Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📖

“Just what it says. I will give you a live target, which will be constantly moving, so you will have to be quick and sharp in order to hit the right spot.”
Scott gulped. “Um, I’m not sure I’m ready for a moving target.”
“Sure you are, Fire-Archer!” Cyrix clapped him on the back again. He moved a few feet away before shifting to his original Draconian form of a Fire Dragon. “You did it in the War, why not now? I have faith in you.”
At that, he took flight. Scott watched and waited for further instructions from his mentor.
“What do I do now?” Scott yelled to the air.
Try to hit me, Fire-Archer! It was sent to Scott’s mind.
“I can’t! You’re my friend and mentor.” Scott yelled back.
Scott, do it. Use the Dragon Magic in your Fire-Archery to try and hit me. Cyrix sent back.
“Dragon Magic?” Scott whispered to himself. He gulped and took a deep breath. “If you say so.”
Scott used his Fire-Archery power to light the arrowhead at his crossbow. He watched the air as Cyrix swooped in a figure-eight and other patterns. Once he was in the line of fire, he took the shot.
He watched the arrow as it flew in the sky toward Cyrix’s moving form. To his excitement and also dismay, the lit arrow hit one of the dragon’s wings. This forced Cyrix to shift back to demon-form and disappear in the sky.
Scott could only stand there and gawk in horror. What had he done? He’d killed his mentor and friend! He’d be hung for it by Lady Katherine, or worse, Lord Guardian.
He groaned as he put his arrows back in their case on his back, and the crossbow in its own case before throwing it over his shoulder. What was he going to do when Lord Guardian found out?
Something around his neck grew hot, and he reached for his Pendant. Immediately, he could sense the magic around him, and practically ‘see’ the winds of it. There was a cloud of reddish-black winded magic ahead of him, and he went to investigate.
As he grew closer, the cloud of magic solidified to a demon-being he recognized as Cyrix.
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” Scott searched his friend’s body for marks.
“I am fine, Fire-Archer. No more than a scratch, and it was healed.” Cyrix responded. “You only confirmed my suspicions about you.”
Scott was confused.
“Ever wonder why you have the gifts you do?” Cyrix began. Scott nodded his head. “Why you have been able to come here without help from your other friends?”
“I used a chant Ariana gave me years ago.” Scott supplied. “Then again, she also gave it to my brother Seth, and he’s not been able to come here using it. Why do I have this gift of fire-starting?”
“It’s not only fire-starting, oh no. Not by far.” Cyrix continued. “I can see it in your eyes and heart. You have the Dragon Magic. Power over the element of Fire.”
“How can I be Amethyst’s Earthly Protector then?” Scott asked. “She has Unicorn Magic, and so does her brother Aaron.”
Cyrix nodded, smiling. “Aye, I know this. Perhaps it is for balance? For only the Unicorn Magic can tame that of the Dragon, and vice versa.”
Scott thought it over. “Perhaps.”
“For now, I do believe it is time for you to return to your Realm, and rise with the sun.”
After nodding his farewell, Scott “Fire-Archer” Archer disappeared and returned home to the Outer Realm.

III

Aaron “The Unicorn” Schmidt Rose with the Night with his Bondmate Airmed. He snuggled her close, licking gently at her delicate skin. He could smell the life’s blood within her, pulsating through her tender veins. He could hear her heart beating, steadily and strongly. Inside himself, he could feel the pangs of thirst.
“You need to Feed, dearest.” Airmed could read his thoughts. “Hunt the wood and Feed on prey, then Feed me. I can Feel your Hunger.”
Hunger? Feed? What was she talking about? All this Dweller-kin stuff was still new to him, especially since there were unanswered questions aching his mind.
He was just happy to be here with her now. Since being rescued by her and a new-form of his best friend Ariana, he’d held back those confusing thoughts. Not to mention the dreams of being a full Dweller-kin vampire, having to Feed on blood to live immortally. Dreams about himself and Airmed flying through the Outer Realm air to fight and Destroy their Turned kin.
He felt Airmed stir beside him, and reached to kiss her sweet lips.
“Ow!” she cried. “Careful, lover. Your fangs bit my lip.”
Aaron pulled away and felt his mouth. Sure enough, the Dweller-kin fangs were receding.
“I’m sorry darling.” He said. “I didn’t mean to bite. At least, not like that.”
Airmed giggled. “Oh, I know, but you must be careful.”
He kissed her again, this time, keeping aware of the fangs. He could smell her blood and feel it pulsating in her chest. All of his senses were more acute, even his Empathy and Telepathy.
It was all because of his Bondmate Airmed Starchaser.
“Let’s say we visit Aunt Red-Shawl, and see if she can help you with the Hunger.” Airmed supplied once they parted.
Aaron grinned. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Red Shawl Starchaser, also known as Darlene Bennington and Airmed's aunt, only smiled when she saw them.
“It's good you Younglings come to me.” Red Shawl announced. “There is a lot I can teach you of being a Watcher-kin Sundancer.”
“I've heard that before, Red Shawl, but what does that mean?” Aaron asked.
“It's in the blood.” Red Shawl grinned. “You are an Ancient Mystic, thanks to the blood Young Guardian has shared with you years ago. Now, from the blood my niece has shared with you, you are a Watcher-kin Sundancer.”
“A Watcher-kin is a kin-Clan of Dwellers that we are a part of.” Airmed supplied. “A Sundancer is one that can live during the daylight hours as well as the night, with little or no consequences.”
“So, thanks to you, I'm an Ancient Mystic Watcher-kin Sundancer.” Aaron said. “I still don't get what it means. I know I'm Bonded to you, Airmed, that part I understand. What I don't understand is what it all means.” He turned to Red Shawl and told her his adventure in the Unknown, and his reactions to both Albrath and Balor. “I could feel something within me screaming for their blood. I needed it; its ache within me urged me to drink it. I felt the fangs inching through my gum line and was becoming aware of what was going on. I may have woken up from the trance or whatever it was when I bit my own twin's arm, but I didn't know what I was doing. It was almost automatic.”
“Of course it was.” Red Shawl confirmed. “It was the Dweller-kin feeling known as the Yearning. The Yearning for blood is so fierce, you feel you cannot live without it. In a sense, you're right. To normal Dwellers, it is the blood that flows within them that keeps them living immortally. They need it to survive, and keep their powers and bodies from decaying and fading away.”
“So, Dwellers are just like vampires?” Aaron asked.
“Aye, and nay.” Red Shawl explained. She sighed. “You both saw the Countess for your Bonding Ceremony, correct?” They nodded. “She did not explain the difference between Dwellers and Stalkers, Stalkers being the true vampires of the Realm?” They looked at each other and shook their heads. “Dwellers are Hunters and Healers of the Clans. They Hunt their Turned kin, the Stalkers, and Heal others.”
“Let me get this straight.” Aaron replied. “I'm an Ancient Mystic Watcher-kin Sundancer. Airmed is, too.” He looked to his Bondmate, who nodded. “Okay, and what about Balor? He claimed he was the leader of all Dwellers, which I knew was wrong. I know Ramon is; I worked with him in the War.”
“Balor is, or should I say was, a very inexperienced Stalker, who only wanted to be leader of them for his own glory.” Red Shawl explained. “Stalkers like Balor tempt you into Turning with empty promises of wealth, power, glory and status. It is a good thing you were strong enough to resist him.”
“He must not have been a very powerful Stalker himself if he couldn't get a newly-bound Dweller-kin to Turn.” Airmed supplied sarcastically.
“Nay, Airmed.” Red Shawl responded. “Balor underestimated the Unicorn Magic in his bloodstream, along with your Bond.” She placed a hand on Aaron's shoulder. “I am proud to have you as an addition to our ever-growing kin-Clans, Unicorn Starchaser. Welcome.”
Aaron blushed. “Thank you, Red Shawl.” He took Airmed's hand. “I'm proud to be a part of it. Still, a little confused, but I'll get it.”
“The only thing I cannot express enough is the blood coursing through Stalker's veins.” Red Shawl said. “I'm warning you now, Younglings. The blood within a Stalker is tainted and will instantly Destroy you.”
“How do we Destroy them first?” Aaron asked.
“You have the power, Unicorn.” Red Shawl told him. “Pierce the heart from his chest with that power and burn it. For the loss of blood to a Stalker is more damaging than a Dweller. The heart that beats within their chests is empty of all purity and full of poisoned blood. Separate the heart from the body, and the body will still live; but burn it before the Stalker is able to Destroy you.”
The Bondmates looked at each other and gulped.
“That is only one of the many things you will learn as Younglings.” Red Shawl supplied. “Let's start with the Hunger and the Need to Feed.”
For the remainder of their stay, they learned the beginnings of being Watcher-kin Sundancers.

Story #4:
Stirring Up Mischief

Damian paced his new home of Lord Bane’s Dark Castle. He was bored and pissed, tired of having idiots working with him. That’s not what pissed him off the most.
Losing to the Ancient Mystics, his own cousin Young Guardian and her brood of Crusaders was what pissed him off the most. He’d wanted to destroy her, but every time he tried, the plan would fail. He tried everything he could think of, but they always managed to get the upper-hand and defeat him.
If only he had Sabrina back on their side. At least with Sabrina, it was fun. He’d stand back and watch her do her worst. As it was, the Dominionite named Cyrix managed to change her heart and magic, forcing him to be left with idiots.
Damian searched through his mind for whoever was left. Bane, MagDaliah, Gloriana, Shenara, Albrath, Dominick and D’Kora.
He often wondered if the self-proclaimed “Lord of Nightmares” really knew what he was doing. It was apparent he’d done nothing since the end of the