The Alpha Goddess

XXI: The Big Three Offering

Heshiena's Point of View

Nakatingin lamang ako sa labas ng bintana. Unti-unti na ring nagsidatingan ang mga bisita. I've heard Hades and Persephone gonna attend the event. So as the other minor deities. I don't know what to expect, especially that I will be surrounded with other deities I haven't met.

There's a tiny part of me that don't want to attend. But on the other side of the note, I am not the Heshiena they once knew. I've transitioned into a goddess. I mean, ang pagiging diyosa ko ay matagal ng nasa pagkatao ko.

I just didn't fully realize that.

I was quick to shake my head. Wala na akong pakialam kung ano man ang mangyayari mamaya. Ang importanti ay kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko—pamilya ko.

Napalingon ako sa pintuan nang may kumatok.

"Lady Heshiena, we're here to assist you," boses babae ang narinig ko. "We've sent by the goddess Amphitrite." Napangiti ako sa sunod niyang sinabi.

"Come in," I frugally answered.

Nang bumukas ang pintuan, dalawang babaeng nakasuot ng Filipiniana. They both smiled at me. Me, on the other hand, didn't think twice to respond with a smile and a nod. They are both nereids, the sisters of Amphitrite.

Sabay nilang iniyuko nang bahagya ang kanilang mga ulo bilang pagbati sa akin. I bowed back. Tila nagulat naman sila sa ginawa ko.

"The deities are anticipating to finally meet you, Lady Heshiena," the other one said. Tumingin ako sa harap ng salamin. "The rumors are indeed true."

Tumango naman ang isa bilang pagsang-ayon. "Your beauty is incomparable that to a moonlight mixed with a soothing water of the seas."

Nahihiya akong ngumiti. Kasabay ng pagpula ng aking pisngi. Sinimulan na nila akong ayusin. I only asked of them not to paint my face too much. A pink blush on, and a mild shade of red on my lips is already enough. And tied my waist-length raven-black hair in a bun.

Pinasuot nila sa akin ang pearl necklace and an earrings. Sunod naman nilang pinutong sa ulo ko ang koronang gawa sa coral reefs.

Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo. The two nereids grabbed my floor-length modern filipiniana. Kulay puti ito't puno ng mga diamonds. Dahilan para medyo mabigat siyang suotin. When they are done assisting me to wear this piece of clothing, both of them bend their knee in unison.

Dinampot nila ang glass shoes kong may six inches heels.

When everything's done, I once again looked at myself in the mirror. Napangiti ako nang mapagtanto. I am all white. And I look so regal and modest. But my mood was quick to shift when I saw the two nereids looking so glum.

"Is everything all right?" I asked, they then both gasped in surprise.

They couldn't look me in the eye. And I saw how they gulp simultaneously. This time, my forehead furrowed in confusion.

"Our sister Amphitrite wanted to relay this message to you, Lady Heshiena," the one on the left said. "She said you have to be strong. And whatever obstacles come your way to hinder you from things you wanted to achieve, do not lose yourself."

Nakita ko namang tumango ang isa pa.

"And that yourself is your greatest weapon against the force of the abyss," dinugtungan naman ng isa.

Naglakad ako sa kanila habang nakangiti. Hinaplos ko sila sa kanilang mga braso. They were surprised and confused.

"And why both of you looked so glum?" ang tanong ko sa kanila. "Mom just wanted to say something to boost my spirit. And that's great for me," ang dugtong ko.

Muli akong tumingin sa salamin. Pagkatapos ay ngumiti sila sa akin bago nagpaalam. Pinasalamatan ko naman silang dalawa. Habang ako naman ay nakatayo pa rin sa harap ng salamin. Subalit nahinto ako sa pagtingin sa aking sarili nang biglang dumilim ang paligid.

Naririnig ko naman ang pagsinghapan ng mga tao sa labas.

Alas tres pa ng hapon, nakakapagtaka naman kung ang bilis ng pagdilim ng paligid. Naglakad ako papalapit sa bintana. Kumunot ang aking noo. Ilang segundo ang nagdaan, muling bumalik ang liwanag.

Nang sumilip ako sa bintana ang tanging nakita ko lamang ay ang itim na kapa. That someone who wears that cape probably just passed right in front of our cabin. At sa harapan ng bintana ko, dalawang chariots ang nag-agaw ng aking atensyon.

The two are both all in black. The first one was pulled by a black three horses. Pinasadahan ko ang isa. And the other one was pulled by four big dogs with red eyes.

Are those hellhounds?

Nahinto lamang ako sa pag-iisip nang biglang may kumatok sa pintuan ng aking kwarto. Iniling ko ang aking ulo. And went back in front of the mirror to look myself once more. Pinagbuksan ko ang taong kumatok.

And there Mavros greeted me with his sweet smile.

He is wearing a black traditional barong with thin fabric. Nakasuot din siya ng black pants and a black leather shoes. My heart skipped a beat when he looked at me from head to toe. Iniling-iling pa niya ang kaniyang ulo.

"You looked . . ." Tinignan niya ako sa mata, ". . . dazzling as ever," he said.

I chuckled and snorted. He then laughed, and offered me his left arm. Nang makababa kami sa unang palapag, everyone's waiting for me. And everyone's looked stunning in their own traditional clothes. Some were wearing a modern styles.

Isa na sa halimbawa kay Chry. She is wearing a stormy blue filipiniana top. Pero sa lower niya, pinaresan niya ito ng pants. Both Yumi and Aresa had the same design: a crop top filipiniana, and a skirt. But both had different colors.

Sina Blei at Erin naman ay parehong naka filipiniana dress. But Nkri wore it in a traditional way. So as Blaze. Hindi na kami nagulat pa. Ang mga lalaki naman ay nakasuot ng barong. Magkaiba ang mga kulay basi sa kaniya-kaniyang taste.

"What just happened earlier?" ang tanong ko sa kanila.

"Because of Nyx," Chry frugally answered.

Tumango ako, pero naghihintay pa rin na may idudugtong siya. I know Nyx is the primordial goddess of the night. And I am pretty sure she have a primeval authority over darkness.

"She always wore a cape," it was Nkri who decided to add some context. "When she is around, her cape can swallow the world with darkness. Kaya dahil biglang dumilim pansamantala no'ng dumating siya kasama si . . ."

Hindi niya tinapos ang sasabihin at tumingin kay Erin, ". . . Eris," she finally said the name.

Then I finally noticed Erin's facial expression. She's trembling in fear, but angry at the same time. Mabilis kong nakuha ang ibig iparating ng mga emosyong 'yon. Sinabi niya sa amin noon ang dahilan kung bakit aksidente siyang napunta sa academy.

Her mom died in the hands of Eris. Her deity is held captive as well. And how Psyche is involved.

Chry cleared her throat to break the tension. Out of the corner of my eyes, Fuego caressed Erin's shoulders with sincerity. To calm her down. To let her know that no matter what happens tonight, we have each other's back.

Pagkalabas namin ng cabin, may iilang napapasinghap. As usual, nasa sa amin na naman ang mga mata ng lahat. Mga bulung-bulongan. May mga deities kaming nakikitang nakakalat sa paligid.

They were all wearing the Filipinos' inspired traditional clothing. Hindi lang mga filipiniana at barong sa mga lalaki. May iba pang mga traditional na damit ng mga tribo. It's funny to see a Greek wearing a Filipino traditional fashion.

But I've heard from—I bitterly sighed—Violeta, Zeus insisted and encouraged everyone to wear them in The Big Three Offering. He said, just like demigods honoring them by wearing chitons.

To repay the academy, they told everyone that it's mandatory to wear them annually. And of course, to honor their children's country.

For the very first time, I agreed to Zeus.