The Sacred Guardians Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Omnibus

by Wendy Owens

  “Good to know,” Gabe replied, a bit apprehensive now about actually attempting to cast.

  “Come on,” Dina instructed, crossing the rest of the bridge and turning toward a set of old stone steps. “Follow me.”

  Gabe trailed behind the small girl wondering where she was leading him and reconsidering his desires to learn magic after her most recent warning.

  He continued following Dina down the old steps and around a plant covered crumbling rock wall. Around the corner, a huge open space came into view. Dina made her way to the middle of a large dirt circle. There were enormous boulders around the circle that were too evenly spaced to be random.

  “This is what we call an enchantment circle,” Dina explained, waving to the space all around them. “The purpose of an enchantment circle is to provide a safe environment for a student to learn to cast.”

  “I’m sure the students appreciate that,” Gabe said with a hesitant laugh under his breath.

  “It’s as much for their safety as everyone else in the manor. A misgiven spell can cause more harm than you could imagine,” Dina said, her small stature still able to relay the forcefulness of her words. “With the power of divinity behind our magic, the results can be all consuming.”

  Gabe felt even more agitated at the thought of casting. He kept imagining himself being scraped off the stones of the sacred circle. “I see.”

  “Do you know what one of the best weapons a warrior can have in battle is?” Dina asked walking the exterior of the circle.

  Gabe rotated in place, watching Dina as he thought about the question. He imagined a massive fight with the demons and the power that could bring them to their knees. Unfortunately, due to his lack of actual battle experience, he found himself limited by what he had seen in blockbuster movies. Disappointed by his lack of imagination he shrugged his shoulders and replied, “I don’t know.”

  Dina continued walking, her stride never quickening or slowing in pace. At last she said, “Surprise. Surprise is always the best weapon. An enemy that is unprepared for the attack is one of the easiest targets a warrior can meet in battle.”

  Gabe wanted to kick himself. The answer Dina searched for was so simple. He was frustrated with himself for not knowing an answer like having the element of surprise. Humbled, he waited for her direction.

  “Invisibility is something that will be invaluable to you. It helps you gain that advantage of surprise over your enemies,” Dina stopped pacing and turned to look at Gabe. “But more importantly, if you find yourself out numbered and out matched, you hide. It’s the only option and invisibility helps. I’ll teach you that first, but that won’t be enough.”

  “What do you mean that won’t be enough? That won’t be enough for what?” Gabe asked, wearing his confusion on his face.

  Dina walked toward him, “Gabe,” she explained. “There are demons we call trackers. Basically, their job is to hunt us down so they can kill us. They can smell guardians like a wolf smells its prey.”

  “Then how have you stayed hidden here?”

  “Cloaking,” Dina replied, coming to a stop before Gabe. She rested her hands on her hips in an authoritative way, which he found amusing due to her size. She was not impressed however by his grin and returned a stern look. “Many clerics are constantly casting cloaking spells on the manor to keep us hidden. Whenever we leave the manor we’re always cloaked. That’s why it’s absolutely important to never leave the manor unless someone is with you so you can be sure you’re always prepared. Otherwise, you put yourself and everyone else in danger.”

  Dina turned and walked back to the edge of the circle, leaving Gabe standing in the middle. She turned and sat on one of the stones. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she finally came to rest on the stone with her legs folded in front of her.

  “That’s why this is where we begin,” Dina said glancing over at Gabe. “Invisibility and cloaking, shall we?”

  Gabe nodded. The way Dina was so authoritative, yet calm, put his fears at ease. He doubted his ability to ever cast, but he found himself trusting in Dina.

  “I want you to relax, take in a deep breath and push it all out of you until you feel every inch of your body completely deflate,” Dina commanded. Gabe did as he was told, closing his eyes to help him relax.

  “Now, visualize a white light in your mind,” Dina continued. “Become that light. Look at your feet as they fade and blur into the white light. It’s going to extend up your body and all the way out your fingertips. Do you feel yourself inside that light?”

  Gabe tried to focus on what Dina was saying. He could see the white light all around him, but as soon he would begin to try and engulf himself he continually became distracted. Frustrated, Gabe gasped, opened his eyes and said, “I can’t. It’s like my mind won’t stop.”

  “You have to concentrate, Gabe!” Dina snapped. “Try this, as you envision the light covering you, repeatedly chant the word ‘Invisibilis.’ This will help you clear all other thoughts from your mind and focus on the spell.”

  He wanted to do this so bad that he found his hands beginning to ache from his fists being clenched so tightly. He released his grasp, again exhaled a huge breath, and began chanting as instructed. He envisioned the white light and it began to move up his legs. He noticed his stomach begin to tingle. Then the feeling moved into his arms and fingertips. Trying to ignore the tingling, he chanted, “Invisibilis, invisibilis, invisibilis.”

  “Wonderful Gabe!” Dina called out.

  “How long does this usually take?” Gabe inquired.

  “Gabe ....” Dina said nothing for a moment. “It already worked.”

  “What do you mean? What worked?” Gabe wondered what Dina was talking about.

  “Sweetie,” she explained. “The spell ... it worked. You’re invisible.”

  “That’s impossible,” Gabe argued. “I don’t feel any different.”

  “Well, what did you expect?” she laughed. “The majority of magic is illusion. Are you truly gone? Of course not, you simply have learned to project the image of invisibility.”

  “So right now, you’re telling me you can’t see me,” Gabe said in disbelief.

  “That’s what I’m saying Gabe, and honestly, you picked it up shockingly fast. That’s very good! Amazing, actually. I don’t know anyone who got it on his or her first try,” Dina congratulated.

  Gabe smiled, doubting Dina’s words. He made a face at her but with no response. This made Gabe wonder. He burst into a jig but still no reaction from Dina. She was good, he thought. He turned and walked toward the steps, but as he looked over his shoulder he saw Dina was not watching him. She was still staring at the spot he had been. She really was the master! At the top of the stairs he headed toward the bridge Dina and he had stood on earlier. A couple clerics passed him with no eye contact. Gabe then began to question what was going on.

  He reached the bridge, stopped and leaned over the railing. As he peered at the water, he felt his legs go weak when he saw he had no reflection. Panic overwhelmed him for a moment and then he raced back down the stairs and to the circle.

  “Back?” Dina said, not actually looking at him.

  “So you can see me now?” he asked feeling a small amount of relief.

  “Nope,” Dina replied, Gabe’s relief disappearing. “Just because I can’t see you, doesn’t mean I can’t hear you.”

  “I have no reflection!” Gabe exclaimed.

  “Well of course not!” Dina laughed as she replied. “You’re invisible. What did you think an invisibility spell would do?”

  “Wait, how did you know I left?” Gabe questioned.

  Dina smiled, “Well either you left or you’re really rude. You weren’t responding when I was talking to you.”

  “Oh yes, of course. Wait, how do I fix it?” Gabe asked, the notion of being invisible forever filling his head.

  “Just see yourself step out of the light in your mind,” Dina said, standing and walking toward the source of Gabe’s
voice. “See that light? Is it all around you? Imagine a clearing and step into it.”

  He clenched his eyes closed tightly and did exactly as Dina said. A moment later he felt a slap on his arm. “Look at you!” Dina squealed. “That's wonderful for your first time.”

  “So you can see me?” Gabe asked, opening his eyes.

  “Of course I can,” Dina replied. “Ready for cloaking?”

  He felt alive, almost on fire. He still felt the magical energy tingling all over in his body. He had done it. He had surprised himself. He wanted more, more of that sensation, more of that intoxicating feeling.

  Dina and Gabe continued working all through the day and well into the evening. Gabe’s thirst for knowledge was insatiable. After cloaking came distraction, disarming, shield, healing, stun, levitation, banishment, and numerous other enchantments.

  At last, Gabe collapsed in the middle of the circle; darkness all around him and glimmering stars above him. He had a huge smile planted firmly on his face. Dina floated over to his side.

  “Are you okay?” She asked as she took a seat next to him.

  “Okay?” he replied, sitting up quickly. “I have never been so okay. I feel amazing.”

  “I have never seen anyone take to it so easily,” Dina said, her amazement clear in her voice.

  “It’s weird,” Gabe said as he tried to think of a way to explain how he was feeling. “It’s almost like I have learned all this before and I’m just trying to remember how to do it all again. Kind of like riding a bike, you know?”

  She looked up at the stars, not saying anything in response.

  He looked over at her and wondered if he sounded like a mad man. They sat in silence. Gabe started thinking about how his life had changed drastically in just a few days. He thought about what a good friend he had found in Ur,. then about Michael and the stone. It was obvious Michael cared for him and his safety. Now that he had gotten to know Haim and Dina, he loved this new life even more. All of these amazing things and people paled in comparison though to meeting Sophie. It was scary to think about turning his world upside down and calling this place home, but it was even scarier to think about giving up everything he had found here.

  “Gabe,” he looked over at Dina, but it was not her who said his name. “Gabe,” as the voice called out again he began to feel his head swirl. A white light filled the edges of his eyesight until finally it enclosed on him entirely and he fell to the ground.

  “Gabe,” the voice broke through the light and he opened his eyes. Floating over him was Uri. “It’s Anthony.”

  “What?” Gabe mumbled, confused by what he was seeing.

  “Gabe,” Uri said again in an eerie whisper. “Anthony, it’s Anthony.”

  Gabe squeezed his eyes closed. When he opened them, the sky was black again and Dina was leaning over him. “Gabe, are you okay?” Dina asked, a bit panicked.

  “No, I mean … I just …” Gabe stopped himself, not even sure himself what had just happened.

  “What is it, Gabe?” Dina insisted.

  “I thought I saw Uri again,” Gabe replied.

  Dina perched herself onto her knees and grabbed Gabe’s hand, helping him sit up. “Gabe, this is important. Did Uri say something to you?”

  “What?” Gabe asked still confused.

  “Did he say anything?” Dina repeated.

  “How did you ...” Gabe stopped, not sure what was going on. “He just kept saying something about it being Anthony. What is going on?”

  “What being Anthony?” Dina asked trying to clarify.

  “I don’t know,” Gabe answered. “He just kept saying ‘it’s Anthony’.”

  “Gabe, you need to listen carefully,” Dina began. “Gabe, are you listening?”

  “Yeah, sorry,” Gabe said shaking his head, trying to clear the fuzziness. “I’m listening.”

  “Some guardians have the ability to communicate telepathically. It’s rare but it can be done. There must be some sort of connection between you and Uri,” Dina explained. “Uri is trying to tell you something.”

  “I don’t know what he could be saying. I don’t know what he means about Anthony.” Gabe replied.

  “Anthony is Michael’s top scout, perhaps he’s in danger?” Dina continued, “Did you get the sense he was warning you about something?”

  Gabe furrowed his brow, trying to concentrate on his vision and then sighed in frustration. “I just don’t know, Dina.”

  “Well, we’re going to find out,” Dina said, jumping to her feet, pulling Gabe up. “Come on, we have someone we need to talk to.” Dina headed up the stone stairs, her small frame dragging Gabe behind her.

  “What, who?” He asked, still a little dazed.

  “The Oracle,” she replied firmly.

  “Dina,” Gabe protested stumbling behind her. “Where did you say we’re going?”

  “The Oracle,” Dina replied flatly.

  “Wait, what? Isn’t it a little late in the evening to be visiting this Oracle?” Gabe suggested, not wanting to admit some old witch lady who could predict the future creeped him out.

  “Gabe, these visions are nothing you can ignore,” Dina maintained, “If Uri truly is trying to tell you something from half way across the world, it must be pretty important. We need to find out what it is.”

  They crossed through the garden and around the back of the main hall. As they headed toward an old archway, barely lit by two torches, Gabe heard Haim’s voice behind them. “There you two are,” he called after them.

  Dina hesitated a moment and then, continuing down the stairs, yelled over her shoulder through the archway. “We have to see the Oracle.”

  Gabe looked at Haim and then back at Dina. He wasn’t sure what to say or do.

  “The Oracle?” Haim asked puzzled. “Gabe, Sophie has been looking for you everywhere.”

  Within seconds Dina had disappeared into the underground darkness. “Gabe!” She shouted behind her. “Come on!”

  Gabe quickly looked at Haim and said, “Please find Sophie, tell her I’ve gone to speak to the Oracle and I’ll look for her as soon as we’re done.” He jogged down the steps, looking back he saw Haim still standing in the same place looking completely confused. “Please, Haim!” Gabe begged and then disappeared into the darkness as well.

  He couldn’t see two feet in front of him. “Dina, where are you?” Gabe asked, hands outstretched, but he could only feel the nothingness of the black.

  “Did you learn nothing today?” Dina asked with a sly tone in her voice.

  Gabe smiled at Dina’s response, always the teacher. “Illumino,” he muttered as the path before him lit up with a soft yellow glow. About ten feet down the stone tunnel stood tiny Dina with a huge smile on her face.

  “Very good,” she responded. “Now follow me.” Dina turned and made her way down the hall as quickly as she could. There were several pathways and doors along the main hall but they remained on a straight course. At last the hall widened and ended in a double stairwell. Gabe noticed it looked like grass or moss of some kind was growing up the stairs.

  He noticed a blue glow at the bottom of the stairs. As the two came to the bottom of the steps, he realized the entire floor was covered with this squishy moss. They walked into the main room where the floor became firmer. As Gabe looked around he saw that the green covered every inch of the chamber.

  They finally emerged from the hall and completely into the main room. Gabe was in awe and shock at what he saw. It was as if there was an entire underground world. The ceiling arched up into a stone dome. Instead of filling with darkness, the entire chamber seemed to resonate with a powerful energy that gave off light.

  To the rear of the chamber he saw a small cottage, something that reminded him of the home that would be in the storybook Hansel and Gretel. To the right of it was a waterfall that glowed with a blue light. It appeared to set everything around it aglow. There were trees strewn about. Gabe even saw a goat off to one side. It looked as thoug
h a meadow had been plucked from the wild and came to rest here, deep underground.

  Gabe shook his head, trying to figure out if he were simply having another vision. “What is this place?” he whispered, completely mesmerized.

  A woman dressed in a simple, organic cotton, cream-colored dress emerged from around the side of the cottage. “This is what I call home,” she said in a soft voice.

  Gabe watched the woman as she came closer to him and Dina. She had flowing chestnut hair and her eyes seemed to glow the same blue as the waterfall behind her. He found himself speechless at her beauty.

  “You must be Gabe,” the woman continued. Gabe nodded frantically. “I’m Calysta, but most around here refer to me as the Oracle.” The woman now stood directly in front of Gabe. She reached out and took his hand into hers. She closed her eyes for a moment and then released him, turning to walk away. “Please, come, sit,” she offered ducking into the front door of her home.

  A second later, he felt Dina’s hand clasped into his. Before he realized it, they were entering the Oracle’s home and taking a seat at an old wooden table. Neither said a word as they sat. Dina simply nodded at Gabe as if to let him know everything was all right.

  The Oracle busied herself at a nearby nook and soon emerged carrying two glasses of what Gabe thought was milk. “Please, enjoy,” the Oracle said placing the mugs before the two and then having a seat herself at the large wooden table.

  They thanked the Oracle for her hospitality. Though neither of them really wanted a mug of milk, they drank it nonetheless. Gabe observed how thick it was and that it seemed fresh, almost warm. He wondered if the cow it came from was nearby.

  “I assume you two didn’t just come here for refreshments?” the Oracle asked looking kindly into Gabe’s eyes. “This is about your visions?”

  He dropped the mug onto the table, almost spilling the milk. His mouth dropped open with astonishment. Then he asked, “I don’t understand. How did you ...?” He wasn’t even sure what to ask.