Team Alpha

Chapter 7

'Life or Power'

XIN

"Well, that escalated quickly." Napalingon kaming dalawa ni Deka kay Seth na basa pa ang damit pero may dala-dalang jacket. Lumapit siya sa akin at nilagay ang jacket sa balikat ko at tiningnan si Deka na nakatingin lang sa amin. "I knew I sensed trouble." Sabi ni Seth at dun ko nakitang tumigil muna ang mga kulog na narinig ko at tsaka na tumama sa malaking bato ang isang napakalakas na kidlat.

Hinawakan ko kaagad ang braso ni Seth at nakita kong umuusok ang kamay niya. Tiningnan lang siya ni Deka at nakita kong mas lalo itong nainis.

"You dare send your little sparks on a queen?" Tanong ni Deka pero natawa lang si Seth.

"A queen who threatens the guardian of the realm on her first day? No, you're not fit for a queen." Natatawang sabi ni Seth at itinaas ang kamay niya. Kumunot lang ang noo ko sa ginawa niya hanggang sa bigla nalang umahon ang mga Telkhines mula sa ilalim ng tubig. Napatingin kaagad si Deka sa kanila habang nakatingin lang sila kay Seth at parang naghihintay ng utos.

Tiningnan ko si Seth na nakatingin lang sa kanila at ginulo ang basa niyang buhok. He swept his hair back, exposing his forehead and licked his lips, clearly thinking of a command to give.

"How dare you raise an army at me?! I'm a queen!" Sigaw ni Deka at binugahan kami ng tubig. Itinaas ko lang ang kamay ko para gumawa ng shield at tiningnan siya.

"And you're forgetting that you're Deka Phield. Born at Delphi, under the rule of Apollo, hence you're a demigod by law. And I'm Seth, son of Zeus. You are under my command." Natahimik kaagad si Deka sa sinabi ni Seth at tsaka na iginalaw ni Seth ang ulo niya. The Telkhines forwarded to Deka's position at nakita ko ang mga kinakabahang galaw ni Deka. Napalunok nalang ako at tiningnan si Seth na nakatingin lang sa ginagawa niya.

"Seth, let it be. She can't curse me anyway. It's against the royal law to curse someone." Sabi ko at hinawakan ang balikat niya at naramdaman kong lumapit na 'yung ibang members sa amin. The party seized, and they were all looking at their queen who was being surrounded by Telkhines. Napapikit nalang ako. We are invited to celebrate this coronation, not ruin it.

Tiningnan ko nalang si Luce na nakaupo lang dun sa gilid at walang imik na nakatingin sa gawi namin ni Seth. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at tiningnan si Deka na halatang natatakot sa mga Telkhines na pumapalibot sa kanya.

The first time I saw her, she said that I should leave the team. The second time I saw her, she was hurt because Walter already liked Keya. The third time I saw her, she was at the Underworld. The fourth time, I made her take me to hell and asked her to look after Luce. And the fifth time I saw her, I saved her from her fellow mermaids who turned into the dark side. She was all hurled up in a shell, crying for help.

"My Queen, with all due respect. Are you really going to curse the one who saved you from the dark mermaids?" Tanong ng isa sa mga serenang katabi niya kanina nung hindi pa nagsisimula ang coronation. That thought alone snapped Deka back to reality. Napalunok siya at tumingin sa akin at parang natauhan sa nagawa niya at tsaka mangiyak-ngiyak na tiningnan si Luce na naglaho lang.

Now I know what any one would do in the sinful name of love.

Deka has this kind of love where she's willing to destroy everyone who gets in her way. She would lie, hurt and kill those who are a threat for her. Tumalikod na ako at tinapik na ang balikat ni Seth, leaving him with his duties as the commander of demigods and the leader of Team Alpha.