Thieves Of Olympus

77

DESMOND

The crisp winds beckons us to come north. Iniaalis kasi nito ang mga niyebeng dumidikit sa windshield ng sasakyan. Ganoon din ang pagmamadali ni Lionel sa pagmamaneho. We put the smaller items in the trunk while the spear is inside the car held by Mason.

"Cyrus! Hey! What's happening with you?!"

Inalog-alog ni Mason ang katabi. He's head is bending towards the seat. Kinabahan ako noong makita ang itsura ng mga mata niya. Walang kinang ang ginto niyang mga mata, mukha itong nasa ilalim ng hipnotismo. Nangungunot ang mga noo nito at umiigting ang panga habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

We almost hit another car when Lionel overtakes another car. Most of the collision between the wind and the snow happens in front of him and his side view mirror.

Kung sino man ang kumuha sa mga kasama namin ay siguradong delikado.

Nakakahilo ang pagmamaneho ginagawa ni Lionel—we swerve on our seats and the tire leaves skid marks on the road. Wala pa din sa ayos si Cyrus. Mason looks scary with his calmness. I can only let out curses.

"An ice castle?!"

"Seems like it," sagot ni Lionel.

Minasahe ni Cyrus ang templo ng ulo niya, "That is not an ordinary castle! I saw what waits for us. It is dangerous."

A crystalized castle is on top of the northern mountain alps—where clouds hung and thick snow covered the top of the mountain. Mababa sa normal na temperatura ang lamig galing sa kastilyo. Doon din galing ang hanging nagdala sa amin dito. We shuderred with the wind that passes through us.

Hindi kami pumunta dito para maghiking. Pero mukha ganoon ang mangyayari.

"Damn! These clothes are thin for the hike!" Lionel spats.

"Let's climb the Ice Queen's throne. I don't want to see those girls frozen to death," Mason uses a thick tree branch as a guide and poke the snow. The snow is above our ankle, freezing our feet.

Binasag namin ang nagyeyelong pinto. We didn't have gloves. Our hands were red and numb.

Bago pa namin natawag ang mga pangalan nila ay lumabas ang mga yelo sa sahig. Iba-iba ang laki nito at matutulis. Umilag kami sa at muntik ng matusok nito. We dodge another set of stalagmites rising from the floor, yet we did not see the stalactites from the ceiling. It formed a cage between Khione and us.

"The noble Princes came to save the damsels in distress," she mocked and give us a round of applause.

Nanlisik ang mga mata nila sa kanya. "Damn you! Where are they?!" they demand.

Khione puts a finger on her chin. Nagagalak itong tumingin sa amin, "One is shattered, three is alive... Oh no! Another will be formed as my queen to complete my chess pieces."

"You witch!"

"The last person who called me that became an ice statue. Kalais, Zethes-"

"Wait!" Brianna looks at us. She interrupted the goddess from speaking. "We'll take your offer. But first... Let us say our farewells to them."

Lumapit sila galing sa upuang gawa sa yelo. Hinihilot pa ni Soleil ang pulso at kamay niya. Umiling sila noong napansin namin na wala si Cole. They look terrified but they managed to lead us here. Brianna showed something to Mason, pointing to a icy door, Cyrus and Rosaleen hugged each other between the ice bars. Soleil speaks and Lionel nods. Habang ako ay kinakabahang nakatulala.

Cole is the broken ice statue...

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko noong siniil ng halik ni Mason si Brianna. Cyrus pressed Rosaleen's hand which they clasp together before letting go. Soleil and Lionel stood face to face standing still—their eyes gone cold. I heaved a sigh as I watch them go and leave us.

The next scene is unexpectedly fast. I didn't know where to look at. My hand flies to my sword as it clashed to defend my body. Nawala si Mason, Lionel breaks the ice between us. Cyrus shoots an arrow to a flying deity.

Hindi ko alam kung si Kalais o Zethes iyon.

"I'm Zethes," the one whom I'm figthting said.

"You mean shits?"

Lalo siyang nagalit sa sinabi ko. Inismidan niya ako at lumayo sa akin. Napansin niya si Lionel kaya ito ng kinalaban niya.

The girls are gone. Mukhang nakikipaghabulan na kay Khione. The table they once sat is now in disarray. Pieces of cookies fall to the ground, as the plates and tea cups are tipped over.

Yumuko ako bago masugatan ni Kalais. He dives down to strike his sword at me. An arrow sticks out from his left wing.

Hindi naman ako makakonekta sa dugo niya kaya hindi ko siya makontrol. They move fast and swift in the air. An arrow missed the target it almost went in my eye!

"Sorry!" hinging paumanhin ni Cyrus. Walang sinag ng araw kaya ordinaryong palaso lang ang gamit niya.

"Okay lang!"

Biglang nawala ang mga paa ko sa sahig. Hinagis ako ni Kalais pagkatapos maabot ang mataas na kisame. Bumubulusok na hangin at diyos ang kalaban ko. I attacked him even if the gravity makes me fall. I strike him once making him wince in pain. Naglaban kami sa hangin.

Huli na noong bumwelo ako para makatayo sa sahig.

"Gotcha!"

A vine wraps around me. Rosaleen puts me down gently and wraps Kalais with it. She throws him away from me to the farthest wall.

Yumanig ang buong palasyo dahil sa paglalaban nila Brianna, Soleil at Khione. Seems like they had her in their grip already. The walls crack showing them in a kaleidascope images. Rosaleen joins them tripping her with a vine.

How ungraceful can that be?

"Where's Mason?" tanong ko.

"Don't know. I lost him after we talk," Cyrus shoots an arrow at Zethes.

Bagama't sugatan ay nilabanan namin sila ng patas. Kahit dehado kami dahil may mga pakpak at nakakalipad sila. Their wings flutter and produce strong winds that blows us away. Idagdag pa ang lamig na nandito sa loob. Naging yelo at nabasag naman ang binyang pinapalabas ni Rosaleen, Soleil's mist freeze before reaching the goddess. Then there's Brianna with her shield which she used to hit the Goddess' face.

A tornado of blizzard erupted from them. Mist, gale, and snow blew everything away from their original place. It made the obliterated place grow colder.

May naaninag akong tumakbo galing sa malaking pinto. Figures of people we are waiting for.

"Sorry, we're late!"

"Fucking cold!"

Mason ties Zethe's and Kalais together using the discarded vines. He made sure their wings are closed, kicking their weapons. Cole drags Brianna and Rosaleen away from the tornado. Nanginginig na ang mga labi nila at nagiging kulay lila.

Nagbukas ng portal si Cole at tinulak ang dalawa doon. Same goes with us. Kaya naiwan sila nila Soleil at Cyrus sa loob. Maya-maya'y lumabas din sila sa portal. May yelo pa ang mga ulo at damit nila.

Pagdating sa hotel ay hindi na nila napigilang tumakbo paakyat sa kwarto. Naiwan kami nila Mason, at Cole.

"Now, I hate snow and winter!" Cole kicks the pile of snow beside the pavement.