Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga, Lady Adellandra Dratianos [reading well .txt] 📗

Demon Indexer.”
“What of Julia’s daughter Tamara?” O’Dell asked. “Is she prepared to fight?”
“If you mean are her powers strong enough, I’d say she was.” Ariana said. “Her brother-boyfriend Charlie Reynolds is willing to fight, too. As is Aaron’s new girlfriend Sierra Gregory and Aimee’s boyfriend Scott Archer. You remember him, don’t you?”
“I remember him.” O’Dell smiled. “I was impressed by his antics.”
Ariana actually smiled back. “You were impressed by Scott? The fumble-boy himself?”
“He has visited off and on for many years, even without you and the twins to guide him.” O’Dell confessed. “He’s shown just how well of a fighter he can be, if put up to the challenge.”
“That’s good to hear.” Ariana said. “I was afraid he hadn’t grown out of that clumsy stage.”
“You were clumsy once too, if you recall.” O’Dell teased. “I remember the first time you tried controlling telekinesis.”
“Oh no!” Ariana laughed, hiding her blushing cheeks from him. “Not Mrs. Gertrude’s favorite vase! Did you have to remind me?”
“Anything to see that smile of yours, Young Guardian.” O’Dell announced.
“I’ll bet.” Ariana smiled. It felt good to be able to relax around O’Dell in his human-male form. It wasn’t often she wasn’t intimidated by it.
“Besides that, how are you and the Crusaders preparing for battle?”
“We’re learning our own specialties, whether it be Magic, fighting styles, tactics, form, whatever we can brush up on to get ready.” Ariana said. “Four more Earthly Protectors are learning their Golden Magicks, if not as strong as Derrick and Shane’s. Sierra, or should I call her Airmed Starchaser, is a Pagan, so she has her own power to help out, not to mention she’s now a Protector herself.”
“Aye, I have seen that woman in action.” O’Dell said. “Something tells me she hides behind the name, but does not realize why. I guess we will learn more about her as time goes on, will we not?”
“I’ll keep an eye on her, if that’s what you mean.” Ariana said. “We’re all basically brushing up on our skills as fighters. That’s all we can do, right?”
“Until Orthos makes his move, aye. I am afraid so.” O’Dell said, then thought of something and stood. “Young Guardian, have you patrolled yet?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.” Ariana said. “My duties come first.”
O’Dell was smiling, and she now wondered why. She followed him outside, where he shifted to a Unicorn-Pegasus.
“How would you like a ride on my back?” O’Dell shook his mane at her, making her laugh. “Just like old times?”
Ariana jumped on his back like a seasoned rider. Thanks to him, she was one.
“We’ll race through the Dream Realm, wherever the wind may take us!” Ariana cried as he took flight.
After all that had happened lately, it felt good to let go and relax.

Epilogue:
Return of All Evils

Young Guardian and the rest of the Crusaders wouldn’t get to relax for long. Orthos was planning his great escape. Until his queen returned, he searched endlessly for the Ancient Spells that would release him from his Unknown prison. When she told him who spoiled her own plans, a name from long ago entered his mind.
Starchaser.
That clan-name was the key to his escape. Why look in the Ancient Wizards’ many books and scrolls? Why not search those of the Ancient Watchers?
For the first time since being Exiled to the Unknown, Orthos was satisfied.
It didn’t take long for him to find what he was looking for. His release from this prison was just an incantation away.
There was just one problem with it. Where would he hide once returning to the Dream Realm? He couldn’t go back to the Old Dominion. O’Dell had given their brother Maximaniac that domain. Now it was called the Grey Area. He couldn’t go back to the Kingdom, either. The Castle stood tall, according to rumor, and O’Dell had given that particular domain to their youngest brother Lord Byron.
He needed a place of his own to rule; that was apparent. He also needed minions to do his dirty work. He wasn’t going to fight a war himself! Were there still Dominionites in the Dream Realm, making trouble for Dreamers? What about other enemies the pathetic Ancient Mystics had? Could he be the only one?
He recalled the Wars for Power, and who fought beside him against the Ancient Mystics and his brothers. Could he call the same forces of evil back from hiding and convince them to do it all again? If the prices were right, and the threat to evil high enough, even those who dwelled in the Outer Realm at night would come to his call.
Once he had his plan fully formulated in his mind, Orthos called for Damian, Shenara, Albrath and Gloriana. He knew Sabrina and her small crew of Dominionites were still in the Dream Realm. All he had to do now is call the incantation and join them.
Orthos grinned, knowing in his black heart all would go as planned.
Before the next moon rose in the Outer Realm sky, he would win the War of the Realms. He would win, and he would destroy any trace of goodness left in any of the Realms of all the Worlds.

II

In the Outer Realm, the Ancient Mystics awoke from their nightmares. Ariana Reading checked on her children, now unable to go back to sleep. The house was quiet, for all that she heard was the soft ticking of the Grandfather clock in the hall and the Grandmother clock in the den. Standing at the kitchen window, she closed her eyes and sensed each of her family members, seeing if they had the same nightmare.
Next door, Aimee and Aaron Schmidt woke up as well. Aimee was in tears, frightened of her disturbing nightmare. She turned to Scott in bed and snuggled in, hoping he’d protect her from another. Aaron was scared, too, but determined. The time was near, and he could smell it. He felt Sierra shaking in her sleep and wrapped his arm around her petite body to calm her fears.
Across the street, Luna Morehouse gasped awake from the terrifying vision. Her clairvoyance was in high-gear and she was wide awake. Shane felt her stirring and pulled her closer without opening his eyes. “Hey, I’ll protect you.” He whispered, kissing her ear. She knew he was right, and snuggled back into his comforting arms.
Next door, both Tamara Jane and her mother Julia Lynne woke from the same dream. A dream that, in their peaceful slumber, they shared, watching turn to a horrible nightmare. Not knowing what to do, they tried returning to the Dream Realm with the Chant. Hopefully, someone there would have some answers.
Back at the Readings, Ariana opened her eyes and sighed. Their rest and relaxation was over. If their nightmares told truth, Orthos was on his way back to the Dream Realm. There was nothing more she could do about it tonight, so she headed back to her bed to join her Protector husband in pleasant slumber.
She hoped, with all their training and Magic studies, they would be more than ready to face up to Orthos’ challenges.

BOOK II:
War of the Realms

Part One:
Games Dominionites Play

Prologue:
Sabrina’s Misfit Warriors

Once calling the incantation, Orthos appeared back in the Dream Realm’s Grey Area. Behind him were his queen, Gloriana, son Damian and the Dark Ladies, Albrath and Shenara. He found the cave Sabrina had used, complete with three of his old Warriors.
D’Kora stirred from her position once hearing footsteps. When she saw who it was, she called to the others in her mind. She bowed in the presence of her Master and his Queen.
Before she could utter a sound, Orthos growled. “Where is Sabrina?”
“The Maiden is gone, Mas-ss-ter.” Vino hissed from beside D’Kora. Kasha nodded in agreement.
“I told you they were caught by Max.” Gloriana quipped.
“Enough!” Orthos roared, making her jump. He turned to the silent banshee, Kasha. “Is there anywhere else we could go?”
Kasha managed a smile, nodding her head. There is a place, not far from here. Lord Max calls it the Dark Area.
“Can either of you misfits lead us there?” Orthos folded his arms.
“Aye, Master, but –” D’Kora tried, but was interrupted.
“No buts.” The Master boomed. “Lead on. We have work to do.”
Not wanting to disobey their Lord Master, Kasha, D’Kora, and Vino led the entourage out of the cave and into the depths of the Dark Area. They saw a black castle already erected, and Orthos couldn’t have been happier.
“There is something you should know, Master.” D’Kora stammered.
“Make it quick!” Orthos replied, staring at the Castle.
“There is already a Lord in that castle.” D’Kora supplied.
Orthos stopped the group in their tracks. “Each of my brothers already have their own Castles. Who is this Lord?”
“His name is Bane.” D’Kora answered. “He calls himself the Nightmare King.”
He and his minions haunt Dreamers’ minds, as you used to. Kasha supplied after her.
Damian heard the thought and grinned. “So, he wishes to take your place, does he, Father? Why not show him who still reigns this Realm?”
Orthos grinned at his son, sharing a look with the Merchant. “By all means, why not?” He turned back to the three Dominionites. “Lead on, Warriors.”

II

“It’s worse than we first thought, isn’t it?” Derrick asked his wife a day later.
Ariana could only nod and agree. “Orthos has indeed returned to the Dream Realm.”
“Does Lord Guardian know?”
“I’m sure he does by now.” Ariana supplied. “After all, Orthos is his twin, just as Luna is mine.”
Derrick sighed, holding her and kissing her forehead. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you.”
“Go to work, Derrick James.” Ariana told him, nestling her head on his chest. “We can’t put our lives in this world on hold because the master of all evils has returned.”
This made Derrick chuckle lightly, hugging her. “When you put it that way, Love, how can I refuse?”
“You can’t.” Ariana looked up and smiled at him. “Now go, before you’re late.”
With one last kiss, he was out the door and on his way.
This left Ariana with the care of her two youngest children. Kelly, Andrew, and Mark had already gone to school an hour before, which left Melody and Theodore in her care. The live-in Caretaker Juliet still wasn’t awake yet. Figuring on how much she helped with the children in the past week, Ariana let her sleep.
As she was washing the morning dishes, she heard the door open and slam shut. Sensing her twin as she walked in the kitchen, Ariana didn’t bother to look up. “Will you be quiet? Juliet’s still sleeping, and so are the kids.”
“Oh, sorry.” Luna whispered dramatically.
Ariana looked to her twin and smiled. “What’s up and where’s Logan?”
“What’s up?” Luna replied sarcastically. “Nothing but Orthos’ return. As for Logan, Shane stayed home today, and they’re both sleeping.”
“Why did Shane stay home?” Ariana asked.
“He’s sick.”
“That’s weird.” Ariana gave her twin a look of suspicion. “Shane’s never been sick a day in his life. What’s really up with him?”
“He wanted to work from home today.” Luna confessed. “Says he’s too afraid to leave us alone.”
Ariana shook her head and smiled. “Derrick tried the same tactic, but it didn’t work.” She said. “Orthos hasn’t done anything yet, so he has no reason to be afraid.” Luna opened her mouth to say something, but Ariana anticipated her words. Rolling her eyes, she said. “Yes, O’Dell already knows, and I’m willing to bet he told the other Originators.” Ariana sighed. “Besides, we can’t let him orchestrate our every move, you know.”
“Yeah, I