Children of Sun (Oracle's Legacy)

by R. B. Holbrook

  When the pain finally began to ease, she collapsed on the stairs, breathing hard. She began to push back the dark. As much as she hated medication, she pulled out the pain meds that Granger's doctor had prescribed and popped one in her mouth before crawling up the steps.

  "Do you need help?" A voice offered.

  "Tall glass of water. Atlanta, Georgia." Her eyes were too glazed for her to see the face, but the voice was coming from the inside of the plane, so should be the pilot or someone under Moon's employ. If he wasn't, he wasn't ready to take her on at the present moment.

  "Yes, ma'am. Can I help--"

  "Water. Up in the air. In that order." She continued to crawl, not willing to waste time on her problems.

  When he brought her the water, she had already slipped another pill into her mouth. She was finally in the plane, and the door sealed shut as she downed the glass of water.

  "If you can, please get into a chair and fasten your seat belt. I would hate for George or Devil's Trill to get angry at me because you had an injury."

  She just laughed. No injury could feel like she'd felt moments ago. Any injury that could take her mind off that pain was welcome. But she needed to focus. So the pain would have to take a back burner for now. The only thing that mattered was getting her family back in any way possible. And to do that, she would need detailed answers and road maps to the people she should kill first.

  ()()()

  Anxiously, Granger watched the yacht pull into the dock. With Ollie out of his sight, he had a moment to focus. He still wasn't sure if she had used him or if he had used her, but he had failed to keep her from escaping. And it felt like he had failed in … keeping her.

  Damn it, that woman was infuriating. He cleared his mind of dread. He had to call Geo and let him know that Ollie had jumped ship.

  "Augustus." Arjun walked up behind him, carrying some papers. "I think you need to read this. It was translated from the ancient language and then faxed from the Heart Vaults." His face looked sad.

  It had something to do with Ollie.

  He took the papers, controlling his breathing. He noticed that on the first page a small portion was circled:

  Excerpt from Studies of Enlightenment, Vol. 1

  The seal, which was created for the use of identifying each House and carefully pairing each type of ability with the corresponding House, was also created as a method of control over individual powers. This means that the seal was created and designed with balance as its main attribute.

  Flipping to the next page, he found another section circled:

  Excerpt from Studies of Enlightenment, Vol. 8

  Studies of the Eighth House's enlightenment have been intriguing. According to the findings, the Eighth House has an unusual form of enlightenment. This is due to the nature of the seal created for them. Eighth House abilities and characteristics are grounded in imbalance and its relation to the world, but the seal was designed for them to accept this imbalance and embrace its necessity. In order for members of the Eighth House to advance in enlightenment, they must embrace the understanding of imbalance and how it, in essence, keeps the balance.

  Further tests have shown that most members of the House are able to alter their seals. This is curious, because no other House has that ability. This ability stems from the fact that the House has a need to blend in and camouflage. The effect of the alteration is temporary and causes great pain, but it allows the user to channel his energy much like those of Heart, using more than one type of energy. This explains the different types of abilities the House possesses. However, the altered state is very difficult and must be taught, and any individual House member that tries to perform this ability without proper guidance can cause irreversible damage.

  This in turn damages the seal, thus creating a dangerous imbalance of the human body. While the House member is still able to become enlightened, the damaged seal will cause pain. The more the enlightenment, the greater the pain. This pain increases the imbalance within an individual, therefore increasing enlightenment. Because the seal is no longer able to control enlightenment properly, the body will continue to be enlightened as imbalances occur.

  The pain and rapid spread of the seal eventually will activate the body's immune system, seeing the seal as a threat; the immune system will attack the seal. Because the seal is a necessary part of the body ingrained in the DNA, its destruction leads to death. So far, only two accounts of death because of forced alterations have been recorded.

  As of yet, there has been no conclusive evidence of any cure for the condition. It has been suggested that all members of the Eighth House remember to seek knowledge of such procedures before trying to attempt an alteration.

  Granger read the report again, then he looked up at Arjun to make sure it was accurate. But he already knew. He had felt the change in her through her memories of the rape. Unknowingly she had altered her seal, and the seal had claimed her eyes. It was said that the seal could reflect in the eyes, like Granger's did. For Ollie, that reflection was permanent. The imbalance of color in her eyes was like a stamp on her face. A reminder of what was done to her, and of the price she was paying even now.

  "Ollie's increasing pain is her body fighting against her seal." Arjun sighed. "If either the seal or her body loses, she could die. There is a chance that by stopping her, making her balance out and reject the darkness, she could live."

  That darkness was so much a part of her, though. Arjun's words seemed impossible. But it wasn't just the darkness; it was the fact that she was taking on far too much emotional and mental strain, and that too was hurting her. While it was forcefully furthering her enlightenment, it was killing her.

  "How long do you think she has?" Granger asked, trying not to think the worst. He needed to think.

  "Well, according to what the doctors found, it could be days, if not sooner. If she does not slow down and take the rest required, she will die."

  He wanted to call her, but she had left behind her phone, along with most of her other belongings. He had to track her down. And there was only one other way he could think of to do it.

  Taking out his phone, he dialed the last person he wanted to talk to.

  ()()()

  I-70, Kansas

  "Are you going to tell me?" Geo asked.

  "Geo, just let it go," Ellis grunted shifting in the passenger seat.

  "I know you two were in St. Louis recently, Ellis. It was around the same time the River historian was found dead there. Ollie was the one who killed him, wasn't she? It had her signature all over it, even though they say it was Demon's Wrath."

  Ellis closed his eyes. He didn't want to rat out his twin.

  But Geo had read the report and remembered their last business trip. The attack showed that the River historian had seen a dark image so terrifying that he had killed himself by clawing out his own throat. Why? Because of an image of a being of utter darkness that held the eyes of death. One eye was like hell, and the other was … pure evil. The man had experienced things that only Ollie could make him experience. And the seer that had picked up the images had killed herself because she had seen the same images instead of Ollie. Only Ollie had the ability to completely submerge an area in her power and have it linger permanently, so that any seer trying to track her would see exactly what they were up against. Darkness. Moon.

  "What is Moon up to?" Geo asked, hoping that for once, Ellis would tell him something.

  "And you think I would know that?"

  Ellis knew more than he would say. "You were there when she killed him. I can see it on your face."

  "I was outside the motel, waiting in the car, if that is what you mean by there." His words were like steel: hard and cold. "I heard nothing, saw nothing. But I'm sure that was her power at work. She didn't speak about the job. And if it is Moon-related, she won't. You know she'll die before jeopardizing us."

  "It is Moon killing off the seers and historians. Damn. What are they up to?" Geo frowned, wishing he
understood his sister and her group of outcasts. They had been quiet for so long, and now they were active--more active than what was considered safe. They had killed a House Sun record keeper and a River historian, and it was suspected that they had something to do with the Heart seer's suicide. It had something to do with the Oracle situation. But what?

  Geo couldn't protect Ollie like this. He couldn't protect the family if she refused to help him. She always had to make life difficult. "Damn it."

  Ellis's phone rang, which was odd, because the man rarely carried his phone and even more rarely got a phone call. Ellis answered it. "What?"

  There was a long silence. Whoever was on the other end was talking Ellis's ear off.

  After a while, Ellis looked at the phone, slowly closing it before looking over at Geo with glazed eyes.

  "What's going on?"

  Pain laced Ellis's eyes. He wasn't sure whether to pull over the car or keep driving. They were almost at their destination, but his brother looked like he would spill his guts any moment.

  "Ellis?"

  "Drive," Ellis said, turning his head to look out the window.

  They arrived at the restaurant where their family had last been spotted before the abduction. They pulled up next to a shiny red Corvette. Vlad, the eldest sister, and their nineteen-year-old brother, Wild Card, stood waiting outside the car, both looking pissed. Vlad had probably cussed the younger brother out about something, spoiling his mood and hers. Wild Card had on all black with a black bandana covering his head and dark sunglasses. He looked like a thug, but then again, he did run with a bunch of Blade enforcers that acted like thugs. Vlad was in jeans and a T-shirt, which was out of character for her, but this proved that she was ready to get down and dirty.

  When Geo got out of the car, Ellis stayed seated.

  "'Sup wi' Doc?" Wild Card nodded his head in Ellis's direction.

  "He received a phone call not too long ago and has been like that since. He hasn't said."

  "Must be about Olivia." Vlad's hard face turned soft, like that of a concerned sister. She walked over and opened the car door.

  Ellis stiffened immediately.

  She pried the phone from his tight grip and tossed it over to Geo. "Ellis," she said low and soothingly while unbuckling his seat belt, "how is Ollie?"

  Ellis's chest began to rise and fall as if he was having trouble breathing.

  "Tell me, sweetie. Where is Ollie?" Vlad grabbed his hand and coaxed him out of the car

  Ellis continued to breathe heavily. Once he was out of the car, he stood there shaking his head.

  "You can tell me, Ellis." She tried to get him to look her in the eyes. If anyone other than Ollie could get Ellis to release his frustration, Vlad was the one. "Come on, little brother. Tell me where Ollie is. What is she up to? How is our sister?"

  "Ah, it mi' be best if we don' know." Wild Card looked shaken. The kid had never seen Ellis like this. But Geo had. When they had first found the twins. And Ollie was dead.

  Geo had to make himself breathe, as he feared the worse. Pain ripped through him as he anticipated Ellis's response.

  "Ellis." Vlad's voice caught as she tried to stay calm. "Come on, my little bookworm." She sniffed. "You are scaring me." She tried to hug him, but he pushed her away.

  "Don't … d-don't. We have to find the others." Ellis's shaky voice chilled Geo.

  He opened Ellis's phone and dialed Granger, knowing that the information had to have come from him. When the man answered, Geo asked him about Ollie.

  After hanging up, Geo took in a deep breath. He had to clear his head. He needed to think clearly and figure out what to do next.

  Wild Card began to panic. "Ah, daaamn!"

  "Calm down," Geo said, nailing Wild Card with a fierce look. He looked over at Ellis and then back at Wild Card, who followed his eyes. The young man nodded immediately and regained his senses. They did not need to make the situation worse. Keeping Ellis calm was crucial.

  "Geo?" Vlad asked with tears in her eyes.

  "How close are you to finding them?" Geo asked her, knowing she could track them with her powers. Her blood connection to them would lead her to them.

  "All I know is that they are in a warehouse somewhere on the Mississippi River. So far, that is all I have." She rubbed Ellis's back while he braced himself with both hands against the car. "However, I'm fairly certain that I will have something useful by tomorrow, especially if we can find the abduction site," she explained. "Now, explain to me what is going on with Ollie."

  "Ellis, do you want to--"

  "I'm fine. Tell them." Ellis's voice barely registered as he gripped the roof of the car like it was a lifeline.

  "Ollie has taken off. Granger's going after her, and Ellis is going to meet up with him in Kansas City--"

  "What?" Ellis shot up straight. "Geo, you need me here."

  "No, sir. I need you clear and levelheaded, and you won't be, as long as you know Ollie is out of your sight and dying."

  "Dying?" Vlad gasped.

  "Her enlightenment is killing her as long as she persists on forcing herself through it. If she's not found and doesn't settle herself by resting, she could be dead within days. Hours."

  Ellis turned away from them.

  "That settles it, then. Ellis, go find our sister. Make sure you stock up on heavy sedatives--elephant tranqs if you need to. Understood?" She held out her keys to her Corvette as a tear rolled down her face.

  Ellis nodded before going to Geo's trunk and taking out his bag. Geo tossed him his phone.

  "Bring them home, or this won't matter," Ellis said, knowing that if anything happened to any of the siblings, she would kill herself in order to kill all those responsible.

  "It's done. You keep her alive."

  "That's what I was born to do," Ellis said. He tossed his bag in the passenger seat, got into the car, and drove off at full throttle.

  ()()()

  East St. Louis, Illinois

  Bethea sat quietly, wishing she had a cigarette. At this rate, if she didn't get any nicotine, more days would be added to her life as her energy sought to repair her lungs. Either way, she would die. A month from now, two months … it didn't matter; she was prepared. It was her family she didn't want to leave. And it would be nice to see the future that was in store for her children.

  Smiling, she placed her hands in her lap as she looked over their morbid faces. If they could only see … but their roles were not to see or to guide. That was her place.

  Her children were still disoriented from being kidnapped, drugged, and brought to this cold and highly secure location. And it would be a while before they could focus, because they were still trying to wrap their heads around it all. It had happened so fast.

  She looked over at Cee, who sat with Bones lying in her lap. She had been feeding the kid her own energy to keep him sustained, but it was wearing on her. She looked tired, and the energy transfer only sustained Bones for small periods. O-no wanted to help. He'd asked if she could take energy from him and give it to Bones, but she refused to even try it. Wolfe was trying to figure something out, but nothing sounded like a foolproof plan. Poor little Miko was curled between O-no and Sunny with fear in her eyes. The events of her childhood were playing in her head again. Seeing her mother die before her eyes had made her terrified of guns, so seeing her brother Troy lying on the ground, bleeding, had sent her mind over the edge.

  Little one. She reached out her mind to Miko, who slowly looked up at her with bright, wide eyes. Remember what your sister told you. Ollie told you not to let it control you. Miko nodded, grabbing hold of O-no's arm as she began to think of Ollie. That would make Miko strong. Ollie affected her deeply.

  She looked up at the mirror high above them in the wall. They were watching them, observing their captives. But they would get nothing from this little endeavor. At least they would get nothing they wanted.

  The Oracle smiled as she looked up at the ceiling. Her children had the abilities they
needed to get out of this mess; they were stronger than they knew. But their minds were clouded with worry and fear. That was why there were few who could set them free.

  O-no could have taken control over the entire base by now by controlling the security systems and computer interfaces with his power alone. Bones could have used his mental vision to be their eyes. Sunny could persuade any guard to let down his defenses. Miko was a telekinetic and could have blown a hole in the wall with her abilities by now. Wolfe could superheat metal or almost anything to the point of melting, but only by touch. But when he had his hands on a firearm, the man was a genius. And even though gentle Cee was a healer and a prophet, she had learned how to fight at an early age and knew how to fire a weapon as well.

  Yes, they all had the ability, but they had fear keeping them here. Fear and destiny.

  Where are you? Why aren't you answering me? The shadow was still beckoning for her attention. But there was more than just one voice, one plea. She was no god. So it was not her duty to answer them. It was her duty to guide quietly.

  Bethea sighed, wanting a cigarette.

  ()()()

  19

  Atlanta, Georgia

  The moment the airplane began to descend, Ollie woke, feeling the pressure in her ears change. Pain clawed at her insides, but it didn't stop her. She stood up from her seat as the pilot came into the main cabin.