Oculus of Time

An Alpha's Way

Ria's POV

Nakaupo ako sa dulo ng higaan, nakatulala, nang pumasok si Heather sa tent. "Dinner's almost done." pagbibigay-alam niya.

Hindi ako umimik kahit nang tanungin niya ako kung hindi ba ako nagugutom.

Wala naman talaga akong ganang kumain simula nung mapadpad ako dito sa camp ng huntres. This is the only place I know where I can seek refuge... for now.

Wala akong balak manatili dito dahil alam kong magiging pabigat lang ako sa kanila kapag nagtagal pa ako.

I'm a ticking bomb that's waiting to explode the moment someone pulls the pin.

Umupo si Heather sa tabi ko. "You haven't eaten since you arrived, Ria." Naramdaman ko ang kanyang kamay sa likod ko. "And I can't stand seeing you like this."

My mind was still wandering aimlessly. Naririnig ko siya pero pinili kong huwag makinig sa kanya.

"Nandito lang naman ako." mahina niyang tugon. "Talk to me."

Ano bang sasabihin ko sa kanya? Yung nararamdaman ko? Eh hindi ko na nga kilala ang sarili ko.

It's as if I was a soul stuck in the wrong body.

I sighed. "Wala na akong maiintindihan." Ipinatong ko ang aking mga braso sa hita ko at yumuko. "Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko."

Gods damn this life.

I thought everything would turn out fine after the war. But now, I'm being reminded that everything has its consequences.

"How's the others?" Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo.

"They're preparing for a new mission." sagot niya. "They already received the message from the council."

Tumango ako.

I asked Heather to keep an eye on the Alphas for me. Para kahit malayo ako, alam ko pa rin ang nangyayari sa kanila.

"How about Kaye?"

"She just arrived in the Underworld. She brought along another demigod."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Who?"

"One of your students." aniya. "Slade, a son of Hecate."

"A Beta?" I got worried after I remembered what happened to their class. Naalala ko kasi na ang descendants ng rebel deities ang nanguna sa pagpatay ng kapwa students nila.

Heather chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, I had my girls gather information about him."

"He's a senior student from their class and their current president. In terms of Academic standing, his performance is outstanding... which basically means he's the reigning valedictorian. He also has an excellent record in all his missions."

I grinned. "You had your girls ask around the campus?"

Tinanguan niya ako. "If you're thinking about what happened to the Beta, well, as it turns out, he's clean."

Nag-antay ako ng karugtong ng sinabi niya.

"When tragedy struck, it was him who protected the other students while they were escaping. Kaya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makatakas ang ibang Beta dahil sa kanya."

I sighed. "How? He's the son of one of the deities who led the rebellion."

As well as one of the strongest. Kaya paano niya nagawang hindi magpalinlang?