The night before the Sinner's Moon, Snow White found it hard to sleep. She fumbled with the laces of her white nightgown and sighed. Hindi niya maalis ang dalawang bagay sa kanyang isipan: una ay ang Timeline na nakita niya kay Chandresh.
'Did that happen in the past or in his future?'
There's no way she could find out. Hindi sakop ng kanyang kapangyarihan ang alamin kung s aling panahon makikita ni Snow ang mga eksenang iyon sa buhay ng isang nilalang. In fact, that nightmare she had a week ago still bothers her. Hindi niya maalis sa kabang nararamdaman niya tuwing maaalala ang repleksyong nakita niya at ang panang bumaon sa kanyang puso. This is exactly the reason why Snow White has trust issues with Sir Pestilence.
At pangalawa, ang pangamba para sa Eight Deadly Sins.
She'd be a liar if she said she didn't miss those assholes. Every single one of them has a special place in her heart. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit nalabanan ni Snow ang mga demonyong bumubulong sa utak niya. Her suicidal thoughts vanished, and all it takes is to close her eyes. Dahil tuwing ipipikit ng dalaga ang kanyang mga mata, naaalala niya ang maliliit na bagay tungkol sa mga kasalanan. Sloth's music and lazy eyes, Greed's sinful charms, Envy's kind smile, Gluttony's tantrums whenever he's hungry, Wrath's short-temper and bad words, Lust's pathetic attempts to get her in his bed (oo, nakaka-miss rin pala ang mamanyakan ng isang 'yon), Adoration's violet eyes and loyalty, and Pride's commanding presence.
'Pride.'
In all honestly, she misses the way he adjusted his eyesglasses on the bridge of his nose. That authority and confidence that can easily be mistaken for royalty. Snow misses how he'll be sweet to her behind closed doors and be an emotionless bastard to them whenever he let's his sin get in the way.
Pride will always be a prideful bastard.
But she loves him nonetheless.
'It's ironic to think that the demons in the mansion saved me from the demons inside my head.'
Nang magmulat ng mga mata si Snow, bahagya siyang na-disappoint nang makitang nandito pa rin siya sa kanyang maliit na silid sa hideout ng Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
"Iniisip mo ba ang mangyayari sa digmaan bukas?"
Mahinang tanong sa kanya ni Mr. Boswell habang nakasandal ito sa kabilang bahagi ng pader, nakatitig sa kanya na para bang inaanalisa ang kanyang pagkatao. The clockmaker dangled the chain of the pocket watch between his fingers, not breaking eye contact. Marahang ngumiti si Snow. "Maybe. Sa tingin mo ba mananalo tayo?"
"I can't see into the future to tell that, little Snow. Ipinamana ko na ang kapangyarihang iyan sa'yo."
"Kaya pala nakita mo na ang kinabukasan ko noon.. you saw into my future. Nang ampunin mo ako, alam mong matatakasan kita at magiging katulong ako ng Seven Deadly Sins. You knew all this is gonna happen to me."
"Ah, yes. Fate cannot be tricked. Pero nadismaya ako.. you hated me, so I understood that making you my heiress won't be easy." Marahang napailing si Boswell. A small smile crept into his lips, "Pero kinailangan kong ipamana sa'yo ang kapangyarihan ko, Snow. Dahil alam ko ring kakailanganin mo ito sa sandaling matuklasan mo na ang lahat tungkol sa pagkatao mo. You will need this in the upcoming war tomorrow."
In a normal circumstance, Snow would probably ask so many questions. Pero sa totoo lang, napapagod na rin siyang kwestiyunin ang kanyang kapalaran. Kaya't hahayaan na lang niya ito, saan man siya dalhin ng kanyang kwento.
"My fairytale is twisted.."
"Exactly."
She laughed for no reason at all. "But someone told me I deserve a twisted yet beautiful fairytale."
Sandaling natahimik ang clockmaker. Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga si Jeremy Hans Boswell at marahang tumango. "You do, little Snow."
At sa isang kisapmata, naglaho ang kaluluwa ni Boswell. Mabilis na binalingan ni Snow ang clockwork baby na nagising mula sa mahimbing nitong tulog. She smiled and picked up her baby. Alam niyang nasa loob pa nito ang kaluluwa ni Boswell, and knowing that he was still with her somehow makes her feel a little less lonely.
With the clockwork baby cradled in her arm, Snow White went into the living room. As shitty as it sounds, hanggang ngayon ay nakasaklay pa rin siya. Hindi pa rin bumabalik si Chandresh. 'May nangyari kaya sa palasyo ni Hades?' Masama ang kutob niya rito. What in the world could've happened?
Pero sa pagbibiro ng kapalaran, agad rin niyang nalaman ang sagot nang makita niyang nagpupulong ang Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse sa sala. Agad siyang humakbang papalayo at nagtago sa gilid ng pader.
Eavesdropping became her skill, thanks to the Deadly Sins.
Mabuti na lang at mukhang seryoso ang mga horsemen sa anumang problemang pinag-uusapan nila..
"--never told us that you hired a spy! Akala ko naman may kapangyarihan ka, kaya mo nalalaman ang mga kilos ng deadly sins. Aish!"
'A spy?'
Famine's irritated voice echoed inside the living room. Ilang sandali pa, si Death ang sumagot sa kalmadong boses.
"Llyria applied for the position. Sa katunayan, malaki ang napakinabangan natin sa kanya. Siya ang nagsabi noon na pupuntang Hollow Fest ang deadly sins, at siya rin ang nagkumpirma kung nasaan ang pinto ng Luciferian labyrinth sa mansyon ng mga kasalanan. She kept me updated about the sins' plans."
Pinto ng Luciferian Labyrinth?
'Paano naman makukumpirma ni Llyria kung nasaan iyon kung...'
"Shit."
Naalalang muli ni Snow White ang panahong sumakit ang ngipin ni Gluttony. Nang hindi niya mabuksan ang mga pinto ng dining hall, she suddenly found the set of keys in the hallway. Ngayon, nauunawaan na ni Snow ang lahat: Llyria must've stolen those keys from Pride to check which room was a portal to the Luciferian Labyrinth. Pero dahil hindi nito alam kung paano ibabalik ang mga susi nang hindi pinaghihinalaan, Llyria left the keys on the floor on purpose. Sinadya niyang mahanap ito ni Snow at pinagtangkaan niyang i-frame up si Snow White para palabasan na siya ang nagnakaw ng mga susi.
All this time, she was a traitor.
She can feel her blood boil at the realization. Naikuyom na lang ni Snow ang kanyang mga kamao dala ng galit. 'Calm down, Snow. Walang mangyayari kung magpapabulag ka sa emosyon mo.' So, she took in a deep breath and sighed.
"But it looks like the bitch you fucking hired screwed up. Hindi mo alam na nagtatrabaho rin pala siya kay Lucifer, hindi ba?"
Umalingawngaw ang pagak na pagtawa ni War. No one else laughed. Only a madman would laugh at a serious matter like this. 'Mas malala pa yata ang isang 'to kaysa kay Wrath.'
Just then, Pestilence' voice broke the silence..
"It makes me wonder why Lucifer needed to hire Llyria to spy on them and kidnap Queen Persephone? Mukhang nawawalan na nang tiwala sa'tin ang hari.. marami siyang hindi sinasabi sa atin."
Teka!
L-Lucifer made Llyria to kidnap Persephone?!
Nanlamig ang katawan ni Snow sa narinig. This can't be happening! Ni hindi niya pa nakakausap si Queen Persephone para hingin ang tulong niya! If she's really the Queen of Sins, then they need to free her from Lucifer.
At malakas ang kutob ni Snow na si Persephone nga ang makakatulong sa kanila, dahil kung hindi si Persephone ang Queen of Sins, bakit naman siya ipapadukot ni Lucifer?
No.
Lucifer kidnapped her because he knews she's a potential threat.
"Bullcrap, Pestilence! Kailan ba tayo pinagkatiwalaan ni Haring Lucifer? Mga utusan niya lang tayo. We're nothing more than fucking instruments of war to him."
Lucifer doesn't trust his own horsemen..
Hindi na nagulat si Snow sa ideyang iyon. May dahilan kung bakit si Lucifer ang pinakamakapangyarihang nilalang sa Underworld, and that's because he's good with manipulation and smart with strategies. He's the devil himself.
"I should've known Llyria would double-cross us..hindi ko alam na tauhan pala siya ni Lucifer. Tsk! Tunay ngang hindi natin mapipigilan ang pagtubo ng damong-ligaw sa lupa ng inaalagaan nating halaman."
Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan ng mga horseman. Nang akala ni Snow ay tapos na ang pag-uusap nila, biglang nagtanong si War, "So, what are we gonna do with the girl? Bukas na ang gabi ng digmaan at hindin natin siya dapat hayaang makatakas. Baka kung ano pa ang idaldal niya sa deadly sins. The fucking bitch is too damn loyal. Tsk!"
"Aish! Eh 'di ikulong na lang natin siya! The dungeons aren't so bad...just a few human skeletons here and there, but it's spotless!"
"What the fuck, Famine?! We can't keep her there!" Pagprotesta ni Pestilence.
"Bakit naman, Pesti? Hahaha!"
"You're a psycho! Hindi siya isang bilanggo dito!"
Snow White smiled at his words. Pero agad ring naglaho ang ngiting ito nang magsalita na naman si Death.
"Fine. Then just kill her."
Napalunok si Snow White. Dumagdag na naman ito sa mga rason kung bakit niya hindi gusto si Death. Aside from cursing Sloth, Death is really a heartless creature. Baka nga mas may puso pa ang clockwork baby ni Snow kaysa sa halimaw na iyon.
Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga si Pestilence.
"Famine, ihanda mo ang kulungan. We'll just lock her up in the dungeons tomorrow until the war is over."
Snow White sighed in relief. Mas gugustuhin naman niyang makulong kaysa mapatay ng mga horsemen. Now, she only needs to think of a way to escape. 'I've lived with seven demon sins, so escaping a stupid dungeon should be a piece of cake,' she convinced herself. Kaya bago pa man siya matuklasang nakikinig sa usapan nila, mabilis na bumalik si Snow White sa kanyang silid.
There, she saw something ontop of her bed with a note.
Nang titigan itong maigi ni Snow, she realized it was a prosthetic leg.
'Galing dito si Chandresh?'
She searched the room for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Binasa na lang ni Snow ang nakatuping papel kasama ng artipisyal na binti. It was cream paper, the words elegantly scribbled in black ink:
Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
You all always be the fairest of them all.
Can't stay for long. Maraming ganap dito sa mansyon. Last supper and all that shit. I'll see you tomorrow, Your Majesty. Be careful! You can thank me tomorrow...maybe with a kiss? :D
Your loyal admirer,
Adoration.
Snow found herself smiling at the note. Silly Chandresh. Maingat niyang inilapag ang clockwork baby sa kama at naupo sa gilid nito. Snow White carefully wore her new prosthetic leg and mentally thanked Mrs. Bones that she can still remember her measurements.
Tumayo si Snow White at sinubukang ilakad ang kanyang artipisyal na binti. She walked towards the mirror and saw herself in it.
Sometimes she wonders if the girl they look at is the same girl she sees in the mirror. Dahil kahit ilang ulit pang titigan ng dalaga ang kanyang repleksyon, hindi ang pisikal niyang histura ang napapansin niya. Tuwing haharap siya sa salamin, Snow White could see the girl who survived all that pain in her past.
A girl who deals with bullshit in her life, everyday, and wakes up to witness another morning.
Strength.
'Sana lang madala ko ito bukas.' Huminga siya nang malalim.
Handa na siya.
Noon lang niya namalayan ang binatang nakatitig na pala sa kanya mula sa kanyang repleksyon. Pestilence stood behind her in silence and smiled sadly. Hindi kumilos si Snow nang humakbang ito papalapit sa kanya. His eyes pinned her in place, like two ash gray pools pulling her in.
"Alam kong nakikinig ka kanina."
Ngumisi si Snow White. "So, are you gonna kill me now?"
"Of course not. We just decided to lock you up tomorrow, para hindi ka makasagabal o makatakas."
"Too bad. Dahil kahit ilibing niyo ako nang buhay, hahanap at hahanap pa rin ako ng paraan para tumakas. I'll fight beside the sins.. I will fight for them."
Pain momentarily flashed in Pestilence eyes. Mabilis ring naglaho ang emosyong ito bago pa man masuri ni Snow ang binata. He sighed. "I know. That's why I'm leaving the spare key of the dungeons with you."
Ipinaharap siya nito sa kanya. Masuyong kinuha ng binata ang kamay ni Snow at inilagay roon ang isang pilak na susi. Pestilence then closed her fingers over the key and kissed it. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya nang dumampi ang mga labi ng horseman sa kanyang balat. She tried to pull away, but she found it hard to do so. It's like an invisible connection is keeping them on the same page of the same story.
"Salamat, Sir Pestilence."
He nodded, "Survive and find happiness, my queen. Kapag nakaalis na kami ng iba pang horsemen, gamitin mo ang susi na 'yan para makatakas. Someone will meet you outside, across the Bridge of Bones."
"Sino?"
"It's a secret. Let's just say that he'll be your escort tomorrow. Siya ang magdadala sa'yo sa Luciferian labyrinth."
Wala nang nagawa si Snow kundi tumango. Tahimik niyang pinanood ang paglalakad papalayo sa kanya ni Pestilence.
And in that moment, Snow felt his pain.
*
Bihira lang kumain nang magkakasama ang magkakapatid.
Everyone knew that.
Sa ilang siglo nilang pananatili sa iisang bubong, bilang lang ni Pride kung ilang beses lamang silang nagkasama-sama sa hapag nang walang nangyayaring sunog o gulo. 'And it all started when Snow came into our lives,' he concluded and poured himself a drink.
Espesyal ang inuming ito.
The eldest sin watched his brothers.
"Hey, Greed! Pass me the demon crab soufflé, will you?"
Inis na bumaling si Greed sa kakambal at lalong inilayo ang putahe. "Nah. I'm gonna keep this for myself, so go find another dish. Maghanap ka na rin ng kausap mo, Envy. Hahahaha!"
Inis na nakipag-agawan si Envy kay Greed.
"Damn! Nagdadamot ka na naman!"
"Naiinggit ka lang na naman! Natalo ka lang kasi kanina. Tsk! Anong score natin? 680 - 678, 'di ba?"
"Fuck you, Greed! I want another dinosaur-bone badmintion rematch! YOU CHEATED EARLIER!"
"DID NOT!"
"DID TOO!"
At bago pa man sila mapigilan ng mga gwardiya ni Hades, tuluyan nang nag-wrestling ang kambal. Sa katunayan, lumipad pa ang demon crab soufflé at---
"AH! BULLSHIT! I'M GONNA MURDER YOU, YOU FUCKING TWINS!"
Sapul sa mukha ni Wrath ang putahe. Namantsahan ang kanyang damit at nabitiwan pa niya ang kanyang kubyertos. The sin of anger and short-temper glared deviously at his twin brothers. Para bang anumang oras ay maibabalibag na niya sina Envy at Greed papuntang ibang planeta.
Natigilan ang kambal at nagkatinginan. "Oops! HAHAHAHA!" Pang-asar pa nilang tawa.
Sa sobrang galit ni Wrath, may kinuha na ito sa ilalim ng mesa. "YOU BETTER FUCKING RUN!" Napatulala ang mga gwardiya ni Hades nang makitang naglabas na ng malaking machine gun ang kasalanan. Ilang sandali pa, napuno ng nakabibinging ingay ng mga bala ang dining hall. Wrath laughed like a psychopath and even stood ontop of the table, chasing the twins.
Kalmado namang kumagat sa kanyang croissant si Lust. Hades sighed in irritation, "Hindi niyo ba sila pipigilan?"
"Nah. Wrath won't kill them. Mga immortal nga kami, 'di ba?"
Gluttony nodded, his mouth full of grilled turkey. "Pero dahil nanghihina tayo dahil hindi na tayo makakolekta ng kaluluwa sa Segregation Office, baka matagalan ang paghilom nila kapag binalian sila ng mga buto ni Wrath."
"Well, yeah. But who cares? Kahit nga yata ihawin sila sa impyerno ni Wrath, the twins will still recover and laugh at his angry ass. Hahaha! Hm.. speaking of asses.." mabilis na kumuha ng magazine si Lust mula sa bulsa ng kanyang coat at tinitigan ang hubad na larawan ng mga modelo roon.
Hades grunted.
"Then you should at least stop them fron destroying my castle!"
But the deadly sins ignored him.
Ilang sandali pa, pumasok sa dining hall si Chandresh at nagmamadaling umupo. "Sorry I'm late. Nagpahangin lang ako." His violet eyes lied.
Sa tabi niya, Sloth lazily pushed his plate away from him. "Inaantok na ako. Dapat pala nagdala ako ng unan dito.. tsk!"
"Brother, this is the dining hall." Chandresh corrected.
Napasimangot lang si Sloth, "Do I look like I give a damn? Sleep is an activity you can do anywhere, anytime. Walang limitasyon ang kapangyarihan ng katamaran."
No one objected.
Pride wiped his mouth with the table napkin and flawlessly dodged a few stray bullets from Wrath's machine gun. Inayos ng panganay ang pagkakalagay ng kanyang salamin sa mata at tumikhim. His authority alone made all the sins turn to him.
Tumayo si Pride at inangat ang kopita ng espesyal na alak.
"This is our last supper before all hell breaks loose tomorrow evening. Hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayari bukas, ngunit kailangan nating ihanda ang ating mga sarili. So, brothers, let's give a toast to an ending. An ending that is neither happy nor tragic.. A sinful ending!"
Tahimik namang itinaas ng iba pang mga kasalanan ang kanilang mga kopita ng alak at sabay-sabay na uminom. Hades did the same, but his suspicious eyes scanned over the eight sins. None of them looked bothered by the fact that they all might die tomorrow.
'Kaya bakit parang hindi sila kinakabahan sa papalapit na digmaan?'
In that moment, King Hades knew that he had no choice but to trust them.
A sinful ending.
---
As a perfume doth remain
In the folds where it hath lain,
So the thought of you, remaining
Deeply folded in my brain,
Will not leave me; all things leave me -
You remain.
Other thoughts may come and go,
Other moments I may know
That shall waft me, in their going,
As a breath blown to and fro,
Fragrant memories; fragrant memories
Come and go.
Only thoughts of you remain
In my heart where they have lain,
Perfumed thoughts of you, remaining,
A hid sweetness, in my brain.
Others leave me; all things leave me -
You remain.
---"You Remain", Arthur Symons