Celtics Rising: Birth of an Oracle

by Leo Charles Taylor

  "No, we haven't seen anything like this," Arinai said.

  James caught the error of statement. It was an odd hitch in her speech, and her expression betrayed her thoughts. He reached to her mind, and for a moment could see something there. It didn't last long, and he was returned to his normal mental state as she pushed back on him. However, the failure at seeing her mind didn't lead to a failure of his acuity and analysis of her words. A thought suddenly struck him as he realized Arinai's mistake.

  "You haven’t seen anything like this, but have you heard of something like this?"

  The two ancients stared at each other and suddenly became self-conscious in their movements. Camulas didn't reveal as much, but it was evident that something was wrong.

  "What?" James yelled, slamming his hand onto his island countertop.

  Arinai returned her gaze to him and spoke slowly.

  "The Dearg-Due was the first of what you call the vampires. She was born around 500 A. D. at the height of our former glory. Like others of our race, she was a combination of human and demon, but her demon wasn’t so nice. I wasn’t present at the time and never met this particular being, but I've heard that her initial attempts to procreate didn't end well. There were stories of wild orgies with men and women, filled with the sharing of blood and many other gruesome acts. Most of her lovers perished. It was some time before she was able to find a suitable man to join her in her fate; even her own mortal beloved didn't survive her bite."

  "So, Vera is becoming a vampire? Is that what you’re saying?"

  "No, not at all," Arinai said. "I'm just saying that her condition reminds us of those tales. The Dearg-Due is dead, killed long ago by our own people for the horrors that she committed, and her current offspring have lost the ability to reproduce. The church took that away long ago."

  James raised an eyebrow, and before he could say anything Arinai raised her hand to stop him, "Don’t ask how. We don’t know. And if Drake or his kin know, they are certainly not telling us."

  "Did you see her teeth when she bared them? That wasn’t normal," James said as he recalled the jagged rows of teeth that Vera had displayed for him.

  "None of this is normal," replied Camulas.

  In silence, the group thought for a minute about the situation. It was Arinai that spoke first.

  "We may need to put her out of her misery," she stated.

  James flashed with anger.

  "What?" he asked. "You must be joking."

  "I am not," Arinai replied.

  She was strong in her position and held her ground as her oracle expressed his emotional disbelief. "She is in pain, she is dying, and she is hurt," Arinai said soothingly. "You may not feel that hurt, but I can. Her heart aches, Oracle, and she wants that pain to stop more than her physical discomfort."

  "That’s too bad," James said. "I told you before: I am not killing anyone, and I won't let you do it either. I won't harm her."

  "Hardly the time to debate semantics about doing harm," Arinai said. "But, if you won't do it, then we will."

  "Never!" cried James as he moved to her.

  He didn't make it far before he was confronted by Camulas. The man was immovable and blocked James' path. James was both insulted and relieved. He wasn’t a man of action, exactly; if he had been, then perhaps Vera wouldn't be in her current state. He was also unsure what he would have done if he had reached Arinai.

  He slowly backed away from Camulas and turned to the window, taking a deep breath to calm himself. As he watched the city lighten, he knew that dawn was upon them. He wasn’t tired. He was, however, saddened.

  "I don't suggest killing her because it would be easy," Arinai said. "This could be a merciful thing. We have heard horror stories about people changing after a bite from the Dearg-Due, and while something like this hasn't happened in centuries it may be happening now."

  "I just want to help, and I don’t know how," he whispered.

  "You’re the Oracle, it’s your job to know how," Arinai whispered back. "I would suggest that you stop feeling sorry about the events of last night and start to do that job."

  James turned to Arinai, and anger rose again. He was about to fire a quip at her, but held his tongue, choosing instead to think about their situation and his actions. Oracle or not, he could still do his job. He had been trained to solve problems. Why had he forgotten that?

  He needed information and he needed it now. Forgetting about the man and woman in the room, he moved with determination to his equipment. He turned on his TV, switched it to the internet, and began to search. His mind snapped into gear and he quickly found one odd case after another, each one leading him down another path. Some of these paths were discarded quickly, others were followed further. Arinai and Camulas just stood and watched; they didn't know what to make of the scene.

  James cursed as he listed symptoms and found little correlation. He added his login for medical research companies and accessed diagnostic databases, specifically historical references. This may be something new, but it had to have presented in some form somewhere else before. His research led to chemical reactions and from there to allergies. Insight led him to venom.

  He stopped and stared at his research. He needed more information, and the two ancients in the room were useless for that.

  "You said that if Drake knew something, he would not tell you?"

  "That’s correct."

  James took a seat in his chair, stared at his screen and pondered as the anger swelled.

  "Well, perhaps he'll tell me."

  He cast out his mind and searched for the demons. He didn't ponder on his belief of the situation or whether he could do what he was attempting. He was angry and focused and needed to help his lover.

  It took time, but he found Drake asleep in a high-rise hotel room, not far from his apartment. The heavy drapes, double locks, and Do Not Disturb sign offered him the sanctuary that he required.

  James entered Drake's mind but could find little useful information—the man's sleeping state was a mess. James picked up on one thought and then another. He watched with interest as Drake fed from his victims; he didn't kill them. On the contrary, he loved them, bled them, and saw that they had a fine time of it. The bleeding was the key to the attack, and James' mind focused on the teeth. He could see the teeth extend, similar in style to a rattlesnake with retraceable fangs. It was nothing new in nature, and James could easily see the biology behind it. He could also see the construction. Unlike the snake, Drake and his kin had two canals surrounded by enamel rather than a single channel: one to deliver venom designed to paralyze, the other to return blood for feeding. James even understood the toxin injected—at least as much as Drake did—it wasn’t usually fatal, and offered a minor amnesiac effect.

  "Very interesting," James whispered as he thought on the matter. Soon, a plan began to form. When he had it in hand, he rose quickly.

  "If I leave you here, will you promise not to harm her?"

  Arinai thought for a moment and nodded her head.

  "You too," James said as he pointed his finger at Camulas. The man didn't react much to the actions of the Oracle. He just snorted and looked amused.

  "I'm not here to harm anyone," Camulas said curtly. "I'm just here to protect you."

  "I can protect myself."

  "Can you, Oracle?" Arinai asked. "Tell me, when you cast your mind outside to the streets just below us, what do you see?"

  James took a moment to do as she asked. He stuttered for a moment as he felt the presence of several entities. There were perhaps six or seven in the vicinity. He had felt these beings before, but not in such numbers and in such close proximity to him.

  "They know you’re here," she said. "They felt your call, just as I did. So Camulas is here to protect you and Vera."

  "Will you be able to?" he asked of Camulas. He was now humbled enough to swallow his pride.

  A simple nod was all that was given in response. Even without being able to probe him, James
knew the man was sincere and correct; he would be able to protect Vera.

  "I'll return later," James said as he began to gather his personal affects. "I have some errands to perform. Please take care of her and let me know if she worsens. Can you call to me like I did to you? Can you reach out with your mind and send me information if the need arises."

  Arinai appeared confused and blinked her eyes several times. She said nothing in response, but held her hand aloft to reveal the cell phone that she possessed. James felt like an idiot and shook his head. All of this magical and mystical crap was giving him a headache. He grabbed his own phone and a medical bag leftover from one of his jobs, and quickly left the apartment.

  "What do you think he is up to?" Camulas asked, after the door had shut.

  "I have no idea, but he is growing stronger, and much faster than I would have expected. He actually saw a small piece of my life."

  "That may be good for us."

  "Maybe, but his emotional state is a concern. He cares for this girl a lot. I wonder what would happen to him if she were to die."

  "I, for one, do not wish to find out. And as for the girl, she may end her own life one way or another. I have seen many people in similar states of anguish. At the moment, she has no fear of death and would actually welcome it."

  Arinai sighed deeply as she considered the words of her friend. She believed he may be right, and that made her actions with regard to the girl all the more reprehensible. But she had little choice. Vera was still in a battle and this was not time interfere that fight with the truth.

  Chapter 15

  Sunlight greeted James as he entered the lobby, and he found it pleasing that the night was over. The building attendant greeted him warmly and was kind enough to obtain a cab for James, who entered it after taking a moment to ask for obscurity from the demons milling around outside; they appeared to comply with his wishes. They didn't notice him leave, but he noticed each of them. James could sense the danger of their proximity, and while it worried him, he had one bit of good news: he now knew that he was powerful enough to hide his presence from several demons at once.

  James found it interesting that these beings went mostly unnoticed by people. The men and women who walked the streets appeared to ignore the demons they passed. They either didn't see them, or if they did, they saw nothing startling about them.

  Is that an elf? James asked in wonderment as he saw a small impish creature sitting upon a light pole. No, not an elf—a pixie. He looked at it for a moment and suddenly knew its name, its age, and many other aspects of its life. He shook his head free of the images and directed the driver south. He needed the industrial area of Seattle.

  The cabbie wound his way past the stadiums, going farther south until the skyscrapers gave way to chain link fences, storage yards, and industrial parks. James continued to give instructions, trusting his mind to lead him where he needed to go.

  They soon arrived at an abandoned building where they stopped and parked. James ordered the driver to wait, gave him enough money to ensure that he would, and then left the vehicle. He then made his way around the building to the side. He could somehow sense the entrance and the best way in. It would not be easy.

  He climbed on top of storage boxes and had to jump across to others. Making his way to a small broken window, James climbed in. He was now on the top floor of the building. It was only two stories, and the second floor was remodeled to be offices of some sort. They were nothing fancy and had a 1970s feel to them. Switching on a flashlight, James walked across the hall and moved into the deeper offices. He felt his prey nearby and sent out soothing tones. His heart beat faster, and as he closed, he could only think one thought.

  Ignore me. Ignore me. Oh God, please ignore me.

  He stopped suddenly, struck by the ironic notion that he was praying to a god that he didn't believe in and one that if existed, probably wouldn't help him. Taking a deep breath, he continued his journey.

  James soon reached a back office, and the darkness of the room was total. It was a fine office, that much was revealed by his light. The room was wood paneled, dry, and the insulation kept it moderate. The carpet was in decent repair, and more than one painting remained in place for decorations. If not for the economy, this room would serve a manager very well.

  Crossing the room, he came to a closet and held his breath as he prepared to open the door. He could feel her. She waited for him, and she was unaware that she did so. Steeling his courage, James slowly opened the door. The light of his flashlight hit her open eyes as she slept, and he could see her pupils instantly contract. It was an early warning signal and one he didn't expect. The beast blinked in reaction to the changing light, and James sent out a desire to be ignored. He then cast the flashlight down and asked Alicia to return to sleep. She complied, and James held his breath for a second. She didn't move.

  Shadows cut across her as he held the light lower, but he could still see her features. She was very pretty and looked to be harmless in this state. Her unblinking eyes gave him a very awkward feeling; she was a living mannequin in this state, and he realized it was a state that very few beings had ever seen. Either they would not find her, or if they did, they would have awoken her long before seeing her like this.

  He stood still for a moment and marveled at her. His heart continued to beat rapidly, but he couldn’t move his eyes away. He felt like someone who was staring at a shark—any moment it could realize its situation and attack.

  He felt for her mind and knew much about her. She was well past 600 years old and had been the young bride to a farmer in Briton. She loved her man very much and even bore him children. James watched the images play across his mind and could see the offspring helping with chores and enjoying meals together.

  It was a proud husband that accepted the offer of a Dearg. He had heard stories of their power and might and wished it for himself. He was tired of farming and was caught in the middle of his life, questioning his own worth. Alicia had begged him to decline, but he would not be denied.

  James continued to observe as Alicia watched her husband transform; he was lucky enough to be compatible with their kind, and James could even get a feel for the genetic makeup of the breed. He sensed it in Alicia even now; she could tell when a human was compatible to mate with, but she couldn’t exercise her ability to reproduce. Even if she could, she would not; she would never impose this life on an innocent.

  Alicia's husband had gone insane with the power. He was arrogant and proud and forced his wife to join him. She had obediently complied and said goodbye to her former life. Her children were given to others to be cared for, as was her farm and all her possessions. The villagers asked why, but were left disappointed in their queries.

  The pride of her husband turned out to be his downfall, as well as the idiot's that created him. Soon, Alicia was alone, unable to be with the man she loved and unable to return to the children she had left behind. She was saddened, and her heart had forced her to move away to mainland Europe; she couldn’t stand the pain of watching her children from the distance created by night.

  James looked to the woman's bosom and gently pulled at her blouse. Opening the top buttons revealed a small cross held by an intricate chain. Through all the cultures, Briton, Celt, Roman, or Pagan, above all of these she was a Christian, and that faith hadn’t allowed her to commit suicide. This truly was a woman in hell.

  Is this what Vera faces? he asked himself as he considered the two Christian demons— both of whom wore the sign of a savior around their neck.

  A tear began to roll down Alicia's cheek. James quickly stopped his search through her life and sent a soothing thought. He found one in her own mind: a happy memory of her children. She had forgotten it long ago, and only his gentle probing brought it back to her. A small smile appeared on her face as it played over and over in her mind.

  "Open," James whispered quietly, and Alicia complied.

  He looked at her teeth and then asked for her
fangs. Slowly, they both extended. James could see the biology of the action as the muscles pushed from a hinged bone attached to the canines.

  Amazing, he thought as the mechanism became clear. The analyst in him was curious, but the man in him was still fearful.

  He quickly took a vial from his bag and began to milk her venom. He could see the outer groove of the teeth and enclosed canals. He even knew the names of the various attributes. Alicia, as did all those of her race, had two entrance lumens at opposite ends of each other. At the tip of her fang was a lumen which brought blood into her system. Just beside that was the venom discharge orifice. It was the discharge orifice that James now needed, and he milked both teeth carefully. He didn't get as much as he hoped, but it was a start.

  He capped and sealed the tube and placed it in his bag. Before leaving, he took a long look at his unwitting volunteer. Taking a risk, he put his hand to her cheek, wiped the tear away, and spoke softly.

  "Thank you, Alicia."

  He shut the door quietly, sending her soothing thoughts the entire time. He then made his way back down the hall, out the windows, and to the awaiting cab. Thankfully, the cabbie had been trustworthy and stayed.

  The taxi was quickly off, and he was on his phone just as quickly. James called into his client and cancelled his day before reaching out to other contacts. He then put a call in to the Harborview labs and asked if they could run a sample for him. Apparently, he was helping to diagnose an odd medical case and believed the victim suffered from a snake bite. The lab was to prepare to receive a sample of the venom. He was about to pull in his favors with the administration if needed, but had to hang up his phone in frustration.

  "Damn," he said as he got off the phone with the lab technicians.

  "Is something the matter, Mister?" the cabbie asked upon hearing James curse.

  James was frustrated, "It appears that the Harborview lab is not equipped to analyze snake venom."

  The cabbie didn't respond. He hadn’t understood the reference and appeared to be afraid to ask for clarification.