by N. J. Cooper
“Unfortunately Son, this is beyond even my sights. The kind of evil this kind of power would require to wield, is something I didn’t believe even Onyx held.” The Kings wispy voice admitted. Kyla swore to herself, so she wasn’t getting any answers any time soon.
“I don’t understand. Even if they had that power though, she should have healed when she came back. It’s taken her days and just from talons. It makes no sense.” Zarek’s annoyed voice continued.
“I’m afraid talons can have many different effects depending on what creature used them. We’ll have to wait until she wakes to determine the full extent of her injuries. And what the vision told her.” King Carrick tried to reassure but without her sight, her hearing picked up his own concern.
“What’s that face for? Can you sense something? Is she okay?” Zarek asked of his father. She heard the King’s troubled sigh.
“It’s not certain. You know I can’t give you definitive answers, Son. However, my instincts are hinting at something…different. I fear the purpose of the wounds were not for a physical attack but more of an internal effect.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Dad?” Zarek growled the same question that resonated in Kyla’s own foggy mind.
“Her wounds have healed and yet I still feel a sickness clouding her. A soul deep sickness that I worry is going to change things for your quest. Whatever the intentions were for the vision attack, it is my assumption, that they have succeeded.” His voice croaked as Zarek’s sharp intake of breath distinctively chilled the air. Kyla tried to speak but found her vocal cords, remained uncooperative with the rest of her still body. She thought over the Kings words and retreated in her mind to check herself. Feel her soul completely, for any of what he mentioned. If she could have emitted a scream at what she found, she would have.
There was a room in the back of her mind that wasn’t meant to be there anymore. A room where Kyla found the Oracle curled on top of a single bed with iron detailing. Her alter ego was supposed to be merged with the human half of her soul but as she looked around the familiar room, that the Oracle had been in before the merge, she realised what the talons had done. Separated her soul again.
~ 8 ~
Kyla grimaced through the darkness of the room as the Oracle rolled over in the bed to face her. She looked exactly the same as Kyla, but she always wore black, the same flowing black gown that had been present in every meeting with the other half of her soul. Her face was pale though, her eyes were meant to be purple to represent Kyla joining her souls together, but the Oracles bright red irises were very tell-tale, leaving Kyla with the assumption that her own, had reverted to their human blue. Black tears fell down the Oracle’s cheeks as she clutched her stomach and stood weakly from the bed.
“Well that hurt like hell. Neat trick of his. Let’s get this done again and go after the bastard.” The Oracle stepped forward holding her hands out to indicate she wanted them to merge again. Kyla rolled her eyes. She hadn’t missed the Oracle’s gun-ho attitude. The Oracle was pure power, the driving force of the prophecy and had a singular goal to wipe out Onyx. Kyla was the rational half. The human half that considered the consequence. Had a conscience. And actually worried about the casualties that happened along the way. Two halves of a whole. They had to be joined or her powers played up, their interests conflicted constantly, and she was weak. Obviously, the reason for Onyx’s new vision attack tactic. Perfect.
“You look sick. You sure you can do it?” Kyla asked looking over the figure in front of her, that mirrored her image in a creepy way and yet looked as if she was suffering a terminal illness. The Oracle shrugged.
“We have to. We are extremely vulnerable right now and the others need to know there is a very powerful third player in this shit storm. Not to mention we need to be able to follow the lead on the giants and goblins at full power. Hurry up.” The Oracle urged. Kyla sighed and moved forward, clasping the Oracle’s dainty pale hands in her own. They both closed their eyes and let their connection to each other flow, just like last time. Except it didn’t. Nothing happened. Their powers built together then stopped, blocked against completely connecting. Kyla winced as her head pounded dangerously, her nose leaking with blood as the Oracle snarled, stepping back, snatching her hands back.
“Why isn’t it working?” Kyla asked, wiping her nose bleed away. The Oracle narrowed her red eyes, wrapping around herself as goose bumps raised over her nervous skin. She moved over to the big window in the room that let her see everything that Kyla, as a human couldn’t. She slid back the black curtain then gasped in tune with Kyla. It had always been a simple glass window, clear and easy for the Oracle to use as a sort of crystal ball. Not this time. The glass was murky. Fuzzy. No longer transparent to see anything out of. The Oracle clenched her fists, her face blotching with anger as Kyla’s human half cowered in fear. The Oracle usually pushed that fear aside and gave her enough determination to do it but now it was capturing every brave nerve she had in her body.
“There’s only one thing I know of that can pull something like this off. They are powerful but it’s more what they can do with that power, things like mess with souls. Alter vision. But we should have sensed it. They always carry a damp scent to them; it’s suffocating but there was nothing. I think whoever that third figure was in the blurred cloak was not the same creature who did this, only using its power.” The Oracle rambled without revealing the punchline to Kyla.
“What is it then?” Kyla asked impatiently as the Oracle sat down on the edge of her bed.
“It’s annoying that we can’t share the controls in your brain now. I got used to you just knowing what I know. We’re dealing with a Djinn, Kyla. And not just any Djinn. This one has evolved, it’s an ancient.” The Oracle revealed sinisterly as if she should understand the danger.
“A genie?” Kyla frowned but it only had the Oracle rolling her eyes.
“Kind of but not really. They are a type of shadow demon. They can’t be hurt unless in physical form and the only way to make them manifest, is hit them with a dose of centaur ash and even then, they have to be hit again with it before they turn into shadows again to kill them. They are tricksters. With every wish they grant, something goes wrong and the victims end up corrupting their souls to darkness or dead. Either way, their life essence or aura goes to the Djinn, making them more powerful.” Oracle explained as Kyla sat at the small round table in the middle of the room. She was trying to understand but her human side wasn’t so easy to accept what the Oracle knew.
“Lovely. So, what’s an ancient?” Kyla grimaced needing the answer but hating having to ask the question.
“A normal Djinn has teal skin with raised purple tattoos that swirl in patterns over their skin. The more tattoo-the more powerful. Once their body is completely covered in the purple and it connects back to itself, the colour changes to gold on the teal body. They evolve to ancients. Demons that can do this are yet to be defeated in any battle. Unfortunately, it means we are seriously lacking, and we are blocked until that Djinn is dead. They have white eyes and really sharp teeth. They live in the underground area, Inferis with the assassins and pretty much every creature that is trying to kill you for Onyx. The King refuses to banish things without reason, so they haven’t all been exiled yet. Lucky for us, we’ve got to go find it.” The Oracle informed with a sneer before letting out a hearty cough that had black blood tainting her lips. Kyla’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s wrong? Are you really sick?” Kyla asked.
“Yeah, another catch. Djinn feed on auras. Dark auras. I’m power Kyla. Without your human half, I am dark. The magic that he has infected us with through those talons, means we have a tight deadline before he will consume my essence and I will cease to exist-even inside you.” Oracle winced, holding her stomach tenderly as she laid back down on the bed with a sigh.
“How long?” Kyla demanded.
“My guess? About a week. And we won’t be able to merge until then. I
can feed my powers through to you, like last time but they’ll be weak and so will I.” Kyla gasped at the new twist of the knife in their barely surviving mission.
“You’re saying that I have to go to the underground and kill an ancient Djinn, as a human, within seven days?” Kyla shivered. The Oracle nodded weakly with a slight cough.
“Exactly. That’s not the hard part though Kyla. It’s the ash you need to kill it. Centaur ash is the most coveted of all the healing elements. Centaurs don’t die often and when they do, the families are extremely territorial over their bodies. It’s forbidden to have it without a permit, and it costs a lot. And we need enough for two doses.”
“Fantastic. Wait, I don’t have any money.” Kyla realised. She hadn’t even thought of money since being in another realm. The Oracle laughed breathily.
“We don’t have money here, human. We are Velatem, a supernatural realm. Money can be manifested, it’s not a big deal to us, it’s another trivial human thing. We do trade here Kyla. They’ll want something from you. Agree to pay the price and you’ll get the ash.” Oracle explained with a warning in her voice that had Kyla standing at the side of the bed with narrowed eyes.
“What kind of price?” Kyla questioned. Oracle sat up on her elbows with a droll stare.
“Supernaturals want the same things. Blood, souls, auras, sex, servitude, information,” Kyla gasped at the list the Oracle mentioned. Before she could refute, the Oracle continued, “I don’t want to hear it. I’m tired so I’m going to rest, while you do whatever you need to do, to get the ash and go after the Djinn. Now wake up and put our Prince out of his misery.” The Oracle sighed turning towards the plain white wall, away from Kyla. Kyla sighed then moved from the room, shutting the door and going back to the controlling front of her mind.
Her eyes fluttered open as she sat up slowly, grateful that her pain seemed to be subsided. Zarek was by her side in a second as the King watched on with a sombre state.
“Kyla....your eyes?” Zarek gasped as Wyatt walked in and cursed.
“Woah, I forgot how good blue looks on you. I’m guessing we’re in for more shit news?” Wyatt observed dryly. Kyla sighed.
“Yeah, things just got a little more complicated. Turns out, we have to take a detour before heading to the giants territory.” Kyla informed weakly. That had them all frowning. Even the King.
“The Oracle is still inside you?” The King asked, revealing to Kyla how dismal his own health was. Normally he could sense that stuff. Kyla nodded.
“Yeah but she’s been poisoned. Which is why I have to find the creature who did it and kill them so I can merge our souls again, all within seven days. Then Mons. Then my mom.” Kyla planned, trying to sound optimistic but saying all their impossible parts to their suicidal plan out loud, seemed to have the opposite effect.
“How do we find it? Do you even know what it was?” Zarek demanded. Kyla nodded.
“Yeah, and you’re going to like it even less than my giant plan. The Oracle said we’re dealing with an ancient. I have to go to Inferis.” Kyla grimaced. That left them silent. Fear, disbelief, and surprise distorted their features as she watched, having already gone through a similar reaction. Kyla proceeded to tell them everything that happened in her vision, then everything the Oracle had told her. The King had his hands resting, clasped together in his lap over the velvet white robes he wore as Zarek grew more frustrated, pacing throughout her explanation while Wyatt had begun scribbling everything in her journal, with quick messy scribbles.
“My answer hasn’t changed. You are not going. Not because it’s dangerous but because my guess, is that the Djinn gave you that vision on purpose to get you to go there. It’s a trap.” Zarek bit. Kyla listened for the Oracles input. She agreed. Kyla bit her lip, unsure of how to get around it when the King leaned forward.
“May I suggest you carry on as you were then? I understand the Oracle is sick and of course, we must attempt to stop the Djinn feeding off her aura as she dies but it is my assumption, that it is the last thing he will expect you do. He won’t attack, as he will assume you are coming to him and an ancient is a rather hard creature to go up against without something up your sleeve. You may find Byron with the giants and have an advantage or something else that could help. Yes, I feel like it would be the next logical step.” The King offered his wisdom with a distant look in his eye. The Oracle snarled from her room, making Kyla wince at the pain it caused against her skull.
‘Like hell, old man. Kyla, we need to get that Djinn before I die. Going to the Mons can wait.’ Oracle argued from inside her mind. Kyla clenched her eyes shut against the Oracle’s will. She had forgotten how annoying it was to be separated from herself. To have both halves of herself, constantly arguing. But Kyla was the one in control and she trusted the King. The Oracle was dark without her and only held her own interests at heart, whether people got killed along the way or not. Kyla wanted the option where casualties weren’t up for debate. Kyla sighed.
“I think you’re right King Carrick. I should go to Mons. Find Byron or an advantage, even allies before trying to take on an ancient. The Oracle did say I would need centaur ash though, to defeat him. How am I supposed to get that?” Kyla asked nervously, not wanting to pay for it with any of the options the Oracle had mentioned. Shemar stepped into the open sitting room then, his dark skin and dark coat contrasting completely with the white and gold décor.
“It would be my honour to offer you my brothers ashes for a cause as noble as yours, Kyla. He would rest happy, knowing he had helped save the Oracle. He always believed in the prophecy with a passion that I lacked, until the day I was sent to guard you and saw you get up after every battle.” Shemar stated proudly with tears in his eyes as he held his fist against his chest in remembrance. Orion stood by him then, his own fist on his muscled dark chest.
“My father fought for your cause years ago when Onyx endangered us all. He was killed. His ashes are all I have left of him. He would want you to have them for this, Kyla.” Orion declared. Kyla couldn’t have been more surprised if Onyx had appeared right at that moment. Tears streamed down her cheeks, the emotion she saw in the centaurs faces reflected in her own, as she walked up and embraced both of them in turn.
“I know how much the ashes of your fallen mean to your kind. Thank you,” Kyla whispered humbly, kissing their cheeks. Kyla wiped her tears away and turned to the King, Zarek and Wyatt. “If we find Byron, we have a bargaining chip. We can lure the Djinn out. He’s working with Onyx, who won’t let his son die at my hands, he’s too proud for that. When the Djinn comes, I’ll use the ash to force him to manifest, so I can kill him. I should be able to merge with the Oracle pretty quickly after that, so we can bring Byron in. I want him kept alive so I can interrogate him.” Kyla formulated quickly. Zarek scoffed, still on the pessimists band wagon.
“And what if we don’t find Byron, Kyla? What if we go to Mons and waste our time, just for the Oracle to die from Djinn poisoning?” Zarek snapped.
“Have you got a better plan, Zarek? How am I meant to defeat a Djinn who has evolved from having so much power, into someone who can kill me in a vision, while I am stuck at half strength? Do you even remember the struggle it was to use my powers unmerged? I couldn’t use even half of what the Oracle had. Do you really think I would fare better by going straight to the Djinn with nothing?” Kyla argued angrily.
“You have us to help. If we all team up- “Zarek tried.
“And the Djinn may have Onyx in one of his allies’ minds or have Byron himself. Not to mention the dark sources he has claimed that are still unaccounted for. Zarek, I know you are trying to protect me by saving the Oracle as soon as possible but I think your father is right. We need to do this smart. We leave for the giants and goblins territory today. King Carrick, can you arrange that?” Kyla looked past Zarek. He nodded, pride twinkling in his eyes.
“Of course, they are expecting their review any day now since I rescheduled your arrival. Son, would you m
ind taking a walk with me out by the lake?” King Carrick looked towards Zarek expectantly, speaking of the calming lake that lay beyond the gardens. He often talked with Kyla out there, the water had some kind of peaceful powers within it that calmed her, made her think in his fortune cookie ways. That’s when she gasped and looked towards him. The King nodded towards her as he followed Zarek’s frustrated body. The King was going to tell his son he was dying.
~ 9 ~
Tears pricked her eyes as they left. She took a deep breath then turned to Wyatt who handed her journal over to her. It had a record of their entire journey thus far and was her lifeline. She accepted it gratefully.
“We should go get something to eat, then get packing.” Kyla said to Wyatt who nodded and followed her from the sitting room into the dining hall. A breakfast buffet awaited them as the centaurs shadowed them. Kyla stopped them.
“We’re not leaving for another couple of hours. Go spend it with your families and then you can bring the ash back with you. Thank you both.” Kyla smiled.
“As you wish, Oracle.” Orion bowed his head respectfully with a grateful gleam in his dark eyes. Kyla rolled her own eyes.
“Not the Oracle at the moment, Orion. Just Kyla.” She smiled.
“As you wish. Kyla.” He winked before he left indicating for Shemar to follow. Kyla grinned then sat down next to Wyatt at the table, who had already filled his plate with pancakes. Kyla chuckled lightly then sat down and sighed, pulling an omelette onto her own.
“You really think going to the giants area will help?” Wyatt asked with genuine curiosity. Kyla chewed slowly then shrugged.
“I have to believe it will. I feel like it’s the right thing to do. That vision that hurt me, wasn’t one the Oracle received. It was one the Djinn created. That means I wasn’t technically meant to receive it, so I’m hoping I can stay on karma’s good side by staying on my original course.” Kyla admitted. Wyatt frowned at her.
