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

“Only a fortnight ago, a feline told me a story of how her entire set was lost in madness. She is afraid of the Valley now.”
“Calm down, Kat. It’ll be alright, I promise.” Ariana said. “The Princess is looking after Wolf as we speak, and Celine is old enough now to help, if possible. You know that.”
“There is something happening in the Wood, Young Guardian. I can smell in on the winds. I can nearly taste it in my every breath. I can even sense an evil presence whenever I go near the Wood.” Katherine said. “We must do something.”
“There’s nothing we can do now, Kat, but I will look into it. I promise.”
“But –” Katherine could feel the air shift around her, forcing her empathy to sense everything around her. She was instantly frightened when she saw Young Guardian’s silver-blue eyes turn deep, dark red.
“I’m only going to tell you this once.” She used her Young Guardian tone on her closest Companion friend. The tone she never used with her, ever. “Close your mind to this place while you’re with me. You will need a clear head in my world. You’ve done this before, and I expect nothing but the best from you now. Is that clear, Lady Katherine Hawk-Stargazer?”
Katherine was appalled at first, nodding to her friend’s demands. “Aye, Young Guardian.”
Ariana continued on her way, with Katherine following close behind. Kat knew her friend was right. She’d earned her title long ago for being right in many intense situations. Now that Kat agreed to help with the search for Sabrina in the Outer Realm, she knew she had to listen to her Young Guardian’s every words.
That didn’t mean she had to like them.
Part Two:
Lord Byron and the Resurrection Spell

Prologue:
Deep in the Barracks

Lord Byron paced his cellar, the home of his own salvation. To be stuck in such a dungeon for a century was hell and torture, but he knew of nothing else.
In the beginning of the Wars for Power, with his older twin brothers fighting against each other, and his other older brother Banishing himself for a woman, Lord Byron had fled. He took with him his four young children, who knew their mother, but hadn’t seen her since then. Though he and the children could shape-shift, Lord Byron was set against it.
“What distresses you, Father?” One of them now asked. He turned to see his second son, Raven, concerned for him.
“The time has come, my son.” Lord Byron replied. “We are now to be reborn into the Dream Realm society.”
“Why now?” His daughter Isabella asked, looking at her brother first.
She has grown so beautiful, he thought. So much like her mother Challandra.
He shook his head. No time for such thoughts. There is business to attend to.
“Our family needs us.” Was his simple reply. “Gather your things, children. Find Minx and Sky and follow me to Lord Guardian O’Dell’s Chambers.”
“What would Uncle O’Dell want with us?” Raven asked.
“So he may lead us to your mother.” Lord Byron told him. “Come along, we have not got all century.”
A few minutes later, his oldest son Minx and youngest son Sky had joined them.
“I cannot wait to see Sarabeth again.” Sky replied, clapping his hands. “It has been too long.”
“It sure has.” Lord Byron supplied.
Once out into the fresh Dream Realm air, he and the children took a deep breath, breathing in the cool air. They blinked their eyes open, readjusting to the light from the darkness they were so used to.
“Do you remember where to find her?” Isabella asked softly, touching the black braid that hung at her shoulders.
Lord Byron kissed her forehead. “Aye, my daughter. Follow me.”
The four children walked behind him as he led them to O’Dell’s own Chambers in the Province’s Kingdom. It took no time for them to find Lord Byron’s brother.
Now to talk to him.
“Stay here, children.” He announced, before going on.
Isabella took his hand. “I want to come too, Father! Please!”
Lord Byron shook his head. “Not this time, I am afraid.” He turned his head toward the Chamber doors. “I must face Lord Guardian alone.”
Lord Byron found him lying in his Unicorn form out by the garden. He cleared his throat, barely peeping out a soft. “My Lord Guardian?”
He watched as O’Dell lifted his head to see who had spoken. He dared to step closer, for fear of his brother’s anger.
“I have come to make amends.” He tried to explain.
Only then did O’Dell’s head turn to him. “Lord Byron?” He whispered, changing into a human-male before his brother’s eyes. “What brings you back here?”
“The love of Challandra, my Lord.” He explained. “The children and I have been in a secret hideaway for nearly a century. It would seem the Wars were over, and therefore time for us to return.”
O’Dell studied his brother’s sad face closely.
“The children miss her, and wish to be with her.” Lord Byron pressed. “I miss her as well. Can you show us where she is so we may reunite?”
“Are you sure about this, Lord Byron?”
“As sure as your love for Enchantra.” He pointed out. “If you still care for her as much as you did then.”
O’Dell nodded his head. “Aye, more so. Each time I see her face, my heart races with excitement.”
“It is the same for me with Challandra.” Lord Byron tried to explain.
“Where are the children now?”
“In front of your Castle Chambers, my Lord Guardian.”
“Lord Byron?” O’Dell grinned.
His eyes shot up. “Yes, My Lord?”
“Call me Brother.” O’Dell supplied. “Next, call for your children and hop aboard.”
O’Dell changed into a Unicorn-Pegasus once and pranced around for his brother to see.
All four children were in awe of their Uncle’s prowess.
“Why are we not allowed to shift as he is?” Minx wanted to know.
“For what purpose would we do so?” Lord Byron asked his son, which got him to think. “Climb aboard and hold on tight.” He pat O’Dell’s Unicorn-Pegasus neck, teasing, “If you fly as wild as you did back in the Wars, I must be careful.”
O’Dell laughed. “You have not changed a bit, my brother Lord Byron.”
For the first time in nearly a century, Lord Byron permitted himself to laugh with him.

II

Challandra peered out the window of the Ancient Mystic Palace. Somehow, something was going to happen to change her life forever. She glanced at the sky and saw the familiar Unicorn-Pegasus form of Lord Guardian O’Dell, her twin sister’s lover. As he drew closer, Challandra could see the form of a man – four men and a woman – on his back.
The eldest man sat in front of the others, and she recognized him immediately.
“What are you doing here?” She whispered to herself.
He hopped off O’Dell’s back and O’Dell shifted to his human-male self once again. Challandra stood by the door, waiting for the chimes to ring. Once they did, she could barely contain herself.
She flew open the door and stood – staring at the men and woman in front of her. She had to admit – the woman looked a lot like her in her youth. Could this be her young daughter?
“Mother?” The woman whispered.
Sure enough, it was, and Challandra had to hug her.
“My darling Isabella!” She pulled away from her daughter’s grasp to acknowledge the father of all four of her children.
Challandra and Lord Byron stood face-to-face, silent as O’Dell and the children stepped inside.
“Where is Enchantra?” O’Dell asked.
“With the Mirror.” Challandra replied, her eyes not leaving those of Lord Byron’s. “Children, make yourselves at home. Your father and I need to talk.”
“Yes, Mother.” They chorused, and shut the door behind them, leaving the two of them outside.
How obedient, She thought to herself, smiling.
“Challandra.” Lord Byron said, holding his hand out. “Do you still care for me?”
Challandra kept her smile. “Yes, Lord Byron. I do.” She took it, pulling him closer to her. “You have been hiding out for a long time, my lover.”
“How long has it been, if the Dream Realm knows no time?” He teased, kissing her hand.
“The Wars and Crusades have come and gone.” Challandra supplied. “The Young Guardian has been chosen, raised, and is now with the Enchanted Child.”
“You mean to tell me O’Dell’s visions were somewhat true?” He asked, sitting on a bench near the garden. “With the exception of his death, of course.”
“Of course.” She told him. “The Crusaders stopped Orthos, sending he, Sabrina, Jezebel and Damian to the Unknown. The Kit twins – whom you’ve never met, were taken care of by Orthos. Jezebel thought she was doing a world of good by raising the girls in secret with their Magics.”
“The Kit twins?” He laughed. “Well, it has been a long time.” He stared deep into her silver-blue eyes. “No matter how much time has passed, I will never stop loving you.”
“And I, you.” Challandra whispered, thinking of their past together.
That’s when their lips met in a quick, gentle kiss, ending with a tight hug.
“I have missed you so!” Challandra replied. “How long are you to stay?”
“As long as you wish.” Lord Byron couldn’t take his eyes or attention away from her.
“I hate to interrupt, but you have no place to go but the Barracks, do you?”
It was Enchantra’s voice, startling the two out of their romantic haze.
Challandra turned to scowl at her sister before she looked back at her lover. “Well?”
Byron shook his head. “Nay.”
Enchantra kept her smile. “O’Dell and I have discussed the matter at hand and he has agreed.”
“To what?” Lord Byron sounded too eager.
“Remember the abandoned Kingdom Castle?” Enchantra asked him. He nodded. “You will live in that, if you wish. Your children, too.” She turned to her sister. “You are welcome to join him, Challandra. That way, you shall be a family once again.”
Challandra and Lord Byron looked at each other, smiles on their faces. Enchantra just smiled when her sister turned to her once again. Challandra stood, with Lord Byron standing with her.
Lord Byron kissed Enchantra on the cheek. “Wonderful idea, Enchantra. Marvelous!”
“Yes, sister.” Challandra said, hugging her. “For the first time, I am enthused by your ideas!”
Enchantra laughed. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
“First, I believe he must explain why he is here in the first place.” O’Dell’s booming voice came from behind the trio.
“My brother, I thank you for the opportunity to live amongst the Companions.” Lord Byron shook his brother’s hand.
“I am glad you approve.” O’Dell grinned a tight grin. He nodded. “Tell her, Byron.”
Challandra looked to her long-time lover in interest.
Byron bowed his head, as if ashamed. “I have come with a premonition of the future-past.”
“The Young Minx has explained his own visions.” Enchantra supplied. “Sabrina is at it again; the Mirror even confirmed that. Jezebel had been here, telling me of her empathic feelings. Now, you Lord Byron, bringing your children with you, have come with visions of near-hellfire.”
“A temper that boils and bakes.” Challandra supplied, thinking of all Sabrina had done over the years during the Crusades. “That girl is powerful, in a very evil way.”
“The Dark Magic and its evil habits were the only things Sabrina has known about herself.” Enchantra said. She changed the subject. “Follow us inside, Brother. The children are inside waiting for you to join them.”
Lord Byron held his arm out. “Shall we?”
Challandra laughed, taking it. “We shall.”
It were Enchantra and O’Dell that hung back.
Enchantra smiled after her now-happy sister, O’Dell kissing her cheek.
“She is happy once again, is