by N. J. Cooper
THE
death PROPHECY
N.J Cooper
This book is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are completely fictitious.
THE DEATH PROPHECY.
©2019 BY Nicole Cooper.
All Rights Reserved.
This book is dedicated to my kids, Flynn and Laura, who remind me daily to enjoy the little things and motivate me to keep doing what I love.
THE
death PROPHECY
The Oracle Series
Book 2
~ 1 ~
“Zarek! Pull back!” Kyla cried through the pelting rain that drowned her voice and blurred her vision. The wind flew past, as her centaur guardian, Shemar moved beneath her with urgency. She could only just make out Zarek through the angry weather that surrounded them. He stood on a dark rickety roof, as it shook beneath his tall frame.
His dark hair was soaked, whipping across his glaring eyes as they stared down the coven of three witches before him. Their broomsticks hovering behind a protective barrier of traitorous bats, screeching at Zarek’s fire attacks. Kyla heard the dull chanting and urged Shemar faster. Damn stubborn Prince couldn’t just wait one more day, for her to verify the lead in the vision she had been given, before chasing it blindly. After weeks of searching, they finally had a lead on Byron-she had suspected a trap but Zarek was still bitter over Byron’s torturing session, that had gotten his best friend killed. Shemar huffed at the speed she was forcing him to move but didn’t relent. Kyla didn’t know how she was going to bring down a whole coven but looking at Zarek standing on the shaking roof, gave her no room for hesitancy. Kyla urged Shemar close enough to the roof before standing quickly, balancing roughly on his back, her flat black boots soaked through, dripping with the rain onto his slick, dark brown coat.
“No!” Kyla cried as the roof beneath Zarek’s feet shook. The witches all grinned as their chanting died out, in time with the slipping of the loose fish scales. Zarek slipped with them.
The cackling bit through the wind, straight to Kyla’s heart, but she didn’t let it distract her. She pushed hard off Shemar’s back, as he skidded to a halt in front of the half-burnt house. Kyla glided through the misted air, landing on the roof that had finally stopped its shaking, but it was too late. Zarek was already falling.
Kyla couldn’t breathe as Zarek slid down the side, to the long drop below. The tightness in her chest, leant her powers newfound strength as she jumped down the slanting roof, using the tread of her boots as friction to slow her own fall. The tiles of the roof scraped up her side, her extended arm trying to find something to grasp while the other reached for Zarek. Everything was completely drenched from the storm, leaving a slippery sheen across everything her hand tried to latch on to.
Kyla finally reached Zarek’s hand, grasping it tightly as the relief in his electric blue eyes was short lived because they were still falling. Kyla was about to use her powers to levitate them, when a small, cold hand wrapped tightly on hers. Kyla looked back up as her arm jolted in its socket, bringing them to a sudden stop that threw them against the side of the charred house. Sky’s pale face grinned down at them from her confident hold on the roof.
“Geez, locked in a psych ward for weeks and you two can’t stay out of trouble, without me there to save your ass” Sky teased, pulling them hard up the side of the roof. Kyla smiled at her best friends’ sarcastic remark, that was only just hiding the torment inside her.
“How did you know?” Kyla asked, as they got back on to the still-slippery roof.
“Ghost told me, as usual. Wyatt has the witches distracted for now, but he won’t be able to hold them off for long. His speed isn’t quite as impressive as mine.” Sky grinned easily but it didn’t reach her eyes. It never did anymore. Not since Tyrone. Zarek’s dead best friend and Sky’s dead boyfriend. Thanks to Byron and his father who was the definition of evil; Onyx.
As if hearing his sister speak his name, Wyatt came running down the street ahead of them, with the three witches chasing him down on their broomsticks that seemed to be catching. The bats were screeching after him, in time with the witches own high pitched screams. Purple sparks flew past him as he dodged their fierce attacks. A smile still held on his boyish face as he ran towards them. Not much stole that smile-only when his sister was in danger, did he let his usual playful banter show his protective nature over her. A side he had let be known more often than not, after Sky had been brain damaged, losing her ability to mind read and now held a rare, powerful ability to walk and interact with the shadow world. A darkness Sky had earnt from being touched by death; again, at the hands of Onyx. Now the darkness constantly tried to take her, making the supernatural psychiatric hospital the safest place for her and where Wyatt spent most of his spare time now. In-between saving Kyla on her suicidal quest to find Byron and her mother, who were Onyx’s known contacts and would hopefully lead them to the evil himself. Since Kyla had learned Onyx had broken through into the human realm, her and Zarek had been chasing lead after dead-end lead. He was deep in hiding and everywhere they turned, he had some creature working for him, trying to kill them. Of course, until he found a way past the werewolf guard in the human realm and past the centaur guard in the supernatural realm, he wouldn’t be able to get through a portal, to get to her but apparently it wasn’t making much of a difference, considering how many times she had almost been killed. Since they knew Onyx was trying to get through, the rifts in the veil between realms were being guarded heavily but she knew Onyx. He would find a way through and she had to get her mother out from under his clutches before he did, otherwise she would have to choose between her mother and the realm. A decision she would be unable to make. Her Oracle and human souls were now combined into one, her bright purple eyes betraying that merge, but a decision like that could undo it. Her human half instinctively yearned for her mother who she had believed to be dead until recently, while her Oracle half was created purely for the realm. Either way, she lost. Kyla pulled her head through her own pessimism and looked through the heavy rain that pelted her skin. Wyatt was almost on them, with the witches closely behind. Zarek’s comforting hand still held hers and he gave it a reassuring squeeze. Kyla looked around them, trying to formulate a plan out of the trap that they had knowingly walked into…again.
She looked towards Sky, her bright red hair tied in pigtails, yet still stood out in the gloomy weather that coated them. Her green eyes were sparkling with worry as she watched her twin be chased down. A haunting fear radiated from her. Kyla glanced towards Zarek, who had taken to throwing more fireballs, that hissed through the air to cover Wyatt as he ran. He was so much more than anybody knew but he couldn’t show it.
He was the Prince with ‘Powers of the Realm’ that he wasn’t allowed to use in front of others. But she knew. Her own realm powers called to his constantly. It did make things tricky when formulating an on-the-spot plan though. She had to think of one that only involved his born powers-strength and elemental.
“Damn it. Just cover me.” Kyla sighed, realising their time was up and if they didn’t act, Wyatt was going to be overrun. She waited until Wyatt had lured them close enough then jumped off the roof, pulling an electrical shield around her that was like a bug zapper as the bats tried to protect their witch allies. Kyla ignored their painful screeches as they were fried and landed on the ground in their true vampire forms. She latched on to one of the witch’s broomsticks, hanging precariously from the front, as her blood pumped her heart at a wicked rate. She let out a relieved breath as she managed to stay attached, until the witch let loose a quick chant that had her f
ingers slipping.
Kyla clenched her jaw, forcing her will against the power as the other witches tried to break down her shield with attacks of their own. Kyla held on to the broom tightly, refusing to let them break her and began to swing, building enough momentum to get herself on to the broom. Wyatt was on the ground with Sky, fighting the vampires who had recuperated enough to join in the fight again. Zarek was engaged with the other two witches as Shemar and Orion-the centaurs that guarded the Prince and Oracle- were underneath, ready to catch her in case she fell, which seemed to be an increasing possibility.
She thought it would be easy to manoeuvre her body onto the stick, but she was realising quickly, how wrong she was, leaving her with her usual go-to plan; improvise.
Flames flew from her fingertips that held the broom, instantly licking over the worn wood. It took strenuous effort to build the flames through the storm that held its strength around them, but she managed it through a concentration she had practiced for. Kyla winced at the screech the witch let out as the fire spread over her dangling legs, heading straight for the brush at the end.
Kyla glanced up at the witch’s dark eyes. Black veins stretched from under her black velvet cloak, up the witch’s neck, reaching for her cheeks. Onyx had infected her with darkness. The witch had given up her light, taken either a soul or used dark magic to turn her power source dark. The black veins under her pale, thin, skin proved that. Kyla couldn’t afford to hesitate because of it.
“Put it out!” The witch screeched as she patted at her layered, alternative clothing, trying to extinguish the flames. Kyla grunted as she grabbed onto the witch’s arm, sending more flames over her. Enough to burn, not kill. She still needed information.
“Where’s Byron? Tell me and I’ll spare you.” Kyla bargained through a clenched jaw. Hanging from a broom was not how she had envisioned her negotiations with the witch. The witch glared at her with black eyes. Kyla’s powers reached out to the witch’s mind in a futile effort. Blocked. Just as all of Onyx’s creatures seemed to be. Annoying but expected.
“I’ll tell you nothing, Oracle.” The witch spat, wrapping her long dark-painted nails around her wrist so tight, blood was drawn. Kyla winced-her grip on the witch’s arm loosening. Kyla tried to re-grasp, but the witch dug her nails in further, forcing Kyla’s release. She had to rely on the strength of one arm on the broom and the distraction of fire, still burning away.
“Have it your way then.” Kyla bit before snatching her wrist back, her skin dragging off her flesh as the witch’s nails were ripped from their grasp on her. Kyla grabbed the witch’s clothes and yanked her off the broom in a quick move that had her tumbling to the ground, into the waiting clutches of her loyal centaurs. Kyla swung up onto the broom, her feet balancing on the charred stick. She turned back to the other two witches, using a rush of wind to knock them sideways, clenching her fist tightly to snap their brooms. Screams ensued as they both fell in sync, to the wet grass. Kyla grinned as she watched the brooms fall in broken messes and hovered down on the first witches one, to the ground where she held a shield around them, stopping them from taking off before she had the information she needed.
She jumped off the broom and grabbed it in her hand as Zarek came down from the roof. Sky and Wyatt stood either side of the witches, when Kyla noticed the vampiric bats flying away.
“Wyatt, Sky, follow them! They’re running and with any luck, back to Byron. Sky, no using the shadow world so you can stay with Wyatt. If they get past the border, forget it and double back.” Kyla ordered. Sky and Wyatt grinned at each other with a natural competitiveness between the twins that they had no problem letting out. They took off running in blurs. Kyla walked over to the witch that was held captive by the centaurs. Instead of asking this time, Kyla searched the witch, pulling every piece of jewellery she could find, from her body. Rings, amulets, bracelets, earrings. Everything. Kyla handed them to Zarek, grabbing each one separately until she felt the lure of dark magic in one of them. A choker necklace with an emerald green gem. Her power source that held a shadow in the colour. Kyla tsked at the witch.
“You took a soul. Not going to get you on my good side. So, tell me what you know. Where’s Byron? He was here, I saw it. And now he’s not. Tell me or I’m going to crush your power source, leaving you human.” Kyla threatened, her Oracle side, helping her sound more menacing than she could have ever accomplished before the merge.
“That’s not a threat, Oracle. I know my fate. Whether I tell you or not, my source will be taken, and I will be banished to the Outlands. You hold no incentive.” The witch’s wispy voice rasped. Kyla’s eyebrows shot up then narrowed as she realised the witch was right and went back to improvising.
“Wrong, witch. I won’t let the King banish you to the Outlands. Guess where I’ll have him send you?” Kyla crossed her arms before answering her own question “The human realm. You will be human and when I destroy your amulet, you won’t be able to practice any magic. I can’t imagine Onyx is going to take too kindly, to a loose end with valuable information just roaming the streets in the same realm as he is in, do you?” Kyla warned. The witch gasped in harmony with the two stuck in the shield.
“You wouldn’t dare!” She squawked, confirming Kyla’s theory in her frightened eyes.
“Probably not. But the Prince would.” Kyla grinned, chucking the necklace to Zarek who caught it easily, crushing the gem in his hands.
~ 2 ~
The witch cried out, collapsing in the grasp of Shemar and Orion’s dark hands. The wind around them flew past fiercely, a whisper in it that pulled the witch’s aura from her body sending it with the breeze, where it dissipated into nothing. The witch screamed with a deafening pitch. Kyla stepped forward to intimidate the shrinking, now human body in front of her.
“Tell me where Byron is, and I’ll let you hide in the Outlands like the coward you are, otherwise I’ll throw you through the portal to the human realm myself.” Kyla threatened. The witch was about to answer when her eyes glazed over-a pure white that stared in warning before her body combusted in flames. Kyla was too close, the heat hitting her skin, seconds before she was wrapped in the warm strong arms of Zarek’s body. His tall frame curled her into him as his back took the combusting witch against him. Shemar and Orion yanked her back out of the way as the wind echoed with her screams. Kyla and Zarek’s heads snapped up to the other witches who were succumbing to the same fate, their bodies incinerating before their eyes. Kyla glared, pulling her shield down and racing towards the witches.
“No! Damn it!” She cried helplessly as she couldn’t get to the power sources, before their bodies were ash filtering through the rain. “I couldn’t get their power sources first.” Kyla admitted with a shame that fed her anger. Zarek frowned stepping forward.
“I think their sources were summoned first. They died as witches, not human like the first one. Whether that was Byron, or Onyx, they now have two unclaimed, dark magic sources. However powerful they were before, they just doubled it.” Zarek revealed through a clenched jaw. Kyla picked up a piece of broomstick and sent it through the air with a huff.
“How does he always win? No matter how many times we manage to stay alive, they always come out better off. Always prepared for the possibilities that we don’t even think of.” Kyla bit as she breathed with flaring nostrils trying to let the cold rain wash away the doubt that always filled her. Two blurs came into focus in front of them, Wyatt holding the piece of broomstick she had thrown.
“Nice arm, Oracle,” He teased, chucking it down with the others. “So, turns out the bats can fly above the clouds. We lost them halfway to the border. Couldn’t see a thing.” Wyatt sighed. Kyla nodded.
“Of course,” She blew out a breath that misted in front of her eyes. As her adrenalin leaked from her body, the weather made itself known. She was soaked, freezing and goose bumps raised over her slender frame. She looked behind her at the charred house that had been alight in her vision. Byron had started it;
she just didn’t understand why. Why this house? It was the same Victorian style as the rest of the houses in the witch community. Kyla looked over the houses that sat next to it. Their curtains were drawn, ignoring the commotion that had unfolded on their neighbour’s property. Zarek watched her curiously.
“What are you thinking?” He asked quietly, standing closer than he should be in public. Kyla looked at his handsome face, a heat filling her as it always did when she paused enough to take him in. She wanted to drown out the thoughts of defeat that consumed her by pressing her shivering lips against his full mouth, but they weren’t alone. Something that had been stipulated by the King himself-as long as no one saw their affection for each other, until she was publicly announced as part of the realm-then they could steal moments together.
Unfortunately, time alone was few and far between so when she let her desire take over inside her, control was a little harder to grasp. A knowing smirk pulled his mouth to the side as he watched the lust darken her purple eyes, moving that little bit closer instinctively. Kyla breathed in the masculine, honey scent he held, a smell her body would recognise anywhere. Kyla clenched her fists against their natural urges to touch him. Orion was beside them in an instant as Zarek went to press his body against hers. He was a supreme cockblock.
Their alpha guard let them take moments together, more than he should but never in public. Duty always came first for the centaurs. He also had empathy and knew when their control slipped. He cleared his throat.
“We have an audience, Prince. You may not see them, but witches see everything.” He reprimanded lightly. Kyla bit her lip and moved back. Zarek took a breath and stepped back.
“I’ll go talk to some of them. They might have seen Byron or have known where our coven of dark witches came from.” Zarek said moving away, with Orion following. Shemar stayed by Kyla, half smiling with an understanding look. Kyla turned to Sky and Wyatt.