Sinundan ni Snow si Chandresh sa mga pasilyo ng mansyon. An eerie silence cut through the air as they past by Wrath's bedroom. The medieval paintings that lined the walls felt more alive than usual. Snow can almost feel their piercing gaze staring at her very soul. Hindi na lamang niya pinansin ang pangyayaring ito.

'Kapag ilang buwan ka nang mamalagi sa mansyon ng pitong kasalanan, masasanay ka na lang sa kababalaghan,' she reminded herself and kept on walking.

Noong mga sandaling iyon, napahinto sa paglalakad ang ikawalong prinsipe. Napasimangot si Snow sa biglaan nitong pagtigil, "What's with the pale face? Bumangon na ba sa libingan niya si Boswell?"

Chandresh smirked, "Oh, believe me, Your Majesty.. This is worse than that!"

'At ano namang mas sasaklap pa sa isang zombie Boswell?'

Nang silipin ni Snow ang daraanan nila, mahina siyang natawa. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at her violet-eyed admirer. "You're scared of a sleeping dog? Hahaha! Sabi ko na nga ba't masyadong matagal ka nang nai-stuck sa loob ng salamin na 'yon."

Chandresh glared. "Kahit sino naman siguro mapapahinto kapag isang dambuhalang asong may tatlong ulo't ahas na buntot ang bubungad daanan mo. Tsk! I already told Wrath to keep his monstrous pet on a leash. That bastard!"

"Takot ka nga."

"S-Stop accusing me of such foolishness, Your Majesty! Bakit naman ako matatakot diyan sa isang 'yan?!" Pero agad ring napaatras si Chandresh nang maalimpungatan ang gitnang ulo ni Cerberus at humikab. Napaubo pa sila nang maamoy ang hininga nito. Amidst the mess of silky black fur, the snake hissed at them. Mabilis na nagtago sa likod ni Snow ang prinsipe ng paghanga.

"H-Hindi ako takot... Let's just say, I'm  allergic to d-dogs."

"Tsk."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga. 'I don't have time for this.' Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid hanggang sa makita si Mr. Bones na pababa na sana ng hagdan. She grinned devilishly and approached Pride's loyal chauffer.

"Mr. Bones, care to do me a favor?"

Ilang sandali pa, pumito si Snow na naging dahilan para magising si Cerberus. The mythological gatekeeper of hell stood up and glared at them. Tumahol ito't nagpakawala ng isang fireball na naging dahilan para mabilis na magtago sa likod ng isang plurera si Chandresh.

"Damn you, evil dog! Manang-mana ka talaga sa amo mo!"

Lalong nagalit ang higanteng aso sa prinsipe. Akmang hahabulin na sana niya si Adoration nang humarang si Snow.

Snow White smiled, "Hey, Cerby! Want this?" At winagaygay ang hita ni Mr. Bones sa ere. Agad na naglaway ang tatlong ulo ng aso nang makita ang buto. Halos yumanig ang lupa sa reaksyon nito.

"Arf! Arf! Arf!"

"FETCH!"

At mabilis na itinapon ni Snow ang buto ni Mr. Bones sa ibaba ng hagdan. Walang inaksayang oras si Cerberus at mabilis na tumalon pababa sa unang palapag ng mansyon. Halos matumba sina Snow at Chandresh sa lakas ng pagyanig ng lupa. Even the chandeliers shook dangerously from the ceilings. Nabasag pa ang ilang statues. 'Patay na naman kami nito kay Pride.'

Bago pa ma-out-of-balance ang dalaga, mabilis siyang hinigit ni Chandresh sa baywang. A lopsided smile graced Adoration's lips, "Caught you, Your Majesty."

His voilet eyes held mischief and power. Hindi maiwasang mamula ni Snow sa pagkakalapit ng kanilang mga mukha.

'What the heck? Damn this!' Pero bago pa man siya makalayo kay Chandresh, biglang bumukas ang pinto ng Conference Room. Iniluwa 'non ang pitong kasalanan na pawang naguguluhan sa mga pangyayari.

"May lindol ba, Envy?" Greed ran a hand through his messy hair. Isang pilyong ngiti ang kumawala sa kanyang mga labi, "Teka, nasaan si Lust? Hahaha! Baka umuuga lang na naman 'yong kama niya."

Envy's eyes sparkled with naughtiness, "Hahaha! Magnitude 69 na naman, Greed! Oh, how unfortunate of us to experience this earthquake!"

"GUGUHO NA ANG MANSYON!"

"DUCK, CONDOM, AND HOLD! HAHAHAHA!"

"Grrr! MGA GAGO!" Biglang sumulpot si Lust sa likod ng kambal sabay batok sa mga ito. The Prince of desire's eyes glared daggers at the twins as he huffed, "I've had special charms  protect my private space. You wouldn't even feel anything if there's an exclusive event inside my Pleasure Room."

Napangiwi ang lahat nang banggitin ni Lust ang kanyang "Pleasure Room".

Humikab si Sloth, "'Exclusive event', really? How immature. Sana ginawa mo na ring soundproof, so that I can sleep in peace whenever you're moaning Snow's name, you fucking sex addict." A hint of venom dripped his tone.

Napanganga ang kambal sa sinabi ng nakababata nilang kapatid. Napalingon ang lahat sa binata. Lust's face reddened in embarrassment. "H-Hindi ah! What in the name of banana-flavored condoms?! D-Dirty bastards! That's not true! I-I was...um..." Sunud-sunod na palusot na ang dinadaldal niya na agad namang ikinairita nina Pride at Wrath.

"Stop this nonsense at once! Narito tayo para sa magpulong, hindi para mag-asaran." The eldest sin had stoic expression but his eyes were murderous.

Wrath cursed under his breath. Bigla na lang siyang umalis. Agad naman siyang pinigilan ni Gluttony habang ngumunguya pa ng potato chips, "Where are you off to, brother?" He asked with his mouth full.

"Torture Room. Kunin ko lang 'yong chainsaw."

Namutla si Lust sa sinabi ng kapatid.

The twins grinned, "Tulungan ka namin, Wrath!" Chorus pa nilang sabi.

"What the fuck?! Patay talaga kayo sa'kin!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Napahimas na lang ng sentido si Pride. He muttered something along the lines of "bakit ba ako nagkaroon ng mga kapatid?" and retreated into the meeting room.

Natigil lang ang kaguluhan ng magkakapatid nang mapansin ni Sloth ang posisyon nina Snow at Chandresh. The prince of laziness' dark eyes bore into hers. 'He really looks like an angel,' the maiden noted when he smiled lazily at her. Isang matalim na tingin naman ang ipinukol ng prinsipe sa kapatid, "You can let go of her now, Adoration. This isn't the time to be flirting with our bride."

Chandresh rolled his eyes and helped Snow on her feet.

"Damn Sloth." He murmured as he entered the Conference Room.

Inayos naman ni Snow ang kanyang damit at sumunod na rin sa kanila. When she passed by Sloth, she noted the pillow in his hand. Naaaliw niya itong binati, "Still sleepy, Sloth?" Bahagyang magulo pa ang buhok nito at hindi pa maayos ang pagkakabutones ng kanyang pajama top.

Sloth's smile almost made her heart skipped a beat. "I'm always like this, angel. You should know that by now."

*
Nang makaupo na silang lahat sa pabilog na mesa ng Conference Room, Snow White noticed the sudden shift in their mood. Mula sa pagiging pilyo at maloko, naging seryoso ang ekspresyon ng magkakapatid nang ipatong ni Pride ang isang liham sa kanilang harapan. Snow felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere. Kinalabit niya si Envy na mukhang malalim rin ang iniisip, "Anong meron?"

Envy's expression didn't change. He sighed and briefly explained, "May natanggap kaming sulat kaninang umaga."

Lalong naguluhan ang dalaga. "Um.. anong masama roon?"

"You'll find out soon, Chione." Kinindatan na lamang siya nito at ibinalik ang atensyon sa unahan. Napasimangot naman si Snow sa kawalan ng sagot ng kasalanan. On her left, Greed chuckled and pulled her chair closer to him. His prince-like features and light-colored eyes can easily deceive anyone. "Sabihin na lang natin na marami ka pang bagay ang hindi nauunawaan, Mademoiselle. Though, I'm sure you've heard about the balance of nature during your stay in that boring mortal world?"

'Balance of nature?'

"Parang yin at yang?" Tumango si Snow. Kung tama ang pagkakaunawa niya, may "batas" ang mundo na ang anumang bagay ay dapat nage-exist kalakip ng isang balanse. That's the reason why certain things have their "conterparts": positive and negative, sun and moon, light and dark, happiness and misery. It's a way to keep things working.

Pero hindi pa rin maunawaan ni Snow kung anong kinalaman ng "balance" na ito sa mundong ginagalawan niya ngayon.

"May balanse rin bang pinapanatili sa Underworld?"

At her words, Greed leaned back on his chair and smirked. "Bingo."

Natigil lang ang kanilang pag-uusap nang biglang tumikhim si Pride para kunin ang kanilang atensyon. The eldest sin folded his hands ontop of the table and spoke in a grave tone, "Nitong umaga lang ay nakatanggap tayo ng liham mula sa Underworld. At first, I thought it was only from Hades... but upon closer inspection, I realized it was from the true king of hell himself, Lucifer."

Lalong bumigat ang tensyon sa silid. Pinakinggang maigi ni Snow ang pag-uusap. The name immediately caught her atensyon. 'Lucifer? Bakit parang ngayon lang siya nagpaparamdam sa amin?' Sa mga aklat na nabasa niya sa Library of Lost Souls ni Sloth, ang tanging nauunawaan lang niya ay bihira lamang magparamdam at magpakita si Lucifer sa kanyang nasasakupan. His identity is but a rumor and his presence is like a shadow. He only acts through his proxy, Hades.

Hades might wear the crown, but Lucifer is the authority.

'Kaya nga siguro ganon na lang ang inis ni Hades kay Lucifer.'

"I thought that bastard made it clear that he doesn't give a damn about our business? Ilang siglo na rin siyang hindi sumusulat sa'tin." Mahinang reklamo ni Wrath na halatang nagsisimula na namang mainis sa mga pangyayari. Across of him, Sloth lazily waved a hand, "The last letter he addressed to us was dated back in 450 A.C., to be exact. Can't be too sure."

Huminga nang malalim si Pride at inayos ang kanyang salamin sa mata. His glare made them shut up. "Katulad nga ng sinasabi ko, galing ang sulat kay Lucifer. It was stamped with his seal and a blood charm was needed to activate its content."

"Sa tono ng pananalita mo, mukhang hindi maganda ang nilalaman ng sulat." Mahinang kumento ni Adoration sa kapatid.

Pride nodded and scanned the room for their reaction. A wave of anxiety struck Snow as the eldest sin finally revealed, "It was a warning. Malinaw niyang isinasaad sa sulat ang paglabag natin sa balanse ng Underworld... Upon learning Adoration's existence, naging hudyat ito na sinisira at ipinagsasawalang-bahala natin ng mga bilin niya. We're tilting the balance with an extra sin, and in natural law, that's a crime."

Snow White's eyebrows furrowed, "Ibig sabihin, may batas sa Underworld na nagsasabing dapat pito lang ang mga kasalanan?" Hindi niya alam na bawal pala 'yon? When Chandresh let himself be consumed by his sin, Snow thought it would be alright. Akala niya ay madadagdagan lang ang sakit niya sa ulo at alagain sa mansyon.

Pero mukhang mas malala pa palang problema ang hatid nito.

Pride nodded. "Exactly." Natahimik ang lahat sa sagot niya.

"Paano natin ito maitatama?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang panganay sabay sandal sa kanyang upuan, "Well, Lucifer is kind enough to give us two options, princess... We either wage a war against him and his horsemen, or..."

"Or?" Bigla na naman siyang kinabahan sa mga posibilidad. Pigil-hiningang hinintay ni Snow ang sasabihin ni Pride.

"...or we kill a sin."

---

I heard the sighing of the reeds
Night after night, day after day,
And I forgot old age, and dying,
And youth that loves, and love's decay.

I heard the sighing of the reeds
At noontide and at evening,
And some old dream I had forgotten
I seemed to be remembering.

I hear the sighing of the reeds:
Is it in vain, is it in vain
That some old peace I had forgotten
Is crying to come back again?

---"By The Pool of The Third Rosses", Arthur Symons

.....

Note:

Albeit not making it to the Wattys 2019 list, I would like to thank everyone who continues to support SWATSDS/QOS, and other Noxian stories. Stay awesome, humans!

---Kuya Nox