'The Symbol'
"Oh, nasan si Seth?" Tanong ni Jayden habang nagpupunas siya sa basa niyang kamay. "Pinuntahan si Addie." Sagot ni Milo habang tinitingnan niya ang mga files na naglalaman ng videos na papanoorin ng team.
"Papuntahin mo nga 'yung Tito mo rito baka umisa na naman 'yun." Utos ni Walter kay Wilder. Wilder just shrugged his shoulders at umalis na para puntahan si Seth. Lucas and the others were still wondering why they weren't doing anything.
Zia could be in danger right now but everyone is so relaxed. Hindi parin nakakalabas si Blu mula sa kwarto na pinasukan niya para kausapin sina Jun at nagtataka na sina Shinshi.
"Baka kung ano nang ginawa ng pulang 'yun kay Zia." Alalang sabi ni Audin at sinapo ang mukha niya. Lumapit lang si Hoshi sa kanya at umakbay. "Okay nga lang siya. Oh, ito. Pagkain." Nakangiting sabi ni Hoshi habang naglalahad ng pagkain kay Audin.
"Kakain lang po ba tayo? Baka nga si Zia walang kinakain 'yun." Nakangiwing sabi ni Audin kaya tumingin na ang team sa kanya.
"Oo nga. Baka magutom 'yun. Nasan na ba sina Jun?" Tanong ulit ni Jayden at nameywang na dahil kakagising palang nila at nawawala na isa-isa ang mga myembro ng team.
"Andun, kinakausap 'yung son in law nila." Pabirong sabi ni Baxter at sakto namang kakabalik lang ni Seth at narinig niya ang sinabi nito.
"Hoy, anong son in law? Dadaan pa sa akin 'yun!" Aniya at agad namang tiningnan ni Audin sina Ash at Lucas at tinaas-baba ang kilay niya at nakangiti pang nakakaloko. "Kaya pala nag-give way kayo dahil takot kayo sa kanya ah?" Panunukso niya sa dalawa at buti nalang ay hindi ito narinig ni Seth dahil nag-aalburuto pa ito sa sinabi ni Baxter.
Lucas just rolled his eyes and Ash didn't mind Audin's words.
Maya-maya ay dumating na sina Jun at Xin habang nakasunod naman sa kanila si Blu na tahimik lang.
"Hoy, ano 'tong sinasabi nilang sinetset-up niyo na si Zia dito sa Van Saint na 'to? Hindi pwede. Ang bata pa ni Zia." Mariing sabi ni Seth at tumango-tango naman sina Ash, Lucas at Xy sa sinabi ni Seth pero mahina lang natawa si Xin at tinapik ang balikat ni Seth.
"Chill, we just talked to him about something." Sagot ni Xin at nagsimula na silang manood ng mga footage na binigay ni Miu sa kanila. "Teka, anong klaseng footage po ba ang panonoorin natin?" Tanong ni Wilder na nakaupo sa tabi ni Shinshi.
"You and your progress. Miu attached secret cameras to observe every single one of you. That way, malalaman namin kung alin ang kailangang iimprove sa inyo." Pagpapaliwanag ni Storm habang kinakabit na ang adaptor sa isang tab. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Wilder.
"Secret cameras?" Tanong niya at ramdam ni Shinshi ang kaba ni Wilder kaya agad niya itong tiningnan. "Bakit? May kalokohan ka na naman sigurong ginawa ano?" Tanong ni Shinshi sa kanya at agad namang tumingin si Wilder kay Shinshi.
"Anong kalokohan? W-Wala ah!" Depensa nito at napabuga nalang ng hangin ang team dahil sa narinig nila.
"A-At kung may kalokohan man akong ginawa, Dad would be proud of me." Pagmamayabang ni Wilder kahit nauutal na siya. Mahina lang natawa si Walter pero tinapunan lang siya ni Matthew ng bottlecap at agad na itong sumeryoso. "Skip niyo nalang 'yung kay Wilder." Mariing sabi ni Walter.
Umangat naman ang gilid ng labi ni Wilder at tsaka tumingin kay Shinshi na inirapan lang siya.
"Bakit? Ano bang meron?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Hoshi at tiningnan si Wilder.
"Wala po, Tito." Nakangising sabi ni Wilder at tsaka na sila nagsimulang manood ng mga footage. From the first training, to the last training. Most of them focused on Zia's footages. Storm and Xin analyzed Zia's stats. Her strengths and weakness.
They also analyzed the new team's stats and after that, Seth and the team knew what to do with them.
"At 'san naman nakatira 'tong Reed na 'to?" Seth asked while rubbing his palms together. Miu immediately showed them the island that had the cave opening kung saan pumasok sina Zia para puntahan si Audin.
"It's a remote island near the west coast." Pagpapaliwanag ni Miu pero ngumiwi lang si Hoshi.
"A remote island? Then why isn't it shaped like a remote?" Seryosong tanong ni Hoshi. Team Alpha wasn't fazed by his question but Lucas and the others looked at Hoshi with confusion. "Or maybe, it's an island full of remotes. Ang galing~" Bulong ni Hoshi at dahan-dahan namang umusog palayo si Audin sa kanya dahil naweweirduhan na siya rito.
"Kid, while you were there, did Reed said anything about his plans?" Mahinahong tanong ni Joshua sa kanya at bahagya namang nag-isip si Audin at maya-maya ay lumingo-lingo siya. "Wala po siyang ibang sinabi. Ang gusto niya lang, makasama si Zia. Wala nga siyang pakialam kahit pumunta pa kayo dun." Sagot ni Audin.
"Ang tapang ah." Natatawang sabi ni Dino. Baxter and Duke already had the similar look on their faces at sabay pa silang ngumiti.
"Iba talaga kapag pinagsama ang isang Jun at isang Xin." Natatawang sabi ni Baxter at sinundan naman siya ni Duke sa pagtawa at tiningnan pa si Blu. "Hingi ka nalang ng advice kay Jun kapag masyado na namang mahaba ang pila." Sabi ni Duke kay Blu na ngumiti lang sa sinabi ni Duke.
Xy just raised his brows.
"Ba't parang ang confident mo na?" Tanong ni Xy kay Blu.
"Nagkamoment na kasi sila dun sa ship nung wala kayo." Singit ni Wilder kaya agad na napaawang ang bibig nina Xy at Seth at agad na tiningnan si Blu. "Limang pulgada." Sabay na sabi nina Seth at Xy kay Blu.
Xin just shushed them and tapped Blu's back to comfort him because Xin knew how tensed he was. Blu was just like Jun so Xin had an idea how to handle him.
"So, anong plano?" Tanong ni Matthew habang inaayos ang salamin niya.
"We can't attack. But they can." Sabi ni Jayden at tinuro sina Xy. Nangalumbaba naman si Seth at tiningnan ng maigi ang team. They've watched the footage and have seen what the team can do kaya nag-iisip si Seth ng epektibong plano.
"First, we need a group to handle the copycats and another group to handle Reed and someone to escort Zia out." Pagpapaliwanag ni Seth habang nakatingin parin siya bagong team. The Midnight Angels stood in lane as if they were little children lining up for school lunch.
"Sa offense, mas mabuti ilagay sina Blu, Atlas, Archer at Shinshi. They're fast." Vernon commented at tumango naman ang team. "To handle Reed, Xy, Ash, Wilder and Lucas can do it." Xin said as she looked at Xy who just nodded at her.
"Audin, you escort Zia out." Storm said at tumango lang si Audin.
"Wait, I'm a little curious about him." Sabi ni Jayden at tinuro si Lucas kaya napatingin naman ang team kay Lucas. "Bakit?" Tanong ni Seth.
"He's also partly a vampire pero hindi ko nakita na ginamit niya ito. You hiding something?" Tanong ni Jayden at siniko lang siya ni Joshua but Jayden didn't budge.
"Hindi na kailangan. His spells are already strong enough." Matthew said. Tumingin lang ng maigi si Jayden kay Lucas at tumango nalang sa sinabi ni Matthew kaya nakahinga na ng maluwag si Lucas.
Nothing really gets past Jayden, even Lucas' hidden past.
"May tanong ako." Ash said. "How can we handle Reed when Zia can't even get away from him?" Tanong niya kaya sandaling nagkatinginan ang team at tsaka sila tumingin kay Hoshi na kumakain lang dun sa gilid.
"Bhaket?" Tanong niya nung mapansin niyang nakatingin ang lahat sa kanya.
"Reed is a product of Xavier's vengeance. Any clue?" Tanong ni Seth sa kanya kaya tumayo na si Hoshi pero nilunok niya muna ang kinakain niya at tsaka tiningnan ng mabuti ang imahe ni Reed. Sinuri niya ito ng maigi habang naghihintay lang ang team sa sasabihin ni Hoshi. He then tilted his head to the side and wiped his hands that were covered with frostings on Wolfie's jacket.
In return, Wolfie smacked him but he just smiled.
"He's a dragonborn, right?" Seryosong tanong ni Hoshi kaya sandaling naguluhan sina Audin dahil iba na naman ang tunog ng boses nito. Tumango lang ang lahat bilang sagot.
"Dragon fire. Fight him with dragon fire. He'll have trouble controlling his dragon form. Bawal kasi siyang maging dragon." Sabi ni Hoshi dahilan para kumunot ang noo ng lahat. Tinuro lang ni Hoshi ang braso ni Reed. The one that was covered in a crystal-like texture.
"This is a crystal known to stop any transformation from happening. Clearly, Dad—I mean, ex-Dad, made him too quick that he forgot to take off the crystal. At dahil dito, hindi makakapagbago ng anyo si Reed because if he does, he'll lose his arm. And if he loses that arm, he'll no longer be the same." Paliwanag ni Hoshi kaya napanganga na sina Audin.
"Just a minute ago, he's the stupidest person I know and now he's the smartest one in the room. What the hell?" Isip ni Audin habang nakatingin siya kay Hoshi.
"But even without his dragon form, he's still strong." Giit ni Ash at tumango lang si Hoshi tsaka tiningnan muli ang larawan ni Reed. "He is. He's strong because he's a product of chaos. Poor kid." Hoshi said as he stared at Reed's image with pity.
"Ba't mo po ba kinakaawaan 'yung kalaban?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Xy sa kanya at tumingin lang si Xin sa anak niya. "Baby, he's just a victim." Paliwanag ni Xin pero napaawang lang ang bibig ni Xy.
"But, Mom! He's the bad guy! Siya ang dahilan ng lahat ng to." Giit ni Xy pero ngumiti lang si Xin at tsaka ginulo ang buhok ni Xy.
"You'll understand it soon." 'Yun lang ang sinabi ni Xin bago nila binalik ang tingin nila kay Reed.
✥✥
"Teka, paano ba kayo nakakatulog habang nasa bahay ng kalaban si Zia?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Audin nung malaman niyang dito sila papatulugin ng Team Alpha sa Alpha village at ipapabukas na nila ang pagkuha kay Zia.
"Like a baby." Nakangiting sagot ni Hoshi kaya napasapo na si Audin sa mukha niya.
"Relax, she's fine." Pagpapakalma ni Shinshi kay Audin. For a kid, he's the one who's worrying the most for Zia because he saw how her wings were ripped and even though he knew that Zia wasn't hurt, he was still worried.
They already assigned rooms for the Midnight Angels to sleep. Sa Alpha Mansion na 'yung iba habang nasa kani-kanilang bahay sina Wilder at Xy at nasa bahay ni Wolfie naman si Shinshi.
Lucas was currently reading a book on his bed when someone knocked on his door. Agad naman siyang tumayo at binuksan ito at pagbukas niya palang ay yakap na ni Chloe ang bumati sa kanya. "I'm so glad you're fine." Sabi nito at ngumiti nalang si Lucas at ginulo ang buhok ni Chloe.
They went out of the mansion at tsaka naglakad-lakad sa garden ni Duke at tsaka sila umupo sa bench na nandun.
It was a full moon tonight. The night that Zia feared the most because it was the last night that Team Alpha might live. And now that they're awake, Lucas can't imagine how Zia was feeling.
"You're thinking of her again, huh?" Agad na napatingin si Lucas kay Chloe dahil sa tanong nito. Ngumiti lang si Chloe sa kanya. "It's okay. Alam ko na." Chloe said, referring to Lucas' unsaid feelings for Zia.
"I already had a hint that you liked her." Nakangiting sabi ni Chloe at tiningnan niya si Lucas. Lucas, who had been her best friend ever since they were kids. Lucas, the guy she had feelings for a very long time, fell for another girl.
"Kasi hindi ka naman naninigaw ng babae at iba ang trato mo kay Zia kaya may hint na ako nun." Dagdag ni Chloe at sinapo nalang ni Lucas ang mukha niya.
"P-Pero.. alam mo naman sigurong gusto kita diba?" Tanong ni Chloe kay Lucas kaya dahan-dahan nang tumingin si Lucas sa kanya at pumikit ito bago tumango. Mahina lang natawa si Chloe. "Okay lang naman kung sa ibang babae ka nagkagusto, p-pero.. pero bakit sa pinsan ko pa?" Tanong ni Chloe.
"Bakit kay Zia pa? A-Alam mo naman kung gaano ko kamahal si Zia diba? Okay lang sana kung sa ibang babae kasi pwede akong magalit sa kanila pero paano ako magagalit kay Zia?" Natatawang tanong ni Chloe pero halata sa mukha nito na parang iiyak na siya. Lucas panicked for a while hanggang sa nahanap niya ang panyo sa bulsa niya at binigay ito kay Chloe.
Tumaggi si Chloe at tinawa lang ang nararamdaman niya.
"But who am I to decide who you fall for, right?" Tanong ni Chloe at hinawakan na ni Lucas ang kamay niya.
"Pero okay lang. Parang magpapatayan pa kasi kayo ni Blu bago mo makuha si Zia." Natatawang sabi ni Chloe at mahina naring natawa si Lucas at tsaka ginulo ang buhok ni Chloe. "I already gave up on her, Chloe." Mahinahong sagot ni Lucas pero tumingin lang si Chloe sa kanya.
Mahinang binatukan ni Chloe si Lucas.
"'Wag mo nga akong lokohin. Best friend mo ako, okay? Alam ko lahat ng pasikot-sikot ng utak mo." Sabi ni Chloe at hinawakan nalang ni Lucas ang batok niya. "Totoo naman ah. I gave way." Giit ni Lucas pero pinisil lang ni Chloe ang pisngi niya.
"Lucas Andrei, you're not the Matthew Saige of this generation." Chloe said but Lucas just looked at her.
"Alam mo, naguguluhan ako sa 'yo ah. Akala ko ba gusto mo ako tapos ngayon tinutulak mo ako papunta sa pinsan mo?" Natatawang tanong ni Lucas.
"Gusto ko lang namang dun ka sa taong nagpapasaya sa 'yo." Sagot ni Chloe at saglit na natigilan si Lucas at tsaka tiningnan ng maigi si Chloe na nagpupunas ng luha niyang unti-unti nang tumutuyo.
"Chloe, you make me happy. And that's all I need." Diretsong sabi ni Lucas dahilan para sandaling matigilan si Chloe at tiningnan niya ng maigi ang best friend niyang nakatingin lang sa kanya. Chloe breathed out and shook her head.
"Sinasabi mo lang 'yan kasi alam mong mahirap kunin si Zia. Sus, mga banat mo Lucas Tristram Braeden." Chloe said, finally saying out Lucas' full and real name. Tumingin lang ng maigi si Lucas sa kanya. "Seryoso ako." Diretsong sabi ni Lucas at tumingin na sa buwan.
"May mga emosyon talaga na sa una mo lang nararamdaman. 'Yung akala mong gusto mo siya pero hindi pala. It was just the surge of the moment and my brain immediately concluded that I like her even though I'm just amazed by what she could do." Paninimula ni Lucas habang nakatingin lang si Chloe sa kanya.
"I don't mean to say anything rude but I heard that when Miss Xin got into Team Alpha, their lives revolved around her and they even made a pact for her. The same thing as to Zia. Everything revolves around Zia and I just happened to be close by and got carried away by this never-ending cycle of being charmed by a Wen." Napalunok na si Chloe habang nakikinig siya kay Lucas lalo na sa huling sinabi nito.
"Pero nung nakausap ko siya ng kami lang dalawa, I knew that she wasn't the someone I like. She was just someone I wanted to be friends with." Lucas said and smiled after the thought of him mistaking his feelings for a while.
"She belongs to someone else and I belong to someone else too. If you would allow it, I might even belong to you." Nakangiting sabi ni Lucas at tumingin na siya kay Chloe kaya sapak ang nakuha niya.
Agad na napahawak si Lucas sa pisngi niya at napatakip naman si Chloe sa bibig niya.
"I-I'm sorry. Binibigla mo kasi ako!" Inis na sabi ni Chloe at hinampas pa ang braso ni Lucas and knowing that Chloe's a vampire, napapikit nalang si Lucas at hinaplos ang braso niya.
"Magpinsan nga kayo." Lucas said, referring to their ever-violent nature. Natawa nalang si Chloe at tsaka na tumingin sa buwan. "Mga banat mo talaga." Sabi ni Chloe at pumikit nalang at dinamdam ang lamig ng paligid pero naramdaman niyang hinawakan ni Lucas ang kamay niya.
"I wouldn't exchange the times I spent happily with you for someone I'm just amazed with. Zia is Zia. You are you. And I chose you." Lucas said and ended their night with a kiss on Chloe's hand.
✥✥
"Eat." Utos ni Reed kay Zia habang naglalapag ng pagkain ang mga palace maids sa harap nila. Zia just looked at the food. "Hindi ako gutom." Pasimple niyang sagot at tsaka tumingin sa mga larawan na nasa dining hall.
"You know, they said that Xavier was the evilest creature before he died." Wala sa sariling sabi ni Zia habang nakatingin siya sa larawan ni Xavier. "Now, I'm the evilest." Reed claimed but Zia just looked at him and shook her head.
"You're not evil." Diretsong sabi ni Zia. Reed just flicked his tongue at tiningnan ng maigi si Zia. "At paano mo naman nasabi 'yan?" Nakangising tanong ni Reed, trying to intimidate Zia by his gaze.
"I can see it. If you were evil, you would've killed Audin and my team on the spot because you have the ability to do so. Also, I saw that you developed a soft spot for Audin giving me the hint that you still have feelings." Nakangiting sabi ni Zia sa kanya. Reed was caught by Zia's smile that it took him a minute to process her words.
Reed was about to say something nang bigla nalang dumating ang mga kapatid niya.
They bowed as soon as they saw Reed but Uno, the eldest of them just walked up to him and then smiled at Zia.
"You finally got what you want, bro." Nakangising sabi ni Uno at hinawakan pa ang balikat ni Zia. Reed clenched his jaw and looked at Uno. "Hands off." Mariin niyang utos at ngumiti lang si Uno at tsaka na pumunta sa tabi ng mga kapatid nila.
"Aatake pa ba ang Team Alpha?" Tanong ng isa sa kanila habang pinapagpag ang damit nito. Reed just looked at Zia who was now looking directly at him. "Probably not. They're weak." Sagot ni Reed.
"So, what's next?" Asked one boy at tumingin lang si Reed kay Zia. "We wait for them to come." Sagot ni Reed. Tumango lang ang mga kapatid ni Reed at umalis na sila pero nagpaiwan ang isa sa kanila. Twelve, the youngest of his siblings went to Reed's side.
Nakita ni Zia ang malaking sugat nito sa braso. It must be from Shinshi or Atlas' claws.
"Nine won't heal me." Nakayukong sabi nito at tumingin lang si Reed sa kanya. Reed then huffed and snapped his fingers, healing Twelve's wounds na agad namang nagpasalamat at tsaka na umalis. Umangat lang ang gilid ng labi ni Zia habang nakatingin siya kay Reed.
"What are you smiling about?" Sumbat ni Reed kay Zia pero mas lalo lang itong ngumiti.
"Nothing. Except for the fact that I'm looking at someone who still thinks he's the Lord of Darkness when actually, he's just a sweet little bunny." Panunukso ni Zia kay Reed dahilan para kunot-noo siyang tiningnan ni Reed.
"You're being way too comfortable around me, Zia. Be careful." Reed warned her and Zia just shrugged her shoulders.
"Wala ba kayong ice cream?" Tanong ni Zia habang nakatingin siya sa pagkain na nasa harap niya. "Akala ko ba hindi ka gutom?" Tanong ni Reed sa kanya and Zia just raised her eyebrows.
"Reed, ice cream is just something you eat when you're bored or something." Sabi ni Zia at tumingin-tingin sa paligid. Reed pondered on what Zia meant because he never encountered an ice cream before because it was never served to him.
Napansin naman ni Zia na malalim ang iniisip ni Reed.
"Don't tell me hindi ka pa nakakakain ng ice cream?" Takang tanong ni Zia sa kanya and Reed just stared at her, unaware of what she meant. Dun na natawa si Zia at mahina pa siyang pumapalpak.
"No wonder why you're full of hate and anger. You haven't tasted joy." Zia said with a smile on her face and Reed avoided her gaze.
"I don't need joy. All I want is victory." Sabi ni Reed. "Then how are you going to enjoy your victory when you don't even know what joy is?" Zia retorted kaya napatingin na si Reed sa kanya.
"I don't need to enjoy my victory." Reed said at napangiwi nalang si Zia.
"Eh anong point kung mananalo ka tapos hindi ka naman masaya?" Tanong ni Zia dahilan para mapaisip na si Reed. Zia just looked at Reed with pity. She saw how little he knew of the world. She saw how little emotion he has.
She saw someone who needed help.
"Ano ba talagang gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo?" Tanong ni Zia sa kanya.
"Because, Reed, I'm not trying to threaten you, but my Mom can be really scary so you better make up your mind right away before she gets here." Dagdag ni Zia kaya tumingin na si Reed sa kanya.
"You're planning to use me against my own family, aren't you?" Tanong ni Zia sa kanya kaya hindi na natuloy ni Reed ang sasabihin niya sana. Napabuga lang ng hangin si Zia at tsaka siya humarap kay Reed.
"Listen, you're just wasting your time. I already befriended my demon." Reed looked directly at Zia's eyes while she was saying it and it proved that she was telling that truth. Someone who hasn't befriended their demons would have a chaotic mindset but Zia, she was calm.
The calmest there is.
"You have a chance to turn this thing around. It's your decision." Dagdag ni Zia at tsaka na kumuha ng grapes dun sa mesa at kakainin na sana niya ito pero agad na itinaas ni Reed ang kamay niya para pigilan si Zia. "Eat that and you'll never get out of he—"
"Alam ko." Agad na natigilan si Reed dahil sa sinabi ni Zia.
"I'm just testing you. It seems like you do have a heart after all." Ibinaba na ni Zia ang grapes at ngumiti kay Reed.
✥✥
"Ano bang nakita mo sa bampirang 'yun?" Inis na tanong ni Reed kay Zia and this was his seventh question about Blu. Umirap na si Zia at tumingin kay Reed. It was already midnight and both of them were now sitting on the couch, facing the window.
"Mga qualities na wala sa 'yo." Tinatamad na sagot ni Zia at pinaningkitan lang siya ni Reed.
Reed suddenly rolled his sleeves and checked at his biceps. He also looked at his abdominal muscles kaya tumingin na si Zia sa kanya. "Not that kind of qualities you ice cream deprived rabbit!" Suway ni Zia sa kanya at kumunot naman ang noo ni Reed.
"Then, what qualities were you talking about?" Tanong ni Reed.
"His smile and his eyes." Agad na sagot ni Zia at napangiti na nung maalala niya si Blu. Reed just observed how she smiled with the thought of someone else. Napabuga nalang siya ng hangin at agad na napatingin sa pinto nung bigla nalang pumasok ang mga kapatid niya.
Uno took a glass of wine from the table at tsaka siya naglakad palapit kina Reed.
"I heard you healed Twelve." Sabi nito at tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ni Reed at tsaka ito naglakad papunta sa truno niya, leaving Zia alone on the couch.
"I can do whatever I want." Mariing sabi ni Reed kay Uno. Tumingin naman ang mga kapatid niya kay Twelve na nakayuko lang at tinatago ang braso niyang wala nang sugat. Umangat lang ang gilid ng labi ni Uno at tumingin siya kay Reed.
"Of course, you can do whatever you want." Uno teased at tsaka umupo sa upuang nakaharap sa truno.
"But I also heard that you changed your mind?" Tanong ni Uno sa kanya. Both Zia and Reed's brows raise at the same time at tsaka sila tumingin kay Uno. Saglit na tumingin si Reed kay Zia na nakatingin lang kay Uno. "Nothing changed. We're still using her." Sagot ni Reed at tinuro niya si Zia.
Zia just breathed out and sumandal sa sofa.
"Are you sure about that, brother? Because it looked like you're changing your mind." Uno boldly said.
"U-Uno, stop it. He'll kill you." Bulong ng isa sa mga kapatid nila pero napabuga lang ng hangin si Uno.
"No, he can't. He can't even shift into a dragon, right?" Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Zia dahil sa sinabi ni Uno. "Ang sabi mo, only those who shifted into azure dragons have effective azure dragon's blood. Your blood was effective so you have shifted into a dragon, right?" Tanong ni Zia sa kanya at mahina lang natawa si Uno.
"His blood is effective, yes. Because he's the original dragonborn. But he never shifted before." Nakangiting sabi ni Uno at tsaka tinuro ang braso ni Reed, the one covered in a crystal-like texture. "Because of that." Dagdag ni Uno at tsaka tumingin sa mga kapatid niya.
"Don't fear him. He's all talk." Sabi niya sa mga 'to at kumunot naman ang noo nila.
"U-Uno, nababaliw ka na ba? Bakit mo ginagalit si Reed?" Twelve asked at mahina lang natawa si Uno at bigla nalang lumiwanag ang mata nito. It was a bright orange glow. It only glowed for three seconds at tsaka siya tumingin kay Reed. "Why?" He trailed off.
"Because he'll no longer be one of us." Uno said.
Everyone was confused. Until they saw the light forming on Reed's arm.
The wing symbol.
Reed was the last member of Midnight Angels.
❅ Snow ❅