I stare at the moon above, wondering what will happen if the sun rises again, wondering if how long would it take until the red gradient in the sky and moon vanishes, for this red color symbolizes war.

It has been four years ever since the Blood Fest and war began. Those years came by like a swift wind, and up to this very moment, we still do not know when the war will end.

Nakilala ko na rin ang lahat ng mga Orpheus, what I call to those who will make the Orphic Dimension. Ngunit hanggang ngayo'y kulang pa rin ng dalawa. Hindi ko pa rin alam ang rason sa likod n'on, 'pagkat sigurado akong tinatago nila 'yon mula sa'kin.

"Lalim ng iniisip mo," ani Exiquel at nagbato ng tinapay sa kamay ko. Ningitian ko naman siya, at umusog para magkasya siya sa inuupuan ko.

"Iniisip ko lang kung kailan matatapos 'to. Apat na taon na, pero wala pa ring nangyayari. Hindi pa rin natin makuha si Tita, at hindi pa rin tuluyang nagbubukas ang portal. We've been training and fighting endlessly in the span of four years. Pakiramdam ko 'don nalang umiikot ang buhay natin. Sa tingin mo ba, gan'to nalamg talaga tayo?"

She scoffed and sat on the same seat where I was. Taking a bite from her own bread, she looked up to stare at the sky, too. Bahagya lang siyang napatingin sa'kin nang marahan kong haplusin ko ang buhok niya.

She gulped before looking back at me. "Nakausap mo na ba si shokoy?" tanong niya, dahilan naman kung ba't malakas akong napatawa.

"Shokoy na talaga tawag mo kay Papa?"

Ngumisi siya at napairap. "Ikaw nagpasimula n'on, ah. Awkward naman kasi kapag Tito, eh mukha nga lang kayong magkapatid."

"Why are you avoiding my question, anyway?"

She sighed before finishing all the bread in one bite. Kinuha ko naman ang tubig sa tabi n'ya, at mabilis 'yong inabot sa kaniya. She finished it also in one straight drink. Amp, sana hindi masamid ang bebe.

"Hindi ko kasi ma-gets ang sinasabi mong gan'to nalang ba talaga tayo? What do you mean ba? Personally, I think we're still living a life. I'm with you, Kuya, and the others. Sure, we're fighting for our lives, but that doesn't mean we can forget that we are alive, too. That we need to live, too."

Hindi ko namalayang nakatitig na pala ako sa kaniya. At times like this, I can't help but fall for her more. Lagi siyang makulit, maingay, at hindi seryoso, pero alam niya rin kung kailan kailangan magseryoso, tumahimik, at makinig. Seeing this side of her makes me want to mar— nevermind.

"Bobo, 'wag mo akong titigan."

"Hindi ka pa nasanay." I chuckled and returned my gaze at the stars again, so she won't be uncomfortable. "Sabagay, sa loob ng apat na taong 'yon, mas nakilala natin ang isa't isa at ang iba, syempre. Maybe we really are living, it's just hard to continue on with this situtat—"

Exiquel's hand covered my mouth and stopped me from speaking further. Her eyes looked around warily. Sabay naman kaming dalawang napalingon sa likod nang may malakas na pagsabog mula roon.

"Vampire spies again?" I asked and removed her hand.

Napatango naman siya. "Naramdaman ko sila ngayon-ngayon lang dito, pero nasa likod na agad sila? Oh baka naman marami sila?"

"Could be." Without further ado, I released ice mists around the area— in order to feel them and detect where they are. Nagtaka naman ako nang walang maramdamang tao. I raised my hands and the ice mists spread upwards, too. But something's wrong…

"What is it, Zero?" tanong sa'kin ni Four nang mapansin niyang ilang beses kong inangat ang kamay ko.

"Ayaw umangat ng nga ice mists. O pakiramdam ko, natutunaw ang mga 'yon," tugon ko habang nanliliit ang matang naglakad papalapit sa gubat na pumaligid sa buong base. Then, I looked up the stars again and noticed that it was redder than usual.

Inangat ko ang kamay ko, at napasinghap ng makaramdam ng init sa ere. This heat was the reason why my ice mists vanishes. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang ganitong klaseng init mula sa kalaban. This alone can compete with Red's fire.

Sinubukan kong gumawa ng ice shard at tinaas 'yon ngunit nabasa lang din ang kamay ko agad. Nagsalubong naman ang kilay ko at malakas akong napasinghal. "Whose heat is this?"

"Phoenicia," sagot ni Exiquel. Nanliit naman ang mata ko lalo. Then, from the shadows, a silhoutte of a lady stood out, and her laugh echoed throughout the forest.

Ang panget ng tawa, halatang kontrabida, amp. Hindi effective. Kidding asides. Her laugh reminds me of someone else. Have I heard her voice somewhere?

"How clueless." Nanlamig agad ako nang marinig ang boses ni Sinclair sa kaniya. My eyes widened at an instant, and I took a step backward. Sinclair? I'm sure it's her voice. How come?

Napatingin ako kay Exiquel at napaawang din ang bibig niya. "Sinclair?" she mouthed. There, I confirmed that the lady was Sinclair, for I know Exiquel can see her clearly despite the shadows of the trees.

"I am not Sinclair. I am Phoenicia, the first Phoenix created by Lucifer and Sinclair. Born with immortality. And I suppose you are Zero, Seraphin's true child, and Exiquel, daughter of the first witch."

"Your mother is still with us, Exiquel." This time, I felt the tension rise around us. "Alive and well."

Finally, Phoenicia stepped out from the shadows. My eyes narrowed to study her features, for in one glance, she definitely looks like Sinclair— maybe except for the hair and eye color. Her eyes seem to be a mirror of the surroundings. A complete reflection.

"Kwento mo lang?" banat naman ni Exiquel kaya't pinanlakhan ko siya ng mata. Hindi naman niya ako tinapunan miski isang sulyap, at kitang-kita sa kaniyang mata ang galit.

"I know you didn't visit us personally just to inform us about my mother. Tell me, Phoenicia. What do you need?"

Phoenicia chuckled, and crossed her hands over her chest. A small smirk crept in her lips and she tapped her arms playfully, as if something in this situation was interesting.

"You, Exiquel."

Mabilis akong tumakbo sa tabi ni Exiquel nang makita kong gumalaw ang mga paa ni Phoenicia papalapit sa kaniya. But then, like all other vampires, she was fast— and she pulled Exiquel away from me.

Narinig ko ang impit na sigaw ni Exiquel, dahilan kung ba't nagdilim na ang paningin ko kay Phoenicia. Her hands were choking Exiquel's and a fire whip was around Exiquel's body— trapping and constraining Exiquel from moving. Then, Phoenicia whispered something to her. Hindi ko narinig 'yon kaya't naghanda na ako sa pang-aatake sa kaniya.

"Too bad, I have to take her away from you, Zero."

"Too bad, you'll have to witness my hell before you succeed," I answered— almost in a growl— as I raised my hand to form water spears and arrows. My attention was more on saving Exiquel rather than defeating her.

But because of her immense speed, I couldn't even tell her moves. Tumingin ako sa paligid ngunit tila hindi ko na agad naramdaman ang presensya ni Exiquel.

Hindi ako makapagsalita sa taranta at galit. Alam kong hindi gan'on kahina si Exiquel para mahuli siya nang gan'on kadali.

Unless, she wanted to go with Phoenicia, too.

"How foolish." Kaagad akong napatingin sa taas nang marinig ko ang boses niya. My eyes widened in surprise for the flameshots that will rain down on me. Awtomatiko ko namang pinalibutan ang sarili ko ng water mists, ngunit hindi ko nagawang iwasan lahat ng atake.

I seethed my teeth in anger.

I lunged up the air, forming a long ice sword protected by water to prevent it from melting. I held it only by its pommel in my right hand, and raked the point across Phoenicia’s beaked face. It was a desparate attack. It was risky.

And my attack missed. Nawala siya agad sa paningin ko.

Still, I recovered the moment I felt Phoenicia in the ground. Grabbing the blade near the point, and with that as leverage, I hurled the sword towards her. Luckily, it caught at least the hem of her clothes.

She was caught off guard, so I threw three fast jabs with the spear point of the ice blade I created next. Binaliktad ko naman 'yon dahil sigurado akong 'pag nakawala ulit siya at nakarecover, she'll be attacking me from behind. If not, I still have another dagger in my left hand.

At kagaya ng una kong naisip, nawala siya sa harapan ko at naramdaman ko ang mainit na simoy ng hangin sa likod ko. I released the ice dagger in my right hand, and dispered it into water shards. I pushed my feet to jump up and turn to make a big wave towards her.

Tumama naman ang likod niya sa isang puno, at ginamit ko ang tyansyang iyon para lapitan siya at sakalin siya nang mas malala sa ginawa niya kay Exiquel. I used an ice platform to lunge towards her and water shards were on the tips of my fingers.

"Where is Exiquel?"

Napaubo naman siya ngunit hindi naman ako naawa at mas lalo ko lang hinigpitan ang hawak sa leeg niya. Natigilan lang ako nang mapansin kong may pumulupot na vine sa kamay ko.

This is Exiquel's.

I turned to the direction of where the vine came from, and there, I saw Exiquel holding and supporting Tita Ellen who was unconscious.

Napapikit ako nang hilahin ni Exiquel ang vine na pumulupot sa kamay ko. Malakas akong tumalipon sa isa ring puno, at lubha akong nagtaka ng itali ako ni Exiquel sa puno gamit ang mga vines.

"What are you doing, Exiquel?" I called out loudly. She turned her gaze to me, with pity in her eyes. Hindi ko alam kung naaawa ba siya sa'kin, o sa sarili niya, o sa Mama niya.

Then, she mouthed. "Trust me." Maingat niyang nilapag sa lupa si Tita, at lumapit siya sa'kin bago malakas na nagbuntung-hininga. Is this really Exiquel?

"I don't understa—" before I could finish the word, Exiquel shut my lips with hers. I almost jolted in surprise, butterflies immediately filled my stomach, but I know it's not the time for that. Something is wrong.

Pilit kong itinabig ang mukha ko sa kaniya, ngunit hindi ko rin napigilan ang pamumula pucha. Walang hiya ka, loves. Sa lahat ba naman ng panahon, eto pa talaga ang pinili mo?

"I see, you have decided, Exiquel," natatawang wika ni Phoenicia at hindi ko namalayang nag-anyong Phoenix na siya. One more Phoenix came from above and it landed next to Exiquel.

The heck? Anong kataksilan 'to?

"I'm sorry, Zero. I have to do this to save mother, and you, too. Phoenicia bargained with me, and she wanted me as part of her team. But you know, I won't do that. The kiss built a connection between us. With this, I can inform you secretly of the plans of Phoenicia." My eyes slightly widened the moment I heard her own voice in my thoughts.

Sumakay naman siya sa phoenix sa tabi niya, ngunit naiwan pa rin akong nagtataka. Ni hindi nga ako makagalaw!

"Take good care of my mother while I'm gone. Somehow, I can only think of being a spy in order to defeat her. Maybe... maybe this will work."

"Remember what we talked about earlier, Zero? Now, I'll take the risk in order for us to live."

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!