The Heavenly Card

1. Heavenly

Eurydice Dianne

'Celeste. . . my child.'

'W-where am I?'

'You're in my domain, my child.'

'W-what? Domain?'

'Find me, heavenly. Go home and find me.'

ততততততততততততততত

"Miss Patridge, you won't learn anything by sleeping in my class."

My heart pounded like a drum in my chest as I glanced around the room. Every pair of eyes, including my teacher's, was fixed on me. With an exasperated sigh, I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling up inside me.

What? They can't do anything about my actions.

I watched as the teacher stood at the front of the room, his movements slow and weary. With a sigh, he shook his head ever so slightly, then raised the remote control in his hand, pressing the button with a sense of finality.

"Mythology is a term used to describe the tales and legends that different cultures have, that help shape and grow their societies and culture as a whole."

He then looked at us and pressed the remote. "Some are used as tools to help kids learn about how things were made or came to be, such as the myth of Arachne, the mother of all spiders, or the myth of the mistletoe, and how it killed one of the fairest gods in all of Norse Mythology."

"Other times, Mythology would be used to tell a certain kind of tale, that would help the people believe in ancient deities, that came from before anyone human was ever born, and that have the power to destroy or create and shape their worlds."

If only his topic wasn't Mythology, I could've skipped his class.

Sure, I have an attitude, but I still take my classes seriously. I read so much that I already know our topic inside and out. When I say I know, I mean I know everything about it. I just don't want to be bumped up to a higher grade level. I don't want to deal with people older than me!

"Dianne, are you even listening?"

Tumingin ako sa lalaking nasa harap ko, he's holding a bouquet of red roses. Weird. Hindi ko ipinahalata ang kakaiban naramdaman ko sa kaniya.

Hmm. . .

Tumingin ako sa mga bulaklak bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniyang mukha.

Not my type.

I rolled my eyes and heaved a sigh before walking away, the sound of my heels echoing through every corner of our classroom.

"That's not nice, Dianne." Inirapan ko ang lalaking tumabi sa akin habang nag lalakad ako.

Cain Patridge, my older brother.

Na hindi na ako nilubayan! His building is literally three buildings away from mine and he still manages to find time to pester me?!

"Cain, seventeen na ako, I told you that I don't want you sniffing into my business."

He glared at me. "Yeah, and that's the reason why I should watch you. . . closely." He studied my face before smiling.

I rolled my eyes at him before walking away. Nakakainis.

"Eurydice Dianne, you don't turn your back on me." I halted my steps as an unseen force dragged me down, the weight was too overwhelming to resist. . .

With a heart racing and frustration bubbling within, I cast a fiery gaze at my brother.

"W-what the hell is this?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"Fight it."

"What?!" I exclaimed trying to understand what he's saying. "Cain, stop this!" Halos mapaluhod na ako dahil sa bigat na nararamdaman ko.

He stared at me before smiling, nawala bigla lahat ng bigat na nararamdaman ko. "Nice."

"What the hell was that?!" Instead of answering me, he just walked past me with a proud grin.

Hinabol ko pa siya sa car park dahil sobrang bilis niyang mag lakad!

"Cain, ano ba?!" Walang emosyon siyang nakatingin sa akin habang nakatayo sa harap ng sasakyan niya.

"Go home, you have to go." He said before going inside his car, iniwan niya akong nakatulala at nagtataka sa sinabi niya. Hinanap ko agad sa bag ko ang susi ng sasakyan ko.

I drove fast, fast enough to not have another violation.

"Where is Cain?!" Our helpers looked scared of me when I yelled, wala namang nagsalita kaya hindi ko na sila pinansin at umakyat agad.

Pumasok ako sa lahat ng kuwarto sa bahay, lahat hinaluglog ko para lang mahanap siya pero kahit anino niya ay hindi ko makita.

Fuck you, Cain.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago tinungo ang kuwarto ko. Sinalubong ako ng madilim at malamig na kuwarto.

I just sighed before opening the light and locking my door, humiga ako sa kama at tumitig sa kisame.

A lot of weird things happened today.

First, I woke up in class, my heart pounding in my chest. Second, that guy who handed me roses—the scent was strange, off somehow. And third, my brother's unsettling gravity-pulling presence and his haunting words that refuse to leave my mind.

Nawala ako sa pag-iisip nang makarinig ako ng malakas na kulog, binuksan ko ang kurtina ng kwarto ko at napakunot naman ang noo ko nang makitang sobrang dilim ng langit.

Ang init pa lang kanina ah?

Napaatras ako dahil sa gulat nang dumagundong ng malakas ang kalangitan kasunod ang kidlat na tumama sa isang lugar.

Napatakip ako ng tainga nang marinig ito nang sunod-sunod ngunit iisang lugar lang ang natatamaan.

What in the heavens is happening?!

Ilang minuto ko yatang narinig ang mga 'yon bago natahimik ang lugar, hawak-hawak ko pa ang tainga ko nang lumapit ako sa bintana upang sumilip.

Napabuntong hininga ako bago isinara ang kurtina at pumasok na sa banyo para maligo. I can't show myself to my family when I haven't taken a bath yet!

Tuwang-tuwa naman ako dahil nagustuhan ko ang bagong order kong shampoo. Napagdesisyunan ko ring suotin ang sundress na binili ni Dad para sa akin.

Lumabas ako ng kuwarto, only to see my brother in front of the dining table with a huge box on it. Mabilis akong lumapit sakaniya. "Cain!"

Tumingin siya sa akin bago ibinalik ang tingin sa box na nasa harap niya, may ibinigay siya sa akin na envelope na itim kaya hindi ko na siya nagawang hampasin.

"Read it." He said before sitting down.

To: Miss Eurydice Dianne Patridge

Greetings, Miss Patridge.

If you are reading this, then it means you have either been claimed by your parent deity or you have discovered your divine heritage on your own. Either way, we at Saoirse Academy welcome you with your arms!