Children Of The Abyss

76

LILITH

This my second life.

Dinungaw ko ang may kataasang balcony. Kung saan ko nakita si Maeve noon ng tinatawag niya ako. Where I fell and was catched by Alistair when he confronted me about trusting him.

This is where it all begun. This balcony witnessed me crumble and be whole again.

A sacrifice for another sacrifice.

A demon for another demon.

The sweetest poison for the bitter cure.

The foundation for the fallen fortress...

That was us—Me and Alistair. We complement each others demons. When one was angry the other calms it down. We are now the same. We are both living with our second lives.

His was given by Hades while mine was from him.

Allen Chester Smith welcomed me in his broken, chaotic life. He let me explore the darkness inside him until I planted the light that connected the two of us. He showed me the real meaning of  worth and value  of life through hostility and impulsive actions that he did. He let me break his walls to see right through his soul.

At first, I was hesitant to step into the dark. Little did I know I am falling into the deep endless abyss that enveloped it's way in my heart. I drowned but that abyss did not let me sink. It made me stay in the middle floating and breathing still. And that abyss is... Alistair.

He made me see the dark before see the light I was looking for.

To experience it until I learned to love it.

Naramdaman ko ang pagyakap galing sa likod ko. Warmth enveloped the coldness inside me. Tulad ng araw sa gitna ng taglamig. That sun melts the thick ice that covered my heart.

His presence conquered my highest walls while fighting his own demons.

He inhales the scent of my hair, "Green apples. Hmm..."

Humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin. Ayaw akong pakawalan gayong nasa harap niya lang ako. Whole in flesh and blood.

"Hindi na ulit kita pakakawalan." nilagay niya ang baba sa balikat ko, "Never again."

Just like the promise he altered noon sa wedding booth. Those five words echo in my head. A promise made for the both of us.

'Til death do us part.

pinaharap niya ako sa kanya. He rests his forehead and nose on mine.

"I love you..." he breathes.

Chocolate and mint. Tulad ng noon. He did not change physically but emotionally specially his outlook in life.

"I love you..." he repeats his words.

"I love you."

Sinabayan ko siya sa huli. He had me tied to him kahit hindi kami ikasal noon. I can't undo the knots that he did, siniguro niyang hindi ako makakatakas.

"Where's—" tumikhim si Desmond bago sinarado ang pinto ng balcony, "I'm sorry please continue."

Tinago ko ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. Damn it nakakahiya! Nakita niya kami sa ganitong posisyon. Tinakpan ko ng kamay ko ang mukha ko.

Desmond...

Andito si Desmond?!

"Mamaya na siya." Alistair pulls me back to him.

"But—"

"No, Lilith." his voice strained while squinting his eyes, "We have this place just for the two of us."

"Too open." I teased.

He clicks his tongue, "You're getting naughty." nagtaas siya ng kilay.

"I learned from you." I retort back at him.

I told him about the dreams I had back then. Why I see them and why I know what happened about the bargaining for my soul.

He knows who my eyes were. Hindi alam ni Milo at Ree lalo na si Desmond.

It's a secret. Next time ko na sasabihin.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng balcony. Sumamaang tingin ni Alistair sa bagong dating. Hindi naman nagpatinag si Ree. Milo mouthed 'Sorry'. Nginitian ko na lang siya.

"We are going to Santorini!" Ree is ecstatic.

I forgot the three day vacation that Hades granted us. Ngayon lang mangyayari. We opt to go to Tagaytay for a staycation but it is worth the wait.

May mas maganda pa palang plano kaya nadelay.

"Kailan?" tanong ko.

She grins at us, "NGAYON NA!"

"Wait, agad-agad?!" nanlaki ang mga mata, "Where's Desmond?"

"Ready na. He has his bag already." Milo tells us.

"Let's go!" hila sa akin ni Ree, "Pack your bags. We are leaving in 30 minutes." she said in a sing song voice.

"Whoa!"

Nagpatangay ako sa hila niya. She helped me pack my clothes. I double checked everything I need. Toiletries, clothes, undies...

Bikini?

Wag na. Baka hindi ako palabasin ni Alistair sa kwarto kapag ganoon.

"Wait!" sabi ko kay Ree.

She is getting impatient. Halos sampung minuto pa lang kami dito sa loob ng kwarto.

I took something from my vanity table's drawer.

My phone.

I entered the passcode. I can still use it. Pero for picture taking lang. We need to be careful baka masira ang bakasyon namin. Nagpalit din ako ng damit para hindi ako mukhang gusgusin.

Nilagay ko ito sa maliit na shoulder bag kasama ng card ko.

"Let's go."

Ma, I'm going to be an impulsive shopaholic. Please forgive me.

Enjoy honey, I'll be watching your father for you.

Thanks Ma. I love you.

Take care. I love you too.

Binilin ulit naman sa clinic ang mga alaga namin. The nurse is so happy may kasama na naman daw siya bukod sa mga kaluluwang nakatambay sa clinic. We give her their foods and necessities saka kaunting bilin.

"Bawal lumapit si Kiera sa kanila."

Not one single scale or fur will be hurt or plucked from them. Mapapatay ko na talaga siya.

We used the portal para mapuntahan ang isang airport. We will travel through a private plane. Ihahatid kami sa Greece at susunduin ulit. Nakabook na din ang hotel ni Hades doon. Waiting for our arrival.

After this vacation alam ko na ng susunod...

We are going to do the quest given to us. And fulfill our destiny. To fight for  the waging war against the Gods and Goddesses.

This is our fate.

The destined purpose of our existence. To balance the worlds between Gods and Humans.

To be a living legacy for generations.