Moonlight Kingdom

Chapter 7

It had been two days since Dakota last saw Ray, and ever since he made sure she entered New York City safely, he hadn't left his room at all. He knew he needed to make a trip to the city soon on business as it were, but he couldn't find it in himself to get out of bed. Why was it so unfair? He just wanted to eat some damned pizza that day, he didn't mean for her to come into his life the way she did. He can still see her walking back through the portal as he whispered to her. He used mysticism on her so when she emerged into the alley, she didn't remember anything. She had a small headache, and she had to call Stacy to come pick her up. Dakota watched all of this through the mirror, for he wanted to make sure she was okay. He needed to make sure she was okay.

"Goodbye, Ray," he whispered as he watched her climb into Stacy's car. He knew he would never see Ray again, and the thought left him unsettled. She wasn't safe in the city after he exposed her to his world, and he knew he needed to do something about it the next time he went to New York for his business.

"Sir," he heard Tally from the other side of his bedroom door. "You must come out and eat, sir."

"Go away, Tally," Dakota groaned as he pushed his face farther into the pillow. He knew he had duties and he couldn't abandon his entire kingdom because he was pissed off at both himself and Ray. He needed to stop acting like Shakespeare's Richard II, he knew he was better than that. This wasn't his Irish wars he could just go off and fund by taxing the people more instead of adhering to his duties. No, this was kingdom, and he wouldn't toss aside his responsibility for a girl. Not even Ray.

After a few more self-indulging moments or sorrow, he forced himself to get out of bed. He knew that Tally was still waiting for him on the other side of his door, and he was thankful for it too. Tally was his favorite person in Moonlight. For not having a soul, he was a pretty kind man.

"I'm here," Dakota groaned as she opened the door and looked down at his only friend in the world. "But I'm not hungry."

"A king must eat if he wants to rule his kingdom to the best of his ability, sir," Tally stated as he handed Dakota a bowl of grains. It almost made Dakota's stomach turn immediately.

"Tally, have I ever told you that you remind me of Dobby?" He asked as he stirred his oats. He couldn't help but wrinkle his face in disgust. He hated grains, and Tally knew it. It were as if the old man did this on purpose as punishment for Dakota locking himself up in his room for so long.

"Many times, sir, but we know you're not going to give me my sock of freedom. You're much too stubborn."

Dakota smiled. "How is my Kingdom?" He asked as he finally managed a bite of his foot, only gagging a little bit this time. Last time he had to spit it out, so it was progress.

However, Dakota's question causes Tally's brightness in his eyes to fade away. Immediately Dakota could no longer stomach his grains. There was a deep feeling in the pit of his chest, for he knew something was up.

"Tally," he began as he laid a hand on the old man's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"It's her, sir. They've found her."

•••••

"Are you kidding me? I am not going anywhere with you guys," Ray laughed as she wiped down the counters at Galactic Pizza waiting for her two last customers to finish their meal so she can close the restaurant.

"Why?" Frankie and Stacy—her two customers—groaned simultaneously. "You didn't go out with us last week!"

"I know. I just feel exhausted is all," Ray sighed as she began rearranging the spice rack. "I think I'm just going to sleep. It's literally the middle of the week, why are you guys insisting on going out?"