The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 048

I spent the whole day in Aaron’s bed. I’m not even spared during the night. We drift off to sleep, make love, eat, take a bath, and then make love again—as if we can’t get enough of each other. It’s only until I rejected him so strongly that he stopped and let me rest. 

It’s supposed to be a relaxing weekday, days that I should decide what to do. Instead, I keep on getting distracted until I feel sore. Heck, I even start avoiding my room unless I need to sleep. At least here in a common room, Aaron won’t be so bold. 

“What is it?” I ask when I feel eyes on me as I read a book on the couch. 

It’s Aaron. He kneels in front of me and wedges himself between my legs. 

“It’s dark now, and we closed shop,” he insinuates.

I take a deep breath. How can he be reduced to this state in just a few days? Did giving him what he wants backfired on me? I want to make him happy, but not to make him like this.

I turn away from him. I have just taken a bath. I don’t want to return to my room and soil my sheets with our lovemaking again. “I need to finish this book before I start as a mage this Monday,” I say as an excuse.

He doesn’t complain. Instead, he sits beside me and gathers me into his arms and makes me sit on his lap. “Aaron, I said--”

“Shhh, don’t move. Or I won’t be able to stop myself.”

I take a deep breath as he snuggles in the crook of my neck. 

“I thought that after our first night, you hated it and left me. I thought—” His arms tighten around my shoulders. “You did not even invite me to your graduation.”

Because I am afraid to involve you in it, I think. Instead, I touch his arms and say, “I didn’t think that my graduation was important that I needed to trouble you with it.”

He stays there immobile until he kisses my shoulders.

I look at him. “I thought—Aww!”

He bites at my shoulders and then licks it. Is he becoming a dog? As if not content, he sucks on that same spot. I struggle. Suddenly, the door of the living room opens, revealing Master Deborah. I feel the color drain from my face. 

“I didn’t know you’d be here during the weekday,” she says.

Aaron stops, thanks to the anitos, but his arm is still around my shoulders. In an uncomfortable situation, I make an awkward smile. “Mage graduates are given a week before starting work.”

“I can’t see Pablo. Where will he come back?”

“Tomorrow, I believe.”

She nods, and is about to close the door when she says, “You should cover your shoulders, else you would be seen as a lewd mage on your first day.”

When she closes the door, my shoulders droop. First Nico and now Master Deborah? I am about to get up when Aaron pulls me back in.

“What the!”

“We’re not yet finished,” he says. He’s about to engulf my lips with his when I slap his cheeks.

“Enough already!” I scold and run towards the door. Before leaving him, I say, “And don’t you dare enter my room tonight!”

My potion can easily heal the soreness, but it’s the growing sting in my heart every time we do it that’s hard to heal, especially with the danger looming alarmingly close to my neck. 

**********************

Aaron and I laze around his bed. I am fully naked. Aaron’s behind me, nibbling at my shoulders while I hug his arms to my chest. We had just finished a round of lovemaking and we were both breathing hard from it.

This time Senyor Pablo opens the door. I facepalm. Is it really needed for everyone to see us in this state? The doors are there to stop them from coming into the room! 

“Stop barging in!” Aaron complains and covers both of our nakedness.

But Senyo Pablo’s focus is on me. I look away and cover my face. I can recognize that look. He is scrutinizing the way Aaron is hugging me to his chest, and I hope he can’t see the contentment in my face.

“Holly, dress yourself and go to the living room. We need to talk.”

“But--” Aaron starts. Senyor Pablo cuts him off. “It’s only Holly that I need to talk to,” he says and closes the door.

Once he’s gone, I stand up to gather my clothes on the floor. 

“Do you need to go right now?” he asks. 

I glance at him. The blanket is covering his lower torso, but still, I cannot stop appreciating how beautiful he looks. Brown skin, short black hair and a well built body. He’s looking at me as if he still can’t get enough. I just want to come back to the bed and smother him with kisses. This is the type of need that I want, not the way Senyor Pablo, my friends and all the others needed me for.

“You know I should.”

“I’m sorry, I thought I locked the door.”

I’m certain he did. Damn. I dread this day. Now that my relationship with Aaron is getting deeper, I know that Senyor Pablo will ask about it.

I smell myself. Ugh. I need to wash myself. Aaron goes to me and hugs me from behind. “Be fast, okay?”

I turn to him and pull him to me. I love you. But instead of saying that out loud, I kiss him. Automatically, his hands go around me and pull me closer. When I feel my growing pleasure, I pull back. I am getting used to his body next to mine, and more. 

“Go back to the bed, or Senyor Pablo will come back,” I whisper as I touch my forehead to his and caresses his cheeks. Damn. I don’t want to go. I just want to stay with him forever and forget all about my responsibilities.

His eyes crinkle in amusement. Now, he’s aware that I want him too, as much as he wants me. He nods. “I’ll reserve my energy then… For when you come back,” he says and obeys. 

**********************

After a quick bath, I stand before Senyor Pablo. It is Friday night and tomorrow, we will have our weekly training. Senyor Pablo is sitting on the couch while sipping a cup of tea. He looks me up from head to toe and his eyes stop at my stomach. He places the tea back on the coffee table.

“Are you planning to get pregnant with my grandson?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Because from the way I see it, you seem to want to.”

I frown.

“Or maybe, you have already had your operation?”

I shake my head again and I watch as he balls his fist. “Do you remember your promise to me, Holly?”

I bite my lower lips. “Say that promise to me.”

I can hear the anger in his voice. He’s not yelling at me, but it is there. 

“That if we haven’t found the real suspect behind Master Orson’s death, I will join the Scepter selection to have the power to investigate it on my own.”

“And have we found the culprit?”

“Aman-he—”

Senyor Pablo smacks the table in front of him. I jump in surprise.

“I know you’re not stupid. Aman is only a scapegoat.”

“But Master Deborah is also a Quad, she—”

Senyor Pablo stares at me. I stop myself. Of course, Master Deborah can not help. They say that the Quads have equal power, but if I am to choose, the Sword has the least of that power. They’re like underlings to the other three positions. Since they run from one mission to the next, they never really had the time to increase their influence.

“I trusted you, Holly. I’ve prepared for you, and asked help from both Deborah and Nico.”

Guilt. I hug myself. “I am a mage now, I can find more information compared to when I was a student.”

“It’s been two years already. I’ve asked how determined you were back then. Perhaps, are you done mourning for Orson?”

I tighten my hand on my arm. Back then, I was angry and in grief. And I disregarded that my relationship with Aaron would get like this. It’s my fault.

Senyor Pablo takes a deep breath. “My daughter had a hard time conceiving, let’s just hope that Aaron is the same. I was not planning to suggest it to you, but you need to take that Operation before he puts a child in you.”

I look at Senyor Pablo. Incredulous that he can say those things to me. If there is already a child inside me, the operation will be likened to abortion. I cannot do that! 

“Stop looking at me like that, Holly. You’ve become lazy. When you got a little of strength, your venture to outside the zone had become inconsistent. Thankfully, Nico still trains you monthly. And don’t forget, you almost did not qualify for the Scepter selection too.”

“But even if I did not qualify, it will be okay, I—”

“I will wait,” Senyor Pablo cuts in. “The registration for the Scepter selection will be this coming week. And you will join it. To keep your promise.”

“Is that why you are running around in Benia? To prepare for me becoming a Scepter?” I lash out. I had a debt to pay and I respect him, but I just can’t help it.

“Ah! So your friend told you. That boy. Such great promise. It’s Ethan, right?”

I purse my lips.

“You think I started it, Holly?” He smiles and not waiting for a reply, he says, “Fine. I’ll be honest with you.”

He stands up and approaches me. “This preparation, it’s a gift from Orson to you. You remember the buntot-pagi? That’s the first of his gifts.”

I frown. Buntot-pagi was given to me the night Master Orson died, the same night when Senyor Pablo was worried about his friend.

“The researchers at the Sword’s? The one with Denise? That’s also a gift. They are for you. To help you out.”

I take a step back. Does Denise know? Did I just sentence her to a life lower than what she should be? She should be a Scepter! I feel the image of a knife coming dangerously close to my neck.

“Orson believes someone’s planning to kill him, but instead of looking for his killer, he paved the way for you. To protect you in case you decided to become a Scepter. Not only that, he also prepared in case you still decide to become a traveling mage. A man who gave his life for other people. I can’t accept it, do you understand?”

“Even if you are going to use the same person your best friend wants to protect?” I ask.

He smirks. “Yes, look at us now, child. All those deaths and you’re not doing anything except fooling around with my grandson. You had a role to play. Orson made it clear.”

I look sadly at him. Senyor Pablo is still in mourning. He can’t get over Master Orson’s death. He needs someone to help him. I approach him and hold his hand.

“I can’t be that someone, Senyor Pablo.”

He sneers. “You think I’m doing this because of my grief? Child, even if I am going to force you, I will ensure that the people Orson protected will continue to be protected. You will understand once the real danger almost kisses you on your pretty head.”

To be continued…