Author's note: Hala, uso pa pala update sa 'kin? Hahaha. Charot lang. Your comments and messages really inspired me to continue this story. Thank you so much for your never ending support sa TNHAS. Pasensya na kung ang bilis ko mag update haha sipag ko kasi hahaha. Kung nakalimutan nyo na, balikan nyo nalang ulit yung mga last chapters haha. Happy new year!
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"Shea! Eloiny!" sigaw ni Cein na puno ng takot.
Hindi sila makapaniwala sa kasalukuyang nangyayari. Napuno ng mga halimaw ang Underworld, and there's this horrifying creature just came out from a magic circle.
Kasalukuyang nasa gitna parin ang dalawa nyang kaibigan dahil kakatapos lamang ng kanilang laban.
"It's Lucifer! Protect the Queen!"
Agad sumugod ang mga apostles papunta kina Shea at agad nila syang kinuha bago pa man tumama ang atake ng itim na apoy mula sa taas. Half of the area was completely destroyed from the attack.
"It's the black fire! Even the Queen can't withstand a direct hit from it. It's the fire that only exist in the deepest circle of hell." sabi ni Graniath, the apostle of greed.
A horrifying roar echoed the whole Underworld as the King of Evilness descended to the ground. Destroying everything there is.
"Lucifer..." bulong ni Shea habang nakatingin sa nakakakilabot na dragon. Umitim ang kalangitan ng Underworld dahil sa biglaang paglabasan ng mga nilalang.
"S-Shea..." nanginginig na napayakap si Eloiny kay Shea. Ramdam nya ang nakakakilabot na kapangyarihan mula dito.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" lumapit si Drew kay Shea kasama si Cein. Dahil sa pagkawala ni Paxton, si Drew ang magsisilbing familiar ni Shea ngunit wala pang formal ritual na naisagawa.
"I'm fine."
Shea stood up as her eyes glowed into intense blue. Which means she's in her most strongest aspect. Nanatili lang syang nakatingin kay Lucifer while the apostles are busy in command to issue appropriate measures.
"Your order, Your Highness." humarap si Drew kay Shea habang nakayuko.
"Have everyone finished evacuating?" tanong ng reyna.
"About 90% completed Your Highness. Kasalukuyang sina Seraphina at Sarah ang nandoon."
"Make sure that everyone in the Kingdom has evacuated. I can't tell if I should be able to hold him back without damaging nearby towns and villages. I can't even assure everyone if I could restrain my powers without hurting someone."
"As long as you defeat that creature, it doesn't matter who you'll hurt or killed. A sacrifice will be made in order to defeat that monster." Kiyan appeared behind Shea. His cold voice echoed the queen's ear. Tumabi sya sa reyna habang sabay nilang pinagmasdan ang paglabas ng inaasahan nilang kalaban.
"We can't win." the King suddenly uttered.
"Anong sabi mo?" Nanlaki ang mata ni Shea sa kanyang narinig. Tila nabingi ito at maging si Drew at ibang apostles ay nabigla.
"We can't win. Not this time. All we can do is hold him down here. While we're planning a way to seal him again." his voice was as dry as ever.
"This is not the time to joke around Kiyan. I will kill Lucifer."
"My disciple..." The Goddess walked towards Shea, her face was full of sadness and anger.
"Master..."
"Whoever had done this treachery will receive eternal punishment that even Satan will beg for mercy. I'll make sure to destroy everything that creature has. This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed and I'll remember this day for as long as I live." puno ng galit ang mata at boses ng Goddess.
Everyone knows what Lucifer can do. He has the power to erase the universe itself at its full power. The very existence of life will vanish and evilness will prosper at the end. No more light, no more life.
"I'm sending you back to your world." biglaang sabi ng Goddess.
"What?! But Master!" angal ng reyna.
"It's too huge for a risk Shea. We can't unleash our full power without a familiar. And we're dealing an enemy that no one has ever imagined to happen. We need to think of a plan." kalmadong sabi ni Kiyan.
"Plan? What plan? Can't you see? This world is about to collapse! I can't just run away from MY world! I am their Queen. I can't just leave them."
"But Shea—
"Go. Leave. I can handle this alone. I never ask for your help anyway." lumamig ang boses ni Shea while she let out both of her wings and was about to fly. Ngunit pinigilan sya ni Eloiny.
"Let go." her voice is colder than death.
"Wag mo 'tong gawin Shea. We understand how you feel, but please we can't afford to lose you again." naiiyak nyang saad.
"This is an order disciple. Go back up there. I will handle Lucifer for the time being." the Goddess said sternly.
"I'm sorry Your Highness, but I'm afraid I won't take your order this time."
"Listen to me Shea. Alam kong alam mo ang sitwasyon ngayon. You know the strength that monster has. And facing him will be suicide." pigil ni Fire sa kanya.
"I don't need any of your opinion. I know what l'm doing."
"Stubborn woman." bulong ni Kiyan.
Just as she was about to fly, a flash of light appeared right in front of her. And in a blink of an eye, she lost her consciousness.
—
SHEA'S POV
It took me awhile to adjust my hearing and sight. But what the hell happened?
Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata ko and a familiar sight welcomed me. I'm standing in front of a school building I'm very familiar of. Along with the students na nakatingin sa 'kin.
"What the hell am I doing here?"
I'm in Valdemore High...
"Damn it!"
Bakit hindi nila ako maintindihan? Do I look like some weakling to them? Why are they so scared?! The world is in danger and they want to fall back and think of a plan?! Planning while my people down there are about to die?! What was the Goddess thinking actually? I can't believe that she would agree along with the King!
"Uy, 'di ba si Shea 'yan? Akala ko ba nag transfer na sya? Why is she wearing our uniform?"
"Oo nga 'no. Kala ko talaga di ko na makikita ang kasumpa-sumpang mukha nya. Hahaha"
"Ew. Ang panget nya talaga sobra. I can't believe such person exist."
"Pre si Shea oh. 'Di ba crush mo 'yan? Chance mo nang umamin sa kanya pre! Hahaha!"
"Gago! Pahalik kaya kita sa kanya."
"Hahaha! Taena nakakasuka talaga pagmumukha nya."
Di pa nga ako nakapasok ng school building ay naririnig ko na naman ang nakasanayan kong bulungan. I don't have time for this kaya dali-dali akong pumasok upang tumungo sa principal's office. If I'm here, then Sarah might also be here.
Nasa kalagitnaan pa nga lang ako ng hallway nang may tatlong babae na naman ang humarang sa 'kin. They were my usual bullies before I got transferred. Nakalimutan ko na ang mga pangalan nila.
"Guess who's back girls. It the ugliest nerd in town." sabi nung babae sa gitna na mukhang sinuntok ng ilang beses dahil sa blush on.
"Hahaha! Her mukha talaga is so nakakadiri that I want to make suka at her face." sagot ng isa na nasa left nya.
"Omg girl no need to suka because her face palang look like suka na. Hahaha!"
I am not in the mood for this. I have more important things to do than being here and dealing with this lowly creatures.
"Move."
Napatigil sila sa pagtatawanan nang nagsalita ako.
"Aba't sumasagot ka na ngayon. Don't you know that—
"I said move! Don't make me repeat it again." I said in a deep and cold voice. Tinignan ko sila ng diretso sa mata.
Ayoko ng maraming salita. Ayokong manakit ng tao ngayon.
Natulala sila at hindi nakapagsalita. Kita ko rin na nanginginig ang bibig nila as sweat traveled down their neck. Tumabi sila nang dumaan ako sa gitna. Nagsimula na namang magbulungan ang estudyante while those three stood there na parang tuod. Did I scare them too much? All I did was show them who's queen.
"N-nakita mo 'yun?"
"Ang alin?"
"I-I think I just saw a demon in her. S-She's scary..."
"Y-yeah.. di ko rin alam pero nanlamig ako bigla."
"Shea's scary..."
"A-A monster."
I smirked as I entered the principal's office.
"Nice Alysia! You're here." bungad sa 'kin ni aunt Sarah na ngayon ay nakaupo sa kanyang table habang may ginagawa sa kanyang laptop.
"Don't you dare call me that again."
"Yeah whatever. Alam kong ayaw mo 'non. So what's your business here? May class ka pa." tila iniinis nya pa ako lalo sa tono ng pananalita nya.
"I'll burn this entire school if you keep talking like that."
"Okay, okay Your Highness kalma lang. I don't know where should I start. Let me think..." tumingin sya sa kisame and acted like she was actually thinking.
Naiinis na talaga ako. I am completely irritated right now to the point that I would take those three with me and burn them in hell.
Lucifer is causing rampage in my kingdom while here I am at school!
"Walang mapupuntahan 'yang iniisip mo pag hindi ka kumalma." muli na syang nagsalita sa mas seryosong tono.
"You expect me to be calm in a time like this? Look, konti nalang ang pasensya ko. I need to get back down there."
"You will. But first, you need to remain calm and think throughly. You can't win over Lucifer with just power Shea. Remember, nabuhay sya dahil nakakuha sya ng dugo mo. Which means you are his strength! If he takes more of your blood, wala na talagang makakapigil sa kanya. That's what the Goddess is trying to tell you. Kaya ibinalik ka nya dito. Ayaw nyang mas mapalala pa ang sitwasyon."
Nakuyom ko ang mga palad ko as I sat in a couch. Damn it! Of all things, bakit ganito pa ang manyayari?!
"We know how frustrated you are right now. So as Kiyan. I'm not saying that you'll stay here and relax while your kingdom is being ruined, I need you to stay calm and think this throughly. You cannot defeat Lucifer with you alone Shea. Remember, you are his strength."
"So what am I suppose to do?"
Sarah grinned and stood up. "Follow me."
Pumasok ang janitor at kanyang secretary. Dumiretso sila sa malaking bookshelf malapit lang sa table ni auntie. May hinawakan silang apat na libro ng sabay and those books lighted up and the shelf split open. Isang maliit na pintuan ang bumungad sa 'min. Kalahati lng sa height ko ang taas nito.
"Di ko alam na may secret door ka pala dito." sabi ko.
"Of course. I love secrets you know."
Nauna na syang pumasok kaya sumunod na ako. I didn't expect na mahabang hallway ang bubungad sa 'kin sa loob. May mga pillars sa gilid nito tulad sa palasyo at may mga torch na nakailaw.
"So, anong sadya natin rito?" tanong ko.
"You'll see." she smiled as we continue to walk.
After a couple of minutes, we stopped in front of a room. Mukhang ito lang ang nag-iisang kwarto dito. Di ko alam pero bigla akong may nararamdamang kakaiba. I can't explain the feeling, basta bigla nalang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
Muling ngumisi si Sarah. I don't like that grin and I can't explain what I'm feeling right now. Tumabi sya mula sa pinto at tinulak ako paharap.
"Now, open it."
Napalunok ako. Habang dahan-dahan kong pinihit ang door knob. Sa unti-unting pagbukas ko ng pinto ay pabilis rin ng pabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Parang lalabas ito mula sa katawan ko.
I can't hear anything except the creaky sound of the door and the loud beating of my heart. Everything turned into a slow-mo nang makita ko sa loob ang pinakahindi ko inaasahang makita.
Tears rolled down to my cheeks as I fell on my knees, crying. Hindi ako makapaniwala.
"You see, I managed to save him. He's got a strong will to be with you Shea. That's why he kept on fighting."
Inside was a man, sleeping peacefully on his bed. I rushed towards him as soon as I recovered at niyakap sya ng sobrang higpit.
He slowly opened his eyes, "Shea..."
"I-I can't believe this! Tell me this isn't a dream." sabi ko habang umiiyak parin.
"Ang panget mo talaga." he smiled saka pinitik ang noo ko.
"Paxton..."
"...you're alive."
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