THE ISLAND WOLF - EPISODE 62

Camper was very serious, so Avril couldn’t laugh. She bit her lower lip and heaved a deep sigh.
“Uhm, which girl are you talking about again?”
“The dark skinned one, with the body. You know, the shape. Hour glass,” he said and even demonstrated it.
“Nana. Her name is Nana,” Avril said.
“Nana,” he called dreamingly.
“Feels so good on my mouth. Tell me, how does she like her men?” he asked and Avril tapped her index finger on her lips.
“She likes bold men. Men with authority and a well built body,” she answered.
He moved backwards and spread out his arms.
“Do you think I’m well built enough?”
“Hmmm… Yeah. You’re not like the men I’ve seen since I came here. But you’ll do.”
“Would she like me? My body I mean.”
“Yes. She definitely would.”

“Okay. I’m bold, very bold. And I have enough authority. Also, do you know?” he asked and beckoned on her to move closer with his hand. She did,and he leaned forward.
“Do you know? I am the Prince’s best friend,” he whispered and smirked at Avril. She smiled at him.
“Really?” she whispered back.
“Yes… I’m the only one he smiles at. And he listens to what I say. If I ask him to give me this or that, he does. And people are scared of him. Since I’m his best friend, they’re scared of disobeying me. Isn’t that enough authority?
Avril gasped dramatically and beamed at Camper. He grinned thinking she was mesmerized by what he just told her, not knowing she was a great actress.

“Wow, that is some authority you have. Nana would love you,” she said in a voice that was like she was praising him. He nodded his head and stood upright.
“So, what else do you need?” Avril asked.
“That’s all I need from you. I’ll go and see her soon. I know who she’s going to work for,” he answered.
Avril stared at him and decided to make good use of him.
“I gave you information, now I need your own information,” she stated.
“I’m the right person to ask for information about this place. What do you need to know?”

She crossed her arms and began to walk around him slowly. His head followed her circular motion until he got tired.
“What is it?” he asked again.
“You are interested in my friend. I am interested in your friend. Tell me about the Prince,” she requested and he chuckled. Aida and Gia exchanged puzzled looks Avril tabled her requests. They had been standing a few feet behind her all these while.
“You have fallen head over heels for him already? Why is Dakar so lucky with women?”
“Camper, please give me the information,” she stated firmly.
“Okay. Prince Dakar hates women who are too clingy. He loves being alone. Very fast to anger and doesn’t talk much with other people, only with me. He disappeared for a few years and was trapped on an island all that time. He only returned two years ago,” Camper said.

“Really? An–an island? Tell me more about that,” she demanded desperately.
“He was alone there for fifty-four years. He doesn’t really have a clear memory of the things that happened there with him. But he knew he was all alone. I think that loneliness changed him. He hates any social activity now. And doesn’t wrestle like he used to.”

Avril bit her lower lip and stared into nothingness. So, truly he had lost his memory. Could it be that silver bullet? Paolo had said they saw no one at the beach with her. Could it be he was completely erased from the timeline that involved her? What if he actually didn’t lose his memory, but she was the one who was erased from his life instead?

“God, this is so confusing,” she muttered and palmed her forehead.
“Why are you confused? I sense that you’re thinking far,” Camper said while peering deep into her eyes. She blinked and heaved a sigh.
“Nothing. Thank you for the information,” she said and smiled at him.
“Okay. I’ll be going now. And, I wish you good luck with your initiation,” he said and turned towards the door. She turned to the maidens and gulped down.
“Are you okay, my lady?” Gia asked.
“Yes… I’m okay,” she answered. They didn’t ask any further questions even though they suspected Avril was hiding something. Aida especially knew Avril was hiding something. She had asked about the prince’s castle, then ordered to be taken there, she returned unhurt by him but looking dejected and now she was questioning Camper about him. Something was just not right

***
Avril wore the traditional outfit of animal skin and beads. Wolf teeth was put on a string and tied around her ankles. She was wearing a short skirt, a top that only covered her breasts, and a beaded necklace of red and blue color. Her arms had stripes made with red ink and there was a horizontal mark on her right cheek with the same ink. She was scared, but she didn’t know why.
“Maybe it’s because I’m dressed like a person going to be sacrificed,” she thought to herself. Aida was behind her, while Gia was in front of her. They both were dressed in traditional outfit, but not like hers. Finally, they were called upon to walk into the field where people were waiting for her. She heaved a deep sigh and followed Gia’s steps. They walked through the dark path and entered the large field. People were gathered around in a circle and long poles with fire burning on them made a smaller circle in front. Avril’s eyes met with Dakar’s as they stared at her. She averted her gaze immediately.

The three of them stood by a pole and waited for further instructions.
“We are here because of Prince Dakar’s new concubine. Since she is human, she needs to get striped of her old life. She would forget everything that ever happened to her and embrace the life she now has,” a man in a long robe spoke from the middle of the field.

“What?” Avril’s mouth parted. Her heart began to beat faster. No, she couldn’t lose her memories. Her life on the island with Dakar was too precious to her.

“Do not erase her old memories,” Dakar’s authoritative voice sounded across the field. All eyes turned to look at him, sitting there in all glory and authority, leaning on one side with his elbow standing on the arm of the chair. And of course, Ñiraka was seated beside him.

“But, my prince…it is our custom to—”
“Do not strip her of her old memories,” Dakar repeated, cutting the man short. His eyes moved to Avril’s figure. He stared at her for a few seconds then averted his eyes.
“Do as he says. It is however his problem if she poses as threat to us. He knows the consequences of that,” the Alpha said.

“Yes, Alpha,” the man in the rope replied with a bow. Avril breathed in in great relief. Dakar might not remember her, but he was working in her favor.
“Let the ceremony begin.”

She was called upon into the circle and made to kneel down alone. A fire was made in front of her and few maidens, including Gia and Aida began to pour certain leaves into the fire. They burned rapidly and the scent filled her head that she couldn’t concentrate on anything else but the scent. As the leaves were becoming much, her head began to fill whoozy and dizzy. She began to hear voices of people in her past. She heard her parents voice, her friends on the ship, Dakar’s voice, Alejandro’s too. The voices kept increasing until she screamed and fell down. She woke up minutes later and felt stronger than before.
“What did you burn?” she asked in a low voice as she stood on her feet.
“Herbs that can make you stronger by what you’ve been through before. They tamper with your mindset,” the man answered. She looked around at the people watching her.
“What next?” she asked.
“The burning,” he answered. Two men walked to her and held her arms. They stood straight and tightened their grip on her.
“What is happening?” she asked but no one answered her this time. Two men walked into the circle with a long pole. They each were holding it with both hands, one man at the front, the other behind the first man. The pole had a glowing hot metal at the end.
“Wait. What are you doing?” she asked again and began to fight to be released by the men.

The two men with the pole stood behind her so she couldn’t see them.
“Now!” the officiating man ordered. Avril screamed at the top of her voice as she felt her skin get burned deep. The metal was placed on her upper back, close to her shoulder. The pain was too much for her so she fainted again.

“Enough. One label is enough. Take her to her quarters,” Prince Dakar commanded. As they took her away, his arm began to glow so he covered it with his robe. His eyes dimmed and he gritted his teeth. Pain clouded his mind and it took all the strength in the world to not scream out loud.