On the other side of the door that the two women had closed was Professor Black who was at the table in the centre of the room. “Oh, Kathrine what have you got yourself involved in this time.” She said to the empty room.
She was beginning once again to regret ever finding out about the jewels. She had found the first pieces of the puzzle that had led her to the jewels almost a decade now. She had been researching about lost gods once again. This was one of the subjects that she liked looking for. Well, she had already written two books on this topic and wanted to write a third.
She could remember the day clearly, a rainy Thursday afternoon she was sitting in her rooms at the university. She started looking over the notes that she had not used for her last book. She found information on Puck. Most people assumed that Shakespeare had created Puck for the play A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, Kathrine knew this not to be the case. Puck was a legend from before good old Will had got a hold of him. Over the next few days, she had made up her mind to find out as much about him as she could. If only to show her fellow academics that she could do serious work and not only write about fairy tales as some people thought of her books The earliest reference she had found was from the 1300’s. Hidden amongst some of the texts that she had found was a reference about something called “The Jewels of Puck”.
She finished her book and it was well received by most people, however, there were still some purists who derided it. This led her to stop teaching and becoming a writer full-time. She had started work on her next book which she finished after a year or two.
She smiled at the thought that although she looked to be in her late 30’s she was a great deal older than that. She put it down to healthy living unlike her colleagues at the university who had derided her work, she had spent more of her time researching than in the university bars and she was now reaping the benefits of her chosen lifestyle every time she looked in the mirror.
Her mind wandered back to the reference that she had found during her researches on Puck. Her publisher had been on her back to write what he called a squeal to that book as it had been one of her more popular ones.
Kathrine had always been a bit of a hoarder and had not thrown any of her research out and a day or two later found the piece of paper. It didn’t have much information on it but did mention the legend of “The Jewels of Puck” and that they had been lost a long time ago. It was very vague but it was enough to start Kathrine’s mind going.
She spent the next three years looking for as much information on these jewels as she could find. Then she spoke to anyone and everyone she could and now had amassed quite a lot of details about them. She was about to start writing her book when a well-dressed young woman well she was younger than her anyway.
“Good evening Professor Black,” she said.
“What can I do for you young lady?” She asked.
“Oh it is what I can do for you,” she said in reply.
“I don’t understand,” Kathrine said to her nervously
“You do not need to understand. I believe that you have been looking for information on The Jewels of Puck,” she said to her with a twinkle in her eyes.
“How do you know that?” She asked
“Oh let’s just say I was familiar with their owner at one time. That and the fact that you have not really been keeping your curiosity a secret have you” The young woman answered her.
“I don’t suppose I have now that I think of it,” Kathrine said a smile on her face.
“Well Professor I will tell you what I know but only once so you better be prepared.” The young woman said.
“One second I will get my recorder,” Katherine said as she gestured for the young woman to sit down in the chair to her side.
The young woman took the seat offered to her. “Are you ready Professor?” She asked.
“Yes quite ready.” Came the reply
“Good, then I will begin.” First of all, there are 13 stones each of them is a different color and each has a different power. Each of them has a set of symbols carved into them which identify what power the stone has but they are written in a language that only makes sense to their creator although I do believe that some humans of you have managed to translate some of it.” The young woman told Katherine.
“Humans?” Katherine asked.
“Oh quite correct.” The young woman continued “They have apparently been lost for eons because of this they have become Myths/ legends to some, nightmares to others. They have a habit of appearing and disappearing after they have done whatever it is they are doing is done whatever that is. From what I hear Puck himself looking for them as well after losing them several years ago.”
“Surely Puck is a myth,” Katherine answered the young woman's statement.
“Aren’t we all Professor? Aren’t we all? The Clear stone/jewel is supposedly the most powerful of all of them. Now that is my story, Professor, I do not know any more other than the colours and abilities of some of the stones which you will find on the sheet of paper behind you.” The young woman turned to leave and then stopped.
“I see you still have a problem believing what I have told today Professor maybe this will convince you,” She said taking a small pale violet stone from her bag.
“What is that ?” Katherine asked.
“This is the Amethyst stone it bestows the power of sight on whoever holds it.” The young woman told her.
“The power of sight?” Katherine said with the question implicit in her tone of voice.
“Yes, it will help you see those who have been affected by one of the stones. Unfortunately, it can not identify which stone but its touch will help you in your search for knowledge.” Came the answer.
Katherine looked at the young woman disbelievingly. “Ok, I will bite. What do I have to give you for it.” She asked
“Oh I can’t give you the stone professor but I can let you hold it for a few seconds. If he found out… Oh never mind. Please give me your hand.” She was told as the younger woman walked towards Katherine.
The professor nervously walked across the room towards the woman who was holding out the pale violet stone. “What do I do? She asked.
“Simply hold it in your hand for a moment and it will do the rest.” The stone bearer replied.
“That’s all?” Katherine asked.
“Yes, the stone will know what you are looking for and give you it.” The young woman replied.
Katherine held the stone in her clenched fist for almost a minute before returning it. “It doesn’t seem to have done anything.” She told the woman in front of her.
“That is because neither of us has been affected by the stones' abilities. You will know if someone has been affected by a stone just by looking at them. I wish you well professor. Good luck with your search.” The woman said as she turned once again towards the door.
“I don’t even know your name. Who are you?” The professor shouted after the woman.
“Oh my name is Anna, Titania,” She said disappearing.
“It couldn’t be could it?” Katherine said to the empty room. She turned back towards her desk to find a sheet of A4 sitting on top of it.
Then she remembered that young woman had said she would leave her a piece of paper with some information on it. Katherine read the text on the page in her hands.
Colours and attributes of known stones
- Clear – most powerful other than that not much is known.
- Blue – The switching Stone – Causes attributes to swap between parties. These can be anything including but not limited to, Race, Clothes, and gender.
- Gold – Unknown
- Red – a very dangerous stone that can draw life essence from any living creature to the user.
- Emerald – The opposite of red giving the user's life essence to another being. This can be just as deadly as the red.
- Amethyst – Sight
- Black – Unknown
- Brown – Power of the elements
- Silver – Wealth
- Turquoise –– Unknown
- Copper – the power of persuasion
- Violet – Unknown
- Magenta – Wishes but these can be twisted.
At the bottom of the sheet was written just a few words.
I did tell you that I would leave this for you my dear professor now you know almost as much as I do.
It was signed with a T.
This had to be a joke. A rather elaborate joke but a joke nonetheless. However, It confirmed a lot of the information that she had found so far. So she could not just dismiss it. She typed it up saved the document and went back to work on her latest book on the Jewels.
That had been over the next couple of years she met with and spoke to people who had claimed to see the stones. Only once or twice had she seen a faint glow around the person she was speaking to. She had come to realize that this was what she had been given when she had held the stone. She had begun to listen to these people more carefully and used their stories (with their permission of course) in her book.
It was now that she had finished and published her book and was now on the lecture circuit promoting it. That she had met up with Lonna and Lauren who confirmed her theories about the glow. This was something that she had left out of her book, she did not want people to think that she was crazy. Well, not any more crazy than they already thought.
Katherine's thoughts had now brought her full circle from when she had first heard of the stones through her meeting with Titania to her meeting with Lonna and Lauren earlier that evening. She knew that she had to try and help them if she could and began looking through her notes to find the details of the ritual of stability. She knew that this was going to be a long night.
