"My child you have a great gift. Being able to read life forces is not easy. How long have you been able to do this?"
"Since I was 16. I thought I could tell who is bad and who is real bad, but know I'm not sure" I tell her.
"Is there no good?" She asked.
I shrug and look down.
"I see. Your other power is even stronger. We need your help to set the world right again. Can you do this?" She asked.
"I'm sorry I can't." I look her in eye pleading for help.
"What is his power?" Max asked.
"This child can move minds. Please make Adam do something." The old woman asked.
I can see the old woman has no plan to help me so I push 'Dance a jig'
Adam stands up and starts dancing, "What's going on?"
I then push 'Stop'
"Why was I dancing? that was freaky." Adam says.
"Does it work on all men?" Max asked.
"I don't know?" I say looking down.
"With this we can capture everyone who is trying to take over our land." Max got up and walked back and forth.
"I can use him to bring everyone to there knees and make this land strong once more." Max was getting excited.
"I won't help." I say softly.
"You will help, I will force you to help."
Tears form in my eyes it's my uncle all over again. I need to leave and hide. But how? I look to Adam then the old woman.
"Max my son sit down." The old woman says.
"My dear, why won't you help?" She asked.
"With great power comes greater responsibility. I was forced once to kill a man and I will never use my power again to hurt anyone. I would rather die." I stand up and head to the door.
"Your not leaving." Max says with authority.
"I said I would see the Oracle I never said I would help you."
Max grabs me and sits me back down. "Adam send me my guards with shackles now." I can see the fury in his face.
"Max don't do this." Adam says.
"We need him and his powers I won't let him go."
I knew this would happen and I slumped back into my chair. 'Go' I pushed Adam to leave.
"Child, what would you want in exchange for your help?" The Oracle asked.
"I only want my freedom to live in peace but if I use my power no man will let me be free, they will use me until I'm dead."
The Oracle sighed for she knew I was right. "Max please step out I need to have a talk with this child."
"What if he tries something?" Max says.
"His power does not work on me, please wait outside." She waves him away.
Max got up and walked out the door. He trusted the Oracle just as his father had trusted her.
"He means well, there are a lot of lives on his sholders. Now child tell me what happened to you."
I feel a push in my own mind and say, "My uncle tried to use my powers to take over. He killed my parents. While I was tring to escape I cause a man to kill himself. I have been running from my uncle ever since. I will never let anybody use my powers to rule over another."
"I see, So what would it take for you to help?" She asked.
"I can't. I promise my father I would not use my powers to harm someone." I was not going to give in.
"Even if I know your true secret."
She says the one thing that makes me stop. Did she really know my secret?
"Would you really black mail me?" I asked.
She sighed, "No, your secret is safe with me. I will not force you to use your powers. Why don't you go have a nap in my guest room while I send they boys on their way."
I really didn't have a choice so I went into the room she pointed to.
The Oracle walk out of the house. "We will need to find another way. This child will not help."
"Then I will make him help." Max says.
"If you do that then you are no better then those who want to take over." She says.
"But you said he is our only hope." Max sat down on the bench outside the Oracle's house.
Adam walked into the house while Max was talking to the Oracle and found Eli laying down.
"Knock ... Knock" he said opening the door.
"So you won't help?" Adam sat on the bed next to me.
"I can't... Why am I the only one who can save the world? The Oracle has the same powers as me." I was scared.
"If I had power, I would use it to help the people of this world. In my village the Duke burned the fields so no food was left to feed everyone. The men were dragged off to be soldiers. Girls were raped and killed. The monks saved me and sent me here to help Max."
I had seen things like that in my travels and I knew the Duke. He was talking about my Uncle. "If I help will I be set free or will my service be for life. Because there will always be someone who will try to bring evil into our would."
"Don't make a choice now. Sleep on it and talk to us again tomorrow" He said.
"Ok, I will just for you." I smile then close my eyes and I hear him close the door.
Adam walks out of the house, "Max, he said he will think about it and give us an answer in the morning. Lets go home right now."
"I don't trust him. He'll just run out in the middle of the night." Max said.
"He promised me and I trust him. Have faith things will work out. I miss my husband and want to go home." Adam grabs his horse and mounts it.
Max shakes his head but follows, "Keep an eye on him." He tells the Oracle then follows Adam into the city and to his home.
I fall asleep and dream once more of the storm and child. This time I am in a castle and their are guards all over and no one is helping.
I run from room to room yelling for help but not a sound comes from my lips. Then the child comes down the stairs laughing and singing...
1 2 3 4 now you've opened every door
5 6 7 8 hell is real and at the gate
9 10 11 12 you will die at the sound of the bell