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

/> “How did he take it?” Katherine asked.
“That Crystal.” Anna supplied. “He made me use it to see where it came from.”
Katherine commanded. “Each of you, use the Empathy.”
She spoke in a voice like an Elder Companion demanding respect. Her tone went from friend to teacher and the sisters knew to listen. They all obeyed except Mary Ellen, whose Empathy power was taken by Damian some time ago. She paid attention, watching her sisters’ reactions. Ariana’s face was the most serious.
“What is it?” Mary Ellen dared to interrupt in a whisper. “What do you guys sense?”
The twins were first to speak after a moments silence. “Damian.”
“Where?” Claudia’s shaky voice peeped. She stood closer to Anna’s side.
The twins pointed.
“Right over there, in the bushes that lead to the trail.” Luna supplied. She and Ariana marched back to the Wood toward Damian’s hiding spot. Their three sisters and Katherine followed.
Wolf touched Katherine’s shoulder, making her turn.
“I must do this.” Katherine remarked, shaking out of his grasp and following.
Wolf was left staring at their backs.

V

Damian appeared in the Dream Realm’s Canine Wood. He recognized his surroundings, smiling to himself. Without looking back, he followed the trail up to Stargazer Castle. The two sisters were quiet as they followed, not saying a word. When he turned around, he didn’t see them. He assumed they were in hiding, so he thought nothing of it and moved on.
The Crystal around his neck shone, heat radiating it on his chest. His sensors told him there were more Magic spells protecting this place than ever before.
Who would be strong enough to do such powerful magic? Damian thought to himself. Had the Companions and Lord Max’s followers regained what little Orthos took from them in the Wars for Power? Or did the Sisters give it to them?
Once he reached the end of the trail, he had to stop. His head hurt from the amount of power in the area. He found a place to hide in the shadows, watching the scene in front of him and waiting.
What are Young Guardian and her sisters doing here? How did they get past the barrier? So many questions rolled around in his head.
“Shenara! Albrath!” He said in a tight whisper. He didn’t want the Ancient Mystics to hear him. The sisters didn’t answer so he called out. “Cowards.”
He stood, finally remaining in perfect sight of the Ancient Mystics. “If you want something done...” He whispered. He saw Young Guardian and her twin, the Grand Magus marching toward him, side by side. Their three sisters were behind them.
To his delight and surprise, Katherine brought up the rear.
“Come out Damian!” Young Guardian demanded.
He shook his head, laughing under his breath. To think, he was once in love with her. Time to play a little game. He stepped out of the shadows and bowed before her. “Certainly my adoring little dove.”
“Can it, Merchant,” Anna cried.
He ignored her, instead heading to the former flame of his heart. He froze her with a stare once all six of them were outside the protective barrier.
“Such anger.” He replied with a snide smile. “I see you still have much to learn about the Dark side of your brilliant Ancient Mystic Magic.”
Ariana stood her ground, pulling away when he reached to kiss her hand. “You’re only stalling the inevitable, cousin.”
Damian froze, staring at her. So much for the game.
Ariana Reading only smiled at him. “Oh, didn’t you know? You’re an Ancient Mystic, too.”
“So’s Sabrina.” Luna added.
“How?” Damian asked, astonished.
Katherine faced him now. “Easy. Your mother Jezebel is my aunt. Her twin sister Sibylline, Queen of the Epsilon herself, is my mother.”
“So you see, you indeed are a Ancient Mystic.” Claudia replied. She smiled mischievously, folding her arms. “Cool, huh?”
“And to think, you wanted to destroy us all.” Mary Ellen spoke up, nonchalant. “Shame on you.”
“I will destroy you worthless goody-goodies.” Damian sneered, sneaking a look at the twins. “That is, all except those who embrace the Dark Magic.”
“Enough stalling, Damian!” Anna huffed. “Time to send you back to the Unknown, without your powers.”
She brought her hands in a diamond shape at her chest. Closing her eyes, she summoned the Ancient Mystic Force from deep within. Her entire body began to glow, an opalescent wind surrounded her.
“Impossible!” Damian yelled. “I took one of your powers! You cannot use the Force against me!”
“Surprise, I can.” Anna cried, smiling. Her usual silver-blue eyes turned bright yellow.
“Correction – we can.” Claudia added, following her sister’s lead.
“We shall see about this!” He remarked. Grabbing the Crystal around his neck, he called out a quick spell.

“All the power I have in this
“Send us to Sabrina in the Abyss!”

Before they could do anything but hold on tight, they disappeared, screaming.
The glows of each sister’s bodies were the only light to see by as they entered the dark Abyss.
“Let go of the Force, ladies.” Ariana demanded gently. “You’ll use yourselves up quicker that way.”
“She’s right.” Anna replied. “We need to save our energy for Sabrina and Damian.”
“Speaking of Damian, where’d he go?” Claudia asked.
“He was here just a moment ago.” Mary Ellen supplied.
“Great. Stuck in the Abyss.” Luna groaned.
“Way to think positive, Lu.” Ariana replied sarcastically. She looked at her surroundings. “I’ve always hated this place.”
“You’re not the only one.” Luna supplied.
The sisters kept close to each other, walking straight ahead. As they walked, brightly lit doors passed them, flying through the air.
“Are those what I think they are?” Katherine asked, finding herself holding onto Ariana’s hand.
“Doors to Dreamers’ worlds.” Ariana supplied as she made a candle appear in her hands. “It’s the only way to get there.”
“Huh?” Mary Ellen and Anna questioned.
“I patrol through the doors that are lit the brightest.” Ariana explained.
“Sounds cool.” Claudia remarked. “I’ve always wondered what you did when you patrolled.”
“Well, now you know.” Ariana smiled.
Katherine felt her friend shiver. “What is it?”
Ariana shook her head, but kept going. “Nothing, Kat.”
“Liar.” Katherine teased. “I can feel you shaking.”
“I told you how much I hated this place.” Ariana remarked. “It’s too cold for my blood.”
Before either of the sisters or Katherine could reply, they heard a booming female voice overhead.
“SILENCE!”
The twins and Katherine looked at each other. “Sabrina.”
“Come on out, Sabrina, and fight like a Warrior.” Katherine called into the air.
In a mist of white dust, Sabrina stood in front of them. “Wish I could say the same for you.”
“Knock it off, Sabrina.” Ariana called. “We’ve come to Banish you.”
Sabrina laughed. “Yeah, right.” She said. “As if.”
“You definitely hung around Caroline Parker too long.” Ariana said with a sarcastic laugh.
Another mist of white dust appeared beside Sabrina, Damian appearing.
He grinned at Ariana. “You will not be needing that where you are going.” He remarked, blowing out the candle.
“You should know better than to disrespect us.” Anna said. “Or hadn’t your parents taught you any manners?”
“Jezebel tried, but I am not so sure it stuck.” Katherine said.
“Clearly, neither of you heard me the first time.” Sabrina remarked with a sigh. “I said SILENCE!” She turned to Damian. “Get them.”
“Gladly.”
Damian reached for the Black-as-Night Crystal, but Ariana was too quick to remark.
“Let me see that, Damian.” Ariana supplied, stopping him.
He looked at her suspiciously. “Why?”
“You let Anna see it, why not me?” Ariana added. She had a quick plan, only hoping it would work in time. “See if I can tell you where it’s been.”
“Duh!” Sabrina cried. “I got it from the Gatekeeper. Obviously it came from here.”
“No, sister.” Damian had a plan of his own. “Let her see it.”
After a moment, she understood. “Aye, but make it quick. We have not all night, you know.”
“Oh, I’ll be quick about it.” Ariana promised with a smile.
Reluctant, he handed it to her.
Hook, line and sinker! Ariana thought. Now to get the powers back from it.
She looked to her sisters, silently relaying her plan in their minds. Together, they made the glowing Crystal and its chain hover in the air.
On my word, sisters. Ariana thought to them. They nodded, smiling at each other. Open yourselves up and say the spell-words.
“What are you Ancient Mystic rejects doing?” Sabrina inquired.
Ariana met her old enemy’s eyes with a sneer. “This.”
Now!

“Black-as-Night, Crystal bright,” Katherine and the five sisters chorused.

“No!” Sabrina screamed.
They ignored her, continuing the spell.

“Give back the powers to those they’re right.”

“You cannot do this!” Damian added. “That power is mine!”
Still, they continued calling the spell.

“Forgive the evil from within
“So let the good of truth begin!”

At the last word, the Crystal glowed its brightest, nearly blinding the six Ancient Mystic fighters. Sabrina and Damian screamed before disappearing. Each of the sisters closed themselves off, catching their breaths. After a moment’s silence, they looked at one another.
“Let’s get out of here.” Ariana replied softly.
“How?” Mary Ellen asked.
“What about the Crystal?” Katherine asked.
“I’ll deal with it later, in the comfort of my own home.” Ariana said.
“How do we get home?” Mary Ellen asked.
“Easy.” Ariana replied. “Find the door that has your name on it and jump through it.”
“What about me?” Katherine asked. “I am not of the Outer Realm, so those doors do not pertain to me.”
“I’ll help you get home to Wolf before heading to mine myself.” Ariana told her. Katherine smiled at this.
The sisters said goodbye to one another before finding each of the doors to their Dream Realms.
As Ariana escorted her home, Katherine asked. “Do you think this is over with my cousins?”
Ariana shrugged. “Is it ever truly over?”
Katherine groaned. “I guess not.” She thought of something. “What about my powers?”
“What about them?”
“Will you help me develop them as I had helped you?”
Ariana had to laugh. “What a silly question. Of course I’ll help you, Kat!” She hugged her. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.”
Katherine giggled. “Remember that when I teach you the Warrior Arts as payment.”
“Yeah, that’ll be the day.” Ariana joked. “The Dominionite Warriors are gone, remember?”
“Not by a long shot.” Kat supplied. “I am not speaking of those warrior arts. I mean those of your world. Gallant knights in shining armor fighting for their country on horseback.”
Ariana was surprised to hear her longtime friend talking like this. “Dare I ask, but since when have you wanted this?”
“Since long before the Wars for Power.” Katherine said, looking ahead of them. They came up to the trail in the Dream Realm’s Canine Wood. She was almost home. “Thank you for taking me home, Young Guardian.”
“You know better than that.” Ariana said with a grin. “You, of all Companions, can feel free to call me by my given name.”
Katherine shrugged. “I know, but it is a force of habit.”
They hugged their goodbyes before heading in their opposite directions toward home.
Part Two:
Gloriana Gets Her Kicks

Prologue:
A Plight of Demons

When he was taken away by the Black-as-Night Crystal, Damian thought of his father back in the Unknown. Orthos had to know about this. Now, neither sibling had it. Damian didn’t want to be the one to break the news to the former Master of the Dominion. The odds of his survival weren’t good.
He found his father in his Lab, catching his new mate up on the times. She showed him something in the Dark cauldron, making each of them smile.
It was going to be