Dream Lover ??

                                        (Zariah) I awoke this morning on edge. I saw him again. His beautiful amber eyes were staring into my soul. I do not who this man is, but he is gorgeous. His chocolate skin is so smooth and shiny. His long curly raven hair resembled a lion’s mane. His nose was just the right amount of perfect. Those perfect full cupid bow lips. This MAN! Those Cheekbones! I swear I heard him say “help me, save me.” I had to figure out what these dreams meant.   The air this morning was alive with electricity. Which is odd because I am not a take the world by storm kind of girl. It must have something to do with those dreams. “Oh well, let’s get this day going Zariah,” I said to myself. I showered and brushed my teeth. I fought with my hair for about thirty minutes. My hair won as usual. It decided it would only go into a cute curly poof on top of my head. I should braid it soon, not today though.   I sat on my bed in my towel trying to decide what to wear. I decided on ripped skinnies, my Chucks, and a pink hoodie. Today is the day my best friends and I moved. We just bought a house today in Bleak Falls. We found this adorable manor house in the forest there. When I say we, I mean Althea, Liv (Olivia), Nyx, and me Zariah. Anyway, we have been friends forever. When we were kids, we used to talk about marrying brothers and all living together. The brothers never came but we got our house. Boss moves!   Althea is the mom of the group or the unfit mom of the group. Her motto is kick ass and take names. Never mind your own business and always rob them before they can rob you. It sounds harsh but it is hard being a woman in Golden Barrows if you stay strong the men will come to respect and even fear you. She is one hell of an assassin and because of that, she goes on great adventures all the time. She just so happens to be a werewolf but not like that twilight sh1t. She was attacked while on a mission one day. Nyx, well she is dark, and I do not know if women can brood, but she is broody if they do. She is driven and so intense. There is nothing Nyx cannot do. Liv is well Liv. Her motto is “Come here, bring that D1CK HEA!!” She has the potential to be a great Mage if we can get her to stop twerking on every important man we meet. Plus, she is our Sass queen. As for me, I am… well I am me.   Thea and I had always known each other, our parents were best friends since they were in High School. They even died together in a freak accident that nobody ever talked about. They were camping and their bodies had been found mangled. The remains of another person were found there as well, she had been decapitated. I still do not know the full story behind our parents’ death. Although now and then I see it as a gruesome fight in my dreams. Anyway, we found Liv one day we were like eight. She was in a tent in the middle of Thundering Gardens Plateau. She was crying and scared and all alone. She told us her mom and dad had left her there. They said they would be back for her. She waited for three days and the little bit of food they left her was all gone. She did not want to leave she was so afraid they would not find her when they came back. We left them a note with our address on it. Nobody ever came for Liv. We met Nyx when we were thirteen, she was living in a group home. Her Nana was raising her, but she died and had no other family. Grand-Daddy Greybeard adopted all of us, he said found family is still family. So, we grew up as best friends but more importantly sisters. Just as I was about to grab my phone, I get a call from Liv. “B1tch you will never believe what I dreamt” she screamed into the phone. “Well, these Elves, Elves girl did you hear me?! Anyway, they were like this secret society or something and they had kidnapped these important people. It was strange, open the door I’m here,” she said before hanging up. I opened the door and she handed me a latte we sat as I told her my dream. “Zariah girl, this is some Nancy Drew sh1t.” I laughed at her and said, “Yes Liv it is, I think these dreams may be connected.” Now it was her turn to laugh “They probably are but why you telling me? You better call Thea and Nyx, and tell them to get here quick because, on top of packing, we apparently have some digging to do.” Liv huffed. Thanks to the lattes and listening to H.E.R, we were able to load my bedroom into Liv's truck before Thea and Nyx arrived. Just as we were starting to grab boxes from the kitchen, we heard the front door open. “We’re in the kitchen,” I called. “I need you to go now I can fix my own crown” Nyx sang while Thea, on the other hand, is humming Dominque, while flipping her knife open and closed. “Thea damn, you would mess up the flow. You could have stuck with the artist we are listening to.” Whined Liv. “Bet, I’m worth more than you can manage, cuz with me boy I can do damage” Thea sang, causing all of us to laugh. “Thea you are a trip, you know damn well she ain’t said that,” I screamed. “She should have.” She retorted. “When did you wake up sleepy head? You knew I wanted an early start then this Zar, I knew we should have just spent the night here.” Nyx complained. She eyed me before continuing “What you do stay up on the damn XBOX all night?” “Actually, she was dreaming of Sexy Chocolate again, “said Liv. “Seems we may be having dreams that are connected somehow. We were waiting until you got here to fill you in and have a brainstorm. “Liv added. Thea switched to serious mode and started carrying boxes to the truck. She had a running theory that I was supposed to be an oracle. She believed dreams were part of my gift. The night Althea was turned I woke up and texted her to be careful of the bald man. Turned out the bald man was her mark's lover and she only survived because she thankfully took my warning seriously and had called Nyx for backup. So, at any mention of my dreams, she always switched to super serious mode.   We loaded the rest of the house in record time. As we headed out the door with the last box Thea looked at me and said “These dreams mean something and we will figure it out together, for now, let's just focus on the move. I want to hear everything once we are in Bleak Falls.” “Let’s head out,” Nyx called from the window. With that, we jumped in the trucks and started our drive. Bleak Falls was about a ten-hour drive. Liv and I decided to ride together since Nyx is a grumpy travel buddy. We felt bad leaving Thea with her, but she could manage. I on the other hand would cuss Nyx out and tell her we were not listening to Rico Nasty the whole ride. She could listen to Smack a B1tch all day if you let her.   I opened my eyes and was staring at the beautiful lake behind our new home. “Rise and shine” Liv called from the patio from above. “I can’t get over the views here, anyway Thea and Nyx went for eats. So come on and freshen up.” I grabbed my duffle of toiletries and hauled it to what was to be my room. I had a quick shower and change. Once I was in my sweats and a comfy sweater, I heard the girls all running up the stairs toward my room. I knew with food and a bottle of Moscato in hand, it was time to Talk dreams.    “So, I am curious what makes you believe the dreams are connected? We have no idea the guy in your dreams is important Zar.” Nyx stated. “Look Nyx we aren’t here to pick her dreams apart but to help solve the puzzle. If Zariah thinks her and Liv’s dreams are connected, that’s all I need.” Thea said sternly. “I have to admit the secret society of elves is intriguing. Aside from myself and my grand-daddy Greybeard, there was only a handful of elves in Golden Barrows.” Thea added. “Well to answer your question Nyx, this man in my dreams his whole presence screams power. His eyes radiate authority. There is something about him. As for Liv's dream, it only makes sense for one of my best friends to receive a bit of the puzzle I need. It is like the Goddess is just handing me bits and pieces. Like she is waiting for me to step into a role. I hate to admit it, but Thea may be right about this oracle thing.” I spoke.    Not sure how much it is going to help though. I do not have the first clue about how to be an oracle. There has not been one in one hundred years. Like is there a test I need to take? Do I need to be ordained by someone? I have so many questions and ZERO answers. All I have is my girls. All we have is each other. We had Grand-daddy Greybeard, but he disappeared one day. Just up and left, he left instructions with his attorney that we girls should divide his assets Thea should sell their house and we were to leave Golden Barrows. He made us rich, but he also made us all orphans again. That was six months ago. Thea searched for him high and low, how can one old man vanish without a trace?    “Hello, earth to ZA-RI-AH” Liv admonished. “Yaa can’t just check out mid convo like that, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” she questioned. “I don’t know honestly; this is all just a lot. I do not know how to be an oracle. That would mean people will look to me for answers and guidance I do not think I am ready for that. “I sighed. “News flash b!tch people are already looking to you for all that, us right here” she pointed between the three of them. “Even Nyxie-Pooh” she added. A flash of pink flew past my face and right into Liv's head. “Yeeoo how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?” Nyx screamed. “Aside from the annoying a.ss name she is right though. We all look to you for everything Zar, look if you are an oracle then everything you need is already inside of you. You are bada.ss you just do not see it yet. “She finished. “Look at Nyxie-POOH being all cute and supportive.” Thea laughed, as Nyx glared at the use of the nickname. We ate and sipped while watching the Black Panther. Everyone falling to sleep slowly.    “They do be right though. I love our girls. We already have everything we need inside of us. Don’t be so afraid Zariah girl.” Said a voice in the back of my mind. A voice in the back of my what!?! “My you are dramatic, aren’t you?” She asked. I am crazy absolutely bat sh!t crazy. “You might be. Or maybe I have just been sleeping up here for the past five years trying to wake up. Whatever the case please get a bit of rest. We need it, we can talk in the morning.” With that I fell into the first peaceful sleep I had in months.   I woke up and went downstairs following the aroma of the Holy espresso roast. Thea was just heating milk for our coffee. She eyed me cautiously as I came to sit at the coffee bar in our kitchen. “You feel different Zar, you, ok?” she asked. “What do you mean by different?” I ask. “She knows about me, her and Indira both.” The voice spoke. I must have had a look of confusion on my face because Thea said, “That there that’s what I’m talking about. You were having a conversation in your mind does that mean she is awake; your wolf is awake? Indira has been driving me crazy for weeks asking if you found her best friend yet.” My what? “Excuse me huh? Come again my wolf? And you suspected this and didn’t tell me?” I questioned. “Not suspected, knew just like I Know you’re the Oracle. I couldn’t say anything Indira said it would happen when you were ready.” Thea explained. “Sounds like yo ass is the DAMN ORACLE HERE ALTHEA!” I screamed.   I ran out to the like upset that Thea could keep something so huge from me. How could she have known I had a wolf before I even knew? Add that to her oracle theory and the dreams and everything going on, I just started crying. I cried for Grand-Daddy, for my momma I wish her, and my Daddy was here. I cried for the beautiful man chained to the wall. I wish I knew how to help. I cried and cried until the voice in my mind commanded, “ENOUGH.”   “If you settle down, I can tell you what I know. First My name is Nubia, not the voice. Please stop with that I cannot take it. Every time you refer to me that way I just want to cackle. Yo a.ss is a mess. So dramatic. I know this is scary and all brand new. Thea and Indira are right. It was not the right time for them to tell, you have so much gone on already. So here is what I know it is the reason Thea knows we are the Oracle. When we were born, I was born First. We came out in wolf form. We spent the first year of our life in my form until our parents had someone put us to sleep to hide me well to hide us in plain sight. There is more, we have a brother Zariah a twin. The last Oracle prophesized two would be born unlike any others one a seer the other the protector of the king. When word got out about twins being born in wolf form Erix, well Osiris, since they were in wolf form, was kidnapped.” Nubia explained.   Just then Thea came out with a cup of coffee and sat beside me. I took the cup, set it down, and just hugged my friend. We stayed like that a few minutes before she began to apologize. I cut her off and said she had nothing to be sorry for. I did however have a couple of questions for her now that I was calm.   “Thea, how did you know? How much do you know? do you remember my brother?” I stuttered. Thea sighed before saying, “I only know what Grand-Daddy Greybeard told me. I was forbidden to say anything to keep you safe. I do not remember Erix, I did once overhear Grand-Daddy explaining to someone that the name Erix meant forever alone, or ruler something like that. I never figured out who he was talking to though.”   It felt like we knew so much yet nothing at all. Nubia did not know the whole prophecy so I figured we should start there. While Nyx and Thea started looking into Erix's kidnapping. It would help if Grand-Daddy was not such a reclusive man. Aside from his attorney, we did not know of any other friends he might have. “That attorney knows something and if I have to hold a blade to his throat, he will tell me SOMETHING.” Nyx threatened. Her eyes were glowing as they often do when she is angry. I wanted Liv to work on scrying for Grand-Daddy we needed to find that crazy old coot. I had the feeling that his disappearance was connected to everything, like in his mind if he left it would keep us safe. What would really keep us safe was information.   That was Grand-Daddy Greybeards' way though, he minimized and withheld truths from us. I remember when a letter arrived from Liv’s parents. They thanked him for caring for her. They explained that their lifestyle was not conducive to raising a child. The letter said they came to collect Livvie two weeks into her stay with us. When they arrived at our address, they saw Liv in beautiful new clothes laughing with her friends and decided that her being with us was the best for her. The letter said they could never provide such a home and the stability of friendships much less siblings. They said it would warm their hearts to know Liv grew up in such a beautiful place so full of love for her. In the letter, they permitted him to adopt Liv. When we were older, we realized the letter was in his handwriting. It was his way of softening the blow to Liv. If he thought a lie would protect us, he was not above it.   We are not children anymore though. His keeping things from us was bound to get us into more trouble than we were prepared for. When we found him, he would need to come clean about everything. No more sugar plums and gum dropped bullsh1t. He needed to be real with us.   We spent the rest of the day unpacking and putting our new home in order. Figuring it would be best to have all this out of the way before we started searching for answers.