Chapter 50: Mission Failed

Kayden's POV:

"Kayden... Tomorrow when you hold it, be careful of it. Caliburn doesn't just corrupt the heart of a Priestess, it does it to anyone. It will speak to you. It will speak to Deacon. Perform the duty that has been assigned to you, unfortunately is yours alone to bear as Alpha of the pack who has slavers. So do what you must quickly... Once the blade gets a taste of blood, it will become more determined to corrupt its wielder. So the moment you are done with the last head let it fall to the ground and go directly to Daniella, no matter what anyone tells you don't stop just go to her, she will help expunge any corruption from you as quickly as possible. I'll make sure that she is ready to receive you and administer the treatment, do you understand me?" She looks at me with this sad face full of concern. And the question of my own parents comes to mind. How do I approach this?

"What would happen if I were to be fully corrupted by the blade, and is it just slavers who get this punishment? Or are there rules for other people to be executed this way?" And she rubs her face from stress... She takes another puff and another sip of wine.

"If... if you were to be corrupted fully by Caliburn with no chance of recovery, and started to wreak havoc you would be hunted down and brought directly to Moira for a swift execution with Excalibur. Being corrupted by Caliburn is not an unforgivable crime, the Goddess knows well the consequences of what she asks. She would not allow you to suffer in Hades, she would take you into her realm. To your other question, yes. If you have done a great offense in the eyes of the Goddess she would have you executed this way as well." And now I cannot wait for tomorrow to actually take the heads of these mother fuckers! To know that I can lose everything including my mind and mate because of these assholes is filling me up with rage.

She looks at me and takes my hand and the wonderful feel of her touch fills my heart and I am transported to her eyes. I reached for her face and cup her cheek in my hand and she rubs her face deeper into my it I go in to kiss her, I want her so badly, that now it's not just my heart that's swelling. I get very close that I can already feel her fresh breath on my face just when our lips are about to touch she pulls away and let's go of my hand. It felt like being in heaven one minute and having a bucket of cold water thrown on top of me the next. And I see through her long sleeve chiton style black robes the yellow shine of her Mark. And she takes another sip of wine and hands it back to me.

"I'm sorry. I have to keep my head as clear as possible. The weed and the wine are just relaxing me, but you... You are another thing entirely, I cannot afford to lose myself today." And she takes a deep breath. And I take her hand again... "I will love you forever, I want you to know that I understand, I won't push anything. I just have more questions and want to know you better, ok?" I still have a little more time and being with her this way is pushing me, the weed is helping though. "Could you hook me up with some of that jading potion?" And she starts laughing. 

"Let me guess, Marcus figured it out?!" And she takes a small vile with a white liquid from a hidden pocket in her robe.

"Well you were right about my brother being smarter than me!" Nothing new there.

"Here, you only need a very small sip and it will last 24 hours. Don't expect it to fully shut down your libido, you also have to focus, but you'll feel it instantly." And she hands it to me. And she's right, the moment I take a sip I feel way much more in control. 

"You're a cheater my beautiful mate! No wonder your mind is so clear!" Fascinating!

"Give it ten hours and then you have to put effort... Also your brother isn't necessarily smarter than you. It's just how Beta brain waves work, they're constantly assessing and observing their surroundings, and their brain waves adapt very quickly. But it is part of the importance of them and their contribution to the pack. A pack can have MANY Betas yet when it's one who serves by the Alpha their duties range from main advisor, overriding a very foolish order, taking control over the pack in case the Alpha is recovering from a serious wound or if the Alpha is going mad, to something as trivial to making sure the Alpha is not acting like a fool... Hence why we are speaking. You can't tell me you haven't studied this or that Marcus hasn't told you?" Marcus can override one of my commands?! Does HE know? I need to check on him and tell him everything I've learned. 

"I know somethings, yet other things you say I don't think he knows himself! Like having the ability to override one of my orders, and he spends A LOT of time in The Council's library." And she takes another sip of wine and another puff. 

"So you're telling me The Council is withholding this information from other packs? It makes no sense to allow an Alpha to run amok. The Beta is a counter balance, that's why I chose my brother, he won't let me get away from doing stupid shit. If an Alpha shows mayor mistakes in command a Beta has the ability to override an Alpha command. They have a particular phonetic apparatus in their vocal cords than can do this. Of course the proper conditions must be met for them to use it. If The Council doesn't want the packs to know this information it might explain what happened to Alpha Marius..." I HAVE to talk with Marcus, but I don't think It's what happened to Marius, if we ARE cursed this may happen to me! And I keep asking questions it seems The Council is not disclosing all information, and actively allowing packs to go amok because of it. 

"Loiza, has there ever been a Priestess executed by Caliburn?"

Loiza's POV:

That's a very specific and odd question to ask... To be a Master interrogator when you don't want to raise suspicion you must secure that the interrogated feels comfortable enough to freely give information. Of all the questions he has asked, THIS ONE is not like the others. His past questions I understood since they were related to general knowledge, but THIS... Why would he ask if a Priestess has had this fate? So I decide to answer nonchalantly and pay close attention to his reaction...

"Actually there have been 3 Priestesses executed with Caliburn... They're known as The Cursed Roses. As unicorns are known as the Diamonds of the Goddess, her Priestesses are considered as the most precious roses of her garden." I give this information in the hopes he bites the bait and asks me which were their crimes, and just as planed, my answer started to make him perspire on his forehead a bit, it was very subtle, but I noticed.

"What were their crimes to garnish such punishment?" And there it was... I still have not forgotten that his own mother had lost her Mark... It must have been a great crime indeed, but she was alive so I though that was the end of her criminal days, so I go ahead and tell him the story truthfully, and read his reaction.

"Well all three Priestesses had already committed so many infractions that they eventually lost their Marks. In most cases a Priestess will be punished by being striped of their power but our Mark is our life essence and helps guide us and gives us itching and pain to warn of us of danger. But if you have already lost your Mark and STILL you betray the will of the Goddess, yes, your life ends by Caliburn's blade... No exceptions." I can smell the salt of his sweat, hear the increased thumping of his heart, the dilation of his pupils. This answer has affected him, he's definitely hiding something. I decide to expand more so that he understands the consequences, but I am already suspecting what he is afraid of.

"The morning of the cataclysm in Karaya, a Priestess lost her Mark instantly. The only way the Goddess would do this is if a great betrayal has been done, however we still must find the culprit. But as an example of what I'm trying to explain, once this Priestess is found she will join the ranks of the Cursed Roses and be killed by Caliburn's blade, the Goddess will not want her in her Realm. We already have evidence that It was The Council who orchestrated the attack, the Priestesses are gathering all of the evidence to verify which Priestess has committed this heinous crime, once captured she will be interrogated until she gives the names of all those responsible and ALL shall taste Caliburn's steel. I hope that answers your question, since you are my mate I want you to be as knowledgeable of these things as possible." And I can definitely tell he does know something, but he doesn't say anything, and suddenly I become very depressed because I know what I must do to find the information I need from him, Goddess guide me...

"Yes, that definitely answers my question." He answers in an extremely gloomy voice and already I feel my heart ache. I have yet to tell anyone my plans, I must consult with Bayoán, Moira and Director Gloria on how to make sure I am successful. May the Goddess forgive me...