"The Phoenix is the cause, am I correct?" tanong ko.

The little girl nodded and sighed. "She is Phoenicia, a Full Phoenix who has the power to transform between the form of a woman and a phoenix."

"Who abducted our mother?" tanong sa'kin ni Exiquel.

Kunot-noo naman akong bumaling sa kaniya. "Bakit mo naman sa'kin tinatanong? Tanong mo kay Illeasalis."

Inirapan niya ako at siniko ako sa tagiliran. "Shy ako, eh. Ikaw na magtanong, mukhang ikaw rin naman malakas sa kaniya."

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Anong sinasabi nitong babaeng 'to?

"What are you talking about?" Napalingon naman kami ni Exiquel sa kaniya. Then, I noticed that she was already healing Ezekiel's wound from her punch. Flame recovery magic?

Hindi naman kami nakasagot agad kaya't napalingon siya sa'min. She smiled as she waits for an answer. Nagpabalik-balik naman ang tingin niya sa'ming dalawa ni Exiquel.

"Who abducted Tita Ellen?"
"Who abducted my mother?"

Inis akong tumingin kay Exiquel nang magtatanong din pala siya. Tinaasan niya ako nang kilay, at pilit ko namang tinanggal ang inis sa mukha ko.

"Naiinis ka?" tanong niya. Kaagad naman akong umiling at pilit na ngumiti sa kaniya. Muli na naman siyang umirap bago tumingin kay  Illeasalis. Napatingin na rin ako at nagulat nang maging seryoso na naman ang hitsura niya. Her golden eyes were literally on fire.

"Your mother is known as the first witch made by Red," panimulang kuwento ni Illeasalis. Bahagyang nagkunot ang noo ko.

"Red… he's one of the creators too, right? Papa mentioned his name to me before. Ang kaniya raw realm ay sa sun."

Illeasalis nodded. "Yes. He also trained me for some time because of my fire abilities. Ah, and as I was saying, Ellen knows a lot of ancient magic. She was a threat for Phoenicia's plan because of certain spells. Malamang kaya rin siya kinidnap agad."

"But of course we already sent some people to bring your mother back. Hindi niyo naman kailangan mag-alala, besides Ellen herself is powerful enough—"

"Oh, eh ba't nakidnap pa siya kung kaya naman pala niya?"

"Exiquel," turan ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin. Inirapan naman niya ako at nagpatuloy pa sa pagtataray.

"I appreciate your help and concern, but can't we find our mother ourselves?" Ngayon, naging malumnay na ang boses niya. "Please don't expect us na tumunganga lang habang hinihintay pagbalik ng nanay ko."

"Who told you that you will not do anything?" Illeasalis chuckled. "In a few minutes, you will be given a mission by—"

Naputol naman ang sasabihin niya nang bigla siyang tumingin sa taas. A big shadow covered the ray of sun to shine upon us. She smiled and said, "They're here!"

Napatingin naman ako sa taas, at napakapit naman si Exiquel sa braso ko nang iangat din ang tingin. Above us was a fiery dragon with scales like lava. It emitted a golden and blue fire around it.

"Omg! Ano 'yan?"

"It's named Draco, the Dragon. It is Red's companio—" natigilan lang sa pagsagot si Illeasalis nang biglang tumili si Exiquel at tumago sa likod ko.

Draco was heading fastly towards us. Nagulat din ako dahil mukhang inaatake kami ng dragon. Mas lalong lumakas ang irit ni Exiquel nang maramdaman namin ang dragon. My eyes shined in fascination of what beholds before me.

When it got a meter away from us, it suddenly vanished to golden dusts. Then, biglang may lalaki at babae na tumalon. The man has red hair and red eyes, while the girl had golden eyes like Illeasalis.

"Red! You scared them!" the lady with golden eyes exclaimed. Then, she turned to us and smiled sweetly. Natigilan naman ako nang mapagtantong tinawag niyang Red ang lalaki.

Halos hindi ako makahinga dahil sa sobrang kaba. I admit that I have looked up to the creators ever since, and now that one of them is in front of me, I can't help but be amazed so much.

"Tch, hindi ko naman sila pinatay, Sinclair," sagot ni Red.

Mas lalo ko namang napigilan ang paghinga ko. Sinclair? The demon? Napatitig naman ako sa babae, at napansin ang mala-anghel niyang hitsura. Her skin was heavenly, and her black hair was lustrous. This is far from what I have imagined the demon to be.

Hindi ba nagkamali ng kwento sa'kin si Papa, at anghel talaga si Sinclair?

I almost blushed when Sinclair looked back at me. Napangiti siya at kumaway sa'ming dalawa ni Exiquel. Nakita niya rin si Illeasalis at mas lumapad ang ngiti.

"Hoy, bata. Anong tinitingin-tingin mo d'yan?" Gulat akong napalingon kay Red nang sabihin niya 'yon. Ngumisi siya, ngunit masama rin ang tingin sa'kin.

"Who are you calling bata, tanda? You're matanda na pero nangpa-prank ka parin," sagot ni Exiquel para sa'kin. Bahagya naman akong napatawa dahil sa katapangan nitong si Xiquel. I can't even speak in front of them, or maybe because I'm too dumbstrucked.

Sinclair also laughed at Exiquel's remark. "I like you."

"Ma'am, hindi po tayo talo, ma'am." Exiquel really lifts up the mood.

Illeasalis, on the other hand, skipped giddily between us. "Nice meeting you again, Red and Sinclair! Where's Lucifer?"

"Lucifer is gathering his troops. Probably planning too, Illeasalis. How have you been?" magalang na sagot ni Sinclair. I still couldn't believe that she's a demon.

Illeasalis blushed and her tone got more excited. "I'm good! Ako ang inatasan ni Father na sumama sa kanila sa misyon na ibibigay niyo. Ano nga po pala 'yon?"

"We were informed by Seraphin that you have water and ice powers, Zero."

Tumango naman ako. "Yes, although I haven't trained it for a long time."

"Luh. Bakit naman?" tanong ni Red. Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at nahihiyang ngumiti.

"Zero's magic is too powerful, so he refrains from using his power too much. Baka kasi mamaya, maging yelo buong village," sagot na naman ni Exiquel para sa'kin.

"Are you my spokesperon?" bulong ko.

Nagsalubong naman ang kilay niya, "Magpasalamat ka nalang, uy."

"Then you have Earth powers, and your brother has aerial powers. With Illeasalis with you, you can complete the four elements!"

"Uhm, okay… so? Anong kailangan naming gawin?" tanong na naman ni Xiquel. "Bakit kailangan ng apat na elements?"

"We saw an opening or portal to another world." Si Red naman ang sumagot ngayon. "The portal felt like it consisted with an infinite power of the four elements, and we need you to protect the portal from any harm."

"If the portal leads to a new world, maaaring gamitin ito ni Phoenicia laban sa'min— or she might plan to destroy it too," Sinclair implied.

"Bakit niyo naman sa'min binigay ang mission na 'yan? Mukha ba kaming reliable?" sagot ni Exiquel, at pinagkrus ang kaniyang kamay sa dibdib.

"At bakit nga ba tayo papayag?" bulong ni Exiquel sa'kin. "Tagal gumising ni Kuya. Teka, hindi ako ang spokesperson ng family."

I sighed. "Why should we take this mission? Bakit kami pa?" tanong ko.

"Hindi mo alam?" gulat na tanong ni Red sa'kin.

"Ang alin... po?"

"Your mother came from another realm," he stated. Napataas naman agad ang isang kilay ko. I don't even know her, and I didn't bother knowing her as well.

"We assume that the portal will lead to your mother's realm, but that is just an assumption. Another reason why we'd like you to do it is because of your mother, Exiquel and Ezekiel."

"What about Mama?"

"Your mother would most likely perform her spell there."

"Bakit naman?" pang-uusisa ni Exiquel. "At anong spell?"

"A spell to make a Phoenix's fire consumable. After she has done the spell, I would be able to defeat Phoenicia by consuming her fire," sagot ni Red at seryosong tumingin sa'ming dalawa. Halos nanlamig ako nang mawala na ang paglalaro sa kan'yang mga mata.

Then his red eyes turned to black, and his red hair faded to the color of white.

"That only means thay if you wouldn't be able to protect the portal and Ellen, the mortal realm will come to its end."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang paglunok at napapikit sa kaba— but then, my eyes immediately widened when Exiquel held my hand and squeezed it.

She smirked and put on a smug look in her eyes. "Count on us!" She turned to me and winked. At that moment, all my worries faded away.

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!