"Michael would never let them bully him into becoming a council member."

"Well, he did."

"I don't believe it," Dina argued.

Uri hesitated for a moment, looking around the room as if he expected to find someone listening in on their conversation. "Don't tell anyone I told you this, but I think they are blackmailing him."

"What on earth would they have to blackmail Michael with? He is the most squeaky-clean person I know."

"It's not what, but who they are blackmailing him with."

"Wait, I don't understand," she replied, her brow furrowing as she stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't really say much more, Michael wouldn't want me to," Uri said, backpedaling as he realized he had already said too much.

"Oh, no you don't!" Dina exclaimed. "You're crazy if you think you can just walk in here, drop a bomb about blackmail and Michael's past, and not explain." Pressing her finger deep into Uri's shoulder muscle repeatedly, Dina demanded, "Spill it! Now!"

Though she was small in stature, her presence was commanding. Uri decided it was best not to mess with her. He had seen her angry in the past, and that was not a fury he wished upon himself.

"It's a woman, her name is Mirada," Uri began. Reaching up, he began to vigorously rub the back of his neck, looking down at the ground as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

Dina quickly grew impatient, "And?"

"She's-" Uri hesitated for a moment longer. "Well, she was the woman Michael wanted to marry."

"Now, I know you're crazy. Michael has never had a relationship like that with someone."

"I'm serious! I know he has because I pa.s.s messages for him now."

"What? What do you mean?" Dina gasped, her voice dripping with disbelief.

"Whenever Michael wanted to speak with her or warn her about a search party, he would send me to talk to her."

"Did something happen to her?"

"Not exactly," Uri answered, taking a step back and falling silent.

"Come on, Uri, are you going to make me pull all of the details out of you, piece by painful piece?" Dina inquired, her expression displaying her discontent.

"I just don't think Michael would like me telling you about this," Uri argued.

"Then he should be here to tell me himself. He can't just abandon us like this."

"I promise it's not like that," Uri insisted.

"Then tell me, what does the council have on Michael that would cause him to leave us like this?"

"Mirada is an oracle," Uri said, finally relenting and caving to the small girl's will.

"You're not seriously trying to tell me that Michael is in love with an oracle."

"That is exactly what I'm trying to tell you. When Michael met her, he never intended on falling in love with her. She was incredibly powerful and adamant that she would not get involved with either side of the fight. She was a true believer in neutrality; I think her conviction was one of the things that drew Michael to her."

"So, why didn't they marry?" Dina asked, still only half believing her friend's tale about their mentor.

"Michael was going to ask the council for permission to marry her. When he went to them, before he had a chance to ask permission, they revealed a very different plan. They told him about how they had decided her abilities were too much of a risk to the Guardians and how if she were to fall into the hands of the dark army, it could prove quite devastating. They commanded Michael to take her into custody. For her own protection, she would live out her life under the watchful eye of the Guardians, whether she liked it or not."

Dina sat silently listening, her mouth hanging slightly open in antic.i.p.ation.

"Michael knew Mirada wouldn't hear of it, but he told her of the council's plan. He tried to convince her that they could be happy, that he could make sure she was brought to live wherever he was stationed, but she wanted them to run away together instead. Michael tried to explain that if they ran away, the council wouldn't stop; they would send trackers to find them. Instead, he hatched a plan where he would return with a story that she had been killed by demonic creatures while he was attempting to bring her in."

"Are you telling me that Michael wanted to lie to the council? He's like- Mr. Perfect."

"I know, but it's true. Mirada resisted, she didn't think he should allow the council to dictate their lives. I think it's why he is such a hard-a.s.s about choices and the Guardians not removing the ability of choice from a person. They fought about it for a while, but she saw she was not going to change his mind and at last relented to his suggestion."

"Did they believe him?"

"At first. Over the years though, there have been sightings and rumors that Mirada lives. Michael does the best he can to feed Mirada information so she can stay two steps ahead of the council, often sending me as the messenger. I think they might know where she is now; he wouldn't say, but I think they're using her to threaten him into obedience."

"But- the council wouldn't do that."

"Dina, are you that ignorant?"

"Excuse me?" Dina growled, her posture shifting into one of a wild animal, ready to pounce at any moment.

Raising his hands defensively, Uri quickly attempted to correct his careless statement. "All I meant is that the council isn't all knowing. They make mistakes. They mean well, but sometimes in their zealous attempt to protect the way of the guardians, they seem to violate everything we stand for."

"There has to be some sort of mistake. Michael has to be coming back," Dina moaned, slumping into a defeated position.

"I don't think he is, at least not if the council has their way."

"This is going to destroy Gabe," Dina said.

"d.a.m.n it, I forgot about Gabe. I have to figure out a way to get him to let me explain. If he would just listen, I could tell him it wasn't what it looked like."

"You need to give him some s.p.a.ce, Uri. Let me think on it, alright? I'm sure I can come up with something."

Uri leapt forward in excitement, a grin beaming from ear to ear. After planting a kiss firmly on Dina's forehead, Uri exclaimed, "Thanks, I knew you would figure this out. You're the best!"

And in the next moment, in a split second, as soon as the words left his lips, he was gone, leaving Dina standing there and wondering how she got herself into the middle of this mess.

The hours pa.s.sed as Dina paced the floors of her room, the recent conversation with Uri consuming her thoughts. Her pink pillows and lush rugs that often gave her comfort from the hard world she lived in did nothing for her now. It did not seem fair that the council could take Michael from them all so abruptly. She could not process the idea that the Guardian elders didn't understand that they needed him; Gabe needed him. Gabe was supposed to be a savior, the great Guardian protector who would deliver them the prophet safely, yet they didn't seem to care about what happened to him. It didn't make sense. The harder Dina thought about it, the less it made sense to her.

She realized she was no longer pacing, instead she was standing at her door, her slender hand on the door k.n.o.b. She knew what she had to do; she had known for some time, the difference now was that her body was forcing her to listen. She knew she had to go out and seek the answers elsewhere. Dina reached out with her free hand and grabbed her gray cloak. Stepping outside, she pulled the door shut behind her. She wrapped herself tightly in the heavy wool fabric, making sure to secure the hood. She hid her face away in the darkness, careful not to draw unwanted attention.

Her steps were quick as she traveled with great purpose. She knew the others would not agree with her decision to seek advice outside of their trusted circle. Dina had already decided that she needed insight, and she was confident she was clever enough not to be bamboozled like so many before her. Dina glided down the stairs, but it wasn't until she reached the bottom of the steps and placed her first foot onto the moss covered ground that she realized she was barefoot. She was surprised this fact had not been brought to her attention by the cold, rough stone leading to the chamber, but quickly moved past the puzzling observation.

Dina peered around, staring into the well-lit cavern. She marveled at the beauty of the small cottage and beautiful waterfall tucked away within the cave. She never thought it was fair that such a selfish and meddlesome being was given so much perfection to live in. Curling her toes, she closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to collect herself and regain her composure before heading into the lion's den.

"Are you going to stand there all night or do you plan to come in?" a voice called from several hundred feet away. Without opening her eyes, Dina knew who it was.

"Calysta," Dina sighed, as if just speaking the woman's name disgusted her.

"Please, dear, try and contain your excitement," the woman replied, tossing her chestnut colored hair to the side.

"I don't think excitement would be the word I would use," Dina snarled.

"Don't forget, darling, you're the one who has come to my home. Perhaps you should show yourself out, the same way you came in," Calysta replied, turning to walk away.

Realizing her current att.i.tude would not get her the answers she was seeking, Dina attempted damage control. "No wait, please, I'm sorry. You're right, I need your help."

Calysta stopped, turning and peering at the girl as if she questioned her own ears. "It can't be. Did I hear you correctly? Are you asking an oracle for help?"

"This is hard enough without you making it even more difficult," Dina answered softly, coming to a stop directly in Calysta's path. "I don't want to waste your time or mine. Either you're willing to help me or you're not, it's that simple. So, please, just tell me, am I wasting my time?"

Silently, Calysta stared at Dina for a moment, her eyes traveling from the girl's bare feet up to her slim but round face. At last she answered, "Walk with me, we'll talk."

Grateful, Dina slipped her hood off to rest on her shoulders, taking her place at the woman's side. She had to double her short strides in order to keep up with the steps of the tall and lean woman's pace. They walked for a short time, neither saying a word. Pa.s.sing the cabin and proceeding to the water's edge, Dina wondered where to begin, but before she could decide, Calysta spoke.

"Is there a breeze tonight?"

Dina was a little confused by the question. She thought for a moment, trying to remember the weather outside. After a moment's hesitation, she answered, "I suppose."

"It must feel amazing. It does, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I mean- I guess." Dina was puzzled by the line of questioning, but her attention shifted to the blue glimmer of the water. It looked as though at the bottom of the vast pool was a light source, so brilliant it could light the world. "Your home really is amazing, Calysta."

The woman stopped and looked at Dina, a pain in her eyes like she had never seen before. "A prison can never be beautiful."

"What do you mean, a prison? What are you talking about?"

"Come on, like you really don't know?" Calysta laughed.

"Know what?" Dina's sincerity evident in the question.

"Wow, they do keep you kids in the dark. Guess it's easier to have blind followers when they don't see too much."

"I don't understand, what are you talking about?" Dina inquired, cautious not to put too much faith in what the clever woman said. Dina was well aware that the oracles enjoyed toying with people, and she was not about to fall victim to one of their games easily.

"Let me ask you a question, do you know how long I've been here?"

Dina thought for a moment before answering, "No, I guess I don't."

"Well, you should ask your precious Michael sometime," Calysta answered, her words dripping with venom.

"How about you tell me?"

"Because he is so much better at weaving tales than me."

"Somehow I doubt that."

"Too scared to ask? Afraid of what his answer might be?" Calysta pushed.

"No, I still have no idea what you're talking about. I can't ask him because Michael's gone," Dina answered flatly.

Calysta locked eyes on the girl instantly, now mistrusting the source herself. She reached out, grabbing Dina's arm, her eyes rolled back into her head to reveal only the whites of them.

Dina gasped as she watched the woman tremble, her own body beginning to sway. She struggled, but was unable to release herself from the woman's grasp. Without warning, Calysta let go, her eyes returning to their former state. "So he is."

"What? What the h.e.l.l was that?" Dina demanded.

"I read you. I know what you know now." As if nothing of great consequence had just transpired, Calysta turned and continued to walk. "It was only a matter of time before the council screwed Michael over. He shouldn't be surprised."

"The council isn't there to hurt people, they exist to help mankind."

"If you say so."

"I know what you're doing and you can stop trying to get me to doubt the Guardians Council. It won't work."

"And why would I care what you think of the council, little girl?"

"I don't understand it, but that's what your kind does. You enjoy messing with people's reality."

"Oh, is that right? Well, let me tell you something about that great council you respect and admire so much. They decided hundreds of years ago that it would be best for me and my kind if they protected us. I never asked for their protection. In fact, I have asked several times that they leave me alone. I haven't seen a sunrise or felt a cool breeze on my face since they made their decision," Calysta explained.

"If you don't want to be here, if you don't want the Guardians protection, then why not just leave?" Dina asked.

"Brilliant, why didn't I think of that?" Calysta replied sarcastically.

"Well- why don't you?" Dina pushed.

"Because, idiot, I can't. It's like I said, this is a prison, the cave has been spelled; only guardians can enter and exit. I'm stuck here, forever."

"I don't believe you. The council would never order that," though Dina protested, she worried there was truth to what Calysta claimed. She thought of Uri's story about Michael and Mirada, perhaps the council were resorting to holding the oracles captive.

"They wouldn't?" Calysta shouted, her patience growing thin with the girl. Turning her back to Dina, she charged towards the opening to the cavern at full speed, her off-white linen dress streaming behind her.

"Where are you going?" Dina cried, giving chase. "I have more questions."

Halfway across the clearing, Dina stopped to regain her breath. With no chance of catching Calysta before she reached the exit, Dina watched, hoping she would stop and return to finish their conversation. The tall and slender woman crossed the moss, spreading her legs out for wider strides. Dina's heart sank as she realized the woman was not going to stop.

Just as Calysta's foot touched the first step leading out of the cavern, a ma.s.sive white spark shot out from an invisible force, sending the woman flying backwards several yards. She came to rest in a heap on the ground.

"Calysta!" Dina shouted, setting out in a full sprint towards the motionless body. Falling to her knees at the woman's side, Dina shook her vigorously. "Are you all right?"

The oracle coughed, sitting up as her senses returned to her. "See, a prison."

Dina didn't reply, she looked back and forth between the opening to the cavern and the woman, wondering to herself, if in fact, Calysta was right about the situation.