EIGHTEEN
"Who are you?" demanded Piper. "And what's going on here?"
"I'd like to know that myself," said Paige. "When the Source attacked I suddenly found I couldn't move or speak."
"That's what also happened to me," said Leo.
"To be granted an audience with the Oracle," said the little creature, "you must earn it. This was a test. To see if you were worthy for an audience. You have passed that test and shall have an audience with the Oracle now. Please follow me."
The creature was no more than two feet tall. It was covered in dark gray fur and resembled some form of primate. It turned and moved into the cave. Unsure exactly what was going on, the party turned and began to follow it.
"The Oracle does not grant audience often," said the creature. "It is an honor that you have been granted one. It has been a long time since anyone has been granted access to the Oracle."
"So we understand," said Cole. "We come seeking help from the Oracle."
"I am but a servant," said the creature. "It is my duty to bring you to the Oracle. You will speak of your quest there."
"Well, that's clear enough," said Paige. "I hope this Oracle can help us. If it can't I'm not sure what we're going to do."
"The Oracle can do anything," said Margaret. "According to the legends, it's the most powerful creature here."
The creature stopped just outside a large cavern.
"This is the audience hall," said the creature. "You may enter and speak your request. If the Oracle will help you then you will receive that help. If it chooses not to help then you will have to leave. I bid you good luck."
The creature turned and moved back up the corridor they had just come down. Everyone looked at each other.
"We aren't getting anything done out here," said Piper. "Let's get in there and find Phoebe."
"Not so fast," said Cole. "We know next to nothing about this Oracle."
"We passed its stupid test," said Paige. "I'm with Piper. Let's get in there and get this over with."
"Cole's right," said Leo. "From what Margaret had told us this Oracle may not be the friendly being we imagine. For all we know it's some form of demonic force in this realm."
"Well, there are legends of it helping people, too," said Margaret. "But as I said, most of the stories are years old."
"Good or not we can't stand around here waiting," said Piper. "We've come this far. I don't see we have much choice."
"All I'm saying is we need to be careful," said Cole.
"We will be," said Paige. "Now let's get this over with."
Cautiously the five entered the cavern. Only a single light shined in the cavern illuminating a spot on the floor. It was impossible to see just how large the cavern was. Outside the circle of light on the floor the entire area was pitch black.
They stopped just outside the circle of light. There were no sounds in the cavern, no movement that might indicate if anyone - or anything - else might be there. They all stood looking around for a moment.
"I guess we're supposed to step into that lighted area," said Piper. "Well, when in Rome, as the saying goes."
Cautiously everyone moved into the lighted area. They all tensed for a moment not sure exactly what to expect. When nothing happened they relaxed slightly. They waited for several moments but nothing happened.
"Okay, so now what?" Paige asked. "Where's this Oracle that's supposed to do all these miraculous things."
"I am here," said a feminine voice from the darkness. "You are impatient beings."
"We've come a long way," said Piper into the darkness. "We've been through a hell of a lot and we just want to get this over with and go home. We were told you could help us."
"Perhaps," said the voice. "You have passed the test and been granted audience. I will hear your pleadings."
The party could hear footsteps coming from the darkness. They all turned in the direction the footsteps came from waiting. The steps grew louder indicating the being - or whatever it was - was drawing closer. Suddenly a figure entered the circle of light opposite them. Everyone except Paige and Margaret stared in amazement at the figure.
Piper, Leo, and Cole all recognized the figure. It was a female who appeared to be just slightly older than Piper. She stood smiling at the group. For a moment no one spoke. Finally Piper found her voice and continued to stare at the figure.
"Prue?" questioned Piper as she stood staring at her older sister.
"Who are you?" demanded Piper. "And what's going on here?"
"I'd like to know that myself," said Paige. "When the Source attacked I suddenly found I couldn't move or speak."
"That's what also happened to me," said Leo.
"To be granted an audience with the Oracle," said the little creature, "you must earn it. This was a test. To see if you were worthy for an audience. You have passed that test and shall have an audience with the Oracle now. Please follow me."
The creature was no more than two feet tall. It was covered in dark gray fur and resembled some form of primate. It turned and moved into the cave. Unsure exactly what was going on, the party turned and began to follow it.
"The Oracle does not grant audience often," said the creature. "It is an honor that you have been granted one. It has been a long time since anyone has been granted access to the Oracle."
"So we understand," said Cole. "We come seeking help from the Oracle."
"I am but a servant," said the creature. "It is my duty to bring you to the Oracle. You will speak of your quest there."
"Well, that's clear enough," said Paige. "I hope this Oracle can help us. If it can't I'm not sure what we're going to do."
"The Oracle can do anything," said Margaret. "According to the legends, it's the most powerful creature here."
The creature stopped just outside a large cavern.
"This is the audience hall," said the creature. "You may enter and speak your request. If the Oracle will help you then you will receive that help. If it chooses not to help then you will have to leave. I bid you good luck."
The creature turned and moved back up the corridor they had just come down. Everyone looked at each other.
"We aren't getting anything done out here," said Piper. "Let's get in there and find Phoebe."
"Not so fast," said Cole. "We know next to nothing about this Oracle."
"We passed its stupid test," said Paige. "I'm with Piper. Let's get in there and get this over with."
"Cole's right," said Leo. "From what Margaret had told us this Oracle may not be the friendly being we imagine. For all we know it's some form of demonic force in this realm."
"Well, there are legends of it helping people, too," said Margaret. "But as I said, most of the stories are years old."
"Good or not we can't stand around here waiting," said Piper. "We've come this far. I don't see we have much choice."
"All I'm saying is we need to be careful," said Cole.
"We will be," said Paige. "Now let's get this over with."
Cautiously the five entered the cavern. Only a single light shined in the cavern illuminating a spot on the floor. It was impossible to see just how large the cavern was. Outside the circle of light on the floor the entire area was pitch black.
They stopped just outside the circle of light. There were no sounds in the cavern, no movement that might indicate if anyone - or anything - else might be there. They all stood looking around for a moment.
"I guess we're supposed to step into that lighted area," said Piper. "Well, when in Rome, as the saying goes."
Cautiously everyone moved into the lighted area. They all tensed for a moment not sure exactly what to expect. When nothing happened they relaxed slightly. They waited for several moments but nothing happened.
"Okay, so now what?" Paige asked. "Where's this Oracle that's supposed to do all these miraculous things."
"I am here," said a feminine voice from the darkness. "You are impatient beings."
"We've come a long way," said Piper into the darkness. "We've been through a hell of a lot and we just want to get this over with and go home. We were told you could help us."
"Perhaps," said the voice. "You have passed the test and been granted audience. I will hear your pleadings."
The party could hear footsteps coming from the darkness. They all turned in the direction the footsteps came from waiting. The steps grew louder indicating the being - or whatever it was - was drawing closer. Suddenly a figure entered the circle of light opposite them. Everyone except Paige and Margaret stared in amazement at the figure.
Piper, Leo, and Cole all recognized the figure. It was a female who appeared to be just slightly older than Piper. She stood smiling at the group. For a moment no one spoke. Finally Piper found her voice and continued to stare at the figure.
"Prue?" questioned Piper as she stood staring at her older sister.