The Hallowed Bloodline: Us vs. Them

“Did you miss me?” Dohate kissed her again and saw the seriousness on her face. He asked her, “What’s wrong?” Yutu pulled him away from the others. Dohate kept his arm around her thin waist. He felt her soft skin rub against his as they walked. He glanced over his shoulder at Tezmon as they walked away, and he gave his friend a subtle wink and a smile.

“I think you should know . . . It’s your brother.” Yutu’s voice was hushed, and she looked over her shoulder before she continued, “Sassacus.” She suddenly fell silent when she saw Rowtaq and Sassacus approach them.

“What about Ehane?” Dohate asked her. She was too frightened to answer him. Rowtaq grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from Dohate. He gave her a forceful shove.

“Off with you. Make yourself useful tend to the cooking.” Rowtaq said authoritatively, and she ran away from them. She didn’t look back. She was usually a strong-willed woman Dohate had never seen her so docile. He wondered why Rowtaq would treat her so unfeelingly.

“What the hell, Rowtaq!” Dohate felt his anger rise. Tezmon could sense something was going on. In a flash, he was by Dohate’s side.

“Come with us,” Sassacus command them. As they walked through the hamlet Dohate had a strange feeling everyone was watching as they passed. He realized that they were headed toward the wigwam Ehane had built. The one they now shared.

“What’s going on?” Dohate stopped in his tracks and stared into Sassacus’ eyes to demand an answer. He noticed Rowtaq was carrying his bow that, on its own, wasn’t a big deal. What unnerved him was how tight Rowtaq gripped the handle. Tezmon picked up on the tension as well. He gave Dohate the slightest of head nods. Dohate knew no matter what, Tezmon would have his back if necessary. They were almost at their wigwam. Dohate looked around for Ehane, he was nowhere to be found. He thought surely, Ehane would come to greet him once he returned. “Where’s Ehane?” Dohate demanded. He caught the subtle look Sassacus threw in Rowtaq's direction.

Dohate dusted away from the men without warning, he materialized inside of their wigwam to find Ehane’s dead body on the ground. He fell to his knees beside his brother and took Ehane’s hand into his own. Ehane’s skin was cold and clammy. “No, no, no, not again, God not again.” His eyes filled with tears. His mind flashed back to when his father laid dying in Daggetts cavern. Dohate gently placed Ehane’s arms across his chest and raced out of the wigwam.