The Oracle Series: Vols. 4, 5, & Grave Endowments

by Cynthia D. Witherspoon

  My opponent got in two hits that left me curled up on the ground. I bit back a cry as he kicked me in the side.

  “You’re right, doll. I’ve got no love for you. Not now. Not after you betrayed me.”

  He snarled as he wrapped his hand around my ponytail to pull me up. I glared at him before he freed a knife from his back pocket.

  “I don’t have the advantages Athena’s Blade offered.” He chuckled. “But a knife in your throat will do wonders to slow you down, Sibyl.”

  “Coward.” I bared my teeth at him. “You can’t fight on your own, can you? You need the power Hera offered you. The strength.”

  “And you?” He twirled the knife in his hand. “Little Miss Immortality? Admit it. You didn’t have the courage to walk across a parking lot by yourself before my mother made you who you are.”

  I caught sight of movement at the table. I’d forgotten all about our audience. I heard Apollo and Hera arguing, but I ignored them until my patron deity shouted.

  “Skinwalker, stop this at once!”

  Elliot turned towards Apollo and I took advantage of his distraction. I willed my own weapon into my hand and used the weight of it to knock Elliot’s knife out of his hand. I shoved myself upward as I rammed the hilt of my sword into his chest hard enough to force him away from me. Elliot fell against the table with a crash as the flowers I had admired earlier toppled over.

  “I have nothing more to say to you.” I swiped at the blood running into my eyes. “You are not worth the breath I would waste.”

  I rushed forward with my sword raised by my side, but when I approached Elliot, he kicked out with both feet. He caught me right in the chest before he picked up a large shard of glass from the mess left beneath him. I took a few steps to distance myself from him as he swiped wildly with the glass. I blocked his arm twice with my own as we initiated the dance we had been building up to since he had sworn his soul to Hera in Montana. I’ll admit it, we both got in hits. His pitiful piece of glass hurt like hell when he slashed my cheek. But I’d been training for this moment for a week. I’d been waiting for this moment since I first saw the spirits of my parents in the mirror.

  There was no way I was going to lose to him. I wouldn’t allow it.

  I dropped down and swept my leg out. Elliot fell hard, but I didn’t hesitate this time. I thrust myself forward, straddling his waist, and forced my sword downward. I was aiming for his heart, but truth be told, I would have been happy with his stomach if it meant my torment was over.

  When my weapon sliced downward, Elliot disappeared. He damn disappeared out from under me. I fell to my knees and slammed my fist against the ground in frustration.

  “Dammit!” I was breathing heavy as I glared up at the Queen who was standing just out of reach. “Bring him back, Hera. Let me finish this!”

  “My pet has certainly turned out to be a disappointment.” She sighed. “Yet, I cannot let you kill him, Sibyl. I have promised to protect him.”

  “I didn’t get to hide behind Apollo.” I snarled. I was so angry, my entire body was shaking. “You can’t take this away from me.”

  “It is already done.” She sighed. “It was a mistake to bring him with me. I was sure he was ready to face you. I had no idea Medusa’s lessons would be so effective.”

  The goddess knelt down in front of me with a smile that made me shudder. “Allow me to reward you for your victory, Sibyl.”

  “No.” I tried to shove myself away from her when she reached for my face. “Don’t touch me, Hera!”

  The great Queen of the Heavens ignored me. She placed both hands on either side of my jaw to hold my head up. A strange sensation rushed through my very bones. It was as if she had poured ice water over me. I couldn’t keep from shaking when she leaned forward to whisper against me.

  “I will defeat you. I will destroy anyone and anything you hold dear, Sibyl. You will have your immortality, but you will live it alone. Broken. Fearful.”

  I screamed as the ice running through my blood turned to fire. I heard a commotion around me, but I couldn’t open my eyes to see what was happening. All I knew was that the pain stopped the moment Hera was pulled away from me.

  “You will know true fear, Hybrid.” She cried out. “I swear on my crown. You will know fear.”

  “Little One.” Cyrus gasped when he caught me against him. I knew he had witnessed the whole thing from his required spot on the sidelines. He shifted me in his lap. “Stay with me, Evie.”

  “Hecate, send for your witches.” Apollo had joined us. I could feel the warmth of his presence as I buried my face into Cyrus’ chest. “Hera’s spell has begun to take effect. If we do not act soon, her mind may be forever tainted.”

  “Damn woman.” Zeus this time. “I’ll take care of her, Daughter of Apollo. You’ll see. I’ll stop her antics once and for all.”

  I couldn’t hear the rest of what they were saying. I clung to my beloved like a small child who had lost her favorite toy. I couldn’t make myself tell them that it was too late. Hera’s magick had already taken hold. I knew who I was. I knew what I had done. But the fear in my heart had taken root. The hateful goddess would destroy me.

  One way or the other.

  ***

  “Are you sure Joey’s alright?” I asked Cyrus for the tenth time in less than an hour. I had to be getting on his nerves, but I couldn’t shake the feeling something bad had happened while we were away. “Did you talk to him or just text him?”

  “I called him. I had to tell him why we were going to be delayed getting home.” Cyrus wrapped his arm around me to lead me downstairs to the car waiting outside. “He is fine.”

  “Maybe I should call him.” I shifted my messenger bag in front of me to grab for my phone. Hecate had returned it to me when Drew and Teresa were tending to my wounds. “Let him know we are on the way.”

  Cyrus was good to me. He stayed silent as I dialed my friend’s number. My beloved watched me with obvious concern and I knew what he was thinking. Hera’s spell was still effecting me. The fear she had cursed me with was still coursing through my thoughts despite Hecate’s reassurances that I would return to my smartass ways within a few days.

  “Joey!” I breathed a sigh of relief when he answered. “We’ll be heading to the airport in a few minutes. I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Evie!” He cried into the phone. “I knew you’d miss me. I tried to warn Cy when he called this morning that you’d be all over me when you got home. It looks like you couldn’t wait until then to talk to me.”

  I closed my eyes at his teasing. Hera hadn’t gotten to him yet. She hadn’t made good on her promise yet.

  “Yeah, well. I was actually calling to make sure you would put a bottle of wine in the fridge for me. I going to need to get sloshed to recover from this past week.”

  “This past week? Baby girl, try this past month.” He must have been fulfilling my request because I heard the sound of the refrigerator door when it opened in the background. “I’ll put two in. You need an energy drink too? I’m going to keep you up all night to grill you about everything I missed.”

  “No, just the wine.” I offered Cyrus a soft smile. “We should be home before dusk. Do take-out for dinner while I tell you about this wicked location Leyton found for us.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  We exchanged goodbyes before I hung up the phone with a happy sigh.

  “Technology, how I have missed thee!” I chuckled before I saw my keeper’s expression. Still worried. Still concerned. “What?”

  “When are you going to tell me what Hera told you, Little One?” Cyrus grabbed my hand. “She must have done more than cast her spell to make you so fearful.”

  I bit my lip as I weighed how much I should tell him. In the end, I told him everything. I told him every word that had haunted my restless sleep the night before. I told him how she promised I would suffer through my immortality alone.

  “I’m not worried about myself, Cyrus.” I clos
ed my eyes as I finished my story. “I can take care of myself. But you? Joey? Hell, even Jaclyn and Connor. Anyone who dares to get close to me will be destroyed. I can’t let that happen.”

  “Evie, stop.” He cupped his hand around my jaw until I leaned into his touch. “You should not carry such a burden alone. I won’t allow it.”

  “Yeah?” I managed a weak smile. “There’s a lot you don’t allow that I do anyway.”

  “I’m serious.” He raised his eyebrows as he looked down at me. “Hera. The Skinwalker. Even the enemies we haven’t encountered yet. They are our fight. Together.”

  I let him brush a kiss against my forehead, but I didn’t respond. I had already made the decision to keep my distance from people. One of the many benefits I had gained from my time with Medusa was watching how guarded she was. How her coldness and harsh nature worked as a shield to keep others from getting too close to her.

  A method I fully intended on adopting. My social circle would remain small. Joey. Cyrus. I didn’t think I had it in me to protect anyone else.

  I had enough on my plate as it was.

  Chapter Fourteen

  There was a small crowd gathered in the entryway when we made it downstairs. I couldn’t help but wonder which ‘80’s movie I had fallen into when they started to cheer for me. Hecate was the first to step forward. She met me at the bottom step with a small smile.

  “Daughter of Apollo, I want to offer you my most sincere congratulations.” She took my hand into her two gloved ones. “I knew you were a perfect candidate for my Academy long before Hermes suggested I allow you entry.”

  “So this was all Hermes’ idea?” I smirked. “I have no idea why I’m not surprised.”

  “Yes. It was he who suggested to the Council that you represent them.” She chuckled. “Zeus’ favorite son has become quite fond of you.”

  “More like he’s quite fond of the oath I made him.” I squeezed her hands. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Thank you, Hecate. You and yours have taught me more than I could ever imagine.”

  “You are welcome to the Academy any time you wish.” She turned serious. “And do not concern yourself with Hera’s trivial rivalry. She is powerful, yes. But even she must answer for her crimes. I suppose Zeus has devised quite the punishment for our most high queen.”

  “Maybe.” I shrugged. “Maybe not. Only time will tell.”

  “Before you leave, we have a gift for you.” She gestured to Drew, who stepped forward with a wooden box. “Wear this with pride, Daughter of Apollo. It marks you as one of our own.”

  “It’s not poisonous, is it?” I studied the box with suspicion. “Because the last time a Greek goddess tried to give me a gift in a box, it was poison.”

  Hecate laughed. She actually laughed before she shook her head. “No, dear child. Our gift is safe, I assure you.”

  I nodded my thanks to Drew before I took the box in my hand. It was simple cedar which gleamed in the afternoon sunlight which filtered in through the windows by the door. I pressed my thumb against the clasp and lifted the lid.

  Inside was a necklace. The blue sapphire had been cut into a teardrop shape. Encased in silver engraved with the symbols of Hecate. The moon. Stars. Even a small dog. I knew this before I lifted it out of the box as my tears threatened to overwhelm me. I had seen a necklace that matched this one many times during my childhood. It was identical to the one my grandmother had charmed me with. But now I knew the truth. It wasn’t a love-struck husband who had brought the jewel home from war. It was the love she held for the goddess in front of me that awarded her with such a stunning piece of jewelry.

  “I,” I swallowed as I traced the sharp lines cut into the gemstone. “I have one of these at home.”

  “Lillian.” Hecate smiled. “Yes. I suppose you would have been passed down her pendant. It is awarded to all of my pupils who prove themselves worthy of magick.”

  “Thank you.” I swallowed back my emotion. “For everything. I may have been a pain in your ass, Great Mother, but I am grateful to you.”

  “You were that.” She patted me on the cheek. “Now, depart. Your loved ones are waiting for you.”

  I nodded a final goodbye to Drew, accepted a final embrace from Kassandra, and headed outside. I was surprised to see Medusa standing by the white bench were we had our first conversation a few days before. She didn’t rush over to me. Not her style, I suppose. Instead, she bowed her head at me and I understood at once what she was saying.

  We would see each other again. Despite the tear-soaked mess I had turned into after Hera’s attack, she was proud of me. I waved my goodbye to her and climbed into the front seat as Cyrus took the wheel. It wasn’t until we were well on our way to the private airport that I broke the comfortable silence that filled the car.

  “I don’t want to tell Joey about Apollo.”

  “Alright.” He kept his eyes on the road but still found my hand to intertwine our fingers together. “Any particular reason why?”

  “Because I don’t want to appear insane?” I shrugged. “No. It’s too much, Cyrus. He has already been exposed to the insanity of my life as the Sibyl. He is all too familiar with my abilities. I don’t feel the need to add anything to that list.”

  He started to say something, but I wasn’t finished. I turned my attention to him as I continued.

  “In fact, I don’t want anyone to know. Let them believe the whole ‘Daughter of Apollo’ thing is just a title held by the Sibyl. Like I did.”

  “You are trying to protect your mother’s reputation.” He eased off the gas. “Are you ashamed of the truth, Little One?”

  “No.” I answered truthfully. “I’m not ashamed. I just…I don’t see a need to broadcast their dirty little secret so long after their deaths. Besides, how can I explain something I don’t fully understand myself?”

  “Very well.” Cyrus raised our hands to kiss the back of my hand. “Shall we talk about something else?”

  “Yeah.” I squared my shoulders. “That date night you promised me. I want it in full, Keeper. Old movies. Plenty of wine and liquor.”

  “The cheapest Chinese food Los Angeles has to offer?” His beautiful smile lit up his entire face. “It’ll be a hard sell, Little One, but I’ll see what I can do.”

  “You better.” I teased when I collapsed against my seat. “And I want it before we leave for North Carolina. No excuses.”

  “Yes, m’am.” Cyrus chuckled. “Your wish is, as ever, my command.”

  Epilogue

  +

  It took a full week for me to fall back into the routine I had left over a month before. Coffee in the morning. Trip to the office. Arguing with Connor about not knowing where the hell Elliot had gotten off to. Falling to sleep in Cyrus’ arms at night. It was normal. Boring.

  And wonderful. I had no idea how much I had missed the life I had made for myself until I returned to it. My days flew by far too fast between preparing for our trip to North Carolina and wishing that I never had to leave L.A. again.

  I was tucking my tablet into my messenger bag when a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I was alone since Joey had holed himself up in his editing man cave and Cyrus was pulling the car around. I’ll admit, I froze into place when my heart started to pound. I’d been waiting for Elliot to breeze through that very door acting like nothing had happened between us. Just like he had done the first time I defeated him.

  I breathed a sigh when Jaclyn poked her head inside. She had given me one hell of a thrashing for disappearing without telling her. When I’d gotten my phone back from Hecate, I found over thirty-seven text messages from her. I could tell by the look on her face she had something to tell me.

  “Good news or bad news?” I zipped up my bag. “Make it good news, Jaclyn. I’m boarding a plane first thing in the morning and I need my sleep.”

  “Boring news.” She plopped down in the chair across from me. “I have confirmed your flight plan for tomorrow. All press releases regarding your return
to filming have been sent to the appropriate agencies. And you have an appointment with Jonathan in a week, so you better get back here in time.”

  “I will. If I’ve learned anything, it’s to never make your hairstylist mad.” I chuckled. “The interviews and photo shoots I missed?”

  “All rescheduled for next month. They will run in the October issues.” She pressed a button on her phone before she dropped it in her lap. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you to North Carolina?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “You are better suited for the command center that is Theia Productions. You’ll only be in the way when we are at the location.”

  “I had no plans to go with you.” She snorted. “I saw the pictures Research compiled. That building should be condemned.”

  “Maybe.” I agreed. “Or maybe it’s a gem. Did you get me the tax records on it?”

  “Yeah. Emailed the PDFs to you this morning.” She wrinkled her nose at me. “Though why you wanted them, I have no idea.”

  “Government documents are the most precious resources we have.” I picked up my bag and threw it over my shoulder. “They tell me more than the spirits themselves.”

  “How so?” She gave me a look that said she didn’t believe the spirits told me anything. “I don’t get it. Isn’t talking to the ghosts the whole point of the show?”

  “Yeah, but emotions remain long after death, Jaclyn.” I offered her a sad smile. “Longer than you could ever imagine.”

  “Well, have a good flight. You going to check in with me when you get there?”

  “Probably not.” I shrugged. “It depends on what we get into.”

  “Fine.” She huffed. “Oh! I almost forgot. That man called for you again.”

  I rolled my eyes to the ceiling and counted to ten. The man she spoke of was from a rival show. His program had held the top spot in the ratings for years before I came along. Now, he was looking to regain his power by hooking his wagon to mine. I won’t tell you how many messages his people had left on my voicemail while I was away. It was embarrassing.