Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (electric book reader TXT) 📗

and Young Aaron Exiled us here.” She told him, not listening.
The statement had him thinking. “That Young Aaron is a royal pain, is he not?”
“Aye.” Shenara replied, then told him the story of her own Exiling. “He has the Unicorn Magic and Mother somehow found out.”
“Aye, it is unfortunate he does. He used it to Exile me as well, in front of my own father!” Damian was angered by the memories. “In that case, would you like to help me get back at them all?”
Shenara giggled. “I already started.” When he looked at her anxiously, it was her turn to hold him in suspense. She told him what she’d done to the lovesick Crusader in his own Dream Realm.
“Very clever my dear.” Damian said. “But I am more so. I stole a Ancient Mystic’s power.”
“All of it?”
“Nay, just enough to shake her up a little.” Damian said. “It were Sister Mary Ellen, Young Guardian’s older sister. It seemed Mary Ellen dreamed of an Imaginary Romeo, just as Young Guardian herself had so long ago. When the five sisters were in Witches Grove, I simply made her thoughts and images my own. I had her in my arms in no time, whispering into her ear as I disappeared, taking with me one of her powers. Neither Woods’ sister were the wiser.”
“Why would you wish to do that?”
He grinned an evil grin. “Because I can.” He told her, kissing her lips passionately.
After they made love on his bed, they lay next to each other, wondering.
“So, what’s next?” Shenara asked, snuggling into his embrace.
Damian laughed. “Only time will tell.”
With a wicked smile and a red, evil glow to his eyes, he disappeared, leaving her staring after him in wonder.
BOOK TWO:
THE CIRCLE UNBROKEN

Part One:
Evil From Within

Prologue:
The Cost of Love

A week after they met, Mary Ellen and Michael Ashburn asked her for a first “official” date. Mary Ellen couldn’t help pacing her bedroom. Ariana was there, happy to be there for her older sister.
“I hope my Imaginary Romeo is just like yours, Ariana.” Mary Ellen replied, finally sitting.
Ariana laughed, brushing her sister’s hair in front of the vanity mirror. “Why do you say that?”
“You and Derrick knew each other for years before you actually met, right?” Mary Ellen pointed out.
Ariana shrugged, smiling. “Yeah, I guess.” Her smile turned into a frown. “I was so happy when I finally met him, but it wasn’t the same.”
“Why?” Mary Ellen dared to whisper, staring at her sister’s reflection.
“I wished for perfection, but didn’t get it.” Ariana said. “Instead, he was mean to me. From the moment we met, I could tell something was going on, and he was keeping something from me.”
“Ever find out what that was?”
Ariana began braiding Mary Ellen’s hair. “Yeah. He was keeping Luna from me. Derrick was also anxious about showing his true feelings for me for awhile.”
“When did he decide to change?” Mary Ellen asked. “What made him open his heart to you?”
“I had a nightmare.” Ariana said. “It was when we were Crusading for the System.” She shook her head. “Enough about me. It’s your turn to be a Dream Girl to an Imaginary Romeo.”
At that, Mary Ellen sighed. “I can’t wait. We’re actually going on a first date.”
“I would have thought our little get-together would have thrown him off the chase.” Ariana teased her. “I mean, even I didn’t understand all that Magic stuff in the beginning.”
Mary Ellen laughed.
“Really. Look at us. We’re five Ancient Mystic women, with Magic in our souls and hearts, learning how to use it.” Ariana began. “The Maiden, who the Crusaders crushed years ago, is back to haunt us. She uses the Black-as-Night Crystal around her neck to get her power back, and test us on ours.”
Mary Ellen thought it over. “Now that I think about it, it does sound far-fetched.”
The girls heard the doorbell ring from downstairs. Mary Ellen stood.
Ariana closed her eyes and smiled, opening them again when she figured it out. “He’s here. Are you ready?”
Mary Ellen shrugged. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Thanks for helping me get prepared. I’m a mess when it comes to dating.”
Ariana giggled, shaking her head. The girls listened as it rang again. “You’d better go, or Michael will leave without you.”
The sisters hugged and Mary Ellen answered the door.
She met the smiling, but nervous, face of Michael Ashburn. He was holding a lone red rose, handing it to her. “Ready to go?”
Mary Ellen nodded. She was ready for anything.


II

As soon as her sister left, Ariana checked up on Aaron. Aimee answered, leading her to his bedroom.
“How has he been for the past week?” Ariana asked.
“Really exhausted.” Aimee replied. “He constantly complains of aches and pains.”
“We Exiled his little demon-mistress last week.” Ariana told her. “You mean to tell me he hasn’t regained his magical strength back yet?”
Aimee shrugged, joking. “I think he’s milking it for all it’s worth.”
Ariana thanked her and headed to Aaron’s room, where he found him sleeping peacefully. She sat beside him on the bed, stroking his hair. She could feel the Magic in his system bubbling as her hand reached the necklace and bracelet.
Aaron stirred, and found her sitting next to him.
“Hey you.” He whispered with a small smile, sitting up.
“How are you feeling?” Ariana took his hand.
“Better.” Aaron said. “I’m slowly getting back my Magical strength. What about you?”
Ariana nodded. “I’m fine, too. It’s been a quiet week without you, Aaron.”
Aaron and Ariana’s eyes met. He kissed her gently on the lips. She didn’t know what to think about it. Her heart jumped, as it always did when he kissed her like that. She quickly looked away, ashamed of her own actions, but unwilling to deny her feelings for him.
That’s when he surprised her with a statement.
“I felt you kiss me in my Dream Realm, my Ariana Moon.” Aaron pulled her to himself on the bed. “That was no kiss from a best friend.”
Ariana tried to push away, but Aaron’s hand caught her arm. He kissed her lips once again. “Aaron, stop. Please.” Ariana begged, but her emotions screamed for more. “We can’t.”
“Why not?”
Ariana stood up and she quickly thought of an excuse. “Because. I’m married and have four children.”
“One of which is mine.”
“Aaron!” she nearly screamed.
“What?” He exclaimed, frustrated. “It’s true, right?”
“That’s not the point.” Ariana’s voice lowered again. “You’ve been dwelling on the past way too much lately.”
“What’s the harm in that?” He shrugged.
“What’s the harm?!” Ariana echoed. “I beg you, plead you. As your best friend, mother of your child, fellow Crusader and your Young Guardian – Don’t let the Dark Magic take over again. Please.” Ariana was in tears by the time she finished. “I don’t want to deal with that pain again.”
He whispered, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“The Dark Magic.” Ariana pointed out. “Do you remember what it almost did to us?” He stared and she ticked. “It made you so crazy, you took advantage of Luna.”
“That was years ago.” Aaron argued. “Nothing like that’s going to happen now.”
“Don’t be too sure of yourself, Aaron Theodore.” Ariana commanded. “I’m warning you now. Don’t let it happen again.”
What that in mind, she left, slamming the door behind her. He stared after her, angry at her biting words.

III

Mary Ellen sat beside Michael in a booth a Pierre’s, an expensive French restaurant. They talked about everything they could possibly think of; from college to each other. When the subject turned to the get-together a week earlier at the Clubhouse, Mary Ellen was nervous.
“What did I say?” Michael asked.
“You, nothing.” Mary Ellen replied. “It’s all me.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“What do you believe about the Ancient Mystics?” Mary Ellen replied. “You grew up in Hill View, right?” He nodded. “What were your feelings about us? What rumors did you hear and believe?”
Michael was uncomfortable as he stared at her. “The same as everyone else, I guess.” He said. “Devil-worshiping, power-hungry, seductive and a little insane.”
Mary Ellen stared at him. “Do you still believe that?”
Michael took a drink and thought of his words carefully before saying them. “Now that I’ve met you, no.” She stared at him, her silver-blue eyes piercing into his, making his heart jump. “I’m ready to see for myself what the Ancient Mystics are about.” He said, taking her hand from across the table. “I’m willing to forget everything I’ve learned and start with fresh, new eyes.”
Mary Ellen swallowed. “Really? You’d do that?”
Michael smiled, and his green eyes sparkled. He squeezed her hand.
“I have to tell you something.” Mary Ellen said. “You have to listen and promise not to judge me.”
Michael didn’t think the tone of her voice sounded promising, but he nodded anyway.
“The Maiden of the Unknown, Sabrina, is after us.” Mary Ellen started. “She’s using the power from a necklace called the Black-as-Night Crystal, to test us on the powers we’re all afraid of.”
He shifted, listening, but didn’t interrupt.
Mary Ellen looked down, playing with her food with a free hand. “I’m most afraid of the Premonition. You know what that is, right?”
Michael nodded. “Telling the future?”
Mary Ellen confirmed it. “Yeah, and Sabrina somehow knew about my dreams.”
“What were your dreams about?” Michael whispered. “Or is that being too nosy?”
Mary Ellen studied his face. The neatly-combed sandy-blond hair was away from his face, accenting his bright green eyes. After a moment, she smiled.
“You.” She said. “I dreamed about you, time and time again, only I didn’t know you were real until I met you in the Admissions Office.”
Michael was astonished. “Really? Your dreams were about me?”
She nodded, blushing. “This is where it gets interesting. A couple of weeks ago, Sabrina’s brother Damian disguised himself as you. He lured me into his arms, where he took one of my powers away from me before disappearing. I woke up screaming, yet wondering who he was imitating.”
Michael released her hand, gulping. He sat back in the booth and contemplated her words. “I, uh, don’t know what to say. I mean, I’ve dreamed about you, too, for I don’t know how long, only I thought you were just that. A dream.” Mary Ellen stared at him, biting her lower lip. “I never really expected to actually meet you.”
“Neither did I.” Mary Ellen supplied in a whisper. “I just assumed...”
“I stayed a dream?” Michael finished her sentence for her. “What about now?”
“Now, I don’t know.” Mary Ellen said. “I’m sorry for dragging you into our Magical mess, Michael.”
At that, he smiled, laughing lightly at her words. The very sound of her voice, like a song, made his heart beat faster. “Don’t mention it.”
For the rest of the evening, she did just that.
Chapter:
Second Thoughts

A couple days later, Derrick Reading joined his friends at the bar downtown. Craig Richardson, Shane Morehouse, Aaron Schmidt and Derrick’s brother Jake were gathered around him. They all knew the truth behind the mysterious, powerful Ancient Mystics, and loved the girls the same.
Jake had been dating Anna Woods since they were teenagers. When he’d turned into a rebel, and his parents began to fight, Anna stuck by his side, loving him and helping him through it. Now, they were inseparable.
At Derrick’s wedding in Hill View, a special ceremony held by his parents, his childhood best friend Craig had met his Ancient Mystic beauty in Claudia Woods, Anna’s youngest sister. Sure, it was a rough beginning with all the rumors against the Ancient