Chapter 2: He Was Right?!
*Rayen*
“So when I was young, my mother and I went for a walk in this very park. And I met Dante. Rayen, are you listening?” Papa said.
“Yes Papa, I am.” I smiled at him. He was 95 and I was sent to live with him at the tail end of my senior year in high school and for the summer. Well, I offered to take care of him. I loved my grandfather, and knew his health had declined greatly. We were taking our weekly walk in the park next to his cozy one story house.
“Well, I’ve gone back every week to find him but I haven’t seen him since.” Papa said. I just nodded. I never believed in the old wise tales and creature stories he told. No one in the family really did. Especially in his old age, he was rather eccentric sometimes. He would shuffle along with his cane, happily telling stories and chattering at the animals. Suddenly, we heard a crashing sound and saw someone tumble down a small knoll to the right of us.
“Hey!” I ran over to where the figure was and saw blood pouring from some bullet wounds. I whipped out my phone with a shaky hand and went to dial 911 when Papa grabbed my phone and threw it into the creek on the other side of the path. I almost screamed “Are you nuts?!” But then he spoke.
“No authorities, its safer for him. Besides you’re going to be a nurse after schooling right? So save my friend! Save Dante Rayen.”
“The creature, from your story? The fethair?!” I figured he must be hallucinating and I just let my instincts take over and pulled my coat off, tugging and ripping it into strips and located the wounds. I wrapped the first one and then I saw the man’s eyes flutter open. I opened my mouth to say something but the next thing I knew I was on my back, unable to move. Something sharp dug into my wrists and I shut my eyes tight, hearing a low, guttural growl in front of me.
“Dante my friend, my how you’ve grown.” Papa said. The growl stopped and I opened my eyes.
“Antiman?” Dante asked, surprised. I saw he had longer magenta hair, and icy eyes.
“Yes, ad that is my granddaughter you are holding down.” Papa smiled and tilted his head. I whispered to him.
“Get off me or you’ll be sorry.” Dante looked at me and then released my from his grip.
“My apologies.” He said. I glared at him. I couldn’t believe this guy just put his hands on me like that.
“You should be apologizing, I’m the one treating you.” I muttered and went back to wrapping.
“What has you in this state Dante?” Papa asked.
“Someone took my mother. I caught her sent and then I was shot. I couldn’t keep following, or else I would have been killed.” He said, looking down at his lap solemnly. I felt kinda bad for him, but I wasn’t ready to admit it, since I didn’t even know if any of this was real.
“Oh my, it could be hunters. I will help you out in any way I can, and Rayen will help too.” Papa said. I put on my best smile and agreed. “Stay with me until you find your mother. Rayen is staying with me as well.” I couldn’t believe that my grandfather was welcoming a stranger into the house under the presumption that he was a mythological creature!
“But, I have never left the woods. I don’t know how much has changed. I know I got shot because of the animals I have seen get injured.” Dante tried to stand up like an idiot. And of course he fell down so I pulled up the hem on his kimono thing and kept wrapping.
“I’m not done. Please keep still.” I shook my head, pondering who actually wore that kind of clothing now a days.
“I couldn’t intrude on you Antiman, I got myself into this situation.” Dante said. He had a point. But Papa spoke again.
“You’re in no position to argue young sir.” Papa smiled again. Dante must have realized there was no fighting my grandfather.
“I guess I can’t argue with you old man.” He smirked a little.
“Wonderful wonderful! Please help him to the house when you are ready Rayne, I’m going to head back!” Papa started shuffling away and Dante chuckled. I faced him once Papa was out of earshot.
“Now you listen to me. I’m glad you’re taking pity on an old dimentia ridden man but you can stop pretending to be some fairy tale creature now, and how dare you put your hands on my like that, are you crazy?!” I said angrily, but he just blinked and looked majorly confused. Sighing, I collected myself. “But, you are obviously hurt, so Ill help out. I’m not that heartless.” I looked at him and froze. There were fox ears on top of his head, and when I glanced around him slightly, I saw a big, puffy tail. No way, this couldn’t be real. But, he was right in front of me, how could I not believe it now. Was I wrong about the things Papa rambled on about? Dazed I introduced myself properly. “I’m, um, Rayen.” I said.
“Dante, it’s a pleasure.” I nodded and reached around his back slowly.
“Don’t attack me again.” I warned.
“Sorry, it’s a reflex.” He reasoned. I helped him up but asked him to take his shoes off. They gave him a good 4 inches and it was hard for me to help him walk when he was so tall.
“You can lean on me, I’m stronger than I look you know.” I said. He did slightly, which made me feel a bit better since he listened to me. I got him home without seeing anyone thankfully. Papa was making some tea and I sat Dante on the couch and pretty much collapsed next to him, breathing slightly heavier than normal. I noticed Dante looking around at everything in his line of sight, curious as a kitten. My wrists felt strange and upon looking at them, I saw they were cut up. My eyes widened but Dante distracted me.
“Is this your house? Its so different…” He said almost in awe. I smiled a little but hid it from him.
“Its Papa’s yes. I’m here to take care of him.” I looked at his hands and saw his nails were abnormally long and sharp. “No wonder…” I said aloud. He slashed my wrists up simply because his nails were too long!
“What?” He looked at me and I hid my hands.
“Nothing.” I said. I would fix this myself. Papa came in with his tea and I grabbed a nail file and took his hand. He shook me away.
“They are supposed to be sharp.” I showed him my wrist.
“I know, so I’m going to fix that.”
“Sorry princess but you’re not touching my nails.” I sighed and felt my lips purse. No one calls me princess. No one. “So do they still believe the correct thing that we live for 500 years?” He suddenly asked.
“It is said that you live for hundreds of years. No known dates though since its just a legend.” I answered and Papa beamed proudly.
“Ah so you do listen to me sweetie. You’re such a good girl.” He smiled and I smiled back. He was the only one who really cared for me. He got up and went over to his pictures and looked through them. I watched and he started to sway and I quickly got up.
“Time to lay down Papa alright?” I led him into his bedroom and made sure he was comfortably in his bed and went back out to the living room.
“So princess how did you get stuck taking care of Antiman in his old age? And why the hell were you in the woods in the first place?” He crossed his arms and puffed his chest out. I rolled my eyes. A macho man huh?
“A walk down memory lane. We go every week for a walk in the park. Don’t call me princess.” I added.
“Antiman would always come into the woods while he was growing up I didn’t know if he was looking for me or not, but, I couldn’t interact with him.”
“He tells the story of the little creature he met in the woods all the time and he went back every week to find him again.” I said. He looked down and away, sadned draping over his rather handsome features.
“Don’t go near them Dante. But watch over them. We the protectors of the forest must watch over anything that enters unarmed.” Putting his hands together, he said quietly, “That’s what my father always told me when I was little.” His sadness actually got to me and I tried to comfort him with my words.
“Kids will be kids. You seriously made his life and you should be proud of that.”
“What was he looking at before? Can I see it?” He asked. I nodded a little and grabbed the stack of pictures.
“They are some old photographs, and sketches. He became a children’s book illustrator because of his love for fictional creatures.” I explained.
“These are so detailed…” He admired them and I felt a bit proud and smiled a bit. “Do you believe in magical creatures?”
“Well, I didn’t but, I-I mean…” I stuttered when he looked up straight into my eyes. “You’re right here, how can I not believe now?” I muttered and walked over to him, looking at his ears. They were big and fluffy. I reached out for them and they twitched away from me, so I tried again and he turned his head away.
“Please stop.”
“Don’t be so serious! That’s me most of the time. Besides, you’re a mythical creature, I’m curious.” I moved around behind him and went after his tail but he expertly flicked it away so I couldn’t grab it.
“I have a tail, ears, and I have wings made of my hair.”
“You do?!” I exclaimed.
“Yes but they aren’t coming out.” He said sternly. I frowned.
“Fine fine…anyway, Ill show you to your room you will sleep in.” I stood up and motioned for him to follow. He was able to walk even if it was a bit slow and hobbled now. It was my room I was giving up, but I knew it was the right and polite thing to do. It’s what Papa would want me to do. As if on cue, he looked around.
“Where do you sleep?”
“It doesn’t matter. Ill be on the couch.” I said.
“No, Ill take the thing you call a couch, I don’t wish to take the place you sleep.” He said like a gentleman. I snorted softly.
“I’ll be on the couch. That’s final!” I said as I went back and sat down. He sighed and came back over and much to my surprise, picked me right up and tossed me over his good shoulder.
“Excuse me?!” I refrained from thrashing around because I didn’t want to hurt him. He put me on the bed and I pulled his wrist, unwilling to give in, but he landed so he could easily pin me and took advantage of that. I couldn’t move again, but he was careful not to use his nails.
“I-If papa found out I had you sleep on the couch, he would b-be pleased.” His hair tickled my cheeks and we were so close I could smell his musky, woodsy scent.
“Ill sleep in his room then.” I instantly protested.
“No No, fine, do what you want…” I caved.
“Ok, I will sleep on the couch.” He let me up and I stood up after a minute or so.
“I need to check on Papa.” I slipped past him and went into the other bedroom. I lightly shook Papa, but he didn’t respond. I quickly realized that he wasn’t breathing. I yelled and reached for my phone in vain, since it was back in the creek. Dante came rushing in.
“Whats wrong?” He asked.
“He isn’t breathing!” I grabbed the old home phone and called for an amulance and started CPR. After a few rounds of that Papa opened his eyes and softly whispered for Dante, who took his hand and knelt down beside me.
“I’m here.” He said.
“Now, Dante, find your mother. And, in the meantime, please take care, of Rayen.” Papa whispered.
“I promise to protect her.” Dante vowed.
“Rayen, help Dante…I love you very much sweetie.” He said. I nodded, fighting back tears. I couldn’t lose him, not now, He was all I had left.
“I promise. I love you too.” I watched his eyes close as I heard the wild siren of the ambulance approaching.
