Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (read aloud .txt) 📕

come out, Kat, I'm lonely!"
Ariana sensed her Balinese friend was near, and her soft voice purred. "I am here. You do not have to shout."
Ariana could faintly see the familiar cat-girl face of her friend. She looked into her own eyes, seeing a different soul, that of Katherine Hawk, peeking out. She smiled, unafraid of the double-image in front of her. She was used to it, after two years of Katherine’s Banishment.
"I didn't shout. Your delicate feline ears perceived it as one." Ariana supplied.
Where did that come from? She thought to herself.
"I made you say it." Katherine smiled. "I should have made you say something aloud to them, but I know you better."
"Thanks a lot, Kat." Ariana whispered. She turned to see a queen-size bed with oversized pillows. She lay back on the warm down comforter, touching her necklace.
Katherine was Banished from the Dream Realm’s Dominion for nosing around her evil uncle’s lab. It seemed the two girls had much in common, though Ariana didn’t know how much. On each of her trips to the Dream Realm, Ariana met her friend in the Dominion’s Garden, the borderline of the Province and Dominion. The Ancient Mystic Sisters had given Kat permission to visit only with Ariana's assistance, and as long as she helped Ariana with her powers. Kat happily agreed, but had to be careful still, for her mean cousins Sabrina and Damian were always listening.
The girls played games, practiced Magic and had fun on each of Ariana’s trips there. Ariana felt she belonged in the Dream Realm more than her own world.
Ariana closed her eyes now, thinking of the Dream Realm as she grasped the Dream Locket. Ariana called Lord Guardian’s spell in her mind, taking both girls to the Ancient Mystic Sisters’ Palace home.

Her world spun and soon, she was in front of the Palace door.
Ariana tugged on the hanging bell and she heard the lovely theme of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet." She smiled, noticing her feline friend was her Balinese Companion self again. Kat's hair was long with black-and-white stripes. Her tail was fluffy and extended with colors to match her hair.
"I've always loved that melody!" Ariana exclaimed.
"Aye. It is romantic!" Kat said, thinking of her crush, Wolf Stargazer.
No sooner had Ariana giggled, than Enchantra answered the door.
"Katherine Hawk! You have returned!" Enchantra cried happily, as she hugged the feline Companion.
Katherine nodded and bowed as she said. "Aye, Mistress, and I have brought back our Ariana Moon."
Enchantra smiled. She hugged Ariana, making her laugh.
"Good to see you again, Enchantra." Ariana replied simply. "You'll never guess what I've been through yet once again."
"Well, come in and make yourselves at home." Enchantra told them, closing the door. She turned to Kat. "Are you home to stay, my dear?"
Kat shook her head sadly. "Nay. Lord Guardian has not given his permission, yet. In the meantime, I plan on searching for Kit." She turned to her friend. "Through Ariana of course."
"Of course." Ariana answered. "Anything for my Balinese friend."
Kat purred, blushing. Challandra came in and greeted the girls before sitting down next to them on the couch.
"Is there anything else I need to do to return home for good?" Kat asked, looking from one twin to the other.
"Help Ariana with her abilities and guide her through the Dream Realm." Challandra said. "If anyone besides us should know of it, you should. Teach her; show her as much as you can."
The four of them talked until it was time for the girls to go back.
"I fear for her, Sisters." Kat replied. "I sense someone at the outer door."
"Aye, of course." Enchantra said. As the girls left, Ariana was left with something to ponder. "Remember Young Guardian, you are one of us."
"We will return shortly." Kat said before she left. "Goodbye Sisters."
"Goodbye." The sisters echoed.

Ariana took a deep breath and awoke from her slumber. She didn't know how long she'd been sleeping, or when she had fallen asleep. One moment, she was sitting up and the next, she was resting long and hard.
A knock at the door had woken her, and she found her voice. "Who is it?"
"It's Marion, Miss. I am ze maid." A French-accented voice came from the other side of the door. "Monsieur and Madam Doll wish to see you in the dining hall for dinner."
Ariana stretched and a small yawn escaped her. "I'll be there in a moment." She stood and went to the door. She tried the knob, but found it was locked. "If I could get out that is." She muttered rudely to herself.
"Zere iz no need to be impolite, Miss. I was simply trying to be nice."
After Marion unlocked the door and let her out, she raced down the unfamiliar stairway. After asking numerous maids and butlers, she made it to the table and sat down. She didn't look at them, for it wouldn't be long before she could do so without harm.
"Nice of you to join us, Ariana." Mrs. Doll said sourly, refusing to meet her glance. She gestured to a chair. "Sit."
"Yes, Ma'am." Ariana whispered, squatting in the chair as she looked down at her lap. She noticed Mr. Doll was on one end of the long table, and Mrs. Doll was on the other.
Dinner was served to the three of them, and they ate in silence. Ariana knew her manners, but it seemed that every time she tried to impress the Dolls with them, they grunted and returned to their own meals.
Ariana quickly found nothing seemed to please this couple. Mrs. Doll was the head of this beautiful house, while her husband was silenced by her icy stares. Not even when Ariana obeyed, by doing her chores every night, did Mrs. Doll thank her, and treat her as a loving daughter.
"You must learn to earn your keep." Mr. Doll seemed to say repeatedly.
They never came to say good-night to her, or see why she screamed in her sleep if she had a nightmare. She was all alone, and only Katherine was her friend in all this. It seemed nothing she did mattered to them.
Was she just another servant, as Katherine had told her in the beginning? Why didn’t the Dolls treat her with love and kindness?
For the next year, she kept to her chores and herself. She still hadn't said but a few words. She didn't want to incriminate herself. She obeyed without complaint, keeping her mouth shut.
How could she complain when there were clothes to wash, dishes to clean, things to do? Besides, she never did mind the hard work. It was good for her; she began to think after a while. She'll learn to do things on her own. Ariana was glad for the roof over her head, food in her stomach and clothes on her back, but even she couldn't stand it when they disciplined her.
It was as if she was back in the orphanage. Only this time, she was the only one being punished.
Kat was right, Ariana mused one night. This couple didn't want a daughter; they wanted another servant.
One night, as she cleared the table after supper, she overheard Mrs. Doll talking on the phone. "Yes, I'll have her ready to go in the morning, Mrs. Gertrude, or should I say, Aunt Helen?"
Ariana gasped softly to herself as she quietly set the dishes in the sink. If they thought she was going to go back to the orphanage, they'd better think again! She stood silent and listened in.
"Of course, Aunt Helen. It's all set. If you give me the money, I'll give her to you." Mrs. Doll laughed wickedly. "Fine. We'll see you in the morning. Goodbye Aunt Helen. Send my regards to Uncle Gerald!" She laughed again as she replaced the receiver on the cradle.
Ariana had the feeling all along! Her new mother was going to send her back to the orphanage! Well, she wasn't about to let that happen, no matter how much Mrs. Doll was being paid! It wasn't right.
Ariana silently ran to her bedroom and shut the door.
"Kat! Help!" Ariana whispered aloud, clutching the necklace with her eyes closed tightly. "I'm in trouble!"
"What is it, my friend?" Kat replied. Ariana explained what she had overheard and Kat acknowledged. "Now is the time for you to take action. We will leave tonight. Bring nothing but your old belongings."
Ariana nodded and hurried to pack. She reached for the unicorn statuette Aaron had given her some odd years ago, as a gift. She had always loved the fantastic, and this unicorn was the pit of every argument between her and Mrs. Gertrude.
But that wasn't what Ariana remembered when she looked at the unicorn. She remembered her best friend. How caring he had been in her times of need, shielding her from all pain.
Ariana touched the horn and made a wish, as Aaron had always told her to do when she was lonely. A single tear dropped to the muzzle of the unicorn and Ariana wiped it off.
She took a deep breath and wrapped it in an old sweater of his that he had given her on her last day at the orphanage. Ariana grabbed her notebook, favorite unicorn pen, and journal. Within moments, she was ready to go.
Ariana tried not to let on that she knew what was going on. She acted as she usually would, minding her chores and not saying a word. An hour after lights out, she made her move. It was a long shot, but it would be worth it. Strapping her backpack over her shoulder, and slipping through an old passage-way, she made her way outside.
Unfortunately, she ran into Mr. Doll in the dark.
"Where are you going?" He grabbed her arm and asked.
She said nothing, afraid.
"Don't be afraid of me, Ariana. I was the one that wanted you, not Rhonda." Mr. Doll tried to say to her.
"Why didn't you ever talk to me before this?" She whispered, sensing nothing but sincerity in him.
"I was as afraid of her as you were." He released her, looking to the ground. "I'll let you go, just to save yourself."
"You won't tell, will you?" She asked, apprehensive.
"I won't tell her you ran away if that's what you mean." Mr. Doll replied. He planted a kiss on her head. "Good luck, Ariana. You'll need it in this world."
"Thank you, Mr. Doll." Ariana turned and ran away from the Doll Mansion.
Not once did she look back, nor did she regret it.

Chapter Seven:
Big Guy and the System

Bridget “Big Guy” Guy was always one of the best Senior Detectives Shannon Ryan had at the System, and they both knew it. It had been years since their own Crusade, but she and Shannon were still best friends. She’d do anything for Shannon, as she would do anything for Big Guy. That’s why it didn’t surprise her when Shannon found herself by Bridget’s side as she headed down Third-level.
“I need you to do something for me, Bridget.” Shannon remarked, walking with Big Guy to the Computer Room.
“Name it.” Big Guy remarked. “Another Crusade, I hope?”
Big Guy missed fighting Dominionites in the Crusade, and still had the trinket around her neck to remind her.
Shannon smiled, shaking her head. “Not even close. I want you to pick up an agent for me.”
“For you?” Bridget asked. “Why can’t you do it?”
“Business.” Shannon said. “Besides, I would likely give myself away.” Big Guy was confused, so Shannon went on. “I’m an Ancient Mystic, and so is she.”
“She?” Big Guy