Ok, it’s been a long time but here it is~

Here’s Chapter 5

Medea’s POV 

I'm tying my ballerina shoes when the new a.s.signed knight that will serve me came.

Sigh…I shall surely missed Patricia…She's such an obedient child.

I know the person who will replace her and I did not expect that we shall meet again in this kind of circ.u.mstances.

Someone knock on the studio's door.

"Enter" I answered.

The door creaked open and it revealed a tall young man. He still looks the same and my heart can't help but jump at the sight of him.

He kneeled before me. "Your Highness, I am Div Umbra Claymore, a Paladin that is set to serve you."

I can't help but feel awkward at his formality to me. It's like we only just met.

"Stand for I want you to do something for me."

I pointed at the black pianoforte at the side of the room.

"Didn't you know how to play that? Help me in my practice."

He went to the piano and read the scores. "Tchaikovsky?"

I nodded. "Swan Lake…The play will be showing soon and I do not want to make any mistakes. So if I have some time, I practiced as much as I can."

I'm somewhat expecting to hear him say 'You're still the same' but he remained silent.

He is not the same as he was back then.  Now, you cannot even perceive any emotions from his face.

Oh, he already started playing the piece. The tempo is slow so that is why it's sounds lonely.

"—I'm sorry Div, I forgot to mention that I want it to be played in an Allegro tempo."

He repeated it from the start.

I started the dance with the croisé devant move.  My right foot is pointed forwards while my left foot is behind it. Meanwhile I raised my left hand while the other one is outstretched.

Then I did the cabriole, a kind of jump where you keep your legs straight.

I prepared myself to do a piroquette.

I turned using just one foot.  After the turn, I lowered my other foot to support the first.

One…

Two…

I tripped at the third piroquette.

The music stop and I didn't fell down on the floor.

My knight saved me.

"Are you alright your Highness?"

He's so close to me that I can felt his breath fan my face.

I just nodded for the fear that if I spoke, my voice will tremble.

"If you may allow me to speak your Highness, I think you are not suited for ballet. It seems difficult to do this kind of dance—"

That words of his brings ache in my heart. Did he forget why I really wanted to become a ballerina?

"I bring joy to so many people with my dancing. I also help many people with it."

Because all the profit gained from the show goes to charity. As a blessed being, I want to give hope for those who are in need.

I carefully stand up as I leaned into him. I then faced the window and gazed at the horizon.

"How about you Div, do you think that being a Paladin suited you? Because I would want to see you more as a—"

"—the right to become the prince has already been given to someone." He cut off. "And the time will come that you'll marry him your Highness—"

I immediately stared at him. "—Where did you learn it from?!"

"Any vampire will think that. My comrade Galatea was heard killing people who get close to the declared prince under your orders—"

My ears hurt at what he said. I did not give any orders to kill innocent people!

Really, even I can't escape politics -play!

I went out of the studio and marched outside the mansion towards the courtyard with only the moonlight that serves as my guide.

"—FRANCES! FRANCES!" I haven't reached the back of the cathedral yet as I yell the bishop's name.

He immediately went towards me. "Your Highness? Why did you go outside alone? Where is your Knight?!"

Pak!

I greeted him with a slap.

"WHY ARE THERE DEAD INNOCENT PEOPLE?"

He couldn't answer and it just made me so mad. I stared at him.

"Y-your Highness, don't be mad at me—I just want what is good for you."  He's getting scared. For sure, he has noticed that his body moves on its own without his consent.

His nails got longer and he pointed it on his heart.

"P-please spare me your Highness… Please give me one more chance!"

"Spare you? Did you have mercy to those innocent people who you carelessly killed? As a powerful being, isn't it our duty to be humble to those who are weak?"

"YOUR HIGHNESS, STOP THAT!"

My concentration slipped and I lost control of my good for nothing bishop because of Div's yell.

I'll just do it again then.

Div put his arms around me. "It's enough…" He whispered.

I suddenly felt dizzy and lost consciousness.

Div's Umbra's POV

I carried the princess when she lost her consciousness.

It's dangerous for her to use her power for there are times when she lost control of herself.

"—You have done well Paladin." I can clearly see the relief on the bishop's face.

"I'll carry the princess inside." I said as parting words.

"Wait. You're the one who told the princess of what she has learned isn't it?"

"I am."

He glared at me. "YOU DEGENERATE!  Aren't you a chatty one!"

Behind him his shadow moved, and then emerged a shadow figure of a woman. She then tore both of the bishop's arms.

"W-WHO IS THIS IMPUDENT? Let go of me! I'm the princess's bishop!  I can make you suf—"

"Her name is Penumbra, my twin-shadow. Be careful of what you are saying for I am not an ordinary knight.  Remember that I was supposed to be the prince."

"Pwe! I know you! A Duke who's t.i.tle was taken away because of—"

He couldn't finish what he is saying anymore for a horde of shadow arms choke him. The arms didn't let him go until his head was severed from his body.

He instantly turned into ash.

"You're still easily p.i.s.sed Umbra. What they are saying is the truth anyway…"

"Shut up Penumbra. Go back to where you came from"

"Oh alright, alright…"

She then jumps back to my shadow.

I was born with my twin Penumbra but she didn't have a body of her own. Sometimes, I let her use my body as her vessel so that she can explore the world on her own.

What is convenient is that she can travel from any shadows, may it be a shadow of a person or an object. Because of that I can use her as a spy.

I glance at the princess's innocent face while carrying her carefully.

It's been seven years since my t.i.tle as a Duke was taken away from me. If Medea wanted it, she could have already married into another Duke.

Am I still on her heart, or is she really only waiting for the prince?

Hio's POV

Our band Forlorn Madness or ForMad for short is getting famous.

I'm the ba.s.sist. Kape is the rhythm guitarist. Noir is the drummer and 'doll' is the vocalist.

I'm quite amazed at this plastic surgery shorty. Her voice is amazing and… I didn't expect that she is s.e.xy.

The number of guys who went to the bar just to see her doubled.

Oops! I'm not l.u.s.ting after that war freak doll ah!

I'm just surprised; she can actually wear mini shorts, boots and a hanging hoodie.

Every whisper

Of every waking hour

I'm choosing my confessions

Trying to keep an eye on you

Like a hurt lost and blinded fool

Oh no, I've said too much

I set it up

Consider this

The hint of the century

Consider this

The slip that brought me

To my knees failed

What if all these fantasies

Come flailing around

Now I've said too much

When our eyes met while performing, that doll always scowled at me.

PMS?

I thought that I heard you laughing

I thought that I heard you sing

I thought that I saw you try

But that was just a dream

That was just a dream

That's me in the corner

That's me in the spotlight

Losing my religion

Trying to keep up with you

And I don't know if I can do it

Oh no I've said too much

I haven't said enough

I went near her. For showmans.h.i.+p, she held onto my shoulder.

The crowd started yelling 'KISS!'

Ooooouuuuch!

Mother F*cker!

She subtly stepped on my foot. She really used the heels on her boots!

"Bro' get it right!" Kape yelled at the other side when he noticed that I almost missed a beat.

This plastic surgery shorty will really get a beating from me later!

After our live, it's party time!

I shared a table with a lady who invited me to her table. She said that her name is Isadora.

That name looks like it's already been buried in history ah!

I don't know how she successfully invited me. There's something to her that is hard to explain.

She's not talkative but she's just staring at me like she wanted to eat me whole.

But of course, I already changed my ways. No more chix to go*.

I suddenly looked back and my gaze landed on the plastic surgery shorty. She's scowling again but she's drilling holes at us. Is she jealous?

"—Do you have a girlfriend?" ask Isadora.

"No, but I have a boyfriend." She laughed and I smiled.

"Sigh…Really all the good-looking ones today. If they are not taken, shaken…"

I didn't get it.

She touched my thigh and whispered into my ear.

"Can I change your mind?"

I suddenly felt something weird as she said that. I feel like I just chug a whole case of Red Horse*.

"Excuse me, it looks like I'm already drunk" I said as I left her.

In the corridor, I suddenly leaned on the wall.

There are people loitering there, there's some who's making out. The others were just staring at me and they looked like they are smiling.

Where is the dressing room again? I feel like I walked for a mile.

s.h.i.+t.

Somebody pulled me and leaned me into the wall. It's Isadora.

She's saying something. I'm trying hard to understand what it is. "Come with me my prince, I will take you to a paradise—"

"—PARADISE YOUR FACE!"  I heard the shorty's voice said.

After that, nothing…I black out.

Footnotes :

1. Chix to go – a by play of the roasted chicken food service . Hio is pertaining that he wasn’t taking home any ladies to s.e.x with anymore.

2. Red Horse Beer, the first extra-strong beer brand in the Philippines, is the high-alcohol beer brand of San Miguel Brewery, it is a deeply hued lager with distinctive sweetish taste balanced by a smooth bitterness that leads in a strong alcohol kick.