Legend of Cambions

27 | Duvessa

content warning: slight gore

UNKNOWN
Exodus Era | April 7, 118
___________________

ARKI
Shin Arkielle

Hindi ko lubos na maintindihan kung nasaan ako. All I felt was that overwhelming madness that drove me insane, I know. Napatingin ako sa sarili kong mga kamay at naalala ang nangyari.

"Then, I must be in Leon's dimension." Malamang ay kinulong niya ako rito hanggang sa mawala ang demonyong kumukontrol sa katawan ko.

My eyes wandered around the complete darkness, and finally, I saw something glimmer. A yellow light bent over and reflected over my eyes. And as it did, the surroundings started to change.

I watched as a whirling cloud of vapor from beneath the ground—if there is such ground. All the while, the smoke was in constant motion. Swirls of gray and black seemed to form something I'm not sure of.

Slowly, the swirls of smoke stopped moving around— instead, it encircled a statue-like form in front of me. Mas matangkad 'yon sa'kin kaya't napatingala ako at bigla akong nagulat nang makitang may mga mata na ang hindi ko malaman na creature sa harap ko. Her eyes were yellow, like mine, but her sclera was black.

A sensation of Greed hit me. Sharp. Terrible. Biting. It crawled through my body and overwhelmed my mind once again. Something around was hushing or whispering. It intruded around, soft and sensuous, beguiling with sweet temptation. My mouth ached, teeth wanting to lengthen like fangs. I turned away, afraid to meet the demon and become one.

A burst of sharp and high-pitched laughter sickened me. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, napatingala ang mukha ko sa taas na tila ba may humila ng mukha ko r'on at pilit iyong hinarap. A loud gasp came out from my mouth the moment I saw several pairs of yellow eyes staring at me, lurking in the darkness and the space that I can't seem to grasp.

Let me out, Arkielle.  This time, the voice and whispers were clear. Nanginig ako lalo nang para bang may dila na pumasok sa tainga ko. The feeling of the saliva on my ears made me force myself to stop gulping. The laughter continued and I couldn't help but shiver in my place. Nalagay ko ang kamay ko sa'king labi at tinakpan 'yon sa takot.

Something from my eyes dropped, and I realized it was blood. Wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa'king mukha ngunit mas lalo kong naramdaman ang kakaibang likido. Napatingin ako sa kamay ko, at doon ko lamang napagtantong dugo ang pumatak mula sa mata ko, at puno na rin ng dugo ang kamay ko.

I yanked my hand in fear, drawing a cord of glittering blood in the air. The blood suddenly burst into incandescent flames, filling the darkness with light. Nawala na ang mga mata sa itaas ngunit mayroon namang kakaibang init na pumalibot.

"Your time is over, Shin Arkielle."

I had to stumble to my knees, wiping my bloody hands on my surcoat. But as I do it, I noticed my skin flake away beneath my fingers— then, my flesh was exposed. The air around the space burned it. Malakas akong napasigaw at napatayo. Napuno na ng takot ang aking damdamin, at pilit kong pinikit ang aking mata ngunit may mga nagmulat n'on.

My eyelids burst open, and I was frightened that my eyeballs would fall. 

"Who are you?" I ask, hiding all the fears that I felt.

"I am you, Arkielle. I am Duvessa, the Greed." 

She's the demon inside me— the bringer of my power. Naalala ko naman ang sinabi ni Leon at Zavis sa'kin. Hindi ko dapat hayaan na kontrolin ako ng demonyo sa loob ko, 'pagkat pain lang kami at hinihintay lang ng mga demonyo na tuluyang kuhanin ang katawan namin... is that the reason why the skin on my hands flaked? Is the demon finally devouring my body and soul?