The Zero Curse

Chapter 6

The moment they were out of our sight, the vines tying my hands became loose. I tried casting an ice eagle next to me, but it melts the instant I tried to. I suppose the heat of the phoenixes is still around. Now, I wonder, if ice and water cannot defeat the phoenixes, what can?

What can put the war to end? Can Red really consume Phoenicia's fire?

I anxiously looked at the sky, remembering how Exiquel's word ringed inside my own mind. Kung susubukan ko bang tawagin siya ngayon gamit ang mga palaisipan ko, maririnig niya ba? Does the connection apply to me, too? Or is it only her that could speak? And how the heck did she create the connection with just a kiss?

"I can hear you, Zero." I jolted in surprise. I looked around as an initial reaction, but realization dawned me soon enough. This is the connection— I can hear her even from afar.

"Please promise me you are safe," I say. Only in my mind, hoping it would reach her again. Ngayon, naiisip ko tuloy kung naririnig niya ba lahat ng mga naiisip ko? Maririnig niya kaya ang bawat pagkakataong nagda-daydream ako? About her?

Damn, Zero. That's not the time to think about that.

"Safe naman ako here. Update kita 'pag broken ako—"

"I am serious." Hindi ko namalayang nasabi ko 'yon nang malakas. I huffed and rolled my eyes. Huminga ako nang malalim habang nag-iintay ng sagot niya.

"Zero. Am I the only one that you care about? Baka nakakalimutan mo mga kasamahan natin, ah. At sabi ko sa'yo, paki-alagaan si Mama."

Again, I cursed. I completely forgot about them and Tita Ellen. Hindi pa nga ako nagsi-sink-in sa'kin na na-kidnap si Exi—

"I wasn't kidnapped. I went with them willingly."

"Why?" I said in my thoughts while I ran towards Tita Ellen, scooping to carry her in my arms. I tried my best to hide my worries for her. The best thing to do now is calm down and trust her. I know she can be independent. She is powerful and she can protect herself. If she wanted me to save her— No. I'm sure she doesn't want to be a damsel in distress. She's not that kind of woman.

But of course, no matter how hard I try to compress my feelings of worry, it'll eventually show.

"Why did you go with them, Exiquel?" I asked again when it took her long to answer.

"Sorry late reply. Ano, kasi. Teka. Natakot ako sa dami ng Phoenix dito." She fake a chuckle. I'm sure because she was trembling a little. "Let's talk again later, Zero. For now, bring Mama close to Kuya and the others. It's safe there. All enemies already flee."

Nagtaas ang kilay ko. Did they immediately stop attacking us the moment Exiquel decided to come with them? "Do you know why they wanted you?"

Then, I couldn't hear her anymore.

"Zero!" bati sa'kin ni Tamonjie agad, the one who has the power to defend and protect us by creating a barrier. She goes by the codename 'Two.' It looked chaotic here. Branches of trees fell, like a storm passed by. There were fallen leaves, all burnt.

Agad hinanap ng mata ko si Ezekiel— who was already in front of me.

"Ma! Why is she here? Where is Exiquel?" sunod-sunod ang tanong niya na halos wala na akong panahon para sagutin ang tanong niya. Napapikit naman ako nang maramdamang may tumalsik na laway niya sa mukha ko. Jeez. Kung hindi ka lang kapatid ng bebe ko.

"She went with Phoenicia—"

"You let her," he assumed!

"I didn't—"

"Why didn't you fight, you stu—"

"Stupid." Ako na ang tumapos para sa kaniya. "Exiquel didn't let me, okay? Tinali ako ng babaeng 'yon—"

"She has a name," mariin niyang sabat.

"Tinali ako ni bebe—"

"Shut up."

"Ok," I coldly said. Ezekiel is gentle, but in times like this, he just blows everything off and he won't calm down. It'll be pointless to explain to him, but then, he'll keep nagging me and blame me.

Pasalamat ka talaga dahil future brother-in-law kita.

"Where is Exiquel?" tanong sa'kin ni Papa. "How was she abducted— if she was? If not, what made her join Phoenicia? Is it an act of betrayal?"

"No." As if naman gagawin ni Exiquel 'yon. "I think she was bribed. The safety of her mother for her alliance to Phoenicia. Tamonjie, can you protect us? Make a barrier. Soundproof?"

"Meron na. Advanced ako mag-isip. You are safe to disclose any information here."

I murmured a 'thanks' before proceeding again to explain. "Exiquel thinks she can be a spy. She built a connection with me, and we can talk with each other in our own thoughts. Through that, our communication with her will be safe. She believes that she, as a spy, might be the key to finally stop the war."

Malakas na napaubo si Papa, tila ba nasamid dahil may alam siya. I looked at him with doubt, questioning him with sharp eyes— kahit ba na ama ko siya. I know he's been hiding somethong since then.

"Ano 'yon, Pa?" nagulat siya sa biglaan kong tanong. "I think you need to tell us something, or is it time for you to reveal your own secrets?"

The shock in his face faded after a while. It was replaced by a calm demeanor. He sighed and startled us just by the sentence.

"Lucifer, the angel, somehow had foreseen this through a prophecy or a vision. He once told me that someone would have to risk his or her life for the war." Nanlamig agad ako. Risk her life? Exiquel?

"We couldn't tell you that because the prophecy will eventually happen and it is sacred. Hindi namin basta pwedeng ipagkalat 'yon. We didn't know who it was— although I… and Red had clues."

"Pa?!" hindi ko napigilang sumbat. "Alam mo naman pala. May clue ka na pala, bakit hindi mo pinigilan? At pa'no ka naman nagkar'on ng clue?" Naguguluhan kong tanong. Is he suggesting that Exiquel would have to risk her life? As in… die?

"Like I said, my child, the prophecy will eventually happen. Akala ko lang talaga ay si Zeke." Then, he looked to Ezekiel who was now in deep confusion.

"The last page of the witch's— Ellen's book or grimoire— is not literally a page. Rather, it is a person. Either of Ellen's children. Because her children are peculiars and witches, they don't need a book to perform a spell." A sigh came out in between. "Seems like Phoenicia had already figured it out, so now she wants Exiquel to her side."

"Exiquel will either be the key for Red to stop the war, or the one to ignite the fire more. But you do trust her, right, Zero?"

I nodded without hesitations. Bigla siyang lumapit sa'kin— bahagya akong niyakap at tinapik ang likod ko. "Then be ready, Zero, for you must learn to trust yourself, too."

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Argh. Here I am again, confusing you. Kahit ako, confused den eh HAHAHA

Thank you for reading!