The Alpha's Keeper

CXIII: Dealing with New Abilities

It all happened so fast that when Joshua saw it, it seemed like the sound from the room had just disappeared. All the power that he had acquired, all the strength that he had, and he could only see in the distance how his mother, pierced by the deformed hand of that creature, was dragged at full speed towards a portal that she could not cross.

He didn’t know if it had to do with his new abilities or just the God of death in his infinite cruelty, causing him to witness that situation slowly. Joshua could look at the path of her mother, who crossed as she was joined her hands on her chest and closed her eyes as in the last prayer.

Her body flew quickly towards the portal, and Joshua using all his strength, could not move faster, and he could only see how his mother, when hitting the portal, disintegrated into a mountain of dust.

As soon as the portal closed and his mother was destroyed, Joshua was able to move again and run at full speed, and he reached where the remains of his mother were. It was something like he had never seen before, a huge amount of lifeless dust, any scent, nothing that resented his former mother, nothing that gave her a bit of identity, just a sad memory that disappeared in seconds.

Little by little, the sounds came to his mind again, and everyone was screaming and cursing but both how Erika was kept silent. The girl released her bow and, looking ahead, fell to her knees right where the remains of her mother were and looking at Joshua, she said, “I do not understand!”

It was the only words she could conjure, Erika was completely lost, completely disconnected from what was happening, and in Joshua’s mind, only one idea remained the miracle.

Opening her eyes, she looked up at the sky and taking a deep breath she put her hands on the dust, but at that moment she appeared in a completely white space, and her mother’s voice sounded behind her.

“What do you think you’re doing, Joshua?”

He got up instantly and seeing her mother, he ran to her and hugged her, at last, he began to cry. When he opened his eyes, he could see her mother, and she was dressed differently. A completely bright white dress and long to her ankles highlighted her figure when she said, “Son, I know this is sudden, but there is nothing to do. Death often has that element of uncertainty that bathes our lives!”

Joshua looked around her and said, “I made this?”

She shook her head and, looking in front of her, said, “No, this is a favor granted me by the goddess of the moon. What happened was tragic and sudden, and you were about to make a huge mistake!”

Joshua saw her and said hurriedly, “Mom, the miracle can save you. What’s the use of having a miracle if I can’t save my own mother?”

Joshua’s mother saw him and, smiling, said, “Son, I have been alive an eternity, after giving the mantle of witness to the moon, to the best replacement I have nothing else to do in that world. Not even the company of your father I can have, I prefer to be up here, and perhaps I can spend a few centuries by his side!”

Joshua looked in all directions. He tried to see his father, but in that blank space, there was only him and his mother, calmly. His tears did not stop falling when he remembered instantly.

“Mother! Erika!”

Her mother lowered her head, and with sadness in her voice, she said, “I wish Erika were here... I… really, but sadly she can’t. No yet, it was not the right time. She will have hers of her own challenges, and like your miracle, my guide will come when she needs it most.”

Joshua moved forward and calmly but seriously, and then he said, “Mother! You died in front of her, and there is no more important moment for your guide. This is the moment!”

She calmly took a deep breath and said, “I know that my death may seem like the most tragic event in the world ... but I assure you that the tragedies are only beginning, and you must be strong enough to face the end of the world, do not forget that!”

Joshua looked at the ground and sadly hugged his mother once more. In her arms, she said, “My strong son, this is your journey, and you must pass it now. Be strong and determined like your father!”

Joshua nodded and calmly said, “And I will be brave like you!”

Joshua’s mother smiled and, seeing him, said, “Take care of me, my angel. She needs you very much!”

Joshua began to feel her body fade and calmly watched everything turn white around him, but before leaving, he heard his mother’s voice once more than he said, Take care of that beautiful woman! She is the key to all this coming disaster!”

Joshua heard that, and again, the sounds of the room returned to him, Erika next to him saw him, and in an instant, she understood what was happening, taking his arms, she said, “Did you see her? Can she come back?”

Joshua took a deep breath and took her sister’s head and pressed it against her shoulder, the alpha said, “I’m sorry, sister, and mom won’t come back.”

A few seconds were left for Erika to burst into tears and hug Joshua tightly, her screams of agony were tremendous two, and his sadness overflowed all the reactions in that place, Seth and Mathew transformed into wolves and began to howl, Seraphim rude as she was could not bear the image and burying her face in Nate’s chest began to cry. Eleonor and Edith were hugging each other, and Edith looked at Joshua in the distance, which was comforting her sister.

The loss was tremendous, and she couldn’t believe that Joshua’s mother had sacrificed herself for her sake. She could feel death feeding on that loss and wound as she wished not to be who she was. Everyone spent several minutes crying to the matriarch, and after the tempers calmed down, they left the room.

Three hours passed Erika cried herself to exhaustion, and when he defeated her, she fell exhausted in her room, Eleonor being empathic as she was felt the same effect as Erika and asleep, she fell into a deep sleep, Seth and Mathew gave the orders that the alpha established on as they settle in, they would leave the last place where their pack was and they together with the moon witnesses would now all call that mountain home.

While all of this was going on in the conference room, Seraphim, Nate, Edith, and Joshua were talking as if there was no hope left.

“I can’t believe that happened...” Nate said, he like everyone witnessed the situation, and to think that he could stop it was silly.

However, he could not help being frustrated. Edith looked at Joshua, tried to guess what he was thinking, but his face was impassive. Joshua calmly went up to face and said, “What happened can’t be changed, friends! And it wasn’t anyone’s fault other than that bastard!”

They all saw them, and he calmly put his hands on the table to support his weight and, in all seriousness, said, “I do not plan to leave that wretch on this earth, alive or not, and I am going to strike him down!”

Everyone agreed with that statement, but Joshua, far from finished, said, “But we have worse problems!”

Nobody ever believed that he said that, and looking up, he said, “There is something going on, folks! The truth is that things are getting complicated, and it involves your sister Stella and her friend...”

Edith looked ahead, and without understanding what she was referring to, she asked in confusion, “Dominic?”

Joshua nodded and calmly said, “We must rescue your sister, but not just for her! We must also get Dominic out! He has the answer for what is to come.”

They all gaped at Joshua, who was trying with difficulty to explain what the moon goddess had informed him. Everyone understood the situation, from the old gods and the new, the war and the execution that was to come. Hearing that news, everyone in some way resented the future, and Edith said, terrified.

“Does that mean this bastard who killed my sister may have been put here by the gods themselves?”

Joshua, not knowing what the correct answer was, said, “I do not know! But it may be, if what your God says is true, then we will have to free Stella and with her Dominic! But we know where she is!”

Seraphim walked a bit and said, “Rigoleto Renato Rauri. The headquarters of the hunters!”

They all nodded, and Joshua, calmly looking at Edith, said, “We cannot do this alone! We will need help!”

Edith nodded and, looking at the ground, she said, “The only person who can help us now is my other sister. Margaret!”

They all saw her and nodded. The last servant of death was the only one who could help her. Little did they know that that same woman was in great trouble, and in order to help them, they would first have to help her.

The tokens were falling in her place, and now the mission was clear, and the enemy as well, the Witch Hunters society, was her next target.