Okami: The Selected One

Adolf

Somewhere In The Earth

Manhattan Valley

“Mother” Ama called out and pointed to the priest whom she sighted from afar. The Luna still hadn’t gotten over the shock of her husband's death. She looked up at him and was relieved when she did not see the child. Finally, the goddess must have realized how evil he was. She sighed.

“You haven’t eaten anything, your Highness” One of the maids bowed. She kept mute as she expected the priest to give her the ‘good' news of her son’s death.

“Your Highness” He called out in front of the royal home. “Is she in?” He inquired of the guards who were outside. The guards nodded in affirmation.

“Let him in” She ordered to the maid who in return, turned to tell the royal guards. She led him into the royal waiting room.

“I believe you must have brought good news…” She stopped in her words on seeing the priest. Anger welled up in her.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the child, please, accept him” He pleaded

“Why did the goddess not take him?” She asked angrily.

“Because he is for the throne. He is the next Alpha King, he is……”

“Enough!” She yelled angrily. ‘?”You shall praise no one else but your Luna” She reminded.

“I am sorry your Majesty but this child is your son. He is our next king” He pleaded.

“He has no place here” She turned her back to him.

“Luna, listen to me once. If you don’t take this child, the goddess will be angry with you. Her wrath will fall on you!” He warned.

“Says who?” She challenged.

“Says the goddess” He frowned.

“And what if I decide to kill him?”

“That would be impossible”

“Why?”

“Because the goddess has anointed this one. At his prime, he cannot be killed” He smiled. She looked at him with disdain and discomfort. All she wanted was to forget about her husband’s death but this child will always remind her of him. She wiped off the tears that escaped her eyes.

“Luna” The priest called “I know this child's birthday did not bring you good memories but reminds you of the death of the Alpha King but please, he is still your son” He pleaded.

“I have only two children. Ama and Amora” She defiantly said.

“You know that's not true, your highness. Remember when you conceived the child. Remember how the Aloha King waited to see the face of the child. Remember the joy when the Alpha King realized he was going to have a son. Remember how happy you also were when you realized you were going to have a son. The heir to the throne. Remember how joy-filled this kingdom, Luna. Have you forgotten so quickly? If the Alpha King was here, think of how much he would love and cherish him. Remember how much he said he was going to make this child happy, this child is a blessing” He paused. “Think of the love the Alpha King had for him even before he was born. Shower the love on me”

She looked at him as if she was surprised. The priest nodded in affirmation to confirm his statement. She diverted her gaze to the baby. The baby was staring at her. He was so handsome and she didn’t realize when she smiled at him. As if he understood what his mother was saying, he smiled too. The child wriggled in the priest's hands. Somehow, the priest felt something was off but he discarded the feeling as he was excited that the Luna had accepted the child even though he was still carrying him.

“And what was the name the Alpha King promised to name him when he was born?” The priest questioned with a smile. She looked into the child’s ocean-deep eyes.”

“Adolf”

Four years later

“Mother, mother” A young girl of about four years called.

“Hephzibah!” Her mother yelled at her. The girl made a puss face before smiling again.

“You haven’t wished me a happy birthday” She hugs her mother’s neck from behind. She noticed her mother’s wet face. She looked closer to get a better look. She wiped off the liquid from her mother’s eyes.

“Why are you crying? Today is my birthday and you are crying? Why?” She questioned with concern.

“I am fine my dear” She wiped her tears and hugged her daughter.

“You don’t seem fine. Crying is not being fine,” The girl insisted and tried to free herself from her mother’s grip.

“I will be fine” Her mother hugged her tighter. She attempted to set herself free but the more she tried, the tighter her mother hugged her. She decided to give up as her mother had no intention of freeing her soon.

“So what do I get you today for a present?” Her mother questioned.

“Well, mother, can we explore the market? I know I would be able to decide on my choice” She smiled widely.

“Sure” Her mother smiled. “Go in and get dressed”

“Okay, mother” Hephzibah smiled widely and quickly took off to her room. Her mother smiled at her. She looked so innocent. Minutes after, she ran out again but this time, beautifully dressed and adorned in a beautiful pink gown with white polka dots all over it. She had her hair packed into a beautiful bun. She looked like a princess indeed.

“Mother!” She called her mother excitedly as she walked out, walking in a grand and royal style.

“You look gorgeous, my queen” Her mother smiled. She knew those were the exact words Hephzibah wanted to hear.

“Thank you, mother, to the queen” She bowed and they both began to laugh.

“Shall we?” She stretched her hand to her mother.

“Yes, your Highness” Her mother tried to suppress the laughter that kept threatening to burst out again. Hands in hands, the two generations of females walked out, heading to the market. Even though Hannah was not too wealthy to be able to take care of her daughter, she wanted to give her the best life possible at least as an improvision for the fatherly touch and love her daughter would never get as her daughter never had a fatherly figure in her life.

“Mama, what are you thinking of?” Hephzibah dragged her mother’s hand, drawing her back to consciousness as she was about to drown in her thoughts.

“Me? Nothing. I was just reminiscing on some things”.

“Really? Well, we are here”

“Where?” Her mother looked around. “Oh!”

“Yeah” Hephzibah crossed her hands angrily. Her mother held her hand again and together, they walked into the store.

“Mother, I want this one” Hephzibah pointed. Hannah who had not been concentrating suddenly turned her head to the toy Hephzibah was pointing to. Anger welled up in her. It was a carved toy of an animal. Not just an animal but an animal whose upper body was human and the lower body was of a wolf.

“No, you don’t!” Hannah yelled in anger. Hephzibah shook in fear. She did not expect her mother to yell at her in such a manner. Her mother, realizing what she had done quickly apologized to the young girl who was about to start weeping.

“I am sorry but look around” She bent to her daughter’s height and pointed around. “There are a lot of pretty toys here. Look at this” She pointed at one. “It is the toy of a young girl as pretty as you, dressed in a beautiful pink gown just like you! If you don’t want that one, look at this” She pointed at another one. “It is a singing bird, so beautiful. It is even coated in white like your polka dots” She smiled and looked at her daughter’s face. Disappointment and sadness were registered on Hephzibah’s face.

“Look at this one” She pointed at another one. “This is a toy carved to look like the ice Queen! The story of the ice queen I always told you about. The one you liked to listen to every night! Look how beautiful she is!” Her mother tried to make everything appealing to the young girl just to prevent her from the ‘werewolf' carved toy. She wondered why anyone would sell such a toy after knowing about the feud between them and the werewolves. It wasn’t time for the festival yet so she couldn’t find a suitable reason why the owner of the toy would display the toy. Not just displaying it but displaying it in an appealing and enticing as well as inviting way.

“Hephzibah, look at this one! You are a princess. This crown will look perfect on you! My Royal Queen” Her mother bowed to her. She giggled at the action of her mother.

“The crown is beautiful” She smiled at the crown. Her mother was delighted as she was finally able to change the young girl's mind at last. “But I don’t want it. I want that toy” She frowned. The smile on her mother’s face disappeared. She was disappointed and angry at the same time.

“No, you don’t” Her mother answered angrily.

“Yes, I do” She pleaded.

“No, you don’t!” Her mother yelled angrily, drawing the attention of everyone in the store.

“But why mama, it is my birthday today. You said I could get anything I want” She answered, pleading.

“Everything but that toy or anything looking like it” Hannah frowned.

“Why mother? You always wanted my happiness. You always wanted me to be happy. This is my happiness. This toy will make me happy” She pleaded.

“You know nothing about happiness. That toy is nothing compared to your happiness. I have always wanted your happiness and I always will. You can’t have it” She crossed her arm.

“But I want it!” Hephzibah cried out.

“But you can’t get it!” Hannah howled back.

“What if that is my happiness?” She challenged.

“It isn’t “ Hannah responded quickly.

“What if it is?” Hephzibah questioned again.

“Well, it isn't” Her mother retorted sharply.

“What if it is?” She asked again. Hannah sighed and turned her back to Hephzibah “Then, I am willing to stand against it”

Hephzibah gasped at her mother’s startling acknowledgment. Out of outrage coupled with shock, Hephzibah ran out of the store in anger. Hannah sighed. She wasn't ready to go after Hephzibah. She had just uncovered the truth. If werewolves were Hephzibah's pleasure, she was willing to live against it. She stepped out of the store angrily too.