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2024-10-29 19:42:56The morning was slowly shattering. Its rays of the sun gradually fading away as it gave way to the moon. The clouds were losing its yellow shade, but the sun was still there. As the cave had slowly lost its radiance, so too did Alice leave the place. She had asked for power. More power, that is. Kadlum did not complain. “Go,” Kadlum said. “Go and make things right for us. We both want the future the path paved for us, Alice. Make it happen.”
Alice’s sharp footsteps echoed across the hallway of the gods as the statue platform at the center lost the human presence—now once again confined within the guardian waterfalls and cave darkness that had always been with it. The darkness seemed to follow her, trail and trace her tracks as she walked towards the exit. Or maybe, it was the other way around. As she went for the exit, maybe the light was going out with her, too. Either way, the temple was to be left alone again.
As she crossed the s
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Miko paced around the dark, barely-lighted room in the house. He had imagined, Alice and Lyle had already gone to Quezon City when he received the call. Under the lonely ambience of the unknown-filled night, within the walls that had bred nothing but worry and concern, Miko’s phone rang and summoned its screen. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Mark,” it said. The police. Miko furrowed his eyebrows and gave a sigh, then answered the call. “Mark,” he said.“Miko?” said the voice at the other end. “You gotta see this…”When Alice and Lyle were off to bring hell on the other side, Miko had endeavored to fix it. Nothing good was coming out of this, he thought to himself. He left the Kadlum to guard the place, and everything else in Cavite, as he made his way to another part of the city. A morgue.As he drove off deeper into the urban heart of Cavite, the presence of the bright full moon hanged above him. A
God Hounds Chapter 41: Uncharted Paths
Miko was leaning back against the only black object within the thick forest: his car. It was a welcome addition to the otherwise lonely and forever-shade of green, though. The morning light shined down on him and his misplaced car in the green forest quite comfortably. It’s the warmest feeling he had had for a while—both physically and mentally. The past few days weren’t that ‘welcoming’ to him. After all, it was only just a week after Alice and Lyle killed Brian. He blocked the shining sun with his hand and grunted. Where are they? He asked himself in his head.Alice and Lyle lied low and hid themselves from the public for seven days. After what happened, Miko couldn’t afford any chances If they just strolled around the city. It was going to be the first time the trio were going to meet since… since Brian Mendoza.The birds chirped around him with the most ignorant of tones, oblivious to the world around them. Miko wondered i
God Hounds Chapter 41: Uncharted Paths (cont'd.)
Miko was leaning back against the only black object within the thick forest: his car. It was a welcome addition to the otherwise lonely and forever-shade of green, though. The morning light shined down on him and his misplaced car in the green forest quite comfortably. It’s the warmest feeling he had had for a while—both physically and mentally. The past few days weren’t that ‘welcoming’ to him. After all, it was only just a week after Alice and Lyle killed Brian. He blocked the shining sun with his hand and grunted. Where are they? He asked himself in his head.Alice and Lyle lied low and hid themselves from the public for seven days. After what happened, Miko couldn’t afford any chances If they just strolled around the city. It was going to be the first time the trio were going to meet since… since Brian Mendoza.The birds chirped around him with the most ignorant of tones, oblivious to the world around them. Miko wondered i
God Hounds Chapter 42: All In The Head
The wind blew louder here, on the upper part of the mountains. As they got closer and closer to their destination, so did the air now feel a little cooler. They could see the evidence in the dancing of the trees and the bending of the shrubbery around them. Steps were taken lightly and slowly, their feet treading on reverent soil that was still—like the temple—familiar to them at least. They would occasionally stop, look ahead of them to see what kind of scenery had now been summoned by the mountains for them.Alice would stay the longest, while Miko and Lyle would walk past here and continue the flow of the breeze towards the village in the mountain. She’d take a few seconds, to breathe it all in while she was in the mountain. It was quite something that she had always been proud of with herself. She’d gone through her titans of sins, and her mistakes have led to the deaths of the innocents. And many have wronged her in the past. But she never failed
God Hounds Chapter 43: Unworthy
“I remember… pain,” Matthew’s eyes flashed back to a memory he thought he would never unlock again. “I was… being held captive, I think. Or maybe I was just too tired, to helpless to do anything. But I remember, that I didn’t really feel good about the place and just wanted to go out.” In Matthew’s head, he was remembering a scene of him being dragged by two people on a narrow road. Or a path, most likely, only used for human feet. “I think I had the strangest feeling. Like I was there but my body was being sucked out of the place. My breath, being drained out of me. I don’t know how to explain it.”Alice looked to Miko and Lyle within the humble presence of the low light. Her eyes tell them of the familiarity of the story. Like Alice had felt the same thing before, and Miko and Lyle did too.Alice placed her hand on Matthew’s aching shoulder. Not to comfort, but to encourage. “
God Hounds Chapter 44: Alice's War
Cardona, Rizal.For generations, the Bayi and the Kadlum have been in good terms with each other. Seeing as how close their territories were with each other, they ought to be. But still, there was a time—now only described through stories spoken by the loyal families of the clans—when the two tribes had still drawn a strict line between each other. Between the territories. Between Quezon City and Cavite. When one side would need to meet the other, they used certain places neither clan owned. Islands, mountains, and even small towns. There was a place such as this right at the center of Laguna Lake.Cardona, Rizal. More specifically, Talim Island.And Alice was about to be the first to use it in decades.“Look,” Lyle pointed down at the foot of the hill. “They’re right over there…”Miko tried a spark with his lighter, his lips already pressed together to hold the cigarette stick, but ultimately failed
God Hounds Chapter 45: Reunion
Aden wasn’t sure about which of the lonely sounds he wanted to focus on: the gentle rain tapping against the few and far windows across the place, the irregular footsteps—and Aden could sense the fear and caution in it—walking to and fro behind him, or the senseless bubbling and streaming of the wine giving its essence to a glass. The air still smelled of a fading bubblegum flavor from some customer who vaped too much in the room. The fog it created was still there. Pretty soon, the bartender felt too awkward to just keep playing and tasting the bottles while waiting for him to leave. So he moved away from the counter, turned the TV on and watched a replay of a basketball game that was airing on the channel. The bar was closing at 2:30AM. If they were gracious enough, they could make it 3 for him. That was always the time. And that was also the time when he beat up the bar’s owner so many months ago: Dave Rosales. One of the first jobs he did to gain his plac
God Hounds Chapter 46: Somewhere Behind Those Eyes
Alice had realized, they were going to need to stay longer in the room than expected. She though it was going to be over quick. But Aden had more than she had imagined. Killing him, she realized, was farther and farther away from being an option now.Alice watched as Lyle pulled Aden’s suit jacket down to reveal a complete batok tattoo on his arm. As Lyle carefully examined the ink, Miko came out of the shadows as well.Alice moved closer to see the tattoo clearly. There was no doubt about it. As she read the symbols marked across his skin, she tried her best not to show any intrigue in the tattoo. After everything he told them, she still felt disapproving of the help he was offering. She had not forgotten one bit. This was her husband’s assassin. Unless they wanted a replay of what happened months ago, she was going to keep him here.“Nukasuni,” she read. Her sight crawled up to the symbol just next to it. Like a subtitle. &ldqu
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Epilogue
Alice was back in her home in the town of Urrutia. It was still too early to come out of hiding. Their enemies, the other clans that Ledanai’i stirred to war, were still waiting for them. She missed Cavite, and the other places she used to freely go to. The silence in the room she was in was able to push her to that remembrance. Dante, she sat there on her bed thinking. Are you happy? Was this what we wanted? A crash before the growth of something else? Did I do it? Was I successful? It had completely been a year since his death.Alice buried her face in her palms. She was tired, but now she had rest waiting for her. A little break before a few more. Where does this lead to?She lifted her head from her palms, and checked the tattoo on her arm. It was still burning: the new one. She recognized the symbols immediately. There was a dragon, a hound, and a deer… fighting. It was the first new tattoo the Void had given her sin
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Chapter 68 – Blood
The village deep in the forest had not taken lightly to the news that Nukasuni was dead. To pay respects, and even more than that, they were silent and inside their homes. A great bonfire was lit just outside the village.Aden stood on top of the cliff, as always. Maria wasn’t there with him. Instead, it was Alice who he saw and he heard the footsteps.“Are you finally here to kill me?” Aden asked.Alice stared back in silence, but her eyes did not show surprise. She narrowed her eyes on him. “I find that you’re of better use to us alive. Besides, I know there’s still one more thing you need to do. I know that’ll benefit us.”Aden nodded. “My family. They’re alive.”Alice nodded back, with a slight smile. “Are you really going there?”“They’re alive,” Aden replied. “And I have questions.”Alice scoffed, then shook her head.
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Chapter 67, Part 3 – Throne
They coughed through the wave of dust and smoke. Alice and Lyle were closest to the crash. Lyle supported her sister while he tried to dispel the thick dust and smoke with his hand. Aden walked slowly along their direction. The last thing he saw were the antlers striking through Nukasuni’s body.Then, finally, the air’s curtains slowly withered. As if joining the thick layer’s erasure, the clouds from above had also moved past the island, allowing for the blue sky and the shining sun to strike through them.It was clear, now. And they were looking at Ledanai’i’s lifeless body, then to Nukasuni’s as well. The dragon was almost out of breath. The three stood beside the dragon, looking helplessly at the life-taking wounds in his body.Nukasuni, gasping for little air, still managed to lift his head not to look at that the three, but to stare back at Ledanai’i. The deer had no life in it left, not after the broken antler tha
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Chapter 67, Part 2 – Throne
“Hold the line! Remember the choke points! And wait for my signal!” Lyle exclaimed into the radio wrapped on his wrist, connected to his earpiece. There were stragglers, those who managed to avoid their ambushing force. Lyle and Aden made quick work of them. The rest of the Ledanai’i were pinned down, pushed away farther and farther from what now was the gods’ arena.“We’re not gonna hold much longer, Alice,” added Lyle. “This better work.”Alice heaved and raced for her breath. “It will.” She coughed, and closed her eyes. Sparks of lightning, little by little, gathered around her. Her tattoo glowed.Lyle watched the scene then focused back to the choke points. “Let’s give her more time,” he radioed again.“I’ll support the front,” Aden said, rushing to that direction. “You got this, Lyle?”There were three more stragglers in view, abou
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Chapter 67 – Throne
“Nukasuni!” Ledanai’i howled, her back on the ground while she struggled to stare at the burning images of Nukasuni and Kadlum. Compared to the form Ledanai’i took, Nukasuni and Kadlum seemed like giants to her. But…Come on, show yourself, Alice thought. She waited, as she untied the guards with her. Where’s that goddess?Lyle and Aden dashed towards Alice in the center while the Ledanai’i were pinned down by the attack. “How’s it feel to best a goddess in mind control?” Aden said.Alice chuckled. Before infiltrating the temple, Aden had taught her how to recognize when someone was trying to influence and corrupt the mind. Although it had almost overcome Alice, that slight second of recognition and preparation made it all possible. “The Ledanai’i at the port?” asked Alice.“Dead,” replied Aden. “All dead.”Alice nodded back as s
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Chapter 66 - Corruption
Three days ago…Replacing the ambient noise of the humming engine was the crackling of the large fire ahead. It was concentrated, far from harming the trees surrounding it. It was encircled by the forest, but it was just a little far enough so the leaves wouldn’t catch fire. It wasn’t a bonfire, no. Aden and Alice walked closer. The crackling was now matched with intense heat. It was a deep depression on the ground, almost like a freshly-dug mass grave. Only, the grave it was housing was that of the embers of the fire.Aden stepped closer to the fire, examining the concentrated flames bursting from within the ground. Alice had not followed him. Instead, she stood far behind Aden in the cover of the trees.A few more seconds, and then Aden heard more than just crackling in the fire. Left and right, from within the shrubbery… movement. Aden looked to the sound. He sighed, as the figures came to light. “We were never here fo
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Chapter 65 – Goddess
“You?” Alice said under her breath. She had had her fair share of meetings with gods and goddesses. But, this was different. She narrowed her eyes at her even more. “Ledanai’i?”The tall woman chuckled softly at her. “You were expecting something else?” Her eyes twinkled against the morning light.Alice remained silent. She gripped the jar of ashes tightly.Ledanai’i noticed the sudden shift in her grip. She looked down on the jar and looked at it with motherly glance. She chuckled. “Ailan’s eyes… you’ve finally come back to me, my child.” She tried to reach out to caress the jar, but Alice slightly jerked the jar away. They met eyes again.Ledanai’i smirked. “I understand.” She blinked softly, then sighed. “How is Kadlum?”“Alive,” Alice broke her silence. “But not so much as to give you his regards,” Alice cocked he
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Chapter 64, Part 2 – The Island
As Alice and Karel walked across the paved road towards the island’s centre, the temple, she felt more uneasy. Like the stone pillars from before, the structures that trailed beside the roads were of ancient origin. They were either built for shorter people, or just people with limited resources in an early civilization. They were ruins, traced with squarish patterns of demons and ill kind as engravings. The stone they used to make it was so old the color had seemed to fade. But the Ledanai’i didn’t stop using them. Instead of building newer buildings, they utilized the old ones and repaired them with their own resources. Still, looking at the mix of ancient and modern architecture in one building, Alice felt uncomfortable. She was looking at something new and strange to her, and she had no way of guessing how to understand it. The Ledanai’i, indeed, weren’t just people. Some of them… hardly blinked. All of them were harrowingly quiet ex
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Chapter 64, Part 1 – The Island
‘The Wanderer’s Pier’ was the what they called it. It was a small hidden docks detached so far from civilization that Alice and her men needed several local guides from the remote villages. When they arrived, a handful of Ledanai’i’s men were already waiting in the area. They sat on wooden boxes and crates, and some were inside the small hut stationed beside the pier. Beyond the pier, though, it was all just fog. It was a gassy curtain thickly obscuring whatever awaited across the water.One of Ledanai’i’s men—the one in charge—stood up from the rubble of crates and eyed Alice scrutinizingly. He frowned and raised an eyebrow at her, lifting his head upwards as if to match Alice’s postural aura, but Alice was naturally taller and more intimidating. “You must be Alice Buenaventura,” he said.“The fact that you’re asking that means the man I need to be talking to isn’t here,” A
