by N. J. Cooper
THE
FINAL PROPHECY
N.J Cooper
This book is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are completely fictitious.
This book and all its characters, events and particulars are not to be copied as a whole or any part within without expressed consent.
THE FINAL PROPHECY.
©2019 BY Nicole Cooper.
All Rights Reserved.
This book is dedicated to my family x
THE
final PROPHECY
The Oracle Series
Book 3
~ 1 ~
Kyla Rhodes clutched her folder tighter to her chest as she made her way through the halls of Imperium Academy. She was meant to be heading to class like the rest of the student body, but she was on a different quest. One she had been repeating for days. One that she would keep repeating until she had succeeded, and that was getting Wyatt Kerasin to stop sucking face for more than a few minutes so she could tell him how much of an idiot he was being. He had been avoiding her, every chance he got. She hadn’t even been able to tell him about her vision that had revealed the Queen’s involvement with Onyx yet because he refused to talk about it. She understood why, of course. His sister was in some kind of catatonic supernatural trance and didn’t remember who any of them were, he had almost been killed and the King was dead. All of which were valid reasons as to why he wanted nothing more to doing with the prophecies or Kyla and her Oracle status, but she couldn’t let him give in. He was back donating vampires his blood, which in small doses was fine and actually what the vampire community relied on, but he was addicted, and his gaunt, pale face was getting worse by the day. Not that he cared, he was happy going back to how things were. Sleeping with every person in the entire Academy, getting high from the endorphins released when giving blood and naturally, skipping classes that he shared with her. Well, it had to end. She needed help. She couldn’t get through to his sister, Sky, Zarek was forbidden from talking to her while he learnt his duties as the new King and prepared for his wedding with Elanor, Kyla winced at the idea. Thoughts of Zarek, she had managed to barely think about since leaving the mansion after Onyx broke through, but sometimes she couldn’t keep his perfect face from her mind. She shook it away, she would deal with him soon, she wasn’t about to let the love of her life marry someone else but first she had to get some help. She’d been having the same vision for days, the one that told her the Queen was working with Onyx and that Onyx now had her Oracle amulet and since she couldn’t get to the mansion, she had no idea how bad that was for the realm, so she had to find out. Luckily, there was a ceremony happening in the city the next day, one that was going to reveal the new Elders from the Vampire, Goblin and Giant’s community, so she had to be there to get near Zarek. The students in her year were going as compulsory attendance to the event but she needed help to get Zarek alone, so she needed the best distraction she could think of, Wyatt. Kyla moved out of the Academy, onto the patio and across the fields to the building that Wyatt was known for using for his extra-curricular activities. She rounded the building and of course he was there, pushed up against some guy she recognized from fire class. They were topless and intimately entwined together against the wall. Kyla coughed loudly, leaning against the wall with a smirk. Wyatt turned to look at her then rolled his green eyes, turning back to his lover.
“I need your help, Wyatt.” Kyla started. He sighed and pulled away as the guy in front bit his lip, looking awkwardly between them.
“Can’t. I’m busy.” Wyatt bit back through a clenched jaw, shoving a hand through his shaggy blonde hair as he looked for his shirt. Kyla picked it up from the ground in front of her and threw it at him.
“No, you’re avoiding. We need to talk.” She stepped forward again as the guy put his shirt back on while Wyatt yanked his over his head. He turned to his partner.
“I’ve gotta deal with this, Jamie. I’ll meet up with you later, yeah?” Wyatt dismissed as Jamie nodded quickly, looking rather relieved at being let out of the awkward encounter. Wyatt waited for him to leave then stormed up to Kyla, “I told you, Kyla. I want nothing more to do with this. Every time me or my sister gets involved with Onyx or this Oracle bullshit, she gets hurt. I learnt my lesson and I’m not getting involved anymore.” He snapped, going to leave but Kyla grabbed his arm.
“I can’t do this alone, Wyatt. I can’t speak to Zarek about any of this and the centaurs are back to guarding the Royals and something is going to happen, something big, I know it.” She begged. He shook his head.
“You’re not getting it, Kyla; I. Don’t. Care. It’s not my fight, I’m out.”
Kyla glared at him “Damn you, Wyatt. You were the one who wanted to be a part of this in the first place! I tried to keep you out of it, and you begged to have your shot at Onyx for what he did to Sky!” Kyla argued and Wyatt’s face hardened.
“Don’t you think I know how much this is my fault? I know I should have kept me and my sister far away from all this, but I didn’t and now she is paying the price,” Wyatt saddened then looked away, when he looked back, the pain was so fierce in his eyes she shrunk back, “Look, I’m sorry that you lost Zarek and that you feel like there is something more that needs to be done, but Onyx is gone, Kyla. We don’t need the Oracle anymore.” He said and if Kyla hadn’t been so stunned by what he said, she might’ve responded. As it was though, her jaw dropped, and she just stared as he walked away. Kyla’s jaw finally snapped shut and she leaned back against the building, her head falling back on it as she stared up at the cloudless sky. It was the first time since she had been in Velatem Realm that she was truly alone. At first, she’d had Sky, then Zarek had come along and since then, she had always had them both, even Wyatt had stuck by her. Now she had no one. Kyla sunk down to the grass, tears welling in her eyes as pain pounded in her chest. She didn’t want to give up, but with no way to get help, especially since she couldn’t mention the Queen being an accomplice without getting accused of treason, she was stuck. Shemar and Orion, her centaur guardians that used to shadow her and Zarek, were back at the mansion and even they hadn’t contacted her. There was no one else who knew of what had really happened to get rid of Onyx. Kyla wallowed until her brain remembered the last thing she expected. There was one more person who knew the details. A person she really didn’t want to ask for help from but was also the most likely person, who was able to get a message across. Elanor.
Miss Elanor Dior. Zarek’s fiancée. The girl who Kyla just couldn’t seem to get along with. She was Queen B, and although Zarek was attending royal duties, Elanor was attending classes, showing off her new princess status to the entirety of the school. Kyla knew it was exciting and it was probably something that she had dreamed about since she was a girl, so the gloating wasn’t that surprising, but Kyla just couldn’t let the situation between them go and neither could Elanor, so they remained at a constant hostile stalemate with each other. Kyla had never wanted a life in the spotlight like Elanor did, and neither understood that about each other. Kyla shook her head clear of the warning bells in her mind and knew that with no one else to turn to, Elanor was her last resort and she was going to try it. She stood from the grass, brushed herself off and rushed through the grounds, up to the dorms. She ran to Elanor’s dorm, knocking on the door with a rapid pace until Elanor swung it open, crossing her arms, and popping her hip in a signature way. Her sequinned white blazer was paired with white slacks and a silk gold blouse. Always beautiful and always in the realm colours.
“Look Oracle, I may have tried to defend you to the Queen ages ago and totally admired you tak
ing out Onyx, but I just don’t like you, okay? I have to see your annoyingly pretty face every five seconds in Zarek’s head, I don’t want to see it turning up at my dorm.” Elanor sighed, rolling her eyes. Kyla sucked in a breath, Zarek was thinking about her? Somehow since he hadn’t been contacting her, she had assumed he had forgotten about her or what they had done before she had left the mansion but knowing that he hadn’t, gave her even more determination to see him and tell him of her vision, even if she was able to just get more information about what it meant that Onyx had her amulet. She wasn’t ready to tell him about his mother’s involvement yet.
“I’m not thrilled to be here either, El, but it’s important. Can I come in?” She asked. Elanor’s jaw clenched.
“As long as you promise not to call me that horrific nickname again, then yes, you may.” She said with her head held high.
“Deal, Elanor.” Kyla said. Elanor nodded and let her in.
Kyla had never seen her room and should’ve expected the insane amount of glitter and sequins. Of course, all in the realm colours but there was just so much texture, Kyla wasn’t sure she wanted to sit on any of the surfaces. Elanor turned to her.
“So, why are you here?” She asked. Kyla took a deep breath then explained.
“I have no other access to the mansion or Zarek rather, and I need to get there to see him. Tomorrow they are picking the new High Council members and Zarek needs to hear about the vision I had before he chooses. But he isn’t answering my calls, neither is the Queen or even the centaurs. I tried to get Wyatt to contact him, but he is refusing so that leaves you. I need to get in contact with the Prince, and not for myself but because it has to do with Onyx.” Kyla replied. Elanor’s eyes widened.
“Onyx has been banished and is in prison, in the Outlands” Elanor said stiffly. Kyla nodded.
“Yes, for now, but I don’t know if it is going to stay that way.” Kyla explained. Elanor narrowed her eyes on Kyla.
“Are you trying to trick me? You just want to see Zarek, don’t you?” She guessed. She was half wrong. Kyla shrugged.
“I’m not going to lie and say that I won’t enjoy getting to see him again, but it’s not for that.” Kyla promised. Elanor huffed.
“You’re not allowed. The Queen would never agree.” She shrugged but it had Kyla snapping.
“No! You can’t tell the Queen anything about it. I need to speak to Zarek privately.” Kyla demanded but realised her mistake as soon as she said it. Elanor’s mind jumped to conclusions.
“Get out. You are forbidden from the Prince and he is to be married to me.” She bit. Kyla sighed and shook her head.
“He’s going to get out again, Elanor and you can either be the Queen who helped stop it, or the dead Princess. It’s your choice,” Kyla shrugged then went to leave, before turning her head back, “And I know you want this because it is what is meant to be and you think it is best for the realm, but it’s not. None of this is.” Kyla said as she left the room. It took seconds for Elanor to catch up.
“Why do you need to speak to Zarek? Tell me and then I’ll know you are serious. I won’t say anything to the Queen.” Elanor bargained. Kyla didn’t know whether to trust Elanor or not, but she needed to see Zarek.
“I had a vision. One that made me think the fight with Onyx isn’t over and I can’t tell you any more than that Elanor. It has to get to the Prince first because I don’t know enough about what it means. I can’t be sure that it won’t be worse if you know.” Kyla admitted. Elanor narrowed her eyes, folding her arms across her chest.
“You know and nothing has happened yet.” She pushed. Kyla rolled her eyes.
“And what if I am meant to know? What if it is another trap? I am trying not to pull you into that.” Kyla admitted truthfully. Elanor huffed but the indecision in her eyes gave Kyla hope that she might get what she needed.
“Yet, you’re trying to pull Wyatt in?” She asked finally but it was a weak excuse and by the blushing in her cheeks, Elanor knew that.
“Yeah, because Wyatt can help me fight if I need to. But even then, I wasn’t going to tell him everything either. Look are you going to help me or not? I don’t have time to explain every decision that led me to asking you, because if you say no I have to find another way.” Kyla bit. Elanor bit her lip, looked Kyla over with a scrutinizing eye then finally nodded.
“Fine, I can probably get you five minutes; ten if the Queen is distracted. After Zarek addresses the realm and tells everyone about the Elder Ceremony and how it is going to work, then there is going to be a banquet. At nine pm, I’ll get Zarek to the office just down from the ballroom and you can meet him there. But once he knows, the deal is that I get pulled into the loop, okay?” Elanor said. Kyla nodded.
“Deal, thank you.” Kyla said then turned away, taking her leave back to her dorm. She closed her door behind her then went to her Heidi book with her parent’s words in it, that was under her pillow. She pulled the Kings note from the pages, ran her fingers over her parents note on the inside cover of her book then slid it back under the pillow. Kyla shoved the note into the pocket of her jeans then left her bag and folders in her room to go to the library, that had recently become her favourite place in the Academy to be. She raced down the stairs to the tall room that had a dome, stained glass ceiling with huge windows around the cylindrical space. She came in grinning, as her worries faded just a little at the familiar face that smiled back at her. Her bright blue eyes, her glowing skin, her brown, shoulder length hair. Her mom. She was back, and it still had Kyla sucking in a breath. When they had found her, she had been gaunt, pale, with straw-like hair and a frail frame but she was slowly getting better, back to the mom that Kyla remembered. Kyla walked forward and hugged her mom’s body that was getting stronger with every day. Lorraine wasn’t technically a sorceress but thanks to Zarek, she was allowed in the realm until they figured out why her soul and blood said she was.
“Hey hon. Shouldn’t you be at class?” Lorraine asked in a tender voice. Kyla shook her head and pulled the note from the back of her pocket.
“I need to know what he meant, Mom. The King left me this note because I needed to find out something and the vision I had, kind of did that but I feel like there is more and until I get rid of that feeling, I’m not stopping.” Kyla admitted, sitting down at the dark wooden table that her mother was at, pouring over books of sorceresses and powers.
“You’ll figure it out. You were meant to, and the King believed you could, so have faith in yourself.” She prompted. Kyla nodded but didn’t have the same optimism. She looked over the section of the book her mom was searching, ‘Powers that disappear’.
“Have you found any answers yet? Why you don’t have any powers but are supernatural?” Kyla asked. Lorraine shook her head.
“Nope but I am as determined as you to find out why.” She said, before sighing and handing Kyla a scroll with a white and gold seal. Zarek’s seal. Kyla frowned and unrolled it.
Lorraine Rhodes,
After careful consideration, we have decided that a human in our world is too dangerous. Although your blood work and soul register as a sorceress, with no proof, that is not enough. Due to this, the Royal Family have decided to rescind your invitation to stay in our realm. You have three weeks to find any proof of your status, or you will be sent back to your own realm. Thank you for your understanding,
Queen Lena Kalan, on behalf of King Zarek Kalan.
Kyla’s jaw dropped, angry tears forming in her eyes as her fist clenched on the table.
“That bi—” Kyla started but her mom took the scroll back and shook her head.
“Don’t Kyla. I know it’s hard, but I will find out what I need to and so will you, okay? I am allowed to use as much of the library as I need, and I will figure it out. They won’t take me away when I just got back, okay?” Her mom promised. Kyla nodded; her jaw clenched. Her mother didn’t know about the Queens role in the grand scheme either, but Kyla was getting pushed so far by her, th
at she just wanted to scream it from every place in the realm. But it would do no good. She had to catch the Queen out and others had to see the mistake. Kyla blew out a breath and looked down at the Kings note.
‘Dig deep Kyla, there are secrets that need to come out and when they do, you will have everything you need to beat him, because he will be back and Zarek will need you more than ever when that happens. Stay strong and look closer to home.’
She knew the Queen was involved, that was the closer to home part, but what were the secrets that needed to come out? Was that it? Kyla didn’t think so and stood from the table. Her mother looked up from her book and smiled softly.
“Are you going to meditate?” She asked. Kyla nodded. She had been trying to do what the King had done every day before he died and meditate. The Oracle used to do it and she was hoping that meant it would help her call for visions on demand and control them better. Kyla hugged her mother, kissed her cheek then left out the back of the library to where there was a raised, stone patio. It had a concrete railing around it and hung over the angry ocean below. The sun beamed onto it and the scent of pine and saltwater in the air seemed to be a relaxing combination inside her. Kyla pulled a deep breath in. She rolled her shoulders back then sat down on the concrete, crossing her legs and resting her palms on her knees. She laid the Kings note in front of her and went over the words in her mind, searing them in like a brand, closing her eyes and concentrating on going over each letter, using the back of her mind to reach out for a vision. She breathed slowly, her heartbeat in her ears and she drew deeper into herself. The sound of the waves thrashing against the side of the cliff she sat above, dulled and the words formed in her head over and over again. Kyla stretched her mind again, reaching out through the darkness until it finally touched the fringe of life. A light, an edge of colour that beaconed to her. Kyla moved her conscious towards it, capturing it and pulling it in to the forefront of her mind. She gasped as the darkness collapsed, opening up to a dim scene in a forest she didn’t recognize.
