The Afterworld Saga — 5

Chapter 5 — Of Souls and Vessels

“A Vessel,” said the oracle, finally turning to face them, “is one who possesses the ability to merge and support two souls in a physical body simultaneously.”

Roy turned to Tamra, a look of absolute wonder on his face.

“But anyone can do that, or can’t they?” Tamra spoke up.

“No,” the oracle answered solemnly. “A mortal can only hold his or her own soul. If another soul attempts to merge with the original one, the mortal will be driven to madness or even perish.”

Roy muttered something inaudible under his breath, his pupils dilated with fear. Tamra could also hear her heart slamming against her rib cage. Suddenly, she found it difficult to breathe.

Ask her how you can free yourself from me.

Before Tamra even had a chance to respond, the oracle turned sharply, fixing her cool blue eyes on her, looking at her intently. Tamra felt oddly transparent beneath that piercing gaze. Even Leida fidgeted.

I see.

Both Tamra and Leida jumped when the oracle’s voice sliced neatly through their shared conscience like a well-sharpened blade. Tamra was uncomfortably aware of Roy’s curious eyes trained on her.

So you are the host, the oracle addressed Leida.

Yes, was the stunned reply.

You need not be afraid, the oracle assured. Tamra felt the oracle’s conscience probe briefly, then withdraw from their minds as fast as it entered. Then, by some insanity, the oracle directed her gaze evenly at Tamra and Roy.

“Do you want your sister to be free, Roy?” the oracle asked.

Roy gave a violent start. “How do you know she’s my sister?” He stared at the oracle, an odd mixture of respect and fear on his face.

“Who do you think I am?” the oracle returned, as calm as ever.

Roy was rendered dumbstruck for a few seconds before he spoke. “Yes, I want her to be freed.”

“Very well.” The oracle turned to Tamra. “Where is your body, Tamra?”

“It’s at the bottom of the castle on King’s Way,” Tamra replied.

“Are you sure it is still there?”

A brief pause.

“I’m…not sure,” Tamra admitted uncertainly.

“Then the first thing you must do is to retrieve the body,” the oracle instructed. “After that, you must traverse the Afterworld.”

The room was stunned into dead silence.

“I — I don’t think we should do this,” Roy said nervously. His forehead glistened with cold sweat.

“You have to,” Tamra said firmly. “Your sister wants it, and so do you. Why do you want to get out of the deal so soon when this is our only chance for everyone to live happily ever after?”

Roy did not speak. He had his gaze fixed so intently on the ground that he might have burned a hole through it.

Oh no! Leida exclaimed in dismay. Tamra ignored her.

“What will we do in the Afterworld?” Tamra turned to ask the oracle, bracing herself for any gruesome missions.

“You will have to transport the Dark Heart here before the solstice. We will take care of the rest. Otherwise, you will be trapped for eternity.”

“What is the Dark Heart? Who has it?” Tamra pursued.

“The Dark Heart is the heart of Dimitri, God of Death,” the oracle informed her.

The whole room was cast under another spell of ringing silence. In the stifling silence, Tamra was painfully aware of her heartbeat, which had reached an impossible speed and was awfully loud in the small, sequestered cloister.

Tamra swallowed hard to calm her racing heart. She took a deep breath and spoke, her voice shaky. “Now what?”

“You must begin your quest now, before it is too late. Time passes differently in the Afterworld. One day on earth is equivalent to one week in the Afterworld.”

We have two months until the solstice, Leida piped up, which means — Tamra could hear her calculating — we’ll have…a pause. Tamra could feel the pang of shock as a terrible realization hit Leida.

What? Tamra urged her.

We’ll only have eight days left.

“Eight days!” Tamra repeated aloud. The others — even Roy — looked up, their eyebrows raised.

“Time is scarce. You must make haste,” the oracle urged them.

“Of course,” Tamra replied and turned to leave.

“And one more thing,” the oracle called, stopping Tamra in her tracks, compelling her to turn back.

“Yes?”

“You must take Roy along, whether he wants to or not,” the oracle announced, her tone leaving no chance for bargaining.

“But why?” Tamra pursued, puzzled.

“He is the Key.”