SCIAS OF THE UNDERWORLD

THIRTEEN

She did not close her eyes for long. After probably a minute, the guy beside her whispered to open her eyes and she did.

She looked around and the monsters were gone. Hindi niya alam kung anong ginawa ng lalake para paalisin and mga iyon but she could at least say one thing: this guy isn't someone ordinary. 

"What a hassle," someone said at agad naman siyang napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. A few meters away from them was another man. Just like the first man, he was someone who doesn't look like they belong in this street.

She felt relieved that the monsters earlier were gone but she couldn't help but think that these two people in front of her might be way more dangerous than the monsters who have been chasing her. She swallowed hard.

"Who...who are you?"

The man who was beside her earlier smirked at her before he said, "I am Scias and this is my servant Azul."

She blinked. Trying to process what she just heard. Scias. She couldn't possibly forget that name. Ito and bukambibig ng lola niya noon. Scias, the lord of the underworld. Napatingin siya sa lalake sa harap niya. Did he just say his name is Scias? This day has been tiring for her and anything unusual is a hassle. 

Is this man really the Scias or is he just someone who has the same name as that god? She couldn't help but wonder. But she went with the latter. Perhaps he has parents who are like her grandma. Masyadong sinasamba ang mga diyos. She was thankful her grandma didn't name her after a god. 

But then hindi niya mapigilang maisip ang sinabi ng lola niya sa kanya bago ito pumanaw.

Scias is coming. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin siya sa lalake. No. It has to be a coincidence. Perhaps this man is also one of those fanatics.

"Scias as in the god of the underworld?" tanong nya rito. the man beamed at her and ran his hand through his hair.

"Indeed I am," saad nito sa kanya. Then he jerked his thumb to the man behind him. "And this is is Az--"

"The notorious guardian of hell's gate," dugtong niya. Ngumisi naman si Scias sa kanya. And everything is so surreal she couldn't wrap her mind around it. So she settled on believing the one reason that makes sense. 

"Nagcocosplay ba kayong dalawa?" tanong niya sa mga ito. She looked at the two men in front of her. Ngunit nakatingin lang din ang mga ito sa kanya as if she just asked the most absurd question. And then she started to feel scared. As the reality she had made up in her mind was starting to dissolve. They aren't cosplaying at alam niya iyon. She just doesn't want to believe the other truth. 

Scias looked at her with confused eyes then he looked at the man beside him named Azul was also looking at her, studying her. As if any minute she'd reveal her weapons and start brandishing at them. But if anything, it should be her that's supposed to be scared. Kung totoo man ang sinasabi ng mga lalakeng ito, she should be running away from them. But her feet were glued to the floor. She couldn't move. And even if she runs, she won't get far. 

And then Scias started walking in her direction dahilan para mapaatras siya. She couldn't help but think unpleasant things. She willed herself to stare at the man. His eyes were dark blue, the eyes that probably witnessed all kinds of darkness in this world--or the underworld, assuming he's the god of the underworld. And those same eyes are starring back at her. She remembered her grandmother used to tell her that the god of the underworld can take someone's soul if he stares at them. And his victims are usually those women or girls who are out so late at night are not sleeping. Akala niya'y tinatakot lang siya ng lola niya noong bata pa siya dahil ang tagal niyang matulog. 

Ngunit habang nakatingin siya kay Scias as hindi niya mapigilang kabahan sa maaari nitong gawin. If he is indeed the god of the underworld, then she just traded those Glenrils into someone much more dangerous. Kaya napaatras siya lalo. Hindi naman iyong nakatakas sa paningin ng lalake.

He then faced her at inilahad into and kamay niya. She was scared for a moment dahil akala niya'y may gagawin ito sa kanya but then again what would be the man's reason? Kaya medyo kumalma siya nang makitang inilahad lang nito and kamay nito na para bang may hinihingi sa kanya. She looked at his hand curiously and then he looked into his face na seryosong nakatingin sa kanya.

When she didn't do anything, Scias raised his brows, as if urging her to do something. She don't know what he wants. Gusto ba nitong makipaghandshake? Nanghihingi ba ito ng bayad dahil niligtas siya into?  Habang iniisip iyon ay hindi niya mapigilang magpakawala ng pagak na tawa. She placed her hands on her waist at hinarap ito.

"Kaya pala and payat payat ng lola ko dahil hinuhuthutan mo! Aba! Kung manghihingi ka rin lang naman ng bayad sa pagtulong mo, huwag ka nalang tumulong. No wonder you're the least favorite god. And I couldn't help but wonder why my grandma worships you too much." She crossed her arms at tiningnan nang masama ang lalake while the latter was just looking at her as if he had no idea what she was talking about. And she couldn't believe what she just said. Did she just seriously buy that? Na si Scias nga ang kaharap niya ngayon?

Then Scias looked at Az who was several steps behind him. The latter shrugged and eyed her. Hindi niya mapigilang mapalunok ng laway habang nakatiningin sa dalawang lalake sa harapan niya. If they're really who they say they are, then she is doomed.

"What in the seven gates of hell are you talking about?" tanong nito sa kanya dahilan para magtaka siya.

"Humihingi ka ng bayad hindi ba? Dahil sa tulong na ginawa mo kanina? Isn't that what you all have been doing? You ask the mortals to give you this and give you that. Alam niyo ba kung ilang sapak ang inabot ko sa lola ko dahil iniinom at kinakain ko ang pagkaing nakahanda para kuno sa inyo? Did you know how many times I suited myself to the other foods while the delicious ones were set aside for you? Alam niyo ba iyon? So ano? Masarap ba? Masarap ba ang mga pagkaing hinanda ng lola ko?" She was panting the moment she finished her rants.

And the two men in front of her looked baffled. "We never asked the mortals for food."

"Gods didn't need to eat. And his royal highness right here doesn't eat any food."

At hindi niya mapigilang mainis. It was perhaps because of those Glenrils, the fact that they destroyed her phone, and the fact that the gods didn't actually eat the foods prepared by her grandma—by mortals—that made her blood boil. Ilang sapak ang inabot niya dahil doon tapos ngayon malalaman niyang wala naman palang silbi ang mag-alay ng mga pagkain sa mga diyos na sinamsamba ng lola niya.

In her frustration, she stomped her feet and screamed at the top of her lungs dahilan para mapaatras naman sina Scias as Az. They were just looking at her ba para bang nababaliw na siya. But she then straightened herself and cleared her throat. Napatingin siya sa dalawang lalake na nagtatakang nakatiningin din sa kanya na. But after what happened to her, she couldn't care less. 

"Thank you for saving me. I hope we will never meet again," saad niya at akmang maglalakad na palayo nang harangan siya ni Scias. 

"Give it to me," sambit nito.

"Anong ibibigay ko? Nagpapanggap ka lang sigurong isang diyos para makapangholdap ka, ano?"

Then Scias tipped his head back and let out a short laugh before he looked at her. "My heart. Give it to me," saad nito habang seryoso nang nakatingin sa kanya. And then it dawned on her.

She let out a short laugh before she pointed at them. "Ah. Pick up line pala 'yon? Iyan ba mga bagong modus niyo ngayon? Pumipick up line kayo tapos manghoholdap?"

"Holdap?" Scias let out a short laugh before looking at her. "Give it now while I'm still being nice, lady."

Tumaas naman ang kilay niya. "I don't have it. Bakit mo naman nasabing nasa akin ang bagay na hinahanap mo?"

"Because your smell was in my chamber."

Hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin siya dito. "You know what, I am out of here," saad niya ngunit labis nalang ang gulat niya nang hawakan siya ng lalake. It was just a normal touch and yet she felt her wrist hurting.

And then his eyes widened. "Wala sa 'yo ang hinahanap ko," saad nito. He was studying her as if she's some puzzle he couldn't solve. And then he said, "But you had it once. Where is it?"

"Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo? I don't know what the hell you're looking for."

He leaned closer dahilan para mapalunok siya. The more he got close, the more she saw the color of his eyes. And it was out of this world.

"My.heart. I am looking for my heart. You had it once but where is it? Ibenenta mo ba?"

Before she could even say something, Scias hand went inside her shirt and she yelped. But it was too late.

Dahil nakuha na nito ang kwintas niya. The man studied the necklace at saka iyon ibinigay sa isang lalakeng nagngangalang Azul.

The latter studied the necklace too before he shook his head. "It was inside this necklace."

Then they both looked at her. "Nasaan ang laman ng kwintas?" tanong ni Scias.

And then it dawned on her. Nakita niya ngang may laman ang kwintas na iyon. At nang malaman ni Juno na isinangla niya iyon ay labis nalang ang takot nito at agad nila iyong binawi. But then when the inside of the necklace was gone, she couldn't forget Juno's reaction. Did Juno know about that heart?

"Why the hell would your heart be on my necklace?" tanong niya because it was something that made sense. Paano nito nalaman na may laman ang kwintas niya?

"I was wondering the same thing. Who was the owner of your necklace?"

"My grandma."

"Where is your grandma?"

"She died. Those damned Glenrils killed her. Is that why those Glenrils were after me? Dahil akala rin nila nasa akin ang hinahanap niyo?"

"Who told you they were Glenrils?"

"Why?"

"Because that person might know where my heart is."

Nanliit ang mga matang tiningnan niya ito. "Are you going to hurt him?" tanong niya rito but Scias let out a wicked grin.

"If I don't see any reason to hurt him then I won't." He let go of her wrist and ran her hand through his hair. "And besides, whoever he is, he might be able to help me find where my heart is. And once we find my heart, we will be able to go back to where we come from and we will not be required to tolerate each other's presence."

She looked at the two of them and weighed her options. She could run away at takasan ang mga ito. But then if they are really who they say they are, anong kawala niya? She has seen Glenrils—some creatures that exist apparently. She got attacked thrice by those same creatures and her grandma died because of them. And these guys saved her from those monsters. Just like how Juno did. Hindi pa rin siya naniniwala na ang lalakeng kaharap niya ngayon ay si Scias. Scias, according to his grandma's story, is someone feared. He is darkness incarnate and he has no mercy. But the Scias in front of her at the moment was very opposite to every description she heard when she was still a kid. Kaya nahihirapan siyang paniwalaan ito. 

Perhaps these guys are like Juno. They know how to fight and that's how they saved her. Maybe they're real fanatics of Scias and his loyal servant that they even went an extra mile and use these supernaturals' names as their own. But she has no time to think further. She has to make a decision. Kung dadalhin niya ang mga ito sa kanyang pinsan ay may posibilidad na saktan ng mga ito si Juno. She couldn't let that happen.

But they knew about the necklace and that small thing inside it.

"If you so much as lay a finger on him, I will break that heart wherever it is," banta niya sa mga ito. And she could have sworn she saw the two of them froze at her statement but it was gone as soon as it came.

"We won't hurt him. Please tell us where he is," pakiki-usap ng lalakeng nagngangalang Azul.

She sighed at inayos ang bag na suot. She walked towards where her phone was smashed and picked it up. Nanlulumong nakatingin siya doon. But that is the least of her concerns at the moment.

She looked at the two men and said, "Follow me." 

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