Thieves Of Olympus

14

ERINA

"Be careful of the mermaids..."

Mermaids that's how common people call the sea nymphs. They reflect the rumors that they heard from the land. Beautiful creatures that lures and kills sailors until now.

"They are near..." the driver's face turned dreamy. He announced it smiling at the waters, "Mi princesa!" he reaches out to the sea ready to jump in it. Since mahina ang dugo ni Poseidon sa katawan niya madali siyang naaakit ng mga ito.

"Lunox!" I cried. Pulling the driver on board.

Unti-unti na akong nadadala katulad niya. Ganoon din sila but Lunox sends of jolt through Rosaleen's arms para magising ito. As for us...

I want to jump into the waters. I can hear string of curses pero balewala iyon sa awit na naririnig ko.

Fluid like hands caress my cheeks, her giggles fill along their song. Beckoning me to come. She suddenly hissed backing away from me

A jolt of energy travels to my spine, "Wake up!"

"What happened?" lito kong tanong.

"Mermaids or nymphs..." inabot sa akin ni Lunox ang lubid. Apektado din siya ng nadidinig, "Here tie him up. We don't want him to drown, do we?"

Pinagtulungan namin ipulupot ang tali sa bewang ng driver. I did the gordian knot for him not to escape easily.

"Check on Rosaleen," he commands, "Put this on her ears and yours," he puts something soft on my palm.

Ear plugs.

"Paano ka?"

"I'll guard the rope. It's just a couple of pairs. I'll assist Kaito up."

"Hindi pwede! The mermaids will drown you too!" tumaas ng boses ko. Wala akong pake kung anak siya ni Zeus. Kaibigan ko pa din siya.

"I'll deal with them. GO!" a thunder lit up the sky in a broad day light.

Nagamamadali akong bumaba sa kwarto. Rosaleen is locked in one of the cabins kung saan siya dinala ni Lunox. Even inside the yacht their song resonates, echoing. Nilagay ko ang earplugs sa mga tenga ko bago pa ako mahila ulit ng boses nila.

Inside the cabin, she looks at the small window. A mermaid waves at her, beckoning her to come.

"Rosaleen, look at me," ginamit ko ang  kapangyarihan ko. I shake her shoulders dahil ayaw ko naman pwersahan ilagay ang earplugs sa kanya.

Noong ayaw niyang tumingin sa akin ay hinawakan ko ang mga kamay niyang nagpupumiglas. I did not close the door because of urgency. Successfully, I plugged one on her right ear but she slaps the other one from my palm. It rolled on th floor.

"Shit! Stop moving!" umepekto ito sandali—enough time for me to retrieve the other earplug.

"STOP!" I command.

The song lingers in the air. My word made her angry. Her eyes has a hint of gold already. Nagtulakan kami para lang hindi siya makalabas ng cabin.

Something wet pulled me from her—sea grass! I was hanging in the air when she run fast towards the rail of the deck.

"No! Wag kang tatalon!" desperada kong agap.

I cut the sea grass using the knife on on my waist. I landed badly on my right foot pero pinilit ko pa din siyang habulin at hilahin paalis sa railing ng yate.

I can hear Lunox's curses while fending off the mermaids and electrocuting himself. He seems mad dahil kinokontrol pa niya ang nagmamaneho ng yate.

I accidentally cut Rosaleen's arms waking her up from the spell of the song. Kukurap-kurap siyang lumingon sa paligid pabalik sa akin.

"Thank goodness!" I hug her tightly while saying sorry, "Wear this."

Isusuot na niya ng earplug nang may humilang kamay sa kanya. They were dragging her down to the sea fast. I was seconds late bago siya mahawakan.

"ROSALEEN!" I cried, grasping the water but she's gone. Tears stream down my cheeks habang ginagawa iyon.

Alas the song was gone kasabay ng paglubog nila sa tubig.

Someone pulls me away from the water. I can't help but fight back. I wanted to dive into the water to save her. I don't care if I drown for her!

"Erina! Kaito is looking for her. Okay?" alo ni Lunox.

"She... they were pulling her... down... fast!" sabi ko sa pagitan ng paghikbi, "She's losing her breath... dapat di ko siya binitawan..."

Bigla siyang tumahimik. The yacht shakes almost throwing us off balance. My heart is beating fast... for Rosaleen and Kaito... for all of us.

"Duck!"

Dumapa kami sa sahig ng deck ng yate nang may malaking galamay sa ulunan namin. His left hand cover my head for protection while the other one grabs his pendant turning spear.

"Stay here. Wait for them, I'll distract this monster first! Saka kayo sumunod. Got it?"

Noong una ay nagalinlangan ako. Now that he is really mad wala na akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod sa kanya.

Dark clouds started to fill the sky along with rumbling lightning and thunder.

"Kraken..." I mumble.

Maingat ang pagatakeng ginagawa ni Lunox dahil nasa tubig pa sila Rosaleen at Kaito. Nahihirapan siya dahil hindi niya nakikita ang mga mata nito upang asintahin.

Nabuhayan naman ako ng loob nang marinig ang pag-ahon nila galing sa tubig. Rosaleen's cough and Kaito's tired breathing woke me up.

I lunged at them kahit basa pa sila. Not caring if I get wet too. Ang mahalaga ay buhay sila. Niyakap ko ng mahigpit ang dalawa saka sila hinila paakyat sa garahe ng yate. Kaito hugged me tighter after that. He smacked his lips against mine. He tasted of sea and salt.

Bearing the trident, his eyes turned gold while walking on the deck. Parang may nagbago sa kanya habang hawak niya ito. He looks powerful like his father.

"Mali ka ng kinalaban," he announced.

He is powerful before now he looks scary. Messy wet hair, serious looking face and he became stiff tulad ni Lunox. He can flip the yacht over if he wants to.

Saka ko lang ulit naramdaman ang sakit sa paa ko. Pinilit ko pa si Rosaleen sumunod papunta sa deck kahit ayaw niya.

"At last you show up!" pansin ni Lunox, a mocking smile plastered to his lips "Show me what you got, Prince of the Sea!" hamon niya.

"I'll drown you, if that's your wish."