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

literally sense Ariana's in trouble!"
Aimee tried to read his eyes. Sure enough, he was concerned. "You really care about her, don't you?" She whispered.
"Yes, Aimee, since that day in California, I've cared about her. She and I have a special bond with each other." Aaron replied. "Not unlike our twin bond, but it does come close."
Aimee could tell he was distressed over their best friend. She hugged him. "Go, Aaron. I'll watch Bradley Allen."
Aaron kissed her cheek. "Thanks, Aimee. I appreciate it."
"Go, before I change my mind." She replied with a laugh.
He took the car keys and was on his way.

II

Mark handled Sabrina so well; he thought she'd never give up! He raced downstairs to eat his breakfast. While the boys cleaned up in the kitchen, Mark heard a knock on the door. "Will you get that, Luna?"
"Sure." She replied.
Luna opened the door only to find a young man standing, staring at her. He had dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail in the back, and brown eyes that sparkled when he finally smiled.
"When she said the two of you were identical, she wasn't kidding." The young man replied after a moment.
Luna held her chest. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"
"Not yet. I'm Aaron Theodore, Ariana's old orphanage best friend." Aaron took her hand and kissed it. "You must be Aluna, her identical twin."
"That's right, but how did you know who was who?" Luna asked, escorting him in.
"The eyes." Aaron replied. "Ariana has bright silver-blue eyes, while you my dear, have ocean-blue."
Luna blushed.
"By the way, where is she?" Aaron replied.
From the den came Ariana-as-Katherine.
"Here I am, Aaron." Katherine replied.
Aaron hugged her, and then looked into her eyes. "Katherine?" He remembered their Companion friend taking them to the Dream Realm to escape.
Katherine nodded her head. "Aye. Young Guardian is in trouble." She took his arm and led him to the kitchen, where the guys were finishing the cleaning. "Derrick, this is Aaron, the young man I told you about."
"Nice to finally meet you." Derrick replied simply. Aaron gave him a curious look before turning to Mark, who was beside him.
"Hello again." Mark managed to choke out with a shrug.
"Come and sit down, everybody." Katherine commanded lightly. "Aaron, we have some explaining to do."
"First, how much did she tell you that day I met you?" Mark asked. "If I know her well enough, I know Ariana tells all only to those she trusts."
"You're right, but I’ve known Ariana far longer than you, Mark Black." Aaron replied, staring at him.
"That's 'Grey,' not Black, understand?" Mark corrected.
"My mistake." Aaron retorted.
"Gentleman!" Katherine whistled. "You must not squabble over petty things if we are to find Ariana and defeat my cousins."
"I agree." Luna replied softly. "I may not know her as well as you do, Aaron, so please, tell us what you know. That way, we’ll be able to work together.”
Derrick stared at her, amazed. "Right." He agreed, turning to Aaron. “I think she’s channeling Ariana.”
Aaron smiled, holding in a chuckle, but didn’t say anything.
"Never mind, smart alec.” Luna cried, nudging him in the side before turning back to Aaron. “Tell us already!"
Aaron pulled on his dark brown tail before telling the group what he knew. "Well? Did that help?"
"Very much." Katherine replied. "Thank you."
"So, what's going on?" Aaron asked. "Where is she?" They all took turns telling him what was going on, to which he whistled. "Wow, intense."
Aaron shook his head, still trying to grasp it all. His old best friend was locked up in a dungeon at a place called Dark Tower, in an evil part of the Dream Realm?
It could be worse, he thought. She could already be dead. He looked at the group and asked. "Any way I could help out?"
Katherine smiled, and turned to Derrick. "Call Shannon. You know what to do."
"Right, Katherine." Derrick replied, standing up.
While he was gone, the others continued to talk.
"Are you sure you know what to do, Katherine?" Aaron asked, unsure.
"Not really. I need help from each of you." Katherine replied. "That is, if you care for her as much as you say you do. Especially you, Aaron."
"We do care about Ariana." Luna replied with a tear to her eye. "You know that better than anyone."
Derrick came back. "Well, it's settled. Aaron, welcome to the wonderful world of the System."
"Huh?" Aaron laughed, confused.
"Come with me." Katherine smiled, draping an arm around his shoulders. "With a little Crusader help, I will show you back to my world."
"We'll start upstairs in Ariana's room, where it all began." Mark announced. They followed him.
Maybe they'd find and rescue Ariana -- for good this time?

In the Garden, they met up with Wolf and Toby, who were playing catch.
"Wolf! We have come to tell you something." Katherine proclaimed, kissing him on the lips.
"What is it, to bring such a crowd of friends?" Wolf laughed, beckoning Toby from afar. "Good to see you again, Young Derrick, Grand Magus, and Heart-Brother Mark." He saw Aaron and bowed. "Why, if it is not Young Aaron? Pleasure to see you again."
"You remember me, Warrior Wolf." Aaron smiled. “That’s good to know.”
“Please, call me Wolf Stargazer.” Wolf announced. “I am glad you remembered how to visit.”
“It’s hard to forget, my old friend.” Aaron kept his smile.
"We came here for a reason, remember?" Luna interrupted the playful banter. “My sister?”
“We remember.” Katherine purred, telling Wolf and Toby what was going on. "We came for your help, fellow Companions."
With that, each discussed a rescue plan. Afterward, the group left, returning to the Outer Realm.
Each thought the same thing as they retired. Will the plan work in time?

Chapter Twenty-Seven:
Sabrina Meets Her Match

Mark came up with a secret plan of his own. Rather, Psycho did, and was waiting for the right moment to execute it.
The perfect moment came when Sabrina surprised him when it was his turn to watch after Katherine left. Sabrina returned, as he'd hoped, and the new-and-improved Psycho took her into his arms, kissing her lips.
"Hello again, Lover-boy." Sabrina cooed with a giggle.
"Bonjour, Mon Amour." Psycho returned, kissing her hard on the lips.
Sabrina didn't know what hit her! He whispered something in her ear, shocking her. After all, was it not she who was the seductress? It seemed he was taking over her!
They became embraced as one, lying side by side when they were finished.
"Was it everything you hoped for, my darling Sabrina?" Psycho looked into her devilish red eyes. He pushed the hair out of her face and kissed her nose.
Sabrina didn't know what to say. This Psycho was so much different from the child-like clown she'd first met. This one was more mature and much more aggressive (just the way she liked them!). "You have changed, Psycho, and I find that simply grand."
"I like that: Grand Psycho." Psycho replied with a wicked laugh.
Sabrina smiled, outlining his face. "Is there any way I could meet you in my world? I have someone I'd like you to meet."
Grand Psycho nodded, and knew just the way.
Soon, both Ariana and Mark's bodies went limp, and only Mark returned, exhausted.

II

Sabrina led Grand Psycho to the Dominion's Lava Wood, which is where she returned from the Outer Realm. "Welcome to the Dominion, where I am known as the Maiden."
"What an awful world it is, darling?" He replied, placing an arm around her shoulders and a kiss on her lips. Finally, back home where I belong...Grand Psycho thought to himself. "Whom did you wish me to meet?"
"Oh, come with me." She led him to the Dark Tower's dungeons. "Meet the enemy. This is Young Guardian Ariana. She stole my powers away from me, and I want them back."
"Never." Ariana stood, looking into his eyes with a gasp. I know you...
"That's right; you do know me, Young Guardian. I am Psycho, Heart-Brother to Mark. I was just a clown, trapped in his mind, but now I am sadistically inhuman." Psycho turned to Sabrina. "All thanks to my devil's angel Sabrina."
Sabrina laughed. "You do not seem all that powerful now, do you?" She cackled.
"I haven't given up yet, Sabrina, and neither have the Crusaders." Ariana cried.
"Silence, peasant." Grand Psycho roared. "If we wish for your opinion, we will give it to you."
Ariana was silenced when she heard his voice in her head. Play along. I will explain everything later.
Sabrina laughed viciously. "What a treacherous thing you are, Grand Psycho!"
"You do not know just how right you are, my dear." He replied. "In fact, you do not know the half of it." He kissed her then, draining a little of the venom from her lips, along with some hidden power. He was going to show her just how deceitful he could be.
He left with Sabrina, but returned shortly after.
He returned to Young Guardian’s side the moment he could get away from Sabrina.
Ariana rustled in her cage. “What do you want, Grand Psycho?”
He remained calm. “To explain myself.”
She stared at him. “You’re not betraying Sabrina, are you?”
“That is exactly what I am doing.” Grand Psycho responded. “All you need to know now is that I would never harm you, or let others harm you. I am on your side, I assure you.”
“How do I know it’s not just a ruse?” Ariana asked, suspicious.
He shifted, from the Immortal male figure to that of a larger grey Gargoyle. “I am not who I say I am. As I said, I will never harm you, nor let others do so. I have learned my own painful lessons in love and hatred, and choose to be on Lord Guardian’s side.” Grand Psycho sensed something in the air and shifted back to an Immortal male. “For now, I must leave you. I will return later, perhaps in your Realm sometime. Au Revoir, Young Guardian of the Dream Realm.”
“Au Revoir, Grand Psycho.” Ariana felt a certain respect for the Gargoyle-Immortal male when he disappeared.
Something told her he wasn’t what he seemed. That thought gave her hope against all odds.

When Grand Psycho and Sabrina were alone, she told him of her plan. He thought it was perfectly wicked.
"You know, I could help take over.” Grand Psycho announced, pulling her close. “With my cunning wit and your powers, we could easily take over the Outer Realm."
"Ooh, do tell." Sabrina cooed.
Grand Psycho told her of his plan, which she equally loved.
"When do we start?" Sabrina asked.
"No better time than the present, agree?" Grand Psycho replied with a mischievous grin. They kissed, laughing when they parted.

Chapter Twenty-Eight:
Cruel-Hearts

In the Outer Realm, Katherine and the others were playing a game when Mark got a headache. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, trying to make it go away. That’s when he saw an image and gasped.
"Mark?" Luna asked, placing a hand on his quivering shoulders.
He turned to the sound of her voice without opening his eyes. "I hear them talking." He said quietly.
"Who?" Derrick's voice asked.
"Sabrina and...Oh, no..." Mark cried in a whisper. "She's turned my friend Psycho into a raving, evil, seductive, self-centered maniac! He now calls himself Grand Psycho."
"What can you hear them saying?" Katherine hesitated to ask.
"It looks as if they combined their schemes to destroy us, starting with Ariana!" Mark whispered, opening his