Death and hope

DEATH AND HOPE

Regret pounded in his heart with every step he took toward the courtroom. He has gone to the courtroom twice in two days – Never has it happened since when he was born.

A little fraction of his mind wanted to run away because he didn't think he would bear the suffering that comes with the king of Alpha finding out the deceitful story.

Kalamura opened the door to the courtroom to reveal the Shaman, Bryan, and Gwen, the girl he will never forgive for spilling the secret. They got his attention when the iron gate closed up.

"I'm not in charge of anything concerning the Danbury Region. Why do you request my presence?" Kalamura asked confidently.

"Yesterday, your star should have disappeared, but it didn't. Not only that; Another star shone dimly amid your stars," Shefiniah narrated.

"I'm not the high priestess. I don't think I know of things like that," he went further and had his seat. "Maybe the moon goddess still wants me as the alpha after all," he let out his evil grin and pounced his eyesight on Bryan.

Suddenly, the door to the courtroom opened, "Tell the alpha to see me in the courtr–" she stopped in her tracks. "Never mind, I found him"

"What is the Beta of The Pentagon doing here this early in my territory," Kalamura asked and turned around to glare at Shefiniah. "Did you tell her anything?"

Shefiniah didn't respond, she fixed her vision on the lady walking toward them.

"Maintaining law and order," she replied. "Kalamura, alpha of the Danbury Region. Known for their great healing powers," she paused. "We need you to heal someone,"

Firstly, he calmed his mind, erasing the thoughts of getting banished by King Alpha. "So, who is getting healed?"

"A slave. She slit her throat intending to die. People are not committing crimes anymore and rogues are deep in the woods. We can't afford to lose any other slave,"

"Wouldn't it be a weakness if the slaves found out that they can't be killed?"

"We have the whippers to take control of the situation and we will also follow the torture from Bath's region. No one wants to go through that in a day,"

Kalamura nodded his head. "Right now?"

"Yes, right now" Kalamura stood up to leave, but the rattling sound coming from Shefiniah stopped them. The Beta bowed quickly. "I apologise, great one"

"He stays here," She ordered.

"We need him,"

"No, you need a healer,"

"He is a healer,"

"Danbury has other healers," came the silence out of nowhere. "Or do you need him for something else?"

"No! Not at all! Just the healing,"

"Then get other healers. The alpha is currently busy," A look at Shefiniah and a last look at Kalamura.

"Then I will take my leave," she stepped back a few times, turned around, and left.

"Guess they still need me after all,"

"Safe to say I haven't announced it publicly. But, there is something you have to do for me. It is definitely not a request," Shefiniah said.

___________________________________________

After the high priestess comes to the Shaman. They are divine beings the moon goddess uses to stabilise the supernaturals. Their decision is final, but they have limits to what they can do at an appointed time.

They can't use their powers for selfish gains, if they are caught, they will be deprived of everything they have, including their powers. Most shamans and high priestesses indulge in chastity. It is believed that to connect with the moon goddess they need to be pure and without stains.

Deprived of all sexual pleasures and the normal way of life keeps they are alert to all dangers and the wiles of evil nature. Shamans are fair in decision-making, portraying the character of the moon goddess.

Shamans are called out when they needed them the most. Restoring world peace and dealing with controversial problems amongst the alphas.

But, one thing about Shamans? They are not allowed to act with emotions.

___________________________________________

"Where are we going?" Kalamura asked with his hand on the table and the other massaging his forehead.

"Pythia," Shefiniah replied as she walked toward the window. She slid it open and watched the guards talking inaudibly.

"Why should I follow you to Pythia? People like me ain't suppose to be there," Kalamura glared at Shefiniah whose attention had been directed to the guards outside.

"You are divine," she replied.

"But, my life says otherwise and you can feel every ounce of it,"

"You follow. I'll worry about you,"

"What is my job in Pythia?"

"Heal," she said. "Get ready. It is a day journey," Shefiniah notified and dismissed herself. Before she leaves, Gwen whispers something in her ears and she turns back. "One more thing,"

Kalamura glanced back, "Yes?"

"Don't touch Bryan,"

"Who is Bryan?" Kalamura frowned.

"The man you hijacked his mate,"

"Ooh that," he nodded his head.

"Don't do anything that would make your head leave its position," Shefiniah warned.

He nodded and sucked his lower lip in agony. "Alright,"

"Good,"

___________________________________________

"Why did you try to kill yourself?" The med in charge of taking care of Scarlett sat a few metres away from Scarlett.

"I don't know," she shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe for the fact that I can't live like this anymore. I try to blame those who I shouldn't blame,"

"What do you mean?"

A deep stare at the med followed by the shaking of her head. "Never mind, you won't understand,"

"I've lived my life here, trying to make sure everyone lives,"

"Live for what exactly?"

"Live for hope,"

"There is no hope here in this world for anyone down here,"

"You think so?"

"I know so," their discussion was interrupted by the Beta. "Where is the alpha?"

"The shaman is holding him,"

"The cut is not that deep, but I fear the metal scrapings have some things beyond normal,"

"What do you mean?" The Beta went closer.

"When we examined the injury on the dead man," she walked toward the dead body. "Yes, the cut was deeper, but he was rushed in first because he is a crucial member of the workforce. We needed to save him first, but he died regardless. But she survived," she took a sneak peek at Scarlett.

"Then what's the theory?"

"It is filled with the energy remains of a thousand years' body," she felt the metal scrap. "Tasted blood and the next cut is death,"

"That doesn't solve anything,"

"Even if it is just a scratch, he would have died regardless,"

"Huh?"

"Nothing, I was kidding," she smiled.

The Beta heaved a sigh, "Don't do that again," she pointed at her and left.

"There is something you're not saying," Scarlett adjusted herself on the bed.

"What?"

"The metal scrap, the development. What is happening?"

"Nothing is happening,"

"I wasn't deaf throughout the conversation,"

"You might be and I said nothing,"

___________________________________________

Metal scrap is one of the little things found during construction that can cause the whole development to a halt. The development ground was formerly for the dead.

In the 19th century, metals are used to make caskets. It was rumoured that the spirits of the dead hovered the whole Northern Pacific and threatens the whole neighbourhood.

Unknown deaths recorded over 60% of the total death rate. They tried to find out what was causing the problem, but they couldn't.

On a faithful day, the same metal scrap Scarlett picked up was the same metal scrap this young girl picked up.

"Don't get near me!" She screamed with the metal scrap in her hands.

"You are going to use that one to hurt me?" The leader of the teenage boys got closer to her.

Like she has instructed them, he disobeyed, and she stabbed his face and slit his throat. The others saw what had happened and they charged toward her.

She couldn't fight them all, but she ended up scratching one of them with the metal in her hands. She was brutally beaten and killed.

Three days later, the wound from the incident didn't heal. Even the Shaman couldn't do anything. He kept quiet and carried the secret till he died. That was when a lady who witnessed what happened narrated the whole story.

___________________________________________

"It is weird that I could still see the metal scrap. I would have saved the girl, but I couldn't," the med in charge of Scarlett's health narrated.

"Why didn't you do anything to save her?"

"When you're caught off guard. When you know you'll lose, give up" she replied. "They will be back any minute. Let them heal you,"

"I don't want to live," Scarlett frowned.

"Believe me, the cut would have killed you, but it didn't" she sighed "When there is life, there is hope"

"There is nothing called hope. Everything is false here,"

"Live another three days from now. When you feel you have lost everything then I'll kill you myself,"

___________________________________________

Bryan helped with the backpack. Gwen also is doing the same. "What awaits us in Pythia?" Bryan asked.

"I don't know. But with the look of things, I guess death would want us to come to him,"

"Why do we have to go there though?"