SIXTEEN.

THE INCIDENT AT THE SOLIS' RESIDENCE (PART ONE)

❝When you breach the rules of fate, you'll pay the price. And that's your life. There are three goddesses who determined human destinies, and in particular the span of a person's life and his allotment of misery and suffering. But warn that you never know if you were being tricked by the scientist.❞ - Notes from the Book of Fates

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Trigger warnings: Abuse, Trauma, Death. Read it at your own risk!

"WHY HAVE YOU come here?"

Saku looked at her and couldn't believe what she'd just named him. It was too dangerous. Now, he has to deal with the murder afterward. "Tell me who sent you."

"I'm here to warn you. You both had the contract, correct? You and the Archduchess are going to die soon."

Saku opened his mouth to say something about Persephone, but no words came out. He can't say it. It was dangerous. He knew he was the only Demigod who could protect the girl.

And, as in the past, she is coming to save his ass. Persephone does care for him when he's still a child.

All he remembers is that he was escaping. Saku appeared more anxious than ever, and his palms were shaking after discovering blood in his hands. He was young. And what does he have right now? A murder. He murdered someone he was not supposed to.

His emotions were stronger than usual, and he couldn't think clearly. He simply knew he had done something he wasn't supposed to.

"What is this!?" Saku just shouted, and a light appeared on his body, resembling a key that goes to Persephone.

To pass into the underworld, you'll need a key to open that specific door. In fact, sure. Saku is Hades' son, hence he was given a key to enter through the other realm. At kung saan man nanggaling 'yon, that remains a mystery.

The door reacts unexpectedly, and some magical enchantments show up. The wood suddenly began to develop, showing the bridge to the other realm.

And as he stepped through the door, he was transported to a realm he had no idea existed. And why did he come here in the first place? The only thing he could do was blink. And this is where Persephone was found.

Everyone knows the story behind it. One day, while the young girl was playing and picking flowers along with her friends in a valley, she beheld the most enchanting narcissus she had ever seen. As she stooped down to pick the flower, the earth beneath her feet suddenly cleaved open and through the gap Hades himself came out on his chariot with black horses.

Hades grabbed the lovely maiden before she could scream for help and descended into his underworld kingdom while the gap in the earth closed after them.

"Are you lost?"

Saku is not sure if he is still dreaming or not. But why has he started seeing such things? He had no idea that these things existed. All he could remember was that someone cast a spell on him and the scientist, and he killed someone without realizing it. So he put his fingers on his mouth, feeling much more unpleasant than usual.

He took a deep breath and quickly ran towards the clean water at do'n siya nagsimulang magsuka. His actions suggested that he was catching up with something. Rather, he was speeding up his pace even more.

"That can't be it..."

"Little boy, are you okay?"

She doesn't appear human. And given how vibrant the woman is, she could have been a Greek God or something. And the godess herself was plainly watching Saku and concerned about him.

He's aware that this will happen. Pagkatapos niyang makasama ang mga madre sa orphanage, alam na alam niya na ang layunin nila ay 'di lang ang makulong si Saku at ang kanyang mga kapatid. Pero ang balak nilang makuha dahil pagiging iba nito. And do you know what kind of horrors he went through?

Saku gripped his fist, "Hindi ko alam kung maniniwala ka, pero 'di ako ang pumatay sa kanila."

"I'm not sure who you are, but I feel like I've seen you somewhere."

Persephone later sat by him, reaching out her hand for his hair. Saku despised the way others pity him. Oh, she isn't even human, so what's he saying? But she seemed warm, as if she truly cared for him like a son.

"You can tell me everything. I'll listen to you."

Saku's gaze turned to the woman beside him. Her red hair was so bright. Her emerald green eyes were gorgeous. Most importantly, the golden aura surrounds her. She had a lot of roses in her hair and held a skull in her hands.

He lowered his gaze slightly, "My family doesn't love me. They used me as a tool to kill."

The only vivid memory that he could remember is that how those horror started as soon as he stepped into the Corbyn Family. Before moving into the town in Guiguinto, he used to lived in the capital region of the Philippines, Manila.

He lives in the city of Maixstowelyn City, Manila. Simula nang makuha niya ito, hindi na sila bumalik. So how can they? Kung sila ay nagkasala sa kaso ng libu-libong mga bata at ilang mga madre sa mga ampunan.

They set the place on a fire at sinadya nila 'yon. It was an arson case. Na hanggang ngayon 'di pa rin nalulutas ang kaso. Living with the known family bought him nothing but pain.

He was basically living with an aunt who despised him and only wanted to use him. The kind of aunt who didn't do anything except make him feel odd.

His mother was an alcoholic, and she frequently used drugs. At higit sa lahat madalas lang din siya pagbuhatan ng kamay nito. Saku was unable to provide her with the ideal son she wished for. She even confined him in the basement.

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ON TOP OF THAT, he has a father who has taught him a variety of unsuitable habits. To steal. To kill somebody. And to teach him that he should be superior to others, which makes him feel horrible! All he could do was narrow his eyes and slowly turn away. His jaws tremble as he recalls events from the past.

All of those encounters are just pieces of his past that he wanted to escape...

"Death? I've seen one myself. Wherever I go, there will always be death. This doesn't surprise me at all."

Saku's gaze had been drawn directly to his friends, who were approaching him.

"Saku?"

Mga medical students din sila. Ticia and Anubis are Nursing students. Parang nagmamadali pa silang dalawa. Saku's attitude shifted as he smirked mockingly at them.

"Ah andiyan na pala kayo guys. Anong maitutulong ko?" Kumaway si Saku at ngumiti sa kanila.

"Dude, wag ka ngang magkunwari, magkaibigan tayo ha. We overheard a talk earlier with our professor. Naniniwala kami sa 'yo, alam namin na si Lyrica ang may kagagawan ng lahat." Anubis said and he sighed.

Despite the fact that it was banned, he would sometimes use his black magic to find out the truth. And it didn't really surprise him because both Ticia and Anubis have shown clear intentions at wala man siyang nakitang bahid ng kasamaan sa kanila.

And unless he settle this judgment day, he wouldn't known for sure.

He need to calm down. He has to. He looked around to see if there's a place that he can be alone only for that to be ruined when Amethyst suddenly approached him and put her arms around him.

"Hi guys! Hindi ko alam na magkakasama kayong tatlo, can I join?"

"Naalala ko na College of Medicine 'to, hindi College of Kaartehan," Ticia pointed out at habang tumatawa si Anubis ay siniko naman siya ni Ticia which made Amethyst to rolled her eyes.

It sucked him in. The idea that this girl can just do this easily, how can she put her arms around him as if she didn't have any boyfriend? 'Walang hiyang babaeng 'to! Bakit ba lapit ng lapit ang babaeng 'to?' He pushed his mind to calm down, knowing that there was an annoyance in his sight. 

He couldn't feel anything but anger. He furrowed his brow, tightened his jaws, and stared at her.

"Get off. You have a boyfriend. Know your place." Saku glares at her and pushes her away from him.

"Tropa ko lang, 'yon. Ikaw ang gusto ko, alam mo na naman 'yon..."She stomp her feet at talagang pinagpipilitan niya ang gusto niya. What a brat.

'Hindi kita gusto!' Those are the things he wanted to affirm. She was already getting on his nerves. If he could just lash out at her, he would. It was difficult for him to do what he wanted or even concentrate with this bitch present.

He was attempting to shut her off hanggang sa nagparinig na lang si Ticia.

"Wow ha! Pakening shet na malagkit! Ang arte naman ng putanginang 'yan!" Ticia cursed at kitang-kita ang pagkainis talaga niya kay Amethyst. Siya rin naman, kung pwede nga lang talaga kanina pa sana tinulak ni Saku itong babaeng 'to.

Anubis was looking at his phone when he suddenly appeared in front of them. "Tama na 'yan. Lyrica called us sa bahay daw nila. Celebration daw dahil perfect score niya e..."

Solis Residences.... 

That's where the murder will happened. 

Pero ang mas kinakagalit niya ngayon ay kung paano nagagawa ni Lyrica kumuha ng credit sa isang bagay na hindi naman kanya. 'Perfect score, my ass! It was I who answered her fucking exams.' He really should say all of this aloud. 

He smiled at them, trying to keep his emotions under control. Dahil 'di mo magugustuhan kung magsasalita pa siya. 

He then walked slowly towards Anubis, slowly putting his hands around his shoulders and giving him dark glares that startled him. Halos pagpawisan na lang ang lalaki dahil sa pinakita nito sa kanya. "Then this is a reason to celebrate."

"So, should I say yes?"

"Oo, pupunta tayo. We should celebrate with them." Sabi ni Saku at nagpipilit itong ngumiti sa harap niya. 

After class, they went to the Solis Residences. The place was quite big. It was a Cape Cod mansions originated in New England in the 1600s and were inspired by British thatched cottages. These beautiful mansions have steep roofs with large chimneys to help better withstand the cold Northeastern winters. Cape Cod mansions are broad, low, single-story frame buildings.

Madami ring nakalatag sa table. Something he was not used to seeing. For French onion soup, simply add your sliced bread and cheese at the last minute and broil for a moment before serving.

Beef Bourguignon is served with a cheese course of brie, gouda, or manchego, as well as goat cheese. There's Post de Crème and French Yogurt Cake. And, of course, wine and bread. 

Lyrica smirked at Saku, who appeared to be dressed casually; he probably couldn't afford something elegant, wasn't he? 

"Iba na talaga mga mahihirap ngayon."

Mara walked slowly toward him as she passed him. And when their eyes met, something brightened within her body. Maybe an aura? Namalik-mata nga lang ba siya sa mga nakikita niya?

She smiled sweetly at him, smirking, "Kadiri na talaga ang mahihirap ngayon. Mga hampas lupa!"

Damn them. Unti-unting sinira ni Saku ang kamao niya. So the reason they invited him was to humiliate him?  Kung gano'n, tagumpay na sila pang-inis! He wasn't sure he was happy with this either. 

He simply wanted everything to stop.