'The Wolf'
ZIA
We made way for him. We just looked at him. He just walked towards the Xions that were approaching us and immediately fired his red lightning to them. It sent the Xions high up in the air while the lightning were working us a rope that tied them from the ground and brought them in the air.
Tiningnan lang namin na napuno ng pulang kuryente ang kamay niya at tsaka niya sinuntok ang lupa. Again, red lightning came out from the ground and dragged the Xions into the ground.
"Red lightning, huh?" Tanong ni Wilder nung tumabi siya sa akin habang nakatingin lang ako ng maigi kay Kuya Xy na walang imik habang kaharap niya ang mga Xions.
"I think he's the chosen one." Kumunot kaagad ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Lucas.
"Red flashes of lightning. It's a fusion between good and bad. Meaning, it's a fusion between Zeus and Hades' power. Lightning from Zeus and hell-bent power of a demon from Hades." Pagpapaliwanag ni Lucas kaya binalik namin ang tingin namin kay Kuya Xy. The red flashes of lightning that were surrounding him also has a red glow on the sides.
"Ba't ba ang dami mong alam?" Inis na tanong ni Wilder kay Lucas Lucas just shrugged his shoulder.
"It's rare for Zeus and Hades to agree on one thing." Sabi ni Archer at nakita kong parang napaisip si Kuya Ash.
"Zee, Xy died before, right?" Tanong niya at tumango lang ako kaya tumingin naman silang lahat sa akin.
"And it was Hades and Zeus who agreed to bring him back?" Dagdag ni Kuya Ash at tumango lang ako ulit at dun ko na nakuha ang ibig niyang sabihin. Kuya Xy lost his abilities as a demon when he chose to save Mom. He died, and Zeus and Hades brought him back and years later, his abilities came back one by one.
And now, we're seeing red lightning surrounding him that somehow clarifies Lucas' claim of Kuya Xy being the chosen one. The one that Zeus and Hades granted something they both agreed into.
"Zia." Agad akong napatingin kay Kuya Xy nung tinawag niya ang pangalan ko. Lumapit naman kaagad ako sa kanya at tiningnan siya na nakatingin lang sa mga Xion. "They won't die just by these lightnings. Take their hearts out." Aniya at tumango lang ako tsaka na hinigpitan ang gloves na nasa kamay ko.
"Be careful." Huli niyang sambit at tsaka na ako tumakbo papunta sa mga Xion. I jumped into one Xion's back towards a Xion that was also jumping towards me. Umikot lang ako sa ere at tsaka ko na kinuha ang puso nito. I took out their hearts one by one at nakita ko ang mga numero sa mga puso nila.
10098690? What the? Ten million already?!
Nakita kong kikilos sana sina Atlas pero pinigilan sila ni Kuya Ash.
"Zia can handle this. And besides, only Blu and Zia have fought Xions. Hindi pa natin alam kung paano labanan ang mga 'to." Sabi ni Kuya Ash sa kanila.
"How can we learn if we just stand here?" Rinig kong tanong ni Wilder. I just brushed the blood away from my cheeks at tumalon ako papunta sa isang Xion at sinipa ang dibdib nila dahilan para mawasak ang ribcage nito at tumama ang paa ko sa puso nito.
"We'll learn. Soon. Just not right now. I think the gods are watching them." Kumunot kaagad ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Kuya Ash at tsaka na ako tumingala. Huh, are they really watching? I just flipped back at tinapon na sa pile na ginawa ko ang mga puso ng mga Xions.
Mom's gloves were filled with Xion's blood.
"Zia, out of the field." Utos ni Kuya Xy sa akin kaya inilabas ko muna ang mga pakpak ko at saglit pa akong napapikit dahil sa sakit nito pero ininda ko nalang ito at lumayo muna sa field at tiningnan si Kuya Xy na sinuntok ang lupa at gumawa siya ng malaking butas dito at dun na nahulog ang second batch ng mga Xions na paparating sa amin.
"Will you let me play?" Saglit akong napapikit nung may marinig na naman ako sa utak ko. Agad akong tumingin sa kuko ko na dahan-dahan nang nagiging itim.
Kinagat ko lang ang ibabang labi ko at pinikit ang mga mata ko. "No. You're not getting out." Bulong ko at ikinuyom ang kamao ko. My nails went back to its natural color at huminga nalang ako ng malalim.
"The final blow's up to you, baby sis." Sabi ni Kuya Xy at tsaka na nawala ang mga kidlat na nakapalibot sa katawan niya. Iginalaw ko nalang ang kamay ko at sandaling pumikit. There it is again, I'm sleepy. Why am I always sleepy especially in time when I'm in battle?
Saglit lang akong humikab at kinusot ang mga mata ko.
"These wimps are acting like Team Alpha. Their blows don't even hurt!" Rinig kong sabi ng isang Xion. Mahina lang akong natawa.
"You know what? I like the regular Xions. Because they obey." Mahina kong sambit at itinaas na ang kamay ko. Our blows don't hurt, huh? Tinago ko na ang pakpak ko nung nakapaapak na ako sa lupa. They were growling and snarling at me. I just breathed out.
I set my stance and ran for it. In a dash, I gathered all their hearts on my hand. Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at sinunog na ang mga puso nila na nasa kamay ko at tsaka na nagpagpag.
Tiningnan ko nalang si Kuya Xy na nakangiti na habang nag-uusap sila ni Kuya Ash. He must be happy that he's in the team now. Naglakad na ako palapit sa kanila pero saglit akong napatigil dahil may narinig na naman ako.
"Someday, Zia. You're going to let me out too." Napahawak nalang ako sa ulo ko dahil sa narinig ko.
"Shut it." Mahina kong bulong pero ramdam kong tumingin na sa akin ang team. "Zia, you okay?" Tanong ni Wilder at naglakad na palapit sa akin.
"Someday, I'll be your last resort. And I tell you, Zia. Once I'm out, I'll take over this body. You don't deserve a powerful body like this." Napapikit nalang ako at ikinuyom ang duguan kong kamay. "I said, shut it!" Sigaw ko sa sarili ko at hindi ko na alam kung anong iniisip ng team habang nakatingin sila sa akin.
"You don't even know how to use this body. Sinasayang mo ang kaya mong gawin."
"I said, shut up!" Sigaw ko habang nakahawak na ako sa ulo ko.
"Zia, anong nangyayari?" Tanong ni Kuya Xy sa akin at lumingo-lingo nalang ako at tsaka tumingin sa kanila. Hindi ako sumagot at tinanggal nalang ang gloves ni Mommy na suot ko. "Mark my words, Zia." Hindi ko na pinansin ang bulong sa akin ng kung sino man itong nagsasalita sa utak ko.
Pumasok nalang kami sa Alpha village. Kuya Xy granted the team passage to get inside.
Dumiretso nalang ako sa bahay at pumasok na kaagad sa kwarto ko at naligo nalang. I flushed the blood out of my body and looked at myself in the mirror. This is my body. I decide what I do with it. "You're thinking of flushing me out of your body, aren't you?" Rinig kong tanong niya.
"Who the hell are you anyway?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin lang ako sa salamin.
"I'm you. Just smarter." Mahina lang akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. "You're the one who almost killed my family." Sumbat ko.
"Oh, no, dearie. It was you. You have no control over me. Everything is all your fault." Ikinuyom ko na ang kamay ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Am I going crazy? Am I talking to my subconscious? What am I even doing? "Anyway, my point is, you can't get rid of me. I'm part of you. I'm one of the reasons why you're alive. You're a living poison, right?" Umirap nalang ako dahil sa sinabi niya at sinuot na ang bathrobe ko.
"You're alive because of me. That's why you have to be nice to me." Napabuga nalang ako ng hangin at hinigpitan ang hawak sa damit ko. "One more sound from you and I don't even care if I die as long as I get rid of you." I warned at agad naman siyang tumahimik. Ang tagal niyang nanahimik tapos ngayon lang siya mag-iingay? A bit sly, aren't we?
Nagbihis nalang ako at tsaka na bumaba pero natigilan ako nung makita ko ang team sa sala namin.
"Sinong kausap mo?" Tanong ni Lucas sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo niya.
"Myself. I think I'm going crazy." Agad kong sagot at kumunot naman agad ang noo nila pero naningkit lang ang mga mata ni Atlas. "You're talking to her, aren't you?" Tanong niya at kumunot lang ang noo ko. Tumingin narin ang lahat sa kanya lalo na si Kuya Xy na kakapasok lang habang may dalang isang malaking bowl ng spaghetti.
"Her?" Tanong ni Wilder.
"The poison. Your other form." Atlas said, referring to the embodiment of poison. The one with the long hair, black wings and etc. Napatingin narin si Kuya Ash sa akin at parang alam na niya ang tinutukoy ni Atlas.
"You see, our bodies are just vessels." Sabi ni Atlas habang kumakain na ng spaghetti na dala ni Kuya Xy. I was confused while I looked at them. "Yeah. It's like our other forms have a mind of its own." Sagot ni Kuya Ash at napanganga nalang si Audin na parang iniisip niya na nababaliw na ang mga tao dito dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ng mga 'to.
"My wolf form and I are two creatures. I'm the body, and he's the form that lives inside me." Pagpapaliwanag ni Atlas at tumango naman si Kuya Ash na parang ganun rin ang kaso ng dragon sa loob ng katawan niya.
"Like the poison inside you. You're the body, and she's the poison that lives inside you." Napahawak nalang ako sa sintedo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Kuya Ash. Can't we just have a normal conversation in this realm? Like talking about the new season of Courage the Cowardly Dog or how to cut apples?
Not this mind-twisting conversation again.
"Sometimes, we convince our wolf form to calm down. Sometimes, our wold form convinces us to calm down and vice versa. Sometimes we lose control of our forms and they even disobey us. They also talk to us here." Sabi ni Atlas at tinuro ang ulo niya. Tumango nalang ako sa sinabi niya at tsaka na ako umupo sa tabi ni Wilder. So, it's like this to them too? They also have their forms talking into their heads? I'm quite relieved that I'm not the only one who experiences that.
"We're all weird." Sabi ni Kuya Ash habang nakatingin sa akin. Mahina nalang akong natawa at tinanggap na ang mini bowl na binigay sa akin ni Kuya Xy. Wala namang nagsalita sa amin at kumain nalang kami ng spaghetti na dala ni Kuya Xy habang nakakatatlong balik na si Audin.
"Ang liit mo pero ang lakas mong kumain." Sabi ni Wilder sa pinunasan pa ang bibig ni Audin na marumi na.
We also watched a movie. It would've been greater if Blu was here. Tumingin nalang kami sa pinto nung may kumatok dito. It was Tita Miu. Tumayo naman kami para batiin siya. "Team.. uhh.. right, you don't have a name yet. Anyway, Storm wants to talk to you." Aniya at nagkatinginan naman kaming lahat at tumango lang si Kuya Xy at tsaka na kami sumunod sa kanya.
Tiningnan ko nalang si Audin na dala-dala 'yung buong lalagyan ng spaghetti. Natawa nalang ako.
Pagdating namin sa Alpha Mansion ay nakita namin si Grandpa Storm na nakaupo dun sa sala at halatang naghihintay sa amin. Yumuko naman 'yung team bilang paggalang sa kanya. Right, he's still the Hybrid1 that everyone knew.
"Have a seat." Sabi niya at umupo naman kami at tsaka tumingin sa kanya. "Congratulations on joining the team, Xy." Nakangiting sabi ni Grandpa sa amin at tumingin naman kami kay Kuya Xy na tumango lang at ngumiti.
"Ito na po ba 'yung final line-up?" Tanong ni Wilder, referring to the members of the team. Lumingo-lingo naman agad si Grandpa Storm. "Zeus hasn't said anything about that yet." Sagot niya at tumango-tango naman kaming lahat.
"And speaking of Zeus.." Grandpa Storm trailed off at tsaka siya tumingin sa aming dalawa ni Kuya Xy.
"He wants to see the two of you." Aniya kaya nagkatinginan naman kaming dalawa ni Kuya Xy at tsaka namin binalik ang tingin namin kay Grandpa Storm na nakatingin narin sa team. "Sumama narin kayo. Ares wants to have a word with all of you." Sabi niya sa team. Ares? As in the god of war Ares?
Tumingin na kami sa portal na ginawa ni Grandpa Storm at tumingin lang siya sa akin tsaka tumango. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim at tsaka na tumayo.
"And oh, Xy, you might want to talk to Dolly first. I think you and Zia will be staying there for a while." Kumunot kaagad ang noo namin ni Kuya Xy dahil sa sinabi ni Grandpa Storm. Agad namang tumingin si Kuya Xy kay Ate Dolly na nakatingin lang sa kanya.
Walang pasabing lumapit kaagad si Kuya Xy kay Ate Dolly at niyakap ito.
Matapos nilang mag-usap ni Ate Dolly ay naglakad na kami papunta sa portal. Dadalhin pa sana ni Audin ang lalagyan ng spaghetti pero pinigilan na siya ni Wilder. "We're meeting the gods for damn sake!" Sabi ni Wilder at kinuha na ang lalagyan mula kay Audin.
Nagpaalam na kami kina Tita Keya at tsaka na kami pumasok sa portal at dumiretso na sa Olympus. We were greeted by a crowd at nakita kong naiilang ang team dahil dito. It really might be the first time that they've been to Olympus. I think it's my first time here too.
Blu can't even come with us. He would've loved Olympus and the flowers here.
"Well, if it isn't Team Failure." Naningkit ang mga mata namin dahil sa lalaking nagsalita sa harap namin. He has a warhound symbol on his arm. He must be one of Ares' son. "I'm Eren—"
"Hindi namin tinatanong." Archer cut him off at tsaka na namin siya nilagpasan. Walang imik kaming pumasok sa throne room at ramdam ko ang tingin sa amin ng mga nandito. Demigods from different gods looked at us thoroughly. Humiga nalang ako ng malalim nung nasa harap na kami nina Zeus.
Hades immediately clapped his hands while looking at us.
"Xy Allison Wen. What a show." Nakangiting niyang sabi, referring to what Kuya Xy just did. Ngumiti lang din si Zeus habang nakatingin siya sa amin.
Turns out, they were waiting for this day. For Kuya Xy to use whatever blessing they gave him. Walang sinabi si Kuya Xy at nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa kanila. Ares also talked to the team, telling that Ares himself will train the team. "What about Zia and Xy?" Tanong ni Wilder habang nakatingin siya sa amin.
"Oh, little team destroyer doesn't really need more training, right?" That Eren guy asked at sabay na tumingin sa kanya ang team dahilan para tumahimik siya kaagad.
"Zia and Xy will stay here to be the temporary commanders of the demigods since Seth Morgan is still asleep." Zeus answered at sabay na kumunot ang noo namin ni Kuya Xy.
"But we're not even demigods." Sabi ko sa kanila. Because why would they make us the standing commanders of the demigods when Kuya Xy is a demon and I'm a living poison. That doesn't make any sense.
"You two are more capable in that position than anyone else. It'll only be for two weeks anyway. You'll stay here while your team trains. After two weeks, you'll go straight back to Olympus." Pagpapaliwanag ni Apollo kaya huminga nalang ako ng malalim.
"Also, you should stay here to minimize the danger of the spell in you, child." Athena said, referring to the spell Trin gave me.
"Actually, I like this spell. So, boys can't get close to her." Natatawang sabi ni Hades at napasapo nalang si Zeus sa mukha niya. Tumingin nalang kami sa team na nakatingin narin sa amin. Napanguso lang si Audin at sinulyapan si Ares. "He's so scary. We might die during training." Bulong sa akin ni Audin at nginitian ko nalang siya at tskaa ako tumingin sa team.
"Good luck." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanila. They just smiled at me and Wilder came closer to ruffle the space above my head because he really can't touch me, so instead, he ruffled the air.
"Just tell me if someone's hitting on you. Uupakan ko." Aniya kaya natawa nalang ako at tsaka na kumaway sa kanila. Lucas just looked at me and sighed. "See you in two weeks." Paalam ko sa kanya at namulsa lang siya habang nakatingin siya sa akin.
"See you in two weeks." He replied at tsaka na sila umalis. Binalik naman namin ni Kuya Xy ang tingin namin kina Grandpa Hades. Duty calls.
✥✥
I never really thought that Tito Seth's job is this tiring. Waking the demigods up at four in the morning, running along with them, giving them drills, a small portion of food was given to them and I can't have the heart to eat big because I feel pity for them so I ate like how they ate. We let them spar each other.
We also let them spar us, which was a bad idea because I have no control over myself and my strength for the first week and I broke some of their bones. We were yelling at them even though I don't like yelling and thought that I'm not in the position to yell at them, but Hades wanted us to be strict.
I'm not even a soldier.
How did Tito Seth even have time to make baby Morgan? He's this busy.
But my brother handled it very well. Of course, he grew up with warriors. One day, our wing symbol glowed but Kuya Xy and I didn't know what it meant. There might be a new member or something could've happened to the team. I just wish their training is going well.
The second week at Olympus was better. We got used to everything. Pain was already foreign to my body but while I was training along with the demigods, the feeling of pain sort of came back when I was hit with a knife on my arm during one of our camp games.
But everything was worth it.
We led them, we trained them but at the same time, we were also learning the same way as them. And today was our final day here in Olympus. I wonder how the team was doing.
"Hey." Tiningnan ko lang si Kuya Xy na lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. It didn't hurt anymore. The spell was gone while I was here. I can finally see Blu. Wait—bakit ba 'yun agad ang naisip ko?
"You're thinking of Van Saint, aren't you?" Tanong ni Kuya Xy at agad akong tumingin sa kanya at tsaka umubo. "Nope. Not thinking about him. Not thinking. About him. Not thinking at all." Sagot ko at umalis na sa harap niya pero nakita ko pang nameywang si Kuya Xy.
"I'm warning you. Bawal!" Paalala niya at mahina nalang akong natawa at tsaka na inayos ang mga gamit ko. Kuya Xy and I shared a cabin kaya pumasok narin siya at nakita kong malinis na ang kama niya at nakahanda na ang mga gamit niya.
Matapos kong mag-ayos ay lumabas na kami sa cabin at saktong nandun narin si Grandpa Storm na naghihintay sa amin.
Walang-imik kaming sumunod sa kanya at nakita kong gumawa siya ng portal pabalik sa UHT. "Can't we see Team Alpha first?" Tanong ni Kuya Xy sa kanya.
"Your team needs you." Kumunot agad ang noo namin dahil sa sinabi niya at pumasok na kami sa portal at tsaka na kami nakarating sa UHT. "Ares have been training them for weeks and today is their final day. Ares wanted to squeeze something out of them for their final day of training." Pagpapaliwanag ni Grandpa Storm sa amin habang naglalakad kami papunta sa field.
"Wait, are you saying you want us to help the team defeat Ares?" Tanong ni Kuya Xy sa kanya.
"He's the god of war!" Kuya Xy pointed out at tumingin lang si Grandpa Storm sa kanya.
"Not defeat him. Just a little scratch would do." Aniya at tsaka na kami napahinto nung nasa harap na kami ng field. As usual, a transparent shield was there to protect the audience. And I saw them. The team.
Two weeks of being away from them really did make a huge change to their appearance and abilities. They've improved, so much. One particular member caught my attention. How his silver hair was swept back, damp because of sweat and how he licked his lips out of annoyance.
"They're here!" Grandpa Storm announced and they looked at us.
And he looked at me. His eyes turned blue and his once annoyed face brightened with a smile. Blu..
"You're not thirty yet, Zia. I forbid it." Singit ni Kuya Xy at sinamaan na ng tingin si Blu. Mahina nalang akong natawa at tumingin na kami ni Kuya Xy sa team pero sabay kaming napahinto nung parang sumubra ang bilang namin sa team. Audin, Atlas, Archer, Kuya Ash, Wilder, Lucas, Blu and.. another member?
There was a wing symbol on the new member's arm.
Wait.. Shinshi?
❅ Snow ❅