Thieves Of Olympus

18

MASON

"Ganbatte Dono!" says Sojiro.

Oni snickers at me, "Kare wa machigainaku kare no o shiri o uchi makashimasu."

Even if you pray to your Gods I'll make sure your master's not gonna use his card as my brother nor my father's son. Ever.

Kajiya's dojo is a traditional space for kendo. Swords—wooden and metal hang on the wall far from us. A japanese calligraphy with the characters "剣道" hangs above an altar with twin katanas. It means "way of the sword" under it was our father's image from a different time with different face.

Kajiya tossed one of the katana to me. Hindi kami gagamit ng protective gears o helmet. We just have ourselves. It is up to us if we die or leave this place wounded.

"You know what to do," Brianna nods.

"Good luck" is written on Clea's face while Gareth eyes stares straight at our swords. He is still angry but I trust Brianna's plan. Nakaupo sila cusion na nandito sa loob. Waiting for the right timing.

"If you lose..." Kajiya uses his thumb to slice his neck. Taas noo niya akong tinignan, "Only the boy leaves. The fire and the girls will stay."

"Only... if I lose," matapang kong sagot. I smirked at him.

Are you watching this Dad? How did you sire an evil child like this? Hindi yata tao ang nahanap niyang ina para sa isang ito or his mother does not care about him at all.

"Get ready to die, little brother."

"Bring it on, aniki."

We point swords at each other. Circle each other first looking for opening to attack but I did not show one so did he. The blows we exchange are heavy from the start. The sword looks heavy but it is not. Ang mga pagatake lang namin ang mabigat. He advances when I can't find an opening while I step back to find my own pace.

"Mason!" pinaupo ni Clea si Brianna.

I felt a stinging pain after recieving a jab on the left chest. Napangiwi ako sa hapdi at lalim nito. I don't mind it gagaling din naman ito agad. I use this as a momentum to strike at him. Tumulo ang dugo galing sa sugat niya sa bewang. He gave me a dark look.

What is wrong with his eyes?

Naging maitim ang mga mata niya. It has a hint of gold but his eyes are black as an onyx.

"I forgot to tell you..." he snaps his neck, smiling at me "I'm a quarter demon. A quarter demon and a half god... a combination of ancient bloodline anyone would die for," he laughed without humor.

My rage and disdain fuels me desire to kill the bastard in front of me. Idagdag pa ang galit na nararamdaman ko para gamitin ang apoy at mga kaibigan ko. I am not a demon like him... Not one of them will be put to harm. At sisiguraduhin kong makakaalis sila ng maayos kahit maubusan pa ako ng dugo.

"Look at you," he mocked, "Looking desperate and angry."

Nalilibang ang mga kasama niya sa amin. In my peripheral vision I saw Gareth change the vials in a split second. He sat there looking angry like no change happened.

"Let's end this! I will not give them to you like a toy!"

My eyes turned gold out of anger, disappointments for father, and hope that forge the burning torch of success. I swing and sway the katana remembering the harships of self trainings when everyone's sleeping... the bruises and wounds I got while I keep getting defeated on the field. And the thought of protecting what's always been mine.

I manoeuvred, deflect and recieve his blows to me. He became desperate he used dirty tactics against me. He tried to kick me pero nakalimutan niya yata ang saya ng espada. I have my free hand use it to trip him on the legs  and hit him on his stomach. He stumbles on the floor gasping for air.

"You're still a mortal... I can kill you if I want to—"

He stops me short, "Do it! I want to see their reaction while stabbing me to death. Will they accept a murderer after that?" he laughed dryly.

I am so enraged I almost lost control, "I'm not like you. I'm no demon who controls people's lives like you!"

"You are... You will be!"

What happened next did not ease my anger. Tumagos ang katanang hawak niya sa balikat ko. What made. It worse is that Brianna recieved a deep cut on her head sa kagustuhan niyang pigilan ako.

"NO!"

"BRIANNA! MASON!"

Napatayo si Clea at Gareth sa nangyari. His comrades look scared staring at us. Nagawa pang kapain ni Brianna ang dugong galing sa sugat niya bago mawalan ng malay. I give her to Gareth and pulled the sword from my shoulder producing more blood.

"Leave," I turn to them, "Tend her wound and don't come back. I'll follow you."

Clea looks bewildered, "They are demons! We can't leave you!"

"What? Sacrificing yourself is bad enough ngayon gusto mo ng mamatay?!" Galit na tugon ni Gareth.

"LEAVE! SHE'S LOSING SO MUCH BLOOD! SAVE YOURSELVES!" pagtataboy ko sa kanila, "I don't want you to see me become a murderer."

Nanginginig na kinuha ni Clea ang vial ng apoy habang buhat naman ni Gareth si Brianna. They left without looking back.

Wounded I hold the katana with two hands. I don't care if I reach my limit while using my full ability.

"I smell bloodlust from you. Great show by the way!" Kajiya is also wounded pero mas mabilis gumaling ang mga sugat niya dahil sa isa pa niyang dugo.

Bloodlust? This will be murder.

Then the movements comes from three directions. The only difference is that I can read their moves. I tasted metallic in my mouth after swinging the sword and defending myself. I sway the sword to Sojiro and Oni who both laid facing the bloody floor. The place looked like an abattoir more than a dojo. Blood, stains the wall and the pillars, pooling on the floor.

"I'm the only true son of Hephaestus!" pasugod na sigaw ni Kajiya.

"Gomen'nasai otōsan," I whispered. I swing the katana to his torso and thrust it to his stomach.

Kajiya feels heavy when he holds on to me. He coughs blood on my face heaving his last breath, "Mur... der.. rer," he says, falling with his eyes open.

"You forced me to."

Shame on you... you are my brother but I won't allow a monster in the family.

Nagsindi muna ako ng insenso at nagdasal sa altar bago tumalikod at tumalis sa lugar, leaving them like a garbage.

Translations:

Ganbatte Dono! — Good luck, master!

Kare wa machigainaku kare no o shiri o uchi makashimasu — "he will definitely beat his ass."

Gomen'nasai otōsan — "I'm sorry, Dad."

Saya — scabbard or wooden katana sheath.