Elaire's POV

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata. Hinintay kong luminaw ang aking nakikita at mula sa kisame, inilapat ko ang aking tingin kay Chief Gilrod at sa babaeng kausap niya.

"Elle!" masigla niyang bati nang mapansin akong nakamasid sa kanila. Lumapit siya. "Mabuti naman at gising ka na."

My throat felt dry when I attempted to speak. "Where..." I looked around and figured I was in an infirmary. Nakumpirma ko kung nasaan ako pagkatapos malanghap ang pinaghalong amoy ng herbs at potions.

Inangat ko ang aking likod. Inalalayan ako ng babaeng healer paupo sa higaan.

Napalunok ako. "What happened?"

"'Yon nga rin sana ang gusto naming itanong sa'yo, Elle," the chief said. "Isa sa mga tauhan ko ang nakakita sayo sa tabing-dagat, walang malay." Umalog ang kanyang balbas nang malalim siyang tumawa. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa'kin na hindi ka pala marunong lumangoy?"

Sighing, I replied, "I know how to swim."

Hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. "Ang tunay na lakas ay hindi nasusukat sa kakayahang lumangoy, Elle, kaya huwag kang mahiya."

Tinignan ko siya, nang walang iniisip sa likod ng aking mga mata.

Tinapik ako ng chief bago ako bitawan. "Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa'yo dahil nagkatotoo nga 'yong sinabi mong aatake ang mga pirata."

I sat confused. The pirate attack has already happened?

"Kailan?" tanong ko.

"Kagabi," sagot niya. "At nasalisihan namin sila! Hahaha!" His big laughter boomed across the hall again. "Mga piratang napirata!"

The healer and I exchanged looks.

"They ambushed the pirates at the shore," paliwanag niya.

Umawang ang aking bibig. "Ah," maikli kong sambit.

May inilabas 'yong healer mula sa ilalim ng side table. "Nasa kamay mo raw ito nang matagpuan ka." She handed me the green book that I had found in the hidden room yesterday.

Tinanggap ko ito. "Salamat."

"Elle!" Masiglang tumayo si Chief Gilrod. "Mayroong salu-salo na gaganapin para sa pagdating ng grand duke mamaya at ikaw ang magiging espesyal naming bisita. Kailangan mong maghanda—"

"What time is it?" I asked. "I'm supposed to head home today."

"Ala una na ng hapon," sagot ng healer.

"Uuwi ka na?" nagtatakang tanong ng chief.

"I said I'll only be gone for three days." Umusog ako patungo sa gilid ng higaan. "Today's the third day." Tumayo ako bitbit 'yong libro. "Kailangan kong umalis ngayon para hindi ako maumagahan ng uwi."

"Pero, Elle," the chief insisted. "Sinabi ng grand duke na gusto ka niyang pasalamatan ng personal."

Ako na naman 'yong nagtaka.

Ayon kay Chief Gilrod, nagpadala siya ng uwak sa grand duke pagkatapos kong sabihin sa kanya 'yong tungkol sa atake. He said it was a last resort, after the king and other dukes ignored him. Alam niyang tutulungan siya ng grand duke dahil mabait daw ito. The grand duke's territory includes the Irvinian sea and its islands but does not include most coastal regions like Asure but despite this, the grand duke still tries to help coastal towns and villages, especially against pirates.

"How many ships did he send?" tanong ko habang naglalakad kami ni Chief Gilrod sa mga kalye ng Asure.

"Dalawa," masaya niyang sagot. "Kaya huwag ka munang umalis at baka bibigyan ka no'n ng maraming aures bilang pasasalamat."

After stopping by the inn to leave my book and cape, pumunta kami ni Chief Gilrod sa bahay nilang parang maliit na palasyo. The chief's house was the complete opposite of how he dressed. He wore commoner's clothes and yet his home was thrice the size of Evelyn's.

Kung bakit kami nandito ay dahil wala akong dalang naaayong kasuotan para sa banquet mamaya. The dresses that I brought were normal casual, katulad ng suot ko ngayon, and a set of blazer, blouse and pants for traveling.

Isang babae ang sumalubong sa'min— her dark blue dress accentuated her delicate figure and the polished shells that hung under her ears glistened at the slightest movement of her head.

"Ikaw si Elle?" nananabik niyang tanong na tinanguan ko.

"Ako si Erina," pagpapakilala niya. "Mabuti naman at gising ka na." Marahan siyang tumawa. "Sigurado ka bang makakadalo ka sa selebrasyon mamaya at hindi ka lang pinilit ng asawa ko?"

Sinulyapan ko ang chief. This woman in front of me was his wife?

"I'm fine," sagot ko.

"Kung gano'n, tara sa taas," tugon niya. "Nang makapili ka ng damit."

Chief Gilrod had the idea of letting me borrow one of his wife or daughter's formal dresses and it seemed like he already told them beforehand.

"Michi!" pasigaw na sambit ni Erina habang nasa hagdan pa kami. "Nandito na si Elle!"

We were passing through a corridor when one of the doors burst open to reveal a girl wearing a flowing yellow dress.

A mage, I thought, the moment I saw her light brown hair and coral pink eyes.

"Hi!" matinis niyang bati na may kasamang malapad na ngisi. "Nakalabas na 'yong mga gowns ko para sa'yo!" Hinila niya ako papasok sa kanyang kwarto kung saan dalawang katulong ang kasalukuyang nag-aayos ng nakahilerang mga damit.

After Erina excused herself, it was her daughter, Michi, that picked out three gowns for me to try on.

"What do you think, Elle?" Umikot-ikot siya sa harap ng mahabang salamin suot ang isang puting gown. "Maganda, ano? But I think it's too much." Sinagot lang din niya ang kanyang sariling katanungan. "Ah!" Tumili siya habang naghahanap ng ibang masusuot. "Kailangan ko ng mas magandang damit! It's the grand duke we're having!"

Samantalang, nasa likod ako ng dressing screen, tinutulungan ng isang katulong na suotin ang pangalawang gown na sinuhestyon ni Michi. It was an emerald green gown with an off shoulder top that she ultimately favored, kaya ito ang isinuot ko sa huli.

"Mage ka rin?" tanong niya habang inaayusan siya. "Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng mga mata at buhok na katulad ng sa'yo."

"Mmm." I hummed as an answer, while a servant sprayed water to damp my hair.

Because I am always working, I usually braid my hair on one side to avoid strands falling over my face. Binabagsak ko lang 'yong buhok ko sa gabi bago ako matulog, kaya nang tanungin ako ng katulong kung pwede bang hayaan lang niya itong nakababa, tumanggi ako.

She tied my red locks back into a ponytail, and then twisted it into a bun.

Matagal kong tinitigan ang sarili kong repleksyon sa salamin. Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon, sa loob ng maraming taon, na nag-ayos ako. It's also my first time wearing a gown and attending a big banquet.

Patakbong dumako si Michi sa tabi ko. "Woah." Namilog ang kanyang mga mata. "Ang ganda mo!"

Isang blangkong sulyap lang sa salamin ang natamo niya mula sa'kin.

Suminghap siya. "Bagay nga sa'yo 'yong dress! Tumingkad 'yong pula ng mga mata mo, eh!"

Napatuon ako sa sarili kong mga mata, at ilang sandali pa'y sa aking buong hitsura.

"You look like Belle of the Borderlands!" aniya. "Yong usap-usapang magandang bampira dati na may buhok at mga mata raw na kasingkulay ng dugo—" She gasped again. "You almost even have the same name!"

I gently bit my lower lip to stop a chuckle. How do I tell her?

Michi clasped her hands. "The grand duke's single, alam mo ba 'yon?"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit mahalaga ito para sa'kin.

"You're not in a relationship, are you?" she asked.

"Oh." Naintindihan ko na ang ibig sabihin niya. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

"But, Elle..." Her tone wanted to convince me. "It's the Grand Duke of Irvina."

"I have had my time with men," sabi ko habang inaalala ang madilim na gabing 'yon. "And I didn't like their company."

Michi sighed loudly. "If you say so..."

Night was already falling when her mother, Erina, came to fetch us on the way to the hall where the banquet was going to be held. We were met by servants putting food and drinks on two long columns of tables. Nasa dulo ng hall ang isang platform na pinagpatungan ng limang upuan sa likod ng mahabang mesa.

Kasabay sa pagtungo namin dito ang pagsidatingan ng mga bisita. Iginiya ako ng isang katulong sa pinakadulong upuan habang nasa kabilang dulo naman sina Michi at Erina. Nang makita silang nagsiupuan, umupo na rin ako.

Unti-unting binalot ng ingay ang kalawakan ng silid dahil sa dumaraming bisita. Nakamasid lang ako sa kanila nang tanungin ako ng katulong kung mayroon ba akong gustong inumin habang hinihintay namin ang pagdating ng chief at grand duke.

"Anything," sagot ko. "Thank you."

I was given a silver chalice filled with honeyed blood. Iniinom ko ito nang mapansin ang isang grupo ng mga lalaki na naglakad patungo sa'kin. Ibinaba ko ang baso sa mesa nang makilala sila. They were the chief's men that traveled with him to Lumien. Sila 'yong nakilala ko sa tavern at nakasama ko papunta rito sa Asure.

Tumayo ako at sandaling napatigil nang ibaba nila ang kanilang mga ulo sa'kin. Iniyuko ko rin ang aking ulo bago salubungin ang masasaya nilang ngisi.

One of them introduced himself as the man who found me by the sea. Kinamusta niya ang kalagayan ko at sinabi ko naman sa kanya na okay na ito. Another one asked me how my stay was, and our conversation continued until we noticed the visitors starting to whisper. The chief's men turned around as soon as the guests stood on their seats.

Habang nakapiling ng kaunti ang aking ulo, sumilip ako sa kabilang dako ng hall kung saan pumasok si Chief Gilrod kasama ang isang lalaking magaang kumakausap sa kanya— the Grand Duke of Shadowmere Isles, Lord of Irvinian Seas, and the King of Tides, Lord Cassien.

Lord Cassien was a tall vampire with hair, dark blue as the deep ocean, and eyes, blue-green, like the shallow seas. He wore a ship commander's outfit made out of rich shades of violet, and he smiled, casually, at the guests who bowed down to him, na parang wala siyang kaide-ideya na sinisigaw ng kanyang buong hitsura ang malaki niyang ipinagkaiba sa kanila.

Soldiers trailed behind him and they spread evenly around the hall to stand guard.

The chief's men walked down off the platform to meet the chief and the grand duke. At kung makapag-usap sila para lang din silang matagal nang magkaibigan. And when the men excused themselves to eat, Chief Gilrod led Lord Cassien to his wife and daughter.

Then they circled around the table, stopping in front of me.

"Your Highness." With both my hands holding either side of my skirt, I calmly bowed in front of Lord Cassien who looked back at me with a curious gaze.

"This is..." Sandali niyang nilingon si Chief Gilrod. "Elle?"

"Lord Cassien," sambit ng chief. "Siya nga 'yong mage na tumulong sa'min."

Nagagalak akong nginitian ng grand duke. "Is there anything you want me to repay you with? Elle?"

Ilang sandali ko siyang tinitigan. "Gold," mahinahon kong sagot.

He chuckled at me before shrugging. "Gold, it is," sang-ayon niya at sinenyasan akong maupo sa aking upuan. "Please." Pumalikod siya rito at hinila ito para sa'kin. "Allow me."

Umupo ako at nalamang ang dako pala ng mahabang mesa na kinaroroonan ko ay para sa mga bisita dahil umupo sa aking tabi ang grand duke. Nasa pagitan siya namin ng chief na siyang pinakagitna sa mesa.

Servants started to serve us food and I ate mine quietly while selectively hearing the noise around me. May mag-asawang nag-aaway sa unahan. May grupo ng mga babaeng pinag-uusapan ang grand duke at mayroong mga lalaking nagtatawanan habang binibiro ang isa't isa.

"Elle..."

Namalayan ko ang pagtawag ni Lord Cassien sa'kin dahilan na mapaangat ang aking ulo.

Nilingon ko siya. "Your Highness."

"You didn't hear what I just said, did you?" natatawa niyang tanong.

I looked away, wide eyed, trying to remember. "No..." Lowering my head, I apologized, "Please forgive me, my lord. My thoughts were already occupied."

"The chief told me that you know of a certain spell that can keep pirates away from the shore," sabi niya.

"Yes, Your Highness," kumpirma ko.

"Correct me if I'm wrong..." He leaned closer, his voice lowering. "Were you planning to use the coral barrier spell?"

"Yes, Your Highness," sagot ko.

"Elle, alam mo bang hindi lang mga pirata ang maaapektuhan nito?" aniya. "The barrier will also affect the fishes and other sea creatures. Once activated, no vampire or animal can enter Asure's waters."

"I know..." Humina ang aking boses sa bandang huli. "Your Highness."

He leaned back, brows furrowed. "Balak mong sirain ang dagat ng Asure?" seryoso niyang tanong na alam ko'y dapat kong katakutan pero nanatili pa rin akong mahinahon.

"No, Your Highness," I answered, to his relief. "The coral barrier spell can be modified to only affect vampires with malicious intent."

Tuluyan na ngang naglaho ang kanyang kaseryosohan nang palitan ito ng pagkaintriga, at mayamaya pa'y lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha. "It can?" he asked, very eager to know. "How?"

"Just outside of Lumien, Your Highness, there is a village called Denrin." Kinuwento ko sa kanya kung paano ko ito nalaman. "A monster used to live in their lake and after I killed it, one of their elders taught me how to modify a few spells, including the coral barrier spell."

Kasunod kong ibinahagi sa kanya kung paano gawin 'yong modified spell. Sinabi ko rin sa kanya kung ano ang bagong ibibigkas para bigyan ito ng bisa. The grand duke nodded enthusiastically and the longer we talked, the more eyes turned to me.

"That's all, Your Highness," I said, after finding out that most stares came from women.

But Lord Cassien continued to look at me with silent fascination. Naging maliwanag sa'kin at sa mga nagmamasid sa'min na may ikatatagal pa ang aming pag-uusap.

"Do you think I can do it?" tanong ng grand duke. "With my magic?"

Sighing, I replied, "That depends on what kind of magic you have, Your Highness."

And then, unexpectedly, a triumphant grin played on his lips. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Napatigil ako.

Bakit pakiramdam ko pinahaba lang niya 'yong usapan namin para masabi ito?

Kanina pa niya gustong malaman kung ano ang kapangyarihan ko pero hindi niya ako tinanong tungkol dito. Sa halip, ginawa niyang pangangailangan ko ang pagbunyag nito.

The stares bothered me enough that I didn't watch what I was saying, at mukhang napansin niya ito.

I couldn't help but laugh under my breath.

Nadulas ako.

It was impressive, really, how he was the first to catch me off guard. So I decided to tell him, nang siya na naman ang masorpresa.

Summoning a spell around us to hide my voice from others, I answered, "Blood magic."

Nanigas bigla ang ngiting suot ng grand duke, bago dahan-dahang nabura.

I calmly grabbed my cup of blood and began drinking it when his face went through different phases of denial— nagulat siya, tapos kinumbinsi niya ang sarili niya na wala lang ito para sa kanya, then he got angry because he thought I was lying, then he looked hopeless and frustrated, dahil hindi ko binawi 'yong sagot ko, at natanggap niya lang ito, nang ibalik ko na sa mesa ang aking baso.

"Your magic isn't forbidden but it could be dangerous for you," he said, as if he hadn't made a hundred expressions within a few seconds. "Be careful, Elle."

"And aren't you of noble blood?" kasunod niyang tanong. "The only vampire I know who has the same magic as you was the first queen."

"Maybe, maybe not." Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. "I don't know."

"Where do you live?" aniya.

"I'm moving to the royal palace for work, Your Highness," sagot ko.

His shoulders laid back. Tila gumaan ang kanyang pakiramdaman nang tanungin ako, "So I can find you at the palace?"

"Yes, Your Highness," tugon ko. "But I don't see any reason kung bakit kailangan mo akong puntahan."

The grand duke wasn't a part of the royal family but in terms of wealth and power, he's almost on the same level as them. Siya ang naghahari ng karagatan ng Irvina kaya tinatawag din siyang 'King of Tides'. He may not have much land but the other lords still fear him because in terms of military strength, si Lord Cassien ang high commander ng royal fleet.

His family and the royal family are expected to have a good relationship. Dahil dito, napatanong ako, "Are you close with Prince Mirev, Your Highness?"

"Mirev..." Nanliit ang mga mata niyang tumuon sa malayo. "I only met him once. When he and the king visited Shadowmere to pay tribute to my father's death and appoint me as the new grand duke." Ako na naman ang pinaningkitan niya, tila may hinihinala. "Why?"

"I'm supposed to work for him," namamagod kong sagot, kahit hindi pa ako nakakapagsimula sa trabaho. "I was wondering about what he's like..."

Wala naman akong pakialam kung madali o mahirap bang pakisamahan 'yong prinsipe. Ang gusto kong malaman ay kung gaano siya kahirap gwardiyahan. Baka kasi katulad pala siya ni Prince Inouen na kung saan-saan napapadpad kaya sa underground arenas kami nagkakilala.

"Hmm..." Sighing, Lord Cassien comfortably leaned on his armrest. "Alam mo na siguro kung ano ang kapangyarihan niya?"

Tumango ako. "Dream magic."

Only two vampires in Irvina are known to have it— Prince Mirev and his great grandmother, the late Queen Berseveth.

"Mirev knows how powerful he is," the grand duke added. "Dreams can instill fear in a victim without them knowing, and do you know how terrifying that would be? To be controlled by someone else without realizing it?"

"Does your highness fear him?" usisa ko.

Yumuko ang kanyang ulo nang kumawala mula sa kanya ang isang mahinang tawa. "He could be intimidating, yes, but he's also fun." Nakangiti pa rin siya nang muli niyang iangat ang kanyang noo. "Elle, my father was murdered by his own men. He was betrayed and this led me to fear for my own safety. Ilang linggo akong hindi nakatulog sa takot na baka may pumatay sa'kin habang natutulog ako. When I did get to sleep, it was the night before I became grand duke," kuwento niya. "And I had this strange but funny nightmare, kung saan hinahabol ako ng mga lumilipad na kutsilyo, at patuloy akong sinaksak ng mga ito habang tumatakbo ako. Hindi ako makaikot at hindi rin ako makaliko."

Humugot siya ng hangin bago nagpatuloy. "My fear grew and the nightmare eventually turned into something worse..." Nanghina ang kanyang boses. "I found myself alone in the dark, knives sticking out my back, surrounded by the noise of wolves... and snakes... and murmurs of my father's murderers..." He deeply sighed while reliving the burden of his dreams. "Mirev found me and asked me to dream of something else, but I couldn't." Isang mapait na ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang labi. "Kahit gusto kong guminhawa nang maluwag, nangibabaw pa rin 'yong paninikip ng dibdib ko. Takot na takot pa rin ako sa mga panahong 'yon, at kinakabahan, para sa sarili kong kinabukasan."

Admiration in the grand duke's voice slowly revealed itself the more he remembered. "Instead of waking me up, Mirev pulled the knives out of my back and helped me fight the wolves, snakes, and the vampires that haunted me." Lord Cassien chuckled lightly as he turned to me. "I woke up sweating but relieved. And later that day, after I was named grand duke, Mirev told me that he and I share the same fear of being betrayed. We then talked for a good hour before he and the king sailed back to the mainland."

"Now that I remember..." Umayos siya sa pagkakaupo. "Nangako ako sa kanya na bibisitahin ko siya sa palasyo pero hindi ko pa ito natutupad dahil naabala ako sa paghahanap ng mga bampirang pumatay sa ama ko." Tila hindi makapaniwala si Lord Cassien sa sariling pagkalimot. "I also got loaded with grand duke responsibilities..."

Pinigilan kong mamuo ang isang natatawang ngiti sa aking labi. "Then I'll see you in the palace for when you visit the prince, Your Highness."

Music started playing and we both looked at the guests who gathered to dance.

"Would you like to join me for a dance, Elle?" Lord Cassien asked.

"Forgive me, my lord," sagot ko. "But I have to leave soon."

"Right. The chief told me..." Ilang sandali siyang nag-isip. "I will take care of the barrier spell. Take one of my horses with you and two of my guards," nakangiti niyang tugon. "A lady must not travel alone. Especially at night."