Children of Sun (Oracle's Legacy)

by R. B. Holbrook

  He sat down, considering what he knew, and the answer hit him. Because of her family.

  ()()()

  Silver Spring, Maryland

  Though Ollie couldn't sleep most of the night, she lay in bed, flopping around like a fish out of water. This was the last day she wanted to experience, and as the sun came up, she tried not to think about what was coming. Voices came from the hallway. Her brothers were already up. And someone would be coming in soon to wake her, thinking she was still asleep.

  Ollie rolled over and looked at the light coming through the window. Feeling a pain in her side, she cursed. She slowly rolled to her other side. Putting her hand under her shirt, she touched the skin on the right side of her stomach. The slightest touch stung it. She was bruising again. Sitting up, she made her way to her bathroom. A quick shower and a rub of analgesic cream should ease the pain. She stood in front of the mirror, trying to think of what she had done to earn this bruise. But her mind wouldn't give her any answers. Never did.

  Come on, girl. They'll be coming to bug you soon. She jumped into the shower. Once washed and dressed, she made her way down the hall. She looked into the kitchen, where she saw Ellis and Troy talking, waiting for her. When Ellis spotted her, they got up and followed her downstairs.

  Walking into Mama's condo, Ollie noticed that everyone was gathered there. Though the kids looked barely awake, the adults were alert. Geo had the phone system set up in the living room for a conference call. O-no was already connecting all of the family members. Even Wolfe was there. Good. She took a seat between Troy and Ellis at the dining room table before taking a deep breath. Yeah, this wasn't going to be easy. Not for any of them. But it had to be done.

  O-no gave Geo the go-ahead to proceed.

  "I think this is everyone except JC," the eldest said.

  "Should have known that snot JC wouldn't show." Ollie frowned. She was going to end up paying that punk brother a visit.

  "It's not what you think, Ollie. House of Flame has an eye on him." The voice carried through the speaker of the phone system. The angelic one.

  "Thanks, Angel. You just saved his ass."

  "I know. Continue, Geo," their sister said.

  "As you know, we rarely have a meeting like this--"

  "Try never," a male voice said through the system, interrupting Geo. Bold move, Wildcard.

  "I suggest you let me finish." Geo's tone gained absolute silence.

  Ollie couldn't help but snicker.

  "I know that's you, Ollie." The voice came again this time, sounding grim.

  "Sorry, Wildcard, but you are so getting a visit. I feel for you, my brutha." She tried to stifle it as Geo narrowed his eye.

  "Well, being you right now doesn't sound like a good deal either, being in the same room and all," he reminded her.

  "Wildcard. Ollie." Geo growled.

  "Okay," they said in unison. Ollie held up her hands in surrender before Geo ripped into her.

  With a tightened jaw, he continued. "Some of you may have noticed an increase in recent activity in the Structure. There is going to be a shift in power, and it could get ugly. Houses are preparing for war. Our position is to keep our mouths shut and to stay as far from the heat as possible for however long we can." Geo paused, looking directly at Mama. Grief was hitting him and he needed a moment to gather himself.

  "What Geo means," Ollie said, "is that our tangle in the web is inevitable. We are right smack dab in the middle of it. For those of you who don't know it, which is most of you, it's time for the choosing process." Cursing came from all around.

  "Wait! It hasn't been two hundred years yet." Ric frowned.

  "Actually, it has been. We only have a few more months, but the Structure knows that the Oracle's lifespan is near its end." Geo stood tall.

  "Mama?" Ric turned to the old woman, who was rocking in her chair, smiling.

  "I don't understand." O-no frowned. "Mama is only--"

  "Approximately two hundred and fifty years old, give or take a couple of years," Ellis told him. "She conceals it well."

  "Wait--Mama is the Oracle?" Bones and Miko looked at each other in shock.

  "Yes." Ellis cleared his throat before explaining, "When the last selection process occurred, there was a great war among the Houses, wiping out all high-level contenders. Mama and our father were the only high-levels left. Father declined it, so Mama took the position to stop the fighting. Mama was a Level Two at the time, and as you know, second levels are guaranteed about two hundred years of extra life, if health allows. Therefore, because Mama has not advanced, her time grows short, as does her role as Oracle. And Oracles serve until death."

  "And now is the time for the selection process to begin again." Geo stood like a commanding officer. "That means you all will need to be alert. People will be looking for her and for Angel. I think most of you will be safe if you lay low. Ollie is planning on moving out to keep the attention away from everyone. However, I need everyone to remember the emergency contacts and escape procedures."

  There was a long silence as O-no looked at Ollie in confusion. He wanted to go with her; it was there in his eyes.

  "Why is there going to be a war?" little Miko asked.

  "Ellis." Geo gave the twin the floor.

  "The Oracle is officially the head of the Structure. All decisions that influence the Structure as a whole go through the Oracle. When an Oracle is selected from a certain House, that House automatically has a considerable amount of control over the entire Structure. Most decisions will be swayed toward a certain House. Now that a new Oracle is required, all Houses and factions within the Houses will have candidates vying for the Oracle position. The strongest in their Houses will proceed to challenge for the position. The more candidates, the longer the process. So some of the Houses will do what they can to eliminate the competition. The procedure includes a series of ancient tests and examinations, and none of them are straightforward. The one who passes the tests, or who is the last one left after several eliminations, becomes the Oracle. Nevertheless, the Houses will all be trying sabotage and swaying results in their favor. It is a repulsive time for the Structure. Just imagine if you will, being sovereign over a people who not only control commerce and trade, but world governments and their militaries." Their eyes widened in realization. "Assassins and trackers have already been deployed," Ellis finished.

  A female voice came over the phone system. "Hey, did you all hear about those trackers that were found dead at a gas station in Atlanta?"

  Ellis, Troy, and Geo all looked at Ollie. She rolled her eyes. Man, she wished she could go through the phone system and kick Flirt's ass.

  "It's best you not go home for awhile, Troy," Geo said, and Troy nodded. "Ric, I will make sure you and your family get adequate protection. We want to keep Jen as comfortable in her healing as possible. Star said she will stay as long as you need her,"

  "Thank you, Star," Ric said into the phone system.

  "Anything for you," she responded.

  "So go ahead and get packed," Geo told him. "Angel is tucked safely away, so you don't need to worry about her safety."

  "Is she going to try for the position of Oracle?" O-no asked.

  "Yes, when the proceedings begin. I already have several guards assigned to her safety when she goes."

  Too bad they didn't know what she knew. Ollie suggested, "If you need any extra--"

  "I know, Ollie." Geo nodded. "But you have your own problems." He looked at her, worried. "There's one thing we don't need to worry about. Granger has no interest in the position, and House of Heart will not be vying for the position. House of Blade only has one candidate, whom we will not hear about until the process begins, and anyone stupid enough to go after the candidate deserves the hell they put themselves in. It was mentioned that most of House Blade is preparing to run interference between Houses, so they have no interest in participating in the hostilities other than to control damages."

  "I heard a rumor that Demon's Wra
th is on the prowl," a female voice said over the phone system. Flirt again.

  Geo didn't respond. He looked around the room. He liked ignoring her.

  Ollie just laughed.

  "Who is Demon's Wrath?" Miko asked.

  "The boogeyman in House lore," O-no answered.

  "I think that is everything," Geo said dismissively. "Any questions?"

  "Don't doubt me," Flirt said. "I'm dead serious about Demon's Wrath, you guys. They found Demario Pezzoli--you know, that House of Sun grand historian. Anyway, they found him dead in his home yesterday, frozen to death from the inside out."

  "Geez, Flirt, there are kids in the room," Cee spoke up.

  "So sorry. Anyway, seers say it was Demon's Wrath."

  "Wait, yesterday … his home is in Italy? And you already found this out?" Geo frowned. He usually was the first to get inside info about House Sun.

  "I … um …"

  "Somebody's been to Italy recently?" Troy chuckled.

  "And the Idiot of the Day award goes to … drum roll, please." Ollie grinned as Troy and Ellis began beating on the table. "The fastest ass in the Western and now Eastern hemisphere … Stephanie 'Flirt' Jackson!"

  "Thank you, thank you." Her sister accepted the award with dignity. That was Flirt. Got to love her.

  "Meeting adjourned," Geo groaned, massaging the sides of his head with the tips of his fingers. Even Geo couldn't handle all nineteen of them at once.

  Ollie got up to leave when she began to feel her side stinging. Walking to the door, she decided today was a good day to lock herself in. She wasn't in any mood to face anything.

  "Ollie?" Ellis came up behind her.

  "I'm going to take a nap," she said without turning to face him.

  "You just woke up," He said, but she needed some time to herself. Everything was too real right now, and she just needed … time.

  Once in her own space, she walked through the kitchen to the door that connected her condo and Ellis's and closed it. She went over to her stereo system and put on some jazz, which played throughout her condo. Ollie went into her room and collapsed onto her bed, listening to the music as it stroked her nerves and her mind.

  Mama was slowly fading. Her strength was waning, even though her mind was as sharp as ever. It wasn't fair. She should have more time. More time with her family and more time to teach them. It was going to be so hard without her. Damn, her side hurt.

  Ollie wiped the tears from her eyes. The only mother who truly loved her was going farther than Ollie was able to go with her. It would be so hard. Ollie had known for a long time now that it was coming. She had seen it before everyone, and when she had spoken to the shaman, all the woman did was smile. Death is natural. You above all else should know that. That was the only answer she got, hours after she questioned her mother.

  Yeah, death was natural. And it was the only sure thing. But that didn't make it hurt less when it hit. Ollie didn't wipe the tears away this time. She just let them flow and mingle with the pain in her side. She wasn't the only one who was suffering, and she wasn't the only one who was going to have to deal with this. So she needed to pull herself together and be prepared. Even though he didn't show it, Geo would be the one who suffered the most.

  Relaxing her mind, she let her powers ease off and rest. As the tears continued, she closed her eyes. A couple of hours, all she needed was a couple of hours.

  ()()()

  6

  The Oracle sat in the living room, breathing in the smell of tobacco as her children all talked and looked at her with worry. Pain was stronger in the air than the burning leaf. They wanted her to stay. But there was no wishing away the inevitable.

  Death was the inevitable. She smiled to herself. Death was as certain as the daughter sleeping one floor above her. Even the most powerful of beings could not control it. Not like they wanted.

  She thought of her family, the Structure. They knew no fear, because fear had yet to raise its head. Seeing it coming over the horizon, her toes curled in anticipation. The fear was as real and raw as knowing you could do nothing about it. The world will see the truth, and then what, my children? Will you turn and run, or will you face it this time?

  No one could control the unknown.

  She chuckled as Bones looked over at her and smiled. Even he couldn't see everything that sat before him. The secret slowly coming to light. And she couldn't wait until they saw, they truly saw that death was coming.

  Ollie woke to a knock at her bedroom door. She looked out the window. It was dark outside. She had slept longer than she wanted to. She pulled herself up from the bed and stopped abruptly as the pain shot through her body. She waited for it to dim before she went to the door. She opened it slowly, and Scott was shoved into her face.

  "Bye, Aunt Ollie." The kid's voice sounded more masculine than she remembered.

  "Bye, cutie." Ollie kissed the chubby cheek of her nephew before opening the door wider.

  Ric lowered the little boy to his feet and looked at her with sad eyes. He put his hands in her hair and tried to put some order into the unruly mess. Then he placed a kiss on her forehead.

  Ollie quickly grabbed him and held him.

  "How long will you be gone?" he asked her as he held on.

  "Until this mess is over, and as long as the kids are safe." The tears rose again, but she held them at bay. Crying didn't do a damn thing for her.

  "If you need me …"

  "Take care of Scott and Jen." She kissed him on the cheek. "They need you now, and you need them. I will come visit as soon as I can." Ollie pulled herself away from him. "Don't worry about us. We'll be fine." She smiled to reassure him.

  "I know. At least I know you will be fine," he grinned, pulling on the sides of her shirt.

  She flinched.

  "Whoa." Ric frowned pulling up her shirt unexpectedly. He looked down at her right side. "How long?"

  She pulled down her shirt. "Come on, man, give me some privacy."

  "That one is larger than usual. It's because of Mama, isn't it?"

  "Who knows?" Ollie looked down at Scott and reached down to pick him up, ignoring the pain. "I will walk you to the car."

  "Tell me, or I'm going to Geo."

  She stopped dead in her tracks. "Ric, I'm holding your son right now. Don't make threats to me." She looked him dead in his kind eyes.

  "You are a cold one." Ric reached for his son. "Just promise me you will take it easy."

  "I'll try. No promises," she said, walking out with them.

  "Does Ellis know?"

  "Ahhhh, I'm sure he will." The moment she moved wrong in front of him, he would piece it together. He had probably noticed this morning. And he'd be twice as worried.

  She walked with him to the parking garage.

  After putting Scott into his car seat, Ric turned to Ollie. "I know you are going through some things."

  "So are you," she reminded him.

  "But you should consider trying to figure out--"

  "Ric," she interrupted, not wanting to hear his concerns. He aired them enough and it was time they took this song off repeat.

  "Damn, Ollie, we care about you. This is not normal."

  "I'm not normal."

  "I swear you're a pain in the ass." He hugged her before getting in the car.

  "Be careful." Ollie waved before he pulled off. She had no doubt he'd call Geo and spill it as soon as he was far enough away. And as soon as Geo found out, the world would come to an end.

  Opening her cell phone, she dialed quickly. "Troy, you want to go for a drink? Meet me downstairs."

  ()()()

  Bossier City, Louisiana

  Granger walked through the front entrance where the cars were displayed like trophies outside the mansion: A beautiful display of power and machinery. Classic American sports cars, every make and model before 1980, fully restored and refurbished. Hooser loved cars, but his shrine clearly showed worship above love. The night was warm on his front lawn. Flowering bushe
s lined the outside of the house while freshly waxed muscle cars decorated the whole of his house. He made sure that everyone parked far enough away from the house so that they had to walk through his maze of automobiles in order to coo.

  Granger wasn't interested.

  Before his hand touched the doorbell, the door opened, and a young man answered with his head down. Greg Hooser. What the hell was Junior doing home? And why was he answering the door?

  "My father is this way."

  Was he being subservient? Holy ... What had the boy done to deserve this? As he followed the young man, he noticed that the lights in the house were dimmed. The awesome décor that Melissa had spent a year coordinating couldn't be seen in its full glory. The angelic mosaic that adorned the entrance was no more than a dark picture on the floor. The exotic paintings in the hallway, normally serene, were haunting.

  "Granger." Melissa Hooser met him in the hallway. The sister was here too. Hooser was in a bad place. The man had summoned Granger for a favor if he'd brought his daughter from out of town.

  "What's going on, Melissa?" Granger looked at the redhead. She just bowed her head, as if ashamed. Bad move. Granger immediately began looking into her soul, reading her. They didn't need money. Business wasn't in trouble. Yet …?

  So Greg had pulled a bad deal, and it was going to look bad on business if they didn't do something quick. That was why Granger was here.

  Granger moved past the woman into the study, where Hooser stood immediately. He was a stocky Cajun with red hair and blue eyes. Though he loved his kids, he was a strict father. And he was equally strict with his business. That was why Granger liked him. Until now.