Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 42: Cuts And Bruises

Artemis POV

Sa mga lumipas na araw ay nalaman kong kasama si kuya sa grupong tinatawag na Reapers o protector ng mga katulad namin. Tauhan lang din ang naginitiate ng torture kay Dan.

When he is not in school he is in their headquarters-the mansion, kung saan ako dinala noon-training.

He brought me there one time.

Madami sila. He's not on their schedule but he can do what he wants. Isa siya sa Four Pillars of nito.
The highest rank of protectors that was trained.

"Suntukin mo ko" utos niya sa akin.

"What? For no reason?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

The next thing I know he had me in a headlock. Bumitaw lang siya when he heard me gag. Stupid living stone kung hindi ako mamatay sa mga lobo sa kanya pa yata.

"That was uncalled for!" sigaw ko. He started to attack me a dagger. Damn him!

Kumuha ako ng isang katana sa weaponry. Ginawa ko itong pangharang sa mga atake niya but his faster than me. Nasugatan niya ang braso ko. That's it!

Ako naman ang umatake sa kanya. I used the sword's sheat to block his dagger. I hold the sword invertedly pero nasa kanya pa din ang patalim.
Nadali ko ang tagliran niya.

"Sorry-"

"Don't apologize to an enemy." his bodily coordination beats me. Gamit na gamit kahit ang mga binti niya.

Tinalisod ko siya. He jump but miscalculate the aim of the wooden sheath. I jabbed it at his chest. He fell on his back I plan to stab him pero nakabangon siya agad.

Iwinasiwas niya ang dagger na hawak sa ulo ko I ducked at tutuhudin ang sikmura niya. Nahawakan niya ang tuhod. He pushed me but I used the other leg to hit his abdomen. He flew a few steps back.

"Wag kang tatalikod sa kalaban mo!"

The dagger flew beside my ear making a small cut at it.

Tinapon ko ang wooden sheath ng katana at inatake siya ulit. I wear a victorious smile. I'm at advantage. I was wrong he caught my hand spin me around saka itinutok ang katana sa leeg ko. A drop of blood trickle down my neck.

"Dad taught you well but not enough." hinagis niya sakin ang isang towel "punasan mo yung pawis mo baka masisi pa ako kapag nagkasakit ka."

He then remove his top revealing his toned muscle.

Isang palakpak ang narinig namin.
"That was a great show!" ani ng matanda. The same old man who took care of me.

"Do you want to be part of the reapers?" He ask ogling my face.

"She won't be." Kuya answered. "I'll train her myself."

He is a man of his words. He started bringing me to their headquarters. May mga reapers na yumuyuko sa kanya. Hindi ko pa nakikilala ang tatlo.

"Pagod na ako!" I scream at him. Pangatlong oras na naming ginagawa ang training.

"Tingin mo mapapagod sila habang buhay ka pa?" sinangga ko ang dagger na hawak sa espadang hawak niya.

"Bakit si Naia hindi mo sinasama?" hinihingal kong tanong. I can now catch him off guard.

"She's grounded." sinangga ko ang siko niyang itatamasa mukha ko. "you should also be. Starting today."

"Says who?" swaying the dagger at his tighs. Blood gashing out of his wound.
His sword grazes my shoulder.

"Me." I glared at him "lalabas ka lang tuwing may training ka tulad ngayon." both of my hands caught the sword. Saka ko siya sinipa sa tuhod making him lose his balance.

This is a battle of will.

"No, thank you!" siko ko sa mukha niya. I see blood on his lips. I don't care hindi rin naman siya naawa sa akin noong una.

He recovers his stance, two hands holding the sword. I hold the dagger on my right hand. We attack each other simultaneously.

"You'll train with other reaper and you are grounded." He retorted.

"Who grounds an 18 year old?"

"Mama will be happy when she takes your allowance away" pananat nito.

"Crazy living stone!" I shouted at him.

"You are grounded until I lift it." tumalikod siya at pumunta sa shower room. Ang ginagamit ko ay ang sa maids room kahit pinapagamit sa akin ang nasa kwartong tinutuluyan ko.

"Treat this as your own home" sabi m ng may-ari sa akin.

We came home before dinner.

Mama hug the both of us. Medyo napangiwi dahil sa pasa at sakit ng katawan. Napansin niya ang pasa sa mukha ni kuya.

"Who did that?"

"He punched himself." proud kong sagot.

He glared at me. I smiled at our mother. Umakyat ako sa kwarto. Tatawagin na lang daw kami kapag kakain na.

We ate our dinner in peace not until...

"She is grounded." pointing his spoon in my direction.

"I didn't agree yet!" I argue about it.

"He is right. You can go out when you train with him." segunda ni Papa

"Ma..." nagsusumamo ako kay Mama.

"They were right. This is for your safety." she smiled.

My brother smirked. Fine, I'll put up to the consequences of what happened.

Pagkaakyat kp sa kwarto ay tumawag sa cellphone ko. It's Naia. Lumabasa sa screen ang nakabusangot nitong mukha.

"Let me guess... You are grounded."

"How did you know?"

"Your face says it."

"Are you...?"

"I hate that word already."

The call ended.

I seem fine but the pain and anger still lingers. I never thought I would lose somebody because of my gift.

Is it really a gift?

Iniisip ko ng sumpa ang meron ako. Everyone around me will be in danger. One by one. Nagsimula kay Naia ngayon ang kaibigan ko.

The open window made me want to jump out of it. But I'll do his wish. To live.

Someone entered the room. I did not dare to move.

"Reaper" I smiled bitterly.

An air of silence pass between us. Tila pinipigilan pa niya ang pagkagulat. In the end he just stood there. Watching me.