PROLOGUE
In the beginning...
Love destroyed loyalty.
Love destroyed a beautiful promise in paradise.
And history intends to repeat itself.
Nanginginig ang mga kalamnan ni Cain habang habang hawak sa kanyang kandungan ang walang buhay na asawa. Their five kids were standing a meter away, crying and terrified with what happened to their mother.
Tahimik namang pumapatak ang luha ni Cain habang ang mga mata niya'y nakatitig sa lalakeng nasa tabi ng puno, nakikisimpatya ang mga mata at ang itim na pakpak ay nakatiklop. It was the same man who's always warning him. The man only him could see.
Binalaan na siya nito. Sinabi na sa kanyang darating ang araw na aabot sa karumal-dumal na krimen ang naging alitan nila ng kanyang kapatid.
Hindi niya naman sinadyang mapatay si Abel. Hindi rin niya ninais na maging halimaw ito ng dilim. Mas lalong hindi niya ginustong maging tagapangalaga ng espiritu ng lobong niligtas niya mula kay Abel nang sabihin ng Maylikha na ialay ito.
That night marked history. Abel was ressurected from the dead and became dependent to blood, while he became a vessel for the spirit of the wolf.
Dumating ang anghel na nangangalaga sa kanila kasama ang kanyang ama at ina. Her white wings with white glow folded as she landed in front of them, her eyes expressed the sadness she felt with what she's seeing.
"May paraan pa upang makauwi siya sa Ama," ani ng anghel sa sinaunang lenggwahe.
Cain sniffed and looked up. "Ano?"
"Sunduin mo ang kaluluwa ng asawa mo. Ngunit upang magawa mo iyon, kailangan mong isuko ang sarili mong buhay."
Without hesitation, he clenched his jaw and looked at his children, Astrid his oldest daughter and Galum's twin, Brenther and Tyrain his other sons, and Crescent, his youngest daughter. Napakabata pa ng mga ito upang mawalan ng ina, ngunit mas masakit sa kanyang malamang dahil si Abel ang nakapatay rito, pagsasarhan ang kanyang asawa ng pinto ng langit.
"Handa akong gawin anumang paraan."
The angel spread her wings and looked at the children. "Kung ganoon ay kakausapin ko na ang iyong ama at ina, Cain. Ngunit sana ay alam mong ang espiritu ng lobong nasa iyong pangangalaga ay nagtataglay ng kakaibang kapangyarihan. Handa ka na bang ipaubaya ito sa iyong ama sa kabila ng mga nalaman mo? Sa intensyon niya rito?"
Tumango siya. "Handa na ako. May isa lamang akong hiling."
"Ano iyon?"
"Nais kong malaman kung bakit mo ako tinutulungan kahit maaari kang parusahan ng Maylikha."
The angel smiled. "Mayroon tayong kanya-kanyang ipinaglalaban. Ito ay bahagi ng akin, Cain..."
"SOME said the story about Eve not being Adam's first wife because Lilith was the first woman but she was in love with Lucifer so she did not submit to Adam, was a crazy myth and the Bible doesn't support it, while others think it was just some twisted story a person with wild imagination once wrote out of boredom but who knows? Maybe the Lycans and Vampires really exist and they really came from Cain and Abel. Maybe Adam was really alive up to this day, harnessing the power of the wolf given to his son as a punishment before," the woman said then fixed her daughter's pillow.
"I don't believe it, mommy."
The mother smiled. "Maybe someday you will. Someday, you will be able to save many people."
Marifer yawned and looked at the open window. Bigla siyang ginapangan ng takot na hindi maipaliwanag. She pulled the sheets up to her neck and looked at her mother in a worried way.
"Would you like me to lock it?" malumanay na tanong ng kanyang ina.
Agad siyang tumango. "And please don't turn off the lights, Mother. I'm... Scared of the dark."
Gumuhit ang matipid na ngiti sa mga labi ng kanyang ina bago ito tumayo. Her movements are prim and graceful, the things Marifer is being trained to do at a very young age. "A Lady isn't scared of anything, honey."
Her thin lips pouted. "But... I'm not a Lady yet."
Umalingawngaw ang yapak ng kanyang ina sa malaking silid sa kanilang palasyo. Nang tuluyan nitong naisara ang bintana at naiayos ang kurtina, saka lamang siya nakahinga nang maayos.
"You soon will." Bumalik ito sa kama at hinawi ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok patungo sa likod ng kanyang tainga. Ang berde nitong mga mata ay nakatitig sa kanya, tila nangungusap.
"Will you be happy once you finally see me wearing the crown, Mother?"
Mahina ang tango nito. "But I will be more happy if someday, you will find a King who will treat your heart as a Kingdom he's ready to protect at all cost."
"Ew!" She cringed. "Father is a King."
"He isn't a King, Marifer. He's only a Lord."
"But that's the same thing. He's got a crown, too kahit hindi niya sinusuot."
Her mother laughed in a demure way. "You will realize the difference someday, honey." Huminga ito nang malalim bago humalik sa kanyang noo. "Time for bed, my love."
Tumango siya rito at tuluyang umayos ng higa. "Goodnight, Mother."
"Goodnight, Marifer..."
Pinanood niya itong maglakad patungo sa pinto, tinitignan kung papatayin ba nito ang ilaw sa kanyang silid. Nakahinga naman siya nang maayos nang hindi nito iyon pinatay gaya ng pakiusap niya.
Marifer sighed. Bumangon siyang muli at tinungo ang drawer kung saan nakalagay ang ginawa niyang koronang gawa sa cardboard. Lumapit siya sa salamin at tinignan ang sarili habang nilalagay sa kanyang ulo ang korona.
A sweet smile made its way to her lips as she looked at herself in the mirror. Ginaya niya ang kanyang ina tuwing may binabati ito. Pinagsalikop niya ang kanyang mga nakasarang kamao saka bahagyang tinango ang kanyang ulo.
"Lady Marifer of Wales..." She giggled.
Ngunit ang mahina niyang hagikgik ay agad napawi nang makarinig ng palahaw sa labas ng kanyang silid. Napasinghap siya at agad inalis ang korona sa kanyang ulo. Sa bawat kalabog at palahaw na umaalingawngaw, napapahawak siya ng mas mahigpit sa korona.
She gasped and when she heard her mother's voice, tuluyan siyang napatakbo patungo sa pinto. Ngunit pahakbang pa lamang siya palabas ng silid ay biglang nabasag ang salamin ng kanyang bintana. May isang lalakeng may takip ang ilong at bibig ang pumasok mula sa nabasag na salaming binata. Nagbabaga ang ginto nitong mga mata, ang tindig at tikas ay tila sa isang walang kinatatakutang hari.
Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan at sa kabila ng takot na nadarama, hindi man lang niya nagawang ibuka ang kanyang mga labi. Nanatiling nakatutok sa lalake ang kanyang mga mata habang halos masira na ang koronang papel sa higpit ng pagkakahawak niya.
The man slowly took his steps towards her, and as he leaned down to take the crown from her trembling hands, she had a closer look of his long lashes and golden eyes she cannot find terrifying no matter how much her mind shouts danger.
Kinuha nito ang korona at inayos ang natiklop na bahagi bago siya nito hinatak palayo sa pintuan. Pinaupo siya nito sa kanyang kama saka nito inilagay ang korona sa kanyang ulo.
"Lady Marifer of Wales..." His deep voice sent shivers down her spine... But a different comfort in her heart. "Stay here at all cost. It's not safe outside."
"W—What's going on, Mister?" Napalunok siya. "A—Are you... Going to kill my family?"
The man laughed softly. Hindi siya nito sinagot at tuluyang nagtungo sa pinto upang lumabas, ngunit bago nito sinara ang pinto, hinila nito pababa ang takip nito sa mukha.
Her nine-year old self may not realize yet how gorgeous the man is with his magnetic eyes, prominent bone structure and thin lips, but she will definitely remember how sweet and comforting his smile is before he said, "goodnight, Queen Marifer..."
Marifer watched him shut the door, ngunit bago tuluyang lumapat ang pinto sa pader, narinig niya ang isa pang lalakeng pasigaw na tinawag ang lalakeng may gintong mga mata.
"King Bjourne!"
Napakurap si Marifer at wala sa sariling nailapat ang mga labi sa isa't-isa.
A King just proclaimed her a Queen tonight...
Kabanata 1I'M SURROUNDED...Naging mas magaan ang bawat hakbang ni Bjourne sa mga tuyong dahon. Pinagagana niya ang kanyang pandinig at pandama upang pakiramdaman ang paligid. Tagatak na ang kanyang pawis at ang tibok ng kanyang puso ay mas mabilis na kaysa sa normal. Alam niyang malapit na ang mga ito, maingat na nakikiramdam ding gaya niya, walang ibang nais kung hindi ang masukol siya nang tuluyan.He swallowed hard. He must not get caught or he's going to lose...Isang mahinang kaluskos ang nadinig niya sa kaliwa. Agad siyang nagtago sa malaking puno at sinilip ang pinanggalingan ng tunog, ngunit kasabay ng pag-ihip ng malakas na hangin, umalingawngaw ang tunog ng tila naapakang sanga sa hindi kalayuan."There's nowhere to run, King..." Dinig niyang ani ng nagmula sa kanan.Bjourne pursed his lips together and breathed in deeply. Napapalibutan na siya. If he won't run now
Kabanata 2CHOOSING her was martyrdom, staying was a sin...Tinanaw ni Bjourne ang madilim na kalangitang nagpapaalala sa kanya ng araw na kinailangan niyang tumalikod mula sa liwanag ng Maylikha. How long has it already been since he made his choice? Since they made that choice?He lost count of the years already. But there never was a day he didn't regret letting her do what she thought must be done in order for them to be forgiven.Sumara ang kanyang mga mata at hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa espadang ni hindi niya tinangkang tanggalin sa lagayan mula noong araw na..."They wouldn't stop. They're still going to raise a rebellion no matter how hard we try to keep the seals closed," ani Elmont na ngayon ay ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa kanyang likod.Bjourne breathed in the damp woody air then released it heavily. "The rebellion has started long before humanity even found out about
Kabanata 3NAIIRITANG pinasadahan ni Marifer ng tingin ang loob ng classroom. Nang makitang wala sa ayos ang mga kaklase niya, mariing sumara ang kanyang mga labi at ang mga mata niya ay matalim na tumingin sa Butler."Seriously? My Dad is letting me go to this—" Muli niyang sinulyapan ang mga kaklaseng nagtatawanan. She groaned. Pinaypay niya ang kamay na may mamahaling gloves at binalik ang tingin sa Butler. "I... I can't take this. This cheap place is going to be the death of me. I'd rather be illiterate than be surrounded by cheap people!"The Butler breathed in deeply, trying his best to compose himself. "My Lady, home-schooling isn't healthy for you anymore. Your father wanted you to be in a prestigious school—""Prestigious?" Halos maningkit ang kanyang mga mata habang naiinis na natawa. "You call this... Seriously, this, prestigious? God damn it, Butler Eric, what kind of dictionary did you read when you're
Kabanata 4LIHIM na napangisi si Bjourne habang pinakikinggan sa malayo ang mga sinasabi Marifer habang nasa banyo ito at tinutulungan ang kaklaseng malinis ang dumi nito sa mukha. Nakaupo sila ni Levi sa isang bench sa school ground at tahimik na kumakain ng binili nitong sitsirya.He chuckled softly when he heard her say "cheap" for the twentieth time. Mukhang may kota itong isandaan sa isang araw dahil kalahati pa lamang ng araw ay lalampas na ito ng bente.He shook his head and pursed his lips together to stop himself from bursting into laugh. Oh, Nafas. You're getting meaner every year..."King?""Hmm?" Bumaling siya kay Levi nang marinig itong tinawag siya."Siya ba ang lagi mong pinupuntahan kapag wala ka sa Remorse?" tanong nito.He nodded and fixed his cap, his biceps flexed when he leaned to rest his elbows on his thighs. "Besides my personal hunts, yeah."
Kabanata 5TAMAD na tiniklop ni Marifer ang workbook saka niya hinilot ang kanyang sintido. Nasa library sila ni Irene upang gawin ang kanilang pair activity para sa huling klase ngunit ang utak niya ay nasa sinabi pa rin nito noong nakaraang linggo.Irene flashed a Mona Lisa smile after putting back the cap of her pen. "Tapos na ako, Marifer."Kumunot ang kanyang noo at napasulyap siya sa orasan. "Ilang minuto pa lang? What are you?"Irene's smile widened a little. "Uhm, para kasing napag-aralan ko na dati kaya..."Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "You mean you feel like it's not your first time doing it? Sino ka ba talaga? Can't you remember that part?"Napahugot ito ng malalim na hininga saka malamlam na tumingin sa kanya. "S—Sabi ko naman sayo, hindi ba? My visions are... Like memories of my past lives. Pakiramdam ko... Pakiramdam ko hindi ito ang lugar kung saan ako nababagay kaya l
Kabanata 6PIGIL na pigil ang hininga ni Marifer nang sa wakas ay marating niya ang kanyang silid. She immediately shut the door behind her then finally released the air in her lungs. Kanina pa siya sa sasakyan, hindi mapakali at marahas na kumakabog ang dibdib.Why did she feel that way? That man is almost twice her age if she'll calculate it. Pero ang epekto nito, bakit ganoon kalakas? Tila ba sinalanta ang kanyang buong sistema ng hindi inaasahang bagyo.And that smile he flashed... God, she almost fainted when she saw how perfect his set of pearl white teeth is and how sexy his lips looked when it curved upward.Hinagod niya ang kanyang dibdib saka siya naupo sa gilid ng kama dahil baka kung manatili siyang nakatayo ay bumigay nang tuluyan ang mga tuhod niya.She swallowed hard and was about to slap herself when she remembered she doesn't deserve that. She's turning eighteen in a coup
Kabanata 7"AZRAEL paid a visit. He even addressed me using my heavenly name."Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Bjourne nang marinig ang balita mula kay Eric. He rubbed his palm on his face before he rested his arm on the stone table. Nasa Templar's cave ang kanilang pangkat, pinag-uusapan ang mga nagaganap dahil sa mga kalaban."Hindi pa rin nagbabago. Napakapasaway pa rin pagkatapos ng lahat," kumento ni Magnus. Nakasandal ito sa upuan habang nakatiklop ang mga braso. Mayamaya ay tumikhim ito. "Did Azrael already make his decision? With whom is he siding now?"Klaus shrugged his shoulders. "Still playing safe, I guess.""There's no such thing. Either he'll choose our side or I'll send him back to hell myself." Umigting ang panga ni Eric. "I can't believe Jophiel considered saving him.""Relax, Raphael." Kiara leaned forward, her long wavy black danced as she moved. "Jophiel is wis
Kabanata 8"LADY MARIFER, Lord Matthew wants to speak with you."Nanatiling tulala si Marifer sa harap ng bintana, hindi napansin ang sinabi ni Butler Eric. Lumilipad pa rin ang kanyang isip dahil sa nangyari sa coffee shop. She's been restless for days and for the first time, she didn't seem to care about the dark circles under her eyes.Bakit ganoon ang sinabi ng lalake sa kanya? Bakit kung makapagsalita ito, tila ba may napakalaking kasalanan siyang nagawa noon? Why did he sound like he knew her?She sighed and clutched her fingers on her unruly hair. Nang madama niya ang paghawak sa kanyang balikat ay halos mapapitlag siya at ang puso niya ay parang muntik nang tumalon palabas ng kanyang dibdib. Her hand automatically reached for the bar of gold, ready to smash the intruder's face."Butler Eric! Hindi ka ba marunong kumatok? I could have killed you!" She let out a heavy breath as she put the gol