Guardian Evil

CHAPTER 74: Sacrificial “Bride”

“I am scared," Delia said, biting her lower lip as her hands started to tremble. "I am scared that I might end up in the same fate as them..."

Romina immediately held Delia’s hands to comfort her. “You don’t have to worry anymore, Delia. As long as we’re here, we’ll protect you.”

Delia wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. “Thank you so much, Romina.”

Luciel was silently staring at the two of them while drinking his coffee.

It’s already midnight and they don’t actually have any idea how to go home since Delia told them that it’s kind of dangerous for the two of them to go outside and go home so Delia decided to let them stay inside the extra room she had in her home. Her mother was not around because she went somewhere so the two could just stay comfortably.

Romina was already settled on the bed when she stopped spreading the blanket and looked at Luciel who’s now pinching the bridge of his nose. “Luciel… do you think that the Maupet is an engkanto?”

“No,” Luciel responded and looked at her. “That Maupet was obviously a demon. It’s obvious from the sigil that we saw earlier. I’ve encountered that demon centuries ago so I could tell. It seems like this Ka Dionisio of theirs or the cult, in general, is under a deal with this demon.”

“Oh…” Romina muttered.

“But you know, everything wasn’t really sitting right on me,” Luciel told her. “All these sacrificial “bride” which is not really the case… everything. Things weren’t really adding up. I can’t feel any living around this place and I could feel any demonic energy in this place. Everything felt non-existent.”

“So… what do you want to do now, Luciel?” Romina asked. “I-I know you just came here with me because I insisted to save that ghost which turns out to be Delia’s auntie named Ofelia but everything that we’re going to do lies on your decision.”

“As much as we both have classes tomorrow, I still wanted to investigate this village, especially that cult and the pastor that Delia told us. I wanted to meet him personally to confirm something and of course, I want to see that Maupet face to face so I need to stay here to investigate. I’ll send you home first before I’ll do so,” he told her.

“No. A day of absence is not really that bad. I wanted to stay to investigate with you as well.”

“Haah, as expected. You’re so persistent. The fact that you’re going to skip class just for this. Okay fine, but don’t do anything stupid as I investigate.”

Romina fell silent for a couple of seconds and Luciel looked at her then spoke. “Romina? Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Are you scared? I could actually feel your heart beating so fast from this distance. Are you anxious?” Luciel asked her. “We could stop if you want to and we could just go home.”

“The moment you said that you wanted to face that demon, even if you’re a demon yourself, I couldn’t help but felt worried about you,” Romina told him, recalling their encounter with Percival. “I don’t want to witness that moment where you’re going to fight a celestial being or a being from the underworld because of me and my whims. I don’t want to get you hurt as well.”

Romina felt Luciel’s hand on her cheek and as she looked at him, he’s sitting in front of her.

“I am still holding on to your words that you’re not afraid and you trusted me because I am your guardian,” Luciel gently rubbed her cheek using his thumb. “And as your guardian, it’s my duty to make it all possible. I am strong, stronger than anything you could think of so there’s nothing to be afraid of. Just keep on trusting me, Romina.”

“Hmm,” Romina nodded and she hugged Luciel tight, wrapping her arms on his neck and shoulder. “Hmm.”

Luciel slightly adjusted their position to hug her in the same frequency as she hugged him. Romina slightly looked up to him with her chin slightly on his chest.

“I haven’t told you this one.”

“What is it?”

“Last time, I saw your eyes mixed in two colors. I don’t know if you’re aware of it.”

Luciel frowned at her before he asked. “Two colors?”

“Your eyes turned half-crimson red, half-ocean blue yesterday,” she told him which made Luciel stare at her in silence. “It actually looked so pretty.”

“It looked… pretty?”

She nodded and smiled. “Yeah. It looked so pretty.”

He stayed silent and as Romina buried her face on his chest once again, he rested his chin on her head and patted her back which made her fall asleep.

He gently buried his nose on her hair when he already felt her sleeping soundly on his chest and from his soft expression, his eyes when sharp as he glared on the window and his eyes turned into deep crimson red. He immediately put his hand on the air and as he formed his hand into a tight fist, something burst from the window.

A huge, devilish-looking tarantula.

Romina woke up with Luciel by her side sitting and holding something in his hand, twirling it as if he’s examining it. She knew he felt her waking up so he immediately turned his head at her.

“You’re awake.”

Romina yawned and slowly sat up beside him. She slightly rubbed her left eyes and spoke. “What that on your hand?”

“A tarantula’s leg,” he responded.

Eyes widen, Romina asked. “A what—?”

“A tarantula’s leg,” he repeated and let Romina see it. “A tarantula spied on us last night.”

“Eh? Why would it do that?”

Luciel immediately put his finger on his lips and nose, as if he’s telling Romina to keep quiet and as if it’s a cue, they heard a knock on the door.

“Hey guys, are you awake already? I prepared breakfast for us.”

“O-Oh, yes. We’re awake already. We’re coming out,” Romina immediately stood up and she was about to walk towards the door when Luciel held her hand and slightly pulled her back.

“As much as you trusted Delia because she ‘saved’ us, let us stay here and told us about the cult and her aunt which was that ghost in the balete, I want you to hold your silence about our real intentions in this village and that balete drive,” he told her. “Right now, we can’t trust anyone but ourselves so I want you to be careful and not say anything that might complicate our mission here.”

Romina nodded in response and after that, the two of them went out of the room.

I still couldn’t feel anything around here. Luciel thought as they walked towards the dining area of Delia’s home. There, they saw the foods were already served.

“I don’t really know what you guys wanted to eat so I’m sorry if these are the food that I could really serve,” Delia said, scratching her nape in embarrassment.

Romina immediately waved her hand. “Oh no, oh no, it’s okay, Delia. These are actually too much for both of us. Thank you so much.”

“If you wanted something, just let me know, okay?”

“Thank you so much, Delia.”

Delia smiled at them. “You’re always welcome.”

“Oh, you didn’t tell me we have guests, Delia.”

The three of them immediately looked at the door and saw a woman around her late forties and a man that Romina couldn’t tell how old he was. “Good morning.”

“Na-Ina, I-I didn’t know you’ll come home early. Go-Good morning,” Delia greeted the woman which Romina and Luciel could tell that it’s her mother.

Their eyes settled on the man beside her mother and Delia immediately greeted the man. “Go-Good morning, Ka Dionisio.”

The man smiled at her. “Good morning, Delia. You absolutely looked youthful and energetic today,” the man’s eyes went on Romina and he looked so surprised and delighted the moment he saw her. “Oh, so we have another young lady in this household. What is your name, Young Lady?”

“My name is Romina, sir.”

“Romina. What a lovely name.”

Luciel frowned the moment he saw how the guy looked at Delia then to Romina.

So it’s him, huh? I couldn’t feel anything from him but I could tell…

…that this guy is up to no good.