"Help me to the cottage, please," Calysta requested softly.

"Of course," Dina replied, taking her arm and helping her to her feet.

As they walked, Calysta told Dina a story. A story about a group of angels who were given an impossible task. If they failed, they would be failing their creator and the beings he loved so deeply, humans. Failure would be the worst thing possible. With that in mind, the angels knew they had to win at all costs. So, they began to fight, they fought a battle that n.o.body could be expected win, a battle they were destined to lose. In an effort to change their destiny, they began to make choices. Choices they thought were for the greater good. Eventually, though, their path had become so distorted that they had trouble figuring out what was right and what was wrong. With the greatest of intentions, they had created some of the most profound atrocities.

"It sounds like you're trying to tell me that I'm not fighting for the good guys."

"That's not what I'm saying," Calysta said, walking through her front door and carefully taking a seat in an oversized wooden rocking chair. "The council isn't evil, they've just lost their way. Even good men lose their way. Who knows, maybe with Michael there, they will find it again, but he too seems to have lost his way over the years.

"I don't agree. He takes care of us, he needs to come back and be here to help us. That's why I'm here, you have to help figure out a way to have the council return Michael," Dina demanded.

"No."

"So, you won't help?"

"What I mean is, no, that's not why you're here. You're really here because a friend needs you."

"No, you're wrong; I came here because of Michael," Dina insisted.

"I understand what you think brought you here, but the truth is, there is something much bigger for you to take care of right now."

"Who are you talking about?"

"A boy, fighting to become a man. He will fulfill his destiny, but first he has a journey ahead of him."

"Gabe? Are you talking about Gabe?"

Calysta nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. "He's lost. Poor thing, he was alone for so long, so much pain. Finding all of you, he needed that, but now you are all a crutch for him, something he's not going to want to give up when the time comes. When he has to step up and fulfill his duties as protector, he won't be willing to do it. He won't want to lose this new and beautiful life."

"What beautiful life? You're mistaken, Gabe is miserable right now. He's lost Sophie and now he thinks his best friend has betrayed him. Gabe is far from happy."

"Sophie will remember, soon. Then he will have everything he has ever wanted, if he stays."

Dina shook her head, confused. "Then isn't that a good thing? He's our friend, why wouldn't I want him to be happy?"

Calysta smiled. "I guess it depends, do you want Gabe to be happy or do you want him to save the world?"

Dina didn't reply; she didn't know her answer.

"Life is full of hard choices. For Gabe, if he chooses happiness now, it will mean not fulfilling his destiny."

"You're wrong!"

"I might be, but you don't think I am," Calysta answered cooly. Dina frowned, saddened because she feared that the oracle was right.

"What am I supposed to do?" Dina pleaded.

Calysta winced as she shifted in her seat, the pain from the shock still too fresh for movement. "I'm not saying he needs to be gone forever, but he does need to go on a quest of discovery."

"I don't understand, to discover what?"

"Himself. Gabe has no idea who he is. He has never had anyone to tell him where he came from. He has a few memories of the family that once was, but no real sense of his history or what makes him tick. Now that he has all of you, he is making his circle of friends the definition of who he is. But to really become the man he is meant to be, he has to go out and experience life on his own. He has to answer those questions for himself. He has to know if he would choose the path of good or evil without any outside influences. Then, when he's ready, he'll return to you all."

"Are you telling me he's going to leave us?" Dina asked, the despair heavy in her voice.

"This very night. He will come to see you soon."

"Me?" Dina questioned.

Calysta nodded in response.

"Why me?"

"You're one of the few he trusts now."

"What do I do?" All mistrust of this woman fell away as Dina asked the question with great sincerity.

"Even though Gabe needs this journey, he will need to find a way home. You have to give him a way for when he's ready." Calysta answered.

"How do I do that?" Dina added.

"You'll figure it out." Calysta said. "Now you better get, you don't want to miss him."

Dina ran to the door, taking the handle tight in her hand. She hesitated, turning back. Taking one last look at Calysta, she felt consumed with pity. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Getting me out of here would be nice," Calysta laughed.

"I'm sorry, I-" Dina began.

"Sweetie, I'm kidding. I know you can't do anything about this. I get lonely. I wouldn't mind a visit now and then."

"Of course, I'm so sorry."

"Dina- wait. Madame Laveau. Stay away from her. Okay?"

Dina studied Calysta's face, hoping for an indication of what she might be talking about. "What? The voodoo priestess that lives in the woods by the beach? Why on earth would I go near her?"

"Just promise me, you'll stay away from her," Calysta pleaded.

"Yeah, whatever. I better get back. I'll visit, I promise," she said before disappearing into the night.

The glow in the dark stars plastered across Dina's bedroom ceiling gave her something to focus on besides the oracle's words. Unfortunately, the distraction did not work for long. After counting the stars for the third time, she accepted that she was not going to be able to shake Calysta's voice from her thoughts. Was Calysta telling the truth about the council? Was she actually a prisoner at Rampart? Dina didn't want to feel sympathetic towards the woman, but even more so, she wanted Michael to be there to answer her questions.

As time pa.s.sed, and Dina reflected on the conversation, she convinced herself that it was all a package of lies; some elaborate scheme to mess with her mind. She was no stranger to the maliciousness of the oracles and found herself frustrated that she was allowing herself to be pulled in. Though Dina wasn't sure about the council and what lengths they would go to when it came to the cause of the Guardians, she knew Michael, and was certain he would never imprison someone against their will.

This new found certainty faded however, and doubt began to creep back in. Did she really know Michael? She had never heard the story of his tragic romantic history with Mirada. Was there more she did not know about him? About the council? She groaned out loud, slamming her fists into her pillows, frustrated by the uncertainty she was surrounded with.

Enough was enough, she couldn't simply sit there any longer, doing nothing. She needed something to consume her thoughts, something to keep her in the right state of mind. Dina sat up, grabbed the nearby satchel, and placed it on her lap. Glancing down, she took hold of the small stone charm that was attached to the zipper. She smiled as she examined it, remembering when Raimie had given it to her. He was so proud of the little stone cherub he had made for her. Squeezing her eyes shut, Dina focused on the small item. She repeated the words, "Quod amiserint, invenitur. Quod amiserint, invenitur. Quod amiserint, invenitur."

Dina knew she didn't have a choice, if by some small chance there was a shred of truth to what she had been told, and Gabe chose to leave them that night, she needed to be ready. As the last words of the enchantment left her lips, a calmness fell over her. Mindlessly, she walked over to her wardrobe, tucking the bag away. She returned to her bed, and the moment her head hit the pillow, she gave into the stillness of sleep. No longer were her thoughts plagued with worry. She didn't understand the sudden calmness, but was pleased to have the peace, if only for a brief time.

The restful period faded when Dina was awakened by a light tap. She stared at the door, hidden in the warmth beneath her blankets. Her breath caught in her throat and she wondered if she had imagined the sound. A moment later, her doubts were extinguished as she heard a gentle knock and whisper of a voice call out, "Dina, it's Gabe, are you awake? I need help."

Dina groaned, her worst fears were coming true; it appeared there might be truth to what Calysta said, Gabe might actually be looking to leave them. With a huff, she made her way across the room, cracking the door open. Rubbing her eyes and licking her dry lips, Dina looked at Gabe through squinted eyes. Though she was certain she knew the answer to her question, she asked it anyways, "What's wrong?"

"Can I come in?" Gabe asked, looking around as if he was afraid he was being followed.

"Oh, yeah. Sure, I mean ...I guess," She stepped back, making room for her guest to pa.s.s by.

Watching Gabe as he entered, a pain in her chest ached. Though Dina knew he was hurting from the betrayal he had witnessed earlier, she said nothing, unsure still what she should do. If Calysta was right, and making Gabe stay meant he would find happiness with Sophie again, she wanted that for him. However, if his staying would also mean that the world would never have the great prophet delivered to them one day, how could she not him go? In a way, if I convinced him to stay, it would be as if I were turning my back on being a Guardian.

"Is something wrong?" Dina asked again. She made her way to an overstuffed floor pillow and curled up on the rug, hugging the pillow to her chest.

"I'm leaving," Gabe stated flatly in response.

The response came much more easily than Dina had imagined it would. "Wait, what do you mean you're leaving? Where are you going?"

"I can't be here anymore. Did you know that Michael is gone?"

"Yeah, I know. I met Bishop, a real charmer, isn't he?" she chimed back sarcastically.

"It's not just Michael. I caught Uri and Sophie kissing yesterday." As Gabe spoke, Dina did her best to act surprised. "I just can't be here anymore, surrounded by these people."

"Gabe, maybe if you-"

"Don't tell me to give it time, Dina!" Gabe interrupted.

"I- I wasn't ..." Dina insisted.

"I am leaving. I just wanted you to tell everyone for me so they wouldn't think I am missing or something," Gabe explained.

"Gabe, I know this seems awful right now, I mean, it's awful, but I don't think you've thought this through," Dina argued, conflicted if she should be traveling down the path of this argument.

"All I've done tonight is think this through!" Gabe's voice was intensifying. "Will you tell them?"

"What about Baal? How can you be safe out there? Have you thought about that?" Dina decided she wasn't going to plead for him to stay any longer, but if he was going to leave, she was going to make sure he was prepared.

"I appreciate your concern, but I've thought it through. I will be on my own. I can keep moving and use cloaking spells, I'll be cautious." She could see a confidence in Gabe that rea.s.sured her slightly.

"Oh, Gabe, I don't think this is a good idea," Dina added one last time, trying to express her concern without changing his mind. In that moment, she knew she couldn't keep Gabe here just because she wanted to keep a friend near. She couldn't put his happiness above the greater good. In that moment, she understood what Calysta was saying. The council had done the things she claimed, not because they were evil, but because they were worried about the greater good.

"I'm leaving, can you tell them?" Gabe attempted to confirm.

Dina nodded, her heart stinging as she watched Gabe turn to leave.

"Wait!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet. Running to the wardrobe near the foot of her bed, she grabbed the satchel. Quickly, she started filling it with small gla.s.s bottles of potions.

Gabe chuckled, "Only you would have a stockpile like that."

"Well, hopefully you won't need any of these, but should you, they are all labeled." Dina carried the bag over to Gabe, forcing it into his hands. She glanced down at the enchanted charm hanging near the strap, the beacon spell she cast on it would ensure that one day she would find her friend again.

"I'm sure I won't need them, but thank you," Gabe replied, reaching out to embrace her.

"Gabe," Dina began, grabbing hold and pulling him closer. "You have to promise me, if things get bad out there, you'll come home."

Nodding, he released himself from her embrace. She watched as he walked down the dark corridor, never looking back, and then he was gone.

Dina crept silently back into her room, pushing the heavy door closed behind her. Taking her spot back on the plush floor rug, she clutched the pillow again tightly to her chest. Releasing the muscles in her body, allowing them to tremble, she began to cry, praying she had not just sent her friend off to certain death. Without the Guardians there to protect him, Dina feared the worst. The hours pa.s.sed, her cheeks grew tacky as the tears stopped and dried where they fell. Her hopelessness had given way to numbness, an oddly satisfying shift.

"Dina? Can you hear me? Are you all right?" As things came into focus again, Dina saw Uri standing in front of her, waiving his hands around vigorously. Haim was standing behind him, looking over Uri's left shoulder at her.

Realizing her friends were standing in the middle of her bedroom, she quickly sat up. Dina looked at them, a slightly horrified expression on her face. "What are you doing in my room?"

"We were banging on your door forever," Uri shouted, annoyed.

Haim nervously shifted his weight from oversized foot to oversized foot, "We're sorry, Dina, we were worried about you."

Dina hopped to her feet, wiping away the paths of the dried tears that had stained her cheeks. "No, it's fine. I'm sorry, I must have dozed off."

Uri scoffed. "You weren't sleeping, Dina!"

"What?" Dina narrowed her brows, getting aggravated by Uri's tone.

Uri didn't back down as he continued to argue. "Something is wrong, are you going to tell us?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dina insisted.

"Fine," Uri huffed. "I don't have time to play games. Gabe is gone, have you seen him?"

"What?" Dina did her best to act surprised. "What do you mean he's gone?"

"I mean, I went to his room this morning and he cleared out his stuff. He's gone!" Uri exclaimed.

"Maybe he just needs some s.p.a.ce," Dina argued.

"So you haven't seen him, fine. Come on, Haim."

"Wait! Where are you going?" Dina cried, jumping into their path.

"We need to get going before the trail gets cold."

"No, you can't! Just give him some time, Uri," Dina pleaded.

"I gave you a chance to take care of this. I asked for your help already and now look, Gabe is missing."

"He's not missing," Dina groaned, reluctantly.

"What do you mean he's not missing?" Uri did his best to contain his frustration.