Born To Be Soulmates

CHAPTER 1

SA HARDIN ng palasyo. Napapangiti si Azleia habang pinapanuod ang kaniyang ama na naglalaro at naghahabulan. Ang akala niya ay hindi na niya ito mararanasan pa, ang buong akala niya ay hindi na siya makakabalik pa sa piling ni Zachary pero binigyan siya ng diyosa ng buwan ng pagkakataon na bumalik sa piling nito at masaya siya na nagkaroon na sila ng anak. Ngunit nag-aalala siya para sa kaniyang anak, habang lumalaki ito ay nakita na niya ang kakaiba dito. Normal man na bata si Zacheuss pero para sa inang katulad niya, napapansin niya ang hindi nakikita ng ibang tao sa anak niya.

Tatlong dugo ang nananalaytay sa ugat ni Zacheuss at alam niyang habang lumalaki ito, mahihirapan itong kontrolin ang pagiging lobo nito at bampira, pati na rin ang dugo ng pagiging diyos na nakuha nito sa kaniya.

Azleia sighed. Alam niyang malakas ang kapangyarihan ng anak nila ni Zachary at natatakot siya na baka dumating ang araw na mawawala sa kanila si Zacheuss. But she won't let that happen.

Tumingin si Azleia sa kaniyang palad. Bago siya bumaba noon dito sa lupa upang puksain ang mga masasamang nilalang. Batid niya kung ano ang kaniyang magiging kapalaran, ibubuwis niya ang kaniyang buhay para sa nakararami at 'yon nga ang nangyari.

Azleia doesn't want to overthink but she can't help it. Nangyari na sa kaniya at ayaw niyang maulit ito sa anak niya.

"Mommy!"

Tumakbo patungo sa kaniya si Zacheuss at parang hangin itong nasa harapan niya at yumakap sa kaniyang hita.

Natawa si Azleia at binuhat ang anak, pinaupo niya ito sa kaniyang kandungan. Biglang nasa tabi naman niya ang asawa at mabilis siyang hinalikan sa pisngi.

Nginitian niya ito.

"I love you." Zachary said lovingly.

"I love you too, Zachary."

"I love you, mommy, daddy."

"I love you too, kiddo." Nakangiting sabi ni Zachary sa anak at ginulo ang buhok nito.

"Daddy, don't mess my hair." Nakasimangot na sabi ni Zacheuss.

Zachary chuckled. "Sorry, kiddo, but I'm telling you, we should cut your hair—"

"No!" Biglang sabi ni Zacheuss sa ama nito at tinignan ng masama. "Don't, daddy. I love my long hair."

Azleia sighed. Tinignan niya ang asawa. "Tama na yan. Huwag niyo ng pagtalunan ang tungkol sa buhok ni Zacheuss, Zachary."

"But sweetheart, look at his hair, its long-"

"...and silky and white. White as snow." Azleia smiled.

Napailing na lang si Zachary. Ayaw niya nagpapahaba ng buhok ang anak niya dahil minsan ay pinagdidiskitahan ito ng mga kapwa nito bata. Hindi naman niya pwedeng pagalitan ang mga batang kalaro minsan ng kaniyang anak dahil bata pa ang mga ito at ayaw naman niyang matakot ang mga ito sa kaniya, but his son got sometimes bullied. Kaya hindi na niya ito pinapalabas ng palasyo lalo ngayon at nagsisimula na ang pagbabago nito.

Nagsisimula ng mag-manifest ang mga kapanyarihan nito sa batang edad. Hindi na rin siya nagtataka kung maagang mag-manifest ang mga kapangyarihan ni Zacheuss. He's not an ordinary prince after all. Kumislap ang kulay pilak na mata ni Zacheuss ng tamaan ito ng liwanag.

"Sweetheart." Tawag niya sa kaniyang mahal na reyna.

"hmm?"

"We need to talk about Zach—" tinapik ng asawa ang tuhod niya na ikinatigil niya sa pagsasalita. Umiling ito at tumingin kay Zacheuss na nakaupo sa kandungan nito. Nakuha naman niya agad kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin kaya tumango na lang siya.

Zachary caressed his son's long white hair and looked at his wife's hair. Pareho ang mga ito ng kulay ng buhok. Matapos ipanganak ni Azleia si Zacheuss ay naging kulay puti na ang buhok nito.

"Mommy, I want to play."

Kaagad naman na ibinaba ni Azleia ang anak at hinayaan itong maglaro. She leaned on his husband's chest and they watch Zacheuss.

"He's growing fast." Ani Zachary.

Azleia nodded. "And as he grow, many changes are happening to him. Z, I'm scared."

Niyakap ni Zachary ang asawa, "don't be scared. I'm here. We're here as his parents. Hindi natin siya papabayaan. We will guide him and protect him."

Natigilan si Azleia nang may mapansin kay Zacheuss. Mabilis siyang napatayo at nilapitan ang anak.

"Zacheuss!" Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita ang pagpula ng mata nito.

"Let's go inside, Sweetheart." Binuhat ni Zachary si Zacheuss at pumasok sila sa loob ng palasyo.

When they entered Zachary's private office. Zachary quickly cut his wrist and let his son sipped his blood.

"Z—"

"I'm fine. As long as our son don't hurt anyone." Ani Zachary.

Azleia sighed. "I think we need to keep an eye on him. Habang lumalaki siya, palakas ng palakas ang pagkauhaw niya sa dugo. I don't want him to hurt anyone."

Tumango si Zachary bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ng asawa. Hinaplos niya ang buhok ng anak at nang matapos nitong sipsipin ang dugo niya, pinunasan niya ang dugo na nasa gilid ng labi nito.

"When I was your age, I'm not a messy eater." Sabi ni Zachary.

Ngumuso si Zacheuss. "Then teach me not to be a messy eater."

"Sure, son."

Napangiti si Azleia habang pinapanood ang mag-ama niyang nag-uusap.

Someone knocked on the door and Ryle came in.

"What is it?" Zachary asked.

"Your Majesties." Yumuko si Ryle. "Your Majesty, the council wants to talk to you about Prince Zacheuss and about the black vampires."

Zachary blows a loud breath because of frustration. The council really won't stop pestering him about the Prince. Tumingin si Zachary kay Zacheuss. Hinaplos niya ang buhok bago siya tumingin sa asawa, "I'll just go in the throne room."

Ngumiti si Azleia at tumango.

Lumabas ng private office si Zachary kasama si Ryle at nagtungo sa throne room. Naroon ang lahat ng council. Hindi na nagtaka si King Zachary nang makita ang ama na naroon rin sa loob ng thone room.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Yumuko ang lahat ng council.

Zachary walked at the center, no emotion on his face, intimidating and with authoritative aura. He sat on the throne and looked to everyone inside the room.

You do know that I was like you when I was still the vampire king. Ani ng ama sa mindlink nilang dalawa.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Zachary. Like father like son, Dad. Kaya huwag na po kayong magtaka.

Napailing ang ama ni Zachary.

"What do you want to talk about?" Zachary asked the council. His voice is not loud but he knows that everyone in the room heard him. They're vampires after all with sharp hearing.

"Your Majesty, as everyone knows five days ago we found a dead body of one of the royal guards. And as for his wound, it was done by the black vampires base on the wound." Ani ng isang council.

Yes, it's their new problem now. A new group of black vampires appeared and they are creating chaos in the vampire coven and the human world.

Zachary sighed.  As a king, he needs to address this problem or else the council will nag him non-stop. Tumingin siya sa mga ito. "Do you have any solution about this?" He asked them.

Nagkatinginan ang mga council.

"Your Majesty, you know what they want." Ani ng isang council.

Kumuyom ang kamao ni Zachary. Pumula ang mata niya, "never." He said coldly. "They won't get even a single drop of my son's blood." Tumayo siya. "Don't bring this up again or else I'll kill you." Banta niya.

"Ryle, convey my orders. No one should approach Prince Zacheuss. It's for the safety of everyone." Maawtoridad na sabi ni King Zachary.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ryle bowed.

Zachary looked at everyone before he leave the throne room.

Napabuntong-hininga si Vladimir nang makalabas si Zachary ng throne room. Tumayo siya at hinarap ang council, "Prince Zacheuss is only son of Queen Azleia and King Zachary. We should protect him and not to harm him. He is the vampire coven next king in the future."

"But Vladimir, alam mo ang dahilan kung bakit pumapatay ang mga black vampires. If we could not give them what they want," napailing ang isang council, "all we see will be bloodshed."

"Pero hindi 'yon ang dahilan para banggitin niyo si Prince Zacheuss. His highness is still a kid. As everyone knows, if anyone will harm him, hindi lang ang vampire coven ang makakalaban niyo kundi pati na rin ang werewolf coven and witch coven." Ani Vladimir at lumabas ng throne room.

Napabuga ng hangin si King Zachary nang makapasok siya sa private office niya. Wala na ang mag-ina niya rito. Pumunta na siguro ang mga ito sa west wing para magpahinga.

"Zachary."

Napatingin si Zachary sa ama na pumasok sa opisina niya. "Dad."

"Your mom is with your queen."

Tumango si Zachary.

Umupo sila sa sofa.

"Is it hard to be a king?" Tanong ni Vladimir sa anak na halatang problemado.

Zachary looked at his father flatly, "Dad, you became once the vampire king and then you became also the king of werewolves. Tatanungin niyo pa talaga ako."

Vladimir chuckled. "Being a king is hard." He sighed. "Zachary, I want you to know that we're always be here for you. Any decisions you will make, I and your mother will support you."

"Thanks, Dad." Zachary sighed. "Actually, I know why the black vampires want my son."

"Are you going to give him?"

"I wll die first." Sabi ni Zachary at kumuyom ang kamao. "I lost Azleia once and now that we have already a son, I promised to myself that I will protect and cherish them. No matter what will happen. I will choose them."

"Then you should also know what will be the consequence of your action, Zachary. I know that you won't sacrifice your son. Of course, you're my son after all and you get my behavior." Napailing si Vladimir at tumayo.

Tumingin siya sa labas ng palasyo. "I was once hope that chaos will end. My prayer were answered but I didn't expect that there will be chaos again in our world."

"Dad..."

"Zachary, Zacheuss is powerful that we thought. Nakita na natin ang mga kakaiba sa kaniya kahit bata pa siya. His power were already manifesting at a young age. Of course, he will become more powerful as he grows up." Vladimir face his son.

"Gusto ng mga black vampires ang anak ko para buhayin ang Dark Lord. At hangga't hindi nila nakukuha ang gusto nila, hindi sila titigil sa paggawa ng masama."

"Zachary," Vladimir blows a loud breath, "they want your son's blood to wake the black vampire's dark lord. It will be more chaos if that's happen."

"At 'yon ang hindi maintindihan ng council, Dad. I tried to explain but they won't listen." Napailing si Zachary. "It's useless." Tumayo siya at tumabi sa ama. Tumingin rin siya sa labas ng palasyo. "I just want my son to be safe."

Kumunot ang nuo ni Vladimir at tumingin kay Zachary. Sa tono kasi ng pananalita nito, may binabalak ito. "What are you trying to do, Zachary?"

"As a father, I want my son to be safe and to be away from this chaos world even if he will be apart from me or to Azleia."

"Then talk to your Queen, Zachary."

Zachary nodded.

Tinapik ni Vladimir ang balikat ng anak. "We're just here."

Ngumiti si Zachary, "thanks, Dad."

Lumabas si Vladimir ng private office ng anak at pinuntahan ang asawa.

Habang si Zachary naman ay napakuyom ng kamao. Mahirap na mawalay sa kaniya ang anak niya pero wala siyang pagpipilian. Delikado ang buhay nito sa palasyo. Bilang ama ni Zacheuss, kailangan niya itong protektahan.

"Z."

Napalingon si Zachary kay Azleia. Kaagad niyang nginitian ang asawa at ibinuka ang mga braso, "come here."

Ngumiti si Azleia at yumakap sa asawa. "You seems troubled. Ano ba ang pinag-usapan niyo ng mga council?"

"Nothing much. Where's Zacheuss?"

"Kasama si Mommy at Daddy." Tukoy ni Azleia sa magulang ni Zachary.

"Oh. That's good. May kailangan tayong pag-usapan." Seryosong sabi ni Zachary.

Tiningala ni Azleia ang asawa, "mukhang importante."

"Take a seat first."

Umupo si Zachary sa sofa saka niya hinila ang asawa kaya napaupo ito sa kandungan niya.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?"

"About Zacheuss." Zachary sighed. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart, but we need to protect him. He's not safe here."

"What do you have in mind?"

"It will hurt us but we have to do this for his safety. Azleia, we need to send him away."

We need to send him away to keep him safe. I'm sorry, Sweetheart.