by N. J. Cooper
“Right. Quiet class. Today’s lesson is Realm habitats,” He told, pulling down a map over the whiteboard. Kyla frowned at the pentagram. A 5-point star in a circle creating 10 areas. Kyla felt an uneasy feeling grow in her stomach. As if the map was showing her something but she didn’t know what it was. There were no labels to guess from, so Kyla ignored it and listened to the tutor.
“10 areas all surrounding the city. We are Area 1-who are our neighbours, Area 2?” Mr. Lemmings asked. Kyla knew the answer and put her hand up. His eyes narrowed on her.
“Kyla. You know the answer?” He questioned doubtfully. Kyla nodded, ignoring all the pairs of eyes watching her, she didn’t normally know the answer.
“Witches, wizards and warlocks also known as Incantationem.” She answered easily. She had just been there. His eyes narrowed further.
“Good. Do you know the others?” He tested.
“Only one. Area 6-Mons: Goblins and Giants.” Kyla grimaced at the memories that assaulted her with the answer. His eyebrows raised in surprise, as he labelled the two areas on the map.
“Correct. My curiosity is piqued though. How do you know only two and not the others?” He asked. Kyla winced. She should have kept it to herself. Kyla cleared her throat, but the words couldn’t come out. Images of Tyrone’s bleeding body assaulted her, and she sucked in a breath.
“Area 3-Suco, Vampires. Area 4-Inferis, Underworld, Area 5-Immortuae, Undead,” Zarek interrupted the tense encounter. He smiled back at Kyla before continuing, “Area 7-Palus, Trolls and ogres, Area 8-Fabulosa, Mythical creatures, Area 9-Lupus, Werewolves, Area 10-Cantata, Fae cousins. And in case you feel tempted to get nosey about my knowledge, being the Prince-I have travelled to every single one. I have mentioned a couple to Kyla. Satisfied Mr. Lemmings?” Zarek finished with a warning tone. Mr. Lemmings cleared his own throat, nervously glancing back at the glaring centaurs before nodding and going to the board to write the answers in. Kyla blew out an unsteady breath. Nobody knew exactly what happened to cause Tyrone to be killed, nor did they know anything about the battles the Oracle had faced since. They were naïve and the King wanted them to stay that way.
Kyla’s thoughts were interrupted when she felt the pit in her stomach, swirl further. It was a feeling that persisted as the teacher spoke. It was almost a threat. She frowned, checking the white and gold decorated class, then out through the large windows that looked out over the side of the cliff they occupied. Angry water thrashed outside making Kyla nervous. She turned to Orion and Shemar, wondering if they felt it, but they seemed the same. Orion questioned her with his gaze. Being an alpha-he could read her emotions. She shrugged and looked around again. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She bit her lip nervously and tried to watch the teacher. She had barely focused on him when a scratch in her throat began. She coughed slightly. It didn’t help. The scratching deepened, becoming a sting that had her eyes watering. Kyla coughed hard at the feeling. Wyatt frowned.
“You okay?” he asked slightly amused. Kyla could only nod as the pressure in her throat wouldn’t cease. The class and teacher went quiet as Kyla demanded attention with her coughing. She couldn’t stop. Wyatt patted her back, trying to help but Kyla had no control over it. Something was stuck in her throat, dry and painful. Kyla slid back from her desk, holding her throat in panic as her eyes wept. Zarek moved to the front of her desk.
“Kyla, what’s wrong?” he demanded. Orion and Shemar moved in closer, but their hands hovered, unsure how to help. Kyla finally received the clue she was meant to, when her next cough was accompanied by a puff of ash escaping her lips. Everyone gasped as Zarek and Wyatt leaned back. Kyla kept gagging and coughing as more ash fluttered from her throat. It was disgusting, a dry build up in her mouth that tasted of smoke and burnt wood. Finally, her throat was released, and she coughed up what had been restricting it. A small ball of ash landed in her hand. Through her tear-blurred vision, she gasped in breaths and wiped the ash from the scrunched-up paper in her hand. Kyla bit her lip and looked at her audience.
“Can I be excused, please?” Kyla asked quickly, refusing to look at any of the wide-eyed, pale faces, including Zarek and Wyatt’s. The teacher nodded, too stunned by what he had seen to speak. Kyla gathered her things and moved from the class quickly, Shemar following closely. He spun her around as soon as they were in the empty halls. Kyla held up the ball of paper.
“Apparently a vision would have been too easy,” Kyla explained dryly. He nodded and waited expectantly for her to open it. It folded out to reveal an elegantly scripted poem. Kyla swallowed nervously, her hands shaking as she looked at it. Kyla read the words out loud for Shemar.
‘The veil will be vulnerable
The full moon will rise
Using the witches’ power
Against both sides
In the middle of the realm
Is where the Oracle dies’
Kyla clasped her hand over her mouth to hold in the sob that threatened. Shemar moved forward and snatched the piece of paper off her, frowning hard as if willing them to be different. They weren’t. She had read it perfectly. ‘The oracle dies.’ Kyla blew out a breath, running a hand through her hair before turning back to Shemar.
“I need a minute to myself. Go tell Orion-I know you have to” Kyla said through a broken voice as she ran from Shemar. Her footsteps echoed in the halls, but she didn’t care. Kyla ran up the stairs and into the dorm that was finally unoccupied. Sharing with Wyatt meant there were seldom times, when she was alone. She gratefully sunk to the floor with her back against the white door. Kyla put her head in hands, as her mind stumbled through its fear. She had known her destiny was going to be a dangerous path but the thought of actually dying hadn’t been confirmed, it had always been a chance. Now it wasn’t.
Kyla thought back to all the horrible decisions she had made. The terrible plans she had come up with, that had ended in Tyrone getting killed, the Kings love-Kalani getting killed and her mother being trapped with Onyx. Was that why she was destined to die? Was it karma exacting its revenge? Coming after her for getting others killed? Was Karma inflicting the ultimate punishment-death? Guilt churned her stomach until she was crying big sobs that wracked her chest. She wanted her home, she wanted to see her mom and she wanted to stop her friends from being killed in the crossfire. Kyla held her arms over her knees, ready to give in to another bout of tears when she realised; it didn’t matter.
It didn’t matter that karma thought she deserved death. It didn’t matter if Onyx killed her. Not if she was able to take him with her. Not if she was able to save her friends first. Then she could die happy, knowing that they would be safe even if she was gone. With a newfound breath of hope, Kyla stood and moved straight over to the bed where her papers were stacked in a pile on the bedside. She quickly re-spread them back out. She had to make a plan.
Before, she was grasping at straws trying to find Byron and her mom. Now she had to climb the whole damn haystack to get to them. She had no other choice. Kyla wrote the prophecy she had been given, down on a piece of paper, trying not to let the words deter her from her new motivation. She read it over again and again.
Kyla knew from the amount of times she had been there, that the mansion was in the middle of the realm. The High Council’s homes moved in a ring around it then the centaur guards around that. The rest was all open to the races. Kyla wasn’t sure how specific the prophecy meant though. The middle of the realm could be anywhere in the mansion or a specific point-she didn’t know. Kyla wrote down ‘full moon’ and ‘middle of mansion’ in her journal then thought back to the rest of the poem. Witches power on both sides. Kyla only had one guess; whatever Byron was doing on this side; she had a feeling Onyx was mirroring. Kyla knew how to find out. She walked back to her door, not surprised to find Shemar there already, guarding. She leant against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest.
“How do I get in touch with the guard in the human realm?” Kyla asked.
“Or
ion is already on it. He’s checking the reports on the witches who live in the human realm now, to see if there have been any disappearances. We’ll know soon.” Shemar revealed. Kyla nodded in thanks.
“What else did Orion say?” She wondered. Shemar frowned.
“That we have a confirmed timeframe which is good, that we know they are coming through in the middle of the realm…” Shemar listed until Kyla interrupted.
“No, we don’t know that. We know that’s where I’ll die. Not necessarily where he’s coming through. Although, I think that has something to do with the mansion.” Kyla sighed before moving away from her casual lean.
“We won’t let you die, Kyla. You know that.” Shemar vowed. Kyla shrugged.
“I don’t know that we’ll have a choice. The only thing I can do before that happens, is make sure that my friends don’t get caught in the crossfire. So, I need to see the King. I know it’s getting late and it will take us into nightfall, so Orion is going to have a fit but it’s important.” Kyla stated. Shemar raised an eyebrow.
“How important? Can’t it wait until morning?” Shemar questioned. Kyla shook her head.
“No. I only have three weeks and I don’t intend to sit around and wait for them. I bet Byron isn’t just sitting around when the dark hits. That’s giving him an advantage that I could easily hold for myself.” Kyla argued. Shemar sighed.
“Or it’ll get you killed. You know it’s dangerous out there right now-hence the curfew. The power that Byron holds, has vampires attacking during the day and witches hiding in fear. That kind of power is not something you want to invite to play, especially at night.” he warned. Kyla simply shrugged, refusing to be intimidated.
“Why wait for day, if it’s just as dangerous? I have to find him and confront that power either way? It makes no difference Shemar and I’m not going to waste time by arguing. I’m going tonight. Come or don’t, it’s your choice.” Kyla offered then went to turn away. Shemar stopped her with his sword crossing the doorway. She eyed him in question, as he put it back in its sheath across his back.
“What is your plan, Kyla? What are you going to do once we have been to the King?” Shemar asked quietly, turning the mic on his walkie off. Kyla sighed.
“I’m going to the King because I need permission to get into the goblins and giants territory. I’m going back to that warehouse to search for Byron. The vampires are helping him, so he might even be there. Either way, I’m going until Sky gives me something on my mom. Then I’m going to the human realm to get her.” Kyla admitted. Shemar scowled.
“Everything you just said, is only going to make Orion handcuff you to him with onyx chains and tow you around to your classes himself.” Shemar threatened.
“Damn straight I will, Oracle or not, there is no way in hell I’m letting any of that happen.” Orion bellowed as he walked forward with an intimidating frown and Zarek beside him. His huge form took up a lot of the hall space which had Kyla stepping back inside the doorway. Zarek didn’t hesitate and pulled her into his arms. Kyla sighed against him, her tears quickly filling her eyes as he whispered in her ear.
“The prophecy isn’t coming true Kyla. I swear. I won’t let it.” he promised. Kyla held him tighter before they knew they had to pull away. It was too public. She sighed then turned to Orion.
“Orion you are the most loyal, diligent, over-bearing cockblock of a guard and I love you for it, but you need to realise that this is what I am here to do. I’m the Oracle. I was put here to do this. Not go to classes or let Onyx and Byron do whatever they want to the realm. No, I am here to take them down. And I’m going to, even if it’s dangerous.” Kyla convinced. Orion blushed through his dark skin at her words then cleared his throat.
“Shemar is your guard. Wherever you go, he must go.” Orion reminded. Zarek was quick to intervene.
“Not just him. Wherever Kyla goes, I go. That means you too, Orion.” Zarek smiled innocently.
“You lot better not be leaving me behind.” Wyatt grinned as he came down the hall. Kyla smiled up at him.
“Of course not. I gave you a promise, remember?” Kyla agreed remembering that she had promised Wyatt, that he would get a shot at Onyx and Byron for what they had done to Sky.
“Oh, I remember. So, are we packing or what?” He smirked, kissing Kyla on the cheek then moving inside. Kyla rolled her eyes at his easy acceptance of what would most likely get them killed, then went to turn away.
“I’ll let the King know we are coming. If he says no though Kyla, then we wait until morning. Deal?” Orion replied sternly. Kyla nodded with a knowing smirk.
“You and I both know that by now, he already knows we’re coming.”
~ 6 ~
Kyla moved over to her bed and pulled her duffel out from under it. Zarek moved in behind her, his hands gripping her waist as he kissed up her neck. Kyla sighed at the comfort she had been longing for. They had both been longing for. She remembered their boundaries though.
“Wyatt.” Kyla whispered as she leant back into Zarek. She felt his smile against her cheek.
“Do you really have to say his name while I’m trying to seduce you?” Zarek teased as she turned in his arms. Her answering smirk was taken by the hungry kiss that he pressed into her lips. She kissed back, her arms sliding around his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against his tight body. She could barely get out what she needed to say as his mouth took hers. Her breaths were hard enough to come by, let alone thoughts when he kissed her so intensely.
“Zarek, we can’t…” Kyla sighed as her mouth betrayed her words by returning to his soft lips.
“He’s in the shower babe, we’ve got time.” Zarek smirked against her lips. Kyla pulled back to inspect the dorm, finding it empty she grinned up at his impressive height above her. Kyla jumped onto his waist as he moved her quickly to the bed, his hands already tugging at her shirt. Kyla laughed at his attempts then pulled it over her head as he pulled his own off. Kyla bit her lip in awe of his perfection. Strong, taut muscles that had become more defined after months of training had her moistening her lips with her tongue. Her hands moved greedily to his abs as he moved his body back over hers. Kyla accepted his mouth on hers again, when the dorm door burst open. Zarek jumped off Kyla, sped to the other side of the room while Kyla rolled off her bed, to hide next to it while she shuffled her shirt back on. That had been too close.
“How dare you?!” Elanor squealed as she stopped short in front of Zarek, hand on her hip, betrayal in her eyes. Damn, closer than they had thought.
Kyla peered over the bed to see the confrontation between Elanor and Zarek unfold, her fingers crossed that it wasn’t about having been caught out. Zarek feigned innocence with a surprised look at her outburst.
“How dare I what, El?” Zarek asked nonchalantly. Her face burned brighter with anger.
“It’s Elanor! And you’re going to the mansion and weren’t even going to tell me? Or invite me? How dare you?” She snapped. Kyla sighed in relief, noticing the same expression in Zarek.
“Sorry, only just planned it. I assume that means you’re coming then?” He said as Kyla rolled her eyes at Zarek’s mother, obviously interfering again. Elanor crossed her arms, her chin raised defiantly on her tall slender build.
“Of course, I am. Your mother insisted.” Elanor glared then managed to stomp her feet in the most graceful way Kyla had ever seen, back out the door. Kyla blew out a breath and stood up, eyeing Zarek with a look they both understood. Be more careful.
Kyla packed her things in a rush, then went to get changed. The colours of the realm were white and gold. Every important building, like the school, the hospital, the mansion, boasted the theme throughout, including the uniforms of staff. Kyla tried to respect it by wearing them whenever she visited but through trying not to get killed, she hadn’t exactly had the chance to go shopping. She pulled on her white skinny jeans and a white camisole to sit under her thin off-white jumper. She pulled on her long g
old necklace to hang down the front then her white converse. Kyla finger combed her hair then waited impatiently for the others to hurry up. Mostly Elanor.
Once they were all packed, Shemar and Orion led them down to the camper type transportation they usually used. At first, it had creeped her out that there was no driving bay-Orion and Shemar hooked themselves up to gold ropes in the front of a long glass window instead-but now she was accustomed to the sight and moved into the camper with the others, without a second thought. Day trips usually meant the SUV’s, but mansion trips were always the camper. It held a long bed that slept all four of them at the back, a kitchenette on one side, small bathroom on the other, an intimate dining booth and a long couch that faced out the window at the front. And of course, all decorated in white and golds of different textures.
They all put their bags in the storage next to the couch, some of Elanor’s having to overflow next to it. Kyla moved straight back to the cabin, needing some sleep. She fell onto her space on the bed and sighed contentedly. She was asleep within seconds, her mind eager for the reprieve from thoughts.
Kyla stirred awake to the sight of Zarek’s startling blue eyes watching her. He smiled.
“Finally, sleeping beauty. We’re here.” He informed then moved away from her. Kyla raised her eyebrows in surprise. She hadn’t meant to sleep the whole way. She shuffled off the bed, grabbed her duffel then made her way outside to where the others were being led into the huge, typical white and gold mansion by a naked pink pixie, Cindy.
Shemar and Orion had already disappeared, as they always did when they came to the mansion. Kyla had only recently learned it was because their families lived in the guards’ circle around the mansion, so the King had granted them the courtesy to go stay with them whenever they came, since the mansion was already so protected. Kyla gave Cindy a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey Cindy” Kyla smiled as the others moved past her.