Liquid Diamond (4 page)

“
That would have made you only two and a half years old,” said Natalia, having done the math quickly in her head. “How could you remember that, being just a baby?”

“
Just one question, huh? Well I may have aged only two and a half human years, but I had been alive for fifty years and I remember the day he left. I remember what he looks like. I mean I could still talk and think,” replied Catalyst as he fell silent.

“
Well, Catalyst, it’s been a long day and I am so tired I’m going to get some sleep now,” said Natalia. She gave Catalyst a hug to comfort him. Curling up in her blanket, she drifted off to sleep.

Being half Krusnik, Catalyst needed to sleep only every other night and watching over a quiet Natalia was something everyone should experience. Ah!

Out of nowhere and as silently as it could, a Cockatrice swooped in, trying to grab Natalia by the leg. Catalyst jumped to his feet and gave its head a swift kick sending it smashing to the ground. With a wallop from behind, Catalyst landed face first in the dirt. He watched as another Cockatrice flew off with their spit in its beak, taking what was left of their dinner. The flapping of wings in the air warned him that two more Cockatrice were heading straight for Natalia as she lay sleeping and unaware of it all. With one punch to the chest of the first Cockatrice it was sent flying into the Cockatrice that followed, and with that, Catalyst had sent the small swarm flying off into the night. Despite the loud commotion Natalia was only slightly disturbed and mumbled something about not liking thunder.

Smiling at Natalia, Catalyst was happy she didn’t wake, as he didn’t want to be distracted any more that night, not with his feeling of being watched, and not being sure if it were more Cockatrice or if what he was seeing was a pair of eyes or common spark bugs. All Catalyst knew for sure was they were being watched.

#

Arriving outside the Gallows that evening, two cloaked figures had dug a tunnel deep enough to reach directly underneath the cell of the one they had been sent to free.

“
You’re sure about this? Do you really want to free him?” asked one of the cloaked figures.

“
Doesn’t matter whether I’m sure or not, the order to free him was given by Sirdis himself,” replied the second cloaked figure.

“
What if he refuses the deal offered?” asked the first cloaked figure.

“
Then we seal him back in, and that’s that. Now enough talking
–
let’s just get on with it,” ordered the second cloaked figure. The crowbar ground between the rock plates, lifted the one plate of rock and scraped the plate as it slid across the broken rock floor.

“
Well, well, well what do we have here?” said the vile, wretched, old and ugly Elf that sat on floor looking up at the cloaked head.

“
Shut up and listen. I’m going to say this only once. If you refuse this offer I seal the tunnel and you’re here until you die! Understood?” whispered the cloaked figure.

“
I’m listening,” replied the vile old Elf, smiling at the thought of escaping from his prison.

“
Sirdis has sent us with an offer for you. There are two…and should you fail, you’re the one that dies, is that understood?” asked the cloaked figure, pulling back from the vile Elf’s ear.

“
Agreed, agreed,” replied the vile old Elf.

With a file no bigger than a pinky finger, the cloaked figure pressed it against the head of the Elf and drew out his worm.

“
Now get down that hole and get out of here,” said the cloaked figure, sickened by what the Elf had become.

#

Waking to the smell of breakfast cooking and the early dawn, Natalia helped herself to some tea and fire-roasted toast smeared with Anastasias’ homemade sweet sap.

“
Catalyst, I have to tell you, I’ve never had tea so good before and the jam stuff here is fantastic, thank you. I’ll make the lunch today,” said Natalia.

My Mom’s homemade sweet sap, and her home-mixed tealeaves
–
they’re pretty good, aren’t they?” replied Catalyst, smiling.

“
I slept so well. This must be what my Dad has been trying to tell me about sleeping under the stars,” said Natalia.

“
Well that’s good,” said Catalyst, just smiling as he looked at her with amazement for all she could sleep through.

“
What’s so funny?” asked Natalia.

“
Nothing,” replied Catalyst.

“
Well you’re grinning for a reason,” said Natalia.
“
What’s with all the footprints around here? What were you doing walking in circles all night? Boys! You’re always running around, never looking before you leap and finding trouble nine times out of ten!” said Natalia before Catalyst could answer even one of her questions.

Standing there shocked, Catalyst just thought to himself, “
How can a girl talk so much and so fast? I could tell her what happened but I’m sure she would never believe me, or worse she would and I would end up carrying her all day?”
At that thought he just chose to shut up.

After packing everything back into the fitsall, Natalia and Catalyst began their walk again.

“
Chin up, Natalia, we’ll be there sometime this afternoon,” said Catalyst, trying to break the silence of their walk.

“
Are you sure these people are the ones that made the key?” asked Natalia.

“
Well, you heard my Mom. She thinks so and regardless of what she says, she knows more about this world and the people in it than I ever will, so yes I’m sure. The problem will be in finding the one that made it. There are so many Basajaunak, and who knows how many are blacksmiths?” replied Catalyst.

After walking for a few hours it was with an uneasy feeling that Catalyst turned his head to Natalia and whispered in her ear, “Shhh, can you hear that? Footsteps... breaking twigs…yes we’re being followed. Just wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.” He darted back the way they had come, running twice as fast as Natalia could.

As Natalia stood there watching Catalyst speed away, she wasn’t aware of the sound of footsteps behind her. A soft rag was wrapped around her mouth and Natalia slipped into darkness.

Finding nothing, Catalyst headed back for Natalia, returning to the very spot where he had left her. Natalia was nowhere to be seen.

“
Natalia, Natalia!” called out Catalyst. He listened closely but there was no reply. “
Oh not again
,” thought Catalyst as he remembered his father’s disappearance.

He started running in an outwardly spiralling circle trying to find her, but it was too late. Whoever had distracted him did it so that Natalia could be taken, but why? She’s just a girl, a little girl.

Frustrated by it all, Catalyst had no choice but to continue to the Basajaunak village.

Moving cautiously along the rocky path, Catalyst could find no sign that Natalia had come that way. Finding nothing and now standing at the entrance of the Basajaunak village, the one Basajaunak that Catalyst knew very well came out to greet him.

“
Catalyst, it’s been a long time since you’ve come to visit. I would ask how you are, but I can see from that look on your face you’re not well. What’s wrong?” asked the seven foot, two inch tall, five hundred and sixty pound, hairy from head to toe herdsmen, Careoshenog, as he wiped his mouth and the fanged teeth that reached past his bottom lip.

As Catalyst explained the disappearance of Natalia and the fact that she is Human, Careoshenog’s jaw dropped, as he knew full well that not many cared for Humans. Their history for being ruthlessly cruel to the beings of their world was something none of them could ever forget. Not having seen a Human in two hundred and fifty-five years since the portal was locked down around 1756, there would be no reason to assume that a Human today would be any different from those that came before.

“
Well, Catalyst, let’s ask around. Maybe someone will know something,” offered Careoshenog.

Feeling the panic from Catalyst’s mind as it instinctively reached out to her, Anastasia took to the air in search of her son.

CHAPTER TWO

THE LOST AND FOUND

As Catalyst walked through the village, he took note of everything around him, still searching for any clue as to Natalia’s whereabouts as he and Careoshenog headed straight for Krimpet’s cave. Krimpet was the leader of the Basajaunak clan and one of fifty or so Basajaunak that were high enough in their society to have their homes built into the massive rock wall that surrounded more than half the village. Being the leader, he should know better than anyone if someone from his clan had taken Natalia.

Knocking on the door rather loudly, Catalyst was determined that Krimpet should hear him.

“
What!” came a gruff old shout from behind the door and Catalyst knew he had got Krimpet’s attention.

With great speed, Krimpet’s foot kicked open the door and sent it smashing into the wall behind.

“
Ah, the Krusnik child,” rumbled Krimpet as he stood there towering over Catalyst. He was covered from head to toe in long shaggy yellow and grey hair, reflecting his years. His one broken fang looked just as mean as ever.

“
Well, what do you want?” demanded Krimpet, still angered by almost having his door smacked off its hinges by the pounding of Catalyst’s fists.

“
It seems I have had my friend taken from me not far from here! And since this is the only village around for more than two days’ walk, I’m betting that one or more of your clan had something to do with it. She’s Human,” replied Catalyst.

Perhaps you’re right. Maybe they did and good riddance, but what does any of it have to do with me, boy?” snapped Krimpet.

Having the hearing that only a true Dark Angel could have, Anastasia dropped out of the sky, grabbed Krimpet by the throat and drove him into his cave and up against the wall, holding him up off the ground.

“
I’ll tell you what it has to do with you, Krimpet – it has you on the receiving end of my anger! And I want that child returned to me at once. If so much as a single hair of her head has been harmed, I will harm every single hair on your body!” said Anastasia with her teeth grown out by two inches, her nails by three and her eyes filled with rage, glowing redder than Catalyst had ever seen. Krimpet knew he was in trouble.

“
Tell me, Krimpet, where’s the child?” demanded Anastasia, letting go of Krimpet’s neck just long enough for him to get out a few words.

“
I...I..don’t…know…hgg...hgg,” gasped Krimpet as he struggled for air.

“
But…maybe...I...I...can...find...out,” offered Krimpet as though he was begging for his life, and he was.

“
You had better pray you do find out,” hissed Anastasia as she released him.

“
Will...you...two just wait here for a while?” asked Krimpet with fear in his voice, his hands trembling.

“
Yes,” replied Catalyst before anyone else could say anything.

“
Are you all right, Catalyst?” asked Anastasia, brushing the silver hair out of his eyes as she watched Krimpet leave.

“
Yeah...no...not really, Mom. Natalia’s missing,” replied Catalyst.

“
I know. We’ll get her back, I promise,” said Anastasia to his worried heart.

Growing impatient because it had been twenty minutes since Krimpet left, Anastasia started for the door as Krimpet walked back in.

“
Anastasia, now don’t be angry…but no one seems to know who this child is or where she is,” said Krimpet, the fear still in his voice.

“
You asked all the villagers?” asked Anastasia.

“
Well all that are here anyway. There are three of them out on patrol watching over the flocks in the fields, but those three left last night,” replied Krimpet.

“
I want to know where they went. I’ll question them myself, said Anastasia, watching Krimpet’s eyes for any sign of lies.

“
They left through the passage beneath the village that leads out to the fields, the entrance of which is just outside,” replied Krimpet as he pointed to the large rock sitting in the middle of the village grounds.

Taking Catalyst by the shoulder and pushing him towards the rock, Anastasia turned to Krimpet and looked him in the eyes.

“
One more thing Krimpet…Don’t ever call my son boy! You tired old beast,” sneered Anastasia.

Reaching the rock and pushing open the stone door, Anastasia and Catalyst moved into the tunnels without fear.

“
Mom, how does Krimpet know your name?” asked Catalyst. “You only chose it a few days ago.”

I was here yesterday, after I left you and Natalia. I went to see the King and talked with him and the Queen throughout the night about this whole mess. By the way, I’m not impressed with you getting Natalia mixed up in this. Then I came here to see if I could find out anything more about that key you have told him about,” replied Anastasia.

Holding her hand against Catalyst’s chest, she brought him to a stop as she took a few deep sniffs.

“
Do you smell that, Catalyst?” asked Anastasia.