‘Flora of the night and mists,
Of flaring teal cyan.
Thy petals that cast rhapsody,
Of ocean peace and silence.’

I dallied the azure orchid glowing at my fingers. The servants may have forgotten to remove these flowers at bloom. Perhaps, every room here always has a space occupied for rare flowers and vines that are only native to this territory, lucky for me to take a glance at this mystic creature. Azure orchids’ buds detonate toxic pollens that can cause temporary loss of consciousness. Maybe this was here for a reason then.
“Even the azure liked you here, Gaia. Seems like you’re destined to stay.”
I heard nothing from the door opening to closing, yet Vander’s voice sprung. My system didn’t bother turning a face towards him who is now pacing in my direction. I tilted my head and held my gaze onto the bright streaks of the night’s crystals and chandeliers hung high up. The orchid still rests intact after a couple of twists and pinches I did, still glowing with its fluorescent blue color.
“Are those part of delusions?”
“The thing earlier?” Vander’s hand crawled to the opened window, swiping an unopened bud from the orchid that droops lushly. “I have the ability to create illusions. But those things I’ve said were not lies, Sweetheart. My father holds one of the four highest positions in the Senate.”
“And you clasped on the second. Am I right?” I hurled and landed my attention to his dark almond eyes and that tied blonde hair of his. This man boasts enough charisma to enchant women. Of all of those female warriors that settled in his territory, does he really have the eyes in me?
“Yes,” he answered as he flicks the orchid bud to open out.
“Then choosing you is the right decision then.” A sly grin was vined to my lips with my fingers playing round the flat layer of velvet coat on the pane. “I got no advantage to extract from that wolf. I need more power and superiority. Will you help me at that case, Vander?”
I saw how his head angled, shifting his gape towards me. He smirked and pull out the bud close to my neck. “How can I turn you down when all I got was really intended for you?”
“So… it’s a yes then,” I confirmed and glided my hands to his jaw. “Tomorrow, I will return to Sinandaya. Settle all accounts that I have to.”
Vander clipped the strands of hair left untied, freely blown by the cold zephyr trespassing through the unlocked aperture. With a simple stroke from his hand, the poison azure orchid was pinned in place straddling on my wavy messed-up hair. “And by the time you come back, our marriage will be arranged. A wedding that no one had ever witnessed.”
I smeared an emphatic smile on my face and gently let go of my hand from his gill. “I will look forward to that, prince Vander.” With that, he left the room and stole a peck on my cheek. I waited for a couple of minutes before my legs could move again.
A simple gesture from my hand led a sunrise-tainted vine to creep in and pricked open a tiny vessel of flowing water. I leaned forward and rigorously washed my face to where Vander had placed his touches and scents. Jeez, what had led me to such tease again?
“General Gaia.”
“Whoa!”
My leg almost jumped out of a sudden when Mayari’s voice spouted from the window. “Sinandaya received several letters of invitation.”
“About what?”
Mayari raised her head and met my stares, “Of political alliance, General. Commander Felipe directed the fifth platoon under Terejia for your escort to Daghum territory.”
“Felipe picked a kingdom for alliance only by themselves?” My forehead creased and my voice then pitched up in bother. Wiping off the remaining water in my face, I paced towards the vanity.
“It is not for an alliance, General.” She cut and lowered her voice as she cracked in and closed the window. “A treaty proposal against a certain kingdom and not the wolves.”
*****
“I will be waiting for your return.”
I held the cheery smile on my face as I nodded in response to the Prince. I got up from my knees and handed the ivy pendant to him. “So am I.” He grinned and clasped onto the pendant which I only replied with another simper.
“Proceed!” I flagged as I lunge my body on the stallion. Wearing an armor and a simple high twisted tie on my jet-umber hair, I dashed off with the fourth platoon of twenty-five soldiers. The group galloped across the plain fields. It was hollowly inhabited by a flock of fleece winter sheep.
My gaze settles at the path afore when my eyes flared ruby in a flash. He’s here… I looked around and halted. By the burly tree that extends over a few meters that its roots were out and hanging upside down from the tree’s slither-like branches, Diego was sitting unemotionally. His stares darts at me, so aloof and austere that only one word reflects to me.
Hatred… he now hates me for what I did to them.
I forced my eyes to flash back to its bay tint. Shoving any possible actions that I might do, I quickly held back the tears warning to burst anytime around, and sprinted away from his location. And as much as I want to turn and crawl back to him and explain how much pain that force was crushing me to pieces from the moment that I made my feelings clear, I just couldn’t.
‘The sky so blue,
Covered by the gray clouds
Loneliness that I can’t show,
And that is all because of you
I tried to shout,
Whispered out loud in this endless night’
I could not take a single step closer to him, not even an inch. Because the second I dared to, the war and killings, and everything will be thrown out to waste. I will be risking his life and the Abberant pack again. I would rather choose to keep a memory and those simple glances from him, than accept the fact that my mate no longer exists in this world.
‘Wasted days, come and go
But I know, things I must do
Is to finally let you go’
“We are now close to Daghum territory’s boundary, General,” Terejia prodded which I nodded.
“What information have you gathered regarding this kingdom?” I asked. The lieutenant turned and struck his grip on the lead line.
“Located at the southern part of Claveria, the Aramoor. Daghum territory holds the fourth rank when it asserts to military and defenses. Considering the fact that this territory has two werewolf packs that lies in the northern and eastern part, they seem unguarded. Different from other territories they’re the only ones who didn’t pursue the war.”
Piquing curiosity, this Daghum territory draws out an interest. Indeed, separated from most of the vampire territories. “Did you get into the possible reason for this?”
“Not more than an ancient tale, General,” Terejia voiced. “Nearby residents and including vampires that said to have fled away from Daghum, they unfolded disturbing occurrences that happens when the moon of the night sky appears no shade of angle nor flection.”
“Tonight will be the full moon. What will happen?”
“Vampires of under the territory’s shed will suffer insane thirst. They say chains and shackles wouldn’t be enough to stop them all. Much worse than any other infections, probably an enchantment that was placed throughout the entire territory. Those escaped residents didn’t want to clarify these things when we asked them.”
I bit my lips in scrutiny. What could be the story hiding behind this?
“If it is not caused by a certain disease or infection, then it is nature’s doing, isn’t it?” I lifted my head and leered on the brick hollow underpass. Mayari and Terejia halted and so as the soldiers we have in the back.
“This is may be Daghum territory’s tunnel.”
I narrowed my eyes in shock. “May be? Do you mean you didn’t know exactly where you have led us, Terejia?”
“I-It’s not that, General.” He scratched his head and looked from side to side like he has something important to spout out. “Daghum territory’s entrance lies too difficult to figure out when and where the exact portal will appear.”
“What do you mean?”
Terejia repeatedly brushed back his tied hair and his eyes were constantly shifting and moving from the surroundings of the underpass. “This territory was actually inhabited by forest pixies mostly and only a quarter were held under the vampire’s control, this may be one of the reasons why Daghum stood still unguarded despite the feuds.”
Forest pixies… these naughty creatures. They’re known for deceiving and playfulness to travelers or even natives to whom they wanted to. Most of the time, creating illusions and draws out false path that drives you lost in the forest’s depth.
“Have you seen any of the same tunnels as this on the way?” I asked and fixated my gaze towards the suspected portal in front of us. It is cylindrical and the cracks were growing out green moss and tiny crawlers. Into its depth, there was nothing to see but darkness. A thin tree of multiple rippled branches to its side seems to clasp and pin the bricks in place to prevent it from collapsing. It really is bizarre.
Soundtrack used:
Kaman Nina English version full lyrics