Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (books to read in your 20s .TXT) 📗

was more comfortable, and much easier to fight in. She watched as a wind of her own Magic whirled around her, changing her clothing to those resembling breeches and a long tunic. A brown leather cloak covered her back, the hood of it sitting on her shoulders.
She found she flew much easier with the Fighter’s Gear on than the original Guardian’s Gown. To her surprise, the Grand Magus appeared just as Young Guardian touched down in the Canine Wood.
“What are you doing here?” Grand Magus asked her twin.
“I’m to ask the same of you.” Young Guardian responded. “Judging by the look in your eyes, I’d say you’ve had the fright of your life.”
“You got that right.” Grand Magus explained her strange encounter with both the Goddess Dana and their old agent-friend Jammins.
“What does Shadow think of all this?” Young Guardian led her sister on the trail through the Wood.
“He’s speechless.” Grand Magus supplied, frustrated. “I can’t get a word out of him.”
“Amethyst can’t get a word out of the Unicorn, either.” Young Guardian told her.
“Who’s the Unicorn?”
“Aaron.” Young Guardian supplied.
“How’d he get that title?”
“The same way we got ours.” Young Guardian said. “He earned it, just as Aimee earned hers of Amethyst.”
“Isn’t Amethyst her name anyway?”
Young Guardian was tired of answering.
“I’ll explain later. Now, we’re here for business.” Young Guardian announced. She saw her sister’s shoulders shrug. “At least, I know I am. I still don’t know what you’re doing here.”
“Maybe the Ancients want me to overhear something?”
“I don’t know.” Young Guardian sighed. She marched ahead of her sister, dressed in her Fighter’s Gear which resembled those worn by knights in the Middle Ages.
Grand Magus looked down at her own garments. “Fine. If she wants comfort, so do I.”
With a wave of her arms, she changed from her flowing indigo robes to black breeches and a billowing indigo top. On her feet were black boots in which, of course, were hidden daggers. At her waist was a belt that had a pouch for her magical stones and a place to hold her wand when she wasn’t using it. She still had a velvet cape with her Dream Pentacle attached. She felt over her shoulder for the bow and case of arrows she used in fighting Dominionites and demons in the Dream Realm.
“If you’re coming, get on with it!” She heard Young Guardian shout.
“Fine!” Grand Magus huffed. She met her sister’s strange look.
“Uh, what are you wearing?” Young Guardian was trying not to laugh.
“Can you not see, Young Guardian?” Katherine Hawk-Stargazer remarked with a smile. “She, too, has a fighting outfit.”
“Laugh all you want, you two.” Grand Magus said sarcastically. “What I wear is not our main concern.”
“Aye, Shadow came to me, telling of his suspicions.” Katherine remarked. “Rumors have spread quickly, affirmed by Tobias himself.”
Young Guardian’s smile faded. “So, it’s true what they say?”
“Oh, aye Young Guardian.” Katherine nodded her feline head. “The Canine Army is training extra hard for it, too.”
“Will someone let me in on the secret?” Grand Magus spoke up.
“You mean, Shadow did not tell you?” Katherine was surprised. “Gloriana was seen in the Kingdom, and my own cousin Sabrina was caught by Lord Max.”
“That’s the only thing he did tell me.” Grand Magus remarked. “What he didn’t tell me is how a lowly Dominionite managed to travel here with what little demon-witch’s magic she had?”
Both Katherine and Young Guardian shrugged, shaking their heads.
“I do know this, though.” Young Guardian announced. “Sometime in the near future, we’re going to have a war, and Orthos is going to be deep in the middle of it.”
“He’s Exiled!” Grand Magus cried. “How’s he going to get back with all those Ancient Spells blocking him?”
“You’re the Grand Magus.” Young Guardian grinned. “I’m going to leave it to you to figure out.” She turned to Katherine. “In the meantime, I’m to have a word with Wolf and Toby, just to get the records straight.”
“Wait a minute.” Grand Magus stopped her sister as she tried to get away with Katherine in tow. “I know that look, and that tone, Young Guardian. You know something I don’t about the upcoming war, don’t you?”
Young Guardian looked at Katherine before nodding. “That I do.”
“We’re supposed to be partners in this.” Grand Magus remarked. “Tell me about your dreams.”
“My, she is persistent.” Katherine remarked.
“Not to mention suddenly observant.” Young Guardian was suspicious.
“I already told you why.” Grand Magus remarked. “Now it’s your turn.”
Young Guardian told her the same thing she told Wolf just nights before. “In my dreams, there is a war. The Crusaders and Companions, Ancient Mystics and Elders are on our side, fighting against Old Dominionites, Dark Areans, Gloriana and Orthos.” She took a breath. “According to my patrols, Orthos hasn’t returned yet, but I fear it’ll be soon.”
“Anything else, sister?” Grand Magus was interested in her sister’s dream.
“In that same dream, Tiger White was in battle, fighting the best he could alongside his canine friends. Toby was by Wolf’s side in another of my dreams, leading other Companions behind them. Somehow, all canines and felines, and every other Companion creatures I saw, were working together against a common cause.”
“Sounds to me your own Dream Premonition has a happy ending.” Grand Magus grinned. “Everything will turn out fine, you’ll see.”
“Not everything goes as a Dream Premonition says it will.” Katherine supplied, looking at both of them.
“As usual, you’re right, Katherine.” Grand Magus said. “Do you want me to stay for your ‘word’ with Wolf and Toby?”
“Only if you wish to, Grand Magus.” Katherine said.
“We’re not making you stay.” Young Guardian remarked. “After all, it’s my job to keep the peace around the Dream Realm, not yours.”
“Tell us when you get back.” Grand Magus told her sister. “I’m headed for home.”
They waved goodbye as Grand Magus disappeared, happy her own job wasn’t as demanding as the Young Guardian’s.

Chapter:
A Witch’s Spell

Amethyst was worried for her twin brother. Both Kelly Reading and her stepbrother Bradley Allen were worried for their father. Even Angel was worried for her once-happy uncle. Most of all, Ariana Reading, Aaron’s best friend, was worried for him.
She and Aimee were sitting at the picnic table in the Reading’s backyard, watching Aaron from yards away. He was sitting under a tree, staring into space. Both Ariana and Aimee tried telepathy on him, but his mind was blocking them out of it.
“This is so unlike him.” Ariana remarked, sighing. She continued to watch him, sending empathic waves of loving friendship and worry his way. She wouldn’t use her Empathy to feel his emotions. “Why is he blocking us out? I mean, we’re the ones that care about him most, and he’s blocking us out of his mind. I don’t get it.”
“Me, neither.” Aimee stared at her brother with Ariana. “We’re the Three Musketeers. We’ve been there for him when others couldn’t, or wouldn’t. The Crusaders have helped him conquer the Dark Unicorn Magic in his soul.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that matters to him anymore.” Ariana said softly, keeping her silver-blue eyes on the sad-looking Aaron Theodore across the yard.
Aimee sighed. “I don’t think anything does.”
“Something does, I’m sure of it.” Ariana said, finally turning to Aimee. “I have a feeling it has to do with his trip to the Dream Realm.”
Aimee nodded. “Me, too.” She said. “Besides his lack of voice, he’s physically fine. For the past week, he’s taken walks without letting anyone knowing where he’s going.”
“Maybe he’s searching for something?” Ariana asked.
“What for, though?”
“Whatever took his voice, forcing him into seclusion.” Ariana told her simply.
“What are you suggesting?” Aimee wondered.
Ariana stared at the solemn man that sat under a backyard tree. She tried to reach for him in her mind, the way they used to as children, but he blocked her off. Again.
She thought back to a week ago, when they shared a single, solitary kiss. “I think that kiss we shared told him something.”
Aimee grinned. “Oh, do tell.”
“We’ve changed a lot in the past year, and he’s finally feeling it.” Ariana said.
“Okay, I’m confused.” Aimee responded. “Explain.”
“Remember what Omri did to us?” Ariana began. Aimee nodded, so she continued. “He made me really think of Aaron’s and my relationship. He uncovered what was hidden beneath the surface.”
“I wish there was something we could do to help him get over you.” Aimee remarked.
Ariana grinned after a moment. “There may just be.” She stood. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?” Aimee asked. “What about the kids?”
“Juliet will take care of them.” Ariana grabbed her almost-sister’s hand. “Come on. You’re going to meet a very powerful friend of mine.”
Aimee gave her a confused look.
After telling Juliet she’d be back in a little while, Ariana drove across town with Aimee to visit an old friend.

II

Aaron noticed when his twin left with Ariana and sighed to himself. The woman in his dreams was haunting him again. Her face, her voice in his mind, her laughing eyes and beautiful smile. He couldn’t get the black-haired woman with the dual-colored eyes out of his mind. Coming back to the present and standing up, he headed into the Reading’s house to check on the kids.
Might as well do something useful while I’m here. Aaron thought to himself.
“Hello, Aaron.” Came a gentle female voice from the other room. He’d entered through the back and hadn’t seen the Reading’s live-in Caretaker, Juliet Grey. “What can I do for you?”
He knew she’d be hysterical if he tried telepathy on her, so he just shook his head.
“Nothing?” Juliet asked, worried. “Are you sure?”
He nodded, then found a pencil and a piece of paper to write on. He wrote. “I can’t talk. Where did Ariana go?”
“She went to a friend’s house with Aimee.” Juliet said. Concerned, she felt his head. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look a little pale.”
He jumped back, as Juliet’s hands felt warm, almost hot to the touch.
Aaron felt his cheeks. They were cool, and he remembered why. He’d used some of his own Unicorn Magic to block both his sister and Ariana out of his mind and emotions. They were worried, but he couldn’t have them poking around to find out what’s wrong with him. He was a little dizzy, now that he thought about it.
Juliet seemed to know what to do. “You sit down and I’ll fix you a sandwich.”
Aaron nodded. Good idea, he thought. He nodded his thanks.
Daddy? He heard his daughter Kelly’s voice in his mind, but didn’t dare block it. If you need me to heal you, just call me.
I’ll be fine after a sandwich, honey. Aaron relayed to her. Thank you anyway.
Her presence stayed in his mind for a moment before saying anything else. Don’t hurt Momma, okay?
Hurt her? I would never hurt her. Aaron assured her. His temples began to pulse, and his head was hurting from the telepathic conversation.
Kelly knew and soothed it with thoughts. That’s how she feels when you block her out. Aimee, too.
No. Impossible. I could never hurt your mother. Aaron shook his head in disagreement. Never.
He never realized until now what he did to his best friend and twin by blocking them out.
I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, Kelly. Aaron relayed. I never mean to hurt her. I love her too much for that.
I know you do, but she doesn’t love you in the same way. Kelly responded. She has Derrick, her Earthly Protector, to watch over her and love her. She doesn’t need