EXIQUEL's POINT OF VIEW

Red and Lucifer were the only one in the side of the Phoenix well. I guess the others split up to protect mortals, and everyone else must be scattered too. Numerous Phoenixes flew around the well, all ablaze.

Nagtago ako sa isang malaking puno 'pagkat hindi ko alam ang gagawin. There are too many phoenixes around, and I must not catch attention while casting the spell.

I shrieked silently when someone held my shoulder. To my surprise, it was lady Sinclair. She motioned her finger to a hush position, and I nodded.

"Alam mo na ba ang spell na gagawin mo? Have you mastered it?" she quietly asked. I nodded, but my eyes squinted on why she asked it— when in the first place, she was the one who helped me master the spell.

I took a good look on her eyes, it was golden.... but I noticed there was fire within. Her hair was dark, but I couldn't tell if it was dark brown or black because of the tree's shadows.

But I'm sure this is Phoenicia.

Uhm, omg. Zero, help! Sana naririnig n'ya ako. Feeling ko made-deads ako anytime lalo na 'pag gan'to kalapit si Phoenicia. Muntik na nga ako mamatay kanina, kung hindi lang sa demon extract ni papi Lucifer.

"I mastered it, Phoenicia," seryoso kong saad at ngumisi. But deep inside, I was panicking. What bravery! I dashed up the skies using vines, so Lucifer and Red would know that I'm here.

There's no point of hiding anymore, especially now that Phoenicia has found me. Especially now that she's coming after me.

"Xiquel!" Mabilis akong napalingon nang marinig ang boses ni Kuya. He was here! His eyes widened as he saw the full phoenix near me. A swift wind passed by me, and the next thing I knew, he was in front of me.

Phoenicia smirked and cocked her head sidewards. It's so annoying how she looked exactly like lady Sinclair. Gusto ko tuloy s'yang tanggalan ng mukha, or kahit man lang sunugin ang mukha n'ya.

Pero baka mauna pang masunog mukha ko.

"How interesting is it to have a sibling. We could have been siblings if you stayed with us, Exiquel," aniya. Napangiwi naman ako. Ew, no.

Mabilis naman akong napaharap sa likod ko nang makarinig ng papalapit na tunog ng isang phoenix. I fell to the ground because my vines were cut off, and my knees hit the ground hard. Nevertheless, I stood up and hurdled over the tree— yes, a tree. After all, kaya ko naman tumalon ng gan'on kataas with the help of my lovely nature.

But then again, someone cut my lovely vines. Nahulog akong muli, pero ngayo'y may mga brasong sumalo sa'kin. It was Zero, and my eyes widened when I saw his furious look.

"Don't engage with the fight. All you have to do is keep yourself safe, so you can cast the spell," he said, his voice slightly croaking.

Napatango naman ako, at tinapik ang kaniyang kamay para ibaba na ako. Tama naman ang sinabi n'ya, ngunit hindi ko mapigilang mag-alala sa iba.

I looked around at the war going on, and I bit my lip in nervousness. "Zero," tawag ko sa kaniya.

Napailag naman ako nang isang spear ang dumaan sa gitna namin. I looked at the direction at where it came from, and it was just something from those fighting. From a witch holding a grimoire. Nagkataon lang na dumaan sa'min.

Or not.

The spear exploded, throwing me to the side and Zero on the other side. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa'kin, ngunit pagmulat ko, wala akong nakita.

I only saw darkness.

Then, I realized that the spear must have had a spell— but what spell is this? What happened to my physical body?

Anong nangyayari sa labas ng kadilimang 'to? Nakarinig naman ako ng pagsabog. It felt so near, but I couldn't see it. Mas lalo akong nagtaka. If I can hear what's happening outside... does that mean my senses are still activated?

But there's something else. Napatingin ako sa likod ko at napasinghap nang makita muli si Phoenicia.

But I realized that this must be an illusion. Phoenicia's out there, fighting others. It's impossible that she'd waste her time here.

Pero saglit... sino ba ang may gawa ng spell na 'to? Is it a friend or a foe? Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang hitsura ng witch na nakita ko kanina. But she didn't look familiar at all, so I don't know.

"I'm an Astral sent by Cosmos."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang marinig 'yon mula sa bibig ni Phoenicia. "I just borrowed Phoenicia's face."

"Astral?" tanong ko. "Cosmos?"

She nodded. "Yes, the ones who overlooks and watch all realms. Meanwhile, Cosmos is the source of all power."

My eyes blinked a few times. Hindi ko nakuha agad ang sinabi n'ya, ngunit naalala ko ang sinabi sa'kin ni Callista. Cosmos, Celestials, Astral and the Mystice Regno.

"Why are you here?" Natigilan naman ako agad nang mapagtanto kung anong sinabi ko. "I mean, why are you sent here? To help me?"

She pouted and nodded. Then, she handed me a piece of power. "I am here to hand you that. I know you've learnt the spell, but with that, it would be more effective."

"And you'd have to cast the spell here where no one can interrupt," she added. Nagsalubong naman lalo ang kilay ko. The paper flew to my direction, and I immediately read what's written.

Pero dahil dumb ako, hindi ko naintindihan ang lenggwahe. "What's this? How should I pronounce it?"

She chuckled. "You do not need to tell it. Kailangan mo lang patakan ng sarili mong dugo ang mga scriptures. Once it shines, it means it is correct. And when the paper burns to ashes, that means the spell is already activated."

Lumuhod ako at nilapag ang papel. I made throns and pricked my own fingers, then as said, I dropped my own  blood in the scriptures.

The Astral said something to me for the last time. "Remember that you'll die after this, Exiquel."

My fingers that were moving above the scriptures stopped, then in started trembling. I gulped loudly and little did I know, tears started to form in my eyes.

"Y-yes," napipiyok kong sagot. Kinabahan ako hindi dahil alam kong mamamatay ako. It was the thought that Zero might fail, and that he would live blaming himself. It scared me.

I closed my eyes as I continued on moving my fingers— until the scriptures were all shining with a gold color, blinding me even if my eyes were shut. I opened my eyes and the darkness began fading, and the illusion of Phoenicia was nowhere to be found.

My mouth gaped open. I unconsciously thought of Zero's name. I wanted to call on him, tell him to save me before I completely die.

Instead, I look at Red. His eyes was wide while looking at me, probably realized that the spell was activated. I smiled at him sadly, and it ached my heart more that he returned it sadly, too. It was just then that I realized that there were a lot of fallen troops, and that there was fire around me.

Suddenly, I struggled to breathe. Napalunok ako at naglinga-linga sa paligid.

"Zero," I unconsciously muttered. I kept saying his name, especially when I felt my voice weaken.

My eyes became blurry, but I saw Red being engulfed by flames. He must have done it, he must have succeeded. I smiled sadly and bowed my head.

Hinawakan ko ang puso ko, at narinig ang mababagal na tibok. I opened my mouth once again, only to call Zero, but I had no strength.

Napatingin ako sa sarili kong mga daliri. They were bleeding, but I felt no pain. The only pain I felt was with my eyes— burning with hot tears.

Zero, please.

"The war has ended!" I heard one declare. Natigilan ako... that means Red is also dying now, and the other creators. Sinclair. Lucifer. Alpha. But they will reincarnate in time.

I wouldn't until Zero— I stopped thinking when a man held my bleeding hands. Weakly, I raised my head and even though it was blurry, I recognized the owner of the bright brown eyes and dark blue hair in front of me.

My hand unconsciously raised to cup his face, and my lips muttered his name.

"Zero." Thank you, I wanted to say— but I had no energy anymore.

"I'm sorry, mi amore." I heard him say. He pulled me to a hug, and I just rested my face on his shoulder. He held my hand tightly, while his thumb carressed it softly.

His other hand traveled to my neck, and I was expecting him to save me. Share a part of his soul with me.

But it didn't happen.

Naramdaman kong may bumaon na ice shard sa batok ko— sa pinakavital part. My eyes widened, and I felt my breathing stop.

Napalunok ako.

What's happening, Zero? You said you won't fail— you'd never fail.

Is this a mistake? Why is he killing me with his own hands?

"Zero?" sambit ko. Ngayon, may halong pagdududa. Is this really Zero?

Then, I realized he was shaking. His back trembled as if he was crying. His hands squeezed mine as if he was sorry, and his sorry earlier.

It wasn't a mistake.

He really did kill me with his own hands.

But still, with my last breath, I muttered his name. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng emosyon na ang naramdaman ko ngayon— 'pagkat hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.

"Zero—"

"Exiquel!" I heard him scream my name in agony, and that was the last thing I ever heard.

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

>.< oh, huwag mag-panic. Buhay si Exiquel sa TOS HAHAHHAHA.

Thank you for reading!