Descendants of the Gods

Chapter 3: Of Half Bloods

KASDEYA ARGYROS' Point of View

I choke on air as if I'm being strangled.

Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Wala akong narinig. Wala akong napansin. The next thing I know, there is a dull, metallic sound swishing from behind me and pass my right ear. Napalunok ako. Hindi ko na kailangang tumingin sa gilid para malamang may espada na nakadiin sa leeg ko.

Dahan-dahan kong sinilip ang taong nasa likuran ko pero mas lalo lang dumiin ang pagkakalapat ng patalim sa aking balat. I can feel my skin breaking. One forceful swing, and I'll be beheaded.

"I said, don't move."

Mariin akong pumikit. I don't have to follow him. Kailangan kong mag-isip ng paraan para makatakas. Hindi ako papayag na mahuli muli. I ran for a whole year, I won't let my efforts go to waste.

Hindi ko namalayan ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko kung hindi lang ako napalunok ng laway. I open my trembling lips, toughening my voice to seem fearless. "Why should I listen to you?"

He withraws his sword in a flash. Nagawa kong makahinga nang mawala ang mariing patalim sa leeg ko. I swiftly turn to look at him. I expect another one of those demigods in uniform, but I'm left in stunned silence.

Nakasuot siya ng isang kulay itim na cloak na may gintong clasp. My eyes drift to his covered body and I can say with certainty that he's not wearing the uniform. His eyes are hidden, but I can see tips of his white hair sticking out of the hood.

Sa likod niya, tila lumiwanag ang buwan na sinisikatan ang kanyang ituktok. It's hard to ignore it now, especially when it screams. Parang sinasabihan ako nito na kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ako makakatakas. I know it's an illusion, but it's still terrifying.

Parang gusto ko nalang mahimatay dahil sa bigat ng nararamdaman ko.

The faint wisps of moonlight piercing through the forest leaves fall in a halo around the lean and tall build of the cloaked person in front of me.

"Sino ka?"

Mukhang hindi niya kasama ang mga humahabol sa akin. Other than the different outfit, this guy seems too detach from everything around him. But it doesn't make sense. Parang wala siyang paki, pero nararamdaman ko ang pagkailap niya sa paligid.

Binitiwan na niya ako. I can run away from here, but something's telling me not to. What if he doesn't need to pay attention to stop me?

I hear a small exhale come out from him as if he's trying not to sneer. Kuminang sa dilim ang ginintuan niyang espada bago ito maglaho sa hangin. I stifle a gasp.

"I should be asking you that question." Even weaponless, he seems more... dangerous.

His voice, as sharp as uncut gemstones and as deep as the echoes of darkness, causes the fight or flight instinct to drive my motors again. Nawala ang kutsilyo ko nang sinaksak ko ang dalawang demigod kanina. Kung hindi ako magmamadali, siguradong mahuhuli nila ako.

Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang lalaki. "Wala akong oras para sa mga katulad mo."

Tumalikod ako para tumakbo paalis pero hindi pa man ako nakakahakbang ay nasa harapan ko ulit siya. I stumble back, and he uses that opportunity to step forward.

Anong nangyari? Who on Earth is this guy?

Bahagya siyang nagtaas ng ulo. Walang lumabas sa bibig ko pero napaawang ito. He glares at me under the hood, one grey eye glowing menacingly amidst the fabric as if it's a wolf's eye. Soft locks of white hair poke his eyelids, and a golden spark appears in his left ear.

Hindi ko pa rin makita ng mabuti ang mukha niya, ngunit sapat na iyon para matumba ako sa lupa. I flinch when my legs tangle with each other like a pair of unruly shoelaces.