The council ended. The guests, members and the next generation of heirs went out the meeting hall except for the elders. They remained still on their chairs, waiting for everyone to leave the hall. The elders remained silent for a while, however, Nuriel decided to break the silence. "Should we be fully convinced of that damned clan of being revived?!"
Ziron sighed and replied, "It is better to be convinced and be prepared rather than ignore the possibility."
After saying this, Ziron and the rest heard a sarcastic laughter. "Arman, do you find this predicament laughable?"
"Forgive me Ziron. I cannot help but think that after ten years, that wretched clan would still let you walk on eggshells although they are but ashes…Oh, please do not look at me that way. I am laughing at myself too."
Arman looked at the people around him one by one. "All of us in here agreed that the fire ten years ago was justifiable. That fateful night was the time that their curse was fulfilled."
This time, a chuckle came from Ezebel, "and yet you lot are acting as if your conscience says otherwise."
Nuriel looked at Ezebel menacingly. Ezebel stood her ground. "What? If you did not want me to speak my mind, then you should have thrown me and Azriel out of this hall. We have nothing to do about this justifiable curse anyway"
"Hah!" Muriel mocked, "You, my dear, can be hold accountable too. Not being there does not mean you didn't do anything. Knowing something might as well be considered as having done something."
Although Ezebel remained silent, tension grew among the people. Knowing the consequence of the increasing tension among the elders, Nuriel had to control the situation, "Enough!" he exclaimed. "What happened ten years ago has been the consequence of their unforgivable actions. We must not let their extinction soil the honor of our clans."
"Elder Nuriel is right" Tommuel calmly said, "Since that night, our clans have lived peacefully and in harmony. We should not let the dead win against us. However, I also agree with Ziron. We should be on vigilant. If it is possible that the Afey clan have to do something about this turmoil among us, then we should plan our offense already."
With silence, everyone agreed with what Tommuel said.
"Seeing that my heir was attacked, I suggest that we should pay attention in keeping the young ones safe. These children…ignorant and innocent they may be are still the future of the clan."
Nuriel nodded in agreement, "We have at least a week or two to further discuss this matter. For now, we have to be watchful. For now, let each clan, subclan and family protect their own."
Seeing that the meeting was concluded everyone stood up and headed towards the door, Nuriel being first.
"You have been quiet the whole time Azriel." Arman commented.
His sarcastic comment was not left unheard by Ziron who suddenly stopped walking. He looked behind him.
"Are you implying something?" Azriel asked calmly.
"If I remember correctly, your family has good ties with them… I forgot the name of the last Calpo who married into the clan…hmm.."
Azriel chuckled. The man raised his sunglasses to let Arman know that he is staring at him, "If you will base my loyalty to the number of my ancestors who married into the Afeys then yes, I will be guilty of being loyal to them". Azriel took a menacing step towards Arman. Azriel was taller than the older man, this made it easier for him to stare down at Arman with his wine-colored eyes.
" If I were loyal to them, then I should have already killed you all." Azriel's threat came out of his mouth with a devilish grin.
Arman smirked and brushed Azriel aside, "That's true. No need to be too defensive Elder Azriel."
Arman laughed while he went out through the door, leaving Ziron and Azriel behind. Azriel crossed his arms and through his sunglasses stared back at Ziron.
" Do you share the same sentiments?" Azriel nonchalantly asked.
Ziron ignored the question and walked towards the door. But before he closed the door he replied, "Every possibility should be taken into consideration."
Unbothered, Azriel chuckled. Azriel leaned his head back against the wall and stared at the hall's ceilings.
" The last Calpo who married into the clan". How could Azriel not know who that person was. She was born years before him, but like other female members of the Calpo clan, she matured slowly. During his childhood, Azriel's father would take him to his family home to meet his grandfather and his father's younger sister.
"Akaila" Azriel whispered. A gentle smile plastered on his lips as he remembered that a girl who loved to climb trees and hills barefooted grew to a lovely and strong woman. There was a time, that her father , his grand-father, proposed them to be married. It was a custom for a Calpo to be wed to his or her own clan. Azriel welcomed the idea, he hoped for it and yet one day, an Afey came barging in Daposhaga crashing his hopes.
Then as if he was living at that moment, he heard her gentle voice once again "Look Azriel,"
He remembered walking towards her in her bedchamber in Daposhaga. The man who claimed her allowed for an Afey's wife to give birth on her ancestral home because of the obsessive favor he poured unto her.
"Isn't… sh-she… beautiful?" Akaila asked, still with heavy breaths between her words,
The young Azriel shrugged his shoulders. Akaila laughed. But her laughter seemed bitter. "What a pity, now I could not see how she will be in the future."
"It is true. Grandfather said that once you give birth, you would lose your gift." Azriel commented.
Akaila nodded and a weak smile escaped her lips.
Azriel knitted his eyebrows, "Do you not feel worthless? Father said that you might not be a Calpo anymore."
She, once again, let out a bitter laugh, "Shouldn't brother understand that already. I am already married to an Afey."
Azriel shook his head, displeased with her statement.
"Azriel," She called, "I have been living with Gamaliel, with the Afeys for a while now. I noticed something that you might not believe."
Azriel's attention was caught, " let me tell you a secret about them." Before Akaila could continue, she signaled Azriel to come closer. The woman brought her lips near his ear, "The Afey…you know… they bask on their curse."