by R. J. Ladon
Naga were creatures known the world over for their archery skills. It made sense that they used metal throwers. Two more green and yellow naga joined the first pair.
“See, I told you the net would work. Once an akitu is trapped, they never fight.” The naga then turned to Kragnor. “Isn’t that right?”
The gargoyle flexed his legs and tail, noticing most of the net’s weight was now on the roof, not on his head and shoulders. Plus, the net was not as heavy as the naga claimed. He stopped moving and looked at the men. “What are your plans when the akitu are gone, and Tai Lu starts harvesting naga scales?” The men flinched as if the thought wasn’t new.
“Don’t listen to him.” A feminine-shaped gargoyle stepped out of the darkness, but she wasn’t akitu. She was something different, something dangerous.
Kragnor sniffed the air, catching feline ambrosia. “Nekomata, you are not immune either. Tai Lu will come after your kind too.”
The female gargoyle smiled. “I don’t care. It’s been worth it. The souls of akitu are ancient and powerful, worth everything I’ve done.” She snarled. “Everything!” She licked her lips. The nekomata moved closer to Kragnor, inhaling the gargoyle’s scent, then shuddered. “So tasty.”
“Enough. Naughty kitty.” Tai Lu came into view. “I told you we are not killing this one. You will protect him.” She stared down the female gargoyle until it turned into a white cat with two tails. The woman spun and looked at Kragnor. “Where are my stones?”
She lost the stones. How? Kragnor smiled. Kevin. “What a shame. You cannot kill more of my people.”
The woman shrugged. “Perhaps not those specific akitu, but I know where there are more.”
Kragnor stiffened. She would never stop. “Even if I gave Kevin and myself to you, to cut and sell for eternity?”
The woman picked her way across the tangled metal net and came close to Kragnor, tapping her bottom lip. “If I had an unlimited source of akitu parts. I might stop hunting the ones that are out there.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth and lies.
Kragnor felt his anger rise. This woman and others like her had done all they could to eradicate life for their own benefit. He was on this planet long before her kind showed up. Why did she think she had the right to destroy what she did not create? The insolence and the absurdity that not one akitu stopped her. Are we not protectors? “What then, Tai Lu? What creature would you hunt? Who has the most expensive parts? Dragons? Unicorn? Kraken?” Kragnor shot a glance at the men. “Naga?”
Startled, the men slithered away from Tai Lu and off the metal net. Kragnor’s hand shot through the netting, catching Tai Lu’s throat. He didn’t squeeze or choke but merely held her captive. She grasped his wrist, dangling, and supporting her body weight.
The men shook their tails and leveled their metal throwers at the gargoyle.
“Idiots, if you shoot him, you will only hit me. Besides, he won’t hurt me. Akitu have never hurt me, no matter what I did to them.” Tai Lu smiled at Kragnor as if he were an unruly child. “What are your plans? Do you think you can hold me here, infinitely?”
She was right. Kevin would appear in a handful of hours, and his grip now would mean nothing. If he were complete, he could hold her until she starved. Although he doubted his fortitude. She would convince him to let go sooner or later. Kragnor dropped his arm until Tai Lu’s feet touched the ground. “I must do what others of my kind will not.” The men lowered their weapons. Kragnor tossed Tai Lu high into the air towards the edge of the building.
Tai Lu screamed, “Candali!” The white cat jumped, transformed into the female gargoyle, and flew toward the plummeting woman.
With no direction, the naga stood dumbfounded. Kragnor reached down and heaved the chain net off himself and onto the snake-men. Naga curses and random gunfire were thrown at him as he ran to the edge of the roof and jumped. Kragnor deployed his wings and searched for Tai Lu and Candali.
The female gargoyle held Tai Lu with both arms but struggled to maintain lift. The woman wiggled and screamed with fear.
“Let me take her. You are a nekomata your strength in the form of an akitu is less than a fraction of my own.” Kragnor hovered next to them as Tai Lu wrestled to get a better grip.
“Don’t let him.” Tai Lu begged Candali.
“I must do as she says,” Candali said in the way of an apology.
Kragnor nodded, dropped below them, then flew upward, taking Tai Lu from Candali’s grasp. He held the woman to his chest with one arm and flew away from the naga infested area. Buildings and roads sped beneath him. The unhindered female gargoyle flew next to him.
“Why do you follow?” Kragnor watched the gargoyle.
“Curiosity,” she purred.
Streetlights and buildings filled the night sky with illumination. The glow hid the stars. In the distance, he saw a gap in the light, darkness. “What is over there?” he asked the nekomata.
“One of the great lakes, Lake Michigan,” the female gargoyle said.
Kragnor flew closer until the sound of water breaking on the shore was louder than city noises. Tai Lu wiggled in his grasp. “I am a strong swimmer,” she said defiantly.
“Water was never in my plans. Although in these temperatures, you would probably succumb quickly.” Kragnor huffed. He glided toward a beach and landed on the sandy surface. A cold wind whipped off the lake, the woman shivered. The nekomata touched down beside him, watching, following, curious.
Kragnor strode toward the sound of crashing water. Before him lay a large bed of boulders, used as a break to help stop the shoreline's erosion. One had defined black and white granite stripes. Good, evil, right, wrong, the colors fit the purpose.
He held Tai Lu high for the world to see and judge. “For all the animals and people you killed. For all the offspring that suffered and died in the absence of their parents. For all the lies you told. I sentence you to the fate you deserve.” He laid her across the arch of the boulder. He loosened his hold on her throat and moved his enormous hand to her sternum and held her still.
The woman struggled feebly then calmed. “Only I know how to release the akitu from the stones. Only I can help you.” Her eyes begged and pleaded with him.
He looked away from her, afraid he would become weak and let her go. Kragnor pulled strength from deep inside, a resilience, a logic that told him this woman would never change. “You did not release me. Kevin and Ruby did.” Kragnor placed his left hand on the boulder next to her shoulder and felt himself fall in tune with the granite.
The rock softened like quicksand beneath Tai Lu. Her eyes bulged with panic. Before she could speak, before he changed his mind, he pushed her into the stone, enveloping her body. She thrashed against him for a few moments until her strength and air ran out.
He withdrew his empty hand and stumbled away from the boulder, splashing into the edge of Lake Michigan. The stone appeared no different than before. No one would know what lay in its center.
“What have you done?” the nekomata asked, her voice thick with awe.
“What others should have…but could not.” He fell to his knees, the guilt, sorrow, and shame weighing heavily on his shoulders. This is what it is like to kill. If only the woman felt this deplorable with every life she took.
Kragnor leaned over frigid Lake Michigan water and wept.
Chapter 62
K evin rolled over. The heavy quilt was warm and cozy. He sighed. It’s great to lay in bed and do nothing. He sat up, startled. The blankets fell away, exposing the bright yellow pajamas his mom bought him for his birthday. The ugliest bit of clothing he owned. Was it all a dream? The crazy girlfriend, Kragnor, Megan? Megan. Kevin smiled, hoping she, at least, was real.
The ball of white fur at the edge of the bed rolled over. Bright blue eyes blinked at him. “You’re not Rapscallion,” Kevin said.
“Of course not. Do I look like a tomcat to you?” The feline curled her lip as if disgusted. She clambered to her feet and stretched. Both of her
tails waved gently.
“Did I die? Is this a dream?”
“You’re not dead.” She licked her paw and wiped her ear and face.
“Kragnor? Is he dead? Is that why I’m in bed?” Kevin rubbed the mattress. He forgot how warm and soft it was.
The cat narrowed her eyes. “Perhaps, part of the akitu died. But most of Kragnor is still in there.” One of her tails pointed at Kevin’s chest. The other curled around her legs.
“You’re not a cat, are you?”
“You know me as Candali. I’m a nekomata, a demon.” For a brief moment, the cat transformed into the beautiful woman he met in Tai Lu’s prison. Just as quickly, the cat returned to cleaning her paws and face.
“Uh, okay.” Kevin slipped out of bed, not wanting to believe his eyes or ears. “Why are you in my bedroom?”
“Tai Lu commanded me to protect you, both of you. It was one of the last things she ordered me to do.” Candali’s blue eyes dilated.
“Tai Lu is dead?”
“And the world is a better place.” The cat smiled and purred.
Kevin’s head hurt. Too much happened over the past few days, and he only understood a small amount. “If she is dead, then why are you here?” He waved his hand. “I know, I know. She commanded that you protect us. But there was a time where the naga were trying to kill me. Where were you then?”
The cat shrugged and tilted her head apologetically. “I’m a demon.”
Kevin sat on the edge of the bed and laughed. “Does that mean you’ll protect me when it suits you?”
Candali curled into a ball and stared at him. “Purrhaps.” She closed her blue eyes and seemed content.
Hanging on the hallway doorknob was Tai Lu’s long black jacket. He slid out of bed and checked the pockets. Inside were two fist-sized stones. “At least we saved two.” Kevin thought about the stones he dropped between the ties of the railroad. He needed to tell Kragnor or Megan. He set the jacket on the bed and went down the hall to the bathroom.
Voices rolled up the stairs. Instead of getting dressed, Kevin investigated. Grandma Ruby was in her recliner, with Rapscallion in her lap. Megan and Johnny sat on the floor, pouring over a Russian map.
“What are you doing?” Kevin asked.
Megan looked up, a big smile on her face. She jumped to her feet and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss. Megan stepped back. Her cheeks turned crimson. “Are you feeling alright?”
Kevin ran his fingers through his hair, unsure how to respond. He reached for Megan’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I think so. Except I woke up wearing these ugly things.” Kevin grabbed the front of his bright yellow shirt.
Grandma laughed. “That was my idea. Inez found them in your old bedroom closet.”
“There’s a reason I didn’t bring them with me when I moved.” Kevin found it hard not to smile at his grandmother. “Does that mean they know what happened?” He nodded in the direction of his parents' house.
Grandma shook her head. “I told them you weren’t feeling well. Donna and Jerry think you have the flu. But the girls know.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure I can hide anything from them.”
“Are you hungry?” Johnny asked. “We can make you something, you know, if you want.” The older man squinted at him.
“What’s going on? How long did I sleep?”
“You’ve been out for two days,” Johnny said. “We’ve been taking turns checking on you.”
“Just me? What about Kragnor?”
“Kragnor hasn’t appeared.” Megan bit her lip. “Since we found him near Lake Michigan. He was incoherent and upset. He begged us to allow the nekomata to stay by his side. Then he gave the body up. You appeared, but you were cold to the touch and shaking. We put you in the back of Johnny’s car and covered you with the jacket. It wasn’t enough. You didn’t warm. If it weren’t for the nekomata, you’d probably have died.”
“The what?”
“The cat.”
The demon, Candali. “How did she save my life?”
“She transformed into…” Megan turned to Johnny. “What did she change into?”
“I think it was a salamander. But I’ve never seen one with fur.” Johnny shook his head. “It was a crazy night.”
Visions of snake men assaulted Kevin’s memories. He shuttered. Crazy was an understatement. “For the sake of argument, the salamander you’re talking about isn’t an amphibian, is it?
Megan blinked a couple of times and shook her head.
Johnny laughed. “Hardly, no. It’s more like a fire serpent.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, nodding. “Of course.”
“You have a lot of catching up to do,” Megan said. “The other night was a taste of what is out there. Dragons, phoenix, unicorns, everyone knows what they are. Naga, and nekomata, those were new for me.”
Kevin sat on the couch. “I think I am missing something.”
“There are people and creatures that need our help.” Megan looked at Johnny and nodded. “You and Kragnor were going to be sold on the black market.”
“Yea, for eternity.” Kevin rubbed his pinky finger. There was no pain, but the memory was vivid.
“Other creatures are being sold on the black market every day, and they need our help. Special animals like dragons.”
“And things,” Johnny interjected. “Don’t forget the objects.”
“What?” Kevin looked at Johnny, hoping for an explanation.
“The imbued amethyst Annie owned that controlled men. Something like that is sold every day on the black market. The body parts of magical and non-magical creatures are sold on the market. These things need to be confiscated, protected, and sometimes destroyed. That is what the AKG does.” Johnny folded up the map that was on the floor and placed it on top of his briefcase.
“Two questions. What does a gargoyle part do? Are Kragnor and I being protected or destroyed?” Kevin narrowed his eyes at Johnny.
“That’s fair.” Johnny raised a finger. “Gargoyle parts are traditionally used to break curses and spells. A small piece worn as a charm will prevent anyone from casting a spell against you.” Johnny raised a second finger. “Both of you need to be protected until we separate you, then you and Kragnor can go your own way. By then, you won’t need protection. At least that is the goal. We have no intention to destroy either of you.”
Johnny stood and stretched. “I’ve been authorized to offer you a job.” He flinched and shook his head. “That’s a lie.” He looked between Megan and Ruby. “I can’t do this. It’s not fair.” Johnny paced.
Megan took Kevin’s hand. He felt his heart skip. “My father did you a disservice by selling you to Tai Lu and the black market. Now you and Kragnor are known to many people, many unscrupulous people. You’ll be hunted.”
Grandma frowned. “And if they discover your sisters while hunting you. I could…we could lose all of you. It’s bad enough you almost died.”
“You must go into hiding at AKG. They said you could work for them while you’re there, but it isn’t a job. It’s more like working for room and board.” Johnny shook his head. “Think of it as a sanctuary.”
“Do I have to make a decision now?” Kevin felt like he was trapped. “What about school? What about Mom and Dad? Ruby? And the girls?” His eyes landed on Megan. “Megan, what about her?” Kevin stood and paced, thinking hard.
Johnny held up his hands. “First of all. This isn’t a decision to make. If you want to keep your family safe, you have no choice. You must go.” The older man looked at Kevin with sympathetic eyes. “I’m sorry.” Johnny held up two fingers. “Second, your Mom and Dad will receive a letter explaining your acceptance to a private college, tuition-free. That’ll be your alibi while we figure out how to separate you and Kragnor.”
“And if they want to visit or call?”
“We have that covered, including a backdrop for video calls.”
Kevin nodded. “Of course you do.”
> Grandma Ruby patted the arm of the couch, inviting Kevin to sit. “We’ve talked with the high school and the teachers. We haven’t told them everything, mind you. They said if you finish some online work that you will have enough credits to graduate in December. A full semester early.”
Kevin sat on the couch. “That sounds promising.”
“It is,” Ruby agreed.
“But?” Kevin prompted.
“There isn’t a but.”
“You wanted me to sit. There’s a but.” Kevin raised his eyebrows in anticipation.
“It’s not a but.” Ruby sighed. “Johnny’s moving in to help keep an eye on your sisters. Which will also alleviate any problems with your Mom wanting to keep an eye on me.”
Kevin nodded as if expecting as much. He looked at Megan, who sat on the floor, watching but keeping quiet. “What about you?” he asked her. “What are your plans?”
“I’m going to finish school.” Megan looked at Johnny and Ruby. “Ruby said I can stay here until graduation.” She reached for the map on the briefcase. “Like you, the AKG hired me.” She shrugged. “My first assignment is to travel to Tunguska for training.” Megan pointed at the map, then crossed her arms. “I’m going to meet my mother.”
To Kevin, she looked terrified.
About the Author
RJ Ladon is a nightshift writer (by choice) and a dayshift design engineer (by necessity) to pay for the aforementioned writing addiction. She is a self-proclaimed tree-hugger and animal-lover. If she is not in her garden, pasture, or woods you can find RJ watching movies or reading books. She lives with her husband, children and a variety of animals on a farmette in Wisconsin.
Writing a novel has always been on RJ’s radar, and it will soon become a reality this year (2020) with the first book in the series Bloodstone (new adult, urban fantasy). In the meantime, you can find her stories in multiple anthologies. Two horror stories; Gwen’s Gamble and The Poppet in Sha’Daa – Toys. One military science fiction; The Felix in Tales from the Lyon’s Den – Stories from the Four Horsemen Universe (Book 4). One non-fiction Invisible Battles found in Impossible Hope. And The Ogre’s Brownies, in When Valor Must Hold. A list of books, anthologies and other oddities can be found at www.RJLadon.com On Twitter @RJLadon, Pintrest @rjladon7437 and Instagram rjladon