Copyright 2015
ISBN# 9781301592753
virginiavayna@gmail.com
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for respecting the hard work of this author.
I’d like to thank, Shannon Nilaja Evans, for her support and
for her reading of the manuscript while in its draft stage. I’d like to thank
my mother, father, and sister; Rita, Ronald, and Bianca Vayna, for their
continuous love and support. I would also like to thank Sean Williams; at one
time he gave me his heart without asking for reciprocity. Thank you, Sean. I
love you all to the moon and beyond.
To my readers, you’re awesome. Thank you for your time, support,
feedback, and contributions.
~ Enjoy your reading. ~
“Never forget:
we walk on hell,
gazing at flowers.”
― Kobayashi
Issa
Emergence
The Royal Truth
The Hunters and Queen Series
Part III
The Blind Emerges
Sadeiq, the gypsy,
was no longer threatened by the hunter lifestyle. Voipele, the earth element,
was able to save her from fully transforming into one of Hadrian’s kind, a
hunter. The Queen’s many millennia old cacao plants and pomegranate bushes
helped Voipele stop Sadeiq’s morphing process. Sadeiq was able to return to her
former self; however, the process rendered her blind. Voipele saved her life,
but the process stole her vision. The only objects Sadeiq could see were
located in her memories. Though she had never really looked at the Queen, the
water element, she knew her name was Jolán.
Sadeiq was forever grateful to Jolán for leading her to Voipele. Now, Sadeiq
was forever beholden to the Queen, and eternally indebted to the other elements
of the world. Although she could no longer see, her other senses were
heightened. Sadeiq had seen Hadrian; she had seen all of the Order except for
one member, Akuji. Sadeiq remembered their faces, their smell, and their
voices. She knew she would never forget their presence. In the meantime, Sadeiq
quietly rested in her room at the chalet.
Meanwhile, several miles away, Jolán and Colemund
rolled about in their bed. Their cottage was cozy, and they were anxious about
their future. Something mesmerizing happened to them, and they now shared a
cosmic connection that was sealed in the shark infested waters of the Aegean
Sea. Several nights prior, Jolán jumped off the seaside cliffs located behind
her castle. Once she hit the water, she was immediately involved in a feeding
frenzy with several of the local sharks that swam around the base of the
cliffs. Colemund was with her that night, and he quickly jumped after her once
he realized what she had done. He did not think of himself when he jumped, he
only thought of her. By the time Colemund found his love swimming in the water,
Jolán had already returned to her human form; but she had shape-shifted.
Colemund did not see her shape-shift into a shark, but his courage to follow
her into the water pleased the Sky World. Ever since that night, Colemund had
developed impeccable strength. He also developed telepathy, which he frequently
practiced with Jolán.
As Jolán and Colemund rested in their bed, Jolán
felt strong and confident. She knew she could trust the people in her life, but
she worried about the people in Colemund’s life; particularly his mother, Queen
Madrit of Gallia Belgica. At that moment, Colemund felt Jolán thinking of
something bothersome; more than likely something about his mother.
As Colemund stroked Jolán’s hair while she rested
her head on his chest, he said, “My mother has us both concerned. In light of
what we now know, I understand your trepidation; but you must know, and I
believe you do, that our love is unbreakable and we will never part.”
Jolán knew Colemund’s words were true, but she still
maintained her reservations. There was a paradigm shift happening in the world,
and both Colemund and Jolán had to prepare for their mission. As Jolán kept her
head on his chest, she thought about the future.
Jolán then replied to Colemund, “We will never part.
Even in death, I follow you.”
Moments elapsed before Jolán asked, “When do you
think the castle will be finished?”
Colemund twisted Jolán’s hair around his fingers. He
liked the way her hair felt in his hands. He then responded, “In a few weeks.
Construction has been busy for nearly three months now, so a nice bulk of the
work is complete. We should take a drive over there and check out the area.”
Jolán felt
safe with Colemund, but she felt uneasy about the future. As the love duo
appreciated their peaceful time in bed, they both thought about their lives,
their safety, and their calling from the Sky World.
In the distance, the natural world gathered its
insects. The animals and insects of the forest knew something stirred in the
air. The flora and fauna prepared to protect their world for the future.
The Natural World
For several days
the Aegean Sea had been tumultuous; in addition, the waterways that surrounded
England, and the rivers throughout countries north of Sudan, Africa, had also
been raging. To contrast the rough waters in these areas, several other bodies
of water, such as streams and smaller rivers, brimmed with fresh, clean, and
calm water. Many once stagnant waterways showed signs of improvement. There was
something that stirred change in the air; the elemental power had shifted in
the realm.
The power shift
was felt by those creatures sensitive to its energy. Such creatures, mainly the
insects of the natural world, contemplated the reasons behind such a sudden and
dynamic shift in power; they knew the realm had slightly deviated. They wanted
more information.
As the insects
gathered in the cave, the head grasshopper confidently said, “We must know if
they are here. We must know if they have returned. The waters are stagnant down
by the river, but I have received information that some areas have cleared up
and the water is potable.”
The other insects
listened. Several different grasshopper, locust, and ant specie were in
attendance. They were curious about the ground, water, and soil conditions of
their natural habitat. They were concerned about the future of their progeny.
As rain dripped
down the rocky path towards the ensemble of insects, one leader of the locusts
said, “Perhaps, we should send out our feelers to gather information?”
The feelers were a
group of locusts capable of digging deeper into the soil for a better read of
the earth. They were known to gauge the forecast of the planet nearly 50 years
in to the future.
The head
grasshopper replied with authority, “I am the leader of my specie, so I will
help find them. We can split up and look for all four.”
At that moment, a
locust stated, “I sense they are together.”
Various insects of
the natural world discussed the future of the planet. They were aware a
paradigm shift was in their midst, and they knew the source of such a shift
rested with the four natural elements of the universe.
Hillsburgh, England
Bones were broken.
Swine were left half-dead waiting for their full demolishment. It was pathetic
and unnecessary management of living creatures. Cruel and unusual treatment. Barbaric.
Dreadful. Intolerable.
Many hated the
local slaughterhouse, but others were not remotely bothered by the presence of
the pig factory. Those who did mind, however, were beyond ready to act. Beyond
ready to take a stand and fight for better treatment of the animals, but such
kind people were outnumbered. They were outnumbered by the overwhelming amount
of hunters who now occupied a large portion of the small town. The native townspeople
were becoming overpowered. Something had to happen, because the town was dying.
Petra knew she
held power. She honed her skill at a very young age, privately while she was in
her room. Her parents were loving people, but special power was not encouraged
in the household; and Petra had special power. It was this power that made her
the element of wind. It was this power that made her a threat to the hunters. Petra
had awakened, and all of those years of practicing her skill would serve the
mission well. Now, however, she rested. The last few days had been a flurry of
emotional destruction. A devastating tornado created by the fury purported by
her anger. She had never used her powers out of anger, and now the chaos and
mayhem she created destroyed a town. Destruction so bad that she was committed
to a hospital, a mental hospital.
Petra was tired,
but she was not broken. She rested in the hospital bed, but she was confused
about her medical treatment. She did everything she believed was necessary, but
her worlds were blurred. She didn’t have a mental breakdown, but maybe she did;
however, she was sure her place was not inside of the hospital strapped to a bed.
She was the element of wind, and she knew she comprised the full force of the
planet. She understood her responsibility in this realm, but she was
disoriented. She didn’t understand how to gain credibility for her cause and
for the mission. The wind element had awakened, and she had to find the other
elements of the natural planet.
As Petra rested in
her bed, her medication clouded her mind. She remembered everything that led to
her current stint in the hospital. It started when she confronted the cruel pig
owners and set their pigs free; then, she released a whirlwind of destruction
upon her town. A destruction so bad her violence and power killed her family,
her hunter family. Petra was not one of them, she was not a hunter; however, she
was the youngest child, and her parents converted to hunters after she was
born. Her parents thought the hunters would help them save their farm; they
thought the hunters would help them save their home. They did not realize the
hunters only destroy.
Petra understood
the reasons why those who doubted her power captured her and locked her inside
a hospital room; however, they were simple people unaware of her
responsibilities in the realm. They were blissful people ignorant of the
problems of the galaxy. Not everyone living in her town were hunters, just most
of them. The Hillsburgh people that were not hunters were typically brainwashed
by the dark lord dominance of Hillsburgh city corruption. The Hillsburgh
non-hunters allowed dark energy to infiltrate their town as long as their own
lifestyles were maintained; unaffected by the inner workings of the dark lords.
These affluent townspeople were no less evil than the hunters; and such a
symbiotic relationship of evil often led to the capture and destruction of once
vibrant and egalitarian cities, towns, and communities. The dark lords wanted
control of all the towns throughout the world. The dark lords appreciated their
stronghold throughout certain parts of the realm, and they relied on such
symbiotic relationships with the narcissistic townspeople who were willing to
cultivate this type of agreement with them.
As Petra lingered
in her bed, she remembered a man. A tall, swarthy, and evil man. She did not
want to see him, but she knew he would eventually seek her out and pay her a
visit. He had already been to her hospital room once, and she made it clear she
did not want to ever see him again.
Petra began to
fall asleep. Her heavy medication was prescribed for full sedation, but she was
able to find moments of lucidity. She would eventually build tolerance to the
drugs. Petra’s head started to bob around until it rested back on to her
pillow. At that moment, two tiny birds flew towards the window. The birds
lingered by the window as their eyes examined the inside of Petra’s room. The
birds knew something special was inside, they knew they had a message to
deliver to the forest.
Queen Madrit’s Blood
Queen Madrit nervously paced her castle bedroom. She
could feel the onset of a headache developing around her frontal lobe. She
touched her forehead to ease the pain, but this did not help.
As Madrit walked towards the heavily curtained
window, she heard a voice say, “You’re going to do it, Maddie. You’re going to
kill again for us. We need your bloodline, Maddie, we need your bloodline. You
already used us before, hundreds of times before, so use us again; you’re going
to use us again soon, Maddie.”
Madrit whirled around to locate the voice; her eyes
darted around the room as if she would see something or someone to meet her
gaze. She knew what she was dealing with; she knew she wouldn’t see anything.
Although she did not like to think she was possessed by any ancient spirit of
history, the fact was, she was in a battle for her sanity. She had killed
before, and even if Madrit liked to think her evil spirit made her do the
murder, she liked the sensation and power that murder gave her, but she was
developing a conscience, and her advanced age made it harder to keep up with
the hustle and bustle of a kill. As long as she could fight off her evil
spirit, Queen Madrit was prepared to stay on the side of good for as long as
she could maintain her sanity.
After Madrit gathered her senses, she closed her
eyes, and quietly mumbled, “Get out of my head, you poisonous demon. You are
not going to use me now; I am not your pawn. I am not your puzzle piece. Leave
my head!”
The malevolent voice replied, “I am stronger than you.
You have already done things for me. I am forever you, so I cannot leave,
Maddie.”
Queen Madrit closed her eyes tighter, and angrily
said, “No, No. I can have my own free will. No. No. Leave me now!”
The voice went quiet. There was only a distant laugh
that echoed by the doorway. Queen Madrit then walked towards the door, opened
it, and exited her bedroom to head downstairs for some water. At that moment,
the doorbell rang. Madrit stopped in her tracks; a chill went up her spine. She
knew darkness was on the other side of the front entrance. One of the
housemaids opened the door. As Madrit waited on the upper staircase, the
housemaid opened the door wider, and to Madrit’s surprise, it was DeMarco
standing at the entrance of her castle. Madrit choked down a distaste that
developed in her throat, and she then felt another pain in her forehead. She didn’t
feel like talking to DeMarco, but she knew he was aware she had been physically
alerted of his arrival. DeMarco could sense things; he also had an impeccable
smell once he whiffed a scent. He was very familiar with Queen Madrit’s smell.
The Queen felt he already identified her aura.
The housemaid tried to gently urge DeMarco to leave,
but he was all too persistent and demanding to listen to her meager requests.
DeMarco raised his voice, and said, “Must I fester
out front with your maid, Queen Madrit? You already know I am here. Please,
show yourself and let me inside. I need to speak with you.”
Madrit knew she had to walk further down the stairwell
to meet him, and she dreaded every second of the experience.
To Kill or Not to Kill
Queen Madrit stood at the door. Her patience was
thin, and her head throbbed with pain. She hated to see DeMarco, but she knew
she couldn’t avoid him. As she observed his tall stature and beastly eyes, she
wondered about her own appearance. She wondered if her past showed upon her face.
She briefly thought about all of the wicked acts she had committed over the
years; she then noticed Demarco’s all-knowing smirk, as if he was reading her
mind.
Before too much time elapsed, Madrit anxiously said,
“Well, hello, DeMarco. What pleasure do I owe your visit?”
DeMarco entered her house and stood in the foyer. He
looked upon her with disdain for her shallow attempt at niceties, and replied, “Oh,
please. We both know it’s not with the slightest pleasure.”
DeMarco was right. Madrit did not want to see him.
She knew he had a wicked deed for her, a deed she more than likely would not
want to do.
At that moment, DeMarco unbuttoned his trench coat.
He looked at Madrit, and questioned, “Are you able to take some leave from this
place, Maddie? Perhaps stay a few weeks in Omani? You can visit with King Haman.”
Madrit did not like the sound of his question. It
was as if the choice had already been made, made by him. Madrit’s mind raced
for any excuse, but it was useless. She knew he was scanning her thoughts. She
immediately started thinking of her bloodline; her ancestry. If she could
conjure up enough family memories, then DeMarco would respect the importance of
her blood, and relax on his inquiry.
After several seconds, Queen Madrit responded, “Oh,
I do have so much to do, DeMarco. King Haman can be a bit baneful, don’t you agree?”
DeMarco was a killer, a hunter. He was an undead
creature kept alive by evil. DeMarco relished the baneful and mindless, and he
despised the righteous and conscientious people in the world. He fought off the
urge to grab Madrit by the arm and violently pull her into the tea room; his
patience was short. Instead, he asked, “Maddie, let’s have a seat. I need to
ask you a favor, a favor that will be to your benefit.”
Madrit felt uneasy, but she accommodated his
request. The two walked to the tea room for a discussion. Once seated, DeMarco
smelled the air. His wicked grin showcased his rather jagged teeth. Queen
Madrit sat somewhat nervously in her seat; she wanted to get the discussion
over as soon as possible.
After DeMarco spent several seconds smelling the
air, he looked at Madrit, with his nearly black colored eyes, and said,
“Madrit, the elements are rising. They are strengthening before I have occupied
all of my desired area of the world. They always try to do this, right when we
get closer to world domination.”
Madrit stared at DeMarco, she was not willing to
assume anything. She wanted him to explain everything to her, she would make
her own decision on how to answer his questions; she would not get urged into
killing. She waited for his proposal, because she knew it was a request to
kill. She adjusted her posture.
DeMarco noticed the Queen was poised with
confidence. He tried to read her thoughts, but he only received images of
Madrit’s past lives as a killer for the dark lords. DeMarco understood he had
to respect her position and her answers to his requests, but he desperately
wanted her to work for him against the elements. DeMarco reached for Madrit’s
hand. He held her hand, he wanted to feel her skin and bring her closer to his
body.
At that moment, DeMarco said, “Madrit. We know your
son is with an element, maybe with more than one.”
Madrit tried to pull her hand away from DeMarco, but
he tightened his grip. She twisted her hand in his palm until she escaped his
embrace; she was agitated.
Madrit then sneered, and said, “DeMarco, I do hate
your power plays. You always try and rule over my authority. You must learn to
balance things around you.”
DeMarco looked annoyed. Mainly because Madrit
escaped his clutch, but also because he realized balance was a requirement for
the maintenance of the planet; but DeMarco didn’t care. In fact, all he wanted
to do was destroy the world. He planned to conquer earth, and have the planet
as his wasteland until the galactic alliances destroyed earth due to its cancer
upon the solar system. A cancer he helped create.
DeMarco looked out the window; his gaze caught a
butterfly traveling through the air. He felt annoyed. He then looked at Madrit
and smiled, his attempt at flattery only frightened her.
DeMarco then said, “Maddie, you do wear evil well.
Your skin, your body, your mind, all complement the dark arts rather nicely.
You hardly look a day over 35.”
They both knew she was closer to seventy than forty.
Madrit often times hated her calling and her ability to assist the evil forces
of the world, but, her bloodline ran deep; and her history was colored with
murder.
After a moment, Madrit tightened her jaw then
released the tension. She then said, “DeMarco, your flattery is ominous and
indicative of a request. So, I beg you, please don’t waste my time. What do you
want?”
DeMarco resisted his urge to engage in a power play
with the Queen. Instead, he responded, “Maddie, it’s what we both want.”
DeMarco leaned forward, and Madrit could feel his
cool breath on her cheek. He continued, “Regardless if you admit it or not, you
like to play with the dark forces; you like to use its energy to your
advantage. You enjoy having its destructive capabilities at your fingertips. You
like to control the bad. You like to feel powerful and wicked, it makes you
feel sexy.”
DeMarco touched her cheek with the back of his
leathery hand.
Madrit had heard enough. She momentarily felt
powerless. She felt weak. After a few seconds, she pulled her face from his
hand, and said, “I’ve had enough of your transparent charm. I ask again, what
do you want?”
Madrit was perturbed.
DeMarco smirked. He then said, “I want you to kill
for me, Maddie. I want you to help kill a new element on this planet. I think
you may know her well.”
Madrit was annoyed. She skeptically asked, “Really? How
would you like me to do this, DeMarco?”
DeMarco then replied, “Evil always treats you well.
If you help us, then your power will grow stronger, and your beauty will maintain
its infamous youthful and vibrant appearance.”
Madrit felt a wave of déjà vu roll over her body.
Everything seemed surreal. She started to hear a voice. It was whispering by
the china cabinet.
The voice said, “He wants you to kill your son. He
wants you to kill his lover. You want to kill them too.”
Madrit squeezed her eyes tight. She fought to ignore
the voice.
DeMarco asked, “Are you feeling ok?”
DeMarco knew Madrit was trying to control her
senility; he could sense it in the air.
Madrit opened her eyes, and she looked at DeMarco.
She then asked, “Why do I need stronger powers to be evil, I have you.”
Madrit paused and gathered her thoughts. She then
said, “Again, I ask, how would you like for me to kill the element? What do you
have in mind?”
The Queen merely asked out of curiosity. She hated
the thought of what DeMarco could say.
DeMarco then answered, “I want you to invite your
son, Colemund, and his new love, Jolán, to this castle. I want you to show an
interest in their romance. The couple should plan on staying for at least a
week at your castle; this should provide ample time for the Order and several
dark lords to convene upon your estate.”
Madrit looked worried, and she looked tired. She
could feel the energy leave her body. She couldn’t kill her son. She knew it
was only a matter of time before her calling would make her kill him again;
but, this time she thought she could fight the urge. In the past she used dark
sorcery to gain power and influence in society; but she was the Queen, she didn’t
need any more help with her power. She already had everything, including a
growing conscience.
After several seconds passed, DeMarco inquired,
“Well, do we have your permission?”
Madrit knew she had to give her approval to the dark
lords, otherwise, the dark energy would not hold as much power on her property.
She thought about a way to avoid an answer, but nothing worked. She then
touched her head and rubbed her temples.
Madrit finally responded, “DeMarco, do you think we
could discuss this matter next week? Your visit was not expected, and I do need
some time to think about the request you just made.”
DeMarco sensed her uneasiness. He then reiterated,
“Maddie, we don’t need you to necessarily kill, we need you to act as an
accomplice and bait your son back to his childhood home.”
Madrit more than understood the plan. She dryly said,
“So, you can kill him.”
DeMarco stood from his chair. His coat brushed the
side of Madrit’s leg. He then responded, “Madrit, we may not have to kill him.
We just want her, and any other element he may bring along.”
Madrit knew the dark lords would kill anything that
fought to preserve the good on the planet. She knew her son was good. Madrit
was aware the dark lords would kill her son.
After several long moments, Madrit asked, “You
expect me to believe you would spare his life if he hobnobbed with the
elements?”
DeMarco wanted to ease her worry, but only to gain
her trust for his mission. He responded, “You act like I am a monster, Maddie.”
That’s exactly what he was, a monster.
DeMarco then said, “I will give you some time to
think about the offer. You look uneasy, so I will return next week for your
answer. Don’t bother getting up or ringing for a housemaid, Maddie, I’ll show
myself out.”
Within seconds, DeMarco left. As requested, Madrit
didn’t bother escorting him to the door. She sat in her chair feeling nervous.
She felt her mind going mad. She looked around the room. All of a sudden,
things started to shift and distort. Her mind was playing a trick on her. From
the side of the couch she heard the familiar voice.
The voice taunted, “Maddie, we don’t need a son. We
don’t need anyone. We have everything we need. Besides, everything in life is reincarnate.
He’ll return again one day.”
Madrit grabbed her wrists. She pinched her skin; she
wanted to feel reality. She hated her past right now, and she hated that she
was involved in a battle for her soul. A fight her ancient spirit was trying to
win; a demonic possession that Madrit hoped would not overpower her for too
long.
Petra and the Politician
Petra lingered in her bed. She twisted her long hair
around her finger, then she watched her auburn locks unravel and cascade down
her chest. She played with her hair when she was bored. She missed her parents,
but they were dead. Ultimately, Petra knew her parents died long ago when they
signed the hunter contract. That one sheet of paper stole their lives and took
their souls. Petra hoped her destruction freed their spirits, and she hoped her
family rested in eternal peace, however, she had her doubts.
Petra decided to get out of bed and walk around the
hospital floor. Her medication occasionally confused her mind and caused her to
experience lethargy, so she was not any real threat to run, jump, or leap into
a wild fury; much like she did when she destroyed the town of Hillsburgh. She
was also aware she was under watch. Petra understood her violent tantrums would
receive the attention of hundreds of guards, commoners, nurses, doctors, and
anyone else confident enough to try and restrain her fury. Petra was tired. She
had no real energy to fight at the moment. She wanted to rest, but she didn’t
feel safe.
Petra squirmed in the bed. She made an attempt to
lift her body out of the trundle before she realized she was tethered to the
bedpost with rubber cords. She tried to pull away her hands, but her efforts
were moot. Petra was secured to the bed, and she was aggravated. Her medication
made it hard for her to remember things; she often forgot she was strapped to
the bed and being cared for like a wild invalid.
Petra shook her hands furiously, hoping to free
herself from the hospital handcuffs. She was unsuccessful; she was also tired.
She fiercely shook her hands again hoping to find freedom from the restraints,
but she received the same result. She couldn’t shake off the cuffs. As her mind
drifted and her eyes rolled around in her head, she heard an unfamiliar voice;
then, she saw him.
Aristarchus was tall, swift, and his platinum hair
contrasted brightly against his olive complexion. His eyes were colored a cornflower
blue, and Petra tried not to gaze at him for too long; she found his eyes mystifying
and did not want to get lost in his stare. After moments, Aristarchus briskly
moved towards the bed and started to remove the restraints around Petra’s
wrists.
Aristarchus whispered, “I know you are disoriented,
but I am here to help you. I will come back for you in a few days. Meanwhile,
gather yourself and prepare for your exit.”
Petra watched as Aristarchus quickly removed the
wrist cuffs. He moved with spirited speed, and she felt slightly safer in his
presence.
Aristarchus then said, “As I’m sure you already
know, you are wanted by those that need you dead. Some of them are here now,
but they won’t do anything at the moment. Please, take care and watch those
around you. You will be safe here for a little while, I am close, Petra. I want
you alive.”
At that moment, her wrists were free. Petra was no
longer restrained. When she turned her head to find Aristarchus, he was gone.
She was left alone in the room. She wondered about him and his mercurial nature,
but she knew he would reappear soon enough.
Petra decided to leave the room and look around the
hospital floor; she desperately needed a change of scenery. She tried to not
think about her most recent memories, but she missed her family and that’s all
she could reflect upon. She yearned to go back in time and erase her actions
that set her town ablaze with her windy violence. Petra was new to her power.
She didn’t know how to stop the force once she released her anger. She
understood her purpose, but she couldn’t fully control her strength. She hoped
she would soon find good use for her existence.
As she leisurely walked by the other rooms on the
floor, she heard a familiar voice coming from one room, a voice she hoped would
leave her alone and not notice her; but she knew that was close to impossible.
The voice said, “I already know she is here. I am
here to retrieve her from this place. She does not belong here; both you and I
are fully aware of this catastrophe. Let me release you from this burden.”
The nurse stood with confidence as she crossed her
arms over her chest. She then said, “Mr. DeMarco, we have a blood test for her
release. We’ve already offered the test to you, you refused. We can’t release
her to you. Petra will be released to the person who placed her in our care,
the individual with the blood that matches our admittance records. No one else
will leave with her, not without a fight. This is just how we are doing things
with her, she’s a special patient.”
DeMarco recognized the strong will of the nurse, and
he had no intention to cause any trouble, at least not yet. He was content his
suspicions were confirmed, the patient was indeed special, but he had other
concerns on his mind. He merely wanted to make sure he was abreast on Petra’s
whereabouts and condition. DeMarco’s intuition suggested his rival,
Aristarchus, was behind the matching blood type that would release Petra into
his contender’s care; but DeMarco needed to focus. He knew he would have better
success using Queen Madrit’s bloodline to kill the water Queen. Madrit would
put up less of a fight than his fellow dark lord associate, Aristarchus. It was
easier to control Maddie, he thought.
Before too much time elapsed, DeMarco finally said,
“Well, let us leave then. I will try and find another time to come back for a
visit. Thank you for your time, nurse.”
Petra was nervous, she stood in the hallway as her
eyes darted around the area. She wanted to turn around and go to her room, but
she was afraid DeMarco would see her. Then, she heard unknown voice.
The voice questioned, “Nurse, if I use the power of
my office to bear authority down on this hospital, we all know the result will
lead to a loss of jobs and funding for this infirmary.”
The nurse released a subtle scoff. She then said,
“Mayor, our town has been through hell. This hospital is running at full capacity
as is, and it has been years since we have received any money from the city.
Most of the hospital staff are volunteers or work at reduced pay. The least we
can do is maintain our ethics, and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”
Petra watched the nurse exit the room. At that
moment, Petra ducked into an empty room and hid behind several medical
machines. As she squatted behind the curtain, she felt her body begin to shake.
Petra quietly said to herself, “No, Petra, not now.
Hold the fury. Now is not the time. Hold the fury. Please, please, please stay
at bay. I will use you. I will use you, but not now.”
Petra gently rocked back and forth as she repeated
her words. She felt a spike of energy in the air, and she held her knees close
to her chest as she closed her eyes tight. She listened to their footsteps as
DeMarco and the Mayor walked by the room. She knew they were aware she was
close. She knew DeMarco would find her. As the nefarious duo walked slowly by
the room as if they knew she was hiding, Petra tried hard to maintain her force.
She squeezed her body tight and held herself; and she quietly talked herself
through the emotional storm that brewed within her.
DeMarco and the Mayor continued to walk down the
hall and towards the exit of the building. The further away they walked, the
easier it was for Petra to calm down. She listened as their footsteps echoed in
the distance. With each footstep moving further and further away, Petra calmed
herself by taking several deep breaths.
Petra then opened her eyes, and said, “Now is not
the time, but the time is near.”
