The Last Celestial

A Flower Blooms Part II

Loud cries woke her from her deep slumber, and when she woke up her head was spinning and her vision was nothing but a blur. The unnamed child she gave birth to a few hours ago is beside her, crying in hunger.

The baby was still covered with blood, and only Hyacinth’s shirt covered him from the cold winds.

Weak and exhausted, Hyacinth forced herself up and picked up her child for him to suckle and feed. She lifts her shirt and lets her child latch on her tender breast. She looked at her son that was still covered in blood, and tears welled up in her eyes. Her baby boy looks so much like him.

"Oh... Landon."

She sobbed and cried. Tears fell down from her eyes, down to her cheeks and on to the head of her son. Memories filled with horror and terror filled her and made her want to crash down on the grass filled ground and let out all her sorrows.

She remembers it clearly. She still hears the last words uttered by her one true love before he was completely devoured by a savage monstrous beast with black tar skin and hundreds of eyes.

"RUN!"

Was the only thing Landon said before he was consumed by the beast. The creature opened its wide mouth full of sharp fangs covered with blood. She heard Landon’s bones shatter as the creature of terror took a bite. Blood splattered everywhere. And then... he was gone.

The love of her love, Landon, was gone.

She was saved when the Tamaraw bit the back of her shirt and pulled her out of the way. Like it was helping her escape along with her son. Hyacinth climbed on top of the Tamaraw and it took her to a clear meadow where she fell asleep.

The pain cannot be explained, and beyond anything she has ever felt. She could only cry and wail as she held her son tightly in her arms. She knows that she has to be strong. She had to be, for Landon left her a gift more important than her own life.

"Your father would've been a wonderful father." She said, her voice was trembling and she couldn't stop herself from crying. "Your father was the best... my little Landon."

===========================

Days have passed and only a few Keepers managed to survive the attack. The Island of Mindoro is at Level 5 emergency. Hundreds of citizens have fled while some are wounded and are only saved due to the barriers made by the Keepers. Keepers from other parts of the world rushed in and helped stop the single creature who has now multiplied into dozens to hundreds.

What the Legends says about this creature is true. If it's slashed by a sword, the slashed part of the creature will detach from the original body and will be able to survive and live. If it's blasted away using the enchanted seeds from the forest of the Zodiacs, it will be crushed into pieces but it will still be able to survive and live. The pieces big enough to crawl will be able to survive and feast on small rodents such as rats and rabbits and will continue to grow.

Elder Kriyanne lost an arm while trying to fight off the vile creature who was trying to enter the fortress. She was about to be swallowed when a creature latched onto her arm, but she chose to cut off her limb instead of losing her life.

"All of you, stay in position!" She screamed while holding onto Darlene. "We have to protect the relic and save everyone first. Dispatch the warriors and only the defense team will stay! Take everyone on the boat and make sure every citizen is accounted for!"

Darlene looked from left to right, trying to find Landon who was the best at fighting. But he was nowhere to be found. "Elder, Landon is still not here."

"His wife is pregnant..." Kriyanne winced as she felt waves of pain throughout her body. She was beginning to lose consciousness. She lost too much blood, and is likely not going to make it out alive. "Find him... or his wife. I know Landon better than anyone... he'll do his best to keep his family safe."

Darlene bit her lips and held Kriyanne even tighter. "But... Elder Kriyanne..."

Kriyanne shook her head and hushed the young Keeper. "That's a direct order... Darlene." She calmly directed the young one, there was a smile on her blood filled face, and the wrinkles on her showed as her smile widened. "They need you more than I do. They are with child, who can be a Keeper greater than you and I. Now... find them. And don't mind me."

Darlene pursed her lips and was reluctant to let go. Slowly, her hand slips away from the Elder Keeper and she rushed out of the forest to find Landon's family.

The Keepers who are left on the battleground will remain standing, to keep the barrier still. Just until all of the residents of the island has been evacuated to a much safer place.

=============================

Darlene rushed out of the forest and into the meadow. The sun was about to set and slowly, nocturnal animals were coming out from its hiding. She made sure that she was not followed by a single creature or any living being.

She dared not to make a sound or call for Landon or Hyacinth's name in fear that the creature of Death may find her. Once she was out of the forest, she made her way straight to Landon's home. But she was only met with disappointment since no one was there.

"f**k!" She hissed after checking all of the rooms inside Landon's house. She rushed out of the house and ran to the shore where all the boats were waiting. A great number of Keepers were on stand by as they guard the citizens. They were all ready to set up a barrier just in case a creature came out of the sea or the forest.

She ran towards Rajesh, a Keeper from India who rushed to the islands to help them fend off the enemy.

"Rajesh!" Darlene screamed.

The man instantly looked at her, his piercing brown eyes stared at her wide and surprised. "Darlene." He replied once he remembered her face. "What are you doing here? I thought you were the right hand of Elder Kriyanne."

"Elder Kriyanne gave me an absolute order." Was her answer, she breathed in and out slowly, trying to catch her breath from all that running. "She asked me to find Landon and his Family. Have you seen them? Landon must be with his wife... she's short, and has thick black wavy hair."

Rajesh shook his head and looked like he didn't have a clue. "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen them anywhere. Would you like me to help you?"

The idea of someone giving out a helping hand gave Darlene a sparkle of hope. As they say, it's better to look with four eyes rather than with two. And besides, it's getting dark. Once the moon rises, then it'll be almost impossible to find Landon and his family.

"Thank you... come on." Darlene wrapped her fingers around Rajesh's wrist and she pulled him. "Let's go."

They began to search the island all over again, but this time, it feels like Darlene knows where to go. There's like a guiding whisper speaking softly in her ears. Telling her which way to turn and which way to avoid.

Now, she and Rajesh were standing on the meadow that connects the forest to the Fortress. The soft and warm voice directed her to walk to the eastern part of the forest where bamboos grow abundantly.

And when she did, Darlene saw the unthinkable. Hyacinth was cradling a newborn baby in her arms and was drenched with sweat.

Darlene noticed how deep Hyacinth's eyes were and how hollow her cheeks are. She must be starving and she must be cold. The wind is blowing hard and nothing is covering her body. Hyacinth only had a short on and a thin piece of sleeveless shirt. It looks like she removed all of her clothing to wrap it around her son.

"Hyacinth." Darlene called for the woman's name, and almost instantly, Hyacinth looked back.

The woman cried, and her hoarse voice resounded throughout the quiet and vast meadow. Rajesh and Darlene quickly ran towards the woman and helped her get up.

It's as if sharp daggers pierced Rajesh's heart when he saw Hyacinth's condition. She was obviously shaken and is completely in disarray. "My god, you poor woman."

Darlene doesn't need to ask to know where Landon is. She just knows, just by looking at Hyacinth's condition. She doesn't want to ask and give more pain to her friend's lover. Landon was one of her closest friends, and what Landon cares for, then she does too. "Can I hold him?" Darlene asked, her voice shaking as her emotions were getting the best of her. "What's his name?"

Hyacinth agreed and handed over the frail boy, her hands shaking from the fatigue. "I named him Landon... after his father."

Through the dim light, she stared at the boy, and Darlene thinks... if only she could see the three forming a happy family. But a wish can be too far fetched from reality. As a few feet away, a six foot tall creature of Tar and Coal approached them. It is hungry and could smell the blood coming from Hyacinth and the newborn.

It was too late as it was too dark and there was no light. They had only spotted the creature when it opened its mouth and fire spewed out.

Screams and cries were heard and birds resting on the tree branches flew away from the scene.

Hyacinth was pulled by the creature and her arms hung out from its mouth---as if trying to reach out. As if she's begging and hoping to be saved. All that Darlene could do was cry as she carried the crying baby in her arms. Rajesh pulled her away from the scene as they ran away. And as the creature takes one last bite... Hyacinth's finger fell to the ground, flopping against the grass.