Chapter Nine: Wandering Girls
- Athena Adrianne -
Athena trailed her eyes to the end of the hall where Enzo was walking alone. This morning, she didn't know what came into her at napagdesisyunan niyang sundan ito. She really got intrigued last night, well this morning, ano kaya ang ginawa nito at alas kwarto ng umaga na ito naka uwi?
What intrigued her more was why Seige Van Syckle was keeping an eye on him. Athena knew Seige turned into one of Ezra's loyal followers over the past few weeks, like she was supposed to be dahil naging parte na ito ng social circle ni Ezra. She expected Ezra to go ape shit umagang umaga palang ngunit wala itong alam sa ginawang escaped ni Enzo. Wala bang sinabi si Seige dito?
Alam niya kung gaano ka possessive si Ezra sa kambal, but looks like Enzo is keeping secrets from her.
She really shouldn't care because she'll be crossing the line, the invisilble line between them, her and Enzo. But the truth is, she really did. Kahit na ayaw niya ang ginagawa niyang ito dahil alam niyang magagalit ang kanyang kuya Zeus but she just had to know.
"Aiane!"
Athena jumped before cursing, she gathered her shit together before facing Gianna.
"What?"
"Anong ginagawa mo dyan?" Sinilip nito ang direksyong tinitignan niya kanina, she secretly let out a sigh of relief when Enzo was nowhere to be found.
Gianna pursed her lips when she saw nothing so she just shrugged. "Tara kain tayo, ayoko pumasok e."
"Baka pagalitan ka ni Enzo." She really wasn't comofortable calling Enzo 'Kuya', but everyone would give her a weird look tuwing tatawagin niya ito sa first name lang like what Gianna's giving her now. The first name slipped again.
"Hayaan mo yun!" Gianna waved her hands off. "Dad said I can do whatever I want!"
Athena smirked at what Gianna said, sa totoo ay mas childish talaga ito kaysa sa kanya. Masyado kasing binebaby sa kanila at hanggang dito. Palibhasa ay nag iisang anak.
"On second thought, punta nalang tayong Town Square!" Gianna's eyes lit up.
"I don't know Gigi..." Athena squirmed. She will get in trouble, not just to Zeus but her parents too. It's class hours at gusto nitong umalis ng Academy.
Parang suicide mission na ang kanilang gagawin.
"Don't tell me you're scared." Gianna rolled her eyes. "Akala ko ba gusto mo ng adventure? Ready akong maging partner mo ngayon oh!"
"But it's class hours! Kuya Zeus will kill me! Enzo too!" Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mata.
"Getting in trouble once in a while won't hurt."
That hit her like a brick. That's one of her mottos and Gianna is throwing it back at her.
She glared at Gianna, caving in. "You're the one to blame on this."
- Zeus Achilles -
"Look what I've got!" Ezra singed waving a silver envelope up. Zeus caught the sight of a familiar mark.
"What's that?" Flame asked.
"Hey dufus, read it for me." Hinagis ni Ezra ang envelope sa mukha ni Asher. Napa kamot naman ito ng ulo at wala nang nagawa.
"Wait, is that the council's mark?" tanong ni Flame at tinignang maigi ang silver envelope.
"Looks like an invitation for an event." Zeus said, eyeing it again. Siguro ay meron na ring ganito ang kanilang mga magulang ngayon.
Asher silently read it before nodding. "It is an event." he confirmed with a smirk. "But not only for Vampires."
"Witches are invited too?" Flame asked.
"Yes, The High Priestress and Enchantresses are required to be there. Which means your Aunts and your Mother will be there." Asher nodded.
"Witches and what else?" Ezra crossed her arms.
"Werewolves."
Ezra's breath hitched. "W-werewolves? Why them?"
"This event is hosted by them," Asher pointed out with a shrug handing Ezra the invitation back. "Apparently the land they wanted was approved and the pack house they built was finished, the event is going to be held there."
"Whoa, then the pack house is wayyyy big kung invited pati ang mga Witches coven, or is it just my family?"
"I dunno. We got an invitation that means pupunta tayo."
"The pack house is built for what pack exactly?" Ezra turned to Zeus.
"Red Claw, I think." he answered.
He remembered how his Mother mentioned that the Red Claw pack wanted more land dahil lumalaki na ang population ng werewolves and the matter was pushed to the Council, so the Council took time to review it and eventually approved earlier this year.
"The pack inhabiting the West Coast beyond the West borders?"
"Yeah, they're the biggest pack in the world right?" si Asher naman ngayon ang tumingin kay Zeus.
"Bakit niyo ba sa akin kinukumpirma lahat?"
"Because you're the one who's aware of everything!" Asher laughed.
"Aiden Lockhart is the Alpha of Red Claw." Flame said.
"He has a hot sister right? What's her name again?"
"Imogen." Zeus rolled his eyes, of course kilala rin nito si Imogen. The last time they saw the girl was two years ago at some event na parang katulad rin ng dadaluhan nila ngayon.
Ang alam niya ay gusto ng mga Lockhart ay ang land na parte ng Kenettra ngunit hindi pumayag ang Sinclaires. Respeto na rin ito sa mga Kenettra, Cleo Kenettra's memory lived in that place. Zeus liked to visit that place once in a while dahil payapa roon, and Kenettra Mansion was as big as the Sinclaires'.
"So we have to go dress shopping?" Ezra's eyes lit up as Zeus and Asher groaned.
Not again.
"Don't you have enough clothes already?!" reklamo agad ni Asher.
"I don't want to chaperone!" Zeus snorted.
"Flame doesn't have a dress." Ezra pointed out.
"I could just ask Mom---"
"No, tayo ang bibili!"
Just then, binuksan muli ni Ezra ang invitation. "It requires a plus one."
"So?"
Naisip ni Zeus na hindi naman talaga required na mag dala sila ng date. It will be a formal party and he bet Council representatives are going to be complete. Half Bloods will be the feast for their eyes again. The atmosphere is bound to get uncomfortable.
"My plus one will be Aiane," he immediately said bago pa siya ireto ni Ezra sa kung sino man. He wanted it to be Flame but knowing their situation, hanggang pangarap nalang siya.
"Mine will be Flame!" masayang sambit ni Asher pulling Flame in a headlock.
"Kay Gianna na si Enzo, while I'm taking Seige!"
"Lesbian Lover?" automatic na sabi ni Asher.
"Shut up, british boy!"
Pagkatapos ng klase sa araw na iyon. Naalala ni Zeus si Athena, hindi niya kasi ito nakita nung lunch pati na rin si Gianna at Enzo kaya inisip niya na baka magkasama ang dalawa at nasa kung saan na naman ang kanyang kapatid.
He peaked his head in the girl's common room ngunit wala roon si Athena. Dumiretso na muna siya sa kanyang kwarto upang ilapag ang kanyang mga gamit bago lumabas muli, nakasalubong naman niya si Enzo sa hall.
"Have you seen Aiane?"
"Hanapan ba ako ng nawawalang bata?"
"Gago. Nagtatanong ako ng maayos."
"Hindi ko alam." bagot na sagot nito sa kanya.
"Si Gigi di mo kasama?"
"Hindi. Nakikita mo naman diba?"
Nairita si Zeus sa pagiging tipid ng mga sagot nito ngunit sanay na naman rin siya.
"Pag dumating ang dinner time at wala pa tsaka ka maghanap." Enzo said before brushing pass him.
Dinner time came, Zeus searched the whole Dining Hall ngunit hindi niya makita ang kapatid. Pati ang kwarto nito ay tinignan na niya kanina pa. He took Enzo's advice, nag basa nalang muna siya hanggang sa mag dinner time na. He doesn't like it when Aiane skips dinner.
Natapos nalang ang dinner hour ay hindi parin niya nakikita ang kapatid.
"Where's Gianna?" tanong ni Ezra sa kakambal.
Enzo trailed his eyes over the hall. "I think we should look for them now."
Zeus wanted to snort. Ngayon lang ito nag alala dahil damay na si Gianna.
They started searching the Academy grounds, building by building, ngunit wala parin ang dalawa. Sumama na rin si Flame, Asher, at Ezra. Flame wanted to help, while the other two were just bored.
"Seige is nowhere to be found again, should we search for her too?"
"We don't care about your pet, Ez. Kaya na 'non ang sarili niya." Enzo said and frustratingly kicked a rock. Halos isang oras at kalahati na silang naghahanap at wala parin.
Inisip ni Zeus ang lugar na pwedeng puntahan ni Athena, baka ay nasa library lang ito ngunit sinuyod niya na rin iyon kanina hanggang sa pinaka sulok na shelves at study rooms ngunit wala talaga ito.
"Baka naman lumabas na ng Academy yung dalawa." sabi ni Asher.
"I already asked the Watchers by the gate, wala naman daw lumabas na student ngayon." Flame answered.
"It's either those two are sly little foxes or narito lang talaga sila sa Academy."
"Are they even together? Alam mo naman si Athena, baka kung saan iyon pumunta" napa kamot ng ulo si Enzo.
"Can we just call your Mom to get this over with?" Zeus sighed. Sabi kasi ng kambal, tsaka lang sila tatawag sa kanilang Mom kapag lumipas ang isang oras at hindi parin nila nahahanap ang dalawa.
"I'll call her!" excited na prisinta ni Ezra. Agad na inilabas nito ang kanyang phone at nag dial na.
"Hi Mommy!" Zeus rolled his eyes, he can really hint the excitement in her tone kahit na noong isang linggo ay kakauwi lang nito.
"We can't find Gianna and Athena anywhere, and yes they're not in trouble kaya wag kang mag hysterical. No! No! You don't need to call Tito Jake or even Papa! We just need to know where they are para maka balik na kami sa dorm." Ezra animatedly talked with her hands.
"How long have they been gone?" tinignan naman ni Ezra si Zeus, seeking for an answer.
"After lunch hindi ko na nakita si Aiane."
"After lunch daw, or noon lang napansin ni Zeus baka mas maaga pa pumuslit yung dalawa. We're not really sure if they're together pero before lunch naman nag hiwalay si Gigi at Enzo."
Inagaw naman agad ni Enzo ang phone kay Ezra. "Mom! Don't tell Tito Jake. He'll kick my ass!"
Ezra snatched her phone back before glaring at her brother. Gianna was under Enzo's responsibility afterall, kapag may nangyari dito ay si Enzo agad ang sisisihin dahil sa una palang ay hindi na dapat niya ito pinabayaan.
Zeus was less worried though, alam naman niyang kaya ni Aiane ang sarili. She wouldn't have wanderlust kung hindi niya kayang pumunta sa kung saan-saan. But she knew her curfew, kaya dapat ay naroon na ito sa dorm ngayon at nagpapahinga.
"Loudspeaker please." Flame requested.
Sinunod naman ito ni Ezra kaya sunod na nilang narinig ang boses ni Carly Heath.
"Wait, gimme a sec." sabi nito. Lahat sila ay naka tingin lang sa naka lahad na kamay ni Ezra.
"They're at...the Leisure Room." Carly finished with a chuckle. "Athena Adrianne and her wandering skills."
Na imagine ni Zeus ay umiiling ito ngayon.
"Where's that?" kunot noong tanong ni Ezra.
"Eastwood Building, lagpas lang Library, sa pinaka dulong hall. You'll find a door there and it will lead you to our old Leisure Room."
Sinunod naman nila ito. Ezra didn't hang up dahil nagtatanong parin ito ng direksyon. "Wala namang door e."
"Meron dyan, use your eyes anak."
"I think your Papa hid the door." Carly chuckled after a few seconds.
Si Enzo ang lumapit sa pader at kinapa ito ngunit napa atras rin siya agad dahil sa pag tabig ni Flame.
"Let me." Flame started feeling the wall, laying both of her palms flat on it. "Jackpot!"
"Halaaa! May doorknob!" gulat na sambit ni Ezra. "Wala yan dyan kanina!"
"Di ka lang naghahanap!" side comment naman ni Asher.
The door creaked open and they all went in. It led to a dark staircase kaya ginamit rin ni Ezra ang kanyang phone para maging ilaw nila.
"This used to be your room, Mommy?" tanong ni Ezra habang pababa sila.
"Yes, our old Leisure Room. Hindi na iyan nagamit nang gumraduate kami. Senri didn't want to share it with anyone, it was ours kasi. Siguro nakalimutan na rin niyang sabihin sa inyo."
The light was open kaya agad nilang nakita kung gaano ito kalaki. Everything was old fashioned, ibang iba ang disenyo nila sa mga kwarto nila ngayon. Everything was also covered with white cloth, para iwas alikabok kaya hindi niya makita ang mga gamit.
Zeus trailed his eyes, nakita niya ang apat na pinto sa di kalayuan, and there was a bar too, may nakita pa siyang mga wine roon, and he saw an open door leading to the kitchen. There were no windows dahil parang underground na ito.
"Gianna! Athena!" Enzo's voice boomed.
Agad namang narinig ni Zeus ang pag bukas ng pinto, and there came the two na gulat nang makita sila. Nilapitan ni Enzo ang dalawa. Zeus can talk to his sister later, after Enzo's done.
"Can we have this room Mom?" Ezra asked.
"Sure you can, take really good care of it. Maraming memories ang nanyari dyan."
Asher chuckled at hinila ang isang putting tela na naka takip sa isang malaking picture frame sa pader na hinihiligan ni Flame.
Flame glared at him before sneezing dahil sa alikabok.
Zeus smiled. It was their parents' graduation picture. His Mother has the same one back at their Manor.
"I'll see you this Saturday yeah?"
"Uhm hmm. Can I take a friend with me?"
"Sure you can, I'll go now."
Ezra bade her goobye before ending the call. Lumapit rin ito sa kinatatayuan ni Asher. Tinanggal na rin nito ang putting tela na nakataklob sa isang table na may naka hilerang picture frames.
"Is that my Mom?" Flame asked in shock at tinuro ang isang picture frame.
"Yep and me Mum." Asher nodded, picking it up. Ezra snorted at his accent and picked on up too.
"Dad looks so ugly." Ezra whispered, scanning the picture of Zeus' parents with her Dad.
Zeus ignored Enzo's voice from the distance, malumanay nitong sinesermonan ang dalawa. Kinuha nalang niya ang isang picture.
It was a picture of his parents.
He admired his Mama's goofy grin habang kinukurot nito ang pisngi ng kanyang Papa.
"It's ours now!" Ezra declared, scanning the whole room.
"You think we should decorate?" tanong ni Asher at inayos muli ang mga frames.
Naisip ni Zeus ang sinabi ng kanyang Tita Carly kanina. Maraming memories ang nangyari sa kwartong ito. He really can't imagine kung ano ang buhay ng kanyang mga magulang noon kahit maraming na kwento ang mga ito sa kanya. Saksi ang kwartong ito doon. He already guessed na iiyak ang kanyang Mama kapag nakita ulit itong kwarto, he's really certain this room is very speacil dahil na rin sa mga naka tago rito.
"No" he answered Asher's question. "I think we should keep it the way it is."