Part 43 (2/2)

”And yet seeing my kind never prevented you from finding such happiness, how is that?” He spoke so softly as he ran his fingers along my jaw line and up to my cheek.

”I don't know...I guess I just decided that it was better to live with it than not living at all.”

”Good answer.” He said this but he still looked sad for my early experiences with his kind.

”Do you wish you'd had a childhood?” I asked not meeting his eyes.

”It's hard to wish for something you don't fully understand. In my position it is not practical to be a boy with power. Innocence is not a wise virtue to hold in my world. I had to be strong from the beginning just as I have to remain so now but...” He hooked my chin up so that he could see my eyes before he continued.

”But?” I asked shyly.

”But being here with you is like being the child I never had the chance to be. Here with you is my chance to feel a happiness I have never felt before. I have never had moments like this Keira. I have never had someone to speak like this to, stories to tell and to hear in return...It is all so new to me and yet I find that I could be happy to do it for all eternity and the rest of my days!”

”Oh trust me, you would get tired of hearing my voice!” I joked and although he laughed it was for a different reason.

”That is impossible. I could listen to you until my ears bled. I especially like this new, no bounds Keira that speaks freely and full of an adorable Northern English accent, thanks to a little... well a lot of, what is it usually called...liquid courage.”

”You just like that because you can hear my thoughts.” Again I was making him laugh.

”Yes well, that too. Have I told you lately how much I love you?” He said pulling me closer until my head tucked under his chin.

”Even when I throw up over your balcony and talk drunkenly about tea and video games?”

”But of course! And what is it with that balcony that makes you want to throw up all the time?” He was making fun of me and it was working as my cheeks went cherry colour.

”Umm, that blush of yours could warm any man's blood to boiling point.” This wasn't an exaggeration as it didn't take long before I could feel his blood boiling for myself...down below that was. So much so that I had to s.h.i.+ft myself to one side so as to give him more room down there.

”Can I ask you a question?” When I said this he lowered his head and kissed me on my forehead after smoothing some of my hair back.

”Anything.”

”You might not like talking about it.” I warned and this is when he moved back to look at me.

”I will answer your questions even if I don't want to.” He promised making me grin.

”It's about what happened to me today.” I said, making his jaw tense at the subject. I think he was hoping that this afternoon was just going to evaporate into nothing and not have chance to make a memory.

”One can only hope.” He said bitterly before continuing, ”What is it you would like to know?”

”Well firstly...who was it that you went there to see?” I waited to see his response with eager eyes. I knew it was a woman from when Leivic said ”She is waiting for you”, I couldn't help the little twist of jealous curiosity that snaked in my belly.

”I was there to see a very good friend of mine, her name is Pythia.” As soon as he said the name it p.r.i.c.ked recognition from my brain. Where had I heard that name before?

”You like history yes?” I nodded at his question as I was still searching my head for answers.

”Are you familiar with Greek mythology?” As soon as he said the words my mind clicked and I found the answer.

”She's an Oracle!” I shouted a bit louder than what was needed.

”Actually she's The Oracle...as in, she's the only one.”

”But I thought throughout history there has been many?” Even today some clairvoyants are sometimes considered to be the Oracles of our time.

”No, there is and only ever will be one. Pythia is the only direct communal link between the G.o.ds from both sides. Greek mythology has her known as the Oracle of Delphi, where she was the high priestess at the Temple of Apollo. There is some truth in this, but it is only where she was found, not where she remained. See it was believed back then that the Oracle changed from girl to girl but it was not true. Pythia just changed bodies every few years so that no one was ever sure it could be the real her. This still happens and it is imperative that it remains so. If she were to get into the wrong hands then they would have a direct line into the G.o.ds' plans. You can see how that would be bad?”

”So when she left Del..py?” I knew I said the place wrong when Draven smiled but he didn't correct me, if anything he look like he enjoyed it better this way.

”She left behind a fake that was believed for years after. I could not allow her to remain and besides she did not want to. She had seen nothing of the world she knew so much about. She had only been allowed to stay within the temple and the only people she would see was those of the priests and the Supplicants that underwent the arduous journey to consult the Oracle's Devine wisdom. She may have been this creature but she was still just a girl as well. So I took her away to live how she desired as long as she was never discovered for what she really was. She calls upon me when she needs to tell me something and it is always on the seventh day of the month.”

”Why?”

”Because the number seven plays an important part in my world. It is a holy number for many of reasons that I cannot go into at this time.”

”Cannot or will not?” I asked skeptically crossing my hands over my chest.

”Both!” He admitted but he continued before I could protest ” Keira there are many things you will learn about my kind even if they are things I do not wish for you to know, but at least let me tell you of them in my own time”

”Fair enough,” I nodded knowing there wasn't much point arguing as he would get his way whether I liked it or not. Of course he growled at this thought of mine but I didn't care, it didn't change the facts.

”Well, are you going to tell me?” I asked, proving my point, which he couldn't answer. Instead he just shrugged his shoulders and we both let it go...for now anyway.

”What I want to know is why you needed to see her now, it isn't even the seventh?”

”That is why I had to go, I knew it must have been something very important for her to call to meet with me. It was not like her, but now I know why.”

”Are you going to tell me?”

”Keira...”

”I take that as a no then,” I said not keeping the sulking sound out of my voice.

”Let me put it this way, the last time I saw her we spoke about the same thing.”

”And that was?”

”You!” He said clearly like it was all so obvious.

”Me? Why, did you tell her about me?” I asked shaking my head wondering what on earth they could be talking about me for.

”Actually, she was the one who told me about you.” As soon as he said it, I don't know why, but I started to hold my breath. Why would she know anything about me unless the G.o.ds had told her and what would they have to tell her that would be important to Draven? We had met without any help so I didn't get it, which is what I said.

”I don't understand.”

”Keira, how can you still doubt yourself and the importance of our union. Before today, the last time I saw Pythia was over twenty three years ago, on the seventh hour, on the seventh day of the seventh month, 1987. So now you understand what it was that was so important for her to tell me”

”But...but that was....” I stammered out in utter disbelief but Draven finished the sentence off for me. He cradled my face in his hands and looked at me as though I was his greatest gift received from above before saying the worlds I couldn't find....

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