CHAPTER III: Complains

[ST. BERNARD ORPHANAGE—10 YEARS AGO]

 Dev woke up to the reality that when you have no parents, you can't complain how the world treats you.

The story of the nuns in the St. Bernard Orphanage are the same when he always asks how he end up there. Someone, most probably his ungrateful biological parents, left him at their doorstep with nothing but a warm silk wrapped around him when he was a baby. In that cloth, there was his name 'Devvereux' embroidered in green threads. Everyone always thought his name was weird but he thought it's has its own cool trait.

Dev was never a spiteful kid, he didn't think about what kind of people would abandon their child. No, he never dares to think about the reasons, the what ifs, whether good or bad, because Dev, as a child doesn't want to hold onto a hope even if it's slim and untrue. He doesn't want to feel like he has a salvation inside the orphanage in which as he grew up enough to have a mind to understand the world, was not a haven for all unfortunate children.

 Although there was nothing wrong with the orphanage, as best as his young brain could assess to, the place lacks the warmth and full support to nurture dozens and dozens of kids. Even though it is a religious place, functioned by people devoted to God, humans who were taught at a young age to worship a nonexistent savior, Dev came to realization that despite how the orphanage tries to be holy as it can be and cater angels like him, the devil has its ways to corrupt and make a sinner out of it.

 As someone who grew up since right from the start in the orphanage, Dev was one of the kids who were… let's say idolized by the other orphans. He had always been someone who liked to lead, he had always been smart and he enjoy the company of others. However, being the brightest in a place where everyone is insecure and starved of attention, jealousy was inevitable.

 Dev started to notice it when he was eight, it was right at this time that whenever couples who want to adopt a kid, the nuns would always mention his name and Anthony, bitter kid, find it outrageous.

 Anthony was also one of those kids who mostly grew up their whole life in the orphanage, in fact, Anthony was the second eldest. He'd been an orphan wishing for a parent there for 15 years. Dev thought it was because the older one was sad, Anthony was one of the most passionate people in the orphanage, he had big dreams and being in a family was what he probably thinks as the biggest gift from God. However, the lord he kept on praying to for that wish was too patient and Anthony was a weak boy to disappointments.

 He vented out his anger to Dev. Dev couldn't even imagine how Anthony came up to plan his torture for the next two years but at those times, he thought Anthony was possessed.

 The first hell he received inside the orphanage was in the form of his very first pet, a cat he named Eros. Dev cherished him so much not because it was a gift but because it was the very first family he had. Eros was a promise gift from a couple who visited the orphanage. The couple took a liking to him and made a deal with him. They said they will be leaving their pet to him for a month to deal with business matter and he has to take care of it. If he did well, they'll be taking him with them. Dev almost cried in joy at their words as he hugged the cat in his little arms.

 Eros was a little angel. He has orange and white fur, he likes to be cradled by Dev everywhere and he was the sweetest being Dev had set his eyes on. The best part of it? It was because he could feel that Eros loved him as much as Dev treasures him. They were best friends, they slept together in bed and even eat together in one plate. Anthony saw it as annoyance.

 He always complains when Eros join them at the table, although the cat never tries to steal food. Eros was a very behaved cat, he just liked staring at Dev eating as if it's his way of giving the boy a company. But Anthony was adamant it made the others uncomfortable and some kid were allergic to it. He tried to suggest eating at his own room but the nun did not allow it. Dev was younger and fighting with Anthony would made him look like a disrespectful kid so when Anthony told him to hid Eros one night during dinner time, Dev obeyed.

 "Don't just locked it in your room, it would escape." Anthony glared at him while he followed Dev to ensure Eros would be locked.

 "I don't have a cage though…" Dev tried to reason.

 Anthony grumbled as he pushed Dev away from his own door and opened it harshly. He looked around the room and saw a barrel at the corner.

 Anthony turned to him and pointed out the barrel. "Put him right there."

 Dev's brow knitted in protest. "But… he could suffocate there." He stepped back a little, clutching Eros a little bit tighter as it purred in his chest.

 "You're just locking him up there for dinner, it'd be just like… 5 minutes at most."

 Dev didn't reply. He didn't move.

 "Are you trying to make me yell?" Anthony whispered threateningly.

 The younger took a good couple of second before surrendering, his face was contorted the whole time.

 "What's taking you so long?"

 Dev sucked in a long breath before approaching the barrel and opening it with one hand. He kissed Eros in the forehead and whispered at him.

 "Eros… I'm sorry but I won't take long okay? Eros meowed appreciatively. It didn't fight but gave Dev a pitiful look. Dev whispered his sorry once more.

 He could hear Anthony right by the door grumble about how dramatic he is.

 True to Dev's promise, he only took a minute to eat his dinner and run right away to his room. But even before Dev could exit the mess hall, a nun blocks his way saying the headmaster was asking for his presence. No one wants to anger the headmaster so when he spotted a kid on his way to their rooms, he pleaded them to open the barrel in his room where Eros would be confined. They nodded politely and assured him, Dev felt his chest relax in relief.

The headmaster was asking him to accompany him for a dinner with business men in the area. He reasoned that Dev was the most behaved and handsome kid within the orphanage that's why it is only fair for him to be chosen as accompany, he said it's also an opportunity for him to make rich families take a liking for him.

Dev returned to the orphanage with the headmaster tomorrow morning and Dev's only thought was to cuddle with Eros.

When Dev went inside his room, Eros wasn't there waiting for him.

He banged through the door of the kid he asked yesterday, thinking they might've played with Eros through the night. The kid looked at him with wide eyes and asked if it wasn't in Dev's room. He said, last night, Anthony blocked him off his room saying the older one was going to do it himself since he's a responsible older brother.

Dev's pulse stuttered and he didn't even realize he was already running to Anthony's room.

"Oh… I actually forgot to open it. The nun suddenly asked me to help clean in the kitchen." Anthony revealed to Dev as if it was the weather.

When Dev was back inside his room, he was sweating and gasping. The room was utterly silent, it felt like the air stilled. His stomach suddenly felt like it was a bottomless pit and his heart was falling into it.

He walked to the barrel and opened it. Eros was lying there, his body hard and unbreathing.

Dev stared at Eros, his friend, his family. He wondered, when while he was having the best of his time learning about rich people… Did Eros trashed around the barrel? Did he cry? Was he waiting for Dev until he can no longer wait and just lie there in the dark small enclosed place thinking where had Dev gone? Why is he not coming back for him?

Dev came back to himself when he was already at the back yard and Eros was already six feet beneath the dirt. The next time he went inside the mess hall, he could barely hear kids whispering spitefully about him. The next time the couple visited him, they laugh off in despair trying to hold back the anger forming into fits of raging yell. They never came back again.

….

[VILLAREAL MANSION]

Dev was cradling Ceres, an orange and white cat in his arms in the kitchen while his mom, Mary, a youthful woman in his late thirties, was talking to the weird agent in the living room. It seems like he scratched the cat's head too hard as it meowed at him in warning. Dev apologized as he kissed Ceres.

He can actually hear their conversation and it seems like Agent Aeolus was making up an acceptable story in which he was targeted by some wanted people by the government to be hostage. Dev almost snickered about it. Right, he wasn't over yet about finding out he's not totally crazy but just actually someone with supernatural affinity now. It still sound like he's crazy to be honest.

Ceres jumped off his arms and disappeared to the stairs. Dev sighed, feeling exhausted and conscious of his physical self. His uniform was matted with dirt and smelled of dried sweat. He wants to shower so bad but he still has a lot of question from the Agent.

His head turned to look at his mom in the living room, she's now holding a phone, probably calling his dad. She looks stressed. He felt a little guilty right now, he doesn't her mother to complain about white hair in her gorgeous brown locks. After the call, his mother nodded to the agent, seemingly agreeing to something before calling out Dev to the living room.

When Dev entered the living room, Agent Aeolus approached him, giving him a pat in the back. He then sneakily whispered to him.

"Pretend to see me out your house. I have something to tell you."

Dev didn't react and gave the agent a thanks instead.

After some farewell and promises to negotiate things, Dev escorted Agent Aeolus to their gate, his lips pursed in anticipation. Agent Aeolus turned to him and regarded him seriously before slipping a piece of white paper to his hand.

"It's my number. I'll get back to you tomorrow." The agent said while looking at his watch.

"So how are we dealing this?" Dev asked vaguely.

"Deal about what?"

"I was expecting, well, I assumed this organization of yours is going to have some deal with me since… you know, enlightened and stuff." Dev babbled.

Agent Aeolus blinked and then smiled. "Wow, you're quite perceptive."

"I just have a lot of question."

Agent Aeolus leaned to pat his head. "Don't worry kid, I am not leaving you hanging but not right now. Just rest the night."

Dev stayed silent before nodding his head.

"And about SOTerIA? We're not going to recruit you. We don't labor employees who's still in high school." Agent Aeolus said with a deadpan before continuing. "I'm sure you won't disagree with what's our and your parent"

"That is?"

"You'll know it."

Agent Aeolus bid him farewell as a black car pulled up in front of the gate. Dev went inside with a sigh, his mother was waiting for him at the porch. Her blue eyes were brimming with concern.

Her mother approached him and hugged him. He melted right into the embrace.

"You're never walking home ever again." She said firmly, her voice strained.

"I'm sorry."

Dev excused himself out of dinner with the alibi of being hurt. His mother looked at him with sad eyes but agreed regardless.

The night was long, he wasn't able to sleep despite how much he wants to. He thought about his past hallucinations, about Zaiel's song. He reeled his mind about this new reality he came to know of. He thought back to the cultists people and that one word about his biological parents. So they're alive? Does that mean they're also with those cult maniacs? What does that have to do with him? He thought about his adoptive parents and their stresses about the whole fiasco earlier. He doesn't like it.

Dev's train of thought was interrupted by a paw clawing at his feet. Ceres was staring at him as if asking him to invite him in the bed. Dev scooped up the cat and cuddled it.

He dreamt of Eros that night and remembered how he feared about being seen differently by adults.