『PHOENIX』

“Phoenix!”

Frustration immediately rushed on my face. The cyclops angrily growled, making my eyes glanced towards my brother.  Kasalanan niya ‘to pero bakit ako ang sumasalo? Kung sana ay hindi niya pinagpapaltok ang nananahimik na cyclops, narakarating na sana kami ngayon sa Demigods Academy.

“Tighter your grip, Phoenix!” Paxon shouted.

“Ikaw kaya rito!”

“No, thank you!” He grinned. Isang krimen ba ang patayin ang walanghiyang kapatid?

And so damn unfortunate for me, Paxon was on a top of the gigantic pine tree, while the cyclops was standing right in front of me, following every step I made as if I was the one who wronged him. Ang gusto ko lamang naman ay makarating nang mapayapa sa sacred walls. Bakit kailangan ko pang magdusa? Karma ko ba ‘to sa panggagago sa headmaster ng Demigods Academy?

“Look— I mean, yes, look nga. I am not the—”

“GRRRRRRR!”

Sabi ko nga, shut up na lang ako.

I jolted to the nearest tree. Unlike the other trees around, it was a little bit shorter. I used it to climb to other trees, jumping and galloping until I was above the cyclops head. I heaved a sigh and glared at my brother, waving his hand at me while grinning. Dumbass!

And just when I was about to leap into the next tree, my face grimaced on its own after hearing a sad, snapping sound. Tanginang buhay ‘to! Mas lalong nalukot ang mukha ko nang mag-landing ako sa ulo ng cyclops dahilan upang umalulong ang malaks na tawa ni Paxon sa paligid.

“Help me!” I shouted. “Dude, what kind of brother are you?!”

“A normal one!”

Galit na sumigaw ang cyclops, kasabay nito ang atras at abante niyang pagtakbo habang marahas siyang umiiling, pinipilit na ako’y patalsikin sa pagkakakapit ko sa kanyang ulo.

Mahigpit ang pagkakapit ko, ngunit tuluyan na nawala ang pag-asa ko sa buhay nang malaglag ang espada ko. Muli akong tumingin sa kapatid ko na kasalukuyang doble-doble sa paningin ko.

“H—Help—” para akong pinagkaitan na mabuhay ng langit at lupa nang iwasan ni Paxon ang mga mata ko.

At sa isang malakas at galit na sigaw, ang dugong dumadaloy sa katawan ko’y biglang natuyot. Nakita ko na lamang ang sarili ko na nakayakap pa rin, ngunit hindi na iyon sa cyclops—sa ere na. Sa fucking ere na!

“Stupid brother,” I mumbled. My back ached for a while, but thankfully it was not extremely painful because the field was covered with thick, soft bushes.

I groaned in pain and searched for my brother. The sight was so unreal and peculiar. What is happening? The cyclops that was on rampage earlier looks like a soft puppy being tamed by its owner. Paxon’s eyes darted to the cyclops. All he did was hold his sheathed sword and look down on the monster in front of him, yet the cyclops were already terrified like that.

“Your future has already been decided.” His words caught me off guard. It was uncalled for and enigmatic.

Paxon slowly unsheathed his sword. All of a sudden, green smokes began to appear around him, dancing and circulating until it was absorbed by the sword, turning its blade into a cryptic one.

“Paxon—” his speed cannot be compared to any knight; in just a fucking glimpse, the angry cyclops turned into a headless one.

Tumingin sa akin si Paxon at ngumiti, kumaway pa siys habang inaayos ang espada. Nang bumagsak ang katawam ng cyclops, mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti niya at naglakad papunta sa ‘kin.

“Let’s go home. Next ka na mag-sorry kayna Lockser.” Nakasimangot akong tumayo’t pinagpagan ang aking sarili. “Why are you looking at me like that? Hindi ba si Tito Garet ang sumalubong sa’yo?”

“If he was buong puso kong ipapakilala ang sarili ko sa kanya! Napakabobo mo.”

“So, sino?”

“Her name was… Madam Stone.”

“Ah, si Tita Emerald.” Nang magsimula siyang maglakad ay sumunod ako sa kanya. Hindi naman ako inggit sa kanya, medyo lang. Pero angas na angas talaga ako sa kanya dahil kilala niya ang mga miyembro ng Rule Breakers. “But why do you sound so disappointed?”

“Because I was hoping to see Master Garet’s son.”

He smirked at me. “Skyler is not Tito Garet’s son.”

“But he is a Lockser!”

Tumigil sa paglalakad si Paxon at pinitik ang noo ko, “Hindi ba p’wedeng ipagamit ‘yon bilang acknowledgement? Utak mo talaga minsan nakatago.”

“Tanga. Ilabas mo nga utak mo, tingnan ko lang kung ‘di ka layuan.”

Paxon heaved a sigh and gave me a meaningful look. “Skyler is Tita Alexis’s child from Poseidon, and Tita Alexis was supposed to be Tito Garet’s wife.”

“Alexis? Isn’t that—”

“She was the mother of the Secret Art.”

I curiously squinted my eyes, “Pero bakit siya na-link kay Poseidon kung si Master Garet pala ang dapat mapapangasawa niya?”

“You’re too nosy.”

Nang maaninag namin ang Sun Kingdom ay binilisan niya ang paglalakad na para bang iniiwasan niyang sagutin ang tanong ko. Napakadaya!

“Fine, fine, I won’t ask that!” I shouted, grimacing. “Nasaan siya ngayon?”

“Imprisoned,” he whispered. He looked oddly peculiar this past few days, but his eyes say something—an answer as if he knew where she was. “Do you want to know why mother wants you to master your sword skills?”

“Because I am a prince.”

“Ang bobo,” bulong niya sa hangin. Akala mo naman ay hindi ko dinig. “Mother and Apollo wanted you to immediately master your Secret Art.”

“Ang hassle naman. Bakit?”

“Do you think being a King Vessel is just a mere title to brush on people’s faces?”

Nang makapasok kami sa Sun Kingdom, agad na yumuko sa amin ang mga guwardya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang moody ni Paxon simula noong bumisita si Apollo. Saglit lang naman silang umalis at nag-usap pero ilang araw na siyang parang tanga.

“Bakit hindi mo ginamit ang blessing mo sa cyclops kanina?” Seryosong tanong ni Paxon.

Walang emosyon ko siyang tiningnan dahil ang kapal ng mukha n’yang itanong iyon. “Dude, why would I? Wala akong balak na saktan ‘yon and it was all you fault.”

“His future was already decided. He would eventually die.”

“Lahat ay namamatay.”

“Apparently, not them,” he said while pointing above. “Kung hindi ko pinatay kanina ang cyclops… dadating ang mga reapers at gagawin siyang punching bag. He will suffer more.”

“You used your blessing?”

“No. Ever since Apollo came and brought me to the Fountain of Prophecy… basta-basta ko na lamang nakikita ang hinaharap ng iba.”

Lungkot at takot ang nakita ko sa mga mata ni Paxon. Siguro kaya ilang araw na siyang wala sa mood ay dahil sa mga bagay na hindi niya man gustong makita ay nakikita niya. Dahan-dahan na pinikit ni Paxon ang mga mata niya, mariin niyang kinagat ang kabi niya bago muling nag-mulat ng mga mata.

“I saw one of the seven kins… in my vision.”

“Paxon…”

“The demon was smiling… and the place is covered with blood.” His words became more hesitant as he looked at me as if he doesn’t want say it. “And then, I saw you… bleeding and crying.”

“Paxon…” I mumbled. He is scared of me, and I don’t like it. “Kaya ko ang sarili ko.”

“Isa kang King Vessel, Phoenix. Kins will always follow you until you die. Hindi ka pa mahusay pagdating sa kahit anong weapon samantalang sila ay nagawa nang maligo sa dugo ng mga biktima nila.”

I laughed. Grabe naman kasi ‘yong panglalait sa akin. P’wede namang sabihin na hindi pa ako magaling na walang banggitan ng kung anong mga nagawa na ng Kins.

“It is a good thing that we learned the future because we have the power to alter it.”

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

A silent weep slowly woke me up. I opened my eyes and roamed my eyes in the dark room. I saw Philomena crying while covering her face in the corner of my room. And just when I was about to walk near her, I heard short groans from the Paxon’s room.

“Baby… look at kuya,” I whispered. Dahan-dahan na inangat ni Philomena ang ulo niya’t mabilis na yumakap sa akin. “Where’s mother?”

“I—I don’t know…”

“Why are you crying?”

Mas lalo siyang humikbi dahilan upang suklayin ko ang buhok niya. “Someone… someone is in Kuya Paxon’s room.”

What? Tumingin lamang ako kay Philomena, she’s not someone who will lie. Hindi siya katulad namin ni Paxon. Those aren’t caused by his nightmares’ slash narrated prophecies?

I bit my lower lip and carried Philomena outside of my room. I asked one of the maid to get the key to Paxon’s room because most likely it is close. Nang bumalik ang maid, hinabilin ko sa kanya si Philomena’t pinatawag ko na rin ang ina namin. Walang kasiguraduhan kung anong naghihintay sa akin sa loob, ngunit hindi maganda ang sitwasyon ni Paxon ngayon ay kailangan ko siyang tulungan.

Nang tuluyan na bumukas ang pinto, agad na bumungad sa akin ang hindi magandang sitwasyon ni Paxon. May isang itim na anino ang mahigpit na humahawak sa leeg niya habang siya’y dinidikit nito sa pader.

“Paxon!” Nang sinubukan kong lumapit, lahat ng mga bagay na babasagin sa silid na Paxon ay sabog dahilan upang magkaroon ako ng sugat sa pisnge. “Let go of my brother!”

“Ph—Phoenix… don’t—”

“Hmm… I see. You’re the child she’s having when the Rule Breakers saved Marina.” The cold, chilly voice drained my blood. The shadow slowly turned into a pale man with crimson eyes, looking through at me.

His hand leisurely let go of Paxon’s neck. The man amusingly looked at me, and with his cold stares, my body remained at rest. I can’t move even though I wanted to. This sucks!

“Who—who the hell are you?”

“Hell… apparently, I am the king of that place.”

The loud, echoing sound of the high heels, robbed my attention to him. Marahas na bumukas ang pinto at ang nag-aalalang mukha ng aming ina ang bumungad sa ‘kin, ngunit nang makita ang lalaking nasa harapan ni Paxon ay tila ba naubusan siya ng dugo sa mukha niya.

“Stay away from my sons!” Mom angrily shouted.

“You’re so cold, Marina.” He smiled.

My mother firmly looked, not even showing the slightest fear. “What do you want, Satan?” Satan? He is the King of the Seven Kins!

“You already know what I wanted, my lady.” All of a sudden, he appeared in front of my mother, smiling. And before he could caress my mother’s face, she slapped his hand in disgust. “I just recently recovered from Garet’s wrath years ago… why don’t you welcome me sweetly?”

“Mom…” I mumbled. I heard Paxon’s cough, making me rush over him. My mother’s eyes were angry while looking down at the king of the seven kins.

“I’d rather die than to be your queen.”

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Satan, isang malakas na sampal ang bumuhay sa dugo ko. Matapang pa rin na tumitingin ang ina namin kay Satan, nang dumura siya ng dugo ay mas lalong uminit ang dugo ko.

Nang lumapat ang matutulis na kuko ni Satan sa napakagandang mukha ng aming ina ay kusang humakbang ang mga paa ko ngunit agad din akong napatigil nang may kumapit sa braso ko.

“Let go of me, Paxon!”

Alam kong kahit matapang pa rin siyang tumitingin kay Satan, na kahit anak siya ni Ares at nasa dugo niya ang pagiging matapang… alam kong nasasaktan siya. At pinaka ayokong nakikita na nasasaktan siya.

“We can never touch him, Phoenix. Sinubukan ko pero hindi ko kaya—”

“I don’t care! He hurt the woman I love the most and he should pay for it!”

Inis kong inalis ang kamay ni Paxon sa akin kasabay no’n ang pagkuha ko sa espada na nasa tabi niya. Alam kong hindi niya rin talaga ako mapipigilan dahil hindi maganda ang estado niya.

“Phoenix Gregory, don’t you dare,” pagbabanta ng aming ina habang nakatingin sa akin.

Ang malamig na halakhak mula kay Satan ang nag-alis ng atensyon ko sa kanya at nang magtama ang mga mata namin ni Satan, isang malamig na hangin ang dumampi sa aking balat.

“I won’t kill Marina. After all, she’s my beloved queen,” Satan stated.

I gritted my teeth and angrily hissed, “She’s not your queen and will never be!”

Satan effortlessly snapped his fingers, making my back hit the wall. Pilit kong tumayo’t inis na bumaling sa aming ina. “For Ares’s sake, you are his daughter! You are the daughter of the God of War, fucking fight him, Mom!”

“I—I can’t…” My mother’s eyes slowly became watery while looking at me.

My eyes darkened as I looked down. Satan is the reason why this is happening—why Paxon is hurt right now, why my mother is bleeding right now, and especially, he is the reason why she is crying.

I am one of Apollo’s sons.

I am a king vessel, a vessel of righteousness. And the likes of him must be destroyed.

My body felt hotter than usual. I don’t know if it’s the overwhelming emotions I am feeling right now or something else. I looked up when I heard my mother and Paxon gasping, looking at me as if something was happening right now. I roamed my sight around until my eyes landed on a shattered mirror. It was me, yet everything was different.

“Oh, dear gods… Phoenix.”

My dashing red hair suddenly became gold, just like my father’s hair, as well as the color of my eyes. Paxon’s sword became black as a lump of coal with its edges covered in fire. And apparently, this look made Satan angrier.

Masamang tingin ang pinukol niya sa aking ina, nang mapansin kong balak niyang muling saktan ang aking reyna ay agad akong tumakbo sa kanilang p’westo. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating agad sa harap niya, ang mahalaga ay naligtas ko ang aking ina mula sa kanya.

I kicked him in his stomach, sending him to the wall—a payback from earlier.

“Mom…” I mumbled. I gently held her bleeding cheek and kissed her forehead. “Please, wait for me.”

Parang wala lamang para kay Satan ang ginawa ko. Malamig at nakakatakot ang tingin na binibigay ni Satan sa aking ina na nasa likod ko ngayon.

“You fucking gave birth to a king vessel, you, bitch!”

He was coldly looking at my mother. “You fucking gave birth to a king vessel. You, bitch.”

I hid my mother behind my back. Satan’s gorgeous face starter to crumble, revealing a hideous-looking being. The real form of a demon like him. Blood streamed down from his deeply sunken eyes with a huge scar carved on his face. All of a sudden, black feathers began to fall as his wings started to rise.

His body began to emit the hues of blood. Magic runes started to glow from his body, along with crimson smoke dancing around him.

“Phoenic Gregory Stanfield,” sambit n’ya.

At sa isang iglap, nawala na lamang siya sa aking paningin. Nang marinig ko ang nauubusan na hininga ng aking ina, mabilis akong lumingon. Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang mahigpit na kapit ng kamay ni Satan sa leeg ng nanay ko.

Ano ‘to? Ano ‘tong nakikita ko? Naguguluhan kong tiningnan ang katawan ni Satan. May mga parte ng katawan niya na nababalot ng gintong liwanag na may marka ni Sol, na tila ba’y tinutulungan ako no’n upang masaktan si Satan.
Wala sa sarili kong inatake ang sikmura ni Satan, kung nasaan ang pinakamalaking marka. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya’t impit siyang sumigaw dahilan upang lumuwag ang kapit niya sa aking ina.

“Phoenix!” Dinig kong sigaw ni Paxon.

The entire room slowly became dimmer. Nang ngumiti si Satan saka siya sumilip sa direksyon ni Paxon dahilan upang mabilis akong tumungo sa p’westo ng kapatid ko. But my eyes caught something that my world turned upside-down, without hesitation, he twisted my mother’s head as if he wasn’t fighting for her to be his queen earlier.

How could someone so cruel like him breathe the same air as I am?

“P—Paxon… P—phoenix…” My mother whispered, crying.

At kasabay nang pagtulo ng mga luha ko, ang pagtarak ng mga bubog sa katawan ng aking ina. Umalingawngaw ang malamig na tawa ni Satan habang dinudukot niya ang puso ng aking ina. Hindi ko magawang ialis ang mga mata ko sa kanila kahit na… kahit na ayokong makita iyon.

“Mom… please…”

Satan looked at my mother as if she was a piece of trash. I thought she was his beloved queen? How could he kill someone as precious as my mother?

“Phoenix!” Paxon pulled me hard, trying his best to catch my attention. But I can’t. I can’t look away from her.

King Vessel… Am I really one of the chosen kings? But… if I can’t even protect my mother, how could I do the same thing to others?

Satan hysterically laughed. The sound of heels echoed as another blinding aura appeared. His eyes, that is always so warm, appeared to be colder than the Cerulean Kingdom as he looked at the saddening fate of his wife and the man who stole her life.

“Satan.”

“Apollo.”

Malamlam na tumingin sa amin si Apollo at nang muli siyang tumingin kay Satan, puno ng umaapoy na galit ang makikita ro’n. Ibang-iba siya sa Apollo na nakikita namin ni Paxon tuwing bumibisita siya sa amin.

“How dare you kill my wife… how dare you kill her in front of my children?!” The temperature suddenly rose, making everything around us melt. “I will burn you to ashes!”

“My, my, could you actually do it, Apollo? Didn’t you just arrive from the Cryptic Chambers?”

Apollo gritted his teeth. Satan smiled, and with just a snap from his fingers, he slowly disappeared as if he didn’t steal the life of the woman I loved the most. Before fully disappearing, Satan looked at me and smirked.

“You’ll be my next prey after your mother.”

My eyes felt dry. Wala na siya. Wala na siya ngunit kahit saang anggulo ko tingnan… hindi ko kayang tanggapin. Paano si Philomena? Paano si Paxon? Paano ako? Paano kami kung wala na siya?

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being late.” Apollo imprisoned us in a tight hug. He brushed my hair, making the tears flood once again.

“It was my fault. Mom died because of me.”

“Phoenix… listen to me. None of this is your fault.” I looked at Apollo and looked at my mother’s body once again. I can’t… I can’t just freely live without her here. “Phoenix, do you want somewhere far from here?”

“Where?”

“Demigods Academy.”

#