Oracle: A Diana Hawthorne Psychic Mystery Book

by Carissa Andrews

Even if I wanted to—I couldn’t explain what happens to me. I’ve never experienced it from the other side when the stronger energies take over. I just know what it does to me afterwards.

  Blake must sense how much this has taken out of me, because he stops talking and instead shifts to a more comfortable position and simply holds me. Nothing in this world—and I mean that literally—nothing has felt so good as being in his arms.

  After a few minutes, the world stops spinning, and my head begins to feel more centered. Unfortunately, my ass is falling asleep. I shift slightly—just to release the cramp.

  “How are you doing now?” Blake asks.

  I don’t open my eyes but remain firmly in place—a permanent fixture on Blake’s chest for the time being.

  “A little better, thanks,” I whisper, taking a deep breath through my nose.

  “I didn’t know this took such a toll on you. It didn’t seem like such a big deal before—”

  “It’s okay, Blake. It’s not always like this. Just—sometimes it’s more…powerful than others.”

  “You’re not kidding.”

  “Besides, you wouldn’t be the first to think I was spewing BS,” I say, taking slow, deliberate breaths.

  “After seeing you glowing—I feel like a complete ass. I mean, holy shit, that was intense. Why did you feel like you needed to prove anything to me when you clearly have something crazy unique going on? You should be studied at MIT.”

  I swallow hard, trying to fight the feelings snaking their way around my insides.

  “Lots of reasons,” I finally say. “It was partly for the sake of the girls. Blake—they’re alive, by the way. They’re all still together and alive. They’re planning on moving them tonight, and from what I got—they’re going to be coming back through here in the middle of the night.”

  For a split second, Blake’s hand stops moving.

  “You’re certain?” he finally says.

  “Definitely. They’ll be doing the exchange at 2:00am.”

  I close my eyes, trying to fade out the memory slightly of the man kicking the girls.

  “Alright, so we can set up our trap,” he resolves. “I’ll get Interpol involved in a little bit.”

  “Okay,” I sigh, leaning into him.

  We continue to sit for a moment, listening to the sound of water droplets in the cave make music against the rocks.

  “What about the other part?” he says after a few moments of silence.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You said part of the reason you wanted to come along was for the girls. But that wasn’t to prove anything—it was to get them out alive. So, what did you have to prove?” he urges.

  I bite my lip, trying to decide what to say and what to keep to myself. I’m only just starting to parse it all out for myself—and I’m not sure what any of it means yet. I don’t understand after all this time why I’d want to open myself up again. Why him? Why now?

  “I don’t know—I guess not being able to read you—it’s made me curious. There isn’t much I don’t know—and what I don’t already have as knowledge, I pick up pretty quickly.”

  “Okay?”

  I sigh. “I guess I wanted to spend time with you to understand what makes you so different.”

  His body relaxes a little and his fingertips start to caress the side of my neck. I close my eyes again, focusing on it.

  “And what have you found out so far?”

  “Not sure. I guess I’ll need to keep digging.”

  “Oh, you’re digging, huh?” he chuckles.

  He’s trying to give me something to think about—something other than the dizzying effects of my vision.

  “Sure, why not?” I laugh. It feels good to laugh—ushering in some lighter energy.

  “Warn me when you find something out, would ya?”

  “You’ll be the first to know.”

  “Wonderful,” he says, twisting his fingertips through the tendrils of hair at the back of my neck.

  “What about you, Blake?”

  His fingertips halt their playfulness and his back stiffens.

  “What about me?”

  “What made you want to prove me wrong—or to be near me? Did it really have anything to do with wanting to prove I wasn’t who I said I was? Honestly, after getting to know you more, I don’t think you’re really that kinda guy.”

  I pull my head from his chest to look him in the eye. My head lulls listlessly to the side, but I take a deep breath, holding it upright.

  Warmth rushes through his cheeks, even in this dim light I can see it, and his gaze narrows.

  “Honestly?” he finally says.

  “No, lie to me,” I say, sticking out my tongue.

  Blake rolls his eyes and shoots me a sexy smirk.

  Butterflies escape from my solar plexus and I bite my lip.

  “I think a part of me always knew you had something special. But—it wasn’t about your psychic stuff. There was something about you—the woman you are. Being around you—it’s like…I can’t even describe it. It’s like finding something you didn’t know you were looking for. Like there was something you misplaced, but it had been so long since you last had it—you forgot it even existed. I know that sounds stupid—”

  “What? You weren’t looking for all this?” I say, brushing my hands along my body, and shooting him a dorky grin.

  He laughs again, returning his fingertips to their dance along my neck.

  “Not even a little bit. I was perfectly happy just living in my own little bubble with Aiden. But now…” his voice trails off.

  “Now?”

  “Well, I’d like to see where this could lead,” he says.

  I sit up so I can get a better look at him. He bites his lip, shrugging sheepishly.

  “Glutton for punishment, I see.” I poke him in the rib and raise an eyebrow.

  “Guess you could say that.”

  “Poor fool,” I say, shaking my head and grinning.

  “I’ll be the judge of that,” he says, holding my gaze for moment. His eyebrows flicker up and down as he processes whatever’s flashing through his mind.

  “Will you do me a favor, Blake?”

  “Sure, anything,” he says without hesitation.

  “When we’re through with all this—when it’s all said and done and we’re back in Helena, can we grab that cup of coffee you asked for? I mean, for real this time.”

  Blake’s dimples emerge in a slow, deliberate smile. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  I nod. “It’s done, then.”

  “So it is,” his chin dips in acknowledgment.

  My strength feels like it’s returning and I adjust again.

  “You do know, this means having an actual conversation, though. Right? Telling me more about you—and not freaking out about it. We’ve been through a lot, but I’d like to learn more about the real Blake Wilson.”

  “Deal. I’d like to learn more about the real Diana Hawthorne, too,” he smiles. “Magical psychic stuff notwithstanding, I’m sure there’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.”

  I raise my eyebrows, “Oh, you have nooo idea.”

  Even in the low light of Blake’s flashlight, the weight of his gaze pulls me into it, making my breath hitch in my throat. Something has magnetized me to his eyes and even if I wanted to, I can’t look away. The hints of green and gold hidden in the depths of his eyes are so—familiar.

  The familiarity gnaws at my insides—like a memory you’re trying desperately to cling to but no matter what you do, you just can’t recollect it.

  “I—I don’t know what this is between us, but I’m happy I deliberately bumped into you,” Blake says, the magnitude of his words drawing me in.

  My heart thumps awkwardly, skipping beats as I try to stay grounded—but I’m losing grip fast. This time, it has nothing to do with my abilities.

  “I am, too. But—I just—I mean, we’re in a weird situation right now, you know, trying to find the gi
rls. We should be focused on—”

  His face moves, almost in slow motion, toward me. Those big brown eyes of his close and the intensity of his pull is like the oceans rising to meet the moon. We’ve somehow managed to create a gravity all our own and even if I wanted to stop this collision course—I wouldn’t be able to.

  I suck in a breath and close my eyes, waiting for impact.

  His lips graze mine, gentle—but self-assured. There’s no doubt what he wants from me and he knows I’ll give it to him. In this moment, I’d give him my whole life. I’d lay it all down on the floor at his feet, if I could.

  My inhalation catches in the back of my throat and I lean into him, placing my right hand on his chest. His scent permeates my reality and all I want to be consumed by…is him. There’s something so familiar in his touch—in the energy and essence of him, yet it continues to slip through my awareness the way sand slips from open fingers.

  Blake leans forward, placing both hands alongside my face as he draws me closer; building an urgency to his kiss. It’s as though his essence and mine are bound somehow and we’re only now beginning to realize it.

  Hungrily, his tongue parts my lips, creating the gateway the ancients used to say could merge souls—

  Suddenly, my memory cracks open and flashes of times long past—recollections I’ve never had access to begin to flood my awareness.

  16

  SPLIT APART FROM THE PRESENT MOMENT, I’m suddenly viewing myself from the outside as I walk these same long cavern tunnels. Tears stream down my face, and my heart is shattering into a billion pieces. Clutched in my hand is a small dagger, sharp enough to claim a life—but I sense that’s not my intent. Even then, even in the ancient past, I know I can’t die—even if I’d want to. Instead, I’m painfully aware of my eternal life, but there’s no way I can live with this type of heartache. The pain of this loss is too unbearable.

  I try to focus, to see who or what has caused the heartache, but the memory is still clouded—aspects of it shielded from me.

  Staying with the vision, I continue to follow myself as I meander the cavern tunnels to the location I’m seeking—the area with the most potent power so it can assist me in what I have planned. Not only is the pathway an energetic vortex, but it’s not easily accessible. This is good—I can’t risk having everything destroyed.

  As I reach the tunnel at last, I don’t hesitate. Instead, I immediately begin the chant and start my plea to Mnemosyne. To what purpose, I’m not entirely sure. I only know I have to complete the sacrifice and carve out the sacred symbol before any of Apollo’s servants can stop me.

  The fissure in my memory seals back up—closing whatever gateway granted me a glimpse of what was.

  I pull back from Blake’s kiss—my eyes wide and heart thrumming loudly in my chest.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Blake says, mirroring my surprise.

  What the hell do I tell him? Oh, hey, by the way, I just had a vision from a past I’ve been trying to get access to for as long as I’ve been alive. Oh, yeah, and just so you know, I’m over two millennia old.

  Screw that.

  “I uh—I just had another vision,” I say, thinking up something fast.

  “What was it? What did you see?”

  “Blake, you’ll need to make your call to Interpol right away. Get them here and ready, they’re considering making their move sooner. In the meantime, I need to go back in—try to get more info,” I say, hoping it will mean him having to get outside to find cell signal.

  “Are you sure? Shouldn’t I wait until we know you’re okay?”

  His eyes search mine, concern permeating all of his features.

  “I’m sure—I’m okay,” I say, nodding. “I’ll be fast. In and out to get the information I need.”

  Blinking wildly, Blake finally nods to himself, letting his hands slide down to my arms. He pauses a moment, tugging his eyebrows in just before he leans forward and places his lips against my cheek.

  “Okay, I’ll go make the call. Just—please, be careful. Or better yet—wait for me to come back?”

  I shake my head. “I’ll be okay, I promise. I’ve been doing this my whole life.”

  Taking a deep breath, he finally nods.

  I lean forward, placing my hands alongside his face and pulling him to me. More present and aware this time, I put my own desperate fervor into the kiss. Enjoying the fleshy part of his bottom lip, I tug gently at it with my teeth before parting his mouth and sliding my tongue inside.

  He shudders breathlessly but pulls me closer to him and hungrily returns my advances.

  I don’t know what it is about him—or why—but for opening my memory, even temporarily, he deserves a kiss and so much more.

  Blake groans, his hands sliding to my back as he takes a seat and lifts me onto his lap. My arms wrap around his neck and I press myself into him.

  “Get a room, guys. This is a public place,” someone hollers out.

  Startled, we both break apart and look around.

  A group of three pimply teenage boys stand and gawk from a few feet away. They snicker and point—one with their phone out, no doubt SnapGramming—or whatever the hell it’s called.

  My hand flies to my mouth in attempt to keep myself from telling them where to shove it. Instead, absurd giggles erupt from my lips and Blake’s boisterous laugh joins in the chorus.

  “Dude, talk about robbing the cradle,” one of the boys says before they all walk out.

  Blake snorts, but casts a sideways glance my direction.

  I roll my eyes and shake my head.

  “Whatever. Ignore them,” I say.

  Honestly, they’d probably all be mortified to know they’re right—but not the way they’re thinking now.

  The thought makes me laugh again and I climb off of Blakes lap, reaching for his hand to help him to a stand. He reaches for my offering and grabs hold of his flashlight beside him on his way up.

  Dizziness tickles at my temples, but I ignore its commands and instead, lean into Blake. He wraps his arms around me and places his cheek against the top of my head.

  We both release a strange, blissful sigh of contentment.

  “Alright—looks like I have a phone call to make. I’ll be right back, okay?” he says, not actually moving.

  Sighing one last time, I nod.

  “Okay, I’ll be here.”

  Blake leans down, brushing my lips gently before sauntering out. I stand back, watching his perfect ass move in a whole different light—a far dirtier one, for sure.

  Shuddering to myself, I pull out my flashlight again and flip it on. I’m gonna have to make this excursion quick—or it’s gonna freak him the hell out.

  Clambering over the rocky outcroppings, I follow my inner guidance and cling to the remnants of the vision for where to go. I don’t feel like it’s all that far, but I need to see for myself if the place in my vision was real. If it is, then maybe it will help me unlock more of my memories.

  My insides claw at one another, the further away I get—I shouldn’t be doing this. I should have backup, or at the very least, I should have told Blake I was going to check something out. I should have at given him that much. Another part of me is feeling totally guilty I’m searching for my own stuff while there are girls in this cave who need to be saved. Another strange part doesn’t give a rats ass if I’m being a bit selfish—because my God, this is all I’ve ever wanted my whole miserable, multi-millennia existence.

  Racing down one rocky tunnel, then another, I’m acutely aware I’m not being cautious enough. I should probably be mentally mapping where I’m going so I can find my way back out—but I feel like I’m being divinely guided somehow. I’m not even afraid of the darkness. Perhaps it’s cellular memory. Whatever it is, I trust it and just go with it, hoping it will be enough to get me back out.

  The hunch pays off.

  As I turn the final bend, clambering through a small opening barely large enough for my body to squeeze thro
ugh, my mouth drops open as I shine the flashlight along the rocky surface of the walls.

  There, etched into the cavern face is an enormous rendition of the symbol from my vision—the same symbol from Blake’s dreams. In fact, this entire location and everything about it is very reminiscent of his drawings.

  Goosebumps flash across my skin and I know there’s so much more to this I have yet to uncover. Blake is somehow intrinsically linked to me—to all of this, but I just don’t quite understand how. How can he be?

  Walking up slowly to the wall, I take in the sights and sounds as I try to invoke the memories in my buried past.

  What is this symbol for? What was this all about?

  Reaching out, my fingertips graze the etchings.

  “Hello, Pythia. Have you returned to accept your fate?”

  The words are in inside my head and in ancient Greek—yet my mind translates them easily.

  I take a step back from the cavern wall, my hand still raised to the level of the symbol. The flashlight trembles in my other hand, making the space feel ominous.

  I never thought—never anticipated after all this time coming here to help on this case would lead me to this—to everything I’ve been hunting for. I’m so close to finally having some answers.

  My mind strays to Blake and our last exchange…

  It’s even led me to a few things I didn’t know I was searching for.

  Instantly, guilt tremors through my body. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be worrying about myself or hunting for answers to my own mystery. There’s plenty of time for this later. I should be focused on saving the girls. I should be honest with Blake.

  And yet—a few glimpses of insight wouldn’t hurt. Would it? Blake is trying to get Interpol involved, after all. I’m sure the call will take a bit of time to explain things.

  There’s time.

  Taking a deep breath to instill a sense of calm, I step forward and return my hand to the symbol. Closing my eyes, I let the images and feelings inundate my senses.

  No longer seeing things from outside myself, I get a first-hand glimpse at a memory through my own eyes.

  I run through these cavern tunnels; uncontrollable sobs heave in my chest and make it feel as though my ribcage may crack apart.