The Visitor

"Cassandra!"

Napalingon naman kami parehas kay Asclepius, ngunit nang mapansin kong papalapit pala si Lycus sa'min. Kaagad kong dinala sa'king likod si Cassandra upang sanggahan siya mula kay Lycus na mukhang aatakihin kami. Pero naisip ko na balewala rin naman pala ang ginagawa ko when Lycus can pass by me and attack Cassansdra from behind. I, a mortal, was no match for him, a demigod.

I whispered to the wind, specifically to the ghosts, "Protect Casssandra..."

I closed my eyes and heard a sound of clashing swords. Naramdaman ko namang may humawak sa'king bewang and turned me away from the clashing swords.

Minulat ko ang aking mata at nagulat nang makita si Asclepius na niyayakap ako habang nanlalaki rin ang matang nakatingin sa may puwesto ni Cassandra. Sinubukan kong tingnan si Cassandra ngunit pinigilan ako ni Asclepius. He covered my eyes and whispered, "Don't look."

Patuloy kong narinig ang mga espada, I could also hear Lycus' groans. Narinig ko rin na patuloy na naglalaban si Lea at Harmonia, but I flinched when I heard their conversation.

"Why are you being protected by demons?!" sigaw ni Harmonia. Nanginig ako. I must have summoned a demon to protect Cassandra.

Napansin ni Asclepius ang panginginig ko, and put me even closer to his body. Tinakpan niya rin ang tainga ko nang biglang nagsalita ang demonyo nang kung anu-ano. I'm sure it was a demon language. I know it.

Suddenly, memories flashed back to me.

"Melizabeth," I glanced at my father who was busy cutting vegetables for their dinner. Yes, their, my sister and my father. Ang kinakain ko lang lagi ay ang leftovers nila. They had a reason, though. Anak ako sa labas ni Mama, kaya't simula nang namatay si Mama, naging malupit na ang trato nila sa'kin.

I smiled at my father and asked, "Ano po iyon?"

"Prepare your best dress for tonight's dinner, magkakaroon tayo ng bisita," he coldly stated, ngunit nagtaas kilay ako, "You do not let me join dinners with guests, bakit naman bigla akong sasalo ngayon?"

Nagulat naman ako nang bigla niya akong batuhin ng kitchen knife, but I quickly dodged it and caught the handle of the knife by my hands. "Do what you are told, Melizabeth." Tumango ako at inilapag ang kutsilyo sa mesa. I faked a smile and curtsied, "I will be in my best dress."

Pumunta ako sa attic sapagkat doon ang aking kwarto. I had an elegant room just like my Elisse's, my sister, but after mom passed away, pinalipat na ako rito sa attic. I like it though.

I opened my closet and immediately picked a maroon dress with gold trimmings. It was flowing as it reached my knees, and it looked like a dress of a royalty. I tied my black hair into a bun, and added hairpins in the bun. I looked myself in the mirror, I did not look like my mother. So I must look like whoever my father is. Sinuot ko naman ang glass heels ko, at ang necklace na binigay ni Mama sa'kin.

Our family is rich, that I could say. But no one knew about me, the illegitimate child. Kaya't nagtataka ako kung bakit ako makakasama sa dinner. Who was the special visitor that my family would reveal me?

"Melizabeth!" tawag sa'kin ni ama, hudyat na kailangan ko nang bumaba para sa hapunan. Bumaba ako nang dahan-dahan sa attic, then down the ground floor. Doon ay natanaw ko kaagad ang aking kapatid at ama. Elisse was the complete opposite of me, her eyes were blue while mine were red. And she had golden locks of hair. Kung ipagkukumpara mo naman talaga'y she looked prettier and more elegant.

Ang ama ko naman ay napakanoble ring tingnan, even in his 30s, he looked very handsome as if binata pa.

I turned my eyes to the visitor. At one glance, I knew he was a God. His long hair was tied to the back, and he had red eyes that spoke of hell. He kinda looked like a vampire and he's got this mischievous smile.

Sumulyap siya sa'kin at nagtaas siya ng kilay, ngunit nang bumaba ang tingin niya sa kwintas ko, he was taken aback for some unknown reason.

"Lord Hades," sabi ng tatay ko. "She is my daughter that you have requested to meet. Melizabeth, join the table."

Nagtaka naman ako. Why the underworld would Hades, the god, want my presence? Anyways, lumapit ako sa kanila at akmang uupo nang bigla akong ipaghila ni Hades ng upuan. Nakita ko naman ang inggit sa mata ni Elisse. Sige, mainggit ka lang bruha ka.

We started chitchatting and talking. Napasulyap ako nang banggitin ni Hades ang nanay ko, "Your mother, Eriphyle, is happy in her afterlife. She mentioned you, Melizabeth, a lot in her stories. We quite get along with each other, and Persephone enjoys her company. Persephone was the one who wanted to visit you, but she was too busy so I came here instead."

May nilabas siyang dagger na mukhang napakaganda ng gawa at ibinigay ito sa'kin. "Your mother wanted to give this to you."

Kinuha ko naman ito at tiningnan ang dagger nang mabuti. It's made of the finest mineral, and my name was carved in it. Meli. I thanked Hades and smiled sweetly, "Please tell my mother that I miss her." kahit na umalis nalang siya nang walang pasabi.

"I will, for sure," sabi ni Hades and lifted his wine glass for a toast.

The dinner went well. I savored the moment to eat good food, minsan lang 'to eh. Pero napatigil ako nang tumawa si Hades. Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. He was laughing at me! "You seem to be enjoying the food so much." I nodded, "Sorry for my behavior, Lord Hades."

Umiling siya, "No, please. I am very glad you are."

Lumipas ang ilang panahon at napagpasiyahan na ni Hades umalis sa bahay namin. Finally. He turned to me and gave me a meaningful smile, "I cannot stay any longer. I hope you have a very good night, Melizabeth. And I hope that you really like my present." Then he vanished into thin air.

Present? Wala naman siyang regalo ah. Naptingin ako sa dagger, but this is a present from my mother. Baka nagkamali lamang siya nang sabi.

This is your last, the wind whispered to me. Nanginig ako at kinabahan sa narinig ko, o baka naman muni-muni ko lamang iyon. The cold air suddenly enveloped me, at nang kumurap ako, a creature suddenly appeared. It looked normal but it had a big back, parang may bukol ganon. Is this a demon?

Or is this the real visitor?

Thieves of Harmony

By lostmortals

Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!