F.L.A.W Series Book 3: RUBY

Bonus Chapter (Book 4-Preview)

The war isn't over yet, my dear daughters. It has only just begun because the true heir will take over.

Madame Pearl's voice echoed inside her head over and over again. She is still analyzing it to understand what the old woman meant by that.

There are seven 'Princes of Hell'- First is Leviathan, the Demon of Envy and it is Marco. Then Asmodeus, Demon of Lust for Aquamarine. Eric is Belphegor, the Demon of Sloth while Sensei is the Demon of Greed which is Mammon. Beelzebub, the Demon of Gluttony for Warden, and then Madame Pearl is Lucifer, the Demon of Pride. It was only six.... I never knew the last one...

Patuloy pa din si Sapphire sa pagkausap sa sarili niya habang napapatulala.

"So who's the seventh Prince of Hell? Who is Satan? Who is the Demon of Wrath?" Aniya sa mahinang boses.

"Miss, ikaw na ang susunod!" Sigaw sa kanya ng isang lalaki na namamahala sa lugar na iyon kaya't naputol siya sa pag-iisip. "Sigurado ka talaga ha? Kapag pumasok ka diyan sa loob, wala nang bawian. Hindi na pwedeng umayaw, hindi na pwedeng huminto hangga't hindi tumutunog yung bell."

Saph knew that the man is only giving her a fair warning because she looks like she doesn't belong in that place when the truth is, it feels like she was close to home.

Nang tumango siya ay mas lalong ngumiwi ito at saka sumenyas na sa isa pang lalaki kaya bumukas na ang malaking bakal na pinto.

"For our main event tonight.... On our left corner, we have a new challenger here and I must say that she's either a tough bitch or an insane woman for coming here tonight." Anunsiyo ng host na ikina-ingay ng mga tao roon. "And she didn't even prepare a striking name for us." Na tumawa pa kaya't ginaya ng mga manonood. "Alright, let's see what she got, Everyone, here comes- Sapphire!!!"

Pagkapasok niya sa loob ng malaking cage ay wala ni isang pumalakpak sa kanya. Pulos bulungan at ugong ng hiyawan lang ang maririnig niya na halatang kinakantiyawan o pinagtatawanan siya.

"Baliw ba yang babaeng yan?!" Narinig niyang sigaw ng isa sa mga nanonood.

"Baka gustong magsuicide!" Segunda naman ng isa pa.

"Ano ba yan, obvious na kung sino mananalo!" Sigaw ng halos lahat.

"And now on our right corner." Muling nagsalita ang host. "of course, our undefeated champion, the unbeatable- Skull Cracker!"

Doon bumuhos ang masayang palakpakan at hiyawan ng mga taong nanonood. The audience looked happy upon seeing their idol, their number one bet.

Nang lumabas ang malaking lalaki mula sa kabilang bakal na pinto ay hinagod na ito ng tingin ni Sapphire. She's studying her opponent while the man is smirking at her.

"Wag kang iiyak mamaya ha!" Pang-aasar sa kanya ng lalaki. "Sigurado ka bang lalabanan mo ako rito? Gusto mo sa ibang laban na lang tayo magharap, doon siguradong magugustuhan mo. Siguradong sisigaw ka hindi lang sa sakit kundi sa sarap. Babanatan kita nang todo dun hanggang sa maging lupaypay na yang katawan mo." At hinagod din nito ang katawan niya na may kasamang pagnanasa sa mukha. "Mukha ka pa namang masarap papakin. Sayang lang  ganda mo dito dahil masisira yang mukha mo."

Sanay na si Saph sa mga ganoong satsat. Alam niyang idinadaan lang nito sa pananakot upang mas magmukhang malakas ito. He's trying to make her feel inferior to him.

Nakangisi ang lalaki ngunit unti-unting nawala iyon nang inipon niya ang lahat ng buhok niya sa isang kamay at saka itinali iyon nang mataas kung kaya't nahantad ang mahabang pilat niya sa pisngi.

Among all Gems, she was the only one who has a scar on her face.  She got it when she was still little. She didn't want to remove it even though Madame offered her to go on plastic surgery. Even her sisters encourage her to remove it since technology nowadays is evolving, but still, she refused it.

The scar is her constant reminder that men cannot be trusted. And that they only want one thing- to dominate and hurt women.

"Mukhang palaban ang isang ito ah. Tingnan natin kung hanggang saan ka tatagal!" Mayabang na sabi sa kanya ng kalaban.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, before we start, please place your bets now. Click send so we can proceed." Wika ng host habang nakatingin sa malaking monitor roon kung nasaan ang pangalan nilang mga manlalaro. "Anyone who would want to bet for Sapphire?" Patuloy nito nang wala man lang pumupusta sa pangalan niya habang ang kalaban ay umabot na sa tatlong daang libong piso. "Kahit five hundred pesos lang." Sabay tawa dahil naka-zero pa rin ang pusta sa kanya.

Then the audience suddenly gasped one by one when the number beside her name changed from zero to five hundred thousand pesos.

"Wait, is this for real?" Tanong ng host. "Bala nagkamali lang ng pindot yung nagsend nito? Sabi ko five hundred pesos lang hindi kalahating milyon." Patuloy ito sa pagpapatawa. "You can still fix it. You cancel or change-"

"I'm not that dumb to make a mistake in placing my bet." Putol ng isang baritonong boses sa host. "And definitely not a fool to bet on your weak.champion. My money is on the beautiful lady."

Hinanap ng mga mata ni Sapphire ang pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon at bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita kung sino iyon.

You??!!

Sigaw niya sa isip lang at hindi ipinahalata ang pagkagulat sa lalaki na lumapit sa may banda niya. At kahit may harang na nakapagitan sa kanila ay ramdam niya pagkadominante nito.

"I'm right when I told you that we're gonna see each other again. Didn't think that of all places in the world, I'd see you here. You are full of surprises, Miss." And winked at her. "Please, don't be bothered by my bet, it's only a small amount of money. Just don't let that bulldog hit your lovely face coz I would fucking hate it!"

Sapphire stared at the man and never took her eyes off of him. It's as if he has hypnotized her because that's the first time she looked at a man's eyes for more than a minute. And just like a moth, she is drawn to his eyes of fire and almost got burned, luckily, she woke herself up and pulled away from their gaze.

Her fight is about to start and she must focus on her enemy. But how can she do that when she can sense that he's still watching her thoroughly? How can she put her mind to battle when she felt he can see through her? And how can she ignore him when she felt uncomfortable after hearing what he just said?

Damn it! What is it about you, Finnegan Brandt? And what the fuck is wrong with me?!

-Soon-

FLAW Series Book 4: Sapphire