Authors: Sebastien Blue
“
Catalyst, they’re both corning now,” said Natalia.
Digging through his fitsall, Catalyst found the cloak he had packed for Natalia. He tucked and wedged one end into a crack, then placed a rock heavy enough to sink the timing plate right in its centre. He then took the loose end of Natalia’s cloak and laid each corner on top of a rock and placed another on top of them. Lining up the cloak with the centre rock, Catalyst placed three rocks on the cloak and pushed on the timing plate with his foot, setting off the sequence of the wall while making sure that when the plate lifted itself back up, it would knock another rock off the cloak weighing down the plate before it rolled it off making room for the next.
“
What are you doing, Catalyst?” asked Natalia starting to panic.
“
The rock on the plate is a weight, the ones in your cloak are weights as well, now I've set them up to roll off your cloak onto this rock and sink the plate before they roll off from the vibrations of the blocks. One after another they'll keep the timing plate moving and those two won't be able to cross,” replied Catalyst, very proud of himself.
“
That'll work, at least until the wave starts moving back this way,” said Natalia pointing out the error in his plan.
“
For now, yes, but not once I have a few more rocks, then they should drop once about every thirty seconds and keep restarting the sequence. The problem is I just can't do everything all at once,” replied Catalyst, leaving Natalia to wonder if he had only come up with that part of his plan right now.
#
Landing at the base of Ghost Mountain, Anastasia stood in silence as she strained to feel for her son. With her mother’s intuition working at full force, she immediately moved towards the opening. She stepped inside and, clearing her mind, listened to the Hollow’s void.
“
You know, Catalyst, I don't think you had any intention of setting the rocks up like that, not until I pointed out your error!”
“
You can't prove that, Natalia,” said Catalyst.
With a wave of relief washing over her at hearing their voices, it was only seconds before Anastasia was looking into their eyes full of half-hidden panic as she passed them by heading straight for the reason for it.
Flying right in front of Sirdis, Anastasia stopped him just as he was about to make his last leap across the pillars.
“
Well, if it isn't the Krusnik woman I've heard so much about,” said Sirdis, looking Anastasia right in the eye. He held his hand up behind him, waving Ompst off the pillars in case he he needed a quick exit.
Awestruck by the resemblance of the Elf to Catalyst’s father, Anastasia was without words for a moment, and then she rallied.
“
You must be the leader of the Clique,” said Anastasia. She showed her distain for the Elf as she poked him in the chest with her sharp-as-a-knife finger nail, moving him back just enough to make him look down and swallow hard at the fall that lay beneath him.
“
As flattered as I am at that thought, I am not the leader of the Clique, madam,” smiled Sirdis as he pushed his way forward trying not to show fear at Anastasia’s quiet threatening tone.
Angered even further by his words, Anastasia grew out her teeth, showing the Elf he had better watch his words as she shoved her face in his.
“
Madam, your child has taken something from me and I would very much like it returned,” said Sirdis.
“
I'm sure he has, and I couldn't be prouder of him for it,” replied Anastasia with smiling eyes as she looked down at her son.
“
I'm sure you'll forgive me when I refuse to surrender the diamond ring, or is it one of the three crystals that he has?” smiled Anastasia, trying to provoke Sirdis, thereby giving her reason to push just a little harder on his chest as he stood helplessly on the pillar while Ompst tried ever so quietly to pick up a rock to throw at her.
“
It wouldn't even leave your hand before this Krusnik had you by the throat, so put it down Ompst, you fool!” yelled Sirdis, having heard what Anastasia could so easily see. With a nod of his head gesturing submission, Sirdis looked Anastasia right in the eye, and with a nod of her head, Anastasia accepted it.
“
I want you to take a message to your leader,” said Anastasia as she grabbed Sirdis by the chest, tearing open a wound.
“
As you wish, madam!” replied Sirdis as he glanced at her hand dripping his blood.
“
Tell your leader to leave these children alone, or I'm coming for him. And since you’re smart enough to know that your monkey here was about to kill you both, then you’re smart enough to know that causing me or those two children any grief will only result in the same,” said Anastasia, pulling her nails from Sirdis’s bleeding chest.
“
I will deliver your message, Krusnik, but be warned that we will have the crystal back, one way or another,” replied Sirdis as Ompst fled into the shadows of the Hollow.
“
Go, before I put an end to you here and now!” demanded Anastasia. She grew out her teeth and nails even further while letting out a blood-curdling scream.
Turning to leave and seeing that Ompst had fled, Sirdis hung his head in shame as he listened to Anastasia snigger at him.
“
What a coward,” was all Sirdis could say as he jumped back across the pillars and disappeared into the shadows of the Hollow.
Anastasia glided back towards Natalia and Catalyst. She forgot to retract her teeth and nails, and seeing once again just how powerful Anastasia was, Natalia was impressed not only by her strength but by her beauty. Natalia could see how not even a Vampire could resist her long enough to save his life.
Realizing she was dressed in almost all her battle gear, Anastasia gave a quick pull, putting everything back in its happy mom’s place.
“
Ah, my beautiful little boy,” said Anastasia to embarrass Catalyst in front of Natalia. She hugged him hard enough to ease the tension in her heart while pulling Natalia close enough to let her wrap her arms around her waist for a hug as well.
Feeling the tension evaporate, Anastasia scooped them both up and gently descended out of the Hollow and headed for home. Flying so high above the ground, they could see everywhere they had been and how many miles they had crossed. Natalia was surrounded by air so cool that it felt like a refreshingly cold drink of water for her skin. She could only imagine the exhilaration that Anastasia must feel every time she flew. Before she knew it, they were back at Catalyst’s home.
“
Okay, you two must be starving. Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll make something to eat,” said Anastasia in a tone of voice that was more of an order than a request.
When their meal was made and everyone was sitting at the table, Natalia felt the anti-climax after their adventures. Having to run from one danger or another made their meal seem more humdrum than satisfying. Catalyst’s face reflected the same and Anastasia didn't need her mother’s intuition to see it.
“
Not to worry, you two will be back out there hunting your next crystal before too long. The next transition isn't very far away,” said Anastasia.
“
How do you know we have to go back out again?” asked Natalia, trying to imply that they might have got all the crystals including the diamond ring.
“
You'd be surprised by how much I know about what you know,” replied Anastasia, tapping her temple as she looked at Catalyst.
“
That's right, you can see his thoughts, can't you?” asked Natalia, giggling.
“
Well not exactly see. It's more a feeling than anything else. Now if he were fully Krusnik instead of half-Human, I would be able to see through his eyes and watch his thoughts,” replied Anastasia with a wink at Catalyst that suggested she might very well be able to do just that anyway.
“
However as it stands, he has to be really afraid before his mind can even reach out for me,” continued Anastasia just to remind them not to depend on her showing up whenever they found themselves in trouble.
“
Now if the two of you have finished eating, I'll clear the table,” said Anastasia.
“
I'll do the dishes,” offered Natalia before she realized what she was saying.
Without a word Catalyst slipped outside to the porch to contemplate the fact that Sirdis looked so much like his Father. When the dishes were done and the table cleared, Natalia took the crystal from her pocket, wondering what to do with it.
“
Anastasia, we've got to hide this crystal and I don't know where to put it. I don't think taking it with me is a good idea,” said Natalia hoping for direction from Anastasia.
“
Let me see it, Natalia,” said Anastasia in her I'll-fix-it mom tone of voice.
“
Well for a ten-inch crystal this thing has certainly caused a lot of trouble. Hmmm, what to do with it,” said Anastasia to herself.
Taking her necklace that held her wedding band, Anastasia started to wrap the crystal. With a loop and loop and wrap and twist and loop and loop, Anastasia secured the crystal to her necklace, and her necklace to her neck.
“
What if the Clique come for the crystal only to find it tied to your neck, Anastasia?” asked Natalia, concerned for her safety.
“
Oh my dear child, let them if they dare!” replied Anastasia, posing her answer as more of a challenge than anything else. Natalia felt silly for even asking.
“
Well Natalia, you had better stay up as late as you can tonight. I can't send you home tired and I don't want your mother upset should you get cranky,” said Anastasia, smiling.
With a look that simply asked,
“What?”
Natalia stood staring at Anastasia.
Recognizing this look all too well having seen it on Catalyst’s face more than once, Anastasia knew she would have to explain.
“
Natalia, the Transitional Moon Phase isn't for quite some time so you may as well go home and return to us when Chatice is to take power. There's just nothing more you can do here until then. You simply need to be in phase with them, remember you’re 0.2 seconds out of time with the rest of this world. Right now if you were anywhere else than Kyopelivuori, you could not even hold a glass of water, unless you took it with you. So tomorrow night Catalyst will walk you back to the portal, and when you get back through to your side, it'll be daytime for you there. When the time is right for you to come back, I'll reach out for you with my mind and you'll know, and we'll see you then. Remember you gave your word to the people of this world that you would retrieve the crystals,” said Anastasia, hoping it was explanation enough.
“
Yes, yes I did, and I will. I always keep my word,” said Natalia.
“
Look, Natalia, he looks so sad, and I don't have to feel his thoughts to know why,” said Anastasia, pointing to Catalyst.
“
Well, let's go and talk to him,” suggested Natalia and pulled Anastasia out of the door.
“
I already know what's wrong,” said Anastasia as she looked at the confusion on Catalyst’s face.
“
He just looked so much like Dad and it feels as though we've lost him all over again,” said Catalyst in a tone of voice that shattered Anastasia’s heart as she watched her son helplessly.
“
Well, Catalyst, I guess there are only so many faces in the world, and sooner or later they all get used twice. One thing I can promise you without a doubt is that Elf may have looked like your father, but he is
not
your father. He isn't even half Elf. Your father, my husband is a Man,” explained Anastasia.
“
You mean was,” said Catalyst wiping the tears from his face.
“
No I don't! We don't know what happened to your father. We don't know where he is, and until I know these things, then he's alive and out there somewhere and all he needs is time to get home,” said Anastasia in a tone of voice that told Catalyst he had better watch his tongue. She gave him a quick hug and walked away weeping.
“
See, Natalia, she still cries for him, even after all this time,” said Catalyst as they watched Anastasia disappear.
“
I bet that Elf’s looks are what saved his life today,” said Natalia as she sat down beside him.
The noise of Catalyst’s constant foot tapping grated on Natalisa’s nerves; the air around them was filled with his agitation. Natalia decided it was time to bring up a different subject.
“
Why not build a fire, Catalyst? After all, this is my last night here for a long time, and since I have to go home during my daytime, your Mother told me to stay up as late as I can. I'm sure she meant you too,” said Natalia.
“
Sure, why not,” replied Catalyst and shook the thoughts of his father from his mind.
The fire was roaring when Anastasia came back from her cry. The hours slipped away with laughter as Anastasia embarrassed Catalyst with one childhood story after another until they fell asleep by the warm glow of the embers.
With a kid in each arm, Anastasia carried Natalia and Catalyst into the house and out of the night air, making sure Natalia didn't end up as breakfast for a hungry Cockatrice.