Blood Moon

B1-C2

Promise

I woke up in the middle of the night, screaming because of the burning pain on my leg. The door crashed open, Jace and Archer on the doorsteps.

"What happened?" Jace asked, his chains already hanging from his shoulders. Lumapit si Archer sa akin at inalalayan akong umupo. He lifted the blanket to look at my injured leg.

"It hurts," I muttered, holding my burning leg. Archer looked at me before he glanced at Jace who was standing at the foot of my bed.

"Does it still hurt, Miss?" Archer asked. I felt him pressing a skin. I was about to grunt in pain when I realized that it doesn't hurt anymore.

"What.." I asked, shocked from the absence of pain.

Mabilis kong inalis ang kumot na nakatakip sa binti ko. Archer and Jace exchanged meaningful glances when we all saw my leg, already fully healed and without a scratch.

"Fuck, it happened again," Archer said. Jace withdrew his chains and walked towards me.

"I'm gonna call Mistress Soliman," Archer announced before leaving me with Jace.

I swallowed hard while Jace was just looking at me. His face remained emotionless, para bang napakalaking pagkakamali na magpakita ng kahit na ano sa mukha niya.

I can see the few gashes on his face. Nakuha niya iyon mula doon sa halimaw na nakasagupa namin noon sa Fiore. He has three parallel bandages on his left arm where his slicing disc was.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa binti ko bago huminga ng malalim. I stared at him and saw the silver emblem on his right chest. Bilog ito na napapalibutan ng apat na triangulo, sa bawat pagitan ng triangulo ay limang maliliit na parisukat. Sa pinakagitna ng bilog ay naroon ang imahe ng buwan at espada na magkadikit.

Jace touched the emblem. Umupo siya sa paanan ng kama, bago niya hinubad iyong suot niyang coat.

"This is the insignia of the Dark Order, Aurora," paliwanag niya. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil wala naman akong sinabi pero ipinaliwanag pa rin niya iyon.

"Hindi ko tinatanong—"

"Yeah. Tinatanong mo. I heard your mind," he announced. My hands immediately flew to my temples. What the hell!

"What?"

He grinned and I forgot what I am about to say. He. Grinned. And it was so devastatingly good for a grin.

"Guards could read their Master's mind. It was like a rule for us. Mas madali para sa amin na protektahan kayo kapag alam namin kung nasaan kayo at kung ano ang iniisip ninyo. Your minds are our warning bells," he said. I opened my mouth and gaped at him.

"T-that's an invasion of privacy, Jace," I said. Oh yeah, Aurora. Privacy? Of all things? Yun talaga ang ipinaglalaban ko?

I saw the corner of his mouth lifting as he tries to hide that blooming smile.

"For a person who has death threats, privacy would be your last problem, Princess."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry Jace. But I told you already. You're mistaken. I'm not a princess."

He just stared at me with blank face. I pursed my lips and he shook his head. I breathe hard to calm down.

"I don't have a gift. Kung talagang p-prinsesa ako, dapat noong fourteen pa lang ako ay lumabas na ang kapangyarihan ko. I'm already 16 now and I am as normal as every Earthen," I explained. Jace brows furrowed. My fingers found the hem of my dress and I played with it.