Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (the lemonade war series .TXT) 📖

with me?”
“Sure!” Elizabeth said brightly, and then turned to her mother. “Can I, Mommy?”
“Go ahead, but behave.” Mrs. Edwards smiled. “Cassandra, go with them and watch the twins, please?”
With a small groan, she said. “Yes, Mom.” And headed in the direction of the four new friends.
“You know, your older sister Annabelle used to watch the twins and Cassandra for us sometime ago.” Cory replied, sitting on the couch in the living room. Alicia sat next to him, and I sat on the armchair.
“Really?” I asked. “I would have thought differently.”
I would have thought they, too, would listen to ugly rumors about us that weren’t true.
“Sherrie, Sue, and I were always good friends, even in high school.” Alicia replied. “She’s the one to introduce me to Cory.”
“A year after high school, we eloped.” Cory held the hand of his wife and gave her a knowing look. “We’ve been married for twelve years.”
I was astonished. “Congratulations.” I supplied, smiling. “I hope Derrick and I last that long.”
“I’m sure we will, honey.” I heard my own husband’s voice behind me, giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek. “Even longer, if necessary.”
He sat beside me.
“Derrick, this is–”
“Alicia and Corwin Edwards. Nice to see you again.”
“Good to see you, too, Derrick.” Alicia grinned. “How is your mother?”
“Pretty good. She’s happy and content, at last.” Derrick grinned back at her.
I stared at them.
“Don’t look so shocked, Ariana.” Derrick laughed at me. “The Edwards’ were always one of the best families in lower Hill View.”
I laughed lightly. “I guess you know everybody, huh?”
He pecked me on the cheek, making me blush. “I’ve known them all my life. All thanks to my wonderful businessman of a father.”
“I can only imagine what it was like to grow up around a peaceful neighborhood full of kind, caring people.” I said, thinking of my short-lived past.
Alicia looked confused. “You didn’t grow up with your parents?”
I looked down at my lap. “No.” I said sadly. “I grew up in an orphanage in Shore Point, California. The Schmidt twins, Aimee and Aaron, who live next door, they grew up with me.” I closed my eyes, wanting to cry, but didn’t.
Alicia and Corwin looked at each other. Derrick hugged me. “That life is over. You’ve got a loving family now, just remember that.”
I looked at him. “You’re right, Derrick. What’s in the past should stay there. No use crying over something I can’t do anything about now.”
Derrick grinned, and then turned to our new neighbors. “We met in Shore Point High School.” He lied to them. “From the first time we met, we knew it was love.”
I went along with the lie, not wanting to tell our neighbors the truth of the System. “He helped me find my true family, later surprising me by letting me meet them.”
“She never even knew about her own twin until she was eighteen!” Derrick cried. It wasn’t a complete lie. That part was true.
“Oh, you mean, Mrs. Morehouse, across the street?” Corwin asked. “Now that I think of it, you two do look like twins.”
“We’re identical.”
“So are our three boys, believe it or not.” Derrick said. “Have you shown Alicia the twins, yet?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t want to wake them.”
My motherly instincts told me it was time to check on them, anyway, so I let Alicia Edwards follow me to the boys’ nursery.
When I opened the door, I saw Andrew standing in his crib, arms stretched out to me. “Ma,” he cried, fresh tears coming from his eyes down his cheeks.
“I’m here, my Andrew James.” I whispered. “Want to help me with Mark-Antony?”
“Sure.”
I picked him up, and soon, his brother was awake, too. Alicia picked Mark-Antony up. I let her change him while I changed Andrew.
“I’m sorry if I forced any bad memories to resurface.” Alicia whispered, placing Mark back in, letting him fall asleep once again.
I kept Andrew in my arms after changing him, just for a moment. “It’s okay. I needed to remember.”
“Whatever for?”
“So I don’t make the same mistakes to my children as Mrs. Gertrude in the Orphanage did to me.” I replied.
She gasped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mrs. Gertrude, of the Hill Crest Orphanage?” Alicia asked.
I placed Andrew back in the crib, where he took a minute to fall asleep again.
When we left the room, I shut the door quietly behind me.
“Yeah. I was one of her orphans, as were Aimee and Aaron.” I told her. “In fact, so was Kelly and Bradley for a while, but they never knew each other until we all reunited.”
Alicia stared at me. “Wow, I’m sure you have quite a story to tell yourself.”
You don’t know the half of it.
“Yeah. I’d say that.” I smiled at her.
Alicia laughed, and then settled her face into a serious expression. “You know, don’t listen to the Whiteheads, Ariana. They’re the worst kind of people. Don’t even listen to Caroline Parker, either.”
I perked up. “What’s wrong with Caroline? Shortly before I reunited with my own family, I lived with hers. Her adopted brother Mark was the perfect gentleman.”
Alicia was the one to frown sadly. “Yes, Mark Grey was young when he died. Though,” she looked at me. “No one ever really knew the cause of death.”
No one but the Crusaders, I wanted to say, but had to keep that part of myself a secret from my new neighbors.
“As for Caroline, well, if you lived with her, you know her.” Alicia said. “She’s kind of a snob, too, but mean as anything.”
“She’s still my adopted sister, you know.” I told Alicia straight-out. Why was I defending her? “She’s changed since Mark died. She’s not as mean or angry at herself anymore.”
“What do you mean, angry at herself? From what I knew, Caroline Parker was a selfish, self-centered little brat that got her own way all the time. How can she be angry at herself?”
“Did you ever know her older sister, Bonnie Marie?” I asked her.
Alicia was saddened again. I could feel it.
“Everyone knew her. She was the only Parker whom everyone in Hill View loved. She loved everyone, and was the perfect daughter, friend, and sister.” Alicia replied. “Such a tragic end to a young life, I’d say.”
I knew the story of Bonnie Marie, now my Companion friend in the Dream Realm.
“Well, Mother Parker told me her story, of how she died and such, shortly after I arrived. Just so I’d know what I was getting into.” I saw Alicia smile a little. “Mother Parker told me Caroline always detested the attention their father gave to Bonnie Marie. To Caroline, Father Parker loved Bonnie more than her, so she turned into a holy terror. As I see it, from Mark’s eyes as well, Caroline was mad at Ariana shortly before she ran away. When she heard the news her sister was dead, Caroline couldn’t believe it. To this day, she still hasn’t forgiven herself for being so selfish.”
Alicia Edwards looked shocked. “My, you’re observant.”
“No, just nosy.” I told her, giving her a nudge. “Come on; let’s get back to our loving husbands before they miss us.”
Alicia laughed, and was back in good spirits in no time.
By the time ten o’clock rolled around, the children had grown bored and tired. They had fallen asleep in Kelly’s room, playing a board game. I didn’t want to wake them, but knew the Edwards’ had to be going home.
As Corwin carried his twin children in his burly arms, Alicia stopped by the door to say. “You know, for a young mother, I believe you know how to handle yourself.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Alicia. I’ve gotten plenty of practice growing up. Then again, that’s another story left for another day.”
She grinned back, turning to escort a sleepy Cassandra out the door, back home.
I tried to get to my homework again, after sending Bradley to bed next door and tucking Kelly in her own bed. Somehow, my mind whirled, thinking about whoever the Whiteheads really were.
I had no choice but to find out sooner or later.
Story #4:
Mysterious Warnings

A week later, with things in life getting more hectic, I had strange visitors. When the doorbell rang, I ran to answer it.
I opened it to find three women, all dressed in black robes. Each had a pentacle-necklace around her neck. They had small leather pouches dangling from cords that hung from their waists.
“Ariana Reading?” The one in the middle replied. She had red hair hanging down her front in a long braid and bright blue eyes.
“It’s her! I know it!” The one on her left cried, jumping. She had blond hair tied up in a bun, with green eyes that sparkled.
“Be quiet Fay.” The third scolded. “This may be Aluna Morehouse, so don’t jump to conclusions.”
“Hi.” I said finally finding my words. I pointed to the woman in the middle. “She’s right. I am Ariana Reading. What can I do for you ladies?”
The red-head supplied seriously. “I am Darlene Bennington, head of the Pagan Counsel of Hill View and High Priestess to our coven, Magick of the Blue Moon. May we come in?”
I’d never heard of it, but didn’t sense anything bad about them. “Sure, come in.” I gestured them in.
“Sorry to burst in like this, but we have an urgent matter to discuss with you.” Darlene told me.
“Something bad is going to happen to your daughter.” The blond announced.
I stared. “Stop kidding around like that. It’s not funny.”
“We know. It’s totally serious.” Darlene replied. “We are fully prepared to do anything at all to help out.”
“If you don’t understand us right away, it’s okay.” The third said. She had black hair with a red stripe down the side. She held her hand out for me to take. “I’m Tiara King. I’m sure you know what Paganism is, right?”
I shook my head no, taking it.
“A Witch.” The blond said brightly. “I’m Fay Barnes, Secondary Ritual Pagan.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“She’s still learning.” Tiara supplied, rolling her eyes. “When my sister Darlene had a vision of you in the bonfire, we knew we had to step in.”
“Pagans take care of each other, and of those like us.” Darlene replied.
“You’re witches?” I asked, unbelieving. “There’s no such thing.”
Tiara shook her head. “Pagans to be exact.”
Darlene spoke up. “Sure there are. We’re all the same, you know. Mystics and Pagans that is. We each have a kind of inner mystery we like to call magic.” Darlene supplied. “Of course, the second-most powerful family in Hill View – besides the Mystics – are the Benningtons, which I am one of, as is my daughter Rhiannon.”
“My son Audrey is Pagan, too.” Fay spoke up.
“As is my daughter Arianrhod.” Tiara said.
“Ladies?” I asked, wanting them to get to the point. “Is there a point to this conversation?”
I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but I was tired of dealing with new people right now. My mind and Magic needed to rest, and I had the urge to scream.
“Please, Ariana. Calm down.” Tiara said, placing a hand on my shoulder. She reached in the pocket and handed me a card with their names on it.
“We wanted to tell you of us before you found out for yourself.” Darlene said. “Us Magic Practitioners have to stick together.”
“We won’t steer you wrong.” Fay sounded serious before the trio left.
I only hoped what they said was wrong.

II

Two months later, as Kelly and Bradley were in school,