CHAPTER XXXVI

Now that everyone in the underworld knows about the new born offspring of Raguel Asmodeus, and the power it holds, Lucifer is even more determined to get the baby on his hand.

There are seven leaders that are part of Lucifer's Dominion. Six of them were gathered. If he can no longer control Raguel to be on his side, then he will make everyone under him his enemy.

"My Lordship, why have you summoned us?" The Chief of Sloth asked.

Lucifer was sitting on his throne. Grinning like the devil that he is. He's tapping his finger on his lap as if he is up to no good.

"You know why I have summoned you, Abaddon." Then he eyed them, one by one. Assessing if he can manipulate them.

"I've heard about the new born offspring of Raguel. Is that why we're here? Are you threatened to a mere Cambion?" Belial, the Chief of Greed said with a smirk.

Lucifer shouldn't be taunted.

Then a demonic laugh filled the hall. Lucifer amusedly turned to Belphegor, the Chief of Gluttony. His patience is wearing thin. These Chiefs always know how to tick him. But he would never give them the satisfaction of seeing him raged. He's always collected and that's what scares everyone.

"Raguel betrayed us," he said trying to gain sympathy. But everyone is not surprised and this irritates him.

"One of us is bound to betray you, my Lordship. But only Asmodeus has the balls," said Rosier, the Chief of wrath.

"And I ought to cut it!" Lucifer snapped, but Rosier didn't cowered.

"How do you plan to do that? We have an oath. Our powers can't harm us..." said Levi, the Chief of Envy.

Lucifer stood up from his throne. He's on his human form. He likes it for it makes him feel clean and beautiful.

"Asmodeus is powerful as me but we can't kill each other. Thank goodness for the Oath, right? Unbreakable, I see, I see..." he said smiling. "All of us here are ruthless, and so was Asmodeus. But not anymore. He already has a heart. Not just one, but two." Then he giggled. The six Chiefs felt so weird seeing their Lordship like that.

"Do you want us to kill the mother of the Cambion?" asked Beelzebub and Lucifer laughed so hard.

"Great thinking, Beelzebub! But I was thinking of giving her to the Angels. They will punish her..."

"And the Cambion? We heard she's powerful..." Rosier said.

"Give her to me. I will be the one to decide what to do with the babe..."

***

Ara has never felt so happy and contented with her life despite all the troubles that is waiting for them outside the barrier.

Silang dalawa lamang sa manor at si baby Sophina but Thorn assured her that everyone is just around, on a stance if ever there's an attack.

Ara personally makes her meals. Thorn insists on conjuring her foods pero nami-miss na niyang mag-luto. Besides, kailangan niyang kumain ng mga healthy foods dahil nagbe-breastfeed siya.

Madalas ay nasa living room sila ng manor. Thorn is the one holding the baby on his right arm, while the other is snaked on Ara's waist. Kapag tulog ito ay 'saka lang nila ito nilalagay sa kuna. But they never left her side.

"Bakit puti ang buhok na tumutubo sa bunbunan niya?" tanong niyang habang hinahaplos ang ulo nito.

"She inherited my demonic hair," Thorn said proudly. Ara pouted disapproving.

"Of all the things to inherit from you, bakit 'yong puting buhok mo pa?"

"Hey! She has your eyes and your beauty, mine was just hair. A crowning glory, by the way..." may pagyayabang nitong sabi kaya hindi niya mapigilang matawa.

Yumakap siya rito at sinubsob ang mukha sa leeg nito. Sana ay laging ganito. Sana ito na ang kapalit ng lahat ng paghihirap nila.

"Do you want to dream, my little devil?" he asked with a playful grin.

It's been awhile since they made love. Ang sabi sa kaniya ni Thorn ay sa panaginip lamang sila maaring magtalik dahil nasasaktan ito. At hindi niya rin puwedeng gamitin ang demon form niya dahil hindi rin kakayanin ni Ara.

"Walang mag-babantay kay Sophina," sabi niya at tumayo naman ito na animo'y handing gawin ang lahat.

"My little succubus, turn on your barrier," sabi ni Thorn sa natutulog na bata at bigla na lamang lumabas ang pabilog na asul na bumalot sa kuna nito.

Lumapit ito sa bintana at may sinenyasan. Hindi nagtagal ay umakyat si Keira at Sindred.

"You two, please watch my daughter. Araceli and I will go somewhere," seryosong sabi nito sa dalawa at tumango naman si Keira.

"Where are you going?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Sindred.

"None of your business, breastfeed coward,"

"Aba't—" akma itong maghahamon kay Thorn nang pumagitna si Ara.

"Thorn, tara na..." nahihiya niyang sabi dahil nakita niya ang makahulugang ngiti ni Keira. Alam niyang alam nito.

"Keep my daughter safe," said Thorn before blinking away with Ara.

Nakarating sila sa tree house na pinagdalhan sa kaniya ng lalaki noon. Nasa loob sila at walang nagbago sa ayos ng tree house. Mayroon pa rin itong kakaibang amoy na maaring nanggagaling sa puno mismo.

Pumasok sila sa silid. Pinahiga siya ni Thorn sa gitna ng kama habang ito ay nakaupo sa gilid ng kama. She closed her eyes and immediately, she drifted.

When she opened her eyes, she's already lying in the dark room. The silk sheets that touched her skin felt familiar.

Naramdaman niyang umalon ang kama. Her hands automatically found his face. Madilim pero alam niya kung saan dapat humawak. She missed this.

"I want to see you," bulong niya.

The room was lit but dim enough to feel sensual. Naaninag niya ang mukha nito. He is in his demon form. He was bigger. His medium white straight hair cascading on his shoulder. His deep dangerous eyes are boring to her. He wants her as much as she wants him.

His hands caress her face down to her neck. Hindi ito nakatiis at pinutol nito ang maliit na pagitan ng mukha nila. He kissed her so deep as if there's no tomorrow.

Napahawak siya sa likod nito. Nakapa niya ang dalawang pilat nito na palatandaang minsan siya ay isang anghel. Bahagyang lumayo sa kaniya si Thorn at nagkaroon siya ng tsansang umupo.

She kissed his cheeks softly. She kissed his shoulders as light as a feather.

"Puwede ka bang tumalikod?" halos pabulong niyang tanong rito. Hindi ito nag-tanong at sinunod naman siya.

Ara slowly caresses his scar on his back. This was where his wings were. She couldn't imagine the pain when it was forcedfuly cut on him.

She kissed it, ever so slowly, tracing the scar, afraid it might hurt him. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa kabila. Humarap sa kaniya si Thorn, his hands landed on the hem of her blouse. He gently lift it until she was topless. Sinapo nito ang dibdib niya at mahinang pinisil. Ara let out a soft moan, giving him an easy access to her front as she look up even more. Hindi ito nakatiis at bigla itong yumuko, animo'y isang batang dumede sa dibdib niya. Napahawak siya sa ulo nito, grasping his back hair everytime he nibbles her nipple.

Marahang pinahiga siya nito sa kama habang mas pinaigting ang pag-samba nito sa dibdib niya. Tumaas ito upang halikan siya muli sa labi habang nanatili ang isang kamay nito sa dibdib niya, pumipisil, habang ang isa pang kamay ay unti-unting bumababa sa pagitan ng hita niya.

He effortlessly removed her buttom pants with her undies leaving her completely naked. Maging ito ay nagtanggal na rin ng saplot. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang init na nanggagaling sa katawan nito.

His fingers started doing wonders on her core. Her hips is moving to follow the rhythm of his fingers. Nagiging malikot na rin ang legs niya. Napayakap siya sa leeg nito nang maramdaman niyang malapit na niyang maabot ang ruruk ng kaligayahan. Lumalakas ang ungol niya.

But he stopped. She groaned a little pero pumwesto ito sa ibabaw niya. Their eyes met. Her signal was a kiss. Tinugon ito nito habang dahan-dahan pinapasok ang kahabaan nito sa pagkababae niya.

Walang sakit. But she felt so full. He started thrusting at sinasabayan ito ni Ara. Lahat ng pagmamahal niya ay ibinuhos niya. And even though Thorn hasn't said it directly to her, those three words, he never fails to make her feel loved.

"I love you," Ara whispered as she reached climax. Thorn's answer was to kiss her intensely.

***

Nang makabalik sina Ara at Thorn sa manor ay naabutan nilang nag-tatalo sina Keira at Sindred. Pero imbes na tanungin kung ano ang problema ng dalawa ay dumeretso siya sa kuna ng anak.

Tumingin siya kay Thorn at tumango ito. Pinalabas nito ang dalawa sa silid at naiwan siya kasama si Sophina. Gising ang bata pero tahimik lamang ito. She's making a slight noises at minsan ay nagpapa-bubbles ng laway sa bibig.

Napangalumbaba si Ara sa kuna habang nakangiting nakatingin kay Sophina.

"Sayang wala akong camera," bulong ni Ara. Pinunasan niya ang laway nito sa gilid ng labi 'saka niya ito kinarga. Nakapa niyang medyo basa ang likod nito. Inihiga niya uli ito sa kama bago kumuha ng bagong damit.

She has already undressed the baby and ready to put on the fresh cloths when she noticed a small mark on her back. Hindi ito umbok pero mamula-mula ito animo'y bago lamang lumabas. She caress it and it was still warm.

"Thorn!" tawag niya. Mabilis namang pumasok ang lalaki sa silid at may pag-alalang lumapit sa kaniya.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"She has a mark. Ano'ng ibig sabihin nito?"

Maingat na inihiga patalikod ni Thorn ang bata. Sinipat nito ang marka. Ara is worried as hell pero nakita niyang napangiti lamang si Thorn.

"She has the same mask as mine. You don't have to worry about it," he said assuring her pero hindi pa rin siya mapalagay.

"'Di ba ang ibig sabihin ng marka mo ay dahil pinutulan ka ng pakpak? Bakit mayro'n din ang anak natin?"

"If I'm still a winged man, Sophina will have a mark of wings, too, just like me, but she will be a Nephilim. But since I am fallen angel, became a demon, Sophina, has it too, but she's a Cambion."

"Okay. Since parang hindi naman big deal sa'yo, hindi na ako mag-aalala." Ara said beaming.

"Just think of it as another thing she inherited from me," Thorn said with a smug look on his face. Hindi maiwasan ni Ara na hindi matawa. Para itong batang nagpapa-damihan ng puntos sa kaniya.

"By the way, ano iyong pinagtatalunan nina Sindred at Keira?" tanong ni Ara habang inaayos ang damit ng bata.

"Petty argument. You don't need to know about it," Thorn said, tumango na lamang siya.

Ara is about to said something when a knock on the door interrupts it. Pumasok si Sindred.

"Zanilla has news," he said.

***

Raguel entered the study room and Zanilla is already waiting for him. He sat at the single couch of the mini salas and Zanilla sat, too. She placed a necklace on the center table and Raguel's eyes immediately fixed his gaze on it.

"I talked to the Sorcerer. He gave us an empty locket, but powerful enough to be used. I already inserted the feather inside," Zanilla said.

"What can it do? His feather?"

"The sorcerer said it can be used as a tracker to Lucifer's feelings and location. Whenever the locket gets warm, it means that Lucifer is happy. When it's too hot, it means that he's just around ready to pound. If the gem became black, it means that he's angry. If it gives a shaking sound, it means that he's getting weak and scared."

"This is so useful. Thank you, Zanilla," Raguel said.

"And I heard another news. Lucifer called to meet the six Chiefs. I'll bet my life it was about you and your Cambion Chief," Zanilla said.

"He's trying to poison their mind. Well those gullible couldn't kill me. They'll die trying," he said with disgust.

"It's not only the Chiefs. Lucifer bargained from winged men. To help him kill you...in exchange of Araceli."

Raguel is ready to explode with anger but he tried to composed himself. What this wingmen could benefit from getting back her Araceli? From the start they've showed interest from having her. She's just a mere mortal. What he can't comprehend is their eagerness to keep her pure. He and his kin has corrupted a lot of women and those wingmen did nothing to save them. What's so special about Araceli?

"For I thought we only have to worry about Lucifer. Those wingmen are meddling again!"

"Chief, I know this is too late. But do you want me to investigate about Araceli's past life?"

Raguel weighed everything. It would be an advantage if he knew what those wingmen is hiding.

"Yes, find out everything."

"And if I discovered she's a threat to you?"

Raguel abruptly look away to Zanilla. She can't be a threat. Her sweet Araceli was never a threat. He loved her so much. And it was too late anyway. Whatever he learned about her is too late to unlove her. His feelings are too buried, six feet deep.

"Then I'd rather you not tell me." He said, smiling bitterly. 

***

To be continued...