The Underworld Prince Next Door

CHAPTER 20

HARRIET'S POINT OF VIEW

I know that after this day, people will look at me with contempt and also with lust. They will take interest with my background because of my 'father'. I know very well that I cannot return to my normal life. All I need to do now is to be strong and also to try to cope up with my situation.

But, knowing that President Top is claiming to be my father. I know very well that it will be difficult for me to achieve what I want.

I need proof. Then I can move forward.

"What's up in that pretty head of yours?" Tanong ni Dark habang nagmamaneho pauwi sa Blood Moon Lane.

"Tigilan mo nga ako, Dark. Don't talk nonsense." Hindi ko maiwasang kagatin ang labi ko sa paraan ng pagkakasabi ni Dark sa mga salitang iyon.

Pakiramdam ko, ang lambing ng boses niya na hindi ko maiwasang kabahan. O maaari nating sabihing, hindi ko maiwasan ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko ng malakas na tila ba lalabas sa dibdib ko ang puso ko.

Ito ang unang beses na makaramdam ako ng ganito. Kumakabog man ang dibdib ko para kay Crow, hindi ko pwedeng kaibigan lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

Pero kay Dark, iba ang kabog nito na kulang na lamang ay hindi na ako makahinga.

Mahinang natawa si Dark na lalong nagpainit ng mukha ko. Pilit ko iyong itinago sa takot na baka kung ano ang isipin ni Dark.

"Seriously, what are you thinking?" Tanong niyang muli.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at saka tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

"I want proof. I want proof that, that bastard isn't my father." Seryosong sagot ko.

Natahimik si Dark. Gayundin ang loob ng sasakyan.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay ko, nanatili ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Wala naman akong inaasahan mula sa kaniya. Wala din akong inaasahan na sagot mula sa kaniya. Sinagot ko lang ang tanong niya, wala ng iba.

"Thank you for the ride." Pagpapasalamat ko. "Let me treat you first with dinner." Pag-aaya ko sa kaniya.

Umiling siya at ngumiti sa akin. Gusto kong lumundag sa saya dahil ako pa lang ang nakakakakita ng mga ngiti niya na hindi niya basta-basta ipinapakita. Sumasaya ako sa isiping, napakaswerte ko pala na kahit madaming nangyari sa akin na hindi kaaya-aya, may maganda palang kapalit ng mga ito.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright." Nakangiti niyang sabi sa akin.

Tumango ako at saka pinanuod na maglakad siya papunta sa kabilang bahay. Bago pumasok, nakita ko pa ang paglingon niya sa akin.

Pero sa pagpasok niya, hindi ko nakita ang anino niya. Instead, I saw a tall man with nine tails following him from behind.

Natutop ko ang aking bibig at naalala ang mga bali-balita sa T.V.

"The nine-tailed man." I concluded.

Then scenarios of Dark's corpse appeared and my mind and I uncontrollably cried and run towards Dark's house. I was about to knock on the door when I heard a woman's voice from inside.

"Master. What shall we do? Her changes is unusual. And after major investigations, we found out that she didn't undergone with experiments like the other demi-humans and beasts in this area."

"What do you think of her?" Dark's voice is colder than usual. It gave me chills down to my spine. I shivered and stepped back.

No! This is just a dream, right?

Dark is the nine-tailed fox?

No! No! I don't want to believe in that idea. He is not a...

"I assume that she is not a mortal." The woman's voice said.

"So... She is not Timothy's child?"

"I assume that she must not be the one." The woman answered.

"So, keeping her is useless." I trembled and run to my house. I shut the door and heard their conversation all over again. Then, I concluded two things.

First, I am not President Top's child. Second, Dark is using me to lure President Top because he thought that I am his child.

I take a glance toward his house against the walls of our houses that seperates us. I saw him and the woman clearly.

She is kneeling behind him. She has a cat tail and ears. She looks like a follower of Dark.

Then, Dark who is standing by his back on her with a pair of fox ears and nine tails of a fox. She looks so cold than usual. And it still sends chills in me.

At that very moment, I realized that I don't know this man anymore. Or maybe, I really don't know him from the start. With that, I shake vigorously out of fear.

"So, keeping her is useless."

"So, keeping her is useless."

"So, keeping her is useless."

Anong ibig sabihin nu'n? Is he... Going to kill me?

"N-no! H-he promised me that everything will be alright, right?"

Desperado na ba ako? Desperado na ba ako para paniwalaan ang isang kasinungalingan samantalang nakita na ng sarili kong mga mata at narinig na ng sarili kong mga tenga ang katotohanan?

No one will keep me. No one will keep a useless woman like me. Me, who has an unknown and unclear origin is a useless bug in front of everyone. My life is worthless. That can be crushed by anyone if they wishes to.

I smiled bitterly and went upstairs. I took out my laptop and contacted Crow for an urgent meeting in my house.

Maybe, it is time for me to find a place that I can claim as mine and my home.

Dark turned around and saw no one. But he is certain that he felt a presence from outside. He sniffed the air and in unknown reason, he can't smell it clearly. His senses was disrupted by that creature, whoever he is.

For the first time, he felt panic. This is the first time that his senses failed to work.

There are only two kind of creatures that he cannot detect. His own kind and the Heaven Realm's Royals.

'It's indeed impossible for those Underworld Royals can arrive in here because I can sense him and also there are restrictions in Area 666. Then...'

Dark's eyes widen.

'Impossible! Heaven Royalties will not dare to meddle with Mortal Realm's issues.'

"Tell the Heaven Realm's Queen that I sensed a royalty in here. Ask her if there is a royalty who arrived here in Mortal Realm." Dark ordered to Sera. "We need to find out who the hell it is. Or else, our efforts will be in vain. I want to avenge the Princess' death personally. If they dared to meddle with my revenge, I will see to it that the three realms will be in a great dispute from this day on."

"Yes, your highness." Sera replied then transformed into a big nether cat and run towards the forest nearby.