The First Phase: Chapter 14

Take me with you. Take me with you.

          I woke up with a startle. I was certain that I was dreaming. I couldn’t tell whether it was a good dream, or if it was a nightmare instead. I can only remember that one sentence repeat itself over and over, but each time I tried, the tone sounded different. In the end, I decided to ignore the dream altogether.

          That evening, Veann dressed me in another white garment. When he left at my father’s call, I rebelled the choice of clothes by wearing the sort of plain clothes Tazia loves to wear. I didn’t particularly like Tazia’s outfit, but as I rummaged through her closet that evening, I decided to wear them for the sake of offending everyone. I threw the white outfit to the floor and put on an ugly wordy t-shirt and my sister’s dark blue jeans. Still unsatisfied, I went to Firann’s room and stole his supposedly prized black hat he’d never wear. Then I waited for Veann.

          Veann came back after 3 hours, leaving the unattended me irritated. I was hungry too. Veann apologized profusely giving multiple reasons that I did not buy. I knew for certain that he went to that wretch village, possibly to warn them of my incoming tonight. I was crossed by his audacity to lie but for the most part, I was irritated since I woke up that evening and having a mission to complete further ruined my wake. I couldn’t care less about the humans there. If they escaped, then it’s their good luck. If they don’t, then it’s their misfortune. I was too peeved to consult with Veann with anything.

          When Veann tried to escort me to dinner, I refused. Some part of me refused the meal because I was vexed, some part wanted to get this mission over with as soon as possible, but there’s a silent part that I couldn’t ignore that wanted something else. I didn’t know what I wanted, but at that time, I was sure I will be getting it after the mission end. Therefore, I wanted it to end fast. I wanted the silence inside me answered, so that it could not speak its void anymore.

          My father saw me as when Veann and I were near the front door, about to head out for the task Kuran-pain-in-the-ass gave. Usually I would ignore him unless he calls but when our eyes met that night, I halted my steps. I waited for him to speak. Somehow, somewhere inside me wanted him to call me, to delay me, to give me one of his lecture just so that I would stay and linger a little more. Uranna didn’t. I stood there, foolishly staring at his questioning look, wondering why I was standing there instead of performing my duty to his king.

          I felt an unexplainable revolt for my father that second. His loyalty towards Kuran disgust me. I took a breath, emptied my thoughts and the multiple burdening feelings that weighted on me and allow myself to feel the silent void. I stole a glance at a suspiciously calm Veann, resolve myself to take no notice of a servant worries, and let my feet guide me to the border.

As we neared the area, Lady Lake’s mean giggles rang inside of me. The scent of humans was beginning to grow stronger. It was strange. Veann should have warned them. How come it feels like there’s more people than less?

They won’t go.

          Lady Lake words found itself whispering in my ears. At the statement, I can feel myself pitying the increasing unease in Veann. So be it. It was their choice. Lady Lake laugh maniacally to my ears. Harshly, I brushed the self-important lady off. I didn’t want to think much of the night’s task, but I was sure the lady knew what I was being thrown into. It was when she snicker knowingly that I look up, realizing that I’ve arrived at the border, and saw what was waiting for me.

          The small population had suddenly found itself increased to hundreds of humans. They were ready for me. There wasn’t one child in sight, and even though I’ve never encounter any Hunters, I knew that majority of those humans facing me were. Huh, trained humans specialized in killing my superior kind, in front of me, with every authority for an attack if I was to take the first offense. Kuran consented to that rule when he signed the co-exist agreement with the people of this country. 

“This was you,” I said, directing my accusation at Veann while keeping my view forward, facing the crowd before me.

“No, young miss. I warned them, I did,” he said desperately, “but I didn’t call the Hunters. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

          I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t want to hear anything from Veann traitorous mouth. This was probably what Kuran meant by loyalty. Maybe. My mind then played a strange theory for me. It was Kuran who signed the pact with useless humans. It was him who sent Veann to me. He tasked me to the patrol at this side of our borders. He sent me for this disposing mission. He wanted me to fall prey to these Hunters. Lady Lake approved of my theory and suggested something brilliant to my hungry ears. They were my prey.

          Veann horrified reaction to my thoughts confirmed one thing. I was hungry, and I refuse to be anyone’s puppet. There was nothing to gain from it. I have parents who puppet-ted themselves for Kuran, and a traitor for a servant.

          I stood there with only Lady Lake as my ally, studying the readying crowd in front of me when Veann screamed for them to run. Immediately, arrows were shot at me, some managed to graze at Tazia’s t-shirt, some went through my skin, some found its way deep through my organ. But I couldn’t feel the pain. I let myself a laugh. Wasn’t Hunters weapon supposed to be lethal?

          Veann was doing his best to parry the arrows from hitting me. Heh, at least he still remember who’s his master. One of the hunter came closer when my knees fell to the ground.

“You’ve lived long enough, monster,” he said angrily.

          What a heated anger. His cells were all bouncing madly. Humans. They can’t even differentiate a young royal with an old one. I was ten, and I have never sleep the long journey since my birth, and he said I’ve lived long enough? I haven’t seen a world outside Kuran crazy borders!

          The man staggered. While his cells were astounded by my rage, the man, confused by his withdrawn strength, had to suffer the fall of his own weaken knees. I slowly rise, wrapping my small hands to his large face, and made a small cut on the paralyzed man temple. I could sense the horror in Veann who somehow knew what I was going to do. The others furiously shot more of their arrows and bullets at me but despite the wounds and bleeding, I couldn't feel the significance of the pain. All I felt was the ecstasy of tasting the cells that joined me, rebelling on their supposed course, rejoicing at their owner twitching pain. 

          After just a small amount of his red cells left him for my appetite, he fell. His cold blue corpse, with only a scratch on his temple struck fear on his companions. But humans were the ever fool in any tale, they went nuts trying to kill me, and while anger cloud their better judgement, my thirst gave me greater motivation.

          Before long, more than half of the men fell. The sight of hundreds of men blue from having their blood forcefully eject their body was maddening. Lady Lake shared my ecstasy, gobbling down the deathly stench of corpses.

          I snicker at the rest of my would-be prey. It was then that I saw Veann, facing me instead of watching my back. He stood with humans behind him, and took a defensive stance. There was no horror in his face, at least none for me. He was a man of his own choosing, and he choose to side with the humans.

“Traitor,” I hissed.

“I swore to protect them. You did too. The hunters are now gone. Only us villagers left. Please, young miss,” he begged.

          Us villager. That’s what he said. His words left me with distaste. I look into the recklessly courageous servant who dared to defy me. I can see my own reflecting in his eyes. I was covered with specks of blood but I was still hungry. These were the bloods that heed my call. They betrayed their container to fill my thirst. It reminded me the night of the full moon.

Not yet. Take them all.

“Come Veann, it’s done,” I said much to Veann’s delight.

          My servant then dropped his defence and followed me willingly. Unsure of the weight that played itself in my mind, I started to step away from the scene.

          Then I sensed his falling, the life of him fading. I turned back to see Veann’s back and the sharp end of a Hunter’s spear in the middle of it. Then the life faded out of him.