STRINGS AND CHAINS

CHAPTER 31

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Raiden sa loob ng opisina ni Lauren. Matagal kaming natahimik ni Rai. I don't know what to say. Hindi niya rin alam ang sasabihin sa akin. He just tightly held my hand. He doesn't want to let go. Me too. But am I ready for this? Can I leave everything behind for him? Leave my friends, my family, and my life?

"I just want you to know that whatever your decision is, I will respect it."

Again I'm supressing myself not to cry. This is too hard. It's so hard to decide. Katulad ng sinabi ni Lauren, our life depends on our choices. So what am I going to choose? Am I ready for this life? Malayo sa pagiging ordinaryo. Malayong-malayo sa pagiging tao?

"If you want to go back there, to your family, and be human again, I will let you do it. I won't hold you back. I will respect your decision. I love and will love you always with you or without you by my side."

Huminga ako ng malalim at hinalikan ang kamay niya.

"Let's find the curse breaker. I will tell you my decision after that."

Tumango siya at hinigit ako papalapit sa kanya. He held me tight. He kissed my head at ibinaon ang kanyang mukha sa leeg ko. He kissed my neck too at muling hinalikan ang ulo ko.

"I have to call my brothers," bulong niya. Agad akong tumango.

"I will do anything for you, Maru. I would even give up my life just for you, to be with you, and to hug you like this forever."

I bit my lip as I felt my tears on my cheeks. I can't stop crying. I can't stop the pain in my heart. I love him. I really do. I don't want to let go. I don't want to push him away from me.

Humiwalay siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at hinalikan ang kamay ko.

"I'll be back. Wait for me. I'll bring that person to you."

Tumango ako at pinanood siyang umalis ng kuwarto. I just stood there, staring at the hallway, and crying. After a minute na nakatulala sa isang walang katao-taong pasilyo ay pinunasan ko ang luha ko. Lumunok ako at huminga ng malalim. Inayos ko ang itsura ko, ang buhok ko, at ang damit na suot-suot ko. Walang nega ngayon. Walang mag-iisip ng masama. Walang mag-iisip ng kung ano-ano.

Let's be optimistic. Let's think of positive things.

Thinking negative things and overthinking will not help me. Raiden will find the curse breaker. He will bring that person here. That person, whoever he or she is, will help me. I'll break free from Lilith's chains. I will be free.

I will.

***

Days. I never seen them for days. Three days ago was the last time I saw Lauren, her husband, Raiden and his brothers. I'm still here in their place, their house. They gave me everything that I need. Alagang-alaga ako rito ng mga katulong nila sa bahay. They made sure I ate on time. Siniguro rin nilang hindi ako mababagot sa loob ng bahay. They would let me explore the house and even outside. Bantay sarado rin ako kahit saan ako magpunta. I don't know kung bilin ba ito ni Rai o ang bilin nila eh kapag wala na ako sa tamang pag-iisip ay may go signal si Lauren na patayin ako on the spot.

Patagal rin ng patagal ang paghihintay ko. Mas lalo akong natatakot at kinakabahan. What if hindi nila makita 'yong curse breaker? What if ito na talaga ang katapusan ko? Paano kung hanggang dito na lang pala talaga?

Magiging positive pa rin ba ako sa bagay na 'to? Tanggapin ko na lang? Susuko na ba ako? I tried but I'm getting more anxious.

I'm sitting on a small chair near the window when I felt someone is looking at me. Lumingon ako sa puwesto na 'yon kung saan ko nararamdaman ang matinding pagtitig nito sa likod ko.

"And who are you?" tanong ng isang lalaking nakatayo sa door casing na kumukonekta dito sa living room at hallway. He stood there with authority, his arms crossed, and brows furrowed seeing a stranger in his house. He's wearing a white fitted shirt and jeans. He's six feet tall, or taller than that, and well-built. At halatang hindi pa s'ya nags-shave sa itsura niya. His ash blonde hair is coiled in a man bun. And he has this green sea eyes staring back at me. Like the rest, this one's terrifying too.

Hindi rin maipinta ang mukha nito. Katulad nang pagtingin na ibinigay sa akin ni Cael no'n. They do not like what they see.

"I—I'm Maru," pagpapakilala ko.

"What are you doing here?" tanong nito.

"I—I—" I don't even know what to answer with his simple question.

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa pags-stutter ko. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa lalaking biglaang dumating. This one's tall too, pero mas matangkad pa rin ang unang lalaki sa kanya. He stopped walking and stared at me. I estimated they are both six feet tall or more than that. They're giants actually. He has a wavy and messy raven hair which complements his grey eyes. He has a lean and toned body which I admit looks incredibly sexy. I mean, damn, he's wearing a black v-neck shirt with a black leather jacket over it, a sexy necklace hanging around his neck, and dark ripped jeans.

Napalunok na lamang ako.

After the two of them stared at me, the guy with grey eyes continued with what he's about to do and completely ignored me.

"Kailan ang balik nila?" tanong nito saka nito hinubad ang jacket at ihinagis ito sa sofa. Ngayon at tinanggal niya ang jacket niya, mas lalo kong nakita ang pangangatawan nito. They're making sure na maglalaway ang mga babaeng makakakita sa kanila. Somehow they're giving me that aura, Raiden, Cael, and Alexander's vibe, like a Frey.

The other man with a man bun shrugged. "I just got here."

Now that I mentioned it...

Are these two... his brothers?

"Are you Raiden's brothers?" tanong ko. Tumingin ulit sila sa akin.

"We are," sagot ni grey eyes.

Napanganga ako. Literal na napanganga. "Oh..."

"And you are?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Maru," pagpapakilala ko.

He sat on the sofa and looked at me again.

"So we're here because of you," wika nito.

"Magsasayang ako ng oras dito para sa babaeng 'to?" wika naman ng isa.

The other one shrugged. "That's what I heard from them."

Nakita ko ang lalong pag-ismid ng isa. "Well at least entertain me. Make yourself worth of my time."

Muli akong napalunok. The other one didn't bother to stop his brother. I saw the man with the man bun smirked and walked slowly towards me.

"I've been with a succubus before. They're really good. I bet you are too."

Umatras ako at muling tumingin sa kapatid niya. I think I need some help here. Huminto ang lalaki sa harap ko at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"And you're hot. Puwede na," wika pa nito.

Hahawakan na dapat niya ang pisngi ko nang biglang mayroong nagsalita. At dahil dito ay huminto ang lalaking nasa harapan ko.

"Samuel, calm your dick."

Ngumisi ang lalaki saka muli itong tumingin sa akin. Umiling lamang ito saka ito lumayo. Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin sa lalaking nagsalita. I saw Gregory standing under the door casing. He still looks the same, the dashing prince of the school. He wears a fitted dark blue polo, its sleeves folded up to his elbow. His sleek chocolate hair was styled on the side part, making it look like he had gone to some formal event. And based na rin sa suot niya and also he's holding his coat on his right hand, mukha ngang galing itong si Gregory sa isang formal meeting.

Lumakad ito papasok sa living room at umupo sa sofa. The guy named Samuel is still standing, eyeing me.

"Now what?" Naiiniip nitong tanong.

"We wait," sagot ni Gregory.

Tiningnan ako ng masama ni Samuel saka ito umiwas ng tingin at inilipat ang atensyon sa kapatid niyang tahimik na nakaupo sa sofa.

"So Louie, I heard you're now a guard dog." Tila pang-aasar nito ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng kanyang kapatid.

Sa halip ay si Gregory ang nakipagsabayan dito. "I heard you fucked a fish."

And that completely changed the atmosphere here in the room. Kung kanina ay okay okay pa. Nakakaya ko pa ang mabigat na pakiramdam na namumuo sa kuwartong 'to, eh, ngayon ay hindi ko na alam. Samuel is pissed. He's angry at Gregory's remarks. He clenched both of his fists and his jaw tensed. Oh shit...

"You son of a bitch," saad nitong si Samuel but Gregory just game him a smirk.

Ready na si Samuel na makipagbasag ulo kay Gregory nang dumating sina Lauren kasama si King at Alexander.

"Go ahead. Sirain mo 'tong bahay," wika ni Lauren. Samuel stopped. Sa wakas ay nakahinga rin ako. I was about to witnessed how these two would kill each other. Thank goodness Lauren made it on time, just right before the two exchanges deadly punch with each other.

Now that I met the seven Freys... Iisa lang ang komento ko. Thank you Lord at si Raiden ang nakilala ko.

"Tapos ka na?" wika ni Lauren. Gusto kong ngumiti pero kapag nakita ako ni Samuel, sa tingin ko ay hindi na ako makakalabas ng buhay sa kuwartong 'to.

Hindi sumagot si Samuel. He's still pissed pero he tried to calm himself. I don't know why pero they seem afraid to Lauren. Kahit si Raiden. I saw him talking to Lauren and he was nervous.

Nakita ko ang matinding pag-irap ng mata ni Lauren kay Samuel saka ito tumingin sa akin. Hindi na 'to nagpaligoy-ligoy pa.

"If Raiden couldn't find the curse breaker, I only have one way to save you. Days are not enough to search for someone who hides himself well. If demons are hunting you, you would do the same. So without Raiden here, I want you to decide. Will you trust me or not?"

"Ano ang natitirang paraan para dito sa sitwasyon ko?" tanong ko.

"The orb," sagot niya. "We'll use the orb."

Kumunot-noo ako. "What can the orb do? Can it help me?"

"Are you dumb? That's a curse weapon and you can do anything you want if you possess even just one of those vile things," sagot ni Samuel sa akin, still irritated with my presence.

I ignored him at tumingin kay Lauren.

"What do you know about the orb?" tanong ni Lauren saka ito naglakad patungo sa isang maliit na sofa at doon umupo. She crossed her legs and relaxed her arms on the arm chair.

"They called it Mystify. Somehow the creatures are drawn into it and they found it intoxicating," sagot ko.

"And what did you hear from Lilith?"

Lumunok ako. Hindi ako agad nakasagot kay Lauren. Somehow this conversation gave me chills to my bones. That thing is nothing but evil. No wonder it is cursed.

"The orb actually is luring all kinds of creatures to it," sagot ko.

"And?"

"Once you put your hand on the orb, it will suck everything that you have. It will eat you. Your power, your body, and your soul," sagot ko.

Ngumiti si Lauren. "The very reason why you don't want it left on the hands of witches."

Tumango ako sa kanya. "Because?" tanong muli ni Lauren.

"They sold their souls to the devil, like what I did. Lilith is powerful and a scary one too. But I think that demon who wants to get the orb, the one that the Liverton follows, is more dangerous and evil than Lilith, Night, or Chanel."

Isang mahabang katahimikan ang bumalot sa buong kuwarto. The six Freys and Lauren are not saying anything. Saglit na natulala si Lauren sa kawalan saka tumaas ang kilay nito at muling tumingin sa akin.

"Hmm, I bet to disagree because for me..." She smiled and continued, "They are all just the same."

"They want that orb because it is powerful. And powerful things will benefit them. You know what's going down there. The more cursed objects that you have, the more powerful you become. And who's going to win between the two? The one with nothing but an army or the other one who has an army but also has the cursed objects too?"

Tumayo siya. "So before I send this to my master, might as well use the power inside it."

"But as I've said it eats everything," sagot ko.

"That's what we wanted. To get the orb what it needs."

"And it's me that you want to touch it."

Kumunot-noo ako. I don't understand. How this thing can help me?

"Do you trust me or not?"

Tumingin ako kay Lauren. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa mga kapatid ni Raiden na nandito. They're all looking at me, waiting to hear my decision. If I touched the orb, it will eat me. I don't understand how it will help me pero...

Muli akong tumingin kay Lauren at huminga ng malalim.

We don't have any choice.

I don't have any choice.

I'm running out of time.

I once took a risk. Am I ready to take another one again?

"I trust you."