The Chronicles of Winterset: Oracle

by K. G. Reuss

  “Yes, my Lord?” a voice spoke up, his accent thick, different. There was a familiarity behind it but I couldn’t place where I knew it from.

  “My daughter is your betrothed. Will you fight for her, for our kingdoms, with the knowledge that it may be your last battle?”

  “It would be an honor to die in the name of the princess,” Niall stated immediately, without hesitation. “I freely give my life for her and for our kingdoms.”

  This guy must really love the princess, I mused. He was ready and willing to die for her. Now that’s love. She’s a lucky girl, whoever she was.

  “Then we fight!” the king bellowed. He was met by a round of loud cheering, and I cringed, knowing the force they were up against was stronger and more merciless than they realized.

  The Nihilist would stop at nothing to get what was his, and this princess was his.

  Chapter 25

  I awoke with my head aching and my body covered in sweat. I glanced blurrily around my room, trying to get my vision to straighten out, and let out a yelp when I saw a strange shape flit quickly through my mirror.

  I climbed clumsily to my feet, my hands shaking as I ran to cover the mirror.

  Not this again, I groaned.

  I sank down on my bed and rested my head in my hands. I felt like the room was spinning. Whatever Calix had in that flask was bad news. I couldn’t directly connect the drink with my visions, but I’d never experienced them so intensely before.

  I glanced at the clock and saw it was already past ten. Grabbing my phone, I frowned when I saw a text from Mel.

  I’m riding with Chad. Jared is with us. Best if you drive yourself tonight. He’s being extra creepy.

  I sighed and sent her back “K” and made my way to the bathroom, wondering if I should even go since I felt awful from whatever had just transpired on my bedroom floor.

  I turned the water on in the shower and climbed in to let it pelt me. My knees were still shaky and I groaned as I quickly washed my hair. When I was done, I climbed out and brushed and dried my hair, noting the moisture in the air had disappeared once again simply by my wanting it.

  Maybe I’d been bitten by a radioactive spider while I’d slept. Or maybe it was my brain tumor. I let out a sigh then put on some makeup and grabbed a pair of black ripped jeans, adding a short, V-neck shirt with a pair of black high-heeled boots. A hint of my bare tummy peeked out, and I grimaced, hoping it wasn’t too much.

  Maybe Calix was onto something. I might be just a little uptight.

  I grabbed his leather jacket and put it on, then headed out, deciding I’d rather go out than stay in my what I was now sure was my haunted bedroom. I was really trying not to dwell on the strange image I’d seen in my mirror. Or the strange images I was seeing in what I figured was my diseased head.

  I walked to Kevin’s house. It took a lot longer than I had anticipated, and I was OK with that. I needed the cool night air on my face. I’d hoped it would help clear my head.

  By the time I arrived, it was well past eleven and the party was in full swing. I walked through the door and went straight through the living room to the keg outside the patio door.

  “Hey, Ana!” Brett greeted me.

  “Not manning the shot station tonight?” I asked as I took the glass of beer from him.

  “I’m doing both. I’m pretty versatile,” he answered, pouring me a shot.

  I tipped it back and drained the contents easily enough.

  “So, you got a date to the homecoming dance tomorrow?” he asked, pouring another shot for me.

  “Yes,” I answered drinking down my second drink, but having to chase it with my beer. That one had been nasty.

  “Mind if I ask who?”

  “Calix Night,” I replied, looking around and wondering where he was.

  “Oh, shit,” Brett said softly.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. He’s just a scary dude.”

  “He has his moments,” I muttered dryly, still scanning the area for signs of anyone else I knew, like Mel or Chad.

  “I heard he got into a fight with your boy Kellin,” Brett continued as he handed glasses of alcohol to a couple of girls.

  “Wait. What?” I asked, my attention snapping back to him.

  “You didn’t know?” he asked with raised eyebrows. “Yeah, at the football game tonight. I guess they got into it in the parking lot before the game started. I heard it took a few members of the team to break them apart.”

  “Were they hurt?”

  “I don’t know,” he answered with a shrug. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see it, only heard about it.”

  “Have you seen Mel tonight?” I demanded. I had to find her and get answers.

  “Yeah, she was in the garage playing beer pong last time I saw her,” he replied, handing me another shot. I quickly swallowed it and handed the empty glass back to him.

  I made my way to the garage wondering what the hell was going on. Maybe that’s why Calix wasn’t here. Maybe he’d been hurt. Both he and Kellin were big guys, after all.

  “Mel!” I shouted when I spotted her. “Mel!”

  “Ana!” she squealed, running over and hugging me. “I was worried you were going to bail.”

  “What happened between Calix and Kellin tonight?” I demanded, ignoring everything else.

  “Heard about that, huh?” she said, pulling on my arm and leading me away to the corner of the garage where there was less noise.

  “Yes. Brett told me. What happened?”

  “I’m not real sure. I saw Kellin come up to Calix and they started talking like nothing, you know? It didn’t look hostile at all. And then Kellin threw a punch and Calix flipped his shit and hit back. It took like seven guys on the team to separate them. Do you think they were fighting over you?”

  “I sure hope not,” I muttered, finishing my glass of beer.

  “Kellin is here,” Mel said. “Maybe you should go talk to him. You guys are friends, and despite him being a jerk leaving you in the woods, maybe he really is sorry, Ana. You really should talk to him.”

  “I don’t know,” I sighed. “I’m still pretty pissed about it. I’m not ready to talk to him yet.”

  Mel nodded sympathetically at me.

  “Ha-have you seen Calix tonight?” I asked looking around.

  “No,” she answered. “I see you’re wearing his jacket, though. What’s going on with you two? Like, for real.”

  “Nothing. We’re just friends,” I responded, my stomach flopping at the words.

  “Friends who skip classes together and let you wear their jacket?” she asked knowingly. I didn’t reply, not knowing what to say. There wasn’t anything romantic happening between us despite how it all may look, but I knew she wouldn’t believe me.

  “I need a refill,” I said, and she nodded.

  I quickly walked back to the keg and had Brett refill my glass. Jason had materialized and sat holding a bottle of hard alcohol and I nodded for him to give me some. He did rather eagerly, and before long, I was feeling tipsy with the room spinning around me.

  I went out to where everyone was dancing and danced alone, my drink in my hand. I moved to the music and didn’t bother looking around to see what others thought.

  “Ana,” I heard a voice call over the music. I didn’t stop to look around to see who was calling my name, content to be in my own little drunken world.

  “Ana!” this time he called louder. I moved deeper into the bodies of dancing people so whoever it was wouldn’t bother me.

  I felt someone grab my arm and pull me to them suddenly, and I stumbled into Kellin, his blond hair disheveled and his blue eyes wide.

  “Stop,” I grumbled, pulling my arm away from him.

  “I need you to come with me,” he said reaching for me again and pulling me out of the throng of dancing bodies.

  I tried to fight him off but was unsuccessful as he continued to lead me quickly through Kevin’s living room to the patio.

&nb
sp; “Kellin, stop!” I snapped at him, fighting to get away.

  “Ana, listen to me,” he commanded, pulling me roughly to him and looking down harshly at me. “I don’t have time to explain it, but I need you to trust me.”

  “Screw you,” I hissed at him. “The last time I trusted you, you left me in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold!”

  “And I said I was sorry,” he replied through gritted teeth. “But we can talk about that later. Right now, I really need you to do as I say.”

  “No! I’m not doing anything with or for you!” I snarled angrily at him. He had some nerve coming in here and ruining my good time.

  “I swear to God, Ana, I will pick you up and haul you out of here. Do you understand me? There is something bigger than you and me happening, and I need you to come with me.”

  “Go to hell,” I shouted, pushing against him. He grabbed me again and began hauling me roughly through the crowd of people. I took note of some of the looks on people’s faces as he pulled me through the crowd. Some were even whispering.

  “Stop it, Kellin!” I demanded angrily. “I’m not going with you!”

  “Yes you are, Ana!” he said, turning abruptly to me and pulling me so close to him, our noses were nearly touching. He lowered his voice and his blue eyes flashed.

  “Come with me, Ana,” he said calmly, his voice engulfing my senses. I winced as it fell on my ears. “You need to come with me. Walk out of here with me quietly.”

  I blinked rapidly and was just about to agree to everything he was telling me to do when Calix’s voice interrupted.

  “Nice try, Romeo. I can take it from here,” he said, grabbing hold of me and pulling me close to him. I snapped out of whatever spell I’d been under and stared blurrily out at Kellin, whose face had gone from calm to irate.

  “Look, Ana needs to come with me. I’m the one she’s supposed to be with, not you. She is my charge.”

  “Looks like there’s a new boss in town,” Calix replied icily, wrapping his arm protectively around my waist. “And I think Ana wants to be with me anyway, Bornian.”

  What the hell is a Bornian?

  “Like hell she does,” Kellin growled. “You’ve gotten into her head.”

  “You’re one to talk,” Calix snapped back. “Weren’t you the one trying to compel her just now?”

  “I was trying to get her to safety. Stay out of matters you don’t understand, Xanatharian.”

  Calix tried to pull me past Kellin but Kellin got in front of Calix and pushed him hard in the chest.

  Calix took a step back and let out a dark chuckle before looking back to Kellin, his eyes flashing black.

  “Watch yourself. I don’t think you realize who you’re dealing with. I allowed you to attempt to fight me before. I will not allow it again.”

  Kellin launched himself at Calix and I stumbled to the side. I immediately pulled myself together and tried to separate the two of them. I didn’t have a clue what the hell they were talking about, but I knew I wasn’t going to stand around and let them fight about who I left with.

  “Knock it off!” I shouted, pushing between them. “I’m so sick of everyone! Just stop it!”

  They immediately looked at me and forgot about the fight they were about to get into.

  “I’m not going with either one of you. I’m going home alone. And here,” I pulled off Calix’s jacket and tossed it to him. “Take your jacket.”

  I stomped past them with all eyes on me and made my way out to the street. I managed to stumble a few blocks in the direction of my house, and then that eerie feeling from earlier washed over me.

  I looked around nervously, suddenly wishing I had a ride home. I peered through the darkness and saw shadows flit through the trees. My breath hitched in my throat and I started to run, silently cursing my poor shoe choice and alcohol consumption.

  I made it to Rockwell Park and cut through the trails, winding through the trees knowing it was dark but also knowing the shortcut would bring me five minutes closer to home.

  The shadows pursued me, and by the time I was halfway down the dark trails, I was gasping for air and my feet were killing me. I couldn’t go on anymore, so I stopped and raked in a few deep breaths, looking around. There was nowhere to go.

  The shadows were everywhere, their red eyes peering out at me from the darkness.

  I was surrounded.

  Chapter 26

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pressed the name on the screen without bothering to look at who I was calling. Anyone would be great at this moment.

  “I-I’m in Rockwell Park on the trails,” I stammered. “I’m not alone. Help me.”

  I dropped my phone as one of the shadow creatures lunged, knocking me to the ground. Screaming, I kicked at the red-eyed monster as it as crawled on top of me and tried to hold me down. I kicked and bucked, effectively tossing it off of me.

  When it spoke, it was in a language I didn’t understand. The other creatures stood like dark sentries on the edge of the woods as they watched the creature circle me like I was its prey.

  I sat up slowly, my heart hammering in my chest as I realized there was no way in hell I was coming out of this without a scratch.

  “Get to your feet, girl,” the creature sneered at me. “I fear you not.”

  I climbed slowly to my feet and was barely able to stand. No more alcohol for me, especially if I was going to have to fight shadows in the park in the middle of the night.

  “I-I don’t know what you want,” I stammered. The creature advanced on me and hit me square in the face with enough force that my knees buckled beneath me.

  “You are nothing,” it hissed at me as it landed a rough kick into my side. I felt bones snap as his foot made contact with my ribs and a painful cry escaped my lips.

  The creature let out a nasty cackle and kicked me again. Blood spurted from my mouth and I fell forward onto the dirt, wishing the pain would stop. Again and again, he kicked me. When that wasn’t fun for him anymore, he lifted me to my feet and I sagged forward, blood coming from my nose and mouth as I stood before this devil.

  “You are powerless, as I knew you would be,” he sneered at me, his red eyes flashing dangerously. “You cannot be the one.”

  “Then why don’t you just kill me?” I challenged weakly. Anything to make the pain stop.

  The creature lurched at me, and I pulled together all the strength I could muster. My hands began to tingle and ache and I knew what was coming. I didn’t try to keep it at bay, hoping the flames would engulf me and put me out of my misery.

  I let out a cry as the creature hit me again hard in the face. I was lifted off my feet upon impact and flew backward through the night sky only to land many feet away from him in a flameless heap on the ground.

  I rolled over, groaning and gasping for air, awaiting another blow, but then the shadow of a man came zooming into my view at speeds so fast, I couldn’t register where he was in comparison to where he’d been.

  He stopped suddenly in front of the shadow creature and plunged his fist through its chest. The creature’s eyes widened in an O of surprise before he exploded into dark bits and disappeared. The man didn’t hesitate and made for the edge of the trees where he began mercilessly taking out the creatures trying to flee the scene.

  It was over within seconds, all the creatures either dead or having escaped as the man stood in the center of the trail, his back to me. He flitted in and out, a dark shadow that slowly began to show his true form.

  Finally, he stood in front of me in his human form and I let out a gasp. It didn’t seem possible.

  Calix was staring down at me, his face alternating between a mask of terrifying anger to one of outright concern.

  He came to me quickly and scooped me into his arms as I struggled to breathe. I felt like I was dying.

  “Not tonight,” Calix whispered in my ear as the world began to whirl around us. “Tonight, you live.”

  I felt a horrible pull in my
stomach as we were whisked away into darkness.

  Chapter 27

  I went through a fit of terrifying dreams that night. The Master was there, cackling and burning villages to the ground with the Nihilist at his side, and the wildflowers swirled around me as I went in and out of various visions, all involving some sort of horrible scene with people dying. And then one hit me so hard, I felt my hands tremble and my stomach roll.

  I was thrown into a dark, barren landscape, the trees scrubby and sparse. I looked around apprehensively, terrified of what new horror awaited me. Men dressed in tarnished armor on horses approached, and I watched as they disappeared into a narrow canyon. I was flung from there to watching them standing before a stone wall with hanging vines and intricate designs carved deep into the stone. I watched interestedly as one of the large men placed his hand on the center of a design that looked like a skull.

  “Pugare impura,” he said in a deep, rumbling voice.

  I gasped as the vines came to life and moved aside and the stone wall turned to a strange, silvery liquid that the men on their horses just stepped through. I didn’t have to worry about making my way inside, though, because I was once again flung to another scene with the man who had opened the gateway.

  He was standing in front of another, much larger man, and I furrowed my brows as I stared at him. He was young and extraordinarily handsome with long dark hair and equally dark eyes, and he looked familiar, though I thought I’d never seen this man before in my life. He was tall and broad and looked like he knew how to handle the sword at his side. His size made him intimidating, but his facial features made me feel he wasn’t as mean as he appeared.

  “My Lord, we have failed in retrieving the Oracle. The Shades we sent were destroyed by Him.”

  The man turned his back to the horseman and was quiet before he spoke in a deep voice with a thick accent.

  “Then we simply send more. There is no way he can defeat them all, even with the Oracle at his side.”

  “My Lord, one of the survivors said the Oracle hasn’t Transitioned and hasn’t been bound. She remains untarnished.”