Chapter 13: Twist of Fate

The Mortal Realm 

Freewoods City, Zana's House

"Escape!"

My full power came back to me as I felt a tug on my soul as I called for him. A white mist surfaced on my chest. It was Escape's soul, it materialized into a wolf form.

Before the harpies could get us, my huge wolf came into their view. Es howled and I could feel his anger towards our enemies. Napahinto ang mga harpy sa pag atake dahil sa biglang paglitaw ng malaking lobo.

I took that opportunity to look at Es while he stood on guard ahead of me. He is a huge white wolf that reached nine feet tall. His eyes were blazing red like my hair. 

I looked at the bruised demigod on my lap. "I can protect you now."

Tumayo ako at ginawan ng harang ang katawan ni Jared. Itinabi ko lahat ng aking emosyon habang papalapit sa aking familiar. Nang tapunan ko ng tingin ang mga kalaban ay mabilis silang nagpadala ng hangin sa aking direksyon.

Hindi iyon tumama dahil isang malaking bloke ng yelo ang sumangga sa kanilang atake. They hissed as they flew upwards. Before I could even think of their next move, they all screamed! Their high pitched voices made us fall to the ground.

I felt my ear heat up until blood was coming out of it. Es growled and it snapped me back to my senses.

"The winter snow that is pure as white but cold in touch. I hold to its power to bring serene and purity to the souls who bring chaos and fright!" I took a deep breath. "As one of the bearers of the reignian blood... I breathe the power of winter!"

I felt the bitter frost in my body. It trickled from my heart through my fingertips. After I chanted my magic, Es and I should merge to become one, but I refused the pull. I want to stand on my own. I want to be the Lady who does not always rely on her familiar.

I chewed the inside of my cheek as the full force of ice swirled on my palm and my frozen white sword came into view. A light blue gem placed on its handle and it gleamed with might. It was made of a fragile looking crystal but it’s stronger than any steel. 

"Do not inhale the snowfall!" I shouted and hopped into Es' back. 

My wolf howled before he leapt high. He had no wings but I created ice stairs for him to jump onto. I readied myself from the attack of the harpies as we got closer. The gush of wind on my face was harsh but I endured it.

Umaatake ang mga harpies ngunit nasasangga ko na ito. Whenever they would try to breathe a large amount of air, I would s***h my sword in the air. The force would solidify into an ice blade to prevent them from shrieking. 

Napangiti ako nang makitang gumawa si Farran ng harang para sa kanilang lahat. Kanina pa siya nakikipaglaban at hindi ko na kailangang kwestyunin ang pagtitipid niya sa kanyang mana.

"Move faster, Es."

I heed towards the harpies who struggled in their shrinking airspace. Itinaas ko ang aking espada habang pinapalabas ang aking kapangyarihan.

My grip on my sword tightened as its cold blade almost touched my left eye. Snow particles in white and blue forms danced in my eyes as it glided towards the harpies.

"Rise the gates of Underworld as the graupel of winter chastises these corrupted souls for their upbringing," I declared as my heart pumped with a familiar rush.

"Izorum ise!"

The blood in my veins flows like magma. I am a bearer of ice magic yet my insides were like an active volcano that might erupt anytime. But I constrained my will not to succumb to the aftermath of that spell. 

"Get a grip, Zana." 

I saw that the harpies couldn't react when the particles became snow blizzards and enveloped the air around them. As I watched their bewildered faces and shrieks, I felt nothing but tiredness.

In a swift minute they stopped moving. Their white complexion and black feathers turned crystal blue. I dismissed my sword. The frozen harpies then burst like glass and shattered into tiny pieces and gradually fell to the ground.

Napahawak ako sa balahibo ni Escape ngunit bago pa ako makababa sa kanya ay nawalan ako ng kontrol sa aking katawan.

×××

Pakiramdam ko ay nanunuyo ang aking lalamunan. "Hmm..."

"She's awake."

"Tingin mo?"

Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at naabutang nagtatalo si Patch at Farran sa gilid ng higaan. Pinilit kong maupo habang nanghihina ang aking katawan.

"Okay ka pa?" tanong ni Patch.

"I think she needs water," puna ni Farran bago ako tinaasan ng kilay.

"I will go get it," sagot ng isang boses. 

Napalingon ako kay Magnus na malapit sa bintana. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin bago lumabas ng kwarto. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay bumalik siya at ipinainom sa akin ang tubig. Nang mapawi ang uhaw ay nagtanong ako sa nangyari.

"Hindi mo maalala?" takang tanong ni Patch.

"She won't ask if she knew." 

"Quarrel outside and not here, would you?" I said annoyed.

"Ah, maghapon kang tulog matapos mong kalabanin yung mga ibon." Marahan siyang lumingon kay Farran. "Ikaw na nga ang magkuwento!"

"Stupid werewolf," bulong ni Farran.

Nang marinig ko ang mga nangyari ay may naalala ako. "Nasaan si Jared?"

"Nasa guest room. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa siya gumigising,” sagot ni Patch.

Dahil sa sinabi niya ay pinilit kong makabangon ngunit nahirapan pa rin ako.

"You used all of your mana for that strike," her voice was strange. "I remembered that spell. Tell me Zana, did you read the black book too?" 

My expression hardened. "I guess you did," I shot back instead.

Her eyes narrowed before she moved away, avoiding eye contact. I got her, there's no point of denying it. I heaved a sigh and remembered what the harpy said earlier.

"Magnus and Patch… mag uusap kami, please give us a moment."

Hindi nagtanong ang dalawa at lumabas na lang ng kwarto. Umupo sa aking kama si Farran.

"Let's talk about the black book later. There is something more important I need to discuss with you."

She pursed her lips. "Just don't tell anyone I read that book."

"Fine. But will you tell me why those harpies wanted to harm you?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "I thought… they wanted to forestall my mission with Magnus."

"You mean the order from Hades? Didn't you hear what those harpies said?"

"Tahw?"

I heaved a sigh. "Torture those reignian blooded who are written in the book of prophecy."

"Prophecy?"

Humalukipkip si Farran at tila inaalam ang ibig sabihin ng mga harpies. Ngunit hindi nagtagal ay sinalubong niya ang aking mga mata ng pagkabigo.

"You don't have to answer that if you're uncertain of what they meant," paliwanag ko at umiwas ng tingin. "After all, prophecies are rare these days."

Natahimik kami habang iniisip ko kung sasabihin ko sa kanya ang sinabi ni Dalikamata. I am not confident that she will believe me but I do hope so.

Tumikhim si Farran. "Enough with that. It's not even useful for my mission."

My jaw clenched. "I see... you're still the irresponsible baby doll of the Nivlock family."

Mabilis tumayo si Farran na ikinatingala ko. Namumula ang kanyang magkabilang pisngi habang nakakuyom ang mga kamay.

"What impudence are you trying to imply, Zana?" her voice was full of restraint but her temper almost sent warning signal on my skin.

"I mentioned an unforeseen prophecy, yet you lightly disregarded it as if it was nothing?"

"What do you want me to do? The Oracle of Delphi and even the other Temples of Seers have been quiet for years. It doesn't even concern me why—"

"What an utter displeasure of what I expect from a noble blood."

Hinablot niya ang kwelyo ng aking damit upang mapalapit sa kanya. Wala akong maramdamang inis o galit sa kanyang ginawa. Tanging pagkadismaya lang.

"If you're trying to pick up a fight, be frank and stop using a prophecy that hasn't been heard off." Pabalya niyang binitawan ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

"My apologies for expecting honor from a spoiled lady that is groomed to... breed."

A blow of wind vibrated in the room. I pushed my luck to its limits, I have to pay its price. Dumilim ang mga mata ni Farran habang unti unting ibinababa ang kanyang mukha hanggang sa isang dangkal na lang ang pagitan namin.

"We are not in a playdam garden. Stop this game of yours or I might hurt you a little," her sarcasm and its venom.

"Farran, our reignian blood vowed to serve our aid to those who are in need. But what if there's a threat to us?"

Tumigil ang pagpapakawala niya ng kapangyarihan. "You mean... the prophecy you're trying to say... involved us?"

Tumango ako. "A goddess foreseen it and warned me. But it's still vague for she is not an oracle to grasp the whole thing."

Hindi nakapagsalita si Farran at tila sinusuri ang aking mga sinabi. Hindi nagtagal ay dumaan ang takot sa kanyang mga mata. The revelation is quite scary after all. 

"I don't know what to say. There's also a mission I have to do first—"

I reached for her hands. An action I never see myself to do, especially to her. "I have no idea what she meant but we can't prepare for it if we run."

"What do you suggest then?"

Pinilit ko ang ngumiti. "Train hard to be strong, I guess?"

"You're hopeless."

"And you're a scaredy cat," sagot ko na ikinatawa niya. "It's fine to worry about it as we just put ourselves in a hard spot. But if I discover something, I'll let you know and I would be grateful if you do that too."

"Do you think we need to let the other kingdoms—?"

My brow furrowed. "And what? To be a laughing stock as I lack evidence? There's no way I would bring the goddess with me to our realm and let our people pry on her. She isolated herself and throwing her in a hot seat wouldn't do any good."

"But—"

"You have said it yourself, Farran. There's no calls from the other oracles. They won't believe a prophecy from a foreign one."

"Am I allowed to tell this to others?"

"Those who you think are reliable and trustworthy, yes," I suggested with a chary smile.

Nagulat ako ng biglang ngumiti si Farran at hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay ko. Her aura was lifted and she seemed to be too happy with what I said.

Weird.

Matapos ang pag uusap namin ni Farran ay umalis din sila ni Magnus. Ngunit habang lumalalim ang gabi ay nadaragdagan ang aking kaba dahil hindi pa gumigising  si Jared.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi ka werewolf?" ulit na tanong ni Patch.

"I might freeze your tongue," I warned. 

"Damot. Hindi lang talaga ako makapaniwala na may iba pang mga kakaibang nilalang kagaya mo."

Patch then reached for Es that was sleeping under my seat. My familiar can shrink from his huge original form of a nine foot wolf to a mini six inch wolf.

"P’wede ko bang makita si Aphrodite?" biglang tanong niya at naupo sa gilid ng kama kung saan nakahiga si Jared.

"You want to face the wrath of her husband, Hephaestus and her love affair, Ares?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata.

"Hindi, gusto ko lang sana humingi ng pabor."

I laughed without humor. "You are asking for a favor. You have no idea what they would ask you in return."

"'Di ba 'yon ang trabaho nila? Ang protektahan at bigyan ng pabor ang mga nandito sa mundong ibabaw?"

"There is a big difference between a genie and a god. They do not grant wishes. They are the guardians of every realm."

He pursed his lips. "Wala pala silang maitutulong."

"What do you mean?"

"Wala."

Uminit ang aking ulo sa kanyang sinabi ngunit hindi ko na pinansin. Tinitigan ko si Jared, kailan kaya siya magigising? 

"Should I ask for help?" I mumbled. "Apollo, If you could hear this, please help me."

Hindi ako umaasa na tutugon si Apollo ngunit hindi pa nakakalipas ang ilang minuto ay uminit ang loob ng silid. Nakita ko ang pagkabigla ni Patch habang nakatingin sa aking likuran.

"Do you need my help?"

I gasped and hastily stood up and curtised in front of him. Apollo's radiating heat made me calm a bit.

"Apollo! Will you please heal this guy?" hindi na ako nag aksaya ng panahon.

I saw the shock in his blue eyes when he turned his eyes on Jared but he immediately whisked it away.

"The missing puzzle," he murmured that I almost couldn't hear.

Walang naging tanong si Apollo nang lumakad siya sa gilid ng kama. Inilapat niya ang kanyang kamay sa dibdib ni Jared at umilaw ito. The golden light from Apollo's hands illuminated the demigod's body. It lasted for a minute before he turned to me. 

"You know there's something in exchange for my help, right?" Apollo winked at me.

The gods and goddesses of Olympus and of the other myths are all tricky. The Almighty Father is the only God who asks nothing in return after seeking His help.

"Fine," I rolled my eyes. 

Apollo chuckled but his eyes went sharp when he gazed on Patch. His lips twitched before he grabbed my hand and left the guest room.

"Zana," Apollo's voice was serious and it sent shivers in my bones as we reached the kitchen..

"Y-yes?"

"What are you doing with those guys?"

Napalunok ako dahil hindi ko alam kung ipapaalam kong anak ng aming hari ang kanyang ginamot.

"You don't need to hide it. I saw something the moment I healed him." Apollo put his hand on my head. "The gift that concealed his presence might fell off, you must find it and—"

"f**k!" mabilis na umakyat si Patch dahil sa kanyang narinig.

Hindi ko napansin ang pagsunod niya. Kung nahulog man ang bagay na nagtatago kay Jared, siguro gagawan na iyon ng paraan ni Patch. Napalunok ako ng maliwanagang nagkaroon na si Apollo ng mga hinala.

"Zana, you're my favorite Lady in your realm. But I do not intend to be an unfair god."

Napalunok ako sa sinasabi niya ngunit hindi ko magawang makapagsalita. Apollo is the god of Prophecy, he can foresee the future. I fear the truths he has to reveal. My heart was on the edge as I anticipated for more.

"I will tell you something instead. But it's your choice to do whatever you want with this information about Jared."

"What is it?"

"I know her mother—"

"The queen of Winter Kingdom?!" nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

"She will be but if and if she will marry Jack Frost."

My brows knotted. "They can't get married. It's impossible, since no mortal can live after conceiving a child of a god."

Apollo's lips curved into a smirk. "Despite that, Frosty made it possible."

My eyes grew bigger and I heard drum rolls in my chest. "What do you mean?"

"Lady Zana, not everything is written in a book for us to understand what is there in life. Sometimes there are chances that surpass our knowledge about destiny, fates, and power."

"Does it mean... a mortal woman was able to raise her demigod child? That c-can't be," I mumbled, still unable to process the thought of it. 

"Let's talk about it some other time." 

Napahawak ako sa aking braso. "About the prophecy, will you show it to the oracles? And… if something happens when the time comes... will the gods help us?"

He patted my head. "It's not always us, Zana. We have been protecting every realm without a choice. But this war, the gods didn't bestow this crisis upon your bloodline."

A spasm of fear licked my bones. "What?"

His eyes averted mine. "I'm sorry but I cannot speak more of it."

I stared at Apollo who seemed torn between something. No gods would ever apologize to any being that is below them. I know Apollo to be kind and helpful to his favorite creatures but he will never apologize.

"Have you known of this before we became friends?" I carefully asked but still pushed all the cards I knew.

"Zana," his voice was stern and for a moment he sounded like he was talking to a stranger.

I don't want to offend him but there is this huge doubt in my chest. I don't think highly of myself. He has a long list of favorites. But I hope he won't see our friendship as a cheap one.

"I am the Sun god," his answer was firm. 

It was a simple answer and yet for me, it held so much meaning. His title alone clarified everything between us. I may be a friend to him but it didn't change that he held a masses of priorities. I might be one of his favorites but he will remain a god.

"I understand," I timidly answered. 

Apollo is the Sun god. He is not the king, nor his power can't be on par with Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades. But among the other gods in Olympus, he is the one closest to the Father Almighty as He granted Apollo, the sun and the eyes of prophecy.

"You need to be neutral and I can't blame you for it," I added as my fist trembled. 

Since the Creator of the universes is also a neutral one in order to acquire balance. And Apollo being a wise man, he chose it and made it one of his principles. 

"I'm sorry for doubting and pushing you too hard. I was just eager to know everything for me to accomplish my mission because my parents are in danger."

"I know," he responded in a dry tone.

I gritted my teeth. My blooming understanding for him was shattered in a swift moment. Of course he knew.

"Zana, unveiling it to you means corrupting the balance of the future," he reasoned.

I fell silent while his footsteps echoed. My eyes remained on him as my nails were digging on the palms of my skin. 

"Despite not being the bravest and the wisest lady. You were determined to prove something. You're not aware of it, but there's a fire of a hero in your heart."

The way he reassured me didn't matter at all.

×××××

Notes:

1. Playdam garden - another name for a playground.

2. Oracle of Delphi - refers to the place where the prophecies were given, but an “oracle” can also refer to a prophecy that Apollo gave there. The Delphic Oracle belonged to Apollo, and his priestess, called the Pythia, gave her oracles from inside Apollo's temple. (GOOGLE)

3. Temple/s of Seers - small shrines or sanctum to those beings who are gifted with eyes of the future. Can be found in any place but some temples conceal itself to avoid abuse of their gifts.