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

so much, you know that?” She asked, turning to meet his eyes now.
“Yeah.” Aaron said. “Unfortunately, we’re not finished, yet.”
He shifted, getting uncomfortable, and saw she was, too.
“Well,” He said quickly. “I’d better leave you to get ready for your date. Catch you later.”
As soon as he turned, she called his name. “Aaron.”
He turned to meet her soft eyes. “Yeah.”
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now.” She told him. He didn’t understand, so she continued. “If you hadn’t loved me the way you had back then, I wouldn’t have brought up the courage to run away.”
A lone tear ran down her cheek. His own eyes began to feel wet.
Aaron put a finger to her lips. “Let’s not think about that right now, okay?”
When she nodded, he turned and left the room.
He didn’t want to be reminded of how lonely he’d been for five years without her.

V

Aluna Sister-Woods sat on the couch later that night, and the house was quiet. The Companions had just left with Aaron to tour Hill View, Derrick had gone back to his own home, and Ariana was upstairs.
Luna was in the middle of writing another letter to Shane, wistful. Watching Ariana and Derrick depressed her. “At least Ariana has Derrick around all the time. Where’s Shane when I need him?” She muttered under her breath.
She heard heels clicking behind her and turned to face Ariana.
Ariana spoke up. “Well, Lu? What do you think?”
Her twin was wearing a peach-colored blouse with a nice jean-skirt that nearly reached her ankles. She had to admit; her sister did look pretty. Especially with her long, reddish-blond hair tied up in a French Twist.
Ariana continued. “Derrick is taking me out tonight, and I wanted to look nice.”
Luna nearly choked on her words. “Great. You look great, Ariana.”
Uh oh, her twin thought. Here we go again. “What’s wrong?”
Luna looked up at Ariana, playing with her hands. “I know what you’re going through with the choice.” Ariana was silent, forcing her sister to continue. “Be sure the decision you make is the right one.”
Ariana looked to the floor, clutching her Dream Locket. “How did you know?”
Luna hesitated. She didn’t want to make her sister cry, so she chose her words carefully. “I saw it in Mark’s eyes. Derrick loves you with his heart, and so does he.”
The doorbell chimed and the twins hugged.
“Good luck, big sister.” Luna wished her.
“Thanks Luna.” Ariana whispered in her ear.
Ariana was gone with a slam of the front door.
Luna was again alone in the empty house. She thought of Shane again.
There has to be some way . . .
Luna smiled as she thought of how powerful her Ancient Mystic Magic could be.
What if I could get a message to him, as Ariana had with Derrick and Mark?
She closed her eyes and searched for her Force of Ancient Mystic Magic, deep within her soul. She hoped to pull a picture of Shane from her memory and transform it into the real thing.
This was going to be fun! Luna thought to herself. I just hope it works right!

VI

Shannon Ryan woke from another nightmare the next morning. She didn’t want to wake Nick, who was sleeping beside her in her bed at the System. She quietly sat up, pulled the covers back, and headed over to the mirror. She stared at the reflection until she could hear a distant hum coming from it.
Nick stirred anyway; his ears listened to the faint purr. He opened his eyes and noticed Shannon was no longer beside him, so he muttered, “Sil vous plait, mon cherie, come to bed.” His French voice was groggy, and when she didn’t answer, he sat up.
Nicholas McNathaniels watched in horror as the scene before him turned dreadfully familiar. Shannon’s reflection turned bright orange in the mirror, which made Nick gasp. “Mon dieu!”
It was happening again and he knew he could do nothing to stop it. There was trouble in the Dream Realm, and the second generation of Crusaders needed her special kind of guidance.
Nick stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders in comfort. “If you have to help them, go.”
“I can’t leave you, Nick.” Shannon whispered, shuddering. She continued to stare at her reflection. Her ring and Dream Locket glowed and she was silenced with fear. A tear ran down her cheek. “I’m so scared.”
Nick hugged her from behind. “I’ll protect you, mon cherie.” He whispered. “As your Earthly Protector, I command you to live your destiny.”
The glow stopped, as with Shannon’s fear of terror in the Dream Realm’s Province.
Her eyes closed, soothed by his every touch. His very words, though with a French lilt, calmed her fears.
“It’s time to tell them about us, Shannon.” Nick turned her around and met her tender, chocolate brown eyes. “Before it’s too late – for all Crusaders.”
The couple kissed, holding each other tight.
Shannon was grateful to have Nicholas McNathaniels to remind her of way back when.

VI

Shane Morehouse found himself in the Dream Realm’s Dominion. It wasn’t the first time he’d been there, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. The question was; why was he there?
From the distance, he thought he heard his beloved Luna Woods’ voice.
“Help me!” Luna was saying. “Please, somebody help me!”
He raced in the direction the voice seemed to be coming from. “Where are you?” He yelled in the air.
When he entered the Valley of Lost Souls, he saw her. Chained to a deadwood tree like a damsel in one of those corny old western movies.
As he walked up to her, in hopes of setting her free, there was a male voice.
“Ah-ah-ah.” Shane recognized it as the Dominionite Merchant – Damian.
As an Immortal male, Damian suddenly appeared in front of him with a sadistic grin was on his face.
“I would not make it that easy now, would I?” Damian sneered.
“What do you want with her, Damian?” Shane demanded, ready to fight at a moments notice.
“Nothing, really.” Damian looked at Shane while he stroked her chin. “She is a lovely thing, is she not?”
Luna jerked away, angry. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
“Luna! No!” Shane cried, and tried to move closer. He was a statue, unable to move to save his, or Luna’s, life. “Don’t do it!”
“What have you to say to me now, Earthbound?” Damian crooned in Luna’s face, totally ignoring Shane’s rebuttal. “You were once so perfect, so powerful. Now what are you? A slave to suit my own desires.”
“I’m a slave of no one.” Luna replied, and Shane smiled.
“What will you do, Ancient Mystic Aluna?” Damian teased maliciously. “Your powers are useless against my own.”
“You have no power, and you know it.” Luna said, half-terrified.
“Try me.” Damian whispered with a grin.
Shane could do nothing but stand and watch as Luna tried her own power on him, only to have it reflect back to her.
“NO!” He screamed, losing the image.

He woke up then, terrified of losing her. Surprised he didn’t wake Jammins beside him, he wished silently for her safe return to the System. He didn’t like being away from his Young Ancient Mystic girlfriend.

VII

Nicholas McNathaniels was reluctant as he went back to his own agency, leaving Shannon with her rumbling thoughts. Shannon found herself in her office, going over the facts of the Crusades in her head.
Shannon’s recruits; family, really; were the second-generation Dream Realm Crusaders. Sure, they were the best; Aluna, Ariana, Derrick; and with Aaron and Mark added in, they would only get better.
She could feel it in her bones. Something was missing, and the original Crusaders were the key.
One more person, Shannon thought. One man who was definitely qualified to join us in battle.
As if on cue, he burst in.
“Shannon, I need to talk to you. Now.”
His face was distraught and she could tell something was wrong. “Come in, Shane.” She replied softly. “Close the door behind you. I don’t want anyone else to hear us.”
Shane Morehouse, known as the Shadow, obeyed his boss and fellow former Crusader. “I had another nightmare, and Luna was in it.” He stared straight into her eyes and said. “She was in pain – dying.”
Shannon took a deep breath, letting out a sigh. “I had the same dream. I also dreamt of the Offspring again.”
“Is it?” Shane didn’t have to finish his query. He already knew the answer by the look on Shannon’s face. “It’s here?”
“It, she, has been born, yes.” Shannon told him. “The good thing is, Sabrina doesn’t realize the power of it, yet.”
Shadow was confused. “How is that possible? Didn’t Sabrina give birth? Surely she has to know her child was born!”
Shannon shook her head. “Lord Maximaniac placed a spell over her so she wouldn’t know what was happening – just like Jezebel, remember?”
Shadow knew all too well. “What do you suggest we do?”
“Time to travel with the Ancient Mystic Magic.” Shannon Ryan’s eyes were serious, and she continued. “Ariana and the others must know about us.”
Shane agreed. “When do we leave?”
Shannon smiled. “Tomorrow, right after we pick up Nick.”

Chapter Fifty-One:
The Offspring

Mark raced his bike to the Woods’ house. He had to get to the other Crusaders in time.
He crashed his bike on the front lawn and rang the bell. He pounded on the door, hoping someone was home. “Come on, Ariana.” He muttered under his breath. “It’s urgent!”
To the door came Luna, Ariana’s twin. When she saw the distraught look on his face, she gasped.
Mark pushed her aside. “I have to tell you guys something.” He cried as she shut the door behind him.

Ariana, Derrick, the Companions and Aaron were playing a game. When it was Ariana’s turn to roll the dice, she stared into space.
“What do you sense?” Aaron asked, with Derrick catching his eye.
The Companions held their breaths.
Ariana jumped up and pounded down the stairs. They followed behind her, wondering what she sensed so madly.
Luna and Mark stood together in the living room, turning when they heard Ariana’s cry.
“I sense trouble. What’s going on?”
The Crusaders met a panicked Mark Grey, who was fidgeting.
“I have to tell you something.” Mark said to Ariana.
Luna interrupted, staring at her sister, who was shocked when she heard the words. “It’s about the Offspring.”
Derrick and Aaron glanced to each other, then to Ariana.
“What Offspring?” Derrick asked her.
“Never mind for now.” Ariana replied. She turned back to Mark. “Go ahead.”
“First, no interruptions.” Mark said. “Once I start, I don’t want to stop.”
They agreed and he started his story.
“Sabrina was the one who woke me with her screams. I was just down the hall. When I sat up in bed, I had visions of Sabrina and Max running through my mind. Maximaniac actually allowed me to listen in through his deranged mind.
“‘The time has come, Heart-Brother.’ He called to me in my mind. ‘The future of all Companions and ultimate end to the Dominionites will begin with my offspring.’
“It was amazing: I could hear every word between them as I sat on my bed. As I closed my eyes, sitting with my legs crossed under each other, I was whisked away to the Dominion – away from any paradise of the Dream Realm. I knew where he’d taken me – to Lava Falls, where we’d left him and Sabrina before. Nearby was the River of Regret, so I