The Diamond Bearers' Rising by Lorena Angell

Author:Lorena Angell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lorena Angell
Published: 2018-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight - Changing of the Guard

Yeok Choo’s willingness to surrender her diamond was not easy to watch, but it was quick and clean. However, her cremation set me on edge. I’ve never seen a body burned. I wish I could unsee and unsmell the whole event. The high amount of heat from the fire prevented us from being closer, thank God, but I’d rather not have seen it at all. Then again, I wish I never saw Marketa’s chest blow open, or General Harding shot nearly in half, or Chris shot repeatedly, to name a few. This type of bloodshed might be commonplace among the older Bearers, but I’ll never get used to it.

Something else I’ll never get used to is discovering new abilities that Crimson possesses. She actually entered the fire area once Yeok Choo’s body had burned away revealing her skeleton. Crimson reached into Yeok Choo’s ribcage and took the diamond. As she moved in the flames, I noticed a force-field around her body, preventing her from being burned from the heat. I can only assume this was a display of the Elemental power of controlling fire.

A reminder of the upcoming blast I need to prepare for.

As Chris and I stand a little away from everyone else, I pick up on a hushed conversation between Anika and Ruth. Anika questions the correctness of choosing when to die versus letting nature dictate when our lives will end.

Ruth replies, “The rules, laws, and moral code you are familiar with were not created with Immortals in mind.”

“Well,” Anika states, “I’m not sure I’m ready to toss aside everything I’ve ever known and believed.”

“No one is going to force you to. No one forced me to give up my beliefs or spirituality.”

“What? Are you a religious person?”

“In my own way. I find peace and fulfillment in following my heart and extending kindness to others. Anika, you are approved to become a Bearer, meaning you have the right state of mind and way of thinking to be able to properly handle the power associated with a diamond. This puts you on a higher level than many other people. You should be honored by the fact your good nature passes the strict qualifications of Crimson—a twelve-thousand-year-old human who has seen civilizations come and go.”

“I am honored. But I don’t think immortality is for me.”

“You have your whole life to make that decision.”

“I know.”

Movement on the other side of the pyre draws my attention. Using my Hunter’s vision, I see several Bearers digging in the ground. I squeeze Chris’s hand.

“Come on. Let’s go see what’s going on over there.” I pull him with me as we meander through the other Bearers.

Maetha directs the digging being performed by Amalgada and Avani. To the side of the plot are small headstones in the grass.

I let go of Chris’s hand and walk over to get a better look. Many names are chiseled into many stones, some of which I recognize: Neema, Henry, Rolf, Gustave, and Hasan. Another rock lays atop the grass with Yeok Choo’s name inscribed.

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