“The Crusader of Hellas? Afraid?” Leyton widened his snow white eyes in surprise. “Why, I scarcely believe it. Isn’t she the one who has never failed to defeat her enemies? Isn’t she the one who has made quite the name for herself on Earth and in Olympus? If they knew that a single mortal was causing her fear, then that would be the end of the world as we know it. There would be no hope left...”
“I hate you so much right now.” I rolled my eyes at his mockery. “And no, I’m not afraid of Elliot. I just…I don’t know how to handle him now that he's my sworn enemy. That's all.”
“You must find the strength to destroy him, Eva. Otherwise, Lancaster will haunt you for the rest of your days.”
I watched Cyrus’ features grow dark with anger. He had been there through my fight with Elliot. He was still upset over how I’d been harmed by my newest enemy. Now, it was my turn to try to calm him. I placed my hand on his arm and squeezed.
“Settle down, Stick. We still have plenty of time to handle Elliot. But right now? I’ve still got a show to do.”
Cyrus didn’t respond, but he gripped my hand. I took that as a good sign. So I turned back to Joey and Leyton.
“Ok. Let’s start over. Joey, I’m sorry I touched your camera. I really didn’t mean to get that close to it.”
“No,” Joey sighed as he swiped the rag over the lens one last time. “I’m sorry I snapped at you, Evie. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Are you two going to hug this out? Sing Kum-ba-ya? Or are you going to go back out there?” Leyton tilted his head. “I think our viewers are going to be greatly disappointed if the drama is focused on you instead of the spirits.”
“I. Hate. You.” I stressed each word before turning back to Joey. “What do we know about this place?”
“Nothing, really.” Joey sat his camera aside to pull out his cell phone. I was sure he was trying to access the email that held the information about our newest location. “Founded in 1902 to serve the growing community. Shut down when the Feds pulled Westchester’s funding in the 1960s. Reports of strange children and a lone woman have been recorded since the ‘80s.”
“Anything specific?” I leaned against the table Leyton was sitting at and crossed my arms over my chest. “Screams? Violence? Poltergeist?”
“No. Just apparitions.” Joey snapped the folder closed. “Leyton, Evie has a point. If you know where we need to go then maybe we can get back to L.A. before Elliot can put us on another plane.”
I nodded. So I wasn’t the only one who had noticed our dear producer’s desire to keep us out of Orange County. I started to agree with Joey when a regal voice interrupted me.
“Perhaps there?”
Elizabeth Tilman spoke up from her post by Leyton’s side. I stared at her in amazement. She served as Leyton’s keeper, but I’d never heard her speak before. I racked my memory to recall what Leyton had told me about her inability to speak.
“You can talk?” I stole a glance to Leyton before turning my attention back to his keeper. “But Leyton told me that your tongue had been cut out.”
“You cannot believe everything my master tells you.” She gave Leyton a long, hard look when he grinned. “But I am not important. That is.”
She pointed to the screen. It was from the cameras set up in the hallways we had just left. I turned to face the image while both Cyrus and Joey leaned over me. Sure enough, the halls that had been empty before were no longer abandoned. On the screen, a dark shadow was walking away from the office.
I didn’t bother to stop. I didn’t bother to think as I ran out the door. I could hear Joey and Cyrus yelling at me to slow down, but there was no way I was going to do that. The sooner we caught this thing on tape, the sooner I could get back to my condo. I had just turned down the hall to see the figure disappear around another corner when the guys caught up with me.
“Little One, you must stop. Consider what could happen if you go running into the darkness.”
“How am I supposed to get this on film if you keep running away from me?”
The two of them were talking at the same time, but I ignored them as I took off after the figure. I turned the corner just before a set of silver claws slashed through the air just inches away from my nose. I fell back with a cry as the being hissed at me.
“Oh, hell no.”
I snapped as it stomped the ground next to my head. I rolled to the side and managed to get on my feet before it lunged at me. I had seconds to avoid the claws that were slicing at my throat, so I wrapped my hands around each arm and shoved them aside. I slammed my foot against a very solid chest to get my opponent away from me. It appeared my companions had decided to join me because Joey turned on the spotlight from his camera to help me see.
When I got a look at the being I was fighting, I wished that he had just left me in the dark. The shadow figure was a woman whose skin was covered in angry red patches. Her hair was black and I could make out the thick spider webs woven through her tangles.
“So quick to anger, Sibyl. I was just saying hello.”
The woman hissed. Was her tongue forked? Joey’s spotlight caused the wicked metal claws attached to her hands to sparkle. But despite her horrible appearance and the weapons the woman was determined to use against me, none of these things were as horrifying as her pitch black eyes. The moment I met her gaze, I felt my blood grow cold with a fear that threatened to paralyze me.
I dropped her hands when a scream rose up in my throat. The woman tried to lunge at me again, but my beloved was there. He pressed his golden blade against the side of her neck with a sigh.
“Ekhidna, as lovely as it is to see you again, I believe you are being sorely missed in Tartarus.”
“Cyrus of Crete.” The woman dropped her claws with a cackle. “How long has it been since our last fight? Three? Four centuries?”
“Your last fight?” I swallowed down the last remnants of fear as the woman’s spell appeared to fade. “You two know each other?”
“Ekhidna. The mother of corruption.” Cyrus seemed bored as he tapped the blade against her skin. “She was banished to Tartarus after our last battle.”
“Yes. And released to give the Daughter of Apollo a message.” The woman cackled again. “Hera is not pleased with this one. Not pleased in the least.”
“A message?” I glanced over Ekhidna’s shoulder to see Joey was rolling. I was sure the woman at the conference had spoken of a messenger. Hadn’t she? “So you’re the messenger I was warned about. But why here? Why are you haunting this place?”
“Haunt?” The woman huffed. “I have no need to haunt the living, girl. I have other ways to create mayhem in this world.”
“Mayhem. Death. Destruction.” I crossed my arms and stared at the wall behind her. There was no way I was looking into her eyes again. “What is it with you Greeks? Can’t you come up with something a little more creative?”
“Creative, you say?” The woman dared to reach out and ran a single claw between my eyes. “Very well. You will encounter death far sooner than you realize, Daughter of Apollo. And my children will stalk you until Hera has discovered a way to rid the world of you.”
I winced at the scratch she left. I gave Cyrus a single nod before he ran his sword through her back. The woman disappeared in a haze of black smoke.
My keeper closed the distance between us to run his thumb over my injury. I closed my eyes to his touch, but I answered him before he could ask the question I knew was coming.
“I’m fine. She didn’t hurt me.”
Cyrus studied me for a moment as he moved his fingers down to trace my jaw with a series of short strokes. Finally, he broke the silence between us.
“You look tired, Little One.”
“I did not sit in makeup for two hours to look tired, Cyrus.” I frowned as I caught his hand against my face. “I am just worried. That’s all.”
“Perhaps we should return to the hotel. Take the night off. What that damned Lancaster doesn't know
won't hurt him.”
“I’m supposed to be filming.” I wanted to argue, but even I heard the exhaustion in my voice. “If I take tonight off, then we’ve wasted an entire day of shooting.”
“No, you haven’t.” Cyrus shook his head when he dropped his hand. “The interviews are done. Tiresias’ walkthrough is done. You've filmed the introduction. And I have carried enough cameras for Joey to fill this entire building.”
My keeper took my arm and it was all I could do not to slump against him. He was right. I was exhausted. I needed a bath, a bottle of wine, and a good three days’ sleep – all in that order. When I turned towards Joey, I could see a smile brightening his face. He must have heard our discussion because he bounded over to us with an energy I envied.
“We’re taking the night off? Seriously? Evie, you’re the best.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Cyrus. It was his idea.” I shook my head. “We need to sit down. Regroup. This episode is going nowhere fast.”
“Food.” Joey threw his free arm over his eyes. “I need real food. Not take out. Not airplane grub. A meal on a plate with real silverware.”
“God, Joey. Stop being so demanding, will you?” I teased as Cyrus guided me out with his hand on my lower back. We were walking towards the office to tell Leyton and Elizabeth when I spoke up again. “Will we really be able to depend on the perimeter cameras?”
“Yeah.” Joey nodded. He linked his arm through my free one. “The only thing they are going to miss is your smart mouth, Evie.”
“I am going to ignore that. But I want to talk about more than just the show, Joey. We’ve been too busy to talk about what happened after Montana.”
“Elliot?” Joey whispered our boss’ name as if it were a curse. Perhaps now, it was. “What about Leyton?”
“No. Leyton is not invited.” I shook my head. “I’ll call you when I’m ready to meet up. Just don’t fall out on me. This is important.”
“Fine.” Joey groaned. “I’ll stay awake long enough to chitchat. But you’re buying me dinner. A real one. On a plate.”
He stopped before the office door, but I kept going towards the exit. I knew he was going to tell the others. I didn’t dare stop though. I knew better than most that I would change my mind. Push this through until it was done.
I wanted to go home more than anything. I missed the craziness of L.A. I missed my condo. Even my office where the books on Greek history had been piling up since I’d become the Sibyl some two years before.
I fell into the passenger seat with a sigh. Cyrus was right. I needed to take the night off. Even if it meant staying in Oregon one day longer than necessary.
I just hoped I wouldn’t have to.
Chapter Two
“This is not what I had in mind when I suggested you take the night off, Little One.”
I looked up from my tablet to see Cyrus standing at the foot of my bed. He reached out his hand, so I sighed and handed over the device.
“I’m not working. I’m doing research. It’s totally different.” I tugged my hair free from the towel it was wrapped in. “I just can’t shake the feeling that Elliot is keeping us from L.A. for a reason.”
Cyrus nodded as he nudged me over. He climbed on the bed to pull me into his embrace. My keeper placed a single kiss on the top of my head before he spoke.
“I believe your work is being used as a diversion.” Cyrus brushed his hand over my hair. “The menace is up to something. We just have to figure out what that is.”
“The menace?” I snuggled down against Cyrus’ chest with a giggle. “You make Elliot sound like the villain in an old black and white movie. Next you’re going to tell me he’s grown a handlebar mustache to match his new top hat.”
“Little One.” Cyrus tried to sound critical, but I could hear his smile in his words. “Would you like for me to see what I can find out?”
I nodded. “Yeah. If anyone can discover the truth, it’s you. But I’m starting to think he’s too much of a chicken to face me after what happened in Montana.”
“Perhaps this separation is for the best.” Cyrus shifted so that I could look up at him. “When you are on the road, then you and Joey are safe.”
“Are we?” I closed my eyes as the events of the last twenty-four hours replayed in my mind. “I’m not so sure about that. I’ve been threatened how many times already? Once? Or is it twice, if you count the woman at Paracon?”
“You are fine.” Cyrus stressed the last word while rubbing his hand along my arm. “And I’ll make sure you stay that way. Besides, you can’t put any faith in Kassandra’s prophecies.”
“Kassandra?” I pulled away with more than a little reluctance. “You know who she is?”
“Of course." Cyrus nodded. “Kassandra was the former princess of Troy. She has had many dealings with Apollo since her downfall.”
I racked my memory for the story of Kassandra, but only came up with scraps of information. “Was she the one that no one ever believed, but was always right in the end?”
“Little One, Kassandra’s mind was twisted a very long time ago.” My beloved began to speak slowly. “Her prophecies were nothing more than observations of current events. They were the only likely outcomes.”
“Can you find her?” I shifted onto my knees and took hold of his hands. “I want to talk to her about what she said.”
“That is not the best course of action right now.” Cyrus squeezed my fingers. “You have enough madness to contend with. Adding Kassandra to the mix could be nothing but trouble.”
“Maybe.” I conceded. “Or perhaps, she could know something I don’t. Please, Cyrus. Find her.”
He closed his eyes and must have counted to five before he opened them. It took a minute. When he finally looked at me, he smiled.
“Very well. But only if you promise not to put much stock in what she has to say.”
I gave him a quick kiss and jumped up from the bed at the sound of a knock on the door. “Must be Joey. He said he’d be here after he ordered room service.”
“You’ve decided to ask him then?” Cyrus shifted around the bed to stand. I nodded while swallowing down the knot that had formed in my throat. We’d come too close to losing my friend to Elliot’s insanity. I still had nightmares filled with the fear I’d felt when I thought Joey had died at the Skinwalker’s hands. I combed my fingers through my wet hair to give myself a second to calm down. Joey was infamous for making fun of me. I didn’t want to give him any more ammunition.
I threw open the door with mock indignation. “About time you showed up. I was starting to think you ditched me.”
I let my words trail off when I realized it wasn’t my resident cameraman at the door, but a little girl who couldn’t have been a day over seven years old. She glanced up at me with eyes that were all too familiar.
They were pitch black just as Ekhidna’s had been. I took a step back before I realized it.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” The child spoke in very broken English. “Can I come in? I’m lost.”
“Eva?” Cyrus spoke up behind me. “Was that Joey at the door or room service?”
“Neither.” I managed as I stared at the girl. The longer I stood there, the harder it was to tear my eyes away from her. I didn’t know who she was but I knew enough to refuse her request.
“No. I’m not buying it. Are you one of Ekhidna’s minions she threatened me with?” I pointed down the hall. “If not, then the front desk is that way.”
“I wasn’t sent to the front desk. I was sent to you.” The girl’s lip quivered. “Aren’t you the Crusader of Hellas? I thought you are supposed to give aid to the helpless.”
“You don’t look helpless to me.” I ignored the guilt trip she tried to give me, but damn it was hard. “Now go away.”
“Eva, step away from the door.” Cyrus appeared beside me with his sword in hand. “No one will allow you entry, Dark One. Return to your creator at once and leave us be.”
The girl’s face t
wisted in a look of pure hatred. She reached out in an attempt to grab my arm. She was quick, but I was quicker. I twisted to the side and her hand barely missed my arm.
“More will come for you, Sibyl. The one who could find a way to destroy you will be granted immunity from Tartarus.” The girl stomped her foot in protest against my action. “I would have won, too, if you weren’t being such a brat.”
“So there’s a bounty on me?” I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it. Surely this child wasn’t being serious. “By god, is it Hera? Is she the one who put you up to this?”
The girl ignored me as she leaned in as far as she could. It wasn’t much. She whispered her next words. “More are coming, Sibyl. And they won’t be as weak as I am.”
The child vanished just as Joey opened his door to the room next to mine. He was whistling our theme song but stopped when he realized we were standing out in the hallway.
“Wow, Evie. You just can’t wait to see me, huh?” Joey grinned as he clasped Cyrus’ hand and shook it. “Sorry, Cy. Women chase after me all the time.”
“Is it because you owe them money?” I asked with my most innocent expression. “Because I’m pretty sure you owe me money.”
I punched him lightly on the shoulder and grinned when he winced. I don’t know why, but I was elated over the news the creepy kid had brought. I must have done something right to get Hera mad enough to put a bounty on my head.
“Ouch, McRayne.” Joey rubbed his shoulder when he passed me to go inside my room. “You’re too damned harsh.”
“I prefer the term ‘honest’.” I waited until Cyrus entered the room before I checked the hallway one last time. “Did you see a little girl out there a minute ago?”
“No.” Joey drew out the word when he turned to look at me. “Why? You got kids stalking you now?”
“No. Even better than that.” I grinned. “Hera has put a bounty on me.”
“And that’s a good thing how?” Joey turned to Cyrus. “Did she hit her head or something at Westchester? Eva’s not making any sense.”
“She never does.” Cyrus narrowed his eyes at me. “Little One, you should heed the child’s words as dangerous ones. There are many banished to Tartarus who will not hesitate to strike you down if it means they will be set free.”
The Oracle Series: Vols. 4, 5, & Grave Endowments Page 2