BLOODLINES: ANGELO MARKADO

AZRAEL AND THE FEAST OF BHIASTI

  Azrael followed the specks of dust. They led him to a quiet suburb where the row of houses is now mostly abandoned. The streets are dark except for a few flickering lamp posts. The earth's mood is depressing, with cries cutting through the dead silence of the night, not the smiling divine creature, though.  He fluttered his gigantic wings and followed the specks of dust that entered a house.

Inside, he saw a family of three praying as they huddled together on their bed. In their dying moment, the girl, barely six years of age, is bleeding but sleeping peacefully. Azrael feels the love in the air as the mother, cradling her child, kisses the girl on the forehead.

"Rest now my baby. I love you," the mother hugged her child tightly. The husband did the same after kissing his wife briefly.

"I love you," the wife whispered to her husband. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he acknowledged the love and watched as his wife closed her eyes. The specks of dust entered the three bodies while Azrael waited, suspended in the air.

Then it's his turn to work. First, he kissed each on the lips and sucked a ball of light out of them.  Afterwhich, he spits each on his satchel that is now filled with sparkling balls of light.

"You will see each other again soon, promise," Azrael tapped on his satchel gently before flying out of the house and following more specks of dust that are covering the earth's atmosphere.

    The divine creature found himself in a chaotic city. People are running around mad, holding their weapons and harming each other. Buildings and cars are on fire. The whole place smells death, fear, and anger.

"What's happening?" he asked one of his brothers. On the ground, his other siblings are in a rush to harvest the souls of the dead.

"We have to hurry!” one of the divine creatures is screaming at them, “The vaccine that the serpent created through Kein is locking their souls and preventing our harvest. We have to..."

Then Azrael gasped, and all the divine creatures looked up to heaven, listening intently to a silent voice that only they could hear.

"Yes, Abba!" Azrael, along with his siblings, shouted. Then they moved at the speed of light.

Now, Azrael is inside a hospital following the specks of dust, but as he entered a room, he saw how dust clouds fell on the ground when a nurse injected the vaccine into one patient.  Then the patient woke up from a coma and convulsed violently, vomiting a black gas that floated in the air.

Azrael approached the patient, who became motionless again. He tried kissing the man's lips, but the divine creature pulled away in disgust.

You are breathing, yet you are already dead. Azrael pinched his nose, smelling something terrible.

As Azrael turned away to fly and leave, he noticed that the specks of dust from the tree of eternal life were getting thinner, and more black gas was filling the air.

I have to hurry! He followed the clouds of dust nearest him. It led him to the top of the hospital floor and inside a room where rioters are wreaking havoc. Some of them are not scheduled for the harvest because they have no white specks of dust in their system yet.

"Mother! No!” Mae shouted when men shoved her against the wall, away from her mother.

"Mae!" Henry struggled to stand up but vomited blood as he cried out.

Azrael is quick to kiss Henry and suck his soul out, and then he immediately kissed Mae before the man can violate her.

"Hendrix...I love you. Please don't forget, Yswah loves you too," Almira whispered in her son's ears before injecting Hendrix with the vaccine.

No! Azrael kissed Almira before she fell on the ground and immediately hovered over the sleeping body of Hendrix. Instead of sucking his soul, though, Azrael blew air from his mouth to Hendrix's.

Abba, what did I do? Azrael trembled as he watched Hendrix's body. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He just wanted to save the boy. The mob left the room as Hendrix started to convulse.  

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Hendrix screamed in pain as every hole and pore of his body bleeds.  

Azrael saw his holy breath traveling inside Hendrix's body but, he also saw something staining Hendrix's blood. Hendrix thrashes and turns like a madman, bathing in the pool of his blood, howling in agony.

The divine creature knew that his breath was fighting off the vaccine, pushing it away from Hendrix's system. Like oil and water, his breath is preventing the vaccine from mixing in Hendrix's blood. Then he saw it -- his breath protected Hendrix's blood and pushed the vaccine to the only area in Hendrix's body that Azrael has none. The vaccine settled in the blood of Hendrix's manhood, doubling its size.

For a while, Hendrix's body became motionless. Azrael smelt him and smiled. There’s no disgusting scent on him. He kissed Hendrix and felt his soul coming out, but then the vaccine started spreading and pulling the soul back in. Azrael stopped and hovered around Hendrix's body, thinking of what to do next.

He closed his eyes.

Abba, what should I do? he then listened and nodded.  

He blew more of his divine breath in Hendrix's mouth and saw the boy’s body light up. Colorful patterns moved around Hendrix's skin. A bluish mark of sharp fiery pattern settled in Hendrix's right torso, to his shoulder and part of his neck. A red cut-like drawing with a sharp, pointed edge settled on his left rib. A white mark like Azrael's wings appeared on Hendrix's back. A brownish freckle-like pattern appeared on his lower legs and feet. Finally, a greenish tornado-like design appeared on his left arm, to his shoulder, and some parts of his cheek.  Then Azrael sighed and flew out of the room, leaving Hendrix behind.

It was morning when Azrael went out of the hospital. Suspended in the air are his siblings, all watching the black gas gathering together and going the same direction. There are no more white specks of dust in the air from the tree of eternal life. Instead, dead bodies are lying everywhere, and crying is heard all over the city.

"Are we done?" a winged creature asked.

"For now," Azrael answered his brother.

"Should we follow the black gas?" another one asked.

"Abba has no instructions to do that. Let's just fly home," Azrael said after shaking his head.  

Then all the divine creatures flew toward the heaven where they belong, carrying the satchels with their harvests inside.

******

In Cintru, Kein’s fruit is sucking the black gas. Then, from green, the fruit becomes brown. Kein smelled it, and his mouth waters.

"Be patient my son, be patient," The giant serpent whispered in his ear as it slowly slithered from Kein’s neck toward his arm, becoming smaller and smaller until a worm-sized serpent dug a hole inside the brown fruit, and it turned blood red.

Kein smelled the fruit again, and he laughed heartily.

“We did it father, we did it!” Kein kissed the fruit.

******

  Who's who of world leaders and wealthiest people are with President Santiago ‘Santi’ Vicente III in the exclusive survivors' convention hosted by Kein Serpens Industries in Cintru. The Antarctic, under the territory of New Zealand, housed the new KSi Headquarters. 

Santi didn't want to leave his country so he can work in rebuilding his nation and turning over his reign, but how can he say no to the invitation of the person who healed the world through the vaccine made by his company? 

A private plane flew him and his cabinet members to Kein's luxurious castle-like headquarters in the middle of the Antarctic ocean.

As to how the company is surviving such coldest weather and very little sunlight, Santi can't imagine. Yet, he was impressively surprised when their plane landed. Cintru is a bustling modern haven of a country built by the bare hands of KSi people from a large chunk of massive icebergs. Yet, despite the sub-zero climate, Cintru is by far the greenest he has seen a place can be. 

“Amazing huh? Where in the world will you see a giant Rothschild's Orchid like this?” Their escort, Idris, looks like a model who jumped out of the magazine cover, asked when he saw how in awe Santi was with the place.

“Aren’t they sensitive to light?” One of Santi’s aides asked, a plant enthusiast.

“Plants, flowers, and trees here in Cintru do not need the elements of nature to grow. We make sure that they are independent to thrive despite the lack of sunlight, water, and soil. Through genome editing and the concept of CRISPR-Cas9, we altered their DNA codes to rid them of their weaknesses and give them everlasting life,” Idris winked at them charmingly as Santi’s female staff almost swooned with delight. Darn! Even Santi developed a male crush at his age just by observing how intelligent their escort is.

Santi, who is seventy-eight and was already dying of colon cancer, continued leading the second largest populated country in Southeast Asia before the virus got to him. It was indeed a miracle that he is alive today. 

He was ready to retire even though he felt invigorated despite the lack of sleep.  The doctors told him about the vaccine’s side effects, which he didn’t mind. Then he got a personal invitation from Mr. Kein Serpens himself a week before he planned to step down. So not wanting to miss the opportunity, he decided to go.

"Over there, Mr. President," one of his aides led him to the table where ASEAN leaders gathered together. They've exchanged pleasantries and even hugged, surprised and grateful that they are all alive and can now touch each other without fear of virus infection.  

"This place is something huh?" said the Singapore Prime Minister.

"I know, right?" Santi replied while looking at the tallest ceiling he has ever seen. 

The conference hall is very spacious despite the number of delegates from all over the world. The lighting, interior, down to table settings are modern yet classical at the same time. 

The palace gives an ambiance of an ancient cathedral where people worship and pray. The magnificent plants and flowers display made the place edgy, and the room’s scent made them feel like they were dining alfresco.

They feasted like there’s no tomorrow since the food and drinks are flooding without end.  At one point, all of them were dying, so eating became a forgotten indulgence, but now their appetite is back because they came out victorious against the greatest war in humankind.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

The crowd became quiet as Caiphaiz appeared at all of their tables in virtual reality.

"Is that him?" whispered among the crowd, referring to Kein.

No one has seen Mr. Serpens in person. They only heard his voice during his video presentations of the vaccines that he always donates to various countries. His philanthropic works are known worldwide but never his face.

"That's Mr. Caiphaiz Prest, Kein's second in command," said the King of Brunei. 

"Finally, we will heal together! Finally, the world unites!" Caiphaiz continued. He presented memories and video footage of the world debilitated by the virus, poverty, war, and death. KSi showcased its advocacy and role in fighting the virus every step of the way. There were ups and downs, hits and misses, and KSi owned their mistakes but highlighted their triumphs. Finally, as the video is about to end, they outlined KSi's plans to unite the world, rebuild, and promote peace.  

The audience became emotional as they watched the video outlining their victory that they began to cry, laugh, and pray despite differences in their religious beliefs.

When Kein's picture appeared at the end of the presentation, the applause is deafening. The crowd is in awe of Mr. Serpens youthfulness and beauty. Finally, they put a face in the famous name. As usual, all of them are mesmerized with his beautiful reddish violet eyes smiling dashingly at them.

"Here he is, ladies and gentlemen! Leaders of the world, I am pleased to present, Dr. Kein Serpens, founder and chairman of KSi!" The god-like voice is booming and bouncing inside the hall.

There's no denying the power of Kein as he stepped on the stage while his virtual projection appeared on every table.  Some suddenly found themselves kneeling and praying before him. There's no end to cries of joy and sending of love and appreciation to the savior of the world.

Santi knelt, crying like a baby. He can't explain his emotion, it's like he is a child again, and his father came to help him and assure him that everything will be alright. He felt blessed and loved because of Kein's presence.

"Oh my God..."

"Thank you, Mr. Serpens..."

"You are an angel from heaven..."

The cries only stopped when Kein finally motioned his hand for their attention.

"People of the world wipe your tears away," the voice they heard is mesmerizing. They grew quiet with gaping mouths and tearful eyes as they gazed upon Kein with so much adoration.  

Then Kein presented his plan for the world, and the crowd listened intently. 

“With your permission, we will change our dating system from Anno Domini to Anno Bhiasti. From the year of the Lord, we will start over to the year of eternal,” Kein smiled. Bhiasti in Serpens’ language means beast, not eternal.  

As soon as the world leaders sign their souls away, year 1 AB -- the year of the beast -- will start. A befitting year indeed as Kein is looking at his children, the immortal beasts, the frozen ones, his konxelada demons. 

Then Kein imposed a unified language, a common currency known as koine, and a new religion where he is the only god. 

"All of this will happen if you will allow me to take over. You are tired, my children. You have suffered enough. It is time for you to enjoy your life and let me handle the rebuilding of the new world from here. So I humble myself before you, please choose me as your new world leader," Kein’s charm is hypnotizing that everybody just nodded in agreement.

"To Kein, our savior!" one shouted, and the crowd went wild. Then, cheers replaced the tearful cries, and everybody agreed in unity with Kein's plan.

"One world to heal, one world to lead, Kein is our savior. To the year of eternal life!"

"To paradise!"

Kein motioned again to stop the unending applause; his children have endless energy to worship him for eternity.

"I am very honored. Let's solidify this agreement through the signing of the KSi Treaty of ONE ANNO BHIASTI, the end of RPTR21 Virus. Now we are truly one healed world and one united soul!" Kein stroked the fruit inside his pocket, meaning every word he said. He is basking in the afterglow of his victory. Adonai failed. He will never be alone to wander this empty world for eternity.

Amidst the loud applause, Santi and the others saw their table transformed into a giant screen showing a digital contract containing the treaty’s details.

"If you may, please place your right thumb on the fruit icon that you see on your screen to sign the agreement," the host instructed them.

Without reading the contract, everybody followed the instruction. Then, Santi felt a sting from his thumb. When he lifted his finger, he saw blood, yet none on the icon he touched.

In Kein's pocket, he touched the fruit while looking and smiling at the cheering crowd. Then from it, the worm-like form of Serpens' head came out.  

The contract collected the DNA information of all the attendees. Soon KSi will have the blood record of all konxeladas in the world. Their souls are his hostages until Adonai pays for their ransom.

"Well done my son, well done..." the serpent hisses inside the fruit.

Kein smiled. He had put the last of his fruit into good use. Soon, they will face Adonai to demand an X-deal -- the souls of his creations in exchange for the reversal of their punishments. Then, Serpens will change back to its true form, and Kein can farm again.

******

"It is time," across the cheering crowd, Caiphaiz whispered in Sofia’s ear. She is looking gorgeous in her green sexy cocktail dress.