SHEA'S POV

I watched them from above as my Master brought me to finally face my fate. The gloomy atmosphere of the Underworld are replaced by their holy presence.

They are so beautiful. Being dressed in an armor and covered with light. Nakakasilaw. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay yung sinisilaw ako ng liwanag.

But what is Eloiny doing down there? Bakit kasama sya sa mga Apostles ni Kiyan? Masyadong itong delikado para sa kanya. Tinignan ko sya at nakatingin rin sya sa 'kin. A teardrop fell from her eye.

I'm sorry. Pero wala sa bokabularyo ko ang awa. Kaya di ko alam ang mangyayari sa 'yo once we are already in the battle field.

But why do I feel something strange towards her? Is it just me o may naramdaman akong sobrang lakas na kapangyarihan mula sa kanya? And I'm starting to hate it.

Masyadong naging atat ang Familiar ko and started a fight towards Alzena. That Alzena, ang daming masasama nyang atraso sa 'kin noong nagpapanggap palang akong mahina. Maybe now's the time that she'll pay it back.

By her death.

Di ko mapigilang mapangiti as I imagined the scene later. A blood bath, screams, agony, suffering, sadness, pain and death. I can't wait to see those expression from them after this fight.

Did I become too evil? O well, this is me after all.

"Looks like you're enjoying the show." sabi sa 'kin ng Goddess. We are both sitting on a throne. Katabi ko naman ang mga apostles ko.

Who would have thought na magkakasundo ulit ang Underworld at ang nine apostles after thousands of years with the term of two queens?

"I just love the feeling of being myself."

Nalingat lang ako sandali at nakita kong tumilapon na si Paxton sa kabilang dulo. Marami na syang sugat at pasa. Si Alzena naman ay nakatayo lang holding her flare gun.

Agad namang bumangon ang familiar ko and in just a flash, nandon na sya kay Alzena. They're both fighting in combat. At masasabi kong pantay ang lakas nila.

"Master, what if my familiar dies?"

"You can always find a new one. You'll be inheriting the whole world after this and a new familiar is better."

Nakuyom ko ang mga kamao ko. I cannot simply allow that.

Patuloy paring naglalaban ang dalawa at parehong ayaw mag patalo.

Alzena shoots Paxton with a yellow flare. Dumaplis ito sa braso nya pero di nya ito pinansin. He jumped straight towards her but he stopped mid-air and fell to the ground.

"Tsk." utas ni Paxton.

Nakadapa sya ngayon sa sahig at parang hirap na hirap syang makatayo. He's getting support from his elbows pero tila nanghihina na ang mga ito.

His tail is wagging consistently. Means he's already irritated.

"A flare that immobilizes the enemy. Kahit madaplisan ka lang nito, your body will be paralyzed completely." Alzena grinned while looking down on my familiar.

I leaned on my chair and watched them. This is getting interesting.

May bago syang bala na kinuha mula sa bewang nya and inserted into her gun. Kinasa nya ito at tinutok kay Paxton.

"A flare that targets only the heart." she grinned.

She almost pulled the trigger nang bigla syang sinipa ni Paxton sa paa causing her to fall down. Tumayo ang familiar ko at biglang humaba ang mga kuko nya. Enough to cut flesh.

"You're underestimating me. You think a simple trick like that will work against me? I'm not some lowly demon, Eagle." he smirked and charged towards her with his claws.

Matagumpay na nakaiwas si Alzena at lumipad paitaas. Her huge eagle wings created a gust of wind dahilan upang mapaatras si Paxton sa kanyang kinatatayuan. He summoned his dark cloud at lumipad patungo sa kanyang kalaban.

Sabay silang naglabas ng kapangyarihan and a color of light and dark filled the battle arena.

"I'm getting bored here. Gusto ko nang matulog." reklamo ni Sorah saka humikab at niyakap ang manika nya. The apostle of Sloth. Sya ang pinakabata sa mga apostles ko pero hindi basta-basta ang taglay nyang lakas.

Kapansin-pansin ang buntot nya na kagaya ng pusa. She's wearing a black dress.

"Just die already." muling bulong nito. Bigla nyang sinummon ang kanyang scythe kagaya ng kay Eloiny.

"Ugh, calm down brat." sita ni Graniath, the apostle of Greed.

A loud boom echoed from above kaya muling nabaling ang atensyon namin doon. The sky was covered with smoke at naramdaman kong biglang sumakit ang buong katawan ko.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" tanong ni Ehra.

Tumingin ako sa itaas at unti-unti nang nawawala ang usok. Biglang kumirot ang dibdib ko kaya napadaing ako sa sakit. Damn you Alzena.

"Oy, anong nangyayari sa mahal na reyna?"

"Yung familiar nya. Baka may nangyari sa kanya."

Isang nakakasilaw na liwanag ang bumulaga sa amin until it revealed the King. He's wearing a royal cape with a gold, white and black armor. He looks very majestic as he descended from above. But he doesn't look very good. Mukhang nasasaktan rin sya.

I saw the Goddess smirked, "Hindi parin talaga bumabago ang istilo nya sa pakikipaglaban."

Tinignan ko sya.

"In every battle, you noticed that he always disappeared, right?"

"Oo. Hindi ko pa sya nakitang nakipaglaban." sagot ko.

"It's because he preferred to be the 'support-type' or whatever you call it. Ginagawa nyang liwanag ang sarili nya upang bigyan ng karagdagang lakas at kapangyarihan ang kanyang mga apostles. He also helps them speed up their healing and protects them from any fatal injuries. It's my first time seeing him not able to withstand an attack that even make him returned to his original form."

"The King hates violence the most. And he trust his apostles so much." dugtong nya.

The smoke finally subsided and two familiars are falling down from the Sky. Pareho silang walang malay.

Ano bang ginawa ng dalawang 'yun?

Kiyan finally recovered kaya muli syang lumipad pataas upang saluhin si Alzena. Agad rin akong tumayo upang saluhin sana si Paxton pero biglang nagsalita ang Goddess.

"Let him. He's too weak to spare his life. Just let him die." she said casually and lean on her throne.

I gritted my teeth, "Like hell I would do that."

Agad akong lumipad patungo kay Paxton. Rinig ko pa ang pagtawag ng Goddess sa 'kin.

"Stupid familiar. Always making me worry."

I caught him and put his arm around my shoulders. Puno na sya ng pasa at sugat. Nawalan pa sya ng malay in just a short period of time. Ang ikli nga lang ng laban nila ni Alzena.

Napatingin ako sa kabila. Kiyan was carrying her familiar. Pareho sila ng damage na natamo ni Paxton at wala rin syang malay. Ano bang ginawa nila habang naglalaban sila?

We are still flying habang hawak ko si Paxton. Nakita kong unti-unti nyang minulat ang mga mata nya.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked him worriedly. He can't die. Call it unfair but I want to fight in his position.

"M-master..."

Nagulat ako sa tinawag nya sa 'kin. He never called me 'Master' before.

"Just hold on. Ano bang ginawa nyo ni Alzena? It's so stupid of me to allow you to be hurt."

He slowly lift his hand and wipe something below my eyes.

"Who said that the Queen of Darkness is evil? She's crying while carrying me right now." he chuckled pero halatang hirap na hirap na sya. I never heard that laugh before. And I swear I want to hear it more.

Hinawakan ko ang mukha ko at may luha nga. Me? A monster? Is crying? This is not me. I'm evil. They should be the one who must feel pain and sadness. Not me. I must not cry. Because I'm evil. I don't have a heart.

The Goddess made me realize who really I am. The old Shea is dead and right now is a monster that lives inside her for years. But why is the old her keeps fighting back? Patay na sya. Di na sya dapat bumalik pa.

Hindi pa tapos ang laban. One of them must die in order to finish the game.

"Kaya mo pang lumaban?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Instead of an answer. He gave me a smile. A smile that suddenly gives me warmth and comfort.

"Shea.."

Agad akong napatingin sa kanya. Bihira nya lang akong tawagin sa pangalan ko.

"You remember when we first met? Alam kong kumukulo ang dugo mo sa 'kin 'non because of how I treated you back then." he said.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"The fake Shea is now gone, Paxton. This is the real me. Nakalimutan ko na ang lahat ng iyon." tinignan ko sya pero parang hindi nya naririnig ang mga sinasabi ko.

"Di mo alam kung gano mo pinabilis ang puso ko noon sa tuwing galit na galit ka sa 'kin, Shea. You were cute-ah no. You're beautiful. That time when I saw you cry for the first time, nangako ako sa sarili kong hindi ko na hahayaang umiyak ka pa muli. I devoted myself to you and promised to protect you with all my life. Not just because I'm your familiar, but because I want to stay with you forever."

What is he talking about? Bakit bigla syang nagsalita ng mga ganito?

"The Shea that we used to know, that was the real you. Hindi kailanmang peke iyon. Dahil iyon ang totoong ikaw. True that you are the Mistress of Darkness and Destruction. The Queen. But to me you are my princess. Someone who must be protected and cared for. You are trying to become someone you're not. Don't force yourself to become evil. Because in the first place, you have a pure heart."

"What are you talking about Paxton? I am evil. The power chose me because of the darkness inside me. And I am not forcing myself to be someone else. Because this is the real me."

Nakatingin sa ibang direksyon si Paxton kaya sinundan ko ang tingin nya. He is looking at Alzena na hanggang ngayon ay wala paring malay. Trevor is doing something towards her at may bahid ng lungkot ang mga mukha ng mga apostles. Why isn't she waking up?

"Light and dark exist within you. It's for you on how to deal with them. Hindi sa lahat ng oras masama ang kadiliman. You know the value of your power, but you just failed to understand. It conquered your heart and made you what you are now."

Nakatingin parin ako sa kanya at di ko alam na sunod-sunod na pala ang pag patak ng luha ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Evil beings don't cry. Because their hearts are filled with darkness that they barely feel anything. Now tell me, are you evil?"

"Paxton..."

Tumingin sya sa 'kin at napalunok ako. Our face are only inches away. Naamoy ko na ang mabangong hininga nya and his lips are red like it was being tainted with blood. His thumb wipe my tears as he smiled.

"For evil's sake Shea. Di mo alam kung gaano mo ako pinag-alala nang mawala ka. I almost lose my mind."

Bigla ko syang niyakap. Sobrang higpit na parang ayaw ko na syang bitawan. Ang sakit na nararamdaman ko kanina ay unti-unting nawawala. Pero dobleng sakit ang nagdulot nito sa puso ko. Parang may naramdaman akong kulang.

"In order to finish the game, one must die." biglaang sabi nya.

Parang gumuho ang mundo ko nang marinig ko 'yun.

"A-anong sinasabi mo? You're okay, right? Diba sabi mo hindi mo ako iiwan? You will stay-no you must stay by my side forever. That is an order from your Mistress."

He just smiled. And that smile just rip my heart apart. Biglang nagising ang nararamdaman kong akala ko matagal ko nang nakalimutan.

"Kahit ilang beses ka pang mamatay, pauli-ulit kitang bubuhayin. Even if it takes my life. So please Ren Paxton Montero, my familiar, don't die."

He caressed my cheek at mas lalong nilapit ang mukha nya sa 'kin.

"I want Drew to finish what I've started. Papunta na sya ngayon dito." sabi nya.

Napailing ako, "Hindi. Hindi pwede. Di mo ba alam na inapakan ko na pati pride ko para humingi ng tulong kay Kiyan upang buhayin ka? I am the first mistress who did that!"

He chuckled. I don't want this moment to end. "Haha I didn't expect that you'll go that far para buhayin muli ako. May gusto ka sa 'kin 'no?"

My tears kept on falling at biglang iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Stupid familiar."

"Mamatay na ako pero di ka parin umaamin sa 'kin. Mumultuhin kita, sige ka."

My heart pounded fast. In a situation like this, paano pa sya nakapagbiro ng ganyan?

"I-I-

Di natapos ang pagsalita ko dahil nilagay nya ang kanyang hintuturo sa aking bibig.

"One of us must die to finish the game. But what if both of us did?" biglang naging seryoso ang boses nya.

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Alzena at nakita kong sumuko na si Trevor upang gisingin sya. Alison, Ezra and Eloiny are crying. Habang ang iba ay malungkot na nakatingin sa kanya.

Parang bigla akong nanghina at hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak kay Paxton.

"It's Game over. It's game over Shea. It's up to you to do the rest. You know what to do."

Hindi ako makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya, "You did this on purpose, didn't you? Sinadya nyo 'to ni Alzena para matapos na ang laban? But Kiyan can revive her again!" sigaw ko. Di ko na mapigilan ang emosyon ko.

"He can't Shea. Alzena's dead."

Isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig ko mula sa aking likuran. Pagharap ko ay isang nakakasilaw na liwanag ang bumungad sa 'kin.

"Fight 'till the end Shea. I am your familiar. I will always be with you, even hell can't do us part."

And for that last moment before he closes his eyes, I kissed him. Even for that last moment, maramdaman nya ang nais kong iparating sa kanya na hindi ko kayang sabihin.

"I'm sorry Paxton. I'm sorry for being like this." I kissed him passionately. It was our last kiss, and the most painful one.

Hindi dapat ako umiyak ngayon. I must not show any weakness in front of our enemy. Pinahid ko ang mga luha ko at hinarap ang kalaban.

A girl clothed with holy light is in front of me. An armor with black and gold that represents as a warrior of light. Nakakasilaw, nakakainis. She gave me a look na ngayon ko lang nakita. A stronger, fiercer and more independent woman than the girl I knew before.

"Eloiny..."

Bigla nyang sinummon ang weapon accessory nya. It's still in her hairpin pero umiba na ang itsura nito. Bakit ganon? Why do I feel so much power towards her?

"Shea, fight me."

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A/N: Bukas nalang ang dedic. Malapit na 'tong matapos. Hanggang chapter 60 nalang siguro. Thank you for you never ending support sa TNHAS! Kahit ang tagal kong mag update di nyo parin ito iniwan. I give you my most sincere thanks and utmost gratitude. I hope to see you 'till the end of this chapter. :)