Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (no david read aloud .TXT) 📖

his lips for the last time.
He finally saw Luna in his mind when he closed his eyes, and realized the feeling of a close friendship was mutual. He gave her another hug and left then, heading back to Fourth Floor.


Part 3:
Agent Ariana Sister

Chapter Six:
Ariana Moon

Slipping his card through the slot and punching his numeral code into the panel, Derrick opened the door. He found his new partner lying on the bed next to his own, sleeping.
She looks so pretty! Derrick thought with a sigh. He walked over to where her head was facing the balcony, discovering shadows of fresh tears drying on her soft cheeks.
He stood above her silently, not wanting to wake her. She looked so peaceful when she slept.
She looks so sad, Derrick thought. His heart went out to her, longing to soothe her every ache and pain with words of love. He wished he could do something for her, so she wouldn’t look so lonely, but he was apprehensive.
What if she was like Luna, the twin she was never to know about? What if she, too, rejected him, just as his heart opened up for her, giving love that one more chance? They were identical twins, after all. Wouldn’t they be the same in that respect as well?
Pushing the thoughts of Luna aside, his attention turned back to the melancholy beauty sleeping on the bed in front of him. He gently sat next to her on the bed, watching as her eyes darted underneath her closed lids.
How hard her life must have been before coming here? He thought to himself. His hand wandered and touched her hair, as if to ease her thoughts, but he snatched it back abruptly when she stirred.
He noticed the familiar locket around her neck. It was shaped like a globe, and had a unicorn with a jewel in the middle of its head. The opalescent jewel was made of a kind of crystal he'd seen only a few times before, reminding him of Lord Guardian's own jewel beneath his horn. It was all incased in a Dream-Catcher's webbing. It was beautiful in a magical way, hanging from its silver chain.
Could this be the one? Derrick thought, his heart jumping at the idea. Could she be the Dream Girl who'd haunted my dreams in search of help and love? Is she really in front of me now, magically come to life?
Sadly enough it was, and had been crying.
He stared at the mere mystery of Agent Sister. Somehow, he had the feeling there was something hidden behind those beautiful silver-blue eyes of hers. Someday soon, he hoped to unlock whatever secrets kept behind her delicate, but discouraged eyes.
Someday. . .

II

Three years earlier:
Thirteen-year-old Ariana Moon awoke in a hospital bed, confused as to what happened to her. Then she remembered: she had given birth to a baby girl.
She thought of her and smiled, placing a hand on her now-flat abdomen. She closed her eyes and waited for the pleasant Vision to come.
Slowly, in her mind, she saw her baby daughter lying in a crib. Ariana walked up to the lone crib and peered inside. Little Kelina Erin wasn’t crying. She was silent, exploring her hands.
Ariana was glad her baby was healthy, despite the Cesarean Section they had to perform in order to bring her into the world.
She knew there was something magical about Kelina Erin. The baby’s silver-blue eyes were proof of that. Ariana herself had a little magic within, she just was too afraid to use it. It had gotten herself in too much trouble long ago, where the punishment always ended in horrible dreams.
From the age of five, Ariana had grown up in an orphanage. Nearly beaten to death would frighten the toughest of children, but she had two siblings that stood beside her, when others would shun her away. Aaron Theodore and his twin sister Amethyst Theresa were the only ones that would talk to her.
Aaron was the one to impregnate her, ending the sweet innocence. He was, and still is, her best friend who would shield both his twin and herself whenever Mrs. Gertrude would rush to beat them.
Staring at her newborn daughter, she thought back to Aaron and Aimee, and the images changed. No longer did she see her daughter in front of her, but the image of her beloved Aaron Theodore.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she was worried about him.
A boy with dark brown hair and a loving smile entered her mind. Aaron Theodore’s brown eyes were gentle, despite his orphanage upbringing. She could sense they were mind-to-mind once again, sending him the message:
Oh, Aaron. Wherever you are, I hope you're safe, and we'll meet again someday soon. I miss you already!
Aaron nodded in her mind. I miss you, too, my Ariana Moon.
Their two images molded in her mind, linking their thoughts. His image hugged her, kissing her lips gently. He showed her the bracelet she’d given him.
You’re still wearing it! Ariana was surprised, and hugged him happily.
I’ll never take it off, and neither will Aimee. Aaron thought back to her. I don’t want to lose you.
Ariana’s image shook her head. No matter what, my Aaron Theodore, you won’t lose me.
Ariana opened her eyes when she felt a slight pain grip her side, severing the link between them. Once again, she was alone. She took a deep breath and wished the discomfort away. She felt her hand warm as the pain went away.
At least that part of the Magic is growing! Ariana thought to herself with a grin.
Ariana made it back to her reality, waking. Her looming thoughts were going now to O’Dell, the Lord Guardian of the Dream Realm, where she, Aimee, and Aaron always escaped Mrs. Gertrude’s horrid life.
O’Dell had given her a special Dream Locket when he told her of the wonderful world. It was a locket shaped like a globe, and had a unicorn with a gem in the middle of its head, with rainbow-colored hair. The Locket, encased in a Dream Catcher’s web, hung around her neck on a silver chain.
Her eyes fell to her locket, and she fingered its stone. My Lord Guardian, why did you foretell this to me? Why must I endure this mental anguish in order to become your successor? Why? She asked in her head.
Mothering a baby had been hard for her, especially when she was a child herself. One decision could make her miss her baby: She had to give up her precious daughter. Torn from a young mother's loving embrace, Ariana thought, was going to be harder on her than anyone ever imagined.
She turned when she heard someone opening the door beside her.
"How is our young mother doing today?" A tall young doctor asked as he walked in the room.
I could be better, Ariana thought to herself. Aloud, she said, "Okay."
"That's good to hear." He smiled at her as he checked her pulse and glanced at her incision. When he caught her staring, he replied. "I'm just checking the incision, to make sure it’s healing."
Ariana nodded, watching him. "Why do I have an incision?" She asked. "Did something go wrong and you had to perform a Cesarean Section on me?"
He looked at her and smiled. "Bright girl. Yes, the baby was in what we call the Breech Position. That is, the baby's feet were where her head should have been. Don't worry, the pain will subside in time, and the scar will seem to disappear."
Ariana smiled. She liked this doctor. She read his tag, which said simply, "Dr. Eric Mathews." "Where am I?"
"Shore Point Mercy General in Shore Point, California." He answered. "Any more questions?"
"No. Thank you, Dr. Mathews. You've been very kind." Ariana replied.
He left then, leaving her with her thoughts.
The drugs from the delivery were still in her system, so she closed her eyes and thought of the Dream Realm. She drifted off, her world spinning and her dream-self searching. Ariana was frightened at first, watching as her private Dream Realm formed around her.

She heard a voice, but didn't believe it. She was comforted once recognizing the Unicorn-Pegasus figure in front of her.
"The time has come, dear Ariana. You are to be my successor with the Enchanted Child." The Unicorn-Pegasus replied softly.
It was the Lord Guardian of the Dream Realm, O’Dell. She remembered his image of a Unicorn-Pegasus, a winged unicorn. The stone on his head beneath the horn sparkled, and his rainbow-colored mane danced as he made his way to her.
Suddenly, she wasn't so afraid. In this form, she could tell him anything, confiding in his comforting guidance. She smiled at her Lord Guardian friend and embraced him.
"The time has come for me to show you more of my world." Lord Guardian said, nodding his head. "Hop on my back and I will guide you."
Ariana was scared at first, but she did it anyway. She muffled her face into his rainbow-colored mane and held on for dear life. She had never ridden a horse before, let alone a Unicorn-Pegasus. It was fun!
"You will be safe here," O’Dell replied gently. "You will be delivered to the Ancient Mystic Palace to begin your birthright."
Ariana didn't know what to say as she let the wind make her reddish-blonde hair dance. It felt good to be safe at last.
She rode with her eyes closed until they reached a palace. It really was a palace, with all different dazzling jewels on it! The door had a hanging chime. Ariana jumped off his back, watching as O’Dell changed his form to an Immortal male before pulling on it.
A beautiful belle opened the door. She had long hair the same color as the night, and a bright, sunny, magical smile. "Hello, O’Dell. Come in."
Ariana was shy, hiding behind his human legs.
"Who do we have here?" The woman asked, staring at her with a kind smile.
The woman was familiar in a way, but Ariana was cautious still.
"Only our Ariana Moon and she just gave birth to the Enchanted Child." O'Dell explained, proud.
The woman turned to Ariana. "Welcome back to the Palace, Ariana Moon." Enchantra held her hand out as a gesture of sincerity and kindness. Remembering who this woman was, Ariana took it. She let Enchantra lead her to another room. O’Dell followed.
They talked, with Enchantra explaining what an Ancient Mystic was, and what it was like in the Dream Realm. "Remember always. You can do anything your imagination will let you."
“In this world, dreams are merely detours to the soul.” O’Dell replied. “Whatever you dream will come true, so be careful.”
“Yes, my Lord Guardian.” Ariana’s small voice squeaked. “Does that mean whomever I meet will be real?”
Challandra, who’d come in from the back garden, sat next to her, catching the last question. “To ordinary Dreamers, friends made here are mere dreams.”
“To me?” Ariana wanted to know as she thought of her new-found Banished friend.
“As an Ancient Mystic, this world is your own.” Enchantra tried to explain. “For only Ancient Mystic Dreamers, such as yourself, remember and take to heart the Companion friends made.”
This intrigued her, and she explained how she met Companion animal-people in the Garden each night to escape. They, including Challandra, reassured Ariana they already knew, and she smiled.
Ariana’s smile turned to a sad frown when she thought of Katherine Hawk.
“What bothers you, Young One?” O’Dell asked.
Should she tell or keep it a secret? She had to tell someone! Katherine’s life was at stake, and Ariana didn’t want to lose the only