The Alpha's Mark Chapter 21: The Five Evil Shadows

Elder Elias says, "So then, go ahead with the spiritual power."

Malrik replies with annoyance, "What do you an I should go ahead? I don’t have spiritual powers, Elder!"

Elder Elias stands up and walks into a room. Malrik asks, "Where are you going?"

Elder Elias collects a bottle and cos out of the room, handing it to Malrik. "Here, drink this," he says.

Malrik looks at the bottle and asks, "What is this? Is it a potion?"

Elder Elias replies, "Drink it, your highness."

Malrik smirks, "Oh, you want to surprise ."

Elder Elias smiles and encourages him, "Just drink it."

Malrik hesitates and says, "Wouldn’t it be too much?"

Elder Elias smiles and responds, "Of course not, don’t be silly."

Malrik raises his shoulder in agreent, then lowers it and says, "Okay." He gulps the entire contents of the bottle down. When he finishes, he brings the bottle down from his mouth and exhales in refreshnt.

"So how do I look?" Malrik asks.

Elder Elias replies, "How do you feel, your highness?"

Malrik checks himself and touches his belly, saying, "I feel okay, no changes." Then he pauses and adds, "Wait, wait, I feel a gurgle in my belly. I think it’s working."

Elder Elias raises an eyebrow, "What is working?"

Malrik exclaims, "The potion, of course!"

Elder Elias laughs, "What potion?"

Malrik looks confused, "Huh? Then what was that?"

Elder Elias smiles and says, "Water, of course."

Malrik looks distraught and says, "What?! Water?! What sort of tomfoolery is this, Elder?"

Elder Elias laughs and says, "Your highness, do you not get tired."

Malrik replies, "What is that supposed to an?"

Elder Elias explains, "Sotis, you just need to sit down, read, and have tea under the moon."

Malrik responds, "I humbly ask for your pardon for what I am about to say, but that is completely dim."

Elder Elias, with a scorned expression, retorts, "Dim? That is absolutely disparaging! Your highness, in my 318 years of living, you have given the most headaches."

Malrik counters, "I only ca here for a solution, Elder, not a lesson."

Elder Elias asks, "Have you read the book I gave to you?"

Malrik replies, "That odd-looking book? No, I haven’t."

Elder Elias insists, "Your highness, that book is of utmost importance to read."

Malrik rolls his eyes, saying, "I haven’t finished reading the issues concerning my pack, and you want to read a storybook?"

There is a pause between the two, then a little boy with dark blue hair, long ears, and big eyes with bright yellow pupils walks into the hut holding a large pot, next to him was a small animal that looks like a dark blue furball.

Malrik watches as the boy approaches Elder Elias and hands him the pot. Elder Elias pats the boy on the head and says, "Well done, Carven." He then bends down to pet the little animal, his hands disappearing into its fur before standing straight again. Carven stands beside Elder Elias with a smile, but when he and the animal turn to look at Malrik, their smiles drop instantly, and they walk into another room.

Elder Elias laughs and says, "Alright, let’s get you out of here."

Malrik shifts his attention back to Elder Elias and asks, "What is that?"

Elder Elias replies, "Your solution. Inside this pot are the shadows of evil consisting of death, sorrow, grief, madness, and chaos. When I open this pot, they will be released into the atmosphere and go directly to where Odesse is, if they can find her."

Malrik asks, "What do you an by ’if’?"

Elder Elias replies, "These five shadows will circle the Moonlight Pack to search for Odesse. Since neither of us has any of her belongings, they will carry out their purpose according to their nas within the Moonlight Pack until they find her."

Malrik’s eyes widen with a sharp smile, "Wait, so these shadows could basically destroy the Moonlight Pack until they find Odesse?"

Elder Elias nods.

Malrik laughs with an evil, mischievous smile and says, "I get to kill two birds with one stone!" He begins laughing maniacally.

Carven, who had been hiding in the room peeking out, turns and says, "That man is loony."

A deep voice sounds from the corner of the room, "I can sll it—a nutcase." It is the dark blue animal, who is reading a book.

Carven walks toward the animal and asks, "Grok, tell what you slled." Grok replies, "That man is ignorant and careless—very stupid, and he will get himself killed in the end.

Carven said, "I don’t think Elder told him about the consequences of those shadows if they don’t reach the main host successfully without any interference."

Grok, flipping to another page, replied, "Not my business. He who doesn’t ask doesn’t know."

Carven laughed and said, "I guess you are right. So what are you reading, you little furball?" as he aggressively tickled Grok.

Grok growled and said, "Hey, stop that! It’s not funny." Carven then took the book from Grok and analyzed it, exclaiming, "Ugh, Grok, this boring book! You couldn’t pay to read this nonsense."

Grok jumped down from the chair and said, "I wonder if the person who created you was paid to do it, because I’d be disappointed to get you as my final product." Carven’s face turned red, and his ears grew longer. Grok laughed and walked towards the back door, opening it briefly; loud, different noises could be heard before the door closed.

In Carven’s hands, the book caught fire and turned to ashes, leaving only smoke. He could still hear Malrik laughing and wondered, "Why on earth is he still laughing? What kind of creature are these?" He turned to boiling hot water, which evaporated.

Malrik, still laughing, suddenly choked and began coughing. Elder Elias was seated in his chair, deep in sleep. When Malrik looked at him and coughed louder, Elder Elias jumped up, saying, "Good gracious, your highness! You almost gave a heart attack!"

Malrik rolled his eyes and asked, "When are you going to release the shadows?"

Elder Elias replied, "Not when you’re in here. Your eyes cannot withstand their natural form as they co out of the pot, so you will have to leave first."

Malrik said, "Okay, this better work. That girl Odesse will be dead, and so will my brother’s pack. Muhahaha!"

Elder Elias looked at him with an annoyed expression and said, "Will you leave now, your highness?"

Malrik responded, "Oh yes, take care, Elder. I will make sure to supply you with more this season." He mounted his horse and rode quickly past trees and hills. Just then, he heard loud screeches. Looking up at the dark sky, he saw shadows passing beneath the moon and he laughed loudly.