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

ready for bed, there came a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It was Mark, and he wasn't smiling.
"What's wrong?" She asked, worried. He ignored her query.
He faced her with angry eyes. "You're in love with him, aren't you?" Mark accused.
"Of course not," Ariana defended, surprised he'd think of such a thing. "We grew up together, Mark. He was my best friend, and that's all it'll ever be between us."
Mark stood, silent. "What about what we had?"
"We didn't have anything, and you know it." Ariana's tone grew serious. "Look, we're brother and sister, for goodness sake! All we had were kisses, and that's it."
"But," He started.
"No buts about it, Mark." Ariana calmed herself before continuing. "Listen, I feel bad about how you felt when Aaron was here. I don't want to fight with you anymore tonight."
He didn't answer.
"Let's just go to bed and talk about this in the morning." Ariana suggested.
Mark said nothing. Instead, he quietly closed the door behind her, heading to his own across the hall.
Ariana snuggled into bed cried herself to sleep.

Chapter Eighteen:
Sabrina's Arrival

Ariana awoke in a state of confusion. She wasn't in her own bed and recognized the dark and dismal part of the Dream Realm. She was in the Dominion, by Dark Tower where she met up with an old nemesis.
In front of her was Sabrina, who called herself the Dominionite Maiden.
"What do you want?" Ariana scowled.
Sabrina walked up to Ariana with one of the meanest smirks on her beastly face. Half Immortal female and half dragon mistress, Sabrina was the one to invade her dreams whenever she got the chance.
"Only what rightfully belongs to me."
"I haven't anything of yours." Ariana cried, starting to circle Sabrina.
Sabrina stopped her. "Ah, my dear Young Guardian, but you do." She sneered sarcastically.
"What do I have of yours?" Ariana stared into Sabrina's blood-red eyes.
"My powers, of course." Sabrina grabbed Ariana in a choke hold, but she was too smart to fall for such a fools move.
Ariana closed her eyes and disappeared. Sabrina didn't know what to think.
In front of her, she reappeared transparent. "I'm afraid you'll have to do better than that, Sabrina darling." Ariana laughed, her voice echoing. She became solid again.
Sabrina called for her Dominionite Warriors and they attacked Ariana with such fierce moves. She wasn’t fast enough, so she was caught.
Ariana tried to use her powers, but to no avail.
Sabrina faced Ariana and crooned in her face. "I will give you a chance to change your mere mortal mind. Three of your Outer Realm nights should suffice. If you should fail to respect me or my wishes, then I will definitely make sure you never see the Outer Realm again!"
One more word crossed her black lips. "Beware."
Ariana was thankfully woken up, screaming.

She felt her head as she pulled back the covers. Her head felt hot, and her muscles ached just moving. She couldn't be sick! She had to fight Sabrina!

It was Mark that came running. "What's wrong?"
He had obviously forgotten the events of the night before.
Ariana laid her head back on the sweat-drenched pillow, so weak she wasn't able to lift herself off the bed.
Mark felt her head after sitting on her bed next to her. His mind was racing.
What should he do?
Quickly, he saw one of the maids, Amelia, and called to her.
"Yes, Master Mark?"
"Call an ambulance, now Amelia. Hurry." His voice was frantic.
I never really was any good in an emergency, he thought sadly. Somehow, I have to get it together to save her life.
While Amelia called the ambulance, Mark took her hand.
Ariana's body was unconscious, and her breathing low.
"Come on," Mark prodded. "Please be okay."
Ariana's eyes opened slowly and her lips whispered. "I will. I promise."
Mark touched her lips with his index finger. "Don't talk now."
As she nodded weakly, the ambulance technicians took her away on a stretcher. Mark followed, hopping in back beside her.
Throughout the ride to Philbrooke Memorial Hospital, Mark's eyes were on the verge of crying, his hands holding onto hers.
Mark had to wait in the lobby, where he slumped down in one of the chairs. He was more than nervous; he was scared. Scared of losing the loveliest and sweetest girl he'd ever met. They may have been brother and sister, but Mark felt there could be more between them.
It was just too bad Ariana didn't return his feelings. To her, he was just another friend. What good was that?
Mark sighed. Why was he thinking about that now, when Ariana was in the emergency room, perhaps in a coma this very minute?
He yawned and his eyelids began to close. It was late, and he was tired.
So drowsy. He thought, dozing off.

His mind awoke in a strange place. A tall, beautiful woman with darkest of night black hair smiled at him.
"Hello, Mark." She said sweetly, her silver eyes twinkling.
"Who are you, and where am I?" Mark asked, looking around.
"I am known as the Mistress Enchantra. You, Mark Grey, are in the Dream Realm." Enchantra explained. "Come, follow me."
Mark didn't know what to think. He stood and contemplated whether to follow this strange woman.
"Do not be afraid, for I am not the enemy." Enchantra told him.
She sure seemed nice enough, he mused, following her to the Palace.
Enchantra led him to a hidden room to the Ancient Mystic Mirror. "You mean a lot to Ariana for her to tell you about us."
Mark shrugged. "I guess." He spied the mirror on the wall. It showed no reflection when he went to look more. "Am I dead? Is that why the mirror doesn't show my reflection?"
Enchantra smiled. "You are very much alive, I assure you. For this is no ordinary Mirror. It is a mirror of magic."
"Magic?" Mark asked eagerly. He knew about magic. "Show me."
Enchantra passed her hand in front of it. "This magic mirror was given to us by our friend and confidant, our youngest sister, Sibylline. When she was sent to the Realm of the Epsilon, her magic spread to the entire Realm of Dreams. The Mystic Mirror tells everything about every Dreamer in the Outer Realm."
Mark began to see an image. It was a younger part of him, but how did the magic mirror know?
"We know about your two personas, Mark. We need them to help Ariana survive through the night. The one called Wolf is actually a Dream Realm Companion, Banished by the Dominionite Master Orthos. Psycho is an Originator named Maximaniac, who Banished himself for the love of my sister, Sibylline’s twin Jezebel."
"I haven't talked to either of them since before I met Ariana. Why would you want me to now?" Mark asked, finally able to trust Enchantra fully.
"The answer will come in time." Enchantra replied. "You will know. For now, you must return."
"What about Ariana? Is she going to be okay?"
"There is nothing to be worried about." Enchantra promised. "She will be fine in a couple of days. Now go, I sense someone calling your name."
"How do I get back?" Mark inquired.
Enchantra pointed to a glowing image where he'd come in. "That is your aura trace. Whenever you visit and wish to return to the Outer Realm, find it and you will awaken."

Mark stepped through his aura trace and awoke as promised in his body in the hospital waiting room.
"Is there a Mark Grey here?" A woman with a long doctors' coat called.
Mark turned. "I'm Mark." He stood and walked to her. "Yes, doctor? How is she? Can I see her?"
"In a moment, yes." The doctor said. "I'm glad to say it wasn't as bad as we first thought."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we thought it was her female reproductive organs deteriorating." The doctor replied. She hesitated before telling him. "Were you aware she was pregnant at such an early age?"
Mark couldn't believe it! "Uh, no." He replied, keeping calm. "What's wrong with her then?"
"Her appendix ruptured. She'll be fine after the appendectomy tomorrow." The doctor smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She's barely awake because of the muscle relaxers, but would you like to see her now?"
Mark nodded, and the doctor led him to a private room.
"How did you know to find me?" Mark asked her as they walked.
"Ariana was saying your name in her sleep." The doctor replied. "By the way, I'm Dr. Evans."
Mark replied. "Nice to meet you."
His mind was on other things, like his Ariana. He peeked inside and saw his sister lying on the bed, hooked up to a heart monitor, IV in her arm, and sleeping soundly.
"I'll leave you alone, but don't stay long, okay?" Dr. Evans replied.
Mark noticed a chair beside the bed, and sat, exhausted. He studied her resting body, his mind racing. "Why didn't you tell me about your pregnancy?" he asked aloud, though he knew she couldn't hear him. He lovingly petted her hair. "Didn't you trust me?" Mark's eyes began to water and he put his hand on one of hers.
I trust you, Mark. I was afraid, that's all. Ariana's familiar voice in his head startled him. I'm sorry you feel that way.
Why are you afraid? He asked, squeezing her hand.
Rejection, I guess. Ariana replied sadly. Do me one favor, please Mark?
Anything for you.
Go home and get some rest. I can tell you need it as much as I do right now. Goodbye and good night, Mark. I love you.
That brought a tear to his eye. Goodnight, my lovely Ariana. I'll be back tomorrow.
With a kiss to her forehead, he sent to her, I love you, too.
There wasn't another word from her, so he stood and left.

II

In another part of town, Derrick's necklace shone around his neck and he could tell something was wrong with Ariana. He'd temporarily forgotten about the necklace's special purpose, and was glad to remember. He touched it and thought of his beloved Ariana. There he saw her, lying in a hospital bed.
What's wrong with her? He wondered.
Nothing serious, Young Derrick. Enchantra's voice echoed in his thoughts.
I remember you, Derrick smiled. You're the one that took me to see her image in the Ancient Mystic Mirror.
Aye. Enchantra responded. There is no time for pleasantries. Orthos' daughter Sabrina wants revenge against Young Guardian, and will try entering through her body to experience the Outer Realm. You must find her and stop Sabrina before it is too late!
Derrick was stunned, now worried. Enchantra continued.
One has already agreed to keep an eye out for anything out of place. Find her and do the same. Her life and destiny is on the line.
I'll do my best to help, Mistress. Derrick promised. Thank you.
Goodbye Derrick. Enchantra replied. Take care of her and be careful. It is dangerous in the Dominion.
I understand. Derrick told her. He headed back to his aura trace, and returned home.
No matter what, he promised himself he'd find Ariana and save her in time.

III

Ariana's body lay in the bed, sleeping soundly. Suddenly, her eyes popped open. A snide smile came upon her lips and her eyes turned blood red.
Sabrina deduced one thing.
She loved being in her enemies' body!
Sabrina came up with an idea so complex and devious for even Ariana the Dream Realm Crusader to figure out. By the time Ariana figured it out, Sabrina would've won.
She liked being out of