Prey of the Lion

Chapter 3: Anima and Mortem

Chapter 3: Anima and Mortem

Tama ba ang aking narinig? Did he just ask me to undress?

Matapos ang ilang sandali ay tinanggal na rin ni Leo ang kaniyang kasuotan dahilan upang tumumbad sa aking mga mata ang kaniyang matikas na katawan. His muscles were well-defined and toned, muli niyang binalik ang kaniyang tingin sa akin at saka siya kumunot ng noo. “Why are you not undressing?”

“Why should I?”

“We’ll take a bath together.” Aniya.

Para naman akong nabunutan ng tinik sa puso dahil akala ko kung ano na ang mangyayari sa aming dalawa! Maliligo lang pala kami nang sabay! Wait, no! “Why should we take a bath together?”

“Because I said so.” He said, as if it was obvious. Ang natitirang saplot na lang niya ay ang telang nagsasaplot sa kaniyang pribadong parte ng katawan. Tumayo siya at mas lalo kung naaninag ang kaniyang magandang kabuuan. I felt insecure about how masculine he was, and here I am, with a feminine body. “Maghuhubad ka ba o huhubaran kita?”

Naglakad siya palapit sa akin dahilan upang umurong ako. Biglang tumama sa aking likod ang pader ng kaniyang kuwarto at nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pagngisi nito. It was as if he was telling me there is no way to escape from him anymore and that I was trapped.

I kind of liked it?

I shook the thought away.

“Why are you suddenly like this? Parang kanina habang nasa biyahe tayo ay wala kang pakialam sa akin. You were so engrossed with your papers! And now—why?”

“That’s because I am serious when it comes to work... And I am no longer working.” He chuckled darkly, “did you honestly think I wasn’t interested at you? Is that what this is all about, Lark?” Ngumisi siya. He is a totally different person from the guy I just met a few hours ago! “Are you actually having tantrums, my dear Cub?”

“I’m not a baby lion!” I glared.

He chuckled once more, “you are.”

“I’m not!”

“You are.”

“Not!”

“Stubborn.” I can see a hint of amusement in his golden eyes as he watched me. Ang kaniyang dalawang kamay ay nasa magkabilang gilid ko. I was pinned against the wall and there is nowhere to go. We were so close at each other and I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by his platinum-blonde hair that seemed to glow with the dim-lights of the room. “You’re really beautiful, Lark.” He whispered as he admired my face.

I can feel my blood rushing towards my face already because of his compliment. Sanay na akong natatawag na maganda, ngunit iba ang nagiging dating kapag si Leo ang nagsasabi nito.

“I’m a man...”

“Who cares about that?” Nilapit ni Leo ang kaniyang ulo sa akin at napapikit naman ako dahil tumatama na sa aking mukha ang kaniyang mainit na hininga. Para akong nanghihina dahil sa kaniyang ginagawa. Is he going to kiss me?

I opened my eyes when he chuckled and I saw him staring at me again with amusement in his eyes. “You’re easily teased, aren’t you?”

Kumunot ang aking noo at agad ko siyang tinulak palayo sa akin. “It’s not funny!”

“Were you expecting for a kiss, Lark?”

Namula ang aking pisngi.

“Do you want me to?” He asked, lumapit muli siya sa akin. “Just tell me.”

“Ang layo na ng naging usapan natin... Maligo ka na nga!”

“Ang sabi ko, sabay tayo.” Leo said. He seemed childish just now and this is new. Who would have thought that the Emperor who is notorious for being heartless had this in him? Maybe I was quick to judge his character because of the bad stories about him.

“Fine.” I finally gave up.

“Sus, kunwari pa na ayaw.”

“Did you say something?” I scowled.

He chuckled and raised his hands as if surrendering. “Nope.”

Naghubad na ako sa kaniyang harapan. To be honest, I felt very conscious because his stare was too intent and it was my first time undressing in front of someone. As I let the last garment fall unto the floor, revealing my bare body, Leo also took his remaining garments and I saw his length. “Damn.”

“Yes, Lark? Did you say something?”

Umiwas ako ng tingin at umiling. Nagulat ako nang dumapo ang kaniyang kamay sa aguhilyang nakasipit sa aking buhok dahilan upang bumagsak nang tuluyan ang aking mahabang buhok na umaabot hanggang sa aking baywang.

Leo just stared at me afterward.

“But I must admit, Lark, you have a pretty slender body—like of a woman... And your hair is prettier than girls. The only difference is your chest and the jewels hanging around your crotch.”

Muli akong namula dahil sa kaniyang mga salitang binitawan.

Hinawakan na ni Leo ang aking kamay at saka niya ako hinila papunta sa banyo ng kaniyang kuwarto. “Anyway, starting from now on—we’ll be sharing the same bed. Masanay ka na sa akin.”

“Do I get a say about this?”

“No.”

“Then there is no use arguing about it.” I replied.

“Good. You are learning.” Leo said. Mula sa loob ng malaking banyo ay nakita ko ang tila lawa na may mainit na tubig. Is this an indoor and manmade hot spring? White smoke rose from the crystal-clear water and it escaped unto the big windows of the bathroom. From this view, I could see the twin moons, Aurum and Ostrum. Something about these two moons reminded me of Leo and my eyes. Aurum was golden like Leo’s and mine was purple like Ostrum. This is a beautiful coincidence.

Nagbabad na kami ni Leo sa mainit na katubigan. I can feel the warmth of the water cleansing away the distress that built up today. The depth of the spring was at least half of my body, and I decided to sit down unto the edge of the spring to soak some parts of my body too. I looked at Leo who was a meter away from me, his back was against me and he was looking at the twin moons that seemed to be bigger as we were closer. When Leo faced me, I felt something tug within me. I couldn’t tell what was it, but there is something happening within that I could never explain.

He walked towards me, slicing his way through the rippling hot water. “Do you want to know, Lark?”

“Know what?”

“The real reason why I chose you.” Seryoso ang kaniyang tinig.

“Would you tell me if I say I want to?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“Alright.” Umupo siya sa aking tabi habang nakababad pa rin sa mainit na tubig at sabay naming tinitigan ang dalawang buwan na may magkaibang kulay. “We are connected by the moons—Aurum, the golden moon, gave me the magic of life called Anima—I can heal anyone, even those who are close to death. But I cannot revive anyone though. This explains why my eyes are golden. And you...”

“What about me?”

“Ostrum, the purple moon, also gave you a gift. The magic of death called Mortem—the total opposite of mine. While I give life, you can take it away. Of course, your parents do not know about it because if they did, they would have had not let you come with me.”

“Hindi ko naiintindihan. I cannot use magic at all, Leo. I only have purple-eyes.”

“That’s because the magic is still sealed within you, Lark. Our magic is attracted to each other and that led me to you. You can feel it too, right? Like there is something twisting inside you.”

Tumango naman ako.

“How do I unseal my magic, then?”

Nagulat ako nang biglang humarap sa akin si Leo, “it should not be unsealed, because your magic is too powerful it may consume you as well—and it may cause the end of the world.” Seryoso ang kaniyang boses nang sabihin niya iyon. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot.

“So, if you knew I was dangerous—why take me in?”

“Because the closer we are, the lesser the chances that it will be unsealed.” Sagot naman ni Leo. “Which is why we must never be separated.”

“So, this is why you took me in as your Empress...” I do not know why but I felt something heavy in my heart. Did I actually expect a different reason? Something that was more romantic?

“You are taking this in maturely.” He commented.

“Well, there is no reason for you to lie about something as serious as this.” Sagot ko naman sa kaniya. “But why take me in just now? If you knew we had to be together from the start, why come just now?”

“Because all this time, I was searching for you... Then I heard from a mercenary that there is a beautiful person with purple eyes in Parzelin Kingdom, and that person happens to be of royalty. So, I made arrangements that directed us to this moment.”

“Bakit alam mo ang mga bagay na ito?”

“Ostrum spoke to me in my dreams when I awakened my powers when I was sixteen and told me about the purple-eyed person—that it is my duty as the Anima wielder. I must search for that person who is sealed with Mortem magic and make sure that we are together until our last breaths, or else disaster will fall unto the world and to everyone. Your magic may end the world if it is unsealed. So, being together with me ensures that it won’t be unsealed.”

“What if my magic is still unsealed?” I asked, thinking of the many possibilities that may happen in the future.

“If that happens, I will have to kill you.” He said with a serious tone. Parang biglang nagkaroon ng bara sa aking lalamunan. “But I won’t let that happen, Lark. You will be safe with me.” He assured after; his voice now kinder than before. “I will protect you from the sinister magic that is sealed within you.”