Chapter 19: Fractures

Luna POV

The meeting of the council emergency was to be about cessation of The Keepers of the Old Way. Rather it became a nightmare of suspicions and suspicions.

It is true what you are saying, one of the council members said, because then one of us in this room is a traitor.

Every one stared at the other. The confidence that was accumulating was like glass. I could feel it happening. I was able to feel the fear spreading the room like poison.

We must look into this dispassionately, the silver-haired woman said. It was she who had made an effort to be just in my trial. But even her eyes were now doubtful.

And how could we be peaceful when one to whom we had entrusted so much, sought to ruin us! insisted on another council. Why should we not mistrust one another?

Elena stood up. That is just what The Keepers desire, she said. They make us turn off one another. They desire that we disintegrate inwardly.

How should we not know you are one of them? someone asked Elena. Why do we suspect you are not taking advantage of your granddaughter and undermining us?

"You don't," Elena said simply. Just the same, I do not know whether you are.

That is how the meeting broke down. Council members began accusing one another. Voices got louder. Emotions ran higher. When we went, nobody had answers. But we all had plenty of doubts.

The fractures were worse back in Pine Ridge. The Keepers and their menace had spread. Humans were now in fear that werewolves might be lurking around them seeking hiding places among them. And werewolves feared that people had been collaborating with The Keepers.

Kieran called a town meeting. He intended to speak to the communities and also attempt to restore trust. But it was too late. The scepticism already spread was like an epidemic.

One of the humans said, "I saw a werewolf prowling about my house last night. What would happen, in case they are one of The Keepers?

A werewolf told him it was a human thing to have a neighbor who is human and who works at the hospital. Maybe she wants to poison our children,what about that?

Another human could not live like this, said. We must insist that the werewolves should be out of the town until we discover who the traitors are.

And we must ask that all the humans be away, said a werewolf again. "For our safety."

Kieran looked helpless. He resembled a man who had so desperately attempted to do the right thing and now it all collapsed anyway.

Ethan grabbed my hand. "This is over," he whispered. "The peace is over. We are returning to the good old days.

"No," I said. But I wasn't sure I believed it. "We'll find another way."

My mother appeared to me that evening with swollen eyes, red. "I'm leaving," she said.

"What?" I asked. "Why?"

My mother said, Because I can not watch this. I can not see the town tearing itself to pieces. I do not see you ruin yourself in an attempt to mend something that is broken.

"Mom, please," I said. "I need you. I need someone on my side."

On your side, I am on your side, my mother said. She was crying. "That's why I have to leave. Since to remain will only serve to strengthen the suspicion. People will suspect that a human being who loves a werewolf is collaborating with The Keepers. They'll suspect you. And they will put that suspicion to shred you with.

She was right. I knew she was right. Nevertheless, that did not make it hurt any less.

When she departed I remained alone in the cabin. Elena had run away and lived with the council. Kieran was working with the broken town. Sarah had not been discharged. Ethan was making attempts to calm the werewolves.

I was alone. And then the same as I had been before all this.

It was about the middle of the night, when the door was knocked on. On opening it, I saw a note and no one. The message was written by the same hand as the other messages that had been received earlier. It said:--Your sacrifice would prevent all this. We will cancel The Keepers should you resign as the bridge, and make Pine Ridge your permanent home. We'll stop the attacks. We will leave everybody to live in peace. It only takes you to vanish.

I was holding the note in my hands and reading it by reading it. It would be so easy. It would be so simple. By leaving alone, I could leave everyone to resume their lives. The werewolves and humans were able to revert to being different. The doubt and fear would fade. Everyone could be safe.

Everyone except me.

I was on the point of destroying the note when I happened to see some writing at the back. The one sentence was in a trembling hand that certainly was not the one belonging to the man in the mine. It said: "Don't listen to them. I'm here. I'm alive. I can help you."

It was Sarah's handwriting.