Geraki

"Now tell us all about it."

They are already in their tent. Marcus is looking intensely at her. After that fight, Marcus still cannot believe everything that happened. "Are you really a demon?"

"No. This eye is a demon detector. It tells me when a demon is nearby and- hey don't poke it!" Ania slap the hand of Marcus that is trying to touch her eye. "It can still hurt you know!"

It irritates her when Marcus is doing something that he shouldn't. "Nevermind, let's sleep." Marcus is preparing his bed .

"You're not gonna ask me about my past?" She watched as Marcus lies in his bed.

"Past, history, memories or whatever it is , who cares about it? You are Ania and that is all we need to know."

Marcus closed his eyes and murmured. "All we know is that you've saved us..."

Having to hear this words, Ania cannot help but to tear up. The tears are about to fall when the loud snore of Marcus destroy the moment.

Nevermind. The tears returned back to her eyes.

***

It was first thing in the morning when Ania, Marcus ,Nana and Cleo decided to finally leave that place they called safe place. That place is ruled by water nymphs and serve as their eating place. Every night they lured the people from their sleep and suck their soul. She shoukd be thankful to that powerful snore of Marcus. That thundering snore is much powerful than the songs of the demons. This made Ania chuckles. Is that a blessing or a curse?

When they reached the gate, Ania stopped. Ania wrote something on the gate before they totally left the village. A characters that only she can understand.

"What are you doing, big sister?" Nana is watching her in a distance and cannot contain her curiosity and asked Ania. "I'm writing."

"Writing? Is that even a letter?" Ania looked back at her. "Yes..."

"It was a writing only people from above can understand."

According to her, it was taught by her father ever since she can remember.

After writing the characters, it suddenly vanished. "What does it mean, big sister?"

"It means Ania." "Why are you writing you name?"

Ania gave Nana meaningful smile. No matter how she tries to, she can never change her name. She grabbed Nana's hand and went towards the two who are still arguing. This sight of them lighten up her mood.

She look back at the gate. It is slowly disappearing, as if it was never been there. How powerful is the word that she puts there?

***

"Where to?" Marcus looked at Ania as he waits for her to reply.

They are currently walking in a deserted land. The wind-blown fine sand grains are striking any solid object in their path. The sand may be small but the dusty feeling of it is so uncomfortable to the bare skin. The three of them was given a cape by Ania to protect them from the sand. At this time of the day, high sun, scorching, desiccating heat prevails. It is something that a cape cannot protect them against.

"There." She pointed the green mountain that is a distance away from them. She looked at Nana who is now opening her mouth while sticking out her tongue due to the tiredness.

Marcus decided to pick her up and carry her behind his back. But Nana wiggled her body indicating that she wants to go down. Marcus doesn't have any choice but to put her down. "Big sister, carry me!" As soon as Nana's feet reach the ground, she immediately run to Ania.

"Wow. Now you're choosing a stranger that you've only met for days than your brother?" Marcus felt betrayed at what Nana did. He was the one who offered his back but was denied and now Nana wants to be carried by someone who didn't even offer her back? Thinking about that, Marcus cannot help but to sulk.

Is this type of brother that Nana and Cleo must follow?

A shrill piercing cry suddenly was heard in the air. Because the cry is so high and sharp, the four of the covered their ears. The sound of it is not normal. Ania looked above them. The only thing that you can see is the after image of a shadow. The left eye of Ania began to turned red again. It focused the shadow above them. When it flies, it flaps its wings rapidly, and then uses that momentum to quickly glide through the air. This is the reason why your eyes cannot see them.

It was an air type demon. The Geraki. A demon hawk that is slightly bigger than a human. It has a body of a human but is covered with a feather and a head of a hawk. It has red sharp eyes that gave them the ability to magnify and see from a great distance. They uses their claw to capture their victims.But they are not supposed to show in a broad daylight.

The Geraki's eyes are on Nana and move in a quick pace towards her. Ania gritted her teeth. In a situation like this, her reflex is better than anyone. Being the closest, she pick Nana up and throws her towards Marcus. "Catch her!" Marcus immediately caught Nana.

Ania who is standing in the spot where Nana was, was immediately clawed by the Geraki. In a split of second, the Geraki and Ania were nowhere to be seen. "Let's us meet there!" Ania shouted while pointing at the mountain as their figure is slowly decreasing.

Both of her shoulder is clawed by the Geraki causing her to unable to move her arms. She looked at the Geraki that is above her. She cannot see clearly of her figure because of the sun that against it. But one this that is clear, is that two mountains that's sticking in her chest. Boobs! Don't tell me this Geraki is a woman!

"Uhhmm, hi?" Since they are both woman, maybe they can talk this out. What greeted her was another shrill piercing cry. Sh*t. It really hurts her ears. She wanted to cover her ears but unable to.

"Crazy ,ugly ,grandma, demon hawk!"