Part 2 (2/2)
”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 s.h.i.+fted 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.
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