The Oracle

Chapter 18

I wasn't entirely sure what I was supposed to do, but I had a general idea. Closing my eyes I searched for all the Shifters, they register differently in my head, but I can’t tell you how I can distinguish them; imagine smelling a bouquet together it smells one way but if you focus hard enough you can sort through the smell until you can identify the individual flowers. Once I had all the Shifters in the vicinity in the palm of my mental hand I forced out a shield and pushed at the fog. With an inaudible pop the fog was forced away and the noise around the room lowered. I could maintain this sort of shielding indefinitely if I wasn't pressed to do too many other things, but for some reason shielding other people caused my own burgeoning shielding to lower so I was more vulnerable, but I wouldn’t be doing it for long. ‘Ok let’s get everyone out of here and regroup besides I know for a fact at least half of you are starving.’ I heard a few chuckles which turned to suspicious mumblings when Titan sketched a ward and all the doors opened. As one the Shifters surged out and headed for the door. Mr Carter soon took charge and ordered all the Shifters aged 15 and younger to their rooms, the 16 and over’s were to follow us. In total there were about 20 Shifters, but I only cared about 4; as one Matt and Greg rushed towards me, but Kit intercepted them before they could reach me. ‘Limited touching, her shields are down.’ I rolled my eyes and moved past Kit and held my arms out revelling in the bear hug they swept me up in to. ‘I knew you would come Izzy.’ I ruffled Greg’s hair and smiled at him. ‘Of course I came for you, you’re one of my only friends I can’t go misplacing you.’ He grinned and crushed me again. Matt didn't say anything, but he ran his knuckles down my cheek and then chucked me under the chin. Owen scuffed his feet and cleared his throat. ‘Izzy about earlier....’ I didn't let him finish, I strode to him and yanked him in to a fierce hug. The breath whooshed out of him and he crushed me back. ‘You were under attack Owen, I don't blame you.’ He smiled and then leant forward and kissed my cheek before stepping back and stepping outside. I lifted a hand and pressed the spot and then turned to Mari bemused. She looked equally perplexed so I shrugged and went outside glad I could get out of there.

When I stepped out I felt the cool breeze and tilted my face up to the sky. My hair fluttered and I felt it brush my face. After the stifling stillness of the cells I was inordinately pleased to be free. When I opened my eyes again I saw Kit staring at me, his face half hidden in shadow, the half moon casting the other half in silver light. His eyes flashed as he stared and I felt a shiver skate down my back. I wasn't scared of Kit, but in that moment he looked entirely inhuman. Shooing the feeling away I turned to the group. ‘Where can we go that’s big enough for everyone? I want everyone to hear this at the same time.’ That stumped everyone until Kit clicked his fingers. ‘How about you finally see your rooms Oracle?’ I turned to him frowning. Mari chuckled. ‘Of course the only suite big enough for all of us are yours.’
‘I don't have a suite.’ Again Mari laughed. ‘You do, you just haven’t seen them yet because you keep passing out and almost dying.’ I rolled my eyes and waved for her to lead on.

We trailed through the school like a Chinese dragon until we came to a large ornate staircase in a wing of the school I had never been in. Mari led the way up and finally we came to a large, open and airy corridor. She stopped at the door and looked at me expectantly. I in turn looked at Kit who smiled and nudged me forward. ‘The room seals itself after the death of an Oracle and only opens for the next one. You have to open it.’ I snorted and Mari sighed before moving to the door and shaking the door handle, but the door didn't budge so I tried. Walking over I reached a hand out and touched the door. The minute I did it swung inwards. I laughed and turned, grinning so wide my face hurt. ‘That’s amazing.’ I led the way in and whistled. The room we were in looked like a common room at school, but better furnished. Sofas and chairs covered the floor along with a large table. Moving through I opened another door and saw a large bedroom with a huge four poster bed and vanity, but what caught my eye were the French doors that led to a large garden. I gasped and moved to it swinging the doors open and stepping out. It was beautiful; there was a small wrought iron table and chairs surrounded with plants and trees that were high enough to completely shield the table and anyone who sat there. ‘You like gardens?’ I turned and saw Kit leaning against the door watching me. ‘How could you guess?’ He pushed off and stepped towards me before taking and seat and leaning back to look at the sky. ‘The rooms are different for every Oracle; they conform to the tastes and needs of the current one. It’s because of a spell that was put on the rooms after the first Oracle to stay here kicked up a fuss over the lack of windows. The school must like you if it built you a garden.’ I shook my head and turned away, it was still too weird to think of the school as almost sentient. I moved and swept my hand through the flowers before turning back too Kit, but he wasn't there and neither was the table he was sitting at.

Hello Oracle.

I smiled at Aladice and nodded.

Thank you for healing me. Why am I here I am still conscious?

She laughed and motioned me closer so I wandered over and gazed down at her.

You have more power than the others that came before you Isabel, but you need more than that, you need wisdom. Eventually I hope to teach you all the knowledge we Oracle’s have gathered throughout the ages, but there isn’t time at the minute so I must commandeer you every now and again to guide you. You have shielded the others, but you still need to find the locus, once you have you need to drop it in salt water for a minute. Once a white vapour is released it is safe. Keep the locus safe because it will have an imprint of the Malachai and that is always handy to have. He is making mistakes because of all of us you frighten him the most. Go now and remember what I have said to you.

The next thing I knew I was warm and pressed against something hard. I realised I was cradled against Kit’s chest in one of the chairs. ‘Ease up Kit.’ He relaxed and sat back, but he didn't move his arms. I sat up and looked around at all the shocked faces, which made me grin. ‘Ok kiddies; who wants to hear what happens next?’