THE CULT
1575 Words
[SULIANA]
The day after, the sun was partly sunken on the horizon when the horns blared around the kingdom, a signal that the king would make an announcement.
Most of the Cantatans were now gathered at the middle of the market, whispering to one another. King Doroteo was standing in the center of the platform holding a shingku. Soldiers scattered among the crowd to control them in case something happened.
Barry, the spokesperson of the king was sitting at the stool at the edge of the platform. He was sweating profusely and was trying so hard to smile.
Suliana searched the crowd for Gon. She saw him instantly. She walked towards him and he walked towards her. They met halfway and he asked, “Are you okay?”
“I had a nightmare about it,” she said. “I can still hear his amir cry--”
“Sshh,” Gon said, placed his finger on the top of her lips. His face inched closer to hers. “There are enemies all around us.”
I know, she wanted to say.
Because it was true, the supporters of the king--which meant most of the people of Cantata--were now their enemies, in a way. She knew that they’d defend the king with all their poisoned soul. They needed to be careful.
“I call them howlers,” Suliana said. “Because they’re rabid.”
That made Gon smile, at least a bit.
“Are you okay?”
Gon shrugged. “The krilldom is gloomier than usual. They know now that one of us was murdered--”
Before Gon could finish what he was saying, the king spoke.
“Good afternoon, dearest people of my beloved kingdom!” King Doroteo said, his nose oilier than usual. One of his eyelids drooping once again. He was smiling that proud smile of his.
A murmur of greeting was made by the Cantatans.
“Another surprising hunting happened last night… and I am happy to report to you that almost a hundred naseris were killed last night. That’s why if you breathe hard…” King Doroteo sniffed the air, making his nose appear bulgier than usual. “You can smell the stink of blood.”
Like fools, the howlers--the rabid Doroteo supporters, smelled the air. Most of them were grinning because it was really there, Suliana could smell it. The smell of dried blood. It lingered, even though the entire morning was spent by some of the krills washing out the blood that flowed on the streets and scrubbing the blood that splattered on the walls.
It was there, like a vicious reminder.
“That is proof that the soldiers and I are doing our best to control the addiction crisis of this kingdom!” King Doroteo said. “Let’s applaud our soldiers!”
The howlers applauded. Some of them hooting. Some of them grinning and a few with tears in their eyes. The soldiers around them all smiled smugly.
This is…
Madness was the word that came to her mind.
“I promised you back then that in three years, I will end the crisis,” said King Doroteo. “But it’s my detractors who stopped me from fulfilling that promise. All those human rights activists… all whining that what I’m doing is inhumane. Well, I don’t know about those idiots but... I am saving the entire kingdom by killing the people who cause crimes in it. That, my people, is my definition of what is f*****g humane.”
The crowd roared. Some of the women began squeezing their noses.
“I thought… would it be better if I kill those human rights idiots?” King Doroteo said, pointing his finger at the side of his head. “Would it be better to kill them, too, because they help these naseris multiply?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” said the crowd. They were even punching their first on the air. One man stared at them and frowned when he saw they weren’t cheering like them. He whispered to the person beside him and that person looked at them, too.
They are thirsty for blood. They… they believe him.
They would fight for him.
King Doroteo looked amused as he looked around the Cantatans before him. He raised his hands and motioned them to get silent. The noise died down.
“I will make another promise my fellow Cantatan…” he said. He raised one finger like he was making a threat. “Our battle with this naseris will be as relentless and chilling as on the day it began…”
By then the screaming was like a roar of a beast, some are raising their hands and crying. Some our singing “Viva akir Doroteo…” in an invented tone. The women kept on squeezing their plump noses, some of the men were red in the face as if drunk with delight. And Suliana couldn’t believe it, but a few of the men actually… howled.
Howlers.
They’re rabid.
They’re mad.
They’re insane.
They are many.
They are powerful.
They are… terrifying.
Suliana realized idolatry was a monster with an ugly face and it sunk its fangs on the Cantatans and its venom is traveling in their bloodstreams.
Like a f*****g disease.
“Viva akir Doroteo! Viva akir Doroteo!”
Suliana was almost suffocated by the rancid breath of the Cantatans. Gon pulled him away from the crowd who cheered louder when King Doroteo waved to say that he was finished with his piece. Suliana could no longer see him because she was far from the stage already, but she heard Barry spoke, so he probably took the shingku from the king.
“Thank you, king,” Barry said. “I’d sleep like a baby tonight knowing you’d kill all the naseris on the kingdom.”
The crowd roared in agreement but it was fading in her ears, for they were already on their way to the woods. They stopped when they were under the arinillo tree. Gon’s expression was glum.
“Did you see that?” Gon said. It seemed as if he was panicking.
“I saw it,” Suliana said. “They’re mad, Gon.”
“This is going to be really dangerous,” Gon said breathlessly. “Those people are so enamored with the king; they won’t care if he kills anyone. Yes, Suliana, they are f*****g mad. They are s**t-on-the-wall mad. And we can’t fight them on our own, not if we don’t have a good plan…”
“Calm down, Gon,” Suliana said, holding his shoulders. “Calm down. You need to calm down.”
Gon was still breathing fast, his face pale. He looked at her intently. Suliana breathed deep, hoping he’d do it, too. And he did. After a while, he calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” Gon said.
“I get it. It’s scary. I saw them. They howled Gon. Some of them howled.”
“You’re right. They’re rabid,” Gon said. He slumped down and sat on the huge stump that was near the tree. “What should we do?”
Suliana sat on the ground in front of Gon. She held his hands. He let her. “We need help.”
“No one will help us,” Gon said.
“The Millos will,” Suliana said.
Gon looked at her. She knew the idea scared him, but eluded him too. The idea was like a fire that is beautiful but could burn them to crisp.
“And if we’re not ready to associate with the Millos, I know someone who can help us too,” said Suliana.
“Who?”
“My teacher,” Suliana said. “Miram Julie.”
Suliana had thought of that last night. She remembered how Miram Julie warned her about the king. How she was devastated that she could no longer teach her magic. She remembered her saying that she had to be trained because the king is evil and a powerful enemy.
“We can’t do this without Miram Julie’s help, Gon. We need to ask her to help us. We need to ask her to teach me…”
Gon’s eyes widened. “Magic.”
“Yes, Gon,” said Suliana. “We need her to teach me magic. If we have to fight this battle, we need an advantage. We need magic.”
Gon blinked, doubt suddenly shadowed his eyes. “But will she help us? Will she agree to…”
“We have to make her agree, Gon. We have to make her agree. Because you see what we’re against with. It’s not just the king. It’s not just the soldiers… it’s the entire kingdom. The entire kingdom, Gon.” Saying the words somehow alleviated the fear a little. “We need magic, Gon. We need it because King Doroteo had become Cantatan’s religion. We need it because we’re up against a f*****g cult.”
- Writer
