A Shade of Midnight

SEVEN

I found myself following Raven to the training ground where I used to train with Bryen. Hindi na ako nasurpresa na narito kami. Raven did say our next task is going to be practicing my combat skills. Something I dreaded but also something I needed to do.   

"You're going to train me?" I asked and he just gave me a smirk before he unbuttoned his shirt. I turned to give him time to unbutton at narinig ko lang siyang tumawa. I cursed him inside my mind dahil alam kong namumula na ang mga pisngi ko. 

"Isn't it too late for you to be embarrassed right now?" he said and I cleared my throat. Hinarap ko siya and he has already removed his shirt. I resisted looking below his chin but it was hard. My traitorous eyes went down his chest where I could see the dark whorls of his tattoo, similar to the one on my arm. 

At mukhang nabasa niya kung anong nasa isip ko dahil ngumiti lang siya habang nakatingin sa braso ko. "Yes, it's quite similar. Does it bother you?" he asked. And I knew it wasn't just a simple question.

I looked at his chest where dark whorls could be seen. It covered half his chest and then down to his right arm. Raven once said that they got those tattoos when they have become official Valyrian warriors. I am not a fan of tattoos and I once thought the ink on my arm looked hideous. But then as I looked at Raven, it wasn't hideous. If anything, it looked marvelous. I have never marveled at somebody's tattoo. But when I see it on Raven... 

"Well, I got used to it," I said and he chuckled. "You once said that these tattoos mark how you became Valyrian warriors. But I got mine because of the bargain I made that night when I was so close to dying." 

He looked at me and said, "That ink on your arm symbolizes the battle you have won. You won against Meredith and you deserve to have that." 

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "You didn't know I would win against her. At hindi iyan ang sinabi mo sa 'kin. You said this is to tie the bargain we have." 

He shrugged. "That is true. Can't a tattoo have two meanings?" 

Bigla naman akong natahimik. A battle I have won. He didn't know I would win against Meredith. He just trusted me that I will. From the very beginning, he trusted the fate of Sandovia into my hands. Kaya iyon ang nagtulak sa kanya na isugal ang lahat para tulungan ako. A city he protected so much, his family and friends, his title--all of it, isinugal niya para tulungan akong talunin si Meredith. 

"With the war coming, are you going to do the same?" tanong ko sa kanya. Napalingon naman siya sa akin, wondering what I was talking about. 

"You have done so much before. You have spared your friends the burden when Meredith came and held us all hostages. You didn't want them to get involved. Are you going to do the same in this coming war?" ulit ko.

Saglit naman siyang natahimik before he faced me fully and said, "If I needed to do it, then I will. If I could face this war alone, I will. I wouldn't want you, or my family or even the people in this city to get involved." 

Sa hindi ko malaman na dahilan, parang may pinunit sa loob ko. I hate what he said. I would hate to hear it again from him. Kaya naman lumapit ako sa kanya. Nagtataka naman siyang nakatingin sa akin. 

"Don't ever think like that again. We're here. We can share the burden. Just because you're the High Lord doesn't mean you are entitled to take all the blame. Para saan pa at narito kami? You can always count on us. Don't go underestimating your circle, Raven." 

There was surprise on his face. At bigla naman naging malumanay  ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I gave him a small smile and he did the same. 

"Delta darling, what would I do without you?" pabiro niyang sagot and I just let out a scoff and stepped back to prepare myself for the practice. 

I shook my head at tiningnan siya at nakatingin lang din siya sa akin. He then jerked his chin towards the set of weapons behind me. Agad naman akong napalingon doon. 

"We'll be training on how to hold your weapons," he said. "Choose one to your liking."

Nagpunta ako sa mesa kung nasaan ang mga sandatang sinasabi niya. I have always used knives. Even during that time in the manor as I fought for my life, I used a dagger Tyrell gave to me. And I swore to use the dagger. To bear with me the lives I took to save this continent. Kaya kinuha ko ang punyal doon. It looked different than the one I was used to but it was close enough. 

Kita ko ang pagsang-ayon ni Raven. He held out his hands and I gave the dagger to him. Tiningnan naman niya iyon nang mabuti.

"Daggers are not very good for slashes but they're like that. They're more effective to stab vital organs." He gave the dagger back to me. "And it is also easy to wield and carry and could cause serious damage if you know where to jab it." He clicked his tongue before he tilted his head. "And it would seem that you already know how to use it. You just need polishing."

At alam ko kung anong tinutukoy niya. We talked about my fight with that convict for my first trial and he said I was sloppy but he's glad I used my brain and fought smarter than harder. He said it was my only advantage. And I agree dahil ano naman ang laban ko sa kalaban na sanay na sa pakikipagpatayan? It was the first challenge and I felt like it was my end. But then thinking about it now doesn't spark any triggering feelings. In fact, my nightmares about it have slowly appeared until they stopped coming. 

Raven handed me the dagger back at agad ko naman iyong kinuha. It was light. Something I could easily brandish around. Raven positioned himself in his fighting stance and I did the same. 

"Are you not going to have your own weapon?" I asked him but he just grinned. 

"For today's practice, you will come at me," he said and moved his fingers, urging me to come and attack. "Don't hesitate, Delta darling." 

And I did. I ran towards him and brandished the knife as fast as I could. Kita ko ang gulat sa mukha niya nang mailagan niya ang unang atake ko. Ngunit mas mabilis pa rin siya dahil nahawakan niya ang pulso ko. He twisted it dahilan para mabitiwan ko ang hawak na punyal. The sound of the knife clattering to the floor created a sound. 

I stepped back and looked at him. He was still grinning from ear to ear, waiting for me to say something so he could say another thing to taunt me. But I will not give him the satisfaction. Fast as lightning, agad kong kinuha ang nahulog na punyal and slif my legs to hit his feet ngunit mabilis din siyang nakailag doon and in an instant, he was behind me and his arm wrapped around my neck. 

"Bryen taught you well. You are starting to get his fighting style," he whispered in my ear that did not fail to send shivers down my spine. 

I pushed myself away from him and face him. Nakangisi pa rin siya sa akin. "It seems that I don't need to teach you how to hold your weapons--" 

HIndi ko na siya pinatapos magsalita at agad na naman akong umatake sa gawi niya. He looked like he wasn't expecting it. He went to defend his left when he saw I was aiming for it ngunit hindi ko iyong itinuloy and aimed at his right instead. 

I managed to land a blow on his right cheeks causing him to stagger a step back. I wasn't satisfied, I started to attack him but this time, he kept up and started defending himself against my attacks too. And when I landed another punch on his other cheek, hindi ko na siya binigyan pa ng pagkakataon na makabawi at agad ko siyang itinulak. His back his the wall and I was quick to stand in front of him, pinning his dominant hand, and pressing the dagger on his neck. 

I was breathing hard as I looked at him. Nakatingin lang din siya sa akin at gaya ko, hinihingal din siya. And then slowly, a grin curved his lips. 

"Well done, Delta" he said, and just when I thought it was finished, he quickly grabbed the hand holding the dagger and twisted me. Now my back is against his bare chest and his hand gripped my mine kaya naman ang punyal ay nakatutok na sa making leeg. 

"Don't let your guard down until you are sure the enemy is dead," he whispered in my ear. Nagpumiglas akong makawala ngunit masyado siyang malakas. I elbowed him dahilan para mawala ang pagkakawak niya sa akin. 

I faced him and he was still smiling. 

"Let's go another round," I said, mirroring his grin. 

He positioned himself again in a fighting stance. "As you wish," he answered. 

So we spent the whole afternoon sparring. And he didn't go easy on me, which is something I would want him to do. I kept falling on my back while he has his own dagger pointed towards my neck or my chest. He has seen what I was capable of doing earlier and this time, he is matching it with a skill that is entirely on a different level. Kaya naman palagi nalang akong natatalo sa mga sumusunod na rounds. 

And as the spar proceeded, I realized how stupid I was before when I was still in Maxim's manor. I felt stupid for letting them tell me what to do and not to do. I felt stupid for even listening to them that I should not train. I was like a puppet. Someone whose opinion doesn't even matter. And I would never, ever, go back there again. 

I grunted when my back hit the wall and Raven has me cornered for the nth time. I felt the sharp blade on my neck and if he applied more pressure, it would be enough to draw blood. His hand was tight but not too tight to cause me pain. Just enough to immobilize me. I sighed and he smiled.

"Are you perhaps distracted?" he asked with a wry smile.

I gave him a sly smile before I ran down my eyes to his chest, down to his sculpted abs before my eyes went back to his face. An amused grin was now curving his lips. 

"I suppose I am distracted," I said and he let out a low laugh that never failed to send shivers down my spine.

"Rule number one: don't get distracted," saad niya bago humigpit ang hawak niya sa aking pulsohan dahilan para mabitawan ko ang punyal.

He took a step back and looked at me. I did the same. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to say it. He dropped his weapon and went to get his shirt at isinuot iyon. 

"Training's done for today," he said. "Tomorrow, I expect you to manage to pin me down or maybe disarm me." He glanced at me as he buttoned his shirt. 

Pinulot ko ang punyal at inilagay iyon pabalik sa mesa. "I suppose that's my homework?" I heard his footsteps. 

"Yes, it is," he said and I almost leaped back when I felt him close behind me. But I managed not to flinch. Instead, I faced him, met his gaze and it took all of my strength to keep standing straight and not buckle my knees. If I move my face forward, it would be enough to kiss him but I stopped myself from moving, for giving him the satisfaction of me giving in to his flirting. 

We have been doing this. Flirting with each other. But I know it was just something he does to distract me from the horrible things. Just like what he did before when I was so close to dying. At that time, I was so close to giving up, I had lost all hope, I felt empty. But he was so, so good at making me furious and it was something I never thought I needed. And flirting with me is his other way of keeping my mind diverted from other things. And I am thankful to him for that. 

What happened that time in the Court of Darkness, that time I was perched on his lap and his hands were all over my body...I admit it made me feel something. Maybe I was just lonely that I was liking his touch. Maybe I was desperate to long for a man's touch. Or maybe I reacted that way because it was Raven's touch. I have cursed myself for wanting another man after Maxim. But Raven didn't care about that. He did it for the sake of his Court. The whole Sandovia already labeled me as Raven's w***e and it was a refreshing way to play the part and not run and frown about it. And I didn't care if they labeled me Raven's w***e. I didn't care if that's what they see. After all, I have already cut my ties with Maxim and his court. I don't care if they call me the stolen bride. I will play the part. 

We didn't get a chance to talk about it. Or kung sinsasadya niyang huwag pag-usapan ang nangyari. Alam kong alam niya ang naging epekto niya sa 'kin. He knew his touch was something that made me ache for more. And there was a very thin line between us that we were so close to crossing but didn't dare to. 

So I faced him, trying to hold his gaze and barely succeeding. "What happened in the Court of Darkness..." I trailed, hoping he would get it. Hoping he would say something logical about it but he didn't. He remained to stare at me, waiting for me to continue what I wanted to say. 

And I figured I don't have anything to say about it. Ano namang sasabihin ko sa kanya? Na gusto ko ang nangyari? Well, I did like where his hands traveled during that time but why on earth would I tell him that? That would be embarrassing as hell. 

"What about it?" he asked. Though he sounded casual, I could tell there's some teasing behind it. He knew! He knew his effect on me. I fought the heat creeping on my cheeks. I looked at him and gave him a smirk. I would not let him taunt me about it. I need to say something. 

"You're not as good at seducing as what you think," I said, smirking.  I could tell he was surprised to hear that from me and I took that opportunity to walk away, leaving him dumbfounded. My hands were trembling and I continued to curse myself silently as I said the entire opposite of what I wanted to say. He is damn good at seduction. 

But I must admit, making the strongest High Lord of Sandovia dumbfounded was quite a satisfying thing to do but then again my blood froze as I realized what I had just done. 

I might have accidentally challenged him too. 

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