7.5: Lady of Concord

CHAPTER 7.5

Lady of Concord

DESPITE staying within the premises of Ellesmere for a month, Lucas and Jonas’ expedition had no progress. They had zero clue of where to find Princess Selene and they haven’t seen an assassin around the kingdom. Goddamn, he really thought that they’d find some clues within Ellesmere because this is the nearest country to Izquierdo kingdom next to Vintress kingdom.

Lucas huffed at the thought as he leaned against the edge of his window, staring at the bright moon that illuminated the night sky  and blessed Xeofarea with its gleam. He had a glass of blood in hand and he’s been spinning it, causing for the liquid to follow its rhythm and prance along. Not gonna lie, Lucas wouldn’t really resort to drinking blood today if his bloodthirst wouldn’t feel an inexplicable sting around his body.

Normally, he would even consider drinking the pills that had been circulating around Vintress kingdom, one that the Science Division invented and improved—but he doesn’t think that those replacements for blood would be enough to satiate the monster that had been slumbering within him. He can tolerate the pain but before he would be consumed by his instincts, he immediately told Jonas to stock up a box of human blood bought from the blood bank.

“Prinsipe Lucas, kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?” pag-uusisa pa ni Jonas.

Lucas hummed but his voice sounded strained. It sucked but the fact that he only had to force himself to respond felt frustrating.

“Not fine,” he muttered under his breathe as he chugged the blood from the glass that he had been holding. Its sweet smell had been enticing him and the urge to drink it right away was a battle he just lost, “do you think you could buy more boxes of human blood?”

Hindi siya kaagad na sinagot ng binata. Sa halip, lumapit ito sa kahong pinaglalagyan ng mga dugong binili nito kanina bago kumuha ng dalawang pakete at iniabot kay Lucas noong oras na nakalapit na ito sa harapan niya. Pinasadahan din nito ng tingin ang buwan sa labas at bumuntong hininga.

As a knight, Jonas had more tolerance for bloodthirst because they are trained to live with the excruciating pain until it numbs. But to be honest, it wasn’t a good practice—and they only had refrain from drinking human blood if they’re in the middle of battles and they couldn’t find any source of blood to drink.

With that being said, blood from livestock wouldn’t suffice.

“Prinsipe Lucas, palagay ko e ‘di mo naman mauubos ‘yong isang kahon na binili ko,” kalauna’y anito

Napaismid siya at bahagyang niyakap ang sarili. “It actually feels excruciating. It’s been a while since I felt this and I still hate it.”

“Everyone does.”

Si Jonas ang nag-asikaso ng panibagong mga pakete ng dugo na iinumin ni Lucas at hinayaan lamang niya ang binata. Sa halip, muli niyang ibinalik ang mga mata sa buwan. Deafening silence filled their room and Jonas handed him with a new glass of blood to consume. Although he didn’t want to, Lucas still took it from the knight. Bumuntong hininga siya nang dumaan sa ilong niya ang mabangong aroma ng dugo, his eyes gradually turned into a bright crimson and Jonas didn’t comment. Sa halip, hinayaan nito si Lucas.

“Our expedition still has no progress despite looking for Princess Selene all around,” Lucas mumbled before he took a drank the blood, “bukas na bukas, aalis tayo rito. Pahihinahunin lang muna natin ‘tong pagkauhaw ko.”

Marahang tumango si Jonas. “Ni anino ng assassin na ipinadala raw ni Haring Morfran, ‘di natin nakita. Sigurado ba si Merlin na mayroon ngang ipinadala ang mga Demelza, mahal na prinsipe? Pa’no kung iba pala ang agenda ng ‘assassin’ at hindi naman si Prinsesa Selene?”

He thought of this before. After three weeks of searching for the traces of that assassin Merlin had told them, the only one that could lead them to Princess Selene. He even almost called Merlin through a communication spell if it wouldn’t drain his energy too much since it was an afternoon when he was out, investigating.

“That guy may be mischievous but he won’t lie if it’s about the lost princess. After all, he’s her only guardian,” he reasoned out. Because even though that magician doesn’t seem reliable, he actually is—and there’s no way that he’d break the trust of the late king and queen of Izquierdo kingdom.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Lucas sa basong hawak at mataman niyang pinagmasdan ang pulang likido.

Huh. He doesn’t like the taste of this blood. Now, he can’t help it but to wonder what type of blood is this.

*

“ARE we clear now?” Lucas asked as his eyes roamed around their room to check if they left anything, “did we forget anything?”

“No I don’t think so, Prince Lucas,” Jonas responded.

He nodded slowly and firmed himself before he gestured to Jonas that they’re all set. Nag-okay sign naman ang binata kaya naghanda na silang lumabas ng apartment na tinutuluyan nila. Lucas even reminded the knight about the payment for their one month stay, which Jonas didn’t forget as the ‘reliable knight’ he is. Anyway, that’s convenient. Lucas has nothing to worry about anymore.

It's been days since he felt that uncontrollable desire to drink blood. Huh, it took him time but he managed to get over it despite being put in a difficult situation. He even exhausted that one big box of blood Jonas bought from the blood bank!

Habang naglalakad silang dalawa palabas ng kaharian ng Ellesmere, wala silang ibang pinag-usapan bukod sa mga kapitbahay nilang paminsan-minsan daw ay ulit-ulit na daraan sa harap ng apartment nila. Sa totoo lang, hindi napapansin ni Lucas ang mga ito. Si Jonas lang dahil ito lamang ang madalas lumabas kung sakali mang mamamalengke o may kailangan.

Also, he feels refreshed. They aren’t wearing any disguise now because it turns out that no one has ever seen Lucas in person within Ellesmere kingdom. Even Jonas since whenever they’d visit the kingdom for political affairs, they always rode their vehicle. So, yeah. He’s savouring this moment a lot because... man, the fresh air.

Although the heat of the sun is excruciating, given that they’re a vampire. But it’s alright, it’s still tolerable. Well, somehow.

“Seryoso ako, mahal na prinsipe! Parang meron nga yata noong minsan na sumilip sa doorknob para lang makita ka? Tumakbo no’ng sinita ko!” pagsusumbong pa ni Jonas.

Bumuntong hininga siya. “E ba’t hindi mo hinuli? Mali na ‘yong ginagawa, Jonas.”

“I did, Prince Lucas. I even surrendered them to the local police. ‘Di ko lang alam kung kumusta na ba ‘yon pero nabawasan ‘yong madalas dumaan sa apartment natin pagkatapos no’n.”

“That’s better. They’re humans, they should stop ogling after vampires.” A vampire’s mystical beauty is a wonder but humans should avoid swimming on the idea. “Most of us are preserving our pureblood and we’re still researching about hybrids.”

“Pero ‘di ba iba ang Ellesmere? They have dhampirs—which are basically a hybrid of humans and vampires,” Jonas remarked.

Nagkibit balikat lamang siya. “Yeah. I guess Queen Sara approved of dhampirs and hybrids already.”

Since hybrids from humans and vampires are seldom, they’re still researching so that the Science Division would know if they have a different prescription for the pills they’ve invented. Also, they needed to make sure that these hybrids can control the monster that dwells within them—and they’re also curious whether there is a dominant genetic.

Aside from that, they are still in the middle of creating rules to protect these hybrids from possible bullying and discrimination. Since they’re of a different race, the Vintress kingdom wanted to make sure that purebloods won’t dare to lay a finger on them.

Dhampirs are also hybrids—a half vampire and a half human as well but they’re mostly raised in a religious setting. Most of the dhampirs he heard about especially here in Ellesmere worships the current Goddess of Destruction, Desdemona while Jamaerah remains as their patron.

There are also... humans who are turned to vampires. And as far as he’s concerned, it seems like Queen Sara adopted a human son whom she converted to a vampire so that she’d have an heir.

“Prinsipe Lucas!” pasigaw na tawag sa kanya ni Jonas.

Awtomatikong nahigit siya mula sa mga iniisip at magtatanong sana kay Jonas kung bakit ito tila kinakabahan nang bigla na lamang siyang may nakabangga.

“Oh, sorr—” As he was about to apologize, Lucas was cut off when his eyes met a pair of crimson—a fellow vampire. What’s more, it’s Queen Sara herself.

Kumunot ang noo nito nang makilala siya. “Prinsipe Lucas?”

Fuck. He fucked up.

*

IT WASN’T planned. Meeting Queen Sara in the outskirts of the plaza was something that neither Lucas and Jonas had expected yet here they are, having tea in one of the most well-known tea shops with the ruler of Ellesmere Kingdom. Moreover, it was quite a problem since the queen couldn’t help it but to bombard them with questions of why hadn’t they sent her a letter to inform her of their visit and why are they acting as ‘commoners’.

Lucas explained that he’s in an expedition but that only raised more questions, thus; he explained the reason why they hadn’t informed her about their presence within the kingdom.

“You’ve been here for a month and I’ve received no word. Did King Alexander missed out that I was once an accomplice of the late King Arthur?” Queen Sara asked, her voice still sounded gentle despite the looming feeling of being upset evident in her tone.

Lucas lowered his head. “Our apologies. As much as possible, we’re trying to keep this expedition a secret because we’re eluding the notoriety of the current rulers of Izquierdo kingdom.”

“That, I understand, however; what made all of you think that I won’t protect nor help you with your mission?”

The question made Lucas press his lips together and he was unable to muster a response. Well, he wanted to explain that it was his father’s wishes but it may only make Queen Sara more upset—especially when she really is an accomplice of his father and King Arthur.

It was just something that Lucas didn’t pay any heed before but only Westmount kingdom was peculiar amongst all four vampire territories. While Vintress Kingdom, Ellesmere Kingdom, and Izquierdo Kingdom worked altogether. It’s an underrated relationship, to be honest.

“Moreover, I’ve heard rumors that Princess Selene could have survived the war but I already lost hope since there were no traces of her survival. Who told you that she could still be existing somewhere?” Queen Sara inquired as she put her teacup on the table.

Lucas cleared his throat and replied, “Merlin Kreese. The former Izquierdo Magic Tower’s Head Magician.”

Queen Sara appeared to be impressed of his response and she raised his eyebrows before she tilted her head and let out a chuckle—presumably amused that Merlin was able to survive amidst the conflict between humans and vampires back then.

“If he survived, then I assume that he’s the guardian of the lost vampire princess?” she asked.

Lucas nodded. “He is.”

“Then why did he pass the obligation to search for her to you, Prince Lucas? Are you perhaps, his chosen candidate to wed Princess Selene?”

What? What the fuck?

Noong una, natulala lamang si Lucas nang marinig ang nakakamanghang paratang mula sa reyna. Lehitimong lumipad ang isip niya at napapakurap-kurap lamang siyang napatitig dito, nirerehistro sa isipan ang ideyang sinabi nito. Ni hindi niya napansin ang pagkabigla ni Jonas hanggang sa oras na mag-sink in sa utak niya na ang dating ng paghahanap niya kay Prinsesa Selene e dahil siya ang nakikitang kandidato para pakasalan ito!

Napasinghap si Lucas bago napaubo-ubo nang bumara ang hangin sa lalamunan niya ngunit nang makabawi, hindi niya napigilang sumigaw.

“Mali ka ng iniisip!” pasigaw niyang tanggi, bagamat hindi sadya e nadala lamang siya ng mga emosyon!

Bigla niyang gustong magmura! Kaso hindi pwede dahil ang kaharap niya, reyna ng Ellesmere! Pero ang lakas talaga ng urge kagustuhan niyang pagmumura!

Natigilan si Lucas nang humalakhak ang reyna.

“Oh. I just asked because you seem to be quite the fit for the lost princess, to be honest.” Queen Sara smiled at him and the way her eyes narrowed out of amusement made Lucas feel uneasy. “I believe that Merlin and King Alexander thinks so too.”

Despite his eyebrow twitching, he recouped his composure and replied, “I beg to disagree, Queen Sara. I’m only here to help Izquierdo kingdom and to save my own kingdom from any possible threat.”

Muling tumawa ang reyna sa sinabi niya at balak sana nito na pagkatuwaan siya ulit nang mayroong lumapit sa kanila na kabalyero at mayroong ibinalita kay Reyna Sara.

“Mahal na Reyna, nakumbinsi na namin si Prinsipe Eustace na pumunta rito,” ani ng kabalyero.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lucas. “Prinsipe Eustace?”

Is this the rumoured previous human whom Queen Sara chose to be her heir? When he took a glimpse of the queen’s face, her face brightened and she instructed them to let this Prince Eustace enter the tea shop. But until he entered, Queen Sara faced Lucas and said:

“I’ll be cooperating with your plan. I shall lend you a hand if a war brews,” she trailed off as she gestured at a direction where a child around age seven appeared, “I have people to protect, after all. And the Demelza family had always been a threat even to my kingdom’s safety.”

Lucas immediately faced the child whom Queen Sara summoned to join them during their afternoon tea and when the child stopped in front of them, he lowered his head to give respects.

“This is my son, Eustace. He’s one of the few people I desire to protect,” Queen Sara introduced.