The Lost Years (The Guardians Book 4) by Wendy Owens Read Free Book Online

know what I mean, he needs to know it’s Baal.”
    “Baal? How can you be sure?”
    “He is the only one who could gain command of a legion this size.”
    “Oh, God. What about Gabe?” Haim gasped.
    “The best place he can be right now is as far away from Rampart as possible. We’ll have to worry about him later,” Uri reassured his distressed friend.
    Haim pulled the battle hammer from his belt. “So what do you want me to do?”
    “Uri! Haim!” Raimie’s voice called out from behind them. “What in the hell is going on?”
    “Baal’s broken through the perimeters of Rampart,” Haim answered, completely confident in Uri’s analysis.
    “That’s impossible. The scouts—” Raimie began.
    “That’s what I thought, apparently it’s very possible,” Uri explained.
    “Where’s Dina?” Raimie asked instantly.
    “She’s fine, we just saw her. I sent Neru to tell her what was happening and that she needs to start evacuations,” Uri explained.
    “Who?” Raimie asked confused.
    “Nobody, just some girl. Does anyone know where Sophie is?” Uri inquired, the previous evening’s kiss no longer anywhere in his thoughts.
    “Uh— yeah, I think,” Raimie answered, shaking his head as if physically trying to get his thoughts in order. “I saw her this morning and she said she was going to the infirmary, she had a terrible headache.”
    “Ok, good. That will be the first place they evacuate, so she should be fine,” Uri continued. “Raimie, we have to get word to the council about what is happening here. Can you get to Bishop and tell him he needs to contact them? Haim and I will do our best to help hold them off while everyone evacuates.”
    “Of course,” Raimie answered. Immediately, he turned and began pushing his way through the crowds towards Bishop’s office, calling out over his shoulder. “I’ll be back to help you guys as soon as I can.”
    Haim looked at Uri, a question in his eyes. They had fought side by side for so long that it didn’t need to be spoken. Instead, Uri knew Haim was asking if he was ready. Gripping his weapon, which was now glowing brightly, was all the answer he needed.
    Running forward into the smoke, a hundred yards in, their weapons were met with a clash of steel and tearing flesh. The demons burst into fluttering piles of ash and flame as their swords sliced through them. Confidently, the men bounded further into the battlefield.
    The earth began to shake and tremble beneath their feet. Uri thought perhaps it was an earth quake until he heard his friend’s voice.
    “You have got to be kidding me!” Haim groaned.
    “What is it?” Uri called back, squinting as the smoke stung his eyes.
    “They have a hydra!”
    “Huh?” Uri gasped in disbelief. Taking a step closer in Haim’s direction, he peered into the distance, trying to make out the dark figure that loomed above them. As the air began to glow orange, Uri soon realized that what he saw were the flames coming from one of the beast’s five heads.
    “Oh, shit!” Uri cried.
    “What do we do?” Haim asked, his brutish tactics no match for a hydra.
    “This is the stuff Sophie’s good at, damn it!” Uri grumbled. “Just kill as many of them as you can. Love you, brother!”
    With those final words, Uri pushed deeper into the mob of demons. It was hard to determine where one monster ended and the next began. Their eyes glowed, their teeth gnashed, hungry for flesh. It only took a moment for Uri to be lost in the sea of unholiness, losing any sight of his friend.
    Uri took stock of his situation. Circling above his head was an alp, a trail of smoke streaming behind it. Alp’s were known for haunting one with nightmares. Uri knew he had to keep his guard up and not allow the creature into his thoughts. A bajang was creeping closer to his left. Its feline features did nothing to soften the glare of its exposed fangs. He knew, given the chance, the bajang would suck every last drop of blood from his body.