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

of us together still in his mind.”
“Do you think that’s what started this Dark Magic thing at us?” Michael asked, not exactly believing, but willing to try.
“The Dark Magic is in everyone, even those without Magic.” Ariana said. “We, as Ancient Mystics, must learn to control the balance between the Ancient Mystic Magic and the Dark Magic.”
“If we don’t, we could end up like Sabrina and Damian.” Luna supplied.
“Ouch.” Craig said softly. “So, what about the rest of us? What will it do to us?”
“Turn you against the ones you love.”
“My guess is Orthos is behind all of this.” Derrick said. “It would be just like him to do this to us.”
“Then again, maybe not.” Luna replied.
“Yeah, we Exiled him to the Unknown, remember?” Shane pointed out.
“We also Exiled Damian and Sabrina.” Ariana announced. “Look where they are now.”
“I get your point.”
“So, what are we going to do about it?” Jake asked. “We can’t just sit here and take the abuse.”
“We won’t.” Anna said.
“Until we can come up with something against them, we’d better go back to our own lives.” Ariana announced. “I hear Melody and Logan up from their naps, and the kids will be home from school soon.”
“Right. Let’s go.” Luna announced.
The group went upstairs, to their separate houses and their separate ways.

III

It was night at last in the Outer Realm, and Anna Woods found herself lost in the Dream Realm. She knew exactly were she was once entering the Old Dominion, which was now the Grey Area. She’d been in this exact place before, not liking the feelings she got from it then, either.
Anna realized she was in Witches Grove. She remembered what happened last time she was there with her four sisters. There were images of an older Bradley Allen Schmidt and her niece Kelly kissing, a lone seagull jumping about and screaming and Damian disguising himself as Mary Ellen’s Imaginary Romeo, Michael Ashburn. That was also when Damian the Merchant took Mary Ellen’s Empathy power away, leaving her senseless with a simple touch.
Now she was cold, and Anna thought of her fair Jake to come to her side. She tried not to think of the sudden chill that she felt, making her use Magic to keep warm. She tried not to let the magic of Witches Grove fool her into thinking she was alone.
Try as she might, she knew it were useless. She really was all alone. Anna sighed.
She called into the crisp, near-frozen air. “Hello! Anybody here?”
Her voice echoed.
In the distance, she saw something sparkling, and a figure seemed to be floating up to her. She shielded her eyes from the glare of a wintry sun. She noticed everything around her sparkled as if it were wintertime, though the Dream Realm itself had no sense of time. It was beautiful in a spooky way.
The figure walked closer, the sparkle turning out to be something around the stranger’s neck. She walked closer to the stranger, recognizing her true love of Jake Reading.
“Jake!” Anna smiled, running into his arms.
“Annabelle!” Jake’s image cried, kissing her passionately.
Anna noticed something strange about the look in his eyes, and the necklace that sparkled in the sun. She knew it couldn’t be his Protector’s Pendant, the very necklace to link them together. He didn’t have one that she knew of. She dismissed the feelings, glad he was here now. She gave him a tight hug.
“What are you doing in Witches Grove?” Jake asked, holding her hands. “I thought the last time you were here scared you senseless?”
That was strange. Anna thought to herself. She remembered telling him a little about her encounter at Witches Grove, but she didn’t recall telling him, or even showing him, where it was or what it looked like.
She stepped back from him, looking at him closer. She opened her empathy power, just enough to sense the evil in his demeanor.
“What’s wrong, Annabelle?” Jake’s image asked.
Another strange thing. Anna thought. He never calls me that.
“You.” She said. “Who are you?”
He laughed, reaching for her hand, only for her to pull away. “It’s me, Jake. You know, your boyfriend?”
Anna wasn’t convinced. She folded her arms. “Prove it.”
He kissed her again, this time the empathy picking up cruel intentions.
“No.” She whispered, staring. Even his kiss doesn’t feel right. She thought to herself, pulling away again. “Who are you?”
The strange imposter simply smiled, eyes glowing red. The necklace glowed bright white, scaring her as she stared. Anna couldn’t pull herself away from it, gasping for breath in fear.
He saw her eyes bulge, frightened at the strangeness of the situation. Damian the Merchant was satisfied with her response. It was just as he had hoped.
“Go ahead, Annabelle. Touch it.” He prodded in his own voice, wrapping his arms around her frozen body. He whispered in her ear. “Feel the power of the crystal.”
Anna didn’t want to, but was powerless to stop herself from touching it.
“Does it not intrigue you?” Damian whispered, watching her hands and eyes explore the Black-as-Night Crystal.
“Yes, my Lord Merchant.” Anna found herself saying in an empty voice. Her eyes were glued to the magnificent crystal around his neck.
“Open your senses, Annabelle.” He instructed. “Let the Magic take over you.”
Anna closed her eyes, opening her clairvoyance to see where this strange crystal came from. She could feel the power surge through her body like an electric current. It was invigorating and heart-wrenching at the same time.
“That’s it.” Damian whispered, helping himself to her lips. Feel the passionate overpowering heat of the crystal. He sent to her mind in his own demonic voice.
That’s when she broke off the kiss and came to her senses.
Damian laughed heartily as she backed away, frightened of the Merchant’s great power. He changed into his dragon form, making her scream.

Back in the Outer Realm, Anna Woods woke up with tears in her eyes and a rapidly-beating heart.

IV

Claudia Woods woke up with a photographic image in her mind. It was the middle of the night, and she wondered why she had it. Craig stirred in their bed, but didn’t awaken. She kissed his cheek before using the bathroom mirror to call the Travel Spell.
The spell took her to a hallway of Anna and Jake’s apartment. She heard Anna’s scream from across the hall. Claudia ran to her, not bothering to knock on the door. She barged in, seeing her oldest sister sitting up in bed, clutching her pillow and crying. Where was Jake? Shouldn’t he be there in the aide of his Ancient Mystic girlfriend?
“Anna.” Claudia whispered, running to hug her. She let Anna cry on her shoulder, shaking as she calmed herself. As soon as Anna’s tears subsided, Claudia dared to ask. “What just happened?”
Anna shook her head. “That’s what I’d like to know.” She groaned. “I can’t feel a thing.”
“You don’t think Damian took that power away from you, too, do you?” Claudia asked.
“You were there?”
Claudia shook her head. “I saw it with the P.M.”
Anna nodded, understanding. “Oh, Claud, it was so strange. I couldn’t keep my eyes off that necklace.”
The sisters were silent in thought for a moment until Anna spoke up. “He made me use my Clairvoyance to see where it came from, and now I don’t have it.”
“This has gotten out of hand.” Claudia said.
Anna said. “We have to do something about it. I haven’t been able to think of anything lately due to how busy I am at the hospital.”
This gave Claudia an idea. “Need volunteers?”
“Always, why?” Anna was curious. Her youngest sister hated hospitals. Why would she want to volunteer at one?
“I could kill two birds with one stone by helping you.” Claudia said. “I could keep an eye on you and practice controlling my Healer’s power.”
Anna shook her head. “No Magic at Philbrooke, Claudia.”
“I know.” Claudia smiled. “I was teasing, but I will help out at the hospital.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Thanks Claudia.” Anna said.
Claudia hugged her. “What are sisters for?”
Anna was left feeling a lot better that night.
Story: #2:
Truth Be Told

The Dominionite Albrath was bored in her new Master Father’s castle. Being the nosy creature she was trained to be, she snuck to the south wing of Dark Tower, where Sabrina’s rooms lay.
Albrath could hear the screams and shouts Sabrina made as she drew closer to the Maiden’s chambers. She peeked in silently, crossing her arms and smiling as she watched Sabrina search her room. Before long, it looked as if a hurricane hit.
Albrath couldn’t help laughing at the sight. Sabrina stopped throwing things around long enough to see who was there.
“What are you doing here?” Sabrina demanded. “Get out this instant!”
Albrath shook her head. “I would thank you not to speak to me in that tone anymore, sister.” She said, clearing a spot on the bed and sitting on it.
“What do you think you are doing?” Sabrina fumed. “I gave you a direct order, Dominionite! Obey it!”
“Not if you wish to know what I do.”
Sabrina crossed her arms. “This had better be good, Albrath.”
“Not to worry, my Mistress Maiden, it is.” Albrath said. “I know who borrowed the Black-as-Night Crystal from you.”
Sabrina’s eyes shone bright red. “Tell me.”
“Ask your brother, he knows.” Albrath pointed out with a sneer.
“Stop stalling, Dominionite!” Sabrina wasn’t happy, but Albrath loved teasing her.
“He stole it from you.” Albrath grinned.
Sabrina didn’t know what to say, angry. “You jest?”
“Nay, never to you my Maiden sister.” Albrath shook her head. “As the Dark Ancients as my witnesses, I tell only the truth.”
Sabrina let out a frustrated sigh. “You, I will deal with later. As for my brother...”
She cut off her own sentence by disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.
Albrath just grinned and left her quarters in search of Shenara.

II

A few days after the encounter at the bar, Aaron Schmidt thought it would be best to practice his awakening Unicorn Magic. Since Aimee was working at the daycare center, and Angel and Bradley were both at school, Aaron had the house to himself.
He stood at one end of the kitchen, clutching his necklace and concentrating on the bowl of fruit at the other end of the room. He could feel the Magic flowing through his system when he closed his eyes and felt for it. He opened his eyes, willing the bowl to move. Just to make sure, he pointed in the direction he wanted it to go.
Ten minutes passed with no results, and Aaron was getting frustrated. “Come on, move already!” He mumbled under his breath. He crooked his finger, silently telling it to rise off the kitchen table.
He was patient, holding his breath as he used the Unicorn Magic to move it.
Aaron smiled when it rose at least a foot above the table.
“Yes!” He shouted into the air, his concentration breaking.
The bowl of fruit instantly dropped to the floor, shattering.
“Aw, man! I had it, I swear I did.” He scolded himself.
He went to the closet and reached for the knob when a voice startled him.
“Here, let me help you.” He turned toward the door, seeing his best friend Ariana Reading smiling at him.
“Hi.” Aaron’s cheeks were flushed.
“Hello yourself, my Aaron Theodore.” Ariana grinned, taking the broom and dustpan from his hands.
He shook his head at the mess he made. “What did I do wrong?”
“You must have lost your concentration.”
“I see you use telekinesis all the time.” He said as he