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

I didn't see you coming." Ariana blushed as she stared at the handsome young man with slick black hair and gray eyes. He looked as if he'd jumped out of the shower and thrown some clothes on.
"That's okay," He said to her.
She was gorgeous! He thought to himself with a grin, only she heard it. He introduced himself, kissing her hand. "By the way, I'm Mark, your handsome older brother."
"Ariana Moon. Your -- our -- mom told me your room was across the hall from mine." She introduced, looking into his eyes. He sure was charming! She blushed, moving some fly-away hairs from her face. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen, last month."
"So am I." Ariana looked confused. "That would mean we're twins."
"Not necessarily." Mark told her, coming closer to her. "I was adopted into the Parker family. My real last name is Grey. Making me a Grey Mark. Get it?" Mark made the feeble attempt to make a joke out of it.
Ariana giggled. "You're funny, Mark."
Mark leaned closer to her and took her hand. He saw a certain connection right away. "You're pretty." Mark replied softly, at a loss for words. He didn't know what to do, so Mark kissed her cheek.
He called over his shoulder as he left, embarrassed, "I'll see you at dinner!"
Ariana was left standing in front of the door, holding her cheek.

III

Derrick didn't know what to think of the scene he'd just witnessed. Obviously, Ariana's powers were getting stronger. He'd even seen the strange blond-white ghost.
Derrick frowned at Ariana's new adopted-brother. He didn't like Mark Grey invading on his territory.
"Young Derrick." He heard a voice interrupt his thoughts. He shook his head and looked up.
"Yes, Katherine." Derrick replied, mind still on his beloved Ariana Sister. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"
"I was wondering what you were thinking." Katherine replied.
Derrick shrugged. "I don't know what to think." He faced her. "Do you think she's forgotten about me in three months? Do you suppose she'll never want to see me again?"
Katherine shook her head, purring her bemusement. "I am sure she has not forgotten about her one true love." She thought of something. "Did you want me to go to her and find out?"
Derrick brightened. "Yes, please, Katherine. I can't stand not knowing what's going on with her. I mean, I am her Earthly Protector." He looked down at his necklace. "I don't even know where in Hill View she is. I miss her so much."
Katherine hugged him. "Oh, Derrick. Please do not be sad for her. You may be surprised of her responses. For now, let me go to her, and I'll meet you here later. Okay?"
Derrick smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you, Katherine. You really are a true friend to her. I appreciate that."
Katherine purred and was on her way.
Derrick's attention went back to the Ancient Mystic Mirror's image. He sighed, remembering the good times he'd had with his "Dream Girl."
Challandra, who'd been silently watching the scene from the doorway, decided to speak up. "I do not mean to disturb your thoughts."
Derrick gasped, startled by Challandra's sudden appearance. "Mistress, hello."
"Hello yourself." Challandra replied with a sympathetic smile. "Young Guardian is all right, you know."
"How can you tell?" Derrick asked.
"If she were not, that necklace of yours would grow hot and you would be able to feel her pain and hurting." Challandra told him. "For now, return home and live your Outer Realm life. There is nothing for you here now."
Derrick nodded. "I'll be able to come and talk to you anytime?"
Challandra nodded. "Of course. Anytime. I wish you luck in your legacy."

Derrick returned to his room, finally noticing he'd fallen asleep at his desk with the picture of Ariana's Sweet Sixteen party clutched in his hand.
With a friend like Katherine, mentors like the Sisters, and a lover like him, Ariana would be just fine.
Derrick smiled, wiping a tear from his eye.


Chapter Sixteen:
A New Family, a New Friend

Ariana closed the door before consulting her feline Companion.
"What was that all about?" Ariana asked Katherine under her breath.
Maybe he is in love with you. Katherine threw out in her thoughts.
Ariana shook her head. Nonsense, Katherine. He's my brother, not my boyfriend! She walked over to the bed and started to go through her pack.
You never know a mortal male's intentions, Young Guardian. Katherine's every "r" rolled as she spoke.
Ariana found her hairbrush and took out her French Braid. She saw a mirror on the wall and looked into it.
"You've got me stumped there, Katherine Hawk." Ariana said aloud. She looked deeper into the eyes of the double-image. Ariana was amazed she saw Katherine's image in the mirror.
"Who are you talking to, twerp?" A rude female voice came from the open doorway.
Ariana turned to face a tall red-haired beauty that looked more like a movie star than a teenager. "Myself."
"Who are you?" The girl asked snottily.
Ariana walked over to her and peered into her eyes. "The name is Ariana. Mother brought me here from the streets. Who are you?"
"Caroline." She sneered, crossing her arms in front of her. "Don't think you're gonna stay here long, moocher. I'll make sure of that!"
Ariana could tell Caroline was bad news. She didn't let her "sister" faze her. She stayed calm. "Oh and how do you plan on doing that?"
"What's it to you?" Caroline sneered with a snort. "You're nobody to me."
"Just asking, sister dear."
"Oh, gag me!" Caroline pretended to gag herself. "Please, spare me the humility, Little Miss Moocher! I'm the only Parker daughter, understand? You're just a replacement for Mother's nutty mind!"
I knew I didn't belong here! Ariana thought to Katherine. Hey, I'm not complaining!
Ariana stared calmly into her sister's eyes. "By the way, how old are you?"
"I'm sixteen, which makes me your big sister." Caroline replied nastily.
"Oh."
In a huff, Caroline stalked off, slamming the door behind her. Obviously, Caroline quickly found that being mean to her didn't faze Ariana a bit.
Ariana giggled, looking again to her reflection. She didn’t look a day over sixteen, which was good. The less Caroline new about her, the better. She wasn't about to argue the matter.
Ariana sat on the bed, thinking again about Mark.
You know, Katherine, he is kind of cute.
What about Derrick? Katherine asked. You have cared about him for so long, could you have forgotten him already?
No, my feline friend. Ariana sighed, laying back. Certainly not. You know Derrick is my Earthly Protector, not to mention my true love.
Katherine purred again. What does this Mark boy mean to you?
Ariana took a deep breath, letting it out. A friend is all.
To change the subject, Katherine said. Tell me about your new family. I have been away from you visiting the Companions.
Okay. Ariana thought, she stood up and noticed all the books on the shelves. I'd met my 'mother,' a reddish-brown haired woman who was rich and proud of her appearance. She insisted on calling me ‘Bonnie’. I think that’s her missing daughter’s name. I met Mark, with his black hair, gray eyes, and charming personality. There’s something sad about him, though. I’ll figure it out later. Anyway, Caroline, whom you've met, is a mean, sarcastic, spoiled brat who's nasty and rotten to the core. I wonder if she's ever been nice.
Katherine giggled at the thought.
Where was Mr. Parker? Ariana wondered. Working, divorced, or taken off?
She glanced on a desk and saw a picture of a kind, fatherly man. He had his arms wrapped around a white-blond-haired girl and a younger Caroline, who had a sneer on her face. The white-blond-haired girl was the strange ghost. Ariana saw the gentle eyes of the girl, violet, and could tell she used to be someone special. The man looked gentle and loving, yet hard-working. Dark brown hair and kind blue eyes stared back at her, making Ariana smile. According to the picture, and her immediate thoughts and feelings she'd sensed of him, he was the perfect father.
Still holding the picture, she closed her eyes and tried to imagine how he would look standing right beside her. Suddenly, she felt the ring on her finger heat up and she began to feel funny.

In her mind, she saw a man reaching for help. Slipping off the edge of a cliff, he screamed for someone to rescue him.
She heard a young girl's voice shriek, "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" The little girl with bright red pig-tails stepped on the man's fingers, making him plunge into the depths to his final resting place.
Ariana gasped in horror, covering her mouth, and the girl turned around.
It was Caroline! She had deliberately killed, no, murdered, her own father! In cold blood!

Ariana screamed, dropping the picture to the floor with a shattering crash.
She opened her eyes.
What just happened? How did I do that? Ariana thought incredulously. Was it part of my advanced powers?
She looked at her ring, which turned a transparent pink. She watched closely as she saw the face of a beautiful woman with black hair. Who was she, and why was she smiling?
One word came to her. Clairvoyance.
Ariana's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. In peeked a concerned Mark.
"Are you okay, Ariana?"
"Sure, Mark." Ariana closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm fine."
Ariana sat down, continuing to stare at her ring.
"That's good." He stared at her. "It's dinner-time! Tonight's entree is Triple-noodle-casserole surprise with a side of beans and dogs. All set aside with a lovely array of mixed vegetables and topped off with cool, refreshing milk."
Ariana giggled. "What? No caviar?"
He shrugged. "Cook Nancy's on vacation."
Mark grabbed her arm as she laughed, nearly dragging her to the small, private table.
She looked around and asked. "Where are Mother and Caroline?"
"Mom's working and fortunately, Caroline's at her equally-annoying friend's house, spending the night." Mark explained with a grin.
"So in other words, we'll be dining alone?" Ariana smiled at the thought.
He returned the smile. "Just you and me, kid."
Ariana giggled.
"Bone Appetite!" Mark cried, deliberately mispronouncing the popular French phrase.
Ariana shook her head as she sat down. "I do believe, Monsieur Mark, that the proper phrase is, 'bon apetite'!"
Mark smiled mysteriously, lifting the fork to his mouth. "I know."
She shook her head, with them eating in silence.
Her thoughts loomed of the many questions regarding the Parkers and the mansion. Ariana knew she wasn’t one of them, according to Caroline, but there was a sad secret hidden behind these walls. She hoped someday to unravel every mystery, starting with whoever that strange ghost-girl was. Between the ghost-girl, the picture, Mark Grey, Caroline in her vision and Mother Parker herself, Ariana believed she was going to have another challenge on her hands.
She just wished she knew where Luna and Derrick were. They would love to help her with the mystery. She missed Derrick already, and knew by the way that his thoughts nearly screamed in her mind, he missed her, too. What about Luna? Where was her twin right now?
She began to think about Aaron Theodore as her eyes sought the small scar on her wrist. Where was he? Last time she sensed him, he was with his true family, and Aimee was with him. The twins were happy; at least they pretended to be.
“You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?” Mark teased softly as he began to clear the table when they were finished.
Ariana’s thoughts brought