Daddy Next Door

by Tina Lee

  “My father would disagree. He never said it, and he didn’t have to, but I knew he blamed me for her death. The Black Wolf. The Bringer of Death. I guess it was my fate.”

  Many terrible things happen every day, and it took a strong stomach to accept that those terrible things was their fate. If that was the case, then Fate could be cruel at times. “You believe the path chose the walker. Well… I believe the walker chose the path.”

  His ambers looked at me once more before diving back into the light.

  No matter how many times he dived in the river of light, it would not wash his darkness away. That’s not how it works, Dante. That’s not how it works.

  Chapter Five

  Elizabeth

  At dawn, Snow led his pack to war with who dared crossed on the North’s territory. I never understood men and their love for war. Many left to fight that morning but not all returned.

  The pack was victorious, yet all around the ground, no one celebrated. The men wore faces of sigh and sorrow. The cost of victory was too high.

  I rushed into the woods with my two healing assistants to tend anyone with any injuries. There was constant howling and whimpering singing through the woods, and images that would burn itself into my memory forever.

  I noticed blood on my assistant’s hand. “Are you hurt?” I asked.

  She looked her hand. “It’s not mine. Blood is on your arm too.”

  I examined myself. She was right. It wasn’t our blood, it was the left overs from the war. Blood on the bushes, tree barks, rocks, the earth. Anything you touched was painted with the blood of these prideful men and their ideals. Why war? I guess it was foolish to think that everything could be resolved peacefully. The world wasn’t so black and white. If what Leo said was true, and that he fought for peace, then maybe these men died for something.

  I thought of Ben and Sia back at the base. They should be safe there. I could really use one of Ben’s cliché words of wisdom. Anything really to keep me going.

  Up ahead the howls got louder. Three wolves laid in the dirt. Two were already dead. The other heaved heavily as if he were on his last breath. This wolf had white fur, but not as pure as Snow’s. This meant that he was a Luka, probably Snow’s cousin.

  The blood on his white fur was chilling, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t shaking. I knew I had a job to do and got right to it.

  “Light a small fire.” I told one of my assistant. “Start chewing these Gomash leaves.” I told the other.

  He was bleeding from the neck. That was where the other wolf aimed. Dante was right, that was their weak spot. I applied pressure to his wound to lessen the bleeding. He lost some blood but he would be fine. I took the Luric acid from my bag. “This will hurt,” I told him before i poured some into the wound. I felt him tense as it stung his flesh.

  I gave my assistant a small metal plate. “Heat the chewed up Gomash leaves.” The Gomash leaves, when heated, released honey-like substance that is used to seep into the wound and become rubbery as it cooled. This was enough to stop the bleeding. It would also ease the pain as he rested.

  He made a soft whimper as we left him alone to look for others. A whimper that broke my heart. As much as I wanted to be strong for my younger assistants, I couldn’t. The tears kept rolling down my cheeks and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

  There were more howls and cries. My assistants had split up so we could tend to more wolves faster. Some I could save and some I could not. A wolf died in my arms. Those savages ripped him apart and left him like a ragged cloth. I ran my fingers through his light gray fur as he took his final breath. His eyes looking into my eyes. I wondered what he was thinking. Was he thinking of his love who would now become a widow? Or happy flashbacks of his life? Perhaps childhood memories as a boy. His breathing stopped on that cool dawn. Another casualty of war.

  While running around in the chaos, I looked for any clues for where Snow might be. I was worried about him, and if I was to completely honest with myself, I was worried about Midnight too. What happened last night at the river was something I believe not many people get to see. Dante below that rough surface.

  I know they were both strong and could defend themselves and my worries may had been for nothing. I didn’t care. I just wanted to see them to make sure they were safe.

  I wished the howling would stop. I could hardly hear myself think and it was throwing me off the edge. My assistant fell to her knees and puked. The sight was too much for her.

  We did what we could and saved who we could. My assistance sat with their hands on their head trying to register the images they were seeing before them. They did well, although it might had seem that it wasn’t good enough. I left them there and went further into the woods, east of our borders, to where the battle started.

  There was still no sight of Snow and Midnight and maybe they needed my help. I was tempted to use the whistle Snow gave me, so that he would show himself and rest my worrying mind. I reminded myself that it only should be used for danger, and not to abuse it, like the boy who cried wolf.

  Bodies of wolves increased in numbers as I got closer to where it started. I was met with cooler air and the sound of crashing water in the distance. Up ahead, was Snow sitting on a rock at the base of the water fall. “Snow!” I shouted and ran with all my strength.

  On a different day, I would have loved it here. The trees in the background, the grand waterfall and the ever present rainbow from the morning sun shining through the water. But not today.

  “Snow!” I said breathless. “Are you okay?” I asked without really expecting an answer. The pure white fur was soiled with mud and blood. Not his blood, though. He seemed to have no wounds. He looked at me, and in his ocean eyes, I knew something was wrong.

  I didn’t take long to find out what it was. Just a few meters behind him, Snow’s confidant, Spirit, laid on the rocks, dead. Spirit was more than a valued member of the pack, he was also Snow’s best friend. I didn’t know him personally, but I felt crushed, for the very thought of losing Ben or Sia sent pangs in my heart.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered to him. Snow looked to the sky and just stared. What do you say to someone who just lost their best friend? There was nothing really to say. I hugged snow, squeezing him tight. There was nothing I could do to bring Spirit back but at least I could be there for him.

  With deep pain, Snow howled so loud and deep that I was sure everyone, including our enemies and pack, could hear his cry. Goosebumps filled my skin as deep chills shot through me. I hated myself for crying, but as Snow howled for his dead friend, I wept.

  When I got back to the base, I was greeted with open arms from Sia, as if she knew of all the horror I had seen, and knew her embrace was exactly what I needed.

  “It’s okay now. It’s over,” she said softly into my ear. Was it over, though?

  Ben dropped his tools at the sight of me and ran over to join in our embrace. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “Ben, go fix her some soup.”

  “Right on it,” Ben sprinted away.

  My throat hurt, my legs hurt, I was exhausted and cover in blood that was not my own, and yet, all that was on my mind was Leo. Was he alright? He left me at the waterfall and went off.

  Sia didn’t ask about what I did or what I saw, and under my breath, I thanked her for that. As the sun departed, she dragged me to the river to wash me off before darkness would take its reign.

  She soaped every inch of my skin and scrubbed off the dried blood and dirt. I felt like I was a child again. “Lift your arms,” she said, and I lifted my arm. She scrubbed there too. Part of me liked being bathed like a child. I think it was because it brought me back to the old days, the days I feared I would soon forget, the days when I was happy in my village and my mother would sing me songs when she washed my hair. Songs I hadn’t sung in years. I could still hear her voice as if she was singing softly in my ear.

  I hummed a song, a song I woul
d not forget, and it dawned on me, that I had no reason to fear for her memory. For as time passes, and it will, and her face becomes ever so blurry, and it will, as long her song is playing in my head, she’s alive, and with me always, forever.

  I hummed louder, in hopes that the wind would carry my song to the heavens, and she would hear me, and smile.

  I love you, mother.

  Chapter Six

  Elizabeth

  I woke up to Sia’s hand on my face and her leg wrapped around me. In her other hand, she loosely held an empty wine bottle. I didn’t remember much from the night before, but it was safe to say, Sia and I drank until we were knocked out. I delicately removed her hand from my face and her legs from around me without waking her.

  Outside my tent was eerie quiet. People moving about but no one singing, talking, laughing. Nothing.

  “Morning!”

  I jumped as Ben startled the heck out of me.

  Ben wrapped his arm around chopped fire woods and walked off.

  “Wait.” I followed him as he distributed fire wood to the other commoners. “Everybody is in a bad mood, huh?”

  “May the Gods bless you,” one of my assistants said to Ben and took the fire woods.

  Ben held my arm and pulled me aside. “I heard our pack has been badly depleted. We underestimated the size of their pack and now we’re weakened.”

  “How could we not know their numbers? And how could such a low ranking pack gather so much wolves?”

  “There is talk that they got help from one the more powerful packs, like the Red Moon pack in the East,” Ben said.

  I spotted Dante walking out into the woods.

  “They got help from another pack. That is certain. And now we must keep our eyes open. By now, words has traveled to all the land that the Lukas pack, the powerful wolf pack of the North, has reduced in numbers.”

  That was worrying. We took one step forward and two steps back. And I sensed that there was darkness looming ahead.

  “I’ll be right back,” I told Ben, then sped off to catch up with Dante.

  He stopped at the sight of me. “Is Leo okay, My Lord?” I asked.

  He continued walking. “You should ask Leo that question, not me.”

  “I haven’t seen him.”

  “That is because he doesn’t want to be seen.” In his hand is a bow and arrows. He noticed my glance on his weapon. “I like to hunt.”

  As if I didn’t already know that. I walked with him. I needed somebody to talk to. Somebody who could give me answers. “I’m worried.”

  “About Leo? He’s the king. He can take care of himself.”

  “No, my Lord, I’m worried about the state of our pack.”

  He stopped, knelt, grabbed a handful of dirt and sniffed it. “You know what wins war, Elizabeth?”

  “Killing your enemies?”

  He picked up a scent and turned right. “Well, to put it simply, yes, killing your enemy win wars. And It is people who are loyal to their duty that makes winning possible. Worrying or fear does not win wars. Your worry and fear does nothing. When the time comes, will you be loyal to your duty?” he asked with serious eyes.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Then cast away your worries.”

  I questioned if he knew what fear was, or did he start to believe his own tales, that he could never die.

  He stopped. His eyes narrowing on a herd of deer up ahead. “Do you see it?” he asked.

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  He knelt and aimed his arrow. The path was far from perfect. Tree barks and thick bushes partially block his vision. Through small spaces in the leaves we could see a deer’s head. “Wouldn’t it be better to get closer?” I asked.

  “Where’s the fun in that?”

  He pulled the bow, and froze like a man made of marble. Then suddenly, he fired his bow, striking he target in the head, killing it instantly.

  He didn’t smile or celebrate his kill. “Do you know how use an Bow?”

  “A little.”

  “Come.” I followed.

  I heard movements on the ground and in the trees. I saw rabbits and other small creatures running all about. It seemed they didn’t like our presence and scurried off to hide. I didn’t blame them.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” I asked.

  Dante ignored me. By this time I had already gotten used to it and it didn’t bother me as much.

  “Something for you to kill.” His eyes scanned the land. Dante made one jump and reached on one of the highest branches. I looked up at him trying my best not to stare at his crotch that was over me. “See anything?” I asked. He ignored me again.

  He stepped off the branch and landed softly. He walked over to the bark of the tree and drew a X with his knife. “Okay. Show me what you can do.”

  “Tell me what you saw.”

  Dante pointed. “Up ahead there is another herd of deer drinking water. You only have one shot. If you miss, the others will be alerted and they will all flee.” He touched the X. “Now, show me what you can do.”

  I took my stance, drew my arrow, aimed and wait for my shaking hands to steady. I was more nervous than I thought. He was just there, watching, judging me. I took a deep breath. I wanted to impress him. I stopped my breath and let go of the arrow. Shooting it into the tree, but barely missing the X.

  I looked at him, and to my surprised, he seemed impressed. “Again,” he said.

  I shot again and again, and still I missed. Something was off yet I couldn’t pin point what it was. I tried again and I missed, this shot missing the tree completely. I knew what he was thinking, that a silly girl can’t get a shot right. “I can do better,” I said.

  I aimed at the X.

  “Wait,” Dante said. He walked over to me. “It’s your stance.” He came behind me, I could feel his hard chest pressing against my back. His hands slid in-between my thighs and pushed them apart. “Your legs were too close together.” He trailed his hand along my spine, causing my whole body to tingle. “Straighten your back.” His hands guided my hands into position. “Don’t be so tense.” he said softly into my ear. His warm breath tickled my neck.

  He stepped off. “Now, try again.”

  I took slow breaths. Don’t be so tense.

  “The only thing that matters right now is your arrow and your target. Block out everything.”

  The only thing that mattered was my arrow and my target. I fired. It shot right into the X.

  “Good,” Dante said immediately. “Let’s go get your breakfast.”

  I felt I was ready but at the same time felt I wasn’t, that made sense and at the same time it didn’t. My heart was beating out of my chest. I wondered if this was how every killer started out, nervous and scared, then as they kill more, it became effortless. I would never want to reach that stage.

  We walked softly through the woods, our steps silent and without trace. We hear the running water in the short distance, and the herd of deer moving about. At sight of the river, we stopped and took cover behind the trees. The herd of deer all go about their lives unaware of the fact that their predator—me——was deciding on my prey. I was a predator. I hated how that felt.

  “Which should I choose?” I asked him. It didn’t really matter, I just didn’t want the guilt of knowing I chose an animal to kill. I ate deer meat all my life, yet I was still so squeamish.

  There was one drinking water by the river. It was big in size and its meat would last us. I took my stance and aimed. I slowed my breathing and relaxed my muscles. I focused on its chest, hoping I could damage his vital organs and kill him quickly. All I needed to do now was to let go of the arrow.

  “Why are you hesitating?” Dante asked.

  I didn’t answer.

  “What you’re doing is the natural law. We kill to eat, if not, we will starve and die. And when we die, other animals will come and feed on us. Then another predator will feed on that animal.”

  “Yeah, I know. The Food Chain.” No
thing else mattered. Only thing that mattered was my arrow and my target. There was silence. My vision was clear. My finger let go of the arrow and it set travel on its deadly path, tearing through the wind. The deer had no time to react, and just like that, I killed for the first time.

  Dante smiled. The first time I had seen him smile.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “That look on your face. It’s adorable.”

  I started blushing uncontrollably so I turned my head away. He should smile more. By the gods I swear that man was beautiful.

  Dante gutted the Deer and stripped all that was needed. The remains were left to give back to the land. Dante said the land had given us food and we should give in return. We then headed back to the base.

  Ben refused to believe I killed our breakfast, even when I showed him the bow and arrow that I used. Dante gave me the bow and arrow as a gift and told me to practice. He promised to train me again when everything had settled and my face got red at the thought of spending more time with him.

  As a rule, the hunter should never cook. So this time, I sat back while Ben cooked the deer. He had potatoes too! Dinner would be good that night.

  Dinner would have been great if I had cooked and not left if in the hands of Ben. I should have seen this coming from a distance. We sat around the fire with the other humans and ate Ben’s burnt deer meat. On the bright side, the potatoes were okay. It would have been really hard to spoil that.

  No one was in the position to choose and refuse, so everyone kept their mouths shut about the taste and ate to satisfy their hunger. There was a look of despair on everyone’s face. Being out here was taking a toll on everyone.

  I nudged Ben in the side. He looked at me with face stuffed of potatoes. “Tell a joke,” I whispered.

  He leaned in. “I don’t think jokes will help anybody here.”

  I nudged him again, this time harder.

  “Okay. Okay. Fine. Hey yall, listen up. I got a joke.” Ben got everyone’s attention. “A drunk staggers into the House of the Gods, enters a confessional booth, sits down but says nothing. The Priest coughs a few times to get his attention but the drunk just sits there. Finally, the Priest pounds three times on the wall. The drunk mumbles, "Ain't no use knockin', there's no paper on this side either." Ben made a loud contagious laugh that you could not help but join in.