INCUBUS

CHAPTER XXIV

CHAPTER XXIV

Nakalabas ang dalaga sa pasilyo at nakababa sa engrandeng hagdan. Nakita niya ang daan papuntang kusina kung saan naroon ang mga slave nila. There was a dark hallway under the staircase. Pababa ito at may mga torch lamang na nagsisilbing ilaw papasok.

Mahigpit pa rin ang hawak niya sa papel na may sigil.

Mahaba ang hallway. It was made of stone. It was dark and very hot. Pinapangilabutan siya sa mga iba't-ibang ungol na naririnig. If something happen, she could always wake-up, right? Because this is just a dream, right?

Naabot niya ang pinakadulo ng pasilyo. May dalawang entrance...kaliwa at kanan. She was about to enter on the left side when she heard footsteps of group of men. Tumakbo siya papuntang kanan. Tahimik. Bawat hakbang niya ay naririnig. Maingat siyang naglakad hanggang sa makita niya ang hagdan pababa.

Para itong hagdan na sa mga makalumang pelikula niya lang nakikita. A spiral stair made of stone.

Sa pinakababa ay mayroong pintuan. Nakaawang ito kaya mabilis niyang nasilip sa loob.

Namangha siya nang makita ang loob nito. There are four stone pillars each side. Sa dulo ay may trono.

Nagulat siya nang bigla na lang may sumulpot na babae sa gitna ng pillar. She was bowing her head as if she's waiting for someone.

Nagtago ang dalaga sa likod ng pintuan nang makita niyang mas lalong dumilim ang silid. There was a shadow coming from nowhere.

"Welcome back, Chief," said the lady as she kneeled in front of him.

"How many days was I gone?"

"Eight days on Earth, and almost a year underground," she answered.

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kilabot sa buong katawan. She's dealing with a demon. She suddenly felt so scared. She just wanted to wake-up but she can't. Something has been stopping her from doing it.

"Are there any news, Keira?" he asked.

He was Raguel the demon Incubus. For the first time she saw him without hiding in the dark. He was wearing a black cloak. His body built is bigger than a normal man. His face is covered with black demonic markings down to his neck. She could see his almost white hair cascading over his shoulders. And he has horns on his forehead. It was terrifying to look at.

His eyes. His eyes are all black. He was scary. A very big scary demon of lust.

Hindi niya maatim pakinggan ang pinag-uusapan ng mga 'to. It was too morbid for her. But what does she expects? They're demon. Evil.

She was about to step back, retrace her track when she saw him slowly unveiling his cloak. He took a black coat and as if magic, the black demonic markings all over his face and body was gone. His horns gradually disappears while his hair turned into black ebony pompadour. He changed into a normal handsome man.

Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't cope up. Para siyang hihimatayin sa nakikita. Imposible bang himatayin sa panaginip?

No. Hindi. Her eyes might be playing her. She's inside a demon's lair. This is just a dream. Hindi puwede. Hindi niya kayang tanggapin.

"T-Thorn..." hindi niya mapigilang sambitin.

Pareho silang napalingon sa kinatatayuan niya. They were as surprised as her.

"Araceli!" he said.

Mabilis siyang tumakbo paakyat sa spiral staircase. What's the use of running if he could easily catch her?