Destiny Intertwined

There thrice lived a young man whose destiny was intertwined with the fate of a young woman.

This will not be your typical love your story because love was not what kept these two constantly meeting; but the promise to kill each other once and for all.

A charge by the royal courts on either side became the leading cause for the war breeching in. And these two were caught in the middle time and time again.

“You loathsome cow! Come back and fight me!” A silver haired woman charged at the flaming red haired man deep in the forests of Airnella.

“Haven’t I already told you, my beloved? I have plans today!” He skipped behind a tree to dodge her blade. “Do come back tomorrow and I’ll be all yours, promise!”

“Unacceptable!”

He ran up a tree and somersaults into the air, landing behind his opponent. “Kalisha, my lucky star. Don’t be so eager, others might think we’re romantically involved.”

“Malik, my lowly king. You have three lives, do at least give me one.” She turned to him menacingly, evil glinting in her eyes.

“Now, now…” Malik laughed nervously, backing away. “Be reasonable.”

Kalisha strengthened the hold on her sword and lunged at her target, aiming for his chest.

Malik slipped a pouch from his coat pocket and smashed it on the ground, releasing a huge cloud of smoke.

“You scoundrel!” Kalisha sneered and she jumped back from the smoke and sheathed her sword. Her prey escaped.

. . .

“My fair lady, how can you leave yourself wide open like this?” Malik stood breaths away, holding a small blade to Kalisha’s back inside a pub.

She smiled and slid a hand up the side of his face, looking back at him as she whispered sweetly, “You mongrel, you think so low of me?”

A blade popped out of her sleeve near her wrist, aimed at his open neck.

“Mmm, well played.” He stood back, sliding his blade into its sheath. He bowed and took a drink from a tray a lady was passing by with. “For you, beautiful. My apologies.”

Kalisha smiled and curtsied before accepting the drink. “You are too kind, monsieur.” She brought the glass to her lips but then poured it out on the floor near her with a wicked smile. The drink sizzled and burned the ground in an acidic way.

Malik grinned. “Oh, you caught me again.”

. . .

“Come, let me kill you, you miscreant!” Kalisha lunged at the man making his breakfast in his loose lounge robe.

He easily dodged her as he bent down to open a drawer and pulled out a metal spatula. “My dear, did you have breakfast yet? I think I’ve made too much. Care for some?”

He slipped out a knife and fork and threw it at her face. She caught both in her gloved hands. “How kind of you. I did skip breakfast to come meet you after all. It’s the least you can do.”

He grabbed a plate and the frying pan that had the sunny-side-up eggs inside of and flipped them up in the air as Kalisha came for him again with her sword. Malik blocked the blade with the frying pan and caught the eggs on the plate.

“My, my. You look especially lovely today. Is that dress for me?” He looked her over, still blocking her blade she swung at him repeatedly.

“I did, even got it in your favourite colour so you could die happily!”

“At least allow me to eat my last breakfast, love. A dead man’s last request.” He grinned as he knocked her sword away.

She chest heaved with the heavy breaths she released. “Very well, I do suppose that’s fair for a handsome wretch like yourself.”

. . .

“What do you think of this dress Malik? Not too showy?” Kalisha observed herself in a long mirror in her spacious bedroom, one of her arms covered in metal armour, blocking Malik’s attacks.

“Not at all, it compliments your every curve beautifully.” Malik complimented as he aimed for her head.

She smiled at him sweetly, blocking him again. “You always know what to say.”

“When I’m not trying to behead you or steal one of your three lives, I’m a master of stealing hearts. When shall you give me yours?”

Kalisha whipped three knives at him. “The day you die, darling.”

“Don’t tempt me, love. I may do just that for you.” Malik smirked warmly at her, dodging the knives.

She blushed and slid out her dagger. “Aww, careful now. You might make me want to keep you.”

. . .

“As long as either of us are breathing, we will be forced to kill one another, you know this don’t you?” Malik whispered sweetly to Kalisha as they both lie together on a blanket under the stars, knives set and ready at each other’s side.

Kalisha closed her eyes, sighing softly. “Yes, I do.”

“Were we born in another life as a different man and woman, I would have made you my wife. You have so much fire and spirit. It’s beautiful.” Malik gazed over at her beautiful and soft features.

Kalisha opened her eyes and turned her head to him. “Words like that could get us both killed, silly man.”

“Should it matter?”

She smiled shyly. “Come now. I warned you about being this sweet.”

Malik turned his whole body to her. “Do you love me Kalisha?”

She followed suit, fully facing him. “We’ve known each other for three years. Granted we’ve tried killing one another on many occasions during that time. But how could I not fall for you?”

“Shall we call a truce? Just for tonight?” He whispered as his eyes lowered to her lips.

She sighed and smiled, “I don’t see why not.”

Malik and Kalisha watch each other as they withdrew their weapons and put them aside.

Kalisha moved first, sliding herself closer to him and placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

“Mmm, I think I can die a happy man.” Malik grinned as he pulled her in for another kiss.

. . .

“You are getting sloppy, handsome!” Kalisha shouted flipping out of Malik’s sword’s range. “Don’t hold back on my account.”

Malik mirrored her crazy smile and swung his sword around. “Oh, are you sure it isn’t you that is holding back, sunshine?”

The silver-haired woman slowly stalked toward her prey as she braided her hair, maintaining eye contact. “Perhaps you should sit still and give me the first of your lives, my king.”

“Two compliments in one day, you spoil me. Maybe I will.” Both of them came full force at each other, swords drawn.

Steel on steel echoed throughout the dense forest, startling a drove of birds from their perches.

“On a serious note, the royal courts have been pressuring me…” their swords meet again. “…to kill you off, princess.”

“So have mine.” She pushed away from him, creating distance as they circled one another. “You realize what needs to happen don’t you?”

Malik nodded his head, a regretful smile on his face. “I do.”

Stopping in their tracks, they come to a silent understanding. One of them had to die that day.

If not, they both would be called back to their respective kingdoms and be killed over and over again until their unnatural extra lives were depleted. They were too dangerous to be left alive if they did not complete their mission.

“Do me the honour of giving it your all.” Malik’s red hair glowed in the setting sun’s rays.

Kalisha took a deep breath and took a stance. “As long as you do the same.”

The human eye alone wouldn’t have the ability to keep up with the speed of their every attack. It was calculated, sharp. They were equal in every aspect, pushing each other’s limits as they’re swords sung the shrill cry of battle.

Kalisha jumped off the ground with her sword raised above her head, nothing but pure fight in her eyes. Malik’s heart skipped with delight. He loved the look of a warrior; nothing came close to the thrill it gave.

As strong and as equal as they were, where Malik lacked in tactical maneuvering, he made up in endurance…

Kalisha’s breath began getting heavy, she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep up the fight for much longer if they kept going head-to-head.

Jumping back, she released a barrage of tiny daggers.

Malik used his sword to block and deflect the tiny, blades. An effective tactic until he began feeling sharp bits of pain in his right leg and left shoulder. He wasn’t able to block them all and they were still coming at him in droves. At this rate, he’d bleed out enough to slow him down. He let go of rational thought and let his instincts kick in.

He jumped back and pulled out a small pouch, smashing it to the ground to release a white smog. The blades kept coming, he no longer ran from them, but sped toward their directions, few sliced him on his face, his arms, and one managed to lodge in his side, but he didn’t stop lunging until he felt his blade pierce through soft flesh.

Malik came back to his senses when he heard Kalisha pull in a very laboured breath. They both looked down at his sword, lodged in her stomach. He froze and his mind went blank.

“H-hey. No fair.” Kalisha choked out with a weak smile. “I was supposed to get the first kill.”

Malik looked up into her eyes that were losing colour and focus, a small red stream dripped down the side of her mouth. “I…”

She grinned. “That was… an ingenious move. I couldn’t… even see it coming.”

Malik braced her as she lost strength in her legs, stuck in a state of disbelief as she leaned on his shoulder and they both knelt down.

“I’ll… be ready… to go again soon. Just make sure… no raccoons eat me… in the meantime…”

Her body went lifeless and limp.

Malik’s racing heart didn’t calm down even though the fight was over. Like it was also stuck in the broken daze he was in.

He pulled out the sword, letting it fall as he went to stroke her hair, holding her close. “It’s okay.” He whispered to her. “You’ll be okay.”

It felt like hours had gone by as he stayed holding her, but she didn’t wake.

Why?

Her body still holding the smallest bit of warmth is what kept him from believing she was gone. That he’d killed her for sure.

He grew up knowing of this ability he and Kalisha had to come back after being killed. The stories fascinated him as a child and intrigued him as a teen to one day test it out. But as a man, he’d become sceptical.

Yes, he was stronger and faster than all he’s come across. Yes, he wasn’t a normal human. But to revive after death? He couldn’t totally believe it.

But sitting there with her lifeless body in his arms… he felt no different than a lost child praying for it to be true. His own body felt cold, and his heart hurt.

Eventually, he stood with her and slowly made his way back to his home. He’d hold onto hope a while longer. He had to.

He watched the soft features of her face as she lay in his bed. Tried to make her as comfortable as he could, removing the armour from her arms and legs and cleaning the blood from her wound. He changed her clothes for cleaner ones and covered her with his warmest blanket. Placing a marigold flower in her hair.

He stayed by her for hours. His faith dwindling as she continued her eternal slumber. He hung his head in defeat. She was gone.

“Why so gloomy, you silly scoundrel?”

To Be Continued…