DEMIGODS: The Rule Breakers

Chapter 46: The Aftermath

“Skyler Nimrod Lockser… You really gave him a name he wouldn’t even like, huh?”

My lips automatically twisted upon hearing his comment. The eeriness of this place was no longer present since the first time I went here as well as the godly presence of the man sitting across mine was no longer deadly. Beside us, Skyler was playing peacefully with his thick vines, smiling and laughing whenever it moved.

“He’s already a year and a half, so is the day that you decided to expunge the Rule-Breakers,” he stated. He lightly shook his goblet and took a sip in it. “My daughter… Emerald. Her body is being used. Wala ka bang gagawing hakbang para ro’n?”

“Freya and I are concerned to Savannah. Wala na si Alexis tapos malalaman niya pa na ang taong tumutulong sa kanya araw-araw ay hindi si Emerald?”

Natatawang umiling si Dionysus sa akin saka mabilis na inagaw ang basong hawak ko. Nang lumapat ang kanyang kamay ro’n ay mabilis na naging tubig ang alak na laman na niyon at dahil sa inis ay kanyang tinapon iyon sa pader.

“Tangina—”

Napatigil siya sa gitna ng kanyang pagmumura nang lingunin namin si Skyler. Nakatingin ito sa amin habang papikit-pikit ang mga mata na para bang papatak na ang kanyang mga luha. Nang humikbi ito’y tiningnan ko nang masama si Dionysus, mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin nang tuluyang umiyak si Skyler at tumakbo papunta sa aking puwesto.

“Dadadada!”

“I’m going to kill you.” I stood, and panicky lifted Skyler. And his cries leisurely turning into a raging storm, I glared at Dionysus and roamed my eyes around, pulverizing his lovely vines into ashes in just a snap. I gently caressed Skyler’s hair while slowly swaying, along with the melodious rhythm of my hum.

A smile gradually curved in my lips when his cry ceased as his hug became tighter. “Hey… don’t worry. Daddy will definitely kill that drunkard,” I whispered.

“Anong drunkard? Binabantayan ko na nga ang anak mo dahil busy ka sa Demigods Academy tapos ‘yan lang ang itatawag mo sa akin?!” Apila ni Dionysus.

Humarap ako sa kanya habang tinatapik-tapik ang likuran ni Skyler saka siya pinukulan ng isang masamang tingin. “Ang dami mong p’wedeng punahin sa mga sinabi ko tapos walang kuwenta lang ‘yang irereklamo mo?”

“Hoy! May kuwenta ‘yon, gusto kong Daddy D, ang itawag sa akin ni Skyler paglaki niya.”

“Daddy Dumbass,” I whispered. I laughingly bit my lower lip when I heard Skyler snoring. “He already dozes off…”

Dionysus hushed and watched me as I sat down again. And for a moment, serenity and the deafening silence collided within the vicinity until Dionysus gave me a looked that I wouldn’t forget.

“You did great, Garet…” he mumbled. “For not entirely annihilating Poseidon and for imprisoning him in his kingdom with the Stone of Pyre.”

.
I looked around and smiled. “It is no longer called by that name, Dionysus. Golden Fire… a sacred weapon that droves monsters away.”

His eyes meaningfully looked at me and immediately looked away. Siraulo lang. As the air became thinner, unsaid words began to fill us up, as if he wanted to tell me something, but he’s trying his best not to utter it.

“May pupuntahan ka pa ba?” Tanong nito sa ‘kin.

Tumango naman ako sa kanya. “Sa Cerulean Kingdom. May pag-uusapan lang kami ni Artemis.”

“You probably should go now.”

I squinted my eyes at him. I was suspicious at first, but then I realized that my time was really limited, especially that I was still accommodating the demigods who wanted to study under the Demigods Academy. I even schedule my appointment with my friends, and Skyler is the only one I constantly visit every day, after work.