His Father
1025 Words
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“What are you guys doing here?” asks Mila.
Aurelia says, “We should ask the same to you. Hera foresaw your disappearance so we're here to find out why.”
“Okay,” she admits, closing her eyes and shaking her head. “Leo is in the Underworld.”
“What?!” the three of them exclaim.
“Why?” Hera asks.
Mila answers, “I don't know why but I'm gonna find out. Also, to see if he's okay.” She looks to the side, embarrassed to show how much she's worrying for him.
“Then I'll go with you, my lady,” says Darius.
“No, I will go there alo-”
“Me too,” says Aurelia.
“Not you, you crippled brat,” he says, pushing her face aside.
“Don't touch me, you fool!” She shoves his hand.
“I want to go with you, my lady,” says Hera, stepping forward. Aurelia and Darius stop fighting when they heard.
“What?” Aurelia asks.
“H*ll no!” Darius opposes.
“This is for my brother!” Hera reasons. “I miss him! I want him back!”
“Hera,” says Mila. “You can stay here with Darius and Aurelia. Just count on me to bring him back.”
“My gut tells me that this is gonna be dangerous, my lady,” says Darius, pointing at her. “And you're gonna need my help.”
“Mine too!” Aurelia adds.
“Shut up, cripple! You're just gonna become extra weight.”
“Do you want me to make you eat your words?”
He scoffs, folding his arms. “As if. Cripple.”
She growls in anger as her eyes glow red. “Why you...”
“Stop it,” says Mila, rubbing her eyebrows. “You know what? All of you, come with me.”
“Yay!” they cheer.
“Quiet,” she growls. “or I'll change my mind. From now on, you will listen to whatever I say. If you don't want to listen to me, don't come.”
They nod, smiling too much. She walks, passing by in between them. They follow her, feeling excited unlike her.
It is morning when Aiko and Dany arrived at the city of Odin. She's carrying her sleeping son in her arms. Both of them are wearing hooded coats to shroud their identities. It's been years since she saw people other than her son and husband so she's not sure how to interact with the people around her.
“I have to find a place to stay,” she mutters.
“Mom?” Dany asks, yawning. His eyes widen, seeing a new place, new people, and new things. “Where are we?”
“We're in the city of Odin, my son.”
“So many... people.”
“Yeah.”
“I'm scared.” Closing his eyes, he wishes he didn't wake up.
She holds him tighter. “It's gonna be okay, Dany. Mom's here to protect you.”
“Let's go back home,” he whimpers on her shoulder. “I don't like it here.”
“Don't worry. You're gonna like it here because you're gonna have so many friends to play with.”
Her back is getting tired by the minute, carrying her son and the bag on her back. She goes on deeper into the busy city until she finds a newly-built residential building. It's not that tall. She enters, shrouding her and Dany's heads with their hoods. When she asked for a room, there are plenty available to rent.
“Thank you,” she bows at the landlady after paying.
The landlady glances suspiciously, wondering why Aiko seems familiar to her. “Lady Aiko?” she asks.
Aiko gasps and leaves forward to reason, “Please don't mistake me as the goddess. I'm just a demigoddess from the east.”
“Oh, sorry. Forget what I said. Please proceed.”
Aiko nods to her and the landlady nods back. Trying not to show her desperation to get inside their room as soon as possible, Aiko walks steadily with itching feet. She's afraid of anyone she passes by although they're not minding her.
A whole lot of relief she feels when she reaches the door of their room. She puts Dany on the ground and opens the door with a key she got from the landlady. It opens without a hitch and they enter as soon as they can.
She sighs after closing the door with only her and her son inside the room. It's a very small room, designed for one person. There is no living room or kitchen but just a bed, a small space at the side, and a bathroom. Dany frowns, looking at the ground.
“This is gonna be our new home, Dany,” says Aiko, putting her bag on the bed.
“I hate it,” he says. “This is not home.”
“Oh, Dany,” she sighs, giving him a big hug. “I understand. Our real home is on the island. But for Dad, we must stay here. We will get used to this place but it will take time. Just trust Mom, okay?”
He whimpers, nodding and sniffling. “I miss Dad!” he cries. “Doesn't he loves us?”
“Of course, Dad loves us, Dany.”
“Then why did he leave us?”
She stops hugging him but instead holds his shoulders and looks into his eyes. He's still crying and she calms him by saying, “Calm down, listen.” He stops for a moment, lowers his crying, and listens to his mother. “It's time for me to tell you who your father is. Although, I think you're too young to know about it.” She stirs from her hesitation then says, “Your father is a hero. He's very very strong, my dear. Right now, he's saving people around the world.”
“Why does he have to do that?” he asks.
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- Writer
