Chapter 32：Change

Unable to keep her voice steady she stutters, "Wh-what in the hell is this?"

The second 'Eve' looks back at her with a blank expression but with the same urgent tone, "I don't understand? I thought that you had to devour others in order to take their form and yet how can it be!?"

"..."

After seeing her reaction the monster laughs, "Was that a good impression!? Hm... I could do better!"

This time the monster matches Eve's expression and thoughts perfectly, "You devour people to take on their forms but could it be that... blood is enough?!"

"..."

"That's what you're thinking right?"

"Die."

"That's mean. But I really don't want you to despise me too much so I'll let you in on a little secret."

This time when she changes her form to 'Kylie', it's quick and insignificant.

//Why put on that show then?//

"I have to devour people whole in order to truly be them. For me, a little blood isn't enough, it's just a temporary disguise."

//So you won't look like me forever?//

What she asks instead is, "Does this mean you have other weaknesses?"

"Hm. Yes."

"And you're going to tell me because..."

"Because it doesn't matter! Not anymore... Since I know you're an Oracle."

She flinches.

//How could I be so stupid? But still this doesn't add up?!//

"So you see Eve Doir, it has everything to do with you! You didn't think you could hide being an Oracle forever, did you now?" The monster elaborates, "Back there when I took a bite out of you, I realized that your blood was abnormal."

Her wound throbs in pain as she remembers that.

Surprisingly, Eve laughs bitterly, "So what? You want a prophecy from me? That's not how it works. I can't help you."

She tilts her head in confusion, "Oh and why can't you?"

"I'm a weird case, I can only see one future and it won't be yours." She hesitates but continues with, "And, and even if I was normal, you must know that Oracles can only tell prophecies to mortals. You're not one."

'Kylie' doesn't look discouraged at all by her words though, "Tsk. Tsk. Do you understand just how lucky I am to have met you? It's fate! The Oracle blood line has been impossible for Immortals to find since The Oracle God retired! I won't let this rare chance slip away."

"Don't you dare talk to me about fate."

"Sore spot? Okay, I understand but listen to me. Since you're an Oracle, I want to make a deal with you."

"I'm not interested."

"Really!? I mean this concerns Juno too you know?"

That catches her attention, "What does that mean!?"

"Hehe, It seems that the nurse failed to capture Juno."

She tried to push all thoughts of Juno to the back of her mind but hearing her name, a rush of complicated emotions surge forward.

"What happened to her!?"

"I'm not too sure of the details but it's like I said, she escaped and is now running. Running to find you I suppose. The awakening of those Snakes.. That power.. No! I won't be tempted again. I've learned my lesson. Let's make this quick."

//Find me? Why? Juno why are you so kind!? It's not worth it.//

But deep down that makes her happy.

The monster sighs, "Since he failed that means I'm going to have to capture her."

Her brief happiness vanishes just like that.

"No!"

"Hehe, I knew you would listen. Make a deal with me and I won't harm Juno."

//This is a trap but I've already fallen deep.//

'Kylie' continues, "Don't look so sad! This deal will benefit all of us and is really simple too!"

Eve glares at her, "How so?"

"All you have to do is to give me a prophecy and I'll let Juno go. I won't harm her at all."

//Juno is coming here, even with her Immortal Snakes, I don't know if she could beat this monster. They've fought before but something bad happened? A curse? I don't know. It's better if she doesn't face off against this thing, that Immortal must have left Juno very hurt too! Ugh, why is she coming here? I know that she makes it out of this alive but still...//

All these thoughts run through her mind but she still doesn't get how this monster is so confident in her ability.

"I'm giving you the choice to either agree to give me a prophecy for Juno's safety or I will take her with me."

Eve is silent.

"Well?"

"You know damn well.. I don't have a choice at all."

//Not when it comes to her!//

The monster smiles, "Excellent I knew you would agree!"

"Wait."

"Hm.. what?"

"Make an unbreakable oath first."

"..."

"Fine! I was planning to anyways. I can't have you betraying me."

The monster makes a deep cut with her claws on her wrist. Eve didn't expect that the blood dripping down from the monster's wrist would be such a bright red color, pure and uncorrupted.

"I swear with the heavens as my witness and the underworld as my sin, to guarentee that in exchange for Juno's freedom, you, Eve the Oracle, will give me one prophecy."

Then, the monster makes a cut on Eve's face but she doesn't even flinch, "Your turn."

"I swear with the heavens as my witness and the underworld as my sin, to give you a prophecy in exchange for you, the ferocious monster, to guarentee that you will not harm or capture Juno."

The monster does a final gesture to validate the oath.

"There, now you can't back out! Wow I thought you would of said something about your own safety!"

"..."

"You're not worried about dying?"

"Like you said, it doesn't matter anymore."

//I was prepared to lose my life the moment I decided to let my heart melt.//

She claps excitedly, "Okay then! Let's move on."

"Is this where the catch comes in?"

"Not at all. In fact, this is going to make you better than before."

She conjures a vial from thin air. Eve can't tell what's in it but senses the overwhelming power it holds.

"See this? You're going to drink it. All of it!"

"..."

"You're not worried? Curious?"

"This is what makes you so confident in getting your prophecy."

"Yes. In order for you, a mortal, to give an Immortal a prophecy... one of us will have to change."

//I have to change?//

"I can change but I refuse to become weaker. Eve Dior, you will have to become stronger!"

//This monster can't be implying that...//

"This is impossible, how could you, how did you get that!?"

"Don't worry about it. You know, there's the legend that if one drains and drinks the blood of an Immortal being one can become an Immortal. I've never seen it happen in person so this is going to be so exciting!"

"This entire time... this was your plan?"

//You're going to change me in order to get your prophecy. You're going to bring back the Oracle God!? And who's blood is that!?//

"Yes."

The monster moves even closer towards Eve, she can't look away from her intense stare.

"I will do anything to get what I want. Don't look so scared, I'm doing you a favor! You will become so strong! You will never die! How many other mortals wish they could be you."

//This is a fucking sick joke. You can't expect me to just-//

"Drink up!"