Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 63 The Demon

OTTILIE VIRSES POV

Mabilis na nabaling ang tingin namin sa may-ari ng boses na 'yon. At doon ko nakumpirma ang hinala ko, nakatayo lang naman ito sa paanan ng hagdan habang may bitbit na isang itim na bag.

"K-Kuya?!" Kahit nanghihina ang mga tuhod, nilakasan ko ang loob ko. "A-anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Nangilabot ako ng dahan-dahan na ngumisi si kuya ng tawagin ko ito. Nagpadagdag pa sa takot ko ang mapupula nitong mga mata. What happened to my brother?

Tila naging alisto naman si Plutus at agaran na itinago ako nito sa likuran niya. Habang sina Jenna at Dylan naman ay nagmamadaling lumapit sa pwesto namin. Inilapag muna ni kuya ang bag sa sahig bago pinag-krus ang mga kamay nito sa kan'yang dibdib.

"Oh, I know you," he said mockingly. "You're the sister, aren't you? You little poor thing, unfortunately, your brother isn't here anymore." His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"A-Anong sabi mo?!" Tears pricked my eyes as I shouted. Sinubukan ko siyang sugurin pero napigilan ako ni Plutus. "Sino ka? Anong ginawa mo sa kapatid ko?!"

The man let out a sharp laugh, pacing back and forth as though this was all some amusing game. "Fine. I'll tell you," he exaggerated.

"Not long ago, your brother created a very risky ritual to summon your dear old dad. A bold move, but ultimately, a stupid one. And of course he failed."

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nito. It was the same thing I did before, and like my brother, I also failed to summon our father's soul. Nag-aalala akong napatingin kay Plutus, sinalubong nito ang tingin ko saka hinaplos ng marahan ang likod ko. Muli kong ibinaling ang tingin sa kuya ko, at muling nakinig.

"His failed attempt broke the barriers that kept me imprisoned for ages, and he unknowingly set a demon free!" he added while laughing hard, as if he was delighted by the idea.

Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Jenna at Dylan. Ramdam ko ang takot sa kilos nila ng sumiksik sila sa likod namin ni Plutus upang magtago.

"You're lying," I whispered while glaring at the demon in front of us.

"Oh, but I'm not," he said smoothly, gesturing grandly. "To thank him for releasing me, I granted him a wish. And what do you think he wished for? To bring your father back to life." He chuckled darkly.

"It's a sweet idea, but reviving the dead isn't something so easily done. So, I tricked him. I told him I'd need his body to make it happen."

Tila nakaramdam ako ng labis na galit sa sinabi nito. Napakuyom ng mahigpit ang mga kamay ko. I know my brother was desperate, but how could he have trusted a demon?

"And he believed you?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling from fear of losing my brother.

"Oo naman," the man sneered. "He was desperate. He even hid your father's corpse here, thinking I'd need it. Once he was convinced, he allowed me to take over his body and left everything to me-."

I cut him off, saying, "You're the one behind the murders," I blurted out.

"Bing!" he said cheerfully, spreading his arms as if seeking applause. "The one and only."

I wanted to cry, I'm so worried for my brother's safety. But I choose to stand my ground. I need to know where my brother is, so I keep listening. Then the demon continued.

"What Oliver didn't realize was that I never planned to bring your father back. My goal was to use his body as a cover while I worked on creating a new vessel for myself, one that no one would recognize, so I wouldn't be dragged back to Hell."