When Hallbjorn walked into the house and shut the door, Kara's heart broke completely. She didn't know how long she stood there in the pouring rain and crying silent tears. She didn't remember turning and walking back up the long drive until she past the gate. Kara had never felt pain as she felt it now. She had never felt so lost and alone. Hallbjorn did not want her anymore.<br/><br/>Kara called Tarek on the cell, because she had no other place to go or anyone else to turn to. She could not go back to her mortal life, and she would not go to Helgi's. It would be more then she could handle to explain to him what had happened.<br/><br/>When Tarek answered, Kara's voice was empty. It was not like when Hallbjorn refrained from showing his emotions, but rather a reflection of the deepest sorrow she felt. “I'm ready to meet my father.” She looked up and turned in a circle, then said, “But I don't know where I am.”<br/><br/>If Tarek sensed her grief, he wisely said nothing about it. “I have GPS on the phone. I'll be right there.”<br/><br/>He hung up, and before she even had time to put the phone back in her pocket, he was before her. She didn't question how, or even hear anything that he said. Kara could only think of Hallbjorn. Tarek put his hand on her shoulder, and a whirlwind formed at their feet, then climbed higher.<br/><br/>In a flash, they had left the rainy Louisiana day, and traveled to a hot desert night. If Hallbjorn was with her, she would have marveled at everything. The way the sand beneath her feet seemed so fine, or how the stars shined so brightly in the sky, and the way rose colored cliffs surrounded them.<br/><br/>Kara followed Tarek as he led her through a small canyon. She took no joy in what she was seeing, or that she would soon meet her father. They came before the carved temple that she had seen so often in her dream, but Kara only gave it a passing glance. Tarek could have been speaking to her the whole time, but she paid no attention.<br/><br/>Then he led her through the doorway, only they did not come out the other side. There was a sense of the world turning over, and then a shattering pain inside of her. When they emerged on the other side, Kara was down on her hands and knees and panting. The worst of the pain had passed, but Kara was unsure if she could stand up on her own at that moment. Especially since she would rather curl into a ball and sob her heart out.