BLOODLINES: ANGELO MARKADO

THE FATHER AND THE FARMER

Diosdeverde is a place of pain and refuge for Kein. Having only two seasons -- rainy and sunny days -- helped him design the forest's landscape, now his private garden. With the assistance of the natives who planted everything for him, the virgin rainforest became his home.

Sitting on the ground and feeling the dirt on his skin, he is careful not to touch anything. Kissing his skin is sure death to the green life in his garden. In turn, he contented himself with just looking from afar. Much like unrequited love, he gives a lot never receives it back.  

This is the true curse of his immortality -- when he can love and hate for eternity while those around him wither and die -- what a pity.

He finds solace from a green fruit that he always holds in his hand. It’s the only remnant of his past identity as the most excellent farmer of all humanity. He saved the fruit before Adonai cursed him for killing his brother and littering his field with Aveel's blood.

Adonai, the God who created the universe, put his parents in His beautiful garden. Then, with one tiny mistake, his parents got kicked out and placed in this world to toil its earth and grow food for themselves.

Kein didn’t mind. He loves tilling the soil and producing green life from it. Yet when he offered them to Adonai, he got rejected, and Aveel got God’s favor in exchange for animal blood sacrifice.

Blood? Adonai wants blood sacrifice more than healthy food sustenance? Fine! He murdered his brother and offered Adonai a human blood sacrifice.

"You are not to grow any plant from the ground that you littered with your brother's blood," said Adonai in anger. Among the punishments given to him, not being able to farm is the most heartbreaking for Kein.

"Father," Kein opened his eyes, hearing as the serpent slithered toward him in irritation.  It loathed the dirt on its long spineless body.  Adonai’s rejection made him consider Serpens as his father, especially when it told him the truth about his mother’s story in the garden.  

Adonai had been unjust to his parents, instructing them not to eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil but placing such a dangerous tree in the middle of the garden anyway. It’s like Adonai created his parents to fail.

"How can you ask for a meeting here? Take me to your cottage," the serpent hissed.

"I'm sorry father, this place gives me comfort,” Kein smelled the fruit he is holding.  

When he fought with his brother, both of them spilled blood, Kein’s blood went to the barrel of fruits he just harvested while Aveel...well, he lost a lot of blood that day. After Adonai punished him, he realized that he could no longer eat plant-based food. It rots and tastes horrible as soon as he puts it in his mouth. 

He had no choice but to consume filthy animal meat and blood that he loathed so much when he was a farmer.  The bloody barrel of fruits didn’t rot and tasted fresh, though.  It’s as if the fruits became immortal just like him. He fed on them prudently for thousands of years until he was down to the last two. 

Then he came across Caiphaiz, a pharisee who ordered the execution of a man named Yswah. Yswah claimed to the world that He is Adonai’s only son, and humankind must worship Him as their Savior. Such blasphemy infuriated Caiphaiz that he awarded the lowlife carpenter with a death He much deserved through crucifixion. 

Kein was impressed with the priest, so he rewarded him with one of his tasty fruits. He didn’t intend to make Caiphaiz his son, but as it turned out, the fruit stained by his blood before his curse can turn humans into immortal like him. So now he is no longer alone as he walks the earth for eternity. 

With one remaining fruit he is holding for his dear life, he must make good use of it someday. But, for now, it’s the only green that never withers and dies in his hand, and he will take pleasure in keeping it near him as much as he can.

“This place gives you comfort because you are reminded of your crime,” the serpent prefers to hang on a branch of a tree, but Kein will not be able to go near it. The farmer hates losing any of his plants, thought the serpent.

“How did you know?” Nevertheless, Kein asked, there is truth in Serpens’ observation.

“Why do you think I always like to hang on a branch of a tree? It reminds me of when I first met your mother,” the serpent hissed.

"Ahh...when you seduced my mother, the only woman that came from a man," Kein kissed the fruit he was holding. But then, he remembered that Serpens offered his mother a powerful fruit too.

"Yes, I miss her. She saw me in my true form then and we instantly liked each other. Without me, you will not exist," the serpent hisses smugly.

“You make it sound like you make love with my mother,” Kein chuckled at the idea. The serpent, even in its old form, was incapable of sensual activity. He simply had no physical tools for it.

“Well, I taught your parents how and for that your mother’s womb gave birth to you,” the serpent wrapped itself around Kein’s neck and body. 

“Painfully, I suppose. I was told that her punishment is to bear the pain of childbirth. Well, I guess that makes you my de facto father since I owe you my existence,” Kein makes room for his father to slither its slimy body into his. Since there’s no branch of a tree for it to hang on to, his body will do.

"If I had it my way, I would make love with your mother and have you come from my loin as my son. She's beautiful in her nakedness that it was a pity she didn't even know it before I showed up to teach her how to think for herself," the serpent said proudly, not an ounce of remorse for what he did with humanity.

"It's alright though, we sort of found a way to be one," Kein said meaningfully.

The serpent just hissed as it squeezed Kein's body tightly, remembering the first time he allowed it to be in human form. Then, the two shared a long silence.

"Why do I sense melancholy? Aren't you successful in preventing Adonai’s plan to harvest the souls of the humans?” Serpens licked Kein’s cheek.

The two joined forces in creating a potent vaccine to counter Adonai’s virus in the form of specks of white dust.

"We are, but there’s a bit of a side effect," Kein explained what happened to Sofia and the rest of the selected human elites that he preselected carefully to be inoculated by KSi22 decades ago.

"So they got your thirst for blood huh?" the serpent’s tongue is inside Kein's lips, kissing him.

"But not their taste for flesh, I believe they got it from you," the serpent’s seduction arouses Kein.

When the serpent and Kein united their bodies, their blood and venom mixture became the key ingredients in the vaccine, KSi22, made by Kein's company.  

"Is this the reason why you stopped the human testing?"

"Yes, I need to understand first the effect it has on the survivors," Kein placed the immortals, he now called konxelada -- the frozen one -- in the remotest part of the world, the Antarctic.  

The konxeladas can't harm humans while living in their frozen homes, as frozen as their bodies who are always thirsty for flesh and blood.

"...but I still created other vaccines to save the humans," the world is still fighting off deadly viruses and might not survive possible attacks from his konxeladas, too. With this, he decided to contain his new immortals someplace, away from humankind, for now.

"You are relying on Science and human knowledge too much. Our vaccine is perfect! The other vaccines have nothing against the dust coming from the tree of life. Adonai’s plan will succeed if you do not proceed with ours!" The serpent is screaming in his ear now, shattering his eardrum.

“Adonai is all-knowing, for sure He’d already known of our plan,” Kein is still doubtful of their plan.

“Yet he gave humans their precious free will. Let’s test Adonai’s faith in humankind again. It’s not like we will force the humans to take our vaccine. If they chose us then we win. Just like I won your parents away from Him a long time ago,” Serpens whispered promises of powers to Kein, “You will be like Adonai, a god who ruled the humankind,”

"Alright! We will implement the worldwide KSi22 inoculation but what about the side effects?" Kein has an erection with the thought of so much power.

"We will deal with them later," the serpent is known to be an excellent manipulator. He may have lost his good looks but not his disarming charm.

"I just wish I can make them all like my son, Caiphaiz," Kein said in irritation.

"Ah, the old priest. Where is he anyway?" Serpens is satisfied now that Kein agreed to his plan.

"Around. He is terrified of you," Caiphaiz and the serpent always have an unspoken animosity.

"Of course, he was taught when he was still human that I am the devil himself. The father of all evil in the world," Serpens said proudly.

“Well, are you?” Kein is curious.

“You said I’m your father, are you evil Kein, my son?” Serpens trapped Kein with his question.

Silence.

"If only I had more of this fruit to feed the humans. They will have my immortality and be more like Caiphaiz but none of the demonic hunger for flesh that they got from you,” Kein sighed deeply.

"You sounded like you are disgusted with me, son," the serpent hissed, wrapping himself tightly around Kein’s neck.

"Oh is there love between us, father? Aren’t we designed to hate?" Kein choked in his speech.

"Then why pity the humans? Let them eat each other and then the earth will be filled with murderous blood just like how you want it," the serpent is provoking and leading Kein again — influencing him to make a firm decision about the vaccine.

Silence.

"Why did you even ally with me on this? Why didn't you just let Adonai leave me here all alone in this world as He harvests the human souls for Himself?" Kein kissed the serpent’s face, admitting gratefulness despite himself.

"Because...if we trapped as many souls here on earth as we can, Abba will be sad for them. He is known for His Grace. We will bargain Him to remove both our curses in exchange for the souls that you will make immortals," the serpent’s uncanny wisdom is limitless.

"Ah...and what makes you think I want to go back to being a mortal human who can die of disease and murder?" Kein asked back, catching on to what the serpent was trying to pull on him.

"Because I know you want nothing more than to become a farmer again. To grow plants of your own and eat them, to build rain forests with your bare hands and not by asking humans to do it for you. You are always proud of your harvests, that's why you offered them to Adonai even when you know that what He honors is an offering of the purest lamb with its fat and blood," the serpent's voice is alluring, seducing Kein all the more.

Kein's heart palpitated, remembering who he was before and what his hands were capable of, gave him a hard-on. Yes, the serpent knew what his heart truly desires.

“Imagine yourself as a farmer and myself as a divine creature again who can walk on heaven and earth. It can happen for us son, it can!” Serpens hissed in excitement.

******

2119 Anno Domini. A hundred years after the first outbreak of the deadly flu virus that caused a global pandemic, the world is still chaotic. Regardless of how many vaccines KSi formulated, the virus’ variants mutated like it has its own goal -- to infect as many humans as possible.

The economy is terrible, and people are dying of hunger, if not the disease. Crime rates are skyrocketing as countries surrender their sovereignty one by one after losing their fights against the pandemic.

"I need four!" Dr. Henry Markt barged into the office of Dr. Wood, who is injecting himself with KSi22 vaccine despite not having a virus infection yet. Henry rushed to the office of the hospital director after receiving only one vial of the vaccine.

He just came from the hospital lobby, which is already under strict lockdown. The news reported that India and China finally gave up the fight. The hospital stopped treating the virus, awaiting the delivery of the miraculous vaccine rumored to cure even the most severe infection there is, magically.

This caused riots all over the city.  The whole world fights over the injustice of inoculating the elites first.

Dr. Markt, being one of the highest-ranking officials in the biggest hospital in Tel Aviv, got only one vial. Unfortunately, it means his wife and two children are not lucky to be given the cure.

"Henry, please understand, more vaccines are arriving soon. As front liners, we have to be the first to receive it, then our families will follow suit," Dr. Wood said, feeling dizzy after injecting himself, not knowing that KSi22 has a different effect if the human has no RPTR21 virus in his system.

"The World Health Organization just announced that the virus is now airborne. How can we wait? The vaccine will not reach us in time!" Henry’s jaws clenched as he lost his patience.

"I'm sorry, Henry. Just have the vaccine and consider yourself lucky th..." Dr. Wood jumped out of his seat when Dr. Markt smashed his fist on the table in a fury.

Angry and hopeless, Henry just took the syringe and prepared the injection.

"Grea...t!" Dr. Wood’s tongue felt numb. Instead of injecting himself, though, Dr. Markt just left the office with the syringe in his pocket.

Outside, he saw as the people started pounding on the hospital doors. He knew that soon, with such a mob, they would be outnumbered.  So he proceeded to the elevator and pushed the button to the penthouse to see his family.

******

"Henry!" Almira opened the door to her husband. They met and fell in love at the hospital as nurses and doctors fighting off a 100-year-old virus and its variances.

While Henry is from SouthEast Asia, Almira is a local. They chose to serve in Tel Aviv General for thirty years since it is one of the well-fortified remaining cities fighting the virus. Their family has been locked in the hospital ever since.

"Almira, your nose!" Henry stepped inside the house and locked the door.

"Oh... get out! I'm sick!" Almira stepped away from her husband. She wiped the blood from her nose after removing her protective shield.

"It's okay, I think I have it too. It has gone airborne. How about the kids?" Henry is thinking about which one of his family needs the vaccine the most.

"Hendrix is the worst, he hasn't regained consciousness since this morning," Almira removed her useless protective gear.

"Mom!" Mae, their daughter, shouted. Both parents rushed inside the room.

Mae is standing near Hendrix's bed, soaked with blood. Almira hugged her daughter and cried while Henry checked on Hendrix's worsening condition. 

"I only have one!" Henry said in frustration, choking on his tears. He showed them the vaccine.

"I'm ready to go," despite her tears, Almira smiled, kissing her daughter’s forehead.

"No!" Mae protested, hugging her mother tightly.

"I am too," Henry said, hugging his girls. 

The couple smiled; both have strong faith in God.  That's why they fell in love with each other. Despite the risk, they even have children together, whom they taught about faith, love, and hope amidst the darkness of life.

"Mae, this is for you. You are the healthiest among us. You have to survive,” Almira explained to her daughter, who is a nurse just like her. 

"No!" Mae is firm because, just like her parents, she is not afraid to die,

"You can help a lot of people. It's your purpose. God's purpose in your life. Trust Him, please sweetheart? Be strong even when we’re gone," Henry said, hugging his two girls tightly.

"You're the doctor! You can help more than me," Mae continued protesting.

"But I cannot live without your mother," Henry looked at Almira lovingly.

"Nor can I, without your father," Almira kissed her husband after wiping the blood off of her nose.

"Yet you are willing to leave me behind!" Mae is sobbing.

"Because you are young and you have a lot in store for you," Almira assured her daughter.

"How about Hendrix?" Mae would instead save her brother.

"I love your brother but he is in much worse condition and between a game developer and a nurse, I’d rather leave you behind to help out in this world. Hendrix would understand," Henry said, kissing his daughter’s forehead too.

Hendrix is the eldest. At twenty-seven, he works from home as a game developer in one of the biggest gaming industries worldwide. With people locked down at home, the computer gaming industry boomed amidst the pandemic.  

As a father, Henry wanted his son to be a doctor just like him, but Hendrix earned triple the amount of money from what he does as an IT professional between the three of them combined. Hendrix will survive independently, but Henry is afraid that his son will only live his life selfishly. Mae will fulfill a greater purpose in helping humanity more than Hendrix.

That's when they heard a bang outside their front door, followed by a loud crash. The neighbors are screaming as the mob overran them.

"Give us the vaccine!" shouted one.

"No!" screamed another.

BLAG!

Henry locked the door to their room, but as he pushed a table to block it, the door crashed beneath him, knocking him down. People with guns poured into the room, but Henry quickly slid the vaccine on the floor to Almira. She picked it up and turned to Mae, but the mob shoved her daughter away from her.  

"Mom! NO!!!!" Mae screamed.