Lost Prophet Pt 02

...

This series isn't that popular, but I like writing it so whatevs. I'll go back to writing regular erotica one day. I have a Mike and Max chapter that's been lingering in drafts for months now.

Less action, more world building. I'd still call this an urban fantasy with erotica in it, not an erotic urban fantasy. This is about story and character more than sex.

I should have maybe put this in the transgender category, but there's still cis gay male sex scenes in here, too. Categories are hard. I don't like sorting people into boxes. I just want a "queer" category so I don't have to pick.

Anyways, nonbinary character who uses all pronouns ahead. I am also a nonbinary character who uses all pronouns. Weird comments about enbies and the wide and wonderful ways in which we relate to gender and sex get deleted <3

...

...

Elijah

I chose the temple.

Flynn was unhappy about it, but I'd seen enough of his suffering to know that wasn't the life for me. I would happily serve with temple regulations in place. Owen gave me a list of five temples to choose from. None of them seemed all that convenient or economical for him to help me reach.

"Any of these," he said, tapping the paper meaningfully. "I'll take you to any of these."

"You can just drop me off at the closest one," I started. Owen silenced my argument with a pointed scoff.

"Shark, be nice," Flynn admonished him. "He researched the best ones. These five should be the safest. No scandals, no runaways, they don't sell prophecies, and they aren't incorporated so you can't be passed around between locations."

"You really went to a lot of trouble," I said warily. "I didn't expect you to."

"Kid, I promised Bunny that we would find you, save you, and help you find a safe place to live," Owen pointed out. "I

always

give Bunny what he asks for. So, take your time and pick a temple. You can use my laptop to look them up to get a feel for them. We'll visit any that interest you to see them in person."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and whispered a thank you.

...

"Will you visit me when I pick a temple?"

Flynn looked up from where he was crouched on the ground, examining a cluster of orange mushrooms. We were out in the woods. Flynn was happily explaining plants and animals we saw as we walked. I liked spending time with him like that. I'd never had a brother, but I imagined that hanging out with Flynn might be close to having one.

"I'll try," he said. "Some temples are too heavy for me to spend any real time in."

"Heavy?" I asked. He didn't wince when I asked for clarification anymore. That was nice. Like maybe he considered me a friend.

"Um, too many spells in too many layers," he said. "Like being underwater. You go too deep, it gets too heavy."

"So you'll pop?" I chuckled.

"Hmm, I'll pass out and drop all my occlusions. I'll be detected and end up in a TE cell," he said.

That was the only thing keeping me from making my choice. Flynn's mentorship was unlike anything I'd ever had in my life. Education was intentionally limited at the old temple that held me to keep us under control. Flynn was happy to teach me the esoteric writing systems and obscure rules of magic right along with all his facts about the world.

"You're coming with us to visit those two I wanted to see, right?" I asked. "Tell me which one is better for you."

"Don't choose based on me!" Flynn insisted. "Pick the place that's best for you."

"Um, Flynn," I started warily. He was back to poking curiously at the lichens and moss, observing something that was beyond me. "Maybe this is me being needy and dumb-"

"You aren't needy or dumb," he interrupted. I rolled my eyes. He gave me a pursed look, but let me continue.

"I would really like to stay in touch," I said quietly. "I haven't ever had a friend before." I felt heated embarrassment at the confession, but Flynn just gave me a crooked smile.

"Of course we'll stay in touch," he said happily. "Shark and I have to travel a good bit, but he'll figure out a way we can talk if I ask him. And I'll visit if I can."

"Then, picking a place where you can visit is important to me," I concluded. Flynn didn't say anything, but he grinned at me and tossed an arm around my shoulders. I'd gotten used to him not always knowing what to say over the months I'd spent up there on the mountain.

Owen and Flynn left for their work fairly often, leaving me to entertain myself with my crow for company. Flynn had warned me that I could pray, but I absolutely could not consecrate any holy space to my god. His goddess was tolerating my presence in her holy sanctuary fairly well, though I suspected Flynn had made some kind of agreement to keep me there. That was ok with me. My god was much less demanding than his.

I loved the quiet. I loved seeing the sky and the stars. My crow stayed close, flitting off during the days to do whatever it is that crows do. She slept perched on the mantel over the little cot Owen procured from somewhere for me. I hoped she would stay with me permanently, but I knew she was a gift, not a pet.

Flynn and I made our way back to the cabin. Owen was on the floor with his laptop on his knees and an annoyed look on his face. That was his most noticeable oddity. He always sat on the floor when he worked.

"All good, Shark?" Flynn asked. Owen sighed and pulled his headphones off.

"I can't go to the temple tomorrow," he said. "You two can go or I'll move the flights around for when I get back."

"Where are you going?" Flynn asked. He sat on the couch behind Owen and leaned down to kiss his cheek.

"Lucas got himself in trouble and, apparently, I'm his deadswitch," he said. "I've got to go to Monaco and bail him out. I'll probably have to wipe his record for him, too."

"Did you ever tell him we sniped Elijah?" Flynn giggled. God, they were cute together. Like seeing otters hold hands.

"Maybe I will once the kid is under a new temple pledge," Owen said with a shrug. "He won't be able to cash the bounty after that."

"Is there still a bounty on me?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, you're a runaway oracle," Owen pointed out. "Even TE would pay out a nice bounty on you right now."

"Oh," I said quietly. Icy fear was sloshing in my chest. "What if those temples won't let me join? Will they turn me in?"

"Probably not. Legit temples don't have much love for prophecy factories. If they do turn on you, I'll bust you out," Owen answered. He snapped his laptop shut and stood to stretch. He and Flynn made an odd couple from the outside. Owen was notably small for a man, with features that would more comfortably be termed 'pretty' than 'handsome'. He dressed plainly in shades of unremarkable gray most of the time. Flynn, on the other hand, was tall enough to look gangly, covered in rough tattoos and scars, and wore battered, paint covered clothes. He dyed his hair whatever color he liked that month.

"So? Am I rescheduling or are you two going without me?" Owen pressed. "I need to head out as soon as possible."

"I'll take him," Flynn said. "But come home soon?"

"As soon as I can, Bun, " Owen reassured him. "You be careful."

Flynn pulled Owen into his lap to nuzzle his face into the crook of Owen's neck. Owen chuckled and stroked his bright orange hair.

"Why so clingy?" he said.

"We haven't had a night apart since we met," Flynn mumbled.

I felt awkward to witness that conversation, so I let myself back outside to watch my crow play in the wind.

...

My crow didn't love a plane ride, but she would settle in a crate that fit under my seat with only the slightest amount of fussing. I was glad about that. I didn't want to visit temples without her.

None of us liked the first temple we visited. Flynn was jumpy and nervous as a nice enough priestess walked us through to the sanctuary. We both sat in the pews and watched the acolytes performing a quiet meditation ritual at the altar. My crow paced the back of the pew irritably.

"This place feels weird," I whispered to Flynn. He gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Too many spells," he said softly. "And they don't fit together. You're feeling the discordance. Most acolytes wouldn't feel it, it's, um, like infrasound? Too low to hear, but sensitive people can feel it."

"Oof, I can't stay here," I said. A shudder ran down my spine.

"Yeah, let's go," he agreed.

We started the walk back to the hotel. Flynn rarely rented a car or called a taxi unless I asked him to. There was almost no distance that he considered too far to walk. I tried not to ask for concessions like that unless it really was just too far for me. He had some kind of superhuman resilience to him that I did not.

"Why can I feel the infrasound thing?" I asked him after a long, comfortable silence.

"It's not really infrasound," he corrected me. "It's similar. Discordant spells."

"Ok, why can I feel the discordant spells?" I amended.

"Because you're a prodigy," he said with a shrug. "Same reason I can. We're sensitive. There's something different in us. Like tetrachromacy. Some people can just perceive more than others."

The second temple we visited after a long flight followed by a drive through impossibly tall trees was stunning. Flynn grinned as he looked up at the large, timber framed building set back in the trees. More buildings could be seen beyond it, all enclosed in a log fence meant to delineate holy space more than to keep anyone out. There were aviaries at the front of the building filled with owls, pigeons, and crows all tended carefully by people in priest robes. The priests greeted us as soon as Flynn walked up to the mesh to look at the birds.

Maybe I should have been surprised, but it wasn't that shocking when the big barn owl snoozing closest to Flynn blinked awake to examine my friend. It immediately moved closer, hooting softly at Flynn as though it was greeting him.

"Hello to you, too," Flynn replied. "Oh, you're a handsome guy."

It might have been my imagination, but it almost seemed like the owl puffed up proudly at Flynn's praise. Flynn chuckled and waved goodbye to the birds to continue into the temple.

The entry of that temple was stunning in its understated elegance. No fake Greco-Roman garbage, no bored cashiers, and no vending machines stuffed with cheap offerings could be seen. An older man in priest robes approached with a kind smile.

"Welcome, pilgrims! The Bright One rejoices in your devotion," he chirped. "What can I help you find today?"

The crow squawked at him and fluttered through the door. She landed on the floor to strut over the space between us. The acolyte's smile brightened as he knelt to greet my bird.

"I suspect you are here for more than a blessing?" the man asked me as he stood.

I glanced up at Flynn. He was looking curiously around the entrance. He smiled and nodded at me. Apparently this one felt good to him, too. My prophetic sense didn't work quite like Flynn's intuition. He got more feedback than I did, and it was generally concerning the immediate surroundings, but it was also much vaguer. He had to be willing to blindly follow his gut feelings for it to work while I usually had to meditate and focus to receive clear visions. I trusted his gut way more than mine. I tried not to shake when I turned to answer.

"Yes, sir," I whispered. "May I see the Abbot?" My throat was tight with nerves.

"Come with me, this way," he said.

"Can my, um, my brother come with me?" I asked anxiously. Flynn lay a calming hand on my back, soothing me almost like a nervous horse. He didn't noticeably react to me calling him my brother.

"Of course," the man said happily. He motioned us deeper into the holy building, past pews dotted with praying parishioners, classrooms filled with people of all ages painting or playing instruments, and altars wafting scented smoke, through a heavy wooden door. The office I found myself in had a soft, insulated quality to the quiet, like being under a pile of cozy blankets.

The woman at the desk wore oracle robes. Her eyes were bright and soft behind the reading glasses that perched on her nose.

"Abbot Teresa," the man introduced her to me and left the room.

My crow once again broke the silence by hopping from my shoulder to the desk to peer curiously at the Abbot.

"Hello, little messenger," she greeted the bird. "What did you bring us?"

"I surrender myself to the mercy of the temple," I croaked out the right words as best I could. "I seek refuge from the temple that holds my pledge. My devotion to our patron remains. May Phoebus guide you in judgment."

I was staring down at my hands with my breath shaking in my lungs. The soft swish of fabric and a creak of wood told me the Abbot had risen from her desk. She stood before me and lifted my chin. I heard Flynn shift beside me to stay protectively at my back.

"You ran from your temple?" she asked. I nodded miserably. "Which one? Why?"

"The Delphi in Seattle, Abbot," I said quietly. "I served eight years without seeing the sky. People are so cruel when they know their dollars matter more than my safety. It

hurts

to call on so many prophecies in a day. I can't go back. Please, send me to Temple Enforcement if you judge me unworthy of a place here."

"Elijah," Flynn said softly. He sounded devastated. I shook my head at him and he fell quiet. If this temple wouldn't take me, I didn't have much hope for others.

"Eight years," the Abbot repeated softly. "And how did you get all the way here?"

"My, um, my brother here and his partner," I said. I glanced apologetically at Flynn but he looked unbothered by my sudden familiarity. If anything he looked ready to pounce the moment I might be under threat.

Abbot Teresa tilted her head to one side to examine Flynn. He stared through her with his creepy black eyes.

"You are more than you let on," she said with a chuckle.

"I'm just me," Flynn answered. "I'm here for Elijah. He's my little brother. He deserves a home that loves him. I won't let you send him to TE."

The Abbot arched a dubious eyebrow at Flynn.

"Oh? You against an entire temple?"

"Absolutely," Flynn promised quietly.

It was thrilling to hear him claim me as family. I could barely remember having one. My memories had faded under the pressures of constant prophecy. The quiet, confident threat in his voice still sent icy spikes down my back.

"Flynn, it's ok," I said softly. "If I can't serve at a real temple, TE can strip me of my oaths and send me to hard labor. At least I'll be outside."

Flynn growled, but he didn't answer. I had the strong suspicion that I wouldn't stay in Temple Enforcement custody for any serious amount of time if it came to that, though I really mean what I said. I wanted to serve. If I couldn't, I didn't have much reason left in my life.

"It looks like our lord has blessed you with two guardians," the Abbot said thoughtfully. "Your crow friend here and this brother who looks about as related to you as the crow."

The crow chattered and curiously stuck her beak into the cup of pens on the desk.

"She helped find me," I said. "Flynn fought hard to save me."

"We will shelter you, but I must investigate your story," she said. "I am bound by temple regulations to report runaways, though I can extend protection and refuse to ship you back. If your story checks out, you will be welcome here."

I was too grateful to remember to correct response. Abbot Teresa ushered us out to meet with another person in priest robes who showed us to a small room. It had nothing in it but a bed, a set of drawers, and a small desk. Over the head of the bed, a double window let golden sunshine spill all over the worn carpet.

"This is where we part, then," Flynn said quietly. That broke my reverie at the modest room. Part. Flynn had to leave. Of course he did. I didn't hesitate to throw my arms around him and bury my face in his tee shirt. Flynn chuckled and returned the embrace.

"Thank you," I whispered into the cloth.

"You're very welcome," he said softly. He gently pushed me off to dig in his pockets. He handed me a cell phone and an envelope. "Here. Shark fixed this phone for you. It will have service as long as you want a line to us. Keep it with you. Owen will be able to find you anywhere in the world if you have this, ok? My number is in there and so is Owen's. Call me? So I know my little brother is ok?"

I wiped tears off my face and nodded.

"The envelope is cash. Enough to get you back to the Greyhound station closest to the cabin or a place to lay low until we can find you. You can always come home."

"Home," I repeated softly.

"Well, maybe this is home to you now," Flynn acquiesced. "But there's a cot for you up on the mountain with us if you want it."

"Thank you," I repeated, unable to summon any other words.

"Love you, little brother," Flynn chuckled. "Be great. Be happy. Be a beaver."

"A beaver?" I laughed, it was a gross, wet sound. Flynn just grinned.

"Claim your territory and make it the home you need," he said.

"Love you," I replied. Flynn squeezed my shoulders, then he was gone.

I crawled onto the bed, sitting up on my knees to throw the window open to the summer heat. A garden full of vegetables was right outside. I heard the happy chatter of acolytes as they tended to the plants together.

I smiled and wiped away tears as the crow hopped up on the sill to caw at the puffy clouds above. She took off to hunt or play or soar up to the heavens to speak to the gods.

...

Owen

I liked Monaco just fine. It was a gorgeous city filled with art, architecture, and incredible coffee. I didn't like being summoned like a dog by Lucas and I really hated being away from Flynn. He would have liked Monaco. Lots of beautiful places for him to hide his art.

The police department was as lovely as any other building. I smiled and charmed my way through a rough French conversation, paid off Lucas's bail, and collected my very guilty looking friend. He smiled hopefully at me out on the street.

"Hey, um, thanks for coming," he started.

"Why am I your deadswitch?" I asked him.

"Because you're the one who's most likely to have a way to find me," he said. "That deadswitch isn't just in case I get arrested. I could have been in some mobster's basement or some shit."

"Hm," I grunted. "Well, you owe me."

"Ah, I'll have to really owe you," he said with a wince. "I never found that oracle kid and now I lost out on this fucking contract, too."

"What do you think happened to the kid?" I asked, making sure I sounded like I was just making conversation.

"He's probably dead," Lucas said with a shrug. "Those temple raised kids are so naive. He didn't stand much of a chance out there."

"Hm, poor kid," I said.

"Yeah," Lucas agreed. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked around at the street thoughtfully. "You found him, didn't you?"

I laughed, but I didn't answer.

"You owe me a favor," I told him. "And you owe Bunny an apology. You better come bearing gifts next time I see you."

Lucas waved me off as we split up. I checked my phone to do some timezone math. It was pushing into evening in Monaco, which would make early morning assuming Flynn was still in Southern California with Elijah. I chanced a call.

"Shark!" He greeted me happily. "I miss you."

"Aw, Bunny," I chuckled. "It hasn't even been two days."

"You don't miss me already?" he asked with a wicked hint of teasing in his voice.

"I miss lots of things," I told him. "How's it going with you two?"