TWENTY FIVE.

THE SACRIFICE.

Trigger Warnings!

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Mentions of mental health and abuse will be addressed. You've been warned. Skip this if it could bother you in some ways. Be a responsible reader, malalaki na kayo.

XAVION ROLLED OVER and slowly placed his hands on his head before carefully sitting in his position. All he wanted was to greet her; he had no idea that woman was far more powerful than the Cursed Swans he had cursed previously.

Mahirap kalabanin ang babaeng 'to. Ngayong napuruhan siya nito, 'di na siya maaaring magkamali pa sa susunod niyang hakbang.

At bago pa man imulat ni Giovanni ang kanyang mga mata ay nginisian siya nito at dumura ng dugo sa kanyang bibig, "Don't get too cocky. Kung naniniwala ka na ililigtas ka ng babaeng 'yan dahil siya ang protector ng Fates niyo..."

His eyes were intensely focused on the Demigods. The Underworld has become more eerie and unsettling, and he doesn't say anything, but his gaze suggests that a storm is about to break out.

Ipinulupot ng babaeng kulay kahel ang buhok ang braso niya kay Giovanni at niyakap 'to ng mahigpit, at 'tsaka sinamaan ng tingin si Zavion. 

"H'wag kang magkakamali!" She absolutely doesn't want to hear any more of his explanations. "Layuan mo ang pinsan ko."

Nakaramdam siya ng kaba at 'di mapakali sa ganitong sitwasyon.

She knew something was going to happen. And if Xavion really does try to kill Giovanni, she will not hesitate to draw her sword to defend her too.

Yes, given what her father did, some Scientists and other Greek Gods may have disapproved of her cousin. Not her, though. She'll save her. Her life is also in danger.

Kaya dali-dali siyang tumayo at hinarang si Xavion. Wala siyang ibang maisip ngayon kundi ang protektahan si Giovanni. Kailangan niyang iligtas 'to. Take her out of the House of Hades, at the very least.

"You're Nyx's daughter, aren't you, Dominica?"

"I'm going to keep her safe, cursed or not!"

Despite Giovanni's powerful magic, Xavion managed to stand up. He was there, silent. Looking at her gorgeous face. Dominica was just as attractive as her cousin, with long and curly burnt orange highlighted hair, upturned violet eyes, fair skin, a pointed nose, and thin lips. Her rosy cheeks are what make her attractive.

She's dressed in a red fitted blazer, black long sleeves on the inside, and black corporate clothing. Her aura shone as brightly as the moonlight. There are silver sparkles of magic all over her.

Dominica's eyes slowly glared, indicating her rage at him, "Enough! Didn't you make our lives miserable already?"

"Cursed Swans. There are Demigods and Teras among the royal family. The curse that was passed down to them cannot be removed by any form of magic when they reach adulthood. It's as if the curse is a part of their existence. If you're going to hate me, you should at least know what kind of curse I cast on those princesses, won't you?"

"Don't worry, Dominica."

Mabilis na tumayo si Giovanni at inalalayan naman siya ng pinsan niya at binigyan ng masamang tingin si Xavion. Kung hindi pa niya napapansin, marami na siyang gulo na dinala rito. The damage that he has caused.

Akala ba niya laro lang ang ginagawa niya? Hanggang ngayon ay 'di niya 'to maintindihan. Nagpakita lang ba siya rito at basta na lang umatake? Sabi na nga ba, tiyak na may alam siya tungkol sa Twilight Vale.

He walked past them, hitting Giovanni a scowl before stepping out, "Among Cursed Ones, my sister and I will be the ones to place the savior in her depths of misery and her military. After all, in this world, you must survive in order to live."

Was he merely saying hello to her, or was he warning her? The mist became so intense as he stepped outside that Dominica was unable to handle it all. She quickly approached her and yelled at her while she was deep in thought. 

"Giovanni, let's go!"

Dominica was rushing, and her face was dripping with sweating. Her heart was pounding as she bit her lip, so she hurried to find a way out.

"Kailangan na natin magmadali. To escape from the House of Hades. We wouldn't know how many challengers there are in the world. Especially given Imetheos' current state."

"Huh?"

She didn't have as much preparation as the other Demigods because she died as Minami in the First Domain. It's most likely because the masked man cursed her.

Sadly, the reason why Demeter's children hold hatred toward the royal family is because she is referred to as the Cursed Swan. One of the princesses or members of the aristocracy who were cursed by the scientist.

Dominica might say it to her if she had the opportunity. But she did not have much time either. Everyone was opposed to Giovanni becoming one of Imetheos' students because of her existence within the Fates. No Greek God would wish to take her within Imetheo's new educational setting.

Or simply Phanteon Academy, The Phantom of the Gods

Dominica was speechless. She looked at Giovanni, who seemed especially confused by what she was saying. She didn't want to keep secrets from her, and her hands were twitching.

"Dominica?" Giovanni asked.

Alam niyang may gusto siyang sabihin. Pero parang may pumipigil sa kanya na sabihin ang mga bagay na 'to. Bakit? Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa Twilight Vale?

Mula noon, bumalik siya sa pinanggalingan ng lahat upang pigilan ang kanyang kaaway. Giovanni reached for her cousin's hand and smiled at her. She never hated her. No. Not at all.

"Sabihin mo ang totoo. Tell me, Dominica." sabi ni Giovanni sa kanya, at umiling na lang si Dominica, natatakot na masaktan ang kanyang pinsan.

Walang magawa si Dominica kundi yumuko na lang sa sitwasyong 'to at napakagat na lang siya sa labi niya hope that she could throw away all of her troubles. Mahirap para sa kanya dahil 'di pa niya nakausap ng personal ang kanyang pinsan.

"Dominica."

"No one wants you to be enrolled in Imetheos. They are all anxious about your fate and your bond with Hades' son."

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

UMUSOG SI GIOVANNI at napatitig na lang kay Dominica pagkatapos. Isinara niya ang kanyang kamao and now she growled, 'Ganun ba talaga sila katakot o takot sila na ibunyag ko ang buong katotohanan?'

Ngunit sa kabila nito, 'di nila mapipigilan ang kanyang pagnanais na wakasan ang digmaang 'to. And she had already made her decision.

Kinain na lamang ng iba't-ibang emosyon si Dominica. Especially, she finds it difficult to confront her cousin because she has been absent from her all the while.

"This only makes sense when Henry leaves those pieces of the case back in the first domain and when you two died on the day of the judgment."

Dominica bit her lip, which made it more difficult to look at her. Giovanni, on the other hand, wasn't shown the same love as her family. Would she be thrilled to receive some Barbie dolls while her cousin was being forced out of the mansion?

It felt like yesterday. Dominica closed her eyes and remembered how they had grown up together. Back in First Domain, she saw how she was treated as a pawn and never felt loved as a child.

It smelt great, like there were thousands of delicious flowers all around. Sunlight shines through the flowers, causing them to blossom effortlessly. The sky featured a number of colors. Everything, whether lavender or gold, looked stunning. The ground was covered in soft blossoms, which seemed beautiful in Minami's eyes.

"Ayos lang ba 'to? 'Di' ba tayo hahanapin ni Tito?"Nag-aalala si Kotori sa mahabang oras na sila ay nasa labas.

"Hindi naman mag-aalala 'yon sa 'kin." Minami answered her cousin.

"Giovanni, hold the pitcher."

"Hmm?"

And this was her godly parent, Hebe. The Goddess of Youth. She is depicted as a young virgin, holding a cup and wearing a flower crown or a golden wreath and a garment made up of varying colours. She often has dark hair and sparkling eyes and is sometimes accompanied by an eagle (symbolising Zeus).

Hebe reached for Minami's hair, which was producing a lot of tri-colored aura, and she grinned, "Why don't you water the plants, love?"

Kinakabahan na lang si Minami dahil sa utos ng kanyang ina. Noong bata pa siya, 'di siya lumaban kahit na kailan. Alam niya kung paano siya tratuhin ng kanyang ama at ng kanyang kuya. Kahit paulit-ulit siyang itinulak ng kanyang pamilya, 'di niya magawang magalit.

Kaya, kung siya ang tatanungin, ano ba talaga ang kahulugan ng tunay na katapangan?

Are you strong because you know you can stomp on someone who is weaker than you? Do you believe you are strong only because you have authority? You think you're strong because you continue to make other people's lives miserable?

In the end, she had no idea what the real meaning of strength was if it merely meant pushing away those you care about. Do you think you're strong because you believe you're superior than others?

Minami's mother's statement caused her to begin fidgeting with both hands. Her internal waters are raging. She was afraid of it, no matter how she tamed it. It always seemed like she would be unable to control the storms that would finally break out in the ocean.

Sa wakas, umiling siya, "Ayoko. Masisira ko lamang ang halaman. Mom, I can destroy everything." she wept.

"Go ahead, love. It will be fine."

Minami's hands were shaking, and she wasn't sure if she could do it. Then she looks at her cousin, who later nods and believes in her, saying, "You know you can do it. You're the savior."

Dahil sa sinabi ng kanyang pinsan, tumango agad si Minami. Tinitingnan niya ang halaman nang maingat and then her eyes change color. Now it was shining in blue violet. May kakaibang enerhiya siyang naramdaman nang ilagay niya ang kamay niya sa pitcher and she has now channeled her water magic.

Unti-unti lumabas ang tubig sa pitcher and the water waves suddenly emerge from her pitcher. It initially formed a puddle as a result of a small collection of liquid, typically water, on a surface.

Then it transformed into a horizontal, causing it to wave, and little blue sparkles of magic appeared around it. She's about to water the plants hanggang sa may narinig silang sumigaw.

"Minami! Saan ka na naman nagpupunta, ha!?"

Ang kuya ni Minami ay kumunot ng noo nang dumating siya papalapit sa kanya, at ang mga bulaklak sa kanyang paligid ay nawala na rin. Sa mga susunod na hakbang nito, agad niyang dinampot ang kapatid niya. "Humanda ka sa 'kin talaga!"

"Bitiwan mo'ko Kuya!"

Ngumisi na lang 'to sa kanya, at agad itong nagbanta na sasampalin siya at halos mapatalon si Minami sa reaksyon nito and she quickly holds both of her ears and says, "Stop."

She suddenly had a lot of realizations. Tears flow from her eyes. The moment she was accepted into this household, sa mata ng lahat, siya lamang ang pagkakamali. He came directly in front of her at hinigit ang kanyang mukha.

"I hate that face of yours..." He murmured, and couldn't take the sight of those faces that harm his family. "And if you want to be useful in this family, follow my dad's orders."

Nakialam na si Kotori at pinigilan ang Kuya ni Minami, "This is too much! Stop it, Kuya Masaki! H'wag mong abusuhin si Minami!"