Strings and Chains (The Frey, #1)

30. Strings and Chains

"Here's the plan." Tumingin kami kay Yohan.

"You have only days to stop that seed growing in your body. Once it reaches your heart and mind, you can no longer break away from it. So Raiden will have to search for the curse breaker. And if he didn't come back before the final day, you know what's going to happen next."

"And another thing," wika ni Lauren. "There's no guarantee na babalik ka sa pagiging tao. There's a lower chance that you can but we are not sure if you can make it far. It will shorten your life."

A lower chance or nothing at all. Ibig sabihin hindi pa rin ako makakabalik sa pagiging tao.

"I can't be human again?"

Tumango ang mga ito sa akin. Bakit? Why can't I get back?

Raiden hold my hand kaya't napatingin ako sa kanya. "You died. Your human heart died. If you want to go back as a human that means death too. You can live but just for a short time. That's how you will pay for breaking the contract."

I bit my lip at huminga ng malalim. "So I will be a succubus forever?"

Tumango siya sa akin.

"But I don't want to be like this forever. Please, Raiden."

Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko. "I can't do anything about it. I can only save you and everyone like you always wanted by finding that curse breaker."

Then I don't want to be saved!

"Then kill me."

He's hurt and I can see the pain in his eyes. If I'm going to be a succubus forever, then I'll just die too.

"No." Matigas niyang sagot.

"You have to kill me."

"I can't."

"You can."

I took a risk. It's my fault. I agreed to the devil's deal because I thought I could somehow manage to escape from it. Now it's too late to regret everything. Katulad nga no'ng sinabi ko noon, nang mga panahong nandoon sa impyerno kasama si Lilith sa iisang kuwarto, dalawa lamang ang kahihinatnan ko. Mamamatay ako o mamamatay ako. Mamamatay sa kamay ni Lilith o mamamatay sa kamay ng ibang tao.

At least I saw them one last time and I managed to say goodbye.

Narinig ko ang pagtawa ni Lauren kaya't muli kaming napatingin sa kaniya.

"Do you really have to do that here in my office?"

Bigla akong nahiya. Narinig ko rin ang mahinang pagtawa ng kanyang asawa.

"You know it's very rare to see you like this, Raiden. You've fallen deeply. I don't know if that's a good thing. A man crazy in love will do anything for the sake of love."

"Then I have a proposition," wika ni Yohan.

"May I ask first why don't you want to stay like that? You have immortal life. You can live with him as long as you want."

"I—I don't like Lilith. I don't want to be like her. Like this. I just can't."

"Then do you want to be like us?" tanong nito at doon ako natigilan.

"A vampire?" tanong ko.

Nakita ko ang pagngiti ni Lauren. "Hmm, good idea."

Ngumiti rin sa akin si Yohan. "Yes, a vampire."

Tumingin ako kay Raiden, muli kay Lauren, at sa kanyang asawa.

I don't want to be a succubus. That's my final decision. Gusto kong bumalik sa pagiging tao pero hindi na mangyayari 'yon. And to be a vampire... Gusto ko bang maging katulad nila? Ni Raiden?

"If that happens, I have to sign a contract again with a demon. Am I right?"

Umiling si Lauren.

"No, not really."

"Then I don't need to sell my soul again?"

"I told you. You don't want that to happen. I don't too."

"But how?" tanong ko. Paano ako magiging bampira?

"We'll have to break the chains first and connect the strings."

Kumunot-noo ako. What does she mean?

"The chain that binds you to Lilith and the string that connects you to Raiden. That's the key to your survival."

Lumunok ako at tumingin kay Raiden. I can't decide. I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I want to become like them.

"Let's find the curse breaker first then decide after," wika ni Lauren saka ito naglakad patungo sa pinto.

"Call your brothers. We need help," anunsyo nito bago tuluyang lumabas ng kuwarto.

***

(Just want to unleash my fangirling here kasi kasi I realized I miss Lauren when I started writing her in the last chapter and here in this chapter again. At syempre, si Yohan!!! Mga hindot!! Ang puso ko! Ang bebe ko! Pero syempre, mas nakaka-excite 'tong dulo. Kingina  *excuse me lang po talaga di ko na ma-take* magkikita-kita na ulit 'yong pito! The last time we saw them together sa Freed pa. Wuuuu! Itodo na 'to! Kaway-kaway sa mga fetus readers ng Curse Series!

Okay. Back to being serious. I just want to inform you that I will be ending SAC. Five chapters left and we're done!)