ADK II: Cupid's Slave (✔️)

Chapter 21: Gorgon's Haven

Alam ni Ayden na wala si Fate sa condo nito pagkatapos nang nangyari. Galing na sila dun. Pinasok ang lugar na ‘yun. Impossibleng pupunta si Fate sa condo niya. “Sige. Sige. Where are you?”

“Nandito ako sa isang restaurant malapit sa dagat.”

“I know that place. Give me ten minutes. I’ll be there.”

“Salamat Ayden. Pasensiya na sa abala.”

Nag-ngitiin ang mga Gorgons na nasa tabi lang ni Sunshine habang kausap si Ayden.

It was a trap and yet Ayden had no clue for this.

Fate was already in Meduria held captive. Soon enough, they would kill her. And the best way to do before killing their princess was to shattered her own heart. That would be priceless for them.

And the only way to do it was to kill her love.

Ayden.

Agad-agad na pumunta si Ayden sa garahe at nagsimulang magdrive ng kotse. Wala siyang pakialam kung medyo mabilis ang pagpapatakbo niya.

All he ever could think of is Fate alone.

She needed him.

Wala pang sampung minuto, nakita na niya ang restaurant na sinasabi ni Sunshine. ‘Yun lang naman ang kaisa-isang restaurant na malapit sa dagat.

Malayo pa siya, tanaw na tanaw na niya ang isang babaeng nakatayo at kaharap ang madilim na karagatan. Malayo ang tingin na para bang may inaalala.

Walang iba kundi si Sunshine.

He parked his car and started walking towards her.

Bago pa nakalapit si Ayden, bigla na lang nagpakita ang mga Gorgons at pinaligiran siya. Hindi niya alam ang mga nangyayari hanggang sa nasilayan niya ang mga ngiti ni Sunshine na tila ba nagpapahiwatig ng isang tagumpay.

He didn’t need to ask her for he could sense her dangerous aura. He was not the Sunshine that he used to know.

She was different.

He really hated their powers of invincibility but he knew too well. Madaming gorgons ang nasa lugar at kanina pa siya pinapalibutan. Damn. Bakit hindi niya ‘yun napansin kanina?

Nagsimula ng umatake ang mga gorgons sa kanya.

They were invincible and yet Ayden didn’t bother.  He lived his entire life in the darkness. He could still see them, he could feel their strange auras, and he could even sense their tiny movements in the cold wind.

Kahit walang nakikita, umilag si Ayden na para bang alam niyang sinusugod siya ng mga ito. He ducked then punched his fist into nowhere and caught one gorgon on his ribs. The gorgon became visible as he gave him another punched on the face.

He caught another gorgon by the arm and threw him on the air.

Bumagsak naman ito sa dalawa pang gorgon na hindi kalayuan. Pare-pareho silang tatlo na gumulong sa buhangin papunta sa paanan ni Sunshine.

He turned around and kicked another gorgon on his back.

He was a great fighter even if he no longer had his powers.

He could use any weapons and yet he had none as of the moment. It was so stupid of him. Hindi naman niya aakalain na ganito ang kalalabasan ng lahat. Ni hindi niya maisip na si Sunshine, ang pinakamatalik na kaibigan ni Fate, ay isa rin palang kalaban.

This was a trap and yet he was still here for he wanted to save Fate at all cost.

Hindi na maipinta ni Sunshine ang kanyang mukha sa sobrang pagkabwisit.

Tao lang ang kaharap nila pero para bang napakadali nilang matalo sa isang ordinaryong mortal.

How could that be?

Isa-isang nagbagsakan ang mga kakampi niya at mas lalong hindi ito nagustuhan ni Sunshine. Wala ito sa plano. Hindi ito ang nasa isip niyang mangyaring kanina.

Hindi pa siya nakahupa sa labanan, nasa harapan na niya ngayon si Ayden na halatang galit na galit. “Where is Fate?”

Nararamdaman ni Sunshine ang peligro pero ayaw niyang ipahalata sa kanyang kaharap ang tensiyon.

No.

Not this time.

“Not bad for a mortal like you, Mr. Hunter. Kill me now and you will never see her again.” Mula sa kanyang bulsa, pinilit niyang ipakita kay Ayden ang laging suot-suot na kwentas ni Fate.

Ang kwentas ni Poseidon.

Without it, Fate would be defenseless.

Ayden paused while he searched his silent answers on Shine’s face. There was nothing but hatred and wretchedness. Those melancholy eyes of hers had given him a feeling of sympathy and however Ayden didn’t know her at all.

All this time, she was a fake, a traitor friend, and a silent enemy.

Gustong magalit ni Ayden hindi dahil niloko ni Sunshine ang lahat kundi ang makitang luhaan at sobrang masasaktan si Fate dahil dito.

“I thought you’re Fate’s trusted friend.”

She curled her lips wickedly. “Then you’re even way more stupid than she is.” She had him now. The way he had looked at her, it seemed like he was attached with Fate as well. “If you want to see her again, then follow my rules. Make a wrong move and she will have with she deserves.”

Nagsipagtayuan na rin ang mga natumbang gorgons na kinalaban ni Ayden. Ang iba naman ay tuluyan ng naging ahas.  Agad silang lumapit sa gawi ni Ayden habang pinipilit siyang dakpin at talian ang kanyang mga kamay.

Pangisi-ngisi naman si Sunshine sa mga nangayayari.

Everything went well according to plan.

Maya-maya pa, isang portal ang nagbukas at pumasok sila sa loob. Mula sa kabilang lugar, nakita ni Ayden ang isang babaeng pamilyar sa kanya. Ang babaeng pinana ni Xien sa mansiyon kaninang umaga. Halatang may epekto pa din ang pana ni Xien na tumama sa kanyang katawan.

Nararamdaman niya ang mga daing nito na pilit niyang itinatago sa lahat.

“Welcome to our world.” Ngiting sambit ng babaeng unti-unting lumalapit sa kanya. “My name is Xera and this is our home. We call it Meduria.” Dahan-dahan itong naglakad na para bang kanya ang oras at panahon. “Ito na ang huling punta mo dito..dahil dito ka na rin mamamatay.”

 A/N : Unedited.