CHAPTER XXXVII
"Say Sindred. Sindred..."
Malakas na tinapik ni Ara sa braso si Sindred.
"She can't talk, yet," napapairap niyang sabi.
"I want her first word to be my name," sabi pa nito habang gumagawa ng mga nakakatuwang expression sa harap ni Sophina.
"May death wish ka ba? Alam mo ba kung gaano ka-competetive si Thorn sa mga bagay na namamana sa kaniya ng anak namin? Tapos gusto mo pangalan mo ang first word ng bata? Baka gusto mong maglahong parang bula,"
"He's such a buzzkill," napapailing nitong sabi.
"'Nga pala. Kumusta ang Abyss?"
"It's still operating. Pero dahil nga not in good terms sina Raguel at Lucifer, souls are overflowing at Abyss while Hell is lacking souls,"
"Ano'ng epekto no'n?" tanong ni Ara.
"Well, have you seen hungry demons?" Sindred asked and Ara shook her head. "Lacking of souls underground means no food for demon. Kaya kapag gutom na gutom na ang iba sa amin, they tend to possess humans. That's how they usually feed."
"Nakapag-possess ka na ba ng tao?" she asks pero tinawanan lamang siya ni Sindred.
"Verrine demons don't possess people,"
"Pero 'di ba, hindi lang naman ang Abyss ang source ng Hell sa mga souls? Nabanggit sa akin ni Thorn noon na pito silang Chiefs. For sure nakapagbibigay naman sila underground?"
"Sixty percent of souls in hell are from the Incubus. Lust are innate to humans. So imagine kung walang inaambag na kaluluwa ang mga Incubus? Chaos aboveground."
It was because of me. Ara said to herself. Pero mabilis naman itong sinalungat ng isip niya. She needs to stop blaming herself. She needs to accept the fact that this is her life now. Walang mangyayari kung sisisihin niya pa rin ang sarili dahil sa katotohanan, binura na siya sa mundo ng mga tao.
"What if they possess me?" she suddenly asked.
Nakita niyang napaisip si Sindred pero umiling ito.
"I don't know if they can possess a human that was already corrupted,"
Hindi nakaimik si Ara. It was a blow on her chest.
"Can you stop saying that I'm corrupted as if I'm already a demon-like-person?" medyo offended niyang sabi.
"Well, technically, you can't be redeemed because hello..." Sindred pointed Sophina. "so yeah, you're tagged as corrupted by Angels and demons."
Aangal pa sana si Ara sa sinabi ni Sindred ngunit hindi na niya ito natuloy nang biglang pumasok si Thorn sa silid kasama si Zanilla. Sinenyasan nito si Sindred na iwan silang dalawa ni Ara. Magkasunod itong lumabas kasama si Zanilla.
"What is that?" he asked when he saw a toy lying inside Sophina's crib.
"Rattles. Bigay ni Sindred,"
"Where did he get it?" nakakunot-noo nitong tanong 'saka ito inalis sa kuna ng anak. Maingat nitong kinarga ang bata at isinandal sa dibdib niya.
"I don't know. He conjured it maybe," Ara shrugged.
Ara saw Thorn kissed Sophina's forehead three times and whispered words she could not hear. The sight melts her heart. No words could come out her mouth from that moment so she hugged him on the side.
"I'll be away for days," he suddenly said kaya bigla siyang napabitaw dito. Kinuha niya si Sophina rito 'saka ibinalik sa kuna bago nag-salita.
"Again? Bakit?"
"It's safe if you don't know,"
"That's bullshit, Thorn! You cannot keep me from the dark. How am I supposed to protect our daughter and myself if I am clueless as to why you are away? Hindi mo ba naiisip na mas nasa panganib kami kung wala ka?"
"Sindred and Keira will be here to protect you—"
"The last time you said that, the barrier was broken and I was abducted by Lucifer!" hindi niya napigilan mag-taas ng boses.
More than ever, mas doble ang takot na nararamdaman ngayon ni Ara. Hindi lang ang buhay niya ang dapat isipin niya kundi pati ang buhay ng anak niya.
"Here," malumanay na sabi ni Thorn. Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at bigla na lamang may lumitaw na kuwintas.
"What's this for?" she said frowning.
"It's a locket. Inside is Lucifer's feather. It tracks his feelings and if he's near us."
Napatingin siya sa kuwintas. Hindi ito kagandahahan. It's tarnished ay amoy na amoy niya ang sulfur na malamang ay galing sa hibla ng pakpak ni Lucifer.
"Do I have to wear it?"
"Yes."
Thorn helped her wear the necklace. Itinago niya ito sa loob ng blouse.
"I'll explain to you how that necklace works later. But for now, you have to listen carefully to everything I will say."
Biglang kinabahan si Ara. Hindi niya gusto ang tono ng boses ng lalaki. At lalong hindi niya gusto ang pupuntahan ng usapan nila.
"If everything go south—"
"Thorn—!"
"Araceli, listen. This is important. And you will only do this if we no longer have a choice..."
"How will I know that?"
"You'll know," puno ng pagmamahal na wika nito. He caress her cheeks and slightly squeezing it.
"You're scaring me," she whispered.
"I want you to bring with you our daughter at the three house. I have enchanted it so that only authorized person could enter. Inside my room, there's this dainty jewelry box. Inside is a paper. Recite what is written three times after lighting thirteen black candles and place it in every corner inside the three house."
"Ano'ng mangyayari kapag ginawa ko 'yon?" she asked.
"It's a summoning spell for a Nephilim named Quartz. Entrust to him Sophina."
Namilog ang mga mata ni Ara at bahagyang lumayo kay Thorn.
"G-gusto mong ibigay ko ang anak natin sa estranghero?!"
"Ara, a Nephilim has the ability to cloak itself and anyone he wants to. Our daughter is safer if it's in the hands of—"
"No! Don't ever finish that sentence, Thorn!" she storm out their room annoyed. She has never feel this disappointed with Thorn before. Ngayon lang. At gusto niya itong awayin hanggang sa matauhan ito.
"Araceli..." she heard him called. Lumabas din itong silid kaya hinarap niya 'to. She's fuming mad. She has never heard a most stupidest—if that's even a word—suggestion.
"You want to give our baby away?! I can't believe you!" gusto niyang maiyak sa frustrations pero hindi. Nangingibabaw ang galit sa dibdib niya.
"We're not giving her away because we don't love her. We're doing this because it's for her own good. I want her to live a happy, long, normal life," he tried to calm her but she's shaking with anger.
"I want us to give that to her! Hindi ba natin 'yon maibibigay sa kaniya?" this time, Aras's voice is cracking, on the verge of breaking down.
Lumapit sa kaniya si Thorn at hinawakan ang dalawa niyang kamay. She knew he wants him to understand the decision. May parte sa isip niya na gustong intindihin ang nais mangyari ni Thorn pero ang puso niya, hindi niya kayang mawalay sa anak, even just the thought of it already breaks her heart.
"We have to be realistic. If things comes to worst, I want to have a peace of mind that our daughter will be safe."
"How about me? If something happens to you, and I gave our baby away, what will happen to me?" may sama ng loob niyang sabi.
Bigla na lamang siyang niyakap ni Thorn. Tears automatically stream down her cheeks.
"I won't be able to see our daughter grow. Our dreams for our family...will remain a dream."
How about me? Sigaw ng isipan niya. Thorn speaks as if he knew his ending. He was so sure about their daughter's safety, but what about her? Saan siya pupulutin? She's rather die than to know a future that there will be no Thorn and Sophina.
***
"He said that?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Sindred nang ikuwento ni Ara sa lalaki ang napag-usapan nila kanina ni Thorn.
"Should I trust his decision, Sindred?" Ara asked, frustration was written on her face.
"When did Raguel ever failed you?" Sindred said, and Ara smiled slightly.
"Never. But he could be wrong this time."
"Ara, if Raguel trusts this Nephilim, then I think you should, too," Sindred said pero sinamaan lang siya ng tingin ni Ara.
"Hindi mo ako naiintindihan, eh. Thorn has this concrete plan about saving our daughter in the hands of that Nephilim. He was so sure that something bad will happen to him and it seems he already accepted that. Pero saan ako ro'n? Hahayaan niya lang akong maiwan?" may sama ng loob niyang sabi.
"Raguel loves you more than life itself. Don't ever think that he will forsake you. I know he has plans. Besides, he has caused war between heaven and hell just to get you. If it's even possible, he'll die just to see you alive."
Hindi na alam ni Ara kung ano ang mararamdaman niya. She just wish that Thorn will tell him everything.
"I think they're leaving now," Sindred said, and Ara immediately stood up.
Patakbo siyang bumaba papunta sa foyer. Nakita niya ro'n si Thorn. She was taken a back when she saw him on his demon form. He was wearing an all white shearling coat, combat boots, as his white long hair cascading over his shoulders.
He was so beautiful yet dangerous to look at. She just wanted to run towards him, hug him so tight, and convince him not to leave.
Can we runaway from everything? She wanted to say to him but instead she smiled. She closed the gap between them and hugged him tightly.
"Babalik ka naman, 'di ba?" she whispered.
"Of course," she heard him replied. Bahagya siyang lumayo rito para tingnan ang mukha nito. Even though he was on his demon form, his eyes was still her Thorn, nothing has changed.
"I will wait for you," she said as she let go off him.
Pinanuod niya itong lumabas ng Manor kasama si Zanilla, Thamuz, at ilang kawal nito. They automatically disappeared when they step out the barrier.
"He'll come back, don't worry," Sindred said, standing behind her.
"But he did not promise it." She said.
***
"So you know about her past?" Raguel said in a monotone voice. He was trying to conceal his real feelings, but the truth is, he's scared.
"You may have took her purity, her innocent look, and everything that is holy from Ara, but the Angels are still willing to give her redemption." Said Zanilla and Raguel stared at her.
"She is that important to them, huh?" he said, smirking.
"Do you want to know the concealed truth about her?"
"Yes." He simply answered.
"Araceli Felices is the daughter of God,"
"Every human being is a dauther and son of Him," he said with hatred.
"That's not what I meant, Chief. Araceli is a daughter of God with a mortal. They have tried to hide it so much because if demons found out, she would be a target. And coincidentally, you found her."
Raguel literally felt his spine had goosebumps. If demons could feel it, he was as out of breathe.
"Who was...who's..." he can't even finish a sentence. What has just happened? God hooking up with a woman?!
"We don't know her real mother..."
"Does Lucifer knows about this?"
"No. He was trying to bargain to Angels. Araceli in exchange of your Cambion. He was so clueless. But angels don't give a shit to your offspring. They only want Araceli."
Raguel tried to swallow but it was so hard. He corrupted God's daughter. There's this small pleasure he felt inside him. He loves Araceli so much he was ready to die for her. But knowing that he was the one who took her sacredness, it was as if he already achieved his revenge to Him, unintentionally.
"Are you okay, Chief?"
"I'm more than okay, Zanilla," he said and started grinning. "What a delightful news that is,"
***