Cruelty

"Melizabeth!" nagitla ako nang yugyugin ako ni Asclepius. The memories suddenly stopped.

Napansin kong nawala na rin ang kamay ni Asclepius sa mata ko kaya't ginamit ko ang pagkakataong iyon para tingnan si Cassandra.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang nahimatay na naman si Cassandra, at dumudugo ang kaniyang ilong. "Asclepius, gamutin mo si Cassandra."

Napatingin naman ako ay Lycus na ngayon ay kalaban ang demonyo. My heart started to tremble in rage when I saw the demon's face. He is the same demon that killed my family.

Napangisi ako. After 6 years, he finally showed up to me again. It's shocking dahil dapat patay na siya noon pang sinaksak ko siya, but he's here. Protecting me again.

Tumakbo ako, at sinigaw naman ni Asclepius ang pangalan ko. Kunwari akong walang narinig at patuloy sa pagtakbo papunta sa demonyo. I jumped and kicked the demon's large back.

Napatingin naman sa'kin ang demonyo na tila nagtataka. I sent him a message through telepathy, hindi ko alam kung nagana 'to but I hope it does, "Stop protecting me. Die."

The demon creased his forehead, and he did stop protecting me. 'Yun nga lang, inatake niya ako.

I punched the demon nang makalapit ito sa'kin, Lycus was also fighting the demon. Maramig beses kong minumura ang demonyo sa'king isip.

If others were not here, kanina ko pang napatay itong demonyo. But of course, I need to act weak, vulnerable and innocent so that they would protect me. The right timing will come when I need to reveal the true me.

Nagulat naman kami nang dumating si Hades. He snapped at kaagad na nawala ang demonyo. He looked at all of us, at ngumisi, "I'm sorry, my slave must have disturbed you. I unconciouslly casted him out of my abode. I'm sorry for the inconvience."

I held my breath when he said the demon was his. So all along, siya ang pumatay sa pamilya ko?

I wanted to confront him, but my mind told me otherwise, you are not yet ready, Meli. You need to kill him, not confront him.

My hands trembled in anger, but I still tried to keep my appearance unaffected.

Napatingin sa'kin si Hades, at tiningnan niya ang kamay ko, "Ah, you must have been trembling in fear. Please forgive this Lord."

Muntik na akong mapataas ng kilay, does he not remember me? O nagkukunwari lang siyang hindi niya ako kilala? O baka naman sa dami ng biniktima niya, hindi niya na ako naalala?

I smiled, "It's okay, Lord Hades. I was a little scared but it's good that you are here!" Not good at all. "You visited our house before, remember? 6 years ago? I am Lady Melizabeth."

Kita ko namang nagitla ang mga kasamahan ko. Huh, bakit nga naman ba bibisita sa'kin ang isang Diyos? I was just a mere mortal. I had no business with them, but he still messed with my life.

Hades' eyes shone in amusement. Lumapit siya sa'kin at hinalkan ang aking kamay. Kamuntik-muntikan ko na siyang sampalin, but then I smiled sweetly.

"The demon must have been cruel to you to make you fear," wika niya at naramdaman ko ang sarkastikong tono sa kaniyang pagsasalita.

I giggled and gave him the brightest smile ever, "The world is cruel, so I guess it is fine to witness a little cruelty in order to be cruel too."

The world will be more cruel to her, she needs to learn to be cruel too, Thanatos. Paano ko ba makakalimutan ang sinabi niya nang patayin niya ang pamilya ko? Gusto kong mapatawa. Hades successfully turned me to a cruel child.

Hades patted my head, and shot me a little smile. Nagtaka naman ako nang para bang narinig ko siyang nagsalita pero hindi naman bumuka ang bibig niya, "You have learned and grown up very well, Melizabeth."

Napatingin naman siya sa kwintas ko, at nakita kong bahagyang naningkit ang mata niya. Napatigil siya sa paghawak sa ulo ko, at lumayo na sa akin. Tumingin naman siya sa mga demigods na kasama ko.

"Autolycus, Asclepius, Penthesilea, Harmonia. Inaasahan kong makita kayong nakapasa sa Semideus tests. I will be really disappointed kung hindi man kayo makakapasa, and it will be a disgrace to the God's blood," seryosong sabi ni Hades.

Lumuhod naman ang apat, at sabay sabay na nagsalita, "Yes, Lord Hades."

Napatingin naman siya kay Cassandra na nasa kamay ngayon ni Asclepius. Nakita ko ang pagtataka sa kaniyang mukha, pero kaagad din itong nawala. After all, I think he is good in concealing his feelings.

Nagbuntong-hininga siya at nagpaalam na, "Good luck on your tests. Mauuna na ako."

I blinked at nawala na siya sa'king paningin. I sighed in relief, the rage in my heart will lessen now.

"Asclepius, permission to talk to your team mate, Melizabeth," nagulat ko nang sinabi iyon ni Autolycus. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. He looks serious now. Nagtaka rin naman si Asclepius, "Why would you talk to her?"

Lycus glanced at Asclepius, "Personal matters. Hindi ko siya sasaktan, but I insist na huwag niyong pakinggan ang pag-uusapan namin. Tumigil na rin muna tayo sa pakikipaglaban. Instead, magtulungan tayo."

Asclepius was about to answer pero nahila na ako ni Lycus palayo. I kept my innocent face on, kahit na medyo hindi maganda ang loob ko. This man must have seen something suspicous from me.

Thieves of Harmony

By lostmortals

Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!