chapter 27

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"Vesna!" Night raised his voice.

Unconsciously, tears fell. It kept on falling that I made no effort to dry them now. A sob escaped from my lips as I tried to calm down, taking a moment to breathe before speaking up again.

"What do you mean?" I say, weak and almost inaudible. "Pwede bang magsalita kayo?! Putangna naman." Frustration took over my mind and I cursed every single curse that I know of. Vesna stood up and walked towards the doorframe. Her back on us. I looked at Night, begging for answers.

"Hindi pa kami sigurado. It was his plan and we couldn't interfere. Lalo na't hindi naman kami pwedeng lumabas ng El Malefico. Especially with you in here." He stopped and combed his hair with his fingers, a habit that he does whenever he's stressed out or there's something he didn't want to talk about.

"goddammit, continue!" I say and muttered another curse.

"As you know, the Princesa Hermanie is now here in La Belleza El Tierra. The Queen gave him an order. Find out what his sister's power is. The old legends say that the Princesa was born with a power to bring back those who have passed. To bring back life to the cold, therdead. And the Queen needed to make sure this was true." I sat there and gaped at what he just said. Realization slowly sinking in.

"And she killed her own son? Is that what you're trying to say?" I asked, horrified. Night immediately shook his head no.

"No. Hindi ganun. She told him to make sure that this was true. This was Prince Aiken's plan. He's going to take the image of a child and drown himself in Las Agua, where the second Prince of El Suelo and his sister would visit. She's supposed to bring him back to life."

"Is he out of his mind?! Paano kung hindi? Paano kung wala pala talagang kakayanan ang Princesa na ganun? Tangna, ang gago niya." I was almost screaming now. I can't understand what I'm feeling. Panic. Nervousness. Anger. Fear. Most of all fear.

"He was supposed to come back here five days ago. But we received no letters nor whispers about him. None." Humina ang pagkasabi ni Night pero rinig na rinig ko. It was almost like he's scared of what I might say. Of what my reaction would be. What did he expect? Na mag paparty ako?

"That's why I wanted you to pack up and we'll find another way for you to go back to your world. It's dangerous now. The Queen is restless." Vesna said and walked towards the window, fidgety as she bit the tips of her fingernails. I shook my head almost immediately.

"No, I am not leaving without knowing anything about Aiken. How about the Prince Ekkier? What does he have to say about this?"

"We haven't seen nor heard of Prince Ekkier too. He's still in El Suelo, guarding the De Loughrey Princess." Vesna answered and blew a puff of smoke, a cigarette now lit up on her hand.

"Si Ad? May alam ba siya tungkol rito?" Both of them shook their heads in dismay.

"Wala rin. The Queen had other plans for her. We haven't heard of her since." Night answered.

"Is there anyone here in this fucking country that knows what happened to Aiken? Ilang oras na ba akong tulog?" I've never heard my voice this broken and desperate before. And it sounded foreign on my ears. This is frustrating the hell out of me. This is scaring the hell out of me.

"Five."

"Five hours. What happened? Bakit ako nawalan ng malay? We were just chatting when all of my strength left my body. I remembered waking up and—"

"You were asleep for five days Phine." The room seemed to be swaying back and forth. Dizzy with all the dread and fear, I feel like I'm going to puke.

"What the hell?! That means sampung araw na simula noong umalis si Ken? We need to do something!" I stood up and the floor seemed to have moved beneath me. I stumbled back to my bed and cursed.

Night was quickly right by my side, offering his shoulder for support. "We can't. All we need to do is wait. And you were poisoned Phine. Kaya mahina parin talaga ang katawan mo."

"Poisoned? That doesn't make sense—the parchment" I say in harsh realization. Vesna nodded and blew off a huge puff of white smoke again. It reeked of herbs and leaves that it almost made me gag. What's in that thing.

"Yes, nakita rin namin iyon. Vesna and I have been investigating about it. The strange thing is—" Night stopped whatever it was he supposed to say when Vesna started coughing and threw her cigarette outside the window. She cursed and glanced at us, wide eyed.

"The Prince is here." Relief hit me like a tidal wave that I almost choked with my own saliva. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik. Napakalaking tinik.

I stood up and peered out of the window. And there he is. Aiken wore a victorian suit in the color of brown and turquoise. He walked with a small limp on his side, his eyes tired and his facial expression weary. What the hell happen to him? Where's the magic horse that he usually ride? Bakit siya naglalakad? El Suelo is leagues from here.

"Walang magsasalita tungkol sa nangyari." I say, my eyes still fixed at the Prince down below. I saw how Night and Vesna exchanged glances.

"It's dangerous, Phine. The family involved in this incident is no joke, kaya nilang—"

"Alam ko. Lahat kayo kaya akong patayin. Kaya akong saktan. Night, when Aiken finds out, he'll send me away. I want you to keep this a secret. Ngayon lang, until we figure things out. I'm going to ask about what really happened and why they did what they did. Pero wag muna ngayon." Night couldn't meet my gaze so I looked at Vesna with pleading eyes. "Vesna please. Let's just shrug this off at the moment. Pagusapan natin 'to pagalis ni Aiken. Not now. Don't tell him." Both of them remained silent that I had no choice but to pull my final card.

"He'll have your heads. Remember what he said? He said that if any harm should befall me, he'll have your heads. Kaya walang magsasalita." It felt sickening to say this. I am not like this. I never blackmailed anyone my entire life. But I didn't want Ken to have a reason to send me away. Ayoko siyang iwan.

Vesna drew a deep breath and looked at Night who only shook his head. Her eyes met mine and I saw pity in her eyes. Whether it is directed at me or for herself, it doesn't matter right now.

"Okay. I'd like to keep my head intact on my shoulders anyway," she said with a small smile on her face. We heard the door open and I knew I had another matter to deal with.

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