Tale Of A Cursed Alpha

Luna

“Who are you?” I asked again, my voice extremely soft. Whoever could speak to trees and order them around was definitely a force to be reckoned with and to be feared.

“Sorry about that. He just would not listen to me. You know what children are like, right?” He continued in his voice which now sounded like the sound of a thousand falling leaves.

I looked behind me wondering why Indrik was yet to come out. I regretted it instantly. The hut was gone and in its place were even more trees which were keeping us enclosed. I did a 360 degree turn, yet I could not see anything apart from trees around us. My blood seemed to be turning to lead as I turned back to the man. “Where is Indrik?” I asked, scared to know what his response would be.

“The boy? He is just fine.” He waved his branch arms and a few leaves fell off, swirling as they made their way to the ground.

I wasn’t sure I believed him but I didn’t think I was left with many other choices. “Who are you and what do you want with me?” I asked for the umpteenth time.

He fixed green eyes on me. I blinked, wondering if his eyes had been green all along. I must have missed it in the green of his robe. “So, you really don’t remember me.” He whispered, his voice almost sounding human. He looked wistful as he searched my eyes. Something tugged at the back of my mind. I had a feeling that I was supposed to know this person but like most of my memories, it stayed just out of my reach. I seemed to remember running around dancing trees though. I shook my head wondering what the memory was all about.

“No, I don’t. So, could you tell me who you are?” I asked, hoping he could clarify the shadows that were bugging me.

He lowered his head and muttered something that I couldn’t quite catch. Then raising his head, he turned to me. “If you’ve forgotten me then, I assume it is for the best. I…”

I interrupted, the thought that I was supposed to know this person becoming stronger and stronger. “Just tell me who you are already. Please?” I asked desperately but he merely shook his head, releasing another swirl of leaves.

“I am forbidden to interfere. Everyone is. Perhaps, after you pay your debt, you would regain all of your losses.”

I stumbled back as the weight of his words hit me with the weight of a brick. I knew about the debt. “The meeting you mentioned. You were referring to Indrik?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t shake his head again and say he couldn’t answer my question but he shook his head in affirmation.

“The fact that you can’t remember me has ruined my purpose for coming here but I should tell you to relax. You are welcome here. As a matter of fact, this place was created a long time ago for the two children of the prophecy…” He drifted off.

“The prophecy? What prophecy?” I asked, feeling like I was getting very close to a rather important discovery.

He shook his head slowly. “I have said too much. I’m afraid I can’t stay with you any longer. Just remember that you don’t have much time and remember, there is life in death.”

I stopped to consider the words but none of it seemed to make sense. “Wait? What do you mean…” I started but he was gone, as were the close circle of trees. In their place was the wide circle of trees, the center of which warm moonlight poured into the clearing.

I frowned, wondering if I had somehow fallen asleep and had that dream but no, I could still perceive his fragrance of flowers and could hear his voice still ringing in my head. “There is life in death.” He had said. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to know him.

“Hey! When did you get here? I’ve been looking all over for you.” I turned toward Indrik who was hurrying toward me with a frown.

“You mean you didn’t see the trees?” I asked but the only response I got was an even deeper frown as he stared at the trees that surrounded us like, of course, I see trees. I walked to the nearest tree and placed an arm against it but there was no sign that it could be a living tree. I wondered if it was pretending to be a normal tree or it really was a normal tree and I had been taken elsewhere. I almost started to think it was a dream again until I felt something in my other hand. Opening it, I found a leaf which shouldn’t have been strange except that this leaf was exuding a really green glow like it had had an overdose of chlorophyll or had come from the body of the tree master.

“Uhm! Luna, are you okay?” Indrik asked, placing an arm on my shoulder.

I turned toward him slowly, my brows still furrowed in thought but I nodded. “Yeah!” I drawled, still staring at the leaf.

“What is that?” He asked, looking over my shoulder in a attempt to see what I was holding but I close my palm before he could do that.

“It is nothing.” I waved. “How long was I gone for?” I turned toward him, tucking my other arm behind my back, getting another frown as he gave me a suspicion look.

“Not long.” He finally declared. “I came after you when you came out but by the time I came out, you were no where to be found. I called for you but you wouldn’t reply and then, you were here again. What happened to you?” He asked again. I shook my head.

“Come on!”