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

have been so cruel?”
“It wasn’t you, honest. It was Omri’s spell.” Shadow explained. “He got the four of you pretty good.”
“I shouldn’t have listened to the voice.” The Protector’s image faded, leaving only a younger version of Derrick Reading behind. “Ever since I met Aaron, I’ve been jealous of his and Ariana’s relationship.”
“I know. It’s almost over, I promise.” Shadow stayed calm. He knew Derrick was reverting his mind back to the Crusades, therefore back to his younger days. He just had to talk him out of it, that’s all.
No easy task.
Shadow felt for Derrick. Once, he, too, was jealous of another male presence in his Sweetling’s life. Coincidently, that presence was Derrick’s.
Before past memories could creep up in his mind and leave him easy prey for Damian and Omri, Shadow stood and crossed the room.
Shadow knew what he had to do. He had to call upon the magic in his Protectors’ Pendant-Locket. Sitting with his legs crossed, he held onto the necklace and closed his eyes.
He only hoped it would work in time.

II

Back in the Outer Realm, Luna felt something around her neck. She reached for the Dream Pentacle and saw its glow. She closed her eyes and dared to use Empathy to sense what was going on. She opened her eyes and gasped.
“Luna, what is it?” Aimee asked.
She and the twins were in the same room with Shadow, Derrick and Aaron’s silent bodies. The children were with Juliet across the street. Kelly and Bradley were helping with the younger ones.
Luna looked to her husband’s body and saw the necklace pulsating gold. “It’s Shadow using the Golden Magic from his Pendant-Locket.”
Keep your Empathy open, Grand Magus. Came Shadow’s call in her mind.
Ariana heard it, too. “Shadow. Something’s wrong. I can’t sense Derrick, or Aaron.”
“Me, neither.” Aimee replied softly. “Even Derrick’s necklace is pulsing gold.”
“Not as bright as Shadow’s.” Luna pointed out.
Ariana looked. “I see it.”
“What does it mean when they pulsate like that?” Aimee asked.
“They’re using power.” Ariana supplied. She looked to her frightened twin. “What do you sense?”
“He’s using power, alright.” Luna supplied, nodding. “He’s calling to me in my mind with the necklace.”
“Why do I have the faint suspicion we’re in for a rescue mission?” Aimee remarked.
“Because, my dear Amethyst, we are.” Ariana smiled.
“I was afraid you’d say something like that.” Aimee groaned, laughing.
Ariana turned to Luna. “So, did he tell you where he is?”
“In the dungeons of Dark Tower; only, they’re hidden away where no one can find them.” Luna supplied. “Of course, finding them shouldn’t be a problem for three powerful Ancient Mystics.”
“Who else besides the two of you?” Aimee asked. The twins stared at her, smiling. “You can’t mean me?” The twins were silent, smiling. “You mean me. I’m no Ancient Mystic.”
“Thanks to me, you are.”
“Wasn’t it you that said blood ties are just as powerful as family ties?” Luna pointed out with a grin.
“I knew that would come back to bite me sooner or later.” Aimee shook her head. “Fine. Let’s rescue the guys. Where do we start?”

III

Sabrina paced her quarters, wondering how she could get back to the Dream Realm. The spell she used to get there last time had left her memory, and she couldn’t get it back. There had to be a way....
“Damian.” Sabrina whispered into the darkness.
The only light that pulsated in the room was her orb, the source of her power’s rejuvenation. The simple word became a incantation on its own, taking her instantly to her brother’s side.
She saw the dungeon and what was held in it.
The Protector looked a little worse for wear as he rested against the wall, the Unicorn Over-Seer was as if dead on the floor in the corner, and sitting in the middle of the room was the Shadow, his eyes closed and necklace glowing. She’d learned long ago what that man was capable of, and what both the Protector and the Unicorn Over-Seer were capable of.
They seemed a little weak. The thought made Sabrina smile. Then it occurred to her.
What did the three of them have to do with Damian? Where was the Merchant now, and why were the three Earthbound Protectors being held here? What was the point? And how did any of this have to do with Sabrina’s orders to get Lord Max’s Spell-Book?
She froze when she heard footsteps.
Something told her to sit quietly and she’d learn all the answers in time. She just had to wait.

IV

“This place gives me the creeps.” Aimee shivered once they arrived.
“A lot of places give you the creeps.” Luna remarked. She pointed. “There’s the door.”
Ariana stopped and put her hand on it. “Powerful Dominionite Magic.”
“There haven’t been Dominionites around for years!” Aimee cried.
Ariana outstretched her hand to her sister. “Help me with this, will you?”
Luna shook her head, smiling. “I’ve got a better idea.”
Both Ariana and Aimee were curious.
“A Three-fold Circle.” Luna supplied.
Ariana understood, but Aimee was clueless. “Three times the power, three times the Magic.”
Aimee nodded, understanding. She joined hands with the twins and faced the door.
“Repeat after me,” Luna said. “What was there before, be there no more. Let us through the magic door.”
“Sounds like a Pagan spell to me.” Ariana teased.
“Just say it.” Luna said. “And hold on tight, because the burst we’re about to get will be a big one.”
Together, hand in hand, the women stared at the door and called the spell. As predicted, a burst of bright light and wind almost knocked them to the ground. The sisters stood tall, waiting for the wind to subside and the door to open.
“Can you sense them?” Aimee asked as she held Ariana’s arm and looked inside. The room was dark, with only a candelabra lit in the corner.
“No. Can you?” Ariana asked. Once Aimee shook her head, she asked. “Lu?”
“You know how my empathy is!” Luna hissed.
“For Shadow and the Protector, use it.” Young Guardian demanded.
“Please.” Aimee supplied.
Luna huffed “Very well,” as she concentrated on her untamed empathic power. “Shadow’s okay, but the Protector’s injured.” She reported, opening her eyes. “I can barely feel Aaron at all. His aura is really weak.”
Aimee gasped. “No!”
“Where are they?” Ariana asked in her Young Guardian’s tone.
“Follow me.” Luna supplied, leading her sisters in the direction her Empathy was taking her. Using telekinesis, she brought the candelabra to her hands.
“Neat trick.” Aimee tried to joke.
Ariana smiled at her as she took a candle stick. She handed one to Aimee. “I wonder why we can’t sense them?”
“I can.” Luna supplied.
“It’s up to you, sister.” Ariana told her twin. “Sense them so we can get them out of here.”
“Why should I?”
“Three reasons, and they’re all in there!” Ariana cried, pointing.
Again, Luna closed her eyes and opened her empathic sensors. “The guys aren’t the only ones here.”
Ariana and Aimee were confused.
“Sabrina.”
“Doesn’t that girl ever die?” Aimee said sarcastically.
“Apparently not.” Luna said. She grasped the Dream Pentacle around her neck. “I don’t sense anything mean about her. That’s strange.”
“That’s Sabrina for you.” Ariana quipped.
“We should be careful, though. Just in case.” Aimee supplied.
“Just in case she wants to start something?” Ariana asked. “You think, maybe she’s just lying in wait?”
Aimee nodded.
“Lying in wait? Where’d you get that from?” Luna asked.
“Never mind.” Ariana gave up, not wanting to argue with her. “If you don’t sense anything brewing in her demeanor, I don’t see why we should be careful.”
“You, of all people –” Luna started, facing her twin.
“Stop it, you two.” Aimee replied, coming between them. “The guys?”
“Right.” Luna said. “The guys.”
She turned around and led the way.
Story #3:
Ancient Mystic’s Rescue

Sabrina was indeed lying in wait, watching for the right clue. The right spell. She listened and watched patiently in the shadows while Young Guardian, Grand Magus and the Crusader’s Over-Seer made their way to Damian’s underground dungeons.
The three women faced the cage the men were being held in.
“Shadow!” The Grand Magus cried.
Shadow stood from his spot and greeted her. “About time. What took you so long?”
“We couldn’t sense you.” Young Guardian said. “I had Grand Magus use her Empathy to find you.”
Shadow smiled. “I knew it would work.”
“What?” Grand Magus asked. She folded her arms. “What are you talking about?”
“Never mind now.” Shadow replied. The Grand Magus looked to her sister when she stifled a laugh. He smiled with them. “Fun’s over; get us out of here.”
Young Guardian saw her husband in another corner, nursing his bloody arm. “What happened to him?”
“And Aaron?” Amethyst gasped once she saw him lying on the floor, body and necklace glowing deep green.
Shadow looked to them. The Protector was awake now and back to his old self, thank the gods. He sat above Aaron’s lifeless, glowing body. “No time to explain. Without touching the bars, get us home!”
“Quoting my favorite person,” Young Guardian began. “I’ve got a better idea.”
Amethyst and the Grand Magus stared at her.
“Whatever it is, hurry up.” Shadow supplied. “They don’t look so hot.”
Young Guardian had her fighting gear on for a reason. She reached behind her back and pulled her sword out. “I suggest all of you stand back.”
In her shadowed hiding place, Sabrina gasped at the sight of Young Guardian’s red eyes.
Grand Magus, Amethyst and Shadow all stood away from the sword’s reach. Using the Silver Magic, she made the opal on the pommel glow. The three watched and listened as she spoke in a tongue neither of them knew. The chant made the entire sword glow in a rainbow of pastels, swirling and wrapping the blade. The glow grew brighter at the tip, which she pointed at the cage. Raising the sword with both hands, she swung the blade at the bars, forcing the Dominionite Magic to disappear.
Once the cage was gone, Grand Magus embraced the Shadow. Young Guardian slid the sword back in its sheath and headed to Aaron’s lifeless body. Amethyst knelt to her brother, trying to use her Unicorn Magic to wake him.
“Help me with him.” Aimee pleaded, tears in her eyes.
“I can’t.” Young Guardian whispered. “Not until we get out of here.”
“Let’s go home then.”
“No. We go to the Dream Realm.” The Protector moaned.
Young Guardian helped him stand.
“We need answers.” The Protector supplied, glowering at Young Guardian.
“And you need healing.” Young Guardian announced, glowering back. “Grand Magus, help Aimee with Aaron. Shadow, help me with him.”
“Gotcha.” Shadow said. Grand Magus nodded, heading over to Aaron and Aimee.
“What about Sabrina?” Amethyst asked.
“We’ve got more important things to worry about.” Young Guardian announced. “Let’s just call the Dream Chant and get to the Palace.”
They called the Chant and disappeared.
Little did they know, Sabrina was right behind them.

II

Once the guys were healed by Lord Guardian and Enchantra, they left for home, tired and worn. Back in the Outer Realm, all wasn’t as peachy as it seemed.
“It was almost too easy.” Aimee remarked. She was sitting on Aaron’s bed, next to his nearly-lifeless body. “We’ve dealt with Damian for a long time. He and his Warriors have never been this easy to beat.”
“Maybe we’re not done with them, yet?” Shane asked.
Aimee didn’t know what to think. She was too busy staring at her brother.
“Cheer up, Aim.” Shane announced, hand on her shoulder. “He’ll get better.”
“I don’t understand why he