Chersh ate with a gusto that night. They had never seen such a grand dinner. The table was full of food. Sila lamang ni Chersh ang nasa hapagkainan upang umubos lahat ng nakahandang pagkain. Thank goodness they were really so hungry so they managed to eat half of it. After that, the two went to Chanel's room and talked again.

Both of them were still uncertain about Night's generosity. It was too fishy and staged.

"Maging alerto," wika ni Chersh habang ito'y nakaupo sa kama ni Chanel.

"Mahirap magtiwala at huwag na huwag basta maniniwala. Nag-aalangan pa rin ako kay Night. Alam niyang galing ka sa mundog ibabaw. Kung ganoon, anong kailangan niya sa 'yo?"

Kahit si Chanel ay nangangamba at nagtataka. Ang tanging nagpupunto sa lahat ng kabaitan na ginagawa ni Night ay tungkol sa kanyang tunay na pagkatao. Kung ganoon, sino siya? Bakit nasa kamay siya noon ng mga aswang? Bakit dumating si Night upang iligtas siya? O baka naman ay para kuhanin siya? Sino sina Illya at ang kultong pinamumunuan nito? Sinong sinasamba ng mga ito? At sino ang nag-utos sa mga aswang niyang magulang na siya'y alagaan?

She had to find the answers to these questions but how?

Isang katok ang nagputol ng pag-uusap ng dalawa. Binuksan ni Chanel ang pinto at ang bumungad sa kanya ay si Night.

"Night," tawag niya rito. Sumilip na rin si Chersh sa lalaki.

"Nakakaabala ba ako?"

Nagkatinginan sina Chersh at Chanel. "Hindi naman," sagot ni Chanel sa lalaki.

"Kung ganoon, maari ko bang mahiram muna si Chersh?"

"Mahiram?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Chanel sa binata.

"May kailangan lang akong sabihin sa kanya. Isa na rito ang pagtulog niya sa ibang kuwarto. Hindi ba?"

"Wala namang malisya-"

"Lalaki pa rin si Chersh."

"Hindi naman niya-"

Tinitigan siya ni Night kaya't siya na rin mismo ang huminto sa pagsasalita. May punto naman si Night pero mas malaki ang tiwala niya sa malliit na nilalang kaysa sa lalaking nasa kanyang harapan.

"Chersh," tawag ni Chanel dito.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Chersh saka ito naglakad patungo sa dalawa.

"Wala ka namang dapat na ikatakot, Mr. Night. Hindi ko naman kakainin ang magandang dilag na 'to at lalong-lalo nang hindi ko aagawin sa 'yo si Chanel. Alam ko namang-" Huminto sa pagsasalita si Chersh nang bigyan siya ng tingin ni Night.

"Lead the way!" wika ni Chersh saka ito lumabas ng kuwarto ni Chanel.

Tumingin si Night kay Chanel at ngumiti. "Maraming salamaat."

Tumango lamang si Chanel sa binata. Pinanood niya ang pag-alis ng dalawa hanggang sa makaliko ang mga ito sa pasilyo. Iisa lamang ang nasa isip ni Chanel. Anong kailangang sabihin ni Night kay Chersh? Kailangan niyang malaman ito bukas sa maliit na nilalang.

Isinara niya ang pinto at umupo sa kanyang higaan. Humiga siya at sinubukang makatulog. Ngunit sa tuwing ipinipikit niya ang kanyang mata, ang imahe ng kanyang magulang ang kanyang nakikita. She again felt the pain throbbing in her chest. It would never go away. She somehow forgot about them when she was so busy thinking about her survival. She wished that something could make her busy so that she could at least not think about those people who betrayed her.

How could you just fool someone? Where were they conscience?

Or did they feel any at all?

Chanel bit her lip. She was trying not to cry, but she just couldn't.

So she'd weep all night, remembering every single thing that happened to her back at the world above.

***

The next day, Manda gave her a tour in the mansion. She discovered so many places where she could rest and learn at the same time. Night had a big library in his mansion where he stored a plethora of different books. She also met Fenrir, the librarian.

"Master Night is a big fan of books. If you want to read them, Lady Chanel, you're welcome to do so. Please enjoy," wika ni Fenrir sa kanya habang siya ay nakatingin sa mga libro habang kumikinang ang kanyang mata sa sobrang tuwa.

Chanel stayed there for days, reading all the history books about Hellas. She even ate and slept there just to read all the books and gather information as much as she can.

There she learned about this world.

There was light and there was darkness. Light belonged to heaven and darkness belonged to the underworld. Gods created heaven for themselves, earth for their beloved humans, and underworld for those who have sinned.

But who would give a fair discernment and punishment for the sinners?

Anua, the god of Death, ruled the underworld for thousands of years. He punished the sinners and uplifted the innocents to heaven.

Until...

"Until one god revolted against the other gods," said Night who suddenly appeared beside her.

Nagulat si Chanel sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Night sa kanyang tabi. She hadn't seen him for days. She even didn't know how long she had stayed here in the library. Chersh came from time to time to bother her but she didn't avail. She had to do all this research. No one would help her but herself.

"Next time, knock," Chanel reminded him.

"Well, forgive me, angel. I didn't mean to disturb your..." He looked at the book and to her again, "Research, I guess."

"You said one god revolted against the other gods. Hindi nakalagay dito sa libro," wika ni Chanel, pagbabalik ng usapan tungkol sa sinabi ni Night.

"This is a book from the underworld. Everything you have read is pretty useless," sagot ni Night.

"What do you mean?"

If that was the case, she had read plenty of books. And now what? It was useless?

"These were all revised. They were all forged," sagot ni Night.

Forged? She couldn't believe it. She looked at the pile of books that she'd read. Revised? Why? Hindi n'ya maintindihan.

"Why?" Chanel asked.

"To mislead the citizens, creatures, and monsters here in Hellas," paliwanag ni Night.

Kumunot-noo si Chanel. "Why did they have to do that-" Nahinto sa pagsasalita si Chanel nang mayroon siyang napagtanto. Tumingin siya kay Night. She couldn't say anything as if what she'd learned was the biggest secret. Ngumiti sa kanya si Night.

"Glad you're still smart, angel."

"So that God who revolted did rule here in Hellas," wika ni Chanel, still unsure if she could say it out loud.

"Yes, he did."

Umupo si Night sa tabi ni Chanel at kinuha ang librong binabasa ni Chanel. From then, Night told her everything he knew.

The God who revolted against the other Gods in heaven couldn't defeat the other Gods alone. So he went to the underworld, defeated Anua, and ruled Hellas for a long time. And that was when warriors of hell and heaven had a conflict and started a holy war.

Holy War lasted for thousands of years and up until now there were still misunderstanding between the two realms.

So Chanel asked, "S'ya pa rin ba ang namamahala rito?"

Umiling si Night, "His son now rules Hellas."

"Where is he now? That God?"

Itinuro ni Night ang sahig. "He's in the deepest part of Hellas. Sealed by his kin."

Nagulat si Chanel sa sinabi ni Night. One thing was for sure. If that God was sealed in the deepest part of Hellas and it was his kin who executed it, then it was none other than the king who now ruled the underworld, his own son.

"Did you like it? Our history?" tanong ni Night kaya muling umakyat ang tingin niya sa lalaki.

It was entertaining for Chanel dahil interesado rin siya sa mga ganitong bagay. But still, Hellas was a mysterious and unfamiliar place for her. There were so many things to discover and learn. At least, she knew a little bit about their history. But how would this information help her?

Tumango si Chanel sa lalaki at ngumiti naman sa kanya pabalik si Night.

There was something about his angelic smile. It was as if something was lurking beneath it. Night was definitely wearing a mask in front of her. She could damn sense it. This was not his true colors. Mapagbigay at palangiti sa isang taong wala namang koneksyon o kinalaman sa kanya. Puwede pa kung interesado o attracted ang lalaki sa kanya, pero hindi ito ang nakikita niya sa mata ng lalaki.

This man in front of her wanted something else.

"Why are you looking at me like that, angel?" tanong ni Night sa kanya habang hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang ngiti nito.

Sure, Night was damn attractive and handsome as hell, but he was not her type. So why did she feel different when this guy was around her?

Umiling si Chanel. "Nothing. I was just wondering kung ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo sa 'kin."

Now Night's smile changed. She was definitely looking forward to this conversation. She started it, so how would it end?

"I thought you're falling for me. Your eyes are admiring what they see."

"Sure you're handsome, but you're not really my type," sagot ni Chanel at binigyan pa ng ngiti ang binata.

"Well, let's see. You'll be hooked up sooner or later."

Chanel looked again at Night. She was wondering where he got his confidence. Their eyes met and they were the only ones here. He was beside her. Any moment that thing could happen, but they were not definitely ordinary people. They were at the wrong time, wrong place, and with burden circumstances. That was too impossible for them both and they were well aware of it.

"Sure," sagot ni Chanel.

"As for our deal," wika ni Night.

"Yes, the deal," wika ni Chanel saka ito bumuntong-hininga. "I'm in," kanyang pagpapatuloy.

Night's smile grew wider, pleased with Chanel's decision.

"So how is it going to be?"

"Oh, the terms." Natawa ng mahina si Night saka ito tumayo at lumakad palayo kay Chanel. Sinundan naman ng tingin ng dalaga ang binata.

"We're looking for the same items, angel," pag-uumpisa ni Night. Muli itong lumingon kay Chanel at tiningnan siya diretso sa kanyang mga mata.

"Items?" naguguluhang tanong ni Chanel.

"Relics that you need to get back to the human world," sagot ni Night.

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay ni Chanel sa sinabi Night. What made him so sure that she wanted to go back to the human world? Why was he so confident with everything? Night again smiled, but this time she'd seen no angelic smile but the opposite of it. His true identity. The persona behind his mask. It was finally revealed.

"Human world..." bulong ni Chanel habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa mga mata ni Night.

"I know you want to go back."

"Paano kung hindi?"

"Oh, I know you, angel." Dahan-dahang lumapit sa kanya si Night at huminto sa kanyang harapan. She looked up to him while he was looking down at her.

"You're weak," bulong nito.

"So you'll choose to run away rather finding the truth," dugtong pa nito.

"We don't have to argue here. We both know that's a fact about you. Not until you have the courage to face everything, you're still a weak human being."

Now that hurt. She was offended but what he said was true. She very well knew that she was weak and fragile. And that courage, she would never find it. She just couldn't. Kaya nga sa bandang huli, kumakapit siya rito sa usapan niya kay Night.

And now his façade finally broke. He was now showing his true colors. He had a savage mouth, one fact listed.

"Relics you said. That's the key para makabalik ako sa mundo ng mga tao?" pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

Tumango si Night sa kanya.

"At kailangan mo rin 'yon? Bakit?"

Muling ngumiti si Night sa kanya. Yumuko ito at lumapit pa lalo sa kanya. Hinawakan ng binata ang kanyang baba at nagsalita, "That's not part of the deal, angel. All you have to do is to get all the relics and you're out of here. You shouldn't bother yourself with other things. Do you agree?"

"And if I don't?"

Hinaplos ni Night ang kanyang pisngi pababa sa kanyang leeg. Huminto ito sa kanyang pulso at doon mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

"This would happen," sagot ni Night saka niya diniinan ang pagkakahawak doon.

"But that depends on you. If you still don't want to die, you better keep your hands on yourself," bulong nito saka siya nito binitiwan.

For a second, she couldn't believe what just happened. He saved her before, but he was willing to kill her too if she messes up everything. This was planned very well and she was just one of his pawns. She was just another toy that he could discard whenever he wanted to. And she gambled her freedom and life on this devil. How would she get out of here and from him?

Trap. I am damn trapped.

"Now let's work together. I will get what's mine and you'll get what's yours." He smiled again as if nothing happened, as if he didn't threaten her earlier.

"But since you already agreed, there's no turning back. You will work for me in exchange for your freedom. All clear, angel?"

Huminga ng malalim si Chanel at lumunok. Just how twisted this man could be? At tama ba talagang dito siya makipagtulungan? Sa dulo ay hindi pa rin niya malaman kung ano ang pakay ni Night sa kanya. Bukod sa kailangan niya kolektahin ang mga relics na 'yon na susi para makabalik siya sa mundo ng mga tao, sa lahat ng tao bakit siya pa? Anong nalalaman ni Night sa totoo niyang katauhan? At ano rin ang pinaplano ng binata sa mga relics na 'yon?

"Where can we find these relics?" tanong ni Chanel.

"Good. You're still sharp," komento ni Night kaya muling kumunot-noo ang dalaga.

"You don't have to worry. We just have to steal the relics at the palaces."

"What do you mean na sa palasyo tayo magnanakaw?"

Again, Night showed his angelic smile and leaned on towards Chanel.

"Those relics are the symbols of the princes of Hellas. At iyon ang kukuhanin natin."

Napanganga si Chanel sa sinabi ni Night. Hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi nito.

"Symbols ng mga prinsipe?"

Tumango si Night. "We're going to have a long journey. You and me."

"Saan?"

"We're going to different rings of Hellas where the princes rule. So be ready."

At doon tila nawalan ng kaluluwa si Chanel. Just how could they steal an item that belonged to every prince? At sa palasyo pa talaga ng bawat prinsipe ng Hellas? This was too impossible! How they would be able to do all of these and get out completely unscratched and alive?

"Don't worry, you have me."

As if that could make her calm.