Thieves Of Olympus

66

CLEA

The ensuing silence in the prison cells is too suspicious. Hindi naman dapat ako maghinala but shouldn't they be pleading us. Dapat ay nagmamakaawa na silang pakawalan namin sila ngayon.

Tinignan ko ang susi sa pagitan namin ni Lionel. The ring of thick keys jangle when I raise it up.

"Suspicious..." bulong ko bago pinaningkitan ang mga selda. Lalo na ang kay Brianna at Kaito. When their wits and tricks are combined... we don't know what will happen.

I shrug off the feeling when Lionel abruptly stands and catches someone.

"Get back to your cell right now," utos niya kina Soleil at Brianna. Masama ang tingin sa mga ito.

My head throbbed even more upon seeing them escaping. A sudden movement inside a cell caught my eyes. Hinanda ko ang espadang hawak ko saka ito tinutok sa leeg niya.

"Get. In." may diin kong utos sa kanya.

"Alright... Alright..." Lunox raised his hands on his head. I keep a half inch distance between his spine and the tip of my sword.

Nagkapalit-palit tuloy sila ng kulungan. Nasa dulo na si Lunox sa gitna si Brianna at sa unahan si Soleil. Hindi ko alam kung sasakit ang ulo ko sa kanila o dahil noong isang araw pa ako nanlalambot. I feel my chest constricting again. Patago akong humugot ng hininga.

"You're not feeling well," somebody uttered behind me. She has a medium length brown hair, imperial features and rose pink orbs.

Malamig kong siyang tinignan. Tumalikod ako sa kanya at sumagot, "Guni-guni mo lang iyon."

"Bakit ka namumutla kung ayos ka lang?" ganti niyang tanong.

"That's normal. I don't like the sun. Do you?" I ask her back.

Mind your own business. I thought.

Totoo nga't hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko. I could care less but I can't let Cyrus and Gareth guard them. Baka bilog-bilugin lang nito ang mga ulo nila. Sila pa ang magbukas ng mga kulungan.

It feels like fire is in my veins last night. Tinulog ko na lang para hindi mahalata ni Lunox habang nag-uusap kami. Ngayon ramdam ko na ang epekto nito. I feel weaker today than yesterday. Dumugo pa ang ilong ko kaninang umaga bago magbantay.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa hawakan ng espada ko. My heart is beating fast kahit nakaupo lang ako.

I hissed at the pain in my chest.

"Here," pinadausdos ni Lionel ang tubig sa lamesa.

"Thanks," I grab it. Ininom ko ito ng mabilis. Nasamid ako noong may naramdaman nakatitig sa akin. His stormy eyes bore into me. Reading my actions.

"Clea..." Lunox beckons me to come to him using his hands. Noong hindi ako lumapit ay nagsalita siya. His voice now carries authority. "Lalapit ka o tatakas ulit ako?" naghahamon niyang tanong.

"Go... Leave your sword," kinuha sa akin ni Lionel ang espada.

Tulog sa kulungan si Kaito at Mason. While the girls entertain themselves with stories from mortal realms. The new girl is slowly drifting to sleep. Pinaupo ako ni Lunox sa harap ng kulungan niya. He looks at me like I'm a delicate thing. His feature looks rough because of the torch light. He reaches for my hands and holds them. Rehas lang ang pagitan naming dalawa.

"You're hands are cold. Okay ka lang ba talaga?" he rubs them for me. Hindi ko pinapansin ang panlalamig ng kamay ko. Now I want to pull it away but he holds them tightly.

"Look at you guys..." Kaito yawns, "The warden and the prisoner. Bawal iyan, ah!"

"Shut up!" sabay namin siyang pinatahimik.

It seems like boredom took over him. Hindi makabisita si Erina sa kanya. She's busy upstairs. Training some of the new kids with the other three. Dahil kahit sila Mason at Brianna ay hindi nakatakas. Ganoon din sina Lionel at Soleil.

"Akala ko hanggang house arrest ka lang Soleil?" tanong niya dito.

"I thought so, too." she sighs.

"Meant to be din kayo Anna!" hirit niya sa dalawa. "Pareho kayong criminal. 'Til prison cells do us part," halakhak niya kila Mason. Handa nang mambato ng sapatos si Brianna pero hindi niya ginawa.

"Lionel..." Soleil fondly calls him.

He boredly look at her. He wore his serious face. Hindi nagpapaapekto sa ginagawa ng kausap, "No, Soleil. Alam ko na kung saan pupunta ito."

"Damot! Hindi naman ako lalabas eh!" she defeatedly says. Napanguso ito at sumandal sa rehas.

"Faith wala kang..." Kaito snorts at her. "jowa," he said as a matter of fact.

"Pake mo ba?!" galit na tumalikod ang babaeng katapat ni Soleil.

Tahimik lang si Lunox. His thumb caress the back of my hand. His warm palm made mine warm despite the coldness that never goes away. Minsan hinihipan niya kapag nararamdaman niya ang lamig sa palad ko. Panandalian kong nakalimutan ang sakit at kirot na nararamdaman ko. He made me feel comfortable when I can't do it myself. For me... This is the best medicine.

I kissed his hair when he blew on my hands once again. Si Lionel lang ang nakakita dahil tulog na ang iba. Mahabang oras na ang nakalipas simula noong pumunta ako dito.

"Thank you," I sincerely told him.

"Hmm... What for?" he raised his eyes to find mine. His storm grey eyes found my black orbs. Like a single light in the dark.

"Everything. I came to rescue you but you're the one who saved me. You found me when I tried to cave in."

"You found me first," he gives me a small smile.

Nag-init ang leeg ko. Yumuko ako para itago ang mapula kong pisngi. Siguradong halata iyon dahil kanina pa ako namumutla.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay. I feel like needles and pins prick my lungs. Sinandal ko ang ulo sa rehas na pumapagitan sa amin. It made a dinging sound when I hit my head on it.

I'm not supposed to feel this pain!

Lunox let me hold his hand tighter. I grit my teeth and puts his other hand behind me. Parang ramdam niya ang sakit na nararamdaman ko.

"Stay here when we retrieve the God's items. Please rest for me," he worriedly ask me.

"I-I can't do that," pagtanggi ko.

"Clea... Please. Promise me that you will see me before I leave for a mission again."

I nod at him but not promising.

"...And that you will welcome me when I get back. Okay?" nagmamakaawa ang mga mata niya sa akin.

I can't deny that I love his hard features but his softness is so rare. Kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag.

No missions for me.

I'll only see him before he leaves and wait for his return.

"Okay, I will."