Thieves Of Olympus

78

LUNOX

Slithering against the dusty old castle floor were Stheno and Euryale.

Sinundan nila ang boses ni Erina dito. Bago sila makalampas ay pinagapang ko ang malakas na boltahe ng kuryente sahig. That will paralyze them for a while.

"You found the apples?" tanong ni Kaito. Nakatago pa din sa likod ng poste.

"Yeah. They ate one this should be five!" Erina angrily spats. "These apples won't make them younger... And beautiful."

The sisters hissed angrily at her.

"Shut up," she flatly commands.

Halos makagat naman nila ang dila nila. Well, actually, nakagat ni Stheno ang dila niya. Euryale's just lucky hindi sumabit ang dila niya. Hindi katulad ng kapatid.

"Aalis na tayo dito," Erina said.

"No! You mortalsss will ssstay here forever!" they chimed.

"Tanga! Walang forever!" Gareth retorts.

"GALIT AKO SA AHAS!" Kaito shouts back.

Kita ko si Erina sa isang pillar habang yakap ang sisidlan ng mga gintong mansanas. She badly wants to throw it at the serpentine-bodied sisters. She gives them a sharp glance, which they did not know. Dahil kalat ang amoy namin sa buong kwarto ay hindi nila alam kung saan titingin. pilit nilang ginagalaw ang mga paralisadong buntot--they only hissed in pain.

Nagpadala ulit ako boltahe ng kuryenteng hindi nagpagalaw sa kanila. They writhed and grit their teeth. Their ear spilitting screams made me cover my ears.

Then, Erina spoke. Calm... commanding.

"Who ate Aphrodite's apple?" she asks them. Nakatingin ito sa punyal na hawak, pinaglalaruan ang talim sa mga daliri niya. "Who. Ate. The... Golden apple?"

"None of your business, bitch!"

"It does not belong to you! It's the shameless, doxy, Goddess'!"

"You wanna see Medusa?"

Bumaling sila sa pinagnggalingan ng boses ni Gareth. They don't know which pillar--neither us. All we know is that they are also hiding behind a pillar. Erina wanted to come out but I stopped her, she could be reckless, specially that her mom is called with names.

A whore.

I can't paralyze them forever. I need to help them but how?

Kusang kumilos ang katawan ko. Naramdaman ko ang pagdaan ng hangin sa harap ko at nakita si Gareth sa tabi ko. He looks scared and confused as I do. He holds a rope and gives the other end to me. we are like puppets that move around. The invisible strings of thread makes us move. Ganoon din si Kaito--drawing his sword reflecting the sisters together.

No one orders me around!

I tried fighting it off but it did not work. Is this one of the Gorgon sisters ability? Gusto pa nila yata kaming magkagulo at magpatayan--na nangyari na noon. Our chance of survival is getting lower the longer we stay here!

"You don't want to confess your sins? I'll send you to your rightful place!"

We tied the rope in an unidentified number of knots. Walang nagawa ang magkapatid kundi ang magbuhol, they twist and coil around each other's tail. They were alarmed when they can't move anymore.

All the while I thought Kaito draws his sword to kill the Gorgons. I was anticipating him to strike any moment after that. But instead... he offered the sword to his girl.

Erina takes it from him. Then, walks towards us.

Pinipilit na kumawala ng magkapatid. They were scratching and biting each other. Hindi nila naramdaman ang paglapit ni Erina. Her eyes hot with anger and no remorse could be seen in them. Nakatingin naman siya sa mga halimaw na nag-aaway sa harap namin. The little snakes in their head hiss and fight each other. Killing their own kins. Scale and fangs meet each other. Patuloy sila sa pag-aaway hanggang sa gumulong ang ulo ni Euryale sa sahig, sumunod ang kay Stheno.

Dilat ang mga matang nakatingin sa kawalan at nakanganga habang dumadaloy ang dugo nila.

"No one calls my mom a whore. Bitch," she spat. Sinipa niya ang ulo ni Stheno palayo sa amin.

The Gorgon sisters heads went down underneath the castle floors. Hidden in the depths of this place.

No one said a word after that. Kaito retreived her bag from the floor. Pati ang pinaglalaruang punyal niya kanina. Binalik naman niya kay Kaito ang espada. Nawala ang mabigat na pakiramdam ng pagkakagapos sa hindi makitang sinulid. nauna akong maglakad kay Gareth na hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap ng mga ito. Though, in fact, there were really no threads. It's just the feeling.

I thought I will do the same thing as Perseus but I did not.

Saka ko lang naalala ang bali sa braso ko. I clutched my forearm. Nakahanap naman sila ng pantali para dito. They said that I will be treated after we return to the hotel.

"I'll drive," Kaito said as he shake the car keys. A hint of smile is on his face.

Aangal pa sana kami noong nakaupo na siya sa driver's seat. Tumabi sa kanya si Erina. Gareth and I slid into the backseat. Pumasok na agad kami dahil sa lamig ng hanging bumubuga sa amin. I can move the clouds but I won't abuse my ability. Nanghihina pa din ako dahil sa tinamong mga sugat at ginamit na kidlat kanina.

The car engine is turned on once we all settle in.

"Thank you," usal ko.

"What did you say?" she teased.

Didn't she hear me speak? Ayaw ko ng inuulit ang sinasabi ko.

"Nothing."

"Did you say the T word?" tanong ni Kaito.

"I said, 'Tangina'" pagkibit balikat ko.

"If you say so."

Hindi mabagal, hindi din mabilis ang pagtakbo ng sasakyan. I knew Kaito wanted to drive so much. Mukha siyang kaskasero sa daan kaya hindi namin pinapahawak ng manibela. But he drives... Like a girl. Mas mabilis pa yata ng magpatakbo si Cole sa kanya.

"Hindi ako magdadrive ng mabilis," bigla niyang sabi.

"I didn't say anything."

"Wala ka bang tiwala sa sa akin?"

A car honks past us. It blurs as it over takes our vehicle.

"Eyes on the road. I don't wanna see those snakes again."

I wonder what happened to us earlier.