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

do you want with her? She was nothing but a menace to me. Her and those pesky twin friends of hers.”
Sabrina stood behind Caroline, who had taken a seat in silence. “I understand she was not one to behave?”
“You’d better believe it.” Mrs. Gertrude spat sarcastically. “Wait – who are you and why should you care about that brat?”
“I am Sabrina, and this is Ariana’s adopted sister, Caroline Parker.” Sabrina faced Mrs. Gertrude, staring into her slate-gray eyes.
Helen could see a fire literally blazing in the raven-haired Sabrina’s eyes. Sabrina had her mesmerized in seconds.
Caroline stared, silent. She knew not to interrupt when Sabrina was casting spells.
Crashing the silence was Sabrina’s voice, low-toned and serious. Her fingers played with the Dominionite Crystal segment around her neck.
Eyes glowing red and a serious scowl upon her lips, she demanded. “Tell me all her secrets.”

It didn’t take long for Mrs. Gertrude to be fully under Sabrina’s spell. After learning what she needed to know, especially about Young Guardian’s charges, Mrs. Gertrude led Sabrina and Caroline to the playroom. The original six girls were older now and more aware of evil, especially in the Dream Realm.
“These are the girls Ariana had to take care of while she stayed here.” Mrs. Gertrude replied.
They girls stopped talking when they heard their mistress’ voice. Wary of the newcomers beside them, they held hands and huddled together. The short blonde girl held her bracelet, frowning at the dark-haired strangers.
“Brilliant.” Sabrina replied. “May we be alone?”
Mrs. Gertrude could see the serious look in her eyes, and left them.
Sabrina and Caroline walked over to the girls.
“What do you want?” A blonde girl asked. “We know who you are, and your intentions.”
The other five eyed Sabrina with glares. They were together, and she was glad. She’d need them together to complete the spell.
“The Dream Realm has changed a lot since I reigned.” Sabrina replied. “Young Guardian is in terrible danger, from me of course, and I need you girls to help me destroy her.”
“Why would we destroy her?” A brunette countered. “She was the most caring leader we’ve ever known.”
“Yeah.” Said the youngest, a redhead. “She even gave us these cool bracelets!”
The redhead showed the bracelet to her, and her sisters cried, “Tiffany!”
Tiffany cowered behind the blond. “Sorry, guys. It slipped.”
So that is where I have seen those jewels before! From Young Guardian herself! Sabrina remarked in her mind. She and Caroline shared a scheming smile.
“I’ll bet you’d want to see her again, wouldn’t you?” Caroline asked.
They nodded.
“Not if it had to do with you!” The blond stepped up to Sabrina.
Right into the trap!
They met eyes, and Sabrina took her wrist. The one with the bracelet on it.
She began to chant. Caroline laughed softly to herself.
The other girls were mesmerized in seconds.
Sabrina released the blonde’s arm. “You will obey me.”
“Yes, Mistress Sabrina.” They chorused.
“Now, follow me. We have some destruction to do.”
Caroline and the six of Young Guardian’s Oracle Children followed wherever Sabrina led them.
Part 2:
The Battle

Chapter Fifty:
Dominionite Warriors

The next day, the Crusaders had separated, waiting.
Mark had been well enough to return home a few hours later. Ariana told him to keep an eye on Sabrina, Caroline, and Maximaniac. After the rest of the Woods’ had left, Derrick, the Companions and Aaron decided to stay with the twins in guest rooms.
Aaron awoke late the next morning with Luna meeting him in the hallway from the upstairs bathroom.
“Morning, Aaron.” She said brightly, smiling. “How’d you sleep?”
He shrugged, washing his hands. “Pretty good, considering.”
She took a brush to her long reddish-blond hair. He paused to stare at her reflection. She caught his gaze.
“Stop staring.” Luna giggled.
“I’m still amazed how much you two really look alike.” Aaron remarked.
She put the brush down. “Duh, we’re twins.”
“You guys act as if you’d never been apart.” He said.
Luna smiled, sighing as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. “That’s the whole idea.” She took his hand and led him downstairs. “Come on, let’s eat.”

II

At the same time, Ariana sat at the table thinking when Derrick came up and sat down beside her.
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure, Derrick.” Ariana had a feeling this was going to be tough.
“I was wondering about yesterday.”
“What about it?”
“Why did you give Mark a necklace?” Derrick was serious, but willing to listen.
Ariana met his brown eyes and searched them. “I don’t understand.”
“Yes, you do.” He assured.
She looked away, and Derrick touched her hand.
“Derrick,” Ariana didn’t know what to say. She’d never had this problem before.
She panicked almost broke out in tears, silent.
“Please don’t tell me Sabrina was right.” Derrick whispered, thinking of when Sabrina invaded his Dream Realm to tell him Ariana didn’t love him, and that she loved another.
“I’m afraid so.” Ariana stood, heading to the living-room window, but he didn’t follow. “My feelings for Mark had been growing while you were away last year.” She met his sad eyes and continued. “I knew it was wrong to love him, I felt I was betraying you, which I was. I’m sorry about that now, Derrick. I was lonely without either you or Luna, and felt sorry for Mark. He was lonely way before I came along.”
Derrick held his unbelieving look, with his arms crossed.
“As we lived together, and worked together, I began to read his mind. His mind wasn’t on me, but on Bonnie Parker.”
Derrick loosened, his mind interested in the story. He stood and walked over to her, watching as Ariana Woods stared into space.
He knew what she was doing. She was going into a clairvoyant trance, trying to explain something she didn’t really understand or know much about.
“Bonnie Marie Parker died three years ago in a head-on collision by a semi-truck.” She began, and Derrick sat down at the kitchen table. She continued. “When I first arrived at the Parkers, I saw her vision. We looked so much alike, but she had real long white-blond hair and stood about half a foot taller than I was.” Ariana paused. “When Mark and I kissed for the first time, I could tell she was in his thoughts.”
Derrick nodded, remembering that day. He had seen both their visions when he’d looked in the Ancient Mystic Mirror, but decided to keep silent. He stood beside her with his arms crossed. “What about the necklace?” He came back to the original question.
She shook out of the trance and met his gaze. “Before I met my family, Mark had a terrible dream. He actually was able to sense I was leaving, and didn’t flinch when I told him where I was going.” Ariana replied. “Remember when I needed his help packing my backpack?”
Derrick nodded with a gentle look on his face.
“He gave me a Dream Catcher necklace, along with another kiss.” Ariana replied, feeling her lips. “I felt even sorrier for him then, but took the gift as a token of friendship, just to be polite. He still felt an intense, deep love for me, even when he knew I love you.”
Derrick finally noticed the Dream Catcher around her neck. It was pretty, but that didn’t mean anything.
“I’m not done yet.” Ariana said. “After I had left for the System three days later, I began to think a lot about my daughter Kelina Erin, Aaron himself, Mark, and especially you. I missed you all, but couldn’t Crusade to meet you in the Dream Realm. I wasn’t allowed. Anyway, the necklace came in as I thought about him one morning. Staring at the Dream Catcher he gave me, I closed my eyes and sent him a locket, with my picture inside, as a token of friendship.”
Derrick had sat at the table again, pondering her words.
She turned to him, placing a caring hand on his arm. Ariana handled the necklace he wore constantly.
“Derrick, there’s no need to worry about this.” Ariana replied. “You are my true love, my Imaginary Romeo.” She kissed his necklace, a symbol of the Dream Realm. “And it’s you who are my Earthly Protector. Do you think Lord Guardian would let just anyone take care of his Earthbound successor?”
Derrick unfolded his arms and took her hands, kissing them with a grin. “Oh, Ariana, I promised you I would never get mad at you, and I’m not now.”
“Really?” Ariana asked.
Derrick kissed her passionately. When they parted, he hugged her. “Let’s go out tonight, as long as Sabrina doesn’t do anything.”
Ariana nodded, listening to his heartbeat. “Sure. I’ll go anywhere with you.”
“I hope we’re not interrupting anything important.” Quipped up Luna’s sarcastic voice.
Ariana and Derrick turned to meet Luna’s smiling face, with Aaron behind her, about to burst out laughing.
The loving couple pulled apart, embarrassed.
“What do you want?” Ariana asked her sister, ignoring Aaron’s rolling eyes.
“To break up your little jamboree.” Luna joked.
The girls started giggling, and the boys laughed.
“Its good to get some humor back into our lives.” Aaron replied with a grin.
“I hope it’ll last.” Luna said, and Ariana nodded.
Derrick hugged Ariana from behind. “You know Luna, I’ve been thinking about all those times we double-dated.”
“What do you mean?” Luna asked.
Aaron stood silent, listening. He was interested.
“You, Shadow, Ariana and I.” Derrick replied. “Well, we should do it again sometime.”
“Have you heard from Shane lately?” Ariana asked her. She knew that Shane “Shadow” Morehouse had been Luna’s own boyfriend, and they cared for each other as Ariana and Derrick had. “I’ve noticed you writing millions of letters to him during all this.”
Now, Luna was the one to redden, embarrassed. “Okay, we’re even, now stop teasing me.”
Ariana let Derrick go and hugged her sister, whispering in her ear. “Never.”
“I was stationed with him when I was at the System with you.” Aaron replied.
“He told me all about it.” Luna nodded, and the phone rang before she could boast about her steady.
“I’ll get it.” Ariana told them, and picked up the nearest line. “Hello, Ariana speaking . . . oh no, you’re kidding . . . Listen, keep an eye on her, and be careful. We’ll meet up later . . . goodbye.”
Ariana turned when she replaced the phone on its cradle.
“Who was that?” Derrick asked.
“That was Mark, and Sabrina just left with Caroline.” Ariana replied, folding her arms. “Looks like the witch of the Dominion has just made her first move.”
“We have to tell the Companions.” Aaron replied. “They can help us figure out what to do next.”

III

That night, when Ariana was getting ready for her date with Derrick, Aaron knocked on her bedroom door. He knew the Companions were in the backyard and Derrick was already gone. With Luna downstairs, he was able to talk to Ariana alone.
“Come in, Aaron.” He heard her voice from the other side of the door.
He opened it and smiled, folding his arms. “Just once, I’d like to surprise you.”
Ariana giggled.
Aaron looked at her outfit, taking her hand. She was wearing a peach-colored blouse with a nice jean-skirt that nearly reached her ankles. She twirled in a circle, letting him see all of it.
“Very nice,” He said, pulling her close and playfully kissing her cheek. “Very nice.”
Ariana blushed, going to the mirror again. “Thanks, Aaron. I can always count on you to compliment me.”
He laughed.
She paused to look at her own reflection, catching his with hers.
“We’ve gone through