The Last Oracle
The Last Oracle
Book Three of the Sibylline Trilogy
A Novel by Delia J. Colvin
Firefly Press
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author
.
The Last Oracle
Published by arrangement with the author
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2013 by Delia J. Colvin
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Fiction
Paranormal Suspense Saga
Can love defy death itself?
The Last Oracle is the final book in The Sibylline Trilogy,
weaving Greek mythology, with a modern tale of eternal love.
As Alex and Valeria’s wedding draws near, their
secret
plans are discovered and now no one is safe!
To triumph over the dark forces that threaten their existence, they must risk returning to the underworld. Hidden in a secret chamber along the River Styx is the first oracle, Myrdd, whose jumbled mind holds the key to their survival. But Myrdd’s solution forces Alex and Valeria to confront death, for a chance to change their fate!
THE SIBYLLINE TRILOGY - a love more enduring than life...than death...than destiny.
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To the gracious lady who was my mother,
who passed away during the writing of this novel.
To my father who loved her
and
has been an amazing inspiration to me.
And to that brilliant and beautiful,
redheaded
bundle of joy, Aubrey.
THE SIBYLLINE ORACLE
Voted Goodreads Best Book of June 2012
Selected as Digital Books Today “Great Read” June 2013
“A mix of the easy charm and undying love from
Twilight
but
the intelligence, wit, and mystery of
The Da Vinci Code.”
Author/Blogger C.M. Albert
“I have a new favorite author!”
THE SYMBOLON
Voted Goodreads Best Books of November 2012
“Ms Colvin takes; Greek Mythology, and turns it into the most evocative, engaging, and visually arresting characters I have ever encountered.” Al Hatman, Author
“One of the best books I’ve read in years!”
THE LAST ORACLE
Voted Goodreads Best Book of September 2013
“
The thrills come a mile a minute with the creative and descriptive writing of Delia Colvin.” Debbie Denney of Espacularaiesa
“The masterpiece of the trilogy.”
“Amazing!”
CONTENTS
“
It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.”
Thomas Mann
“Do you ever wonder if the eons we have been on this earth have been an utter waste?” The man’s voice echoed, and despite the words, he seemed to have more strength than typical, as of late.
The woman peered up from her tome and considered his comment for a moment. She would have been beautiful—she had been beautiful—until envy and insanity permanently ravaged her once angelic face. Some level of truth began to carve its way past the confusion and rage, and then she rejected it.
“I should have been with him,” she said resolutely. “He was promised to me.”
From the other room, there was a roar of laughter that echoed through the dark stone halls, followed by a rage of hacking.
“Why do you laugh?” she asked in a moment of clarity. She listened to his raspy attempts to breathe, which quieted after a moment.
“You hear and see what you wish. When the gods saw your inability to control your temper, and your susceptibility to Envy’s bite, you were written off from history.” Instantly, he knew this was the wrong thing to say to the woman who now had no control over her sanity or rage.
“After all I have done for you, why do you speak to me this way?” Kristiana asked. Aegemon relaxed, he had not invoked her wrath. She continued, not particularly interested in the conversation, her mind absorbed with the tome. “If not for me, you would have never seen Apollo’s oracles. You would have been obscure in all of history and you would have been dust eons ago.”
Now his voice took on a bitterness she had not heard in some time. “If not for you, I might have been walking the gentle slopes of the Elysian Fields for an eternity. I was happy until you came. I felt fortunate to have been chosen as Apollo’s most trusted. If not for you, I might have had the love of a woman and a family. Instead, I lie here in this tomb that you call home.
“I saved you,” she said calmly, flipping a page in the tome. Suddenly, her voice took on an evil thrill. “Here it is—I knew it was still possible!” Her eyes looked up as her mind became engrossed in wild machinations. She smiled and nodded. “I know just who can help me with this!” She tapped her finger on the page and then rose, the previous discussion forgotten. “I need something of his...a personal possession. Something…Oh! Yes! Yes!” She paced from room to room. “Where could it be?” Losing patience, she raised her voice in accusation, “Did
you
take it?”
He didn’t respond. When she was like this, it was better to hide.
“I had it. I kept it. I know…” She located an ancient chest and pushed it open. Her once beautiful curls, now unkempt and knotted, fell on the jewels in the chest. She tossed the items behind her and they clanked loudly and echoed throughout the halls. “Someone must have taken it…perhaps it is…” Suddenly, she released a loud, frightening shriek as she held up the locket and chain.
“I have it!”
She walked back to her perch at the tome and stared at the page.
“I have only one remaining vision of the future. The Fates selfishly refuse to assist me anymore...after all I have given them!” Her fingers flexed nervously as she tried to calm herself. Then, delicately, she opened the locket, pulled out the lock of hair it concealed and kissed it tenderly. She breathed deeply and whispered to the lock of hair, “It is only with the greatest of love that I use this, so that our lives will not have been a waste! With this, I shall see through your eyes.”
Still in a state of sleep, Valeria brushed her hand over the sheets next to her, somehow instinctively sensing the distance between her and Alex. She reached out for him briefly, before succumbing to the dream.
Mist rose and enveloped the base of the woman’s sandaled feet. Even with her steel helmet, and the bronze hair that spilled from the sides and back, she was beautiful. In front of her, she boldly displayed a weapon with a long, wavy blade whose reflection was so bright that it would blind any opponent. Her eyes were clear blue and there was strength in them.
She sang a song that sounded like a lullaby that had been transformed into a battle march, “Kame nana na kimithis...Kame nana na kimithis...”
Behind her trailed her other weapon, the hideous creature known as Envy.
The she-warrior approached the temple and bravely stepped inside. There was a spinning wheel surrounded by three sisters. One wove the cloth. One bound the cloth. And one held her shears and coldly awaited the moment when she would end a life. They were the Fates.
Valeria breathed deeply; something about this dream troubled her. Her hand brushed across Alex’s chest and, in his sleep, he rolled toward her, eliminating the distance that had been between them the previous month since their arrival in Africa. She luxuriated in the feeling of his touch and sensed the curling of the corners of his mouth in that beautiful, sensual smile. He sighed happily, still asleep, as his hand moved under her shirt and onto the flesh of her back, pulling her into him…confirming to Valeria, that he was, indeed, asleep. Within seconds, she was back to her dream.
Lightening struck the mountain top as the three white-robed women climbed the steep path in near darkness toward Zeus’s home on Mt. Olympus. There was a green tinge to their formerly ivory skin. Behind them, Envy perched with a smile.
A lightning bolt struck with a nearly deafening clap of thunder. Instantly they were back in their own room with the spinning wheel and their business with Zeus was complete.
The oldest sister, with her hand on the spinning wheel, shook her head in anger. “I have seen the vision of the mortal woman and the child.”
The youngest, whose complexion had turned even greener than her sisters, snipped her shears in the air and attempted to hide her private smile.
Holding a ball of yarn, the middle sister’s anger quickly escalated to rage and she began to pace. “Apollo knows that we, alone, determine the destiny of mortals. How could he grant immortality? How could Zeus permit this?”
“Zeus is too busy with his mistresses to be concerned about his off-spring. Apollo obviously has no respect for our position,” said the sister with the scissors.
Attempting to calm the situation, the sister at the spinning wheel said, “Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding.”
Turning coyly, the sister with the shears asked, “Sister, Apollo has created immortals!
Immortals who were not born gods?”
“If that is the case, we must end this! How many of these immortal oracles are there now?” the sister at the spinning wheel asked.
“So far, one hundred have been created.”
“One hundred?
Well, let me assure you sisters, there will be no more! The one hundredth is the last of the oracles!” The eldest said. “We shall call the green-eyed one to do our bidding.”
“How is Envy to destroy one hundred oracles with her venom?” the youngest asked, while slamming the shears closed.
“She need only plant the seed and then focus on the most powerful. The first oracle is half-mortal…his human weaknesses will be his downfall. Envy must focus on the last oracle. Handle her, and the rest will fall.”
There was a knock at the door and, immediately, Valeria reached across the feather bed and searched for Alex in the darkness. All she found was the cool sheets and empty pillow where he had been hours before. She didn’t need to look at the clock—the knock meant that it was 4:30 a.m.
“Mrs. Morgan?” Toma’s deep voice rumbled. He knew she wasn’t “Mrs. Morgan,” at least, not yet. It was a bit of a sore subject for Valeria at this point.
“Yes, thank you, Toma.” She rolled her legs toward the floor as her feet searched the cold tile until she located her slippers; then she flipped on the lamp. Valeria stood while pulling on her robe and glanced at the coat rack, noticing that Alex’s coat was missing. She frowned as she pulled her long brown hair back from her face and opened the door.
A tiny Zulu woman stood in front of Toma with a tray of coffee, a beautiful china cup and saucer—that Valeria would never use—a ceramic travel mug—that she preferred, and a plate of still steaming biscuits. The woman placed the tray on a table, exiting without a word. Valeria thanked her and then glanced at the giant who was her bodyguard.
“What time did he leave, Toma?”
“I couldn’t say for certain. Shall I interrupt Mr. Morgan?”
She knew Toma was aware of the exact minute that Alex had left, but refused to divulge anything that could cause trouble.
“No, thank you.” She frowned.
Closing the door, she went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a hoodie. It was July in Africa—winter in the southern hemisphere. During the day, temperatures were wonderful. But the morning game drive, which was conducted in the dark in order to see the nocturnal members of the “Big Five,” could be cold.
Alex, Valeria, and Caleb had been in South Africa for a month, staying in a luxury camp near Kruger National Park. The huts were fantastic with their feather beds, spotless tile floors, and baths—but they were also without heat.
It had been thrilling to be in Africa with Alex, the love of her life, the man who had waited 3,000 years to have a life with her. And she loved that Caleb was with them, too; her perpetual twelve-year-old superhero with an electrical shock that barred him from most human contact, except for Valeria.
After the four painful months they had been separated by order of The Council of Delos, the month of togetherness had been greatly needed; at their reunion a month prior, they had vowed to marry as soon as they could find someone to perform the ceremony.
Since then, Alex hadn’t mentioned it again. Truly, the only reason it concerned her was that he was adamant that they wait to consummate their love until they were married. Valeria had lived long enough with distance from the man she desired more than anyone.
As she laced her boots, the door swung open and her beautiful Alex stepped into the room. She immediately noticed the dark circles under his brilliant blue eyes. He was just coming back to sleep, she surmised. He brushed the scruff on his chin, and then she caught a spark in his eyes as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently.
“Working?” she asked.
A glint of mischief entered his eyes for a moment, and he nodded.
“Mm-hmm.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t really need to go on another game drive. I could stay here.”
He sighed deeply and kissed her neck. It was more romance than she had experienced with him since their arrival in Africa.
“I think you had better go.”
“Are you sure?” she asked in her sexiest voice.
Drawing a deep breath, Alex pulled back. “I believe this is Caleb’s girlfriend’s last drive. What’s her name?” He reached over and lifted a
biscuit from the tray on the table, and took a bite. The moment was over.
There was no way around it; Caleb wouldn’t go if Valeria didn’t go. He had saved their lives twice now. And for the first time in his 2,000 years, he had a friend his age—well, the age he had been for over 2,000 years.
The young girl giggled furiously whenever she saw Caleb. Thanks to a rubberized suit, the boy could actually sit next to her at dinner. And if she touched him—as long as she didn’t touch his head or neck—she wouldn’t get shocked.
“Her name is Amy Smythe, and her family is leaving tomorrow. You’re right, I should go.” Alex pulled off his sweater and she watched him admiring his well-carved frame. He ran his fingers through his thick blond hair. “You know, it would be nice if you actually slept
with me
,” she said with mock severity.
Truthfully, she was hurt by his seeming indifference to her. It made her feel as if she was over-sexed and unattractive to him. Every night he held her, but he always kept his distance. She was ready to eliminate the distance and felt frustrated that he had yet to find someone to perform their wedding ceremony.
There was another knock at the door. “Mrs. Morgan?”
It was time to go. She glanced at Alex. “Can we talk about this later?”
Alex stepped toward her and touched her face, his eyes filling with so much love that she felt ashamed for doubting him.
“Absolutely,” he said, and kissed her lightly.
She smiled and then grabbed her coat and her coffee mug. Outside in the dark, she nodded to Toma, who had a large semi-automatic weapon slung over his shoulder. Toma, Caleb, or Alex were constantly watching over Valeria. She had hoped Alex would be the one watching her most of the time, but business had distracted him.
The stars were brilliant as she stepped off their porch and onto the trail. The camp had just come to life and she could smell the coffee brewing from the main lodge.
Toma followed her to their Land Rover. A guide would normally sit at the wheel and describe what was occurring, telling the guests about what they were seeing, while the tracker sat in a wire mesh chair that was attached to the hood. In her vehicle, by special arrangement with the camp, her bodyguard, Toma, drove.
Every morning, after returning from the game drive and breakfast, Valeria would ask the tracker, followed by Toma and Caleb, of course, to walk with her to the entrance of the camp. Animals scavenged the camp at night and she was fascinated by the various footprints that she identified with the tracker’s assistance. She was proud to have become quite good at recognizing the prints.
Toma offered Valeria a hand as she climbed into the elevated back seat of the vehicle, and then he sat behind the wheel. Mick, their English guide, was already sitting on the passenger side; and Zamy, the Zulu tracker, buckled himself into the wire mesh seat. Valeria glanced toward Caleb who was standing with Amy’s family at their Land Rover.
“Let’s go, buddy!” Valeria said.
“Oh…okay.” Caleb pouted as he headed toward her. Alex had stopped going with them on the game drives a few weeks before, after he had confirmed her safety. He seemed to be working so often that it caused Valeria to believe that he must be having some financial concerns. She wasn’t worried. From the time she was sixteen years old, she had lived on her own with nothing more than her daily income from selling her floral creations near Central Park to feed, clothe, and shelter herself. If need be, she could do it again.
But Alex always had money at his disposal, until the day they left all of their worldly possessions to escape the beheading promised by the Council of Delos. Now, he was unable to access those resources. She wished he didn’t have to worry so much.
“We have room. Can’t Raiden—I mean Caleb—ride with us?” Amy begged.
“We would love for you to join us. We have plenty of room,” Amy’s mother added in her clipped British accent.
Well not “plenty” Valeria noted. There was no room for Toma, and Alex had insisted that Toma accompany her. But seeing the hope in Caleb’s eyes, she jumped from the back of her Land Rover.
“Mrs. Morgan, I don’t think that’s wise,” Toma said from behind her.
“It’ll be fine,” she said, glancing to him from over her shoulder. Of course, he was already following her.
Toma scrambled around to meet her. “Mrs. Morgan, I assured Mr. Morgan that—”
Valeria raised a hand to brush off his comments. “I’ll tell Alex. We don’t need to trouble him with this.”
With that, she swung up into the back seat of the Smythe’s Land Rover, while Caleb, with an excited grin, slid into the front seat beside Amy. The tracker and guide were pros. They knew how to handle an aggressive animal, and it certainly didn’t require a
bodyguard!
As they pulled out, Valeria saw Toma making a call on his radio. Alex had never been cross with her, but he certainly would not be happy about this.
“Tattletale,” she muttered to herself.
She shook off the thought and enjoyed feeling like a fairly normal person…although, since she fell in love with Alex, life was too extraordinary to be considered normal.
The guide to this vehicle passed Valeria a blanket for her legs and then pulled into the blackness of the African bush. The Land Rover’s headlights briefly illuminated the dust flying up from the road as the vehicle began to move, He was driving faster than typical. She realized that the guide was concerned about an additional delay, risking that there would be fewer animal sightings, which determined his tips.
Ganya, their Zulu tracker, turned on his flashlight and began shining it into the brush rapidly, left and right, as they drove. When they had first arrived, Valeria questioned the tracker about a set of glowing eyes that she had spotted.
“Rodents,” the tracker said without delay, or sometimes, “birds.” As rapidly as he had glanced at the glowing eyes, she couldn’t imagine that he’d actually identified the creatures. But the guide would always patiently stop the vehicle and back it up. The tracker would illuminate the creature with his flashlight and, to her surprise, he was always correct.
