AIZEN.

I can hear a faint growling along with the scent of the mulch. And not away from my place was people talking; the voice of two unfamiliar women. I tried to sit with my eyes close but a sudden pain on my stomach weakened me. And when I slowly opened my eyes, I tilted my head.

Serena was in a deep slumber. Her bed was beside mine and she was being surrounded by two unfamiliar women who failed to notice that I'm already awake.

"Kailangan niyang magamot," the woman with a light brown hair said. Her eyes were dark green but it was glimmering with sadness while looking at Serena.

The other woman with an auburn hair frustratingly bit her nails, they have the same eyes yet her eyes were deeper than the other, "Should we contact Apara?"

"You're awake." The one with the light brown hair stated. Tinulungan naman ako ng kasama niya na makaupo. And then I remembered every fuckin' detail of what happened earlier.

Riley was a double agent.

Nang lumingon ako sa pwesto ni Serena ay mapait akong napangiti. Night tortured her.

They helped me to sit properly, the throbbing sensation eases when I saw the magnificent scenery. We were surrounded by glass and what is happening outside can be seen clearly.

A floating river captivated my eyes; the water was swaying, waving without any surface and on top of it was Charon, he was rowing his boat with a passenger on it. Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries the spirits across the river of Styx and Acheron, and because I already saw the River Styx earlier this river must be Acheron. There were two doors at the end of the river, the first one symbolizes the melancholy through the skull with a knife on its head that was carved at the door. And the second door was pure white, it symbolizes peace and bliss.

And once they crossed that line, they become soul.

It is either they will become a pure soul or a grim soul.

"You're in my husband's turf, Aizen." The woman with auburn hair mumbled. She must Persephone, the goddess of the Underworld. Ginala ko ang aking mata ngunit kahit isang anino ni Hades ay wala. Nagtatakha akong tumingin sa kanila— Mother and daughter, huh?

The other woman is Demeter, the Goddess of Agriculture, Persephone's mother. "Don't worry. Hades is not around." Demeter uttered. I quizzically looked at her. Bakit naman mawawala si Hades dito? "Hades is in the Mt. Olympus,"

"Why?" I asked.

"Winter Solstice," Demeter answered. "One month from now, a war will emerge."

I shut my eyes and tried my best to remember what has the shortest day and the longest night of this year. December 21st. "You must leave this place. Where are your pearls?" Persephone asked.

Kinapa ko ang bulsa ko't naramdaman ko ang tatlong pearls. Nagtatakhang tumingin sila sa akin nang ilabas ko ang mga pearl, "May nalimutan ba kaming iligtas?"

"Wala po." I grimaced.

At dahil tatlo ang pearl na nilabas ko ay inakala nilang tatlo kaming magkakasama. Well, we are really three when we came here but who would have thought that Riley is a double agent? Especially that he is acting as Artemis' right-hand.

"Step on the pearl and imagine the place that you wanted to go, Aizen," Persephone instructed.

I glanced at Serena, she's still in a deep slumber. Hindi kami makakaalis kung natutulog pa siya— "She's staying, Aizen."

Naguguluhan akong tumingin kay Demeter, "What do you mean?"

"She's in a critical condition, Aizen. At kung sino man ang may gawa nito sa kanya ay maaaring malaki ang galit sa kanya." She explained. Persephone was carefully listening to our conversation. I heaved a sigh. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko 'to ipapaliwanag sa iba.

I gave Persephone the other pearl, "Please give this to her once she wakes up," I tossed my pearl on the ground. The image of the Cerulean Kingdom's palace was registered inside my mind and as soon as I step on the pearl, my body felt light-weighted and slowly it becomes ashes. I was being sucked by immeasurable force until I shut my eyes.

"Aizen!"

And when I opened my eyes I saw Sue. I teleported inside the palace and specifically in the living room. Master Garet stood and roamed his sight and as it landed to mine, he saw the emotions that I was hiding. He walked into my direction and gently tapped my shoulder, "What happened, Aizen?"

"I... We lost..." My voice cracked.

Nang iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya ay nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Ice. She was already awake and she's now full of life. Ice was simply inspecting my facade. "Where is Serena? Riley?" Master Garet asked with a soft voice.

Along with a sigh, my tears fell. Ang bigat naman nito sa dibdib. "Riley is a... He is a double agent." I whispered.

"How about Serena? Where is she?"

Once again, I heaved a sigh. Ice was now beaming at me. She was simply waiting for my answer but not even a single word came out from my mouth. She began to clench her fist, she was hiding it but I am fully aware of my surrounding now that I was able to see it.

She was looking at me coldly. I pursed my lips when she began to walk, each sounds she was making were echoing in the palace. Ice never shows her real emotions, she was never transparent. But I am sure that she is devastated right now, Serena is her best friend, and now she's in a critical condition right now because I failed to help her during our battle.

She was keeping her straight-face when she arrived in front of me. "Serena," She darkly said. I remain looking at her, watching her as she clenches her fist.

And even though Ice was standing before me, I heard the several footsteps coming on our way. "Yelo, stop." It was Sky. "I will explain on behalf of Aizen,"

"What do you mean?" Ice asked Sky.

Nangungusap na tumingin sa akin si Sky. Along with him was my twin and the others. "How is your wound?" Light asked. Nagtatakha akong tumingin sa kanila at maging sina Master Garet ay tila naguguluhan sa sinasabi nila.

"Alexis..." Master Garet whispered. Sa likod nina Phoenix ay may isang babae na kasing edad nina Master. She must the dream that Master Garet stopped chasing.

The woman languidly looked at him, she looks cool yet cunning at the same time. "How are you, young man?" She asked me.

I was caught off guard with her smile. Gulat akong lumingon kay Sky at muling binalik ang tingin sa babae. They looked resembles each other. "Serena is in Hades' turf, she will stay in there until she recovers. And seven months is approximate time until she recovers from the forbidden spell," she explained.

I was still quizically looking at them until Phoenix tapped my shoulder, "Light's new blessing helped, it let us know what happened to you during your battle with Night and Celine."

"We were able to hear your voice and conversation with Night and the others," Light explained.

"Hear? But why are you able to deduce that Night used his forbidden spell?" I asked.

"He is still learning his blessing from Erebus. At dahil do'n naisip ko na maaaring ang forbidden spell niya ang ginamit niya kay Serena." Tita Alexis explained.

I looked at Light. His blessing was said to be altered and at first, I wasn't believing that shit but now I am. It saved my ass.

"Aizen," Sky called. He nudges his elbow to my stomach that made me winced, "Hindi pa kita sinisisi pero mukha ka nang natatae r'yan."

"Why didn't you used your blessing?" Aizelle asked. I pursed my lips and looked away. "I am scared," I mumbled.

"Strawberry," Ice whispered. She was handing me a strawberry that I looked at her curiously. Naramdaman ko ang sunod-sunod na pagtapik ni Phoenix sa balikat ko at tila excited siya inaabot sa 'kin ni Ice. Nag-thumbs up sa 'kin si gago, "Sarap 'yan, Aizen." Phoenix said.

"Recommended," Sky said.

I shrugged and tossed the strawberry inside my mouth. I heard Sue giggling, I was about to question her until I bit in the strawberry. Fucking Styx.

Phoenix fucking covered my mouth so I wouldn't throw up. I was struggling hard until I swallowed it without munching it fully.

"Putangina." I cursed.

"It is just a strawberry." Light boasted. Pareparehas kaming tumingin sa kanya ni Phoenix nang masama. Ice was still holding a strawberry on her hand, walang pasabi kong hinablot 'yon sa kamay ni Ice at pwersahan kong sinubo sa bibig ni Light.

Kingina mo, ha.

Tatakpan ko pa sana ang bibig niya nang magyelo ang iyon. Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Ice at hindi inintindi ang napapaitan na si Light. "What?" Ice brooded. "Ayokong masayang ang strawberry ko,"

"Master Garet," I called.

"Yes?"

"Winter Solstice. December 21st,"

"Noted,"

"Master." I called again.

He should start chasing his dream again. "Si Sky." I started.

"What's with Sky?"

"Naghahanap daw po siya ng tatay kung gusto niyo raw po mag-apply."

Tito Glifford and his friends suddenly laughed. At mabilis naman akong tumakbo palabas dahil may apoy na biglang humabol sa 'kin.

"Huwag kang magpapaabot sa 'kin!"

Raspy voices of the demigods can be heard at every corner of the palace. The large magic circle beneath them were glimmering as the dust around them were dancing in the air. The demigods were dancing and chanting in the huge pot in the middle. In the middle of the palace was Kronus, he was commanding and cheering as he waved his as if he was a principal conductor of an orchestra.

They were offering every item that they conquered.

The Everlasting Potion.

The water from River Styx.

And lastly, the most important ingredient that they needed. Blood of Dionysus' daughter.

Night smirked as he remembered how Celine threatened Emerald she attacked the Demigods Academy ages ago, Celine didn't simply mock the Primus Section because her real objective was to capture the headmistress.

The pot began to release a cloud of smoke as the demigods began to offer their enchantments.

The hymn of the darkness marches as it decided to end the sub-power that the Olympians love.

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