The Olympian Ball

"Melizabeth!" napalingon naman ako nang sabay akong tawagin ni Castor at Pollux. It's been eighteen years since I reborn again because of Thanatos' sacrifice. Nahirang akong bagong Goddess of Death, at natuloy ang pagiging Princess of the Underworld ko.

"Ay, prinsesa nga pala," biro ni Castor. They both laughed, and I laughed along with them. Thei masks covered half of their faces, but I immediately recognized them. Ganoon pa rin ang hitsura nila dahil parehas silang naging Semideus. Castor became Hephaestus' apprentice, while Pollux became Zeus'.

Umirap ako sa kanila, "Ano bang problema niyo?"

Pollux shrugged, "Wala ka pa bang nahahanap na apprentice, Meli?" Umiling naman ako, "Huwag niyo nga akong i-pressure!"

Nagitla naman ako ng slight nang biglang may umakbay sa balikat ko- Asclepius! Kasama niya si Cassandra, at sa huli, sila pa nga ang nagkatuluyan. Kawawang Apollo. Pero sana all nalang din.

He smirked, "Try mo naman kumuha ng apprentice na lalaki, puro babae naman ang kinukuha mo 'e. Kaya hindi ka nagkakaroon ng jowa 'e." Sinuntok ko ang braso niya at masama siyang tiningnan, hindi ko naman po balak mag-jowa. Alam kong hindi ko kaya dahil hanggang ngayon, Thanatos parin.

"Tama naman, Ate," wika ni Cassandra, at hanggang ngayon, tinatawag niya parin akong ate. Matanda na rin siya! Hindi na siya bata, but she's still my baby aw. "Kailangan na namin ng Prince of the Underworld."

Napasapo naman ako sa noo. Many Gods have invited me to marry, but I know, they want to marry me because of my title. Isang malaking ekis iyon para sa akin.

I looked at Harmonia, at mukhang nakahanap na siya ng magiging apprentice niya. After a while, nadiskubre rin na anak siya ni Ares and Aphrodite, she became the Goddess of Harmony. Habang si Penthesilea naman ay naging isa sa mga huntress ni Artemis, and we discovered that she is lesbian.

Nawala na si Autolycus, at ang ibang malulupit na Eleusinian. The young Eleusinians were forgiven, and given a chance to start a new life without their abilities.

"You know, I am a strong independent woman. Hindi ko kailangan ng prinisipe para mabuhay, duh," mataray na sabi ko at nakipag-tawanan pa.

"Pero kapag naman may minahal, sobrang hina! Nagiging bobo!" Tawa ni Castor. Tinapunan ko siya ng masamang tingin, "Hindi ma kita spo-sponsor-an, lintek ka!"

Sometimes, I sponsor them stuffs and money. Being the princess of the Underworld meant access to all the wealth. Sa pagitan ng tatlong Diyos, si Hades ang pinakamayaman dahil nasa kaniya ang gold, diamonds, etc.!

"Joke lang po, Ate," nang-aasar na sagot ni Castor at ngumisi. He tried to hit on me before, but he also realized that we're all better off as friends. Except kay Asclepius at Cassandra, bahala sila sa buhay nila.

I blame myself for Thanatos' disappearance. Sinubukan kong pumuta sa Asphodel Meadows para tingnan ang kaluluwa niya at makipagpalit uli, pero nadismaya ako nang hindi ko siya mahanap. I didn't deserve his life, his sacrifice, and himself. I was a lost mortal, so he gave me his world.

Bilang pagtugon sa binigay niya sa aking abilidad, gumawa ako ng Island for the Dead which I named Thanatos Island. Doon sa isla na 'yon pumupunta ang mga pagala-galang kaluluwa, and we try our best to fulfill their wishes para tuluyan na silang makapunta sa afterlife. It was effective and mas nakakaipon pa ako ng pera.

I made an orphanage in the mortal realm which I always visit too. I also made a training center for those aspiring to be Semideuses. May bayad 'yon syempre. I also had a mental hospital kasi ayoko nang mga nagsusuicide na tao, problema ko pa kung saan sila dadalhin sa afterlife.

In those eighteen years, I've truly changed for the better. Thanatos taught me that thing. Hindi na ako naghiganti sa mga nagkakasala sa'kin, at lagi na rin akong tumitingin sa brighter and positive side. I want to live as how he wants me to live.

"Seriously, Melizabeth, it has been eighteen years since everything. Thanatos would be happier if you find someone else," wika ni Pollux sa'kin at seryosong tumingin sa mata ko.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako, at umiling, hindi ko talaga kaya. "Can I have this dance nalang?" tanong ni Pollux, after all it's the Olympian Ball. Nakasuot ako ng black fitted gown, at ang silver mask ko ay sa isang mata ko lang, habang ang isang mata ay tinakpan ng wavy black hair ko.

Umiling ako, at uminom ng tequila, "I don't really feel like dancing, Pollux. Maghahanap nalang ako ng magiging apprentice ko."

I moved away from them, and looked at the crowd. May color coding ang mga applicants para mas madali namin silang matukoy, minsan kasi ay nalilito kami between Semideuses and Applicants, and Elite mortals. For this year, the theme for them was black.

Katulad ng suot ko, pero pakialam ba nila?

One girl caught my attention, tingin ko may kakaibang enerhiya akong naramdaman mula sa kaniya. It was familiar kaya lumapit pa ako. I squinted my eyes and looked at her, she has green eyes and brown hair. Ang mask niya ay color black din kaya't litaw na litaw ang maroon niyang labi. Her smile looked nice, but deceiving. Pwede ko kaya siya gawing apprentice?

Lumapit ako sa kaniya, at napansing mayroong pala siyang kausap na iba. I presume, she will stop the conversation for me.

I looked at her bare legs because of the slit of her gown. Wow, daring! May nakahawak doon na kamay ng lalaki at hinagod iyon. Nakatalikod ang lalaki sa'kin kaya't hindi ko napapansin ang mukha niya. Wuw, sana all.

Nanigas ang babae sa kinatatayuan niya, at kaagad na nagbow sa'kin, "Goddess Melizabeth!" Kaagad niyang bati.

I smirked at her at ilalahad na sana ang kamay nang biglang lumingon ang lalaking kausap niya. His gray stormy eyes, met mine. His hair was slicked at the back, and he had this playful smirk on his lips. Napatitig ko habang nanlalaki ang mata.