Children Of The Abyss

27

LILITH

Parang pinupukpok ng martilyo ang ulo. My vision swims blurry too. Pinilit kong tumayo. May pasok pa kami ngayon. Kailangan namin bumawi sa pagliban sa klase ng ilang araw.

A few days ago ay nagreport kami sa Underworld. Dumiretso kami sa school portal hindi sa dorm.  I hated the darkness there, the stale toxicity of the wind made me hold my breath.

Flashback

"Ladies first." sabi nila.

Sumunod sila sa pagupo sa bangka ni Charon. Special treatment ang nakuha namin dahil kasama ang anak ni Acheron. Takot na lang namin  at baka biglang itaob ng diyos ang bangkang ito kapag hindi iyon ginawa.

Cerberus sniffed us bago kami pinapasok sa palasyo. One head yawns, the other sleeps and one sniffs our scent. May makapal na gold collar na nakalagay sa leeg niya.

Κέρβερος, nakalagay sa skull-shaped na palawit sa collar, sa likod nito ay 'soul eating good boy'. Mukhang mahal na mahal ni Hades ang alaga niya.

Akala ko makakapasok na kami agad. May nagbabantay pa palang mga undead warriors sa pangalawang gate nito. Their black-green flesh was exposed, torn skin and the only part with clothes was their hips.

Hassle naman. Gusto ko ng matulog.

Hinarang nila ang spear na hawak nila sa harap namin, "You are not allowed to enter the castle."

"Magrereport kami kay Haring Hades." sagot ni Milo.

"He told us to not let anyone in." sabi ng isang gwardiya.

Sumasakit na ang paa ko!

"It's urgent." pinakita ni Milo ang sulat galing kay Hades.

Nagtinginan muna sila bago kami pinapasok. The seal must been familiar for them. Hindi naman magiging ganoon ang itsura nila kung hindi. We did the same sa mga gwardiyang nasa throne room.

"All hail King Hades." bati namin sa kanya.

"Raise your heads." hawak niya ang staff niya bago naupo.

Clad in all black clothes with his long cape he watched us. He has rings and one of them is the heirloom ring. May gold necklace din siyang suot.

"Where's Colette?" his piercing eyes looks in our soul.

"We don't know yet but the other demigods found her." Desmond comes forward.

"I told you to bring her with you!" lumakas ang apoy sa hearth.

Hellfire.

"We tried but daemons attacked us and the other group with her." sabi ni Milo.

Tinignan niya kung nagsasabi ng totoo ang dalawang kasama namin. You can't lie to him. He can read our thoughts. We'll just kill ourselves if we do that.

"How is she then?" curious at our answers.

"She switched places at the mortal realms. Works as a bartender in a club before we find her." Milo reports.

"That smart girl sure has tricks on her sleeves." he comments, "She should be in the institute but left before I noticed it."

That is why.

"I'd still give you your reward for doing your job keepers."

Nanlaki ang mga mata namin. Sabi niya bibigyan niya lang kami kapag naibalik si Colette dito. Eh hindi naman namin siya naibalik.

"No, child of Hecate." I blink at him.

"I'm sorry." yumuko ako.

"I give you a test. If the institute teaches you well." sabi niya sa amin, "If not, then you'll join Camp Semideus."

What?! Okay naman iyon but... I prefer it this way. Ayaw kong magulo lalo ang buhay ko. Masaya na akong kasama sila kahit... ganoon kami ni Alistair.

I'm used to it already.

"Tell your teachers I give a three day vacation. Anytime and anywhere you want. I'll let you stay in one of  our hotels."

"Paano po si Colette?" tanong ni Ree.

"She'll come to me. I shall kill Hermes' boy if he sets foot in this place." banta niya.

Sinabihan niya pa kami na enjoyin ang magiging bakasyon namin. He opened a portal na diretso sa dorm namin.

End of flashback

Pagkatapos mag-ayos ay nahihilo pa din ako. Malelate ako nito eh. Mabilis akong naglakad ng may mabangga ako. Lalong umikot ang paningin ko pagkabagsak sa sahig.

Shit.

Kumapit ako sa pader bilang suporta. Naglakad papunta sa dining area. Nilagpasan ko lang ang nabangga ko kanina. Wala akong oras para makipagsagutan.

Bakit wala pa sila dito? Pumasok na ba sila?

Kumuha ako ng gatas sa ref since wala pang pagkain. Kumuha din ako ng baso para salinan.

I feel my eyes getting heavy. Narinig ko ang pagkabasag ng baso pati ang pagkahulog ng karton ng gatas.

"I got you." hot breath fans my cheeks. Smells like mint and chocolate.

Then there's darkness.

Nasa dorm pa ba ako?

May marbled pillar dito katulad sa dorm namin. Torches lined the walls lights up one by one. Kita ko ang reflection ko sa sahig. I am still in my uniform.

"Child of Hecate." malalim ang bose na tumawag sa akin.

May pangalan ako okay? Liliene Merideth! Lilith! Hindi child of Hacate. Nakakainis.

"This way."

Sinundan ko ang torches hanggang sa makarating sa dulo ng hallway. May upuan dito at lalaking nakachiton. Exposed ang abdomen niya. He has a curly dark hair, charcoal black shining eyes, and godly features.

"Trophonius." his name rolled-off my tongue.

Trophonius is the oracle of chthonic deities. When Apollo of Olympus has the spirit of Delphi as his oracle. The underworld have him. He gives us the future he sees even the deities recieve it too.

"Child of—" nakakarindi.

"Call me Lilith." I told him.

"Lilith. You don't have your mother's gift of prophecies." he said, ogling me.

"I... don't." bakit nga ba?

When I have the abilities to control everyone by witchcraft, see in all directions, but not that one. Maybe it's too much.

Demigod lang ako. I'm not Hecate, my mother. She's the one who can foretell the future.

"Don't doubt yourself child." hawak niya sa balikat ko.

Suddenly images of bloodshed and battlecry is in front of my eyes. Nagulat ako sa mga katawang nakahandusay.

Demigods... with blood soaked clothes.

Nanginginig ako sa nakikita.

"What is this?" nanghihina ako.

"You're future." sagot niya.

"Future?"

"If you don't win." he said, "Now, I want you to deliver the prophecy for me."