5: Be'Joke

CORIN VS. THE SHIMERA

Corin is tense. I can sense him slowing behind me, like he's staring into space, then comes to and hurries after us. I look back every once in a while, watching as he becomes pale, almost deathly white. He looks flushed and a very old and very rusty part of me wishes to check to see if he has a fever. But I am not his parent. I'm nobody's parent. I don't get the pleasure of raising a child. I don't deserve it.

Corin keeps his head lowered. He always kicks at big rocks. I want to tell him to stop, but something in me tells me not to.

We won't make it to the great Three Crossing before sundown. As much as I want to, we aren't going to make it. I can't carry Raphael, Leonardo and Corin. And with vampires out I don't want him hurt.

I should just make Corin open a portal for us but I get sick when I go through one. I don't want to know what happens when the kids go through.

"Where are we?"

I glance down at the two boys on either side of me. Raphael looks mad and Leonardo is tired and yawning. We'll have to stop soon.

Then I look around in the forest we are in. It's filled with willows, and ponds on either side of the dirt/mud land. In the pond, I can see thousands of sparkling fish. But deeper in I sense something. Eyes look up at me, into me.

I jerk back, my wings flapping. "We must go! This place is dangerous!"

Corin's head bobs up," What? Be'Joke, where are we?"

"We're in Drimmer Wood. Suide after Suide has disappeared here. We must go. We are in great dang-"

"Daddy. Daddy, where are you?"

I slap my hands over my ears. I can't let them in my head. Can't break, must run, don't listen, DON'T LISTEN!

Corins hand appears on my arm and holds me up from collapsing. The two boys are running around us and despite the buzzing in my ears, I can hear both of them screaming that something is coming out of the water.

I try to focus on Corin's voice and his panicked face but her voice is tugging at me. My soul desires to go to her but I can't. I need to get to her. I need to! Please, God, don't take her away again! I need her!

"Daddy, why'd you leave me!? Daddy, where'd you go?"

"Corin," I moan, ignoring the voice, although, I can't hear my own. "Corin, stop them. Stop the voices. Destroy the Shimera."

His eyes show confusion, but not for long. Raphael and Leonardo scatter as the pond sprays heavenward, the sun not even touching its muddiness. Corin whips around, shoving me to my knees. Honestly, I'm safer closer to the ground than I am with my spinning head toward the skies.

There are two Shimera's in front of us, glaring at us. There are so many differences and similarities between the two, there is no way to say they cannot be father and son. And from the looks of the son, then father is teaching the son to hunt. The brand on their sides also tell me they are part of the Nightmare King's militia.

The brand curls like a snake around the Shimera's side in the form of the perfect nightmare. Its mouth seems to move every time the floating horse does. And the father is moving towards me.

"DADDY! I NEED YOU! WHERE ARE YOU? DADDY, HELP ME!"

I feel the warm wetness on my cheeks but don't dare to wipe them away. If I do, I will let eh voices in.

"Jezi," I moan, even though Corin is right beside me," Jezi…Jezebelle…"

"Stop!" I barley hear Leonardo whine," Stop! You're hurting him!"

"Back off," Raphael echoes with a growl," I'm warning you."

But the father keeps coming, the kid, too, stingers and all. Corin is still staring at them like their monsters- which they are- but he should be getting ready to fight.

"We warned you!" Raphael howls and he and Leonardo run at the son. The son neighs and backs up but not fast enough. The two jump on the horse, one on his back, the other pulling his tail.

"OW!" The boy yells," Help! DAD!"

The Shimera finally looks away from me to his blue son. The voices stop and I breathe in relief.

"Alec!" The father neighs, his black mane shaking.

Corin finally snaps out of his awe and throws out his hand, sending twelve cards, aces, at the horse, blasting white light at the Shimera, blinding it. Now that's a trick I've never seen.

The Shimera shakes his head while Corin speaks forcefully. "Leave us. Or you will have forced my hand and I will harm you and your son."

"You wouldn't and couldn't," the Shimera hisses, standing straight though clearly still blind.

"Why?" Corin hisses back," Because your part of the King's Militia. He could care less if he lost only two Shimera."

The horse's red eyes narrow, ignoring his son who is sprinting back and forth on the path, trying to buck the two boys off him. His stingers whip at Corin, attempting to poison him.

Corin whips his hand back, then, forces his hand forward as if he's pushing something heavy. Seconds later, the Shimera skids backward, falling to the ground.

Corin inhales till his face turns red, then lets it out with a guttural yell, "STAY DOWN!"

I flinch at the ampliphied sound. The boys and Alec yell and falls into the water, the boys still on his blue back, howling.

The horse glares at us. "I want my meal. You interrupted our hunt."

"Your fault for hunting my friend," Corin huffs, bent over, hands on his shaking knees." Let us pass, and I will never harm you or your son again." Then under his breath," At least while he's young."

"Make the oath, wizard." The horse says slowly, dangerously.

Corin rolls his eyes," Are you kidding me!?"

"DO IT!"

Corin groans and reaches into the pocket- only to withdraw empty handed. He pats himself down in search for something, his eyes growing wide," Um…Be'Joke…where's my knife?"

I almost face palm," Corin, what are you gonna do when I'm gone?"

Corin laughs as I pull his red, black and silver dagger from his sandals. It is small, the handle black that arches up to the blade. The handle has the design of a dragon, its eyes ruby. The bottom also has a ruby in a circle with four coeloms for the connection. On the arch is a C stand for Corin. The blade has etches of a dragons fie which runs clear to the tip.

Corin takes the dagger, saying," Without you, Be'Joke, I would most likely die."

The Shimera stands, his son and the boys coming to our sides. Alec shakes, getting water all over his father who snaps at him in turn. Raphael and Leonardo shake as well, resulting in only getting each other soaked.

Corin drags the dagger along his palm, holds it up, so the father can see the blood then recites," In life's name and for life's sake, I will guard the ease pain. I will fight to preserve what grows and lives well in its own way. To these ends in the practice of my art, I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life when it's right to do so-'til universes end."

He chopped it up so it's short and to a point. And that's enough for the Shimera. He nods, then he and his son retreat to the water and disappear.

I exhale, not even realizing I had held my breath. Corin groans as he heals his hand, then turns to us. "Well…that was exciting."

I shake my head," We can't camp here. Other Shimera's will come by. We'll go to the edge of Drimmer Wood. That's where…we'll rest…"

Be'Joke," Leonardo says, stepping into my view that's been strained ahead," Where are we going?"

I pat his shoulder," A city, young one. One close to Corin's home."

"What's its name?" Raphael asks, flicking a stone.

Corin chuckles.

I merely blink and say, "Tirbury."