The Oracle Series: Volumes 1-3

by Cynthia D. Witherspoon

  "Ok. So far, it makes sense." I nodded. "Justice is supposed to be deaf and blind, but worthless if no one is paying attention."

  "Yes," Cyrus nodded. "Athena wasn't happy with just maiming the sisters. She called forth Hebe, the goddess of youth, to witness the Erinyes' oath. When the document was signed by all parties, and each sister was granted their respective injuries, Athena proposed a toast. She passed Hebe's cup to the women. They drank the potion inside and were transformed into young girls. According to goddess, only the innocent could serve as judges for the damned. So she turned them into children."

  "Let me get this straight." I leaned forward, resting my elbows against my knees. "The goddess of war decided to appease a set of angry sisters by granting them the power to judge others, then stripped them of their sight, their hearing, and their adulthood to make it fair? Your mythology is messed up, Cyrus."

  Cyrus chuckled. "I prefer the term 'complicated', Little One."

  "Complicated or no, I still don't understand why they are after me. Or Elliot." I shifted just enough to take my friend's hand once more. "He has nothing to do with any of this Sibyl business in the first place."

  "Elliot's connection to your role is greater than you realize, Eva." Cyrus leaned against the wall. "To answer your question, the Erinyes would only seek vengeance against you if they were called to do so. Hence the reason why I asked you about your enemies earlier. Someone had to go to them."

  "I told you, I don't have enemies." I shrugged. "Unless you count the Whitaker woman in Kansas who wasn't happy when we made her family look crazy."

  "Perhaps." Cyrus started to shift back into the shadows as Joseph returned. "Stay here. I'm going to see what I can find out."

  I didn't respond as he faded away. Cyrus didn't have to tell me to stay put. I wasn't going to leave until Elliot did. From the looks of things, I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

  Chapter Five

  Elliot made the news at noon, but the get well gifts had started coming in long before the segment aired about the robbery. I kept my word to Cyrus. I didn't leave the hospital room at all unless I had to. I had overheard the doctors tell Joseph he was in a voluntary coma. Elliot's body was physically fine yet his mind had suffered greatly from the trauma of being victimized.

  That didn't make any sense to me. Elliot may be spoiled, but he wasn't a coward. The longer I sat there, the more my thoughts returned to the phone call I had received from him. Or at least, I thought he was on the other side of the receiver. Elliot's voice was an unmistakable mix of Southern accent and bland tones. I would have recognized it anywhere.

  The more I thought about it, the more I came to a horrible realization. Elliot had been hurt because of his association with me. He was in the hospital because of me. The Erinyes were responsible for Elliot being here somehow. I just couldn't figure out how or why they would be interested in him at all.

  Not unless they knew how important he was to me. After all, I had been warned at Fallen. Perhaps they were using Elliot to ensure my downfall.

  After a while, I had to get away from the sickening smell of all the flowers penetrating every section of his room. I ended up locking myself in the adjacent bathroom with the lights off. Joseph had a handle on the well wishers and the press. Joey was holding vigil by the television. And I needed a few minutes alone.

  I murmured my chant in front of the small cabinet mirror and waited for my door to appear. When I felt secure, I turned on the water to splash my face.

  "You failed him, child."

  I jerked up to see my mental door had swung open. On the other side, Kathy Carter's wizened face replaced my reflection. I heard the whispers of the dead starting to fill the room. I clamped my hands over my ears to protect myself from them.

  "Can't a girl get a little privacy?" I glared at the spirit. "Don't you have better things to do on the other side than bother me?"

  "Elliot was under your protection. You promised to protect my son. You have failed."

  "Your son?" I leaned across the sink until my nose was touching the glass. "That's not possible. You're so old. And that would mean..."

  Suddenly, the pieces fell together to make a picture I wasn't ready to see. Elliot's quest to find a mother who had abandoned him right after he was born had never yielded results. He had even tried to find her family once, but he found out they had died ages ago. Then there was Joseph, who had offered me up to take Kathy's place as the Sibyl because he knew she was ready to die. I thought back to the night I found out Joseph had set me up.

  What had he called Kathy? An old friend?

  "Oh my god." I plopped down on the toilet seat as I stared at the apparition. "Does Elliot know?"

  "No. You are not to speak of this with him." Kathy glared at me. "All the work I have put into protecting my son from the spirits I encountered has gone to waste because of you. You should have listened to Cyrus. You should have broken off all ties with Elliot when you had the chance. Now look at him. He is hurt. His soul captured by a trio of vengeful children."

  "Look, I'm well aware of his condition, alright?" I rubbed my hands over my face. "But as far as his soul? I'm not sure you've got all your facts straight."

  "Stupid girl." Kathy snapped. "The Erinyes have stolen his life's essence. His physical body will die without it, and soon, if you do not find a way appease them."

  "Then tell me what to do, old wise one." I shot back. "Last time I checked, you threw me into this whole Sibyl mess with only Cyrus to guide me. And he's not here right now. So tell me where to start."

  "Allison Thomason." Kathy began to fade as the whispers grew louder. Her face began to shift as other spirits tried to fight their way through. "When you find her, you will have the answers you need."

  I slammed the door shut in my mind before anyone else could get through. I mean, I was in a hospital where people died every day. I had to be careful not to get overwhelmed. I pressed my hands against my eyes as if to block out what she had told me. But her words kept repeating themselves in my thoughts.

  Kathy said that Elliot's soul had been captured, which could very well be the reason why he hadn't woken up yet. What had the doctors told Joseph? That Elliot was in a voluntary coma because he couldn't mentally handle what happened? Yeah, that sounded right. But it wasn't. I had a feeling Kathy knew what she was talking about. Elliot had been stolen from me because I was the Sibyl. He was lost because someone out there was mad enough to seek vengeance against me.

  Damn Kathy Carter and damn Apollo. How could she accuse me of putting Elliot in harm's way when it was her selfish desire for death that made me the Sibyl in the first place?

  Besides, I'd done nothing but stand by Elliot from the very beginning. I had been the one who held him when he felt abandoned. I'd been the one to suffer when that fear resurfaced and he broke up with me. I slammed my hand against the porcelain sink as I felt tears burning in my eyes. If Kathy Carter hadn't of made me take the mirror, if she hadn't of tricked me into saying the oath, then we wouldn't be here.

  Or would we? After all, I was the one who followed Elliot out to California. I was the one who signed up to do the show. I did have a choice. I could have given up the mirror to any other girl stupid enough to take it.

  And I would have died in the process.

  "Eva?" Joey's voice broke through my self-pity as he knocked on the door. "You alright?"

  "Yeah." I choked out the word as I turned the faucet back on. "I'll be out in a minute."

  "Alright. Cyrus is back. He said you saw something."

  Damn he was fast. I splashed cold water over my burning eyes and dabbed my face dry with a brown paper towel. I opened the door a few minutes later to see Cyrus and Joey staring at me with concern.

  "Where is my phone?"

  "What?"

  I pushed past the two of them to go straight for my purse. I grabbed my phone, hit the internet browser icon, and started typing.

  "Allison Thomason." I repeated the name Kathy had tol
d me as I hit send. "She started all this. We have to find her."

  "Who is Allison Thomason?" Cyrus moved over to stand next to me, reading over my shoulder as the results came back. "How do you know her?"

  "I don't." I frowned as I chose the first listing in my search. "Says here that she was a television host."

  "Wait a minute," Joey glanced over at Joseph, then to me. "You can't mean the Allison Thomason. She used to be on a show called Supernatural Searches."

  "Used to be?" I frowned as I looked up from the picture trying to load on my screen. "What happened?"

  "The show got cancelled not long after Grave Messages came out." Joey stuffed his hands in his jean pockets as he rocked back and forth. "Allison was the hottest thing to hit the paranormal scene until you came along. But the minute we started cutting into her ratings, she got the axe."

  I raised an eyebrow, but Joey ignored me as he continued. "Allison stressed the importance of using science to document her findings. She would have a series of scientists on each episode. She highlighted nut jobs who loved to brag about their genius while showing off their new inventions."

  "Nut jobs? Is that a technical term these days?"

  I glanced down at my phone and my sarcastic response was forgotten.

  "What?" Cyrus turned his attention back to me as I showed the two of them what I had discovered. The girl staring back at us looked like an average college kid. Sweatshirt, jeans, messy ponytail; even in her promotional shots. But she was all too familiar.

  "I feel so stupid. I should have realized the connection when Kathy gave me her name." I brushed my finger across the screen as the pictures changed. "Allison Thomason is the girl Elliot's been seeing."

  "That's impossible." Joey shook his head. "There is no way the girl you met with Elliot is that Allison."

  "Really, Joey?" I hit the back button to bring the search screen back. "With everything we've been through, how can you even say the word 'impossible'? Much less believe it?"

  "Because the Allison Thomason you are talking about is dead." Joey took my phone, typed then handed it back to me. "She died in a fire a few months after her show was cancelled. See?"

  I scanned the article he had pulled up for all the relevant information. Allison Thomason, promising television star, burned to death in her apartment downtown. Police had suspected there was more to it, but ultimately ruled her death to be a suicide.

  "Okay." I drew out the word with a shaky breath. "So she got a makeover or died and came back as a stylist. Because when you take away the tight dress and the mountain of makeup, that's her. Allison Thomason was dating Elliot."

  "I'm sorry, Eva." He shook his head. "You've reached a dead end. I'm sure Elliot would have noticed if he were dating a zombie. I mean, you met her. Did she have rotting flesh and ask if she could eat your brains?"

  "I want to go to her apartment." I clicked off my phone while doing my best to ignore Joey. "I want to see where she died."

  "Eva," Cyrus chose just the right moment to chime in. "I don't think that is such a good idea."

  "Why not?" I turned to face him as I slung my purse over my shoulder. "If I'm wrong, then we have nothing to worry about. We'll start over. I'll even try to call Kathy through the mirror to get more information. If I'm right, we might find out why she was after me."

  "Do you even know where to go?" Joey held open the door for me. "I mean, it's not like you celebrity types like to advertise your addresses."

  "I do." I smirked as they joined me in the hallway. "The news article, remember? The fire happened at a place called Sterling Heights. Thanks to GPS, I know where it is."

  "Eva, listen to me." Cyrus gave Joey a look as he pulled me aside. "You must realize the danger that could come if you go to a place where someone has recently died. You are opening yourself up to a whole host of problems."

  "Cyrus, I've just walked out of a place where people die everyday." I patted his arm. "Your concern is sweet, but I can handle this. I'll put my door up. I'll avoid every mirror and every reflective surface we come across. You can even put a bag over my head if it'll make you feel better."

  "Fine." Cyrus sighed. "But if you get attacked, I'm going to say I told you so."

  "And I will grumble and gripe about how you are such a know-it-all." I linked arms with him as we rejoined Joey. "That's why we work so well together."

  I led the way out to the parking garage as my anxiety started to churn in my stomach. Maybe Cyrus was right. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to walk into the lion's den.

  I squared my shoulders and plowed ahead. This wasn't the time to start doubting myself. I had to help Elliot. I had to prove Kathy Carter wrong.

  I would not fail him.

  Chapter Six

  Sterling Heights was a high rise building that looked as imposing as it sounded. I stepped out of the car, grateful for the sunglasses protecting me from the bright glare of the afternoon sun. The outside was constructed of glass and steel which did not help settle the anxiety which threatened to overwhelm me the closer we got to this place.

  "You alright?" Joey hopped out of the car to stand next to me. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

  "Funny." I offered him a small smile as Cyrus joined us. "She lived in 45J. It shouldn't be that hard to find. Maybe there is a directory or doorman who will show us where to go."

  I took a minute to prepare myself. This place was nothing but one glass panel after the other. I fixated on keeping my mental door shut as we went inside. The lobby was the exact opposite of the imposing exterior. Rich carpets lined the floors, warm wooden furniture was set up to be inviting. I glanced at Cyrus who shrugged as we approached the counter that lined the back wall.

  "Are you sure this isn't a hotel?" I whispered to my keeper as we stopped behind a couple complaining about their mail. "This isn't what I expected."

  "Thomason was on your beloved television. I'm sure she was comfortable." Cyrus stuffed his hands in his pockets as he rocked on his heels. "What were you expecting? Rats and vagrants?"

  "No." I tapped my fingers against my purse as we waited. "Nothing like that. I just thought there would be some sign of a fire."

  "Eva, that was months ago." Joey piped up from behind me. "I'm sure it's all been renovated by now."

  "It hasn't. Her mother won't allow it."

  The three of us whirled around to see a small girl watching us. She looked normal enough; cute dress, Mary Janes, pigtails. But her eyes were empty sockets. I took a step back before I realized it.

  "Alekto." Cyrus moved to stand in front of me. "I am surprised to see you here."

  "I'm not." The girl smirked at the three of us. "Come upstairs. We've been expecting the Sibyl for some time. My sisters do not like having to wait."

  "You were expecting me?" I started to step forward, but my keeper held out his arm to keep me behind him. "I don't understand."

  "Of course you don't, Sibyl. Come with me."

  The girl Cyrus had called Alekto moved across the lobby as if she had been there for ages. Cyrus didn't remove his arm until she had reached the elevator.

  "This feels like a setup." Cyrus glanced down at me. "Stay here, Eva."

  "Are you kidding me?" I pushed him towards the girl. "We came here for answers. Little Miss Sunshine is connected to Allison Thomason which means I was right. We're going upstairs."

  When we reached the right floor, Alekto led us down the hallway. The door she stopped in front of was cluttered with a makeshift memorial. Flowers and ribbons mixed with photographs were propped against the white door streaked with black soot. The girl took one look over her shoulder at us and disappeared.

  "Time to go down the rabbit hole."

  I turned the knob, stepped over a pile of stuffed animals, and went inside. I was knocked back by a stench I didn't want to identify. I covered my nose the best I could as I went further into the apartment. The walls were dark with soot and water damage, but the place was intact.

  "You really know how to ma
ke an impact, Eva."

  Joey spoke up as he closed the door behind him. He turned in a slow circle with a whistle as he took in the room we had entered. The walls were lined with promotional pictures of me and Elliot marked with every curse word I could imagine. Magazine articles with sections underlined in red were pasted over the windows. There was even a blonde doll hanging from a noose over a ruined desk against the far wall.

  "Yeah, I love these little displays of fandom. Makes it all worth while." I coughed as I took in a poster where my eyes had been blackened with a Sharpie. "One thing is for sure, though. Maintenance here sucks. Why hasn't this place been cleaned up yet?"

  My keeper had been suspiciously silent as he ignored the evidence of psychosis around us. Instead, he moved straight to the center of the main room where a melted bed sat in the center of a very large black spot.

  "This is serious, Eva." Cyrus finally faced me with a look of concern. "This girl - this Allison Thomason - seems to have made a death pact with the Erinyes."

  "Ah, Cyrus of Crete. It has been far too long. Tell me, how is your master?"

  We turned to see three small girls stepping out from the shadows. I felt Joey grab my arm as they approached Cyrus. They were identical except for their eyes. I recognized the one in the center; hers were the very same I had seen in my dreams since the night we went to Fallen. The one to her right was Alekto; the blind girl who led us here. The last was one I had no knowledge of. Her eyes shown white against the black which surrounded them.