Thieves Of Olympus

6

CLEA

After the "estranged father" talk with Lunox, I started going to the altars. Cutting palms and lighting sticks of  incense. Praying.

I'm hoping that it is effective to catch his attention pero hindi ko aaminin iyon sa iba. I am his daughter after all. The only child, or for him a curse that shouldn't have happened.

Dark clouds loom above my head. Is it because of the tension about another prophecy or is it really cloudy?

I don't want to know.

Lunox is in sour mood because I avoided him. I know he will ask questions of "what's" and "why's".

"Ouch!"

Blood starts to flow from the cut I just recieve. My fault. Wala ako sa sarili ko noong isang araw.

"Sorry!" patakbong lumapit sa akin si Rosaleen.

We agreed to train before facing another dangerous journey. Wala naman talagang ligtas sa gagawin namin. Everything is possible—death or accidents. Lalo na kapag galing ito sa Fates.

Sharpenning our defense and senses is the only key to survive.

"Clea, sorry talaga!"

"It's okay." I pat her shoulder. Showing her the wound, "It heals already, see?"

I also start to be soft with them. I am still tense but I'll improve little by little.

Ang iba sa sa amin ay nagtatraining, some are punished. Partnered combat para kay Desmond at Cole na kalaban si Lunox , Archery kila Soleil at Rosaleen, daggers for Erina, and swords mostly for the men.

While punishment for the three idiots and a training for our one woman army—Brianna.

"Tayo! One more round and we'll switch to daggers." she commands them from laying down.

She is on a foul mood too. Not focused but this made her to be.

"I won't say dirty jokes anymore." Cyrus pleaded dodging the lance.

His comrades tried to run but miserably failed, "Bakit kami involved?!"

"No running! Gagawin niyo rin ba iyan kapag natakot kayo?!" sermon niya.

I feel bad for them but. They need it too.

As for me, I am done. I did some sword exercises. I feel rusty. I haven't trained for a month. I also need it for our mission.

Japan is the land of swords and Samurais. And as a demigod it doubles the danger we face with both  mortals and monsters.

May ibang campers na tintesting ang mga bagong drills na kinabit. We have new ones for agility, strength and endurance.

"Clea!" Kaito's plops down with torn clothes and dishevelled hair, "Partner tulong..."

"Partner?" I smirked, "Last time I remember it is Erina."

I am not jealous. We are partnered for missions before. Noong kakaunti pa lang kaming nasa villa.

Dinig ko sa pwesto ko ang pagmamakaaawa ni Gareth. Brianna does not use dummies for training. She has her favorite sacrificial lambs.

"Anna, please spare me. Naawa na sa akin si Cole." Gareth gasps for air.

Napatigil si Brianna, "Di nga?"

"No, I'm not." walang kagatol-gatol na sagot ni Cole.

"Why?!" he cried, "Hinahamon ko si Desmond!"

Everyone stops when they heard Gareth. Cole drops her sword. Lunox steps away and goes beside me, giving them the space.

Pigil hininga akong tumabi sa kanya. I should apologize but... Who invented saying sorry anyway!?

Cole personally handed them their swords before joining others.

"Now, why did you avoid me last time?" Lunox's whisper is taunting.

"I was..." I hesitated.

Hindi naririnig ang paguusap namin dahil sa nagpupustahan sila sa resulta. Kung sino ang mananalo. Ang Keeper o ang kaibigan ni Cole.

Why is it hard for me to say sorry?

Ilang taon ko na ba huling narinig sa sarili ko ang salitang iyon? I can't remember saying that kahit kay Sir Atheo.

He looks straight at the duel, "What's with the scars on your palms?"

"Nothing." pagtanggi ko.

He tries to take one of my hands. Iniwasan ko ito sa pagbibigay ng tubig sa kanya. Pressing it to his chest.

"Take it. Your exhausted." I offer.

"Try harder. Maybe you'll make it."

Try what? Praying more or keeping him from knowing what I did. I doubt it is the first one.

"Bro nanonood si Cole. Ayusin mo naman." Kaito.

"Wag mo kami ipapahiya baka magkahiwalay kami ni Rosaleen ng pupuntahan!" Cyrus.

Soleil leans on Brianna, "Ano bang pinusta niya?"

"If Gareth wins they will not be separated from the mission if not they will." Brianna.

"That's why." pagsali ni Erina.

Mason and Lionel stands behind Soleil and Brianna. Observing. Mali pala judging the two men.

Kinuha ni Lunox ang tubig sa kamay ko. Caressing the scars with his finger tips. Ang iba ay bago pa na ikinahiya ko. Ashamed that he realizes what I was doing.

I can feel his stare, "Your praying."

"I'm not." I used my nuetral voice to prove him wrong.

"Still sly I see." He comments, "I won't force you then. Tell me when you are ready."

"I'm sorry." kinuyom ko ang kamao ko. Calming down, "I'm still hoping he answers them back." I chuckle without humor, "He's still my father after everything he had done to me."

"I understand." pressing my scarred palms against his, "I'm proud of you."

We silently watch the duel. They are trying their best I can see. The other proves himself as a keeper the other as a person worth looking at.

They both have their dignity. I am amazed they are living up to it. Another bloody cut appears after healed one. Namumuo na din ang mga pasa sa katawan nila.

After the battle of will and strength Desmond wins. Nakaupo na sa damuhan. Parehong hinihingal at naghahabol ng hininga.

"Then Cyrus, I'll be taking Rosaleen with us." pangaasar ni Erina.

"Bro, LDR muna kayo." naawang tinigtan ni Kaito sa kaibigan.

Niyakap siya ng katabi, "Good luck sa paglangoy, uuwi ka ng buhay ha."

"Fuck you." sagot niya.

"Mahal din kita pero mas mahal ko si Rosaleen."

Tinulungan nilang dalhin sa clinic si Gareth. Sumama din kami para mabigayan at manghingi ng ambrosia.

Play time's over. We have a mission to complete. A camp and family to protect.