Read Liquid Diamond for Free Online

been,” replied Anastasia.
    “ How can you tell? All I can smell is dirt and old water,” asked Catalyst.
    “ Trust me, it’s Natalia’s perfume. I would recognize that scent anywhere. Only a child would wear something that bad,” replied Anastasia with a smile of relief, having got one step closer to finding her.
    “ Shush now, listen carefully. Do you hear that?” asked Anastasia.
    But being half human, Catalyst’s senses were nowhere near as strong as his mother’s and as he strained to hear the sound all he could do was look at Anastasia and shake his head.
    “ Trust me, Catalyst. She’s down here somewhere. Just stay quiet so I can follow the sounds,” said Anastasia, straining to make sense of the echoes.
    Catalyst followed Anastasia through the maze with tunnels leading this way and that way splitting off endlessly, the sounds of weeping bouncing off every wall. As it grew louder, Anastasia knew she would have to leave Catalyst behind to search it all and find the source of the crying.
    “ Oh great, which way? With all these tunnels down here we could end up searching for days,” said Catalyst making it that much easier for Anastasia.
    “ You’re right, so you stay here and wait for me. I can move through all of this a lot faster if I go alone, okay?” replied Anastasia. With the darkness of the dimly lit tunnels being of no consequence to Anastasia, flying through it all was as easy as walking outside during the day. In no time at all she found herself at the door that held Natalia prisoner. She looked through a peephole and there sat Natalia frightened and with tear-stained cheeks.
    “ Little one,” said Anastasia in a soft voice.
    Natalia looked up and a sudden sense of relief filled her heart, knowing Anastasia would save her from the prison she had woken up in.
    “ Stand back, Natalia. Everything’s going to be just fine now,” said Anastasia.
    As Natalia stepped back, Anastasia grew out her nails and slammed them into the door, pulling back the door and letting go as a spike-filled board flew up from the floor smacking Anastasia right in the chest, moving her a whole three inches. Natalia jumped right into Anastasia’s arms without so much as a word.
    “ Now let’s go and get Catalyst and get out of here,” said Anastasia, speaking more to herself than Natalia.
    Sweeping in and grabbing Catalyst, they soon found themselves back outside.
    “ What happened, Catalyst? Where were you?” asked Natalia as only Natalia could.
    “ Natalia, by the time I got back to where I left you, you were gone. I searched everywhere I could,” replied Catalyst.
    “ He really did, and we were on our way to search for you on the other side of these tunnels but as soon as we got in deep enough I could smell your perfume, so keep wearing it, okay, just in case,” said Anastasia with a smile.
    “ Now, Natalia, Catalyst, I’m going to have to put a scare into the Basajaunak of this village so they won’t bother you any more. Natalia, do you know who it was that brought you here?” asked Anastasia.
    “ No, I don’t,” replied Natalia.
    “ Did you see what they looked like? If I brought them here would you recognize them?” asked Anastasia.
    “ No, all I remember was watching Catalyst leave and then something covering my mouth, then waking up in that room,” replied Natalia.
    “ Well, you are going to have to be very careful from now on and stay together, okay?” said Anastasia.
    “ Yes, yep,” replied Natalia and Catalyst.
    “ Did you hear me, Catalyst? Stay with Natalia at all times. Don’t leave her alone,” said Anastasia in a harsh voice.
    “ Yes Mom, I heard you,” replied Catalyst, knowing she wasn’t kidding.
    “ Now there are a few things that I need to see about,” said Anastasia.
    “ Like what?” asked Catalyst, hoping his Mother would stay just a bit longer.
    “ Never you mind, boy,” said Anastasia, clearly frustrated.
    “ What? You just told Krimpet not to call me boy