Thieves Of Olympus

24

3RD PERSON

The Gods and Goddesses watch from afar. Pinapanood nila mula sa itaas ang nagaganap na labanan sa dalawang lugar—ang Camp Semideus at Institute. They were also tensed as the other one is almost covered with dark clouds. Two of the sanctuary for demigods started to fill with bloodshed.

Zeus leers at his children same as the other parents. Artemis watches her huntresses fight among the demigods.

"This is not acceptable!" Poseidon's voice booms at the whole place. He stands in frustration seeing his son in the battle field.

Hera looks at him in satisfaction, "What is not? This?" she points at the scene in the mortal world. She is suppressing a smile.

"Don't you have a heart for this..." Artemis purses her lips, "Children?"

"Let them be. This is what I trained my son for," ani Ares.

Athena gives him a dismayed look but agrees at the same time, "He has a point. I want Brianna to be strong and independent. She needs to save herself before anyone."

Apollo can't sit still, "I am aiding my son! He needs me!"

"I'll come with you," Hermes fixes his winged shoes and helmet.

Nakaupo naman sina Demeter, Aphrodite at Dionysus. Naghihintay... Nag-iisip ng susunod na gagawin. Demeter and Aphrodite looks at each other. Iisang ideya lang ang pumapasok sa isip nila: Help their children. Samantalang pawang nanonood lang si Dionysus. Actually, he is. Lasing siya dahil sa wine na iniinom kanina. Animo'y nanonood ng palabas sa tiyatrong nakalaan lamang sa kanila.

"Erina darling..." napatakip ng bibig si Aphrodite noong nakitang hawak ng Gegenees ang anak niya. The tight grasp made her chest constrict.

"I can't stand this anymore!" Demeter stands to join Apollo. The decorative flowers becomes poisonous around her head, "Those are our children not our pawns."

The crippled Hephaestus cannot help but stare in awe with his son's works. Halatang namana niya ang talento nito sa pagiimbento at paggawa ng mga gamit. The mechanical automatons look exactly the same as his. He cannot be more proud.

Poseidon, Aphrodite, Apollo, Hermes and Demeter wanted to leave. Walang pasabing tumungo ang mga ito sa malaking pinto ng Olympus. Their children's life are at stake and could no longer be the audiences of the slaughter.

A thunder bolt on the door makes them step away from it. Muntik na silang tamaan nito.

"DO YOU DARE DEFY MY ORDERS?!"

Thunder clouds gather above Olympus. Zeus' stormy eyes reflect anger and frustration. He was once defied by the them. Tied him using a gold chain and fight for his throne. He was only freed by Briares-the giant with one hundred hands and fifty heads, loyal to him.

"THEY WILL BE KILLED IF THIS CONTINUES!" nakipagtitigan si Poseidon sa kapatid.

If Hades is with them there will be war among the Gods. Mahahati ang opinion at panig nila. The Olympus will be in chaos, out of order.

"Don't you believe in him?" Zeus asked pointing at Kaito, "You feel ashamed that he is your own son?"

"I've let him down all these years. I don't want to lose him too!" Poseidon chortles.

Nanatiling nanood ang iba sa kanila. Dionysus enjoys watching them bicker and throw mud at each other's face. It was his own kind of entertainment.

"You'd lose him of you go..." ani Zeus, "I'll kill him with my own hands."

Dinuro siya ni Poseidon, "Then I'll do it your children. You have lots of them... anywhere."

Lalong lumala ang tensiyon sa Olympus. Demeter holds Aphrodite's hand. Apollo and Hermes stood still. Tahimik si Hera at tinitimbang ang sasabihin. Ares smirks at them. Artemis remains neutral. Hephaestus is focused on Mason, watching him fight, While Athena...

"That's enough! Can't you see that the war is starting? Why do you think you lost trident?! His Fire? Who's next? Apollo? Dionysus?! We are immortals and yet you act like mortals! Did cohabitating with them corrupted your minds and can't think straight at all?! Do you even have it?"

Ares bravely applaud for her speech. Natahimik silang lahat sa sinabi nito. The thunder clouds disperses and disappears.

"If this is their fate let them be. Let us at least guide them. They are not just anyone. Those are our children. Think about it," Athena storms off the throne room.

Hera paces the room. Her gold diadem shining. "Athena was right. But do you really want to meddle with the Fates?"

Artemis stands to leave. She hated the dispute about children and demigods. She has her own business to mind. Let alone the parents (if they really are...) handle it. She's relieved she chose chastity. Because recruiting huntresses made her feel like a mother already plus she has lots of them to consider as her own children.

"Where are you going?" tanong ni Apollo.

"Hunting," maiksi niyang sagot.

Naningkit ang mga mata nito, "Really?"

"Mind your own business, you flirt." aniya.

"You..." turo nito sa kapatid.

"Say it," hamon ni Artemis. Noong hindi niya narinig ang gustong sabihin ay umalis na ito.

When the door is closed silence ensued. Zeus returned to his throne and sat like a king he is. His scepter on one hand and continue watching the chaos below. Tumingin siya sa mga natirang diyos at diyosa sa loob. He gives them a dark brooding look and firmly says:

"No one leaves Olympus. They will meet all of you when the items are returned to us. This is not the time to meet them on the battle field. This fight is theirs not ours."

Nanghihinang bumalik si Aphrodite at Demeter sa trono nila. The poisonous flowers becomes closed buds. They all shift on their thrones as they watch the camp and Institute be engulfed in violence and bloodshed.

Artemis lied. She returns to the mortal realms... to Camp Semideus. Nagbalat-kayo siya bilang isang cloudrunner-an endagered species of rodent in Panay-na nakatago sa sanga ng mga puno at nagmamasid.
Pinapanood ang mga huntress at demigods na nakikipaglaban. Kung tutuusin ay pwede niyang sabihin ang totoo but she choose not too. Not with other Gods and Godesses around.

Just like a predator she closely observes... her prey. The demigods. Studying them if they really fit as the children of Olympians.