Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Forty-One: A Caged Traitor

-chapter forty-one-

"Paano mo nagawa 'to... Akiru?"

I stared at the man in front of me. I couldn't move, not for the chains that bound me, but because of the terrible and uneasy fact.

The traitor who sold me was none other than Akiru, a lost boy who shared his past but quickly shifted into a serpent who bit my back.

I confidently told Meredith that the snake can come bite me anytime. For this snake, I don't think my poison works.

"This is funny." komento ko. "Just after the emotional act of gratitude, you bare your fangs."

Sinabi ko pa sa sarili kong tutulungan kitang makaalis sa kadena mo. Na ipapakita ko sa'yo ang mundo. You seemed like a younger brother who I want to take care of, and to prevent you from having a terrible worldview like me.

What a pity.

Iniwas niya at ibinaba ang tingin. Rather than the predator who trapped the prey, Akiru looked like an abandoned puppy.

"I'm sorry..." mahinang wika niya.

"Sorry?" I scoffed. "What an unnecessary and stupid thing. Is that all you can say? Mula sa unang pagkikita-"

Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. The realization of events dawned on my mind. Itinaas niya ang tingin at mukhang nabasa niya ang takbo ng utak ko.

The first time we met, he bumped into me. The second time, the same thing happened. I viewed it all as some kind of accident, but looks like they were all made on purpose.

"I see." kalmado kong tugon kahit na binabagyo na ang kalooban ko. "You purposely bumped into me on day one because you need to check if I was truly the time maiden. You needed to confirm my identity. Perhaps, you even attached a tracker in me so that I will always be visible to your eyes."

Because of the chains that covered my wrists, my presence became colder. Ang inis, galit at sakit sa ginawa ni Akiru ay nagpapatigas ng aking boses. Maybe that's why Akiru had to gulp and look away. Maybe it's the reason why he looks like the one cornered even though it's the opposite.

"That second interaction was to establish your identity. I commend your artistry for successfully portraying an introverted and scared boy-"

"That wasn't an act!" nagulat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita nang malakas. "Yes, it was all a plan. From the very beginning. The first interactions were planned, because I was only freed to watch over you, Serena."

Naningkit ang mata ko. "Are you telling me your tear-jerking history is real?"

"Yes." he answered, voice filled with sorrow.

"I didn't lie nor acted, Serena. May tinago lang ako. We tried to escape but of course, we couldn't. We could shift, but we didn't have the mental power to fight against their troops. We were not raised as a cold-blooded monster."

Medyo napasimangot ako do'n. If he's talking about escaping, he must have meant me as a cold-blooded monster who killed off all personnels in the plane because they pissed me off. Kahit na totoo iyon ay medyo nainis ako sa tinawag.

Time Maiden sounds fancier than a cold-blooded monster. Villainess na nga ang itsura ko, gano'n na rin ba ang chismis sa'kin ngayon?

If I'm some cold-blooded monster, then Leviathon is a manipulative bastard of a devil.

"They caught us while we were escaping. I-I wanted to, at least, save them..."

"But it came with a price?" pagtatapos ko. "You need to do something, right? Besides, you're the perfect bait. In the disguise of thanking me, you were actually sent to be my personal spy. Makakatulong rin ang nakaraan mo para magkalapit tayo dahil-"