Page 65 of Beneath the Watching

Dark wood paneling surrounded me, and beautiful oil paintings lined the walls. Bouquets of white roses with what looked like blood on them were set on small tables between mahogany-trimmed leather couches. The air felt different here and I had to wonder where the man had taken me. It wasn’t anywhere I’d been before, for sure.

Letting out a breath, I asked, “Take me back, I don’t want to be here.”

An invisible force pushed me down onto the couch behind me. “Have no fear, I won’t hurt you,” Josiah said, coming closer. “You are going to ask the Sentient some questions for me.”

“Sentient?” I suspected he was talking about the voice, but I wasn’t going to admit to anything until I had a better understanding of what was going on.

He made no move to make himself comfortable and stood looming over me. “The voice in your head. Word travels fast; I know you’re an oracle.”

“It doesn’t tell me much of anything,” I stated. “I ask it questions and it doesn’t say a thing. I’m not sure I can help you.”

It dawned on me that if he had personal knowledge of me like that, he might have even more. “Can you tell me anything about my parents? The voice said they were dead. If you tell me what you know, I’ll ask the voice something.”

Reckless as it was, I’d decided to demand something of him. He didn’t strike me as the type to make bargains with, but he’d had the opportunity to hurt me in the past, and he hadn’t. I had something he needed, so I doubted he’d injure me.

“Yours and others were killed to halt specific bloodlines. I removed you as a child and placed you in the Third Realm.” Josiah continued to stare at me in his unnerving fashion.

Shock ran through me, stopping me from breathing. My teeth were clenched so hard they threatened to crack. “You?” I stammered.

“Yes, I knew your parents. Your father, specifically.”

I was stuck with one-word questions. “How?”

He stared at me for a moment. “You look like him. They were killed through no fault of their own and I transitioned you.”

He gave me about fifteen seconds to absorb this information before he continued. “I’ve given you an answer, now you will give me one. Ask the voice who brought Sem to power.”

“Some?”

“Sem.” Josiah emphasized the name.

This was new territory for me. I’d never had an audience when trying to communicate with the voice Josiah had called a Sentient. I didn’t want to cooperate with him just yet, still reeling from what he’d told me, but it felt like I had no choice, and I couldn’t see the harm in it.

“Sentient, can you tell me who put Sem in power?” As I waited, I lifted my gaze to the man standing in front of me and got a closer look at his eyes. They weren’t completely black, as I’d thought before. A pearlescent coal-color surrounded his pupils, giving the impression of smoke. “I like your eyes,” I said, and then blushed when I remembered my goal of being less awkward. “I’m sorry, they’re just different. Kinda cool.” I glanced down at my lap when he narrowed his eyes.

“Has the Sentient answered you?” I shook my head. “Ask again,” he ordered.

The atmosphere in the room shifted and I repeated my question aloud.

An Ancient.

The voice finally answered, and I took a deep breath. “It said an ancient person,” I told Josiah.

“The Ancients...,” Josiah said, and closed his hands into fists. “Ask it for a name.”

“Do you have a name for the Ancient?” I asked.

No. I can’t give that to you.

"No you don’t have it or no you can’t give it?” Josiah would ask me for clarity, so there was no point in waiting to make the request.

He moved away, releasing me from his hold, and sat in an armchair. He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment before moving forward slightly. “Ask it why,” he demanded.

“Can you give me more information?” I asked the voice.

No. There is much movement.

He wasn’t going to like the answer I’d received but I gave it anyway. “She said there’s too much movement.” Josiah ran a hand through his hair and got up, obviously unhappy with what I’d said.

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