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

she bathed, she thought of Derrick. Mostly of his and Luna’s short-lived relationship.
Then she thought of the previous week’s events. She, Lu, and the rest of her sisters used their Sisterhood Circle powers of travel to propel them all the way from Hill View, Michigan to Shore Point, California and the System. Her other three sisters were there to help Ariana practice her special abilities. It felt good to know she was finally safe from Mrs. Gertrude and the endless beatings. It was wonderful, knowing a real family of her own, who loved her and cared about her as Derrick, Mark, and Aaron had over the years.
She stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel to wrap around her body. With a hand towel, she cleaned off the steamy mirror and checked her reflection.
Ariana stared at herself for a while before noticing the necklace and Dream Locket she wore around her neck. She knew the Dream Locket had been a gift from Lord Guardian O’Dell when she was younger, for whenever she wished to escape Mrs. Gertrude’s cruel world.
Ariana’s eyes also spied the dream catcher Mark had given her, just before she had to leave him.
It was a thoughtful gift, really. Mark truly understood when she told him of the Dream Realm and Companion friend Katherine Hawk. She fingered the necklace, daydreaming about the loving brother she left behind. She felt sorry for Mark, not really having anyone of his own to love him but her. Ariana also felt love and compassion for him, missing his caring embrace. She closed her eyes and thought of him as she touched her necklace. She only hoped he’d get the sign from so far away.
Mark, whenever you need me, close your eyes at night, think of my smiling face, and I’ll come running. I still care a great deal about you, but am confused of my true feelings right now. I send you this token of friendship, with my picture inside. Outside is a replica of the very gem I have on my ring. With it and the Dream Chant I taught you, you could meet me in the Dream Realm at night.
Ariana wiped a tear from her eye when she reopened them. How she missed him so!
From outside came a knock on the door. Luna was finally awake, but wasn’t in a very good mood. Just as well. Ariana wanted to be left alone anyway. She sighed to herself when she opened the door.
Luna sleepily shoved by her, without saying a word.
Ariana dressed and left for the System’s all-eating place: Chez Café.
She sat at one of the small booths and grabbed a menu. She didn’t pay attention when someone came up to her and tapped her on the shoulder.
Whoever it was startled her out of a wonderful daydream. She looked up to see Shane “Shadow” Morehouse, a quiet, shy young man who didn’t talk to many people.
“Good afternoon Shadow.” Ariana greeted him. “Care to join me?”
“Thanks Ariana, but no.” Shadow said, his brown eyes dark with disappointment. “I’m, uh, looking for Luna.”
Ariana smiled. “Go on upstairs. She's still in bed, but I'm sure she won't mind if you woke her. You do remember the pass-codes, right?"
Shadow nodded absently and left.
Now she looked disappointed, and returned to her menu.
She heard him sigh as he left her alone to ponder her thoughts.

Derrick watched his best friend leave. As if sensing him in the shadows, Shane looked up at him, smiling. With a deep breath and touching his Protector’s Pendant, he brought up enough courage to talk to her.
He watched silently as Ariana picked at her meal when it came. He could sense she was too depressed to eat.
“Mind if I sit?” He asked from behind her.
“I’d rather be left alone right now.” Ariana muttered, not looking to see who it was.
“Come on, Love, please?” Derrick asked softly. He knew, once he used her nickname, she’d realize who it was.
She finally looked up from her plate, turning to see him standing there.
“Derrick!” Ariana exclaimed, standing to greet him. She hugged him tight before he took a seat beside her. “I was just thinking about you!”
Derrick gave her a soothing kiss. “Good things, I hope.”
Ariana smiled, blushing. He could sense her surprise when she turned away from him. Why was she so nervous around him suddenly? “What brings you here?”
“Shannon called me from Hill View. I’m a Senior Officer-in-Training.” Derrick grinned.
“That’s wonderful, Derrick! I’m proud of you.” Ariana replied. “Just think: You’ll be right behind Big Guy, Love Joy, and Cool Cat! That’s great!”
Derrick shook his head and looked into her eyes, taking her hand. “No. What’s great is finding you here, my Love.”
Ariana blushed. “My thoughts exactly.” She cleared her throat before asking him. “Where are you stationed? Who’s your new partner?”
“I’m on Third-Floor with Chips Deneson, resident computer genius.” Derrick made a face that made Ariana giggle.
“Everybody loves Chips.”
“Yeah,” Derrick replied. “Too bad I’m not back on Fourth-Floor with you. I miss being with you all the time.”
He held her hand, but her thoughts made her look to her lap. When she didn’t say anything right away, he worried.
“Ariana.” He searched her eyes for an answer. “What’s wrong, darling?”
She stared at him for a moment. Just by the look in her eyes, he could tell his secret partnership with Luna was out in the open.
Thank goodness. Derrick thought, and stared into her beautiful silver-blue eyes. They looked back at him, hurt. “Who told you?”
“Luna.” Ariana replied. “She’s been depressed for three days. I asked her why and she told me about your partnership shortly before I arrived.”
Derrick held his breath, not knowing what to say. He avoided her glance, his gaze heading across the room.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Luna?” Ariana asked softly.
He turned back to her. How could he explain the delicate situation? How could he tell her he mistook Luna for being his Dream Girl?
“I was told not to, by both Luna and Shannon the day you arrived.” Derrick tried. “They didn’t want me to tell you about Luna being here. I guess it would complicate things. You understand, don’t you?”
Slowly, Ariana nodded her head, not saying a word.
Derrick dared to bring up such a soft subject. “Just as you didn’t tell me about your daughter.”
Ariana gasped, staring at him. “How did you know?”
“Katherine had to tell us.” He said softly.
“I feel terrible. You must hate me now, don’t you?” Ariana asked.
Derrick smiled and shook his head. “Of course not, my Love. I could never hate you.” Derrick took both of her hands and gently kissed them before kissing her.
Ariana looked into his eyes. “You’re not mad I didn’t tell you?”
Derrick hugged her. “Certainly not. I may have been confused, but I was never mad.” He searched her eyes. “I could never be mad at you.”
Ariana whispered as she smiled. “That’s good to know.”

Ariana ate hungrily while he talked about his family back home in Hill View. Later, he suggested they took the romantic stroll down to Lover’s Lane, which led to Paradise Peak. They’d gone there plenty of times together.
That was two years before Shannon dropped the bomb, sending them far apart. It would be a full year before they would be reunited in person. Ariana and Derrick were faced to live in their own confusing worlds.
“This is so romantic.” Ariana remarked, her eyes closed. She snuggled close to Derrick’s chest and his heart skipped a beat.
Derrick took advantage of it and kissed her. “I never thought we’d actually see each other again.”
Ariana’s eyes opened and he held her. “Somehow, I did.” She smiled.
Derrick let out a content sigh. “Remember when we first came here?” He asked.
“Yeah. It was our very first date.” Ariana replied. She blushed. “You took me to dinner before this.”
Derrick laughed, remembering. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
“I noticed that, not that I minded.” Ariana teased. “I never had anyone care for me as you do. Sure, Aaron and I grew up together, but we were best friends. We still are.”
“Dare I ask why you made love at such a young age?” Derrick asked softly. He really wanted to know. It had been on his mind since the Crusade.
Ariana stopped and sat on a tree stump. “If Katherine told you, you already know.”
He didn’t say anything as he sat beside her on the grass.
“Aaron protected me, and I needed to be protected.” Ariana said sadly. Her eyes began to tear, and she sniffed back the tears. She stood. “Let’s not talk about that right now, okay?”
Derrick stood and kissed her cheek. “Okay.”
She stood and they continued their way down Lover’s Lane. His thoughts trailed to when they met, and it felt so wonderful.
It feels so good to be back in her arms. Derrick thought to himself.
She stopped, rubbing her temples.
He could feel something on his chest grow warm, but excused it as his heart. He wrapped an arm around her waist. Her body was shaking with his touch.
What was going on? He thought to himself, now worried for her.
Derrick watched in horror as her knees buckled and she fell to the ground.
“Ariana,” he whispered.
He’d done this before, when she had practiced her powers too much in the beginning. This time, however, Derrick could tell if she didn’t get some help, he may never see her alive again. He gently picked her up and raced to Doc’s office, hoping he’d be there.
Instead, Derrick found an empty room. Lights were on, but no one was home.
He laid her on the table in the clinic. As he brushed some hair away from her face, he noticed her eyes were closed. Kissing her forehead, he whispered, “Hang on, my Love. I’m here to protect you.”
At that moment, a young woman came in. He knew this was Doc Swanson’s daughter, Dana. “Where’s your father?” He asked her.
“He died early last summer.” Dana Swanson replied softly as she wrapped a stethoscope around her neck. She cleared her throat before continuing. “He trained me to take his place.”
Derrick looked to the floor. “I’m sorry, Dana. I didn't know. He was a brilliant man.”
“No problem.” Dana replied, shrugging. “So, who do we have here?”
“This is Ariana Woods.” Derrick told her. “She fainted.”
Dare he tell Doc’s daughter Ariana’s secret?
“Dad told me about the famous Ancient Mystic twins, Aluna and Ariana.” Dana replied as she examined her. “What happened just before you brought her here?”
Derrick summarized what had just taken place.
“She fell?” Dana asked. “She didn’t use her powers, did she?”
“Not that I know of.” Derrick replied. He was curious. “How much of the story do you know?”
“From when the twins were reunited.” Dana told him. She wrapped a cuff around Ariana’s arm to take her blood pressure. “It could have been something she ate, or too much stress on the brain. Her blood pressure's kind of low."
Dana placed a strip-thermometer on Ariana's forehead. "She has a fever of over ninety-nine degrees, and her whole body feels overheated." She pulled her attention away from her to look at him. "That could be because her body is going in shock from the stress. It's hard to tell, just by looking at her."
Dana sighed.
“Can you do anything to help her?” Derrick begged, worried.
“Maybe not, but I can.” A female voice replied from behind him.
Derrick looked to see an older version of Ariana; only, she had black hair instead