Defeating the Banshee

Para lang silang mga itim na hangin na naglalabanan sa gitna ng napakalaking bilog na buwan. Sobrang bilis pa ng kanilang mga kilos na hinding-hindi talaga mapapansin ni sino mang tao. Sumasabay lang sila sa ihip ng hangin sa ere.

Hours had passed already but they still fighting. Banshee versus Thanatos and Hypnos. Maaaring mahirap talunin nga ang Banshee sa isip-isip nila sa kadahilanang marami itong nakolektang kaluluwa kahit hindi pa nila oras. They believe that the more numbers of soul you have collected, the stronger you are.

Ganoon pa man, Thanatos is the angel of death. No one could change that fact. Not even the Banshee. At sa hindi inaasahan, nadaplisan ni Thanatos ang Banshee na naging dahilan upang bumagsak ito sa lupa. Some blood that black in color split on his scythe.

Ginawang pagkakataon iyon ni Hypnos upang gumawa siya ng isang suntok na gawa sa hangin papunta sa mismong direksiyon ng Banshee. The Banshee shouted in horror while seeing the very big fists went to her direction.

A very loud explosion created. Though, no one recognize it since it is invisible to their naked eyes.

Hypnos and Thanatos landed slowly on the ground while their expressionless face look towards the Banshee's direction. She's obviously felt dizzy while lying on the ground silently, enduring the pain she's feeling. Naging tao na rin ang itsura ni Thanatos ngunit nandoon pa rin ang nakakatakot niyang expression at nag-aapoy na tingin.

"No one can escapes the inevitable," Hypnos whispered, grinning. Enjoying what he saw. He came nearer to the Banshee ngunit parang naramdaman iyon ng Banshee kahit ganoon pa rin ang nararamdaman niya.

Dahil sa takot na kanyang nararamdaman, she began to crawl away and felt scared at Hypnos' presence.

"You slither and slide, Banshee, like a coward snake whose afraid of death," Hypnos said, laughing dangerously. "My dear brother, the ripper, will still catch you and toss where you actually belong."

Hypnos stare at her in the eyes and smile cruelly. The Banshee feels very horrible and it seems like she's going to sleep. But she's still fighting not to sleep nor lose her consciousness.

But suddenly, it looks like the world stop rotating, clocks stop ticking, and the surrounding looks like stop too when they hear Thanatos' powerful voice but in a very dangerous way. "I am devil, I am the god. I am the eternal truth. I am Death."

Kasabay doon ang paghanda niya sa kanyang scythe ngunit sa anyong tao pa rin niyang itsura. Banshee looks frighten. She couldn't move. Mabilis na naglakad si Thanatos palapit sa Banshee ngunit nang malapit na siya dito ay saka niya lang naramdamang may kamay sa kaniyang dibdib na pumigil sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa may nagmamay-ari nito at nabungaran niya si Charon na matamang nakatingin lang din sa direksiyon ng Banshee. Katulad kay Hypnos na nasa isang tabi lang, walang ka-expression-expression rin ang mga mata ni Charon. The real Charon's personality.

"What the hell are you doing Charon?" Thanatos asked Charon while he still holding his scythe.

Instead of answering him, Charon let him go not even give him a glance. Thanatos stood properly like a god and calm himself.

Lumapit si Charon palapit sa Banshee pero huminto rin naman at piniling dumistansiya dito. Nakatayo na ang Banshee ngunit kontrolado pa rin ni Hypnos ang pakiramdam nito. He slightly tilted his head and forward his right hand. Umangat ang ulo niya upang tumingin sa expression ng Banshee.

"Welcome back to eternity, Banshee," Charon playfully said.

"No! I won't come with you!" The Banshee shook her head in disapproval. "Damn you! Damn you all!" she yelled.

She left no choice when Charon finally caught her forcefully and bring her back in the underworld.

"Damn you too, Banshee. Damn you to the deepest pit of hell where you should be belong," Hypnos said calmly even though, Banshee couldn't hear him anymore.

Nawala na rin sa kamay ni Thanatos ang kanyang scythe at naging kalma na rin ang kanilang mga expression.

He sigh and looked above to see the big clock which place in the center of the city. It says its nearly five o'clock in the morning. "The Black Book was finally returned to its proper place. Banshee should be punish by Hades. And dear brother, the god of sleep," he look at Hypnos teasingly, "I think you should get your ass out of this world, too."

"Tsk," Hypnos respond. "I don't want to. I already love this world so why not I stay here for a moment. It depends if I get bored and I want to get back in the underworld."

And now, Hypnos was the one who is grinning teasingly to his brother while Thanatos gritted his teeth.

"No fucking way!" he hissed.

"Yes way, dear brother," Hypnos respond while smiling then get vanished in just a snap.

"Heck!"

Thanatos' hands form into fists. He couldn't believe it. He heave a sigh then close his eyes. Sa kinaroroonan niya ay nagsimula nang dumami ang mga taong nagsidaanan. Gayunpaman, hindi man lang mababakasan ng mga ano mang ebidensiya na may naganap kani-kanina lang na away.

Malapit na ring magpakita ang araw at medyo lumiliwanag na rin. Naisip ni Thanatos na maya-maya lang ay magigising na si Alex. Inimulat na niyang muli ang kaniyang mga mata at tumingin-tingin sa kaniyang paligid. Ganoon pa mang oras, marami nang tao ang mga gising na't naghahanda na sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na gawain.

Naglakad na siya papunta sa isang sulok na madilim. "I already get the Black Book back. It's time for me again to collect souls and spirits. The one that were left and the ones that never got their destiny, believe me, your time will come," he said in his thought loudly before he vanished into the darkness.

xxx

Pagkatapos nilang kumain ng umagahan, napasyahan ni Alex na siya na lang muna ang maghuhugas ng mga plato. Hindi na nagpumilit pa si Than na si Hypnos na lang ang maghuhugas dahil nababasa ni Than ang mukha ni Alex na gusto niya talagang siya ang maghuhugas.

Ganoon pa man, nanatili lang siya doon sa may kusina at nakatingin lang sa bawat gagawin ni Alex. Si Hypnos naman ay nasa sala.

"Are you okay?" biglang tanong ni Than kay Alex nang mapansin niyang bigla itong natigilan.

Alex sigh and continue to wash the dishes. Hindi man lang siya lumingon kay Than. Lumapit si Than sa direksiyon ni Alex at tumulong dito. Hindi siya nagsalita.

"About the Banshee—"

"She's no longer here in mortal's world. Charon bring her back already in the underworld," Than answered.

Napatigil naman sa kanyang ginagawa si Alex. "T-Totoo?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya dito.

Tumingin sa kaniya si Than at ngumiti. "I won't let someone hurt you Alex," he said, taking her face in his hands.

Alex sigh in relief. She let her eyes close in contentment, resting there in his hands. Alex felt that Than rubbing her cheek then he kiss her slowly with care and daintiness. It did not last long before they continue to wash the dishes.

Pagkatapos nilang maghugas ay biglang sumulpot sa kusina si Hypnos na may dala pang telepono. Napakunot ang noo ni Than at Alex.

"Alex, your father is calling," he said, pouting. Inabot niya ang telepono kay Alex saka ito umalis na at bumalik sa sala. Palihim na napangisi na lang si Than.

"Hello, Dad?" walang ganang sagot ni Alex knowing that its her father who is calling.

Habang nakikinig sa ama niya ay napapaikot siya ng kaniyang mata. Ilang sandali lang ay biglang lumungkot ang mukha niya. "Yeah. Nakakaawa nga si Jean. I don't know how to comfort her. But maybe, pupunta na lang ako sa kanila mamaya."

Alex don't pay too much attention to his father's call. She is staring to Than that waited politely through the whole conversation, just playing with her hair and smiling whenever she looked up. It makes her hard sometimes to think about anything else while she's staring at the very beautiful creature in front of her.

As soon as her father hung up, she stretched onto her tiptoes to kiss him. Than put his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the kitchen counter, so she wouldn't have to reach as far. It made her smile. She locked her arms around his neck and feel the heat against his warm chest.

Too soon, he pulled away that makes Alex's face slip into a pout. Than laughed at her expression as he extricated himself from her arms and legs. He leaned against the counter next to Alex and put his one arm around her shoulder.

"By the way, ano yung Black Book na ibig ninyong sabihin ni Hypnos? Iyon ba yung hawak ng Banshee?" Mentioning the name Banshee makes her shiver.

"Yes. Enjoy your mortality until you end up on that list."

"Thanatos!" she hissed, her eyes opening with surprise.

Than looked at her in her eyes. He has this very serious and blank expression that makes her felt conscious. "I can put light out to darkness just by blinking. And yet I hold the only light that matters... The light of your life. And I will show you that nothing can happen more beautiful than death."

Her heart stopped, and then broke into a sprint. A cold sweat dewed on the back of her neck and her hands turned to ice.