Page 49 of Oracles Always Win

“Itis a lot to take in, but you being an oracle is important,”Gagesaid. “Thosepaintings you didn’t want me to see?Thoseare messages.Visionsof the future.”

Ifrowned down at my hands. “I’mjust an ordinary person.I’mnot an oracle.Believeme.You’vemade a mistake.”

“Thosepaintings don’t lie.Didn’tyou wonder what they were?Whyyou were painting them?”

“Ofcourse,”Iretorted. “They’re…Thosepaintings are horrible.Awful.Somekind of strange manifestation of my… my…”Iwiped at my damp eyes.

“Yourwhat?”Gageasked gently.

“I’mlosing my mind.It’sall part of it.”Iwhispered.

“Youreally aren’t.Someoneshould have talked to you about this as soon as they realized what was going on.”Hesounded angry as he clenched his hands into fists. “Instead, they let you flounder in your confusion.Fuckingassholes.”

“Whoshould have?Whatare you talking about?”

“Youare magic.Justlike me.Justlike the succubus who sat at your bar last night.Justlike the alpha who runs the mechanic’s shop.Justlike yourChiefofPolice.”

Myeyes bulged. “Allof them are…Everyoneis…”

“Supernatural.Yes.”

“Oh…”

“Andyou’re supernatural too.”Gagelooked me straight in the eye as he spoke.

“Haveyou seen those paintings?Theyare awful.Thereis no way those are messages.”Buteven asIsaid it,Iwondered ifIwas wrong.Iremembered the déjà vuI’dfelt whenAlicetold me she had a date withBuddy.Iremembered the reliefI’dfelt whenI’dbeen able to paint over the painting the other night of the headlights going down the road, right afterI’dseen the exact same thing from my window.Andall those pictures ofGageand me…

Didthat mean we would actually do those things together?Likeall that sex?

Heatbloomed over my face.

“HowcanIbe sure?”Iwhispered.

“Iknow they feel personal and private to you, but those messages need to be shared, for your safety and the safety of the people you know.Ithink talking to people about your visions will also help you.”

“Whatdo you mean?They’rejust weird paintings of weird things.”

Gagesat down beside me.Ourarms rubbed.Ihad the urge to rest my head on his shoulder.Fuckit.Whynot?Ifthere was any time to accept thatIdidn’t have my shit together and might need a little support, it was now.Ileaned over and settled my head on him.Hestilled for a moment but didn’t shake me off.Hewrapped his arm around my shoulders.Isighed and pressed in closer.Itwas nice to sit with him like this, despite all the crazy shit he was saying.Forthe first time since my grandfather’s death,Ididn’t feel alone, andIdidn’t want this feeling to end.

“Youmight not remember this, butIwas told that just before the robbery you drew one of your pictures.That’showVanand the others knewDillonwas being chased through the woods.”

Ifroze.Iknew what night he was talking about.I’dbeen working behind the bar like normal, and thenIlost time.Icame to just in time to run to the bathroom and puke.I’dbeen sureI’dhad one of my painting episodes, but whenIreturned to the bar,Ihadn’t seen a drawing.Noone said anything.Noone acted weird, or at least not any weirder than normal.Alicesent me upstairs and told me to get some rest.EventhoughIfelt like shit,Iwas so fucking happy about having a stomach flu.Oh, the liesItold myself.

Shit.Thatmeant everyone inWillowLakeknew my secret.

Didthat meanIwasn’t crazy?

Ididn’t even know anymore.

“Hewas being chased?”

“Vansaid ifAshhadn’t found him, he might never have come out of those woods alive.”

“Likesomeone was trying to murder him?”Icouldn’t believe it.Amurderer?Here?Thepeople inWillowLakewere quirky, not evil. “Whyhasn’t anyone talked about that?Isthe would-be murderer behind bars?Whowas it?Ihope it wasn’t one of my regulars.”

“WhatI’mtrying to say is that it’s possible your other paintings are important like that too.”

“Youdidn’t answer my question,”Ipointed out.