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

band of Dominionite Warriors.

II

Derrick slept in his bed, tossing and turning, unable to get the thoughts of doom out of his head.

“Oh, Derrick,” A female voice cooed in his Dream Realm. “I have a surprise for you.”
He knew exactly who it was when she came out, dressed entirely in black. A sinister smile was on her lips, and Sabrina always loved haunting his dreams.
“What do you want, Sabrina?” He demanded, standing still as he watched her stroke his cheek.
“She does not love you anymore, Derrick,” She teased, kissing his ear as she whispered into it.
Derrick pulled himself away. “You’re lying, Sabrina!” He yelled. “You just want me to hate her and come to your side. Well, it’s not going to work this time.”
Sabrina moved closer to him. “Think about it. Young Guardian has been acting strange around you, correct?”
He was silent, interested. Sabrina did have a point.
“She has her eye on another.” Sabrina confessed, smiling inside. “One that has loved her since they met. It is up to you, Young Derrick, to find out who this mystery lover is.”
Derrick finally noticed the dark crystal around her neck, but didn’t ask about it.
“I love Ariana very much, and she loves me.” He defended. “She would never do anything to hurt me.”
Sabrina kept her smile, shrugging innocently. “Would she, or would she not? That is the question. Just how well do you know your beloved Young Guardian?” Sabrina turned.
He was never given the chance to answer.
“For now, I must be getting back to the creature who worships me.” Sabrina crooned, blowing him a kiss with a wink. She disappeared. “Tah-tah!”
Sabrina’s words flew past him and he awoke shortly after she left.

Derrick sat up in bed, sweating. It was the middle of the night, and he could hear Chips snoring in the bunk beside him. He stood and headed for the kitchenette for a drink of water. He mulled over his thoughts.
Was Sabrina right? Ariana has been acting strange around me lately. Was she, in fact, seeing another guy behind my back?
If so, who was it? Aaron or Mark?
He didn’t know who or what to believe. His own instincts or Sabrina’s confession?
He headed back to bed, taking the water with him. Derrick decided to worry about it in the morning.

III

Meanwhile, Luna rang the bell to the Ancient Mystic Sisters’ Palace.
Enchantra welcomed her with open arms. “A pleasure to see you again, Grand Magus.”
“I found Kitten's Claw Hawk,” was all she could muster. “I came to ask your permission to return her to this world.”
“Calm down.” Enchantra replied. “What do you mean, ‘found her?’”
“Kit was in my mind, like Katherine was in Ariana’s.” Luna explained after seating herself on the chair. “Only, for a long time, I thought I was hearing things.”
“I see,” Enchantra replied. “The reason we let Katherine back home is the fact she was helping a friend in need. In other words, Katherine earned the right to return as a Companion.”
Challandra came in the room then, overhearing the end of the conversation. “It is up to you to help Kitten’s Claw pass certain tests in order to return home for good.”
“What do I to test her on?” Luna looked down at her lap.
Both Sisters gave her a smile. “You will know.” Whispered Enchantra.
“I shall look in on you, telling you each of the tests.” Challandra replied. “I will rank how Kit is succeeding, and determine the exact time she will be able to return.”
Luna nodded and was on her way back home to the Outer Realm. She woke in the middle of the night. A light on nearby caught her eye.
What would Ariana be doing up at this hour? Luna thought, her eyes squinting to see the clock.
The light went off after only a second, and Luna shrugged.
She fell back to sleep quickly, not really knowing what was in store for her soon.

IV

Sabrina also came to a very distraught, depressed Mark Grey that night. He believed every word about his Ariana’s feelings for him.
“You know, Mark. She loves you more than that Derrick character.” Sabrina fingered his necklace. “She just fails to tell you, playing an obvious game of cat-and-mouse. Young Guardian loves playing with a man’s heartstrings.”
Mark was beginning to get mad. “Why does she do this to me?” He asked, mainly himself. “Why can’t she just come out and tell me how she feels, instead of claiming she’s too confused?”
Sabrina stepped closer to Mark, whispering in his ear. “By the way, I am having a ball with Grand Psycho. Thank you for setting us up.”
“Why you!” Mark yelled, realizing the truth. “You’re the one that turned my childhood friend against me!”
He stared at her, seeing a dark crystal necklace glowing at her breasts. He reached for her neck, but she wasn’t fazed at his attack.
Sabrina’s crystal glowed and she waved an arm to throw him away from her. All Sabrina did in return was smile and shrug off his anger, as if it meant nothing to her.
She kissed him on the lips gently and disappeared.
Mark was left, stunned.
It was good Katherine reunited with Wolf when she did, before Sabrina came in the picture. They would have been in big trouble if the witch had gotten to him, too.
Mark realized what had to be done now. He had to get to his Canine Companion friend and tell him of Sabrina’s plan so he and Katherine would get to Ariana in time.
Besides, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to speak to her right now. At least, until he knew the absolute truth about her feelings for him. He never really liked playing games.

V

Aaron stared out the window of the bus until he fell asleep. He dreamed the weirdest, and saddest, thing. It was when they were twelve-years-old. He and Ariana had escaped yet another beating from Mrs. Gertrude and were hiding in the attic, their special spot.

Puffing, Aaron asked her, “Are you okay?”
Trying to catch her breath, Ariana nodded. She was shaking, scared.
“Are you sure?” Aaron asked then.
She nodded, pulling hair out of her face. “Yes, of course I’m okay. For now.”
“I understand.” Aaron said softly.
A moment of silence let their breaths catch up with them.
He looked deep into her gentle silver-blue eyes. “You’re really pretty.”
“Thanks, I guess.” Ariana said softly, looking away to hide the blush in her cheeks.
He took her hand and said. “I really mean it, Ariana.”
“I’ve never had anyone tell me I was pretty before.” Ariana admitted with a smile.
“I know. That’s why I’m telling you now.” Aaron said with a grin. “So you know.”
They laughed softly. “Thank you, but why are you telling me now?”
Now he blushed. “I’m telling you because I . . .” His voice trailed and he turned away.
Why couldn’t he say it without losing it?
He looked back into her eyes and finished, “because I like you.”
Ariana was startled. “Really?” She managed to whisper.
He nodded. “I always have, but never like this.”
“Like what?”
Aaron leaned closer to her. “Like this . . .”
He kissed her on the lips then, and could feel her kiss him back. Their world spun and she moaned as his lips began to kiss her neck, slowly moving down her body. Aaron managed to slip her T-shirt off, not really knowing what he was doing was wrong. All he knew is he liked it.
She followed his hands with her own to her waist, not resisting.
They both knew it was wrong, but didn’t care.
In mid-kiss as he watched her unzip her jeans, Aaron asked her. “Are you sure you want to do this as much as I do?”
Ariana nodded. He stripped down, and they began to kiss again.
Oh, Aaron, Ariana thought in her head. I’m so scared.
We’ll be safe now. He returned. As one.
Afterward, they held one another.
“Oh, Ariana,” He whispered, snuggling closer to her. “I not only like you, I love you.”
Ariana Moon moaned her response, her eyes closed.

They were only twelve then, forced to grow up.
A bump woke Aaron up, returning him to the present.
As he thought of all they went through over the years, and just recently in the Crusades, he couldn't help feeling more for her. Not only that, but he missed her already.
It just wasn't fair for her to go away like that, and for him to pretend to want to keep his true home a secret. Why didn't he say something else to Luna? Why did he have to be so complicated? Why did she?
Aaron sighed, switching positions. He was lonely in the world without her, and knew her heart would never belong to him again.
It just wasn't fair.
The bus shook down the road, and Aaron stared out the window with a tear in his eye.
He had a feeling in his gut something was going to happen to them, only he didn't know how he knew. He knew he wasn't an Ancient Mystic, so he couldn't have their powers. Maybe it had something to do with the bracelet, and the Blood-Pact.
Even after he told his twin Aimee what happened, she felt the same way. The Three Musketeers, along with the Crusaders, were going to be in danger sometime soon.
He only hoped to get to Ariana and the others in time.

Chapter Forty:
A System Welcome, a Desperate Mission

The bus stopped a block from the old Shore Point University building. Aaron knew where he was going, and what he was about to do was right.
At the front doors, there was a security system blocking intruders. He took out the piece of paper Derrick had given him when he was unofficially “inducted” into the System. He tapped the codes into the panel and waited for the single click.
Aaron turned the knob and opened the doors. This place was enormous! He wandered down the corridors, letting his intuition guide the way.
As soon as he reached another pair of double-doors, he knew he was in the right place. He walked in to find rows of computers. At the end of the room was a single door with the name “Shannon C. Ryan, Chief of Detectives” written on it.
Cautiously, Aaron knocked.
“Come in,” He heard Shannon’s voice call.
Aaron walked in and met the eyes of Shannon Ryan herself. It was the first time he’d actually met her in person, so he was nervous.
“You must be Aaron.” Shannon smiled, her brown eyes turning to silver-blue when she blinked.
His own eyes widened.
“So I’ve been told.” He tried to joke.
Shannon gestured to a chair in front of her desk. “Sit down. There’s a lot to talk about.”
He shut the door behind him.
He had to ask.
“How did you change your eye color?” Aaron whispered as he sat down.
To his surprise, Shannon laughed. “I’m an Ancient Mystic.”
He finished for her. “Your eyes hold the magic in your soul.”
Shannon nodded. “Of course. Now, onto business. Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see Ariana again, so we can search for our daughter.” He told her.
She stared into Aaron’s eyes. “Tell me the real reason.”
How did she know? He thought to himself.
“I’m afraid for the other Crusaders.” Aaron told her. “I don’t know how, but on my way here, I had a feeling in my gut something was going to happen to us. I hoped to get to