Page 1 of Wrath of the Oracle

“How many times do I have to kill you before you stop?” Lord Keita’s voice boomed while thunder clapped, lighting up the red skies. The heavy clouds threatened to release the rain as they surged, and a strong wind billowed around the dense forest. Keita fanned the broad black wings on his back. He stood suspended in the air with a long black sword in his right hand.

“Joka will rise again, and take back his rightful place in the world.” Asaa snarled and bared her sharp fangs. Her black, serpentine body circled beneath Keita’s form. She had to take him down fast before his companionsarrived.

If they descended, it would be too late for her to escape and reach the Faye Islands, where Joka was held prisoner.

“Joka will sink the entire human population underwater.” Keita pointed his sword at her. “I can’t let you summon him.”

His dark, broad wings unfurled and stretched to the skies, widening his shadow on the forest floor. Asaa watched in morbid fascination as Lord Keita transformed to half man, half beast—an ancient creature, his true form, a mythical being sent to hunt her to the ends of the world.

Her attraction to the creature before her hadn’t diminished through time. Her heart still yearned for him, and her body hummed at the memories of them together. If not for their cruel destinies, they stood a chance together; but as it was, he was her enemy.

“Nkulu realm is biased against Joka when all he did was protect his family.” Asaa’s sleek body circled Keita. She held his gaze and tried to hypnotize him before she attacked. “You killed his wife and banished him to eternal darkness.”

“His rampage led to the annihilation of half of the Dermor population, if Joka rises, nobody would be safe from his wrath.” Keita fisted the sword, his long nails clawed against the dark steel as Asaa approached him. She released the brittle cold that clung to her, and the air before Keita’s forlorn face misted. Her sleek body wrapped around him, and her dark green eyes held him captive.

“You killed my mother and imprisoned my father,” Asaa whispered, her low voice enchanted. She placed herhands on Keita’s chest, her black nails dug into his hard flesh. Her wavy white hair fanned in the wind, her cold breath on his face. Keita’s muscles tensed beneath his robes. His eyes darkened and lowered to her lips.

“Don’t do this, Asaa.” Vulnerability coated his tense voice as he grabbed her neck and brought her face close. Asaa swallowed and gazed into his hot amber eyes. Their dark depths called to her. Love and duty haunted his handsome face. Asaa knew the feeling; she was torn between the two. Her duty to save her father and the feelings she harbored for Keita. She tried not to be swayed by her yearning for him as she raised her tail, ready to pierce him through his heart.

“We have to end this.” Asaa raised her hand to his cheek, his cropped beard tickled her fingers. As always, Keita leaned into her palm and closed his eyes, a sigh escaped his parted lips.

With a shrill cry, Asaa raised her pointy tail and pierced Keita’s back, plunging through to his heart.

Keita growled and threw his head back. He raised his sword and stabbed her in the chest. The pain forced her to release him, and Asaa crumpled to the ground. Her tail retracted, leaving a gaping wound in Keita’s chest. He clutched his sword with one hand and the other rested on his fresh wound, the hit wouldn’t kill him, or else he wouldn’t be the High Lord of Northern Skies.

The heavens broke and rain pounded down.

“The fate of the people of Dermor rests upon my shoulders,” Keita shouted above the rain as he staggered to where Asaa lay coiled. He bled through his clothessoaked in rainwater and blood. His fierce gaze burned with betrayal and hurt.

“Your death is humankind’s survival. I can’t allow you to live, no matter my feelings.” The last statement was softer, as if Keita were speaking to himself.

“Then we shall both perish,” Asaa screeched and uncoiled, her tightly wound body hit Keita and sent him flying. His back hit a tree and he crashed onto the wet grass, his wings breaking the fall. Blood mixed with water trickled down his chest as he glowered at Asaa.

With unnatural speed, he charged, his wings unfurled and sword raised above his head. Asaa had a moment before the weapon landed on her again. Despite the pain, she got up and coiled her long body around Keita again, constricting him with her muscles. It took everything in her to hold him. Keita raised his wings and took to the skies, lifting her from the safety of the ground. Lightning struck all around them as they battled for dominance.

“Is this what you wanted? Us fighting to the death every time?” Keita aimed for her head, but she escaped, sinking her teeth into his neck.

The taste of warm, sweet blood flooded her mouth. The warm fluid charged her, and she impaled him again, wanting to drink more. Empty his veins, and maybe he’d stop fighting. Keita screeched and emitted heat from his body and burned her glossy dark scales. She released her hold and fell back to earth. Asaa hadn’t realized how far in the skies Keita had carried her until she was falling.

Asaa braced herself for the fall and Keita swooped in, his great wings swished in the skies. He grabbed her in midair, and his sharp talons sank into her flesh, Asaaburned from the inside. She shrieked as Keita impaled her with the sword again, his blow so strong the force pushed her back to earth. She crashed into a flowing river, her body ridden with lacerations.

If she awakened her full powers, Asaa could command water to her will, but Keita reached her before she could. Through pain, she swam from the murky depths and rose to the banks. Her strength depleted, her long snake body turned back into her human form. She was naked and shivered from the cold. Her long fangs withdrew, and Asaa heaved herself onto the riverbank.

She placed an arm over her chest and tried to get up but couldn’t. Her long white hair, plastered to her wet skin, was the only thing covering her nude body. Thunder boomed as Keita swooped and landed before her, his sword coated with her blood.

“I am at your mercy again, High Lord.” Asaa coughed blood as her body threatened to surrender. Earlier, Keita had dug his talons into her thighs and ribs. The heat from his claws numbed her limbs, paralyzing her so she could neither move nor fight.

“I need your word that you won’t summon Lord Joka.” Keita knelt before her, grabbed her chin, and forced her to look at him. Asaa read a lot of emotions behind his look, the conflict between sparing her life and protecting the people of Dermor. Five lifetimes, and they always ended up in such a position. They both knew what was coming next.

“My death is the only way you can stop the water god from rising.” Her breath came out in puffs as she struggledto open her eyes. She didn’t have much time before she passed out from blood loss.

“What about my love? Haven’t I proven my devotion? Why does it have to end like this every time?” Keita’s eyes flamed as a lone tear trickled down his face. His long locks had become loose from the high ponytail on his head. Asaa traced a finger on his cheek and wiped tears and rainwater away.

“Your sword is covered with my blood. How is that love?” Asaa released a bitter laugh. The effort snapped her strength and she collapsed in Keita’s arms.

Keita held her in his right arm and cradled her close, silent tears flowed from his eyes and fell on her face and mixed with her own. Asaa closed her eyes and tried to lean into his heat one last time. The images of them as they embraced before they both came to understand their destinies hit her. More tears flowed. Why did they have to be enemies?

“I have a final wish. Will you honor it?” Asaa grabbed his hand that held the sword. Her eyes turned to the red sky as the heavy clouds parted, revealing the other three sky gods on the descent.

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