The Wheel
Book One: The Hanged One
by Cynamin

"You should not be here," scolded the male oracle.

"Yeah, well, the guy who's allowed to talk to you is comatose, so you'll just have to talk to me," Cordelia snapped back, hands on her hips.

The Oracles looked at each other for a moment, their heads tilted in silent communication. After a moment the woman looked back at Cordelia. "We will hear you out, mortal," she said. "What have you brought us?"

Cordelia fished in her pocket for a moment before withdrawing a small statue. "It's old," she said with a shrug. "He won't miss it." *Especially not at the moment,* she reflected.

The statue flew out of her hand, and where it went after the Oracle got it she did not see.

"What do you ask of us?" the man asked after a moment.

"What's wrong with Angel?" Cordelia demanded.

"He sleeps and does not wake."

"He wakes but does not see."

Cordelia made a sound of annoyance. "I could have told you that much," she muttered. Seeing the female Oracle gazing at her oddly, Cordelia amended her statement. "I mean, how can we…snap him out of this?"

"You can not," the woman replied.

"What?!"

"Only he can choose to return to you," the man explained. "Only he can walk the necessary paths."

Cordelia was confused. She knew they would be cryptic, but…. "Return from where?"

"He walks with she whose blood he shares."

*Okay, that was helpful,* Cordelia thought sarcastically. She didn't think they'd appreciate a response of 'huh?' though, so she floundered for another question. "Will he…return?"

"He must return," the man said, "or all may be lost."

Cordelia felt herself pale. That didn't sound good. "Can…. Is there anything I can do to help him? Or you can do to help him?"

The woman shook her head. "Only one can help him now," she said, "and she may not wish to."

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