Children Of The Abyss

40

DESMOND

Pabalik na kami sa hotel ng hapon ng makita si Macaria.

We did some ground covering sa mortal realms. Wala din kaming nakuhang sagot. May maliit na barangay pero chismis ang sinabi nilang mangkukulam.

Because of the old lady's origin. Galing daw kasi sa isang probinsya. May alam sa pangbabarang at kung ano-ano pa.

"Mom." Ree kissed her cheeks.

She wears a casual black dress and black heels. Fitting for her to blend in.

"I heard from father." she scans their fingers.

"Pasensya na po. Nakita kasi namin siya sa isang school." Milo explains.

"I hate his ways but still I owe you for taking care and understanding her, Milo. Mukhang may nadamay pa sa inyong dalawa." dumapo ang mga mata niya kay Lilith at Alistair.

"No problem po." he answers

"Call me Tita." she winked at him.

"Mommy." nahihiya niyang saway.

Masama ang tinging pinapakawalan ni Lilith sa kanya. He smirks at her most of the time. Kapag hindi masamang tingin ay irap ang natatanggap niya.

"This is not what you think it is." tanggi ni Lilith.

"Lilith, your mother knows it." she smiles at her.

"What?! W-wait hindi pwede. I don't think she wants it this way." gulantang na niyang sabi.

Inaya niya kami sa restaurant. To a secluded spot away from the mortals.

"A mother knows her child. Maternal instinct, they say." she sips on her tea, "Actually, sinugod pa niya si Hades sa palasyo."

Muntik ko ng ibuga ang kape na iniinom ko. Is she serious? This is getting crazy. Si Hecate susugod sa palasyo ni Hades. No fucking way!

Speaking of the Goddess. Is this some kind of reunion? Kulang na lang ang tatay ng dalawang lalaki dito. Meet the parents after the wedding ang nangyari.

"I'm sorry about Hades, dear." she hugs Lilith.

"Ma, Bakit ka sumugod sa palasyo?!"

"Nagulat din ako anak. Nalaman ko kay Persephone." naupo siya sa tabi niya, "Anak pala ni Cocytus ang nakatuluyan mo. Did you put a spell on him, hmm?"

She looks at Alistair, "Stop that. Sinuntok ko lang po siya." saway ni Lilith.

"So, you like him now?" naningkit ang mata niya.

"No. Just... don't stare at him." inom nito ng juice.

"And you are?" turo niya sa akin.

"Desmond Suarez po. Son of Alastor." pagpapakilala ko.

Alastor is the god of family feuds and avenger of evil deeds. A minor deity of the underworld.

But I'm opposite from him.

"Nice meeting you young man." she shakes my hands, "Thank you for taking care of Lilith."

"She is one of us. Sanay na po akong mag-alaga ng ibang tao." sabi ko.

"I see you will meet someone, the same as you are but descendant from the heavens." she foretells my future, "You will also be a great keeper, I see."

"No one keeps a keeper, Ma." tutol ni Lilith.

"One will require." Si Hecate, "Soon."

Naguusap naman si Macaria at ang mag-asawang Milo at Ree. They want to look at it that way. Kumpara sa dalawang ito na gusto na agad maghiwalay.

Lilith did not wear the ring tulad ng sinabi niya kagabi. Ginawa niya itong pendant sa kwintas niya.

Umiling-iling si Hecate kay Alistair. Her eyes look dark.

"Wag mong ipapahamak ang anak ko." she warns him, "I don't want to lose her the second time. Do you hear me? Control your dog. Baka tuluyan ko siya."

Napatigil sa pag-uusap sang tatlo. Ree shivered because of her tone. No emotions pure warning for him. She gives off the scary vibes.

"Yes, Ma'am." he answered.

"Good. I shall leave then. Chineck ko lang ang anak ko..." she said, "Kung... nasa mabuting kamay siya."

"I'm good Ma. Andito naman sila eh. I will be safe." Lilith assured her.

"By the way, a snake is inside the institute. Pababalikin din kayo doon." she told us before bidding goodbye.

Macaria bid goodbye too. Pinaalalahanan lang ng kaunting bagay ang dalawa. I even heard the words 'ayaw ko pa ng apo.'

Who will require my services? Wala naman. And a descendant from heavens? Children of the abyss don't fit with children of Olympians. Baka malito lang din ako kung mangyayari iyon.

If I will be a keeper I would choose my job. No more, no less.

"Did she say Alistair's dog?" nagtataka si Ree.

"Yup. She did." Kinumpirma ni Lilith.

"Lilith - 4, Kiera - 0." Milo jested.

"What was that for?" Lilith finishes her drink.

"Lamang ka na kay Kiera." sabi ni Ree.

Pinindot niya ang 15th button sa elevator, "Tss. Alistair wants a dog. Not me."

"I don't want a dog. I want my wife." Alistair's eyes never left her.

"Madami sa institute. Yuyukuan ka pa nila." naunang lumabas si Lilith.

Tulad nga ng sinabi ni Hecate kinagabihan ay tumawag si Orphne sa hotel. Pinapabalik kami dahil nalaman ni Hades na nawawala si Medea sa kulungan niya.

Kaya bukas ng umaga ay babalik kami sa Institute dahil inaasahang pupunta siya doon para tanungin kami.

Pagkatapos magdinner ay hindi pa kami inaantok. We don't want to leave yet, either.

"Blokárisma fragmoú" Lilith chanted, "Now, we can all talk. Hindi din tayo madidinig o nakikitang naguusap."

"A blocking barrier?" si Ree.

"I'll trust that the secrets we will speak in this barrier will not and never be spoken out." Si Lilith.

"You want us to have an open forum?"
nakayakap si Milo kay Ree.

"Yes." sabi niya, "I'll put my trust on the line for this one. Magtitiwala ako sa inyo." she smiles, "So shall we begin?"

"Then, I, Coriane Alvarez, hereby swear to protect the secrets to be stated at this time and place." ginaya namin ang sinabi ni Ree.

If we consider this group as our new family then we will be open with each other. No lies, no mask of pretention. Just us accepting each other's past and pain.

Si Lilith ang nagsimula since siya ang nagopen ng forum na ito.

Tonight, we put our past behind this walls for an unbreakable promise bond of friendship.