SCIAS OF THE UNDERWORLD

TWENTY-FIVE

Scias existed just like how gods should come into existence. They were born as they have a duty to fulfill. They were born because they needed to be born. Every birth is celebrated. Just like his. He was blessed with powers, knowledge, and everything he needs. He is almost good at everything. He doesn’t feel fear. He doesn’t fear anyone. He never knew it. What and who would he fear? He is Scias, the god of the underworld. There’s nothing more fearsome than he is. He is almost perfect. Except that he was cursed and that he could die any minute. And that he felt fear for the very first time when he saw Alaska being choked to death.

He has never felt fear that intense. And it was foreign. Hindi siya nagdalawang isip na pugutan ng ulo ang nilalang. He doesn’t even know where he got the strength to do so but he killed it. And when he was able to hold Alaska, doon siya nakahinga nang maluwag nang makitang buhay pa ito.

Perhaps it was because he was scared of doom too. If Alaska dies, then he will be stuck in the curse forever. He never cared about the curse before. He never planned on finding a way to lift it. He has decided na huwag na lang iyon pansinin and that he’ll live in the underworld forever. He isn’t welcome in the heavens, anyway. His life was fine until his heart got stolen.

He never peeled his gaze from Alaska. Nakahiga ito sa iisang bed na naroon. He had Az compel the school nurse na huwag pasukin ang silid kung nasaan sila ngayon. Juno and Azul were out, going around the school para makasiguradong wala na ngang natitirang mga Glenrils doon. He couldn’t take off his mind from the creature that was choking Alaska earlier. Hindi niya alam kung anong klaseng nilalang iyon. But it also smelled like the sea and rotten seaweed. Hindi niya alam kung anong balak ng kanyang kapatid. Why is Dreylar trying to kill Alaska? Alam ba nito na si Alaska ang kumuha sa puso niya? But then again, Alaska doesn’t have it. Why do they keep on attacking her?

He heard her groan at agad siyang napatayo. He stood by the bed and watched her as she slowly opened her eyes. At first, hindi siya nito nakita, sa kisame lang nakatitig ang babae. And when she looked at him, she flinched. Na para bang nagulat ito na nakatayo siya doon.

Narinig niya itong nagpakawala ng mura. “Muntikan na akong matuluyan dahil sa ‘yo. Bakit ka ba kasi nakatayo diyan?” saad ng babae. And hearing her voice sent floods of relief in his system that he actually let out a deep sigh.

Napaupo siya sa silyang naroon habang naktingin pa rin sa babae.

“Anong problema mo?” tanong nito sa kanya. But Scias just shook his head. Feeling the foreign feeling in his system.

“How are you feeling?” tanong niya sa babae. Alaska stared at the ceiling as if feeling her body of anything. Ginamot na niya ito kanina. Her neck and her upper body were severely burned by the acid from that creature’s mouth. At hindi niya magamit ang kapangyarihan niyang pagalingin ito. So he has to let Azul do the job.

“I’m feeling great. Except that I was dreaming about a weird creature without anything on his face except his mouth. And then a hot liquid around my neck.” She touched her neck and felt there was nothing there.

She looked at him. “Why am I here anyway?”

Napakunot naman ang noo niya. "You don't remember?"

Alaska didn't answer and it was confirmation enough. She doesn't remember.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya. "You were once again attacked. Almost killed you. But I got there on time. Az healed your wounds."

Pinakiramdaman nito ang sarili. Then she looked at him. "Healed me, as in healed my wounds completely?"

He nodded.

"So it wasn't a dream? I really got choked by a monster's tongue?"

Kitang-kita niya ang pandidiri sa mukha ng babae. Looking at her, she seemed fine. And he is thankful the attack didn't traumatize her the way he expected. He stared at Alaska. She wasn't something extraordinary. Hindi niya maintindihan kung paanong siya ang napili na puputol sa sumpa. There wasn't something about her. Iyon ang nakita niya noong una pa lang. But then he feels something aching inside his chest kapag nasa kapahamakan ang babae. Kaya alam niya agad na nanganganib ito.

He was wrong. There is something about the girl. And every day it gets stronger until it convinced him completely that she is indeed the Cursebreaker.

"It wasn't a dream. And I am glad you are safe," the words sounded foreign in his mouth. And Alaska too found it weird. Kumunot ang noo nito ngunit matapos ang ilang segundo bigla itong tumawa.

"I almost thought that was some real concern right there," she said and rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd be relieved to see me alive. Dead Alaska means Doom Scias."

He opened his mouth to tell her it wasn't something like that. But no words came out of his mouth. After all, he too wasn't sure what it was. It was a foreign feeling and he doesn't know how to deal with it. Kaya itinikom nalang niya ang bibig niya.

"I am not going to die that easily, Scias." She chuckled and he did too.

Tumayo siya at nilapitan ang kama into. He squeezed her shoulders. "I know. I mean you like talking back to me which is a whole lot scarier than having those monsters choke you or melt you to death."

It was then that Alaska laughed. And seeing her fine and well was something kind of relieving. Hindi niya gustong mapaphamak pa ito. Whether it was because she's connected to him or he genuinely cares for her, wala na siyang pakialam. He doesn't harm to come her way.

"You're really not that scary-looking," saad naman ni Alaska.

He raised a brow at her. "You haven't seen my true from, Cursebreaker."

But thens she shrugged. "But whatever form you take, you'd still be you. Bakit? Kapag nagtransform ka ba sa tunay mong anyo nagbabago rin ugali mo? Moody ka girl?"

He didn't really get the last bit but he rolled his eyes and looked at her. "Yes. I'm still me."

"Oh. Then we're all cool."

Then silence covered the whole room. Ngunit parang siya lang ang nakapansin doon. Dahil nakapikit na ang mga mata ni Alaska. He was about to say something nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa doon sina Az at Juno.

"There's nothing left," Az said as he stood at the foot of Alaska's bed. Alaska opened her eyes.

"Saan kayo galing?" she asked.

"We roamed the whole school to check if there were any Glenrils lingering around. Pero wala naman na. We're safe. For now." Agad nagpunta si Juno sa pinsan niya. "Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?"

Alaska just rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Muntikan lang akong mamatay but I am fine. Ilang beses na silang nagtangka. They've always failed."

"And it will only be a matter of time before you get killed," Az said sternly. "Be careful next time and don't put the lord's life in danger."

"Azul--"

"Excuse me?" Alaska got up from her bed at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin ito sa kay Azul. "Did you just tell me that I put your lord's life in danger?"

"You heard me. Kung nag-iingat ka, hindi sana mangyayari iyon. Muntik ka nang mamatay--"

"Exactly. Ako iyong muntik nang mamatay and you got the nerve to tell me I was reckless? Eh sino bang may kasalanan kung bakit hinuhunting tayo ng mga halimaw na iyon? Oh right. Hindi pala tayo ang hinuhunting. Ako. Ako lang! And it wasn't my fault that I was cursed together with him. Whose fault is that in the first place?"

Scias just closed her eyes firmly as he sat back down. You messed up so bad, Az. Saad niya sa isip niya.

"And don't you dare treat me as a thing. Hindi niyo ako pag-aari. Kayo ang lumapit sa akin. Kayo ang nagsabing poprotektahan niyo ako. I really didn't need your protection. I mean, I don't mind dying. Kayo ang may kailangan sa 'kin. You need me more than I need you. So don't you dare tell me to be careful para hindi mapahamak si Scias. I will be careful because I choose it."

The room was filled with silence. He gave Azul a sharp look, telling her he's gone too far this time. Kaya naman ay natahimik na ito. He looked at Rain at akmang magsasalita siya when she held up a hand.

“Can you all leave the room, please,” she said. Nagkatitigan silang tatlo. Agad namang humiga pabalik si Alaska and covered herself with the blanket. He let out a sigh before he started walking towards the door. Sumunod naman ang dalawa sa kanya.

The moment they were at the door, Juno gave Azul a sharp look. “I don’t care if you are the famous guardian of the seven gates but the next time your sharp tongue says something to Ally, hindi ko na iyon papalagpasin.”

Azul just scoffed. “And what can you do, mere mortal?”

“I can send you back to hell, that’s what I can do.”

Pinigilan naman ni Scias si Azul bago pa ito magalit at makipag-away. He looked at Juno. “Don’t say anything unless you want to sig your death warrant.”

But Juno just gave him a smirk. “You can’t threaten me anymore, lord of the underworld. I may have worshipped you before. Don’t wait for that to change completely,” saad ng lalake saka ito naglakad papalayo.

Az face him. “My lord—“

“I won’t allow you to say things like that to Alaska,” diretso niyang sabi. Az looked at him. Confused.

“What do you mean? What I said was true.”

“It isn’t, Az. And she’s right. We can’t treat her like a thing. Tayo ang lumapit sa kanya. We need her more then she needs us. So you have to put a moratorium to your hatred, first.”

Masama naman itong nakatingin sa pinto ng clinic. “What if she dies? What will happen to your curse?”

“She won’t die. That’s why we offered to protect her. If she dies, I’m doomed. That’s the last thing I would want to happen.”

Natahimik naman si Azul habang nakatingin sa kanya. At maya-maya pa ay humarap ito sa kanya. “Understood.” At saka ito naglakad papalayo.

He stayed in front of the clinic hanggang sa magising si Alaska. He hid by the time she got out, healed and energized. Lumilingon ito sa paligid na para bang may hinahanap saka ito nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. He watched her from a distance, making sure she’s fine. Naglalakad ito sa hallway and he followed silently. It’s almost seven in the evening and there aren’t many other students in the clinic. Sila nalang ang natitira doon. He watched her walk. She’s only in her 20s. Very young compared to the years he existed. And just thinking about beings hunting her and trying to kill her makes his blood boil.

Alaska won’t be safe unless he does something. Kaya naman sinabihan niya si Juno na ilayo si Alaska sa paaralan ngayong gabi. He will cast a protective barrier around the school and Ally’s apartment. And he can’t do it if she’s near. Kaya naman tinawagan niya si Juno para doon.

When he saw Juno waiting outside the clinic, it was his cue to leave. Agad siyang nagpunta kung nasaan si Azul. They both were at the top of the highest building on the campus. Doon nila planong ibase ang protective barrier. Az looked at him.

“Are you sure about this, my lord?” tanong nito sa kanya.

“Yes, and I am not going to entertain your opinion.” He looked at Azul. “And besides, this is for me too. I protect Alaska, I am also protecting myself. It's a win-win.”

Hindi na sumagot si Az. Alam niyang wala na rin itong magagawa dahil buo na ang desisyon niya. The sun has already gone down a few minutes ago. He still couldn’t feel the rush of power inside his veins. Which means Alaska is still near. He looked down to see her walking out of the campus kasama si Juno at isa pang lalakeng hindi niya masyadong kilala. Ngunit nang titigan niya itong mabuti, doon niya napagtanto sino yon. It was Alaska’s ex-boyfriend, Cedrick.

He looked at them as they walked out of the campus. Hindi niya alam kung pagkakatiwalaan niya si Cedrick but he figures Juno can handle him if everything goes south. Kaya naman naghintay silang lumayo si Alaska mula sa kinaroroonan nila. Nakita niya itong sumakay ng taxi kasama ni Juno. And when she was far enough, doon niya naramdaman ang pagdaloy ng kapangyarihan niya. He closed his eyes as he savored the sensation. Something he would miss everytime it comes.

“Ready, Az?” He gave Azul a sideward glance and the latter just nodded.

“Yes, my lord,” sagot naman nito sa kanya.

He grinned as he closed his eyes, opened his palms, and let his power out.

* * *