[Val]

What's the purpose of us, your children? To bear your sins with you, sinner Judas? To join you in your punishment?

We were born in this world and were already sinners. We never had one chance, to be blessed.

Mabigat ang paghinga ko, hindi tumagal ang pag-iisip ko, walang pag-aalinlangang tumakbo na kaagad ako mula sa posisyon ko na kaharap si Priscilla. I was too scared to be on the ground, that I climb to the houses and ran in the roofs.

I never looked back, I never said anything even though I wanted to curse Priscilla right then and there. If I could, I would've killed her and Lucifer together.

I don't know what's happening, my body is out of control. It feels like my cells have their own mind, even my bones, the tip of my fingers, no one knows what to do—no one knows how to survive this night.

As if my whole system knows . . . that I'm about to die.

"Aren't you tired?" Kahit nakarinig ng boses na malapit sa 'kin, hindi ako huminto sa pagtakbo. Kahit alam kong bumabagal na 'ko. It's not just my body that's messed up, my mind as well.

I continued to run, and run, and run, and run . . . before slowing down when I saw who was waiting in front of me. With the huge full moon as our witness, at the top of the town's roofs, with only the wind as our company, we're in front of each other again.

Our eyes met, and no one made a sound. My mind was blank, but my body knew what to do. I fell to my knees, my eyes lost their spark as my head faced down.

"P-Please . . ." I pleaded for the first time in my life, when I promised myself that not even God could make me. "Please, let me live . . ."

I was nonchalant, my face showed no expression, my voice was steady as a rock. "I will disappear, I won't show myself. I will feed on my kind, I will never make a scene. It will be like I didn't exist." Napalunok ako nang malalim, paulit-ulit. "S-So please, please, please, please . . . let me live."

I could feel her footsteps getting closer, I heard no sound. Until she was in front of me, I didn't dare to move or look up at her.

"You know that it doesn't work like that, right?" Her cold voice hurt me physically.

I gritted my lower lip. Still looking down, but my voice went up. "W-Why?! Why am I not allowed to live?! Because I'm a vampire?! Because I'm an offspring of Judas?! Because I'm a sinner?!"

Umangat na ang tingin ko, sumalubong sa akin ang mga patay na mga mata, sa kabila ng akin na nanlilisik. I felt something falling down on my cheeks, something that I haven't done in centuries. A liquid that's not red, but clear.

"Humans are sinners too! They came from Adam and Eve too! So why are we the only ones getting punished?! Why only us?!" Tears continued flowing, I was showing emotions that I didn't know I had. "Why do they have a chance to atone for their sins—and we have to suffer for eternity?!"

I didn't ask to be Judas' son! I didn't ask to live for eternity and feed on blood! I didn't ask for eternal youth! I never asked for this, so why do I have to suffer the consequences because my father was a sinner?!

She didn't answer me. It's not like she didn't care . . . but it seems like just like me, she didn't know the answers. 

Nahinto ako, napatitig lang sa kaniya. I was answered by silence, I showed a look of defeat. I know what's about to happen, and it's bound to happen. I couldn't escape this, I know I can't.

I took a glance at the huge moon that looked like it was just beside us.

Brother, did you feel this too?

Is this how you feel when you're about to die?

No . . . I bet you felt worse. Because unlike me who's facing the moon, you were looking at the sun. You must have felt worse, remembering our mother.

Hindi nahinto ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko. Nanatiling nakatingin sa buwan, bumuka ang bibig ko na sinundan ng mga salita.

"Tell me . . . are you planning to kill Psircilla as well? I asked, knowing that they seemed like they have a connection. I want to know, I want to make sure that I'll meet that bitch in hell.

This time, she answered.

"I'll kill everyone, you won't have to feel lonely."

I bitterly laughed at her answer. Nalipat ang tingin ko ulit sa kaniya. "Then does that include Kira as well?"

It was fascinating to see her reaction. Not much, but I saw her expression faltered. Until the last time, you're making me amuse.

"I hope you will give judgment fairly, Lucifer." Parang kausap ko ang hangin. "You know that the time will come when you'll face a dilemma. You may not see it now, you may try to deny it . . ."

"But one day, you'll have to fully abandon your humanity-"

I stopped midway when I felt a thin yet sharp thing pass through my head. It didn't take long for me to notice it, but it's not like it could do anything if I noticed it sooner.

I just showed a smile, I didn't lose all of my senses just yet. I still felt my head slipping from my body.

It was nice meeting you, Lucifer.

And see you, brother.

━━━ † ━━━