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

me, Kelina?”
Kelina giggled again. “I can’t tell you that, silly. It would ruin the game!”
“Okay, honey.” Ariana whispered, understanding. She knew better than to ask why. She’d find out soon enough.
Kelina stood up then. “Sorry, Momma. I have to go now. See you later, okay?”
Ariana’s eye dripped a single tear as she waved goodbye. She wished Kelina Erin was able to stay longer.
She missed her daughter.

Another scene started. It was of her and Aaron, about Kelina’s age. This time, she decided to stand back and watch, not interrupting.

“Come and get me, Aaron!” Seven-year-old Ariana yelled. “You can’t catch me!”
“Better watch out, Ariana!” Aaron cried out playfully, running after her with his arms in the air. “I’m Superman!”
Both screeched, having fun.
That is, until they heard a dreadful voice of Mrs. Helen Gertrude.
“What’s going on here?” She yelled fiercely, making them stop in their tracks.
“We’re just having a little fun, Mrs. Gertrude.” Aaron ran to take Ariana’s hand in comfort, hoping to shield her from any abuse.
Little Ariana was scared. She wished with all her heart that something would come to Mrs. Gertrude, stopping her, if only for a short time. She felt the new Dream Locket around her neck grow warm.
Sure enough, as the wish finished, the mistress was frozen with amazement, widening her eyes as she stared at Ariana’s necklace. The wish made Mrs. Gertrude give up, heading inside. Aaron hugged Ariana, who was starting to cry.
“Did you do that?” Aaron asked in her ear. They both knew of her wish-craft. It was one of the many things she could do, but was still learning to control. When she nodded, he smiled. “That was a good one.” He hugged her again.
She dried her tears and said softly, “Thanks, but I still don’t know how I did it.”
“Right now, I’m just glad you did.” Aaron replied. “Race you to the attic!”
He began to run, and she followed.
“No way are you beating me this time, Aaron Theodore!” Young Ariana replied, racing after her best friend.
That was one of the few good times she’d had with him in the orphanage.

Ariana headed back and forth from place to place, memory to memory until morning came, and she woke with the sun on her face.
She realized she’d slept in her clothes and made her way to the bathroom for a shower.
When she dressed, she headed for her classes in the Commons Room.

II

Aaron Schmidt woke from the same dream, not knowing what to think. The image of little Kelina Erin was still in his head, and he sighed as he helped himself to a bowl of cereal.
He was in a daze and didn't hear either Bradley or his twin Aimee come into the kitchen.
“You’re up early.” Aimee commented, placing a skillet on the stove, starting breakfast.
“Yeah.” He said automatically, his mind somewhere else.
Where was my daughter right now? He thought to himself. Why was I able to hear Ariana’s thoughts with her in the dream? Why did I dream of Kelina in the first place?
“Aaron!” Aimee laughed, sitting to the right of him at the table. She already had a plate in front of her. She placed one in front of Bradley, who was sitting on his left.
He snapped out of his thoughts, smiling at his sister.
“What are you smiling about?” Aimee inquired.
Both she and Bradley listened intently as Aaron described his dream. Six-year-old Bradley Allen stared at him, interested to hear more.
“Are you sure?” Aimee was shocked.
“Positive.” Aaron said defensively. “She had the exact eye-color as Ariana.”
“Why would you dream about her if you’ve never met her?”
He shrugged. “Maybe being a father to Bradley had me thinking of whatever happened to her?”
“Maybe.” Aimee said. “Hey, do you think Ariana had the same dream?”
“I’m betting on it, but there’s no way to find out for certain.” Aaron said, suddenly depressed. “I haven’t seen her in two months. Truthfully, I’m worried about her.”
He thought it over while they ate until Aimee began to giggle.
Aaron looked at her strangely and snuck a glance at Bradley. “Your Aunt Aimee is weird.”
“Stop it, Aaron.” Aimee grinned as Bradley began to laugh. “I may have a way we can find out where Ariana is right now.”
Aaron was interested. “How?”
Aimee stared at him, a giant smile on her face. “Who lives next door?”
“The Woods’?” He asked. “Alright, Amethyst Theresa. What’s on your mind?”
“We can ask Mr. Woods. Surely he knows where she is!” Aimee cried, jumping up from the table.
Aaron stood and hugged her excitedly. “Brilliant! Perfect! I’ll get dressed now and go over there.”

He was nervous as he walked up the porch steps. Aaron stared at the door for a few minutes, his heart beating wildly. He took a deep breath and knocked.
The doorknob turned, with the door pulling open to reveal Mr. Woods himself.
“May I help you, Aaron?”
He gulped. “Do you know where Ariana Moon is?”
Mr. Woods stared at him for a few seconds, his blue eyes searching. Finally, he announced. “Come in.”
Aaron followed him inside, not sure how to react.
“She and her sisters are in California.” Mr. Woods said.
The only thing Aaron knew left for her in California was the System. “At the System?”
David Woods nodded. “I see she told you about it. You must be truly special to her.”
“Yes, sir.” Aaron said.
He smiled, and walked over to the phone in the hall. “Why don’t you give Ariana a call? I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear from you.”
Aaron smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Woods.”
“Make it quick, okay?” He winked and left Aaron’s side.

III

Ariana sat daydreaming at a table, waiting for her teacher. None other than Shannon Ryan herself caught her cousin in a daze, and knew right away that something was up.
“Ariana Woods, what has gotten into you?” Shannon demanded. “You’re more spaced out than usual lately.”
Ariana shook out of her wonderful daydream. “Oh Shannon, I’m so sorry. I’ve been having strange dreams recently, especially last night.”
Shannon was curious as she took a seat next to her. “What were the dreams about?”
“She came to me and told me her name,” Ariana replied.
“Who?”
“Kelina Erin. Oh, Shan! She’s so pretty!” Ariana exclaimed excited. “Long, reddish-brown hair and bright silver-blue eyes. She would be five-years-old by now. Oh, how I wish I knew where she was staying! I miss her so much!”
Shannon patted her on the back. She knew her cousin missed her sweet daughter, and nothing was going to take her attention away from that. “Sometime soon, you’ll be able to search for her. I promise. Right now, can we start your studies?”
“I can’t concentrate on anything but Kelina Erin and the guys.” Ariana sighed.
Shannon’s attention perked up. “Guys?”
Ariana told her what had been going on between her and Derrick then dared to share what she had with Mark. Shannon listened intently, and didn’t interrupt.
“Can you help me, Shan?” Ariana asked.
“Sorry, Ariana. It’s up to you to choose who you want as your own, and gently break it to the other.” Shannon replied softly. “Not me. I can’t help you make that kind of decision.”
“That’s okay. It’s probably some kind of personal test, or something.” Ariana sighed again.
“Tell you what.” Shannon replied, closing her textbook. “Let’s skip your lessons for today. I have a few things I need help with in my office. Did you want to join me?”
“I don’t know.” Ariana moaned.
“Come on,” Shannon prodded, standing. “It’ll keep your mind off your troubles for a while.”
“Alright, let’s go.” Ariana gave up the fight. It was no use arguing with Shannon. More than once, she’s been right.
Ariana stood and headed upstairs to Shannon’s office with her. In an hour, Shannon had Ariana doing paperwork on the computer. When she was in the middle of typing, she heard the phone ring. Curious, she sat still and listened in.
“Hello, Shannon Ryan speaking . . . yes . . . you too? So has she . . . one moment. I’ll put her on.” Shannon covered the mouthpiece with her hand and told Ariana to pick up the extension beside her.
“Hello,” Ariana said softly into the line.
“Ariana, is that really you?” It was Aaron’s voice.
Ariana smiled, glad for the distraction. “Yeah, how did you find me?”
“In a dream.” Aaron told her. “I had a strange one last night, and you were in it.”
“Really? What about?” Ariana was interested, thinking of her own dream.
“You and I when we were seven, and I saw you with a little girl.” He explained. “Does that sound crazy to you?”
“Not really,” Ariana told him. “I dreamed the same thing, only I know who that little girl was.”
“Who was she?” Aaron sounded anxious to know the answer.
Ariana took a deep breath, being careful not to start crying again. “That was Kelina Erin, our daughter.”
His reaction was silence. “That’s it.” He replied, determined. “I’m dreaming about you so much, I have to see you again. Together, we’ll search for her. Okay?”
Ariana was excited. Just the thought of seeing her daughter’s face again made her smile. “Yes, my Aaron Theodore.”
On the other hand, seeing him would bring her out of her depression. She needed his companionship right now.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?” Aaron suggested when she hadn’t said anything in a couple of minutes.
“Alright.” Ariana said softly.
They said their good-byes once he told her when he was coming. She hung up the phone and stared at it for a while.
When Shannon didn’t hear anything from her cousin for a while, she stood and walked over to her. “So, what’s up?”
“He’s coming sometime this week.” Ariana replied. “We’re going to start the search for our daughter.” She sighed, finally looking up at Shannon. “For now, if you’re done with me, I’ll shut down. I want to see how Luna’s doing.”
Shannon could tell her cousin was serious, and let her go. She didn’t know about Ariana, and decided to leave that up to the Elder Lord Guardian O’Dell and the Ancient Mystic Sisters.

IV

Aaron simply stared at the telephone as he returned it to the cradle. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
Turning, he saw Mr. Woods smiling at him. “Well?”
“She had the same dream.” Aaron said. “I want to meet with her again, only I don’t know if I can afford it.”
He surprised Aaron with a suggestion. “Do you know the Dream Chant?”
“Yeah, but what does that have to do with it?”
“You’re a Dream Realm Crusader, right?”
“Yes, but?”
“You already have a little power of your own.” Mr. Woods said, taking Aaron’s hand and pointing to the special bracelet Ariana had given him so long ago.
“How?” He whispered, staring at it.
“Ariana gave that to you in the orphanage, shortly before running away, right?”
He remembered. “She closed her eyes, made a wish, and three bracelets appeared out of thin air.” He said, finally looking at Mr. Woods. “How did you know?”
“My wife is an Ancient Mystic, too.” David Woods laughed. “She’s all too eager to tell me her premonitions.” He let go of Aaron’s hand to place his own on Aaron’s back, leading him to the living room. “The point I’m trying to make is this.”
Aaron sat on the couch, interested.
He continued. “Anything an Ancient Mystic uses Magic on, there is an aura trace of that magic left behind. If your heart is true, which I