Chapter Ten

 

The wind raged about us, threatening to knock us from our perch and send us tumbling down the mountain side yet I felt as if I were in heaven. For once my surroundings matched the feelings within me. Raging, torrential, and utterly not at ease.

            This had been Daniel’s idea and I was glad he had made the suggestion. We had gone up into the mountains during the storm and found the highest trees possible and scaled them. The view from up here was intoxicating and mesmerizing. The trees that lead up to the town danced with the wind, creating steps and moves only nature could perform.

            “So I’ve told you all of my story,” Daniel said. His voice was no louder than he would have spoken if he were right next to me and he knew he would not have to raise his voice in order for me to hear it over the roaring wind. “You know William’s story since you were the one who started it. Care to share with us some of your own history?”

            It had been three days since we had found Zachariah and this thought had crossed my mind many times. One could not help but be curious about the man who had acquired such strange things. Yet, Zachariah seemed to emanate the feeling there was something he wanted to forget and erase from his past. It was easier to forget the things of yesterday than remember what had happened. I could certainly relate to that.

            “A lot has happened in my life,” Zachariah stated as he stared out over the valley that swooped before us. “You would both be here a very long time if I were to tell you of everything that has happened.”

            “Just give us the short version then,” Daniel said with a wicked smile as a gust of wind barreled into us, causing the trees to shake violently.

            “If I must,” Zachariah said as he sighed. “I was born in France but I have only a slim guess of when exactly. From the events in history that I can remember I am roughly two hundred years old. As I have said before, time was not measured accurately back then, at least not for the common people. I was born to low class parents but made a name for myself by rising to the rank of a captain.” I wanted to ask what exactly he had become captain of but he rushed on before I could question him.

            “When I was thirty-six I was changed. I caught a terrible illness and was left for dead by the doctors who said they could not save me. I have no recollection as to who it was who changed me.

            “I decided to gain an education when I realized that I was not ageing any longer . I had all the time in the world to do whatever I pleased. I earned some money and went to the university and studied everything I possibly could. When money started running out again I became a tutor to the children of the royal family and did this for a few years till it came to time move on before they could realize I was not ageing.

            “After that I decided I wanted to see the world. That is how I came to acquire such strange things that you see in my home. And when I found that I had seen all that there was to be seen for the time I decided to go back to school for a while and become a doctor. And that is where I came to meet you, William. And now we have come to the end of this story.”

            I suddenly felt very weary and drained after hearing all Zachariah had experienced in his life. And this was the shortened version. How was I to deal with such a long life? A life that was to never end. While I could not imagine simply coming to an abrupt end in existence I also could not imagine having it simply go on forever and ever.

            Seeing that the storm was coming to a close we climbed down the towering trees to the soggy ground below. It seemed everyone needed time to their own thoughts as we traveled in silence towards home and I wondered what was going through each of their heads. Zachariah had seemed to experience so much in his life and was still a good man. I could not even imagine the things he must have witnessed throughout all those years, I, myself, had seen all I wanted to see of the evilness of man. What could he have possibly seen?

            And Daniel. He was always so even tempered and positive. Did none of this faze him? Did nothing affect him the way it did me? Of course this new life had not caused him to do such terrible things as it had me. It had caused me to lose everything. While it may have seemed Daniel had so much more to lose that I he did not seem to mourn the loss of losing the kingdom, of losing the crown. A thought crossed my mind that seemed strange to me. He had expected to die his whole life growing up and so he had never expected to gain the kingdom. He had never wanted it in the first place. His only wish in life was to life. And now he was going to live forever. It was funny sometimes how God granted our desires. 

 

            Daniel and I often spent our time together, often times apart, each seeking our own curiosities and adventures. He most often spent his time thrill seeking, finding adventure where I had doubts it existed. He would disappeared for days or weeks at a time exploring some mountain cave, following a seemingly impossible river, or discovering some new and wild animal. This must be a newfound freedom to him, I thought one day. He had been confined to a bed most of his existence and then basically forced into hiding once he was no longer in danger of death. He was making up for lost time, and would now have plenty of it.

            Tonight I was alone as I wandered through the dark streets of the town that was swiftly becoming familiar. It seemed that the last month we had been here passed with little more than a blink of an eye. But it seemed that was becoming the story of my life.

            We had chosen to stay with Zachariah, we had nowhere else to go. He was swiftly becoming like a father to the both of us. Each day he would continue his duties as a doctor and I was constantly amazed at the charade he played. He blended in with all the mortals perfectly; no one would have ever guessed the secrets he held.

            I tried to learn to blend in with the people as Zachariah did but found it quite difficult. First, because of my looks I would never fully blend in with my sun colored blonde hair. There was nothing I could do about that and it seemed to call much attention from the local women. The second was only an issue for a short amount of time. This was the language barrier but it was almost strange how easy it was to learn the language of the locals. Not that the language itself was easy, just that I seemed to remember everything spoken to me. My memory seemed greatly increased, my capacity for learning heightened. 

            The third reason was the strongest to me. Unlike Zachariah, I could never seem to forget just how different I was from these people. They went about their lives completely unaware of the world that existed inside of their own. I was painfully aware that everyone around me would one day die and pass on to the world beyond this one and that I would never do so. While I still looked generally just like the rest of them I hardly felt human. I was against nature, a man who should not have still been alive.

            And so I kept to myself oftentimes. I quickly became aquatinted with the royal library, though not entirely in a legal way. When the city would grow quiet at nights, everyone tucked safely into their beds, I would creep into the depths of its dusty walls. I didn’t know exactly what it was I searched for. Perhaps absolution, perhaps some kind of explanation for my still existing, even a pardon for my actions. I read everything I could get my hands on, desiring after something that seemed invisible and unreachable to me.  

            Despite all efforts I found next to no information on this new being I had become, an Ever. The only thing I did find was the name written amongst a list of mystical beings. I chuckled slightly at this. Not so mystical. I wondered how Mary had managed to find as much as she had. The only possible answer I could come up with was that the royal library in London must have been larger and more complete.

            I was walking to the library again, my thoughts churning and reeling with what information I would seek tonight. Without really even registering the decision to do so I bent down and picked up a discarded burlap sack and tossed it toward the pile of garbage that lay against the side of a building. I was surprised by the faint vibrations that sounded as it landed towards the back of the pile. Strange, I would not have expected that sound amongst all the rubbish.

            Curious, I turned to investigate. There were many odds and ends that seemed to have been tossed out of the window that was seventeen feet above the pile. It seemed strange that anyone would simply dump everything that needed to be gotten rid of out the window. As I sifted through the garbage I found the source of the strange sound.

            I lifted it gingerly from the rubbish and inspected it. I had seen something like this only once before in my life. A group of traveling musicians and actors had come to Swansea. We had been lucky to catch them. They were only there for one day and we just happened to be in the town. 

            I remembered watching the musicians play and being fascinated that they could make mere objects make such beautiful noises. I had sat entranced as I listened to them for over an hour and only left when they had finished packing up and departed. 

            The object in my hands had a large lower body accompanied by a long, skinny neck. Long, slightly frayed strands ran most of its length and while it was rundown and rustic it was beautiful to me. I vaguely remembered it was called a guitar.

            Surely an instrument like this was valuable, even in its battered form. Why would anyone throw it out? Clearly it had been thrown out; it must have been sitting here for several days amongst the garbage as a putrid smell filled my nostrils. 

            Looking around me to see if anyone was watching, searching for anyone who might come to claim my newfound treasure I began walking more swiftly towards the library. 

            Therein I found every book I could on the theory of the guitar. It seemed so stiff and restricted and I became quickly frustrated by the notes and lines that were drawn all over the page. And so I cautiously began to pluck at the cords. It was beautiful and intoxicated me in a way that only Mother Nature seemed to be able to. I ran my fingers up and down her neck, stroking it carefully, caressing every surface. She spoke to me and told me of all the desires of her heart, all her fears, all her worries, and told me of the ways she wanted to be touched. And in return I gave her everything I had and told her of every hurt I had experienced and every burning emotion I had ever felt as I made love to her. The music was enthralling and my soul felt a little more at peace as I made my own music in the night.

            I had not realized it had become light outside until I heard the key in the lock to the main door. I had become so wrapped up with my discovery and fascination of this instrument I was aware of nothing else for hours. As the door was being opened I stole out a back window without making a sound.

            Slowly I walked back to Zachariah’s home. While every hurt I had ever felt was still there it seemed slightly less now that I had poured out my heart and soul to this stringed beauty. This was something that I was sure no human or Ever would be able to grant me.

            When I walked in the front door my first thought was that Daniel seemed to be gone again and the second was that Zachariah was still here. Normally he would have left for his clinic by now. Instead he was standing over the table, closely studying something that lay there. He barely even looked up when I entered and I knew he didn’t need to. He could probably smell me long before I walked through the door.

            “I see you’ve picked up a treasure there,” Zachariah said as his eyes remained glued to whatever was on the table.

            For some strange reason I felt slightly embarrassed as I held the guitar, like I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t. I quickly put it in the corner of the room that contained the rest of my meager belongings.

            I joined Zachariah at the table and observed that he had been studying so hard. “It seems you have gained your own treasure, or perhaps are seeking some,” I said lightheartedly.

            He had been studying a rather large map. From the layout of the land on it I knew that it was still Spain. Maps were difficult to come by and were not without high expense. He had added his own details to it however. There were horizontal and vertical lines covering the entire surface creating a grid. Within most of the boxes that were created there were little X marks.

            “What’s this?” I questioned. Normally I tried not to pry into Zachariah’s life too much but for some reason this project of his sparked my interest.

            “A map,” he stated simply. I was about to walk away as it seemed that he did not want to be bothered but he continued. “I’ve been searching out an Ever for some time now. The X’s represent the areas I have looked in and obviously not found him to be in.” He tapped two areas with his fingers. The only two without an X. “He has to be in one of these two areas or he has left the country. And I really, really hope that he has not left the country.”

            “What business do you have with this person?” Again I was asking questions but I could not seem to help myself.

            Zachariah did not look up from the map as he continued. “About six months ago I overheard someone speaking about a man who is centuries old and never ages. This person did not reveal exactly where this man could be found but that he was indeed in Spain. They said that it was rumored that he had been sent away from a whole colony of beings like him.”

            “An entire colony of Ever?” I questioned. The idea was fascinating yet strange to me.

            “Yes!” the excitement in his voice was obvious as he finally looked me in the eye. “And so I have been trying to track this man down so I can ask him some questions. I would love to visit this colony. Can you imagine? Basically a whole city of Ever?”

            I shook my head. “No, honestly I can’t.” The idea was strange and foreign even though it shouldn’t be. I could not deny that the idea was appealing however. The one place in the world where I would not have to try to blend in, to try and hide what I was.

            “It’s incredible isn’t it?” Zachariah’s voice was practically bubbling over with his excitement.

            “But you still haven’t found him?” I questioned. It seemed strange that Zachariah had searched nearly the entire country and had still not found him. 

            “No,” his excited mood was instantly killed. “I thought he must have kept a permanent residence but I could be wrong. As you can see,” he said as he tapped the map again, “I only have two areas left to search. It is possible that he has detected me and is avoiding me. If this is the case I am not sure how I have a chance of finding him.”

            We both were quiet for several long moments before I spoke. “Would it be alright with you if I came with you while you search for him? Two sets of eyes surely will be better than just one.”

            “Thank you, William,” he said as he looked up and clapped a hand on my back. “I’d like that. I am planning on leaving this afternoon when I get back from the clinic.” He pulled out his pocket watch and looked slightly surprised when he saw the time. “I’m already terribly late.”

            Without another word he was out the door in a blur.

            This idea truly was fantastic and incredible. An entire group of Ever. It was difficult to picture what a city like this would look like. Would it look like any other city? There was not much need for ordinary homes as we did not need a place to cook or a place to sleep. And how many of them could there be? Zachariah had said a colony. Would this mean as few as ten or enough to actually be called a city? I had not imagined that there were that many of us, for months I had thought I was the only one.

            While I pondered these thoughts and waited for Zachariah to return I turned back to the guitar. My notes in the night had been slightly hesitant and not exactly beautiful but it was amazing the difference now. With each passing minute I spent with this instrument I knew I was improving. I was learning how to make her sing with not only the strings that ran her length but with the rest of her body as well. 

            I was surprised when I finally looked at the pocket watch and saw that Zachariah would be arriving any moment. It was amazing how time passed now. I felt a slight twinge of fear, everything seemed to be slipping by too quickly these days.

            Just as I was pulling on my heaviest pair of boots Zachariah walked in the door. His face was glum, his eyes somber.

            “Is something wrong?” I questioned as I laced the shoes up.

            “I lost a patient today,” he said as he set his bag down. “His horse threw him and he landed on a post. I don’t know how he managed to hang on till he got to the clinic with such a large hole in his chest.” He sat down in his normal, solid, wooden chair and hung his head slightly. “He was young; I’ve seen him around town with his family. He has a two year old son and his wife carries another.”

            I had never been good at soothing people’s emotions but I couldn’t just say nothing. It was obvious the distress he was feeling. “It must be hard, having to watch people die.”

            “And knowing I have the ability to save them,” he said, his voice grave.

            That familiar spark of anger flared up within me at this. If the man he spoke of had a family to provide for why hadn’t he save him? What had made me so special that he chose to not let me die and make me live forever?

            “I sense your unease, William,” Zachariah said with a sigh as he looked up. “I know who can handle this change and who cannot. He would not have been able to adjust and besides, how could he have stayed with his family? People cannot handle the truth about us William. When Ever have been discovered you cannot even imagine the persecutions. The accusations of being witches, of being servants of the devil. Believe me, it was better this way.”

            I was about to protest, to tell Zachariah that he was wrong when that strange sense of calm washed over me. I instantly felt the fire that was beginning to smolder within me die down and my nerves settle. 

            “Are you ready?” he questioned before I could make any kind of response.

            I simply nodded my head as I pulled another thick shirt over my head.

            Zachariah nodded and in a whirlwind pulled on a similar pair of boots. “Let’s go then.”

            Darkness was starting to fall upon the city but we still had to be careful till we reached the outskirts of town. Once clear of all human eyes we plunged into the night at full speed. We had not brought any supplies save a little money; we had not even brought the map. Neither of us was worrying about getting lost. The image of the map was engraved into my head and I knew I could recall every inch of it with harsh clarity.

            As we ran something was sitting heavy on my mind and I could not help but vocalize my thoughts.

            “Why do you do the things you do every day, Zachariah?” I questioned, the weight of the world sitting on my mind it seemed. “You are free to do anything you want yet you choose to live your life among them doing the things you do.”

            Zachariah was contemplative for a moment as he collected his thoughts into his response. “I feel as if I have an obligation to them. They do not seem to realize how fragile and limited they are. I have been given this gift, or this burden, as you seem to see it as. I feel a need to help those that are weaker than I, to help them in what way I can. If it is my knowledge they need, they have it. If it is my skills, they have that. If it is my protection they need, they have that as well.”

            I considered this for a few moments and felt suddenly incredibly selfish and inadequate. “Are all Ever supposed to be this selfless and good?” I questioned. “Daniel seems to feel the same ideals. I know the goodness that resides in him. He would do anything for those around him, whether he knows them or not. Am I the only one who is so disconnected from human society that I feel no attachment to them? I cannot help but see the evil that there is in people. How can I want to help them when there are people out there like the man who killed my mother, who tried to murder me?”

            “Calm down, William,” Zachariah said as he patted me on the back despite the speed we were traveling at, a pat that would have crushed a normal man. “I guess you do not see yourself clearly. You may not consciously realize this desire to help those around you but I know it is there, Daniel knows it is there. He told me of what you did for those sailors. I saw you save those children. You went in after that man when even Daniel and myself had given up on him. You knew there was a chance for him to life and so you did not even hesitate to walk into a burning and collapsing building. You did not have to do the things you did. Internally you know what is right and good. You are just not so outwardly expressive of the things that go on in that head of yours.

            “And as for your original question, no, not all Ever are so selfless and good,” he said and I could hear the distain in his voice. “You have been very lucky to run into those of us that you have. There are some of us who would rule over the mortals. They see themselves as superior over everyone. They seem to forget that they had to at one time been one of them. There has been a continual struggle to keep things in balance for as long as we have been around. I am afraid things have been a bit too quiet around here lately. The peace will not last.”

            Indeed, how could there be as much peace as there appeared to be now? I could easily see the conflicts that would arise when this power would be bestowed upon the wrong individuals. Should enough of us seek dominion it would be difficult to defy them.

            We were each quiet after that as we plunged further into the darkness. I was thinking how warm it felt when my mind registered what month it was. I had now been an Ever for a year. How time flew these days… I also realized that my twenty-second birthday had come and gone without a second thought. November third. It seemed like only yesterday yet so much had changed since then. I had been fighting for money then. And now look what had changed. 

            What a strange thought. My twenty-second birthday had indeed passed and yet I would never actually be twenty-two. I was forever frozen at twenty-one. Time would pass around me, affecting everyone around me, except for those like me, yet I was never going to age.

            We both glanced at each other as a new sound registered in our ears. As I listened closer I recognized it and we both slowed. As the pounding came closer and closer we came to a stop. My eyes easily found the form speeding through the night despite the pressing darkness.

            “You could have waited for me,” Daniel said as he caught up to us. I could tell he was trying to sound and look irritated, it wasn’t working. This was a difficult thing to do for Daniel. The man was always irritatingly positive and happy.

            “We couldn’t exactly know when you would return,” Zachariah said, irritation showing on his face. He didn’t wait for Daniel to continue before he sprinted back into a full run.

            Daniel and I caught back up easily. “So where are we going exactly?” Daniel questioned.

            I could easily see that Zachariah was too focused to want to explain. Something within me sensed that his tension was for fear that he might not actually find this Ever. Zachariah had an incessant drive to know everything he could. I could imagine how the drive to know about this subject could drive a man, or Ever, to insanity. And so I quickly relayed the information Zachariah had divulged to me. 

            Daniel was thoughtful for a moment after I had finished. “I don’t like the idea of an entire city of us.”

            “And why not?” I questioned in surprise.

            He did not answer immediately as he seemed to be collecting his thoughts. “I’m not exactly sure. I guess it’s just the thought of so much power in one place. I could just imagine the trouble that could arise. I lived among royalty for so many years; I saw all the corruption that existed. The thought that some of us might become like that is terrifying.”

            Daniel was right. That thought was terrifying. The struggle for control could be catastrophic between Ever. If this type of war were to spill into the human community I could not imagine what might happen to the world.

            “We have to simply hope that the situation isn’t like that,” I said simply. For once I was trying to reassure Daniel with positive thinking rather than the normal opposite.

            “I guess,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders. 

            He was only quiet for a moment before I saw the broad grin that spread over his face. “You know, I think if I could move just a little bit faster I could run on water.”

            “You’re complaining that you can’t move fast enough?” Zachariah questioned, a half a smile showing on his lips.

            “Well, think how exhilarating it would be!” Daniel stated, the enthusiasm rising in his voice. “To be able to move over the water. I really think I might be able to do it if I could just move a bit faster. I tried it but only made it a few steps before sinking.”

            I laughed at this. Yes, Daniel would want to be able to walk on water. He was not conceited he just had an enthusiastic air of confidence about him that could be endearing and at the same time irritating.

            “I came upon this lake. It was absolutely beautiful but I wanted to get to the other side of it to investigate something I saw. Well, I wondered if I could move fast enough, if I could simply go across it. It didn’t exactly work,” he said, his face falling just slightly.

            At this we all broke into laughter. I was internally surprised at how good it felt to actually be laughing. It was so lighthearted, so easy. I could not remember the last time I laughed like this.

            The sky was just beginning to lighten and as I placed our location on the mental map burned into my head I knew we were getting close to one of the areas on Zachariah’s grid. 

            “Not far now,” Zachariah said in accordance with my thoughts.

            I silently wondered why this man had been sent away from the colony. What did this possibly reveal of his character? Zachariah had said the one he had overheard speaking about this man said he was centuries old, so it had been several hundred years since he had been banished. Either the Ever in the colony were not very forgiving or he had done something so heinous that they would still not let him come back.

            “You hear that?” Daniel questioned as he looked slightly to his left.

            We instantly froze willing our ears to hear further. There was a slight rumbling sound just to the west of the direction we were heading. The rumbling steadily grew and gained force. 

            “What is that?” I whispered and as I felt the air around me rustle I smelled it.

            “He’s not far!” Zachariah shouted as he took off, changing to the new course.

            It did not take long to find the source of the terrible noise. We headed toward the towering mountains and from the looks of it a large portion of one had just collapsed. The source of the smell was coming from somewhere in all the rubble.

            “Is he down in there?” Daniel questioned as he leapt agilely onto part of the heap. 

            “I can smell him, he’s in there somewhere,” Zachariah said as he observed the scenario. “But why isn’t he moving? Why isn’t he digging himself out?”

            I listened for a moment, stretching my ears to hear anything from within. Surely this landslide could not have killed an Ever but why wasn’t he trying to get out? It should not have been a problem. After a moment of listening I heard something. A faint cry of pain.

            “Dig!” I commanded without hesitation. Something was terribly wrong.

            The other two did not hesitate as we leapt to the mess. We each began digging through the rubble to the source of the smell, each tossing boulders as large as ourselves over our shoulder as if they were small stones.

            There must have been a quarter of the mountain resting upon the man and I was surprised how long it was taking us to reach him. As we neared what must have been the bottom we finally uncovered an arm. Then a leg made its appearance. As I hefted a particularly large boulder the rest of him was revealed. 

            The man gave a blood curling scream as I lifted the weight from his body and Zachariah was at his side in a fraction of a second.

            “I don’t under…” His whisper suddenly cut off as he bent to pick up the man’s crushed form and carried him from the rubble. He was absolutely battered. His face was covered with cuts and quickly forming bruises and his nose pointing obviously to the left. His right arm was hanging limply at his side and was swinging in a way that it shouldn’t. Both of his legs also looked strangely limp, like all the bones in them had been shattered.

            Just as Zachariah was leaping from the debris he suddenly stiffened and got a revolted look on his face. “Oh,” was all he said. 

            As I joined at his side I got another strange whiff. It hit me in the face with nearly physical force and I froze in stunned awe. It was delicious, the most intoxicating and inviting smell I had ever experienced. It was difficult to define. The scent of a feast of the most delicious meats and cheeses, mingled with the scent of flowers, with a touch of sunshine and mint. The combination of it swirled around in my head making me dizzy and one thought filled my head. I had to have whatever was making this smell.

            Without thinking I bent towards the man, sniffing furiously. While he had the normal, fresh, clean scent of an Ever, the other delicious scent was coming from him. I had the overwhelming, ridiculous desire to lick his skin, to see if he tasted as good as he smelled. 

            “Stop!” Zachariah shouted at me and I realized that my face was only an inch away from the man’s neck.

            Zachariah’s voice jolted me back to reality and while the wonderful smell still filled my head I became aware of everything else going on around me. I noticed Daniel too had been looking at the man with a longing expression, his eyes looking slightly crazed.

            I thought I heard Zachariah mutter something like “so young” under his breath but my ears seemed to be ringing in a strange way.

            Zachariah shoved the man to the ground in a harsh way and I wanted to demand that he treat this delicious smelling person with more care. The expression on Zachariah’s face told me to keep my mouth shut.

            For the first time I actually looked at the man’s face. He was simple looking; all of his features nondescript save for his eyes. Even through the pain that was obviously there his eyes were dark and selfish looking. Something told me that the Ever colony was well justified in sending him away.

            Zachariah’s hands few over the man’s body as he set the bones straight, each movement giving off a sickening crunch and cracking sound. Every time Zachariah moved something the man gave a sickening scream.

            “He’ll be fine,” Zachariah said, his voice cold and harsh. “Ever heal quickly, give him about ten minutes and his body will be fine. It’ll be a few hours till he’s back to normal though. Tell me, where’d you get the elixir?”

            What was he talking about? I thought to myself. 

            “Like I’m going to say anything to you!” the man spat and it was quickly followed by another shriek as Zachariah straightened his nose. Daniel was instantly at the man’s side, pinning his arms down as he tried to struggle. The expression on his face was frightening. I had never seen Daniel’s face look that way.

            “I don’t understand,” I finally interjected.

            “Remember what I told you about the elixir that changes us?” Zachariah answered as he turned away from the writhing man. “He’s taken some and that’s why he couldn’t dig himself out.”

            The man suddenly shrieked and I looked back to see Daniel pushing him up into a sitting position. “You’d better talk,” he hissed into his ear.

            “Fine! Fine!” he shrieked. “I took some last night, just to feel the effects. I started to crash about half an hour before you guys showed up. I smelled you coming, especially him.” I was surprised when he pointed to me specifically. “I’ve never smelled one so strong. I panicked and tried to make it down. I slipped and the whole mountain came down on me. I’m still in my crash so I couldn’t do anything.”

            “Lucky for you we were here then,” Daniel said, his voice dripping with distaste. 

            “Ever like you disgust me,” Zachariah spat. “He took the elixir earlier and it’s still laced in his blood. That’s why you both had the sudden urge to eat him alive. Remember I told you that the plant calls to us. He’s taken it in its altered form. Just imagine if you were to be around the raw form. The effect would be much stronger.”

            This thought terrified me. I’d had no desire to stop myself from obtaining some of the delicious smell until Zachariah had interrupted my trance. I shuttered to think what would happen if I were to get around the raw form. And Zachariah had said in raw form it would kill us. I was sure I would not be able to resist the temptation.

            “What is your name?” Zachariah asked as he looked down at the man, disgust heavy on his face.

            “Nickoli,” he said simply.

            “Well, Nickoli,” Zachariah continued. “We have some questions we’d like to ask you.”

            Nickoli seemed to be indeed healing as he stopped shaking with pain. He tried to push Daniel’s supporting hands away, the effort feeble and useless. Daniel however did rise from his side and came to stand beside me.

            “Is it true?” Zachariah started. “Is there an entire colony of Ever somewhere?”

            He nodded his head once but would not look up to meet any of us in the eye.

            “Where is it?”

            “Why would I tell you, even if I could?” he spat.

            Zachariah knelt before the man, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling his face within inches of his own. “It would be good for your health for you to remember the state you will be in for the next few hours because of the mindless decision you made.”

            The danger and hate in Zachariah’s voice would have shook even me in my current state. I could see the terror in Nickoli’s face as he met Zachariah’s eyes.

            “I can’t tell you,” he breathed. “I’m not allowed. If I do they will find me and destroy me. They have to keep the colony save so they keep it secret.”

            Zachariah stared hard into Nickoli’s eyes for several long moments. He finally released him and stood. “He’s telling the truth. Why were you sent away?”

            A slight grin flashed over his face. “You’ve just been witness to it. I have a problem. They said I was abusing use of the elixir. My behavior wasn’t agreeable and I was upsetting those of the old religion. And so they sent me away and I was told to never come back because of my problem. Unfortunately it won’t be an issue anymore; I used up the last of my supply last night.”

            “The old religion,” Zachariah said. “I’ve never heard of that. What is it?”

            “Again, not allowed to speak. Don’t hold your breath about it though. Only the oldest of the Ever in the colony still believe in that bogus stuff.”

            I could see the disappointment that was growing on Zachariah’s face. This man was not allowed to give the answers he sought and Zachariah was far too humane to force them out of him and risk Nickoli’s life.

            “You disgust me,” he finally spat again. “It could be used to save life’s and you’re taking it for recreation.”

            A wicked look spread across Nickoli’s face. “Come on, you can’t tell me you haven’t been tempted to do the same thing? To have even if only for a few hours the abilities it gives you? To truly be an unstoppable force? You can’t imagine how it actually feels until you have tried it.”

            “No, I can’t fully imagine it, neither do I intend to ever find out simply for my own pleasure and enjoyment,” Zachariah said as he turned his back to him. “Let’s go, he’s not going to be able to give us anything else we need. Let us hope a pack of wild dogs will come by and finish him off while he’s still week.”

            I could not hide the shock on my face at Zachariah’s coldness. There was obviously something behind his words, some unseen past. 

            I gave one last glance to Nickoli before we left. His expression was twisted into a wicked grin, his eyes black. But it was hiding something. The emotion behind it was sad, almost regretful. He was fully aware of what he had lost, that he would never be welcome again in what had once been his home. He was trying to hide the hurt there. He wasn’t the only one that had the regret of stupid mistakes upon his mind.

            Zachariah said nothing as we flew silently over the land again. I felt sorry for him. He had invested so much time into finding this man, to try and gain the information he desired so badly only to find that the man could not answer his questions. Something within me knew that even if he could have he would not have answered our questions. And not only for the fact that he was a terrible being, but because there was that little bit of humanity in him, that piece of him that would protect those he loved at all costs. The similarities I was finding between us were both sickening and frightening me. Was I doomed to become as he was? I shuttered and shook my head. I could not allow myself to become so low.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

You might want to proof read this chapter carefully, I found several typos, "few over his chest" flew

[Fabian G. Franklin]

In this last part here you have, "keep the colony save" safe. The elixer seems to be some powerful stuff.