

Nagtatakang tumingin si Zirrius kay Aivee. "Why?" he asked.

"You should ask Avery instead. She knows this too," sagot ni Aivee. "Get off me now. I'll give you two days to rest. Pero sa tingin ko, hindi ka makapagpapahinga sa loob ng dalawang araw. You will become restless because of your new body. Sanayin mo muna ang sarili mo sa bagong katawan mo," seryosong saad ni Aivee. Nagtaka man si Zirrius pero hindi na siya nakipagtalo. He suddenly lost interest. Nawala na rin kasi ang nakahahalinang amoy kanina ni Aivee. Parang gayuma ito na nawalan ng bisa.

Bumuntong-hininga si Zirrius na tila natauhan. Umalis na siya sa ibabaw ni Aivee. He even offered a hand to help her stand and she accepted it. Nawala na rin ang barrier na kanina ay nasa harapan ko. I don't know if he's aware of what he had done. Mukha kasing wala talaga siyang alam sa ginawa niyang pagpigil sa 'kin. Hindi na nagpaalam si Aivee at umalis na agad.

"Ano'ng sinasabi niya?" takang tanong ni Zirrius sa 'kin.

"Saka ko na ipapaliwanag sa 'yo. Umuwi ka na at magpahinga. Sa susunod, kapag may nang-akit sa 'yo sa ganu'ng paraan, tumakbo ka palayo hanggang sa hindi mo na sila maamoy," naiinis na saad ko. Nagkibit-balikat lang si Zirrius sa sinabi ko.

"That scent will never deceive me again," he commented.

"Really? Let's see," naiinis pa rin na wika ko. Mabuti na lang hindi itinuloy ni Aivee ang pang-aakit kay Zirrius.

~~~

Hindi sanay si Zirrius sa atensiyong nakukuha niya mula kina Kendrick at Shin. Napapanganga na lang ang dalawa sa kanya dahil sa pagkamangha. Nasa loob na kami ng silid ni Aivee. Dalawang araw na rin ang nakalipas. Napasimangot na lang si Zirrius upang mabawasan ang pagkailang. His aura was really different from before. Kahit ako ay naninibago na sa kanya. It seems that I need to be careful to not get under his skin. Pero syempre, imposible 'yon dahil hindi ko matitiis na hindi painitin ang ulo niya.

At ang nakakatawa pa sa loob ng dalawang araw na 'yon, hindi niya makontrol ang lakas niya. Sometimes, he could shatter a glass when holding it. Kahit hindi niya sinasadya. Nasira pa nga ang pinto ng banyo dahil sa pagsasara niya rito. Akala niya mahina lang ang pagsasara niya pero hindi pala. Masyadong magaan ang pinto para sa kanya kaya hindi niya namalayan na napalakas pala ang pagsasara niya ng pinto. Maging siya ay nangingilabot na lang sa sarili niyang lakas. He would just growl in frustration whenever he accidentally broke something. And his room was a mess now. Si Kendrick na lang ang nag-aadjust para sa kanya.

Maging ang pagpihit niya sa shower ay napalakas din kaya nasira niya ito at sumirit na lang ang tubig sa buong mukha niya. And I would always laugh and tease him that he's a newborn baby.

Pagkatapos ng sunud-sunod na kamalasan na nangyari sa kanya ay iniingatan na niya ang bawat kilos niya. Medyo maayos na siya pagkalipas ng dalawang araw. Ang problema, hindi pa rin siya nasasanay sa mga matatalas na mga mata at pandinig niya.

"I need to cut this hair short," mahinang wika niya sa hangin. Parang gusto ko na namang mainis dahil sa maganda at lalaking-lalaking boses niya. It was stirring something weird in my soul. Drawing me closer to him. Unintentionally seducing my very soul.

Dahil malakas ang pandinig ni Aivee, siya na ang sumagot. "I can do that for you," she offered. I wanted to frown but I couldn't. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang ginawa niya.

"No," I protested inside Zirrius' head. I was still pissed with her because of what happened the other night. And wait! He will let that woman touch his hair? No! Natigilan ako. I suddenly noticed that I was being territorial. Kumunot ang noo ni Zirrius dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Why?" he asked inside his head.

Wala akong maisip na magandang dahilan. "Well... It suits you... I mean, that silky ash brown hair... I like it in you," mahinang wika ko. His lips twitched but he didn't smile.

"Are you tricking me again? I don't think it suits me. You have a very bad taste. Siguro palihim mo akong pinagtatawanan dahil sa itsura ko," he said inside his head. Dalawang araw na siyang naiinis dahil sa pang-aasar ko sa kanya. I wanted to pout.

"I mean it," reklamo ko sa kanya. He just smiled and look at Aivee.

"Can you do that for me, please?" he requested. Naiinis na ako dahil nginingitian pa niya si Aivee. Bahagyang natigilan si Aivee dahil sa tinig ni Zirrius pero marahan naman siyang tumango. Itinuro ni Aivee ang silya na nagsasabing umupo siya. Zirrius obliged. May biglang lumitaw na gunting sa kamay ni Aivee.

Pero may punto naman si Zirrius. Mas bagay sa kanya ang maikling buhok. Pero ayaw ko lang hawakan ni Aivee ang buhok niya. I envy her. Damn! Why can't I have a body right now? This is unfair!

Aivee's smooth hands grazed on Zirrius' hair. Bahagyang napaupo nang tuwid si Zirrius. Pakiramdaman niya may kuryenteng dumaloy sa katawan niya. That's the reason why I didn't want someone to touch his hair especially when it's a girl. He's more sensitive now and it's an elf thing no human could understand. Aivee chuckled.

"You'll discover more about your body. Dahil bago ka pa lang, sensitibo pa ang mga pandama mo. Pero kapag nasanay ka na, hindi ka na maaapektuhan," Aivee said playfully. Napasimangot naman si Zirrius. He didn't want this kind of sensitivity. He felt foreign on his own body. "Do you really want to cut your hair short? Sa totoo lang, nasasayangan ako," she said.

"Just cut it. I don't want it to get in my way," aroganteng sagot ni Zirrius. Normal na talaga sa mga elf ang pagiging arogante pero hindi ko akalain na mamamana niya agad ito.

Bumuntong-hininga si Aivee.

"I want his hair. Give it to me after you cut it," saad naman ni Shin. "We can turn that into money," natatawang dagdag pa niya. Shin snapped his fingers in the air. Dalawang upuan ang lumabas sa harapan niya. Si Kendrick naman ay napanganga na lang sa mga mahikang ginagamit ng magkapatid. Shin took a seat and offered Kendrick the other.

Aivee started to cut Zirrius hair. Nararamdaman naman ni Zirrius ang pagtayo ng mga balahibo niya sa batok. Aivee's hands tickled his senses as she gently caressed his hair. And it pissed me off. Naiinis ako dahil sa mabagal na paggalaw ng mga kamay ni Aivee. She's taking her time too much.

"You must start your training tomorrow," mahinang sambit ni Aivee.

"Yes. I really have too. I hate this power flowing inside my body. I feel like it will consume me whole if I don't release it anytime soon," mabigat na wika ni Zirrius. Dalawang gabi na siyang hindi makatulog nang maayos dahil sa mainit na pakiramdam na dumadaloy sa katawan niya. His power was slowly tormenting him. He needed to master it soon. At natatakot pa ako dahil sa kapangyarihang 'yon. Sana hindi ito ang kapangyarihang iniisip ko. Napansin ko na bahagyang natigilan si Aivee sa narinig niya.

"I only released a part of your power. May lima pang seal na natitira. Kung pakiramdam mo sinusunog ka na ngayon ng kapangyarihan mo, paano pa kaya kung lahat ng seals ay matanggal na sa katawan mo?" seryosong tanong ni Aivee. She has a point. Gaano kaya kalakas si Zirrius? Tiyak na hindi ko na talaga siya makokontrol kapag nagkataon. If only I had my own body, I could but I'm powerless now. I only got a soul.

~~~

I have to admit that he's more gorgeous with his short hair. Nakahiga na si Zirrius at hindi pa inaantok. Bukas na magsisimula ang training niya.

"Hindi mo pa rin ipinapaliwanag sa 'kin ang mga sinabi ni Aivee noong isang gabi," mahinang saad ni Zirrius sa utak niya.

Gusto kong sumimangot pero siguro oras na rin para ipaliwanag ko sa kanya. "The scent, it is for attracting mates or lovers. Mates are the strongest bond for an elf. And it's the hardest to find," seryosong sagot ko sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Ano ang pinagkaiba ng lovers at mates?"

"Ang lovers, madalas hindi nagtatagal. Pwedeng magpabago-bago ng karelasyon. Sometimes they are just bonded by marriage with a little love or maybe lust. The connection is not that deep. It's similar to human's love, it can die and can be forgotten. But when an elf find his or her mate, both of them will feel that everything just fall on their rightful place. The connection is infinite and overwhelming. They will feel the sudden click. Like they are some parts of a puzzle that perfectly fits for each other. The bond is unbreakable until they faced death. Kapag naramdaman mo 'yon, parang ayaw mo ng malayo sa kanya. You'll be possessive. Hindi ka papayag na may lalaking titingin sa kanya. And you'll be guilty for it because you know it's not right and it's no one's fault. The love is unbearable and overwhelming that your chest will hurt and ache for her even when you don't want to. Nag-iisa lang siya sa mundo at hindi siya mapapantayan ng kahit sino. It will hit you like a train. It's uncontrollable," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo ni Zirrius. "You really believed in that?" takang tanong niya.

Gusto kong mapasimangot. "Of course. You'll understand when you find one," sagot ko sa kanya. "And when you bite a female elf's neck and she's willing to be bitten, then that's the sign that she's already marked as your territory. Of course, she will return the favor by marking you too."

"I see. Kung ganu'n, lahat ng mga elves na nakakakita sa mates nila, nagkakatuluyan at nagiging masaya?" tanong niya.

"No. Hindi lahat ng mates nagkakatuluyan at 'yon ang pinakamasakit sa lahat. Mas pinipili na lang ng iba na mamatay. Minsan kasi, huli na ang lahat kapag nakikita nila ang mates nila. Some even realized that they're mates when it's already too late," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Is it possible for a human and an elf to be mates?" nagbabaka sakaling tanong niya. At alam ko kung bakit niya ito tinatanong.

"Yes. But humans will never know. Only elves can tell. But for this kind of situation, the mating bond or the smell is not that strong. Kaya minsan nagdadalawang isip ang mga elves kung isang mortal nga ba ang mates nila. And they will never try since the elves are afraid. Elves are immortal and humans are not," seryosong sagot ko sa kanya.

Natigilan si Zirrius sa sinabi ko. Nakuha niya ang punto ko. Mapait siyang ngumiti bago niya ipinikit ang mga mata upang matulog. And I suddenly broke and ached for him. Whatever pain he bore now, I could feel it too. Suddenly, something uncontrollable hit me.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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