A Favor from the Queen

Nakarating na kami sa isla ni Demeter, bumaba si Lycus at naglahad ng kamay sa'kin. I gladly accepted it since I have to get close to him para maging kakampi ko nga siya.

Nagtipon-tipon kami sa harapan ng dalawang diyosa, and nagulat ako nang walang makitang kahit anong kastilyo dito. It was full of grasswalls, like a maze or something.

"For today's test, you will enter a maze and you'd need to get out of there within thirty minutes or else, you would have to return to the mortal realm," sabi ni Demeter at yumanig ang lupa, hudyat na nabubuo na ang mga maze niya.

In one snap, nagulat kaming lahat nang mawala na sila sa paligid. At nagkahiwa-hiwalay na rin kami. I looked around and noticed that I was inside a maze now.

Pinikit ko ang mata ko at pinakiramdaman ang paligid, baka sakaling makaramdam ako ng way palabas...

But of course that was a joke! I mean, helloooo? Wala naman akong abilidad and I'm only mortal! Kung isa pa akong diyos or demigod, baka nga makaramdam ako ng way palabas. But no need to fool myself, alam kong hindi ko iyon kaya. Pure luck na lang ang pinanghahawakan ko dito.

Naglakad ako kung saan man ako dalhin ng paa ko. Dear Goddess of Luck whoever you are, please lead me to the exit!

I unconciously held my girdle, will you lead me out? Tumingin ako sa daan, at napasapo sa'king noo nang makakita ng dead end.

Ngayon naman ay kwintas ko ang hinawakan ko, will you lead me out? Again, I facepalmed when I bumped ito a grasswall. No luck is coming my way!!

Naglakad na naman ako, but I stopped when I heard a sound from behind. Ano 'yon? Tao? Or hayop?

Napalingon naman ako because it seemed like it was fastly approaching me! Napanganga naman ako ng makita ang tumunog, halaman!!!

This has no eyes, paano ko ito mahihypnotize ahuhuhuhu. I took a quick capture of what it looked like para makarelate kayo. If you know the ugly plant na nangangain sa plants vs. zombies then this is the exact reality representation!

"Hindi ako vegetarian, iba nalang kainin mo," sabi ko sa halaman at inirapan ko.

The halaman hissed at me, ahas ka ghorl? At mas lalong lumapit sa'ken. It snapped its fangs at me, at nagulat ako nang may tumalsik sa kaniyang mga veggies. I'm really not a vegetarian!

Tumakbo ako palayo, kaya't hinabol niya rin ako. Sige, habulan lang tayo dear halaman! Kinuha ko ang dagger na nakatago sa'king bota, at hinarap siya habang nakatutok ang dagger sa kaniya.

Medyo nabored ako dahil parang walang thrill na halaman lang 'yung kaaway mo, but then at least may kaaway. Diniretso ko ang pagbato ng dagger sa nakabuka niyang bibig. Biruin mo may bibig yung halaman!

Natuwa naman ako nang nawala na ang fangs niya at naging halaman na lang siya. Ngunit hindi ako natuwa nang bigla akong natali sa mga vines. I tried to move pero mas humigpit lamang ang pagkakatali.

Nagrelax naman ako, at lumuwag ang pagkakatali. I breathed heavily and rolled my eyes. Mabilis kong kinuha ang lighter sa bulsa ko, kaya't humigpit na naman ang vines.

Again, I breathed heavily, at muli na namang lumuwag ang pagkakatali. I smirked and lit fire from the lighter. Naramdaman ko naman unti-unting nasunog ang mga vines.

Nang tuluyang makawala ang right hand ko, sinunod ko na ang left hand at ang mga paa ko. Muli, umirap ako nang makawala nang tuluyan. I felt a presence behind me, as I heard a sound of stilettos.

Nakuha ng paningin ko ang aking dagger kaya't mabilis ko iyong pinulot bago ko lingunin ang tao sa'king likod.

Nanlaki ang mata ko, and I immediately bowed down to the person, Goddess rather, in front of me.

"Goddess Persephone," I greeted her in a very honoring tone. My voice looked pleasing naman, so hindi naman siguro halatang plastik ako, hindi ba?

"Please rise, I'm sorry for mother's creatures. And, I came here because I have a favor to ask," sabi niya kaya't tumunghay na ako. I unconciously raised an eyebrow at her. Favor?

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, at laking gulat ko nang biglang mag-iba ang paligid. Teleportation, iyan nga siguro ang ginawa niya. If not, then this must be an illusion. But I doubt that.

I looked around, at napansing baka chambers niya ito. It had painting of her, Hades, a pomegranate, spring, and many more.

Her blush red gown moved along with the wind, at ganoon din naman ang kulot niyang buhok. Her eyes... it reminded me of Zeus. Poor Persephone, na-rape pala siya ng sarili niyang ama.

"Melizabeth?" Tanong niya kaya't mas lalo akong nakapagpokus sa kaniya. You know, it's hard to focus on someone you look like. "That is your name, dear?"

Tumango naman ako, and bowed my head slightly.

She pulled a chair at inaya ako, "Please take a seat before I start our conversation." Conversation mo mukha mo.

Ngumiti naman ako, and mouthed a 'thank you.' Umupo ako sa silyang tila gawa sa silver, at muntik na akong mapapikit sa sobrang lambot ng cushion. Finally! I'm seating on a real and comfortable chair!

She served me tea. 'Sige pagsilbihan mo ako.' I thanked her again, at kaagad naman akong uminom.

She took a seat, and medyo nailang ako nang makitang tinititigan niya ako. I awkwardly smiled again, at binaba na ang aking tsaa.

She chuckled, "It's really amazing how you look like me."

"Hades, he told me so much about you. And I've been very interested on you since you were a kid, Melizabeth. Now, I'm finally seeing you," pagpapatuloy niya.

I slightly squinted my eyes. So they have been watching me for a long time?

"And I'd like to ask you to pretend as mine and Hades' daughter, Melizabeth. Hindi naman siguro mahirap gawin iyon?" She smiled sweetly.

I froze in my seat upon hearing her favor. She chuckled, and said, "Of course, may kapalit naman ang pagpapanggap mo."

An evil smirk was formed inside my mind. Ugh, these Gods are so foolish.

They don't know they are taking in an enemy.

Thieves of Harmony

By lostmortals

Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!