The killer, Rezak, trailed behind Sera, his presence heavy in the small hut. The knowledge she'd gleaned from the firelit stories gnawed at her. A man with hair the colour of spilled blood, leading not just her, but Rezak too, to The Creator. It reeked of manipulation, not coincidence. But why not the chief?
Pushing open the door, Sera found Delena perched on a stool, a candle casting its warm glow on the table. "Mother, look!" she exclaimed, sprinkling the powder from the chief onto the flame. The vibrant yellow-orange transformed into a deep, mesmerizing violet. "Isn't it incredible?"
"It is," Sera murmured, distracted. An interrogation with Rezak was overdue. "See if the chief can spare some more, Delena. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
With childish delight, Delena hopped down and skipped out.
Closing the door firmly behind Rezak, Sera found herself facing his bandaged form. Though wounded, he carried himself with quiet dignity. It was his eyes, though, that haunted her – hollow orbs devoid of light, as if purpose itself had been extinguished.
"What is your name?" she asked, her voice firm despite the unease churning within.
Rezak took a long look at her, assessing, perhaps searching for a shred of trustworthiness. "Rezak," he finally replied.
"Rezak," she repeated, "I don't know your story, but one thing's certain: The Creator has cursed our lives." She clenched her fists, the anger hot and bitter.
"Has he?" Rezak muttered, turning towards the bed. "I sought him for… my family. But I meddled with forces beyond my comprehension. It was my fault! All my fault! They suffered!" His voice choked, threatening to break. "And the worst part… I don't even know who I lost." The raw anguish in his voice was undeniable. He collapsed onto the bed; his shoulders wracked with silent sobs.
Sera couldn't decipher his last words, but the raw pain resonated within her. In her quest for protection, she'd brought destruction upon everything she held dear. Deep within, a familiar power stirred, restless, anxious to burst forth and consume. The weight of her guilt held it back, yet the struggle left her trembling.
"You can go," Rezak rasped between sobs. "I won't hunt you anymore. I watched your daughter today… and I felt…" He paused, his hand hovering over his tear-streaked face.
"Felt what?" she pressed, a sliver of hope flickering in her chest.
He straightened, his eyes glistening with surprise. "I saw! I saw the whole day! The curse… it's broken!"
Sera froze, unable to breathe. Rezak's words crashed against her like a tidal wave, carrying both relief and dread. The curse lifted, but at what cost? And what consequences lay hidden in the wake of its demise?