"YOU will not do any of my acts earlier," I said pertaining to the thievery that I did and she automatically agreed, all eyes on me.
I just smiled and throw the seeds of the apple that I was eating earlier.
"To what do I call you for, Kid?"
"I am Adriana and this is my sister, Kera," she said as an introductory for her and her sister whose still glued to her body, still shaking. I tried reaching out to her by flashing my smile but it only make her hide himself harder than before.
"It is her! She is right there! The one who stole my belongings! I am very sure!" desperate shouts from a man not far away from where we were. Must be the owner of the purse that I stole. But I was mistaken when I looked at them. It was another man with two guards following him.
"Bad luck. Tsk!" I clucked my tongue as I use the hood of my cloak to cover my face as they were charging at my direction. Many of them are looking at me now. I need to get out of here as fast as possible.
"Hide yourselves, I will come and take you from here when I get back," I said as I prepare my self to escape.
"Run away from the guards! Run away from the guards!" said Vivi as he flew away from my shoulder.
I ran away from the scene as fast as the light thanks to my power, I was laughing while running away because I know those losers are not able to catch up. In just a second, all of their voices were gone in the wind.
"You will never catch up, losers," I whispered while arrogantly smiling.
"Caught you," said an unfamiliar manly voice.
I was shocked as hell when someone grab me by the arm and got me cornered to a nearby wall. I was dragged. Yet again, adding to my already shocked soul. We are at the end of the market where there are barely any creature passing by.
With widening eyes, I looked at him. "How..." How can he do that? I uttered under my breath, speechless as a mute. I cannot believe he caught me. I was utterly fast and no one ever caught me up until now. Why?
"I heard your movements from the wind, Miss," he said while smiling so smugly at me like he know what I am going to say. Mocking my entire existence at its finest.
I shockingly looked at him again not from what he said but from his looks. If not for the guard outfit that he has, I will think that he is a prince of this kingdom because of his features and physique. Perfectly asymmetrical face. From his attractive eyes to his thin but luscious lips.
"You seem to be staring too much to my manliness, Miss," he said while gradually flashing a mischievous smile.
"W-what?" I said just when he is about to touch the hood of my cloak to see my face, figuring out what language he is using because my thoughts seemed to float away and keeps from lagging so I could not understand a word he says.
"Tongue tied? I am thinking what could be the reason for that," he said not removing the mischievous smile on his thin lips.
Just then, I came back to my senses. That arrogant pig! Using my peculiar strength, I easily pushed him away from me. He landed on a bunch of straw on the other side, I used that moment to escape.
I circled the market to flee but he, again, grabbed me by the arm. For the second time, I was shocked. This is not happening!
What exactly is his power? How can he caught me when I am as fast as light?
"I told you already, Miss, I can hear your movements from the wind. You can never escape from me no matter how fast you are." He pushed me against the wall, cornering me again.
"Let me go." I glared at him intensively.
"Why would I let a thief escape? You should be punished for what you did," he said leaning his face near me. I immediately divert my gaze for him not to see my face clearly. He flew again in the air when I pushed him.
I ran but he caught me again. That is why I eyed him sharply that it could cut his thick-skinned face. He pushed me against the wall, held both of my arms and placed it on my sides.
"You cannot escape me, Miss," his voice is full of arrogance.
"Or maybe I can?" I uttered with a tender voice. I tilted my head to make my hood fall and then gave him my sweetest smile that even a stone man cannot resist but I only got a blank stare in return. How in hell can he endure me? He just stared at me with seriousness that turned my grinning face into a frown.
I want to shake my head at the way he is acting after I showed him my charm. This is utterly despicable. But I would not let him have his way with me and be punished just because of him.
"Can you really hear my moves in the wind, Officer?" still with a tender voice, I said.
"As I have said," he said as he stared at me with a tone of seriousness evident in his voice.
I want to get mad because he does not even faze at my charm and still have that stupid handsome face with him. I hate how he looks at me like I am just like anybody else. Like I do not have this beautiful face. But I did not remove the beautiful smile that is plastered to my face and slowly inched my face against him. I can see the shock in his eyes as our lips finally met. He did not even move away from me or even push me in the slightest. He just stood there, stoned.
I immediately ended the kiss and gently pushed him away. I grin at my masterpiece, his shock-filled face. He had that reaction as soon as my lips touched his. I liked it. It wipes away my disappointment from the earlier events made by him.I took the chance to get away from him and escape. In a flash, I came back to where the kids were using my speed and got them. I never saw him following me after that.
"Sweet, sweet! Kisses are sweet!" said Vivi who's currently flying around my head, teasing me. I stared at him so he settled on my shoulder.
"Vivi," I said as a warning while eyeing him. I have no idea why but my cheeks feel like they are burning with what he said. Indeed, Vivi. Kisses are sweet. Now, I wonder what other things he saw. Maybe this bird is really a genius.
I stopped and stared at nothing while holding my lips. What happened to me? Why did I do that? It feels like I am bewitched. I can just fight him if I want to but why that? Why kiss him? This is pure stupidity, Aliara.
And then his shocked face came into my mind. The reaction when I kissed him is just too satisfying, dazed. It seems like his first kiss is me. I bit my lower lip to suppress the smile that sprung into my face.
"Miss," Adrina called me back to my senses, she stared at me weirdly like I have been doing something indescribable. It caught me off guard that I felt shame with the things I have been thinking so I shook it off my head. This is really dumb, Aliara!
"Aliara!"
I looked instantly to the direction of the voice. He was out of breath when he reached me.
"Matias," I said as I watched him calm his ragged breathing because of running fastly. When he is done, our eyes meet and he never really has to mention what he is here for because I can already see what he wants to say just from his expression.
"Those bastards!" I said in gritted teeth. I balled my fist and stared at the nothingness, building a plan.
"Who's them?" he inquired as he saw them staring at us.
"We are taking them," I said with finality in my voice and walked directly to where we were supposed to go.
"What? Their folks not going look for them?" he snapped at me while trying hard to follow my steps.
"We are orphans, Sir, and we want to come along with you. Swear we would not be a bother," said Adrina that made Matias look at her. Maybe he also felt that Adrina is too mature for her age and that she is just an equal to him.
I stopped walking and grinned at him as looked at me, dazed and confused.
"I will take them," I muttered firmly.
"Why?" he questioned again.
After a long pause, he sighed as I did not answer his last question. I do not answer to him. Not to anyone. They have no right to question me and my decisions.
"Alright, you call," he said, defeated as he, again, looked at the children with concern. Adrina returned the look with an unknown expression. Reading his reaction.
"SETTLE down now, we are rushing forward on my mark," I said as a finality on my plan tonight. They silently nod and go forth as they reside to their designated places.I instantly arrived at the higher place we were on using my ultimate speed, one plateau where I got the view of the whole forest. From the darkness of the night, I saw some glimpse of fire lit torches in the distance approaching where we were, the ambush area.They are taking the roads to the auction hall but we are never letting them pass. My eyes sharpened instantly as it landed on him as he closed in on where I stand. The people of the grasses, Verdantes. Men with bulky bodies that can crush a skull with just one hand. They have inverted horns on their head and an unnatural strength like me but they were never my kind. They reside at the northern part of this kingdom, the Farianio.They have torches to give light on the dark pathway ahead of them, led by their chief, Dardo. In the end of the m
"THE next time I hear you going after those women in Kozania, you will have your horns removed," I threatened him. I know that it is an insult and shame on their kind to have their horns removed and I would never hold back again once he angers me and repeats his wrongdoings. The next time we meet, will also be the last. I stood and got back to my comrades but his words stopped me. "You think I'm gonna follow what you're blabbering out here? I will capture who I wanna capture because they are weak and have no leader to protect them. Like your kind." I frowned at what he said. Once again, I come to where he is now standing, still struggling because of the injuries I gave him. "Me. I will be the one who will save every citizen of Kozania. Those who perish on your hands, a disgusting man like you," I said in gritted teeth and gave him a hard blow of a punch in the face that made him unconscious. He fell to the ground. I sighed. A long
"THANK YOU. You really do not have to," I told them, patting their heads while I received their flowers with glee. I nodded as a bid of farewell when Hurisa held my shoulders."That was nothing big compared to what you do for us, Miss. If not for you, all of us may have been suffering up until now just to have little food to survive on a daily basis." The oldest of the children aged eight as she spoke to me and I wondered a bit because she did not speak that way when I last saw her."You are too young to speak of something like that. You were supposed to just play and enjoy life. Do not think of anything that is not of your concern," I said with a smile on my lips. They just nodded as if they understood what I just said."That is just fine, I guess. Let them be aware of the things that are happening around them," Adrina said, springing like a wild sprout beside me. I wanted to hit her in the head because of what she uttered but I just glared at her hoping
INSTEAD OF continuing the battle between me and Matias, I shifted my attention to Adrina and to her remarks."And why are you observing us, by the way? Did I not tell you off to just play with children like you?" I said as I slid my sword to its shaft.She shifted her gaze to the children playing not far from us and mockingly looked back at me. "Did I not tell you too that I am too old to play with those kids?" she said sarcastically.My forehead knotted on what she said, stopping myself from getting irritated at her attitude. "Tell me, who is older than the two of us? You should listen to me, who is older than you, as a matter of fact.""Age is the only superior thing you have on me, Aliara," she said with weight, not really giving up the game.That made my forehead knot more. "And what do you mean by that?""I want to train too. I want to be able to fight like you," she said with finality in her voice that shook me."Why do you want
I SHIFTED my gaze towards the falls, "Yes."I started walking back to our hideout but stopped because he suddenly held my arm."You are the reason why I went all the way here, actually. I saw your pet, asked and he pointed out that you are here so I went uninvited," he said in a serious voice while his eyes are all on me. I do not want to believe him because Vivi denied his claim but my forehead formed a knot, wondering."And why do you want to see me, Mister?" I stopped when I realized why. "Are you still chasing me for picking a deep pocket I did a while back?" I asked in amazement.His face turned more serious, removing his hold on my arm. "I did not come here for that offense but for the crime you did to me, Miss," he said emphatically.My eyes narrowed at his words. "I do not remember doing anything wrong with you, Mister."This immediately planted a grin on his handsome face, seems to remember something I have no idea what is. "Then le
"WHAT DID you just say? Your dear mister? Do you adore him more than me now, Vivi?" I said with much anger laced on my voice. Is that why he did not want to get away from his arms earlier? "I love you more! I love you more!" His gaze shifted from one place to another, not sure what his next move was. To stay on my shoulder or to go away. "Why call him your dear tister, then?" I asked, my frown grew bigger when I was answered with silence. "If you love him more than me, go ahead and go to him. To your fool of a mister. Ido not give a damn!" I said as I dismissed him on my shoulder signaling for him to go. I rolled my eyes when he flew away and got lost from my sight. He did not even say a word. The audacity of that bird. "If you really go to him, I will make sure to tangle up your bones altogether. Hmmp!" I irritantly said while I slipped the pouch back to where I hid it and walked back to the hideout. "You were gone longer than you ever did, I t
"ADRINA," I called as I walked near them to catch her attention that she immediately gave to me. "Rest for now, Hamil," I said facing Hamil. He gave me a nod and went to the other who was training.I gave Adrina the cup of water I was holding."Thank you, Miss," she gratefully said. I just looked at her while she drank the water I gave in one go."Let us reschedule going to the market for tomorrow. You have been busy all day and I know that you are tired from all that training.""Good to know that, it was almost evening. The sun is setting at any moment now," she muttered under her labored breath after gulping the water.I just nodded at her and got the cup."Do not push yourself in training too hard, it will take a long time before you learn the things you have to," I said to her and she gave me a frown in return."But it was exactly eighteen days before the next full moon, the night of your attack," she uttered. Now, it was my t
LATER ON, they stare at each other and laugh ever so loudly. Seeming to know the answer they wanted to know just seconds ago, two of them gathered around me. "I wonder what it is that made your face as red as ripe tomatoes, Miss?" said one of them. She was talking to them but felt like that one question was for me, teasing. "Indeed. Perhaps what happened between the two of them was a beautiful thing," said the other one. "Maybe his lips and hers met." "Or maybe more." My forehead creased, not liking where the conversation was going. "No! It was just a kiss, mermaids," I defended but quickly covered my own mouth. I spilled too much. Because of what I did, they eyed each other again and laughed harder than they did earlier, almost choking. I just frown at what they are doing. I am beyond annoyed by these mermaids, they did not deserve the name. It should be sirens. Sirens are evil according to the myths. It sounded better. Sh