Rebecca Newton and the Last Oracle

by Mario Routi

  Rebecca gave a light cough.

  “Mum, do you have someone in mind?”

  “Yes, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up, nor do I wish to upset you. Have you considered the possibility that it might be Mo?”

  Leylah thought for a moment before shaking her head. She then recounted the dreams that she had had, being careful not to miss out a single detail of the scenes that she had witnessed or the things she had been told. They sat quietly as she talked, listening, thinking and nodding their encouragement.

  “Is there any way to predict when these monsters and the Sceptomorphs will appear on Earth?” Turgoth asked eventually, when Leylah had finally fallen silent.

  “There was no specific time, although if Ricky Soblett appeared to me as a dead man who had been banished to Tartarus, that should provide some clues.”

  “That does give us a little bit of a timeline,” Turgoth agreed, “but it means that we need to contact Hades.”

  “I agree,” said Rebecca.

  “Why would we need to talk to Hades?” Leylah asked. “He scares me.”

  “Hades is the one in charge of deciding whose soul goes where,” Turgoth explained. “If Ricky Soblett’s soul is in Tartarus when this happens, then we need to find out whether he died from Alexander’s heroics or if he has yet to die. If he hasn’t died yet, then we can keep an eye on him. Either way, this is very troubling news and we have to discuss who will be sent to Earth and who will stay here. Whatever happens, this is bound to be an extremely difficult battle.”

  “Lady Felicia and Lord Leiko would want to know about this immediately,” Rebecca said, standing up. “I’ll get the wagon ready to head over to their house.”

  ***

  Leylah was staring out of the window of her room as they waited for Rebecca to return, her side still hurting from the healed wound. There was no real pain but her mind made her feel that there was. She noticed a strange red tint in the sun. It was still bright and warm but that tint of red was something that she couldn’t remember ever seeing before.

  Turgoth sat watching his daughter. She seemed completely lost in her own thoughts. He felt sad for what she was going through and longed to comfort her, if only he knew how to do so.

  He had once met an Oracle during his time down on Earth but he had never given much thought as to how they lived their lives. Now he had to find ways to console his young daughter after she was stabbed and threatened in her sleep. It was a situation he had never foreseen finding himself in.

  Rebecca appeared at his side and together they helped their daughter onto her feet. Leylah’s usually light frame was a dead weight as her legs gave way after a week of not using the muscles. The wooden floor felt good beneath her feet and it felt even better to be free of Earthling shoes. They escorted her out to the waiting carriage.

  The gigantic fortress gate, streaked with cracks, creaked loudly as the guards heaved it open to allow them out. Leylah felt a sense of peace descending on her as the rhythmical clunking of the steel wheels below them made conversation too difficult to bother with.

  She looked back at the fortress, feeling different about it now that she knew that an attack was imminent. It shone more brightly in her eyes than it ever had before and, for the first time, she was fearful that the home she had come to love would soon be alight with the flames of war. She could see the Sacred Flame burning brightly on the hill next to the dragon and felt a flicker of hope.

  Able to see how troubled her daughter was, Rebecca laid a hand on her knee and Leylah turned to see her compassionate smile. Her worries evaporated once she looked into her mother’s eyes.

  “Everything is going to be fine, honey,” Rebecca shouted over the noise of the wheels. “We have defended the Flame before and we will do it again and succeed. Have no fear!”

  A few hours later they reached Felicia and Leiko’s house. Felicia welcomed them, hugging both mother and daughter and shaking hands with Turgoth.

  “Leiko isn’t here,” she said. “He’s at the Elysian Fields with Hercules. Let’s have a cup of tea.”

  She sat down in a finely carved wooden chair that had no back. Leylah had been told that the seat represented the fact that great rulers were willing to bend their backs before they allowed Evil to ever win.

  “So, how are things, dear friends?” Felicia asked once they were all seated around her. She did not need for them to answer; she could tell from the looks on their faces how worried they were. “Hesitation from the fearless is not a good omen,” she said.

  “There’s a multitude of developments and none of them are good,” Turgoth admitted. “The first is that, according to Leylah’s visions, all of Earth will be attacked by monsters and Sceptomorphs.”

  “That’s not a good thing at all,” Felicia said. “But at least we know what might happen and can prepare ourselves, thanks to Leylah.”

  “The Titans hope to use this to split our forces so that they can launch an attack against us to snatch the Flame,” Rebecca said.

  “That makes sense. We must help the Earth and protect the innocent,” Felicia said. “We shall stand beside the troops on Earth and once all is done there, our forces will come back to reinforce our efforts. The new special shield that God Hephaestus has created for Utopia will protect us from air attacks and at least we won’t be caught off guard. When do you, dear Leylah, believe that this will happen?”

  “Soon after the death of the Sartani named Rick Soblett,” Leylah replied.

  “So we need to contact Hades to see if this person is dead or about to die,” Rebecca explained.

  “Once Leiko has returned with Pegasus from the Elysian Fields, I will go there to see my father. I will ask him to contact Hades to see if he can shed some light on this current or future inhabitant of his kingdom of the dead.”

  Suddenly, a flash of light made them all reel back and cover their eyes. A dark figure stood in the middle of their group - so close they could smell the sulphur on his clothes. Rebecca hadn’t seen him since her baby daughter’s abduction by the demons nearly sixteen years earlier.

  “So, you need my services again,” Hades said, his voice an ugly rasping sound.

  They all bowed respectfully. Then Felicia stood up from her seat and took a step towards the God. “We were hoping you might be able to give us information on a human who is supposed to die soon, oh Hades. His name is Ricky Soblett.”

  “Hmmm... do I know anyone by that name?” he thought for a moment. “Ah, yes!” he wheezed, flicking his fingers in the air. “His real name is Phiala Sanguis, but I hardly think even he knows what his covenant named him. He is currently in hospital but will survive. He is supposed to die when there will be an air of silence on the third moon of Venus, before Mars rises in the morning.”

  “Phiala Sanguis?” Rebecca asked. “Isn’t that Latin?”

  “Yes. His name means Blood Vial in Latin, which is to say that he is the man who holds the vial of blood for the vampires. His father was of Latin lineage and they thought it only fitting that he receive a Latin name to suit the purpose for which he was born,” Hades explained. “It seems that the Titans have been planning this for a long time.”

  “How are the Titans able to create creatures out of myth?” Felicia asked.

  “The Titans are similar to Gods in flesh, with the ability to create from material. Just like the Gods, they can create something from nothing. However, since their creatures are based on myths, they need belief in order to exist.”

  “The creatures need belief in order to exist? I thought that once a creature was created then it held its form until it died,” Turgoth said.

  “Mythical creatures run on strong beliefs,” Hades continued, “regardless of the timeline. All the Titans would need to do is pluck the era when people were afraid of these creatures and then simply use that fear to creat
e them. Once they started ravishing cities, the belief would grow so strong that it would become unbreakable. It is truly a plan that could only have been devised by the cunning, evil minds of ancient entities - Cronus in particular.”

  “Then how do you defeat the myths?” Rebecca asked.

  “Well, probably in the same way that has happened in history. The only problem is that some mythical creatures were created so long ago that their stories have been lost in the abyss of time. Those will be the most difficult to contend with. However, you should talk to my brother, Zeus, about this and see what he has to say. So... Until we meet again, overlords of the Land of the White Sun...” Hades snapped his fingers and disappeared into a blue flame.

  “It’s clear,” Lady Felicia said. “We need to speak with Zeus soon.”

  “Honey, I believe it’s best if you wait for us outside,” Rebecca said to Leylah.

  She watched Leylah walk out of the room, noticing the uneasy glance her daughter shot back at them before closing the door behind her. She did not like keeping secrets from her, but if Leylah should unintentionally reveal the plan of the Gods to the traitorous source through her dreams, then any plans they might have made would fall to ruin.

  Felicia took the special crystal orb that the Gods had given to her out of the cabinet, setting it down on the table in front of them. It glowed at her touch and then the light dissipated as the orb was laid to rest on its mantle. Suddenly a flashing light burst through the globe and illuminated the room.

  It was some time before the orb picked up anyone from the other side but slowly a face came into view and King Leonidas could be seen on the other end.

  “Greetings, Lady Felicia of the Kingdom of Utopia in the Land of the White Sun. Bemused am I to see more than you in the room this day. What might be the problem? I assume there might be one since those that surround you are of great importance. How may I be of service to your beauty?”

  Felicia pressed her fingers against her forehead, warding off the migraine that was always likely to ensue after any conversation with Leonidas. He had kept to the old ways of speaking and had chosen not to simplify his language in favour of a more modern style.

  “Greetings Leonidas, King of the Spartans. I request the presence of the Gods,” Felicia said.

  “Why, might I ask?”

  “With all due respect, King Leonidas, please just bring the orb to them,” Felicia said, her irritation obvious.

  As Leonidas faded away, Rebecca leaned over to Felicia. “This isn’t like you. What’s happened?”

  “Days and days spent trying to figure out what Leonidas has actually said is what has happened,” Felicia replied. “I can see why some of the Ancient Greek dialects have become obsolete over the years. It’s like being trapped in a riddle within a riddle.”

  “I imagine you’re actually handling it better than most,” Turgoth grunted. “I know I would have put the orb in a locked chest after about an hour of this.”

  Rebecca could see the Chamber Hall coming into view through the orb and they all heard the small talk that Leonidas was having with the Gods. Then the orb was brought before Zeus and he looked directly into it.

  “You are allowed to come,” he thundered. “We’re sending Pegasus and Lenus over to you as we speak.”

  Moments later, Lord Leiko was back with Pegasus and Lenus followed close behind.

  Rebecca hurried in to the next room to see Leylah. “We’ll be going to visit the Gods in the Elysian Fields now dear, but this time I need for you to stay here with Lord Leiko and wait for us to return.”

  Within minutes, Rebecca, Turgoth and Felicia were sitting in the Chamber Hall, across from the Gods.

  44

  The Elysian Fields

  As they sat in front of them, the Gods talked among themselves. Their mutters were low and inaudible for once, which seemed strange to Rebecca, who was used to hearing booming voices that filled every room. She pointedly cleared her throat and the Gods all turned their attention to her.

  “So, what is it, child?” Zeus asked.

  “Thank you for agreeing to see us, oh mighty Zeus. Did Hades not tell you the purpose of our visit?”

  “I haven’t seen him yet. Hades is always occupied with the dead and his mind is often filled with details of the thousands that come into his realm every day. In fact, he has been given a special ability to slow down time so that he can process the massive numbers. So, why don’t you explain the facts to us?”

  “Leylah had a vivid vision in which she was stabbed and nearly died but she is safe now, healed thanks to the Flame. What she says is that the Titans plan to attack Earth on a global scale in order to draw the Orizons out of Utopia. If we stay, we can protect the Flame but that would mean sacrificing the Earth. If we send forces to Earth to prevent that from happening, then our troops in Utopia are decreased and vulnerable to attack by the Demons, which would put the Flame in danger.”

  “Then we will sacrifice the Earth,” Zeus said, as if the solution was obvious.

  The three of them sat in silent shock at this unexpected reaction from the King of the Gods. They were stunned that the Gods would suggest such a thing.

  Athena laid a restraining hand on Zeus’s shoulder. “Father, it seems they do not understand.” She turned to Rebecca and the others. “Say you were to save the Earth but lose the Flame. What would happen to Earth then, Princess?”

  Rebecca struggled to find the words to reply. “Then the Earth would still fall.”

  “Then is it not better to let the humans defend themselves and keep the Flame safe?” Athena led Rebecca to understand why her father would say such a thing.

  Turgoth stood up from his chair, struggling to remain calm and collected. “With all due respect, I completely disagree with this strategy, oh mighty Zeus.”

  “Go ahead, King Turgoth,” Zeus replied.

  “It’s a matter of morality, oh mighty Zeus! We cannot sacrifice over seven billion people in order to safeguard the one weapon that was designed to protect them in the first place!”

  “As always, there are truths in Turgoth’s words that we cannot ignore,” Zeus admitted after a moment’s thought.

  Turgoth winked at Rebecca as he sat back down and a proud, enigmatic smile flitted across Felicia’s lips.

  After a few more minutes of contemplation Zeus spoke. “What is the purpose of the Flame if not to defend those people from the clutches of the Titans and to protect all who fall victim to the Evil inside their hearts? I admit that what Turgoth has said cannot simply be ignored. So, send Orizons down to Earth to help humans kill these creatures, but keep them close to the ships so that you can call upon them in a time of need. I fear that we will all encounter an hour of need very shortly, even here in the Elysian Fields.”

  God Apollo stood up from his throne and looked Rebecca straight in the eye. “Princess Rebecca, I believe it is best if you confine your daughter until the Lomani is over.”

  “You want me to put my daughter inside a cage until everything is done?” Rebecca asked, astonished at the mere suggestion.

  “Pythia in ancient Delphi was my special Oracle. Now your daughter has taken her place. She is THE Oracle and if our enemies should succeed in kidnapping her, then there would be no telling what they would do to her to get what they want,” Apollo explained. “The Titans are very old and are intimately familiar with the way Oracles work. In the past they have imprisoned them so that they may use their dreams to decide upon their course of action. Oracles who gave false predictions were slain on the spot and another Oracle was found to replace them. It is not a life I would wish upon your daughter, which is the only reason why I suggest this. She deserves protection.”

  “My Gods,” Rebecca said, her voice trembling with emotion, “with all due respect, my daughter is a grown woman who can make decisions for herself.
I’ve seen her prove on more than one occasion that she would be a capable warrior on the battlefield and, if we are to survive what is coming, then we need every warrior we can get. Please allow me to go against your will on this.”

  “I imagined you would say that,” Apollo said, “but I felt we should have this conversation anyway, even if it was only to serve as a warning as to what might lie ahead for Princess Leylah.”

  “We have said all there is to say,” Zeus announced. “Do your best on all fronts. You may go now.”

  They all rose and bowed and with another wave of Zeus’s hand the mythical winged horses appeared and flew them back to Utopia.

  45

  Utopia

  Soon they were all back at Felicia’s house, where Leiko and Leylah were waiting for them, impatient to hear their news. Turgoth went into the living room and dropped down onto a chair next to Leylah. She looked at him, guessing from the expression on his face that he had had a disagreement with the Gods - something which had happened several times in the past.

  “Your father,” Felicia told Leylah, “just risked getting us all in deep trouble. Luckily, however, he got away with it, so, at the end of the day, we owe him a considerable debt of gratitude. Thank you, King Turgoth, and congratulations.”

  Rebecca and Leylah both hugged him proudly.

  Turgoth stood up. “Well, as you know, no God, no man and no responsibility will ever prevent me from doing what I feel is right.”

  “Speaking of what’s right, however,” Leiko said, “we do need to remember that it is right to talk to the Gods with a calm and level head; they brought us into existence, after all. Their main goal is to prevent the Titans from replacing them by using their own weapon against them.”

  “Anyway,” Felicia interjected quickly, not wanting the two men to get sidetracked by an argument, “we had better inform our Orizons that they need to go to Earth to help with whatever may come.”