Tales of the Caravan

by J. Avarez

  “Don't listen to them,” said Cookie, giving the young man a bright smile. “What's your name, sweetie?”

  “Robert,” said the young man, his green eyes glowing helplessly upon Cookie’s face. “But sweetie is cool too!”

  Holly and Poppy giggled over their drinks. Mia, on the other hand, focused on the gathered crowd at the other end of the Oasis.

  “Well then, sweetie,” said Cookie, placing a hand gently on Robert’s face. “Don't you pay those boys any attention, okay? You're big and strong, anyone that tells you different is just a hater.”

  “Th-thank you,” he replied, wishing that his voice would sound more manly. “Y-You're really beautiful, by the way.”

  “We're all beautiful, love,” replied Cookie. “We just want the right person to see it.”

  To his delight, she kissed Robert’s forehead and gave him a wink. The young bartender then happily walked back toward the bar, ignoring the taunts from Mylo’s table as he went. Cookie wanted to activate her Secreto and throw Mylo across the room, but the sound of trumpets pulled her from the thought. Across the Oasis, the large crowd dispersed by the door for a group of Imperial soldiers.

  The white armored men held rifles across their chest, and escorted Calow toward his glorious throne chair. The seat rested on the small island at the center of the Oasis, which gave Cookie and the others a clear view of his face. The prince wasn’t dressed in his usual slick black garbs, instead he wore a fine white suit, which brought out the color of his crimson eyes.

  “Gentleman and ladies,” said Merla, the lounge owner walked across the water and extended a hand toward Calow. “Please give a grand welcome to your Lost Prince, Calow Darmadillo.”

  “Darmadillo?” said Cookie, looking taken aback.

  “The emperor’s surname.” Mia explained.

  “Wait,” said Holly, struggling to fight back a chuckle. “You can’t be serious. We've been worshipping an Emperor Darmadillo?”

  The sisters laughed in unison as they finished the rum in their cups. Cookie looked toward Mia and noticed the pain in her face. The Royal was stuck in a blank gaze toward her newly crowned prince.

  "You look nervous." Said Cookie.

  "I am," replied Mia, softly. "I just tried earlier to speak with him, but the Imperials wouldn't let me through. They told me everyone needs to keep their distance from the prince. How dare they! I was the one keeping that hothead out of Arkon all of these years," her eyes softened to match her gentle voice. "Now look at him...I bet you he's just living it up."

  Contrary to her belief, Calow didn't particularly show any sign of joy. The crowned prince sat upon his throne chair with a stone face, his hands clenched onto the ends of the golden armrests. Two white cannons etched in gold stood on either side of him, with twenty Imperial soldiers at his back.

  "He looks sad to me," said Cookie, with a frown. "I think he rather have you than a throne. Come on, go out there and show him."

  "I wouldn't know what to do," said Mia, refusing to take Cookie's hand. "The Royals never taught me. They think women shouldn't learn any of the commoner dances."

  As soon as Mia finished speaking, two bands had begun to play their instruments. The music immediately sprung Cookie to her feet, it reminded her of the tropical beats that would play throughout the summer. As the music got louder, Merla made another announcement on Calow's behalf. The prince wanted a woman to entertain him over the water, it was a challenge Cookie gladly accepted.

  "Fine," said Cookie, passing a cup of wine toward Mia. "Drink that. It'll ease your nerves, and don't you worry, sweetheart. Watch what I do and dance after me, we'll have that hunk begging to have you."

  Cookie pressed her soft lips against Mia's forehead and left for the Oasis. Her red painted toes stepped onto the water, as she seductively walked in front of Calow's throne. The soldiers all made a move toward their weapons, as she got within inches of their prince.

  "Don't worry, boys," said Cookie, winking toward the soldiers. "I'm not here to hurt him."

  Calow leaned back onto his chair, and watched Cookie dance over the water. Her red hair twirled and sprayed clouds of water mist into the air. Her dance was mesmerizing, many who watched had even risen up and applauded for her. Cookie ended her dance just an inch from Calow's face, his red eyes widened upon her deep blue eyes.

  "Thank you," said Calow, resisting the urge to kiss her pink lips. "It was...it was entertaining to watch."

  "Don't worry, love," Cookie leaned to his ear and whispered her parting words. "You haven't seen anything yet."

  To her delight, Cookie turned and saw Mia standing just a few feet from her. The Royal swayed slightly and bit her lip, trying to ignore the whispers and glares from the hundreds that surrounded the pool. Cookie kissed Mia's cheek as she walked back toward their table, leaving the Royal to slowly approach her prince. Calow had barely recognized Mia's drunken face. He hadn't ever seen her so much as put a glass of wine to her lips.

  The musical bands banged their drums, and let their trumpets and violins move the crowd. Mia stared at Calow's hazelnut skin, and soon found herself locking eyes with him. Without warning, the Royal jumped onto Calow and grabbed the muscles on his chest. Every groove and cut along his abs compelled the Royal to move her hips. The prince sighed flames from his mouth and leaned back, as Mia softly bit his neck.

  Cookie cheered and motivated the women around the pool to dance by her side. Soon the entire Oasis was full of women dancing across the water, a scene that a few Royal men watched with curled tongues. Cookie laughed at their sour faces and took to the center of the pool. She pretended to play drums on either side of her, each downward slap would cause her hair to slam down and splash water toward the sky.

  Unbeknownst to Cookie, Sarah and Charlotte had arrived with Charlie. Sarah shook her head as she watched both Cookie frolic over the water, and Mia ride Calow like an untamed bull. Cookie then flicked her wrist and her hair swung forward, which unintentionally splashed water onto Sarah's face. The captain fumed and approached Cookie, dodging the drunk couples dancing over the water.

  The freckled beauty felt a finger poke the middle of her back and smiled. Perhaps a handsome lad wanted a dance? Cookie spun around and swung her leg onto the person's shoulder. Green eyes rose up and locked onto her, the face lead her to gasp.

  "Sarah," Cookie quickly put her leg down and straightened her posture. "What are you doing here? Heh, I thought you were getting the map back."

  "We tried, but Jayden attacked us," Sarah eyes lowered to a squint. "I thought you were supposed to keep Mia upstairs."

  Cookie gazed over and saw Calow had risen from his chair. He had Mia’s legs latched securely over his waist, and the two were in a heated battle with their lips.

  "Perfect," said Cookie, dreamingly. She turned back toward Sarah's glare, which quickly wiped the smile off her face. "Uh...I mean, I tried to keep her upstairs! That girl's out of control, I swear. She started forcing us to drink and going on about armadillos or something..."

  A loud blast shattered the entrance doors into hundreds of wooden shards. From the smoke of the blast emerged Drake, with several of his men pointing rifles toward the crowd. Everyone cleared out of his path, as the men forcefully took vials from the hostess and stepped onto the water. Calow was forced back onto his throne by two soldiers, with their pistols pressed onto his chest. Sarah watched Drake approach Calow, with a golden pistol clenched in his hand.

  "I still can't believe they let a dragon become a prince," said Drake, smiling. "Not that your lineage is doing much for you now. I bet you're shocked to see the Imperials against you...I wouldn't do that, Ms. Dreamstead."

  Drake pointed his gun toward Sarah, her fingers were just inches from grabbing the grip of her pistol.

  "So what," said Mia angrily, standing beside Sarah with her back straight. "You think she's afraid of dying?"

  "Don't speak for me." Sarah sang, nervously.

  "
Fat chance," Mia persisted, taking another step toward Drake. "How about you take that pistol of yours and go fuck yourself."

  Mia's bravery motivated many commoners in the Oasis as well. All those whom Cookie had motivated to take the dance floor, were now standing by them in protest. The bravest of them moved in front of the Imperials, with triumphant grins and outstretched hands.

  "No one here is afraid of you, Drake," said Sarah, with a more confident smile. "You should have ran when you had the chance."

  Drake took a look at his opposition and scoffed. His dark eyes flashed, and his hand extended out toward Sarah. A pillar of water rose from the pool behind her and began to form fingers. The watery hand smacked her from behind and sent her soaring into Drake's chest.

  With a deathly grip, Drake grabbed Sarah by the neck and pulled them both into the path of Calow’s cannon. "Your potion may let you control the seas, but my Secreto lets me become it."

  Drake looked toward one of the Imperials and gestured toward the cannon. The soldier moved forward and lit the cannon's fuse, which threw a blanket of silence over the crowd. None made a move at first, all of them were still stunned at what Drake had done.

  "Don't make a move." Merla shouted toward Holly.

  The sisters looked ready to let their pistols fire. They stood side by side, with their guns pointed toward Drake's face. Neither would dare question Merla, and so with gritted teeth, the sisters lowered their weapons.

  "I look into your eyes, and all I see is your troublesome mother staring back at me," Drake told Sarah, while her eyes were stuck toward the shrinking fuse. "Maybe I did make a mistake coming here, but now it's a mistake we'll both pay for."

  In seconds the fuse disappeared. Sarah felt her heart drop. Any moment the cannon would fire and blast them into pieces. Drake was unmoved, the captain chuckled and swung his arm up against the bottom of the cannon's muzzle.

  His strength pushed the cannon up toward the sky. The blast left Sarah’s ears ringing, as a cannonball soared out into the air. The cannonball shattered through the glass ceiling, and exploded over the night sky. The blinding explosion took the attention of nearly everyone in the Oasis. Every guest tilted their heads up toward the blast, and found themselves staring into the blue moon.

  "No!" Merla shouted toward the sisters.

  Her warning had come too late. Holly and Poppy had already looked into the moon shining down upon them. The blue light tinted their faces until flesh became stone. All the guests soon shared their fate. The curse of the blue moon had taken the people of Port Ruby.

  The grip on Sarah's neck loosened. Captain Drake had already begun his escape from the island. The Black Cloud flew over the Maiden’s Lounge and dropped a rope for the traitorous captain. He ordered his soldiers to kill those who hadn't fallen to the curse, while he soared toward the war balloon with a tug of his rope. The soldiers aimed their guns toward Sarah, who had failed to land a shot against Drake.

  "Sarah!" Mia shouted, as her hazel eyes flashed brightly.

  Red mist shot out from the Royal's hands, and swept in front of the Imperials. In one swoop, the mist caught their pistols and dropped them into the pool. Charlotte and Cookie disposed of the unarmed men. Cookie took out the most soldiers, easily knocking them back several feet with a single punch or kick. The men were simply no match for the might of a Secreto.

  After the last soldier fell unconscious, the Oasis fell silent. Nothing but the far off sound of Blackbeard's cannons could be heard throughout the lounge. Sarah felt her body trembling from the anger inside. Hundreds of innocent people were left staring up into the moon as stone statues, all because of her arrogance.

  "This is my fault." Sarah muttered, her trembling hands clenched into a pair of fists.

  Daisy ran past the maze of grey people and toward her sisters. She had been gathering wine from the cellar, and had missed the commotion. Her eyes darted over their stone bodies.

  "Holly," she cried, touching their faces. "Poppy?"

  Charlie approached Daisy and placed a hand over her shoulder. She spun around and buried herself into his chest.

  "Get him," Merla told Sarah. The lounge owner turned away from Calow's stone face, showing Sarah the rage in her eyes. "Find Drake and put him down, I’ll take care of these Imperial traitors."

  Sarah was shocked. She had known Merla for years as a wisecracking mentor, she hadn't ever known her to show such anger before. With renewed spirit, Sarah led Charlie and her caravan outside. They rushed out of the Maiden’s Lounge and gathered onto the cobblestone street. The group found dozens of people scattered around the town, all them turned to stone with their heads tilted toward the sky.

  "They're heading for the wall." Shouted Charlie, pointing his finger toward the Black Cloud.

  Charlotte took one of the abandoned motorcars along the street, and shouted for the others to hop in. She swerved through the stone citizens along the street and tailed behind Blackbeard's ship. The war balloon had reached over the water beyond the boardwalk of One Blue. Charlotte pressed hard against the gas pedal, and stopped the vehicle just inches from the water.

  Sarah felt dread sinking in, they would need a ship if they had any hope of catching Drake.

  "Gizmo!" Cookie exclaimed, hopping up and down with joy.

  From a distance Sarah could see her dragun zooming toward them. Kyla stopped in front of the boardwalk and licked Cookie with her massive blue tongue, the rest hurried aboard the ship on her back. Gizmo jumped from the top of Kyla's head and landed on the wooden rail by Sarah.

  "I was able to get the blind girl out of Arkon during the ruckus." Said Gizmo.

  "I could kiss you right now." Said Sarah happily, grabbing the bear by the head and pulling him close.

  "Save it, kid," replied Gizmo, gently pushing himself off her chest. "No, really. Save that for when this is all over. Your lips don't look as soft as Cookie's, but I'll take what I can g…"

  Sarah interrupted Gizmo with a smack across the back of his head. The oracle was left to search for his diamond eye, which popped out and slid across the main deck.

  "Kyla, Cor-Ray!" Sarah shouted to her dragun.

  The dragun let out a melodic roar, and sped through the wall that surrounded the island. Sarah and the others clutched onto the rail, and squinted as the wind blew harshly upon their faces. They exited the pitch dark tunnel through the wall, and sped across the bright blue waters of the sea. Sarah could see the starlit sky, but didn't dare to lift her head up any further.

  She commanded her crew to keep their heads down as Kyla approached the Black Cloud, which floated just a hundred feet above them. The cannons on the war balloon fired toward Kyla as she approached. The dragun cleverly sensed the vibrations of the cannonballs, and swerved over the water to dodge them. Mia and Daisy stood beside each other, both ladies were being swung back and forth as they tried to keep their grip upon the rail. Charlotte warped in front of Daisy, who coughed from the black smoke of her Secreto.

  "I've got a plan, Mia," said Charlotte. "I'm going for the map. Just cover me, alright?"

  The Royal nodded her head and activated her Secreto. The cloud of red mist floated over her hands, as Charlotte disappeared into a cloud of dark smoke. The vice-captain warped onto the Black Cloud, in front of a startled Blackbeard. Her kick dug into his chest and sent the captain backward into a wooden wall.

  The force of her attack sent the map out of Blackbeard's hand, which Charlotte snatched out of the air. Drake and the pirates fired their pistols toward Charlotte, but the red mist quickly swooped in front of her. The glittery cloud hardened and deflected the bullets off its red surface, while Charlotte warped away. Sarah stepped back from the black smoke that appeared. Her green eyes darted between Charlotte and the map she held out toward her. Sarah happily took the map, gave Charlotte a kiss on her forehead, and thanked her.

  A booming laugh forced all of their eyes back toward Blackbeard's ship. The pirate captain glared down
at them from the opening of the hull.

  "I've already solved the map, Ms. Dreamstead," he shouted. Sarah looked down at the map and felt her heart drop. She found no readable map, instead she was met with the same riddle they had been struggling to solve. "Good luck with the riddle, captain. You've lost our little pirate game."

  The Black Cloud faded above the dark sky and vanished. Sarah cursed under her breath and slammed her fist against the wooden rail. Now what? She thought to herself. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

  Chapter 22 Sacrifice

  Sarah couldn't accept defeat, not after all her caravan had accomplished. She simply refused to return to her life hustling for diamonds in the street. For two years she had despised herself for trusting Jayden, she wouldn’t suffer another day with that burden. She stared at the parchment in her hands and felt her face grow hot.

  What am I? The question had haunted her dreams. Safest with one, doomed with many. Sarah thought hard of what the answer could be. Diamonds. Fine Wine. A lover. There were a million things it could be, but as she muttered each answer the map remained hidden. If she couldn't solve the Magi riddle, there wouldn't be any way for her to pursue Drake.