A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

TWELVE

At hindi nga siya nagkamali because right there, seated atop a magnificent black horse was Killian, expertly riding the horse. She couldn't help but raise her brow as she silently watched. But she jumped on her feet when the horse and its rider is suddenly a few meters beside her, the horse neighing. She closed her eyes firmly to calm her heart. Sinong hindi magugulat doon? One moment, Killian was on the field, and in an instant, nasa tabi na niya ito with his magnificent horse.

"Can I learn that?" She asked. Killian laughed as he got off his horse.

"Winnowing?" He patted the horse gently and touched its neck. The horse huffed in approval. Napatingin ang lalake sa kanya. "You can't. You're an Elementalist. A fire user. But you can certainly use your fire to fly."

He walked towards her and she decided to ask him what has been bothering her since they left Lancaster.

"What's happening?" tanong niya rito. Napataas lang ang kilay nito na para bang wala itong ideya kung anong tinutukoy niya. 

So she continued, "My father ... I noticed him being anxious these past few days. He sent his strongest guards away to do god knows what. Then you came back and he sounded urgent. And then sent me here with you to do a tradition that doesn't even exist." 

Walang emosyon ang makikita sa mukha ng lalake matapos niyang sabihin iyon. But she knew better. She knew something is up. 

"So I was right." She confirmed Killian's silence. She coated her fist with fire. Nakita niyang napatingin dito si Killian ngunit kalmado lang itong nakatayo sa harapan niya.

"Tell me what the hell is going on," she said sternly. Ngunit napahinga lang ito ng malalim. Hindi man lang ito nabahala sa dalawang kamay niyang nakabalot na ng apoy.

"You're sharp, as always." Tanging sabi lang ng lalake. "The fire is unnecessary Princess."

"Tell me what is going on," she said again, this time slower, lower.

"If you had known that before, why did you still agree to come?" His black clothes swayed with the wind pati na rin ang mahabang buhok nito.

"Because I thought it would make him at ease," sagot niya. "He sounded so urgent and it must have been very important for him to lie to me like that. I knew the task he was talking about was non-existent. And that you're thinking of what to make me do while on the way here. Lauris seem to know what's going on at hindi ko alam kung paanong may ideya siya sa mga pangyayari."

"I told him," sagot ng lalake. Confusion must be very visible on her face. That he said, "Before we entered the house, I sent a shadow to tell him everything."

"Then tell me what is going on," she said at mas lumalaki ang apoy na nasa kanyang kamay. It reached her elbows.

Killian smirked na para bang sinasabi nitong wala siyang laban sa lalake. Alam niya rin iyon but she doesn't care anymore. She needs answers and she will get it no matter what.

"I will make you tell me, Killian. Even if I have to fight you." She doesn't really know if fighting him is a good idea.

Killian crossed his arms and looked at her as if she was kidding. The sheer arrogance of this man is insufferable. She thought.

"I will have to use my shadows, Princess, and the last time you saw one of them, you froze on your feet." He raised a brow. "Are you sure about what you want?"

The question seems to hit two meanings: 'are you sure you want to fight me?' and 'are you sure you want to know?'. Thinking about it drives her even more.

Killian must have realized she won't back down dahil napahinga na naman ito ng malalim and looked at her seriously.

"If you defeat one of my shadows in a combat, I will tell you." And Katharine literally almost had her fires extinguished when Killian sent a blast of his power in her direction. He crossed the distance between them. She could see whorls of shadow and smoke around him, moving slowly as if still in slumber. Alam ni Katharine na hindi iyon ang buong kapangyarihan ni Killian but she could already feel a tremendous amount of energy and magic power coming from him. For a moment, bigla siyang napaurong at napaisip na isang malaking pagkakamali ang hamunin si Killian sa isang laban. But at the same time, her curiosity got the better of her and decided even if it's a foolish decision, she will defeat Killian and she'll know what is going on whatever the cost.

"Meet me at the front yard tomorrow, Princess." He braced a hand on her shoulder and in an instant, her power, the fire coating her fists almost to her arms, got extinguished. Killian just extinguished her power with just a touch on her shoulder.

Then he leaned close to her ear. His voice was darkness itself as he whispered, "I wish you the best of luck."

And then he was gone.

* * *

Katharine can't help but be amazed by the vast lawn kung saan sila nakatayo ngayon. Katharine wondered why would Killian chose the lawn for them to fight. Is he going to let out all his Shadow Demons? She isn't afraid of it. She's just overwhelmed with the enormous power they contain. Such powerful monsters. And the staggering fact that Killian controls seven of them--it's mind-blowing. She couldn't imagine just how powerful this man in front of her is. At hindi niya alam kung katangahan ba o katapangan ang hamunin niya ito.

But she can't take it back. Wouldn't take it back. Kailangan niyang malaman kung anong pinagdadaanan ng kanyang ama. And the only way to know that is to fight Killian. And she has to win kahit na mukhang impossible ito. She has to try.

Nakatayo ang lalake ilang metro ang layo sa kanya. He was wearing his usual clothes. Long black tunic suit lined with silver. The center lined with silver buttons. She was wearing her leather fighting suit.

The lawn was vast. Vast enough for all his demons to fit in should he let them all out. She's just hoping he wouldn't. She'll be defeated just by the sheer difference of their powers.

"Slept well?" Killian asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Hell yes," she said as she forged a sword gamit ang apoy niya. Kita niya ang mangha sa mukha ng lalake nang makitang unti-unting lumalabas ang anyo ng espada sa kamay niya. It was light, and she made the handle easy to grab on.

Killian inserted one hand inside his pocket and whistled habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanyang sandatang gawa sa apoy. "It seems the Princess wasn't slacking around." He smirked. She swung the sword and stood in her fighting stance.

"I trained with the Assassins for a month," she merely said.

Killian nodded, "Not bad. Let's see if that stands a chance against this." He didn't even move a muscle but a shadow is starting to form beside him. It was twice taller than Killian. It wasn't Thorin, the first Shadow Demon she met. This time, it was taller and a lot stronger. "For our battle today, Princess, I want you to meet Murdu, the strongest of the Shadow Demons I have."

She has met Thorin and it literally froze her to her feet. Hindi pa niya ito nakita sa isang laban ngunit ramdam niya na malakas ito at wala siyang tsansang manalo.

And Murdu --- hindi niya mapigilang mapalunok ng laway. He was a bit taller and leaner than Thorin. Thorin was innocent looking with its round blue eyes but Murdu had slanted red eyes that were staring at her as if piercing her with its gaze. Its horns were shaped like half-crescent moons meeting at the center. Its long hair tied at the top of its head was so black it almost looked like the shadow and smoke in its body. He was also wearing a cloak but unlike Thorin who was all black and shadow, Murdu had his body wrapped in bandages, and a very long rusty sword was in its hands.

It was Killian's strongest Shadow Demon. Isn't he doing this a bit much?

But one's things clear: Killian doesn't want her to win this. And if she somehow wins, it won't be easy. The fact that Killian chose his strongest Shadow Demon just so she couldn't win wants makes her think the secret between him and her father was very confidential. And that even if she's the Princess, she doesn't need to know.

And it pisses her so much that she doesn't care about anything else now aside from winning.

"Quick Trivia, Princess," Killian said and inserted his hands on his pocket. "I got Murdu in the Mount of Terrors."

Biglang nanlamig ang buong katawan niya. The Mount of Terrors. They say nobody goes there and gets out alive. But Killian did. Kung totoong doon niya ito nakuha, then...

"Murdu was one of the prisoners in that place. He was one of the prisoners I fought. He was the strongest of them all and I decided to take him." Killian looked at Murdu. "He wanted freedom so I gave it to him."

Kung anong pinunta ng lalake roon, ay hindi niya matukoy. But the fact that he got out of that place alive is something someone like Killian Archeron can do. Someone he would do. But she can't lose her will now. She has to do something. She has to know. And she will know it even it means fighting against Killian's strongest Shadow Demon.

Then she heard the demon speak something to Killian. Kung ano ito ay hindi niya maintindihan. But she heard Killian said something too. Nang matapos sila sa pag-uusap ay tumingin ang Shadow Demon sa kanya, then nodded.

Bago pa man siya makapaghanda ay bigla nalang itong nawala sa paningin niya. She was a second late nang maramdaman niyang nasa likuran na niya ito and the next thing she knew, she's flying across the lawn. She winced as she felt her arms hurting dahil nasangga niya ang atake nito sa kanya. She rolled on the ground at bago pa man siya makatayo, nasa likuran na naman niya ito.

"For f**k's sake," she mumbled and held her ground this time nang sanggain na naman niya ang espada nito. Her arms trembled. Not because of the fear but because of how strong the Demon is. Its eyes narrowed into slits as it beheld her, still holding her ground. Then it pushed harder causing her to grit her teeth. She brandished her sword with all her strength and she succeeded because it leaped a distance from her. Ngunit nanginginig ang tuhod niya nang tumayo siya. And it wasn't even five minutes since they started. Napamura nalang siya sa isipan.

Bago paman siya makabawi, sumugod na naman ulit si Murdu but this time, mas mabilis ito. And she didn't see the attack coming. The next thing she felt was a huge blow on her gut dahilan para tumilapon na naman siya. She coughed and gasped for air.

Such overwhelming speed. Such overwhelming power. Iyon lang ang laman ng isip niya but she can't give up now. Kaya naman tumayo ulit siya only to find Murdu in front of her and was about to swing his sword nang masangga niya ito. Ngunit hindi rin iyon nagtagal and she was again sent flying few meters across the lawn.

"Giving up now, Princess?" Killian said while smirking and she just gave him a vulgar gesture. He shook his head.

Murdu brandished his sword at nakailag naman siya rito. Agad siyang bumangon, binabalewala ang sakit sa katawan. She held her sword in front of her at sinangga ang atake ng kalaban. The impact of it sent vibrations along her arms but she held on to her sword tighter but of course, the demon was stronger. But this time, it didn't only send her flying but also completely extinguished her fire sword.

Sumasakit na buong katawan niya at pakiramdam niya'y sobrang tagal na nila doon. When in fact it wasn't even ten minutes. She groaned and slumped on the dirt.

"You can go back, Murdu." She heard Killian said and she heard Murdu huffed and disappeared. Narinig niya ang mga yabag ng paa and when she looked up, she saw Killian crouching down and looking at her.

"That wasn't bad," he commented. Agad lumipad ang gitnang daliri niya sa ere.

"It must be so important that you even had your strongest Demon fight against me," she said at dahan-dahang tumayo. She winced when she felt pain in her stomach. Mahina siyang napamura.

Killian just looked at her state. Sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin. Before she could even open her mouth, hinapit siya nito sa bewang and the next thing she knew, nasa kwarto na siya. She staggered when Killian let go of her.

They're back in her chamber and she almost yelped when she saw two handmaidens coming through the wall. As if they were being called. As if they know there's a job to be done even before it comes.

"Kali and Maria, take care of her," Killian said and glanced at her before he winnowed out of the room. Bago pa man siya makapagprotesta ay agad siyang dinaluhan ng dalawang babae and stripped her off her clothes. They were strong, she thought, dahil napipigilan nila ang mga galaw niya. She can't help but wonder if Killian trained them himself.

She thought they're going to prepare a bath for her but they laid her on the bed on her stomach. Bago pa siya makagalaw, she felt something warm in her body. When she whirled to see what it was, she saw Kali and Maria with their hands above her body, magic coming out of their hands. Healers, she thought.

She closed her eyes and felt their relaxing magic coursing along her body. It was as if the magic was caressing her, healing every bruise she got from that one-sided fight earlier. She just closed her eyes at hindi niya namalayang nakatulog na pala siya.

When she woke up, she was fully clothed and Killian was at the door, arms crossed.

Agad siyang napabangon at tinakpan ang sarili gamit ang kumot. Killian doesn't look like he cares.

"Dinner's ready. Get up," he ordered.

She scoffed as she got up from the bed. "You're the only one who orders a Princess like that, you know that?

Killian crossed his arms. "I am the Lord here," he said as if that was enough for her to understand.

"Fine, fine. Then please, Lord. Your subject wants to get dressed," she said and she gestured to the door.

A smirk played on Killian's lips before he winnowed out. Sinigurado niya munang hindi ito babalik bago siya nagpalit ng damit. It didn't take her long to change. Agad siyang bumaba nang matapos and she regretted not asking Killian about the way to the dining. The last time she had her meal, Killian always fetches her and would just winnow them to the dining. Ngayon, hindi niya alam ang mga pasikot-sikot sa bahay. She thought how the very huge mansion suited Killian's power. It's big enough for him to winnow around.

After a few minutes, she finally decided to ask a servant she met on the way, she found the dining. And as usual, it was Lauris and Killian there, already eating.

Killian glanced at her and then back to her face his lips tugged on the corners. Hindi niya mapigilang samaan ito ng tingin. Lauris was just looking at the two of them while he graciously eats a piece of meat on his fork.

"Something is telling me that something happened between the two of you," Lauris said at agad niya itong sinamaan ng tingin. The latter just grinned. Killian just shook his head.

"She fought my Shadow Demon," Killian said.

Lauris looked at her for a long moment before he tipped his head back and laughed. "I don't know if that's stupid or admirable."

"I don't need your input," she said ngunit mas lalo lang itong tumawa.

"Oh? I just find it amusing to see someone actually having the guts to fight Killian's Demons. It's a miracle to see you in one piece."

Tinusok niya ang karne gamit ang tinidor. "You sound like you had a fair share of experience with Killian's Demons." She smirked when Lauris stopped. She knew she hit a spot. But Lauris just gave her a vicious grin.

"Careful what you say in my house, lady."

She made a gesture of zipping her mouth. To mock him.

In her periphery, she saw Killian massaging his temples. "Stop it. The two of you," he said and then looked at her. "We're going back tomorrow."

She stifled a grin. They're going back tomorrow. That means she'll be able to see Alastair again. Hindi na siya makapaghintay. Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Lauris who was grimacing at her. She's going to wear the pin he gave her. She couldn't wait to see his reaction when he sees her with that. They didn't have the chance last time because Killian immediately took her to fly.

But now, they'll have all the time in the world to spend with each other.

"Stop smiling and eat."

She blinked and looked at Killian who was looking questioningly at her. She cleared her throat and sipped on her wine. She must have looked so stupid earlier. So she started eating, with the thought of seeing Alastair tomorrow.

* * *