Page 7 of To Fall for a Dragon

How did something Hakko wrote in a completely different dimension find its way to Granite a hundred or so years before the merge? Who was the intended recipient? His handwriting, his soul, was on that parchment. He could feel the bitterness in accepting he would never meet the person on the other side of the letter, but he couldn’t stop writing, in case…

Hakko gave himself a full body shake. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past. He was tired. The day had been long, and he needed to process it all.

In the morning, Hakko had to stop himself from reaching for the phone. The sun was rising high, and if he understood correctly, Poe would be nestled deep in his room, not sleeping so much as recovering. At least, Hakko hoped. Poe didn’t seem like the type to benefit himself.

Hakko drank his morning tea while catching up on town news. The minutes from the previous night’s meeting had been posted, and the attendees were screaming in righteous indignation from both sides of the aisle. His quiet day of administration duties would be shoved aside as people, both well-wishers and foes, would investigate the grounds for the reason Hakko had roared. Nothing would get done but he prepared himself for that. Today was about getting the museum ready for the gala and answering questions from curious townsfolk. He hadn’t meant to lay complete claim over the land, but Elijah had goaded him to his breaking point. However, people always seemed to believe that his claims were literal and that there was a stamp on the building with his name on it.

He sensed someone approaching the museum, and he braced himself for questions when he greeted them. It was just Ethan, his museum assistant. He was a kappa who had flourished under Hakko's guidance. They each had been worried that it wouldn’t work out, with Ethan being a prey type and Hakko being a predator. It was all for naught. Ethan was excellent at his job and anticipating people's wishes, specifically Hakko's.

Ethan smiled a greeting as he passed Hakko a paper bag. The smell of rich bacon and fresh bread filled his sensitive nose. “Good morning, Hakko. Tera sends her thoughts.”

“I haven’t spoken to Tera in a while. Why would she?”

“You took in her lost vampire when he came to town. He was at the café last night. No one else would give him the time of day. He’s not like the rest of us, with a group already formed,” Ethan explained, pulling out his own foil-wrapped sandwich before sitting at the kitchen island.

“From what he’s told me, he’s from this dimension. Said vampires and other creatures hide in plain sight.” Hakko bit his bacon sandwich viciously. “Stupid humans. Why can’t they see a person in need?”

“You did, and I’m so happy you did.” Ethan munched on his breakfast. Hakko wasn’t sure what kappas ate other than cucumbers, but as long as Ethan looked healthy and nourished, Hakko wouldn’t ask. “Did you actually tell the mayor off last night? I never thought you’d be the one to yell!”

“I did nothing of the sort. Elijah said he planned on expropriating the land away from the museum grounds in order to protect the public’s interest, and I refused to let the man lie to the public. Never before had I been more insulted.” Hakko’s scales rose in remembered anger, and steam blew out of his nose as he continued. “When we first settled here after the Red Storm, the land presented itself to me.To me. And I accepted the honour of being its guardian.”

“Your dragon is showing,” Ethan muttered, scooching a bit away. “I think the land will have things to say if anyone attempts to do whatever you can do to stuff that doesn’t move.”

Hakko inhaled and released the air slowly. Ethan didn’t need an outraged dragon on his hands, not when the looky-loos would be stampeding the grounds soon. He ate the rest of his sandwich in quiet contemplation.

“Is there a place for me to work today, Hakko? I saw some stairs were getting ice dams, or do you need me to hold back the crowds?”

“You stay inside where it’s warm. Show off the exhibits and offer guidance to the real patrons. I’ll spread sand on the ice. We don’t want anyone to hurt themselves.” Once the breakfast crumbs were swept away, Hakko and Ethan went about their tasks.

He had just finished working on the stone walkway when he heard Ethan swear loudly. Hakko ran through the building until he found the lit room where Ethan stared at a shattered glass cabinet.

“I don’t know what happened. I was in the other room, where the Journey to Granite exhibit is, when a tinkling sound happened. I came over to see what was going on, and the glass exploded,” Ethan said shakily. His brown skin was a pasty grey, and his big green eyes were dilated and terrified as he watched Hakko.

“You take a seat and catch your breath. I’ll see what the extent of the damage is. Relax, Ethan. You’re safe.” Hakko reached out with his other senses and looked at the currents in the air. Something had disturbed them enough to shift and change properties. He wasn’t sure why though.

Footsteps, not human, were planted in front of the letter display. Hakko could see the outline of a creature reaching toward the letters. Hakko barked, then snickered as the intruder slid off-balance and disappeared.

“I thought you wanted this exhibit to happen. You’re the one who pushed the letters to me, and now, what the hell?” Hakko questioned the building grumpily. A sense of shame and dismay filled the air as Hakko glared at the crisp walls. Shaking his head, Hakko investigated the broken case. The letters were still there. What was with the letters that had people all riled up?

When the idea landed in his lap to show off love letters through the history of Granite, Hakko had jumped on it. It was nearing Valentine’s Day, and he thought it was a wonderful homage to the holiday. He sent a call out to the residents of the community, and boy, had they delivered.

Every letter was poignant and sweet. Every owner was so proud to offer them to him. He had a lot of fun learning about the day-to-day lives of the people and the town.

With his other senses still on high alert, he glanced at the cases, shocked to see that there were a lot of letters that had hints of magic and enchantment embedded deep within their words. His pièce de résistance was the love letter written between two men. He had it front and centre, and of course, it had received the brunt of the shattered glass.

A fluttering of paper attracted his attention. Hakko zeroed in on the moving object caught under something else. This letter was odd compared to the rest. It was as old as his favourite letter, but still different somehow. It was written on thick paper, and the ink was not ink. Hakko sniffed it and reared back.

Pinching it between his two claws, he carried the dangerous letter to the clean room. The paper would have to be locked, and only he would be able to access it. The words and the ink were too dangerous for the general public.

Too many mysteries were cropping up, and it was barely past midmorning.

“Hakko? I have a broom and box for the glass,” Ethan called from the edge of the room. He knew not to enter until Hakko gave the all-clear. Hakko went back to the main exhibit hall and stared at the mess. Ethan stood at his side and copied him. “Did I make a mistake? Was there an alarm I tripped accidentally?”

“What? No! No, this is not on you. The museum,” Hakko said pointedly, “let in someone they shouldn’t have, and he left behind a present.” Hakko carefully cleaned the glass and handed the full box to Ethan. “We’ll have to go to the white room to make sure none of the letters have shards on them.”

“Would you like a pair of gloves and tweezers?” Ethan wrinkled his nose at the mess. Hakko smiled at his assistant. Ethan would be perfect in the role of curator.

Hakko set all the letters in a plastic tray and brought them back to be searched carefully for any shard of glass that might have gotten caught by the fibres.

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