Kaye's POV

Nginitian ko si Matilda na kumakaway sa'kin. Nakasandal siya sa may pintuan ng munting kubo na tinitirhan niya rito sa Elysian Fields.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at napansin ko ang panandaliang pagbaba ng kanyang tingin sa tiyan ko.

I chuckled. "He's starting to show..." sabi ko, sabay bigay sa kanya ng picnic basket na bitbit ko. Naglalaman ito ng mga pagkain mula sa mortal realms.

Tinanggap niya ito. "Pasok ka," alok niya.

I was greeted by a sweet smell the moment I entered the hut, and my eyes immediately attached on the chocolate pie in the middle of the table.

Napasinghap ako. "Chocolate?"

Nagmamadali akong naupo sa tapat nito.

"'Yan kini-crave mo, diba?" ani Matilda at naglapag ng isang platito sa harap ko. "Sabi ng ama mo."

Masigla akong tumatango-tango at mabilisang kinuha ang tinidor na inabot niya sa'kin. "I just ate chocolate porridge for breakfast, and now I'm having chocolate pie for lunch."

Lumiliwanag ang aking mga mata nang magsalin ako ng isang slice. "Nice," bulong ko sa sarili.

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Matilda. "So alin ba talaga ang mas gusto mo? White or Dark Chocolate?"

"Dark," sagot ko. "Dark chocolate."

"But honestly... I'm willing to eat everything chocolate," dagdag ko at tumakam nito.

I felt my heart explode with happiness after the first bite.

Gods. The both of us are really enjoying this.

Habang kumakain, namalayan ko si Matilda na nakaupo sa tapat ko at nakangiti habang minamasdan ako. Hawak niya ang isang baso ng gatas na dahan-dahan niyang itinulak sa mesa, papalapit sa'kin.

"Kaye..." sambit niya. "Have you already thought of a name?"

Napahinto ako at matagal na napatitig sa aking plato. Saka ko inangat ang aking tingin sa kanya.

"Slade," sabi ko. "I read his files in the Academy, and I found out his full name was Hendrick Slade."

Umangat ang kanyang kilay. "And?"

Nginitian ko siya. "Henri," I said, with a hint of contentment. "Henri Percival Slade."

Bahagyang bumukas ang kanyang bibig. "Kaye-" Naiiyak niyang tugon. "It's perfect."

I took a deep breath and sighed. "Dad gave him his second name," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya. "Percival means he who pierces the valley..."

Hinimas-himas ko ang maliit kong tiyan. "He's doing good so far, Matilda." Lumapad ang aking ngiti. "Too good, actually, kinakabahan nga ako," natatawa kong sabi. "I don't get morning sickness anymore. He's being too kind to me, and it's making me anxious."

"You know that child is not just an ordinary demigod, right?" paalala niya.

I hummed in agreement. "You think he's going to inherit Hecate's? or Destiny's abilities?" I giggled. "I mean, Slade was born as a son of Hecate, but he is also Destiny."

"Whatever he becomes, I'm sure he's going to be great," aniya. "Like his mother and father."

"So, how did you do it?" nangunguryuso kong tanong. "How did you raise your child?"

Napatingin si Matilda sa malayo. "Sa totoo lang, hindi ko rin alam." Ibinalik niya ang kanyang mga mata sa'kin. "I just did what I believed was best for Adelphine."

"I didn't prepare a list of things to do. No schedule, no routines..." Nginitian niya ako. "I loved... and took care of her the best way I could. From the moment she first stood on her own, to the moment she could finally make decisions for herself, I was there."

"Sinasabi ko na sa'yo, Kaye." Humilig siya nang kaunti papalapit sa'kin. "They grow up too fast, so make sure you're there for your child's every 'first'."

"His first word, first walk, first cry, first smile, first baby teeth..." Nanghina ang kanyang boses. "His first heartbreak... his first failure... his first mistake..."

Tumango-tango ako.

"You're going to be fine, Kaye," saad niya.

I let out a nervous breath. "I hope so."

"May plano ka na ba para sa kanya?" usisa niya.

"Dad wants me to raise him in the Underworld," sagot ko. "I mean, we can always visit the other realms, but Thanatos wants us to live in his castle."

"I also think it's what's best for him. He's the son of a primordial deity, after all, and I don't know what kind of future awaits him." Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "Hangga't hindi pa niya kayang protektahan ang sarili niya, kami na muna ni Dad ang magbabantay sa kanya."

"Then I'll be keeping an eye on him, as well," ani Matilda.

I looked down on my small bump. I can see a faint light start to glow from inside my own soul.

Like an odigos...

"Gods help me," I murmured under my breath. "He's only two months in and I could already see his light."

Binigyan ko ng nababahalang ngiti si Matilda. "He wants to live, he's holding on to me so tight."

"That's the son of Destiny for you," natatawa niyang puna.

Matilda's POV

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang deity na unti-unting bumababa sa lupa. Tumayo si Kaye para salubungin ang ama niya. Samantalang, nanatili akong nakaupo sa picnic blanket at minasdan lang sila.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa kabuuan ng elysian fields. Nasa gitna kasi kami para mag-picnic.

Nginitian ko ang mga kaluluwang nagtatago sa likod ng mga punuan.

Hanggang ngayon naiilang pa rin talaga sila sa presensya ng isang god.

I just shrugged. Saka ko ibinalik ang aking atensyon nina Kaye at Thanatos na patungo sa kinapupuwestuhan ko.

"I'm sorry I'm late," ani Thanatos. "The Fates bothered me again, asking for Kaye."

Of course, the Fates were the first to know about the child Kaye is carrying. The moment Kaye returned to the Underworld, the three deities began to follow her around while bickering non-stop.

"They should seriously stop and give you guys a break," tugon ko.

"What can I say?" Dagliang napangiti si Thanatos bago muling napasimangot. "That idiot of a god decided to impregnate my daughter, of all people..."

"Dad." naiinis na sambit ni Kaye.

Thanatos sighed. "But I can't do anything now, can I?" Nilingon niya si Kaye. "He chose her, and she chose him."

Pinaningkitan ko siya. "Why are you gods so dramatic? Syempre may posibilidad na magkakaanak sila, lalo na't mahal nila ang isa't isa, Thanatos," paalala ko sa kanya. "They're just two people who fell in love... and I don't see any problem with that."

"He's still mad." Umupo si Kaye sa tabi ko. "Pero alam na naman niyang wala na siyang magagawa..."

Pinikit ni Thanatos ang kanyang mga mata at huminga nang malalim. Pagmulat niya, nanumbalik ang kanyang ngiti. "Oh, well."

Naupo rin siya sa tabi ko at napasilip sa loob ng basket. "I'll just ask Achlys to stab him for me."

Kaye and I both gave him a bored look.

"What?" May inilabas siyang bag ng potato chips at binuksan ito.

Napailing si Kaye.

May naramdaman akong kakaiba sa kapaligiran kaya lumipat ang aking atensyon sa field. Nakita ko ang isa-isang paglabas ng mga kaluluwa, na ipinagtaka ko. Lahat sila'y nakatuon sa gawi namin.

"What... are they doing?" I whispered.

"They're asking if it's true that Kaye is with child," si Thanatos ang sumagot. Tinignan niya si Kaye at sinenyasan siyang salubungin ang mga kaluluwa.

Pinagpag naman ni Kaye ang damit niya at saka tumayo. She greeted the group of spirits with a bright smile before hurrying towards them.

Hinatid ko siya ng tingin.

The lady of the white sea... the sea of spirits and souls...

"Matilda."

Hindi ko binalingan ng tingin si Thanatos. "Hmm?"

"Why don't you come visit the castle sometimes?"

I finally met his gaze with curiosity written all over my face. "Why? Do you want me to?"

He heaved a deep breath. "Kaye needs your company, and I-" He paused to hesitate.

I tilted my head.

"I... miss you," he continued.

Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ko. "The god of death misses me?"

"He does..." sabi niya. "Every moment you're apart."

"On one condition," tugon ko.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "What is it?"

"Kumbinsihin mo si Hades na pakalawan si Hector." Bakas sa aking boses ang determinasyon. "Let him live the life he didn't get to live, like the others."

"You know I can't-"

Kumibit-balikat ako. "Madali naman akong kausap."

"Why?" Matagal-tagal niya akong tinitigan nang nakakunot pa rin ang noo. "Why do you want to help him? You know what he did."

"All of us have done something we regret, Thanatos," sagot ko. "And how can he redeem himself when he's forced to live half of his life in the Underworld?"

The god pursed his lips for a moment.

Itinukod ko ang aking palad at humilig sa kanya. "So?"

"Fine," he sighed, defeated.

Napangiti ako, pero madali itong nabura nang kusang nagbago ang kulay ng aking mga mata at kasabay nito ay ang pagkawala ko sa Elysium, dahil natagpuan ko nalang ang aking sarili na nakatayo sa ceremonial hall ng Olympus Academy.

I looked at the group of unfamiliar students walking in the middle of the hall.

"Alphas," I whispered, after seeing the gold pins attached on their uniforms.

Both the Beta and Gamma classes, as well as the staff, bowed their head in unison to greet them.

I followed them with my gaze until they arrived at one of the two circular tables centered right in front of me. Saka ko lang din napansin ang isa pang mesa sa tabi nito na walang nakaupo.

Nag-abot ang aking kilay nang makitang sabay na lumingon ang mga Alphas sa direksyon ng entrance na parang meron pang hinihintay.

After a moment of confusion, familiar presence graced the entire hall when nine students appeared below the massive doorway of the ceremonial hall. 

This is the first time that I have seen them and yet, something's telling me that I already know them.

All heads were still lowered as they approached the empty table right in front of me.

Bumaba ang aking tingin sa pins nila, at dahan-dahang namuo ang isang ngiti sa aking labi.

They slowed down for a few steps before arriving at the table to casually nod at the Alphas who also slightly bowed their heads as a response. And after both classes of Alpha and Omega sat at the same time, the rest of the students followed.

"Matilda?"

Nilingon ko si Thanatos na tinawag ako.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," sagot ko. "I just had a vision."

"Really?" usisa niya. "What did you see?"

"A new class of demigods." pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya. "Very powerful ones."

I looked at the horizon.

Golden rays from the sun spread far out to the sky.

We lived... so they can live.

We rose from chaos... so they can reign with destiny.

And through time, they will.

Napangiti ako.

They will protect the future we fought for.

"Where we rise..." I whispered to myself. "They will reign."