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2024-10-29 19:42:56Aden 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
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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
God Hounds Chapter 47: And Here I Thought You Were Dead
“I swear,” Miko said to the place as they walk down the temple’s hallway. His head was perked up to the ceiling to watch the cracks and the loneliness of the place. Where birds once were, and where the light of the sun would usually shine… There was nothing there anymore. “This place just gets weaker and weaker while we linger,” he said. Alice had noticed as well. While they were asked to be patient, to procrastinate was another thing. No, she thought. Not procrastinate. But doubt. Kadlum wasn’t getting any better. He wasn’t going to be able to name a Datu until next year: the day after Dante’s death. And all the deaths of both sides: the Kadlum clan and the others, wasn’t helping anything. It was only making Kadlum worry even more. But he wasn’t going to give up, she thought. It almost seemed that he didn’t really have the right to. It was a responsibility, or something as such, to hold out to the end. Else, a god would never be god. Alice tried to imagi
God Hounds Chapter 48: Dragon
The air was calling. Like whispers upon whispers, beckoning them to come closer. Aden had heard this before. The wind’s call. And he had understood it for far too long. With the flow of the air came the soft rising of drums in his ears. Although, he knew, they weren’t really there. The light from the early morning outside lighted the first few steps for them. But after that, they were on their own.Aden and Nukasuni stood, at the mouth of the cave, staring into the god hound’s solemn abyss. Nukasuni took the first step. Aden watched him, no doubt the god was eager. The dragon. They had been here before, he knew. But this was far more different. Like all things that had recently happened, this was feeling like another beginning.Soon, Nukasuni walked past the final inch of the light touching the farthest point it can inside the cave. Nukasuni and Aden stepped their first step into the cave darkness.But, as expected, the torches lit. In his left
God Hounds Chapter 49: The Goddess
The dragon stared intently into the god hound’s eyes as they both stood opposite to each other at the round table. Aden stood behind Nukasuni, looking up to the tall bestial being in front of him, then off to the colossal hound as well. Now was the time to plan.Alice, Miko, and Lyle stood behind Kadlum as well. The only two voices that were allowed in the room were the two gods in there. Staring each other in the eyes, as if sharing information towards the other’s soul, Kadlum pondered and looked at the ancient green ground for a moment. “Nukasuni,” he said. “Who is Ledanai’i?” he looked back to Nukasuni with a question that parted his lips.Nukasuni wasn’t surprised to hear Kadlum’s question. It was, after all, only he and a few more others who knew Ledanai’i’s true identity. And those ‘few more others’ were probably dead or hiding. Or wasting in the void. But, Nukasuni was sure, Ledanai&rs
God Hounds Chapter 49 (Part 2): Only The Beginning
“I’m going back to the void,” Aden said. His eyes stared and glinted at Kadlum for a moment. Nothing but a hint of determination and resolve.Kadlum tipped his head to the side and looked intently at him. “Well,” said Kadlum. “You have done it a couple of times…”Nukasuni nodded. “He will lead us to her. And we can end this. I promise,” he said.Kadlum nodded back at them. “So, that’s it then…” he said. “An alliance is formed?”“An alliance is formed,” replied Nukasuni promptly.By now, late into the meeting, and about to end…. The dust from the ancient rubble had surely settled. Through the cracks on the ceiling was a light now unmarked by little freckles of particles floating around. And now, in the room, they were passing around a small cup.The same chalice used years ago by Alice’s father to form the alliance with t
God Hounds Chapter 50: Agreements
The blue overhead sky had enough tint on its face that it emanated enough a wonderful picture of the sun and its background white. Below the skies, was the green, seamlessly nurtured, grass taking over the calm gardens. Villa Urrutia. Aden had not been back here since… since they were planning on kidnapping Matthew Palad. That’s right, he thought in his head. Now, he was brought back to stay so he can get himself ready for the journey back to the void. The void was dangerous and virtually illegal enough for Aden to not come back to. This was even deadlier. To find something Ledanai’i was trying to block access from, was almost considered suicide. But Aden had no choice. He had to be in his best condition. The beautiful scenery of the place helped. But, Aden thought, what helped most was the fact that Alice and the Kadlum weren’t trying to chase him down anymore.Aden looked to the sky, his eyes squinting from the rays of the sun, as he pondered about
God Hounds Chapter 51: One More Go
Aden couldn’t do anything. He helplessly watched their enemies come closer to the villa while he laid motionless on the ground. Shots were fired and one by one, he watched the guards fall to their knees with bullets stuck in their chest. Everyone was shouting all around him, or was it the guns firing?Aden’s eyes widened, when he saw another man—walking towards him with a grenade launcher in hand. That was what caused the explosion, he thought. As the numbness faded away from his body, he tried to crawl towards the villa with his elbows. But the man was already getting closer. His enemy, the one just coming closer and closer to him, had finally gripped the launcher---and it was now pointing at him.Aden’s vision cleared, and he was starting to regain more of his senses. The ringing stopped, but he was still staring at the man with the launcher. They locked eyes with each other, a glint in the eyes of the man against the starting fire. Then, just
God Hounds Chapter 52: The Town
Brushed up against the gleam of the soft, morning light, Aden laid unconscious on a white clinic bed. Only the sound of the single air-conditioning unit could be heard. The rays of the sun had sprinkled some warmth to him, and some striking light. But only the tension growing inside his head was waking him up. Aden heard fire. The sound one would hear from the crackling of wood and the falling of the roof. Then he heard an explosion. A single one. Meant to silence. Meant to take away. Meant as one final spark to make it all end. The feeling of dirt and soil rubbing against his cheeks, as he felt his body flying across a few more meters before going limp. Gunfire. Around him. Things were starting to manifest in the darkness of his head. The recent. And then, the voice of Miko. “Aden!” shouted Miko, as if he could sense the man rushing towards him to help.Aden gasped as he bolted up from the clinic bed. He heaved and sweated, eyes widened and looking for a threat o
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- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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.
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
- God Hounds
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
