EVABELLE

Del and Aza avoided each other for the next few days.  No one seemed to notice besides Evabelle.  The two of them skirted around one another by avoiding eye contact, and standing on opposite sides of the room, if they ever had to be in the same room together at all.  Aza was also being overly nice to Evabelle always asking if she could get her anything, help her with one thing or another, or not allowing her to do anything too strenuous. 

            It drove Evabelle crazy.  She was actually glad when Lucis would pull her aside to practice using munera.  Evabelle had yet to accomplish the smallest reaction from the munera and the thought of disappointing Lucis just made her stomach churn.  But now just getting away from the pair of them was a relief.

            "Is something bothering you?"  Lucis asked on one of those days.

            Evabelle was staring fixedly at Lucis's munera in her palm, willing it to turn it into a Duren-Dal.  A Duren Dal was the soul weapon that was chosen by each Anahalian to defend the human race.  Evabelle didn't really have a soul weapon just yet, so she was just doing the simplified version which was the long knife similar to the ones that Lucis and Del had made when they had been at the bell tower.  The Duren-Dal was one of the only spells that didn't require an incantation, just determination of will.  So far nothing was happening.

            "What makes you ask that?"  Evabelle asked, though her heart drummed nervously.

            Lucis paced around her.  "Well, ever since we came back from Kalas Hem, you've seemed rather down."

            Evabelle spared him a glance.  "Oh, I don't know, I guess there are a few things."

            Lucis gestured for her to continue. 

            Evabelle sighed and closed her fingers around the soft white feather.  She didn't want to bring up Del and Aza, so she mentioned the other thing on her mind.  "Why does Tru hate you?" 

            Ever since they had returned, Del and Aza weren't the only ones avoiding one another.  Tru and Lucis had been acting as if the other was not there as well.

            Lucis raised an eyebrow.  "That's not like you."

            "What do you mean?"

            He shook his head and leaned back against the wall.  "Well, you don't usually pry into things like that."

            Evabelle walked over to him and stared up into his blue eyes.  He inhaled sharply as she neared him.  Those eyes.  She searched them for a moment, but it was still there.  The wall, the barrier keeping her from him.  At that moment she found it quite frustrating.  "I realize that I don't know you, Lucis.  Out of everyone in this sanctuary, besides Aza and CJ, I feel I know you best, and yet, at the same time, I feel like I don't know you at all.  It doesn't make sense, I know, but that's how I feel."  She blinked up at Lucis, her heart was beginning to flutter.  Lucis was just as attractive his brother, but in some ways Del was surprisingly more open.  "I want to know you."

            Lucis stood frozen against the wall, staring down at Evabelle through his long lashes.  "Evabelle, I—"

            A whistle sounded from the doorway.  "Looky, looky."  Crooned a voice.  "Someone's getting cozy in here."

            Evabelle jumped back from Lucis, not realizing, just how close she had been to him.

            Faux waved at them.  "Oh, no it was just getting interesting."

            Evabelle's heart hammered in her chest.  "Nothing was happening!"  She cried, a lot louder than she meant to.

            Faux raised his arms.  "Alright, alright.  I just came to tell you two that it's time for dinner.  Don't get your feathers in a twist."

            What's wrong with me?  Evabelle was definitely not herself.  No wonder, Lucis had noticed that something off.

            The three of them entered the dining room and sat.  Evabelle stared at her plate, not looking at anyone.  Even the sounds of the others entering and Aza sliding next to her didn't make her look up.  "I hate helping with dinner, Calandra's a total nightmare to work with."  Aza hissed to her.

            Since returning to Calandra's place, the mage had made some new rules.  No one was ever allowed to be alone in the sanctuary and they all had to report to her about all their whereabouts.  Quite often she would go check on them, like an overbearing mother, but it was to be expected when there was an unknown traitor in your home.  She was also having everyone take turns to help with dinner.  It made keeping an eye on everyone a lot easier.

            Evabelle still didn't know what to think about the traitor.  It made her sick just thinking about it.

            Calandra entered the room with the trays of food and drinks on levitating platforms.  It was strange to think that Evabelle was actually getting used to being served like this.  She was also getting used to CJ crashing into the levitating trays almost every evening.

            He did so once again, sending the drinks spiraling off course.  CJ scrambled to catch it before it slammed into the wall and spilled everywhere.  Calandra gave him a death stare.

            "Sorry," he gasped, straightening with the tray in hand.  Miraculously not much of the liquid splashed out.  He began to hand out the drinks, but Calandra wrenched them from his grasp.

            "Oh, no you don't.  Now go and sit before you manage to actually break something."  She snapped.

            CJ sat beside Evabelle and Aza.  "You know, I get the feeling that she doesn't like me, after all this time."  He murmured to them.

            Aza rolled her eyes.  "Well, if you weren't a total klutz," she teased.

            Everyone settled in to eat in silence.  It had been like that ever since they had discovered that one of them was not on the side of the angels (pun totally intended.)  It had put an awkward separation from each other.  Evabelle twirled her spaghetti on her fork, not feeling particularly hungry.  She hated it.

            Even Gem, who remained oblivious to the knowledge that there was a traitor, was quiet.  She did shuffle a bit in her seat, so Kai leaned over and stroked her hair and murmured something softly in her ear.

"So we're back to square one."  Faux spoke suddenly, breaking the tension.   "We don't know where Averno is, and we don't know how he's getting that toxin of his out there.  Any thoughts?"  He leaned in glancing around at everyone else expectantly.

Evabelle remembered that when they had first discussed plans to search for Averno, Faux had been leaning back in his chair, scarcely paying attention to the conversation.  Now however, it was apparent that he too wanted this painful atmosphere to dissipate.

Lucis place his fork delicately on his plate.  He didn't seem that hungry either.  "Well, we know that Averno does have demon borns working for him, but we don't know from which clans or packs that they officially originate.  We could try to discover which groups they're from by just continuing what we've been doing; keeping an eye out for any strange behavior from known clans, packs, or any other demon born group."

Tru sniffed.  "Hmph, because that was working so well before."

"Would you care to share any suggestions?"  Lucis actually asked her directly.

The silvery-winged Anahalian narrowed her eyes at him.  "Well, maybe we could use our precious princess.  Maybe she could use some of the magic she's supposedly been learning from you."

Evabelle's throat closed off as she turned and stared numbly at her plate of uneaten noodles.

"Tru—" Lucis began, but was suddenly cut off by the loud screeching of one of the dining chairs being shoved back from the table.

Everyone's head snapped up to stare at Del.  He was standing, his arms braced against the table.  His knuckles and face had gone white as a sheet.  Long dark hair hung over his eyes and Evabelle could just make out the tense clenched line of his jaw.

"Del?"  Lucis's voice went uncharacteristically sharp.  "Is it—?"

Del pushed away from the dark wood and made his way around to the other side of the dining table without a word, heading toward the door, but he didn't make it.  Evabelle's heart constricted as Del made a sound she had never expected from him.  It was a cry of pain as he crumpled to his knees, clutching his head in his hands.

Before anyone could move, Lucis rose and leapt over the table, his feathers brushing Evabelle across the face, and knelt beside his brother.  Del swore as everyone surrounded him.  "Get out of he—" He broke off with another grunt as the swirling ache in his head spiked. 

Lucis put his arm around his brother's shoulders that had begun to shake.

"What's happening?"  Aza asked, staring at Del.  She had also gone pale.

"He's having a vision."  Said a cold voice. 

Evabelle glanced back to see Tru, sipping at her drink.  She was the only one who hadn't risen to crowd around Del.

"What's that supposed to mean?"  CJ asked.

"A vision," Evabelle murmured.  Her mind stirred back to the very first night that Aza and she had been first picked up by the Anahalians.  It was revealed by an oracle that only an Anahalian of royal blood can save us. Oracles, Evabelle thought there might have been mention of them in one of the books, from Calandra's library. She couldn't remember what it said exactly, but she knew enough about them from common folklore.  They had visions of the future.  Usually they spoke prophecies.  "You mean, like an oracle?"  She asked quietly.

Tru closed her eyes.  "Not an oracle.  The Oracle."

Evabelle blinked.

"There is always one Oracle.  When that Oracle dies another is born."  Lucis spoke suddenly, making Evabelle reel back to him.  "They are born into any creature without demon blood, not just Anahalians.  There have been times where a human has been blessed with the power."

Evabelle stared at Del.  He was taking in harsh, shallow breaths as he leaned against Lucis for support.  She wouldn't really think to call that a blessing.

Del's eyes widened suddenly.  And Evabelle let out a squeak of surprise to see those violet rings spiraling into an eerie glow.  His face went slack as he spoke in a monotonous tone.  "The fourth kingdom of Portel.  I see us, tomorrow, traveling through the tunnels.  I see Averno.  He's there.  The toxins are within the cavern as well.  We will destroy them."

"He's not making any sense."  CJ hissed.

They all ignored him.

"It must be tomorrow, or it will be too late."  Del swayed violently and Lucis caught him as he nearly face planted.  Del looked up, completely exhausted; the glow in his eyes was gone.  "I—" He began, but suddenly his eyes flashed back to the bright blazing purple, like a literal fire had been lit behind them.  "I see golden wings!"  He yelled, and then slumped against his brother, unconscious.

Everyone was quiet for several moments.  Then Lucis, slowly rose to his feet, scooping up Del.  Evabelle would have thought that his wings would have made it a struggle, but Lucis managed to do it with his usual grace and ease. 

Del seemed strangely small in his brother's arms, and for a moment Evabelle saw two small boys in a similar posture.  For some reason the image made Evabelle feel sad.  The blonde boy that held the dark haired boy was shouting something she couldn't here.  His face was contorted as he yelled at someone she couldn't see.  It looked as though he were about to cry.  Obviously, he was angry at someone, but... Evabelle blinked away the thought and saw once again, Lucis holding Del. 

"I'll go lay him down."  Lucis said and then turned to leave.

They all parted to let him pass, except Calandra, who stood on tip toe to whisper something in his ear. 

Lucis gave her a nod and left the room, followed by the mage.

"The Oracle?"  Aza spoke as soon as the doors swung shut.  "The Oracle that had the vision thing that said Evabelle was supposed to save the Anahalians?"

Faux nodded, returning to his chair.  "That would be Del.  He's not one for publicizing his status as said, Oracle, but it's kind of hard to hide that fact when your eyes are that particular shade."

"You mean purple isn't a natural Anahalian eye color?"  CJ asked.

Faux laughed.  "No, even in Jovis those violet suckers aren't a common trait."  He leaned forward in his seat.  "Sorry we never told you guys, but there's kind of an honor code, where we don't tell each other's secrets.  It's Del's business that he's the Oracle, and it was never our place to tell you."

Evabelle thought back to that night again.  Neither Lucis nor Del had given any hint that Del was the one who had foreseen Evabelle being the one to save them. 

Aza suddenly glared at Tru.  "So that's why you were badmouthing the Oracle.  It's because it's Del.  You hate both of them, but you won't tell us why, because it's one of your secrets.  Is that it?"

Tru lowered her glass from her lips.  "It's not one of my secrets."  She hissed.  Then she eyed Aza's rigid form.  "And am I actually hearing you almost defend Del?"

Aza flinched, but never got to retort, for just then, Lucis returned.  Everyone looked at him as he entered.  The blonde Anahalian looked almost as exhausted as Del had before he'd passed out.  His eyes glided over everyone.  "Del will be fine.  He just needs some rest."  He said, answering Evabelle's question before she could speak.  Then he approached the table and sat beside Faux.  "Now we need to plan."

"Plan?"  CJ said dumbly. 

"The Oracle has spoken."  Lucis said as if that were enough.

"I thought oracle's spoke in rhyme or prophecy or something."  CJ commented.

Lucis sighed and looked up at Evabelle, CJ, and Aza.  "I suppose I should explain."  Everyone returned to their chairs as Lucis spoke.  "As I mentioned the Oracle is a power gifted to someone passed down from the original Oracle. It is the ability to see beyond the present.  What the power does, is wrench fragments of the future from a potential time stream and records it into the Oracle's head.  It puts unimaginable stress on the body of the Oracle, because it is using the energy of that person to reach beyond what normal man could ever possibly comprehend."  Evabelle felt a sympathetic twinge for Del.  "Now, Del hasn't had a multitude of visions.  From my count, he's had eleven, including the one you just witnessed."  Lucis continued.  The visions aren't ever for something small, but some are bigger than others.  Now, as CJ pointed out it wasn't a prophecy.  It was just a vision.  Del merely told us what he saw.  Those are more common than the other.  Prophecies are usually the bigger ones.  Del has only had one of those."  Lucis caught Evabelle's eye, and she realized what that prophecy must have been.  "The Oracle power, is somewhat alive to an extent.  The power decides when to awaken.  Del, himself has no control over it."  Evabelle thought that had been quite apparent by the display.

"Okay, okay," CJ nodded as if accepting all of this.  "But what plan are you talking about."

Lucis leaned forward, interlacing his fingers.  "You heard him.  Tomorrow. Unless we act, it will be too late."

Evabelle felt a chill.  Tomorrow?  As in facing the bad guy tomorrow?  It felt too sudden and she felt her head spinning.

Suddenly the doors swung open again, and Calandra strode back in.  Evabelle had almost forgotten that she had left.  In the mage's arms she carried large text books and tight and loosely bound scrolls.  Everyone moved the half eaten food to the side, so she could unload onto its surface.  Calandra unrolled one of the looser bound scrolls, revealing a map.  "This is a map of the twelve kingdoms of Portel."

Evabelle and her friends leaned in to see a confusing array of squiggly paths criss-crossing across the old paper. 

"What is this?  It looks like a two-year-olds drawing."  Aza asked, voicing Evabelle's thoughts. 

"Portel is a dwarf king.  His colony is pretty well-known."  Tru replied, surprisingly.  Her eyes also roamed the lines that made up the diagram.  "Dwarves dig, constantly.  They never stay in one place for very long, so their kingdom is always on the move."

Calandra pointed to a segment of the chart in the far corner.  "Here's the fourth kingdom.  It's a peculiar one.  Portel stayed there for nearly twenty-six years.  That's a long time for a dwarf to be in any one place." 

"Maybe there was a whiskey well."  Faux suggested.

Calandra ignored him as she leafed through one of the textbooks.  "There just happens to be a portal at the crest of one of the original tunnels.  It's a little ways from the central court, but it should be close enough."

"So we're going to go to this dwarf kingdom place tomorrow?"  CJ wondered aloud.

Tru scoffed at that.  "Yeah right!  If you think that you're coming with us then—"

"You can't stop us."  Aza cut her off.  "Del said the golden wing bit, so that means Evabelle's going," that made Evabelle swallow.  "And if Evabelle's going, then I'm going, and you can't stop me."  She glared around the table challenging them to argue.

"Same here."  CJ gave a determined nod.

Evabelle leaned away from the map and felt like sinking through her chair, and never being seen again.  She closed her eyes, the sounds of the others fight about humans coming on something as important as this, but soon stopped really listening.

Eventually, Evabelle did open her eyes, and she thought no one was paying her any attention.  She glanced over and saw Gem.  She had nearly forgotten the little elf girl was there.  Gem, too looked extremely uncomfortable.  She did however, appear to be paying attention to the conversation.  Evabelle just caught wind of Kai volunteer to come along as well, claiming they were going to need as much help as they could get, at which Aza used for another arguing point.

Evabelle continued to look around the table and nearly jumped when she saw the azure stare from Lucis.  He was watching her, his fingers still interlaced in front of him.  He was not participating in the heated discussion either.  The barrier was as strong as ever.

Evabelle shook herself.  Why do I think that?  Why do I think there is something there?  And why does it bother me so much? The thought of the two boys, one holding the other, came to mind.  Where had that thought even come from.  For one single moment, she thought that perhaps if she really had been an Anahalian at one point, wouldn't that have meant she would have known other Anahalians before?  Had she known Lucis?

"...For that matter, Del could be wrong."

That snapped Lucis out of his reverie, and his gaze moved from Evabelle.  "Must you, Tru?"  He gave her a strangely dark look.

The female Anahalian leaned away from Lucis.  "It's a potential future.  There is a chance he's wrong.  It happens."

Lucis shook his head.  "That doesn't matter.  I'm going to Portel's fourth kingdom.  If there is a chance, I have to take it."

"Don't worry, Lu.  We are right behind you."  Faux gave Lucis a hearty slap on the back.

Tru shuffled.  "Fine, I get it.  You're not leaving me out, but what about those two?"  She jabbed her head in Aza's and CJ's direction.  "They most certainly can't."

Once again, Lucis met eyes with Evabelle.  "I think that decision should be up to Evabelle.  They are her friends.  She should decide."  He replied evenly.

All faces turned in Evabelle's direction, as the girl felt her hands go clammy.  Basically Lucis had just put the lives of her friends into her hands.  The friends, that were willing to go just because Evabelle was.  They were choosing to, while Evabelle had very little say in the matter.  But now the final decision for them was up to her.  She swallowed and looked back and forth between them.  The thought of leaving Aza was painful, and even CJ, but then she caught sight of the bandage peaking past his t-shirt, reminding her of what was out there.  "I don't want you to get hurt."  She whispered.  "I care about you two too much."

Aza shook her head, not accepting where Evabelle was going.  "We care about you, Evabelle.  We followed you this far, and we're going to go all the way."

CJ nodded his agreement.         

            "I have a suggestion."  Calandra said.  "If we are using mage portals, which I figure we are, the humans can go, but at the first sign of danger, they return to the portal to transport them back here.  That way, Evabelle can have her friends give her the push she needs, and they shouldn't be in the way."

            Evabelle nodded, accepting this.  Aza didn't, but in the end she gave in, for it was the only way she was going to come at all.

            The rest of the meeting was merely planning the details.  It allowed Evabelle to zone out once more, and to delve into the cold, cruel realization that it was actually happening. 

In the end, everyone rose.  "Now everyone go get good sleep."  Calandra commanded.  She glanced at Kai and Gem.  "If you plan on going on this mission, then I suggest everyone be at their full strength."  She gave the pair a look.   Evabelle had a feeling she knew what it meant, especially when Kai flinched.  And even though Gem could not see Calandra, she reached up and took her brother's hand.

            "I don't want you to go."  The young girl whispered.  "But if you are, Callie's right."

            Kai didn't look particularly happy about it, but he allowed himself to be taken out by his sister.

            Calandra next gave a hard stare to Faux.  "And by good rest, I'm talking to you."

            Faux grinned.  "You're going to make me sleep right before a battle.  That's almost as bad as asking a kid to go to sleep on Christmas Eve."