SCIAS OF THE UNDERWORLD

FOURTEEN

Juno looked at her from the door and his eyes wandered to the two men who were standing behind her. She saw Scias' hands in front of her as he waved to Juno.

"Hello, there! I believe you can help me?" he said.

Tumingin lang si Juno sa kanya. Bored ang mukha nito na para bang wala ito sa mood makipagbiruan.

Well, I wished this is all a joke. She thought.

"You are not being held hostage, are you?" tanong ng pinsan niya sa kanya dahilan para mapairap siya.

"If I was held hostage, you'd be wise enough not to voice it out loud." She gestured her hand to the men behind her.

"It's Scias and Azul. They have to ask you some questions."

Juno was silent for a moment before he laughed so hard. She sighed. She knew this would happen. Alam niyang tatawa rin ang pinsan niya once he hears about it. Unlike her, Juno is more devoted to the gods. Ito kasi ang tumutulong sa lola nila noon habang nag-aalay ng mga pagkain sa mga diyos na sinasamba nito. He would know if the men behind here are telling the truth or not.  And if they are not telling the truth, Juno could beat the hell out of them. 

Juno looked at the three of them before he said, "Naglolokohan ba tayo dito?"

Before she could even utter a single word, Azul was quick to butt in. "Give your respects, mortal. He is Scias of the Underworld and I am—"

"The notorious keeper of the seven gates of hell, Azul. Tama ba?" Juno said and leaned on the door frame as he crossed his arms. "I understand your devotion but isn't this too much? Cosplaying? Really?"

"Mortal—"

"And besides, sa pagkakaalala ko, Scias and Azul didn't look like humans."

She heard Scias scoff. "And what are we supposed to look like?"

"Monstrous," Juno said without even blinking. "Scias was cursed with an appearance so monstrous that nobody would even dare look at him. That was part of his curse. Nobody would be able to love him. The Almighty made it near to impossible to break his curse."

And she doesn't know if it was just her imagination but she could feel the tension in the air as Juno was having a staring contest with the man behind her. At ang mas malala pa,  napapagitnaan siya ng mga ito.

"You know too much for a mortal. And you also forget that the god of the underworld is capable of shapeshifting."

"Do not go underestimating the mortals. And shape-shifting doesn't help you make me convince you're the real thing."

Nagulat nalang siya nang itulak siya ni Scias sa gilid and forced his way inside her apartment. But Juno was quick to stop him. Magkasing-tangkad lang ang mga ito and as if it wasn't worse enough, Azul took out a knife and pointed it under Juno's neck.

"Holy mother of the heavens— you know what happens if you hurt him, asshole!"

Scias gave her an incredulous look. "Asshole?" He looked at her as if offended for calling something like that. "I am not even hurting him yet."

Itinulak niya si Scias palayo sa pinsan and glared at Azul. The latter put his knife down. She then faced Juno who was still eyeing Scias behind her.

"Juno, they know something. They know that thing inside the necklace was missing. He said it was his heart and that he needs it back—"

"Anong sinabi mo?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kanya. And then his gaze went to the two men behind me before he opened the door wider and eyed them.

Nagkatinginan naman sina Scias at Azul sa biglaang pagbabago ng paikitungo nito sa kanila. Ally noticed it too but Juno was still eyeing and studying them. The two suspicious people walked inside her apartment and looked around. She could still they are not used to small spaces. She could clearly see the grimace in Scias' face as he looked around. He didn't even bother hiding it.

"So, what is this all about?" tanong ni Juno sa kanila.

Then Scias pointed at her and said, "She had my heart but then it was gone. I want to know where it is now."

Juno played his tongue inside his mouth. "What heart?"

Ngunit sa gulat niya'y bigla nalang lumapit si Scias sa kanya at inilahad ang kamay nito sa kanya. Agad naman niyang nakuha ang ibig nitong sabihin kaya ibinigay niya rito ang kwintas. Scias held it up for Juno see before he said, "I sensed it was once here. Inside this pendant. Nasaan na iyon?"

Juno crossed his arms and rolled his eyes dahil halatang naiinis na ito. "Malay ko. Kung ano man ang laman ng kwintas na iyan, it was already gone the moment we decided to take it back from the pawnshop." Ngunit alam niyang nagsisinungaling ang pinsan. Whatever it was, he knew it. And for some reason, ayaw nitong sabihin sa mga estranghero ang katotohanan. Even though they look conveniently convincible. 

And Scias arms went loose and he looked at Juno as he if couldn't believe what he just heard. "Pawnshop? Sinasabi mo bang isinangla mo ang kwintas na ito? With my heart on it?"

Juno pointed at her and then said, "Isinangla niya dahil namatay ang lola namin. Kailangan naming ng pera. And besides, paano naman mapupunt sa kwintas na iyan ang hinahanap niyo? I still don't believe you are who you claimed you are. How are you going to prove you two are truly Scias of the Underworld and Azul the gatekeeper?" Juno waved his hand and in an instant, a stick was on his hand. He waved it again at humaba ito. Whoever made it was a genius. Hindi niya alam kung saan tinatago ng pinsan niya ang sandatang iyon because it appears like magic.

The two men stood frozen as they watched Juno and his weapon. It was a simple spear—the very same spear he used to kill those Glenrils that attacked her before.

"You...you are the protector?" Scias asked and pointed a reluctant hand towards Juno. The latter didn't reply. Then Scias looked at her and his eyes widened and he swallowed hard. "Which means...it's you. It is indeed you." Naglakad ito papunta sa kanya and all she could do was step back.

"Stop," she said ngunit hindit ito tumigil at patuloy lang sa paglalakad papunta sa kanya.

And when he indeed stopped walking towards her, he said, "Ikaw?"

Nagtatakang napatingin siya sa pinsan and then back to the man. "Anong ako?"

"You're the one who will break the curse," saad nito habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kanya.

Before she could even open her mouth to speak, nasa harapan na niya si Azul at nakatutok na sa leeg niya ang punyal na hawak nito. But Juno was fast too dahil sa isang iglap ay nasa leeg na rin ni Azul ang dulo ng sibat nito.

"You got the nerve to point that dagger on my cousin while in her territory? Drop your weapon," Juno said. And it was the first time she heard him speak like that. Mahinahon si Juno magsalita and at the moment, his voice was threatening. Na para bang hindi nga siya magdadalawang-isip na gawin ang banta niya.

Azul looked at the two of them and Juno didn't falter. If this man named Azul is really the guardian of the seven gates of the underworld, then Juno is impressive enough to stand against him.

It was then that Scias stepped beside Az and clapped the latter's shoulder that the tension went calm. Ibinaba ni Azul ang hawak na punyal at ganoon naman si Juno.

"How are you going to prove that you are who you say you are?" tanong niya and Scias rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Knowing those information na kayo lang dapat ang nakakaalam isn't strong enough proof?"

She shook her head. "No. Because everyone could pretend to know that."

"At ano namang makukuha namin sa pagpapanggap?"

She shrugged. "Maybe you two are two fanatics and at the same time con artists—"

"I will light that candle over there." Itinuro ni Scias and kandila na nasa mesa. He then looked at Ally and the latter raised her brow before crossing her arms.

Ally could almost taste the man's confidence habang nakaturo ito sa kandila na nasa mesa.

"I will light it using my finger. Just watch and you'll be groveling on your knees once you realize I am the real deal," the man said and faced the candle which was several meters away. He flicked his finger and they all waited for the candle to light.

Scias cleared his throat and flicked his finger again but the candle didn't light. Napatingin ito sa kanila at inayos ang suot nito bago sumubok ulit. But nothing happened. The candle was not lit. Nothing.

Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin ito sa kamay. And then she sighed.

"Sabi ko na nga ba mga manloloko kayo eh! Ang kapal pa ng mga pagmumukha niyong tutukan ako ng kutsilyo! Juno, tawagan mo ang mga pulis. Mga walang-hiyang ito. Ang lakas pa ng loob ninyong atakihin ako sa sarili kong pamamahay!"

"This is a misunderstanding. Makinig ka sa akin—"

"I am done listening to all of your bullshit. Scias and Azul my ass. You two are done." Dinuro niya ang ang dalawa habang atras naman ito nang atras habang sinisigawan niya. 

"I have your scent! You went to the Underworld and took my heart and placed it on your necklace! Now where the bloody hell is it?" Tumataas na rin ang bosses ng lalake ngunit hindi siya nagpatinag. 

"I don't have it, okay? Kung nasa akin man ay ibibigay ko iyon sa inyo if it means you two will leave me alone. But I don't have it. At kung nasaan man iyon ngayon, I hope you find it." 

"Even if you don't have it I will still not leave you alone. You will break the curse whether you like it or not--" 

Kung hindi lang siya pinigilan ni Juno ay baka nasapak na niya ang mga ito. Wala na siyang pakialam kung may dalang punyal ang isa sa kanila. The two men didn't even think of fighting back as they, too, seemed to be in disbelief about what they found out. 

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