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

leaving them. Derrick paced the room, wondering.
“Will you stop pacing, Derrick?” Claudia asked. “She’s in good hands, honest.”
“I know, but I can’t help it. She’s my daughter.” He supplied, stopping next to the bed. “Is it just me, or does this seem fishy to you?”
“What’s that?”
“Well, she was taking a nap when Katherine sensed something wrong.” Derrick gestured to Katherine, who was standing on the other side of the bed, petting the child’s hair. “Ariana was gone to the cemetery with Juliet and I was away when Kat screamed for me. Neither of us was gone an hour when our daughter goes into a coma.”
“We do not know it is a true coma.” Katherine replied. “It is her soul that has vanished.”
“Tell me that’s not fishy to you, Claudia?” Derrick ignored her remark.
“Her soul’s vanished? How is she breathing then?” Claudia asked, confused. “Her heart’s beating and everything.”
“Her body functions remain the same. It is the soul, not the mind, that vanished.” Katherine tried to explain. “We have seen it once before, with Ariana. Do you not remember the Crusades?”
“Do you really think Sabrina would do that to Melody?” Derrick addressed her. “What would she have to gain?”
“The same as she did six months ago.” Katherine remarked. “We know not where my cousin is, so what can we do about her?”
Claudia looked at Derrick, biting her lip. “I have to confess something, and you’re not going to like me when I tell you.”
“Just tell us.” Derrick supplied.
“I had a vision six months ago. Sabrina’s Earthbound.”
“Do you know where?” Derrick asked. Even Katherine wondered.
Claudia shook her head. “No. One clue may be the location of the vision.”
“Where did the vision take place?”
“In the Hill View Cemetery. I saw the gravestones of the Parkers and my own family around me. A ghost warned me by saying ‘the Maiden hath returned,’” Claudia explained. “If that’s not creepy, I don’t know what is.”
“The only thing to do is go.”
“What about Ariana?” Katherine asked Derrick. “She is ill, I can feel her.”
“What happened to her?”
“Didn’t you feel it?” Derrick asked. “I think every Ancient Mystic would have felt the amount of Dark Magic she used. I know I did.”
“I did not feel it.” Katherine supplied. “Perhaps Luna?”
“Certainly Luna.” Claudia remarked. “Look, let me do my job here. I’ll watch over her for you, Derrick. You can look in on Ariana; see how she’s doing.”
Derrick looked from Katherine to Claudia. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. See to your Ancient Mystic love.” Claudia replied. “Katherine and I will look after Melody for you. Tell us what happened with Ariana, you got that?”
Derrick nodded. “Got it.”

IV

In the Dream Realm’s Canine Wood, a young Companion named Destiny Grey played with her friends Celine Stargazer and Tiger White-Snow. They were playing hide-and-seek, with Destiny hiding in a tree, waiting for Celine to catch her.
A sharp pain went through her body, her heart the most, making her scream in agony. She curled in a ball, trying to keep silent, but it hurt too much to keep her mouth shut. “Celine!” Destiny screamed. “Help!”
Both Celine and her cousin Tiger came to Destiny’s aid.
“What’s wrong?” Celine called up the tree at her.
Destiny could do nothing but shake her head. She lost her balance, falling. Tiger was there to catch her. She fainted in his arms.
“Get her to Papa and the Princess.” Celine ordered.
With that, they raced back to Stargazer Castle. They found Sire Wolfton practicing his karate forms with a determined look on his face. Celine knew when he did this, something bad was going to happen, and he would fight it.
Right now, she had more important matters to attend to.
“Papa, Destiny is sick.” Celine called.
Wolf turned to his daughter to see his nephew holding an unconscious Destiny Grey. He summed the situation and commanded in a growl. “In the Castle. Now!”
“Aye, Sire!” Tiger called, following the Stargazers indoors.
Tiger set Destiny on a bed, staring in wonder.
Princess Sarabeth came out to see them. “What happened to her?”
“We do not know, Princess.” Celine replied.
“She called for help, and I felt her in pain.” Tiger supplied. “Please, help her.”
Sarabeth and Wolf looked at each other, silent in thought.
“You go to the Greys. Tell them what happened.” Sarabeth ordered Wolf. “Take the children with you.”
Wolf gathered his Warrior gear, silently telling Tiger to follow.
“Can I stay with you, Princess?” Tiger spoke up quickly.
“Certainly.” Sarabeth remarked. “Hurry Sire Wolfton. We haven’t much time.”
Story: #2:
Without a Trace

Back in the Outer Realm, Luna was pacing her room, waiting for Ariana to wake up from her long nap. When her sister did wake, Luna went to her.
“How are you feeling now?” Luna asked.
Ariana slowly sat up with her sister’s help. “A little shaky and my head is aching. Too many images flying around in my head. Can you feel it?”
“I feel it.” Luna supplied. “Something happened while you were out.”
“What?”
“Melody fell into an Ancient Mystic coma. Derrick and Katherine rushed her to the hospital.” Luna explained.
Ariana was aware in no time. “I’ve gotta get to her.” She struggled to sit at the edge of the bed. She felt a rush of dizziness wash over her. “Help me.”
Luna shook her head. “There’s nothing you or I can do right now but let Claudia and Anna do their jobs. Kat’s with them.”
“Not anymore.” Ariana remarked. “She sent me a telepathic message telling me she was going back to the Dream Realm.”
“I thought she was helping you?”
“She was, but something happened there she has to get back to. Don’t ask me what, for I don’t know.” Ariana said. “In the meantime, help me home. The kids must be worried about me by now.”
“Juliet explained everything, I’m sure.” Luna said. “Derrick had her watch them while you were here and he went to the hospital.”
“I’m patrolling.” Ariana’s tone was determined, taking on her Young Guardian role with ease and seriousness.
Luna shook her head. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re in no condition to patrol, or Crusade, so don’t even think about it.”
“Aluna, whatever has Katherine up and running has to be big. As the Young Guardian, I have to know what that is.” Ariana cried.
Luna sighed. “In that case, I’m coming with you.”
“This is something –”
“You have to do alone, I take it?” Luna finished. “I know this sounds like a broken record, twin of mine, but please, be careful. There’s more than your life at stake here. I want my nephew to come into this world kicking and screaming, not lifeless, do you understand me?”
Ariana had to respect her. “Loud and clear. Will you watch over me?”
Luna smiled. “Always.”
The sisters hugged before Ariana called the Dream Chant and was on her way.

II

Dixilynne wasn’t happy. How could her mother let her go with Minx when the very existence of the Outer Realm was in danger of Sabrina. She walked in the Mirror Room of the Palace to find Enchantra in front of the Mirror, talking to herself.
Enchantra stared into her Ancient Mystic’s Crystal. She frowned, not liking what she saw.
“So,” She whispered to herself, waving a hand over its image. “Sabrina thinks she can belittle us, does she? Well, we will see about that.”
She sensed someone watching from behind her and announced. “Come in, Dixilynne.”
“Mother?” Dixilynne started. “Why did you let me go with Minx? You knew Sabrina was up to no good and you still let me go.”
“Is that why you came out of hiding, my daughter?”
“Yes. I had a vision in my Crystal.” Dixilynne told her mother what she saw.
“Is that right?” Enchantra turned back to the Mirror. “Where did she get such power to do so in the Outer Realm?”
“Panther Grey’s trinket. The one Young Guardian gave him before he became a Companion.”
“Aye, I know which one you speak of.” Enchantra remarked. “Why would she do such a thing?”
“I was hoping you would know.” Dixilynne asked.
“My guess would be for the mere power.” Enchantra replied. “Tell me, do you know if Young Guardian heard of her whereabouts?”
“Sorry, I know nothing of that.” Dixilynne said. She glanced over her mother’s shoulder to the Mirror and saw an image. “Mother, look!”
Enchantra looked, and saw something very interesting indeed. “Young Melody lays in a coma in an Outer Realm hospital.” She stared into it more. “Destiny Grey lays out cold at Stargazer Castle. I can feel her presence fading. I wonder...” She waved her arms, changing the vision. “Where are Panther and Marie? How did Sabrina steal Panther’s trinket if they are in two different Realms? Why do I not see the Ancient Mystic wind around Young Melody?”
She gasped when the vision in front of her changed. “Just what I thought.”
“What is it, Mother?”
“Melody Applebee, the second incarnation of Melody Jacobs is in an Ancient Mystic coma as well.” Enchantra was lost in thought and Dixilynne was left staring in wonder.
“What are we to do?”
“We are left to wait, my daughter. Tis all I can tell you.”
Dixilynne left, mind set on helping with her evil cousin. She returned to her own Palace.
Time for the Apprentice and the Grand Shamus to get involved in the Outer Realm battle. Something told her it was about time for her Earthbound family of Ancient Mystics to truly learn the great Silver Magic within.

III

Sire Wolfton Stargazer loped to the Feline Village in his full wolf form. Celine carried his gear on her back, unable to shift to either wolf or cat forms.
“Tell me it is not much farther, Papa.”
“It is not.” Wolf growled back. “Stop complaining, child. Use your canine senses. Can you tell me what you feel?”
“A certain wrongness in the air. I can smell it.” Celine agreed. “Shall I ready your bow?”
“Nay, not yet.” Wolf supplied. “Time to go to the Feline Castle. We are almost there.”
They followed the beaten path that led to the Feline Castle where Panther lived. Wolf stopped, forcing Celine to stop as well. He sat, watching, listening, waiting.
Celine was curious, so she ran ahead.
“Celine, stop!” Wolf cried out. “It is not safe!”
She stopped in front of the house, looking back at her father. “I only want to look, Papa.”
“Wait for me. We will look together.” Wolf commanded, changing to his wolf-man form. “Hand me my weaponry, child.”
Celine did what she was told. Still she stared at the Feline Palace.
“Where are the Greys? I cannot sense them anywhere.”
“Neither can I.” Wolf whispered, baring his teeth at the place.
“That is because they are not here, Sire.” They heard a voice behind them. When they turned, they saw Katherine, standing by the door and crying.
Wolf ran to his wife. “You have returned! What is the matter? Why are you crying?”
“They have disappeared, my love.” Katherine said. “Once I felt a tug of yearning in my heart, I knew I had to return here. Their very presences are gone, as if someone brought them back to life.”
“Everything okay in the Outer Realm?” Celine asked.
Katherine shook her head, telling her husband and daughter what happened. First, with Young Guardian leaving for the cemetery, only to return sick. Next, with Derrick, and Young Melody being raced to the hospital in an Ancient Mystic coma. Finally, what brought her back home to the Dream Realm. Wolf told her what happened to Destiny Grey, concluding with. “Something tells me Sabrina is making trouble in the Outer Realm again.”
He held