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 askew and one would have to step off the path and to the left a bit in order to go through the door. It was like it arrived after the lanes were built. Katalea was quite sure this building hadn’t been there twenty minutes ago.
Katalea wasn’t the only one that noticed. The blue-haired lady visibly stiffened as Zinnia took out a key.
“I do not trust a building that has existed for less minutes than my legs,” she said directly into Katalea’s mind.
Katalea chuckled but nodded in agreement. As Zinnia fumbled with unlocking the door, Katalea messaged the security detail to do a thorough search of the building before they entered.
“What brings a mermaid this far inland?” Katalea tried messaging back. There was no flicker of recognition in the mermaid’s green eyes and Katalea knew that her standard way of messaging her Pride wouldn’t work here.
Instead the blue haired lady turned to address them both. “I am Aquina, Great Granddaughter many times over to Poseidon and Amphitrite,” she said out loud, closing the gap between them with both hands outstretched facing up.
Katalea looked down at her hands, unsure of what to do. Aquina smirked, and rolled her eyes. “I didn’t put them there to hold a tray of food.” She said, “Place your hands atop mine, and see.”
Katalea did as she was bid and was immediately opened to the heart of the girl in front of her. Though smarmy with sarcasm, her intentions were clear. She had need of the prophecies and wanted to join forces to find them. Her alabaster skin was in stark contrast to Katalea’s bronze tone, but the two stood eye to eye.
She felt Aquina push at her mind. Katalea closed herself to the probe from the mermaid. She wasn’t ready to accept her just yet. Aquina winked and pulled her hands away.
“A little precaution is a good thing, but don’t go trusting that one over there because he has outdoor plumbing.” She nodded towards the man in the black sweatshirt.
Katalea noticed the man talking to Dakari and probed. He was closed to her, but must have felt her pushing at him, for he turned to acknowledge her. His light brown hair blew in the gentle breeze, framing his sun-kissed face. This was a man that spent a lot of time in the sun. He skimmed his smokey grey eyes over Katalea before coming to rest on Aquina. Something akin to irritation flashed in those eyes before his face settled into a peaceful grin.
“We meet again, my bright blue siren song.” He bowed in welcome. As he bowed Katalea could see a leather sheath sporting a pearl handled hilt. He came armed and ready for it was hardly a fashion statement.
Aquina curtsied, mocking his gesture, “It is not so good to see you again Beecher. You seem to be like the proverbial dog with a bone.”
“Did you follow me here?” He shot at her. “You were in Mexico just yesterday.”
“Stalker! How did you know where I was yesterday? Perhaps you were following me?” She shot right back. She stopped and looked at him quizzically. She turned back to Katalea and shrugged. Over her shoulder she called to him, “Seems to me that you find my presence offensive today….May I suggest that you stop finding me?” Her grin widened as her barb hit its mark. The irritation on his face seemed to delight her.
Katalea was reminded of her brothers with all the bickering and felt a momentary ache in her heart. She really needed to remember to call them. Wouldn’t they get a kick out of this situation. It was always so hard to connect with them when so much of her life couldn’t be shared. Dakari shifted and a branch on the ground snapped under his weight. It was enough to bring Katalea’s focus back to the situation at hand.
All four stood staring at one another. No one moved or looked away. An awkward silence came over the group as Dakari looked from one to the other. He could not read his new acquaintances as well as Katalea, but he felt no danger. A banging sound came from inside the room and all jolted as the door to the make-shift meeting room swung open with a force that nearly knocked it off its hinges. The security detail exited the small office, gave the all clear and Zinnia waved them in.
In fascination, Katalea watched two of her security detail actually speak to Zinnia as they exited. Never in her life had a security person broken protocol and spoken to anyone outside the detail while on duty. Even the most gregarious storytellers on the squad wouldn’t dare to be seen losing focus. Now she watched as the captain of the guard stood looking like a puppy, lapping up the attention she bestowed on him.
“That’s right, just put a little Eucalyptus oil on your temples, remember to rub counter-clockwise.” He nodded some more as she produced a little vial from a pocket in her purple dress. She reached out and touched his face, “There now, you’re all better.”
His face lit up like a kid on Christmas. “My headache is gone, oh by the goddesses, thank you.” He turned and joined the detail again, grinning from ear to ear. Katalea couldn’t comprehend what she just witnessed.
When she saw Katalea studying her she smiled and the pleasure showed in her eyes. “I like to help,” was all she said. She seemed to glow with happiness as she said it. “Please everyone, come in. It is time for us to get acquainted.”
Katalea felt the pull of this little purple pixie’s happiness. She found herself wanting to be near such overwhelming joy. She saw the others felt it too as they stopped their childish bickering and filed in. She understood now what had happened to the security chief.
As the door closed on the empty room, Dakari immediately opened all the windows with a flick of his finger. He needed an escape plan in case one of these creatures had a hidden agenda. Never again would he be caged in.
Zinnia smiled at him, “I feel your anxiety big brother. You have been through much to get to this point.” She raised a graceful hand towards him and appeared to be bestowing a blessing on him. He felt his anxiety diminish immediately. He nodded his thanks and felt her joy. “Wasn’t she a wonder,” is all he could think as he smiled a rare genuine smile.
Next she turned to the others. “I feel your hunger.” She actually winked at Beecher. With a fanning of her magic hands she created a feast fit for kings and queens. “Please eat, enjoy.” The kindness radiated off her face.
It would have taken a camera to pinpoint who jumped up first. They had all mistaken her for a mere human. No human could do these things. She bore no mark, no scent of any creature any of them recognized. They stood gaping at their hostess who’s radiant glow had softened to a tangible purple aura. As they watched, large silvery purple wings unfurled and fluttered. She smiled and blushed at their stares.
“I guess I’ll go first, my name is Zinnia, and I am a fairy.”
“I think I need a drink,” was all Aquina could say.
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
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 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 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
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
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
“Stop! Stop!” Katalea cried out. Luca had backed up in shock at the punch, but he came back with fangs exposed and his eyes black and feral. Beecher, on the verge of shifting, looked to Katalea. “I have invited you into my home, and this is how you repay the kindness. What the hell happened anyway?” Katalea demanded. “Please tell me you’re not going to say something dumb like ‘he started it.’” Aquina added looking from one to the other. “You two promised to have a truce.” Luca, calm now, cast his eyes down. They had returned to their normal color and he looked up now, looking quite embarrassed. “It wasn’t about the book or anything to do with this quest. It was a personal comment I’d rather not repeat.” Beecher looked quizzically at Luca. Obviously surprised at Luca’s refusal to discuss the matter, Beecher joined him. “A joke gone bad is all, it won’t happen again.” “Everyone to their respected quarters for the night then,” Grandfather’s voice boo
The someone was Katalea herself. The vision took over her, it came up so fast that her instinct was to block it. She tried to call out, somehow get help before she fell over. Too late. All around her, dragons flew, nipped at her skin, tried to find flesh. She ran with all her might towards a cave. The cave had a suspicious glow, blue in tone, but it seemed the lesser of two evils when a fire breathing reptile was at your back. As she dove into the cave, the light intensified. For the moment, she was safe, the entrance was too small for a dragon. She could hear the roars of anger outside as her chest heaved and she tried to calm her breathing. Behind her she heard the sound of a low growl. What fresh hell was this she thought as she turned to find Kaya, her own black panther, pacing back and forth. Kaya was intently staring into a deep blue light, emanating from what appeared to be a spirit trapped in a stone. Back and forth she continued, so intense she barel