CHAPTER XXXIV

Ara was awakened by a delicious sizzling sound. She's on her old room. The sun was lighting the bedroom too much she couldn't helped but squint.

Nang buksan niya ang pintuan ng silid ay mas lalong naamoy niya ang mabangong dahilan kung bakit biglang kumulo ang tiyan niya. Everything feels normal to her. Pakiramdam niya ba ay nagising siya sa isang napakahabang masamang panaginip.

"Ma? Pa?" tawag niya habang papasok sa pasilyo patungong kusina. Doon siya dinadala ng kaniyang pang-amoy. Gustong-gusto niyang kumain.

"Lola Sol—" bigla siyang natigilan nang makita niyang may baby high chair na nakalagay sa harap ng countertop. He or she is innocently eating his or her pureed baby food.

"Ma? Pa? Kaninong anak 'to?" she asked loudly. It's definitely not her niece baby Euki.

"Oh, you're awake,"

Napalingon siya sa lalaking nakatayo sa harap ng gas stove. He's wearing an apron, plate on his side with bacons on it.

"Who are you?" nakakunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Honey, did you over sleep?" natatawa nitong sabi. Binitawan nito ang hawak plato 'saka lumapit sa kaniya na may nakakabighaning mga ngiti. "I'm your husband, you silly girl," sabi nito at mabilis siyang hinagkan sa labi.

Mabilis niya itong tinulak palayo sa kaniya. Suddenly she felt her temple aching.

"The hell you are!" singhal niya rito.

He stared at her, hurt, but with understanding.

"Honey, are you alright?" he asked concern but she just gave her a mocking laugh.

"Oh, God, I'm dreaming!" hindi niya makapaniwalang bulalas.

"Honey, you're not dreaming. See?" hinawakan nito ang mga kamay niya. "Wait are you pregnant? Masusundan na ba si—"

"Shut up!" muli niyang singhal at patakbong lumabas ng kusina.

Dumeretso siya sa salas. Doon niya napansin ang malaking portrait sa pader. It was her and the man in the kitchen. It was their wedding picture.

She could feel her forehead sweating. Unti-unting nagiging pamilyar ang kaba niya.

Araceli, wake up.

"Honey..." rinig niyang tawag ng lalaki kaya mabilis siyang tumakbo palabas ng bahay.

"Raguel!" sigaw niya. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan siya. Because she's sure enough that the mansion she has awaken into is not real.

Nang muli niya lingunin ang mansion ay unti-unti itong nabubura sa paningin niya. Unti-unting nilalamon ng dilim ang paligid. She's running barefoot until the darkness caught her.

She suddenly felt like she was brought back to reality. Madilim pa rin. Pero iyon marahil dahil may piring ang kaniyang mata. She couldn't move. Both of her feet and hands are bounded. Sobrang siyang hinihingal. Ramdam niya ang namumuong pawis sa noo niya. Hindi niya rin gusto ang naaamoy niya. Para itong nabubulok na itlog.

"She's awake," she heard someone said.

"Remove her blindfold," a man said familiar to her ears.

Nang matanggal ang piring sa kaniyang mga mata ay dahan-dahan niya itong minulat. Her eyes adjusted from dark lit room but it was enough to see who is inside.

Lilith and Lucifer.

"Leave us alone," he ordered and Lilith immediately left the forsaken place.

She darted her eyes on him. and even though she knew her murdering stare would not affect him, still, she look to him as if she's killing him.

"So, how's our baby?" he said giving her a sinister smile.

"Our baby?" she didn't have to fake her choking voice. Kasi nakakasuka sa pandinig niya. "Are you delusional now, Lucifer?"

"It is going to be my baby. Well, after I kill Raguel. And if you wouldn't cooperate, then you, too," he said, smiling still.

Her heart is burning with outrage. She could just kill this devil the moment he says he'll kill Raguel. But what a mortal girl could do? She's powerless. Ni hindi niya alam kung saan sisimulan ang pagplanong tumakas.

"You can't kill him! Raguel is one of your demons you can't tame. Why do you think you can ever kill him?" she said taunting him.

"But I can kill you," ngumisi ito ng nakakaloko pero tinawanan niya lamang ito. This is the only way she could fight him. Ang mas lalo itong galitin.

"You think he cares? Raguel could always find another mortal like me. I don't matter to him. So your useless vendetta towards him is of waste. You're just wasting your time!" she spat. But deep down her gut she's shaking. Alam niyang hindi iyon totoo.

"I saw how he protected you. I saw how he tried to save you every minute of his life. I saw that light on his eyes whenever he stares at you. So tell me I'm wasting my time, my dear Araceli."

And that's what she's scared the most. Seeing Raguel fight for her. Ayaw niyang magsakripisyo ito para sa kaniya dahil alam niyang talo ito. Dahil sa kaniya, nagkaroon ng kahinaan si Raguel.

"Any day from now you'll give birth. I will take your child and raise it as my own. I know your child is hell's abomination. I could use him as my...personal weapon."

Mariing napapikit si Ara. She couldn't let that happen! She couldn't let her child be corrupted by evil!

"You're weak," she managed to whisper.

"What did you say?" biglang nawala ang mala-demonyo nitong ngisi.

"I said you're weak!" malakas niyang ulit. "You're using a child to feed your thirst in power. You're weak because after all this thousands of years, you're still in quest to prove to heaven and hell that you're powerful. When in reality, you're just a fallen angel! Just a forsaken angel who couldn't admit the fact that you were banished by your own father!"

Bigla niyang naramdaman ang palad nito sa pisngi niya. Nalalasahan niya ang sariling dugo sa bibig. At imbes na lunukin niya ito ay dinura pa niya ito sa demonyong kaharap.

"Make your own baby!" she said in anger as her teeth covered with blood. "Or are you that sterile?" panunuya pa nito dahilan para muli siya nitong sampalin. Another blood came out her mouth.

"You're one thread away from reaching the line, Araceli!"

"I wasn't even making an effort, Lucifer!"

Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa napikon niya ito kaya bigla na lamang itong nawala sa harap niya. Biglang lumaylay ang balikat niya. She could feel her body aching from exhaustion.

"He will save us, baby. Hindi tayo bibiguin ng Papa mo," bulong niya habang hinihimas ang tiyan.

***

Muling nagising si Araceli nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pintuan ng kaniyang kulungan. Dalawang lalaki ang nag-bigay sa kaniya ng pagkain. Kanina ay binigyan siya nito ng pananghalian pero hindi niya ito ginalaw. Ngayon ay hapunan na naman. Pansamantala nitong tinanggal ang tali sa mga kamay niya.

Napansin niyang may maliit na bintana sa kulungan niya. Paminsan-minsan ay may nariring siyang dumadaang truck kaya hula niya ay wala siya sa kaharian ng mga ito. Nasa mundo pa siya ng mga tao.

The food is not appetizing pero tao pa rin siya at may dinadala. Gutom na siya. At hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan siya rito. Kailangan niyang mag-ipon ng lakas. At kung tama ang kaniyang hula na nasa mundo siya ng mga tao, kailangan niyang makatakas bago siya dalhin sa baba.

"His highness would be glad to know that you're eating,"

Napalingon siya sa likod niya. It was Lilith. Nakasandal ito sa isa sa mga poste ng kulungan.

"Gano'n ba ka-cheap ang panginoon mo? Hindi ba siya marunong pumili ng pagkain? A delicious fillet minon with mash potato would suffice," pang-aasar niya habang nilulunok ang kaning papasa na bilang lugaw.

"Shut up and eat your meal!" seryoso nitong sabi.

"Alam mo si Thorn...ah Raguel nga pala. Isang pitik lang ng daliri niya mayroon agad masarap na pagkain sa harapan ko. Wala ka bang ganoong kapangyarihan?"

Napatalon siya sa kinauupuan nang hampasin nito ang mesang kinalalagyan ng pagkain niya. Halos tumalon ang plato palayo sa mesa mabuti na lamang at nahaharangan ng kamay niya.

"Raguel's power are for children!" Lilith said in gritted teeth.

"Talaga?" ngumiti siya at tumingin sa mukha nito. "Hindi ba siya ang nagbigay sa'yo ng sugat na iyan? Hindi mo ba 'yan kayang pagalingin? Hindi mo ba kayang pagalingin ang sugat na kapangyarihang pangbata ang may gawa?"

"That's it!" biglang tumilapon ang mesa sa harap niya at hinarap siya ng galit na galit na si Lilith.

With just one hand, she encircled her hands on her neck. Pakiramdam niya ay lahat ng pagkaing kinain niya ay isusuka niya.

"Aack!" she felt her eyes tearing up.

"Provoke me once again and I will kill you and your baby!"

Pabalibag siya nitong binitawan at naramdaman niyang tumama ang likod niya sa semento.

"Ah!" bigla niyang nahawakan ang tiyan nang maramdaman niyang parang may sumabog sa loob niya. She suddenly felt a liquid gushing between her legs. Halos hindi siya makapagsalita sa sobrang gulat. An intermittent searing pain followed around her pelvic.

Baby, 'wag dito, please. Hindi ka puwedeng lumabas na wala ang Papa mo! Piping sigaw niya.

"Are you going to give birth?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Lilith.

She tried her best not to show her pain even though she felt like her face's expression is about to betray her. Kailangan niyang maging metatag para makatakas.

"N-no! S-su...sumipa lang si baby," habol hininga niyang wika.

Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Lilith bago ito lumabas ng selda niya.

Halos maibuga niya ang lahat ng hanging kanina pa pinipigil. Halos kagatin niya ang kaniyang labi para hindi sumigaw. Alam niyang manganganak na niya. Her water already broke. She just wished that Raguel isn't too late to save her.

***

There are warnings for supernatural being once a Nephilim is about to be born. Storms, earthquake, and famine manifest around the world. It is the time when Angels' power grew weaker and demons' power grew stronger. The day is longer and night is shorter. But everything is reversed when a Cambion is born.

And that is what Raguel Asmodeus is afraid of. Night is longer and he could feel his power digressing. Keira can't even detect Araceli. But she told him that he's still on the ground.

"Chief, if we wait for Araceli to give birth, then we can find her through scrying then—"

"We can't wait that long, Zanilla!" he immediately dismissed her. "Lucifer couldn't bring Araceli underground because no one could give birth on hell. He'll wait for her to give birth on this ground then he'll bring Araceli and my baby to hell!"

"I know a place where Lucifer usually go," a weak voice said. It was Sindred.

"Sindred..." Keira said worriedly when he stood up. She was threating his open wounds.

It was Sindred who took a fatal blow from the battle at the manor. All of them gave their all to fight Lilith and her group but little did they know that Lucifer was incognito...just waiting for the barrier to break a little.

"We will attack them and save Ara. Just like us, Lucifer's power is weak as hell," Sindred said.

Raguel couldn't risk the lives of his own kin. Even Thamus was injured. But there is no enough time. He couldn't even think of a strategy. He's full of rage but he knows it won't do good to them.

"I thought you found the Nephilim?" Keira said.

"I was sworn to secrecy about his existence. And I made a vow to not involve him in the war," he said in a low tone.

"But Chief—"

"He will only help us if we retrieve Araceli. Our only priority right now is to get her back!"

Raguel changed his true form, as the rest is now staring at Thorn. His jaws are locking. Black veins is almost showing his neck. He's on his human form. But he is anything but weak right now. Raguel may have made a pact not to harm nor kill Lucifer. But Thorn didn't.

***

Napasigaw nang malakas si Araceli nang maramdaman niyang puwersang lumalabas ang bata sa sinapupunan niya. Kanina'y pigil na pigil niya ang sigaw ngunit ngayo'y hindi na niya ito kaya.

Nilislis niya ang kaniyang bestida at ipinaghiwalay ang dalawang tuhod. Ibunulsa niya ang kaniyang panloob at muling sumigaw.

This is so unsanitary! She cried inside her.

Nang muli siyang sumigaw ay biglang bumukas ang pintuan at niluwal nito si Lucifer at Lilith. Patakbo silang lumapit sa kaniya pero pareho itong tumalsik at tumama ang mga likod sa pader. A bluish transparent dome appeared surrounding Ara.

"Ara, you're going to give birth. At least let me help you," said Lilith with a slight concern on her face.

Imbes na sumagot ay sigaw ang ibinigay niya rito. She wanted her to help. Pero hindi niya alam kung saan nanggagaling ang bughaw na pumapalibot sa kaniya.

Nararamdaman niya ang ulo ng kaniyang anak sa kaselanan niya. Nakikita niyang pinipilit ni Lilith na lumapit pero tumatalsik ito.

"It's the baby's power. The baby is guarding her," Lucifer commented, with a glint on his eyes.

Naghahalong luha at pawis ang nagkalat sa mukha ni Ara. Kahit kailan ay hindi niya inisip na sa ganitong sitwasyon siya manganganak. At ang malala pa roon ay siya mismo ang nagpapa-anak sa sarili.

Nang makalabas ang ulo ng bata ay derederetso na itong dumulas palabas sa kaniya.

"Here, take this," may inilagay na makapal na tela si Lilith sa labas ng barrier at mabilis niya itong kinuha para ibalot sa anak niya.

Nanghihinang inilapit niya ito sa dibdib niya. She has her eyes but she has his hair. It was white. No one could deny it was Raguel's.

"Sophina...my baby." Hikbi niya habang pinupunasan ang munting mukha nito na may kaunting dugo. "Mama and Papa loves you so much," bulong niya rito.

"Tell your baby to take down the barrier," she heard Lucifer said.

Kahit pagod na pagod ay nagawa niya pa rin itong bigyan ng nakakamatay na tingin.

"Why would I do that? Are you afraid that my baby is showing an early signs of power? Are you threatened, Lucifer?" she taunted him.

His fist stomped against the barrier but he was repelled by it, throwing him off the wall. Galit itong tumayo at bumaling kay Lilith.

"Make her remove that barrier or else!" he threatened before storming out the room.

"You can't make me!" bigla niyang sabi kay Lilith.

"I know," she said grinning.

Napakunot-noo siya. Lilith seems relaxed. As if she knew how to take down the barrier.

"Baby Sophina, it's me, you're Mama,"

Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ara nang mag-salita si Lilith at ginagaya ang boses niya.

"No! Anak, don't listen to her! Ako ang iyong totoong Mama," mabilis niyang sabi sa anak. Nagsisimula na itong humikbi.

"Baby, if you love Mama, you will take down the barrier," Lilith said, still imitating her voice.

"Hindi!" she tried to cover her baby's ears pero mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak nito. Niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit.

Lilith has no remorse on fooling her baby. At hindi niya matanggap na kailangan itong maranasan ng anak niya.

"She's just a baby, Lilith!"

"You think I care?"

"What could you possibly benefit from this? Did Lucifer promised you more power?"

"Yes!" mabilis nitong sagot.

"Can't you see he's just using you to do his bidding? Lilith, the first demon. But don't be so proud about it. Because in the books, you were only made by him just so he'll feel good about himself." She said, trying to convince her about something.

"Books are fiction, you mortal!" she replied, pissed.

"I have read the book of Cæleste. You were there. And you know what the fallen archangel called you? His Pawn. He created you to be his hostage to fortune."

"You're wrong," Lilith said in a calm manner. "He promised I will ascend with him. His power is my power. What his is—"

"Freewill. Does he promised you freewill?" she cut her off. Lilith's face cortorted with what seemed to be confusion.

Ara knew that Lilith was taken-aback. Halata sa mukha nito ang pagkabigla. Nakatulala ito sa kawalan nang biglang nagkaroon ng malakas na pagsabog sa labas.

She could feel her heart pounding. He's here. She could feel it. The connection between them has never been this strong. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ito sa panganganak niya, pero alam niyang nahanap na siya ni Raguel.

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A.N: Sorry po kung sobrang tagal ng update T__T Sobrang konti na lang kasi talaga ng pahinga ko kaya hindi ko nabibigyan ng oras ang pag-update. 

Salamat sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta at naghihintay ng update. 

X.O.X.O

-Thyriza