Page 38 of Curse of Immortality
“I sometimes wonder why Earthens help humans at all. They seem so evil, and they’ve taken everyone I love.”
Annabel gently placed her hand on Althea’s back. “I’m sorry for your loss and I empathize with your pain. They’ve taken much from me too. I left my home village in Scotland after the humans came for my brother.”
Althea looked at Annabel, whose face was lit up by the bright moon and the flames of the fire in front of her. “Then why do you heal them? Don’t you hate humans?”
“I think it’s in our nature to heal and help those in need. And despite the pain they’ve caused me, I don’t hate humans. They too are scared, and their heads are filled with lies and fear. They only do what they think is best, just like everyone else.”
Althea sighed. “Sometimes I just wonder if my sister was right. Maybe our kindness is worth nothing when they can’t even appreciate it.”
Annabel thought about Althea’s words for a long moment before she spoke in a compassionate tone, “Did you know that without bees, all of the beautiful nature around us would die?”
“My aunt, Rose, always had great respect for bees and told us we had them to thank for our flowers.”
“She was right. Not only do they make flowers beautiful, but without bees, most plants couldn’t grow or reproduce. And without plants, slowly animals would die too. Without a small bee, the big bears wouldn’t survive, and neither would the rest of us.”
Leaning her head back, Althea watched the star-filled sky with thoughtful eyes for a moment. She had known bees were important but not that nature was so dependent on them.
“Our work is not meaningless just because humans do not value it. Bees are often knocked away or stepped on by humans, but that doesn’t stop the rest of them from pollinating flowers and bringing life to all. They don’t let the ignorant bring destruction to the world. So why should we?” Annabel asked and it gave Althea a deep sense of peace inside.
“I don’t have your wisdom and tolerance,” Althea spoke in a soft tone and stared into the flames of the small fire they had built to make some oatcakes. “When I saw the humans walking around in town today, I panicked and all I wanted to do was run, yet I couldn’t. I don’t know how I will ever be able to go near humans again after what happened. And even if I do, my aunt only taught me how to heal animals and plants, not humans.”
Annabel took Althea’s hand and it instantly made Althea relax. “With me by your side, you’ll meet many different humans and learn that some are kind and appreciative. I know it’s scary after what you’ve been through, but we’ll take it one day at a time.”
“Have you met other Earthens?”
Annabel nodded. “I have. They are rare, but some manage to blend in among the humans and others travel like me.”
It felt so wonderful to feel Annabel’s warmth and friendship that Althea squeezed her hand and smiled. “You mean others travel likeus.”
Chapter 15
Beheaded and Buried
Maeve’s first attempt at ending her life had failed. Unwilling to give up and accept that her body would heal itself no matter how she died, she was forced to think of an alternative.
Rose had spoken of Abingdon where they grew up enough times that Maeve remembered the name of the village. Asking tradespeople on her way, they led her in the right direction until she arrived one early evening as the sun was about to set.
Memories from when she was five brought her down Bakers’ Street where she had once lived. Both Rose and Zosia had pointed out how similar she was to her mother and seeking out her family might bring her answers. Maeve longed to understand why she was so different from her sister who never strayed far.
The smell of baked goods brought back early childhood memories, but once again it was as if every straw Maeve grabbed for disappeared before she could hold on. Her family had moved away more than seven years ago. From the hushed voices of the people she asked, she gathered that the circumstances hadn’t been good.
“Ah, Anne was never herself after that awful fire. She blamed John for the death of their two young daughters. Never regained her joyful nature after that,” an older woman told Maeve. For hours, she walked around remembering things from her past while trying to decide what to do with herself now that her hope of reuniting with her family had burst.
That’s when she spotted a man she would never forget. He was aged, but she would have recognized Ellen’s executioner anywhere.
His large back was a bit hunched now and his strong arms looked veined, but his crooked nose and close-set eyes remained the same. Maeve kept close enough to follow his steps and noticed that no one greeted him as he walked through the streets.
When he entered a house with a cracked window, Maeve considered the crazy idea that had entered her mind for about ten minutes before she knocked on the door. Swinging the door open, the man had an annoyed expression on his face as he looked down at Maeve. “What do you need?”
“You are the executioner, yes?” she asked.
He grunted and nodded.
“Good, then you can help me.”
The large man looked over his shoulder. Peeking around his large frame, Maeve saw his family eating supper inside. “Sorry, ma’am, I’m off duty, can’t help ya.” He began to close the door when Maeve stopped it abruptly and dropped the small bag of money in his hands. She wasn’t sure how much money the coins were worth, but she had stolen them and hoped it was enough.
The large man stepped out of his humble home and closed the door behind him. “What do you want?” he asked with impatience.
