บท 51: Plans for the Ball
A day passed, and I'm now at the underworld castle. Dito ako dinala ni Thanatos, dahil gusto raw akong makita ni Persephone.
We haven't talked and all, but I guess, we're cool?
I saw Persephone walking gracefully towards me, she waved her hand at me, and I just smiled. Bahagyang nagulat ang ibang servant sa inasta ko, malamang ay nagtataka kung bakit hindi ako nagbobow o lumuluhod sa harapan niya.
Nilapitan niya ako at kaagad kong niyakap, "I've missed you!"
I smiled, "Yes, I can see that." Tinapik-tapik ko ang kaniyang likod habang nakayakap sa akin.
"We'll go to our tailor first para sukatan ka for the upcoming ball," sabi niya at mabilis akong hinila patungo sa hindi ko alam. Sa tailor's room siguro.
The castle had a lot of rooms, big rooms. Malalawak at malalaki ang bawat place dito. If I was a servant here, maliliyo talaga ako. At kung titira man ako rito in the future as the pretend princess of the underworld, I will surely master my teleportation skills.
Nang sa wakas ay nakarating na kami sa room ng tailor, ipinakilala agad ako ni Persephone, "This is Melizabeth, my long lost daughter. She'll need a gown in the upcoming ball, and please provide her the most elegant one."
Lumapit ang isang babaeng napakaganda, ngunit napansin kong mayroong siyang malaking tattoo ng gagamba around her collarbone and neck.
"Meli, this is Arachne. She is our best tailor and weaver," pakilala ni Persephone sa kaniya. Arachne? Her name sounds familiar... hindi kaya siya iyong mayabang na weaver na nagchallenge kay Athena, and in the end, pinarusahan siya ni Athena at ginawang spider!
Tumawa naman si Arachne, "Yes, I am the one and only Arachne, the spider. Huwag kang mag-alala dahil hinding hindi ko i-sasabotahe ang gown mo. Come closer, dear, so I could take measures."
Tinulak naman ako ni Persephone sa kaniya. Nagulat ako nang biglang tila dumami ang kamay ni Arachne, at wala pang sampung segundo, nakuha niya na lahat ng measures!
Bumulong naman sa'kin si Persephone, "Arachne works faster now, thanks to Athena's curse. Magaganda rin ang gawa niya. She's bound to weave forever."
"Do you demand anything for your gown, Princess?" tanong sa'kin ni Arachne. Napatingin naman ako kay Persephone, and she shrugged. She mouthed 'ikaw bahala.'
Nag-isip ako, but I only demanded one thing, "Kailangan ko ng malalagyan ng mga knives. Perhaps, a hidden pocket or something?"
Arachne smirked, "Masusunod po."
"Melizabeth, do you want to visit your mother?" Tanong sa'kin ni Persephone. Nagulat naman ako sa alok niya pero umiling din kaagad ako, "not now, Persephone."
"Then let's have some coffee," sabi niya sa'kin at dinala ako si veranda. She snapped her fingers at her servants at matapos nila kaming bigyan nang kape ay kaagad silang naglaho.
"Sa ball, balak na akong ipatalsik nina Hera," mapait na sabi ni Persephone at saka tumingin sa kawalan. "Kaya binabalak namin ni Hades na ipakilala ka na sa ball, nang sa gayon ay hindi na kami abalahin ng iba pang Olympian. That is why you must be present at the ball, Melizabeth."
"Bakit? Kapag hindi mo ako pinakilala, ano ang mangyayari?" Usisa ko.
Umiling siya, "There would be war, Melizabeth. Hades will be mad for that decision. He would not let them dethrone me, more so, replace me. That's why ginagawan namin ng paraan ngayon. We would not want wars for now."
Tumango ako at napaisip, "Paano niyo naman ako ipapakilala?"
"Hades would request a speech, and then he would explain why it took long to find you, some story making and ta-da!" Sabi niya at pumalakpak.
Tumingin ako sa kaniya, "Apollo knows that I am a mortal."
Umirap siya, "Pakialam mo d'yan kay Apollo. He'll know how to shut his mouth, don't worry. Ang mahalaga ay dumalo ka, you don't have plans on ditching us, right?"
Matagal bago ako nakasagot pero sa huli ay tumango ako, "What do I get in return, Persephone?"
Nagkibit-balikat siya, "You'll automatically have access and authority in the Underworld once you're reigned Princess of the Underworld. At sinasabi ko sayo, since revenge is your purpose-"
I cut her off, "It isn't anymore..."
Nagulat siya, at biglang uminom ng kape habang inaaral ako. Tila hinihintay akong magpaliwanag kung bakit hindi ko na guston maghiganti.
"I am not immature enough to continue seeking for revenge. Naisip kong malaki ang magiging epekto ng paghihiganti ko, at ng digmaan kung mayroon nga. Many mortals would lose their lives, and Gods will vanish. That's why for now, I stopped seeking revenge." Someone also told me not to take innocent lives. He taught me on how to be an angel.
Persephone smirked, "For now?"
Tumango naman ako, "If someone does something that makes me become vengeful, then I will take revenge."
Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi niya habang tinatapik ang tasa, "So, what do you want in return, Melizabeth?"
Pinikit ko ang aking mata, at inisip- ano nga ba ang gusto ko?
Nang imulat ko ang mata ko, nagulat ako nang makita si Thanatos sa baba at may dinadalang soul papunta sa Elysium. Kaagad ko namang naalala ang sinabi sa'kin ng Moirai or Fates, "you want to save Thanatos, right?"
Lumunok ako, "Persephone... Is it possible to ask for a position in the Gods list?"
Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa'kin, "A position? You mean, you want to be a Goddess of something?"
Tumango ako. Nagreplay sa utak ko ang nawitness kong digmaan, kung saan naglaho si Thanatos dahil sa dami nang namatay.
"Why? What do you want to be?" Usisa niya sa'kin at mas lalong lumapit. Ngayon ay kuryos na kuryos na.
I want to save the man who saved me from being evil.
"I want to be the Goddess of Death," diretsahan kong sabi sa kaniya. Nagulat siya at napanganga, "You what?"
"I want to replace Thanatos' position-"
"Then Thanatos may lose his life!" Bulyaw ni Persephone sa'kin.
Umiling ako, "No. He will just be a deity without a position."
Mas lalo lang siyang nagtaas ng kilay, "Out of all positions, bakit iyon pa ang gusto mo?"
Napatawa ako. Death is inevitable, everything comes to an end. Malakas ang kutob ko na balang araw... may mangyayari ngang digmaan at marami ang mamamatay. At ang gusto ko, sa halip na si Thanatos ang magvanish, ay ako nalang.
And then I answered her with a lie, "my hands want to kill."
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