A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

FOURTEEN

The Palace was very different two days ago when she left. When they walked the streets of Lancaster little colorful flags could be seen from above. It was merry. Lalo pa't kitang-kita silang dalawa ni Killian na naglalakad sa daan. And she couldn't help but frown in confusion when she realized Killian is actually more popular than her. Hindi niya alam na madalas ang lalake dito that he even memorized the people's names. And some people called him by his.

"It's odd, isn't it?" He started. Napalingon siya rito and he was waving his hand to the women with skimpy clothes sitting by the windows. "It's your birthday. They've decorated the streets to celebrate your birthday, and yet," he looked at her. "Nobody is greeting you."

Alam niya iyon. She noticed. She didn't care. But the way Killian said it hit something different in her.

"Maybe they didn't recognize you." He continued walking. "Or maybe--"

"Stop it, will you? It's my birthday today, Killian. Be nice to me, at least just for this day. Is that too much to ask?"

Killian looked at her for a few seconds before he shrugged. She could have sworn she saw something passed his eyes ngunit agad ring nawala iyon bago pa man niya matukoy kung ano ito.

"Of course. I apologize," he said and they continued to walk in silence to the gates of the Palace.

The Guards were looking at Killian before they bowed to her. And she could see fear in their eyes when they saw Killian who was standing beside her. HIndi niya alam kung may ginagawa ba itong hindi niya alam para takutin ang mga guwardiya but he was just looking at them blankly.

Inaamin niyang malakas si Killian. She has fought one of his demons just yesterday. At alam niyang hindi iyon ang tunay na lakas ni Murdu. She had a feeling Killian was just trying to overwhelm her with the enormous power gap between her and Murdu.

That Shadow Demon was quick. Ni hindi niya ito nakikita kapag umaatake. A whole kingdom's army against Killian's Shadows would be a one-sided m******e.

They walked through the gates, past the gardens, and into the Grand Hall where it was also adorned with ornaments for the party that is about to happen tonight. Her twenty-third birthday. Hindi niya alam kung kailan bababa sa trono ang ama niya. He told her before she left that if she passes the exam in the North, she'll have the throne. But that tradition was nonexistent. And even if it were real, natalo siya ni Killian. She certainly didn't pass the exam. Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya as they continued to walk down the corridors to his father's office kung saan nadatnan nila si Alastair at ang kanyang ama na seryosong nag-uusap.

They look like they were discussing something important when they entered. And when her eyes landed on Alastair, the latter gave her a smile and her heart thundered.

"Happy birthday," he said with a smile and she couldn't help but smile too.

In her periphery, she saw Killiam moved to the side and leaned to the wall. Her eyes met her father's

"Father," she said. He looked like he aged a few years. And judging from the look on his face, alam na nito na alam niyang hindi totoo ang tradisyong sinasabi ng ama. But she chose to stay silent about it. She did not say a thing about it. And he did, too.

"Welcome back, Katharine," he said. His smile reached his eyes. Ngunit hindi niya alam kung totoo iyon o hindi. She doesn't want to ask. If her father was not telling it to her, there has to be a reason. Ngunit hindi niya pa rin maiwasang mag-alala. She couldn't help but be curious about it.Napatingin siya kay Killian na tahimik na nagmamasid.

"The Dragon's Breath rather suits her, don't you think, Your Majesty?" Killian started. The King's gaze went to where her brooch is.

"It does suit her," her father smiled. She was tempted to tell his father how she got it but she has a feeling her father already has an idea. So she kept quiet.

"Your pin suits your hair, too." Napatingin naman siya kay Alastair na nakatingin sa buhok niya. Heat crept her face. "You're beautiful as always, Kath," he said and she couldn't help but bite her lip with the compliment. It sounds different coming from Al. And she likes it.

She felt Alastair's hand on hers. "Your Majesty, I'd like to take her on a walk. Will that be alright?"

Her father waved a hand. "My daughter can decide for herself. Killian and I have something important to talk about." A subtle dismissal.

Napatingin siya kay Killian who was twirling a shadow knife on his palm. Na para bang wala na itong pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid. She did not bid him goodbye as Al led her out of the office. She couldn't help but get curious kung ano ang pag-uusapan ng ama at ni Killian. Part of her wanted to know, wanted to get involved. But a huge part of her also wants to treasure this moment. Al was holding her hand tightly as they sauntered down the hall.

And for a moment, she forgot what she was worried about. Alastair took her to a walk but he made is special by making her ride something like a cloud of water, giving her a good look of the city. The scenery didn't impress her the way it did two days ago when Killian took her to fly. But she didn't tell Alastair that. It was enough that she was with him.

And tonight, she'll turn twenty-three. And after that, Alastair and her will get married. She couldn't help bit grin every time she thinks about it. Mas excited pa yata siyang makasal kaysa sa kaarawan niya.

If it were another man, she wouldn't have cared. But Alastair is a different story. She loves him ever since they were children. Ever since she knew what attraction was, she was attracted to Alastair.

She bit her lip when she felt his hand on hers. Everything seems perfect for her.

What could go wrong?

* * *

Katharine was pacing back and forth inside her room clad in her silver gown. The sweeping neckline of her dress left very little for the imagination. Kanina pa siya tapos ayusan. At naririnig niya ang mahina at magandang musika mula sa Grand Hall kung saan gaganapin ang selebrasyon. She doesn't know who will come, who will be there. But she reckons some people from different regions of Regoria will be present.

She's nervous. She doesn't get nervous at celebrations like this. But for some reason, tonight, she is. Maybe because of what's going to possibly happen after this. Maybe because her father is going to abdicate the throne finally making her Queen, though alam niyang hindi pa mangyayari ito. But she couldn't help it.

She sent the handmaidens out and tried to calm herself down. People from all over Regoria would be coming to Lancaster to witness the celebration. That means she's going to be meeting the Assassin Master again after more than a month. Or maybe no. The Master doesn't strike her as someone who would fancy celebrations like this. So maybe hindi niya makikita ang matandaan ngayong gabi. A lot of noble families would be coming too, either to celebrate his happy moment or to gain her favor. Hindi niya alam. And she doesn't care.

"Well," said a voice. Agad siyang napatingin sa bintana dahil bukas ito. The cold bite of the wind made her shiver.

Killian Archeron was standing in the window, arms crossed. And as usual, dark wisps and tendrils of his power around him. Sign that he winnowed to her window.

"That dress looks good on you," he said before he graciously went down from where he was standing. Napakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin dito. He was scanning her and his frown on the hairpin she's wearing didn't escape her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya sa lalake. He just raised a brow as if she asked a very stupid question.

"My, of course, to greet you a happy birthday." His smirk was the opposite kaya napairap nalang siya at tumingin sa kanyang repleksyon sa salamin.

"What is it?" tanong niya rito. "You can't just winnow inside my room," she faced him. "What if I'm naked?"

He inserted his hands into his pockets before he scanned his eyes over his body. A smirk played on his lips. "Will there be anything to see, though?"

Nagpakawala siya ng marahas na hininga. "What is it really that you want, Killian? If you're just here to throw insults then you're wasting your breath."

He crossed the distance between them. Katharine looked at him questioningly. He continued to get close dahilan para mapaatras rin siya.

"Killian—"

"I told you I came by to greet you happy birthday," he said. His voice low. Napakurap siya.

"Are you drunk?" she asked habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-atras hanggang sa naramdaman niya ang mesa sa kanyang likuran. Napilitan siyang maupo doon as Killian continues to get close.

He let out a low scoff before he braced his arms on the table, cornering her. She gulped. Darkness seems to creep close to him. It was as if it was swirling around him. But it wasn't the scary kind of dark. It was . . . wild and—

"I am not drunk," he said and chuckled. He is too close, Katharine thought. She could smell his breath at hindi nga amoy alak iyon. It smelled of citrus and everything that smelled good. Ano bang nangyayari?

"Then what the hell are you doing?" she hissed.

Killian leaned and she leaned back that she could feel the mirror on her bare back. But then Killian showed something on his hand. It shone under the dim lights. The Dragon's Breath.

"I would get jealous if you wear Alastair's gift and not mine," he said and before she could even react, Killian already pinned the brooch on her chest. She ignored the subtle brush of his fingers on her breast. Nang maisuot na ni Killian ang brotse ay lumayo ito ng kaunti but he still had his hands bracing on both sides of her, still cornering her.

"What were you thinking I'd do, Katharine? Hm?" His tone was mocking dahilan para uminit ang ulo niya. And he had the nerve to call me Katharine!

She tried punching him but he was quick at nasangga iyon. He shook his head, "That won't work on me the second time."

"Yeah? Then how about this?" She used her other arm ngunit nasangga din iyon ng lalake. Now he is gripping both her arms. Mahina siyang napamura. Killian grinned sheepishly.

"Nice try," he said.

Sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin.

"Kath, are you ready--"

Her head whipped to the side of the room. Her insides went cold to see Alastair by the door. Killian looked at Alastair slowly before he stood straight and inserted his hands into his pockets. An insufferable grin plastered on his face.

He gave Alastair a slight nod before he winked at her. "Don't remove that," he said before he disappeared, leaving tendrils of darkness.

The brooch was warm on her chest where he pinned it. Unlike the first time she wore it, the brooch was calm, mercifully. The last thing she would want is for her to be choked by a brooch on her birthday celebration. Though Killian said the brooch has already accepted her as its new owner, hindi pa rin siya kampante. But the calm humming of the brooch tells her enough.

"You look splendid," Al said. His calm eyes scanning and she couldn't help but blush. He gave her a warm smile before he offered his arm para kapitan niya.

"They're all waiting," saad nito and walked her out of the room. Binagtas nila ang kahabaan ng pasilyo patungo sa kung saan ang bulwagan. And when they neared the steps, she could see the crowd below. Some were chatting and some were sipping on their drinks. Alastair was careful and guided her through the steps. When she was at the Central Standing, all the guests' eyes were on her. The murmurs stopped at kapalit noon ang malumanay na musika na nagmumula sa mga grupo ng musikero na nasa gilid. The Grand Hall was so full of magic that she could almost smell it. There were floating candles adding the illumination of the gigantic chandeliers on top. The carpet on the steps was colored gold, matching the ribbons and flowers and vines swirling the banisters.

The Central Landing had a huge portrait of her at hindi niya mapigilang mamanha rito.

"I had it painted, describing every detail of your face to the painter," Al whispered on her ear dahilan para mapangiti siya. Who wouldn't? A man who's practically saying he's memorized her face that would only be possible if he has taken a good amount of staring at her to memorize even the simplest details. Or maybe he has a picture of her and had it painted. But Katharine wants to believe what he said. That he's described every detail of her face to have it painted.

He was looking at Alastair and the others didn't even matter to her. He said she's splendid and it didn't even matter what others say, what others think of her. Her eyes were just on Al and so is his. When they reached the ground, her Father walked in their direction. Al whispered his goodbye at ang ama niya ngayon ang nasa tabi niya. The music slowed to a halt.

She roamed her eyes and she could see several guests. Ngunit ang tanging bagay na sigurado siya is that all of the noble families residing in Lancaster are there. Different houses and different families. Ready to bribe and smother her with beautiful words to gain her favor. But she's not the same as her father. She's not kind like her father.

So she plastered her face into a mask of cold and boredom. She could see a few faeries with their distinctive features. Their ears were pointed and their unearthly beauty stood out among the rest.

Napatingin siya sa ama niya nang humigpit ang hawak nito sa kanyang kamay.

"My daughter, Katharine Arathorne. Today marks the day you were born," her father said. "Twenty-three years ago today, was the very first time I held you in my arms, the very first time I saw you, the first time I loved you. Now, you've grown into such a wonderful lady," her father paused. Wiping the tears in his eyes. She has never heard him say those words. Even on her past birthdays. He wasn't a sentimental man. And hearing him say those things were new for her.

"You've grown into someone brave, though stubborn at times, you have proven yourself worthy of the throne, worthy to be the next ruler. And I am quite confident you will be a great ruler of Regoria when the time comes."

Her father looked at her and felt him squeezed her hand. She smiled and faced the guests. Her father then took her to the dais where there's a seat designated for her and for him. Music started playing and people started to dance and chat. Killian suddenly appeared beside the King and gave her a brief glance before he stood in his Kingsguard stance. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin niya ang mga nakaw na tingin ng mga bisita sa lalake. Particularly girls. Killian stood there clad in his glorious uniform. It was black and it did not do well in hiding how magnificent Killian is. Weapons couldn't be seen in him yet he exuded lethal power that one look from him one could understand he doesn't need a weapon at all. It's Killian Archeron, the next Head of the Archeron house, the most powerful house in Regoria, and the Captain of the Kingsguard. Everybody knows him as someone dangerous. Perhaps the most dangerous magician she's ever known.

Napataas naman ang kilay niya nang makitang ngumiti ang lalake sa grupo ng mga kababaihan sa gilid. The girls giggled and fluttered their lashes at him. She scoffed and looked for Alastair instead. She saw him talking to a group of people perhaps members of noble families. And it was as if he felt her staring at him that he looked at her and gave her a warm smile before talking back to the guests. She couldn't help but bite her lip as she tried not to smile. She is supposed to be someone feared and respected. She shouldn't act like a teenage girl who just had her first kiss. So she diverted her gaze to the other guests in the Hall and she froze on her seat nang may makitang siyang grupo ng mga tao na nasa sulok. They were leisurely drinking from their glass, taking in everything inside. There were four of them, all clad in their black cloaks. A circular brooch pinned their cloaks in front. Kitang-kita niya ang disgusto ng ibang bisita sa apat na nilalang na tahimik na nagmamasid. Not because of how they look but because of what they're drinking.

It was blood.

* * *