Quartet Abilities: Cold Revenge

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Bloodlust

I closed my eyes and heard their fast and light steps in the near premises. As the dried leaves rustle at their steps, and the twigs snap at their weight.

Their rapid speed can't even be seen by any humans' naked eyes. You could stare straight into thin air, you still wouldn't be able to see even a glimpse of their shadow. Their presence is even lighter than the wind.

But if you spend almost twelve years of your life with them, you'll notice every little detail of their ability until their speed will no longer be a hindrance to your objective. You'll notice the flaws in their abilities. They're not invisible. They still leave traces into everywhere they go.

I listened carefully until I had a clear picture of their positions. I faced my left with my eys still closed when I felt someone from that direction quite far from me move fast.

Their far from me but my senses felt them near.

I turned to my right when I felt a presence in that direction.

I kept on facing every direction where I felt a movement as I close my eyes, until I found the one I was searching for.

I smirked as I immediately opened my eyes and dashed forward.

My smirk grew wider when I heard a twig snap when he stepped backwards, meaning he found out that I've already tracked his location minutes after the cue.

I quickened my pace, not giving him time to escape.

I was about to claim victory in my head when I felt the presence of the others wasn't moving for quite some time now. Na alerto ako dahil do'n.

 My eyes twitched at wonder as I stopped my self from blinking, causing me to lose focus and ruin my concentration.

I scowled and gritted my teeth. Now I can't even feel a single presence around me since I lost connection with nature.

Damn it, if I know their weaknesses, they know mine quite well too. I mumbled a deep curse.

I slowly stopped running. That's when I felt that something was off. However, it was far too late for me to realize their plan.

I was panting as I was trying hard to feel their presence, but I opened my eyes immediately when I felt nothing. There's just nothing. Bigo akong napapikit ng mariin.

All I heard was silence. All I can hear is the trees, the birds and the branches moving--

Wait... My brown met as I was trying to connect the dots. Naglikot ang aking mata, which happens when I'm in deep thoughts.

The branches. I recalled in my thoughts. The branches were moving...

They used the nature to their advantage! Their using my tactics against me! My eyes widened as I realized my mistake. I focused too much on their movements that I forgot to listen to what's surrounding them.

Shit, I need to mave. I can't stay at the same spot.

I was about to run when I felt my body stiffen and my heart sinking when I felt a hot breath brush behind my ear.

"Got you at last, Xek."  Agad akong humarap do'n, pero hindi ko siya naabutan. At halos murahin ko na ang sarili ko nang matanto ko na mas mabilis ang kilos nila kaya hindi ko talaga siya malalamangan sa bilis.

Shit, his whisper was so silent and fast that it almost sounded like the wind.

Damn, I'm panicking!

I cursed loudly and panicked more when I finally felt all of them move.

All of them at the same time and the same speed... towards me.

My veins were protruding from my skin, and I can feel the vein in my temple palpitate as I gritted my teeth and braced my self from their full force.

Motherfucking, blood sucking cowards.

Kumukulo ang dugo ko at pakiramdam ko sasabog na ang ulo ko sa galit habang iniintay silang dumating.

They appeared one by one around me, flashing their winning smirk.

Get ready bastards, I'm going to beat that smug look off of your pale faces.

Grei then finally appeared at their center, and all of them made way for him. Mas tumibay ang paniniwala ko na siya ang master mind sa kababawang ito.

Napairap ako sa aking natanto. Lagi naman, ano pa bang bago. But this time, I didn't know they would pull such a dirty trick.

He stooped that low just to defeat me once? Oh, Grei, you're that desperate to defeat me, huh?

My eyebrow twitched as I shot a death glare at my beast friend.

This vile, vicious and cunning beast. I am so going to kill him.

"I can see that we finally outsmarted you, Xek," he proudly said.

I stretched my fingers and formed it into a fist.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita tungkol sa plinano nila at payayabang tungkol sa magiging pagkapanalo nila ngayon, while I was counting to ten inside my head.

"This may be the first time we defeat you Xek, but this definitely won't be the last." He was smirking while he said that. Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa, at halatang sabik na sabik na rin silang sumugod pero patuloy pa rin sa pagsasalita si Grei.

"Nine..." I silently whispered, na sigurado kong rinig nila.

Napakunot ang noo nila at nabalot sila ng pagtataka.

"What are you doing, Xek?" He asked, bakas ang pag-iingat at pagka-alarma sa boses niya.

"Ten." 

We heard a loud whistling coming from afar and it became a huge distraction for them as their faces paled.

I took the opportunity to throw my arms in the air. And I felt a force surrounding it.

I felt something spark inside of me and tinggling sensation in my finggertips came back at last.

Finally.

Napamura si Grei at agad na sumugod papunta sakin, but it was too late. Everyone knows that the flow of our abilities are faster than any being the Gods created.

I flicked my hands in the air. And in the simple motion, ice came raining down on them. At kaniya-kaniya na silang gawa ng paraan para umiwas.

I saw some of them trying to attack me from the left, so I pointed my left hand at them causing the ice I've created focus on that direction. But my eyes widened when someone strangled me from behind and directed my ice upwards, making me groan in frustration.

Now my sorcery was all over the place. I had n choice to I retracted my spell. I couldn't risk hitting myself. Hindi naman ako masasaktan, pero magiiwan pa rin ito ng damage.

 Sinubukan kong makawala sa mga braso ng umatake sa 'kin, pero mas malakas ang kaniyang pwersa. So I elbowed his guts, making his hold a bit loose. I pursed my lips and stepped hard on his toe then went straight to elbow his nose.

He groaned and held his bleeding nose. I stepped forward and used the bottom of my fist to hit his groin for my final blow.

Malakas siyang napaiyak at namilipit sa sakit.

Well, that'll keep him busy.

I heaved a deep breath and readied myself to block the up coming jab from my right. I kicked his stomach and he hit someone behind him when he couldn't handle the impact.

They both stood immediately and attacked me at the same time. I held the other's fist and pushed it to my side so his fixst was behind me and I hit his anicubital space, the space between his arm, then twisted it and pushed him hard habang namimilipit siya sa sakit.

Sumalubong naman agad sa'kin ang isang suntok mula sa kasunod niya na agad kong naiwasan. I blocked all of his punches and avoided everything that I can.

When I saw an opening, I punched his nose and he held it as he stepped back losing his balance in pain.

"You should be careful not to get yourself hurt next time," I warned sarcastically as I watched him. "Never try to use foul play on me." I whispered, leaning in close to his ear.

I shouted then I stepped backwards and grabbed his neck with both hands then I threw a knee at his stomach. I delivered it with my strong leg to his solar plexus.

Napahiga siya sakit na dulot no'n.

He was already down and disarmed. However, I never leave my enemy unless I'm one hundred percent certain the can't back up again.

I stepped back, created space between us and then I aimed and kicked him as hard as I can. I grabbed one of his feet and kneed his thigh. His thigh muscle was relaxed when I delivered it using my kneecap. And then my hard knee meeting  his thigh again ended the fight.

I was distracted by him so I was caught off guard when someone kicked me from my side. I was sent flying and I hit a huge trunk of a tree. 

I suppressed my groan from the pain on my back.

I bit my lip and brushed the blood coming out of my mouth using the back of my arm. I glared at the one who kicked me as I slowly got up.

Nanginig ang kaliwang braso ko, pero agad ko 'yung pinigilan gamit ang kanang kamay ko habang nangingitngit ako sa galit. Nagpupuyos akong tumakbo papunta sa kaniya, I punched him with full force, but I almost met the ground when he disappeared out of plain sight. 

Umikot ako habang hinahanap siya. Doon ko lang napansin na wala na silang lahat.

My body was slouched and my muscles were painful and stiff as I looked around heightening my senses. 

Come out, cowards. I was glaring at complete nowhere, but I know they're here.

Tanging mabibigat na hinga ko nalamang ang naririnig ko. 

Where are they? 

I sighed before I heaved a deep breath and closed my eyes and concentrated. This is one of the abilities I've learned so far in the years of training with them.

I listened carefully and imagined that I've entered a new space. I pictured the surroundings. I heard every thump of my heart as I focused deeply.

Until I finally found them. 

Pinanlakihan ako ng mata at naalarma nang matukoy ko na ang kinaroroonan nila. They're circling fast around me!

That's probably why I've been losing air for quite sometime now and I'm oddly exhausted. I could normally defeat all of them without a sweat.

Nanghihina akong napaluhod sa lupa at kinakapos na sa hininga. Napapangiwi ako habang pilit na hinahabol ang aking hininga. 

They're spinning in circles around me using their inhumane speeds. Dahil sa ginagawa nila, unti-unting nawawalan ng hangin ang kinaroroonan ko. And more importantly, ako. 

Sinubukan kong bumangon pero hindi ko magawa.

So I did the last thing that I can do.

I focused my ability on my hand kahit nanghihina na ako. Inipon ko lahat ng pwersa bago sumigaw at itinaas ang kamay kong binabalot ng mabigat na enerhiya.

Binagsak ko ang kamay ko sa lupa kasabay ng mabilis na pamumuo ng yelo sa paligid ko. Mula sa kinatatayuan ko hangang sa ilang kilometro pang layo. I froze their feets and the ground to stop them from running fast.

Matapos noon ay nanghihina akong bumagsak sa lupa. I think I used too much of my magic gayong naghihina na ako. 

Hindi ko na pinansin ang paligid at nanatiling nakahiga.

Did I win? I don't know. I just stared into the bright sky. And moments later, it started to snow.

Napapikit ako't napabuntong hinga habang dinadamdam ang pagbagsak ng niyebe sa'king muka. 

Pero natigilan ako nang biglang gumalawa ang mga bampira sa paligid ko. Mukang sinadya nila akong ubusan ng lakas para atakihin ako ng hindi patas. Pagak akong natawa.

Kayang-kaya ko pa rin silang ubusing lahat. I can still use my ability even though my body is tired. In fact, my ability functions best when my system is drained.

Pero pinili kong manatiling nakahiga. 

The snow would sooner or later freeze them anyway.

This snow is different from the usual snow every winter. 

This snow is an after effect of my ability. It is created through my blood. Kinapa ko ang ilong ko at natawa nang makita ang dugo sa aking daliri.

Every time my system is weak or I have a damaged organ, my ability takes control. And whenever I bleed, a small particle of my ability comes out with the blood.

And here it is. The snow. They won't freez to death...yet. Pero pag pinili nilang manatili dito, sasakupin ng niyebe ang balat nila hanagang sa magyelo ito pati ang kanilang mga body fluids.

I covered my arms over my eyes. Habang rinig ko ang mga yapak nila papunta sa'kin. 

I smirked. I know this is such an evil ability. But my blood is boiling and my stomach is churning.

The feeling of excitement. Nagtatayuan ang aking mga balahibo habang parang may kung anong kumikiliti sa aking sikmura.

This is the aftermath of my life.

The bloodlust.

Whenever I see a chance to kill, my body reacts to my ability's origin.

Nanlalamig ang tiyan ko habang pinapakinggan ko ang kanilang mga yapak. I can't hold the anticipation any more.

Whenever there's an opportunity to fight, I wouldn't be able to fight myself. I take advantage of my enemies' weaknesses. Whenever there's a chance to kill...

I kill.

I was waiting to hear their cries pero napamulat ako ng biglang may mahinang sumipa sa aking tagiliran. 

Inalis ko ang tabon sa aking mga mata pero hindi ko siya agad naaninagan dahil tabon niya at ng payong na dala niya ang araw.

"Get up, Xek or you'll regret killing them later." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang mabosesan ko kung sino iyon.

"Come on." 

He pulled my hand and helped me got up. Nang maitayo, bumungad sa'kin ang nakangising muka ng aking kaibigan.

Tinapat niya sa'kin ang dala niyang payong. Nagulat ako at akmang itutulak iyon pabalik sa kan'ya pero inunahan niya na ako.

"We both know you need it too," he said while still holding the umbrella over my head. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya. "Kanina ka pa nakababad."

Tama siya. The ice affects me too, though I really can't feel the cold. Every time it touches my skin, all I feel is warmth. Bumuntong hininga ako at hinayaan na lamang siya.

Akmang tatakbuhin na kami ng ibang bampira na halos hindi na makagalaw sa panyeyelo, hinapit ni Grei ang bewang ko at dinala ako sa kaniyang pagtakbo. 

Siniksik ko ang muka ko sa kan'yang leeg dahil na diskubre ko over the years na isa 'yon sa paraan para hindi ako masuka sa bilis niyang kumilos. Natawa siya pero nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagtakbo.

Hawak ko parin ang payong na nagyelo na kaya hindi nililipad ng hangin. The snow was following our speed. Kahit gaano pa siya kabilis maaabutan at masasabayan pa rin kami nito. 

But it's okay. We're not really running away from it, we're getting it away from the other vampires. 

At kapag maabutan pa kami ng ibang bampira, maaaring hindi na nila kayanin ang lamig.

But I'm not even worried about that. Besides the fact that my ability is still at its peak so my mind is still clouded with the intent to kill, Grei is also the fastest vampire in their group.

Nang tumigil kami, nasa bukana na kami ng gubat na aming pinag-ensayuhan.

Inalalayan niya akong maglakad. Binaba ko ng payong nang tuluyan nang humupa ang pag ulan ng niyebe. I melted the ice to make sure no Aesodds will see this literal sorcery. 

I had to make sure it's fully melted, because not even the sun can melt this.

Bumalik na rin ang lakas ko pero hindi ako hinayaang maglakad mag-isa ni Grei. Inirapan ko siya at hinayaang umalalay sa aking tabi.

He's the only one who can do that, anyway.

"I'm sorry about what happened," he apologized out of the blue. 

Pagak akong natawa dahil do'n.

"I'm serious," giit niya.

"Bakit mo ba kasi sila kinutsyaba in the first place?" tanong ko habang deretso ang tingin sa paglalakad. It was nothing to me, really. Sure I was really pissed earlier, but I'm over it now.

And I barely even had a few cuts.

Though I'm a bit mad that they had to cheat and go against me all at once. We were all supposed to take each other on, but the decided to take me out first before fighting each other.

I was planning on taking down Grei first, but they all know I take him out first so they set up a trap. They distracted me with all of their fast movements so I won't notice theri plans on using the natural movements of the branshes because of the wind.

"You know they would always go too far to defeat me," I said, without any hint of bitterness. But Grei took it the other way.

"Yeah," he murmured guiltily. A small smile crept into my lips. Narating  namin ang isang two-storey home. "But I never thought you'll do something to make them go the extra mile."

Pinasok niya ako sa loob ng bahay at pabagsak akong umupo sa couch.

So he noticed that, huh? When my magic restriction was cut off, I could've just used it to cast a spell to imobilize them all at once. But I decided otherwise and take them on slowly and fist-to-fist.

"Well, unlike you, I fight fair," I said. Hinagisan niya ako ng bottled water habang hawak niya na ang karton ng grape juice para uminom.

Binaba niya ang iniinom para sa isang tawa. "Come on, Xek. We don't fight fair."

I raised both my eyebrows before standing up.

"You did it for the thrill of itm," He concluded, tailing me from behind as I head to the kitchen. "Aminin mo man sa hindi, mas ikaw ang nag-enjoy sa plano ko."

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagderetso ako sa sink para maghilamos.

Habang dinadamdam ko ang lamig ng tubig sa aking muka, nakangisi ang aking mga labi.

I sure as hell did enjoy that.

After that fight, I can't forget the feeling of how my nose bled. I know it sounds weird, but that's the side effect of my existence. 

All of us here are bunch of dangerous and twisted people.

-

Hey devs! So this is the revised and edited version of Quartet. I hope you understand if you notice some typos or some errors in grammar: this must be edited but I'm still an amateur writer.

Anyways, sana na-enjoy niyo ang unang kabanata ng kuwnetong ito. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

Happy reading, devs!

Scarlettear_