NIOA Prologue

Prologue.

"Aly, please, be safe." he whispered while giving his only daughter to his younger sister. His hands are trembling and full of blood. Blood of enemies who wants to get his daughter but he won't let them. "Promise me that you will take care of her incase we won't make it." he added. Aly nods her head while crying.

For the last time, he kissed the forehead of his daughter and hug her. That's his wife wish before she left them to fight for her safety. He needs to come back. He needs to help his wife.

"I love you, Aleah." he then, sobbed.

Mabilis niyang tinalikuran ang anak at ang nakababatang kapatid bago pa siya bumigay. He's in the tip of crying at ayaw niyang makita siya ng kaniyang anak na mahina. Yes, she maybe just two years old but he knows that she's smart. She's their heiress after all.

Tumutulo ang luha niya habang mabilis na tumatakbo sa kinalalagyan ng kaniyang asawa. He wants to make it. Gusto niya pang mabuhay. Gusto niya pang makasama ang kaniyang mag ina, kahit napaka imposible nito dahil sa kalagayan nila ngayon.

Black Kingdom attacked them without a warning. It was their princess's second birthday when they suddenly attacked. They thought that this day is going to be ecstatic but opposite happened. Napuno ang lugar ng dugo. The last thing they want to see.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtakbo hanggang sa maaninag at marinig niya ang sigaw ng kaniyang pinakamamahal na asawa. "Maximus! Stop this shit right now!" kitang kita niya ang panginginig ng nakasarado nitong kamao. Her hair is now brightly red. A sign that she is totally angry.

"Stop what, my dear sister?" nakangising sagot ni Maximus. His wife's younger brother. He's covered with black smoke and his eyes is also flaming red. "This bloody game? Why would I? Isn't this what you want?" he said while taking a steps forward.

Nilakad niya ang pagitan nila ng asawa at hinila ito para itago sa kaniyang likuran. Maximus smirked when he saw him. "Ahh, my brother-in-law. I finally saw you. How was your day?" he mockingly said. His hand automatically closed because of anger. "Fuck you, Maximus!" he answered. Maximus look shock but his smirk never fades.

"You cursed at me. What a shock!" he's screaming danger. Death. But he doesn't care as long as their daughter is safe. Malayo kay Maximus. Malayo sa mundong ito.

He began to take a step closer. He tries to stop him using his ability but it's no use. He's restraining him and he can't do anything. "Trying to control me? Your ability won't kill or stop me." he said, still taking a step forward.

Malapit na ito. Unting-unti na lang. "Maximus! I'm begging you! Please, stop this!" sigaw ng kaniyang asawa na nasa kaniyang likuran parin. They are holding each other's hand and he can feel that she's trembling. "Let us live freely! Please!" dagdag nito. Maximus just laugh sarcastically.

"Freely!? Do you know what are you saying? In the two of us, you're the one who strictly know the rules! You know that it's forbidden to have a relationship with the White Kingdom but you still did it." mas lalong lumala ang usok na nakapalibot kay Maximus. His eyes is burning in anger and screaming envy. Nawala na rin ang ngisi nito at isang seryoso mukha ang nakatingin sa kanila.

"Maximus, you don't understand! White Kingdom accepted me but why can't you accept them!? Why can't you let me happy?!" mangiyak-ngiyak na sagot ng kaniyang asawa. "Aren't you happy? When we were still young, everyone admires and values you! Everyone recognized you! Everyone knows you! Father only sees you! It's always you! I'm always the second choice, I'm always the second best! They just know me if you're not there! They just see me if your nowhere to be seen!" punong puno ng hinanakit na sigaw ni Maximus. His eyes is full of envy but a sudden emotion flickers on it when he was talking. Sad. Longing.

"Maximus..." mahinang bulong ng kaniyang asawa. "To tell you the truth, I want to thank you for disobeying our father. The day you left, father starts seeing me. Father starts introducing me as his son. Everything that you own becomes mine. The fame, the credits, the recognition, everything." pagpapatuloy ni Maximus. "I'm so delightful until they starts finding you. Again, they forget me. They want you back! I'm there, kicking and alive but your still the one who they want! You betrayed and violated the rule but your still the star in their eyes! Why is that, my dear sister?! What did you do to make them almost kneel to you!?" halos sugurin na sila ni Maximus pero hindi nito ginawa. Hinihingal itong nakatingin ng masama sa kanila.

His wife takes a step forward. Lumabas ito mula sa pagkakatago sa kaniyang likuran pero hindi nito binatawan ang kaniyang kamay. "I didn't know you feel that way, Maximus." she whispered as tears starts flowing in her eyes. He wants to wipe it but he knows that his wife won't like him to interfere. "You know nothing! I hate you! I hate you to the core and I want you gone!" sigaw ni Maximus bago ito tuluyang sumugod at may hawak na itong patalim. A dagger is visible in his hands.

He worriedly stared at his wife pero wala siyang ginawa. He maybe be the king of White Kingdom but that doesn't mean that he's stronger than his wife. He knew that his wife is far more superior than him. She's a freaking heiress of Black Kingdom for pete's sake!

Seryoso ang mukha ng kaniyang asawa. Nawala ang mga mata nitong nasasaktan at lumuluha. There is no emotion in her eyes. Her fist is closed and she looks scary. One of the reasons why he loved her. He knows that she may look intimidating but the truth is she's fragile. Easy to break. But at some ways, she manage to hide it.

She closed her eyes and chant a word that makes the dagger fly away of Maximus's hand.

Disarming Ability. That is his wife's power. To take away something that on someone's hand.

Maximus stops running as he stared at Isabelle. Titig na titig ito sa kaniyang ate habang nagtatangis ang kaniyang bagang. "You will never win againts me. I won't let you." mahinang bulong nito habang masama paring nakatingin sa kanilang mag-asawa.

He takes a step forward. Wala ng limang hakbang ang pagitan nila and his body starts panicking as his ability starts activating.

Maximus frozed in his place, immobile. But then an unexpected smirk creep to his lips. "What an ability, Alvin. Controlling my body, huh?" Maximus whisper while a mocking smirk is still on his face.

Body Control. That is his ability. He can control someone's body without touching them.

"Did you forget that I can use my ability without moving or even using my body?" he added. Alvin stopped for a second at what he said. "Poor you, Alvin. You just forgot the most important detail of this game." he said and shake his head before looking at him deeply.

"My curse ability."

Imperious Curse. To command or order someone to do something they can't resist. That is Maximus ability. A dark curse magic. A magic that is forbidden to use.

Alvin didn't know what happen but a strong force is caging him. "Why don't you pick the dagger that I was holding before?" Maximus said.

Alvin starts walking without even knowing it. His not the one who controls his own body and he can't do anything. "Alvin!" Isabelle shouted. Sinubukan ni Isabelle na lapitan ang asawa but she's like frozen in place. Someone is stopping her to move. And it is Maximus.

"Stop, Isabelle! Just stay in there!" Alvin shouted back. Tuwang tuwa si Maximus sa kaniyang nasasaksihan. His sister, suffering? How much he loves to see it.

Alvin finally reach his destination. Yumuko ito at pinulot ang dagger na kani-kanina lang ay nasa kamay ni Maximus. He's forcing himself to stop but it's no use. Pilit niyang nilalabanan ang magic ni Maximus pero walang nangyari.

"Now, why don't you come near my beloved sister?" Alvin's eyes pop in shock. Unti unting rumehistro sa kaniya ang gustong ipagawa ni Maximus.

He wants him to kill his own wife. No way! He won't do it! No! He won't!

As he scream in his mind, his feet starts moving. Taking a step to his wife. Titig na titig siya sa asawang nakatingin rin sa kaniya. Worry is visible in her eyes and he wants to kill Maximus for that. But he can't do anything. He doesn't have the control of his own body.

"No! Isabelle, go away! Run away, please!!" he shouted but his wife stays on her place.

Unti unting tumulo ang luha sa mata nito at nanginginig ang kamay na umiyak. She wanted to run but she can't. She can't do anything! Her ability is stopped by his own younger brother and she wants to curse because of that.

She wants to help her husband but she can't even move her own body. She wants to fight for her family. For Alvin and for her daughter. She still wants to see her daughter again. She wants to sing her to sleep, feed her, bathe her and help her change her clothes. She wants to see her daughter grow and be a complete lady. How she wish she can.

Pero wala siyang magawa kundi ang umiyak at titigan ang pinakamamahal niyang lalaki na may hawak na dagger sa kanang kamay at unti unting lumalapit sa kaniya. Mabagal ang lakad nito at kitang kita niya kung paano gustong pigilan ni Alvin ang humakbang pero hindi niya magawa. Maximus is controlling them. He's ordering them.

Tuluyan ng nakalapit sa kaniya ang asawa. Nagtitigan sila habang patuloy siyang lumuluha. They are at the peck of their death pero kitang kita niya parin ang nagsusumigaw na pagmamahal sa kaniya ng kaniyang asawa. His eyes is screaming love. It's like, they are telling her how much he loves her and that will never change.

Mas lalo siyang naluha dahil doon. They really love each other. No rules can stop their love and not death can even take that. Kung mamatay man sila ngayon, atleast she knows that her life was already complete. Hindi man niya mapapalaki ang anak, nakasama naman na niya ang lalaking habangbuhay niyang mamahalin. And that is her husband, Alvin.

"What a lovely scene. Now, let us move to next level. Hug her, Alvin. Show me how much you love my sister." Maximus said. Ngising ngisi ito habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. Tinignan niya ito ng masama at halos patayin niya na ito gamit lang ang tingin.

'Kung pwede lang sana, matagal ko ng ginawa.'

He evilly laughed as Alvin takes a closer step to her. Titig na titig sila sa isa't isa hanggang sa tuluyan siyang mayakap ng kaniyang asawa. "I love you, Isabelle. I will always do." he whispered as she heard him sobbed. He's crying and she can't do anything!

"I love you too, baby. Until death do us part." she answered. That is the least thing she can do. To make him feel how much she love him.

"Oh! What a sweet last words! That's right! Say how much you love each other cause that maybe the last. I'm so sorry, my dear sister and my dear brother-in-law but I don't wanna waste any more time. Until we meet again." Maximus said while smirking.

Fuck him! Fuck him to the core! She promise that someday, karma will come back to him! That someday, someone will stop his evilness! And when that day comes, he will regret everything he have done! He will regret that he fight against them! Against White Kingdom!

Against the Davis family!

She closed her eyes as she felt the tip of the dagger rip her clothes. Slowly, he pierced it in her back and she can feel the pain. She felt the blood dripping as the dagger finally touch her skin. She twitch as the dagger gets deep. Masakit! Sobrang sakit!

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, my wife. I want to stop this. I don't want to hurt you but I don't know how. I'm so sorry." rinig na rinig ni Isabelle ang bulong ng asawa. Punong puno ito ng pagsisisi at napakasakit nitong pakinggan.

She knows that he's blaming himself for what is happening and she won't let him think that way. "I'm fine, baby. It's okay. It's not your fault. It will never be your fault. Don't think that way, okay?" Isabelle forced herself not to stammer and she did it. Her voice almost cracked but she managed to make it fine. And she's thankful for that.

They were silently crying as the dagger gets deeper and deeper. Hinang hina na siya at halos malagutan na ng hininga. She wants to hold and hug her husband pero hindi niya magawa. Maximus don't let her. She's slowly falling and her strength is slowly vanishing.

Alvin can't take it. He wants to kill himself for hurting his beloved wife. His wife was twitching in pain and slowly falling on his arms but he can't do anything. He felt worthless. He can't even defend and protect his own family. He's nothing but a worthless jerk.

He's hugging his wife when his hand suddenly move fast. Making the dagger gets deep within a split second. Gulat na gulat siya at namalayan niya na lang na tuluyan ng bumagsak ang kaniyang asawa. His wife is coughing blood and her breath is fading.

Biglang nawala ang force na nakapalibot sa kaniya. He can finally move his body freely at hindi siya nagdalawang isip na lapitan ang asawa.

Nahulog mula sa duguan niyang kamay ang dagger habang nanginginig ang buong katawan na umupo at nilapitan ang asawa. He hugged his wife as his whole body trembled in fear. Natatakot siyang baka iwan na siya ng kaniyang pinakamamahal na babae. Hindi niya kakayanin. Hindi pwede.

"No! No! You can't leave! Please, Isabelle!" Alvin was desperately screaming but Maximus was laughing in glee. Finally, he's halfway done.

Alvin can't help but to cry when his wife's hand touched his cheeks. "T-Till de-death do u-us p-part." she said as she slowly closed her eyes. And her hand slowly fall off of his cheeks. "Isabelle!!" he scream, feeling empty.

'My strength is gone. My wife had fallen.'

He's crying until he felt the same force again. The ability of Maximus caged him again. Nilingon niya ito at masamang tinignan. "Fuck you, Maximus! Fuck you to death!" he shouted but Maximus just laugh. "How much I love to see the both of you die. So I won't waste any second. Bid your goodbye, Alvin. Hope to have a beautiful journey with my sister in the other life." then he laugh.

Nang gagalaiti na si Alvin na patayin siya pero hindi niya magawa. He can't do anything again. He's useless, worthless, and nothing. Maybe it's really better to be with his wife again.

Unti unting pinulot ng kaniyang isang kamay ang dagger at itinutok ito sa sariling dibdib. His eyes is locked on his wife as he slowly felt the pain. His hand starts pushing the dagger deeper and it's making him twitch in pain.

Namalayan niya na lang na nakahiga na siya katabi ang sariling asawa habang nakatusok sa kaniyang dibdib ang dagger.

He whispered something before he finally close his eyes. "Aleah."

Maximus laugh in victory as he walked outside the White Kingdom. He done it. He finally done it. Wala ng sagabal sa mga plano niya. Finally, magiging pinuno narin siya. Sa wakas, wala na ang ate niya. Wala na ang mga taong pipigil sa plano niya.

He's laughing nonchalantly, not knowing that the only person who can kill him is still alive. That the one who can kill him with also a cursed ability is born two years ago.

He didn't know but the war did just began.