Episode 13: Own trap

“The sun rises in the east, and I wonder why you don’t burn,” Diego punned. Back to the river, he still clutches his arm around me as our foot glued over a branch of the tall tree. And the cherry carmine linen surrounding my body gather up enough warmth to heat the freezing air of breaking dawn.

“Are you that someone born yesterday?” I then answered sneeringly which he simply laughed and grabbed my neck to layer on his shoulder.

“Just curious. Mind if you tell me the reason why?”

“I didn’t expect you still believe children’s tales. Elders have spread that news all because cadets, combatants at a young age, usually execute basic combat training. And in order to perpetuate and keep confidential the strategic method from our enemies, they did makeup all those lies. They wanted to implant that we have this fragile weakness, that we burn and crumble to dust every time the sun’s rays strike us.”

                       My head turned to him, and those cerulean orbs gradually gazed towards me. With only an inch between us, I can feel his breaths and the thumping on his chest. This feeling, he always brought me every time we’re this close to each other, is a thing that affirms what I regard him in the depths of my heart.

“And why is that?” he asked

“Same as what you think. If you attack an enemy, won’t you strike their weakness?” A smile formed on my lips as I glide my touch to his jaw. “Intellectual manipulation is one of their favorite tactics. If the enemy bears that in mind, he’ll use it as the weapon that will backfire him unattentively.” My hand wraps around his neck, pulling him intimately. And to the reason why I am doing this, no comment. “Why am I disclosing this to an enemy?”

                       Diego heftily chuckled and drifted his hand grazed on my hair, clipping it behind my ears. “I treasure you like a fragile diamond, that all I got from your sparkles were enclosed in a special chamber.”

“But what if those sparkles run out?” I asked, not averting my gaze on his eyes. On the contrary, He smiled. An appeasing and mellow smile that lurched me down so weak.

“Then I’ll return all that I got, back to you. Adira, I need you to trust me. I have no doubt, I have no hesitancy, what I feel towards you didn’t fade. No matter what happens, I will forever have your name, your memory and everything about you carved in my heart.”

                         His gentle strokes and sudden words melted me to the core. Left me speechless, and had nothing to reply but a warm smile. My lids shut closed the moment his tender lips kissed me on my forehead. Maybe I should… trust him the way he keeps his.

*****

“General Gaia, may I have a word with you?”

                          My brows automatically raised, recognizing this voice just popped out of nowhere. “Just a moment. I have something important to discuss with the minister of MEDICAL AFFAIRS,” I answered, emphasizing a certain word.

“Sure, take your time.”

                          Upon her reply, Samara again smiled jolly and walked out of the room making my fore crease. “She still insists, tch. How’s our current status, Vince?”

“I’m informed by the Commander to not tell you but I have to. If the attack alleged to the war against the wolves will be started so soon, I assume we only have a seventy percent chance of carrying over even if we snatch victory,” Vince stated.

                           My head rashly turned to him and stepped a distance closer. “And why is that?” I asked as I picked up the recent data from his hands.

“The antidote takes a while to run on its effect. for this reason, we need to keep the infected ones individually in a chamber. Most of it were women and children. I believe that the General will take this as a point and consider possibilities, whether to render the intrusion or not.”

                          Vince looked at me and forced a smile before he pivoted and took the exit. My grip tightens at the paper he had left, seeing these data and analysis showing how gradual the recovery is. Five days had passed after every antidote was handed to each of the locals. Included that the Pinansey-angan battalion was inside of our territory. Felipe has ordered to take them in. He said it will cause more chaos and trouble within our alliance if we do not regard them.

“Can we now talk?”

“Regarding what matter?”

                          Samara completely opened the door and strode towards me with her usual jolly smile plastered on her face. “If this is all about the attack again, I plead you to extend the days more,” I muttered, answering the question that came out of my mouth.

“Oh really? I can see your recovery runs like tortoises. But five days were enough, the majority of the infected were women and children. Entirely of your army, only five percent were infected—”

“And that is what you do not understand!” I cut in, not minding raising my voice. “Women and children were still at risk. Our population decreased half of the initial. If I let out my army and fight in a war, Sinandaya will crumble to ashes! Even if your battalion reinforces us, even if we grab victory, still our kingdom will be the one who will suffer the greatest loss. It is the war we are talking about and not a mere child’s play. Sinandaya army possesses advanced weapons and battle tactics, but death and bloodshed were inevitable.”

                           She kept silent, and her eyes darted on the data printed on the paper I’d handed to her. I stood steadily, waiting for her response which she then blurted not long since.

“Pinansey-angan kingdom is your ally, whatever happens, will be burdened by us also. Any certain help—”

“I don’t want my kingdom to be dependent on anyone else,” I firmly ended and turned away from her but she truly doesn’t have the sense of apperception.

“Yet why did you agree to the alliance? If you do not want us to be part of—”

“From what portion did you not understand? Sinandaya will continue the battle in accordance with the correct timing! And to this phase, this is not the right time.” Frustration and temper bolted out of my limits, a wisteria vine raided the glass crack open and bolted its way through her direction. “Why can’t you wait? Why are you so eager to execute that attack?”

                  Like what she always does, Samara chuckled. Pitching her left arm and played with the vines’ whippy sprig. “Why? Did you ask me why? It is because the prince was so into you that he didn’t want you nor your kingdom to be involved under the senate’s fiery eyes. Feel special about it.”

                    She struck me dumbfounded.

“He knows all about the two of you, the relation and the attachment. Out of your knowledge, the highest position in the senate was prince Vander’s father. Despite being hidden from the world for more than a decade, I assume you already know how capable the senate is. And I suppose, you are not that stupid, you can evaluate what will happen if they proved you are completely captivated by that werewolf.”

                    Samara waved her hand goodbye and in a blink of an eye, she got out of the room. But before her presence totally vanish, she spoke words that left me speechless. “This is a matter you only have two options. Either let the senate focus the target on your mate's connection with that wolf and in a matter of seconds, his lifeless body will be the only thing left you can be with. Or, gear up the army now. And prove you do not have that intimate affection with him. Rage the war. In that case, the arrows pointed towards both of you will descend. You’ll save his life.”

                    I clenched my jaw and balled my fist. My gaze drops down to the sword allocated on the wall, the blade left by my father. The Rasa sword that is intended for the war, for the Alfarros. The legacy I had pledged to be the one to eradicate wolves of that clan. But now… I do not know if I could even use this, to kill the person I treasure the most.

                    The Senate had already known. Damn! Damn this situation is way too far from what I have expected. Now I have a thing that is easily used to threaten me. Samara highlighted the point; I have to rage this war. I have to let the senate believe I only used this to lure Diego. This is the original plan Felipe and I had constructed. To trick and be close with the Abberant’s alpha to gather up enough information. And the moment I’ve gained his trust, the surprise attack will annihilate the entire pack. But seems like I have fallen into my own trap, too hilarious to believe.