Chapter Ten
"What I am about to request to you is something no one else may know about. It's a secret between you and I. You see, I may be immortal like this forever, but there comes a time when, my immortality ends. There's a magical force in this cave which determines when your immortality cuts off and you die right then and there. My older brother also helped my find this cave, and once my dear wife passed away, we lived here for several years together. He died early in immortal years. The force of this cave decided it was his time to go. So I was alone until Jeremiah arrived here. Then came Elvira and Ephraim. Eventually they all arrived. Then you, Melanie," said Melathiah.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
Melathiah took a deep breath.
"My time is coming to an end. I'm getting close to the point that I cannot walk any longer. I'm trying my best to be strong and act as I usually would, but I'm tired. I miss her. I need to go on. Any day now the magic in this cave will kill me off and I'm done for. I'll be in a better place, hopefully. When that day comes, I need you to be the leader," he said.
"Me? Why me?" I asked.
"You are young, lively, familiar to the mortal world. You are very intelligent, as I heard from Elvira, I think this cave needs you, Melanie. Will you please take my place when my time comes?" he asked.
At first I didn't know what to say. I was speechless.
"Okay," I said almost in a whisper.
"Thank you very much Melanie. I do hope that one day, you will meet your family again. As for me, I could be gone tomorrow, a week, a month, or several years. I don't know when your turn will come, I don't know when my turn ends. We just have to wait. I hope it is soon. This pain is nearly unbearable. I nearly wish the cave magic will just kill me off without any suffering, but so far, that's not happening," he said.
I said nothing to that.
There was nothing I could say.
After a few minutes of silence, I noticed Melathiah was starting to fall asleep.
"Should I leave?" I asked.
"Hmm? Oh, yes Melanie. Sorry, I was dozing off. I must be going to bed now. It is very late. Thank you for your help. I will write a letter to prove you are the next leader, tomorrow. Until then, good night," he said.
"Good night, Melathiah," I said.
I started to walk out of the door when I heard him snicker as he got out of his throne.
I turned back to see what was funny but he was already asleep on his bed.
I shrugged and closed the door behind me.
As soon as I left the room, everyone was right in front of me, staring into my soul.
"Hi?" I questioned.
Elvira looked angry, Jeremiah and Ephraim looked confused, Rufus looked cheerful, and the twins appeared to be experiencing a mixed amount of emotions.
"Talk," said Elvira.
I tried not to smile.
"About what?" I asked.
"What do you mean 'about what' Melanie? Melathiah never invites people to talk to him. Especially newcomers! What did he say? Tell us, now," said Elijah.
Elijah was now standing really close to me and I felt like a little mouse.
"Elijah! Back off!" yelled Josiah.
I was scared now.
Josiah pushed Elijah gently away from me and stood in his place.
"Would you prefer to tell us tomorrow?" he asked.
"No, tell us now," said Elvira.
"El, now isn't the time for nagging at Melanie. First of all, we all are scaring the crap out of her by our rude and intimidating behavior. Secondly, it's nearly three A.M. so she's probably very tired after her long day here, so she needs a break. We all do. Let's all go to our rooms and go to sleep for a while until morning. We can talk about it tomorrow at pool time," said Josiah.
Josiah was my hero.
Elvira was the first to roll her eyes and walk away.
Ephraim and Jeremiah followed.
Then went Rufus and Elijah.
"Can you at least tell me?" Josiah asked when everyone was gone.
So that's why he stuck up for me, he sure was sneaky.
"Why can't you wait like everyone else?" I asked.
He half smiled.
"You really are quite intelligent I must say. You see, I just want to know. I am very curious and I worry about you," he said.
"I can't tell you," I said.
He looked surprised.
"I'm not allowed to tell anyone what I was told. It is news that will break all of your fragile hearts and ruin all of what's left of your dreams," I said.
Josiah didn't like that answer.
"I can keep secrets," he said.
"No," I said.
That was final.
"Well you are very strong and persistent," he said.
"Look, you all will find out anyways. Soon. Don't think that you won't find out one day. You will. Believe me, you will. But for now, I can't tell anyone. You can tell that to everyone else. No matter what you do, nothing will be told," I said.
He thought about that.
"Very well then. You win," he said.