CHAPTER XXVII

Ara stared at her burn marks on her back. It's been weeks since it was forcefully marked on her. Masyado pa itong masakit. Kitang-kita niya ang markang namumuo. She couldn't process how her family had the nerve to do this to her. They could've just talk to her. And now, she couldn't see her family the same way anymore. She's angry at hanggang ngayon ay hindi iyon nawawala. She hates them that her heart felt like exploding from that overwhelming disgust she's feeling towards them.

Alam niyang dahil sa marka niya kaya hindi siya mabisita sa panaginip ni Thorn. Even when he says his name, hindi ito nagpapakita sa kaniya.

Ang tanging kunswelo lamang niya ay hindi siya nakakulong. Malaya siyang nakakalabas ng silid pero hanggang bakuran lamang. Hindi niya alam kug nasaan ang cellphone niya. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan ang wallet niya, ang susi ng kotse.

She was silently eating her dinner with her family while thinking deeply on how she could contact Thorn. Kung bumalik kaya siya sa Abyss? Yes! Puwede siyang humingi ng tulong kay Sindred. Oo, 'yon ang gagawin niya.

"When can I go back to work?" she asks calmly. Lahat ay natuon ang tingin sa kaniya.

"You're not going back to that hell company of yours, Ara." Her father said with finality.

"Pero Papa—"

"Listen to your father, Ara. Hindi mo ba alam na demon's lair ang kumpanyang iyon?" her mother said.

"That's not true!" pagtatanggol niya. "Nandoon si Jecca!"

"Your friend is deemed to be corrupted. Hayaan mo na siya roon." Her father said that made her cringe in disgust.

"Anong klaseng tao kayo?" she couldn't help but said. "You people are too obsessed about being a good catholic but here you are... acting like a...monster you're afraid to be!"

Tumayo siya at mabilis na umalis sa hapagkainan. Rinig niya ang galit na pagtawag sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama pero hindi niya ito pinansin.

She lock herself inside her room. She needs to get out of here. Mababaliw siya rito. If she knew better, parang hindi na niya pamilya ang kasama niya.

She opened her drawer. Trying to find a money. Ang alam niya ay dito niya iyon nilalagay. Kapag may sukli at puro naman barya ay hindi na niya iyon nilalagay sa wallet niya at nilalagay niya lang sa hiwalay na coin purse.

Alas! She found it. Binilang niya ang pera. More than three hundred pesos. Enough na iyon para makaalis sa bahay nila.

Nagbihis siya ng jeans, black shirt, at denim jacket. Naglagay siya ng kaunting damit s kaniyang backpack at ilang emergency kit.

Pumunta siya sa may bintana at dumungaw sa baba. Puwede siyang mabalian kapag tumalon siya. Baka mas lalo siyang hindi na makalabas sa bahay na ito.

Kinuha niya ang kumot niya sa kama pati ang mga kumot na hindi pa gamit a cabinet niya. Pinagdugtong-dugtong niya ito at itinali sa bed post. Sinubukan niya kung matibay baa ng pagtali niya. Then she heard a knock.

"Ara, unlock this door this instant!" she heard her father.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted. Kung hindi siya sasagot ay mas lalo itong magagalit at baka pwersa pa nitong buksan ang pinto.

"Finish your meal, anak," she heard her mother said.

"I'm not hungry anymore. Bukas na lang. I want to rest," she lied without any guilt.

Narinig niya ang mga yapak nito papalayo. Inihanda niya ang sarili. Hinulog niya ang lahat ng unan niya sa baba para kung sakaling mapigtas ang tali niya ay hindi gaanong malakass ang bagsak niya.

***

Ara rent a tricycle para makapunta sa opisina niya. The only person or demon that could help her is Sindred. Ito lang ang makakapagsabi kay Thorn sa kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya.

Madilim na sa Abyss nang makarating siya. Alas dyes na ng gabi. Alam niyang wala ng tao sa loob. Kung hindi niya mahahanap si Sindred, sa office siya magpapalipas ng gabi. All she have to do I wait.

She passed the guard in the entrance who was busy with his phone. She used the stairs dahil hindi niya dala ang I.D niya para makagamit sa elevator.

Nakarating siya sa accounting department. May ilaw pa sa loob. Overtime ba nila? Pero alam niyang hanggang alas nwebe lang ang pwedeng overtime.

Pumasok siya sa loob. Walang tao sa mga cubicle. Siguro naiwan lang na bukas ang ilaw. Dumeretso siya sa opisina ni Sindred. She opened the door pero wala ring tao sa loob.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Siguro nga ay dito na siya magpapalipas ng gabi. Wala siyang ibang matutuluyan.

She was about to lock the door when she heard a small creak from the wall. Biglang lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib niya. Gumalaw ang life size mirror sa gilid ng mesa.

"Ara?"

Una niyang narinig ang boses bago tuluyang bumukas ang salamin. It was Sindred. So that mirror is a secret door, huh.

"You have to help me," walang pag-aalinlangan na wika niya.

"I know. I was waiting for you," sabi nito na bahagya niyang ikinagulat.

Nahalata marahil nito ang pagkalito niya kaya napangisi ito.

"Raguel, or Thorn for you asked me to find you. Hindi ka niya malapitan dahil daw sa marka sa likod mo. Even the mere sight of you stops him from seeing you. That's how powerful that sigil in your back..."

"Where is he?" she asks.

"Hindi ko rin alam. Pumunta ako sa mansion ng mga Felices pero nababalutan ng kakaibang enerhiya ang bahay niyo dahilan para hindi ako makalapit..."

"My family did something to me. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila nalaman ang tungkol sa Incubus."

"Your family had a powerful help. Hindi pa ako sigurado sa hula ko. Ang mahalaga ay matanggal ang sigil sa likod mo para makapag-usap kayo ni Raguel."

Tumango siya rito.

"Now let's go to my kingdom,"

Kinuha nito ang braso niya at pumasok sila sa secret door. Inside the secret door is another mirror. Gumalaw ang loob nito.

"This is the Mirror Effect. A demon like me stays in the mirror dimension to temp humans from being impatient and to commit sins. Those who are weak, we can waver their emotions in a snap."

"Iyong mga taga-bulong sa mga tao para mabilis mapigtas ang pasensya nila?" tanong niya dahilan para matawa ito.

"Impatience, my dear Ara, could lead to anything. An ampatient lover could lead to desperation, an impatient politician could lead to self-destruction, and an impatient man could lead to either kill or be killed. Impatience is not a sin, it's a powerful trigger."

Napatango siya.

When they entered the Mirror Effect, everything is the same. Medyo distorted lang ang ilang bagay na nakikita niya but the rest, same from what is outside.

In just a snap ay nakarating sila sa isang gusaling parang museum. Dinala siya nito sa underground kung saan may naghihintay na matandang babae.

"Is that her?" wika nito na hindi man lamang binubuksan ang bibig.

"Yes. We can't bring her to Raguel. Can you remove her Sigil?"

"It depends. If a mortal performed it, we could easily dispel her mark."

"Her family is the one who marked her," Sindred replied and the old lady nodded.

Pinaupo siya sa gitna ng silid. May mga inilabas na kakaibang gamit at kasangkapan ang matandang babae. Mayroon din itong ginagawang ritwal sa harap ng isang altar na napupuno ng mga buto at bungo.

"Sindred..." pabulong na tawag niya sa lalaki. "what is she? 'Tsaka bakit hindi niya binubuka ang bibig niya 'pag nagsasalita?" kuryuso niyang tanong at napangisi lamang ang lalaki.

"She's a witch. She's powerful enough to enter the mirror effect. And she doesn't need to open her mouth so we could hear her. It's her thought. She's letting us hear hers for us to be safe."

Napatango naman siya bago muling binalingan ang matandang babae. She's wearing a brown tattered dress. She has a gray messy hair. At nang una niya itong makita kanina ay agad niyang napansin ang naninilaw nitong mga mata.

Napatuwid siya sa pagkakaupo nang lumapit ito sa kaniya. May dala itong vial na umuusok ng kulay itim. Napangiwi siya. Ipapainom ba ito sa kaniya?

"Can I see the mark?" the old lady asked.

Dahan-dahan niyang itinaas ang blouse sa likod. Masakit pa rin ito. Ramdam niya ang paghiwalay ng damit niya sa natuyong sugat sa likod niya. Napaungol siya sa hapdi.

"Hmm..." the old lady inspected her mark. Si Sindred ay nasa tabi lamang niya. "You say her family performed the marking?"

"Yes," sagot ni Sindred.

"Kasama si Professor Evangelista." Ara added with bitterness.

"This marking ain't done by a mere mortal. I could feel a group of high-level winged men performed it." Said the old lady.

"What do you mean?" tanong ni Sindred sa matanda.

"An Archangel, a fallen angel, a Seraphim, and an Elder. They've combined a powerful markings on her back. My power couldn't match it..."

Her heart sank in disappointment. But then, paanong naging makapangyarihan ang pamilya niya para maisagawa ang ritwal? They're not Angels!

"Sinasabi niyo ba na anghel ang pamilya ko?" hindi niya makapaniwalang sabi. Tinawanan lamang siya ng matanda.

"An angel needs a host or vessel to perform a ritual on a mortal. I believe they've made your families a vessel," paliwanag sa kaniya ni Sindred.

"And Professor Evangelista?" she asked.

"She was a fallen Angel. Siya marahil ang ginawang tulay ng mga winged men para mapalapit sa pamilya mo. So don't hold a grudge on your family. They don't know anything."

Napahinga naman siya ng malalim. Everything is hard to understand. Bakit ba gano'n na lamang sila ka-determinadong ilayo siya kay Thorn?

So what if she's chosen a demon. It's her soul. She has a freewill to choose and she's chosen him.

"Is there any other way too remove her markings?" Sindred asked.

The old lady hummed, "There is, of course. Everything in the universe has a counterpart. If there's an Archangel in heaven, there's an Archangel in hell as well. If they have a good fallen Angel, hell have one, too—well evil fallen Angel.. If they have an Elder, I believe hell have tons. And if they have a Seraphim, we also have two."

"So to remove her Sigil, we just have to find a counterpart and perform the ritual?" paninigurado ni Sindred.

Tumango naman ang matanda. "Yes. It's the only way. A sigil, no matter how powerful, there is always a way to remove it."

Napatingin si Sindred sa kaniya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iniisip nito o kung may naisip itong ibang paraan. Ang siguraso lamang niya ay ito lamang ang makakatulong sa kaniya.

"There is only one Archangel in hell," he said then groaned. "Oh, Raguel," he whispered annoyed, "you owe me big time!"

***

She felt dizzy with all the blinking and teleporting. Kung saan-saan siya dinadala ni Sindred. He told her they're going underground, to hell. Kung hindi lang siguro dahil sa suliranin niya, hinding-hindi siya sasama rito. Sino ba naman ang gustong makapunta sa impyerno?

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa lalaki nang makapasok silang lagusan. Sobrang init nito at mabaho rin na parang nabubulok na itlog.

"Kailangan kitang piringan," sabi sa kaniya ni Sindred kaya napatingala siya rito.

"What for?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"After this tunnel is the gate of hell. Only our kind has the ability to see what we are about to enter. Your mortal eyes couldn't take this damnation. You'll either be blinded or die."

"Then blindfold me!" agad niyang sabi sabay na ipinikit ang mga mata. She hear him chuckle before tying a cloth on her eyes.

Alam niyang nakalabas na silang tunnel nang biglang parang sinalubong sila ng mas mainit na kapaligiran. Hindi niya alam kung talaga bang impyerno ang napasukan niya o oven.

Inaalalayan siya ni Sindred na maglakad. And although she couldn't see, she could hear screams, cries, and whispers. Sana pala nilagyan din siya ng earplug dahil nakakabingi ang mga naririnig niya.

"S-Sindred..." natatakot niyang sambit. Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa kaniya ng lalaki. Pakiramdam niya ay sasabog na ang ulo niya.

"Bear a little longer, Ara. This is for you and Raguel," he whispered to her.

"For Raguel..." she said.

The unbearable sound became distant when she heard a door opened and closed.

"We're here," she heard him say. Naramdaman niyang kinalas nito ang piring niya. She was blinded for a second then she was greeted by a huge hall painted with darkness and flames. The ceiling was covered with black smoke while the wall is covered in flames. Sa dulong gitna ay may isang upuan. It was empty.

Tatanungin niya sana kung sino ang hinihintay nila nang biglang may sumulpot na lalaki sa kawalan. Nakaupo na ito sa trono at may hawak na baston. He's wearing a red cloak ang a hood hiding his face.

"What does a Verrine demon doing here in my kingdom and," he trail off then grinned at her. "you brought a mortal. Interesting!"

"We need your help, my Liege," Sindred said.

"I see. And may I know who's this beautiful lady you brought?" the man in a cloak asked.

"She's Araceli Felices. Raguel's—"

"Love interest," putol nito sa sinabi ni Sindred. "I heard so much about you and I am so honored that a catholic girl choose a demon rather than an angel," pinagsakop nito ang dalawang kamay at mas lalo siyang tinitigan na may ngisi sa labi. "I must say that I became a really, really big fan of you. You made me so proud. Good job on that."

"Who are you?" she asked that made him laugh so hard.

"Ohhh, I'm starting to love this girl, Sindred!"

Tumingala siya kay Sindred puno ng tanong ang mga mata.

"Ara, he's—"

"I'll introduce myself," tumayo ang lalaki sa trono nito at lumapit sa kaniya.

She could feel the dark power surrounding him. It was overwhelming in a way that her heart is beating so loud, she felt like having a heart attack.

"I am Lucifer. King of hell."

He extend his arms to her. Napatingin siya rito. Mahahaba ang kuku at may mga demonic tattoo sa kamay nito.

Ara knows that Lucifer is one of the counterpart that the old witch was talking about. After all, he was once an Archangel. Ito lamang ang makakatulong sa kaniya. Kaya kahit natatakot siya ay tinatagan niya ang loob at nakipag-kamay dito.

"Is that fear I'm sensing?" Lucifer said taunting her. "Don't worry, everyone here has the same fear as you. Even my Princes feared me." he said proudly. "So...to what help I could offer to my favorite mortal?"

"Ara has a powerful sigil on her back. The old witch couldn't remove it. She said that only the counterpart of the one performed it can remove the sigil." Sindred said.

"I reckon one of my brothers did the ritual so you came to me?" Lucifer said, seemed to be even more interested.

"We need a counterpart of each one. An Archangel, a fallen angel, a Seraphim, and an Elder..." Sindred said.

"Well, I volunteer. I will help Araceli. And we'll choose a counterpart who is powerful."

Ara saw him snapped his fingers and in just seconds, a man—demon appeared in front of them.

"Bring Leilani and Lilith to me..." he ordered and the demons immediately disappeared. Lucifer then turn to Sindred. "You and Raguel are my only Seraphims. You'll be part of the counterpart to perform the ritual."

Araceli looked up to Sindred. So he was a Seraphim just like Raguel.