Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

All the members of the Skull Rogues were dying strange deaths.

It was a mystery to decipher, but an unexplainable affliction had begun to sweep through the rogue pack, claiming numerous lives per day.

The sounds of pains and sufferings filled the air and the sickly scent of death spread through the territory.

Some of them would convulse uncontrollably to their deaths, others would have their bodies begin to rot while they were still alive, life ebbing out of them until they succumbed to death. Some would suddenly just drop dead without any prior symptoms.

The rogue healers had never seen anything like this before. They were baffled by what had befallen them, and their attempt at remedies had proved futile.

No one could understand what was happening neither could they phantom where the strange affliction had stemmed from.

However, only one man knew the source of the plague as he had been the one to orchestrate the curse that befell the Skull Rogues.

That man was the same one who had found his pregnant wife dead in the middle of the forest.

He was also the same one who had sworn revenge over the Skull Rogues.

And yes, the very same one who was hell–bent on wiping each and every one from the face of the earth.

As expected, he was doing just that.

Knox's thirst for vengeance was unquenchable and he had gone to far–lengths to ensure he got his pound of flesh. How dare they kill his wife and his unborn heir?

That same night after he had found her body, he had immediately sought the services of a powerful witch doctor and his task for her was simple.

Wipe out every member of the skull rogues.

Hence, the plague that ravaged their territory.

And even though the death of the Skull Rogues couldn't fill the void his loss had created, at least, he had been able to finally grant his heart's desires.

It gave him so much delight.

     

     In their dimly lit room, Zena's voice trembled with desperation as she whispered some sacred, healing incantation over Eli's dying form.

Eli was Aster's sister. And she loved the little girl so much, however, the plague had eaten deep into her and the poor girl was barely hanging unto life.

Surprisingly so, Zena and Aster hadn't shown any symptoms of being affected by the plague. The sorcerers had said that it was most likely that the Moon Goddess had showered favour upon them and decided to let them be unharmed.

However, it didn't mean that they both couldn't feel the pain of others. Especially now, when Eli was about to die.

"Hang on, Eli. I won't let this sickness take you away from me. Please, don't give up. " Zena spoke amidst her incantations; they weren't working, nothing was working. The little girl was still in a vegetable state, her form lean and emaciated as her body convulsed.  

Aster stood nearby, his jaw clenched and his fists balled at his sides. "Isn't there anything else you can do? Please, Dave her."

Her gaze flickered up and met Aster's, "I'm trying all I can. The healers have also done their best, nothing was working. This is a healing incantation I learnt from my mother, she always performed it on me whenever I was sick and it worked." her gaze then lowered to Eli and a frown downturned her lips, "but it's not working for her. This plague is unlike anything I've seen before."

The sick girl's laboured breath filled the air, her eyes wide and darting, as if trying to escape her turmoil within and her limbs jerked without stopping .

Zena took a deep breath to calm her anxious nerves and then, she continued to circle her finger around Eli's forehead in gentle motions as she spoke the incantations.

But just as before, it didn't work. The girl's convulsions seemed to become more violent, her legs thrashing as soft whimpers escaped her lips and her mouth foamed.

Aster's frustration tipped over, his voice thundering, "Damn it, Zena! We can't lose her. She's the only family I have left."

Her gaze softened as she retracted her finger from the forehead of the trembling girl, "I know, Aster. I care for her too. But I think it's time we face the possibility that—"

"No!" Aster's voice cracked as his fist banged on a nearby table, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "There must be something we can do."

His shoulders slumped as he stepped forward, beholding his sick sister, "I can't let her go, Zena. I just can't."

Her gaze shifted between Aster and Eli. She knew that there was no saving this girl, she was gone. It couldn't be helped. Why were they even bothering? Since the plague had befallen their pack, no one had survived it.

What made her think she could save Eli?

With a heavy heart, Zena rose up from her crouched position beside Eli's frail form. She wouldn't want to witness Eli's death, and it was only a matter of minutes before it would occur.

She didn't glance back, neither did she utter a single word and with that, she left the room. Aster's eyes followed her movements as she walked out of the room. He wanted to call out to her, to beg her to stay but he could understand the reason for her reaction.

No one would want to witness the death of a loved one.

As she reached the doorway, she paused, her hand hovering near the doorframe as she debated if she should leave or not.

One could say it was her fault—after all, it was because she killed Lydia that Knox bestowed the curse upon them.

She wished she could feel some level of guilt, however, she couldn't. She had to avenge her mother's death and not only would she stop there, no. Knox was biting more than he could chew, and she could not let her people's deaths, Eli's death to be in vein.

She would strike.

So, her fists not clenched at her sides, she continued her exit and disappeared from Aster's sight.

However, Aster wasn't as hardened as Zena and his approach towards the situation was very different. He didn't want to wage war against Knox as revenge for, because that would just cause more people to die.

And he valued his people more than anything in the world. He would do anything just to them them safe.

He looked down at Eli, his heart aching as he held her limp hand. And then, he made the decision in his heart. He was going to reason with Knox, beg for his forgiveness, so he could pardon the lives of his people.

-:-

After a few excruciating hours of traveling, Aster finally arrived in front of the Alpha's palace. Anxiety twisted in his gut and he felt a shiver run down his spine as he felt uneasy about the meeting he was about to have.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" He heard the voice of a soldier ask and he turned back, seeing that he had already drawn out his sword from his sheath, pointing it at him.

Aster raised his hand up in surrender, "I come in peace." He declared. He was masked and he had also hidden his scent, so no one could easily tell it was him. "I'm here to see Alpha Knox. It's important."

"Hmm." The familiar voice of the Alpha mused and Aster looked sideways, seeing Alpha Knox and his twin, Kylian approaching. "You want to see me?"

Aster gave a curt nod.

Alpha Knox accessed the masked man in front of him. It didn't take him much time to decipher that it was Aster—the man was foolish for only hiding his scent when he got to the palace, and not while he journeyed here. Knox had perceived the scent of the Skull Rogue a distance away.

His lips curled into a smirk and then he faced the guard, "Let him be." he commanded and the guard nodded, stepping away from Aster and returning back to his position.

Knox's cold eyes assessed Aster again, his smirk growing wider. "What brings you to my palace, Aster?" He drawled his name in a manner that let Aster know that he knew his identity.

Aster had to maintain his composure, not wanting to show the shock that had stemmed from being identified by Knox.

Swallow hard, he gathered his resolve. "I am here because there is something g utmost importance that I need to discuss with you." his voice wavered slightly as he spoke, betraying the calm and collected appearance he had tried to potray.

Kylian's gaze flickered between the two, his features unreadable. He exchanged a brief glance with his brother before taking a step back, allowing Knox to take the lead.

Knox's gaze returned back to Aster and he gave a nod, signalling for him to continue.

Aster took a steadying breathe before continuing, "I know the plague that has befallen my people is an act of retaliation, because of your wife's death." he began. "But we're suffering and, I've come to beg. Please, reconsider. Some of the people who are suffering aren't part of the warriors who had fought—they're innocent women and children. Consider them, please."

Knox's lips formed a thin line as he absorbed Aster's words. This was the moment he had been waiting for, surrender. And oh, was he going to milk this opportunity dry.

However, first things first, he had to subject the same pain his wife had gone through unto the very one who had made her feel that pain.

Alpha Knox crossed his arms, his smirk returning back to his lips, "Maybe I will consider lifting the plague, if you deliver the person who had killed my wife into my hands." He bargained and Aster's eyes widened in horror beneath his mask, another shiver licking his spine.

How the hell was he supposed to deliver his mate into the hands of his enemy?