•••••Third Person's POV•••••

"G-Grim? S-Since when have y-you been there?"

"Since when? About five minutes ago," Nilabas niya ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang mga bulsa at lumakad palapit sa kanilang tatlo. However, he fixated his eyes on Sheena. "and you can't fool my eyes, Sheena. Reaksyon pa lang nila, apparent na na sinabihan mo sila sa totoo."

Sheena gulped as Grim kept on inching forward towards her.

"Unang kita ko pa lang sa'yo, alam kong tatraydurin mo rin kami sa huli ni Dad," sabi ni Grim. "I will not let that illegitimate child cousin of mine to get what's rightfully ours."

Even with Grim's intimidating stare, Sheena did not mind that and spoke the words that was on her mind.

"You know damn well na hindi binigay ng dating hari ang trono sa papa mo." It was apparent that Grim was offended, but Sheena still did not mind it. "The rightful owner of the throne will always kick you out of the place where you don't belong."

"You i—" Pagbubuhatan na sana ng kamay ni Grim si Sheena nang biglang magsalita si Blade.

"Hey, nandito pa kami, baka nakalimutan mo?" Napatingin si Sheena at Grim kay Blade. Blade's gaze, however, was fixated on Grim. "Jugg Fuentes, hindi mo ba totoong pangalan iyon? Sino ka ba talaga, ha, at bakit kayo magkakilala ni Sheena?"

Tumawa siya nang malakas sa tanong ni Blade.

"Will you look at that? I wonder how my cousin became friends with you. Mga tanga naman kayong lahat, e." Grim turned his back against them all at tinuro ang likuran ng kanyang leeg.

Tumingin rin sila lahat kung saan ito nakaturo, at nagulat ulit sila nang biglang may parang isang tatoo na lumitaw.

Maura thought it was just her imagination, so she rubbed her eyes. But sadly, it was not.

"Have you seen this? Nakilala niyo naman ang markang ito, hindi ba?" He turned to face them all again. "I'm Prince Grim Kuroda, the son of the well-known King Cellion Kuroda."

Hindi na nakayanan pa ni Blade ang naramdaman at bigla na lang sinugod si Grim. Buti na lang at napigilan siya ni Maura.

"B-Blade, please, n-not now. Huwag kang magpadala s-sa galit mo." Maura's tears started to fall once again.

"Walang hiya kayo ng papa mo! Mga peste kayo sa buhay namin! Sinira mo at ng magaling mong ama ang lahat ng mga masasayang araw namin!"

"And what're you trying to do, Blade? Attack me? Kill me?" He scoffed. "A worm like you has no match for me."

Grim smirked when he noticed how Blade's mind immediately exploded.

"You mothe—"

"Blade, please, stop it!" Nabigla silang lahat, except ni Grim nang biglang tumaas ang boses ni Maura. "Please, let us think this through first! This asshole's not worth our time, okay?! Let's prioritize Raven first!"

"Excuse me? Who're you calling an asshole here?" Grim's smirk dissipated when he heard what Maura said. "I'm your superior. You must respect me."

Maura glared at him.

"E, anong gusto mong i-tawag namin sa'yo? Prince? Your majesty? E, sa dami-dami ng mga masasamang ginawa ninyo, hindi kayo prinsipe't hari sa mga mata namin. Mas beyond pa kayo sa demonyo!" Maura was infuriated, too, but she tried to control her temper. "And respect you? Are you joking? What the hell do you know about respect? Sa dinami-dami ng kasalanan niyo, only a fool would give you that."

Sheena realized that Grim has almost lost his temper. Kaya bago pa man magkaroon ng labanan sa pagitan ng dalawang grupo, napag-isipan niyang umintervene habang maaga pa.

"This is not the right time for this," sabi niya at pumagitna kay Grim at Maura, habang nasa likuran lang ni Maura si Blade. Tumingin si Sheena kay Grim. "at alam na alam mo 'yon."

Grim scoffed.

"'Wag mo 'kong pagsabihan dahil alam ko ang ginagawa ko." This time, he could not help but glare at both Maura and Blade. "Fyi, makukuha namin si Hashira and when that happens, you and your family will be the first to kiss the ground, begging for mercy that we'll never give you."

No one was able to say something to him. For one last time, Grim looked at Sheena.

"At ikaw, walang hiyang traydor ka," sabi niya. "I'll tell the king about this. Your existing days are numbered, Sheena. I suggest you to start praying."

Matapos niyang sabihin iyon, bigla na lang siyang nawala sa mga mata nila. Nakahinga ng maluwag si Sheena at Maura. Blade, however, just let go a scoff.

"What an arrogant fool," he said and turned to face Sheena. "Ba't 'di ka sumama sa kaniya?"

"What for, Blade? My days are numbered, anyway. Wala ng saysay pa ang buhay ko, kaya as much as possible," Huminga siya ng malalim pagkatapos ay tumingin siya diretso sa mga mata ng dalawa. "tutulongan ko kayo sa abot ng makakaya ko. I'm sorry if I kept all of this from you."

"Do you think it'll make a difference, Sheena?"

"Blade, she didn't mean to do all this. You know that," Maura said to Blade.

"No, I get it, Maura." Tumingin ulit si Maura kay Sheena. "I did a lot of dirty works, too. I tried to kill Rin, at marami pang iba."

"Sheena..." Sheena plastered a weak smile on her face as Maura looked at her with so much worry.

"Blade, Maura, I believe that by doing this, I can repent for all the sins I've committed." She sighed. "By helping Rin and my friends, I believe I can repent for everything. Sana hayaan niyo akong makabawi, kahit ngayon lang."

Maura gave Blade a meaningful look, but Blade just looked away. It was apparent that he was confused, and his heart was full of doubt.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" They were flabbergasted when someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "I've searched everywhere for you."

Maura gasped when she realized who it was. She immediately felt happy, but she could not say nor show it in front of him.

"Hades? Isa ka pa, iniwan mo nga kami sa ere the last time na nakasama ka namin, e." Blade was having a hard time to control his temper anymore. "Ano na ba talagang nangyayari sa'yo, ha? Who's side are you really on now?"

The atmosphere around them was very staid. The air was cold, and everyone could start to hear their beating hearts.

"I remembered everything that happened since we were kids, Blade," Hades said. "No, not exactly remembered. Let's just say that my memories have been re-opened anew."

Sheena realized what he was talking about, but Blade just gave him a confused look.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Hashira has the ability of wiping other people's memories that are close to her, or even just by someone she barely even know." Bahagya muna siyang tumingin kay Sheena, pagkatapos ay ibinalik ulit ang tingin kay Blade. "When Raven learned how to use that technique, she used it unintentionally against us when Sheena was killed."

Tumingin ulit si Hades kay Sheena, at tinanguan lang niya ang lalaki.

"A few days ago before Raven's coming of age, something just... snapped inside my head. I did not even realize it until the first thing that came into my mind was Hashira and everything that happened to us exactly ten years ago today."

"If that's the case, how come we still don't remember a thing?" Blade wondered.

"I think I know why," Sheena spoke. "Hades, ikaw ang tagabantay niya, hindi ba? Hashira knows you for a very long time, kaya ikaw ang inuna niya."

Hades nodded and said, "I'm the heir and only child of the Smith family. I think that could also be counted as a reason."

"Shit! Ngayon ko lang naalala." Maura caught the attention of everyone around her. "Ngayon ang birthday ni Raven, 'di ba?"

Napalunok siya nang tumango si Hades sa kanyang tanong. Blade became suddenly alarmed at biglang kinuwelyuhan si Hades.

"Where is she, Hades? Nasa'n siya, at ba't 'di mo kasama?" Blade asked consecutively.

Sheena's eyes widened when she promptly realized something.

"D-Don't tell me..."

"That is the reason why I looked everywhere for you," Hades spoke. "Raven went on ahead of us to try to talk things out with King Cellion."

"Ano?" Nabigla si Sheena sa sinabi ni Hades. "Are you crazy? Iniwan mo siya do'n mag-isa kasama si King Cellion. That guy can't be settled with just a small talk!"

"I am aware of that, Sheena! But she insisted dahil gusto niya na pupunta tayo doon lahat!" Napatahimik sila sa sinabi ni Hades.

Blade let go of Hades' collar, and he clenched his fists.

"Where is she? Kailangan natin siyang puntahan." Napatutok sa kanya ang kanyang mga kaibigan. "W-We can't let anything happen to her."

"He still cares about her," Sheena said in her mind and smiled in secret.

"Pero nasa'n nga siya?" tanong ni Maura.

"I think I know where," sabi ni Sheena at tumingin kay Hades. "but you lead the way, Hades."

Hades nodded.

"But before that," He caught the attention of everyone again, but he just looked at them seriously. "just for insurance policy, there's someone we need to get first."

-----

The students inside Blandon High were still occupied killing each other. The fresh air was no more, and all they could smell was blood. The once clean white tiles became red. Instead of green, they saw lifeless bodies everywhere on the ground.

However, a young girl was walking with confidence — no signs of fear and anxiety in her eyes — and that girl was Raven.

She was making his way to a deadly place. Unlike before, she already sussed out why the place was so familiar to her.

"Kaya pala napaka-pamilyar ng lugar na ito sa akin noon," Raven said and stopped on her tracks as she stared at the giant, steel doors in front of her waiting to be opened. "I never thought I used to train in here at Death Room Jail. I used to think I belonged here."

Raven touched the door and released a heavy sigh.

"But the real hell is waiting for me behind this door," she said. "Here goes nothing."

She gathered up her strength and slowly opened the giant, steel doors. When she opened it enough just to get herself in, an awful smell welcomed and entered her nose.

She covered her nose and continued going inside. She could clearly see what was around her for her eyes were beyond normal. There were no dead and rotted bodies, only a pool of blood.

It was getting under Raven's skin, however, she chose to fixate her attention to the person waiting for her ahead.

The Death Room Jail, or mostly known as the DRJ is enormous. She stopped when she saw another door right in front of her. She refused to waste any more time and opened it. When she did, she saw a staircase leading down. She took it without any hesitations.

While she was going down, she could not fathom what she was feeling. She was feeling eerie, and she could feel like someone was watching her. She could even feel and hear the souls of those who died in the DRJ.

No traps were set and when she reached the bottom after several minutes, there was another door again.

Raven surveyed the whole area she was in.

"The DRJ is so different from what the others told me," she uttered as she eyeballed the doors in front of her again. "Guess my uncle changed it. He is more than capable of doing that, after all."

Nagsimula ulit siyang maglakad patungo sa pinto at dahan-dahan itong binuksan. Nang tuloyan na itong bumukas, madilim pa rin ang loob nito. Raven still was not fazed and entered the room with confidence.

Nang tuloyan na siyang makapasok, biglang sumara ang pintoan sa kanyang likuran, at nakita niya kung paano isa-isang sumindi ang kandila sa kanyang paligid.

It was then that she realized that she was in a room, like she was inside a giant box. A lot of candles were circling around her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my alluring and precious niece." She diverted her attention to someone who just appeared a few meters away from her. "How have you been, my precious niece? I hope your adoptive brother treated you well."

Raven's eyes automatically changed color.

"My gosh. Those eyes are so dazzling to look at." The man was not wearing any masks anymore, and Raven could see the smirk on his face crystal clear. "I can't wait until I'll have that color in mine, too."

"Uncle Cellion, I came here to talk things out," Raven spoke.

"Really? You want to talk things out with me?" Biglang tumawa si Cellion. "I never expected my precious niece to have a chitchat with me. But anyway, that's no biggie. I've missed my niece."

Raven released a heavy sigh.

"You see, Uncle, you do not have to do this. You are already strong. You have everything you could have ever wanted," Raven said, and Cellion was just looking at her. "Look, I have no plans of taking over the throne nor reclaiming what is rightfully mine. Handang-handa ko ibigay sa'yo lahat, Uncle, as long as itigil mo na ang lahat ng mga ito."

Raven was desperate, and Cellion just burst into laughter.

"Sorry, for a moment, you looked pretty desperate there," sabi ni Cellion habang tumatawa pa rin. "Exactly, what are you trying to imply here, Rin?"

"I want you to stop this shit, Uncle." Biglang bumakas sa boses ni Raven ang galit. "Your abject mania, it has to stop. I already recollected some of my memories, and I know this is not what my father would have wanted."

"Never mention that guy to me ever again!" The grin on Cellion's face dissipated as he raised his voice. However, Raven did not flinch. "He stole everything from me... I am the first born, dapat sa'kin mapupunta ang lahat!"

Cellion gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

"He was always the protagonist in the story dahil nasa kanya na lahat na dapat ay para sa'kin. I expected so much of myself. That's why when the previous king, our father died, I was so certain that I'd be crowned the next king," Cellion explained. Raven's eyes slightly widened when her uncle's aura became visible. "It turned out to be just an expectation. Hindi niya binigay sa'kin ang trono. Raellien exceeded all of our father's expectations and gave the throne to him."

Raven felt something uncanny on her stomach as she felt Cellion's anger getting under her skin.

"When your father got the throne and married the daughter of one of our family allies, at first, akala ko magiging maayos lang lahat. I thought I could just let it slide, pero hindi." Raven was quite surprised when Cellion looked daggers at her. Mas lalo pang bumigat ang aura nito. "When your father's first wife died, two years after that,  he did something despicable by falling in love with the only daughter of our main enemy!"

Raven was fully surprised of what her uncle just said. Hindi pa niya masyadong alam ang tungkol sa kwentong iyan.

"Isang traydor ang ama mo, Rin. Nagbunga ang pagmamahalan nila ng walang kwenta mong ina. He relinquished the throne and turned his back against us dahil sa'yo!" Dinuro ni Cellion si Raven. Raven, however, was having a hard time to sink it all in her head. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang maramdaman o sabihin. "I knew I had to do something to your insignificant father. I only did what has to be done."

"So, you killed my parents?" Raven could feel her voice shaking, but she chose to ignore it and tried to calm herself down. "Is that it, Uncle, hm? Ikaw ang rason kung bakit umatake si Hashira in her demon form sa village namin eighteen years ago, hindi ba?"

As she looked at her uncle, hindi niya napansin kung paano tumulo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Bahagyang nanibago si Cellion sa kanyang nakita dahil matagal na rin niya itong huling nakitang umiyak.

"Not exactly, Rin. Hindi ko naman kasi alam kung nasa'n kayo that time, e. Hindi ko nga alam kung kailan manganganak ang ina mo that time. Until someone very close to your father tipped me off." Biglang gumaan ang aura ni Cellion at ngumisi. "He planned out everything impeccably, and all I did was just execute his plans."

"W-Who do you mean, Uncle?" Raven wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Oh, look at you. You're so vulnerable now." Cellion frowned.

Kahit ilang beses pang punasan ni Raven ang kanyang mga luha, patuloy pa rin ito sa pagpatak.

"Hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang kwento ng buhay mo, Rin. After you killed your best friend who's by the way, an ultimate lab rat of the Kuroda family, someone shot you with an arrow drenched in Sheena's blood." Nanlaki ulit ang mga mata ni Raven, at napatingin ulit siya kay Cellion.

"What did you just say? I-I died?"

"Unfortunately. Akala ko nga na hindi ko na makukuha pa ang gusto ko. Inakala namin lahat. The real you really did die that time, except for Hashira's soul in your body. She was no ordinary demon, and her soul barely survived that hit." Cellion scoffed as she looked straight into Raven's magenta purple eyes. "Your friends never really saw this, but a few moments after you died, your body slowly dissipated into thin air like a smoke. We never knew where you went nor if you were still alive."

Raven's head started to spin, kaya napahawak siya sa kanyang ulo.

"Who would've thought that the demon who despise humans helped you, a feeble child." Tinuro ulit ni Cellion si Raven. It was apparent in his eyes and expression that he does not want to see Raven. "Ang kapal ng mukha mong dalhin ang pangalan namin. You're just an illegitimate child. Why? Obviously because your mother was and will always be an outsider. It's in the family's rule that a Kuroda should only marry those approved by the current king."

Cellion paused for a moment. Napayuko na lang si Raven. She was still listening, but her whole system just went numb.

"Our father wasn't able to approve your parents' relationship because he died right after he crowned Raellien king, and he never met your mother." Cellion continued. "I respected our father so much, Rin, kaya hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad ang mga magulang mo, especially your father sa pagtalikod niya sa'min... sa'kin."

Cellion started to walk towards Raven. Nakayuko pa rin ang dalaga, kaya huminto si Cellion a few inches malayo kay Raven.

"Now that your parents are dead, you'll follow in there miserable footsteps," he uttered. "and I'll have what's inside of you."

Raven raised her head and met her uncle's eyes. Cellion noticed immediately how her niece's expression changed.

"I thought I could talk things out with you. You can trash talk my parents all you want," Raven clenched her fists. "but trust me, I won't let you get away with it."

Kaagad na nanggigil si Cellion sa tinuran ng dalaga.

"Wa—" Both Raven and Cellion swiftly moved inches backward when something just pierced through Cellion's left arm.

"W-What the hell was that?!" Raven's eyes widened when she realized that Cellion was bleeding.

He grunted in pain and fell to his knees. Tiningnan ni Raven ng mabuti kung ano ang nangyari sa kanyang uncle. Laking gulat niya nang makita niya na parang isang napakatulis na bagay ang tumagos sa balikat nito.

"U-Uncle?"

"Don't come any closer, Kira." Raven was about to come closer to Cellion when someone spoke behind her.

The chills immediately went right down her spine when she realized that the voice of the person who spoke behind her was so familiar.  Even so, she slowly turned around to confirm who it was. Napanganga siya nang makita ang buong pagkatao ng taong nasa likuran niya.

"I-Ikaw? What the hell are you doing here?" Raven was flabbergasted. She had no slightest idea what the person she was talking to doing there.

She took a few steps backward nang dahan-dahang lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki, pero nahuli rin siya kaagad nito nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang magkabilang braso ni Raven.

"Kira, tell me. Did he do something to you?" The man stared right into her eyes. "I think you're fine. Yes, you are, and that's good."

Raven got irritated at malakas na tinulak ang lalaki palayo sa kanya.

"Praning ka ba? Sagutin mo ako. What the fuck are you doing here, Simon Reyes?!" Raven exclaimed. "If you are lost, well, fyi this is not an ideal place for a prominent actor like you!"

"Did he shot that arrow at Cellion? Bakit wala siyang dalang bow and arrow? How did he do that?" Raven threw consecutive questions in her mind. "More importantly, how did he know my real name?"

Despite of her sarcasm, hindi pa rin natinag ang lalaki na mas lalong nakapagpa-irita kay Raven.

"Are you deaf? I am asking y—" Napalingon ulit si Raven kay Cellion nang marinig niya itong umungol sa sakit.

Raven had no plans on helping him, but it was apparent that she was worried. Cellion slowly stood up and pulled the sharp object that pierced through his skin. His blood oozed even more.

"A-Anong ginagawa m-mo dito?" Itinapon niya ang arrow malapit sa lalaking nakatayo sa gilid ni Raven. "I-I don't r-remember inviting y-you here."

The man took a step forward and hid Raven behind his back. Raven was confused, but she had no time to argue.

"I came here because an heirloom that Angel stole from the family dissipated in my hands," Kazen said. "I knew something was wrong... You already absorbed her, didn't you?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Raven sa sinabi ni Kazen.

"So, he is the master that Ethan was talking about?" Raven wondered.

Despite the pain, nagawa pa ring tumawa ni Cellion. Kaagad naman na naging alerto si Kazen.

"I knew it. You're a monster, Uncle. How dare you absorb people just for power and some of your selfish reasons?" Kazen clenched his fists. "However, mark my words that I won't let you lay a hand on Kira, Uncle."

"For fucking sake!" Raven flinched when Cellion suddenly exclaimed at them. Bahagyang nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang mapansin niya na unti-unting gumaling ang sugat ni Cellion sa balikat. "Can you please stop acting like you care about your sister when you were the one who betrayed her whole family and killed her in the first place?!"

With just that, biglang na-triggered si Raven. Parang static na lang ang kanyang natatanging narinig sa kanyang buong paligid.

Nang tuloyan nang gumaling ang sugat ni Cellion, sinubukan niya itong igalaw at nang wala na siyang sakit na naramdaman, ngumisi siya.

"Kira Kazen Kuroda... You think you're different from me, hm? I'm afraid you're wrong, Kazen. I know how you hate your precious little sister so much, and how you're so eager to kill her in your own hands!"