CH29
Since there are only 3 or 4 people who are actually reading this story anymore, I'm dropping it and cutting my losses. For those 3 or 4 people who have been reading, my apologies, but it just isn't worth the effort anymore.
I don't have another story idea so I'm going to find something else to do with my spare time.
Bye, bye, ... buy bonds.
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Kate was walking slowly as the tunnel varied in size and yet Kate could still hear digging in front of her. It never seemed to stop.
Kate was trying to keep track of how far she had walked while glancing at her watch to check the time.
Kate figured she was about 100 feet in so far, the floor had evened out for the most part and Rikki had only been digging for about 10 minutes so far, and yet she could still hear Rikki digging.
Kate continued to walk slowly and thought she was coming up on 300 feet after about 30 minutes and the sound of Rikki digging had stopped, causing Kate to speed up considerably.
Kate came up behind Rikki who was standing on her six legs looking at a wall of concrete, and as Kate watched Rikki quickly changed back to her human form. "If I'm right this is the basement wall, I need you to back up right behind me Kate. If the basement is fully involved and I open this wall, the fire is going to come rushing up this tunnel like a chimney as it gets fresh air.
I need you to take a deep breath and get ready for me to grab you and run back up the tunnel." Rikki warns Kate.
Rikki backs up a little forcing Kate to go with her. "Here we go." Rikki warns Kate and changes back into an Ankheg and promptly spits acid up against the wall dissolving the concrete wall enough for both of them to get through.
Fortunately for both of them the basement wasn't fully involved with fire, however a fair amount of smoke did start to roll across the ceiling looking for a new way out.
Stepping inside the basement they both found that the basement really was small and Rikki quickly changed back to human form and they had no trouble finding Espo and Ryan unconscious lying on the floor.
"You wearing your belt?" Rikki asks seeing Kate nod her head. "Good you take Ryan and I'll take Espo. … Pick him up and get started I'll be right behind you, just don't expect me to look like me." Rikki walks over to Espo and checks him out a little, while watching Kate pick up Ryan and head for their tunnel.
The smoke was a little heavy and Rikki was coughing and could hear Kate coughing and watched Kate pick up Ryan bridal style and walk into the tunnel.
Rikki decided to have more strength since Espo looked to be a little bigger than Ryan, so Rikki changed forms and picked up Espo and started walking for the tunnel opening,
Troll – This big, bipedal creature is about on and a half times as tall as a human but very thin. It has long and ungainly arms and legs. The legs end in great three-toed feet, the arms in wide, powerful hands with sharpened claws. The hide is rubbery and its hair is thick and ropy looking.
Rikki's added height forced her to bend over a little, still her new strength allowed for her to catch up with Kate a little before the tunnel opening.
Kate put Ryan down while Rikki put Espo down next to him and Rikki changed back to her natural form. "I need you to cast the Cure Moderate Wounds spell that is on your ring onto Ryan." Rikki tells Kate and casts the same spell on Espo.
"Now go find some help Kate, I'll watch over them." Rikki tells Kate.
"How do we explain all this and the tunnel?" Kate counters before leaving.
"They must have found a way out after making their phone call, …. and what tunnel. I don't see a tunnel." Rikki smiles at Kate.
'It's right, …. I'll go find some EMT's." Kate smiles back at Rikki and runs off.
Allowing Rikki to cast a spell summoning an Earth Elemental who promptly gets to work collapsing the tunnel Rikki had dug from end to end, and was underground out of sight when Kate came back with a pair of EMT's and Roy.
It was hours later and Kate and Rikki were in bed with their arms wrapped around each other. Both secure in the knowledge that Ryan and Espo were only being kept overnight due to the amount of smoke they had inhaled. "Thank you." Kate placed a soft kiss on Rikki's lips.
"For what love?" Rikki didn't understand.
"For saving Ryan and Espo. For coming when I called. If we had waited for the foam truck to show up that still wasn't there yet, I might have lost them. For having the power and ability to save them.
And where did you learn to turn yourself into that, … thing?" Kate asks Rikki while running her fingers over Rikki's arm, shoulder and then down to run circles around one of Rikki's nipple.
"I came because you called, and you're my fiancé and I'm happy to help. As for the Ankheg, the early years long, long ago on my Earth would appear to be different from yours. There are a lot of creatures in the books my parents left behind. I've read almost all of them and have turned myself into countless creatures that are listed in those books.
I fought in a war if you'll recall. I used everything I had at my disposal to win it." Rikki points out.
"Hhhmm, lucky me." Kate kisses Rikki. "Now where were we?" Kate asks.
It got Rikki to smile. "I believe we were right about here." Rikki offers placing her hand on Kate's core and sliding her fingers through Kate's folds and could soon feel her fingers getting wet.
Kate was at the front door with Rikki. "Thank you again for last night." Kate kissed Rikki.
"I enjoyed it too." Rikki started grinning, causing Kate to glare at her. "Don't forget I have a flight to Seattle in about three hours." Rikki reminds Kate that she'll be gone for a few days.
"I remember and I'm going to miss you." Kate kisses her. "Say hi to the red panda for me."
"Don't forget to cast your spell when you get to work." Rikki reminds Kate about the elephants located on her desk.
Kate had made to her desk without incident and turned on her computer, noticing that Roy wasn't in his office and the guys were not at their desk. They were supposed to be released this morning, however Roy might have ordered them to take the day off.
Kate picked up her little family of elephants and started looking it over. It wasn't possible was it? It was just something her mother had given her before she died. Even if it was, what did that mean?
Rikki was right, what were the chances even. This New York City on this Earth amongst thousands, millions, more? They were just elephants. Kate put them back on her desk and went back to work.
Roy showed up moments later. "Esposito and Ryan will be out today, however I need you to keep working on the arson case. We still need to find this guy, I'll take the idea your friend came up with, you work on everything else." Roy offers to help out.
"Yes sir." Kate responds and gets back to work.
Kate was standing at her murder board adding items when her phone buzzed telling her she had a message.
Boarding plane, I sent you a little something to keep you busy with, love you xx
It put a questioning look on Kate's face. "Now what has Rikki done?"
I'm sure I'll love it, love you too xx
"Beckett, my office." Roy calls out from his door.
"Sir?" Kate enters Roy's office.
"Photos from everything at last night's sight put these two cars at the top of the list. Find out what you can on them and get me pictures of the owners. I want to go over all the pictures taken at the site to see if either of them were there. … watching their work." Roy hands over a sheet of paper.
"Yes sir." Kate took it and went back to her desk and started pulling up DMV information.
"This was delivered for you downstairs detective." A uniform drops off a box on Kate's desk.
Kate opened the box and found a small soft pouch inside with a small note. "Enjoy! … Rikki."
Kate pulled the pouch open and found a small piece of paper inside along with two other things.
Secret Love 1" Silver Kegel Exercise Ben Wa Balls and pouch
"OH MY GOD!" Kate slapped her hand over her mouth, knowing she had just said that out loud. "Is she serious?"
Kate had the two silver balls in one hand and started rolling them around in her hand. They were a little cool to the touch, but were warming up fast.
Kate stood up and walked for the ladies room. "I can't believe I'm doing this." Kate dropped her pants and panties and sat on the edge of the toilet and slowly inserted each ball and then stood up.
Kate instantly felt the balls try to fall out forcing Kate to squeeze her muscles to hold them in place. "Oh god, I'm going to have to do this the entire time. … I am so going to get you for this Rikki." Kate made a promise to herself.
Kate was soon back at her desk, feeling the balls every step she took. Sitting down forced Kate to squeeze again. The things had some weight to them, so she could feel them and felt them every time Kate squeezed to keep them in place.
Kate had skipped lunch and was standing at her murder board yet again. Except this time she was squeezing and squeezing to keep the balls in place. Kate was finding it was harder to keep them in when standing than when sitting.
Roy's lead on the two cars had been a dead end. Who this guy was, was still a complete mystery.
Roy had long since gone home for the day leaving Kate at her desk still trying to find their guy. When her cell phone rang. "Hi babe." Kate saw on the caller ID who was calling.
"You at home or at work?" Rikki asks.
"I'm still at work, Ryan and Espo were given the day off and I'm still trying to find our guy." Kate answers while still looking at her computer screen.
"How did you like your gift?" Rikki was smiling on the other end, not that Kate could see.
"I hate you. … I've spent all day squeezing trying to keep the damn things inside." Kate hisses into the phone while looking around to make sure no one was in ear shot.
"That's kinda the point love. They help keep those muscles strong. Wait till you drive home with them still inside." Rikki was still smiling.
Kate wasn't sure what Rikki meant by that, but knew she was going to find out soon since she needed to go home and take Elka out for a walk. She also needed to stop and get something for Henry.
"How is your panda?" Kate changes topics.
"He's being stubborn. …. Have you cast your spell?" Rikki wanted to exclude Kate's elephants from their huge list.
"No not yet, I'm thinking of taking it home with me and do it there." Kate tells her.
"I'll let you get home. Call me when you have time, it'll be good to hear your voice." Rikki offers before hanging up.
Kate had errands so she left after talking with Rikki. Kate soon found out what Rikki was talking about when Kate got in her car to go home. The vibrations of the car along with the various pot holes all went straight to the balls inside her.
Kate was already soaking wet by the time she was back in the car after stopping to fill Henry's pool with fish and even a couple of small frogs.
By the time Kate got home, Kate was tired of squeezing and was soaking wet. "Hi girl." Kate was greeted by Elka at the door.
Kate went up the stairs feeling the balls move with every step forcing her to squeeze several times. "Hi Henry." Kate coos as she dumps what she brought home in his little pool, and then picks him up, giving him a quick kiss.
Kate was all set to go back downstairs to feed herself and Elka when she decided she couldn't take it any longer. A short trip to their bedroom and the soaking wet stainless steel balls easily popped out, causing Kate to sigh.
Holding onto Henry, Kate went downstairs. "Damn you Rikki. I've spent all day squeezing and now that I don't have to I wish that I was." Kate moans all the way downstairs. Briefly thinking about going back upstairs to put the balls back in, however decides on food first.
"You are one lucky and spoiled dog, Rikki even leaves you pre-made meals." Kate pulls out one of the tupperware's tagged with Elka's name on it and heats it up in the microwave.
"There, now I just need to feed me." Kate places it in Elka's bowl. "Let's see, noodles, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, chicken broth, spices."
Kate had her dinner cooking on the stovetop and went back to the living room and picked up her mother's elephants and took them over to the dining room table.
Kate looked it over, it was just a wood carving of some type of wood, nothing special. Still Rikki wanted to at least cross it off their list. New York really was a big city, if it was even here it could be anywhere.
Kate left it sitting on the dining room table and cast the spell that Rikki had taught her.
Detect Magic.
Kate watched it glow right in front of her eyes. "It's magic!?" Kate just stared at it. Rikki had told her what to expect and told her to just keep looking at it for several minutes.
Kate was still staring at it when she pulled her phone out and looked away only long enough to scroll down her contact list. "Rikki, what is strong Conjuration?" Kate could feel what type of magic but didn't understand the meaning of it.
"Conjuration, there are 5 different sub-types. Calling, creation, healing, summon and teleportation. Healing is obvious, you've seen me do that several times. Summon is when I summon an elemental, like those two when I demonstrated magic to you. Teleportation is like when I cast a transport via plants spell." Rikki gives Kate some examples. "Why?"
"I cast that detect magic spell on my mom's elephants and it started glowing just as you described and that's what it feels like." Kate explains, watching the elephants still glowing.
"What does it mean Rikki?" Kate asks. After getting silence from the other end of the phone. "Rikki?"
Kate however turns her head when she hears something or someone come rushing down the stairs crashing into the walls all the way, until Rikki suddenly comes into view wearing all of her clothes.
"Seriously, … it's magic?" Rikki gets out while panting from her mad dash down the stairs, and starts casting her own detect magic spell. "It is, … it really is!" Rikki stares at if for a couple of minutes.
"Very strong conjuration magic even." Rikki was still looking at the elephants.
"Is that good?" Kate asks.
"Take a look at me, I'm wearing magic. Is anything I'm wearing as strong as these elephants?" Rikki asks Kate.
Kate took a minute to look at Rikki. "No, not even close." Kate could see the difference.
"Now look at the Dragon Orb over the fireplace." Rikki offers.
It got Kate to turn to look at the Dragon Orb for a minute and then turn back to the elephants and start looking back and forth between the two. "They're the same, and both conjuration." Kate has noticed.
"What does it mean?" Kate thought she knew but wanted to hear it.
"It means I wish we had a wizard, that's what it means." Rikki was just a Druid, a lover of nature. "Where's that letter from my grandmother again?"
"Upstairs." Kate answers and runs up the stairs with Elka hot on her heels.
"What do you think Henry?" Rikki steps closer to the dining room table where Kate had left him.
Kate is running back down the stairs almost as fast as Rikki had earlier.
Rikki takes the papers. "I only have the one read magic spell, … you?" Rikki looks up at Kate, who shakes her head.
"We need one to read the papers again, let's see if there is anything on your elephants." Rikki only having the one spell needed to know what to do with it.
Rikki hands the papers to Kate and casts read magic and starts looking over the elephants. "There is something written here, however it looks incomplete. It's just a few words that don't appear to mean anything." Rikki explains.
Kate was deflated; this seemed like a momentous moment, and nothing. "The letters said something about the Orb over your fireplace, provided it's the same Orb."
"We're going to need at least three read magic spells between us. Looks like we wait until morning after prayers." Rikki informs Kate. "Like I'm going to get any sleep now." Rikki points out.
"Then you can wear the Ben Wa balls while I get some sleep." Kate offers getting Rikki to start laughing.
Then the stovetop alarm went off. "That's my dinner." Kate points out and heads for the kitchen.
They are both sitting at the dining room table eating while they both stare at Kate's elephants. "These were your mothers." Rikki points out.
"Yeah, think she knew?" Kate questions.
"You didn't believe in magic. … I can't see your mother helping to enforce that belief if she herself had magic, not if you two were that close." Rikki points out.
"Is this going to work?" Kate questions. "And if it does, what's going to happen? …. What was it you told me once about the Orb?" Kate asks Rikki.
"Prophesy states that two lives with broken hearts will recite the incantation releasing the brother from his own imprisonment and in so doing those two broken hearts will receive what their hearts most desire, healing and binding their hearts together." Rikki recites it again.
"And your grandparents are bound to the elephants. …. Is that even possible?" Kate was new to magic.
"Another reason to wish we had a wizard. I'm just a Druid, love. I know magic about nature, this is a type of magic I know nothing about." Rikki points out.
Kate sits back and sighs. Paper, Orb and elephants, all from a different Earth. "There are how many Earth's? …. And yet all of these plus you end up on this Earth." Kate points out.
That got Rikki to stop eating, and watch Henry weave in and around Kate's elephants. "Simeon." Rikki offers. "The letter said my grandparents had faith in his ability, but why this Earth? There are so many Earth's even I can't comprehend just how many there are."
"What is magic capable of, really?" Kate was curious. Just what was magic going to accomplish.
"Magic has its limits, at least the magic I know anything about. According to the books my parents left behind there is magic that can create a clone of yourself that will come to life after you die and live on. Or you can be granted a "Sixth Sense" that will warn you ahead of time of something that is going to happen so you have time to prevent it. You can even stop time for a short period." Rikki offers some of the power she has read about.
"It's just that in addition to talking about magic, we're talking about the Dragon Orb, that if the prophecy is correct, is holding an entire universe along with the God that created it.
Is that magic or something else?" Rikki questions.
"The Orb glowed with magic." Kate counters.
"That's the Orb, not necessarily what's inside it, if there is anything inside it." Rikki offers.
They were both silent for a time. "Kate honey, should we do what we are thinking of doing?" Rikki questions. "If prophecy is correct and we are even capable of doing it, we will be releasing a God. I don't mean a wizard that I'm familiar with, I mean a true God." Rikki points out.
"We're also releasing your grandparents babe." Kate points out. "Henry, what are you doing?" Kate chastises him watching Henry weave his way in and around Kate's elephants.
"Henry?" Kate huffs out and picks up Henry and the elephants only to watch a piece fall off and a small tape fall out onto the dining room table. Then Elka showed up at the table with her toy in her mouth making it squeak.
