Maryanne awoke to a strange feeling in her body. Something was bubbling deep within her not yet ready for her to confront. That would gradually change, she knew. She sat up and felt like throwing up. She laid back down.

  “Easy there, Maryanne. You saw your Truth and didn’t dissipate. Take it easy. How do you feel?” asked Jack.

  Maryanne blinked and made a face. “I thought I could help you more somehow with my Sapherine-given abilities,” she mumbled, turning over and coughing up black sludge.

  Jack grimaced and made to sit beside her fallen form. She was still hunched over coughing. “You did, but do you know about the change you’ll be going through and the unbalance Myra is going to be going through? From the both of us.”

  Maryanne nodded before turning to him. “Both of us?”

  He lifted his hand for her to see. “Lesley got me and like a Werewolf or Zombie bite, I am screwed to go through a major change too,” he said, shrugging as if it was normal.

  Maryanne sat up on the white bed. “Anyone else?”

  “Not that I know of and us two is enough. You are the leader and I sorta half control the subconscious half do as she wants like a servant.”

  Maryanne groaned. “So not good then?”

  “Nope.”

  “Maryanne! You’re awake! What the hell are you doing here, nitwit? Haven’t you caused enough problems already?” asked Mark snidely, as he pushed his frames up his nose, and speared Jack with his brown eyes.

  Jack grinned and left once more, hiding his hand from view.

  I watched them but didn’t interfere. I could already feel some of those changes. I felt helpless as I stared at the upheaval my voices were causing within. I knew depression would soon set in. My voices were all over the place right now with Strength and Mark hating Jack and blaming him for Maryanne’s predicament, but I felt the only one to blame was Maryanne.

  I should tell them but …right now they were at each other’s throats. They wouldn’t be of help. I was at odds on Lesley. Could I still disappear? If not what could I do now? I thought about it.

  I had no choice. It was to become the oracle or never finish the scrolls and possibly never get to save the Kin beast I’d bonded to. Not to mention, I wouldn’t be able to be the savior I was meant to be. I knew what to choose.

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  I glanced at Jonah. His eyes were begging me not to. He was shaking his head, but if I was to continue with my journey, I had no choice but to say…

  “You truly have no one else?” I asked Noali, who shook her head.

  “All are undeserving of such a gift,” she replied.

  I bowed my head and sighed and slumped my shoulders in defeat. “Then yes, Noali. I will accept this…gift.”

  Noali smiled and summoned a vial of something red to her. She gave me the vial.

  “Drink it before going to bed tonight. Every drop of it.”

  I took the vial staring at the red liquid warily. “What is it?”

  “The last oracle’s blood. One she won’t miss.”

  I turned slightly green, and Jonah huffed stepping up and taking the vial. “Can she take it with anything?” he asked, glaring at Noali.

  “No, only water at the end to wash the taste out.”

  I shook slightly and took the vial. “Can you help us with finding the bond?”

  “I can. Seek out the biggest cave at the end of this forest. You shall find me there. Rest tonight. I have no idea what you will see tonight, but an Oracle’s first vision is always hard on her.” She vanished in a trail of violet light.

  “There she goes,” muttered Jonah. He turned to me. “She only complicated things for us…you. I can’t help but feel this is the beginning of Aithne all over again.”

  I nodded and held the vial to the light watching it swish. “I have to drink blood,” I muttered turning green again I’m sure.

  Jonah crossed his arms. “No, you don’t.”

  “I already made the deal, Jonah.” I started walking back to where we had made camp the night before. Jonah stopped me.

  “We should keep going that way we reach the end of the forest faster,” he said, letting Chronos float on a tailwind.

  “I nodded and turned. “Good idea! But don’t we need to pack our stuff first?”

  “I’ve got it. It’s not much to pack. Hand me your scarf and the blood,” he said, glancing at the vial with wary eyes. They were alight with the subtle glint of anger and mischief from his bullying days.

  I swished the liquid before handing it to him. “No funny business, Jonah. We can’t afford to anger Noali.”

  “Cause she does a spanking job at that herself,” he muttered, snatching the blood and swishing it. “I’ve got an idea is all. Be right back!”

  He left my side, and I sighed sweeping my hand through my hair and wincing at the knots I found. I should’ve asked for Jonah’s brush. As short as his hair was now, he still brushed it in the morning and before bedtime. I on the other hand was allergic to the hairbrush but knew I needed a good comb through and wondered if Jonah was up to it. He did love running his hands through it.

  I counted fifteen minutes before Jonah reappeared. He was smirking and swishing the blood.

  “If that opens,” I began.

  He chuckled. “I put a rune for that and a few more. Hope you like the cherry flavor.” He walked over to me and handed the small vial back. I inspected the small runes on it. Some I knew. Some were new. I zeroed in on the cherry flavoring. It had to be the most difficult set of runes I’d ever seen!

  “Jonah? What are these runes?” I asked, pointing to the cherry runes.

  Jonah bent his head and grabbed my hand leading my finger.

  “This is the rune for taste,” he said as my finger traced over two horizontal lines with two dots at each end. “This one is a cherry.” He led my finger to two small circles connected by an arch. I could see the cherry shape.

  It was almost identical to that of Earth’s. “And this represents blood,” he said as my finger traced a black tear drop. “I linked the three with a small feeling matrix composed mostly of taste and cherry and touch which is the hand holding the leaf.”

  I nodded while studying the really small matrix. Goodness! Would I ever be able to write so small and in perfect writing? I didn’t think so. I turned to him and our noses bumped. Both of us were like bright fruit. We stared at one another unsure of what to do. Then he leaned in and brushed his lips against my cheek before letting my hand go.

  “Come on,” he said. I stood frozen touching my cheek and blushing.