A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

THIRTEEN

Kali and Maria were early to barge in her room the next morning. Nang tingnan niya ang orasan it was already 6 o'clock. She went to wash her face while the two handmaidens prepared her clothes. It was the same clothes she wore when she first came here. She asked the two handmaidens to do something on her face which they obliged. Magkikita sila ni Alastair ngayon. She has to look pretty. She bit her lip as she imagined what his reaction would be if he sees her today. If he sees the hairpin he gave on her hair. Hindi niya mapigilang mapangiti. If Kali and Maria saw that, they didn't ask questions.

Nang matapos ang dalawa sa mukha at buhok niya, she couldn't help but grin at her reflection. She thanked them and gave one last look at herself in the mirror. Satisfied, she went out. And she almost jumped nang makita si Killian sa labas na naghihintay. Tiningan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. Then he went back to her head kung saan naroon ang hairpin. Hindi man lang nito tinakpan ang disgusto sa mukha habang nakatingin sa hairpin na nasa buhok niya.

"If you want to say something, say it," she said and crossed her arms.

"It doesn't suit you," he said and she didn't expect him to be that forward. Napakurap siya. Unable to shield his attack.

She scoffed. "You're just envious."

"And why would I be envious of a hairpin?"

"Aba, malay ko!"

"But wear it if you like wearing it," he said and offered his arm. Tiningnan niya lang iyon and Killian just gave her a blank look.

"Hold my hand. We're going somewhere," he said as he stretched out his hand.

"Where are we going? I thought we're going home?"

"Just hold it for f**k's sake," he said at sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin bago niya hinawakan ang kamay nito. He pulled her close and snaked his arm on her waist. Darkness swirled around them until it was the only thing she sees. The next thing she knew, nasa isang basement sila. She squinted her eyes to see what's inside. There were lamps plastered on the wall made of stone. Killian started walking at sumunod naman siya rito. Only the lamps provide them with light as they sauntered the long hallway.

"Where are we?" Tanong niya sa lalake. He gave her a sideward glance.

"Six feet underground," he said. And maybe it was six feet underground. Hindi niya maiwasang magtaka kung bakit dinala siya rito ng lalake.

"If you're that annoyed with me, you don't need to bury me in here. One swing of your Demon's sword could send me to the afterlife."

She heard Killian chuckle. "Unfortunately, I am not here to bury you alive." He stopped at a huge metal door. He placed a palm on its surface and she could see darkness swirling out of his palms. Then she heard the cogs moving inside the metallic door as it unlocked itself. Killian held the handle as he looked at me.

"Tomorrow's your birthday. The House of Archeron greets you," he said at hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ng lalake. "Behind this door is a room full of treasures. You may choose anything to your liking as our present, Your Highness."

Her jaw slightly dropped. Confusion must be very visible in her face that he raised his brow.

"Okay, first off, why are you talking like that? Parang kahapon lang --"

She almost shoved herself on the wall when he pushed her.

"Just choose a damn gift," he said kasabay ng pagbukas niya sa pinto.

And she couldn't help but gape at what she saw. Jewels of different kinds. She blinked. She has a lot of jewels but it isn't even half as what she's seeing right now. They were all placed in a shelf atop a velvet pillow.

"I can choose?" she asked without taking her eyes off the treasures.

"You can," Killian answered and she took a step forward admiring the walls full of jewels.

There were different kinds of diamonds ranging from red ones, blue, even black! She could see some jades and other valuable gems. Necklaces adorned with diamonds are displayed and she couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of it.

Then her eyes landed on a small shelf kung saan may isang umagaw ng pansin niya. It was a brooch. She couldn't help but marvel at it. It was a dragon. Its wings were adorned with red and orange diamonds meticulously organized to make it look fiery. At the center of the Dragon's chest was a mixture of the two diamonds giving it a darker hue compared to the others.

"That's the Dragon's Breath," Killian said behind her.

"Dragon's Breath?" she muttered. Still has her eyes fixed on the brooch.

"It's said that a dragon was the one who breathed fire, forming those diamonds. That's what our ancestors say, at least."

She looked at Killian and pointed at the brooch. "I want that."

"Is that your final choice?" Killian asked and she nodded. Something about it makes her want to take it. It's not just the colors and the symbolism it gives. Hindi niya maipaliwanag but it seemed like something was urging her to get it.

Kilian flicked his wrist and the shelf was gone. Nasa kamay na nito ang napili niyang regalo. Another flick of his hand and a cloak appeared. He stepped closer to her and draped the cloak over her shoulders. When he has put it in place, he pinned it in the front using the brooch.

She bit her lip as she looked at it. Then she looked at Killian who was also looking at the brooch.

"It's beautiful," she said. "Thank you."

But then Killian smirked, "We're not yet done. You chose the jewel, now make the jewel choose you."

"What--" bago pa man niya matapos ang nais niyang sabihin the room became dark. She couldn't see anything.

"For your test, Princess. Make that brooch yours," rinig niyang sabi ni Killian but she couldn't see him anywhere. Malakas siyang napamura. Why isn't she informed this was a test?

"Why can't you just give it to me and we're done? Why is this necessary?" inis niyang tanong.

"Before they were displayed here, these treasures had owners. And they are still attached to their previous owners. It's not enough that you choose them. Make them choose you too."

"Since when does a piece of jewelry get to decide who its owner should be? How am I supposed to do that? I don't want it. You can take this back," she said and was about to take the brooch off ngunit hindi na ito matanggal sa kanya.

What the?

"You have an hour to figure it out. Good luck, Princess," Killian said and before she could even mutter another protest, she saw the brooch glowed orange and yellow.

"f*****g hell," she said before a blast of power sent her flying across the room and she hit her back on the stone wall.

* * *

Colorful curses went out of her mouth when she dropped on the floor. Bago pa man siya makatayo, naramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng balabal sa kanyang leeg and it was forcing her to stand up. She gasped for air she felt her feet leaving the ground. She clawed the brooch at mas lalo lang itong humihigpit.

Fuck you, Killian. f**k you!

She kept swearing in her mind dahil hindi na rin siya nakakapagsalita dahil pati ang balabal niya'y humihigpit na rin sa kanyang leeg.

The brooch was warm. No, it was burning. It was as if it was protesting, shouting.

I don't want you.

I don't want you.

Gusto niya itong sigawan din na ayaw niya rin dito. But she couldn't even talk! Breathing became difficult as the brooch keeps getting tighter around her neck. Hindi na rin niya nararamdaman ang paa niya sa sahig. She's being lifted on air. By a goddamn brooch!

I don't want you.

I don't want you.

Naging bayolente na rin ang balabal niya. It flapped behind her, pulling her, as if wanting to get away.

Napamura siya sa kanyang isipan. But she was swearing Killian's name more. Swearing at him for not giving her a warning bago siya nito pinapili ng alahas. Kung alam lang niyang ganito ang mangyayari, hindi na sana siua pumayag na mamili ng alahas. She should have known. But she couldn't have known there are pieces of jewelry who choose their owner.

Ngunit wala na siyang magagawa. She's several feet above the ground and about to die.

"Own it, Princess," Killian said. His voice was far away. It was as if she was enclosed in some kind of bubble shield.

She lifted her arm and made a vulgar gesture with her finger. Hindi niya alam kung nakikita ba iyon ni Killian but she heard him sighed somewhere.

"It would be embarrassing to tell the whole Kingdom of Regoria that the Crown Princess was choked to death by a brooch."

If Killian was encouraging her or just pissing her off, she doesn't know. Ang alam lang niya ngayon ay kung paano aangkinin ang brotse and that she's going to punch Killian in the face if she's done with it.

How do you own something? She grew up getting everything she wanted. Kung ano ang gusto niya, nakukuha niya. One word from her and she gets what she wants. She never knew the hard work. Kung ang gusto niya, hindi niya naranasang maghirap para rito.

Kaya naman mahirap sa kanya ang pinapagawa ng lalake. But she has to do something or she'll be choked to death by a brooch.

How do you own something?

Work for it. Understand why you want it. Then dominate it. The brooch was powerful. Overwhelm it with power. Make it realize who's the master. Show it who's stronger.

So she closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. The brooch continued to burn and the cloak was still violent but she calmed her power down, concentrating it towards the center, kung saan nakaposisyon ang brotse. It glowed orange, yellow, and red, illuminating the room with its sharp colors.

She imagined a calm fire in a fireplace on a cold winter night and willed her fire to become like it. Calm and peaceful. Killian said the gems of the brooch were made from a dragon's fire. So she used her tranquil fire to soothe the brooch, trying to calm it down. It was burning against her skin and she made her fire surround the brooch. She felt a wall inside it as if blocking her, refusing her to dominate it.

But she continued to push, even with its solid walls. Her fire explored around its walls and when she felt a small leak, hindi na siya nag-aksaya ng oras. She let her power go in and in and in hanggang sa tuluyan na itong nakapasok sa brotse. A small part of her power is now inside the brooch.

It let out one last glow of orange, red, and yellow before it hummed a low hum as if finishing a satisfying meal. The brooch loosened on her neck and the cloak stopped flapping. She fell to the ground with a thud.

The air started flowing inside her lungs and she started gasping. The room was filled with light again illuminating the jewels and other treasures inside. Killian now stood in front of her, wearing a satisfied grin. Dark wisps of shadows swirled around him as if he just winnowed from somewhere.

"Congratulations, Your Highness," he mumbled. She immediately stood and landed a punch on his face dahilan para mapaatras ito. Satisfaction hit her nang makita ang ekspresyon ng lalake. He did not expect that.

"You," she pointed at him, "are an asshole," she said, her breathing labored.

Killian touched the side of his face where her punch landed. Labis ang inis niya nang makitang nakangisi pa rin ito. "An asshole, yes," he said. But then he waved his hand as if he couldn't care less. "But you've called me worse." He reached to touch the brooch. It thrummed softly and then it went silent. As if going on a slumber.

"All of the treasures here are hard to get. Certainly giving those thieves a hard time," Killian said, roaming his eyes around. Then his eyes went back to her. "They're called Daematins. They're not necessarily treasures. It can be a piece of handkerchief or a knife. One thing can become a Daematin if the previous owner puts a curse on it."

"How the hell do you have all these Daematins?" she asked, looking at the treasures around them.

Killian just gave her a shrug. "They're family heirlooms. My ancestors like to collect things and were greedy enough to put curses on them so others can't get them."

Her forehead knotted. "Who was the previous owner of this?" She pointed to her brooch.

"My great grandmother," he said as he gave me a sideglance. "The Dragon Queen was said to be the owner of that brooch. I don't know how my grandma got that."

The Dragon Queen. The Queen had dragons under her command. She was a legend. Unlike other stories that get forgotten over time, the legend of the Dragon Queen lived on for centuries.

She touched the brooch. It was silent. Not a hum or anything. No trace of anything it became earlier.

"We can winnow to Drelaire and fly to Lancaster from there," he said as he inserted his hands into his pockets. "We'll arrive there at noon. We don't want you late for your own party." He gave her a smirk.

He extended a hand at tinanggap naman niya iyon.

"Ready?"

Bago pa man siya makasagot, dark wisps of smoke started to swirl around them. And before she knew it, she was pulled into the darkness. It was a kind of darkness that doesn't scare her. It was calm, peaceful and . . . in a hurry. She couldn't see anything aside from Killian beside her. She could feel his hand around her waist too.

When she felt the ground on her feet, she stumbled and the next thing she knew, she was hurling her guts out on the ground. She forgot that winnowing, for first-timers, can be nauseating. But she glared at Killian who was standing behind her, grimacing at her state. Mukhang nakuha naman nito ang gusto niyang sabihin dahil nagkibit-balikat ito.

"We don't have that philter you had last time. Bear with it," he said. He waved his wrist gracefully and her vomit disappeared.

Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang lalake nang makatayo siya. "Parang kanina lang tinatawag mo akong 'Your Highness' and now you're back at treating me like I'm nothing. Just to remind you Killian Archeron, I am a Princess of this Kingdom--" hindi na niya natapos ang nais niyang sabihin when another wave of nausea was threatening to hurl out.

And when she did hurl it all out, Killian made it all disappear with a graceful wave of his wrist before it even hit the ground. She wiped her hand with the back of her mouth habang sinasamaan pa rin ng tingin ang lalake.

"I don't want it splattered all over my clothes. And besides, just thank the gods it was me who saw that disgusting state. Oh, what would Alastair say if he sees that? Maybe I should tell him." Nagsimulang maglakad ang lalake at agad naman niya itong hinabol.

"Are you always like this?" tanong niya nang makahabol siya rito.

"Like what?" he asked habang patuloy pa rin sa paglalakad. His strides were long and fast kaya dalawang hakbang niya ang isang hakbang nito.

"A jerk. An asshole. Have you always been like that?"

He gave her a sideways glance. "You tell me. You hated me since we were kids. I guess I've been an asshole since then."

"I hated you because you were an asshole."

He shrugged. "I didn't like you, anyway. I think that's fair."

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig niya. "Ikaw lang ang taong bulgaran kung magsalita na hindi ako gusto. I could behead you for that," she looked at him and he was just looking straight ahead.

"Yeah. Do that when the guards aren't afraid of me anymore," he said and stopped in front of her. Nasa isang rooftop na sila. "And besides, kahit na ikaw ang Prinsesa," nilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya dahilan para mapaatras siya. "You don't have the power over me. Unless of course, if you're Queen already. I only follow your Father's orders. If he tells me to guard you, I will. If he tells me to punish you, I will. His orders are what matters to me and the other six Kingsguard. So Princess," he stepped back and inserted his hands on his pockets, "the next time you say that you'll behead me, you'll have to do it yourself. No guards. Tingnan natin kung kaya mo." He smirked and that made her blood boil.

"See that's why I don't like you," she said and crossed her arms.

"Because I don't coddle you like how Alastair does? Sorry, Princess. I don't coddle brats."

Before she could even think of a response, Killian scooped from the ground. His wings of darkness were very visible even under the glaring sun. He shot up straight to the sky and she was clinging for dear life on his neck.

"I am going to kill you," she said on his neck as she tries to calm herself with the sudden flight. She only heard Killian's chuckle. And when they were flying at a steady pace, nagdesisyon siyang buksan ang mga mata niya para tanawin ang nasa ibaba.

And the wonderful scenery made her think that she could get used to flying.

* * *