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

Young Guardian and her Earthly Protector together, thus forming the Crusaders.
Sibylline wasn’t exactly happy with the confession, but understood her reasons. “What have I told you about that, Sarabeth?”
“Not to do it.” Sarabeth supplied. “I apologize, but I had to see how my girls were fairing in the Outer Realm.” She spoke up, this time with more excitement in her voice. “Did you know Shannon is now married to Michael’s son, Nick? They now have a son of their own, naming him after Michael’s father, Martin. You should see him. I have a grandson!”
Sibylline laughed. “Princess Sarabeth, you made me smile for the first time today.”
Sarabeth was the one to stare at her. “What do you mean, my Lady?”
“Your very enthusiasm makes me smile.” Sibylline explained. “I only wish that for myself sometimes.”

Later, Sarabeth was locked in her own quarters by the castle guards.
She was restless as she paced her quarters. Something was happening, and there was no way of doing anything about it from here.
The Realm of the Epsilon was nearly cut of from the rest of the Dream Realm. The only link were the Ancient Mystic Mirrors in the Ancient Mystic Palace in the Province and in Sibylline’s own Mirror Room in the corner of the Epsilon Palace.
Sarabeth, Princess to Queen Sibylline and Lord Braken Hawk since her Outer Realm death almost thirty Earthbound years ago, wanted to help. She knew Sibylline had seen the same vision of hell-fire and Sabrina as she had. There was no question about it.
Unfortunately, she was bound by a spell to her quarters, left to wait in wonder.
Sarabeth took a deep breath and tried the door once again. It had been locked for a while now, and hopefully Sibylline and Braken’s combined Magics were weakened enough for her to escape. As she touched the knob, it stung her hand.
Why are you keeping me here, my Queen? Sarabeth sent the telepathic message to her aunt. I have done nothing wrong!
There was no response, so she sat on her bed, angry. She stared at the doorknob, which had the familiar red glow of the Dragon Magic surrounding it.
If it’s Dragon Magic they keep me here with, I shall only oblige with that of the Unicorn. Sarabeth thought to herself.
Though it had been nearly a generation since she’d used any of her more powerful Magics, Sarabeth stood and faced the door. She closed her eyes and outstretched her arms, concentrating on the Unicorn Magic’s green glow as she whispered the spell. She could feel its warmth heating her body, moving from her Ancient Mystic Force within to her arms. She opened her eyes once feeling it were safe to do so, watching the Unicorn Magic engulf the door. In moments, her Unicorn Magic was taking the Dragon Magic spell and making it disappear.
Once it had, she tried the knob again, successfully turning it without pain.
Sarabeth smiled as she made her way to the Palace’s Courtyard. Whatever she sensed had to be intense, intuition taking her here.
She found Queen Jezebel of the Grey Area and Queen Sibylline talking, but decided to stay silent. Being the two were twins, Sarabeth didn’t know who was who until the one sitting on the bench spoke.
“If it were under better circumstances, I would definitely say it were a pleasure to see you again, sister dear.” It was Sibylline herself.
Her sister Jezebel was standing above her, a kind of pink aura of Magic surrounding her. “I wish it were, Sibylline. Unfortunately, we are in danger.”
“I saw the vision of your daughter in my Crystal.” Sibylline stood “Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“I am afraid I do.” Jezebel sighed, shaking her head. “I saw her in my Crystal, Earthbound. Katherine came to me, telling me she and Sabrina fought, with my daughter disappearing.”
Sibylline nodded. “Aye. Both Sara and myself saw her in the Abyss.”
“Did you see what was in Young Guardian’s hands during the battle?” Jezebel prodded, watching her twin’s response.
Sibylline shook her head. “No, I cannot say I did.” She was curious. “What was it?”
“The Black-as-Night Crystal.” Jezebel announced.
Sarabeth gasped from her hiding spot, covering her mouth so they wouldn’t hear her.
She knew of the odd-shaped crystal’s evil powers. In the wrong hands, it would be disastrous.
Quick as she could, she raced to the Ancient Mystic Portal. Even if she was bound to her room for an Earthbound year, Sarabeth had to do it.
She couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. She had to warn everyone in the Dream Realm.
Sarabeth, once finding the Ancient Mystic Portal, placed both her hands on the Mirror’s glass, calling the spell. Before she knew it, she’d appeared back in the Dream Realm.
“Ow!” Sarabeth cried softly as she found herself crumpled on the floor of the Ancient Mystic Palace.
“Sarabeth!” She heard her mother Enchantra’s voice behind her, startled. Was she angry as well? “What are you doing here?”
“I, uh, came to visit, Mother.” Sarabeth stood and faced her, brushing the wrinkles out of her dress.
Enchantra wasn’t convinced. “Truth.” She said seriously.
“I truly wanted to visit, Mother.” Sarabeth pressed. “Do you not believe me?”
Enchantra shook her head. “I am willing to bet Sibylline does not know of your whereabouts.”
Sarabeth couldn’t meet her eyes. “No, Mother, she does not. I snuck through the Portal without her permission.”
“You know what she will find once she sees the Mirror?” Enchantra asked her.
Sarabeth nodded. “Aye, I know the white glow will give myself away, but I could not stay one moment more.”
“You must go back.” Enchantra repeated, folding her arms. She was insistent.
“Why, Mother?”
“It is too dangerous for you here.”
“It is even more dangerous in the Epsilon, for Queen Jezebel herself had come to Queen Sibylline.”
Enchantra was intrigued. “Why?”
“Sabrina is Earthbound. Jezebel saw it herself.” Sarabeth shuddered. “Please, Mother, I cannot go back now.”
Enchantra hugged her youngest daughter. “Very well, you can stay until you feel the need to return.” Sarabeth smiled.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“On one condition.” Enchantra kissed her forehead.
“Anything.”
“Behave.”
“I always behave Mother, you know that.” Sarabeth giggled. “I promise, though. I shall behave.”
With a hug to her mother, she left to find Lady Katherine and warn her.

III

After Sarabeth left the Palace, Enchantra went in search of her twin Challandra. The sisters usually did everything together, but Challandra hadn’t been around lately.
She found her sister in the greenhouse garden, rocking in a chair as she caressed the petals of a rose with her fingers.
“What bothers you, sister?” Enchantra inquired.
Challandra sighed. “Love. Seeing O’Dell around has me thinking of Byron.”
“Ah, I see.” Enchantra said. “You miss him.”
“I also miss my children.” Challandra replied. She put the rose on the table beside her. “I wonder how much they have grown since the Wars?”
“They were just babes when Orthos attacked and destroyed the Kingdom Castle.” Enchantra said. “Lord Byron was lucky to get himself and the children to safety in time.”
Challandra sighed, staring out the window.
“I cannot stand seeing you like this, Challie.” Enchantra supplied, moving to hug her sister from behind. “Cheer up, if not for me, for yourself.”
“I see you with O’Dell, Jezebel with Max, and even Young Guardian with Protector Derrick. All of you are happy with someone you love best of all.” Challandra replied. “What about me, Chantie? Am I not aloud to be happy?”
“Of course you are.” Enchantra said.
“Why am I so sad?”
“You know the reason, Challandra.” Enchantra replied.
“I just want to be happy.” Her sister whispered. “Like I was before the Wars.”
It took a moment for Enchantra to think of something to do about her.
“Go, find Byron and the children.” She said.
Challandra turned to meet her sister’s smile. “Really?” Enchantra grinned, nodding. “What about?”
“O’Dell and I can handle it, if the Young Ones should need us.” Enchantra assured her. “Your happiness is more important to me than your spells or herbs.”
Challandra hugged her twin. “Thank you, Chantie.”
As her sister disappeared, she said into the air. “You are welcome. Be happy!”
Enchantra was alone at last in the Palace. Dixilynne lived on her own with her Earthly Protector Theodore, who was known as the Apprentice. Dorianne, Dixilynne’s twin sister, still lived in the Outer Realm with her husband Paul, who was oblivious to the amount of power his wife carried. Sarabeth, direct with warning from the Epsilon, had left to find her cousin Katherine.
She thought of O’Dell, cooped up in his Chambers and grinned. She would never be alone as long as he was around.
Prologue #2:
Sabrina’s Return

Katherine Hawk-Stargazer sparred with her Young Guardian friend, teaching her the basics of sword-work.
“This isn’t as easy as it looks.” Ariana smiled at her feline friend.
“Nothing that requires work ever is.” Katherine remarked. “You should know that by now.”
“Sure I should, and do.” Ariana remarked. “I’m a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, wife, student and friend – and that’s just Earthbound!”
“That’s right.” Katherine supplied with a smile. “Here, you are the Young Guardian and the Goddess of Spirit, Akasha.”
“Either way, I’m tired by the end of the day.” Ariana grinned.
Katherine giggled. “I will take that as a hint. Let us rest for a while.”
“There’s an idea that’s behind its time.”
The two sat on a bench to rest, placing their practice swords beside them. Katherine watched as her friend rubbed her back, wincing.
“You really should be careful, Young Guardian.” Lady Katherine lectured her long-time friend. “If you take it too far, you will go into early labor.”
“I feel fine, Kat. Relax.” Ariana told her. “I need to stay in shape, even while I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant or not, you still need to be careful.”
Ariana laughed. “Katherine! Please, relax. I’ve had four children so far, and I’ve either Crusaded or patrolled with each one. Look at how they turned out.”
“Let’s see. The Enchanted child was born when you were only a child yourself. Young Ones Mark and Andrew were born while you were Earthbound and Young Melody was born shortly before you fully learned the Dark Magic.” Katherine pointed out. “Am I missing anything?”
“No, nothing.” Ariana supplied. “Come on, Kat. Cut me some slack. I can take full care of myself and the new baby, so don’t fret so much, okay?”
“You yourself told me of your visions concerning my cousins.” Katherine replied. “I just want to make sure you are okay. We would not want you to be too stressed.”
“Stressed!” Ariana laughed. “I laugh in the face of stress. Huh-ha!”
Even Katherine had to giggle at that one. “Promise you will take it easy.”
Ariana nodded. “I promise. Now, about those powers of yours.”
Katherine cringed. Six months ago, Outer Realm time, she found she had two powers in her system dueling each other. Being both Ancient Mystic and Companion, she had each of their Magics in her blood. From her mother Sibylline, she was an Ancient Mystic. Her father Braken Hawk was a full Companion. Each Magics were trying to take over Katherine’s body, with the Dark Sides of each wanting to win. Only, it didn’t work.
She’d Banished her cousin Sabrina somewhere using both Magics at once, fainting on the spot. After her own husband Wolf Stargazer came to her rescue, he took her to the Ancient Mystic Palace. Since feeling her mother in pain, Katherine’s bi-breed daughter Celine followed him there. This is where they met with Enchantra, the eldest Ancient Mystic Sister who oversaw all her Companions, Crusaders, Ancient Mystics, and Creatures in