“I think you might already know,” The Oracle said between frantic sobs.

Darkness shook his head. “Not exactly, but we were attacked at my home by gremlins.”

“Yes,” The Oracle said, gesturing to a small smoldering fire. “I have no idea how it found us.”

“You killed one?” Darkness asked.

Her eyes narrowed. “What else would I do when something murdered my husband in front of me?”

“I should have come sooner,” Darkness said, shifting his eyes to the ground.

“There is no doubt in my mind that it was here for me,” The Oracle said, bowing her head.

Darkness scanned the area. “They were here to destroy us all. Someone wants the artifacts.”

“Before all this happened, just moments before I heard him cry out for help, I was shown two quick flashes, and now… now I see nothing at all,” The Oracle sobbed.

“Tell me,” Darkness said, looking into her eyes. “What did you see?”

“There is a traitor in our midst. Someone let them into our realm,” The Oracle said, sucking in a breath. She pressed her hands to her face as her shoulders violently shook. After a moment, she held up her hand, inhaling deeply. “Forgive me. It’s just that if there was one person I should have been able to keep safe, it was him. I failed him. I failed him!”

“I’m so incredibly sorry,” Darkness said, peering into her eyes. “If there is anything you’d like me to try, just let me know.”

She shook her head. “We both know he wouldn’t have wanted anything like that to bring him back. Not even temporarily. I must come to accept that he is gone.”

The Oracle got to her feet and turned away from the man lying on the ground. She wiped her cheeks and cleared her throat.

“I will join him soon enough, I am sure,” she added as she placed her hands on her hips. “I wish I could help you both in some way, but it’s gone. Nothing works. My mind is filled with complete blackness. I’ve lost everything.”

“Are you certain?” Darkness asked, stroking his chin. “Perhaps the grief is blocking—”

“I’m absolutely certain,” she said, giving him a single nod. “But like I mentioned, before my powers left me, I saw two quick flashes that maybe could be of some help.”

I raised my brow. “Were they about me? Did you see Calista?”

“Afraid not,” The Oracle replied, pressing her lips together.

“She is Balance reborn. It had nothing to do with that?” Darkness asked, concern wrinkling his features.

The Oracle swiftly wiped away a tear that leaked out of the corner of her eye. “I know you would eventually see what you were meant to be.”

“Tell us, Oracle, what did you see?” Darkness pleaded, clasping his hands tightly together.

“You’re not going to like it,” she said, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

“I am sure that is true,” Darkness said, reaching over to take my hand. “But we must know. We must do anything we can to save our realm and stop the war.”

The Oracle studied him for a long moment. “I saw that the war has already started. On Earth, in fact. Both sides have gathered and are ready to battle, but you don’t stand a chance until you deal with the traitor.”

“Even without the artifacts, they are going to fight?” I asked.

The Oracle nodded. “It seems as though they will worry about that later. When one side wins, they will do whatever is necessary to acquire them.”

“How do we do we stop the traitor when we have no idea who the traitor is?” Darkness asked, his eyes narrowing.

The Oracle’s shoulder shook as she sucked in a breath. “I saw them. I know who the traitor is.”

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Isprinted after Darkness as he crashed through his front door like a vicious monster. With lightning-swift agility, he reached Ruin, wrapped his hands around her neck, and lifted her off the ground.

“Whoa! What are you doing?” Nightmare asked, his eyes wide.

“Release her this instant!” Storm demanded, her hands clenched into tight fists.

Honor stood paralyzed as if he were a helpless spectator to the harrowing scene. I stood beside him, just as unsure of what to do as he was, but it was different because I knew what Ruin had done.

“Let go of me,” Ruin croaked, her voice a feeble whisper of desperation.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Darkness spat, venom dripping off his words.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ruin stammered.

Darkness released a bone-chilling laugh. “Is that right?”

“Darkness, brother, put her down so we can discuss whatever this is about,” Nightmare said, holding his palms up.

“There will be no discussion,” Darkness bellowed as he tightened his grip. “Would you like to tell them what you’ve done, or shall I?”

Ruin coughed as she clawed at Darkness’s hands. “I’ve done nothing.”

“Are you calling The Oracle a liar?” Darkness asked.

“What did she tell you?” Nightmare said, turning to face Darkness.

“The war has started, thanks to our sister,” Darkness growled as he sneered at Ruin.

Nightmare’s head snapped to the side, his eyes drilling into Ruin. “Is this true? What did you do?”

“He’s… lying,” Ruin squeaked. “It’s him! He’s trying to turn you against me for his own benefit. He wants to keep the medallion for himself!”

“Silence!” Darkness hissed, his fury emanating in waves that shook the floor.

Nightmare flicked a glance at the medallion around my wrist. “It has bound to Balance.”

“Yeah, and he wants to keep her too! He doesn’t care about stopping the war!” Ruin screeched.