Page 131 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

“It’s you!” She dashed to the window.

The other woman looked at her. “I am glad you recognise me.”

Amelia jumped back as if a jolt of electricity raced through her body, startled by the silvery light in the woman’s eyes. “You’re the Oracle! You were in my head the other day, when they brought me here!”

“Yes, and you misinterpreted me as a hallucination.”

“Then Mikhail transformed, and I was sure I was going insane!”

A wry smile twisted the Oracle’s lips. “Yes, you did not pay much attention to me then, either…”

Amelia glanced at her surroundings as if to convince herself she was not dreaming. “Is this real? Are you really here, or am I having another vision?”

“Yes and no. Part of me is here, part of me is there.”

The Oracle’s words only seemed to add to the overall sense of mystery.

“I was hoping we would meet,” Amelia said. “I have so many questions. Why did you send Mikhail after me? What am I supposed to do?”

“I also wanted to meet you. Alas, it will not happen, at least not in the conventional way. However, the answers to all of your questions will come very soon.”

“Just tell me one thing. Did you mean me when you told Mikhail that someone might need some help? We were thinking that maybe he mis—”

“Little seeker, he is not daft. If I had thought he would misunderstand, I could have just said, ‘Help Amelia!’” The Oracle laughed and her voice soothed Amelia like a gentle melody. Yet she wasn’t sure if her confession disappointed or excited her.

“Why didn’t you tell him so, then, and save us all the wondering?”

The Oracle stared at her with silver eyes. “And how do you think one can grow, if everything is served to them on a platter?”

“All right, then.” Amelia blinked. “Answer me something else… Why did you choose me, of all people?”

“I am sorry to disappoint, little seeker, but I was not the one who chose you. I am only the herald of someone else’s will.”

“Whose will?”

“You will find out soon enough.” The Oracle raised her palm in the air. “There are always two sides to every story.”

Amelia wondered if this was an answer to her question, or something else. “I don’t understand. What does this all mean?”

“Precisely what it means. You will never see things through a single pair of eyes.”

But I only have one pair. Unless… “Do you mean my dreams and visions?”

“To an extent. Start with the little things and you will soon come to understand the big ones. Besides, you never know where you will find a friend…”

“Are you talking about Mikhail?”

“… and where an enemy lurks. Your worldview has changed quite a bit lately, has it not?”

“I think so...”

“Worldview… A fascinating word, especially given the universe is limitless and filled with countless worlds. No one is ever alone….” The Oracle’s rambling trailed off and her gaze sharpened on Amelia. “Ask and you shall receive. Do not ask, and you never will.”

“I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying!”

The Oracle smiled, and her image started gliding backwards. “Good luck, little seeker.”

“Wait! You’re leaving?”

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