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The Best of Us
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2023-08-14 04:04:36Related chapters
The Hunt for Knowledge What in the Actual Hell?
“What do you mean go back, like, as in time?” Beecher asked, angling his head with interest.“No, he can’t mean that….” Dakari said quickly, too quickly. He stopped and thought for a moment, turned his head to Luca, “Please tell me you mean back to where Vikings come from, what Scandinavia?”“Yes, No, I mean, I have no idea how to time travel. I am from an area that is now called Norway. Most people in this area look a lot different from me.” He laughed, a deep dark laugh that sounded jaded. “After a Viking raid in Africa, apparently Odin found comfort in the arms of the warrior princess Zuri…generations later, I was born. “I guess I always pictured Vikings to be of fairer complexion,” Katalea offered, “and wearing the helmets with the two horns.” “Ah, yes, I have seen those. They were not worn by my comrades, but seemed to add to the lore of the Nomadic Vikings.” He turned to Katalea, noticed the teasing grin on her face, “In truth, the Vikings often took women wherever the
Last Updated : 2023-10-12The Hunt for Knowledge Writhing
As Luca clawed at his eyes writhing on the floor, Beecher stopped, stupified, and looked down at his nemesis. All thoughts of food gone, he ran back to help in any way he could. Zinnia approached just as quickly, more than concern showing on her face. But as she stood over him, she tilted her head to the side in confusion. “I feel no pain, Luca. How can I help if I can’t feel it?” she cried, panicked. She had never come across an ache she couldn’t soothe. “Help me get him out of the sun,” Beecher spoke softly as if his mere words would cause more pain. As he reached down to move him, Luca’s hand shot out and grabbed Beecher by the forearm. Shocked, repulsed, Beecher jumped and recoiled. His face showed the fear of someone who knew they were about to be attacked by a vampire. Luca lay there grinning, all signs of pain gone. Madness lay in his eyes, but not a feral desire for canine blood. He pulled Beecher to the floor where he rolled and landed flat on his back. He loo
Last Updated : 2023-11-04The Hunt for Knowledge Crushed His Mouth With a Kiss
Luca chuckled at the speed of Beecher’s thoughts. “I was thinking about the prophecy on the drive over. Last time we were looking for where the sun met the earth. It sounded crazy to us at the time, but after discovering Salar de Uyuni, it all made sense. This time we are to hunt down the Hall of the Slain.” “But that’s a mythical place,” Aquina reasoned, “How do you go about finding that?” “That was my first thought,” Luca agreed, winking at Katalea as she picked up her phone. “But everything is on Google.” Katalea was busy swiping and tapping at her phone.Katalea was again surprised at what she found. There were numerous tourist destinations by that name. One could find t-shirts and other trinkets, and Katalea vowed to get Luca his own two-horned helmet at her first chance. The place that struck her as a viable option was a museum, supposedly on the ancient burial grounds of thousands of slain warriors, many of who had reportedly gone on to Valhalla. “There is a shrine, if yo
Last Updated : 2023-11-05The Hunt for Knowledge Alluring Red Heads
The long lanky redhead entangled her arms around Luca and held tight while he tried to push her away. In her long black leather coat and high-knee black leather boots with spikes for heels, she came nearly to his shoulder. Her alabaster skin stood in stark contrast to his but her wide-set green eyes with mile-long lashes held an evilness to them. She released him, looked him up and down, winked, and grinned, “What, did you not miss me?” “Genevieve?” What the hell?” he managed as the others collectively took a step back. Her sharp green eyes caught the others' retreat, and smirked, “Relax, I don’t want any of you sorry creatures. I only have eyes for this fine specimen here,” she said as she reached in and nibbled at his ear. He shoved her back and she hissed. Fangs bared, she used the back of her hand to wipe the snow off her face. The crystals of snow still clung to her hair looking like hundreds of tiny stars. If it weren’t for the feral look in her eyes she would be almost
Last Updated : 2023-11-18The Hunt for Knowledge Oh the Sensation!
Inside the house, the mood was festive and fun. Outside, the snow came down like an arctic blanket. Aquinas bread had been ruled magnificent, and they had used it as an excuse to polish off more than their fair share of adult beverages. They managed to put aside thoughts of weredragons and vampires for the night and just enjoyed each other's company. Beecher hadn’t mentioned what he’d witnessed, and no one else seemed to pick up on the weird vibe. When the storytelling finally got back to their trip to the mall, Beecher and Aquina begged Zinnia to tell the tale of how she had hog-tied a vampire.Zinnia’s whole face changed, her beautiful smile vanished and was replaced by a sadness they had not seen in her.“It hurts me to cause harm, even to one such as her,” she whispered. “It is likely she will die, if that is the correct term, at my hand tonight. And while I know this is a good thing, it still hurts me here,” she brought her hand to her chest, covering her heart. “If you
Last Updated : 2023-11-27The Hunt for Knowledge Blond Braids
When the alarms simultaneously sounded hours before the sun would break the night, groggy curses could be heard throughout the house. It took less than ten minutes for them to dress and be at the door. When the taxi van showed up, it took less time than that to load. No one smiled, and no one spoke. “My life for some coffee man,” Luca grumbled at the driver. “If that translates to ‘you get a big tip for a coffee run’ then I’m your guy!” the driver called back, unnaturally happy for this godforsaken time of the day. “That translates to, ‘I’ll put your firstborn through college’ if you make that happen,” Luca responded and wondered if the man just hadn’t gone to bed for the night yet. No one should be that awake and chipper before the sun poked out its head. “But then, look at the little fairy, she’s bright-eyed and positively glowing,” he shook his head at this thought. She even made this cursed hour look good. Zinnia chose to sit up front and happily talked with the driver
Last Updated : 2023-11-30The Hunt for Knowledge As Still As a Corpse
Zinnia woke with a delighted squeal. To Luca’s ears, there was no better sound. He saw stars in her eyes as she surveyed the winter wonderland outside their window. To his eyes, he saw bleak, dreary countryside. She marveled as the snow blanketed the countryside. She found romance in the soft velvety roll of the now-white hills. She nearly came out of her seat when she spotted a few deer amongst the trees down by a river that peeked in and out of their view. The big deer, with a massive rack of antlers, lowered its head to drink, and Zinnia sighed. He could feel the happiness radiate from her, and he was reminded of his own inner darkness. He decided to just enjoy her happiness while the time lasted. There would be plenty of time for heartbreak later. Something outside the window caught his attention. A blur of darkness that he wouldn’t have noticed if his eyes hadn’t been transfixed on a little maintenance building next to the track a little ways up. The train had round
Last Updated : 2023-12-17The Hunt for Knowledge Invisible Werewolves
The mist crept in thicker now. Visibility had all but diminished and a hush settled over the area. The only sound was the faint whimpering of the taxi driver.Katalea knew someone was trying to control the weather, it was clear they were trying to block the sun. It was a revelation to know that some vampires possessed powers as well. Slowly, she began trying to control her breathing and clear her mind. She started working against whatever was trying to cause the mist to turn the already pitifully bleak day into complete darkness. In the haze two more dark figures zipped by, snarling in the tinted windows. Their eyes, feral red, shone into the van as they pressed their faces to the glass. As Katalea pushed out at the fog, she could hear the vampires begin to scatter in all directions, footsteps squishing on the damp lawn. A ray of light pulsed through the mist, then another. The sun was finally starting to peak through. Panic-stricken, the vampires began to flee. Genevieve,
Last Updated : 2023-12-27
Latest chapter
The Hunt for Knowledge Not so Innocent
It seemed to Luca the celebration lasted all night. He wanted to take his little fairy back to his University apartment and finally have some alone time. The ceremony performed by Rhiannon decreed that it was now “their” University apartment. He couldn’t be happier.The others had elected to stay on campus too, although Dakari had managed with Zinnia’s help to divide the room into two seperate bedrooms for the night. Katalea had wanted to go over to the island, but all agreed that work with the prophetic book was scheduled to begin early. Both Luca and Zinnia grinned and said they’d get in as soon as they could. Everyone just laughed and snuggled a little closer to their own mate.On the walk over, Luca and Zinnia held hands, neither feeling their feet touch the ground. Luca kept running in place and stopping just to feel the joy of having a heart. It was all Zinnia could do to not burst from happiness.When Luca walked up to a door and began to enter numbers into a keypad, Zin
The Hunt for Knowledge Alive
They feasted and rested, curled up now by two’s on the sofas. Katalea thought of how far they had come, virtually all strangers the last time they were in this room. Since they were back in Egypt she had messaged her grandfather. He told her things were a little unstable on the island and probably not a great time to bring the whole group back. Instead he had a team bring the book back to the University under heavy guard. They would deal with that tomorrow. Tonight was for rest and healing.His words caused her some grief, she was homesick for the island. She lay with her head nestled on Dakari’s shoulder while he played with a lock of her hair. She wondered what the trouble was, and found herself very anxious to get back to her “regular” life. Would this quest really be over tomorrow? Across the room, she could see Zinnia getting fidgety. She was up, then down. She had checked on the food numerous times, but they had all had their fill and lay sated, waiting for her to f
The Hunt for Knowledge Lycaon
As the dust cleared, Dakari narrowed his brow and turned to his mate, “Let’s get out of here before more of his ilk show up.”Nodding, Katalea grabbed his hand, “For reals this time.”Although the transition wasn’t as smooth without Zinnia’s presence, they had thought to leave their exit route established when the others had popped out. The air was a little chillier this time and they found themselves more thrown than placed around a campfire. They were surrounded instantly by the largest werewolves either had ever seen.”Ok, so not back to the classroom in Egypt?” Katalea threw out the thought to Dakari, more of an accusation than a question.He shrugged, his face baffled as he looked around. Then he saw Beecher and the others near the front of the group. Even as they moved towards him, a path cleared. Many heads bowed in respect as they made their way to their friend. Beecher lay on his side, his breathing labored. He was still in werewolf form but clearly healing. His fur
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
