THE SIN OF THE FATHER(Part One)
100 YEARS AGO(Before Allesandro and Arabe were born)
MOONSTONE PACK, ASCOTAN
Allesandro Ro De Luca, the first, strode into therge room. It was the biggest space in the entire pack house, often used for meetings. The room was now filled with the pack’s elders, twenty in total, each wearing a solemn expression.
Ro wasn’t unaware of the reason they had gathered; after all, he was the one who had called the meeting. However, he didn’t think it was as dire as they were making it out to be.
“Alpha,” the elders said in unison, rising to acknowledge his presence. Ro nodded and motioned for them to sit.
“Alpha,” one elder stood up. It was Lawrence, the oldest and arguably the wisest among them. He was also the leader of the elders and was the one who spoke most of the time on their behalf.
Leaning on his cane, a smile graced his wrinkled face, and his eyes blinked rapidly as he spoke.
Ro couldn’t help but marvel at how he still stood despite his frail appearance.
“Thest meeting,” Elder Lawrence paused and cleared his throat before continuing, “it was about the artifact.”
Ro nodded, confirming Lawrence’s observation.
“We need to return it if only that would bring us peace,” Lawrence said.
Ro remained silent, allowing the elder to finish speaking.
“I’ve learned there are two identical artifacts in this world; we simply haven’t been able to find the one that truly belongs to us,” Lawrence exined, and Ro saw the other elders nodding in agreement.
“Don’t you think we’d anger the goddess if we keep holding onto something that isn’t rightfully ours?” another elder, Chadwick, voiced his concern.
A heavy silence fell over the room as Chadwick’s question hung in the air. Ro then rose to his feet.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
“The goddess appeared to me in a vision, holding the exact same artifact,” Ro dered, retrieving the tiny blue gemstone he had securely tucked away in his pants pocket. Despite its small size, the stone held the potential for catastrophic destruction if it fell into the wrong hands.
And it was only a matter of time before it happened, Ro mused, considering the numerous threats that hade his way ever since he acquired the artifact.
“It’s for the goddess, and we were meant to give it to her as a peace offering,” Ro stated.
“But we did thatst night, and nothing happened,” Elder Leslie chimed in. His dark green eyes narrowed, and then his bushy brows furrowed as he kept his gaze on the gem.
“I noticed,” Ro replied.
The ritual from the previous day was meant to bring peace to the pack and heal those affected by the mysterious disease that had afflicted some members. However, nothing had changed.
Ro had wondered if he was doing something wrong until the seer mentioned it to him.
“Then we should return it to where we found it. I don’t think we can endure more attacks. Everyone is currently battling one illness or another. The pack’s elders are also losing their strength and…”
Ro interrupted Lawrence. “I figured out the reason it didn’t work.”
“Why?” Lawrence inquired.
“We’re supposed to offer the sacrifice to the goddess until a special full moon, known as the Obsidian Eclipse Moon, urs. It only happens every 100 years, and today is when it’s supposed to ur with some special individuals,” Ro exined.
“So, you’re saying we’ve been doing it all wrong?” Elder Lawrence asked.
“We have,” Ro affirmed. Then he added, “We need to prepare for it again. Today, the moon will be out.”
“Are you certain this will work?” Elder Lawrence queried, seeming skeptical.
“Of course, it’s a direct order from the seer,” Ro assured.
The elders nodded, rising to their feet. If the alpha and the seer both confirmed it, then it was sure to seed, Elder Lawrence pondered. Yet, a nagging feeling within him lingered, one he couldn’t easily dismiss, that something was going to go wrong.
PRESENT DAY
“My ancestor clearly stated he would do it, and he did follow through,” Sandro said. “So, how does that make it my father’s sin? I don’t understand this.”
“He may have promised, but he didn’t fulfill it,” risse rified.
“How would you know that? You weren’t there to experience the situation firsthand, and why should I believe all the things you’re saying? It’s possible you’re trying to paint my ancestors in a bad light for a reason,” Sandro retorted, his re fixed on her as he stood up.
“I’m done being nice and listening to all that you have to say. Now, I need to take what I came here for,” he gestured towards Arabe.
risse rose to her feet. “You want to witness this firsthand, don’t you?”
“It’s not like you can make me,” Sandro shrugged. “I wasn’t born a hundred years ago.”
“Never underestimate what I can do,” risse grinned.
She moved toward where Arabe was seated, gripping Arabe’s hand. Then, she returned to Sandro, holding his hand with her free one.
“What are you doing?” Sandro growled, trying to free his hand.
“You want to witness this firsthand? Then I’ll make you,” risse snarled. Suddenly, the wind surged through the window into the room, enveloping Sandro, Arabe, and risse.
“Arabe.” Thalia shrieked as more wind surged in, and she jumped out of their way.
“Thalia.” Arabe gasped out.
Thalia watched in horror at what was unfolding, but she couldn’t intervene in the tempest that surrounded them, even though she desperately wanted to help Arabe. She could only hope risse had no ill intentions towards her.
“Bitch!” Sandro growled, struggling against her firm grip.
Her hold was surprisingly strong.
“Brace yourself,” risse yelled above the howling wind.
Arabe clenched her teeth, preparing for what risse had in store. Her eyes closed, and she counted to ten, waiting for the spinning to stop. When it finally did, she opened her eyes.
However, she wasn’t in the previous room anymore. In fact, she was no longer with risse and Sandro. She stood alone in an unfamiliar ce, and she didn’t like the energy radiating from it one bit.