CHAPTER XXXV

Lilith left the room after the explosion. Mas hinigpitan niya ang pagkakabalot ng tela sa anak at inilapit sa dibdib niya. Nang tumayo siya ay mas lalong lumaki ang barrier sa paligid niya. Nang maglakad siya ay gumalaw din ito kasabay niya. The thing that was protecting them was adjusting. It was if they have blue halo surrounding her.

"Ara!" she heard someone from the outside. Narinig niya ang mabibigat na yapak papalapit sa pintuan ng silid. She run towards the door when it swung open.

It was Keira.

Hindi niya malaman kung ano ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito nang makita ang kalagayan niya. Her dress is full of blood. Maging ang legs niya at paa ay maroon ring dugo.

"Y-you already..." napatingin ito sa anak niya then she suddenly smiled. "Is that Sophina?"

"Y-yes," she replied. "Keira, please save Sophina. Ilayo mo siya rito." Akma niya itong ibibigay kay Keira nang umiling ito ng marahas.

"No! Do you want me to be killed? The Chief would want you both safe." Inilahad nito ang mga kamay niya at mabilis niya itong kinuha.

The barrier immediately disappeared. Keira blinked away with them as she took them outside. Nasa likod lamang sila ng mga nakahilerang sasakyan. Behind them is an open grassland with few trees.

Nakita niya, hindi kalayuan, si Thorn, in his human form. He's battling all the demons that he crosses.

"Stay here. And tell Sophina to do that thing again," Keira said referring to the barrier.

Keira disappeared and joined Sindred. Ara's attention was on Thorn when a sudden earthquake hit the ground. Nagkaroon ng malaking gitak ang lupa at kitang-kita ni Ara ang apoy sa ilalim nito. Ramdam na ramdam din niya ang init sa paligid. It was as if hell was brought on the ground. Kasabay nito ay ang pagkulog at kidlat. Nakita niyang biglang sumulpot sa likod ni Thorn si Lilith. Ara's face contorted with pain when she saw her stabbed him on the back. Dahil nasa katawang tao ang lalaki kaya may umagos na dugo sa likod nito. Gustong-gusto ni Ara na tumakbo palapit dito ngunit ano naman ang magagawa niya. She's a burden and she don't want to put her baby on danger.

Mas lalong dumoble ang kaba sa dibdib niya nang biglang makita niya si Lucifer. Nasa tuktok ito ng building-nagmamasid. Mas lalo siyang kumubli sa likod ng mga sasakyan nang igala nito ang mga mata. Lucifer has this calm aura. You wouldn't even suspect that he's the lord of all demons. He's a demon dressed as an angel.

"Ara!"

Agad siyang napalingon sa likod niya. There, inches away, ducking just like her, was Sindred. Napahinga siya nang maluwang nang makita ito.

"I can't believe you gave birth to that hellhole," napapailing nitong sabi nang mapatingin sa sanghol na hawak niya.

"Puwede mo bang itago si Sophina sa mas ligtas na lugar?" she asked.

"Right now, there's no safer place other than Sophina's barrier. But you really have to get away from here," humawak ito sa braso niya kaya napakunot-noo siya.

"Where are we going?" tanong niya. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw niyang umalis. Oo delikado pero hindi niya kayang iwan si Thorn.

"We need to nurse you. You just gave birth. And a little shower, Ara, you're a literal blood bath."

"But Thorn might need to-"

"He needs you safe. Please listen to me and don't be hard headed. This is isn't the right time to think only of Raguel. Think of your baby,"

Napatingin si Ara sa anak niyang tulog. Her little lips moves from time to time. She's just thankful na hindi ito umiiyak.

"I-I'll go with you," she said quietly.

Sindred blinked with her. He took her back to Thorn's manor. Maraming markang iniwan sa paligid na tanda ng labanang naganap.

"Hindi ba nasira ang barrier?" tanong niya. Sa pag-kakaalala niya ay nagkaroon ng gitak ito habang naglalaban sina Sindred at Lilith.

"Raguel fixed it before we left," sagot nito habang papasok sila sa manor.

Dumeretso silang dalawa sa silid niya. Inihiga niya si Sophina sa kama at pinagitnaan ng dalawang unan. She just then realized that she was not ready to have this baby. Siguro kung sa ibang pagkakataon siya nagbuntis, naramdaman man lamang niya ang excitement para mamili ng mga gamit ng bata. Ni walang crib para sana safe ang baby. Pati lampin wala. Paano kung dumumi ito? Wala siyang mga espesyal na gamit na para lamang sa bagong silang.

Hinayaan niya lamang si Sindred sa may bintana habang sumisilip sa labas. Binuksan niya ang aparador at kinuha ang pinaka-malambot na bedsheet na nakita niya. Hinalughog niya ang drawer sa night stand para sa gunting. She needs to improvise.

"What are you doing?" Sindred asked when he saw her cutting the bedsheets into a small rectangles.

"Kailangan ng lampin ni Sophina. Igagawa ko rin siya ng damit," sagot niyang hindi man lamang tumitingin dito.

"I'll do it. You clean yourself first," sabi nito at kinuha ang bedsheet sa kaniya.

"Alam mo ba kung paano?" she asks pero hindi ito sumagot. Seryoso lamang itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

Napabuntong-hininga siya 'saka binitawan ang gunting. Kinuha niya ang tuwalya at kumuha ng damit bago pumasok ng banyo.

Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa repleksyon sa salamin. Sobrang layo ng hitsura niya ngayon sa kilala niyang Ara. May tuyong dugo sa braso niya niya. Her neck has bruises, too. Nang tumingin siya sa baba nakita niya ang naghalong alikabok at dugo sa hita niya pababa sa tuhod at paa. She's a walking Carrie.

Nang matapos siyang maligo at makapagbihis ay lumabas siyang banyo. Naabutan niya si Sindred na pinupunasan ang buong katawan ni Sophina. May maliit na basin sa night stand at katabi nito ay polbos. May mga baby bottles, lata ng gatas, baby oils, socks, and mittens. Napakunot-noo siya kasi wala siyang naalala na may nakatagong ganoong gamit sa manor.

"Umalis ka ba?" tanong niya.

"I conjured a few things your baby needs," sabi niya 'saka ito sinuotan ng damit na kanina lamang ay bedsheets.

"Salamat sa lahat," she said genuinely.

Sindred gave her a warm beam. Nang matapos siya ay ibinalik nito ang dalawang unan na nakapagitna sa bata.

"Don't worry, everything will be just fine,"

"Hindi ka ba susunod do'n para tulungan sila?" she asked.

"Raguel firmly ordered me to look after you. Although I didn't know that there's a baby..."

"Ligtas kami dito, pero paano naman siya? Paano kung..." hindi niya kayang tapusin ang gustong sabihin. Just the thought of it makes her heart constrict in pain.

"Don't worry too much of Raguel. Lucifer won't see him as a threat if he knew he wasn't powerful,"

Sindred lifted the baby's small hands to put the mittens on it but she started moving. A little whimper turned into loud cry.

"Hey, little fella. It's okay. It's okay," said Sindred, patting baby Sophina's legs.

"Gutom na kaya siya? Wait mag-titimpla ako ng gatas," wika ni Ara. She was about to open the can of milk but Sindred stopped her.

"She's just a baby, Ara. She can't drink from a formula..."

Ara crossed her arms on her chest. Hindi pa siya handa magpadede ng bata. Ni hindi siya sigurado kung may gatas ba siya.

"You want me to...breastfeed?"

"Isn't that what mothers do?" he said in sarcastic tone.

Ara drew a heavy breath. Lamapit siya kay baby Sophina at kinarga ito. She was about to lift her blouse when Sindred shrieked.

"What the heavens! Can't you wait for me to leave the room?! Geez, woman!" and with that Sindred disappeared.

Ara started breastfeeding and the baby stopped crying. Pero kasunod nito ay siya naman ang naiiyak. She feels this overwhelming love for Sophina. Being a mother completed her womanhood. At kahit na nga ba ang dami na niyang dinanas na paghihirap, hindi niya magawang magsisi.

"Hey, nanak. It's me, mama," bulong niya rito. "Your father can't protect us all the time, but he is out there fighting for us. Our future is blur, so whatever happens, I want you to fight and live. And never forget that I love you...so much! Papa loves you so much."

May sumilay na ngiti sa labi ni Sophina at hindi niya mapigilang tumawa.

"I hope I can see that smile until you grow up, nanak."

***

Two abandoned building is on fire. Everyone is on its full limit. Everyone is exhausted. They could hear a siren coming.

"Mortals," Raguel murmured.

"Everyone, retreat!" he heard Lilith yelled.

They can't be seen and they have to leave. But this doesn't mean it's the end of it.

When he looked from his left, he saw Lucifer eyeing him and he knew they're thinking the same-this is not the end. Everyone is blinking one by one.

"Chief, we need to go. We can't be seen by mortals," Zanilla said.

Lucifer finally disappeared. Siren is getting louder by the second.

"Chief..." Zanilla called again but he's eyeing something. A feather that has fallen from where Lucifer was standing.

Using his power, he levitated the feather towards him. It landed on his palm. He blinked away.

***

Ara was humming, eyes half close, while holding baby Sophina on her arms. Antok na antok na siya pero hindi niya puwedeng ihiga ang anak dahil umiiyak ito kapag sinusubukan niya.

Ilang oras na rin ang nakalipas nang mag-breastfeed siya ngunit hindi pa rin bumabalik si Sindred. Gusto niyang matawa sa ideyang na-trauma ito nang subukan niyang itaas ang damit para magpadede.

"That coward demon," she whispered.

"Who's coward?"

Ara abruptly opened her eyes. Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng puso niya nang makita kung sino ang lalaking nakatayo sa pintuan.

Maybe it was her reflex, pero walang hirap siyang nakatayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa gitna ng kama, habang karga ang bata.

She's about to walk towards him pero nauna itong nakalapit sa kaniya. He hugged her at kusang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata niya.

"Thorn...you're here. You're safe," she said sobbing.

Nagbaba ang tingin nito at agad na napangiti nang makitang gumalaw ang kamay ng bata papunta sa mukha nito.

"Can I hold her?" he asked.

Maingat na ibinigay ni Ara si baby Sophina kay Thorn. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman nang makita ang mag-ama. Her heart swells with joy. The feeling is brandnew. May halong kaba, excitement, at saya. Seeing him holding the life they've made, she couldn't help but feel grateful despite all the hardship she and Thorn has faced.

Paulanan man sila ng palaso araw-araw, maiiwasan at makakaya niya ito basta't alam niyang sa huli ay makakasama niya ang dalawa.

"Sophina Asmodeus... My little succubus," she heard Thorn whispers.
Hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa labi nito. Ni walang bahid ng palatandaan na galing ito sa isang labanan.

Sophina let out a soft wail. Her little mouth opened as if she's trying to smile. For the first time, the baby opened her eyes. It has her eyes. Dark browned eyes looking at his father innocently.

Kinuha ni Thorn ang maliit nitong kamay at hinalikan. Pumikit ito ng ilang Segundo. Parang hinahaplos ang puso niya nang makita niyang may luhang lumabas sa mata nito.

Then he turned to her, eyes are swelling, full of emotion.

"I don't know I was capable of feeling this. To love you even more and our baby. I will die protecting the two of you."