✔Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins [Books 1&2]

QOS: QUINDECIM

A surge of tremendous light flew towards her at an incredible speed. Kinakabahang pinagmasdan ni Snow ang panang bumulusok papalapit sa kanya.

"Damn it!" Naramdaman ni Snow ang pagpunit ng pana sa hanging nakapaligid sa kanila. It was gonna kill her! She acted on instinct and shielded herself from the arrow.

But it never touched her.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Tick-tock...

There was an echo of ticking clocks in a distance. Sa kabila ng nakakasilaw na liwanag at ng ingay ng beerhouse, narinig ni Snow ang tunog ng mga orasan.

Kasabay nito ay ang pag-iyak ng isang sanggol.

'What the heck?'

Sumakit ang ulo ni Snow. She opened her eyes and noticed the arrow suspended in midair. Iilang sentimetro na lang ang layo nito mula sa mukha niya. She stared in horror as Pestilence stood in front of her.

Ngayon lang napagtanto ni Snow na hawak pala nito ang pana, kaya hindi ito tumama sa kanya. Nakatitig lang ang horseman sa kanya. Tila ba may gusto siyang sabihin kay Snow. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat.

He saved her from his own attack.

The arrow vanished in wisps of white smoke as Pestilence sighed. "I can't. I still can't hurt you, my queen." Emotion flashed in his eyes as he sighed and walk away from her.

Napanganga si Snow sa nangyari.

Sinundan niya papalabas ng beerhouse si Pestilence. Ano bang ibig niyang sabihin? Snow White's curiosity was killing her again.

She wanted answers.

"Pestilence!"

Pero nang nakalabas siya ng beerhouse, biglang naglaho ang binata. Naglaho na ang horseman na nakasuot ng puting armor at may ginintuang korona sa kanyang ulo. Snow searched for those familiar pair of ash gray eyes and blonde hair, but it was no use. Pestilence vanished as if he never existed in the first place.

"Snow!"

Napalingon si Snow sa boses na tumawag sa kanya. There, she saw Sloth running towards her. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng kasalanan at mukhang kanina pa siya nito hinahanap.

"Sloth.."

Nabigla si Snow ang yakapin siya ng kasalanan.

"Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap! Damn it, angel! We were so worried about you! Hindi ka dapat gumagala mag-isa sa Tartarus. This place can kill you..." Kumalas ang prinsipe ng katamaran mula sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. Hindi maiwasang ngumiti ni Snow. Sa wakas, kinakausap na siya nito nang matino.

"Kung alam ko lang na kailangan ko lang palang maligaw sa Tartarus para kausapin mo 'ko, sana kanina ko pa ginawa."

Napasimangot si Sloth.

Snow White cursed under her breath when she realized she said that out loud. 'What the fuck, Snow? What is happening to you?!' Akmang magpapaliwanag na sana siya nang maramdaman ang mga labi ni Sloth sa kanya.

Sloth pulled her close and kissed her passionately. His warm lips sealed hers. Sloth started invading Snow's mouth sweetly as he caressed the side of her face in a loving manner. His other hand wrapped around her waist protectively.

Sloth was kissing her.

It was enough to make her melt.

Natuod sa kanyang kinatatayuan si Snow. Hindi niya alam kung paano siya kikilos. Pakiramdam niya ay anumang oras, aatakihin na siya sa puso dahil kay Sloth. Makalipas ang ilang sandali, humiwalay sa kanya si Sloth.

"S-Sloth...?"

He smirked and touched her swollen lips. "I'd give up my life for you, angel.."

Hinawakan ni Sloth ang kanyang kamay. Suddenly, the world around her was spinning. Pakiramdam ni Snow ay dinadala siya ng hangin sa ibang dimensyon. Nang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng paligid, napansin niyang nasa labas na sila ng Tartarus.

Sloth just teleported them outside of the marketplace.

"Mademoiselle, there you are!"

Sigaw ni Greed nang makita sila. Envy, Chandresh, Lust, and Gluttony all looked relieved when they saw her. Katabi na nila ang karwahe. Mukhang napaayos na nila ito. Mr. Bones waved at her. Snow White smiled. 'I'm back.'

Hindi na niya namalayan ang paglapit sa kanila ni Pride.

Tumalim ang mga mata ng panganay nang makitang magkahawak-kamay pa rin sila ni Sloth.

Pride adjusted his eyeglasses and cleared his throat. "You can let go of her hand now, brother."

Tumango si Sloth at naglakad na papalapit sa iba. Nang magtama ang mga mata nina Snow at Pride, she couldn't help but feel guilty. Bakit ba nagugulo na naman ang nararamdanan niya? Damn it. She loves Pride.. she knows it.

But Snow can't help but feel like there's something holding her back.

Still, her heart fluttered when Pride smiled at her. Mukhang tapos na ang cold treatment nito sa kanya. Noon rin niya napansin ang dumi sa damit ng binata at ang pawis sa gilid ng kanyang mukha. Mukhang maging si Pride ay nataranta sa paghahanap sa kanya kanina. His eyes softened at her.

"I'm glad you're safe, princess."

She teased, "Nag-alala ka rin ba sa'kin, Pride?"

Nag-iwas ng tingin ang binata. "YES---No! I mean---I-I... Damn it! Let's just go home to our mansion. Kailangan mo pang linisan ang private study ko."

Our mansion. That sounded nice.

Naglakad na sila papalapit sa karwahe. Pero nabigla si Snow ang sumunod sa kanya si Pride sa loob. Bumaling siya sa panganay at nagtaas ng kilay, "Bakit ka nandito?"

Again, Pride's cheeks had the slightest indication of a blush as he answered calmly, "Tabi tayo."

---

"I am an ocean.
Are you willing
to risk swimming
in the deep,
dark parts of me?
Or will you
stay where
it is shallow?"

---Jennae Cecelia