The Sibyl

by James Hold

I supposed nothing Cyrus could say should have surprised me given the day I’d had. I mean, come on. I’d just survived the first day of a convention filled with weirdoes and con artists. I’d been attacked by a woman who committed suicide right after my encounter with her. And I’d hit my head hard enough to think I was seeing her ghost in a mirror. I’d changed my explanation in the half hour Elliot and Cyrus had been with me.

  After all, who wants to admit they’ve had a psychotic breakdown?

  My explanation made sense. It was rational. I’d hit my head. The fact some strange man was in my hotel room trying to convince me I was passed some sort of mythical abilities was the insane part. Cyrus started pacing in the small sitting area just across the room tapping his finger against the side of his nose as he began.

  “Sibyls are known as the daughters of Apollo since He is the one who grants them their gifts of immortality, beauty, as well as the ability to see and speak to spirits. They are his messengers in the flesh.”

  “Impossible.” I interrupted him. “Ghosts, spirits, vampires – it’s all a lie to sell movie tickets. You should be old enough to know this by now.”

  “Ah, but you have already been exposed to our world.” Cyrus smiled. “Twice. The first was the image in Carter’s mirror. Apollo did speak to you, did he not? He has a tendency to be dramatic. Then Carter herself appeared to you. I was behind you the entire time, Ms. McRayne. I can see the spirits just as you can. Don’t deny it.”

  “I,” I paused long enough to get a sip of water. I needed to get my story straight. My thoughts were all jumbled. “I was delusional. It happens, you know, after you hit your head.”

  “True, but you said it yourself. Your fall was not so bad it would warrant hallucinations.” Cyrus stopped pacing. “Shall I continue?”

  “Why not?” I mumbled. Elliot squeezed my shoulder to let me know he was still there. He was still standing behind me in case I needed him. “You’re going to anyway. Who am I to stop you?”

  “During the ancient times, Apollo was known for his conquests with women.” Cyrus smiled as if remembering something. “Those who could afford to do so would lock up their daughters for fear the god would take notice of their beauty. Those who couldn’t would leave offerings for him on his altars or pay his priests to ensure the god was blind to them. Yet, Apollo was still able to find women of his liking.”

  Cyrus resumed his pacing. I relaxed in my chair as I waited for him to continue. Mythology wasn’t one of my interests. I liked facts. I could count on data to be reliable. Gods and spirits did not fit in this description.

  “The great god came across a beauty picking herbs in the woods of Cumae. As the account goes, she refused him. Day after day he would return to find her in the forest. Finally, he cornered her by a small lake and begged to have her. The maiden, flattered by the words of love from the god, set her basket down upon the sand. When she stood, she held a large mound of sand with both palms and told him she would grant him his wish if he would grant her one in return.”

  Cyrus stopped long enough to make sure I was paying attention. And I was, but just barely. His voice was soft. Soothing. He was making me very sleepy.

  “Of course, Apollo jumped on the opportunity. He promised her anything she desired. So she wished to live for as many years as there were grains of sand on the earth. It was done. With a single snap of his fingers, Apollo granted the girl her wish. As he began to woo the girl, she began to scream. A hunter – a hero we presume – came out of the woods to confront the girl’s attacker. Apollo killed him, but left the maiden alive. He never returned to her.”

  “Sounds like the typical myth.” Elliot shifted to sit on my armchair. “What does this have to do with Eva?”

  “Because this maiden was the first Sibyl.” Cyrus gestured towards the mirror. “Apollo had been tricked by the beauty. She was granted her wish, but denied him his own. The girl was granted beauty. Immortality, since the grains of sand covering the earth cannot be counted. As she lived, those who resided in Cumae became suspicious. Children not yet conceived on the day her wish was granted aged and died. The beauty was banished from the village by those frightened by her lack of aging. They called her a monster. Many believed she was a witch in league with Hades himself.”

  “So what happened to her?” I tried to hide my yawn, but it was hard. “Where did she go?”

  “The only place she could. The girl hid out in the forests of Cumae. She found solace in the nature around her. The years began to pass. When she felt it was safe, the girl would return to the lake where Apollo granted her wish with only her reflection for companionship. It was during one of these trips Persephone took notice of the maiden and pitied her. The Queen of the Underworld convinced Hades to give the girl the ability to speak with the dead. When the maiden returned, she began to see faces of her deceased relatives and friends in the water. They spoke with her about their memories. The girl was grateful. She returned daily to the lakeside to visit with her loved ones until she was spotted by a passing merchant who was taking a short cut through her woods.”

  “Again, what does this have to do with me?” I curled my legs beneath me. “And at what part do you tell me why you’ve decided you’re my keeper?”

  “Keeper?” Cyrus looked surprised. “Why, yes, I suppose I am. I will shorten my tale, though. I can see you are getting tired.”

  “We’re all tired.” Elliot patted my hand. “So if you can wrap this up, we’d appreciate it.”

  “Indeed.” Cyrus moved across the room to look out the window. “Word got out about the mysterious prophetess inhabiting the woods in Cumae. Her story was floated through the highest circles and people began to flock to her in earnest. They believed she could contact their loved ones for them. The maiden could, and often did for a price. Her story became twisted as generations came and went. The girl began to truly give prophecies to those who visited her. Her wealth grew. But so too did those who dedicated themselves to the service of Apollo.”

  Cyrus turned back around to face us.

  “Apollo was thrilled by his newfound resurgence with the people of Greece. He rewarded the girl in two ways. First, he gave her a golden mirror so she would not have to travel to the lake anymore. More importantly, he gave her a way to die. The girl had lived for centuries. Everyone she had ever loved had passed through the veil long before. Despite her wealth and visitors, the maiden longed to join her family in the Underworld. This is the chant you recited earlier this afternoon. It has been passed down from Sibyl to Sibyl since this time.”

  “So let me get this straight.” I stood and crossed the room to stand in front of him. “You are telling me this Carter woman was a prophetess. She could speak with the dead. Foretell the future. She could live forever. Yet she chose to pass it onto me? I don’t get it.”

  “Forever is a very long time, Ms. McRayne.” Cyrus smiled sadly. “I’ve been by Kathy Carter’s side since she took the mirror from the Sibyl before her during a Spiritualist session in 1842. The world she knew, and loved, had disappeared long ago. You too will discover the truth in my words someday.”

  I refused to believe I would be in this position tomorrow, much less a hundred years from now. “Which reminds me. You still haven’t gone into your part in this little tale.”

  “I am assigned to the Sibyl. It is my duty to Apollo. My service, if you will.” Cyrus stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Where you go, so too do I. Power is a dangerous possession. You will be in danger from vengeful spirits who wish to return to the living world. You will need guidance and learn how to control them.”

  “Ok. I’m done.” I stormed around Cyrus to the bathroom. “I’m going to show you once and for all I’m not the girl you think I am.”

  “I would advise against any impulsive actions.” Cyrus was staring at me so hard I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my head. “There are a great many precautions we must take for you.”

  “Precautions.” I turned to face him
as I reached the door. “What sort of precautions?”

  “You must not look into any reflective surface until you have created your door to keep them out. The spirits of the Veil are more than willing to use your powers against you. They can – and they will – pull you into their realm.”

  “Oh, now you’re just being ridiculous.” I opened the door and stepped inside, more than ready to make my point. “Glass is glass. It’s solid. You can’t be pulled through it.”

  The bathroom attached to my room wasn’t massive, but it held a floor to ceiling mirror. I stopped in front of it and studied my reflection. Eli was right. My eyes had turned into a bright gold, which went contrasted nicely with the dark rings underneath them.

  “See?” I pointed to myself. “Just like I told your Ms. Carter. All I see is myself.”

  I started to come up with some snide comment about how his mythology was mistaken until my hearing faded out. I could hear nothing except the whispering from my dreams. I turned to face the mirror just as my image faded and the scene before me changed.

  A wild woman was sitting on a rock in the dark, muttering to the object in her hands. Even from here, I could see it was the mirror now sitting on my dresser. Her blonde head jerked up the moment the fuzzy edges around the image became solid.

  She was me. I recognized my own features beneath the dirt and grime which covered her face. Granted, her nose was longer, and her cheekbones were gaunt, but our resemblance was uncanny.

  “Eva. Pretty, pretty Eva.” The woman smiled at me. “You are now one of us.”

  Every fiber in my being was screaming to run away. I even tried to take a step backwards, but ended up going closer. “Who are you?”

  “Why, I am the first. Delphine, first daughter of Apollo. Messenger for the dead. Or at least, I was.” The woman moved closer to the glass. “You are not afraid?”

  I wanted to be afraid. I needed to be afraid. But I wasn’t. I felt nothing but a sense of peace overwhelming any common sense I had left. I shook my head.

  The woman’s grin widened. “Then take my hand, child. Join me here and all of your questions will be answered.”

  I reached for the glass when a loud commotion broke through my sense of peace. I felt someone wrap their arm around my waist, and then jerk me away from the glass. I stumbled, falling flat on my back for the second time that day.

  My sense of peace was destroyed.

  “Cover the mirror!” I heard male voices over me, but I couldn’t make out all that they were saying. Their words were muffled. Distant. It was as if I was underwater and they most definitely were not. The longer I stayed still, the more I could hear the commotion around me. Finally, when the sounds around me quieted, I opened my eyes.

  I was surprised to find Cyrus on top of me. I looked to him then to the mirror, but it was too late. It was being covered by the standard hotel comforter from my bed.

  The woman and the peace she brought with her were gone.

  “It would be in your best interest to get off of her.” Elliot was standing by the door, his voice colder than the tiles I was laying on. “Now.”

  Cyrus shifted his weight off of me while I tried to explain to Elliot how I’d pulled the man down with me as my friend knelt beside me. I couldn’t speak. Instead, I sat up to reach for the mirror again.

  “No, Ms. McRayne.” Cyrus took my arm and helped me to my feet. “Don’t let Delphine take you so easily.”

  “They,” I took a shaky breath as Elliot wrapped his arm around my waist. “Not ‘they’. It was a woman. Not the scryer, though. Someone different.”

  “You asked before why you needed my assistance.” Cyrus took his phone out of his pocket. “This is a perfect example. You are weak and unknowledgeable.”

  “Right.” I drew a breath. “If I play along with this, does that mean you will be by my side indefinitely?”

  “Yes.” Cyrus smirked. “You won’t even know I’m here. I’ll be like a ghost to you. I’ve had centuries to perfect my line of work, after all.”

  “I doubt it.” I barely managed to withhold the temptation to stomp my foot again. “So I’ll never be alone? Or have any privacy?”

  “You will. I will fade into the background and act as your shadow.”

  “Alright.” I raised my hands in defeat. “You can help me, but only for as long as I deem necessary. Then you’re out of here. Understood?”

  Cyrus didn’t answer. He tucked his phone back into his pocket and bowed his head in our direction before speaking.

  “I will be just outside your door for the time being. I’m certain the two of you have much to discuss.”

  Cyrus slipped out of the bathroom before Elliot stormed out into my suite. I followed him only when I heard him pick up the phone by my bed. His voice was surprisingly normal given what had just happened to me.

  “Front desk? Great. Can you send security up to Room 4632? There is a man outside my friend’s door who is refusing to leave.”

  “Elliot,” I hissed between my teeth. “What are you doing?”

  “Yes. He’s bulky, wearing a cheap suit. Black hair. Bad scar on the right side of his face. You can’t miss him.”

  Elliot hung up the phone and smiled. “No worries, Eva. Security will have him out of here in no time.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Did you really just report Cyrus to security?”

  “Yeah.” Elliot stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I think you were right. He seems a little too crazy for me.”

  “This coming from the man who – not twelve hours ago – was touting up the best lightening and camera lenses to catch ghosts on film?”

  “This is serious, Eva.” Elliot closed the distance between us and took hold of my hands. “You didn’t see how quick he jumped on you in the bathroom. That guy is trying to get something from you.”

  “What?” I frowned, remembering the look on my friend’s face when Cyrus had fallen on me. “What could I possibly have that a man like that would want?”

  “A lot of things.” Eli’s blue eyes narrowed as he studied my face. “Men like that are dangerous, Eva. They prey on young women.”

  “Eli,” I spoke my words carefully. “You have nothing to worry about. Cyrus doesn’t seem dangerous to me. I don’t think he is going to hurt me. But what I am starting to believe is that he was telling the truth.”

  “Oh, come on.” Elliot moved across the room and picked something up off my dresser. When he returned to me, he handed me my conference identification badge. “Have you looked at this?”

  “Yeah. It has my name on it. So?”

  “So it also says ‘Theia Productions’.” Elliot placed his hands on each one of my arms. “I think this Cyrus guy noticed that when you were out cold earlier. Even if he’s not after you for your looks, he could be trying to use you to get into the entertainment industry.”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this.” I looked up, forcing Elliot to make eye contact with me. “I trust him, Eli. I am convinced he wants to help me.”

  “You don’t know how this works, Eva. I do.” Elliot shook his head. “You can’t trust people like Cyrus.”

  “I think I can.” I shifted out of Elliot’s grip. “He hasn’t said anything about the show and neither have we. To be fair, the print on this badge is pretty small. It’s possible he didn’t even read it.”

  “Why?” Elliot stuffed his hands in his pants pockets. “After all the sarcasm and jokes about this line of work, why are you so willing to believe him?”

  “Because I’ve seen the ghosts in the mirrors,” I paused at the sound of knocking at my door. “Listen, we’ll talk about this later.”

  Elliot nodded as he moved across the room to open the door. “Yes?”

  “Good evening, sir. Ms. McRayne, please.”

  I came up behind Elliot who stepped aside just enough for the security guard to see me. “I’m Eva McRayne.”

  “Ms. McRayne, I wanted to inform you we found no one o
ut of the ordinary outside of your rooms.”

  “No one?” Elliot frowned. “But this guy swore he was going to stay outside of my friend’s room. Have you checked the entire floor?”

  “I’ve checked everywhere, sir.” The stocky guard raised his hand to silence Elliot’s protests. “There are only conference guests and employees on this floor.”

  “Thank you.” I placed my hand on Elliot’s chest as he started to step forward, pushing him back into the room. “We appreciate your help.”

  The guard mumbled as he disappeared down the hallway. I started to close the door when I heard a soft laughter off to my right.

  Cyrus was leaning against the doorjamb, smirking in my direction. “I don’t believe your companion cares for me very much.”

  “It’s not you per say,” I glanced over to see Elliot falling into the chair I’d vacated earlier. “He’s very protective.”

  “Which is good.” Cyrus nodded. “You will need all the help you can get, Ms. McRayne. If you listen to nothing else I tell you, please remember this. Do not get too close to anyone. Especially your beloved. It never ends well when they have to leave you.”

  “Why?” I felt stupid asking such a simple question, but I needed answers. And this was the only person who seemed interested in giving them to me. “Why me?”

  “Fate? Destiny? You were in the wrong place at the wrong time?” Cyrus shrugged. “There is no rhyme or reason to how the Fates work. It is best to just follow their plan without question. Otherwise, nothing but suffering will follow you for the rest of your days.”

  “Eva, who are you talking to?”

  I was staring at the door frame when the sound of Elliot’s voice broke through my thoughts. I whipped around to refute Cyrus, but he was nowhere to be seen.