Cat's Quest

By MW Kaisla

A single encounter changed Maria’s life forever.
Unwilling to go back to her humdrum existence after discovering there was more out there, she sets off to find... well, she’ll know it when she sees it. Won’t she?
Maria soon finds herself with more questions than answers, with danger at every turn.
Will knowing the truth really be safer than blissful ignorance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: MW Kaisla
• Release date: Jun 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005465360

Book preview

CAT'S

QUEST

MW KAISLA

©Mar Kaisla

Dedication

To you.

You know who you are.

And if you don’t, it’s probably still you.

Foreword

Dear Reader,

Before you embark upon this strange journey, I would like to make a couple of things clear.

The world you are about to enter is not our world. Many things are the same, many are different. For example, airport travel is easier.

This book is in no way meant to denigrate or disparage Christianity – or any religion – as a whole. It may, however serve as an example of how bad people can use an institution that is ingrained in the hearts and minds of so many, and twist it toward extremism and hypocrisy. Or it may just be a fun little romp through a world next door. That’s for you to decide.

Let the journey begin.

PROLOGUE

Sam put down the phone, looking thoughtful. Zero looked up from her sewing. What’s up, Dad?

That was Arthur.

He called you on vacation? His in-laws are driving him so crazy that he tried to get you to send him a drink through the phone?

The old bartender gave a half-hearted chuckle. Not quite, but I’m gonna have to go off for a few days. Maybe a week.

What? Why? What happened? She started trying to find Arthur and his family in Unastel.

No, no. Nothing like that. Just... you know their youngest?

Kaila?

****

The Hunter walked carefully through the crowded street fair. He didn't really want to be here, too public, too many people. His need for new sunglasses outweighed his discomfort. He needed them before he went to work. He'd woken up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and had heard and felt them crunch under his foot. They must have fallen off the milk crate he'd been using as a night table.

He'd walked out to the sunlit street and into the crush of people, looking for a stand selling sunglasses and trying not to panic. He located a tent with a table covered with the dark glasses and was less than twenty steps from his goal when he felt a tug on his pant leg.

He looked down and then further down to see a tiny little girl with big, teary brown eyes staring up at him. With one hand she held onto his pant leg, in the other she clutched a cloth bunny in a pink dress. Well, he had heard that children should have dolls that looked like themselves. Knowing this was not going to make his day better, he sighed. Yes?

The little lagomorph sniffled. I jus' wanted to see the pretty colors an then mama was gone, an I ... an I can't find her! The last three words came out as a wail.

He sighed again. And you want me to help you find her?

She nodded and held out her arms to be picked up. Pwees.

He groaned and picked her up. You know you shouldn't talk to strangers.

The girl nodded. But you can help.

The answer surprised him. Me specifically?

The girl nodded again and gently poked his bottom eyelid. She asked him to help because of his eyes.

Because I can see which one is your mama?

She nodded again. So, she knew about Hunters, but not to be afraid of them. Strange. He surreptitiously checked the back of her neck. No mark. Hmm. He searched the crowd for a frantic rabbit-shifter. It was worse than he'd thought, it wasn't just the little girl's mother. There was a fairly large knot of them, about ten adults and an uncountable number of children weaving in and out between them. They were obviously looking around for a lost child and trying to keep the rest in view. No mark on any of them he could see. He sighed again and waded through the crowd.

Halfway to the group, the child perked up and started waving. Mama! Da! Over here!

The group looked up. The moment of relief froze on their faces. He went up to the first rabbit-woman he got to and thrust the child in her arms. Keep an eye on her, she's at that age.

He turned abruptly on his heel and walked back into the busy street.

The group looked at each other, did a quick headcount, and decided it was probably time to go home. Once everyone was inside the house, Arthur excused himself to make a phone call.

****

So, you're going to try and find him?

Sam nodded. It sounds like he might be the one you talked about. The one we need.

The one I said would find his way here on his own?

"You said he would probably find his way here. Don't worry, I'll take Rake with me. You be okay with the angels?"

Zero chuckled fondly. You worry too much about the probabilities. Go, be disappointed, have fun.

Maria

The woman whined. Do I really have to go?

Her father tried to hide his annoyance. Maria, once you start selling houses, you’ll see the value in having relationships with local interior decorators. C’mon. You’ll like Vivian. Everyone likes Vivian.

Maria didn't want to meet Vivian. And she didn't want to sell houses. But it was the family business - and a very profitable one at that. Besides, what she wanted to do with her life didn't exactly pay well. At least the flight to Sealth would give her time to do a little research.

The check-in process at the airport took much less time than expected. Her father grumbled about the extra hour of down time, but Maria was perfectly content to use the time trying to decipher translated ancient texts and modern fairy tales. Her father shook his head fondly and turned to his own tablet to watch the global housing market.

She was lost in cross-referencing the Epic of Gilgamesh with the Brown Book of Fairies when a pleasant looking man about her dad's age sat down next to her. She looked up and smiled vaguely in greeting before bending her head back to her research, completely missing the winning smile he gave her in return. Undeterred, he read over her shoulder, sniffing slightly. That’s some weighty material for someone so young.

This achieved the desired result as she bridled. I’m 22! Her shoulders squared and she sat straighter, wishing she weren't so small.

The man laughed good-naturedly. My apologies, Miss. Everyone looks young to me these days.

Something in his tone piqued her interest. She looked him over. You can’t possibly be over 50.

He laughed again, his perfect teeth catching the light from the terminal fluorescents. Child, you have no idea.

Despite herself, she warmed to him. She raised an eyebrow. Try me.

He leaned in close, his eyes darting to her tablet and back to her face. I’m old enough to remember before the Hunters were owned by the Order.

She had only seen two references to Hunters before, neither going into any kind of detail. All interest in florid tales was gone. Can you tell me about it?

The man shook his head. I fear too much talk of Hunters will bring them down on my head.

Maria’s shoulders fell and she felt tears starting in her eyes. Every time she got close, it all shut down. It was like the information itself took pains to stay hidden. He gave her a pitying smile. But, if you like, I can email you files on so much more. For a price, of course.

This should have sounded ominous, but for whatever reason she felt comfortable with this man. Nevertheless, she glanced over at her father. He was deep into Sviarish stock figures, noise-cancelling headphones seated firmly over his ears. She turned back to the stranger. What kind of files?

He grinned. PDF, mostly.

She rolled her eyes. That’s not what I meant.

His eyes twinkled merrily and he relented. Farisan Ifrits and Agypian sphinxes. The Delphi oracle and the strongmen of Vitalia. Fairies and pixies and sideshow freaks. The real histories. The ones humans can't get their hands on.

She was stunned. If he was telling the truth, she’d give nearly anything for what he was offering. But one burning question cut through her hope. Why would you trust me with all that?

He leaned forward and inhaled deeply. His eyes glowed. Because the search for knowledge is an honorable pursuit. I have a feeling that I am not your first brush with – shall we say – the fringes of society, and I have a good feeling about you. And... he inhaled her scent again. Because you smell delicious.

Finally, the question of cost hit her fuzzy brain. What’s the price?

He smiled again, looking more and more like a predator. Let me send you the files. If they seem worth it, then we'll discuss payment.

She gave him her email, and within minutes she received two PDF files and four massive zip files from [e-mail]. She clicked on a ZIP file. PASSWORD NEEDED. Fair enough, she supposed. She opened one of the PDFs. This wasn't the Brown Book of Fairies. The boarding call came and she looked at the man in a panic. He smiled unconcernedly and waved her on. I’m on the same flight, Child. Get your father and go on ahead.

Maria did as instructed, tapping her dad on the arm. He came out of his reverie with a start. It’s time?

She nodded and they stood up to join the line. When Maria turned around, the strange man was nowhere to be seen.

They boarded without incident. Maria sat in the middle seat, declining her father's offer of the window. She still didn't see the man. She resumed her reading, learning about the fire-people from the Farisan desert. Within fifteen minutes of take-off, her dad was already snoring. After that, she lost all sense of her surroundings, absorbed by the factual, naked accounts of supernatural history in front of her.

She had almost finished her initial read-through of the first document when there was a polite throat-clearing beside her. She dragged her eyes from the screen and up to the smiling face of the stranger. Her traitorous mind tried to slide back to the open file on her tablet. But she was nearly through with that one and there were those ZIP files. She had to have those passwords! At this point, she would pay anything short of actual eternal slavery - and that only because she wouldn't be able to carry out her research.

She glanced at her sleeping father, then at the rest of the cabin. Absolutely no one was looking in their direction. She looked back at the man like a junkie looks at the last dealer in town. What’s the price?

He chuckled genteelly. A tithe, Child. One tenth of your blood.

Maria had just enough unclouded brain cells to be wary of blood magic. Wha... what do you want it for?

He gave her an odd look. You really are new at this. I’m going to drink it. His canines extended more than an inch. Somehow, he looked no less pleasant.

Much relieved, she loosened the collar of her shirt. He looked up from his open briefcase and laughed. Goodness Child, what do you think this is? The Middle Ages.

He pulled a sealed, sterile blood donation kit from the case, as well as a wrapped peanut butter sandwich, an orange, and a bottle of apple juice. You’re not allergic to peanuts, are you?

Maria shook her head and he arrayed the meal in front of her and peeled open the collection packet. He took her arm and gently rested it on the armrest between them. He swabbed the inside of her elbow with alcohol and, with the practice of almost two centuries, gently slipped the needle into her vein.

She watched the bag fill as he talked. You know, the hypodermic needle changed everything. No more piercing major arteries. No more worrying about accidently killing someone just to eat. Of course, there were the laws of consent, but even with permission, people still died. Then it was all pitchforks and torches.

Her eyes left the flowing red to find his. Laws of consent?

His eyes sparkled and he patted her hand. Surely you don't actually believe a Vampire couldn’t just walk into a house like anyone else?

Huh. I guess I never thought about it.

He sighed. No one ever does.

The pint bag filled and he expertly slipped the needle out of her arm and pressed a cotton ball to the puncture before sticking a band-aid over it. She goggled in surprise, a little tipsy from blood loss. That’s it? I thought you were going to take a tenth of my blood.

He patted her hand again. You humans always think you have more in you than you actually do. He eyed her slight form. I may have actually taken a bit more than 10%. I’d offer to give some back...

She waved it away. Through a mouthful of peanut butter, she asked; What’s the password?

The side of his mouth quirked up around the tubing he was using as a straw. It’s ‘password’. If you need anything else for your research, feel free to email me. Not to be forward, but you really are delicious.

Her eyes crinkled with her smile. Thank you. For the compliment and the files.

He patted her hand again and walked away down the aisle. The noise of passengers that she hadn't missed resumed as she finished her sandwich and turned back to her research.

****

Sealth was cold and damp and Maria had forgotten to bring a jacket. Normally this wouldn't have been a problem – she usually ran hot – but she was a pint low and the drizzle seemed particularly invasive. She shivered and her father looked over in concern, finally noticing how pale she was. You feeling alright, Kitty?

Maria smiled at the old term of endearment. I’m fine. Just cold.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, patting her shoulders affectionately. He so badly wanted her to become a part of the family business. She wanted to want to, she really did. But she just couldn’t. She wiped tears away with the sleeve of his jacket and wished she was a better daughter.

Maria managed to get her shit together before getting to Vivian's business, Vivacious Views. They opened the door to a waft of grapefruit and lavender. The store was a feast for the eyes. Wallpaper samples covered the walls and a rack of fabric swatches was center stage. Occasional tables were tastefully sprinkled with bric-a-brac. It should have clashed, but it all hung together beautifully.

Vivian – who was indeed vivacious – flounced up to them. She towered over Maria, her long red hair bouncing with a life of its own and framing a delightfully freckled face. She smiled brightly and shook their hands, first Maria's, then her father’s. I’m so sorry, I’m with clients, do you mind to wait? It’ll just be a bit. She tossed a hand toward a couple in their thirties.

Maria’s father smiled. That would be fine. May I use your back room to make a call?

Yes, of course. You know where it is.

They walked off in opposite directions and Maria was left to peruse the store, basically forgotten. She was examining paintings by a local artist when she overheard the couple and Vivian. The woman was leafing