Thieves Of Olympus

19

COLETTE

Witchcraft, spells, and voodoo are part of our world. Witch's legacy are all around the world. Kahit sa Pilipinas ay mayroon nito. Kulam, mambabarang, sumpa... and alay or offering for an enchanted creature.

Ginagawa lang naman ang alay kapag kailangan o desperado na ang humihiling.

When Sandro—the trapped mortal— found the secret altar ay nabahala kami. Ayaw sana namin umabot sa sakitan pero mapipilitan kaming gawin iyon. Makikita din ni Sandro na hindi kami normal katulad niya.

Sabi nga ng mga mortal: Bahala na si Batman. In our case... bahala na si Hecate o si Dad. I know he will find and save our souls.

He promised not to tell anyone what he will see pero hindi pa din kami nahinga ng maluwag. One of us to going to be burned alive.

"Remember that veiled lady?" I ask them.

Sabay-sabay silang tumango. Nakuha naman agad ni Lionel ang gusto kong sabihin. So we divided the group: the decoy, the rescue and us—Sandro and Me. Kami ang kukuha ng gamit since I can open a portal papunta sa sasakyan.

I used the mist on Cyrus to cover and create an afterimage of a veiled lady but this one will collect their tribute. Nakabelo at damit ng itim pero kumikinang tulad ng araw.

"15 minutes," paalala ko kay Cyrus.

Iyon lang ang oras na ibibigay ko sa kanya para malito ang mga tao. Namangha naman si Sandro sa ginawa ko. It looks magic for him but it's not. What's happening is real.

Once they cut the rope that binds Yna ay pinauna ko na silang lumabas. They need to leave first if she wants to  leave this place alive. Iniwan muna namin si Cyrus doon para kunin ang mga gamit sa kwarto. I'll make a portal para mailabas ang mga  iyon.

"Ready?" tanong ko kay Sandro.

"Y-yeah," I know he is nervous. Ganoon din ako noong una kong gumamit ng portal.

We stepped in it and got out of the cursed place. Iniwan namin ang mga gamit doon. I want him to stay there but he won't stay sa kagustuhang tumulong. He almost retched pagkalabas ng portal pero gusto pa din umulit. He really is a mortal born.

Sandro whistled to get everyone's attention. Cyrus is exposed to them, nagawa pa nitong kumaway at ngumiti sa kanila.

These people are desperate. So desperate they will do things out of place that will hurt anyone.

Condolence sa mga turistang inalay nila. May their souls rest in Elysium.

"Cyrus dito!" tawag ko sa kanya.

"Akala ko lumabas na kayo," he pants.

I gaze around the altar, "Where's Lionel?"

"Hiding somewhere. Some men with weapons are chasing after him."

"What?! Didn't you blind them with sunlight?"

"I did! May nakakita sa kanya. May mas malala pa pala sa mga naranasan ko noon!"

"Ang arte mo," I grab his wrist and open a portal papunta kay Sandro. He was hiding behind a tree trunk at may humahabol din sa kanya. They have this blade or bolo, calling out his name.

Desmond signals where he is. Tinulak ko paalis sa tabi ko si Cyrus para papuntahin kung nasaan si Desmond.
I need to help this mortal first.

Para kaming nakikipaglaro ng hide and seek sa kanila. They were the seekers and we are the players. Iyon nga lang ay lamang ang seekers sa bilang kumpara sa players.

"Shh!" I covered Sandro's lips with my hands. May malapit sa aming isa at pinaalis muna ito before I remove my hand.

Malikot ang mga mata niyang tumingin sa akin, "I saw Lionel behind a pillar. He is wounded."

"He will be safe but you won't be if you stay here long enough," I told him, "Leave when I open a portal, stay out of the fog. Understand?"

"Paano ka?" he is concern overlaps his nervousness.

"I can handle—"

A bullet passes our head. Tumama ito sa punong malapit sa amin. We crouch and crawl down the overgrown bushes to cover ourselves.

Noong nakalabas kami ay nakita ko na si Lionel. The proximity is close enough to cover him with the mist.

"Run," I whispered.

"What? No!" he argues.

My brows knitted at his answer, "Don't play hero here! You are wounded already."

"Guys..." Sandro calls.

"Not now!" Lionel stops him from calling us.

An elder with a gun shoots at point blank. Mabilis akong nag-open ng portal para itulak si Lionel doon. Sa labas ng sasakyan ang pupuntahan niya.

"Ah!" A bullet grazes deep on my arms.

Sandro tries to defend me pero pinalo siya ng matanda ng puwet ng baril. His eyes were wild and angry directed at my hollow charcoal eyes. I only snickers but yelp when he grabs my hair yanking me up.

"Alam mo bang matagal na kaming nagtitiis sa lugar na ito?!" his spit flies to my cheeks.

"Your fault, not mine!" I spat.

He smiles wickedly, "Ikaw na lang ang iaalay namin kung ganoon."

Nagpapasalamat ako sa gumawa ng sumpa sa lugar na ito. They really need to be isolated with their thinking and actions. I hope they rot in here until the curse is lifted!

Masama ko lang siyang tinignan. He drags me back to the burning stake but a rock hits his head and he falls to the ground.

"Looks like I'll be the one saving you."

"Bakit hindi pa kita tinulak kasama ni Lionel?"

"For this?" he shrugs.

"Oh, shut up!"

Madami pa kaming nadidinig na naghahabol na boses. They were screaming where they see us at sila Cyrus. Gaano katagal nila kaming hahabulin?

May nakakita sa amin but we always manage to hide or dodge a bullet. Kapag hindi bala ay bolo ang tumatama sa balat namin.

"I can't run anymore!" he complains. Wounded and full of scratch.

Kapag nakita ko ng wala sila Cyrus at Desmond ay lalabas na kami. Hindi ko na nakita ang anino nila. That's my cue to open a portal for us to leave.

"Colette!" Sandro catches my slumping body after a gunshot.

"D-damn... bull-let..." I taste metallic and cough some blood.

I use the last ounce of my strength to transport us back to the car. Then, everything went black.