Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Long Table with a Demon

I knew that we shouldn't be seeing this. I needed to see another side of him— not this. Not the way I saw Tobias when he held me in his arms, not the way Zen looked at Claret, and not even the way Seth's features softened by the mere mention of his mate.

Not this, that I could completely see him as someone who was just in love. e

"H-how dare that woman summon you. . ." he whispered.

"I'm sorry. . . I'm sorry, love. . ."

His body was trembling.

Yumuko na ako kay Divina. This might be part of the past. "How are we going to talk with Veda? This isn't our mission. I don't want to see this, Divina."

Itinuro niya ang posisyon ng dalawa na malinaw ko rin nakikita. "He loves Veda."

My chest tightened. I should agree with Divina, I could see it right now, but everyone gave me this trust, if this was Atlas's way of making me falter and doubt the words given to me— I'd do everything it took to fight this conflicted emotion.

"No. He's a villain. Veda's already dead. He's trying to revive someone who wanted to rest. He's not respecting Veda's decision. H-he's probably an obsessed—" napailing na ako. "We are here for Veda. To talk with her. Why are we seeing this?"

"I don't know."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "W-what?"

"I don't know. Divina can always see souls and talk with them, but I don't know why we are here."

Napasinghap na ako at napasulyap muli sa dalawang nilalang na nasa harapan namin. "But we couldn't just—Let's go, Divina. We might find something else here."

I crouched and held Divina's shoulders. I met her eyes. "The Atlas we saw a while ago. Does he look like them? Mukha ba siyang mahahawakan? Is he one of us inside this realm?"

"H-he looked so real. . ."

Muli kaming napalingon ni Divina sa dalawang nilalang na nasa tubig.

"I don't think you arrived at the real-time situation, visitors."

"Shit!"

Agad akong tumayo. I took Divina behind me, and I quickly pulled one of my arrows from my quiver. At itinutok ko iyon sa nagsalita.

"Impressive," Atlas said as he casually flicked his finger. Suddenly the whole place crumbled into pieces— turning into another darkness until we felt an explosion.

"D-Divina . . ."

Muli kong isinabit sa balikat ko ang aking palaso at hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Divina, ramdam kong yumakap na siya sa aking hita habang lalong tumitindi ang biglang hangin na tumatama sa katawan ko. Kapwa na namin tinakpa ni Divina ang aming mga mata.

Akala ko ay tuluyan na kaming madadala ni Divina nang maramdaman kong tila nahuhulog ako hanggang sa biglang tumigil ang oras, saglit akong walang marinig sa gitna ng kadiliman na tila lumulutang ang aking katawan. Ngunit nang sandaling tumakbo muli ang oras muli akong nahulog, akala ko ay wala na iyong katapusan nang bigla akong nagmulat.

And there, standing with Divina with our hands clasped, we were in front of a long table, surrounded by illuminated stones from the hanging lamps and torches. There were also foods, wines, fruits, and golden utensils.

"Have a seat, my ladies," Atlas casually said.

Nang hindi kami gumalaw ni Divina ay ginamit muli ni Atlas ang kanyang daliri. In an instant, Divina and I were sitting across each other while Atlas was sitting at the edge of the table.