"... sin didn't just appear out of nowhere. The moment Eve ate the forbidden fruit, was the same moment the sin was born and entered the world. And the wages of sin... is Death." Then she closed the book and looked straight into my eyes. "That's why if you don't want to die, my little granddaughter, don't sin."
She caressed my cheeks and smiled.
"But lola, even if we sinned, mamamatay pa rin naman tayo. It's all useless," I shrugged.
Napasimangot siya. Siguro dahil kinalaban ko ang kaniyang sinabi.
"Hindi mo ba naririnig ang sinabi ko kanina, Jaspher? It was said here that 'the wages of sin is death', that's why don't sin or else mamamatay ka, understand?" She strictly said.
Tumango na lamang ako kesa kalabanin ang kaniyang paniniwala. Besides, that's her opinion and not mine. Magkaiba kami. I believe that whether you sinned or not, mamamatay ka parin. Temporary lang ang lahat sa mundo, lahat mawawala.
Biglang may pumasok na katanungan sa aking isip kaya napag desisyonan kong itanong ito kay lola.
"Lola, have you ever heard about the seven princes of hell thingy?" I asked her.
Napatigil siya sa pagbabasa at tumingin sa 'kin. Kita ko ang pagkabalisa sa kaniyang mga mata na pilit niyang tinatago.
"Saan mo narinig 'yan?" Tanong niya.
I shrugged. "Narinig ko lang." But the truth is, I heard my friends talking about that thing and I was confused about what it was.
She closed the book once again and looked at me. "The seven princes of hell. They're the representation of the seven deadly sins. Pride, Wrath, Envy, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth. They're also a sin, obviously. They lead the hell along with Satan. Sa pagkakaalam ko, nandito sila sa mundo to continue tempting people to sin according to what kind of sin they are. They're also the ones who collect the soul of the deceased and place them where they belong."
Sandali akong napaisip. Collect the soul of the deceased? Hmm...
"Where did you heard that, Lola?" I asked.
She stared at me before looking away. "Sa mga ninuno lang natin, apo. By the way, kumain ka na ba?"
Bahagya akong tumango. "Tapos na po."
Tumango ang matanda at tumayo. "Ihatid mo na ako sa kwarto ko. I'm sleepy."
I nodded and obeyed. Hinatid ko siya sa kaniyang silid bago bumalik sa sala. Umupo ako sa sofa at iniisip pa rin ang sinabi niya sa'kin kanina.
Collect the soul of the deceased, huh?
"Kung sila ang kumokolekta sa mga kaluluwa ng mga namamatay, ibig sabihin..." And that's when realization hits me.
I stood up and went to my bedroom.
"I need to find the Seven Princes of Hell."
YOU ARE READING
Living with the Seven Princes of Hell
FantasyLiving with the Seven Princes of Hell was like living in the actual hell, right? Because that's where they came from. They're demons. They're evil. They do no good. Or that's what Jaspher thought. Kung paano man siya napunta sa kinaroroonan ng pito...
