Chapter Nineteen: Ability Phase
-Ezra Alexandra-
Ezra was gazing out of the window, deep in thought. The stares from the human formed mutts haunted her till now, at patuloy ring nag pe-play back sa isip niya ang pag trespass niya sa private quarter ng Alpha.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit hindi niya iyon makalimutan. Na try na niyang ituon ang atensyon sa ibang bagay ngunit ayaw talaga siyang lubayan ng memoryang iyon. Lunes na ngayon at noong Sabado pa iyon nangyari. Dapat ay makalimutan niya na iyon but for some reason it keeps knocking in her head and it annoyed the hell out of her.
Naisip niya na baka patuloy niya itong naiiisp dahil may mga tanong siyang hindi parin masagot. Kapag nasagot iyon ay tuluyan na siyang manahimik. Ganito ba talaga kapag may gusto kang malaman? Does this really happen if something spikes someone's curiosity? Para bang hindi siya mapakali. Now she knows why Athena is always seeking for answers. Nakakabaliw pala kapag may bagay kang iniiwasang isipin pero bumabalik parin sa iyo para manggulo hanggang sa mapilitan ka nalang na harapin ang mga ito.
She tossed the book on her bed and closed the window. Kinuha niya ang kanyang jacket at lumabas na, in search for Athena.
Kung normal na bata lang ang kapatid ni Zeus then madali lang itong hanapin pero hindi. That kid could be anywhere at the moment.
She needed answers and Athena is one who'll give it to her.
Saan ba niya ito makikita?
Parang batang version ito ni Seige. Naglalaho at lumilitaw nalang na parang bula. And speaking of Seige, she hasn't seen her since this morning. She wondered kung nahanap ba ito ni Zeus. Nagtanong kasi ito sa kanya kanina kung asaan si Seige at wala naman siyang naisagot dahil hindi niya talaga alam.
She checked the common room first dahil may mga araw na tumatambay dito si Athena para makihalubilo sa iba at hindi niya maintindihan iyon. Bakit ba nito kailangan pang makipag usap sa iba? She's going to be an eyecandy for social climbers.
Lahat ay napa tingin sa kanya nang sumilip siya sa Common Room ngunit wala dito ang hinahanap niya.
Pumunta naman siya sa kwarto ni Zeus para itanong kung alam nito kung nasaan ang kapatid ngunit naka lock ang pinto nito so she didn't bother kaya bumaba siya muli at tuluyan nang lumabas ng Dawn. It's getting dark, bukas na ang mga lamp post kaya maliwanag pa ang daan patungong main gate.
Being Ezra Heath, she held her head high and walked straight with her chin up. Alam niyang pinagtitinginan siya ng iba dahil ganon naman palagi. They're probably wondering kung bakit mag-isa lang siyang naglalakad ngayon at hindi siya napapalibutan ng ibang Half Bloods o kaya ng mga alipores niya, her so called 'friends'. Halos hindi naman niya kilala ang mga kasama sa social circle niya, all they care about is the ranking anyway at wala naman siyang pakialam doon. They are using her for instant popularity boost at wala lang sa kanya iyon dahil nagagamit rin naman niya ang mga ito. She can drop them anytime but hindi magagawa ng mga ito iyon sa kanya. There will be hell to pay kung gawin iyon sa kanya.
Hiniling niya na sana ay narito si Asher dahil pwede niya itong utusan na hanapin si Athena without questions asked. Kung ang kambal niya kasi ang utusan niya magtatanong muna ito bago sumunod. Ganon ang trip ni Enzo minsan. Minsan naman ay susunod nalang ito ng walang sabi. Si Zeus na mismo ang nagsabi na kung may tanong siya dapat kay Athena siya lumapit at iyon nga ang ginawa niya but that kid was so hard to find.
"If I were to be Athena Adrianne Walter Sinclaire, where would I be at this very moment?" she mumbled to herself and then groaned in frustration. "I think I just asked the hardest question known to Vampires. Mama, Papa, bakit ba pinalaki niyong gala ang anak niyong babae? Ang hirap hanapin!"
Inisip niya ang common places na pwedeng puntahan ng students. She checked the library, the dining hall, the great hall, even the social building ngunit wala talaga ito. Halos maikot na niya ang lahat ng buildings ng Sinclaire Academy and still, there is no sign of Athena. Nakita na nga niya si Enzo at Gianna na nag pi-piano lesson sa Music room.
Napadpad na siya sa desserted crossing field at naupo sa isang bench doon. Pwede naman niyang hinatayin mag dinner but she wanted to talk to Athena in private. It's already dark at mas lalo pa siyang mahihirapan na hanapin ito.
Nakarinig siya ng kaluskos galing sa itaas ng puno kaya nilingon niya ito and there she saw Seige. Nakatingin ito sa kanya at para bang kanina pa siya pinagmamasadan.
"What are you doing up there?" Halos pasigaw niya tanong dahil may kataasan ang pwesto nito.
Imbis na sumagot ay bumaba na si Seige. She jumped from branch to branch hanggang sa tuluyan na itong makababa at makalapit sa kanya.
"May hinahanap ka?"
"Si Athena," patango niyang sagot dito. She felt like she hasn't seen Seige in a long time. Well, matagal na rin naman ang tatlong araw. Hindi naman talaga niya inoobliga ito na manatili sa kanyang tabi. Seige is as free as a bird but tuloy parin ang plano niya na maging part ito ng kanyang social circle. The only difference is that she treats her as her friend. A real friend. Ramdam niya kasi na hindi siya ginagamit nito tulad ng ginagawa ng iba. Seige is different. In her life she needed different. Nasusuka na siya na paulit-ulit niyang nakakasama, naririnig, at nakikita.
"She's at the cemetery. Probably up on a tree" Matamang sagot nito.
"Paano mo nalaman na andon siya?" Kunot noong tanong niya naman dito. Kanina pa niya hinahanap si Athena samantalang ito ay alam na agad.
"Nakasalubong ko siya kanina" Seige tilts head then smiled. Her weird smile. "I'll see you later, Ezra."
Kumaway siya nang umalis ito. Talagang hindi niya naiintindihan ang mga lihim na ngiti ni Seige. Kakakilala palang naman niya dito. They share their own talks and moments but Seige van Syckle is still an enigma to her.
Nang tuluyan nang mawala sa paningin niya si Seige ay dumiretso na siya sa cemetery. Hindi niya lubos maisip na pupunta sa ganitong lugar si Athena lalo na't gabi. She really doesn't know with that girl. Kung hindi lang siya close na maging desperada then hindi siya mag hihirap ng ganito sa kakahanap.
"ATHENA!" Sigaw niya nang makitang naka upo ito sa isang branch ng pine tree doon. Nakarating siya sa dulo ng cemetery, doon na sa mapunong parte nito.
Minulat agad ni Athena ang mata nito at tinanggal ang pagkakayakap sa tuhod para tignan siya ng maayos. "Ate Ezra?"
"Ano ba'ng ginagawa mo d'yan?! Kanina pa kaya kita hinahanap! Halos maikot ko na ang buong Academy sa kakahanap sa'yo!" At habang sinasabi niya iyon ay bumababa ng puno si Athena.
"Sorry, Ate. Malamig kasi dito at saka tahimik"
"Malamig at tahimik rin naman sa library ah? Bakit hindi ka nalang doon? Pinahirapan mo pa ako"
Ngumiti lang ito at umupo wa damuhan. Umupo na rin siya para tabihin ito.
"Bakit mo ako hinahanap?"
"I have some questions at kailangan ko ng sagot. Sabi ng Kuya mo sa'yo ako lumapit dahil malamang masasagot mo ang tanong ko"
Tumawa ito. "Ah si Kuya talaga pinromote na agad ako"
"Anyway, Aiane... gusto ko sa'ting dalawa lang ang kung anong pag uusapan natin ngayon ha?" Tumango naman ito at mukhang naghihintay na sa kung ano ang itatanong niya.
"Tell me the things you know about Wolves"
-Athena Adrianne-
Athena had to bite back a remark when she saw how serious Ezra is. Hindi niya inasahan ang tanong nito but then after Ezra blurted out the question she remembered the time when she toured the pack house's ground.
"I... I haven't really encountered a wolf before. Papa won't let me go near them when they're in wolf form," nakasimangot niyang sagot. "But Mama said they're peaceful creatures naman, medyo vicious nga lang. You know I've always been curious about wolves, I toured their pack at the party but wala naman akong masyadong na discover. They just live in a ginormous house yung tipong kasya silang lahat to stay together at para mas maayos na ma-manage ang Alpha ang pack. The bigger the pack, the bigger the house. That's what Imogen told me," she shrugged. "I have books about wolves, I can lend them to you if you want"
Umiling naman si Ezra and motioned her to keep going. She looked at her skeptically ngunit nagpatuloy rin naman sa pagsasalita. "Uhm... well Theo, Red Claw's Beta told me that they're divided but not in a caste like way katulad natin. May sari-sarili daw silang task sa pack to keep everything at peace and going, it's actually cool. That's all I know. I can lend you my books nga, Ate. Kung gusto mo ng malalim na meaning at origins then you better read some books. It goes all the way back to the history of the Elders, you know Zed Lockhart right? The Lockharts we know are his direct descendants." She shrugged again, hindi niya na talaga alam kung ano ang sasabihin dito. "Or you can talk to Imogen, I thought you two were friends?"
"Acquaintances not friends," pagtataman nito sa kanya. "Tell me the stuff you know about their family"
Her eyebrow darted up. "Why the sudden interest?"
"Just answer the question"
Athena pursed her lips. Naisip niya bigla kung saan gagamitin ni Ezra ang impormasyong nakukuha nito sa kanya. Is she going to use it to sabotage Red Claw?
Ezra Heath won't stoop that low pag dating sa ibang creature. She only goes all out when it comes to Vampires. She doesn't hide her hate towards anyone at kilala ito dahil doon.
"Aiden and Imogen are the children of Sebastian and Serenity Lockhart. Aiden is the Alpha now since his Father stepped down and left all the responsibilities to him. One can't lead a pack without Alpha blood, it gives the Alpha authority daw sabi sa'kin ni Theo."
"Did you know he has a kid?"
"Niana? Yeah, she's really sweet."
Bigla itong sumimangot nang banggitin niya si Niana. "I thought Aiden doesn't have a mate?"
"Nia's not his kid," mabilis niyang tugon dito. "That much I know. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing yung little girl na 'yon. I don't like to intrude when it came to family stuff so I restrained myself from asking Theo"
"Okay. Thank you Athena" And then Ezra ran off using her vampire speed leaving her wondering why she was suddenly interested in Wolves. Ezra did not care about other creatures before.
She got up and ran after Ezra ngunit hindi na niya naabutan ito. It was already dark kaya tumungo na muna siya sa common room.
Bago pa man siya makarating doon, may naramdaman na siyang kakaiba.
One second her eyes were locked to the common room's door and then it was on the ceiling. Her vision started getting blurry.
The lights of the chandelier were blocked by the concerned faces of students that witnessed her fell down.
"Get my Kuya..." she manage to rasp out, wincing at the sudden pain in her head before closing her eyes.
- Zeus Achilles -
Zeus jolted awake nang marinig ang malakas na katok sa kanyang pinto.
His room was pitch black, indicating that it was already nighttime and he slept the rest of the afternoon after being with Seige. He groaned before getting up. Whoever it is on the other side of the door was yelling his name.
"Nagmamadali?" He grumbled before turning the light switch on.
His cold hand pulled the door open. The girl on the side dropped her hand in mid knock at pinasadahan siya ng tingin.
Nakalimutan niya mag t-shirt.
And his jeans might have hung a little low on his hips. The waistband of his boxers were peaking.
He doesn't blame her if her stare lingered.
"What?" he snapped.
The girl's eyes finally focused on his face.
"Si Athena..."
Hindi na nito natapos pa ang sasabihin dahil tumakbo na agad siya pababa. Down the hall, he can already hear the commotion kaya hindi na siya nahirapan pang hanapin ang kapatid niya.
He found her slumped on a sofa in the girls' common room surrounder by girls that belonged to different ranks. His sister was well loved kaya walang duda na maraming concerned dito.
Parang dagat na nahawi ang mga ito nang dumating siya. In a flash, he was at Athena's side.
"Kuya... Kuya... ang sakit ng ulo ko" Mangiyak ngiyak na sabi nito sa kanya at mahigpit na yumakap.
"Anong nangyari, Zeus?" Enzo suddenly appeared, equally concerned as everyone. "A storm's building outside," dagdag pa nito.
If there's a storm then that only means one thing.
Something's wrong with a Pureblood.
"Ihanda mo yung sasakyan, uuwi kami" He carried his sister bridal style out of Dawn. Enzo ran back to Zeus' room to get his keys.
Nakasalubong naman niya si Ezra palabas. "It's going to rain, sino sa inyo ang may sakit? At bakit wala kang damit?! Zeus naman!" Halos sabunutan siya nito nang makita ang itsura niya.
"My sister might be starting her ability phase and she's crying while asking for me, tingin mo may oras pa ako para mag damit?"
Athena Adrianne Sinclaire never cries.
And it's very alarming when she actually does because he knows it's a serious matter.
"Ability phase? But she... we don't even know what her ability is!" Ezra followed them nang nilagpasan niya ito. "I'm calling Mama and I'm coming with you!"
Nilagpasan rin sila ni Enzo to get the car ready.
Gianna was behind them too, asking what was wrong. It was Ezra who answered her. Zeus' attention was solely focused on his crying little sister.
Her forehead was creased and hot tears streamed down her cheeks, she was quitely sobbing while whispering "Kuya"
"Kuya's here, baby. Kuya's here," he kissed her forehead as it started to drizzle. "We'll be home soon"
"Take care of her while were gone Seige," narinig niyang utos ni Ezra sa kaibigan bago pumasok ng sasakyan. He did not notice Seige's presence.
Nakatayo ito at akbay na si Gianna habang binibilinan ni Enzo. Gigi's eyes were searching for Athena, konti nalang ay iiyak na rin ito.
"Aiane's fine right?" He heard her ask Enzo.
All the noise were block nang nasa loob na sila. He laid Athena on the back seat and rested her head on his lap.
Ezra slid on the passenger seat habang si Enzo ay nasa labas pa rin with Seige and Gianna. Hindi pa tapos magbilin.
Ibinaba na niya ang bintana out of frustration. "Hoy Enzo mag da-drive ka pa! Pasok!" He motioned for him to get inside at pinanlakihan pa ito ng mata. Pumasok naman ito agad after kissing Gianna's forehead.
"Lumalakas na ang ulan, pumasok na kayong dalawa," he ordered the two girls.
Seige's eyes showed no emotion or whatsoever while Gianna's almost crying.
Seige nodded and said, "Everything will be okay"
He gave her a pained smile before closing the window.
Athena's sob was the only thing audible. Her skin felt ice cold under his touch but her her hair was damp with sweat.
The rain started pouring hard. Enzo was driving fast out of the private road and on to the main road.
"She was fine when I left her," said Ezra. "Nagbabasa siya sa tass ng puno doon sa cemetery."
"She's a late bloomer. Her ability could be anything," sabi naman ni Enzo.
Zeus just listened as the twins converse. The fact did not escape his mind though, this was the first time Enzo ever showed true emotion when Athena is concerned.
Ezra's phone rang kaya napatingin siya dito. "We're almost there. With the way Enzo's driving, I say five minutes tops. Aiane? Crying. Zeus? He's going crazy over the crying"
"You're not helping, Ezra" Zeus snapped.
"What? I'm justing informing your Mother sa lagay niyo" Ezra covered the mouth piece at tinignan siya. He gave her a sharp look at inirapan lang siya nito then started talking on the phone again.
At that second, Athena started mumbling "Mama" like a little girl.
Ezra dropped the call at tinignan siya muli. "They're preparing the chamber and putting up the ward"
He nods and turns his eyes on the road.
It was close to zero visibility. Habang lumilipas ay lumalakas ang ulan. Athena kept crying.
The sky was weeping with her.