"Ikaw si Lucifer."
Those words tasted bitter on Snow's lips. Tila ba ayaw ring tanggapin ng kanyang isipan ang katotohanang matagal nang nakalahad sa kanyang harapan. Tumalim ang kanyang mga mata kay Persephone. Her crimson colored lips curled into a menacing smirk. Crimson like the apple that almost poisoned her before. Biglang bumalik sa kanyang mga alaala ang nabasa noon sa Library of Lost Souls. She didn't think it would be important until now...
"Y-Your soul has no gender. You took the form of a woman on purpose!"
Kinilabutan ni Snow nang magsalita ito sa isang malalim na boses, like a voice from a hundred demons..
"Hades is a fool. Magmula noon, hindi niya alam na ang demonyong nagmamanipula sa kanya ay ang sarili niyang asawa. He didn't know that the real King of Hell is actually trapped inside the body of a woman he worships every night... poor soul. HAHAHAHA!"
They should've known. Hindi ipinapakita ni Lucifer ang kanyang anyo kaya't hindi nila malalamang ang tunay na hari ng impyerno ay nagbabalat-kayo bilang isang babae. He seduced Hades in order to be his wife! For centuries, Lucifer was stuck with a woman's body as his soul vessel---isang sisidlan ng isang demonyong kaluluwa.
King Lucifer has the ability to change forms---a man, a woman, a snake.. anything his soul prefers.
Napasimangot si Snow White. "Inutusan mo noon ang horsemen na maghatid ng gulo sa Tartarus para ipatawag ni Hades ang sins, hindi ba? That way, you'll be able to monitor us while we're inside his castle."
Now that Snow thinks about it, it all makes sense. Kinailangang manmanan ni Persephone/Lucifer ang kanilang mga kilos kaya't matapos ang second warning, she made sure that the deadly sins will be obligated to stay inside Hades' castle.
'She's damn evil!'
Marahang tumango si Persephone. "Sinadya ko 'yon para madali kong malalaman ang mga pinaplano ninyo. Like they said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
"And what about Llyria?"
Panandaliang sinilip ni Snow ang mortal na umiiyak sa kanyang likuran. She was probably traumatized after being tied up for several days. Walang-emosyon namang pinalibutan ni Persephone si Snow White---like a predator would to its prey.
"Alam kong kinuha siya ni Death upang maging espiya. In fact, she was already suspicious of me, kaya't pinagbantaan ko siya. In the end, I just used that pathetic mortal to stage my own disappearance.."
Clever.
Snow White expected no less from the King of Hell.
Mula sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, napansin ni Snow ang bangkay ng kasalanang nakaupo pa rin sa trono. Huminga nang malalim si Snow at matapang na sinalubong ang mga mata ng hari. "King or Hell or not, hindi kita kakayaang gawing soul vessel ang katawan ni Sloth!"
Persephone stopped in front of her and frowned.
"Who said I wanted to make him my soul vessel? Ginamit ko lang siyang patibong upang sundan mo ako rito, Queen of Sins.."
Shit.
Kinakabahang napaatras si Snow White. Agad siyang napahinto nang maramdaman ang talim ng scythe sa kanyang leeg. Persephone was standing behind her, her mouth was disgustingly close to her ear.
"Aanhin ko pa ang katawan at abilidad ng isang malakas na kasalanan kung pwede ko namang sapian ang katawan ng dalagang tumalo sa'kin noon?"
Snow White stared at their reflection on a nearby mirror. Pinilit niyang isantabi ang takot na nararamdaman niya. She can't remember anything.. pinilit alalahanin ni Snow White ang panahong namuno siya sa Underworld, pero lalo lang sumasakit ang ulo niya. Buong akala niya, kilala na niya ang kanyang sarili..
Now, Snow White doesn't even know herself anymore.
"But you don't remember that, do you? It happened a long time ago, Queen of Sins.. back when you almost destroyed Tartarus." Lalong bumaon ang patalim sa leeg ni Snow hanggang sa makita niyang dumaloy ang dugo mula roon. She winced in pain as Persephone laughed, "Matagal ka na dapat namatay, but that fucking sin had to get in the way."
Her sharp eyes turned to Sloth.
Mabilis na kumilos si Snow White at itinulak papalayo ang patalim ng scythe. She cried out in pain as the blade almost sliced her hand. Nang makalayo siya kay Persephone, agad siyang naghanap ng bagay na magagamit niya upang labanan ang hari ng impyerno.
But it was no use.
'What the hell am I gonna do now?!'
Just then, an idea came to her mind. 'You need to focus, Snow,' she motivated herself. Hindi siya pwedeng mamatay. If Persephone uses her body, who know's what's gonna happen? Huminga siya nang malalim at patuloy na nagkalad papalayo kay Persephone.
Persephone shook her head in amusement. "It's disappointing to see your memories erased, Snow. Nanghihina ka ngayon dahil nakalimutan mo kung sino ka. Your soul is more corrupted than mine, and yet here you are, a fucking coward who can't even save herself! Nakakadismaya."
"AAAAAAAH!"
A blood-curling scream came out of Snow's lips when Persephone smashed her head on a mirror. Shards of glass flew everywhere. Ngunit bago pa man bumagsak sa sahig ang mga ito, mabilis siyang sinakal ng hari ng impyerno at iniangat sa lupa. Snow White held onto her hands and tried to pry it away. Napaubo ang dalaga at napadaing sa sakit nang maramdamang malapit nang mabali ang kanyang leeg.
Persephone's eyes harbored a centuries worth of hatred and revenge.
"What happened to the evil queen? You're a fucking disappointment! Sa oras na maangkin ko ang katawan mo, sisiguraduhin kong magdurusa ang pinakamamahal mong mga kasalanan."
"B-Bullshit! L-Let me go!"
"JUST DIE! NOBODY'S GONNA SAVE YOU NOW! HAHAHAHA!"
Nararamdaman ni Snow na unti-unti na siyang nauubusan ng hininga. Her lungs ached for air and her chest hurts like shit. Pero bago pa man siya mawalan ng malay, biglang napasigaw sa sakit si Persephone nang lumapnos sa kanyang balat ang nilalaman ng isang bote.
A potion?
Nang makakawala si Snow, agad niyang sinilip ang nilalang na nagligtas sa kanya.
She saw that bitchy smile on her lips.
"Need help, bitch?"
"M-Morticia?!"
Snow hates it admit it, but she's fucking relieved to see the witch bitch here. 'Pero anong ginagawa niya rito?' Nagtatakang inilibot ni Snow White ang kanyang mga mata sa throne room..
Napapitlag sila nang sumiklab ang kulay itim na apoy sa silid.
Persephone glared at the witch.
Hindi na nito kailangang magsalita. Isa isang kumpas ng kamay ng hari ng impyerno, naibalibag na niya papalayo si Morticia. Her body hit the black marble columns and soon, she was screaming in pain.
"MORTICIA!"
Snow White watched in horror as Morticia's body twisted in odd angles. Kasabay ng kanyang mga sigaw ay ang tunog ng pagkabali ng kanyang mga buto sa katawan. Her whole body twisted until blood stained the carpet. Persephone watched in amusement. "Ito ang napapala ng mga pakialamera."
"AAAAAAAAH!"
The screaming stopped.
"TUMIGIL KA NA!"
Nakatulala lang ang mangkukulam kay Snow White hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang mawalan ng buhay. The life slowly seeped out of her fierce eyes as Snow's hands trembled in horror..
She's dead.
Makalipas ang ilang sandali, muling itinuon ni Persephone ang atensyon kay Snow. Her eyes were full black, ready for another kill. A sadistic smile graced her lips as she walked towards Snow White.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall.. who's the fairest of them all? It's your turn, Snow. HAHAHAHAHA!"
Pero hindi tulad kanina, walang bahid ng takot ang mukha ng dalaga.
Tumalim ang mga mata ni Snow White. Her pupils were blood red and her black-tintled lips smirked. Sandaling napahinto si Persephone sa paglapit nang mapansin ang kakaibang ikinikilos ng dalaga.
At sa mga sandaling ito, tila ang Queen of Sins na mismo ang nakatayo sa kanyang harapan.
"Mukhang madali ngang manlinlang ng kaaway kapag nakikita nitong mahina ka," kalmadong sabi ni Snow White kay Persephone. "I just needed an opportunity to touch you earlier."
Habang sinasakal siya nito kanina, nakahanap ng pagkakataon si Snow White para mahawakan ang balat ni Persephone.
"What are you talking about?" Napasimangot ang hari ng impyerno.
Pagak na natawa si Snow White. "I may not remember who I am, but I managed to see your Timeline, Lucifer... Alam ko na ang pinakatatago mong sikreto. Ang kahinaang hindi mo inaamin sa kahit na sino. Ito rin ang rason kung bakit ka laging nagtatago, hindi ba?"
"...."
"Do you think that Death's scythe can kill you? I just need to stab you with that blade and your empire will turn to ashes.."
Fear flashed in Persephone's eyes. Pero agad rin 'yon nawala na tila ba mabilis nitong naikubli sa isang maskara. But that subtle amount of fear was enough to confirm Snow's theory.
Soon, Snow White sighed.
Ilang sandali pa, umalingawngaw ang yabag ng mga paa sa throne room. Gulat na nilingon ni Persephone ang mga nilalang na lumabas mula sa kadiliman. Her eyes sharpened when she saw the deadly sins and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Kasama nila ang water goddess at si Hades.
"A-Anong ginagawa niyo rito?!" Inis niyang binalingan si Pestilence, "KILL THEM!" Utos niya rito pero marahan lamang umiling ang binata. Napabuntong-hininga ang kabalyero at inayos ang korona sa ulo.
"Only my queen can boss me around like that."
Pride adjusted his eyeglasses and explained the situation, "Nakalimutan mo na bang ako ang architect ng labyrinth na ito, Lucifer? Madali na para sa aking matandaan ang landas na magdadala sa'min dito. We used Cerberus to get here as soon as we can."
Nababaliw na sila. Pare-pareho silang mga hangal! Persephone laughed. "You can't kill me!"
"We can't," marahang ngumiti ang kasalanan kay Snow White. Pride adjusted his eyeglasses and stared at their bride, "but the Queen of Sins can. We're merely here as audience."
"P-Paanong...?"
"Death told us." Napabuntong-hininga si Pride, "Sinabi rin niya sa amin kanina ang dahilan ng pagkakautang ni Sloth sa kanya. Centuries ago, Sloth made a special request to Death to reincarnate a soul---the soul of the Queen of Sins who died long ago... At ang kaluluwang iyon mismo ang kaluluwa ni Chione 'Snow' White. Matagal mo nang gustong patayin si Snow dahil isa siyang banta sa kaharian mo, pero dahil sa special request ni Sloth, nakaligtas ang reyna ng Underworld."
Lahat sila ay tumango.
Persephone paled.
Ilang sandali pa, lumipad ang isang pana sa ere. The arrow shot through the air as Snow White caught it. Walang pagdadalawang-isip na ginamit ng dalaga ang pana para sugatan ang kanyang sarili. Tumulo sa sahig ang dugong nagmula sa sugat niya sa palad. Just in time, she muttered an enchantement.
A pentagram glowed beneath her feet as an invisible barrier separate Snow and Persephone from the others.
Nang balingan ulit ni Persephone ang dalaga, she noticed the confident smile on her lips.
"I saw your Timeline, Lucifer. I saw your weakness.."
In a split second, Snow White managed to snatched Death's scythe from Persephone's hands. Isang mapanganib na ekspresyon ang kumislap sa mga mata ng dalaga.
The past is colliding with the present.
Persephone saw the heartless eyes of the evil queen..
"Gusto mo bang malaman kung ano ito?"
Snow White grazed the tip of the blade on Persephone's cheek, drawing out blood. Hindi alam ni Snow kung saan niya nahuhugot ang kanyang tapang, pero wala na siyang oras para alamin pa ito. Her sadistic side is enjoying it..
Just this once, Snow White is embracing her evil side.
"Your weakness is me, Lucifer. Hanggang ngayon ikinakatakot mo ang katotohanang ako lang ang nilalang na kayang tumalo sa'yo..."
---
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
---"Roads Go Ever On", J.R.R. Tolkien