A Shade of Midnight

EIGHT

That night, I was pondering in my room when I heard the phone beep. Tinitigan ko lang ito. Alam kong si Raven iyon. And I know he is going to be telling me about what I said that afternoon. I bit my lip and rolled on the bed. Ano bang naisip ko at sinabi ko iyon?

He's not good at seducing? Am I insane? And the way I said it sounded like I was challenging him. I hope Raven won't get competitive enough to prove me wrong. Because I don't think I would be able to take it. He knows his effect on me. And he knows what I said earlier was not true. I didn't mean it. But of course, since it's Raven, he would make me take back what I said. And I am not yet ready for it.

I looked at the phone on the table. Namatay na ang ilaw nito. But a few seconds later, umilaw na naman. I muttered curses to myself at bumangon nalang para kunin ang cellphone. And indeed, it was Raven who sent me a message. Hind ko alam kung nasaan siya ngayon but there's a huge possibility na nasa ibaba lang siya. So with silent steps, I walked to the door and opened it slightly. Dahan-dahan ko siyang sinilip sa ibaba and there he was, sprawled on the the sofa, looking at his phone. Suot niya pa rin ang suot niya kanina. And looking at him leisurely lying on the sofa with his socks on makes it hard to believe that everybody considers him as an enemy--a monster. I couldn't believe I considered him an enemy and even feared him. And yet, here he is. Not caring about those single things as he looked at his phone.

I closed the door slowly and went back to the bed. Saka ko naman inopen ang message niya.

"I couldn't stop thinking about what you said earlier." I read his message and I closed my eyes firmly. Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, he knew I didn't mean it but he will be determined to prove me wrong.

"Forget I said that." That was my reply. Then I looked at his other message.

"I was fairly certain you were reacting to my touch that time."

I bit my lip the moment I read the sentence. I took a deep breath, para kalmahin ang sarili ko matapos kong mabasa ang mensahe niya.

"How could he be so casual about it?" tanong ko sa sarili ko. I couldn't even think about what happened without getting flustered. But still, I replied to his message.

"That was clearly just your imagination."

It didn't last five seconds and the phone beeped again.

"I wish I could turn back time and make sure of it myself but of course, I'd have to ask you if it's alright with you if I check further..."

I bit my lip harder this time. It was more to stop myself from feeling these unnecessary things rather than to stop myself from grinning. I imagined his hands on my exposed legs that day. He could have felt me shiver because of it. If he had moved his hand further... he would have touched the evidence of my arousal.

I shook my head and erased the thought.

"Too bad we couldn't turn back the time."

It was my reply and I closed my eyes as I lay on the bed. I was never fond of phones. At ang gamitin ito ngayon just for the sole purpose of flirting with Raven...it was fun. A good distraction for the darkness that is bound to come.

"Too bad indeed. But on the second note, you could give me that licking we were talking about the last time. You inflicted a small wound on my neck that time you pressed that dagger on me."

I could imagine him grinning as he typed this message. Bigla naman akong napabangon sa sinabi niya. But then again, he could be bluffing.

"I don't remember agreeing to that, High Lord. And surely, the strongest High Lord of Sandovia could take a small wound."

"Oh, but you will agree. I am, after all, the most beautiful man you've ever seen."

He quoted what I said out loud earlier. I could feel my face getting hotter and hotter as time goes by.

"Are you bored to death? Why are you suddenly flirting with me? Is this to distract me from whatever trouble's coming?" Pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

Moments later, my phone beeped again. "Ah, but why would I need a reason to flirt with a woman? And don't act too surprised now Delta darling, we've been flirting before. The most extreme one would be that one when you were perched on my lap and I clearly remembered you licking my neck. And I'd like to tell you that I don't mind going more extreme than that."

Mas namula ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya.

"f**k you, Raven," I texted back and I heard his laughter down below.

I watched my phone, waiting for him to respond. But a couple of minutes later, wala pa rin. I clicked my tongue at bumangon sa kama. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa pintuan at dahan-dahan ko ring binuksan iyon. I peeked through the small crack ngunit wala akong Raven na nakita sa sala. He wasn't there anymore. I opened the door a bit wider to check further ngunit wala talaga.

It was when I was about to close the door when somebody talked on the side.

"What vulgar words from that pretty mouth," Raven said as he stood next to my room's door. Muntik naman akong madapa dahil sa gulat nang makita ko siya. Hindi ako agad nakapagsalita at agad na pumasok sa loob. It was too late for me to shut the door and Raven took that as an invitation and invited himself inside.

"What...what are you doing here?" tanong ko but then I realized I asked the wrong question as this guy has the tendency to turn things around in his own way.

A sly grin plastered across his face as he continued to walk towards me. Patuloy ako sa pag-atras hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang mesa sa likod. I looked for an exit but then he must have realized it and braced both his hands on the table behind me.

I met his stare. Or rather, I willed myself to meet his stare.

"Wala ka bang mas importanteng gawin aside from taunting and teasing me?"

"Ah, but taunting you is on of my greatest pleasures," sagot naman niya habang nakangisi.

He looked at me before he rolled he played his tongue inside his mouth. He was about to say something more when the door burst open at iniluwa doon si Al. Nakataas ang kilay nito habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa.

"Did I miss something or were you always that close?" Al pointed at the both of us and Raven did not even bother to get away from me! In fact, he did not bother to see who was at the door. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa akin as if telling me he didn't care if someone would see. It was then that I pushed him away that he stepped back and laughed.

Then he looked at Aliana. "What is it, Al?"

Al was still looking at us suspiciously while grinning from ear to ear. I chose to ignore her dahil alam kong marami na naman itong magiging tanong. Saka naman siya tumingin kay Raven.

"Well, we've finished the repairs in the town. We have to execute the next plan," Al said. Napatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa.

"What plan?" tanong ko.

Raven just grinned at me before he said, "The plan to pay them back tenfold for what they did to my city. Are you in?"

"And...how are you supposed to do that?" tanong ko ulit.

Raven stuffed his hands inside his pockets and looking at him, he looks more like a High Lord now than earlier. It was amazing to see how he could switch so easily.

"We'll go into their city," sagot naman ni Raven.

It was dangerous. Going into the enemy's lair and attacking them like how they attacked the city. It was something crucial and Raven wanted me to take part in it. He wants me to decide what I want to do. And it is something I really appreciate. I am free.

I grinned back. "How can I be called a member of this court if I don't count myself in?"

Aliana hollered at that and walked towards me before he wrapped her arms around my waist to pull me into a tight hug.

"You're becoming more and more like our High Lord. I suggest you spend less time with him and more with me."

Raven's brows raised with that statement. "And have her learn a thing or two about ways to annoy me? No, thank you. Delta stays with me."

Al nodded but was giving Raven a sly look. "But then Delta wouldn't need to learn a thing or two from me. After all, she can bring you on your knees if she wanted to," Al barked a laugh and I looked at Raven who was just giving his cousin an incredulous stare.

"I can't follow you two," I merely mumbled and shook my head.

Al tapped my shoulder and said, "You'll know what I mean soon enough." At naglakad na ito palabas. Napatingin naman ako kay Raven, and he just shrugged.

"I'll give you time to prepare," tanging sabi nito habang nakasilay ang ngiti sa labi. I furrowed my brows as I looked at him walking to the door. But before he got out, he stopped and looked at me.

"We can continue this game some other time," he said and then winked saka ito lumabas mula sa kwarto ko. Mahina naman akong napamura sa sarili. Agad naman akong nagbihis. I decided to wear the most comfortable clothes I have. Leather pants and a sleeveless top. I tied my hair into a tight bun and strapped my weapons the way Raven taught me. When I was ready agad naman akong lumabas. Naabutan ko silang lahat na nasa sala, waiting for Mel to arrive.

Raven scanned me from head to foot and nodded as if what I waa wearing passed his approval. Although I never heard him tell me that I dont look good in my clothes. Sa naaalala ko, the only time he made a comment was when he came to Maxim's manor to get me. He asked if the South Court is running low on food dahil sa sobrang payat ko. We all know it wasnt the lack of food that made me skinny to the bones.

"You're smiling while looking at Raven, Delta."

Bigla naman akong napakurap at napatingin kay Bryen na nakaupo sa sofa na naroon. May hawak itonf punyal na nilalaro niya sa kanyang daliri.

I didnt know I was smiling and I certaunly didnt realize I was staring at Raven. Napatingin ako kay Raven and he looked at me with that hint of a smirk on his face as if taunting me again to confiem or deny what Bryen had said.

"I was looking at the painting behind him," I answered and they all looked at the painting on the wall behind Raven. It was a painting of flowers and a bird. And then they looked at me as if wondering why I was smiling while looking at it.

I was saved when the door burst open at iniluwa doon si Melisandre. She was wearing a red cape that already reached the floor. Tinanggal niya ang hood nito revealing a bright red hair.

"Whoah!" Exclaimed Bryen as he beheld Mel standing in front of the door. Her bob cut hair were all dyed red matching her cape and the ruby neclace and earrings she was wearing. Melisandre really liks fancy things and Raven had been spoiling her with jewels he could find.

"Damn!" saad naman ni Aliana nang makalabas ito mula sa isnag kwarto.

Mel stood proud and a proud grin plastered across her face and then she looked at me. "What do you think?"

I blinked. "Um...You look...bright. Very intimidating."

Nakatingin lang si Mel sa akin hanggang sa unti-unting lumapad ang ngiti niya. "Exactly what I wanted to achieve. If we are going to our enemy's lair, at least give them something to remember. Now, let them remember the bright haired second in command of the High Lord of the North Court." She then look at Raven who was just looking at Mel, amused.

Then Mel raised her hand as if stopping Raven from saying something. "I know you have no words. Let's go and show them what kind of people they're messing with."

Hindi na ito naghintay ng mga sagot namin at agad na naglakad papunta sa nakahandang chopper. Agad naman kaming sumunod lahat. Azrael waved at us from the chopper dahil siya ang magmamaneho doon.

They finally settled and I heaved a deep sigh. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakasama ako sa kanila. Usually when they have something to do, they dont usually do it together. Bot because of arrogance but they are fairly capable of doing things even on their own. And Raven, as their High Lord, trusts them enough to let them do what they thibk is good for their Court. There is no perfect circle than the ones they have. The one built with trust, friendship, and love. And to be part of the circle is something I consider an honor. It is funny to think that I once feared this court but now that I have seen them—the real them—it all changed. The only thing I regretted was the fact that I didnt get to know them sooner.

Napansin ko naman na nakatingin na amg lahat sa akin.

"This is your first time to come with us, Delta. How are you feeling?" tanong ni Mel sa akin. Nakatingin pa rin silang lahat and I swallowed hard.

"Scared," I admitted. Nakita ko naman na lumambot ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Mel. "But you are all with me and I trust you."

Mel and Al reached for her hand and she could see the others with a proud smile on their face.

"And we trust you too," saad naman ni Aliana habang nakatingin sa akin. I looked at the others and their faces says the same—that they trust me and they are willing to risk their lives to save me.

I let out a shuddering breath as the chopper started to fly. I looked at Raven who was sitting in front of me and he was just looking outside. Ngunit kita ko ang ngiti sa mga labi niya kaya naman hindi ko rin pinigilan ang aking ngiti. And at that moment I decided that I have to get stronger. I have to be strong enough to protect them. I can't let them be the ones always protecting me. I need to be strong enough to save the people I care about. At sila iyon.

For the whole ride, I contemplated. I contemplated how I was then and now. Maxim loved me but he loved me too much. Too much that I felt like I was back in the dungeon again while Meredith ruled. And I swore I would never go back there again.

Maxim and I are not good for each other and I hope he will realize it too.

* * *