Descendants of the Gods

Chapter 34: Human Shield

KASDEYA ARGYROS' Point of View

"Argyros!"

Tawag ni Theon nang biglang manghina ang aking mga tuhod. My vision doubles and I stumble on a pebble.

A small, unnoticeable pebble of all things.

Mahina akong napamura dahil bumagsak ang katawan ko sa lupa. From the combination of exhaustion and the stupid poison still in my system, hinayaan ko ang sarili ko sa pagsalampak dito.

I catch my breathe with loud panting, sweat dotting my pale face as my consciousness threaten to slip away every now and then. Mabilis akong inalalayan ni Kuya Calix.

"What's wrong?" Tanong niya habang sinusuri ang pawisan kong katawan.

Napangiwi ako nang ayusin ko ang aking pagkakaupo. My back rests on a tree trunk while my hands grip the grass beneath me.

Hindi ko na kayang maghintay hanggang sa makarating sa Acropolis. That snake's poison is more potent than I thought. Malapit nang bumigay ang katawan ko.

Theon curses while looking at my current state. "I have to heal her, Kuya."

"No, Theon. Nanghihina ka pa rin. You can't completely expel the poison inside her."

"But I have to do something. She's my responsibility."

Calix snaps at him. "We've talked about this. Hindi mo kailangang pasanin lahat ng responsibilidad para patunayang—"

"That's not what I mean!" The younger brother fires back. The veins in his forehead becomes prominent. Ngayon ko lang siya makitang ganito. "I'll never forgive myself is something bad happens to her."

Hindi ko maiwasang suminghal. "Aw. Are you warming up to me now, Alastor?"

Kahit na nakikipaglaban ako sa kamatayan, I can't pass up the opportunity to get under his skin.

Theon's eyes find me shaking in pain. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "That poison's fucking with your cognitive function. I only care about what happens to you because you're a Hellenes."

I don't have the chance to respond when a sharp sensation shoots through my system. I groan under my breathe, biting my lip and hanging on the grass for dear life.

"Wala na tayong oras para sa bardagulan niyong dalawa. Kasdeya needs help now," Seryosong saad ni Calix. "What we can do is limited. Hindi ko rin kayang tanggalin ang lason. It might be too late for me to slow it down either."

Napunta sakaniya ang tingin ko. I don't know how the sons of Athena can heal someone, and at this point I don't even want to ask. I've already seen their eyes light up like holiday decoration. Natanggap ko nang hindi sila normal at marami silang kayang gawin.

Knowing that I'll be met with silence, I choose not to question them anymore.

I ask something different instead. "Can't you find something in the forest to cure me instead?"

We can't always rely on our abilities as demigods, lalo na ang kapangyarihan ng ibang tao. That option isn't always available to us when we're alone or placed at a disadvantage. Kaya sa paligid agad ako naghahanap ng solusyon, hindi sa mga kasama ko.

Si Theon ang sumagot. "The only other way to cure you is using antivenom. Do you think this forest has the components that could make one?" Sarkastiko niyang saad.

Binalik ko ang masama niyang tingin.

"I don't have time for your—"

"I can cure her."