The Last Celestial

King of the Oasis

Redenor rushed to his son as Seth fell to the floor. The young man's chest slowly turned pale and then his flesh that was stung by the scorpion turned blue and black.

"Father..." Seth managed to whisper before he closed his eyes.

"My son!" He screamed as he placed his hand under Seth's nape, wrapping his arm around him to pull up the unconscious young man. "Seth, wake up! Seth!"

He placed his head against his son's chest to check if his heart was palpitating. The venom of the scorpion spreads out depending on where the person is stung. The legs are not as lethal, so are the arms and the thighs.

But near the heart? He had never heard of such a thing before.

He gritted his teeth when he heard faint heartbeats. "This is not good. This is not good at all!" He said it like a mantra.

Redenor flinched when he remembered that the small critter could still be around and could possibly sting him as well. He straightened his back and pushed himself away from his son. If he is stung, no one may be able to cure the two. Seth and Elly.

He looked at Seth's body and carefully checked if the devil's spawn was still there. "The scorpion! Look for it!" He loudly commanded the Keepers.

Nathaniel immediately told the three to follow the old man's orders. "Look for the small scorpion, and be careful. That little s**t may jump out of nowhere and sting you."

Zebedee, Aiziah and Kane got down on their knees and began to look for the creature as Redenor rushed to the extraction room to get the medicine he had prepared beforehand.

A few minutes had passed, and still the three couldn't find the scorpion.

"It's not here." Zebedee said, wide eyes and her face was filled with dismay. "I can't find it anywhere."

"Me neither." Aiziah chorused.

"I, as well." Kane grumbled in defeat.

Nathaniel palmed his face in sheer frustration, thinking why this has to happen to them. He looked up at the ceiling and tried to think. Did he actually miss to see the scorpion and it was actually hiding at Elly?

That would be impossible and an incredibly stupid idea. Since he and Kane had been carrying Elly for miles and miles, shouldn't they be stung by the small scorpion first?

"Ah, for the love of all Celestials, my head is spinning and hurting already." Nathaniel grumbled to himself, saying his thoughts aloud that it made Kane look at him.

"Elder." Kane said, calling for him. "What are you thinking?"

Nathaniel looked at Kane then averted his eyes from the man. He shook his head and turned, not wanting to tell Kane whatever it is that's circling on his mind. He doesn't want to think of the unthinkable, but what if it is true.

All the Celestials actions had been unpredictable and cannot be fathomed by man.

He just wished that he could think of what was going on this time. Not only he wanted to save the life of his comrade, Elly. But he also wanted to save the life of Seth.

If Scorpio really loved the man of the stars. Then why would he let a scorpion poison him right? "It's nothing." Nathaniel lied through his teeth. "Don't mind me, I'm just tired." He added. And to successfully push Kane off his back he said, "Go back to finding the scorpion. I'll begin looking for it too."

Although Kane didn't want to pry, a part of him became curious as Nathaniel is the type of man who is always thinking. He creates this hypothesis until he figures out what is really going on and why it is happening.

Kane thinks it is one of the reasons why Nathaniel was chosen not only as an Elder but as a commander as well. He was tempted to ask, almost opening his lips and letting the question slip from his tongue.

But then...

"Step aside!" Redenor enunciated, voice loud and clear as he walked towards the two unconscious men. He was holding on a mortar and a pestle. And from what it looks like, he was grinding some sort of mixed herbs.

The herbs contained raw tamarind, mango sap and achyranthes aspera.

He placed the mortar and the pestle on the foot of the bed where Elly is laying on. He then looked at Nathaniel and raised his hand and opened up his palm and said, "Give me the bottle."

Nathaniel obliged immediately and handed over the bottle to the old man.

Redenor accepted it and opened the bottle, taking off the lid then placed it near the mortar. The old man then poured a quarter of the bluish black liquid to the paste he made.

But then a putrid scent came from the mixture as the liquid from the bottle mixed with the paste. Redenor winced and he took the lid from the bed and covered the bottle.

The others could only wait patiently as they stared at Redenor who looked completely defeated. The look on his face was completely grim, and his eyes glistened.

"The liquid from that bottle..." He said as his lips trembled. "...is no cure. It's a different kind of poison."

Zebedee fell on her knees, her hands immediately covered her mouth as she began to sob. "Oh, no..." She cried softly. "Elly!" She covered her eyes as streams of tears rolled down to her cheeks.

Aiziah stared at Nathaniel. And her expression was as dark as Redenor. "Isn't that liquid from the desert flower that came from the scorpion?"

Nathaniel couldn't answer her directly as he feels the same as her. Petrified and had been played upon.

Aiziah bit her lip as she kept her gaze at the Elder Keeper. "...then, is the Celestial --- Scorpio simply toying with us?"

"Aiziah!" Kane screamed after hearing the sinful thing that came out from her lips. "How dare you --- we don't know what's going on!"

The Keeper shook her head in sheer disbelief. She looked at Kane, and then Nathaniel before she peered her gaze at Elly. And she thought her friend's life was being played. And what's worse... she thought there was hope.

"I hate this!" She screamed as she ran away from the house, crying and screaming curses at why she was born as a Keeper.

=================

Golind's wings flapped against the thick clouds. He clicked his tongue, signifying to Sphinox that they are near the Island where their Creator is hiding.

"Ah... the Creator chose a good place this time." Sphinox said as her voice laced with happiness after seeing the island.

The Island their Creator --- Emir had chosen was seemingly floating from the vast ocean. Half of the Island's rock formation was dry and looked like it just emerged from the water. Only the tip of the Island was submerged in the ocean. The island looked like an upside down pyramid, and it was one of a kind.

Soon, the clouds were gone and Golind along with Sphinox is about to land on the Island. As soon as Golind was near enough to the ground, he transformed back to his old self. Though he was tempted to throw Sphinox around, he pushed the idea away since she was carrying the relic.

"Ah... finally. We are home, Golind." Sphinox spoke using three of her voices again. She marched towards the lone castle standing on the island, and Golind did not have to see what is under her mask for him to know how happy the gigantic creature was. "The creator will be pleased."

Golind hummed when he felt the Island rumble a little. The ocean waves crashed against the island. Not once, but a dozen times. The last and biggest wave --- somewhat resembling a tsunami crashed against them, and the water touched Golind's back.

The Island rumbled and the trees and grass shook.

Atlas felt their presence.

Even now when Golind's power flowed in him, he felt more powerful. He still can't help but shiver when Atlas gives him and Sphinox a reminder as to who is really the most powerful of all the Undying Man's creations.

"I hate that giant..." Golind grumbled under his breath, making sure that his voice was not too loud so that Sphinox won't hear and tell Atlas about it.

She was too happy about carrying the relic and presenting it to the Creator. Sphinox could care less about the 1st and 3rd creation as of now.

As the two of them walked towards the dark halls, the catacombs and the wide room where the Throne of their creator was standing in the middle, Sphinox carried the relic wrapped in Keeper's armor with pride.

"Creator!" She screamed, now six of her voices came out. And it made Golind grit his teeth. It was a sound so eerie that it could destroy a weak person's sanity. "We have it, we have the Relic!"

The throne from afar looked empty, as only a shadow of Emir could be seen. But then, he stood up in all his glory, wearing the same white and gold tunic that always does.

Golind and Sphinox fell on their knees after witnessing his presence. In sheer awe and fondness of the man who created them.

The Undying man walked towards them. The staff on his hand banged against the cold stone floors. "Well done..." He said with a smile. And as he inches closer to Sphinox seeing that fabric tucked on his arms brought him sheer joy that he actually smiled --- showing his rows of teeth. "Well done, Sphinox and Golind."

Sphinox stood up and rushed towards her Creator. She politely handed the heavy relic to Emir, and she bowed her head as she did, not sparing his beautiful face a second look. As the face she hides behind the Kabuki Mask was truly wretched and spiteful.

"It is our Honor, Creator." She said as she walked back and knelt down next to Golind.

Emir let out a laughter, a loud boisterous laughter that he once experienced when he was still a mortal and not called the Undying man. The sheer feeling of accomplishing one of his goals, brought him to such a high that his body glowed and his eyes turned to gold.

His laughter resounded on the empty halls, the rooms and where he and his creations stood.

"Ah... this is truly what I created you two for." He said, with a crooked grin.

He puts down his staff gently on the floor, minding to not destroy the orb. And as he stared down at the thick cloth wrapped around the relic, he savored every minute of removing the clothes of the Keepers that his creations ate, feasted on and killed.

"Oh, what a happy day!" He said and was overly joyed.

One more cloth, and the Relic that he has been longing for, will be finally his. "One out of three." He said as he took off the last cloth, unraveling the Relic that's safely tucked beneath those thick fabrics.

"How beautiful." He said as he looked closer to the Relic. As the tales from many men have told him, it is true. The relic really does shine gold. And the crystals and precious stones on the relic gives it the finishing touch.

"I will have you now." He said, then he placed his hand on top of the relic.

But then... something changed. As his flesh touched the relic, the gold metal began to rust. And the white-grayish liquid inside began to evaporate --- boiling until it only turned into water.

"No..." Emir whispered as he continuously shook his head. "No!" He screamed loudly and stood up in sheer frustration. "No, no, no, no, no!"

As the Undying man screamed, the Island trembled and his eyes that were full of joy turned dark. "Scorpio! Until now you mock me!" He screamed and then looked down at the Relic. He lifted his feet and then stomped on the Relic with all his power until it broke into pieces.

"I hate you, I hate you! Scorpio!"

Golind and Sphinox who were as overjoyed as Emir before, were now motionless as the two feared for the worst when Emir looked at them with such dangerous eyes and all they can sense is murder.

"Creator, please..." Golind planted his hands against the cold floor. "We did our best. We did not know!" He begged and begged while Sphinox remained silent and motionless.

Emir's breathing labored as he screamed again, his voice ringing against their ears. "You imbeciles! How could you let that Celestial fool you?! Even in death he mocks me..."

The Undying man raised his hands, and soon Golind and Sphinox were raised up in the air.

"Atlas will be the one to punish you two." Was what he said before throwing Golind and Sphinox on the middle of the ocean where a gigantic --- monstrous hand caught them, and dragged them on the very bottom part of the ocean.