Guardian Evil

EXTRA CHAPTER 56.5: Romina and the Big Bad Wolf

Romina and the Big Bad Wolf

(based on the famous children story, “Little Red Riding Hood” by Charles Perrault)

Once upon a time, there was a dear little girl who was loved by everyone who looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, and there was nothing that she would not have given to the child. Her name was Romina. Once, her grandmother gave her a little cap colored in red, which suited her so well. Since it was given by her grandmother, it became her favorite that she would never wear anything else. So, she was nicknamed Little Red Riding Hood by the people in the village.

One day her mother said to her, "Come, Romina, here is a box of whole cake and a bottle of milk. Take them to your grandmother, she is ill and weak, and they will do her good. Set out before it gets hot, and when you are going, walk nicely and quietly and do not run off the path, or you may fall and break the bottle of milk, and then your grandmother will get nothing. And when you go into her room, don't forget to say, good morning, and don't peep into every corner before you do it."

“I will take great care,” said Romina to her mother, and gave her hand on it.

“And lastly,” her mother added. “Don’t talk to strangers, especially strangers that residing the deeper part of the woods.”

The grandmother lived out in the wood, half a league from the village, and just Romina entered the wood, a wolf met her. Romina did not know what a wicked creature he was, and was not at all afraid of him. Instead, she greeted him with a smile on her face. The rosy shade on her cheeks was visible.

"Good day, Little Red Riding Hood," said he.

"Thank you kindly, wolf,” replied Romina with a sweet smile on her face.

"Whither away so early, Little Red Riding Hood?" asked the wolf.

"To my grandmother's."

"What have you got in that basket of yours?"

"Cake and a bottle of milk. Yesterday was baking day, so poor sick grandmother is to have something good, to make her stronger so I’m bringing this to her,” she said, lifting the basket she’s holding for the wolf to see. “I am also worried about her condition so I personally want to visit her.”

"Where does your grandmother live, Little Red Riding Hood?"

"A good quarter of a league farther on in the wood. Her house stands under the three large oak trees, the nut trees are just below. You surely must know it," replied Romina.

The wolf thought to himself, "What a tender young creature. What a nice plump mouthful, she will be better to eat than the old woman. I must act craftily, so as to catch both." So he walked for a short time by the side of Little Red Riding Hood and then he said, "See Little Red Riding Hood, how pretty the flowers are about here. Why do you not look around? I believe, too, that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing. You walk gravely along as if you were going to school, while everything else out here in the wood is merry. You should pick flowers for your sick grandmother. I bet she wanted those flowers to cheer up as well."

Romina raised her eyes, and when she saw the sunbeams dancing here and there through the trees, and pretty flowers growing everywhere, she thought, suppose I take grandmother a fresh nosegay. That would please her too. It is so early in the day that I shall still get there in good time. She, then, turned her head on the Big Wolf. “Mr. Wolf, you should come with me picking some flowers too!”

“But I-ah-I’m busy…” he muttered. s**t, I just wanted to eat your grandmother then I will eat you as well!

“Please? We’ll be quick, I promise!” Romina grinned to him.

What? What the heck is this kid thinking?! Annoyed, the Big Bad Wolf thought but he tried his best to be patient so he could eat not just the old lady but this kid in front of him as well. Okay, let’s be patient. I should get along with this kid and gain her trust and then eat her up!

“Let’s go, Mr. Wolf!” and so she ran from the path into the wood to look for flowers. Of course, the Big Bad Wolf sighed and followed her.

The Big Bad Wolf couldn’t help but yawn. It was so tiring and boring watching this kid with him who’s now too busy picking flowers. Whenever she had picked one, she fancied that she saw a still prettier one farther on, and ran after it. It was really annoying for him.

When he noticed that the kid was now farther from the spot he’s standing, he thought. “This is my chance! I should leave the child and proceed to her grandmother’s house!”

He was about to sneak out when he heard her voice calling him. “Mr. Wolf! Mr. Wolf!”

“s**t,” he whispered to himself in so much grimace. He took a deep breath and turned his head towards her and stretched an awkward smile. “Y-Yes?”

“Look! I made a flower crown!” Romina said and showed him the flower crown she made.

“O-Oh, hahaha. Yes. That’s-That’s pretty…” replied the Big Bad Wolf. Damn it, I wasted my time accompanying this kid for her to make a filthy flower crown? Should I devour her right here right now? Maybe she’s enough to fill my stomach.

Romina giggled. “I actually made two. One is for grandma and one is for you!”

“What?” the Big Bad Wolf muttered, then he slowly pointed himself. “For… for me?”

Little Romina smiled at him and gently put the flower crown made of daisies that he made for him. “There. You looked pretty.”

The Big Bad Wolf blinked twice, obviously surprised. In so many years of his existence, people and animals find him cunning and terrifying. This is just the first time someone called him something nice such as pretty. Everyone just finds him both terrifying and hideous but now, this kid in front of him just called him pretty.

It’s disgusting for him to say but that simple gesture and words really warmed his heart.

“T-Thank you… you-you don’t have to…” he just couldn’t help but stutter.

“Oh! Wait!” she immediately rummaged from her basket and took the box of cake out of it. She gently opened it and took a piece of it and gave it to the Big Bad Wolf. “I will give you a piece of cake as a token of gratitude for accompanying me, Mr. Wolf. You are very nice and I am so glad to talk to you as well.

The Big Bad Wolf blinked once again as he looked at the tiny plate of a piece of cake on his paws. In so many years of his existence, people and animals find him greedy that they need to hide their pets or hide themselves because, if not, they’re going to get eaten. This is just the first time someone gave him something to eat. Everyone just finds him both greedy and selfish but now, this kid in front of him just gave him a piece of cake just because he accompanied her—even if he’s aware that he was forced to.

It’s disgusting for him to say but that simple gesture of what creatures called kindness really warmed his heart.

“What is your name, little kid?” The Big Bad Wolf asked.

“Romina. I’m Romina, Mr. Wolf,” Romina responded, smiling at him. “What about you, Mr. Wolf?”

“They call me Luciel. I don’t know why they called me that name but I, later on, accepted it. You can call me Luciel,” replied the Big Bad Wolf.

“What a pretty name, Mr. Luciel!” she grinned, and once again, the Big Bad Wolf by the name of Luciel felt another warm sensation in his chest.

“Oh! I have to leave now, Mr. Luciel! I need to take care of my grandma because she’s sick and she needs to eat. Thank you so much, Mr. Luciel. Take care, goodbye!” Romina smiled and waved her hand at Luciel and hurriedly walked away.

Luciel’s gaze followed her and his eyes glimmering in crimson red.

Romina successfully delivered the cake and the bottle of milk to her grandmother to eat. She even took care of her and her grandmother fancied the flower crown she made and brought for the latter. Her grandma even said that it’s her first time to see such beautiful white daisies and Romina couldn’t help but thank Mr. Luciel the Wolf inside her mind.

She took too long that she didn’t realize that it’s already evening. Her grandmother insisted that she should stay for a night and go home the following day but Romina refused, assuring her grandmother that she’ll be alright and so, she went home with a lamp in her hand her grandmother gave to her.

She knew the rumors about the dangerous creatures in the woods and she’ll be going, to be honest, that she’s scared and kept on praying to the heavens to keep her safe on her way home.

As she walked on her way home, she found the road silent. People may find it creepy but she finds it peaceful. Comforting, as if the silence is telling her that she’s safe. She looked up at the sky and her eyes glimmer the moment she saw so many stars shining in the night sky. “Wow…”

She slightly flinched because of the rustling of the bushes behind her that she gripped on her lamp and basket tight, holding her breath as she’s already on her guard for the possible attack.

She gasped when she saw something jumping beside her but she sighed in relief when she recognized what it is—or rather, who it is.

“Mr. Luciel, it’s you!” Romina said happily.

“I could recognize your scent so I came,” Luciel told her. “Why are you walking alone in the deep of the night?”

“I am just on my way home,” replied Romina.

Luciel the Wolf clicked his tongue in distaste. “You can just stay in your grandmother’s house for a night, you know? There are so many dangers here in the woods at night so you shouldn’t go alone.”

“Are you… worried about me, Mr. Luciel?”

“Tsk. Of course, I do since you’re a naïve kid,” replied Luciel and he walked ahead of her. “C’mon, let’s go. I’ll escort you on your way home.”

Happy about what she heard, Romina grinned and walked side by side with the wolf. She didn’t know that Luciel the Wolf beat up the wolves and other wild creatures who were about to attack her earlier.

Romina couldn’t help but giggle as she walked side by side with Luciel the Wolf. He turned his head at her. “Why are you giggling?”

“I am just happy that you’re accompanying me home just like earlier. You looked like my guardian!” Romina grinned. “My guardian!”

Luciel the Wolf blinked twice, obviously surprised. In so many years of his existence, people and animals find him cunning, greedy, selfish, terrifying and dangerous. Everyone will try their very best to stay away from him because they just couldn’t trust a wolf like him. This is just the first time… the first time that someone called him something nice and trust him like this.

“Do you know, Mr. Wolf? My grandmother always has this book of names with the meaning of those names. I read it earlier while taking care of her then I saw your name on that list. Your name means light so I guess that’s why they named you that name because they thought you’re giving them light. Just like now, you’re walking me home as if you’re lighting the way for me to go home,” Romina grinned at him. “You’re like my guardian of light that’s why I am not afraid to go home anymore.”

For the first time in his life, he smiled…

“Yes, I will be your protector from now on…” Luciel said. He felt a heavy weight on his shoulder and he turned his head at Romina who’s now sleeping soundly beside him. He couldn’t help but sigh. “You want me to read something from you and you didn’t even listen to it because you’re already asleep.”

“Mhm~” Romina moaned in her sleep, totally in the depths of her dreams.

Luciel turned off his iPAD and he was about to leave when Romina suddenly hugged him, scooting closer to him and finally getting comfortable.

“Ugh, get off me, Romina. I’m leaving,” he tried to push Romina away but the latter didn’t budge. “You know I don’t sleep like you, humans. So don’t expect me to stay on your bed.”

“Luciel…” Romina called him in her sleep.

“What is it, you annoying piece of bean?” he asked.

“Thank you… for always protecting me,” she said and finally went silent because she’s finally in deep sleep.

Luciel blinked twice, obviously surprised. In so many years of his existence, both angels and humans find demons like him cunning, greedy, selfish, terrifying and dangerous. Everyone will try their very best to stay away from them because yeah, they will just ruin the living daylights of every creature… of every human and their souls.

This is just the first time… the first time that someone called him something nice and trust him like this.

He stared warmly at Romina and gently responded to her hug, kissing the crown of her head.

“Good night, Romina.”

Romina smiled in her sleep, having the happiest dream she’d ever have that night.