Who can I trust?

The man inspected Zain's scar-free arms.

"What is your name girl?" he asked her.

"Zain Porter," replied Zain.

Seeing that there was no trace of such wound they were looking for, he saw that there was no proof that Zain was the one they were looking for. He went away afterward, to inspect another person. Zain looked around her, she could see how coordinated the men were, making sure they inspected everyone. Assuming she couldn't heal fast as she could, they probably would have caught her through the wound. She could imagine the girl who was with them the previous night, caged somewhere, away from her family, probably they wouldn't even give her food to eat since she's their proposed sacrificial lamb. Zain began to feel troubled within himself, she was the only one who is able to save the girl, she was the one who saw everything. She felt that she had to do something, maybe try telling someone trustworthy about the last night's incident. But that got her thinking, who would be trustworthy enough, who can she tell? She thought about telling O'Neil, but she bypassed him since he was no longer in authority. The thought of reporting to the members of the supreme, then she remembered that they were already scattered by De voe. She shook her head in disappointment, there was no one else to run to for help, De voe had taken over every single area of authority in the realm. As she was about to give up on the issue, something came to her mind. She remembered priest Benedict. She got up at once from where she sat searching carefully around the crowd, to see where he was.

"Time to go already?" asked the young man that was sitting with her on the beach.

Zain turned around, flicking a nervous glance at him. He was smiling at her, so she returned a shy smile of her own.

"Nah, not really. I have to go meet priest Benedict, for an important discussion," answered Zain.

"Wow, important discussion," he said, "A young lady like you and you're already having important discussions with royals and executives. it's quite some levels you've got there," he added.

She laughed. Zain had an incisive attitude just like Zelta's. Within her, she was getting impatient standing there and talking to the young man, but outside she appeared calm. She had already considered him a sycophant. She knew what he wanted all along.

"Actually it's more of a report than a discussion," she said in a brusque tone.

She looked around her now, purposely showing her desperation and urgency to leave.

"And I... I just can't find the priest around this hazy crowd," she added.

"I think I saw the priest moments ago," said the young man.

"Oh look, there he is," he said, pointing to the far end of the hall. The priest was seen standing there.

"You found him," she said in surprise, "Thank you so much".

"The name's Sabastine," he said with a proud smile.

"Well thank you Sabastine," said Zain, in an attempt to leave.

"My pleasure," said Sabastine, drawing back her attention.

"Do you mind telling me about this report you're about to give to the priest?" he further asked.

He had already wasted her time. Zain wanted to ignore him, but her modest attribute got the best of her, making her wait to hear him out.

"Let me guess," he said, "It's some secret, isn't it?".

"Well it appears your guess is right," replied Zain, "The report is for me to know, and for you to find out," she said, as she started going away.

"Wait!" called Sabastine, "You haven't told me your name!".

Zain didn't stop this time, she ignored his calls, and went to meet the priest. When Zain got to where she saw him standing, she didn't see him there again.

"How come," she muttered to herself, "He was just here," she said, searching purposefully through the crowd. She could see the men that were hunting for her, move up and down the temple, passing her frequently, without knowing that the person they were desperately looking for was fingertips away from them. She just prayed they didn't look at her as they passed, because they were likely to recognize her even by statue. She behaved like she was busy, to avoid their attention. Her busy eyes were moving fast and far, searching for any man in priesthood attire.

"Why do people just seem missing the very moment you need them," she mumbled to herself.

She stood there, searching for the priest. She has been there for quite a lengthy time.

Looking straight ahead of her, she spotted the priest padding away along with some elderly men.

"Priest Benedict! Priest Benedict wait up!" she called out loudly, chasing after them.

The priest stopped and turned around when he heard the call from Zain. He stood there and waited for her to catch up with him, and tell him what it was she wanted to tell him. He could sense some urgency. When Zain reached where the priest stood, she bowed down before him; this was a custom was to be done when a person sees the priest.

"What is the matter my daughter?" he asked, "Is there anything you wish to tell me?".

"Yes my priest, there's something so important that I need to tell you," answered Zain, "I've been looking all over the place for you," she added.

"Well it's a good thing I'm here now, go ahead and tell me what it is that you have to tell me," replied priest Benedict.

"It's something I can't tell you out here, we can go to the inner chamber and talk," said Zain.

"Sorry I'm too busy to go back to the Chambers, maybe some other time we can..." said priest Benedict, but he was abruptly interrupted by Zain.

"No it should be now, it must be now," she said curtly.

"Bu... but why now?" asked the priest, almost infuriated.

"You don't just get it, do you?" said Zain, "it's urgent," she added.

"Go wait there till I come, okay? Let me go organize a few things before I..." said the priest, moving further.

Zain was getting so impatient with the priest.

"Wait!" she called out to him, "You should know that the life of the innocent depends on it," she said.

"Life of the innocent?" asked the priest, turning back.

"Tell me, what is this about?" he asked.

"I've told you before, I can't tell you out here," answered Zain.

The priest motioned to the men with him to go on, that he will catch up with them. Then he finally followed Zain back to the Chambers.

The chamber was an enclosed inner part of the temple, meant for the priest, and for the discussion of confidential issues and information. This was actually the first time for Zain to enter the chamber. She observed the expensive furnishings of the large room. Almost all the pieces of furniture were plated with gold and silver. It was something she had never seen before. Zain almost forgot why she was there, as she was busy admiring the beauty of the place. The priest cleared his throat, drawing back her attention.

"Sit," he said, offering her a chair.

"You can talk," he said.

"Bad things happened here at night," said Zain.

"Tell me please, tell me what happened," said the priest.

"Some base men were here by night, attempting to perform evil sacrifices, at the expense of an innocent child," said Zain.

"Human sacrifice?" asked the priest, with a look of disbelief.

"Mhmm," replied Zain.

"But how do you know these things, how sure are you that..." he asked.

"It doesn't matter how I might have known this my priest, what really matters now is saving that little girl," she answered, "Some of those men are even here in the temple, I think this is the doing of De voe".

"Did you see them, were you here last night?" asked the priest.

Zain stood up from her seat.

"I've told you all I know, I have to leave the temple as soon as possible, for even the walls have ears," she said, in an attempt to leave.

"Wait," he said, "They're some men here I've been suspecting too, did they inspect your arms too?" he asked.

"They did," she replied, "They sure won't find what they're looking for".

Zain went out of the chamber. On her way out, she bumped into Raja; De voe's right-hand man. She froze instantly, like someone who just had a spooky encounter with a ghost. Her heartbeat began to beat faster and harder. Maybe he'd figured out that it was her they saw the previous night, she thought.

"Watch it girl!" he roared at her, "And get out of my way!".

Zain sprang far out of his way, watching in astonishment as he marched into the chamber. She was quite relieved that he didn't recognize her. She quickly made her way out of the temple, before any further interrogations from De voe's men.