Taming the Darkness (Series 3)

CHAPTER THIRTY

TAHIMIK na pinagmamasdan muli ni Zenaia ang mga bulaklak sa hardin. Hindi nito alintana ang matinding sikat ng araw. Mula nang matapos itong mag-umagahan sa loob ng tinulugan nitong kuwarto at magtungo roon ay nanatili na lamang ito roon.

"Zenaia is acting unusual," alalang sabi ni Veseva na nanonood sa bawat kilos ng dalaga.

Billius, Elkail and Gaston have already left before dawn. Sila na lamang ang naiwan doon. Dahil sa nangyari kahapon ay dinagdagan pa ni Veseva ang mga protective spell na nakapalibot sa tahanan niya.

Ngayon na alam na nilang alam din ng mga kalaban kung nasaan sila ay mas pinag-iigihan pa nila ang pag-iingat. Malinaw na rin na hindi lamang si Zenaia ang nasa panganib, kundi ay lahat sila.

Caleb was busy lounging in Veseva's private study, reading books about non-human history to become more familiar with the recent events, especially about the role of the Keeper of the Keys. Sina Cedric and Veseva naman ay nasa harap ng bahay kung saan tanas nila ang hardin. They decided to keep their eyes on Zenaia to observe what's really going on with her.

They still haven't figured out about what just happened three days ago when black flames colame out of Zenaia's body. And they are not even sure if Zenaia was aware of what happened. She seemed oblivious about what she did and what she could do but they couldn't be too sure. Posible rin na may itinatago ito sa kanila at ayaw lamang magsabi.

Isa pa, simula ng pangyayaring iyon ay unti-unti nang lumalakas ang presensyang nararamdaman nila kay Zenaia. Her hazel eyes is also gradually changing into bluish green. Even her movements were becoming light and graceful. They couldn't even hear her footsteps whenever she's walking inside the room or when she was approaching them.

And because of the prominent changes in her body, Zenaia is no longer considered as an ordinary human.

One of the reason is her flames. Black flames are extremely rare. They've only heard about it in mythological tales. It's not supposed to exist. They are yet to unfold about what had occured and as to why Zenaia possessed such rare ability.

"Hindi sa gano'n," tutol ni Cedric sa sinabi ni Veseva. Nakangiti ito na tila may naaalala. "She's just acting like her usual self."

Veseva frowned at him. "Ha?"

"This is how Feruseah usually was. Tahimik lang at mahilig sa mga bulaklak. She usually spent most of her time with flowers in the spacious garden of the werewolf kingdom."

"Ang boring naman no'n," nakangusong saad ni Veseva. "Pero kung talagang mali ang naging hinala natin about sa mga reincarnation niya at nagre-resurrect lamang siya, how come that she stayed looking the same?"

"Marahil ay side effect ng regeneration niya. It's probably stopping her from aging. Although, non-humans like us really doesn't age until we reached the age of thirty-five, sila naman ay nanatili lamang na nagmumukhang nasa edad na early to middle twenties."

Napaingos si Veseva. She's obviously feeling envious once again because Zenaia is so younger-looking.

"And here I am, looking older than my real age," she muttered in complete annoyance.

Muli nilang pinanood si Zenaia na isa-isang tinatanggalan ng mga natuyong dahon ang tangkay ng mga bulaklak.

"Sa tingin mo ba ay nakapag-usap na silang dalawa ni Billius?"

Umiling si Cedric. "I don't think so. Parang iniiwasan nga nilang parehas ang isa't isa."

"Napansin ko rin. When we first found Zenaia, I thought Billius was going to run towards her. But he just stayed still like a brick of stone. What a coward.... so much for being the strongest immortal. Tsk!" Veseva kicked a pebble out of annoyance.