Destiny's Hope

The quiet of night was shattered by an ear-piercing death-cry! Unbearable pain was so evident, as was the concluding outcome as the tormented scream began to weaken all too quickly and ended in silence…

            This was only one of the many mental tortures that played out in her disturbed mind while she stood alone. Pushing her fantasy world aside, she heard the soft sound of footsteps approach from the dark of night; it was the first physical sign that he was coming, and yet she had known for several minutes that he was near. Her head of dark, shoulder-length hair lifted ever so slightly but she did not turn to face the man whom she knew approached her from behind.

“Yarzon,” she whispered in the thick shadows that surrounded them both.

            Night sounds buzzed around the two as the old healer moved up behind her.

         “You set this meeting for the dead of night, when you know full well the dangers it risks. Why have you asked me here?” he questioned her sharply.

            Unruffled by his sad attempt to sound authoritative she now turned to face him. Her deep russet eyes glared out from her obscure face and she studied him unflinchingly.

            “You speak of danger and risk,” she said categorically, “that, Healer, is why you are here.”

            “Melynn, I am in no mood for games with words. I am no Master, so you must tell me what is on your mind.” Despite his hope to display a lack of fear, his eyes shifted nervously about, watching the shadows for signs of murderous nocturnal creatures.

            “I know things,” she chanted. “Hidden things. Dangerous secrets that others are unaware of…” A deviant smile crossed her thin lips. “Even our young lord knows not of these foul, unrevealed issues.” She cocked her head to one side. “But he will—” she vowed peevishly.

            Mentally she wandered back to a time when life seemed far simpler. Keenu was barely nine year-moons and she eight. She had known then that she would be his and he hers.  They shared many things; likes, dislikes, friends. It now inflamed her that their lives had become so complicated.

            “You seek retribution against Lord Keenu?” Yarzon’s question pulled her back to the present, his eyes now fastened to her masked features, searching for clues of some unspoken agenda. “It has been whispered that you have a love for our young lord. That you believed you were to become his consort. But when Damar chose the human, you would not stand for this choice.”

            “The choice for an off-worlder should never have been regarded, much less initiated!” She spit on the ground near her feet. “But that is a different matter completely. That reprehensible human will get exactly what she deserves!” The evil smile was back as the female Elosian played more death rituals inside her head.

            “I share your distaste for the human and I have little care for the young lord, but he is still to be our next leader. Tell me these hidden secrets and what you are planning.”

            “If I told you, how would you react? Would you stand with me or against me?” she challenged him openly.

            “At this point, I do not know the extent of this unspoken knowledge or where it will take me.”

            “If left unattended,” she said soberly, her tone grabbing his attention as if she had physically sunk her fingernails deep into his flesh, “our race will no longer be what it is now. We have already lost far too much because of this human disfavor! She must die, and soon! You will heed my word on this!” She took a single step closer to the healer, her eyes unnaturally dark. “She harbors far more than mere secrets and it must all end with her!”

            Something stirred inside Yarzon. An old, yet familiar emotion, one that he had believed was gone from him year-moons ago. His blood was running hot through his veins and he felt the sudden urge to kill.

            He not once cared if the devilish need had risen on his behalf or if the Master in Melynn had arisen this desire. He had never before felt so alive! Life and death had always been his field; to preserve it was his ambition, his goal. But now…now things were different! To rid the Elosians of the human and inflict a mental blow to that arrogant child of Damar’s…

            Smiling, Yarzon showed Melynn the determination in his eyes that they would accomplish what she had planned. “Where do we start?”

            “With the Berloff,” she announced with satisfaction.