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

perfect, for I was someone with a purpose. Only when Adrienne came around, threatening my perfect life, did I begin to notice how much things about my husband and me had really changed over the years.
“Show me pure magic again, my Love.” I begged in a whisper. “Show me just how perfect we are together.”
It would be one of the most pleasurable acts of love I’d ever known. We clung to each other, not wanting to stop for a moment. It was pure ecstasy. I was in heaven with my once-Imaginary Romeo. Once we were finished, we lay on the love-seat, cuddled together under the Reading Family Quilt.
I was glad our sons were heavy sleepers, for I didn’t want to move from Derrick’s arms.
“You really think everything will work out?” I asked, kissing him.
“It always does, and you know it.” He teased my nose with a finger, kissing it. “Have faith. I love you, we all do. We also love our Kelina Erin.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Derrick took the chance to massage my neck with his lips and tongue. It felt so wonderful that I fell asleep, exhausted, never knowing when my loving husband left my side.

III

I woke up in my own bed, dressed and curled under the covers. It was Saturday, so I knew Derrick was home. He wasn’t by my side. I put my robe on once I scrambled out of bed. My eyes peered to the Mystic Mirror across the room. Cautiously, I put my hand to the swirling pane.
It was an image of Kelly, in a forest tied to a tree! Where had I seen that forest before?
That’s when I remembered, rushing down the stairs to meet up with my husband.
“‘Morning, Love.” He smiled, kissing me on the lips. He noticed the look on my face and waited patiently for me to explain.
“‘Morning. I know where Kelly is!” I cried. “Come on, we have to get her out of there!”
“Wait, where is she?”
“In the forest behind the Hill View Cemetery.” I told him seriously.
“In that case, we’re not going alone.” He said, shaking his head. “The Crusaders have to come with us. That forest is huge, dark, and spooky, even in the daytime.”
“I know.” I said. “Let’s get dressed, make some calls and go.”
He kissed me again. “Gotcha, Love.”
It didn’t take long for us to get going. Derrick had called the station, letting the Chief know to send out a unit to the cemetery. I called Darlene and the other members of the Pagan Council I didn’t know to help with the rescue. I also called Mrs. DeRose. Before too long, there were nearly fifty people helping to find my daughter. From friends to neighbors and even people I didn’t know all pitched in.
Derrick, Craig, and I were walking together when it hit.
Momma! Help me!
Kelly. Her face was clearer in my mind. Was she closer now? I didn’t wait to find out. The Crusaders gathered around me all looked.
“What’s wrong?” Derrick asked, alarmed when I gasped.
“She’s nearby.” I told them. “I heard her message to me.”
The Crusaders stuck together. Aimee, Aaron, Bradley, Derrick, Shane and Luna (who had her baby daughter cradled in her arms and her son holding his father’s hand) followed me. The deeper I got into them, the harder the visions hit me. Derrick had to hold my shoulders so I wouldn’t fall from the pressure.
“Ariana!” I heard from behind me. I turn to see my three new friends, plus Mrs. DeRose.
“We’ve come to help.” Mrs. DeRose replied. “Da child is here.”
“Yes, I know, Delilah.” I yelled back.
I saw Darlene Bennington, Fay Barnes, and Tiara King in their ritual black robes. In one hand, they each held a staff, and the other held stones. They were muttering under their breaths, eyes closed, letting their magic guide the way. I was glad to have friends like them.
Derrick squeezed my hand, getting me out of the daze. I took a deep breath, continuing my search.
It took nearly twenty minutes to sense her clearly.
“Momma!” I heard her cry in the darkness.
Goddess, no. I wasn’t seeing what I thought, was I?
My daughter was tied to a tree, looking a mess. When we met eyes, I could see they were defeated.
“Kelly, honey, what happened?” I asked, letting Derrick and Craig untie her.
“Miss Whitehead left me here last night.” My daughter wrapped her arms around me as soon as they were free. “I missed you so much, Momma!”
“I missed you, too.” I told her, wiping a tear from my eye. She ran to Aaron and Derrick, hugging each of them as well.
“Where’s Adrienne now?” Craig asked her, once Kelly had hugged everyone.
“I don’t know. I think she went home.” Kelly said, and then turned to me. “I think she felt bad, Momma. I could tell.”
“Did you use Empathy on her?” I asked, wondering.
“She was sad, Momma.” Kelly said.
The search party headed home in separate cars, with Kelly in the Jeep with me and Bradley, Aaron, Derrick, Luna, Craig, and Shane.
“Wait until I get my hands on her.” Aaron growled, angry thoughts racing through his mind.
“Aaron, please let the Police handle it.” Derrick warned before my best friend could think anything else.
“Remember the Dark Magic,” Luna recalled.
“Please don’t hurt her, Daddy.” Kelly said softly. “She’s real nice, and she didn’t hurt me at all.”
I sat next to her, letting Shane drive for a change. “What did she do to you, Sweetie?”
Kelly shook her head. “Nothing. Veronica and I played for a while, and then we ate. The next I knew I was up in the barn of an old house.”
“The Catz Mansion.” Craig and I chorused.
“I sensed your aura trace there, Kelly.” I told her. “That’s when I met the Catz twins. They told me you had been there, talking to them.”
“I told them about you, Momma. They already knew.” Kelly replied.
“What did they know?” Luna asked her.
“About Momma being the Young Guardian.” Kelly said. “Lord Maximaniac told them about the Crusades.”
“Good ol’ Max.” I smiled, sharing a look with Kelly, who giggled.
I hugged her.
Goddess, it was good to have my daughter back.
Story #2:
Mrs. Gertrude’s Plea

The next morning, after the twins had been fed and were over at Aimee’s, and Kelly was safely in school, I heard a knock on the front door. I opened it to find someone I hated, and still do to this day.
“Mrs. Gertrude!” I gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to see what you’ve been up to lately.” Mrs. Gertrude let herself in, with me following.
The elder woman surveyed my house, looking around with just her eyes.
There was more on the old woman’s mind. I could tell.
“Mrs. Gertrude?” I asked, fingering the Amulet around my neck.
She turned to meet my eyes. Hers were reminiscent, almost longing to say something.
“Ariana, I understand you have a life of your own now.” She said softly.
“Yes.” I told her. “That’s right.” I folded my arms. “Go on.”
“The girls I had you watch long ago. Remember them?”
“Yes I do.” I replied. “I named them my Oracle Children. Why?”
“They’re gone.”
“Aunt Sharon adopted them.” I told her.
“Just as you were, by first the Dolls, then the Parkers.”
“There were more, but those few stood in my mind.” I told her. I didn’t want to cross her, but I was getting impatient. “Is there a point to this?”
“I’m losing the Orphanage, Ariana.” She told me. “I have nowhere to go. I know how you are – Magic or no magic – and want to ask for your help.”
She wanted to what?
“Think back to my childhood, Mrs. Gertrude.” I scowled at her. “Think back to all the abuse you gave the children. Answer your own question.”
Mrs. Gertrude glared at me, but I didn’t care. She didn’t say a word.
“Normally, after all the abuse I was put through, not to mention the mental anguish from not being whoever I believed myself to be, I wouldn’t even bother speaking to you.” I rattled. “Since I’m so nice, and forgiving, I’ll help you. On one condition.”
“Name it.” Mrs. Gertrude replied. “Please, whatever you need from me, just name it and it’s yours.”
I had to think about that one. Her green eyes were sincerely sad, and I felt her own anguish with Empathy right away.
“We’ll worry about that later.” I replied, going into the den. “What do you need my help with?”
“Help me keep the orphanage, Ariana.” Mrs. Gertrude said. “It’s my life.”
“It was your life to ruin those of your orphans?” I cornered. “Beating them senseless, making them afraid of any human ever to show them affection?”
“You don’t understand.” She said. “It’s all I know.”
“All you know? Abuse, hurt, pain – giving us nightmares night after night.” I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, and the Dark Magic wanting to surface from my past.
I closed my eyes, swallowing my tears.
“You must believe me. I apologize for any abuse I’d put you, Aaron and Aimee through.” Mrs. Gertrude said, in tears herself. “I beg of you, look into my eyes and try to read my past. I know you can do it, so please try.”
I didn’t want to, but reluctantly obeyed anyway.
She dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
“You knew, so why did you keep it a secret?” I asked her. “The Mystic Magic.”
“Your grandmother and I were mortal enemies in high school.” Mrs. Gertrude started. “She loved all, trusted all, and wished for the best for everyone. One day, when she visited in Shore Point, you were only seven. Dixie told me what you were capable of doing. I didn’t believe, stuck in my horrid little world. That afternoon, I saw it for the first time. The necklace around your neck was proof enough for me, for you hadn’t had it the day before. I only kept silent so whoever wanted to put their noses in my business, wouldn’t. As you grew into a mature young lady, I found you could do a lot more.”
“Why all the abuse?” I asked, calming. “What made you do that?”
Mrs. Gertrude sighed. “I didn’t want anyone to know, so I kept you to myself. My grandson, you know him as Matthew Steven, kept an eye out for you.”
“He did it too, you know.” I relayed, speaking of the abuse.
“Yes, I regret I do know that much.” She turned to the door. “I’ll call you sometime this week, discussing the Hill Crest battle a little more.”
“But –” I tried, but she was already out the door.
I sighed.
What a day! What a week! What a life!
“Momma? What’s wrong?” I heard Kelly’s voice peep from behind me.
I turned around, smiled, and told her. “Nothing Kelly. Go outside and play.”
“No.” She told me. “I wanna stay with you.”
I understood her apprehension for wanting to go outside in the cool summer sun. I looked at the clock.
May as well pick the twins up, I thought to myself.
“Wanna come with me to pick up your brothers?” I asked her.
She grinned, holding out her hand.
We waltzed next door, hand in hand, grinning like idiots. We stayed for a while, with Bradley and Kelly playing with Andrew and Mark-Antony with their friends. It was getting late soon, so we headed home in time for dinner. Aimee reminded me of the last PTA meeting before school started again.
Hard to believe all this time had passed, and I wasn’t even paying