Fear the Reaper

Chapter 26: Neax's Story

Neax

When I was born, I was hated by my own parents. I was the product of a Celestial-Cythonican body heat affair or even you can call it an affair. My mother, an Archdemon, wished me to die so she did everything for me to just literally die while I'm inside her stomach. But to her dismay, I survived. When I was born, she gave me to my father, Elohim. But never did I feel that I was loved. When I grew up, I was already living by myself and hungry for love from my father. He let me leave on Earth since I'm too ugly to be in the Celestial axis. Not even once I remember he visited me. I was all by myself. Lonely, hungry and taking care of myself. I was on the verge of killing myself when I met this young girl of my age.

"Ey kid, what are you doing here?" tanong niya sa akin.

The moment I laid my eyes on her, my instinct told me to protect this kid, that I need her by my side and make her mine.

"I love you," wala sa sariling sabi ko sa kanya.

"What did you say?" tanong niya na hindi narinig ang aking sinabi.

"Uhm I said you're also a kid, don't you know?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yeah I am. Sorry about that. So what's your name?" sabi niya.

"Neax. And you?"

"Seven. My name is Seven," aniya sabay ngiti.

That is when I realized that the kid in front of me is the kid I wanted to be with.

My life on earth wasn't boring anymore as I have Seven with me. She would play with me, we would go swimming and talk about anything. She would go home around six in the evening thirty minutes before my hunger strikes. Hindi ko gustong makita niya ako at ang itsura ko sa tuwing ako ay nagugutom. I knew there were already bloodsuckers existing in this world. I, myself, am also a bloodsucker but unlike them, I am the one who sucks dry the bloodsuckers roaming around the Earth. I am the first of my kind. I doubted that I would have my own kind. I am nosferatu, the bloodsuckers' predator and feared of.

Seven and I become inseparable as we grow. I don't really know much about her as she doesn't know anything about me either.

"Aren't you afraid of bloodsuckers?" minsan ay tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nope," sagot niya.

"Aren't you afraid being suck dry by them?" tanong ko pa.

"No. I can defend myself so no," sagot niya.

"How about the humored nosferatu? They say that she is a more notorious killer than bloodsuckers. Aren't you afraid of her?"

"No. The one who made me is far scarier than anything in this world," sagot niya. "How about you? Aren't you scared living here?"

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. There's no way I'll tell her that I am Nosferatu.

"Do you want to meet the one who created me?" tanong niya.

"Is that possible?" tanong ko.

"Yes. My mistress won't mind at all as long as she knows you are my friend," sagot niya sa akin.

Oh yes, friend.

Bigla akong nalungkot sa sinabi niya.

"Oh why are you sad? Did I say something?" biglang nag-alala si Seven.

"N-no. Naiinggit lang ako kasi you're living with your creator unlike me, my parents hated me," sagot ko sa kanya.

Ngumiti siya sa akin.

"Come with me and meet her," aniya bago niya hinawakan ang aking kamay at bigla na lang kaming nawala.

We teleported in the front of a huge door surrounded by a blue fire. It was so freaking hot that I was almost burning.

"Oops," sabi ni Seven sabay hawak sa akin. "I'm sorry about that. I forgot to hold your hands," aniya, entwined our fingers.

"What place is this?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"This is Axis Mundi. Death's domain," sagot niya.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

"D-death?" kinakabahanh tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yes," nakangiting sagot niya noong makapasok na kami sa loob ng gate.

"I shouldn't be here," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Eh? Why not? Mistress told me to bring you here since I told her a lot about you," sagot niya sa akin.

"R-really?"

"Yes. And she said she wants to meet you," aniya pa. "So let's go. I'm excited to let you meet her," aniya pa.

Wala akong nagawa noong lumakad na kami patungo mismo sa bungad ng napakalaking bato. Other than members of the big three, Death is the most mysterious one. Hindi katulad ng aking ama o ni Sin na madalas lumalabas sa kanilang lungga.

I could say that fifty percent of Axis Mundi is made of water.

"We need to walk over to that bridge before the ships arrive," sabi pa ni Seven.

"Can we just walk through the water? Mukha namang mababaw lang," sagot ko sa kanya.

Ngumisi siya.

"I suggest that we shouldn't. Hades is very particular when it comes to those who cross his river. It may seem shallow but trust me when I say he can manipulate it from shallow to deep. Plus not to mention the creatures living there," aniya.

Bigla akong pinanindigan ng balahibo.

"Alright, let's walk on the bridge," sagot ko sa kanya.

Pagakapasok na pagkapasok namin sa b****a ng bilugang b****a ng bato ay sinalubong ako ng mga espiritung nakapila.

"Alright everyone, please fall in line. You are all entering the sorting room in a minute. Please be aware this is the last process of your final destination," narinig kong sabi ng isang pusang nakatayo sa harapan ng mga ito.

"Who's that?" tanong ko kay Seven.

"That's Palemo, one of the sorting team leaders," sagot niya.

"Oh?" pasagot na tanong ko sa kanya.

Sa tingin ko at isang maliit na bato lang ang kinaroroonan namin ngunit sa loob ay napakalawak nito. Hindi maabot-abot ng aking paningin ang bawat dulo ng sulok nito na para bang kasya yata ng buong earth dito.

"Yes. This is the heart of Axis mundi, death's territory. Everything here is organized and in order," sagot niya sa akin. "But this way," aniya pa

Muli niyang hinila ang aking kamay at dinala niya ako sa isang nakapinid na napakalaking pintuan. I wonder how this gigantic door fits in this building.

"This is Death's room," aniya bago kumatok ng tatlong beses. Kusa itong nagbukas at sumalubong sa akin ang kakaibang lamig at aura ng kung sino man ang naroon. Hindi ko makita kung ano ang naroon dahil sa dilim.

"Let's go," nakangiting sagot niya sa akin.

Pagkapasok namin ay kusang nagsara ang pintuan.

"Mistress, we're here," sabi ni Seven.

"Hmmmm," iyon lang ang aking narinig bago umilaw ang mga sulo na naroon.

Tumambad sa akin ang isang napakalaking ahas. Kahit na naka-coil ito ay hindi ko matantiya kung gaano ito kalaki at kahaba. The snake is color black with extremely red eyes. She stares at me without even blinking.

"I can smell from you the scent of Elohim. Are you his daughter?" tanong nito sa akin without opening it's mouth na inilapit pa ang napakalaking ulo nito. Pakiramdam ko ay tuldok lang ang size ko sa ahas na ito.

Tumango ako sa kanya dahil sa hindi maipaliwanang na takot sa aking dibdib at panginginig ng aking buong katawan.

"I see," sagot nito na hindi pa rin gumagalaw ang bunganga nito.

Nakita kong bahagya niyang ipinilig ang kanyang ulo at saka nakita ko ang isang pwersang humigop sa napakalaking ahas at ilang sandali lang ay nakita kong isang napakaganda at matangkad na babae ang nakatayo sa dati ay kinaroroonan ng higanteng ahas.

"Mistress," nakangiting bati ni Seven sa kanya noong makalapit na ito sa amin.

Napanganga ako sa aking kagandahan nito. She has this jet black long hair, porcelain skin. She has a heart shaped face that is paired with thick long lashes, wine red eyes and a button nose with thin yet pouty lips. She looks innocent but I know, this lady standing in front of me is the deadlier than anyone I know.

"It's finally nice to meet you, Neax," nakangiting sbi niya sa akin exposing her pearly white teeth at me. Bahagya pa itong yumuko upang kahit papaano ay hindi siya matangkad sa akin.

"I-It's an honor to meet the famous death," sagot ko sa kanya.

Death has a beauty that is unique but Seven already have my heart. For me, she's the only one for me.

Since then, palagi na kaming magkasama ni Seven while we are growing up. We confess our feelings to each other and we become a couple. Death acknowledges our relationship. She never showed any sign of not wanting me for her Seven. She she's her as her mother and Seven's undeniable attachment to Death shows not a single trace of betrayal.

"I see you have been so close to death," sabi sa akin ni Elohim, ang aking ama pagkatapos niya akong ipadala sa isang misyon. Yes. I agreed on becoming my dad's private assassin in exchange for acknowledgement as his daughter. Seven was the one who pushed me to do this. Fathers cant ignore their children, that was she says. But Elohim is the cruellest father that I have known.

"Yes, father," sagot ko sa kanya.

Ngumisi siya sa akin.

"Be a spy for me," sagot niya.

Bigla akong napatingin sa kanya. .

"No. I can't do that," sagot ko sa kanya. There's no way I can do that. I can't betray Death let alone Seven. No.

"What did you say?" tanong niya sa akin.

"I said I won't do it, father," sagot ko sa kanya.

"And why not?"

"I don't want to betray their trust. I'm sorry father," sagot ko sa kanya.

And before I could even do anything, I was being assaulted by him. Hindi ako nagkaroon ng oras na maipagtanggol ang aking sarili.

"Wala kang kwentang anak," pagalit na sabi niya sa akin bago niya ako dinuraan sa mukha habang halos ay mag-agaw buhay na ako. "You are a piece of s**t that should never be born. I have no daughter like you!" aniya before vanishing.

Naiwan akong sugatan at nag-aagaw ng hininga. Masakit, physically and emotionally. I should have known that Elohim never sees me as his daughter. He only used me to do his dirty work.

"My..my..my," narinig kong may nagsalita na bigla na lamang lumitaw sa aking harapan.

"D-death? Did you come here to reap my soul?" nakangiting tanong ko sa kanya. Of course I know. She's a soul reaper after all and the first time I saw her walking on earth.

"What? I'm just taking a leisurely walk. Can't I have a break from working?" tanong na sagot niya sa akin.

Napatawa ako.

"You seems have a very particular place to walk," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Well, I accidentally found you here," aniya.

"Oh cut the chase, Death. Am I going to die today?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha.

"Would you like to die and leave my Seven all alone?" tanong niya sa akin sa seryosong mukha.

Blood gushing from my wounds, flesh and bones is visible to Death's eyes. And I saw pity all over her eyes.

"N-no," nahihirapang sagot ko sa kanya. "I don't want to die yet," sabi ko pa.

Death squatted so she could meet my eyes just like the first time she did when we first met.

"I will let you live but in exchange you will become my personal warrior. What can you say?" sabi niya sa akin.

"Yes," agad na sagot ko sa kanya ng hindi nag-iisip. Ang nasa isipan ko lang ay si Seven at ayaw kong masaktan siya sa oras na malaman niyang patay na ako.

"Well then," aniya bago hiwakan ang kanang kamay ko. "You have to swear your loyalty to me no matter what happen or who you against with and your sole purpose is to the welfare of Axis Mundi."

"I swear! Please death, the pain is unbreable already!" nahihirapan ng sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay. But after this I will have to hide you while healing away from your father's eyes. He told me to sent you to the goner zone but I won't do it," aniya pa. "I have a special place for you to hide. I'll be the one to tell Seven about what happen to you," sabi pa niya.

Nakita kong mula sa kanyang kamay na nakahawak sa akin ay gumapang ang isang ahas na tatoo mula roon at tumawid sa aking kamay.

"This is your brand, Neax. You are now belong to my squad, to my Axis Mundi, Neax," nakangiting sabi niya sa akin.

Death hide me into one of her insane prison, the Curse. The place was freaking scary as the live chains reminds me of million snake. Their clatters are too loud that I can't help but to get used to it. Seven always come there and visits me. She'll often tell me what she did kahit na wala akong malay dahil sa kailangan kong mag-concentrate sa paggaling.

I thought Seven will stand by my side and keeps on visiting me but one day she stops coming. And I wonder why.