Raphael's POV

Nangangatog ang buong likuran ko nang lingunin ang butas sa pader kung saan ako huling tumama.

'Raphael, where are you?' 

For a moment I thought it was my father, Death, talking to me. Kinabahan ako pero saglit lang dahil boses pala ito ni Henri na naririnig ko sa aking isipan.

'Hanging out in front of my father's door,' sagot ko. 'Why?'

'What?'

'I see the light every time she hits me, Henri,' naiinis kong sabi.

'You are a son of Death.'

'She has the helm of Hades.'

"Isabella," tawag ko sa babaeng hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin magawang makita. Ni presensya niya ay hindi ko kayang maramdaman. "I have an offer."

Her voice echoed, laughing like a shadow slipping just out of reach.

"No."

I clenched my fists, scanning the empty air. She was beyond my senses. Invisible. Untouchable. She was toying with me, driving me toward madness, pushing me to the edge of my restraint.

"Stop playing," matigas kong sabi. "And kill me already."

She laughed, again, hauntingly.

"I want to see you dying, Raphael. Not dead."

Yumanig bigla sa kinatatayuan ko. 

Black thorns twisted up around my ankles, pressing through my skin like tiny daggers but before it could reach my waist, a veil appeared and crawled around the thorns. Hinawakan ko ang dulo ng puting belo at hinatak ito upang sirain ang mga tinik na pumulupot sa aking binti.

Without wasting a second, I threw the veil to where the air rustled. It twised on its own.

"Found you," I whispered and pulled her suddenly.

Umalingawngaw ang pag-untog ng suot niyang helmet sa sahig. A grin broke through my grimace when I dragged her until she was in front of me. I crouched down and before I could touch her, kill her, a thorn grew from the ground. Tinuhog nito ang aking pulsuhan.

I almost cursed. I almost screamed.

"Henri!" Agad kong sinisi sa kanya ang lahat ng 'to. "Agh!" Pain flared in my entire body but despite this, I was angry. Sinubukan ko pa ring hawakan si Isa gamit ang aking kabilang kamay bago pa siya tuluyang makalayo sa aking abot.

I touched something cold. 

The helmet.

In that instant, I caught a glimpse of her—a flash of eyes, fierce and unyielding, beneath the Helm of Hades.

Marahas kong tinanggal ito mula sa ulo niya at itinapon sa malayo. She vanished quickly, but now I could see her—feel her presence, her power. Tinanggal ko ang kamay ko mula sa tinik na bumali rito. Tumayo ako at mabilis na lumingon sa aninong lumipad patungo sa helmet.

With my unbroken hand, I summoned a veil to chase after her, wrapping it around her neck. Napahawak siya rito, pero hinatak ko siya pabalik sa kinaroroonan ko.

'Raphael.' Muling nagparinig si Henri sa aking isipan. 'Stop screaming like a child and end that quickly. You're needed here.'

A sarcastic laugh broke through my bloodied lips. 'Give me a few seconds. She broke my wings and my wrist.'

As I lunged forward, my hand connected with Isa's throat and in one swift motion, I shoved her to the wall. She hit the surface with a heavy thud, breaking it. 

"Enough games," seryoso kong tugon sa ilalim ng malalim na paghinga. 

Isa tried to fight back, but I was quicker. I grabbed her wrist and slammed her against the wall again, seeing her shock turn to defiance.

"Die," I whispered, feeling my power seep into her, like fire beneath her skin. She gasped, her eyes widening as she fought to resist.

"Die." I wouldn't let her go. I leaned in closer, my breath warm against her face. "As you should have... long ago."

Her hands shot up, gripping my arm, her nails digging deep into my skin.

"Ha-" singhal niya. "Ha... Haha..."

Humigpit ang aking pagkakasakal sa kanya.

"Y-You can't-"

Kumunot ang aking noo.

"K-Kill me..." She laughed painfully. "Y-You s-stupid fuck."

Binitawan ko siya at napaatras nang ilang hakbang. I looked at her, wide-eyed and confused, stunned as she laughed mockingly, rubbing her bruised neck.

Nasa sahig pa rin siya, nakaupo, nang tumingin siya pabalik sa akin gamit ang mga matang puro itim—walang puti.

Napaatras ako ng isa pang hakbang nang masilayan ko ang bago niyang anyo.

"I'm already dead," she said, her voice hollow, like someone possessed.

Her bones cracked into place as she stood, black veins bulging beneath her pale skin. 

'Henri, what's happening?' tanong ko. 'This wasn't a part of the plan.'

She shouldn't be here in the first place! She's supposed to be in Tartarus already!

'Change of plans.'

'What do you mean?'

A wide grin spread across Isa's face, stretching almost to her ears, revealing a set of sharp, monstrous teeth.

'We're losing this war.'

'What?!' 

"You're talking to Henri," bulong ni Isa gamit ang nakakakilabot na tinig ng isang demonyo. "Hi, Henri." At malalim siyang humalakhak, na tila namamangha pa.

'You're going to let them win?' I asked.

'No,' Henri answered. 'No one's winning if I am losing.'

Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

'Then how do you want this war to end?'

Isa's POV

Inangat ko ang aking kamay pailalim sa aking ilong.

Why do I smell sweet?

Naiintriga kong dinilaan ang bahid ng dugo sa aking balat at sandaling napatigil.

Why do I taste sweet?

Tumingin ako kay Raphael nang lumiliwanag ang mga mata.

Why do I want to take a bite of him?

My mouth started to water after taking in the sweet scent of everything living. 

What's happening? 

Why am I hungry?

Why am I hungry for every living creature around me?

Naglaho ako sa harap ni Raphael at lumipat sa kabilang dako ng facility, sa harap ng isang huntsman na nasa bingit na ng kamatayan. He lay slumped against the wall, blood pooling beneath him.

I looked at him with curiosity as something in me wanted to take him.

Napansin ako ng huntsman. Pinilit niyang tumingin pataas sa akin, at nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin, mabilis na bumalot ang takot sa kanyang mukha. 

Fear.

I can smell it.

Kumunot ang aking noo.

And it smells like I can taste it.

Yumuko ako sa harap niya at inamoy-amoy siya.

What the fuck?

He groaned, attempting to push himself away, but his strength was fading. He knew he was going to die, his eyes searching for an escape that is not happening.

I laughed softly and in an instant, my hand shot forward. I plunged my fingers into his chest, tearing his flesh, breaking his bones. The huntsman gasped, his body convulsing, but there was no strength left to fight back.

And while I reached for his beating heart, I looked at him with delight.

Hinugot ko ang puso niyang patuloy na pumintig sa aking kamay kahit wala na ito sa kanyang katawan. Mainit-init ito sa palad ko at wala sa sarili ko itong itinapat sa ilong at bibig ko.

I sank my teeth into his heart, blood spilling down my chin and to my surprise, the taste was intoxicating, a burst of warmth and life that flooded my senses. And I couldn't help but close my eyes, relishing the moment, the power that coursed through me with each bite.

Eating something alive made me feel alive.

Then the ground shook. I was still eating the heart when I summoned a large thorn to stop Raphael. Naramdaman ko kasi siyang tumatakas habang abala ako sa pag-kain.

Tumayo ako nang nakamudmod pa rin ang aking bibig sa puso. At saka ako umikot paharap sa kanya. He locked eyes with me and held his breath while watching me devour the heart of one of their men.

Patuloy lang ako sa pagnguya habang pinapadalhan siya ng blangkong tingin.

He's probably reporting to Henri what he's seeing.

Nilunok ko ang huling kagat ng puso at pagkatapos, nawiwindang akong ngumiti kay Raphael.

Naglaho ako sa pwesto ko at lumitaw sa unahan niya.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked, smirking.

Pinaningkitan niya ako, at nang makarinig ako ng ingay mula sa itaas, tumingala ako sa kisame na nahulog sa'kin.

Fuck!

With a deafening crash, the roof collapsed on me. Pumutok ang sakit sa bawat bahagi ng aking katawan nang pigain ako ng bigat nito. I gritted my teeth, trying to push through the agony, but it clawed at me, relentless.

I was seeing nothing while fading in and out of consciousness.

"D-Dad," I forced my voice out despite the pain constricting my throat. "Dad!" I screamed, almost crying, my entire body burning.

I can't breathe!

Bella couldn't breathe! I promised to take care of her body!

"Dad!" I could feel the energy draining from me.

Nahagip ng aking pandinig ang mahinang sagitsit, tunog ng mga aninong naghahanap sa'kin. 

Nang akala ko'y hindi niya ako mahahanap, isang malakas na ugong ang yumanig sa kisameng nakapatong sa akin. My breath caught in my throat as I instinctively braced myself for another impact, expecting more debris to rain down. Akala ko tuluyan na akong malilibing sa bigat nang takpan nang kadiliman ang buong kisame.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what's going to happen to me. 

Nakarinig ako ng pagsabog, at nang makahinga ako nang maluwag, namulat ako sa bakal na kisameng unti-unting nilulukot ng mga anino, na parang papel lang ito.

Maingat kong inangat ang aking sarili mula sa wasak at nang makatayo ako, umikot-ikot ako upang hanapin siya.

"Dad..." I croaked, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.

He emerged from the wreckage, a towering figure over the shadows that danced around him.

Pumiling nang kaunti ang kanyang ulo upang suriin ang kondisyon ko.

"You okay, pumpkin?" tanong niya.

Iniwasan ko ang kanyang tingin saka tumango-tango.

"Good." Narinig kong puna niya bago naglaho ang kanyang presensya.

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh of relief. 

Because I didn't want him to see what I looked like.

I didn't want him to see me.

Huminga ako nang malalim at napagdesisyunang sundan ang amoy ni Raphael. The air was thick with dust and the scent of smoke as I walked up from the rubble, my body aching with every movement.

Nang makalabas ako sa sira-sirang facility, inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa gulong nakapalibot sa'kin. The war was still raging. Flashes of lightning lit up the gray sky, and below, the ground was broken. Everything was on the brink of destruction.

Napahawak ako sa aking ulo nang bigla akong mahilo.

I could smell everything and it is fucking up all my senses.

Saka ako napatingin sa mga kamay kong pinintahan ng maiitim na ugat. They were the same color as my very long sharp nails.

"Bella?" bulong ko. "Are you still there?"

'Mmm.' Inaantok ang boses niya. 'Umalis na tayo dito...'

Nagtaka ako. "Why?"

'Dati ko pa gustong tumalon sa Tartarus, eh...'

Malumanay akong napangiti. "Go back to sleep," bulong ko. "When you wake up, we'll already be in Tartarus."

'Okie...'

I waited a few seconds to let het rest and once she did, I glanced toward the far end of the facility, where Uncle Trev fought against Raphael, while the other founders were unable to approach.

Tumakbo ako at nang makarating sa ibaba nila, kumapit ako sa dulo ng malaking tinik na lumabas mula sa ilalim ng lupa. Ito ang sinakyan ko paangat sa kinaroroonan nina Raphael at nang humakbang ako pababa sa kisame ng facility, tumakbo ang mga anino sa aking kamay upang mamuo ng isang itim na pana.

Hinatak ko ang tali nito at namuo ang palasong gawa sa liwanag na agad kong pinakawalan sa paanan niya dahilan para sumabog ito at napatalon siya.

Because he was caught off guard, thunder was able to strike him down.

I leaped above Raphael and drove my knee into his chest, pinning him down. He coughed out blood. Inangat ko ang aking kamaong pinalibutan ng mga anino, na agad nag-anyong maliliit na tinik sa pagitan ng aking mga daliri.

With a wicked smile, I punched him, my thorns carving deep scratches across his cheek.

Balak ko sanang suntukin siya nang paulit-ulit hanggang sa mapunit ang kanyang mukha ngunit isang huntsman ang nagbato ng yelo sa direksyon ko kaya napaalis ako nang wala sa oras. 

Summoning bigger thorns required more power. Napasigaw ako sa inis nang nag-angat ako ng malaking tinik upang tuhugin 'yong huntsman. Catching my breath, I turned to Raphael who has already disappeared.

Kasunod akong yumuko sa belong pumalipot sa aking paa at kinaladkad ako patungo sa dulo ng kisame. Binaon ko ang aking mga kuko sa bakal upang pigilan ito, ngunit sa huli, nagawa nitong ihulog ako sa lupa.

Ilang segundo akong namilipit sa sakit dahil sa taas ng binagsakan ko.

That's it! I am killing him!

Nang makatayo ako, isang di-nakikitang pwersa ang biglang tumulak sa'kin at nailipad ako nang malayo. Tumama ako sa chariot ng isang huntsman na agad kong hinugutan ng puso.

I didn't eat his heart. 

I threw it at the face of another huntsman who took a step back after locking eyes with me.

"Raphael!" sumabog ang boses ko at kasabay nito ang paglabas ng malalaking tinik sa landas na pagitan namin. 

And he didn't even look back at me.

My breathing deepened. I was ready to turn the battlefield into a land of thorns when my eyes drifted to Reign who was watching him, and watching her, from afar, Henri.

I looked at Raphael who fought against Uncle Trev.

Then I looked at Reign.

And then, at Henri.

Kumunot ang aking noo.

Something's not right...

Lalo na't napapansin kong walang nakakalapit sa kanila.

Henri's head snapped at me. Muli akong napatapon, sa mas malayo.

I blacked out for a moment. Napasinghap ako nang balikan ng malay at saka ko nakita ang unti-unting paglapit ng kalangitan sa lupa. While sprawled across the grass, I continued to watch the heavens slowly descend on the battlefield, flashes of light beating inside it.

I get it now... I know what he's trying to do...

Taking a deep painful breath, I gritted my teeth.

He's going to drive her out of control...

Nagsimulang sumipol ang hangin sa aking pandinig kaya't napagdesisyunan kong tumayo na, pilit kinikimkim ang pagkirot ng paa kong nakapihit sa ibang anggulo.

I groaned as I limped back to the battlefield, dragging my twisted foot behind me.

"Reign..." bulong ko na di kalauna'y sinigaw, "Reign!"

No one's winning this war if she loses it.

Everyone's going to die.

Binilisan ko ang aking mga hakbang at galit na isinigaw ang matinding sakit nang pilitin kong tumakbo patungo sa kanya.