Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 39

And that was when she realized to try a part of his majestic power, she pulled the necklace and shifted it on the L shape bladeless scythe, “I don’t want to trust someone who was under that man’s presence, but I will do it for the sake of the children.” She growled.

“I am not under to anyone’s authority, not even you so be glad that I am helping you. We haven’t even made a contract yet; do you want one?”

“I don’t want any contract!”

“Oh, just kidding, we don’t need any more of that. I chose you so that’s why!”

“Shut up! I don’t want to be chosen. You can go away all you want, I don’t need something like you, you’re just a curse! A demon who will make anyone a monster craving for blood!”

“You know what, you will never be able to use me unless I say so, so you better respect me.” Luxuria whined.

“I feel like I am cheating this was, is it okay?” she asked herself as she started to think to use her powers in order to find the children.

“Hey are you even listening to me?”

“Of course, it’s okay, I will just use it once every session, that’s it and I will handle everything.” She discussed with herself not bothering to listen to any of his words.

“Okay, she’s not listening, hello I am a god for goodness’s sake, and you are a human, you don’t get just ignored me!” Luxuria whined but Blanche started to run away. “Oh my god! Come on girl, you got to--”

“Shut up.” She growled dangerously low, cutting him of in the process. “I’ve seen all your antics, you made Daleon like that! And so was I! that is why I will never trust you!”

“Gods like me will never do something like that.”

“Gods like you will always do something for their amusement.” She snarls. “I’ve always prayed to you, since I was just a child. I’ve always prayed because they said that you will grant anyone’s deepest desire from their hearts if only you pray.” She told him with utter bitterness in her voice, every word she’s spewing is like a venom, burning through the god’s conscience. “Now tell me, did you hear any of my prayers?”

There was a moment of silence in between, from the fact that he knew she’s telling the truth. He knows from the very beginning that she’s been praying all her life yet he didn’t make a move, it took a couple of silent seconds before he finally replied. “I’ve known your heart since you were a child, Blanche. I heard all your prayers, your heart’s desires. That is why I am here because I will heed your prayers.” He said with grave seriousness in his voice.

She scoffed at his reply, “Heed my prayer? Don’t mess with me, if you really heard me then my siblings wouldn’t have to suffer like that. They wouldn’t have to cry in silent, they wouldn’t have to sob in the dark, they wouldn’t have to swallow their fears, they wouldn’t have to be…” she halted from her tracks as she remembered how dark and grim those days were.

“But what would you really do back then?” Luxuria asked. “What can you do back then?”

“I can’t do anything, because I was just a child!” she hollered.

“Exactly!” he roared back.

“You’re a god, you can do anything, can’t you?!”

“Gods can do anything to help, Blanche, but you have to make sure that you’re making your move! And now that you are at this age, I am sure that you are more capable of handling yourself than when you were a kid. That’s why I am now here.” He told her, “Gods like me can never make a change, Blanche, because humans hold their lives, we are just a tool to help.”

“Tool to help? Is killing Daleon a help?

“You already know the answer to that.”

“But after he’s gone, what happened to the orphanage? It became like this.”

“If you didn’t make a move back then, do you really think that Daleon will stop?”

“So, you’re real after all this time?”

“Always.”

“Stop messing with me!” she roared. “You’ve abandoned us long ago and now you’re returning like you’re the protagonist of some story?! Go back to hell! That’s where you belong! We survived before, we will survive again without you!”

“Why can’t you understand that I am helping you!”

“I needed your help before! But not now, you even made me a killer.”

“Sooner or later, you are bound to kill, Blanche!”

“If you really wanted to help, you could have been chosen someone else to end all of these!”

“Who do you want me to choose, huh? The oldies who were just thinking about themselves? All those prayers about themselves? I wasn’t able to hear anything from them about the children like you! All their prayers are for themselves and how they wanted all the pleasure in life! They are all lusting towards the material things in life!”

“If you really wanted to help up,” Blanche said in a very low and bitter tone, “You could have chosen sister Mary Jane then, she loves us I know that she’s more than willing to do anything for us. She did what she can do to help.” She mumbled through her gritted teeth. “She could be a better wielder than me.”

“How can I choose someone who were just there to steal me away?”

“Steal?” the gnarl, “that is something she will never do. And who would steal something like you?”

“I know it. She was just there because of the news that about that stupid old man holding the cross of Luxuria. She knew I am one of the seven deadly sins that’s why she’s here in the first place.” He defended his answer.

“Oh, for f*ck’s sake!” she screamed. “Shut the hell up! Don’t you dare bad mouth her like that! You didn’t know anything about her, so shut your mouth!” she heaves after she just shouted, “And don’t talk like you never work under Daleon’s command because he was your wielder!”

“I am not!”

“Then why does he have you?!”

“You wouldn’t even listen even if I tell you the truth!”

“Because that’s it! Shut your mouth that is full of lies.”

“Mouths can lie, but hearts cannot.” That’s the only she last heard from him. “You can use my power all you want but I will never talk to you again.”

“Like hell I want to talk with you!” she roared from frustration and started to use his power without thinking to sense the children, using her imagination she imagines that she’s a spider and she’s standing under her own invisible web that is stretching far enough to see them all.

However, because of her unclear mind, she didn’t manage to pull it off as soon as she wanted. As a consequence, she grew more furious, “Calm down, Blanche…” she breathes out after her little tantrum. “You will just use him and eventually discard him, this isn’t something that will last forever, I just have to do it until the very day of escape.” She convinced herself but something in her mind speaks differently, “If I am going to used him over and over again, I’m sure he’ll brainwashed me.”

She shook her head sideways trying to clear her mind from all of the thoughts swirling from positive to negative, “I don’t care if it devours my sanity, as long as my goal is achieved, I will use this.” Her mind becomes clear once her intention proves herself.

She once again tried to imagine her being the spider in the middle of the vast cob web, after a concentration she felt the energy as if bullets of dews are on her webs, and then she felt auras coming from three different direction who are all getting away from her location.

“There they are…” she muttered before opening her eyes and proceeded to go after them, “As I can remember, Mildred is on the rocky part, Lino is on the move from a cave, and Stephen is near the stream.” She reviewed their location in her head. “Stream is the nearest from here, so it’s settled.” She spoke to herself so her voice would drown the voice of a certain god.

She went near the stream but she found none, she decided to go and scan the area but on one was there, not even a single trace or footprints, no scent as well, “Where could they be?” she then started to clasped her ears and use her hearing to hear any rustle but still she found no clue at all. When she tried using her senses but still doesn’t get any clue, she decided to go and went to the other side of the stream in thought that she would find them there.

And when she finally out of the vicinity of the streams, children finally get out of the water with straws on their mouths where they were breathing while they are waiting, “Wow, Stephen! I’ve never done this before! I would definitely do this again!” Dean cheered with his bangs covering her eyes from being drenched by water.

“This is awesome!” they cheered loudly that even Stephen starts to panic from how loud their voices are.

“Calm down guys.” He smiles at them, “we can’t always do this, because if we do we have to go and change clothes after this before we catch cold.” He spoke gently.

However, Blanche was certain that Stephen’s game was near the stream and with their bodies’ capabilities she knew that they will never get away far from her that fast, so when she thought she can’t be seen that from that position she decided to dash back and that’s where she found them one by one rushing out of water, “I see, so they hid under water, that’s a very clever idea. But how they hold their breath?” she then saw them having sticks, “Ah, hallowed sticks, that way they can breathe under water.”

“That is amazing, but that will not work on me.” She grinned as she rushed back and decided to surprise them, “Kaboom!” she yelled out loud, earning audible gasps and shrieks.

“Ah! It’s sister!” they all yelled and rushed to get away from her. “Get away, quick!”

“Everyone, run!” Stephen shouted and they run, however because of the added weight on their clothes because it’s been soaked, they can’t move that fast, resulting for him to be the one who get caught first and one by one they are now out of the game.

“Hey, guys, that was so cool! I never knew that you would be hiding under water, that’s good!” she complemented them. “Who has that idea?” she turns to Stephen expecting him to be the one who has the idea.

“Actually, it’s Dean, sister.” He smiled, to which made Dean blushed.

“Oh really?!” she chimed, “I know you are smart, Dean! That’s an amazing idea!” she smiled but it turns into an immediate frown, “but you have to go and change or you’ll get sick, so go on ahead now. I will still have to find the others, okay?”

“Yes, sister,” they said with slight sadness in their tones before they went back with defeated hearts.

After she waved them goodbye, Blanche then went to find Mildred’s team. “As I remember, Lino’s team is closer here but still far enough, but the rocky route is trickier.” she decided to go after Mildred instead. Since rocky route is harder, she needs to go while she still has strength, “Now, for the next one.”

She went to the rocky route as what she has planned, and as expected she can’t find them, but just like what she has been thought with Stephen, with this kind of terrain they will never get away that far especially with their bodies’ current form. “They are probably hiding behind this huge ass rocks.”

She then proceeded to go and start to scan them, she jumps down and began to walk with her heightened senses, her eyes darting from left to right expecting something unexpected. While she’s walking, she gets to see some cracks on the stones, indication that not all the rocks can able to handle her weight if she stood on it for a long period of time, “This is troublesome. I can’t stand on some of the rocks in longer time so I have to find them as soon as possible before either all the rocks I can stand will be crush or they will be able to escape.” She puts her hands over her hips and hummed as she contemplates.

“But how can I do that, there’s so many stones here and I don’t know where they could be hiding, I can use Luxuria but I can’t let him expose to the kids.”

She’s in the middle of thinking how she will subdue them, when all of a sudden she heard a sneeze just nearby, that simple and small sound captured her full attention, this made her let out a little grin, “Got you…” she whispered to herself and then jumps from stones to stone closer to the place where she heard the sound and when she get a closer look she found Kanna scratching her nose, she can’t help but frown when she thinks that simple mistake could cost a lot, her minds wonder from the thought what Ester could do when she’s the one who was able to find them.

But then she shook her head sideways and thought, “That’s why I am doing this… I have to train them so that would never have to happen.” “Found you—” she was interrupted when in just a blink of an eye Mildred and Luka threw a bunch of dry leaves on her, hindering Blanche’s eyesight and using it as their advantage, taking Kanna one away and running through the cracks of boulders. Since they have smaller bodies, they easily went through.

“Kanna, are you alright?” Luka asked with concern lacing over her voice, “We have to get away from sister Blanche as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’m alright, I can run on my own.” Kanna replied as they start to slipped through the rocks.

“We will get out of here…” Mildred said as the three of them began to drift apart from the rest of their group.

“Hey, Mildred, where are the others?” Kanna asked with worry, “are they caught by now?”

“No, I don’t think they’re caught by now, I can’t hear any whining from them especially from our whiney ones.” Mildred replied. “I’m sure they will move forward so we have to go and move as well.”

“Okay…” they begin to move forward through the rocks, however as they near the other side where trees and bushes are prominent, they can hear shrieks from other children, one by one are getting caught and it’s nearing them. And in just a blink of an eye, Blanche is already on top of the rock where they are currently hiding, “Found you…” she said with menacing tone as her figure loom over them.

The three of them could only looked at her figure from below.

In the end, Blanche one by caught each of them, “Caught you all!” she chimed.

“Awe man, I thought we were going to win now,” Mildred whines, slumping on the dusty rocks, “I was sure that no one will go here since this place is not an easy trail.

“Don’t be sad now~” Mildred pats her head and ruffle her hair, “You did a good job taking your group here.”

“Eh? Really?”

“Because you used the terrain to your advantage, this place has a lot of space where you can hide and the rocks are big enough to hide all your figures and they were not strong enough to handle weight such as mine. This could be a good hide out and a good trap at the same time.” Blanche explained for them to be able to understand clearer. “And! If you go and do this every day your stamina and endurance will sky rocket.” She added.

Her small glimpse towards Mildred made the kid’s devious smile grew wide, “Noted, sister.” She spoke.

“But sister, we are a bunch of sore losers, you will never find us next time!” Luka groaned dramatically.

“I would love to see that.” She only smile, “better luck next time kiddo. Now go on ahead with Stephen’s group and change, you guys are full of dusts.”

“Oh, you’ve found Stephen?”

“Yes, now go on ahead, I still have to find Lino.” She said to them, “it’s getting late, I’m sure finding them will be hard to do when it gets darker.”

“Ha! Lino beat sister for us! Take revenge!” Luka shouted which made her voice echo.

“That’s enough, he will not hear you from here.”

“Okay~”

She proceeded to find Lino this time but because he’s always on the move it became hard for her to find his group, every place she can think of where they could be hiding is empty. “Huh? What are their tactics? I can’t find them to the places where they could be hiding.” She mumbled as she checks all the possible hideout.

“Ah, I think Lino did know that I will find them base on how they react to things and their behavior.” She slapped her forehead when that sudden thought hit her like a tone of bricks. “He’s a smart one and I will never predict how he will move.” She sighed. “I have no choice then…” she muttered and then call her weapon, doing the same technique she did earlier and this time she found them to a place where she never expected.

“The hell, Lino, you are now in the near entrance of the forest…” she growled yet still has the same forced smile, “wise move, kid. Definitely wise move.” She muttered as she dashed back to the entrance part of the forest.

“Ah! Lino~” Mildred shouted her sibling’s name, “what are you doing here?” she jogged up to him. “Sister said she haven’t found you yet, but I think she did that’s why you’re here.”

“Huh? Found us? That’s not going to happen.” Lino scoffed with his teammates standing behind him, “We will never get caught if we wanted.” He smirked.

“Then what are you doing here?!” Mildred asked, “sister is not back yet but you’re already here! What’s happening?”

“Mildred what’s happening?” Stephen asked and went to her side, “Lino, where’s sister? You’re the last one she found she must be with you.”

“Ha? We’re not found yet.” He simply stated as he puts his hands on his pant’s pocket, “Who told you that we have found? We are in the middle of the game.”

“What do you mean you’re not found yet? You’re here, that must mean only one thing…” Mildred trailed with bafflement.

“What it literally means.” Lino shrugged his shoulders.

“So, you return here because?” Stephen trailed.

“Because we were hiding that’s it.” Lino let out a smirk, “Sister knew we’re getting deeper in the forest because that must be the most common thing to do when someone is running away from someone, because they are afraid to get caught.” He explained. “They will subconsciously move forward instead of looking back and that’s where the fault in hiding starts, the chaser will move forward also until you were corner, so before we got corner, we return from the start so now we are the predator and now she’s the prey.” He added with a smirk.

Everyone who heard him was mouth agape from how he thinks things through, “Wow, Lino you really are something else.” Dean breaths out, “What kind of brain do you have?”

“That’s nothing… I’m sure sister will have to give up for us to be able to see here--” he sends him a side smirk. Their small moment of amazement was interrupted by a loud screech.

“Lino!” Blanche shouted; her voice was still a blur but that doesn’t deny that fact that she’s closing in a rapid pace, “Kiddo!” and there she come out from the thickness of bushes, “What kind of brains do you have?!” she shouted.

“Huh?! Sister why are you here?!” Mina shrieked when she saw Blanche rushing over them, “you’re not suppose to be here!” she whined grabbing her head in frustration.

“What do you mean?” Blanche said in a heave, “am I not suppose to be here?” she heaves as she slumped her hands on her knees and with one last forceful smile, “Okay, I finally got you!” she stands straight.

“Sister, how did you find us?” Lino asked, “Or did you just give up and run straight back here?”

“I can’t tell them that I used my power just to find them, can I?” she asked in her mind, “I… uhm… you see I get a hunch that you will be back here sooner or later because it’s getting late. I don’t think you want Nunna to get worried. That’s what I thought so… am I right?” she lied to the skin of her teeth.

“No, actually, that’s far from my logic.” Lino sighed and scratched the back of his neck with an irritated look, “But that’s fine, I thought we’re going to win this one.”

“I’m sure you will, in the next 45 years or so?” she joked.

They began a routine that they have never been did before, they made the game of tag a game where they can last longer and each day that passed, they are constantly improving and Mary Jane can tell that this is a preparation for the children so she didn’t hesitate to just let them go. However, that alone is not enough and Blanche knew it, so she decided to talk about her.

“Blanche, may I speak with you please?” she asked the sister beside her who’s wiping the dishes while she washed the unclean ones.

The said sister only hummed in response, “What is it?” their conversation is being hid by the fact that no one was around and from the sound of the utensils in the sink.

“Blanche are you sure about this?” she asked in a hush tone, “will the children be able to escape?”

“Yes, I will make sure of that.” Blanche didn’t hesitate to escape.

“Blanche, don’t give your words out if you can’t hold on to it.” Mary Jane whispered, stopping her work for a moment.

“I am going to do it, Sister Mary Jane.” Blanche said with gravity in her tone and unwavering resolve in her eyes, “I am not going to let these children suffer like what happened with my siblings. I am tired of that, and now I will make the change that I couldn’t do before.”

“Blanche, you are up against the mayor and her men! What can you do!” what she hollered was not even a question, but rather something that will try to open her eyes to the reality. “Don’t give these children false hope when you can’t even make it come true!”

“What do you want me to do? Just let them go? Send them to the gates and wave them goodbye while I know what’s really happening? Sister…” Blanche shook her head sideways, “I can’t do that… I just can’t.”

“I managed to do it, Blanche, you should try too. I am going to tell you this over and over again, you will have to stand against the mayor, do you know what power she has? What about her men?” Mary Jane hold each of the younger nun’s shoulder, looking at her straight in the eyes.

“Her powers are thorns, am I right?” Blanched replied.

“Yes, but that is not enough. You don’t know what can she do with those thorns of her, and her men! Blanche, just listen to me! She will never hire those men if they can’t protect her!” Mary Jane shook her back and forth, attempting to shake some senses to her.