"The prophecy" It was Bella who spoke, her sorrow cutting straight to his heart. "I didn't want to tell you. I wasn't ready to let you know."

"What prophecy?" He looked from the Oracle to Bella. "What prophecy?"

"There is a prophecy among my people, made by the Oracle long ago." Bella's head dipped. She wouldn't look at him.

When the Oracle spoke, her voice was low and mechanical. "The sword forged of blood. A natural-born vampire."

"But she's not a vampire. Bella's a werewolf. The baby will be a lupin." Max protested, though he was pretty sure it wouldn't matter.

The Oracle spread her hands, an expression of bewilderment on her porcelain face. "So, I may control the wolves, as well. It is not a setback. Be proud. The child you gave me will rule after my one hundred years of chaos."

"You're doing this all for just a hundred years?" Max sputtered in disbelief. "That's like a blink of an eye to you!"

"If I have the child, the natural-born vampire, the course of events in those hundred years can be altered considerably." She leaned forward with a predatory smile.

"Through her, chaos could rule without end."

So that was the plan. She would make his child a monster. Even though it was a kid he'd never seen or held, the thought made him ill. "Fuck you."

"I do not appreciate your vulgarity." The Oracle turned to one of her sentries. "I want him dead."

The vampire approached, pulling a stake from her belt. This is it. I'm going to die. Max swallowed, but the lump in his throat wouldn't go down. He'd always wondered if he'd be afraid. And he was. I'm going to die, and it's going to be some third-rate vampire crony who does the honors.

"No, not you." The Oracle held up her hand as the vampire paused midstrike. "Bring the one who just arrived. The present from dear Jacob."

There was an interminable wait as the vampire crony, looking more than a little pissed off at not being allowed to kill him, left the room. While she was gone, the Oracle didn't speak. She sat, looking bored, on her throne, occasionally tapping her fingernails on the carved wooden arms.

"Max," Bella whispered, as if the Oracle wouldn't hear them only a few feet away. "I do not think we will survive this."

"No. I do not think you will." The Oracle's laugh filled the room, pounding Max's brain like a sledgehammer.

It was echoed by the slamming of the big doors behind them. The Oracle's face lit up. "Ah, there you are. Come here. Kill this vampire."

"Why?"

The voice sent a shock of recognition through Max But he couldn't place where he'd heard it.

The Oracle's eyes narrowed. She obviously didn't like being questioned. "Because I asked it of you. Call it a test of loyalty."