Chapter 1
A Stormy Halloween Eve
"Mom, you got a package." Cathy yelled.
"Put it on the table, dear." She replied.
Cathy put the box on the table along with her Halloween decorations. She had gotten some streamers, little pumpkins, and a few other things they didn't have at home. Lok and his friends were coming the day after next. Hopefully in time for Halloween.
Sandra walked into the kitchen. She glanced at the package. It was from Metz. Cathy was getting a snack from the fridge and watched her mother. Sandra opened it. There was a letter on top with a few wrapped bundles. She scanned the letter. It was from their early years of being Seekers. Her husband, Eathon, had probably gotten a few trinkets mixed up.
"What is it?" Cathy asked.
"It's from your father's old friend, Metz. He recovered from being ill and found some of your father's things in his house." Sandra told her.
"Oh. Well, what's it there?" Cathy sat down.
"Let's see." She smiled.
They opened it together. Most of it was in fact souvenirs. Small clay vases, wood carvings, and postcards. Some were a bit bigger like a woven basket, a colorful dyed scarf and a sketchbook. At the bottom of the box, Sandra found some necklaces. They weren't dating back then so someone must have pushed him to buy them. Although, one almost looked like an amulet. It was gray stone with a couple protrusions and gold lines under the blue gem. The shape nagged at her, but it wasn't coming to mind. She set it aside. Cathy looked at it, turning it over, but it was round. Unknown to them, the gem glowed.
Cathy and Sandra ended up reminiscing about Eathon for longer than either of them realized. They cleared the table and got ready for dinner. They had a simple dinner and ate with little talk. After dessert, they started to decorate the living room. They cleaned up, covering the tables with nice tablecloths, and hung the streamers and cotton cobwebs. That was good for the night. The rest they would do tomorrow.
The next morning, it was storming. It wasn't unusual, but they thought it would have been in the afternoon. Sandra started cooking the meat for the party since it would take all day. Then she started on some of the treats. Cathy did some schoolwork. The house creaked with the wind as rain pounded the roof. They took a break for lunch. Cathy went to get the last of the Halloween decorations out of the attic.
The attic was dark and a little musty. She searched for the last box when she heard skittering. Cathy frowned. That was definitely somewhere near her room. She hoped it wasn't a raccoon or something. Finding the box, she carefully went downstairs.
"Mom, did you hear something?" She asked.
"No, why?" She probed the roast.
"I thought I heard something scurrying around up there." Cathy put the box down.
"I can go look if you want. Watch the stove." Sandra went the stairs.
Cathy minded the pot of caramel as her mother looked around. It was warm in the kitchen. There were some little appetizers already made in the fridge and a large space for the punch. She stirred it as Sandra came back. Cathy saw her mom wasn't reaching for the broom.
"I didn't see anything. I'll get these done then help decorate." She told her.
Sandra made caramel covered pretzels as Cathy pulled out the fake spiders and little cats. She put some in the webs and on the tables. Lok's pumpkin would go on the mantel. The pretzels got made and were cooling on the rack. Sandra helped decide which of the other decorations would go up and got them out. Thunder shook the house as they finished up their tasks.
"It sounds bad out there." Cathy frowned.
"It'll be fine." Sandra reassured.
"Hello? Mrs. Lambert? I tried knocking but the thunder drowned it out." Scarlet called.
"We're in the living room." She answered.
"Hi, Scarlet." Cathy waved.
"It's nice to see you again." The redhead smiled.
"Let me go get you some tea." Sandra got up.
"It's stormin' real bad out there. I figure I'd come by and see how things were." Scarlet sat on the couch.
"Yeah, I didn't think it would be this bad." Cathy nodded.
"I see you're working on the party." She gestured.
"Yup. We started last night."
"Here you go, dear. Would you like a towel?" Sandra came back in with a tray with a teapot.
"I'm fine." Scarlet reached for a cup.
They drank the tea and chatted for awhile. Scarlet had recently been to Scotland for a work thing. Sandra had a knowing twinkle in her eye. She told them about the sights she saw while there. A loud thud came from the stairs.
"There it is!" Cathy yelled.
"What?" Scarlet asked, alarmed.
"Cathy thought she heard an animal earlier. You girls stay here." Sandra went to see what it was.
At the top of stairs, there was an anteater. But it was rainbow colored. It was walked all fours but could stand on two if it wanted. Sandra could tell it was smart. How could this have happened? Titans don't just summon themselves naturally. It walked down the stairs and waited. She let it by.
"Mom, did you see it?" Cathy asked.
"I saw it. Scarlet, could you come help me?" She asked.
"Uh, alright." She got up.
Scarlet frowned as she saw the anteater. "Where'd this come from?"
"Metz sent me some of my husband's things. There was this amulet. I think it's a titan." Sandra whispered.
"Where is it? We should send it back." Scarlet asked.
It let out a roar. It shook the house. They cringed. In the chaos, it sprinted past them and tried to find a way out. The two Seekers realized what happened and ran for the amulet to send it back to Huntik. It was in the package. They ran back out to find it sitting in front of Cathy on the couch. The anteater looked at her expectantly. Cathy stared.
"Mom, why does this look like Kasogonagá?" She asked.
"What?" Scarlet asked.
"I remember now. A storm spirit from Argentina. Well, honey, we think it came from this-" Sandra held up the amulet. "So, maybe if you take it, it will go back."
"Toss it." She said.
Cathy caught the amulet and saw visions of her and Kasogonagá fighting together. They were too quick to tell much more than that, but she also saw herself casting spells? Cathy suddenly felt drained as Kasogonagá returned to its amulet. Scarlet got to her first and steadied her.
"Are you ok?" Sandra asked.
"I'm tired. What was that?" Cathy frowned.
The storm dissipated over next few hours. Sandra explained what Seekers and Huntik was to Cathy as she ate. She was a little peeved that Lok had gotten Seeker powers several years before her. Scarlet chimed in, saying it was luck. The redhead was finishing decorating for them. Sandra invited Scarlet to stay for dinner. She accepted. As they reheated leftovers from last night, Cathy grew excited.
"I can't wait to surprise Lok!" She grinned.
"Be nice, Cathy. He couldn't tell you because it's supposed be a secret." Sandra told her.
They had dinner and told Cathy some of their adventures. Soon, Scarlet left and Cathy and Sandra went to bed. Cathy had a deep sleep that night. In the morning, it was drizzling, but nothing like yesterday. Lok called and said they would be there in a couple hours. They got the punch made and tidied up from breakfast. Sandra went to pick them up from the airport. Cathy got dressed in her witch costume. She put on Kasogonagá's amulet at the last minute.
"Cathy, we're home!" Sandra called.
She walked downstairs. Lok and his friends, Dante, Sophie, and Zhalia, were in the living room. She smiled at them. Kasogonagá made himself known with a bright flash. He seemed to know Cathy still needed rest. They seemed slightly shocked.
"Guess what, little stinker? I'm a Seeker now too!" Cathy told Lok.
