Prey of the Lion

Chapter 9: Luna Axis

Chapter 9: Luna Axis

I woke up because my back was sore. I felt the warm and hard biceps of Leo where my head was rested, he was facing me while his other free hand rested on my body. We were both still naked, with only the comforter protecting us from the cold night.

Bahagya kong ginalaw ang aking ulo upang tingnan ang kaniyang maamong mukha. He was sleeping peacefully and some of his platinum-blonde hair fell on his forehead. Tinaas ko nang dahan-dahan ang aking kamay at hinawi ito patabi upang mas maaninag ko pa ang kaniyang kabuuan.

He was handsome and he is a view that I might never get tired of looking at. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari sa aming dalawa kanina. We made love... Though I never thought of doing it to another man, it felt so right if it was Leo.

I burned his features into my memory—his thick eyebrows and his long eyelashes that seemed to shift from a silver shade to something more snowy-like. He had a pointy noise and a perfect heart-shaped lips. Why is he so gorgeous?

Nagulat ako nang imulat niya ang kaniyang mga mata. Those beautiful pair of golden orbs stared right back at me, mapupungay ang kaniyang mga mata at halatang kagigising lang. “Hmm, can’t sleep?” He moaned, his voice low and husky.

“No, I only woke up a few seconds ago.” I replied.

“Is my arm uncomfortable?” Tanong nito, he must be pertaining to his arm where my head rested. Umiling naman ako. It was the other way around, I felt safe and sound with his presence being engulfed around me. It seems that I might get addicted to his touch. I do not know if it was me, or the magic sealed inside me which longs for his presence. After all, we are both connected by the twin moons, Aurum, the golden moon, and Ostrum, the purple moon.

Nagulat ako nang bigla akong hinalikan ni Leo sa aking noo matapos ang ilang sandali. The warmth of his lips sipped unto my skin and it seemed to lull me again to sleep.

“Let’s sleep again. It’s still too early.” Leo said.

“Yes...” I smiled, “good night, Leo.”

“Good night, Baby.”

Bahagyang nagising ang aking diwa mula sa pagkaantok dahil sa kaniyang tinawag sa akin at ramdam ko ang pagbilis ng t***k ng aking puso. Did I hear him right? Did he just call me Baby?

I looked at him once more and this time, he was already deep in his sleep. I closed my eyes once more. Somewhere inside me, I felt this mixture of hope and despair, as if being with Leo was right, and wrong at the same time.

When I woke up, the right side of the bed was already cold, a sign that Leo has been gone already for a few hours. Bumangon ako mula sa kama at naramdaman ko ang p*******t ng aking likod. I sighed as I struggled to stand up, saktong iyon ay bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto at bumungad si Leo. Halatang nakabihis na siya. May hawak siyang isang bandeha na naglalaman ng almusal.

“Good morning, Lark.” He said.

Nang napagtanto kong hubo’t hubad pa rin ako ay agad kong kinuha ang kumot at ginamit ito upang pantakip sa ilang parte ng aking katawan, lalo sa aking sensitibong parte.

Leo just chuckled as he waltzed in and closed the door. “No need to be shy now... I have seen and touched everything.” He said, as if it was a matter-of-fact, which, in fact, it was.

Namula ang aking pisngi.

“How are you feeling?” Tanong nito habang nilalapag sa kama ang bandeha.

“Not good.” I said, my voice was raspy as my throat was dry. Uminom naman ako ng tsaa mula sa bandeha. I sighed in relief as it quenched my thirst. “My back is sore.”

“That’s why I brought you breakfast in bed.”

“Thanks.” I said. “Are you going to work today?”

Tumango naman si Leo, “I’ll be gone until tonight to fulfill my duties as the emperor. I have to visit one of the cities in the North.”

“I see... Ingat ka.”

“Thanks.” He smiled, “and while I am gone, you can enjoy the company of your family. Their departure is until this afternoon. I have made all the arrangements.”

Oh, I almost forgot that they are here.

“Thanks for the lovely surprise. Hindi ko inakala na makakapunta sila rito.”

“Well, I know you’d be homesick and missing them, and I thought you would not want them to miss a historical turning point of your life.” Aniya. “So, I will be departing in a few minutes. That means I have to go now.”

“Alright. See you tonight, Leo.”

“See you tonight.” Without a word, he leaned down to face me and then kissed my forehead just like he did last night. Biglang bumilis muli ang pintig ng aking puso. “Get used to me occasionally kissing you.” He smiled.

I nodded. Right. He is only doing it to make sure that the seal inside me will not loosen. Every physical touch and intimacy between us, it is only for that purpose. Somehow, the thought of it made me sad and confused because why should I be sad at this notion?

“Now, I have to go.”

Nagpaalam na kami sa isa’t isa at umalis na siya, leaving me behind with the metal tray that held my breakfast. I ate in silence and had my fill.

~*~

When I was finally done taking a bath, I changed into some of my casual robes that Castella exclusively made for me. It was black with golden imprints of the different forms of nature.  After drying my hair, I tied it into a knot with the help of a golden hair stick that complimented my black silky hair.

When I left the room, nakita ko mula sa malayo si Pan na tumatakbo papunta sa aking gawi, sa likod naman niya ay si Akane na nakasunod lamang sa bata.

“Pan can see Mama!” He declared, namuo ng ngiti sa kaniyang labi habang patakbo siya sa aking gawi. When he was finally near, he grinned at me. “Good morning, Mama.”

“Good morning, Pan. Have you eaten?” I asked.

“Yes. Pan has eaten with Papa an hour ago. Papa did not want to disturb Mama’s sleep that’s why Papa just decided to give Mama breakfast in bed. Papa said Mama was tired because of last night.”

Namula naman ako dahil sa sinabi ni Pan.

“Ah, speaking of, nasa kuwarto ang pinagkainan ko.” Saad ko kay Akane.

“I’ll have one of the handmaidens to get those.” She said and I nodded.

“Your family is waiting at the Royal Rockery.” Akane said, “let’s go, Empress Lark?”

“Prince Lark is better, Akane.” I corrected. Hindi pa rin ako sanay sa mga pormalidad, at mas lalong sa mga taong tumatawag sa akin ng Empress.

“Alright, Prince Lark. Sorry for being forgetful.” She said.

“It’s okay. Lead the way.” Utos ko at tumango naman ito.

Naglakad na kami papunta sa Royal Rockery kung saan naghihintay ang aking pamilya. Hinawakan naman ni Pan ang aking kamay pagkatapos at saka ngumiti sa akin. It is obvious how comfortable and how much he likes me, and I also feel the same. It feels like he really is my child.

“Where is Filo?” I asked.

“He is with Emperor Leonhart, Prince Lark.” Sagot naman ni Akane.

“And may I know what his errands are? And what city in the North is he going at?”

“Meteor City.” Sagot ni Akane, “apparently, there is a rebellion.”

“Oh. I see... But if it was just a rebellion, Leo could have just sent some of his Royal Army instead of being there himself as well, and Filo too, being the General of the Royal Army... So, I assume it is much more serious if two of the most powerful figures are off there.” I said, “is it really just a rebellion?”

“Apparently, the Luna Axis, a reformist group that seeks to topple the Liondale Empire, is the one wreaking havoc there.”

“Luna Axis?” Kumunot ang noo ko.

“Yes, they are bad people!” Saad ni Pan matapos ang ilang sandali. “Papa always fights with them!”

“What is this Luna Axis, Akane?” I asked.

“They are the most fearsome enemies of the Empire, Prince Lark. And just as I said, they seek to destroy the Empire.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really know the motives of Luna Axis, but they are bad people and they cannot be trusted. We have little information as to who is their leader, what their principles and motives are, who are the members, and the likes. But one thing is for sure—they are bad people.” Akane stressed.

When we finally reached the Royal Rockery, I saw my family and I smiled.