•••••Hades' POV•••••

Hindi kami makapagsalita nang marinig namin ang alok ni Benedict. We could not even move a muscle, we were just frozen. Not just that, I also started to feel Blade and Reo-sensei's anger flowing through their veins.

"If you can get me that necklace, sasagutin ko lahat ng mga sagot niyo. I would even tell you one of the Kurodas greatest secrets," Benedict said.

Blade was about to speak when Reo-sensei restrained him from speaking.

"Let's trust in her," he said, clenching his fists. "She knows what she's doing."

Blade did not object to what Sensei said. Though, the hesitation was still there inside him. Maura was clasping her hands, probably uttering a prayer inside her mind.

Hindi ko hinayaang ma-distract ang atensyon ko kaya binalik ko ulit ang mga tingin ko kay Raven at Benedict na nag-uusap.

"So, what do you think, Raven Saldoviana?" There was a defeaning silence in the room. I did not like it for it was so heavy. "Kung ayaw mo─"

"I did not say I do not accept it. Pwede ba? May iniisip pa ako kaya tumahimik ka." Benedict flinched but later on, he frowned. "If I accept your deal, how should I know that you are telling the truth?"

"You can say by using your eyes," Tinuro niya ang mga mata ni Raven. "and I'm a man of my word, Raven Saldoviana. Maaasahan mo ako."

None of us were talking, we just preferred not to. Just then, we heard Raven released a heavy sigh.

"Stop calling me with my full name. It is irksome," she said. "Fine, I accept your offer."

A smirk plastered on Benedict's face when Raven said that. Bahagya naman akong napatingin sa mga kaibigan ko. All of them, including Sensei, were surprised because Raven just accepted the man's offer. However, they chose not to object to Raven's answer, because they knew that she must have something in her sleeves.

"Okay, then, it's settled." Lumayo na siya kay Raven at umupo ulit sa upuan niya. "So? Anong gusto niyong malaman?"

"Sensei," Bahagya akong lumapit sa kanya at bumulong, "are you sure this is right and safe for Raven? He could be tricking us just to get her."

"Hindi ko masasagot ang tanong mo, Hades. But if ever he'll hurt Raven," Kinuyom niya ulit ang kanyang mga kamao. "we'll step in without any hesitation."

I did not answer his question and diverted my attention back to Raven when she suddenly spoke.

"How did you and your brother know me? Bago ko pinatay ang kapatid mo, he knew very well about my ability to see in the dark. No one else knows about that aside from my brother, kaya bakit?" she asked.

"Bago ko sagutin ang tanong mo, wala ka ba talagang alam tungkol sa sarili mo? Not even a memory, perhaps?" tanong naman ni Benedict.

For some unknown reasons, my calm heart started to beat so fast. Bigla na lang akong pinagpawisan. After all, the place felt hotter than hell.

"Why would you ask me questions like that?" I noticed the sudden change in Raven's tone. "I ask the questions here, Benedict. Wala kang karapatang tanungin ako."

Mas lalo akong naging alerto nang biglang tumawa ng malakas si Benedict. His laugh engulfed the entire room.

"Oh, my apologies, your majesty." Ngumisi siya. "To be frank, my brother and I have studied the CEO of Asano Industries, Ethan Asano's movements."

Nagulat kami sa kanyang sinabi. For some obvious reasons, we totally did not expect that answer from him.

"Why did you do that? Bakit niyo pinag-aralan ang kilos ng kapatid ko?"

"It was an order from the Kurodas." Nang sabihin iyon ni Benedict, nabato ako sa kinatatayuan ko. My body went numb and my hands started to shiver like I was inside of a giant freezer. "That day when you were sent to capture Manuel, sa aming dalawa, siya ang napili ng mga Kuroda na pumatay kay Ethan Asano dahil sa pagkuha nito ng isang mahalagang bagay galing sa kanila."

"Teka lang, Benedict." Reo-sensei stepped in. "If your plan was to kill the CEO of Asano Industries, paano nasali sa misyon ninyo na kunin ang libro na iyon sa Special Library ng Blandon High?"

"You mean The Book of the Apocalypse?" He leaned his back against his chair na parang wala lang sa kanya ang mga tingin na natatanggap niya galing sa mga kaibigan ko. "Let's just say... props lang 'yon para makuha ang atensyon ni Raven Saldoviana."

Nagulat na naman kami sa sinabi niya. My hands were trembling even more kaya tinago ko iyon sa bulsa ko para hindi makita ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin na 'props'? Nababaliw na ba kayo? Ano ba ang gusto niyong makuha mula kay Raven, ha?" It was so obvious that Blade had lost his cool.

I expected something to come out from Maura's mouth but there was nothing. She was completely silent the whole time. Though, there was something in her eyes that I could not wholly fathom.

"Careful what you say to me, Kid," Benedict said, throwing dagger looks at Blade. "kung ayaw mong masaktan."

"Hurt him and you'll kiss this fucking hell of a cell goodbye." It was Raven. Her voice was completely different and at that time I had a suspicion that she was just restraining her anger.

"Benedict, just tell us what we want to know and stop threatening my students," Reo-sensei warned and he was goddamn serious as well.

Nagbuntong-hininga naman si Benedict. He shrugged his shoulders later on and he was so chill as ice.

"So, let me explain now. Kinuha ni Manuel ang libro sa walang kwentang Special Library ng eskwelahan na 'to para makuha namin ang atensyon ng Headmaster," he explained. "To be honest, we never expected he would send all of you to find my brother and retrieve the book. Buong akala ko ay ang grupo na tinatawag ninyong 'The Black Diamonds' ang makakaharap niya."

Napahinto siya sa pagsasalita kaya sa tingin ko, dumaan pa ng isang minuto bago siya nagpatuloy ulit.

"It wouldn't have been a problem if the headmaster sent them instead of you. However, that headmaster was wiser than I thought. Naramdaman niya ang kakayahan mo kaya ang grupo niyo ang pinadala niya para hulihin ang kapatid ko." He extended his arm to point it at Raven.

"I still don't understand kung paano nakilala ng kapatid mo ng ganun-ganun si Raven," Maura said, finally uttering a statement.

"Gaya ng sabi ko, pinag-aralan namin lahat ng mga kilos ni Ethan Asano pati kung sino ang palagi niyang kasama," he answered. Then he turned his gaze to Raven who have been silent the whole time. "Buong akala kasi namin ay mag-isa na lang siya sa buhay matapos mamatay ang mga magulang niya. It turned out na may kapatid pala siyang babae. Honestly, I told Manuel not to take you in the plan but he sensed something in you. I never really believed his claims until now."

I heard Raven's grunt.

"To be honest, when I attacked you during Simon Reyes' concert, I didn't plan it very well and it was not an order from the Kuroda. I just rushed in without thinking. Sobrang galit ako nang pinatay mo ang kapatid ko kaya pumunta ako do'n para maghiganti. I also thought na nando'n ang kapatid mo kaya papatayin ko sana kayong dalaw─"

"Let's stop this. Benedict, I think you've said too much. Let's go, Raven." Lumapit si Reo-sensei kay Raven at hihilahin na niya sana ito nang biglang hinawi ni Raven ang kamay niya.

I flinched when she looked at Sensei with fire raging in her magenta eyes. Her aura was very different from when we first got here. It was like she was not the Raven that we knew anymore.

"Hands off. I am not leaving this place until my questions have been answered." The way she uttered those words were full of nothing else but authority. She averted her gaze on the dumfounded Reo-sensei and landed her magenta eyes again on Benedict that made him blanched. "What did my brother steal from the Kurodas? Was it really that precious to the point that they ordered you to slaughter him?"

I have observed Benedict's every reaction and I knew that he was feeling fear inside of him. Even so, he tried his best not to stutter in front of Raven. Probably so that she will not think of him as a weakling.

Pinagpawisan na siya and there were only two probable reasons na naisipan ko: because of the cell's hot atmosphere and fear. However, nagawa pa rin niyang ngumisi despite that.

"I might reserve that story for another time. Gusto na rin kasi ni Reo na umalis na kayo. Besides, baka nakalimutan mo, you haven't given me that bitch's necklace yet." He released a tired sigh. "Oh, and by the way, kinumusta mo ba si Ethan bago ka pumunta dito? Before I left the Kuroda's mansion to do my revenge to kill you, I think I heard them planning how to slaughter him. Baka pagdating mo sa bahay ninyo, bangkay na niya ang ma─"

From the moment he said that, I knew right away that it was a wrong move to do so. Mali siya ng taong ginago. After that, it was like every moment happened in super fast motion that I did not see it coming at all. The next thing we knew, sobrang lapit na ni Raven kay Benedict.

"Ethan is stronger than you fucking think he is!"

"How sure are you? Wala kang ideya kung gaano kalakas ang mga Kuroda. Alam na nila kung ano ang mga abilidad ng kapatid mo!" He tried to battle against Raven's glares but she was just way too strong for him. "Raven Saldoviana, I know just the right person kung sino ang ipapadala nila upang patayin si Ethan Asano!"

"You fucking imbecile!" Bigla niyang kinuwelyuhan ng marahas si Benedict

Sa ginawa niyang iyon, hindi ko namalayan ang sarili ko na hilahin si Raven palayo sa kanya. Everyone in the room was shocked, including Raven who was looking at me like I was a retarded man.

"What are you doing, Hades?" she asked.

I could not answer her dahil hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko nagawa iyon. It was just like I lost control of my own body and it just moved on its own.

"Who are you?" Benedict's question caught my attention.

"Does it matter?" I asked back and hid Raven behind me.

"Seriously, what the hell are you doing?"

"Raven, Reo-sensei is right. We need to go." I was still holding her hand and I felt how her grip tightened. "Blade."

"Got it." I watched by my shoulder how Blade pulled Raven away who was still looking at me.

"Wait," she said and stopped on her tracks. "Here is a little reminder, Benedict, if something bad happens to Ethan, I will come back in here, cut your fucking head off, and throw it at the Kuroda's faces."

She turned her back against us, Blade and Maura behind her back.

"No one torments that jerk but me," she said and left the room with Blade and Maura following her, leaving both Reo-sensei and I inside.

"Hades, let's go," Reo-sensei said and I was about to follow him when Benedict spoke again.

"What did you see in that kid, Reo?" he asked. "All I see is death and even though I smell sweetness in her blood, there's also vengeance. Sa tingin mo, magagawa kaya niyang tumulong sa mga inosenteng tao?"

"She's more than just a tool, Benedict." Nagulat ako sa kanyang sagot. "Kung maghihiganti man siya, then I believe that's when we do our job. 'Di ba, Hades?"

He gave me a meaningful look and all I could do to answer was to nod. He was right. To keep Raven safe and to help her see the kindness inside of her is also our job. Kung maghihiganti man siya, we will do our best to stop her. After all, wala rin namang mapapala ang isang tao kung poot at galit lang ang palaging nasa isip niya.

"We'll leave you here, Benedict. Sana hindi ka ma-stress." Sensei made his way to the door after he said that.

"Good luck dealing with her, kung kaya niyo." I threw one last glance at Benedict. "What's with the face, Kid? The look on your face is like the look of the God of the Underworld's."

"Listen, if something happens to Raven," I saw how he blanched when he looked straight into my eyes. Again, it was like I lost control and it was like something else was controlling me. "I will kill you."

-----

"Blade, nasa'an si Raven?" Tinanong kaagad ni Reo-sensei si Blade nang maabutan namin siyang nakatayo sa labas ng gate sa Blandon High.

"Hinatid ko sila para sumakay ng taxi. Raven just... left at sinundan lang siya ni Maura," he answered, but there was something in his eyes that kind of described what he truly felt inside.

"Bakit hindi mo siya sinamahan?" I asked.

"She told me not to. Believe me, I tried pero nagalit siya sa'kin. Alam mo naman na gusto ko siyang samahan. Siya lang talaga ang hindi gusto."

Nagbuntong-hininga si Reo-sensei. The entire time was actually a long day. It really felt like we were trapped inside Bendict's cell for many years.

"This is all for today. May gusto rin akong ikomperma tungkol sa mga sinasabi ni Benedict."

"Are you going to tell the headmaster, Sensei?" He shrugged his shoulders to my question.

"No, hindi rin naman siguro siya interesado sa mga nalalaman natin ngayon. The puzzle is still not complete. We need to put it all together para malaman natin kung ano ba talaga ang koneksyon ni Raven sa mga Kuroda. Kung sakaling meron nga talaga." Tumalikod na siya sa aming dalawa ni Blade. "You may go now. Stay safe. Kapag may problema, tawagan niyo ako kaagad."

He disappeared in just a snap after he said that. Kami na lang dalawa ni Blade ang natirang nakatayo dito sa gate. The air around us was also different and I did not like it at all. It was so dreadful.

"Hades," Lumingon ako kay Blade nang tawagin niya ako. "do you think Raven's..."

I was confused when he stopped mid-sentence.

"Raven is what?"

Magsasalita sana siya pero instead, umiling na lang siya. He was so impossible sometimes. Kung ano-ano lang ang pumapasok sa isipan niya na kahit ako minsan ay hindi ko maiintindihan.

"Uuwi ka na ba? Sabay na lang tayo," he said, though, I knew something was still bothering him.

Knowing he will tell me when he feels like it, tumango na lang ako at sabay na kaming naglakad. Malayo-layo rin naman ang apartment ko from Blandon High pero mas prefer ko na maglakad. The Miyahara Residence is also far from the school pero mas prefer rin ni Blade na maglakad.

It was really weird. We just prefer walking than spending a penny just to ride a vehicle or use our cars.

It was so silent when I arrived at home. Wala akong kasama dito sa apartment dahil yung Auntie ko na nagpalaki sa'kin ay nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. In addition to that, Blade and I remained silent on our way home. Nagsalita lang siya nung mag-iba na ang daan na tinahak namin.

I roamed my eyes around the living room. It was just the same as how I left it. I was also used to this kind of life. The last time I have seen my Aunt was five years ago, I think. I just grew up on my own. Aakyat na sana ako sa itaas nang mapansin kong may nakalagay sa ibabaw ng living room table.

I walked towards it like a lazy zombie and saw that it was a piece of paper. However, it was so wrong of me to think it was just a piece of paper. Something was written on it in bold red ink that sent a chill down my spine.

I will be at Blandon High tomorrow.

- G. K

*~*~*~*~*~*

Wazzup~! Here's a new update for all of you. Sorry hindi ko na nagawang mag-reply sa mga comments niyo. But trust me, I'm not ignoring and I'm so haapy reading them. *sending hearts* Be red, stay unique. God Bless!