By Damien Knight
(From a dream I had back in May 2011. )
Koraki walked through an Asian grocery with a cart when he glanced across at a familiar young face. Her short bob cut, and bold almond-shaped eyes made him stop and gaze for a moment. Akron was on the other side of the store. He ordered ingredients from a short Japanese man. Koraki waited for the girl to catch sight of him. She approached Akron with a bright smile.
“It has been a long time since we have seen you. How have you been,” She asked Akron.
Akron shrugged, “Well enough just doing what I can to keep an eye on Koraki and the kids you know.”
“Koraki is good at watching himself, though isn’t he? He seemed to be recovering well from surgery according to Susan and Sally.” She replied.
“I have no idea what the surgery was for, but it was good seeing you again Sora,” Akron said.
Koraki laughed as ‘Sora’ turned around. When she caught sight of him, she came over and hugged him.
“Koraki,” She kissed him, “good to see you again.”
“So, it is Sora now, huh my love?” he replied.
“Depends on where I am at. You can’t talk Koraki, shadow of many names.” She laughed, “You are looking well again.”
“Yes, and you cut your hair again.” He scolded, “I love your long hair. Running my fingers through it. No flower pins today?”
She brushed her hand through her hair.
“No, no my love,” she blushed.
Koraki nodded then held her close to him. He pushed her hand away and brushed his fingers through her hair. He kissed her again and as he did, Akron turned and saw them. Akron had a look of anger that shocked them both.
“Koraki, why are you kissing Sora? What is this nonsense?”
Sora let go of Koraki and went to Akron. She placed her hands on his chest she leaned up to get as close to eye to eye as her 4-foot 5 frame would let her. Akron towered above her in his height of six feet. She sighed then smiled.
“Akron you sound jealous of Koraki and I. Surely you have no interest in your own sister or you do not recognize me. Or is it that your love for Koraki clouded that you and I must share him not just with each other but with whoever he loves? Maybe you wish me to kiss you too Akron?”
Akron swallowed, “Sister? Um no thanks I don’t wish for a kiss. I will just take my things and head out.”
Akron vanished. Koraki turned to ‘Sora’ with a sheepish grin. He ran his hand through his short brown hair feeling ashamed of Akron’s actions.
“Don’t mind wolf sweetie he didn’t realize you were Anika. He still hasn’t gotten use to the fact I am Koraki. For the longest time you and I kept him cleverly confused. I mean I don’t even use my birth name on earth any more so… well I better go.”
Damien woke from sleep and he sighed he turned, and Akron was sleeping. He got up and went down stairs. 2:09 in the morning. Really? He feed the cats. Then the dog and placed a bowl of water out for them. He turned out the lights that were left on and crawled back in bed. He tossed and tried to get comfortable which made Akron upset.
“Why can’t you just sleep?” Akron complained.
“My pillow keeps falling off the bed,” Damien snapped.
Akron didn’t reply except for light snoring.
Koraki woke and found himself in a house. In the bedroom he was trapped in he looked in the mirror and saw he had the face of a young boy. A little girl about eight was with him. Her face was dirty, her skin pale hanging from a thin frame. The mother came in and offered Koraki a handful of cat food.
“Eat children and don’t look at me with your vile eyes.” She snarled.
The little girl whimpered, “Cat food again. Can’t we have goldfish crackers instead?”
“No,” the woman hissed, “In fact you get none cat food either.”
The woman snatched back the bag of cat feed from the girl.
“You can’t treat us this way. It isn’t allowed it’s illegal.” Koraki replied.
“Says who you filthy runt.” She replies.
Koraki transformed with a smirk.
“Says I, your daughter is now a ward of the state and I have already taken your son,”
“You can’t do that!” She shrieked.
She pushed Koraki out the window. Koraki grabbed the daughter with him and realized it was storming. He tried to fly, but the wind kept pushing him.
“Damn the wind,” He snapped.
He clung to the girl as she screamed in fear, he could see the sky lighting up strange. It was obviously dawn but he could tell by the way the light hit he indeed was in Aldaria for sure. “Aldaria, so beautifully treacherous when it comes to weather.”
The girl screamed again and Koraki called out:
“Anika my love I know you can hear me I sense you. Come to me my beloved.”
He flew, if one could call trying to dodge trees, flying. Suddenly the girl shrieked louder than before.
“A dragon! A large black dragon!” She screamed.
Koraki turned and held the girl close. He saw Anika’s stream lined head and her red under wings. He smiled, his heart warmed.
“Coming down for a landing on your back my sweet one. We are on our own with this one. I need to get to Little Babylon.”
“No Koraki you said you would go to the council first, remember?” Anika’s voice entered his mind.
“Fuck the council Anika, we are going to the palace to get the child to safety first.” He replied.
“Ok Sir, fuck the council.” She snorted loudly, “To Little Babylon.”
“That’s my girl! Way to do as I say.” Koraki leaned and stroked the top of her massive head as she flew, “I love you so much Anika. You have no idea how happy I am to see you again.”
At these words Anika tilted and Koraki thought she might be blushing. She kept flying through the trees and she hit right into a large tree branch.
“Anika watch out! Lift higher up, you will get hurt flying through the trees.” Koraki called.
“I am fine sir! I happen to have scales. I can’t fly higher if you didn’t notice it is storming this morning. We are almost home I can smell people.” She paused, “And um I love you too especially love how every time you see me you act like we haven’t spoken in a decade.”
Koraki shook his head just as she landed in the city square. The sun had risen by this point. People shouted “It’s Lord Koraki and Lady Anika. They made it back!”
Koraki bowed to the people his Spartan cape swooped around him.
“My queen, take the girl to her brother I head to the palace.” He stopped and sniffed, “someone in the crowed means my death. Let him follow me then.”
Koraki ran across the buildings Prince of Persia style with a chuckle. Even in his heavy armour his stocky build was strong enough to travel Little Babylon like it was a ready-made street running course. A fat man in a purple turban ran behind him huffing.
“What’s wrong can’t keep up with your King? Come try to catch me and if you can I will give you a good fight.”
The man threw a vial at Koraki who swiftly caught it and threw it back. The man caught it and kept pursuing Koraki. Finally, Koraki reached the palace and ran for the bar.
“OMG, who is that man chasing you Koraki?”
Scott the bartender greeted Koraki as he ran in. Scott was a lanky half elf in colourful clothes. Koraki looked at the half elf and smiled.
“Let’s dance Scott, my friend, as I successfully completed a mission. Never mind that man is trying to assassinate me.”
“Whatever you say, sir, but won’t Akron be mad if you dance with me,” he replied.
“Upset over a dance? Worry more over Anika being upset.”
Koraki laughed as he spun Scott and hit the music. Just as he did, Anika ran in the room. She glared at them.
“What you couldn’t wait for me before partying.”
“Now it is you who is jealous, huh? Anika come into my arms you know I would gladly dance with you.”
Koraki swept her up and she jumped on him her legs wrapped around his waist. He laughed as he dropped her down with a chuckle.
“We still have unfinished business, or I would party all day.”
“The man who was following you. He’s on his way, now isn’t he?” She replied.
“Why yes, he is.” He replied.
The man in the turban ran in.
“Die you fool.”
The man cried out as he threw the potion at Koraki again. Anika swift caught it, and everyone present in the room surrounded him.
“Not a good day to pick to try and murder the king of Aldaria my friend. You made the fool mistake and ran right into the vipers nest and now you will suffer his bite.”
Everyone chased the man out into the street and Anika turned into a cat. The man grabbed her.
“Ha you took something valuable from the woman and I take your lover from you.”
The woman, the mother of the children, appeared beside the man.
“Anika please make mincemeat of him with your claws.” Koraki ordered.
Anika scratched the man and then jumped into Koraki’s arms. Koraki stroked her red and black fur tenderly.
“No one touches my princess. As for you valuing those children, woman, your crime just elevated to a death sentence. I will kill you.”
“Go ahead coward! You ran from me to begin with.” She retorted.
“I run from no one you pushed me out a window.” Koraki answered.
He pulled his sword. The woman cast a spell trapping Anika.
“He may not be able to hold on to the dragon, but she is mine now until you give me back my children.”
“Shit,” Koraki muttered, “Today was a bad day for you to be a hired killer good man.”
The woman vanished and ran down the road. In one swoop Koraki slashed the man in half killing him. Then Koraki chased the woman who took Anika. He slew the witch.
“No one messes with those I love.”
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