Drackel Chapter 2

Kaida woke us at nine the next morning to the smell of a rabbit being cooked over a small fire. She obviously had been up for quite awhile when I surveyed the breakfast she had laid out on a blanket over the merry-go-round. This week's worth of bread lay in a sack, recently warm from the fire by the way steam rose from them. Three large containers lay next to the bread. I recognized them as the ones Kaida had snitched from the house she lived when she fled. Inside each were ripe, delicious apples, blueberries, and strawberries.

As I turned my attention from the food, I noticed with a fleeting fear that Kaida was not in sight. “Kaida?” I called, placing my blanket within my backpack as I tried to halt the panic burning in my chest.

“Hang on, Yukie.” She answered from the direction of the park restrooms. So I sat beside the fire to wait, poking the fire and turning the rabbit over, hunger rumbling in my stomach.

Adero was examining the fruit with amazement. The harvest had ended by time she had come to us last year. So I left the rabbit to finish cooking and took a handful of blueberries. Swallowing a few, I smiled reassuringly at the youngest who timidly reach out to take a few. Cautiously she ate a few of each before snatching a few more blueberries and sitting down on the ground.

Meanwhile, I could hear Kaida from behind me. Spinning around, I gaped at the new clothes she wore. Gone were the rags she had been wearing. In place were some loose fitting khakis in black and a thin mahogany sweater. It revealed her thin stomach and arms, bringing out a side of her I hadn't noticed often. She looked beautiful with the sun's rays on her face, brightening her eyes. I shivered in the cold air and she took off the violet jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

“Do you like, Yukie?” She whispered in my ear, a smirk obvious in her tone.

Face burning, I grumbled with a smile, “As if I could ever say no to you.” Her eyes sparkled as she sat behind Adero, waving a bag to set in front of me and one before Adero.

“After we have breakfast and get dressed, we'll be heading to the bank.” She explains.

So I took the rabbit from the fire. Soon I had all the sizzling meat freed from the bones and divided into thirds. Together we sat to eat, tearing through a small portion of bread, fruit and meat. Used to not eating much, we salted the meat and preserved it inside on of the free containers Kaida had while placing lids on top of the others. I watched Kaida murmur some words while tracing a small symbol on each of the containers that when she was done glowed a bright gray before it died.

Kaida started to hum quietly, happily untangling large knots from Adero's hair. A brush sat balanced on her knee as she worked diligently but carefully as she picked at the matted blonde hair. Running her hands through less tangled hair, she began to brush, mindful to avoid causing Adero any pain.

Curious now, I rummaged through the bag. Startled, I faced Kaida, “How?” I couldn't finish my thought, too filled with amazement at what she had bought.

A knowing smile curved her lips, “I've been saving from the moment I was living on the streets. I knew eventually we'd need the money and that one day we'd have to go to the bank.”

Nodding, I took the bag into the restroom leaving the two alone as Kaida pulled something from the bag. I wanted to thank her. For everything she had done so with all my heart my chest ached. Instead I pulled the torn clothes off and began to dress. Soon I was dressed in a pair of comfortably tight blue jeans, a long sleeved silver shirt and a red jacket. Finally I used the sink to moisten my hands and began the tedious task of undoing my own knotted black hair.

The sudden feeling of a brush through my hair caused me to startle. But I glanced at the reflection and saw that it was Kaida. She seemed to enjoy doing this so I simply let her continue. Even in the reflection I could see that scars that ran up her arms and one peeking out on her collarbone.

“Kaida, why did they do that to you?” I couldn't stop myself from asking, eyes avoiding hers as I waited.

She tensed, face became a stony mask. I winced slightly as the brush pulled on a tight knot. Reaching back, I tried to untie it when Kaida's small hands swatted mine away and began to untie it herself.

“They wanted me weak. Submissive. I have strong magic and they wanted to break me in order to be paid by a rich man to have me to control. That man yesterday was the one they tried selling me to the day after I ran away. He paid them generously to break me so he could have the perfect weapon of power. The fire in the north was caused by me when he had caught up with me and tried to have his way with me.” She finally revealed, eyes haunted with guilt and suffering. Shadows darkened her face as she ran the brush several times through my hair before starting to braid it.

I couldn't think of what to say. Her suffering and fear saddened me and enraged me at the same time. But I wasn't able to respond as she tied the braid and dragged me out of the room, silently walking to where Adero stood. She wore a beautiful black and purple dress and her hair had been put up in a bun.

We headed off after I grabbed my own backpack. Kaida took hold of our hands and led the way through the mostly deserted streets. Somehow I knew that these roads were the back roads most people didn't use unless they didn't wish to be seen. Couldn't help but realize that Kaida probably had them all memorized. It wasn't much later that we entered a main street and found ourselves staring at the large bank.

The bank was made of a very bright orange stone and a scatter of red stones throughout the outside lining. Kaida walked up the stairs and motioned us forward. Shivers went through my back when I felt the wards that surrounded the bank. From the grin on Kaida's face she had probably been here before or at least felt wards like this before now.

Upon entering the bank, I felt my eyes widen at the sight of the elves. There had to be at least a couple hundred running around or at the counters. When one glanced up at us, I ducked my gaze away while Adero smiled at the elf. Following Kaida, we approached the elf who seemed to frown at us.

“Honored Elf, is there a way to get a heritage drawn up for all three of us?” Kaida respectfully requested, bowing slightly to the elf whose eyes widened with surprise.

“Kaida, it has been ages, child. Of course, follow me.” The elf excitedly jumped from her chair and towards a side door while Kaida took both our hands again and set off after the elf.

“Indeed it has, Krya. Have you seen Tiron lately?” Kaida asked as we walked through several halls before stopping in front of a large door.

“Ah, he is here. You can see him later.” Krya scolded mildly, eying Kaida's thin figure and when Kaida moved to open the door, gripped her wrist rather tightly.

Wincing, Kaida frowned at the motherly elf whose stern eyes glared at her. “What, Krya?” Kaida grumbled, trying to pry her wrist from the elf's hold.

“Why did you leave, Kaida? He found you. You would've been safe here.”

“Didn't want to be a bother.” Kaida reluctantly whispered, face turned to face the sidewall.

“We will talk later.” Krya scowled, pushing the door open and stepping aside so we could enter.

Immediately, I noticed the small stone bowl in the center. All around the tall stand it was on were runes running out until about an inch from the door. Krya and Kaida both walked up to the bowl and hesitantly I followed, still remembering the runes Kaida had used to remove the old man from the park.

“What do we have to do?” Adero asked, peering nervously from behind Kaida.

Krya took a small ceremonial dagger from the stand and handed it to Adero. “Just a few drops of blood into the bowl and the parchment will write down parents and godparents and any powers you may have.”

Kaida swiftly picked up the smaller girl and rested her on her hip before taking the dagger. With a small smile to Adero in apology she cut a shallow gash along the werewolf's palm. After the required blood had fell into the bowl she quickly healed the cut. The bowl glowed a bright blue before writing began to appear on the parchment in a deep green.

Adero Maya Fangrath

Mother: Rika Ellen Vandra nee Fangrath-deceased

Father: Shalen Codro Fangrath-deceased

Godmother: Susana Roth Willix

Godfather: Unnamed

Creature: Werewolf

Powers

Affinity for Earth

Affinity for Potions

Kaida smiled sadly at the parents but Adero merely sighed. Frowning, I asked her, “Did they get attacked by the same werewolf as you?”

“I don't know but I know that they weren't near me when I woke up three days after.” She admitted.

I went quiet at that. She had probably already known they weren't alive and so I took the blade from Kaida who scowled at me slightly. I frowned slightly and wondered why she was upset but before I could ask she had moved Adero to the couch on the opposite wall.

So I ran the blade across my hand and let out a hiss at the pain. Sealing the wound after the blood had fallen I waited. Kaida got back up from the couch and came back. Adero had fallen asleep and I suddenly found myself being glared at.

“You really had to ask?” Kaida hissed, arms folded across her chest and her eyes narrowed. Not a good sign I realized and quickly apologized.

“Tell that to Adero.” She muttered, running a hand through her hair with a weary sigh.

“I will.” I promised softly, before glancing at the parchment in surprise and anger.

Lady Yukie Randra Mordecai

Mother: Candra Lilth Mordecai nee Tira

Father: Halon Exis Mordecai- Cursed

Godparents: Unnamed

Creature: Neko-human hybrid- Suppressed

Powers

Affinity for Swordsmanship – Partially blocked

Affinity for Lightening- Fully blocked

Affinity for Empathy- Fully blocked

Soul-mate: Kaida Arella Drackel- Blocked

Memory has been blocked

Blocked by: Halon Exis Mordecai and Morden Xanth

“Why?!” I shouted, stumbling back in denial. How? Why did they give me up! I wouldn't have left and they couldn't have done what Kaida had been through. I felt my legs crumble beneath me and found myself staring up at Kaida who knelt down beside me.

“We'll find out, Yukie. Even if they don't want you, you'll always have me.” She soothes my fear easily, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, pulling me back to have my back against her chest.

Breathing in her scent I couldn't help but notice the sweet scent of vanilla and pumpkin spice. Shivering, I whispered, “You won't leave?”

“Never.” She whispered, pressing her lips against my neck. As she pulled back, I leaned up and took her hand.

“No matter what we find out, we'll be here for you.” I smiled, noticing the slight worry that was slipping into her usually calm mask.

She merely let the blood fall into the bowl in response. Standing up, I moved to her side as the parchment finished writing. We both read the news with shock and happiness.

Princess Kaida Arella Drackel

Mother: Arella Amana Drackel nee Lixa

Father: Logan Coden Drackel

Godmother: Minerva Rathorn

Godfather: Silas Serpentine

Creature: Dragon-Human Hybrid- Suppressed

Powers

Powerful Affinity for Healing

Powerful Affinity for Runes

Strong Affinity for Musical Magic

All powers blocked by Morden Xanth

Soul-Mate: Yukie Randra Mordecai

Kaida sat down on the floor, her face extremely pale. Kneeling down beside her I simply held her as tears began to fall. Even though I didn't know what happened before I found her, I knew that whoever was responsible was going to pay dearly.

“Why did they give him me?” Her broken sob drew Krya over.

“They didn't, child. They have been searching for you ever since you went missing a week after birth.” She explained, small fingers gently prying Kaida from my arms and into the elf's.

I watched as Kaida drifted to sleep against the old elf with a scowl. But with a sigh I joined Adero on the couch and slipped into sleep myself just as Krya told me, “I'll be arranging meetings with your family and godparents for later this afternoon. Rest well, all of you.”