Knowledge is Deadly: Book 1: The Azuran Series

Chapter 12

She woke up to someone shaking her shoulder gently. She groaned and slowly picked her head up. Blake was standing beside her.
"Almost dinner time." He said gently.
She sat up in her chair. "Funny it was you telling me when it was supposed to be the other way around." She croaked, stretching.
Blake smiled. He looked better now, his hair was fixed and the bags under his eyes were gone.
Katelyn smiled back. "I'm glad you listened to me."
"Evidently I should have stayed." He said.
"I haven't been asleep that long."
"It's been two hours." He said narrowing his eyes.
"But I slept fine." Aspen defended.
"It has not been two hours!" Katelyn protested, crossing her arms.
Blake looked down at her and then looked out the window. The sun was creeping down the sky, much further then when she last checked.
"I've only been asleep for about twenty minutes." She said, looking back at Blake.
He looked back at her. "Whatever you say" he said sitting on the edge of the bed.
Aspen sat up and rest his head on the wall.
"How long have you been awake?" She asked Aspen, rubbing her eyes.
"Blake woke me up a few minutes ago." He said.
"Oh. Any more dreams?" She asked.
"Yeah. Nothing long enough to make sense though." He said.
Katelyn stood up and brushed her hair out of her face. "I'm going to get ready for dinner." She left and changed into a fresh shirt and brushed her hair. Then she stepped out into the hallway and into Aspen's room.
"I'm going down. Aspen, you should stay here. I'll bring you dinner, if you want."
"Blake already said he would." Aspen said noting that Blake wasn't in the room.
"Ok." Katelyn looked around the room. "Do you need anything else before I go?"
"Nope." He said and watched her leave.
She walked to the dining hall and looked around the room for her friends. Kilin and Blake sat at a table eating quietly.
Katelyn weaved her way through tables and other people and sat beside Kilin.
"Hey." She greeted looking over at Katelyn
"Hey." She said wearily, still tired.
"What happened to you?" She asked taking a bite of her food.
Katelyn looked at her. "Nothing happened. I've just been nursing Aspen back to health for the past three hours or so."
"Oh good for you. You actually get to be a doctor." Kilin said.
"Mm." Katelyn stood up and went to go get her food. She came back, setting her bowl of pasta on the table. She sat down and began to eat.
"I need to take Aspen food." Blake said standing up. "Will you two be ok?" He asked.
Katelyn looked up from her plate. "Honestly Blake. We're fine."
"Ok." He said and walked away. Kilin leaned back in her chair.
Katelyn looked at her. "I'm going on a date tonight." She said with a grin.
"What?" She responded surprised.
Katelyn nodded, smiling. "Jackson's taking me to see something. It's a 'surprise'." She explained.
'....don't like the sound of that.'
"Oh really?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." Katelyn said. "After dinner."
"Well you need to get ready." Kilin said.
"You're right." Katelyn said, standing up. Kilin stood up as well.
Katelyn cleaned up her plate and waited by the door for Kilin to join her on her way back upstairs. Kilin finished doing the same and walked with Katelyn up to her room.
Katelyn fixed her hair in an elegant braid and changed into something warmer. It was getting chilly outside.
Kilin sat on the bed. "Looks good" she said with a nod.
Katelyn smiled at her. "Thanks." She studied herself in the mirror, tucking loose strands behind her ear.
"Now what?" Kilin asked looking around.
Katelyn sat on her bed. "I wait, I guess."
"Oh. Ok." She said.
As if on cue there was a knock on the door.
Katelyn glanced at Kilin and grinned before walking up to the door and opening it. Jackson stood in the doorway with a smile. He had put on a plaid shirt over a white tee and jeans.
"What a surprise to see you here." He said with a smirk.
"And you as well." She responded.
"Well, let's get going. It's starting to get dark." He said holding out his hand to her.
She smiled and took it, glancing back at Kilin before stepping out of the room.
Jackson led her out of the inn. "I think your going to like it." He said with a smile.
"I'm sure I will." She said, walking in step with him.
He led her to the edge of town. "Watch your step in the woods." He said leading her into them.
She maneuvered through the dense trees and bushes, still clutching onto his hand. He led her to the same cliff they had been to earlier. He smiled at her.
She looked around. "Well it's definitely a surprise." She said looking at him, confused.
"It just got dark. Wait for it." He said and sat down on the edge of the cliff.
She sat beside him and watched admiringly as the sky turned a dark purple, then black. Thousands of stars became visible and the sky was cloudless. The breeze was cool, and Katelyn shivered as she marveled at the stars. "They're beautiful." She said.
"They really are." He said. As Katelyn looked up at the stars many of them began to move around the sky.
She squinted her eyes and pointed at the nearest one. "What are they?" She asked. A few of them flew behind and around her.
"A sort of fairy." He said watching them fly around, their wings emitting a blue, gentle light.
"Wow..." she said, amazed. She held out her hand towards one that was flying in front of her. The fairy turned and hovered in front of her face. The small fairy's delicate wings fluttered in the air and a tiny hand waved to Katelyn before it flew off.
Katelyn smiled and watched it flutter away. "Wow." She repeated.
"They only like to come out at night." Jackson stated softly.
"I've never seen anything like them.." Katelyn whispered, still looking up at the fairies. He smiled.
Some of the fairies flew into the trees, others seemed to be enjoying the moonlight.
"They are nocturnal, making their homes in the cliff's rocks." Jackson stated softly.
"I love my surprise." She whispered, astonished.
"I thought as much" he said looking over at her sweetly.
Katelyn looked at him with a smile and leaned into his side, returning her gaze on the fairies. He kissed her forehead and looked out at them as well. She watched them fly about silently.
After a while they all had flown away.
"How did you find out about them?" She asked, looking at the stars.
"I got lost at night. One of them was kind enough to lead me home." He said with a smile.
She looked at him and smiled. "How interesting."
He smiled. "Katelyn," his eyes got serious. "I wanted to talk to you about something." He said.
She leaned back to look at him clearly. "Ok..."
Jackson took in a deep breath. He looked at her. "Carl Rafe is my dad, which you know. He is also crazy about this whole magic thing. He intends to push it to it's limits.. When word came to him about a magical item he sent my brother-" A loud thumping sound cut him off. Tree bark split and pieces fell to the ground where a dagger had been thrown into a tree near Jackson's head.
Katelyn's eyes widened, and she looked at Jackson fearfully. Her eyes went to the dagger, which, in the moonlight, she immediately recognized as Kile's. Kile was here, and he wanted her. She grabbed Jackson's arm.
Jackson glanced at the dagger and took it from the tree. He stood up looking into the woods. "I know your there.." he growled.
"I like the bushes." A voice said from the darkness. It was Kile's.
Katelyn gulped and froze where she was. Kile's voice reminded her of her nightmare.
"Get out here." Jackson snapped.
Kile pushed his way through the bushes and stood with his arms crossed. His eyes met Katelyn and he smirked.
She gave him her best glare and tensed her muscles, preparing to run if needed. Hopefully it wouldn't be.
"What are you doing here?" Jackson asked taking a step towards him.
"You know why I'm here." Kile said looking back to him.
Katelyn clenched her fists.
'For me.' She thought.
"You didn't act-" Jackson started.
"You attacked the damn castle!" Kile snapped.
"I didn't." Jackson said keeping a calm tone.
Katelyn had no idea what they were talking about, but she figured now would be a bad time to bring their attention to her.
"You know what I meant." Kile said. "Hand me that back." He added eyeing the dagger.
Katelyn looked between the two of them anxiously. She thought they were friends. Right now they were acting as the opposite.
Jackson walked closer to him and held out the dagger for him. Kile took it back and sheathed it.
"You need to go." Jackson said.
"I haven't even said hi to puppy." Kile said looking over at Katelyn.
"So the nickname stuck?" She asked steadily. "What a shame."
"I like it." Kile said and took a step past Jackson towards her. Jackson grabbed his arm.
Katelyn stood up quickly and took a step back.
"Go." Jackson said.
Kile pulled his arm away. "I think I'll stay and chat." He said with a smirk.
Katelyn crossed her arms and watched Kile carefully.
"No, you won't." Jackson said.
Kile turned to face him directly. Jackson stood slightly taller than Kile. "I don't listen to you anymore." He growled.
"You never did." Jackson said.
Katelyn debated whether or not she should run. She decided to stay unless things get too messy.
Kile turned and walked towards Katelyn. Jackson gripped his shoulder yanking him back.
"What? You think I'm going to hurt her?" He asked glaring back at him.
Katelyn kept her mouth shut and swallowed nervously. She looked around, realizing if she did run she'd have to go into the woods, and Kile already had proven his experience in that area.
"Yes." Jackson replied coolly.
Kile studied his face. "You actually like her." He hissed quietly. "You're screwed." He added.
Katelyn blushed and made a confused face.
'Why?' She wondered.
Jackson clenched his teeth. "Mind your own business." He said.
Kile rolled his eyes and looked over at Katelyn. "Did you finally learn how to shut up?" He asked coolly.
"Yeah. Maybe you should learn too." She retorted.
"I like my words as well as blades." He said.
"Both are sharp and damaging. Sounds accurate." Katelyn said.
"Leave Kile." Jackson demanded.
"What if I don't?" He asked.
"I will make you." Jackson said.
'Oh gosh, please don't fight.' She prayed silently.
"You couldn't if you tried." Kile said stepping closer to him.
Jackson grabbed his shoulders and Kile tried to pull away and fell to his knees. He groaned. "Screw you." He said clenching his teeth.
Katelyn watched fearfully.
'Just leave. Leave, Kile.' She thought.
"I tried, now go." Jackson said.
Kile looked up at him. "You cheater." He said harshly.
'Cheater?..' Katelyn thought.
Kile reached out and grabbed Jackson's ankles and pulled him to the ground. Jackson hit hard the ground with a thud.
Katelyn gasped quietly. "Would you just leave?" She said harshly. "There's no point in starting a fight!"
Jackson kicked at Kile sending him onto his back. Jackson stood up and Kile stumbled but pushed himself up.
"Don't make me knock you out." Jackson said.
Katelyn heard Kile think about throwing a dagger.
Her eyes widened with fear.
'Don't.' She thought.
"I hope you pass out from using it." Kile spat and turned away.
"It was good to see you, Kile." Jackson called.
"Whatever." Kile said disappearing silently into the woods.
Katelyn stared warily at where he disappeared, frightened, confused, and relieved.
Jackson stood for a moment and then collapsed onto the ground.
Katelyn gasped and ran to him, kneeling beside him. "Jackson?! Jackson, look at me!" She said, panicked.
He blinked up at her. "I- I'm alright." He said and tried to sit up.
"What just happened?" She asked, helping him get upright.
"It's too hard to-" he nearly fell back over.
"Woah, careful." She put her arm around his shoulders, holding him up.
"I just need a rest." He said holding himself upright.
"I'm confused." She said, studying him.
"I don't know how to explain it." He said wearily.
"You're fine. It's ok." Paranoid, she looked around. She was vulnerable. Jackson could fight, but he was on the ground. If Kile wanted to, he could come out and capture her right now.
Jackson broke her train of thought as he fell backwards onto his back.
Katelyn put her hand on his shoulder. "What can I do?" She asked, ready to help.
"It's magic you can't do anything." He said blinking to clear his vision.
"M-magic?" She asked, confused.
     "Did I stutter?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" "I mean, it's a magical side effect. Like when you use your locket to much." He said rubbing his eyes.
"Hold on, you have a magical object?" She asked but before he could answer he blacked out.
"Jackson?" No answer. She cupped his face and studied him, worried.
'What now?' She wondered, looking around. She didn't bring her bookbag so she didn't have anything to work with.
"Serves him right." A voice said from behind her.
Katelyn stood up and turned around quickly. She saw Kile and backed away, alarmed.
"What?" He asked crossing his arms. He leaned against a tree to stabilize himself.
"Go back wherever you came from. What do you want from me anyways?" She asked shakily.
"I can't travel like this." He said simply.
"Like what?"
"All tipsy and tired." He said plainly
"And why is that?" She asked carefully.
"Because I will fall over and black out like he did." Kile said eyeing Jackson.
"I don't understand.." she said, looking from Jackson to Kile.
"Of course you don't." He said coolly.
"How am I supposed to if no one will explain?" She snapped, irritated.
"I'm not explaining this. It's Jackson's problem." He growled.
"Right now it's also yours apparently."
He pushed off the tree. "Don't try me. I still have a perfect aim." He threatened.
She stepped back. She was really tempted to run now. He leaned back against the tree.
"Why didn't you just kill me when you had the chance? Isn't that your job?" She accused suddenly.
He narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to kill you Katelyn." He said.
"How can I be sure? You are tracking me, I just don't know why.."
"You think I came back for you?" Kile asked.
Katelyn scoffed. "I have no idea why. I just wish you hadn't."
"I don't care what you think, Katelyn." He snapped harshly.
"And I don't care what you think, Kile."
"Good, you finally grew a backbone."
"Why are you still here?" She asked, annoyed.
"To stand here and annoy you all day." He said.
"I'd much prefer you go annoy someone else."
"I can hardly walk, Katelyn." Kile said dryly.
"I'd leave instead, but I'm not leaving without him." She said, nodding at Jackson.
"I know. That's why you didn't run earlier." He noted.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're good."
"I have to be." He said blankly.
"For your job?"
"For life."
Katelyn looked at him. "Can't be a bad thing though."
"It's not." He said blinking.
"How so?" She asked.
"I use my skills daily for one. Especially with my lifestyle." He said.
"Skills? As in, fighting skills?" She asked.
"All skills." He said simply. He rubbed his eyes.
'Ten hells, forgot about this part.' He thought.
Katelyn crossed her arms. "Why can't you explain why you and Jackson are almost spontaneously passing out?"
"Jackson wore himself out making sure I couldn't fight back." He said simply
"That doesn't explain anything." Katelyn said. "I mean, you collapsed under his contact. That's not normal. Unless you're just weak like that."
"I am not weak." Kile snapped harshly.
"You are right now." She observed.
"I can still throw this dagger at you can't I?" He asked pulling out the dagger and pointing it at her.
Katelyn held out her hands in front of her as her dream came rushing back. "You don't want to do that." She said, unsteady.
He sighed and let his hand fall. He looked as if he was getting worse. He sheathed the dagger and looked back at her.
     She relaxed and put her arms down. "You look awful... Anything I can do? I'm training to be a doctor, but you probably already know that, creep."
     "No.. there isn't." He said simply. Jackson groaned quietly. Kile looked over at him. Katelyn sighed and knelt on the ground beside Jackson, not taking her eyes off of Kile. She wished he would leave. She felt unsafe and uncomfortable. Kile leaned his head against the tree.
'You can close your eyes, honestly, she won't do anything.' He told himself and hesitantly closed his eyes.
Katelyn looked away from him and gazed down at Jackson. She wondered how long it would take for him to wake up.
"Maybe set the coin aside. That might help." Kile suggested.
Katelyn looked up. "Coin?.."
He opened his eyes and looked at her. "He has it in his pocket."
Silently Katelyn reached into Jackson's pocket. Sure enough, there was a coin, and when she touched it, she felt a jolt go through her body. She gasped quietly and dropped it on the ground beside him, startled. She recognized it as the one he had shown her.
"Good job Puppy, you can find things." Kile said looking at the coin.
"That's not my name... What is it?" She asked, daring to pick the coin up again. She felt the same sensation rush through her veins as she held it in the light. When she flipped it over, she noticed a chip in the side and the same symbol that she had on her hand. The symbol of Azura.
"Your name? It's Katelyn." He said
"Yes it is, thank you. But you know what I meant." She said, still looking at the coin.
"It's a coin. Did he not tell you about it?" Kile asked with a small smirk. "Of course he didn't."
"No, he didn't. This isn't a normal coin." She said, looking over her shoulder at Kile.
"Obviously."
"What does this have to do with him passing out?" She asked, keeping her temper under control.
"That is the reason he passed out." He said
"That doesn't make sense." Katelyn said, confused.
"I'm sure you can draw conclusions." He said.
Katelyn sat back on her heels and thought. 'Kile fell under Jackson's touch, then passed out for some reason... Kile told me to set the coin aside which might help... the coin has a mark of Azura on it... Azura has seven magical objects-' She gasped. "This is one of the magical objects Blake told me about..." she said quietly.
Kile clapped slowly. "Good job." He said. "And he didn't tell you even though you have one." He pointed out.
Katelyn pressed her eyebrows together. "It weakens people.." She thought about all the times she had felt weak when he touched her.
"Correct again."
"But not all the time..." She remembered feeling better when he touched her too. "Does it also strengthen people?"
"He can make it do either one. Although, he isn't very good at it." He said looking down at him.
"That explains why he has the mark on his hand..." Katelyn said, looking at his palm.
"How did you not realize this sooner?" Kile asked raising an eyebrow.
Katelyn looked at him and shook her head. "I don't know... but why did he never tell me?"
"W-who are you talking to?" Jackson grumbled blinking his eyes open.
Katelyn looked at him sadly, still confused. She glanced at Kile and then back to Jackson. "Kile." She said.
"W-" Jackson started and forced himself to sit up. He glared at Kile who shrugged.
Katelyn sighed and pinched Jackson's coin between her thumb and finger. "Here." She said, holding it out to him.
He took it and looked at her confused. He put it back in his pocket. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it and looked away from him.
"You took it?" He asked still confused.
Katelyn glanced at Kile. "He thought it would help."
Jackson glared at Kile.
'What did he say about it?' He wondered.
Kile raised an eyebrow.
"He didn't say anything about it, Jackson." Jackson sighed.
'Of course, she heard that.' He thought.
"Worried I would?" Kile asked.
"Yes.." Jackson said looking away from him.
Katelyn stared at the ground. "He didn't have to say anything. As soon as I saw the symbol, I knew..." She shook her head.
"Katelyn.." he said looking over at her.
She looked at Kile. "Not now, Jackson." She said quietly.
Jackson looked away from her sadly.
Kile pushed himself from the tree. "I get it. You want me to go. Fine." He said.
'Finally.' Jackson thought.
Katelyn looked down and didn't say anything. Her mind was still absorbing the fact that Jackson has had a magical relic for how long, Katelyn didn't know.
Kile turned and started walking away.
"Bye Kile." Jackson said.
"Bye.." he said sadly and disappeared into the dark woods.
Katelyn drew in the dirt with a rock silently.
Jackson glanced over at her and looked away.
"I don't understand." She said softly.
"It's complicated." He said weakly.
"You could have at least told me." She said, squeezing her hand tightly around the rock.
"I'm sorry.." he said. "I-I didn't want you in any more danger."
"Telling me something important like this is dangerous?" She asked, twisting the rock into the ground.
"You don't understand it- it would be.." he said pressing his eyes closed.
She drew lines in the dirt. "Yeah, I don't understand. How?"
"Please don't make me go into it.." he said rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I knew you've been hiding something... But there's more, isn't there?" She asked, patting the dirt smooth.
"Katelyn I don't want to tell you.." he complained. "In today's world, knowledge is deadly. It could get you killed." He said looking over at her.
Katelyn sighed and was silent. She drew a circle. Jackson looked away from her and stayed quiet as well. He brought his knees to his chest and rest his chin on them. Katelyn drew seven small dots around the larger circle and stared at it. This was the thing that changed her life. Jackson glanced over at her.
     "You can't tell me anything, then?" She said, still not looking away from the ground.
     "If I do you would have to leave." He said simply.
      Katelyn closed her eyes and sighed quietly.
      "You need to leave anyways." Jackson mumbled looking away from her.
     "You want me to go?" She asked, looking out into the trees.
     "I don't want you to, but it would be safer."
     "Safer? What makes it unsafe here?" She asked.
     "Carl.." he mumbled clenching his teeth.
     "What is so bad about him? You've only told me he's crazy."
     "He-" he stoped himself and shook his head.
      "Too many secrets." Katelyn said, shaking her head.
      "I just don't want you to get hurt. You would probably be better off with Kile.."
     Katelyn finally looked at him. "I don't want to leave-" 'You.' Her thoughts finished.
     He looked over at her. "I know. And you don't have to. He shouldn't do anything." 'Yet.'
      "How could something he does affect me?" She asked.
      "Katelyn, he doesn't like you." He stated bluntly.
      "He doesn't know me." She responded.
      "He doesn't care." He countered. "For now your fine. I wouldn't let him touch you."
     Katelyn bit her lip. "Come with us when we leave." She suggested.
     "I can't leave." He said quickly.
     Disappointed, Katelyn looked away. Jackson sighed and looked up at the sky.
     Katelyn followed his gaze. "Do you have a hard time with your coin?"
     "Some times it listens. Other times I find myself taking energy away from people." He said.
"Tell me about it." She said ruefully.
"We should head back." Jackson suggested.
"You feel well enough now?" She asked, looking at him.
"I can manage." He said.
She stood up and held out her hand to help him up. He took and and Katelyn help pull him to his feet. He balanced himself and looked at her. She dropped her hand to her side reluctantly and motioned for him to lead the way. He nodded and started walking slowly but steadily back towards town.