Written in Life

(Chapter 22)

Renae stared wide-eyed at the buried crypt with a hand over her mouth.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, shocked that the only other person of my kind just got swallowed up by an under ground tomb. Not to mention I couldn't get out of here without her alive.

"T-the oracle," Renae breathed." She caught her... This is all my fault.."

"Renae, don't say that. It wasn't-"

"It was my fault, and you know it! If I hadn't brought you down there you would probably be well on your way to another story with Bernie! Not to mention we lost Bernie and the damn book woth her!" She buried her face in her hands and sighed in frustration and disappointment. She started laughing hysterically and tears flowed from her eyes." Sorry. You can probably tell I'm bipolar." She sniffled and wiped her nose with her sleeve. She shook her head and hiccuped." I can't believe I just gain her trust back and then I lead her straight into that bitch's hands," she sobbed." Who knows what the oracle will do to her! We'll probably never see her again, and you'll be stuck here, and what are we gonna tell her uncle? That his fawn was swallowed whole by a sea witch?"

"Look, Renae. You need to calm down. We're going to get her back," I cooed, knelling down and putting a hand on her shoulder. She nodded and hiccuped, trying to slow her breathing although she wasn't making much progress. Her chest heaved up and down and she suddenly slammed a hand on the ground in anger and took a deep breath. She calmed down, looked at me and smiled.

"Sorry... I got a little carried away there..." she said, embarrassed, her face turning a bright red. I smiled back.

"It's fine," I said. I helped her to her feet and stared at her. She looked at me.

"What?" she asked.

"It's just fascinating. You're tears. I've never seen clear tears before. Only heard of it," I said, not noticing I said it until it had already passed.

"Yeah you've probably only seen Bernie's tears," she said, looking to the tomb.

"Yeah... that and my own..."

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I clawed at the ground as I was dragged deeper into the crypt and screamed. I was thrown against the wall and bashed my head on a sharp rock. I could feel the trickle of blood through my hair and sat up slowly, furious. I was slammed against the wall, hitting my head again, and then hoisted to my feet, sharp nails slicing my chin. I felt hot, reeking breath blow into my face in angry huffs. A hand turned my face foreword forcefully and I stared fiercely into the creature's hollow, gray eyes.

"You ungrateful bitch," it hissed in a harsh, ragged voice." A dark princess daring to enter my lair!" I was thrown to the ground, lost in the darkness. I heard a wicked cackle." I would think a royal darkling would be able to see in such condition," it teased. A foot connected with my stomach and the wind escaped my lungs as I was flown across the room. I gasped for air.

"I don't know-" I broke out in a coughing fit, black blood spraying the walls, "- what you're talking about."

"Do you think I'm ignorant, Bernice Wilson?" it sneered, it's awful voice raking out of her throat. A food slammed down on my wrist, sharp scales slicing through my skin like a warm knife through butter. I hissed through my teeth, stifling a scream.

"How do you know my name?" I asked. The creature laughed.

"I'm the Oracle. I know all," it replied simply, as though I should have known. My eyes adjusted enough so that I could see the outline of the room and the Oracle. I glanced around and saw a square shaped object in the distance. The book. The Oracle's foot pressed down hard and a loud crack echoed through the cavern. I screamed and I saw the faint outline of a smile splayed across the face of the creature above me. I closed my eyes tight, thinking it would help the pain go away." An evil little wretch like you doesn't deserve to live," it spat. I looked up at the Oracle with a disgusted look.