Akata Novels & Stories

I had run away from Matteo as if I’d seen the devil himself, yes. Instead of giving him an answer, I had focused on the ship's sirens and bolted. I had stopped counting microbes and fled... The yacht gently docked at one of those picture-perfect hidden paradises of the Aegean: the shores of Gümüşlük, Bodrum. The lights of the rustic yet high-end fish restaurants lined up along the water reflected off the sea, and the air was thick with the scent of fried calamari, anise, and sea salt.

A massive surge of shipping traffic. Tan and Cassian’s plan was unfolding exactly as predicted. Viktor crossed his arms. “That will overwhelm our terminals.” Elena leaned back slightly. “Yes.” Viktor looked confused. “You’re not concerned?” Elena smiled. “No.” She zoomed in on another part of the map. A small port further south lit up. Viktor read the label. “Port Paranaguá.” Elena nodded. “Brazil’s second-largest port.” Understanding slowly dawned on him.

Luca’s POV The Maldives atoll had been our haven for twenty-three years—long enough that the nightmares of auctions, viruses, and bloodlines had faded to whispers. But whispers have a way of growing louder when ignored. It started with a postcard blank except for coordinates scribbled in Katarina’s familiar hand: 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W. New York City. No message. Just a date: two weeks from now.

“WOW,” Aria exclaimed, her voice filled with awe as they arrived at James’s rest house in San Benjamin. It was a quaint town nestled in Southern Luzon, famed for its stunning beaches that stretched like golden ribbons along the coast. The sand, shimmering under the bright sun, looked as if it had been kissed by gold itself. The waves gently caressed the shoreline, their soft whispers mingling with the breeze that carried with it the scent of the sea. The further they drove into the heart of this coastal paradise, the more Aria felt her senses awaken to the wonders around her. The scent of salt and blooming flowers filled the air, invigorating her spirit and washing away the weight of her eve

With the heels, I’ll be as tall as Cressilda. I follow my sister to my room where I build a bed for Kitty-Kat with my softest blanket while she turns the water in the shower on to run warm. Fishing my phone from my pocket, I dial the twenty-four-hour emergency veterinary clinic in Kabankalan and, after describing my dilemma, order a delivery. Kabankalan is a big town but still small enough for everyone to know everyone. The receptionist doesn’t argue when I tell her who I am and that my dad will settle the bill.

She needed something as beautiful as her to feel better and I knew just the thing. So I talked to the driver named Tatekulu. “Change of plans Tatekulu,” I told the driver. “Take us to Jetty 1905.” He nodded ”Yes Mr Ricchezza, it’s my pleasure” Valentina tilted her head slightly questioning me. “Where are we going?” “A seaside restaurant,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Built on a historic jetty. You’ll love it. White wine, fresh seafood, and a view of the Atlantic crashing against the Namibian coast.”

LaRosa rushed, spotting the obvious. “He was last seen entering here” Gina echoed, pointing at a luxurious looking building which evidently sashayed itself to be a clubhouse. “Club Erebus” She continued, calling out its name. “This is where things get interesting” She said, dragging her hands through the texture of the pictures and paper as though in search of something. Then she paused on a particular picture. “Lil Joe” Marco and I echoed simultaneously, looking over the picture which showed Lil Joe coming out of the Club.

"You've got that accent pulling at your vowels like you're from the Beryl Bay." "Good ear," Nicolette smiled, taking her plate and carrying it to the small dining table along the far wall of the room. "I'm from North Piccolo off the top of the bay, and if I still have an ear for it, you're from lower down the South Shores. Basalt, right?"

' It always made him proud of how flexible Kita was, readily and respectfully meeting the Korean culture. "Hey, young fella, where is she from?" Mr. Guk asked with his eyes looking at Kita as if he hadn't seen anyone like her in a long, long time or if ever. "She's from Baha Mar," Kenneth said proudly. "The Ba who? Where is that place?" Mr. Guk asks, being very candid in their speech. "No, the Baha Mar is an island off of the North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Florida and northeast of Cuba," Kenneth explained.

Dimitri stressed. “I mean which city, country?” Kira asked. The water was mesmerizing blue and it was sparkling clear. “Hermanus,” Dimitri informed. “What the heck is Hermanus?” Kira demanded. “A town at the southern coast of western cape,” Dimitri informed. “We are not too far away from Cape Town, you know. You were out of it, else you would have enjoyed the scenic drive.” “Cape Town!” Kira shrieked, “as in South Africa!”