The Death Prophecy (The Oracle Series Book 2)

by N. J. Cooper

  “You know what smores are?” She asked. He scoffed and took a bite out of hers. She laughed and pulled it away, biting into the dessert herself. He chuckled then wiped a string of marshmallow from her lip. She sucked in her breath sharply at the contact, her eyes going straight to his. He pressed his thumb to his lips, eating the marshmallow himself. She watched every slow movement he made, her breath raspy, heat bubbling beneath her skin. Her stomach flipped at the way his eyes burned hers with their look. A clinking sound to the side of them drew her attention reluctantly away and she saw Lincoln grinning at them, a glass in his hand as he clinked it with a fork. She blushed as the rest of the pack started wolf howling and clinking their own glasses. Kyla looked to Zarek who grinned at her.

  “I think they want us to kiss.” Zarek leaned forward.

  “Are we allowed?” Kyla whispered.

  “It’s expected.” He smiled widely, looking over to Lincoln who winked at them. It was weird coming from a twelve-year-old, but his eyes weren’t, and he was showing that he publicly accepted them, which was more than she could have expected from her trip. Zarek stole her thoughts as he pulled her into him, his soft lips falling on hers with a passion she returned. His hand went to the side of her face as her fingers curled into the hair at his nape. His kiss had her stomach flipping excitedly as she pressed into him further, the howls and hoots from the pack around her went completely forgotten. His sweet honey and walnut scent had her clutching for more. She wanted everything he had, to give everything she had but that couldn’t happen yet, and definitely not with an audience. He slowed his lips against hers, pressing them softly against her one last time before pulling back, his breaths as heavy as hers between them. Zarek grinned before turning back to the guard who cheered and clapped at them. Kyla chuckled as Zarek clutched her hand in his with a soft smile at her before integrating back into the night’s fun.

  ~ 23 ~

  Kyla woke from the single bed, the early morning sun beaming bright through the light curtains that didn’t fit the window properly. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, momentarily confused as to where she was when it dawned on her that she was actually in the human realm. Back with the humans. On her own turf.

  “Morning.” Zarek grinned from where he stood, next to the other single bed on the other side of the room. He pushed his phone back into his pocket and walked over to her. Kyla stood up and stretched.

  “Morning.” She said but barely had time to come down from her stretch before he was pulling her into him, enveloping her in a tight embrace, his lips pressing into hers. She sighed against him, her arms going around his neck. She pulled away slightly, her grin infectious.

  “You’re distracting me, and we have to go.” She said against his lips. He chuckled, biting down lightly.

  “We don’t get moments like this when we are in our realm and I plan to take full advantage of that fact.” He replied. Kyla giggled and kissed him back. Her heart skipped a beat as his hands went to her waist, holding her against him. He lowered them to the bed his lips kissing over her neck.

  “What happened to human-romantic?” She laughed as his hands wandered over her. He laughed and hung his head as he stayed above her.

  “What are you talking about? A single bed and a whole lot of werewolves waiting for us downstairs, what’s not romantic about that?” He teased but moved off her. She laughed and sat up, turning to him.

  “I should get ready to go,” She sighed and looked around for her clothes-which were gone, “Where are my clothes?” She asked with a frown, hoping she wasn’t going to have to go out in just the oversized t-shirt she had borrowed from the wolves. He opened the closet and handed her a laundry bag.

  “I’ll see you downstairs, we’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.” He smiled and left. She dressed in the clothes from the garment bag, excited to find jeans, a plain shirt and a jumper in there. So, there were advantages to having the werewolves based in the human realm, at least they knew what jeans were. She dressed, used the bathroom then went downstairs. The guard was waiting for her. She went to them where they stood by an old hatchback Toyota corolla that looked more worse for wear than she had expected.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Kyla asked walking over to them. A heavily pregnant woman who she couldn’t remember the name of, walked over and handed her a coffee, rubbing her stomach tenderly. Kyla accepted it gratefully with a smile then turned to the other guards. Lincoln, Brighton and the scarred man stood there with two others that she didn’t know the names of.

  “We’re going to take you in this thing. It won’t stand out in the community and will be harder to track for how common they are. I’ll drive. Cole will come with us,” Brighton spoke, indicating towards the dark-haired man with the scar, “then Lincoln will be in the woods with Harriett,” he pointed to the muscular dark-skinned woman who had thrown the chess table “Then Aria will follow in another car just in case. The plan is that we will hang back, Prince Zarek will knock on the door, just in case Onyx is in her mind. He won’t attack the Prince, the risk is too high, but he will go straight for Kyla, so she comes in second, once Zarek sees the mother. Kyla, you’ll wait just outside the door and when you know it’s your mother, you can come out.” Brighton went over it. Kyla nodded along and ten minutes later, her and Zarek were in the back of the car and on their way to see her mother. Her apartments were on 8-mile road in Detroit and had Kyla shivering, just the location alone told her much about her mother’s dire situation.

  They arrived at the apartment building, Kyla inspecting every inch of their surroundings with a trained eye. She couldn’t miss how good it was to be around cars and people, even traffic lights. All the things she hadn’t seen in months. The apartment building was an off-white brick with dark brown doors, and black railing around each floor. Kyla bit her lip, her stomach fluttering. She didn’t sense anything so far and although it gave her hope that Onyx wasn’t there at that point, it had her worried where he was instead and wondering whether her mother was even home. Zarek and Kyla climbed out as the wolves nodded, waiting tensely so they could follow behind once they were far enough away. They stopped on the second floor, Kyla trying to calm her erratic pulse. She pressed her back against the cold wall of the building, her mother’s apartment door next to her. Zarek tapped his knuckles lightly on the wooden door, his posture straight, his eyes narrowed as he waited. Kyla’s body tensed as she sensed movement. The door opened slightly and her eyes clenched shut waiting for the voice she hoped for. Her mother’s usually soft voice came out as a harsh rasp though.

  “Who are you? What do you want?” The voice demanded. Zarek kept his composure.

  “Lorraine Rhodes?” He verified. Her mother didn’t answer straight away making her nervous. Finally, she heard her talk again.

  “Who wants to know?”

  “My name is Zarek. I need to speak with you about something important. Are you alone?” He asked. Kyla checked the scent of her mother and other than bourbon and cigarettes, there was no electricity on her aura, nor the darkness she had expected. Her mother seemed clean.

  “What’s a guy like you need to talk to me for? You lost your mommy little boy? Coz I sure ain’t gonna be the kind of mommy you want in ya life, trust me sweets.” She rasped. Kyla clenched her eyes shut against the statement that went against everything she remembered of her mother. Zarek sighed and looked towards Kyla who shook her head, no, she didn’t sense Onyx. He looked back to her mother.

  “It’s about your daughter, Kyla, Mrs Rhodes.” He spoke slowly and quietly. Kyla wished she could have seen her mother’s reaction but as it was, she only heard the strangled sob that came from her hoarse throat.

  “My daughter is dead, same as my husband.” She whispered. Kyla’s jaw dropped. Her mother thought she was dead? Why was she helping Onyx then? She couldn’t wait any longer, she had to find out what her mother’s role was. Kyla stepped away from the wall and into her mother’s line of sight, her blue eyes connecting as she smirked.

/>   “Hey mom.”

  Her mother’s face drained of what little colour it did have, her bony fingers clutching the door, her cigarette falling from her fingers.

  “No. This is impossible.” Her mother whispered. Kyla shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “It’s not impossible mom. It’s really me.” She cried. Her mother fell into Kyla, her sobs heaving through her whole body, her fingers clutching to Kyla. Kyla cradled her mom, patting her straw-like hair, shushing her like a baby. Finally, her mother looked up into Kyla’s eyes, her short frame still hunched into her.

  “I…How are you here? I don’t understand.” She whimpered. Kyla looked around them, making sure the wolves were standing guard, which of course they were then shuffled her mom inside her tiny apartment.

  “C’mon mom. We need to talk.” Kyla ushered. They all moved inside, and Kyla tried not to cringe at the apartment that was tinier than her dorm at the Academy. Her mother moved about quickly, shoving aside newspapers, cigarette butts and ashtrays and the multitude of bourbon cans so they could sit down. Kyla sunk into the scratchy couch but Zarek remained standing next to her. Her mother shoved everything into a trash can that was already overflowing then straightened herself out as much as her shabby, layered clothes would let her. She sat next to Kyla, her eyes still watering.

  “I missed you. I thought you were dead. How are you alive?” Her mother rushed. Kyla frowned; it had been what she was going to say.

  “I wasn’t home when you and dad were attacked, mom. Why would you think I was dead?” Kyla wondered, the memory of the night her parents had supposedly ‘died’ one she had resisted recovering until that point. The blood on the walls, the uplifted furniture, her father’s body all came rushing back in images making her wince. Her mother frowned harder, her fingers going to rest on her head in concentration before she looked up.

  “I don’t remember. I woke up in a doctors room and they said you and Tom were dead.” She said before sobbing again. Kyla winced. That’s not what had happened, and her mother had been deceived by who and why?

  “Mom. I wasn’t home. We were broken into; I was out at a friend’s for the night and came home to dad who was dead. Then the police got there, making me leave before I found you but there was so much blood and they said you were both gone. I moved in with Uncle Gavin after that and have been there ever since.” Kyla spoke remembering the events clearer than she ever wanted to. Her body shivered and she was grateful when Zarek’s hand came to rest on her shoulder. Her mother was crying at the explanation then paused, her face confused, she paused and cocked her head to the side.

  “Wait, you were staying with who?” Her mother asked.

  “Uncle Gavin-dad’s brother.” She frowned at her mother’s expression.

  “Kyla. Your dad doesn’t have a brother. You don’t have an Uncle on his side.” Her mother spoke softly, her expression saying that she thought maybe she was the one in the right after all. Kyla stood up, backing away with a frown.

  “Yes. I do. I have to otherwise…” Kyla’s mind rushed with possibilities of who she had been staying with. She turned to Zarek “Unless Onyx has had me watched this entire time, so he knew exactly when I got my powers, knowing that was when he was able to get out,” Kyla realised. Zarek cursed under his breath. Kyla spun to her mom.

  “I need you to tell me exactly what has happened since it happened. Since that night.” Kyla demanded. Her mother sighed, lighting a cigarette and taking a few anxious puffs.

  “My doctor said I had a sickness, some kind of cancer or something and gave me some meds to take care of it. Then I tried to get back and see you and your father, but the insurance wouldn’t cover anything, I ran out of money and the doctor said if I did a few favours for him he would pay my bills and I’d have somewhere to live. So, I’ve been staying here, he pays for my meds and I do these few things for him. Don’t worry not sexual, I’m not that far gone but it’s bad Kyla, I don’t remember most of it. He says it’s just because of my illness, that black outs are common, but the nightmares are awful. I try to question him about them since they seem so real, like the things in them actually happened but he brushes me off, so I guess that means it’s fine. That I’m fine.” Her mother trembled as she cracked open a bourbon from the pack on the table, sculling it quickly as if it was a miracle cure to her problems, Kyla had a feeling that wasn’t what was going on though. She looked back at Zarek, something wasn’t right.

  “Mom. These nightmares, do you think they’re of stuff that has actually happened?” She asked. Her mother rolled her eyes.

  “I know how crazy I sound, okay? Yes, they feel real, but they’re just nightmares, sure.” She scoffed. Kyla shook her head and took her mother’s rough hands in hers.

  “I don’t think you’re crazy mom. I believe you. If I show you some photos, can you tell me if the people in your visions are the same as them?” Kyla asked grabbing the waiting phone from Zarek’s hand. The mother raised her eyebrows then leaned forward. Kyla showed her pictures of the Elders who had been murdered on the human side of the veil. Her mother screamed and scrambled backwards, her hand shaking as she pointed to the picture.

  “How…No…I checked the papers. Nobody died. How did you….” Her mother fretted, her fists going to her head as she clenched her eyes shut. Kyla rushed over and wrapped her mom in her grasp, holding her the way she used to be held, rocking her gently.

  “Mom it’s okay. I promise. I’m going to explain everything, but I need a few more answers from you first,” Kyla whispered, “Can you help me just a little bit more?” Kyla asked, wiping her mother’s frayed fringe to the side. Lorraine nodded weakly.

  “What did your doctor give you? The meds, do you still have them?” Kyla asked, a shiver running through her spine. She was getting closer. Her mother nodded and went through to her bathroom then came back with a small pottle of pills. Kyla frowned, there was no label.

  “How often are you meant to take these?” She asked. Lorraine shrugged.

  “My doctor calls and tells me when to take them so I don’t forget.” She explained. Kyla shook the bottle, her body tensing as the energy around it arced. She dropped the pills with a gasp and stepped back, watching through the Oracle’s eyes as black steam swirled around the pottle, hissing. She looked back at Zarek.

  “That’s how he is getting into her head.” Kyla pointed to them on the floor. Zarek nodded and went out the door to get one of the guards as Kyla took her mother through to the bathroom. It was time to let her mother in on what was going on, she wasn’t crazy, she was just uninformed.

  “Mom. You’re not sick and those pills are not good for you. They’re keeping you drugged and at the mercy of a very bad thing. I have a lot to go over with you and not much time but you need to keep it together so we can all get out of here alive before your doctor calls again, okay?” Kyla rushed, grabbing a flannel from the sink and wiping her mother’s face with it. Lorraine nodded quickly, her eyes steeling with determination.

  “I can handle it.” She replied, rolling her shoulders back. Kyla took a deep breath and launched into her explanation about what had really happened, who she was and about the supernatural world that was messing with her. By the end of it, she was sure her mother was going into shock. Her eyes had steeled over, her facial features frozen as her body shook. Kyla bit her lip and called her again. Her mother’s lip quivered before the tears began.

  “I don’t know what to believe anymore, this all sounds so crazy.” She cried.

  “I know Mom, but it’s true. And if we don’t get out of here soon, he is going to realize something is wrong.” She urged. Her mother frowned.

  “He won’t know, he’s on holiday.” She sighed. Kyla frowned, if her doctor on the phone was Onyx then there was no way in hell he was on holiday, he was making his next move.

  “Where is he, Mom? Where did your doctor go?” She demanded. Her mother shook her head.

  “He didn’t tell me, just said thank
you for letting him treat me and that he would be in touch but that after this bottle, I shouldn’t need any more meds.” She whispered. Kyla peered her head out the door to where the guard was scouring the apartment for evidence of Onyx’s presence. She caught Brighton’s arm.

  “Get the phone he’s been using to get in contact. He’s on the move and I think we may be able to trace the phone to wherever he is meant to be going, especially since he hopefully won’t understand how human tracing works.” She revealed. Brighton nodded and went to do it. When she turned back to her mom, she was staring into the mirror with red rimmed eyes.

  “You know, he said it would get this bad. That eventually I would start to see things that were impossible. Come up with crazy delusions that would explain away everything that had happened. Convince me, that I’m not crazy. He warned me and I thought he was full of it. Apparently, he’s not and he told me there was only one way to make it stop.” Lorraine quivered, grabbing at the blades on the bathroom sink and before Kyla could stop her, Lorraine sliced through the flesh of her wrists, opening the vein, blood pouring over her. A contented sigh hit her as Kyla screamed out.

  ~ 24 ~

  “No!” Kyla cried, catching her mother as she fell. Zarek rushed into the room as Kyla wrapped her mother’s wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

  “What the hell?” he demanded. Kyla ignored her raw heart and falling tears.

  “Go get my bag! The one I brung with me. I need the book, Zarek. Hurry!” she ordered, he looked hesitant but left to do as he was told. Kyla pressed down on the wound and went to connect to her powers, but the Oracle snarled.

  ‘No, we can’t. Onyx is so close, Kyla. We have to keep as much energy as we can so we can merge’ Oracle blocked her. Kyla snarled at the idea of leaving her mother bleeding out.

  “Give me the powers, Oracle. I swear to god if you don’t give me this and she dies, I will refuse to merge with your murdering soul.” Kyla snapped out loud. Her mother’s eyelids fluttered as she held her bloodied hand on Kyla’s face.