Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (read me a book TXT) 📗

her eyes and projected herself to the Bennington's. She shoved the Crystal back into her pocket and raised her hand to knock on the door, only to have it open before her.
She met the dark eyes of Darlene "Red Shawl Starchaser" Bennington, High Priestess of the Magick of the Blue Moon Coven and Sierra "Airmed Starchaser" Gregory's aunt. "Welcome back, Blood-sister Adarra."
Adarra was Luna's Pagan name, given to her by Red Shawl herself.
Of the many times she'd entered this house during the day, this was the first she noticed Red Shawl coming from the shadows behind the door. Yet another common trait of the Dweller-kin she was learning -- their eyes are sensitive to light, at least those of the Watcher-kin Sundancers were. That fact answered a lot of questions.
"You're Dweller-kin?" Adarra asked as Red Shawl closed the door behind them.
"That's right." Red Shawl nodded with a smile. "You've met the Watcher-kin Abra Starchaser?" Adarra nodded. "He's my father. Through him and his Ancient Mystic Bondmate Melinda, I am a Watcher-kin Sundancer. After Shadow took you home to recover, Uncle Firestorm and Aunt Emerald told me about the Blood-binding."
"He didn't happen to tell you why I came, did he?"
"No, Adarra, I'm afraid not." Red Shawl said. "I believe he left that for you."
She led them downstairs, where Adarra could feel the powers of two pulsating Books of Shadows. In one corner on a pedestal was a book six inches thick. That was the Coven's combined Book. Red Shawl didn't reach for that one. On the contrary, she crossed to the other side of the room for the Bennington Book, which was much older and much more potent.
Adarra knew what powers that one held, and she was scared stiff. Red Shall had shown her that particular Book many times, telling her it had been in their family since before time began. Back to when Diamond, Emerald's older Jewel Elder-kin Dweller brother, and his then-near-Bondmate Carlotta Bennington (Dragonsinger) met and Bonded.
Adarra stared at the book, feeling the warmth of the Crystal buzzing in her pocket.
"So, Adarra, what do you want to know?" Red Shawl asked.
Adarra took the Crystal from her pocket and showed it to the High Priestess. "What do you know of this?"
The Priestess took it from Adarra's hand and levitated it in the air. "Let's find out, shall we?"
The women noticed the closer the Crystal came to the Bennington's Book of Shadows, the faster it spun and whirled, giving off a brilliant glow.
Red Shawl closed her eyes and placed her hands just high enough for the pages to turn with a simple wave. Adarra stared first at the glowing book, then the glowing Crystal, then to Red Shawl's glowing hands.
The glowing stopped when the book found a page. Adarra held her breath.
Red Shawl pointed to a page with her finger and opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw which page the book stopped at. "Come and see for yourself, blood-Sister."
Adarra was reluctant, but she did it anyway. The picture on the page was a sphere made up of several jewels, all colors and all magical. She'd seen it before and recognized it right away. "That's the Dream Realm's Sphere!" She stared at Red Shawl.
Red Shawl shrugged. "Unfortunately, that's the only thing I know about it."
Adarra pouted and asked. "Do you know anyone who'd be able to help me?"
"Go to the one who brought that Crystal back." Red Shawl said. "They should know."
"Sabrina!" Adarra whispered, grabbing the Crystal out of the air. "Thanks, Red Shawl!"
With that, she disappeared, her astral-self rejoining her Grand Magus self in the Dream Realm.
Darlene "Red Shawl Starchaser" Bennington sighed, whispering and opening the Dweller kin-Clan channel in her mind to her uncle. "Please, keep a close eye on her Uncle. I See grave days for the Ancient Mystics ahead."
"You have our word, niece." Firestorm answered.

IV

Sabrina flew over the Ancient Mystic Province and the Shady Kingdom, searching for the Grand Magus. She happened to glance at the Grey Arean Army, with her daughter Tempest leading a small squad. The Companion Army was in their drills, overlooked by Sire Tobias White-Snow's new Squire Panther Grey and his Knight Sir Essex Crowley. Sabrina could also see Lord Byron's Knights practicing armed and unarmed combat drills, both on and off horseback.
That's what worried her now. What did the Originators know that she didn't? She didn't sense anything except what her brother may be planning.
Right now, it didn't matter. All that did was finding the Grand Magus.
Sabrina, still in her raven form, finally found her where she usually was. She was at the Feline Village, visiting with Lady Kitten's Claw and her husband Sire White-Snow.
Follow my lead, cousin. The raven named Sabrina sent to her cousin Kitten's Claw.
Must we? Kitten's Claw raised an arm for her to perch.
Sabrina answered with a loud SQUAWK!
Very well. Let us get this over with then, shall we? Kitten's Claw sent to Sabrina in her mind. Out loud, she said. "What do you wish?"
Sabrina shook her head. Nothing from you. Only her. The raven nodded to the Grand Magus.
Make it quick, then. Kitten's Claw sighed and nodded to Grand Magus. "Hold out your arm, cousin."
Luna did and the Sabrina-raven hopped from Kit's forearm to hers. "Who?"
"Look into the eyes, Grand Magus." Kit said. "You will see."
Luna and the raven stared at each other. "Sabrina?" Sabrina squawked again. "Guess so." Luna laughed. "Can you shift back?"
Sabrina-the-raven preened her feathers and picked at something under her wing with her beak.
"Sigh. I'll take that as a no." Grand Magus supplied. "Something tells me she wants to talk to me alone. I'll take her somewhere and help her shift back."
Kitten's Claw nodded with a smile, letting her once-evil cousin do her "thing."
Grand Magus took the raven Sabrina to the Feline Village's Meadows. She was curious when Sabrina hopped off her arm and shifted in midair to her human form in front of her eyes.
"Wait a minute, Sabrina." Grand Magus shook her head. "What's going on? Why wouldn't you shift in front of Kit?"
"One reason." Sabrina answered. "I did not want them to know, especially Tobias."
"Know what?" Grand Magus supplied. "Make it quick. You know how I hate wasting time."
Sabrina gulped. "There is something I need to tell you."
Grand Magus frowned, folding her arms. "I'm listening."
"I threatened Shenara into giving you the Crystal."
"What? Why?" Grand Magus asked.
"Because I know you." Sabrina supplied. "I know how you are with all kinds of magic. I know, because I was the same way as well, only darker. That is why I took the Dark Magic to its darkest corners. As you know, I did it with the help of the Black-as-Night Crystal and the segments of the Dominionite Crystal."
"Why are you telling me this?" The Grand Magus was suspicious.
"You did want to know about the Crystal, correct?"
Grand Magus unfolded her arms. "Yes, I guess so." She said. "Did you know what it would do to our family when you brought it back? Our Earthbound family, no doubt?"
"I had no idea, honest, Grand Magus." Sabrina looked down.
"Did you have any idea of the Crystal being part of the Dream Realm's Sphere?" Grand Magus asked.
"Of course," Sabrina nodded. "Mother told me it was how we distinguished between Creatures and Companions, Dominionites and Demons, Imagination and pure Nightmares. Mother could not teach us much after that, especially when the Wars for Power were being fought."
"Understandable."
"Let us go to Mother and see what else she knows about it."
"I agree." Grand Magus agreed, changing into a falcon as she took flight.
Sabrina shifted into a raven, following her cousin to the Grey Area's Shady Kingdom and Queen Jezebel. 
Story #2:
The Evil Twin

Two more nights of sleeping in the armchair by the bedside and Shane's neck ached. He still wondered why he couldn't sense her, even in her own Dream Realm. He didn't want to hurt her any more than she already would be.
The blood-binding was tricky with the human bloodstream, so it would take a while for hers to adjust to it. He caressed her hair and gasped. The Black-as-Night Crystal, and all who'd ever touched it, was on her mind.
Figured. He thought to himself. Luna couldn't find anything about that Crystal so she was on a scavenger hunt.
He felt something else in her mind. Thoughts of the years of being apart from her dear twin hurt her more than anything else.
What was he going to do? The great Shadow Morehouse's mind was baffled. There was only one thing he could do.
He was going in. While she was still sleeping, he was going to Crusade to the Realm of Dreams to search for her.
Then again, what about the blood-binding? He couldn't interrupt her recovering from it. Maybe he could just assume play the silent, loving Earthly Protector he was and not ask questions?
Like hell you will, Shane Michael Morehouse! His conscience cried in his mind. It was the inner Shadow. The one that was more courageous than the one he was now. Get in there and find her! You are the only one to help her, anytime, anywhere. It's your job as her Protector.
"What if I can't find her?" Shane whispered to himself, as he watched her body sleep. "What if I hurt her before the blood-binding is set in her body?"
Stop making excuses and go for it, already! Emerald and Firestorm will do their part, so you have to take care of yours.
He was going for it now, hot and determined. With two Dweller-kin by his side, there wasn't anything that could possibly happen to his Sweetling Luna. While she was still lying silent, he was going to Crusade to the Realm of Dreams and search for her.
The only problem was, who would stand beside him while he did it? It had to be someone who was used to seeing magical things happen, and how to deal with them without panicking.
Then it came to him, and he wondered why he hadn't thought of her before. He headed across the street to the Reading’s.
"You're going to find her, aren't you?" Fourteen-year-old Kelly asked when she answered the door. He followed her, shutting the door after them. She folded her arms. "Aunt Luna. She's missing?"
"You bet, kid." Shane supplied. "Know what to do?"
Kelly nodded, saluting and winking. "I'm a Crusader, too. I know what to do. We'll find her, I promise."
"Let's do this already." Shane supplied.
Kelly followed him across the street to his house and to his bedroom. After a moment of silence and her staring at Luna, he had to ask. "Well, kid, what do you sense?"
Kelly studied Luna's form, a hand over her aunt's eyes. "So much confusion. So much on her mind. From the Forgetfulness Spell so many years ago, to the years of not being with Momma. From her own obsession of any kind of magic, and now to being a new blood-Sister to Firestorm. I'm surprised she's not going in overdrive." Kelly sighed. "Well, I'm here for you Uncle Shane. Just be careful, okay?"
Be careful, she said. That got his attention. He was definitely Crusading to the Realm of Dreams now. "Watch over me?"
Kelly nodded.
He lay on the bed beside his wife and called the Dream Chant as he held his Pendant-Locket. Now, to find his Sweetling.

II

Sabrina flew in her raven form as the Grand Magus flew in her falcon form. They teased each other by flying circles around each other and cawing their laughter.