Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (best detective novels of all time TXT) 📗

The Ancient Mystic Circle Saga
#2: Demon Fire

By

Lady Adellandra Dratianos,
Author of The Young Guardian Trilogy


BOOK I: The Lost and the Found
Part One: Happiness Disturbed

Prologue One:
Forgotten Visions

Claudia Woods, now named Richardson, was wide awake. It had been six months since she and her sisters were in any real danger. Claudia was now married to Craig Richardson, and he was well into learning how to be an Earthly Protector, a kind of protector over an Ancient Mystic. For six months, life was quiet for Claudia and her four sisters, Anna, Mary Ellen, Ariana and Luna. Anna was married to Jake Reading and one of the most prestigious families in Ray County. Her older brother Kevin was finally married to Craig’s older sister, Andrea. Mary Ellen was engaged to a man she’d only met months before, Michael Ashburn. The twins, Ariana and Luna, were already married with families of their own. It was the perfect world for the Ancient Mystics.
Only, Claudia was awake, thinking about something that had been on her mind for six months. She felt bad for not telling anyone, for she knew it was crucial for her sisters to know.
Six months ago, Claudia had a strange, foreboding vision.

Claudia’s visionary self was in a cemetery, letting her empathy lead the way.
She saw gravestones. Looking around, she saw each of those she knew by heart. Mark Grey, Diane Parker, Ariana Parker, and Jack Parker were all in the same family plot around her. Behind them were her own relatives, Melody Jacobs being one of them. She couldn’t read the rest, but knew who they were.
From the corner of her eye, Claudia saw a tiny light shining. She looked up to see the ghost of someone she didn’t even know.
“Leave here, Ancient Mystic child...” The ghost’s raspy voice moaned.
“Why?” Claudia’s voice echoed.
“The Maiden hath returned.”

The Maiden was the Dominionite Maiden, an evil cousin of Claudia’s that scared the hell out of every Ancient Mystic known. All except the all-mighty Young Guardian, her sister Ariana.
She had to warn the Young Guardian. Reluctantly, she called the Dream Chant and went to find her sister on patrol.

Young Guardian was on patrol, all right. She was fighting an old-Dominionite demon in the Dream Realm. Her sister must have sensed her presence, because she shouted.
“Claudia – help me with this thing!”
Ariana was using her magic to shield herself from the demon, but it wasn’t working. Instead, the demon had her shackled with its own red-fire magic.
Claudia panicked. “What should I do?”
She’d never fought demons in the Dream Realm before. She didn’t know how to react to seeing one, let alone fighting one.
Her sister cried out one word. “Water!”
She got an idea. Using magic she hadn’t known she’d had, Claudia Marie Woods-Richardson raised her arms and cried out a powerful spell.
“May the winds of change delight, may the sands of time take flight. May the fires you burn bright be extinguished by the ocean’s wet watery sprite!”
From her palms came a spray of water to soak the demon, forcing it to run and hide. Claudia went to her sister.
“Claud? A wet watery sprite?” Ariana was joking, but grateful her sister had come to her rescue.
Claudia shrugged. “Was that a Dominionite?”
“One of many left here, yes.” Ariana took her sister’s hand and was standing in moments. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful little sister, but what are you doing here?”
“I came searching for you.”
“What for?”
“I have something to tell you.” Claudia started. She noticed Ariana’s white gown was soaked through. “Sorry for the shower.”
“No problem. It’s nothing a little fire magic won’t fix.” Ariana closed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
Claudia watched as her entire body glowed red, both drying her clothes, making them sparkle again and warming the cool Dominionite air around her. She couldn’t help giggling.
“There.” Ariana grinned. “All better.”
“I wish I knew how to do that.”
“You do, you just don’t know it, yet.” Ariana assured her. “What did you want to tell me?”
Claudia’s eyes went directly to Ariana’s. She closed her mind-path off from her sister, so the Young Guardian couldn’t read her thoughts.
“Claudia?” Ariana placed a hand on her sister’s shoulders. “Is it about Craig?”
Claudia shook her head. “No, not about him. It’s not even about the baby we’re expecting in a few months.”
“What is it?” Ariana’s voice was concerned.
Claudia had to tell her older sister. The entire Realms of the Worlds were in danger from Sabrina.
“Sabrina?” Ariana’s voice was now confused. “What about her?”
So much for not letting her read my mind. Claudia thought to herself. Aloud, she said. “She’s Earthbound, hiding out in the same place Mark Grey is buried.”
“Hill View Cemetery.” Ariana supplied. “Thanks for telling me.”
“I’m afraid I may have told you too late.” Claudia announced before her sister could disappear to warn Lord Guardian O’Dell.
Ariana folded her arms. “Too late? Just how long have you kept this from us?”
“Six months.” Claudia squeaked. Before her sister could go on a tirade about how important it was to tell people things like this, she interrupted. “I had a good reason.”
“So, tell me your good reason.” Young Guardian wasn’t happy with her younger sister at the moment.
“Everyone was so happy after Aaron and Aimee rescued us from the Unknown. I didn’t want to ruin that.”
“It doesn’t –”
“I know, it doesn’t matter how happy we were, I should have told you sooner.”
“As soon as you knew.” Ariana nodded.
“I only knew it in a vision. I’m sorry for keeping it secret for so long.”
Ariana sighed. “Claudia, listen to me. You’re my sister, and I love you to bits, but you’re still an Ancient Mystic. It doesn’t matter now how you found out, or even that you didn’t tell us right away. All that does matter is we know, and from what you know, I’ll be able to find and Re-exile her.”
“What about the baby you’re expecting? Aren’t your powers on-hold in our world until he’s born?”
Ariana couldn’t help grinning. “How did you know the sex?”
“When I last felt him kick, I could sense it.”
“At least you use your Empathy.” Ariana remarked. “Wish I could convince Lu it was harmless.”
“Your powers?” Claudia was used to her sister getting off track, but she was relentless and plain ridiculous when it came to her beloved twin Luna.
“Right.” Ariana said. “My powers aren’t on-hold because I’m not Earthbound. I have full control over every power I have.”
“I’m just worried about the baby.” Claudia said. “What if Sabrina uses her powers against you and hurts my nephew?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, okay?” Ariana supplied. “In the meantime, go home and relax. My niece needs her mother’s attentions more than I do.”
Claudia smiled.
Ariana winked, knowing her sister was thinking the same thing she had been. “She told me. I promise, I won’t tell Craig.”
“Thanks, he doesn’t want to know anyway.”
“I know.” Ariana said.
Claudia could feel the air turn cold again. She shivered and watched as her older sister’s hand hit her temple.
“Ariana, what is it?” Claudia asked, panicking. Was this to be another demon for her to fight? She hoped not.
“Run. Now.” Ariana gasped, falling to her knees. She screamed, and both sisters could feel the evil essence in the air. “Go!”
Claudia could only listen and disappear.

Frightened, she woke up with a gasp.
“Claudia? What is it? Is it the baby?”
Craig had woken with her, throwing a comforting arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. She was calm in moments, but her mind was reeling with thought.
“Remember when I had a vision in the backyard?” She whispered.
“Yeah.” Craig nuzzled her neck.
“Sabrina’s Earthbound.”
This got Craig’s attention. “Have you told anyone?”
She nodded her head, stray hairs making her new husband sneeze. She turned to meet his golden-brown eyes, kissing his nose. “I just told Ariana.” She moved to sit up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Craig grinned lazily. He was half-asleep, she could tell.
“To tell the others.”
“Not tonight, you won’t.” Craig supplied, pulling her back to him. “Sleep now. With me.”
Claudia needed some thinking time, only Craig wasn’t exactly playing along. She needed to be alone. Hand on her enlarged belly, she got an idea. “Need I remind you I’ve got your baby on my bladder?”
Craig groaned. “Claud! Did you have to tell me the gory details?”
“Yes, will you let me go now?”
“Fine. As long as you come back to bed afterward.” Craig supplied.
“I will.”
“To sleep.” Craig warned.
Claudia kissed him before turning to the door. What Craig didn’t know was that she wouldn’t sleep another wink for the rest of the night.

II

Sibylline, Queen of the Epsilon, couldn’t help being worried for her daughters still left in the Dream Realm. Sure, they’ve been through the Crusades. They looked after their own parts of the Dream Realm, raising their own children, but something still wasn’t finished.
Sibylline was worried for good reason. She’d seen in her own Staff – the same Staff she’d let Lady Katherine borrow to test her power in the Crusades – what was to come. Sabrina and Damian fighting Katherine and Young Guardian’s sisters in the Abyss, the five of them outwitting the siblings, and even what happened with the Black-as-Night Crystal in Young Guardian’s hands. She saw something else now, of where the siblings disappeared when the spell was cast. Damian had gone back to the Unknown to warn his father, and Sabrina... Sabrina was another story.
If only there were some way...
To help them, save them from the evil Sabrina’s Magical grasp. Before it was too late.
She sighed, sitting at her throne, thinking it over. Lord Braken, her husband and daughters’ father, was in the village, greeting the followers. This left her alone to fend for herself in the huge Castle.
“My Lady Sibylline?” A sweet voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see a young woman, with dark-brown hair and silver-blue eyes.
“Yes Sarabeth?”
“May I be permitted to speak with you, one on one?” Sarabeth asked timidly.
Sibylline smiled. “Yes, of course. Come close, my Princess.”
Sarabeth slowly made her way to Sibylline’s side.
Queen Sibylline had to smile at the girl. Since her Outer Realm death a generation ago, Sarabeth had been ‘adopted’ by Sibylline and Lord Braken. She was the youngest daughter of Enchantra, once Earthbound to save her life and soul.
“What bothers you?” Sibylline asked.
“I was to ask the same as you, my Queen.” Sarabeth replied, not letting her eyes meet those of Sibylline. “Have you heard from your sisters lately?”
“Nay, not since the Crusades.” Sibylline said sadly.
How she missed her dear elder sisters, Enchantra and Challandra? Even the torment of Jezebel was enough for Sibylline’s mind to miss. Jezebel was her twin, after all.
“They have a new vengeance on their minds now.” Sarabeth said. “I have seen a vision myself.”
“What was yours?”
“Sabrina has come up missing.” Sarabeth replied. “No one in either of the Realms knows where she is. Not even Shannon and her Crusaders.”
Sibylline stared at her Princess. “How do you know this?”
Sarabeth bit her lip. “I have been to Shannon’s Dream Realm.”
Shannon was Sarabeth’s younger twin daughter. She was also the one responsible for getting the