CHAPTER XXIV

Nakalabas ang dalaga sa pasilyo at nakababa sa engrandeng hagdan. Nakita niya ang daan papuntang kusina kung saan naroon ang mga slave nila. There was a dark hallway under the staircase. Pababa ito at may mga torch lamang na nagsisilbing ilaw papasok.

Mahigpit pa rin ang hawak niya sa papel na may sigil.

Mahaba ang hallway. It was made of stone. It was dark and very hot. Pinapangilabutan siya sa mga iba't-ibang ungol na naririnig. If something happen, she could always wake-up, right? Because this is just a dream, right?

Naabot niya ang pinakadulo ng pasilyo. May dalawang entrance...kaliwa at kanan. She was about to enter on the left side when she heard footsteps of group of men. Tumakbo siya papuntang kanan. Tahimik. Bawat hakbang niya ay naririnig. Maingat siyang naglakad hanggang sa makita niya ang hagdan pababa.

Para itong hagdan na sa mga makalumang pelikula niya lang nakikita. A spiral stair made of stone.

Sa pinakababa ay mayroong pintuan. Nakaawang ito kaya mabilis niyang nasilip sa loob.

Namangha siya nang makita ang loob nito. There are four stone pillars each side. Sa dulo ay may trono.

Nagulat siya nang bigla na lang may sumulpot na babae sa gitna ng pillar. She was bowing her head as if she's waiting for someone.

Nagtago ang dalaga sa likod ng pintuan nang makita niyang mas lalong dumilim ang silid. There was a shadow coming from nowhere.

"Welcome back, Chief," said the lady as she kneeled in front of him.

"How many days was I gone?"

"Eight days on Earth, and almost a year underground," she answered.

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kilabot sa buong katawan. She's dealing with a demon. She suddenly felt so scared. She just wanted to wake-up but she can't. Something has been stopping her from doing it.

"Are there any news, Keira?" he asked.

He was Raguel the demon Incubus. For the first time she saw him without hiding in the dark. He was wearing a black cloak. His body built is bigger than a normal man. His face is covered with black demonic markings down to his neck. She could see his almost white hair cascading over his shoulders. And he has horns on his forehead. It was terrifying to look at.

His eyes. His eyes are all black. He was scary. A very big scary demon of lust.

Hindi niya maatim pakinggan ang pinag-uusapan ng mga 'to. It was too morbid for her. But what does she expects? They're demon. Evil.

She was about to step back, retrace her track when she saw him slowly unveiling his cloak. He took a black coat and as if magic, the black demonic markings all over his face and body was gone. His horns gradually disappears while his hair turned into black ebony pompadour. He changed into a normal handsome man.

Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't cope up. Para siyang hihimatayin sa nakikita. Imposible bang himatayin sa panaginip?

No. Hindi. Her eyes might be playing her. She's inside a demon's lair. This is just a dream. Hindi puwede. Hindi niya kayang tanggapin.

"T-Thorn..." hindi niya mapigilang sambitin.

Pareho silang napalingon sa kinatatayuan niya. They were as surprised as her.

"Araceli!" he said.

Mabilis siyang tumakbo paakyat sa spiral staircase. What's the use of running if he could easily catch her?

She could see the hallway. It was as if it became endless. Parang kahit gaano siya kabilis tumakbo ay hindi niya maabot ang dulo nito.

"Areceli!"

Nahinto siya sa pagtakbo at napaatras nang bigla itong sumulpot sa harapan niya. Hindi niya maintindihan ang pinapakita nitong emosyon. Is he mad because she now know his true form?

He tried to reach from her but she immediately avoided him.

"S-stay away from me, you...you demon!" she shouted, scared and devastated.

She was scared because she's in front of a demon who could kill her in just one snap. And at the same time devastated because she learns to like him. Her heart was open to love him. Handa siyang suwayin ang pamilya para sa lalaki. Nagsinungaling siya para makasama lamang ito.

"You have to get out of here," was all he say to her.

He did not bother explaining to her. Well, what will she expect from a demon? To be emotional just because she learn the truth about him? She should be thankful he didn't hurt her.

***

Nagising si Ara na umiiyak. Sobrang naninikip ang dibdib niya sa sama ng loob. Mabilis siyang bumangon at naligo. Bumaba siya at nakita niya ang pamilya sa hapagkainan nag-aagahan.

Tahimik lamang siyang kumain. Bumalik siya sa silid at kinuha ang bag at susi ng kotse. She have to do something. Hindi na niya hahayaan na biktimahin siya nito. She have to cut anything that ties her and that demon.

Even if it's Thorn.

Mabilis siyang nagmaneho papunta sa bahay ng kaibigan. She has never drive so recklessly before.

Nang makarating ay agad siyang umibis ng sasakyan. Sunod-sunod ang pag-doorbell niya sa gate. Lumabas ang bunsong kapatid ni na agad naman siyang pinapasok nang makilala siya.

Kakagising lang ni Jecca nang maabutan niya ito sa silid nito. Labis ang pagtataka nito na makita siya sa bahay nila na walang pasabi.

"I want a tattoo, Jecca," she said without preamble that made her friend choke.

"Ha?" wika nito tila hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Dalhin mo ako sa pinagpa-tattoo-an mo noong college pa tayo," sabi niya pa. Mukhang hindi pa nahihismahan ang kaibigan dahil wala pa rin itong matinong sagot para sa kaniya.

"Ara, you can't just barge in into my room and ask for a tattoo on my tattoo artist," sabi nito at sinuklay ang buhok gamit ang mga daliri. "Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?"

"I told you. I need a tattoo!" naiinip niyang sabi.

"Okay, okay. We'll get you one. Geez!"

Oras ang hinintay niya bago makapag-handa ang kaibigan. Nang makasakay silang kotse ay naglagay pa ito ng make-up sa mukha. Jecca's tattoo artist resides near their favorite foodpark. Naalala niyang kasama nila dati si Clay nang magpa-tattoo ang kaibigan.

"We're here," sabi niya nang makarating sila. Napalingon siya sa kaibigan at nakita itong tulog. Hindi niya mapigilang hindi mainis.

"Jecca," yugyug niya rito pero hindi ito magising. "Jecca!" malakas niyang sabi pero bumagsak ang braso nito sa sahig ng kotse.

Nahintakutan siya nang makitang hindi gumagalaw ang kaibigan. Umibis siyang sasakyan para humingi ng tulong nang mapansin niyang naka-hinto ang mga sasakyan sa gitna ng kalsada. Ang mga taong kaninang naglalakad sa gilid ng kalsada ay animong mga estatwa.

She was the only one moving.

"Araceli..."

Napalingon ang dalaga sa hindi kalayuan. There, she saw a lady standing few meters away from her. Her brows immediately furrowed when she noticed that the lady was wearing an unusual dress. Lumapit ito sa kaniya at mas lalo niyang napag-masdan ang babae. Maganda ito. Sobrang ganda. The type of beauty anyone would kill. And her dress, it was as if she was was covered with white feathery dress.

"Araceli Felices, I need you to come with me." Seryosong sabi ng babae.

"Who are you?" she asked confused.

"I am Clement. I was your Guardian Angel." The lady revealed.

Pakiramdam ni Ara ay naninigas ang likod ng ulo niya. Narinig niya ang sinabi nito at kung sino ito pero hindi ito kayang tanggapin ng utak niya.

An Angel. Her mind thought. Nakita niya itong naglakad palapit sa kaniya pero mabilis siyang umatras palayo. Nakita niyang unti-unting dumidilim ang kalangitan.

"L-lumayo ka sa akin. Y-you're not real! Angels....and Demons...H-hindi kayo totoo!" she said with trembling lips.

Mas lalong dumilim ang kalangitan. Hindi niya alam kung dahil sa sinabi niya o kung ginalit niya ang babaeng kaharap.

Kahit dumidilim ay nakikita niya ang kinang sa pagkatao ng babae. Nakakasilaw. At ang kaniyang anino...may pakpak ang anino nito.

"Alam kong naguguluhan ka sa ngayon, Ara." Wika ng babae. Bigla ay parang nakakahalina ang tono ng boses nito. Unti-unti ay nawawala ang takot sa dibdib niya.

Nakita niyang nag-angat ito ng kamay. She was reaching for her.

"Hawakan mo ang mga kamay ko para masagot lahat ng katanungan sa isip mo, Ara." Dagdag pa nito.

Answers. She want answers, right? Simula nang managinip siya ng mga kakaiba ay gusto niya ng sagot. And this lady in front of her, an Angel, is going to give her that.

She extends her arms, ready to walk towards her when a strong force suddenly appeared next to her car. It was some kind of a portal made of fire. At halos mapasinghap siya nang lumabas ro'n ang lalaking dahilan kung bakit niya nais magpa-lagay ng tattoo.

"Araceli, don't listen to her!" he said running towards her.

"Stay there! Don't you dare come near me!" she shouted. Pinipilit niyang patatagin ang loob. Because the truth is, she can't handle this—whatever happening to her life right now. At ngayon ay napapagitnaan siya ng isang Anghel at Demonyo. And no one would believe her if she asks for help. She's one snap away from being crazy.

"If you go with Her, they will erase your memory or worse," Thorn extend his arms for her.

"You're a demon! What could be worse than this?" tear were beginning to blur her vision.

Natatakot siya sa lalaki at the same time ay nasasaktan. Thorn has been very mysterious and secretive to her. And she admits that she think of him as a person with dark past and she's ready to accept whatever bad things attached to him. But it didn't cross her mind that she's dealing with a demon!

The demon who awakens her suppressed sensuality and pursuit to physical intimacy.

"You've corrupted her enough, Raguel," her Guardian Angel said. She then turn her gaze at Ara with reassuring look. "You have your freewill, Araceli. Choose us, and Heaven will forgive you. Chose him, and you will be forsaken forever."

The way the Guardian Angel said it—she could feel a shiver down her spine. She only have 2 choices. And it was too easy to choose. She was raised to always choose the right thing. But now, staring at Thorn, her heart constricting from pain just the thought him being disappointed for not choosing him.

"The last time we talked, I told you my secrets could make you hate me. But I held on to your words when you told me that you are ready to accept me. That your feelings for me is strong enough for you to understand me."

"You're a demon and that changes everything." She said to him.

"Please?" he said almost audible.

For the first time knowing Thorn, he showed her emotions. His sharp, jet black eyes were pleading for her to choose him.

Tumingin si Ara kay Clement. If she was her Guardian Angel, then she should know that she will always choose what is good and what is best.

But isn't she tired of doing good? Hindi ba't kaya niya nilabag ng ilang beses ang kagustuhan ng ama para kay Thorn? She could be the paragon of good. But she wasn't immuned to sins.

Please forgive me from what I'm about to do. She said to herself before taking his hands.    

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