The Lost Years (The Guardians Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

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 massive 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.
    “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 nobody 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