“He won’t help,” Storm said. “Thinks it’s too dangerous.”
“Call upon the shaman then,” Darkness boomed. “Why are you troubling me with this when I have much more important matters to attend to?”
Storm’s eyelids fluttered. “What is more important that your sibling? Your dear, precious, and favorite brother?”
“Fine,” Darkness said, his voice low with boiling rage. He grabbed my hand and started toward the shed.
“Oh,” Storm said, taking several steps back. “You don’t have to go anywhere.”
Darkness turned and glared at her. “What do you mean, exactly?”
“I may have brought him here while you were off looking for her,” Storm said, jerking her chin toward me.
Darkness let go of my hand and stomped toward the house, muttering what sounded like curse words in another language. He left the front door open and gestured to me before vanishing from sight.
“Sorry about that,” Storm said with a laugh. “Didn’t mean to interrupt whatever you two were doing.”
“It’s fine,” I said, feeling the heat filling my cheeks.
“Oh,” she said, cocking her head. “And for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re anything special either.”
“Uh, good, I guess,” I said, twisting my fingers together.
Storm’s lips contorted into a sardonic smirk. “Maybe for the smallest second, I thought it might be possible, but Balance before you would never have run off. She would never have hesitated to help in any way she could. She was an amazing person who wanted nothing but peace and harmony.”
“I’m not her,” I spat.
“Obviously not,” Storm retorted, coldly eyeing me as she walked away, leaving me standing there alone in Darkness’s front yard.
Inside the house, Darkness was pacing in front of the couch where Nightmare was lying. His skin had a pallid hue, a sickly undertone of green, while his pupils had expanded to saucers. He mumbled nonsense as he stared at the ceiling.
“This is not good,” Darkness said, stroking his thumb along his chin. “I need to collect the druid. Time is of the essence.”
“Yes, go,” I said with a nod.
“I hate to ask—”
“I will stay with him,” I said, offering a reassuring smile. “Is there a way to reach you if necessary?”
Darkness pressed his lips together as he placed his cool hand on my shoulder. “I will sense your need. I won’t be long.”
“Darkness?” I said, turning as he approached the front door.
“Yes?” he said, grabbing the door as he pivoted to meet my gaze.
I drew in a sharp breath. “This is not a great time to ask this, obviously, but where are the artifacts?”
“They are all safe now,” Darkness said. “They are protected.”
“Okay,” I said, watching him as he slipped out the front door, closing it behind him.
My eyes narrowed as I looked around the suddenly finished room. “Where did this couch come from?”
“Storm brought it up from the basement,” Nightmare said with a long groan. He rested the back of his hand on his forehead. “Darkness’s house used to be magnificent. Better than mine even.”
“I’ll bet it was,” I said, sinking into a luxurious high-backed chair with sumptuous red velvet upholstery. My fingertips glided over the smooth, polished wooden armrests.
Nightmare pulled in a breath as he pulled himself into a sitting position with ease. He smirked, holding up his hands as he got to his feet.
“Now, don’t be mad at me, okay?” he asked, grinning as he glanced toward the hallway.
The whites of The Oracle’s eyes glowed like little flashlights as she stepped out of the shadows. She approached with caution as she held out the onyx orb. The Oracle stopped abruptly when I got to my feet and looked toward the front door.
“Stay, my child,” The Oracle whispered.
“Did he put you both up to this?” I asked, shaking my head as my hands balled into fists.
The Oracle scoffed as Nightmare dashed to stand in front of the door to block my exit. “Darkness had nothing to do with this.”
“It was my idea,” Nightmare said proudly. “Darkness wouldn’t make you see if you didn’t want to.”
“So you’re going to force me?” I asked, clenching my teeth.
The Oracle held up her hand. “No one can make you do anything, but I would like to encourage you. Do you not believe that we should at least know the truth about you? You are not forced into doing anything you don’t want to, but for us, knowing the truth could help us stop the war. With or without your help.”
“So, you’re going to guilt me into it,” I said, releasing a heavy sigh. I held out my hand and groaned. “Fine. Give it to me.”
“Mmm, yes,” The Oracle said, smiling.
