The Oracle Series: Volumes 1-3

by Cynthia D. Witherspoon

There was only one way to find out. I shoved away from my post and grabbed the golden cell phone from my bag.

  I had to talk to Cyrus. He would give me the answers I needed.

  I just hoped they would be the answers I wanted to hear.

  ***

  Cyrus was not happy as we boarded our impromptu flight from Los Angeles to Great Falls. My keeper was as sweet as ever. He got me settled into my seat, handed me the location file, and put my carry-on bag in the overhead compartment. But he was silent. There were no jokes between us today. No quick barbs at each other. He was tense and angry.

  And I wasn't used to seeing Cyrus that way.

  Don't get me wrong. I understood why he was upset. I was furious at Elliot, too. After I'd told Cyrus about what happened at the office, he spent the next thirty minutes on his cell phone as I threw clothes into an open suitcase. I knew what he was doing. I knew that he was arguing with Apollo about what Leyton had told me. Especially given the threat I'd received from Hera.

  When I had finished packing and met my keeper in the living room, he didn't have to tell me what was said. I could tell by the fierce expression on his face that my own fears were right. Apollo had been told Cyrus was becoming a distraction. He was hurting the show.

  And we were going to be separated because of it.

  The worst part wasn't that Cyrus had been banned from joining me on the set. It was because Elliot knew how dangerous it was for me to go into haunted locations. I felt as if I had been thrown to the wolves with no protection whatsoever.

  Which was exactly what he was doing. As the plane taxied down the runway, I began to wonder just what Elliot's intentions were. When the plane lifted up, I decided to put my mind on something else. If I was going to go into this location without Cyrus, I had to know what I was walking into. So I opened the file with a sigh.

  I was picking up the itinerary Connor's assistant Mistie had typed out when Cyrus broke the silence between us.

  "Anything I can help with?" He offered me a small smile as he laced his fingers through mine. "My apologies for the moodiness, Little One. I am not used to being told I am not wanted."

  "Don't be ridiculous." I squeezed his hand. "Of course you're wanted. I don't know how I'm going to manage without you. I'm just glad you're here now."

  That much was true. I needed the strange peace and security Cyrus offered to me. Especially when I was faced with new spirits. So far, he had always been there to tell me what to say. Or more likely, what not to do when contacting the spirits in order to keep myself safe. And I was all too aware of the dangers I faced. Possessions, physical attacks - what I did was so much more than a simple conversation. I tried to help the spirits find peace.

  But for some, there is no peace in death. Only anguish. Confusion. Hate.

  I shifted in my seat as much as I could until I was turned towards him. "What did Papa Apollo have to say?"

  "Exactly what you told me." Cyrus frowned. "It was strange. He said I was a distraction to you. Due to the conditions of my position, I am bound to you. But I am only allowed to be around you when you are not working on Grave Messages."

  "Has this ever happened before?" I kept my eyes down to study how his hand looked against mine. "Have you ever been forced to distance yourself from a Sibyl? Even Delphine?"

  I couldn't explain my sudden shyness. It was not a feeling I was used to. But I felt it nonetheless as I brought up the name of the first daughter of Apollo and Cyrus' lost love. She was the first Sibyl, cursed by Apollo but blessed by Persephone to speak with the dead. And it was she who was first granted the mirror by Apollo to break the immortality of her role.

  An immortality she gave up when she grew tired of life. Delphine passed her mirror onto another girl and lost her connection with Cyrus in the process.

  "No." Cyrus used his free hand to tug at my chin until I looked at him. "Eva, Delphine and I were not considered public figures. Yes, she brought followers to Apollo. And yes, she was good at what she did. But our time was different. Publicity was through nothing more than stories and word of mouth. It was like this for the other Sibyls as well until newspapers and magazines came along. Even Kathy relied on conferences. She was never on television."

  "So this is new for all of us then. I don't understand why," I swallowed as Cyrus released me. "Why would Apollo agree to this? How could he consider you a distraction? You stay in the shadows. The only time you come forward is when I need you there."

  "Ratings." Cyrus slumped down in his chair and rubbed his hand over his face. "The Golden One has faith that you can defend yourself as you did against Thompson and the Erinyes. Since I was unable to help you then, and the result of that single episode filled his temples in Greece for weeks, he is hoping for the same outcome throughout your second season."

  "Wait." I frowned as I gripped the chair arm between us. "You mean to tell me that this stupid banishment is to last the entire season?"

  "Yes." Cyrus took my hand again. "I am allowed to be with you off set. I can be around you when the cameras are not rolling. But the moment you start doing work for the show, I have to disappear."

  "Will you?" I raised an eyebrow in his direction. "I don't see you following these orders very well."

  Cyrus grinned for the first time that morning. "We shall see, Little One. I have been privy to centuries of practice when it comes to hiding in the shadows. Perhaps it is time I put that practice to good use."

  I returned his grin as I relaxed against my seat. Cyrus would be with me when he could. I wouldn't be completely abandoned. I still wasn't happy, but it would have to do.

  "Dude." Joey whistled as he ripped his earbuds free. He was in the aisle seat on the other side of Cyrus, who scowled as my companion leaned across him to pass me a document. "Evie, have you seen this?"

  "You know Elliot didn't give me a chance to read anything yesterday." I took the paper from him and started skimming the paragraphs. "What am I looking for?"

  "Paragraph five. Third line." Joey grinned. "This place has its very own monster."

  "A monster?" I snorted. "I highly doubt that."

  "Will you just read already?"

  Joey slumped back against his seat as he waited for my reaction. He didn't have to wait long. I skipped ahead until I found what he was talking about. Written in black and white was a single word that made my blood turn cold.

  "Skinwalker." I looked up to Cyrus as I felt myself go pale. "Cyrus..."

  "Don't panic." My keeper took the document from me before he found what I was reading. Then, he read the sentence out loud.

  "A series of mysterious disappearances around Kentauros Equestrian Estates have been contributed to local Native American legend, the Skinwalker. Nothing was found in regards to this legend as of the time of this report."

  Cyrus' voice trailed off as he clinched his teeth together. As for Joey, he lost his grin while he studied the two of us.

  "Ok. I'm missing something." He snatched the paper from Cyrus. "What gives, McRayne? What's a skinwalker?"

  "I have no idea. Did you ever find out anything, Stick?"

  I opened my own folder and flipped to my copy of the document Joey was showing off. I didn't like to admit it, but I was rattled. Cyrus didn't believe in coincidences, and to see the name of the monster from my nightmare related to our next location was too much.

  "Nothing." Cyrus frowned as he tapped his fingers against his knee. "Then again, my sources are all Greek in origin. They would know very little about the gods of other cultures."

  "Really?" Joey wrapped his earbuds around his hand. "You'd think all the gods would be one massive network. Each pantheon governing their own little sections of the world like a divine U.N."

  "Networking leads to bids for power. Bids for power leads to war." Cyrus shrugged. "So, no. They don't intermingle."

  "Well, at least there’s that."

  I murmured as I turned my gaze out the window. I couldn’t shake the chill running down my spine as I thought about w
hat I’d read or the nightmare that coincided with it. I closed my eyes to force it away, but nothing worked. I could still hear the gunshot followed by a darkness that was more frightening than anything I had ever known.

  Chapter Seven

  Montana was stunning. My first view of the state as we left the airport was a line of blue mountains off into the distance. Clear skies. Little red brick buildings that graced each side of the main street. It was charming. Comfortable.

  Disarming.

  I finally took the time to read through the file on the horse farm as Cyrus drove twenty miles northeast of Great Falls. We were headed towards Kentauros Equestrian Estates, which boasted itself as a premier Montana experience. There was a large hotel on the grounds, three heated barns, two indoor arenas, and more trails to ride horses on than I could ever list here. It seemed like a great place to vacation for anyone who was the outdoorsy type.

  I am not that type. I’ll take convenience over beautiful scenery any day.

  Halfway through the file, there were pictures of the paranormal phenomena caught by those who had stayed at the hotel. Wispy streams of white graced many of the photographs. Small balls of clear to yellow lights filled several others. It was the last photograph which got my attention. It was a photograph of a large black mass hunched down at the bottom of a bed. Bright white eyes glared out at the photographer who swore this thing showed up in the middle of the night. He happened to grab his cell phone and snap the picture before it ran out of the room.

  I took out a pen and circled the date at the bottom of the photograph. July 10th. Exactly one week before we showed up in Montana to investigate just what could be haunting the hotel.

  “What do you think it is?” Joey leaned forward from the backseat as he caught a glimpse at the photograph. “Phantom? Wrath?”

  “Trick of the light?” I teased. “Really good Photoshop?”

  “You are no fun whatsoever.” Joey huffed as he fell back against his seat. “What happens if you see that thing on the end of your bed tonight?”

  “I’ll pull out Cyrus’ nifty sword and dispatch of it properly.” I tucked the photo back into the folder. “You are leaving your sword with me, right?”

  Cyrus’ only response was to snort as he turned down a narrow road.

  I heard a series of noises from the backseat and wondered just what my cameraman was getting into. Cyrus whistled as a large white building came into view.

  “I think this is the place, Little One.” Cyrus slowed down as we approached a circular driveway. “Joey, when do you plan on starting filming?”

  “Today, actually. Interviews.” He was mumbling, so I knew at once he was fiddling with his camera. “No time like the present.”

  I felt a strange sadness as I realized Cyrus would have to leave me in a few minutes. He came to a stop just outside the front walkway and gave me a wink as he put the SUV in park. I didn’t say anything until he came around to open my door. As soon as it was opened, I threw my arms around his neck to bury my head into his shoulder.

  “Hey,” Cyrus ran his hand over the back of my head. “You have nothing to worry about, Little One. I won’t go far. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”

  “I know.” I sighed as I released him. “It’s just that I’ve gotten used to always having you around whether I want you there or not. And this place gives me the creeps. I don’t like it.”

  “You haven’t even been inside yet.” Joey scoffed as he exited the car. “Besides, weren’t you just talking about how you can handle anything? Give Cyrus a break. Maybe he needs it.”

  I watched as Joey jogged inside. I waited until he went through an impressive set of double doors before I wrapped my arms back around Cyrus’ neck and kissed him. He stiffened for a moment, but the longer we embraced, the more he relaxed. When we finally came up for air, he grinned.

  “If that’s what is going to happen every time we are parted, I think I could get used to this.” He brushed his hand against my cheek. “You’ll be fine. I’ll sneak in when I can.”

  I nodded as I jumped down from the passenger seat. I had to let Cyrus go, even if it was just for a few days.

  “I know. I still don’t like this, though.”

  “One golden sword, as requested.” My keeper’s right hand shimmered as his golden sword appeared. “Keep this on you when you’re filming. I know you are familiar with how to use it.”

  “Familiar enough not to cut my own hand off.” I smirked as I accepted the weapon. “Go. Dragging this out is not making it any easier.”

  Cyrus gave me a peck on the cheek before he disappeared into the shadows made by the car. One of these days, I was going to ask him how he managed such a trick. As it were, I had work to do.

  Whether I wanted to or not.

  I was taken back as I walked through the front door of the hotel. I was expecting deer skin rugs on the floor, antlers on the walls, and all things Western in between. Instead, large couches and overstuffed chairs dominated the lobby. Prints advertising the great Montana outdoors dotted the walls along with horse paintings. It was nice. Especially since there was no mirror in sight.

  “McRayne!” Joey whistled from the front desk to get my attention. “Come meet our hostess.”

  I shrugged my bag strap higher on my shoulder as I walked over to him. The clerk was a tall brunette dressed in jeans and a plaid button down. I was sure she was hiding a pair of cowboy boots too behind the large counter she stood behind.

  “Hey. Eva McRayne.” I stuck out my hand and she shook it with a grip that surprised me. “And you are?”

  “Erin Charles. Nice to meet you.’ She passed over a ledger for me to sign as she went to work on her computer. Within seconds, we both had keycards to our rooms.

  “We are just thrilled to have Grave Messages here. We put you on the big screen every week.” The woman came around the desk and wiped her hand on her jeans. “Kentauros has always had a history of ghosts. I hope you can shed some light on their stories.”

  “And create a boom in your business.” I tucked my keycard in my back pocket as Joey nudged me from behind. “I mean, promotion is promotion, right?”

  After all, I’d seen the list of shows that had filmed episodes here. Eight separate ones in less than two years. The boys in Research had failed to list any evidence the other paranormal teams had captured, but just knowing that Kentauros was calling us in along with every other television show out there was good to know.

  “Yes, well.” Erin shrugged off my comment with another dazzling smile. “Shall I show you to your rooms?”

  “Sure.” Joey grinned as if she had just given him a present. “Lead the way.”

  Erin walked ahead of us, so I took the opportunity to pay him back for the nudge he had given me moments before by swatting him on the arm.

  “Down, boy.” I muttered at the innocent expression he gave me. “Montana is a hell of a long way from California.”

  “No. Fun.”

  Joey mouthed as we stopped at the elevator. I stifled my laugh as we piled inside.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but we’ve placed you both in two of our most active rooms.” Erin spoke as she pressed the up button. “And once you are settled in, I’d like to meet with you. Give you a tour of the place.”

  “Yay.” I whispered to Joey as the elevator began to rise. “So what’s going on here, exactly?”

  “Oh, we have the usual occurrences. Objects thrown, misplaced belongings…”

  “Black masses with eyes watching you sleep.” I interrupted. “Seriously, Erin. If you want a good show for this place, you have got to give us something spectacular.”

  “Isn’t that why you are here?” She turned towards me as the doors to the elevator opened on the third floor. “You are spectacular. You can bring out the spirits like no one else. You have to.”

  Her tone was one of desperation. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was hiding. But I didn’t push it. Secrets tended to be exposed when the dead got invol
ved. So I did what any other reasonable person would do. I followed her down the hall and remained silent. Our hostess stopped just before a plain wooden door painted white.

  “I don’t have to tell you we’ve put you two on the most active hall on the entire estate.” Erin pulled out a keycard and slid it into the lock. “In fact, we’ve ensured that the entire floor will be clear for the next two weeks while you are here.”

  “Two weeks?” I glanced over at Joey. “Once the production crew gets here, we won’t need to stay that long. Will we?”

  “Just in case.” Erin shrugged as she pushed open the door. “Joey is going to be right next door. If you’ll put your bags in here, we’ll start the tour of the grounds.”

  “Alright. I’ll meet you next door in a minute.”

  I stepped inside only to hear the whispers I had grown accustomed to blocking out fill my ears. I couldn’t help but curse under my breath as I searched the room for the mirror that had activated the Sibyl in me.

  “No. I don’t have time for this. Not now.” I called out as I closed my eyes and began to put up the mental door which protected me from a constant onslaught of voices and horrifying images. “Later though, when the cameras are rolling. I will listen to anything you have to say.”

  “Sibyl.” A man responded, but his voice was so raspy, I hardly made out the word. “You are not welcome here.”

  “Yeah?” I dropped my bags as I reached blindly for the door frame. “I’m hurt. Usually, I can’t get you spirit types to shut up. What makes you so special?”

  I took a step back, but it was unnecessary. A force shoved me hard enough to knock me back through the open door and flat on my butt in the hallway.

  “Wow.” I whistled as the door slammed closed. “That was a first.”

  “Eva?” Joey poked his head out of his room with a frown. “What the hell?”

  “It seems our friendly neighborhood ghost is not so friendly.” I dusted myself off as Erin knelt beside me. I waved her away as I got back to my feet. “Joey, you got your camera handy?”