Chapter Twelve

As the acolyte watched the blood drain into the troughs of the wheel, she hesitated on where to begin her story.

"I think I should start with telling you my name. My name is Alina Summers, and I used to be a linguist and translator attached to the planet Summerhall expeditionary team. It was a great job, I actually met the guy I thought I'd spend my life with there on the team"

"Things were going great. The expeditionary force was tasked with searching unknown planets and looking for ancient technology that we could reverse engineer and put to use in Summerhall. It can be a dangerous job at times as some of the locals don't like us probing their protected sites, but I digress. That was the job and I loved it. I studied hundreds of languages and made several discoveries that helped the planet's military and agricultural sectors. What I haven't said is that I am, or was the next in line, to inherit the throne. Every heir or heiress is forced to serve the planet and prove their worth through deeds done for Summerhall. Mine was exploration and discovery, others did so through military service, public service, and technology development."

"Anyways, everything was going great, but some people in the family thought otherwise. They were jealous of my position and the things I had done for the planet. Instead of working harder, they tried to have me eliminated. We were sent out to a planet named Sunder on a tip that advanced technology was found in the wreckage of an ancient ship. When we got there, it was indeed an ancient ship crash, but there was nothing of note that I'd consider more advanced. We took the team through the ship in an attempt to reach the bridge so we could recover the central computer."

Alina stopped for a second, obviously remembering the painful memory. She was starting to turn white from losing so much blood. The circle still needed at least double what she had given to be completely filled.

Alina continued, now with tears in her eyes. "We were ambushed on the bridge. A mercenary force had been hired by one of my brothers or sisters. They started killing everyone. The love of my life threw me under one of the bridge consoles in an effort to keep me out of the line of fire. I watched as he took plasma shot after plasma shot through his body. I was helpless, but more than that, I was angry. I was consumed with worry and fear and was so sorry that my position on the planet had gotten these innocent people killed. I got angry at my lack of power or ability to do anything. I felt something rising inside of me but I didn't know what it was or how to use it. Once the mercenaries killed everyone in cold blood, they set their eyes on me. I was the target, and that's how I knew this was a set up. The leader shoved the body of my dead lover to the side and reached out to grab me. Out of nowhere his hand was gone, and right next to him, a figure cloaked in shadows appeared and severed his head."

"The figure systematically killed every mercenary in that room, and without a word, turned to leave. But I saw his strength, his ability to make a difference through the sheer power he controlled. I wanted that power. I begged him to train me, to take me with him. He looked at me at said one thing that I didn't quite understand until I got here. He said "I will take you to the Academy, but you will have to survive. Trust no one"

"I finally understood when I got here. I killed a staff member in self defense. I saw the knife hidden in her hand as she walked me through the Academy. I waited until we reached a door, and after I walked through, I quickly slammed it on her. I pinned her between the frame and the door. She dropped the knife, I picked it up and slammed it through her temple. After that. I dropped the knife, ashamed of what I had done. I walked aimlessly for hours, and finally made it to the first room that was open and laid there and cried."

Alina boke down, sobbing, as the blood continued to flow from her wrist into the blood circle. She was almost to her limit, but Altair knew that she would have to die here judging by how much blood was left to fill the spokes.

Altair kneeled down next to her and took her other hand in his. "Alina, it's almost over now. You can rest. I give you my word that when I make it out of this place and I take care of what I need to, I will go to Summerhall and purge the greedy nobles. The people will choose their new leader, and that leader will be strong. The planet will be in chaos. But from that chaos will come order, and someone with true power will rise to maintain that order and look after your people. I will see your revenge done before I cross to the other side.

Alina closed her eyes and nodded. "Thank you. Show no mercy, the nobles and their families are snakes. Make them suffer the same way I did. Tell them my name before they go to their deaths. I want them know true despair before the life leaves their eyes.

Alina put her head on the floor and went still. She wasn't dead yet, but the loss of blood had caused her to pass out.

With shaking hands and a single tear that rolled down his cheek, he thrust his dagger through her heart, ending her life in a decisive thrust. He said a prayer to the gods and stood back, waiting for the blood circle to completely fill.

"What have I done? Is there really no other way?" he asked himself as he watched and waited.