The Eternal in Abyss (Imitheos Series #2)

Chapter 51: Worlds Apart

KASDEYA ARGYROS' Point of View

My body wants to take its own life. The phantom pain is just too much. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit kahit wala nang sugat sa katawan ko.

Still, the ache isn't enough to stop me the heady feeling of anger rising to my head. Napatayo ako at sumabay ang iba na hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Theon.

Nakatalikod na siya sa amin pero nakaharap ako sakaniya. I face his back, cloaked by his black jacket that makes him look more formidable, adding to the silhouette of his already broad shoulders.

"What?" Malakas kong tanong sakanila, ngunit hindi agad sila sumagot.

Theon ignores me. In his eyes, I'm probably as significant as a squashed bug under his polished shoes. Hindi ko alam pero mas lalo lang nag-init ang ulo ko sa hindi niya pagtingin sa akin. My fists clench, the urge to turn him around just to talk to me is tempting.

Nang natahimik sila, sunod kong tiningnan ang mga Higher Ups. "You think we'll just let you imprison us here?"

Sinalubong nila ang tingin ko. Blangko lang ang kanilang mga mukha. Eyes focus. Mouths in a grim line. They're actually serious, and they think they have the power to control us just because we're in their territory.

I can't let this happen.

"Hindi kami sakop ng awtoridad ninyo. We don't have to follow you, and we won't." Maangas na saad ni Aries. Lumapit siya sa akin. "Huwag kayong magmataas dahil hindi kami taga-rito."

"We're not letting you leave." Saad ni Ma'am Franchesca na masama pa rin ang tingin sa akin. Her eyes look wild and feral, but the bags under her eyes are unmistakeable. I already sensed that this goes beyond the matter at hand. To her, this is personal.

Ever since her husband died, she'll do anything to have control over me.

"You're only wasting our time." I grind my teeth together to level my voice, afraid that I'll end up shouting and instigating a worse ordeal.

It's not like I expected them to easily hand our freedom to us just like that. Sa mga mata nila, isa akong traydor o spy. Hell, I'm sure they still think that we're with Katharsis. Sumunod kami sa utos nila kanina dahil wala kaming choice, but that doesn't mean we'll let them to whatever they want with us.

Binitawan ko ang pagkakakuyom ng aking mga kamay. "You've exhaust our patience while talking to us, and now, we have none left to deal with this. Hindi kami susunod sainyo. I am never stepping inside your dungeons again."

Commander Matthias frowns, but her expression tells me that our protests are within her expectations.

"Then," She sighs, before gesturing to the four Hellenes who are still sitting down. "We have no choice but to take you by force."

Force. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi.

Nang tumayo na sina Paris, River, Dwayne, at Reinn para maglakad palapit sa amin, I remember the day Acropolis came to the mortal world to get me.

Back then, right after I was captured, Adonis claimed that this is a safe haven for demigods. Hellenes will protect this place from harm. I've always known that was a lie. They have always used force to get what they want.

Hindi sila naiiba sa Katharsis. Hindi sila naiiba sa Olympians... All of them deserve to be destroyed.

"Stay back." I groan, my warning sounding more like a howl of a hurt puppy.

Paris looks at me apologetically. "Madame, wala kaming cho—"

"Shut up, Paris," Putol sakaniya ni Dwayne habang naglalakad papunta sa direksyon namin nina Aries. "They're enemies of Acropolis. They don't deserve our mercy."