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Nothing But Dust
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The Hunt for Knowledge And So It Begins
“The journey is the treasure.” Lloyd Alexander~~~“The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.” The Last Unicorn~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just before dawn, before the light beat back the dark, before anything or anyone stirred, Katalea found herself in the place that she considered her sanctuary. Her terrace, all fixed and new, boasted new deck furniture in shades of sea green. She lounged alone for a few moments, enjoying the solitude. As she watched, the sky turned pink and pale over the horizon. The first gulls stirred and began their relentless search for food. Her stomach rumbled in unison to signal it was time for her to eat as well. Rather than messaging someone to bring up food, she set out
The Hunt for Knowledge Purple Pixies and Blue Sirens
They neared the Literature building with its massive alabaster columns and marble staircase. The red brick was in stark contrast to the white window trimmings but spoke of old money. The grounds were immaculate and well tended. Students lounged on blankets under trees. Others sat by a man-made pond reading their texts. Strewn backpacks were the only debris that littered the thick green grass. Brick pathways, bordered by purple jump-up johnny's, meandered this way and that. As they came upon the main entrance of the Literature building Zinnia changed course and turned down one of these brick lanes. A small building that Katalea hadn’t noticed before stood off to one side of the main hall. Katalea remembered looking in this direction when they arrived and seeing a massive plum tree in this general area. Not only was the tree no longer present, but the building Zinnia was gesturing to for the group to enter didn’t quite match up with the pathways. The door was a little a
The Hunt for Knowledge Werewolves and Vampires
The air was so still and quiet you could hear the inhaling and exhaling of all present. The ominous sound of a whippoorwill sounded through the open window and broke the silence. The heaviness of the repetitive call brought on a somber mood as the bird’s song was believed to warn of impending death. “I’m Aquin….”“Nice to meet….”“Greetings….”Everyone spoke at once which brought smiles and released the tension. With a twinkle in his eye, and mischief on his face Beecher gestured towards the food.“It seems we have stumbled onto quite a bounty, why don’t we sit, raise a glass, and introduce ourselves.” A dimple winked on his right check, and he bowed to Zinnia who stood near the head of the table weighted down with food.Dakari reached for Katalea’s hand and they sat near the open window. Aquina stayed standing and eyed everyone suspiciously. Beecher, in a grand gesture, started piling a plate up with food. He winked at Aquina, “Mind what you eat, blue, I would hate to think
The Hunt for Knowledge Missing
All eyes were on the newcomer. Luca came in, and with a flourish set down his bag. He wore a sports coat over jeans, sporting sunglasses that he now held in his hand. He looked every bit the modern day professional. Katalea clutched her hands together under the table to keep them from shaking. As she tried to gain composure, she knocked her plate to the floor. Dakari caught her as she began to sway in her chair. Her eyes rolled back and her body went limp. As fast as the vision took her it released her. She sat up straight in her chair, noticing Dakari’s arms around her. Pushing aside her arousal, she turned and addressed the group. Her eyes intense, she looked at each one directly. “We are six, we are gathered. Make your choice, and consider your options. If you take on the quest, you risk all. There is one still hunting, who would stop at nothing to destroy us. An evil god gone mad, he seeks the prophecies to advance his bloodlust. He must be stopped.
The Hunt for Knowledge A Gun to the Head
The emergency lights came on only after a few seconds had transpired. In that time, not only was the book gone from its elaborate air-controlled clear safe, but the elderly man now held a gun to Luca’s head.“What in the actual hell is happening?” Beecher demanded.Katalea responded by instinct. After training so long with Dalya, it was second nature to disarm a foe. Instantly the gun flew from the man’s hands and streamed towards her outstretched hands. Before the deadly projectile landed however, Dakari surprised everyone by removing them all from the room. Zap! Including Luca.They stood in a tight circle back in the room of their earlier meeting. Questioning eyes darted everywhere, and as far as Katalea could see, the security detail had not made the journey.“I didn’t know you could do that!” Katalea exclaimed. “Nor did I….in fact, I don’t think that was all my doing.” He turned to Zinnia. “I could feel you with me on that, how much of that was you?”She smiled shyly, “I
The Hunt for Knowledge Youthful Passion
The hands on the clock ticked loudly while the group stood still. Outside, the light was beginning to send long shadows as the sun reached its last stretch of daylight. Dakari yawned. It had been a long day. He had been looking forward to getting to know his mate, but now suddenly he had five new best friends. Katalea saw his yawn and felt the same exhaustion. “Why don’t we get some rest, and meet for a late supper somewhere. Are you all staying nearby?” “I have only to dip a toe in the water to be home.” Aquina remarked. Turning to Beecher she chuckled, “I’m sure we can find you a nice den to settle in, pup.” “Don’t you worry about me, I suggest you worry more about staying out of the jaws of a hungry shark tonight.” He turned to Katalea. “I think a little rest is a great idea. Are we all in agreement to meet tonight? I know a great restaurant off the beaten path. It would be a great place to sit and brainstorm.” One by one they voiced their agreement. D
The Hunt for Knowledge Interrupted and Raided
Fingers of fear crept over Katalea’s body like a lover’s caress. Thorough and invasive icy prickles made her shiver. Dakari reached out to comfort her, but found his hand shaking too. A sudden headache signaled an oncoming vision. Instead of trying to block it, Katalea embraced it. She took her already unstable body over to the love seat and laid across it. She closed her eyes before they could roll back in her head and willed the vision to come. She had never tried to control her visions before. She had no idea what to expect. The vision hit like a sudden thunderstorm in the middle of a summer day. As if waiting for an invitation, it flowed through her and took over her senses. She could feel herself walking down the hallway, looking for Paolo or any of the security detail. Finding none, she wandered down the stairs looking for hotel staff. The hotel was abandoned save for the small group of businessmen that loitered in the entryway. As Katalea neared s
The Hunt for Knowledge A Fist in the Face
Beecher was flipping the pages of a magazine when Katalea and Dakari walked in. “It doesn’t matter where you go, you cause a scene.” Beecher chided, grinning and showing a dimple in his left cheek. “Do you have any ideas on who they were?” Aquina asked, dismissing Beecher’s comment. “No,” Katalea responded. “No clue, All I know is that this morning when I woke up I thought today was going to be a mundane trip to an old library. Suddenly, the world around me has gone nuts.” “I guess I understand all the security around you now,” Beecher added. “It must be hard to be the black panther. How are you two ever going to get to be alone?” He raised his eyebrows twice and googled his eyes. He knew they were newly mated. Katalea found herself flushing despite herself. She could feel the color climb right up her neck and jump up onto her face. Zinnia chimed in and broke the awkwardness. “You had such a lovely suite at the hotel.” “It really was, before th
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The Hunt for Knowledge Nothing But Dust
The cairn now glowed blue. It pulsed and throbbed as if it had a heartbeat. Kaya stood, just like Katalea’s premonition, pacing, but this time she was not intently focused on the stones, she was focused on Katalea. As if waiting for her. “Can you guys see her? Am I having another vision?” Katalea questioned.“Oh, we can see her, and frankly she is terrifying….” Aquina answered, awe in her voice. The big cat kept pacing, her soft pads making no noise in the silent chamber. Her eyes never left Katatea’s.“She means you no harm,” Katalea whispered, feeling the joy of her panther overtake her. “She is me…” Katalea continued, confidence radiating in her voice, understanding now. “She never left me.”Katalea felt the longing to be one with Kaya rise up. She hadn’t realized how abandoned she had felt by her own self.Kaya’s eyes filled with anguish now. Her proud head bowed, almost in shame. “It was not my wish either,” she said, obviously hearing the cries of Katalea's heart. “It w
The Hunt for Knowledge Outnumbered
As they made their way into the higher elevation, the mountain walls became craggier, and small cave formations began. The trees here weren’t as thick, this new harder soil obviously struggled to sustain life. Ahead, a rounded archway formed, looking more like an arbor than a cave. Katalea walked through expecting to come out on the other side of the hill but instead found herself in a large open space resembling the lobby of the ice hotel. Instead of beautiful ice sculptures though, it was just rough walls. A small stack of rocks to the left looked like a cairn left behind by someone else. There were the remnants of bones, small animal bones, she presumed, that had long since stopped having a body. Still, she felt no presence of evil or danger. They heard the deep dark laugh come from behind them. Katalea stepped forward as if to shield her friends against whatever was coming. ”So valiant, young Katalea.” They could hear Hassan, but there was no one there. He laughed aga
The Hunt for Knowledge Confused
“Ah Elskan,” he pulled back with such sorrow. “I want nothing more than the next millennium in your arms but I feel our friends call.” He pushed a stray lock of purple hair behind her ears, nibbled her neck, and inhaled deeply.“That word, Elskan, you have said it before. What does it mean?”“What?” He looked at her quizzically now. “I have said a word you don’t know?” Tilting his head in wonder, he added, “Out loud?”She smiled coyly now, “Yes, a few times. Elskan. Once when I was hurt, and I think another time when we learned of the sharks,”Visibly flustered, he put his hands at his sides. Tense now, he turned to go, but she grabbed his elbows, “Not so fast buster, you didn't answer.” The smile she gave him was playful, teasing, almost a challenge. He sighed and closed his eyes. Remembering. Oh, why couldn’t some things just stay buried? It had been so very long. Finally, he spoke, “It is the name a man calls a woman he loves. In your tongue, it would be equivalent to dar
The Hunt for Knowledge About That
“Go east she said,” Katalea whispered in her mind and chuckled, thinking of an American term she learned years ago in school in San Diego.”As I remember it, the phrase was, ‘Go West, young man, Go West.” Dakari countered.Katalea blushed, she forgot her mate could always hear her thoughts. “‘Ya, well, I was never very good in American history,” she giggled. It was an age-old joke between them. Dakari had excelled in school, but Katalea had been too busy dodging Dalya and doing gymnastics to pay much attention in high school.With the vampires gone for the moment, and the Hassan family of dragons keeping their distance there was nothing left to do but say goodbye. They thanked Freja for her help and Dakari made light of the situation by conjuring roses for her out of thin air. “We did not come away without losses,” Freja said heavily, “and they will not be forgotten for their bravery in battle.” All heads lowered. A few hands wiped eyes that found themselves moist. “We will ma
The Hunt for Knowledge Two?
To their amazement, they saw what looked like wolves wrestling people. These were not ordinary people, as Katalea watched one short dark man pick up a wolf and hurl it into a tree. They were close enough that Katalea could hear the curses from the man. They were not in any language Katalea had ever heard before. Two more wolves pounced on the man and made quick work of him. Another wolf came at a sprint, two pairs of feral red-eyed vampires at his heels. They recognized him at once. Beecher was in trouble.Dakari roared, and the scene stilled momentarily. All heads turned and in that instant Katalea called lightning to pummel the bloodsuckers. The wolves stood dumbfounded as all their foe just vanished into ash. As a pack, they turned to look at Beecher who was obviously sending them a message that these newcomers were allies. A few wolves shifted, while others remained on guard in wolf form.Never one to hide, Katalea shifted, while Dakari remained. “I have heard myths a
The Hunt for Knowledge Hassan is Coming
Perched high up in her tree, Katalea swayed, the fog swirling around her. Above her, the muted greens and pinks of the northern lights seemed to fight for control of the pre-morning sky. It wouldn’t be long before any vampire trapped outside would have to flee or risk being turned to dust without any help from their adversaries. The sun still had a few minutes to go before it began its assent into the sky but the sky had visibly lightened. It was coming. Katalea wondered if the sun was filtered through the fog if the vampires would be able to stay out longer. She imagined they could. It might be time to dial back on the mist.Light bursts could be seen from just past the crop of trees they were currently resting in. Katalea wasn’t sure if it was from lightning or a dragon blast, but they were drawing closer to their hideout. They would have to move soon.Dakari must have had the same thoughts, for as he touched her arm, she read the alarm in his eyes. It wouldn’t do to be so hig
The Hunt for Knowledge Predators or Prey
As he entered the clearing, the gray and black streaked wolf caught his attention first. He was the size of a Mac truck and looked as fierce with his teeth bared at the newcomer. He could see the moment his scent reached them. He had been upwind and had taken them by surprise. Muzzles dropped slightly as they afforded him the respect of a traveling alpha. Her scent permeated the area and had all heads turning. The beautiful lady in white from the ice hotel now stood before him in her true form. The vision of majesty as a pure white wolf and tawny eyes. He lowered his head in the traditional greeting to the alpha of the current territory. One that had already saved him twice.“Rise my cousin,” she chuckled. Beecher rose and went to her in the more familiar greeting of his kind. They nuzzled heads, his under hers. The subtle action was noticed by all in the clearing, and approved. They had accepted him. Without one word spoken, they all nodded in agreement, they would figh
The Hunt for Knowledge Hold Still
With Luca's enormous frame passed out across her, and snow almost covering the entire mouth of the cave Zinnia had no choice but to wait it out. She felt like a sitting duck knowing that Genevieve was out there. Worse yet, the bitch knew approximately where they were. “But what choice do I have?” she thought as she took in her situation. The cave was about the size of his body. Not much of a cave, more of a cavette. She giggled at her own lame joke.She watched with an increasing unease as the sky grew darker and the tiny cave was almost completely devoid of light. The eerie silence was almost worse than the deafening thunder from before. It seemed so finite. Would they ever be able to leave this place? and if they did, would it be to the waiting arms of a vengeful vampire? She curled up next to Luca for body heat. There was a little space just in front of him once he had stretched out and her tiny frame just fit. It might be better to sleep than to think.From this angle, s
The Hunt for Knowledge Avalanche!
She must have recognized the sound or felt the mountain shift for she was off him in an instant. She would not be more weight for him to have to climb with. In his mind he fought with her. He reasoned with her, he begged her, but she would not relent. She would not bring him down. She may be a third of his size, but she would climb as his equal. Again, she wished for her powers back, she could have just fluttered right up and found them a cave.Finally giving up on carrying her, he pointed the way and then hoisted her up., if she was going to climb she would damn sure go ahead of him. He prayed to whoever might be listening for a bit of luck.When she was no more than five feet up, he smashed his enormous body against the snowy mountain and started up the rockface, She moved slowly, cautiously. He fought the urge to rush her, trying not to think about their lack of equipment. He didn’t know if she realized they were fighting time as well.A sound like an explosion ripped thro
