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

in her Immortal form. Katherine stayed in her Feline Companion form, taking as the breed of her father, a Balinese.
“You actually think I am afraid of Wolf?” Sabrina laughed. “I used to own him, or have you put all thought of the Wars out of your head?”
“What do you wish from me, cousin?” Katherine bit her tongue on the words. “The Wars and Crusades are long over. You have no need for me now, nor do I have any need for you.”
“Only to brag about my newest conquest.” Sabrina flaunted, ignoring her cousin’s rebuttal. “You see, I am not finished with the Woods’ sisters, yet.”
That also meant her friend, Ariana.
“Leave them be.” Katherine commanded. “The Crusaders –”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Sabrina shook her head in shame, playing with her glowing-black diamond-shaped necklace. “Not so fast. They Exiled me to the Unknown; I want payment for that.”
“How are you in the Dream Realm’s Canine Valley, then?” Katherine watched Sabrina closely.
“An easy spell from Father’s Spell-book.” Sabrina admonished, bored. “I am not here for a cat fight, cousin. Merely to strike a bargain with you.”
“What kind of bargain?” Katherine asked, knowing whenever Sabrina wished to strike a bargain, it meant trouble for whoever was involved. She had no choice but to comply, or see her friends get hurt.
“Katherine!” It was her mate’s husky voice that made both look to see who spoke. “Sabrina, leave.”
“I merely –”
“Leave!” Sire Wolfton Stargazer was serious, fists clenched in anger. He roared loudly, making Sabrina jump.
Katherine looked first to her canine mate, then to her human cousin. “You had better leave now, Sabrina. Or fear his wrath.”
“Very well.” Sabrina supplied. She gave Katherine a wink and a point. “I shall return.”
Wolfton growled again, and she disappeared.
Both Katherine and Wolf stood silent, watching the distance. It took a moment for either of them to speak.
“Kat?”
Katherine looked at the Sisterhood Amulet that gave him the immortal powers of speed and agility. She was afraid to look into her loving canine mate’s eyes.
“What did she want?” Wolf pressed.
“To strike a bargain, my love.” Katherine whispered, turning away when he asked the question.
“To make trouble for us, you mean.” Wolf corrected angrily.
Katherine took a breath and walked away.
Wolf stood for a second, now worried about his mate and love.
“Kat, what’s wrong?” Wolf asked, catching up to her. “What did she say to upset you?”
Katherine stopped, and only turned her head. “She is going to harm Young Guardian and her sisters. I can feel it.”
Wolf hugged her from behind, nudging her neck with his snout. It was clear his anger over Sabrina’s arrival was gone. “Darling?”
Katherine took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I fear for them.”
Wolf sensed her quiet fear, kissing her. “Be not afraid. They will know what to do.”
“I hope so.” Katherine tore herself from his kind embrace, walking back to Stargazer Castle.
Wolf was suspicious. Usually, she would agree, but something bothered her. Thinking of Sabrina’s true intentions, he began. “What kind of bargain?”
“I would not know.” Katherine supplied. “Had you not interrupted, I would have been able to hear it.”
“Do you think Young Guardian knows what she is up to?” Wolf asked, tending to his daughter Celine.
“She knows.” Katherine sighed. “Boy, does she know. Whatever Sabrina has in store for her and her sisters, I will be there to help them out.”
“As always, but what will they do in return?”
Katherine was silent for a moment, watching her daughter closely. “Help me should I need it. That is how Young Guardian is, and always will be.”
“I suppose you are that way as well?” Wolf laughed lightly, hugging his mate and making Katherine smile.
“Mommy’s always nice, Papa.” Celine giggled.
Katherine was glad to hear that, but she had a feeling it would come time when she wouldn’t be able to be nice. Especially when it came to Sabrina.
She held Wolf close, wondering what her cousin had planned. Whatever it was, she was scared shiftless.

II

Jezebel paced her quarters like a restless tigress. She had an urge to go to her daughter, but her will told her to stay away.
“Will you sit, my darling Jezebel?” Her mate, Lord Maximaniac asked her. “You are making me dizzy.”
Jezebel sat beside him at her throne. She sighed.
“Whatever is on your mind this time?” Maximaniac asked.
“Sabrina.” Was the only word from her lips.
“Come now, darling. Do not fret over her.” Maximaniac suggested. “She has accepted the darkness inside her empty soul.”
“Nevertheless, she is still my daughter.” Jezebel countered.
“Bah!” Maximaniac growled. “Think nothing of her. I do.”
“She is still your niece, and former lover if you recall the Crusades.”
Maximaniac sighed. “The Crusades were long ago, but now we are happy.” When she didn’t answer, he took her hand in his and kissed it. “We are happy, are we not?”
Jezebel looked up at her gargoyle-human mate. It was his regal form to take, when acting as royalty. She had to smile, kissing his lips. “Aye, we are happy. At last.”
There came a ring of the chimes in front of the castle, with a loyal subject of theirs announcing, “Here ye! Here ye! I now announce the lovely Lady Katherine of Stargazer Castle and the entire Canine Valley!”
The subject bowed as Katherine stepped lively to her new aunt and uncle. She bowed to the couple.
“Rise, Katherine.” Jezebel supplied, allowing the young woman to stand and face them. “What brings you to the Grey Area?”
“Trouble brewing in the mists, Queen Jezebel.” A glint in Katherine’s eyes was enough for fear to run up and down both their spines.
Jezebel and Maximaniac nodded to their servants, telling them to leave before Katherine continued. Jezebel stepped down, face-to-face with her niece.
“Tell me what distresses you, Lady Katherine.”
“Sabrina came to me, threatening Young Guardian’s life.” Katherine supplied. “Not to mention those of her sisters.”
Jezebel turned to Maximaniac. “This is nothing to fret?” She asked sarcastically.
He waved her off, silently telling her to get on with it.
Jezebel turned back to Katherine. “Tell me all you know.”
Katherine explained Sabrina’s unannounced visit, ending with. “I fear for all our lives, Aunt Jezebel! Please, do something about her!”
Jezebel sighed, looking into Katherine’s innocent eyes.
How pure they’d stayed as she grew up in Dark Tower? How lovely and adult she’d become in spite of living with her and Orthos? How knowledgeable and kind? If there were anything to learn about the wonderful Dream Realm in which she lived, it would have to be taught by Katherine.
Jezebel was lost in the trance, unable to take herself away from her niece’s gentle silver-blue eyes. It was only recently Katherine found she was a Ancient Mystic – just as Jezebel was. She was a daughter of Jezebel’s twin sister, Sibylline.
“Jezebel?” Katherine’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“My apologies, Katherine.” Jezebel touched her niece’s head, petting it. “I will speak with Sabrina as soon as I can find her.”
“Please hurry, aunt Jezebel!” Katherine pleaded. “It may be too late before too long!”
Jezebel nodded, and Katherine disappeared from sight.
Somehow, the feeling in her soul – her newly-reborn Ancient Mystic’s soul – just got bigger. The news of Sabrina’s wrath hit like a ton of bricks, but not even she – Sabrina’s own mother – knew how to handle her. Nor did she know what kind of trouble Sabrina was about to cause.
Part Two:
Maiden and the Master

Prologue
Dark Visions

Aaron Schmidt tossed in his sleep.

He was in his private Dream Realm, but someone else was there with him. The demon-girl, whoever she was, was back. She was tall, with bright red hair and hollow black eyes. He could see the reflection of his own frozen state in them. He was hooked in his own Dream Realm, and for once, he couldn’t control it.
He thought of the Unicorn Magic that pulsed in his system. With it, he raised his arms, keeping an eye on the demonic beauty.
She stood just paces ahead of him, beckoning silently for him to come closer. He saw the bracelet around his wrist glow, knowing the Unicorn Magic was hopefully shielding him from whatever she had planned.
“Come to me, Aaron.” The girl beckoned in a voice that was all too familiar to him. “Give yourself to me.”
Her voice echoed around him, making him realize at once who she was imitating. The girl sounded like Ariana, his best friend and fellow Crusader.
In front of him, she closed her eyes, ran her hands over her hair and changed her image. When she was done, the demon girl had a smile on her lips, and her face looked exactly like Ariana’s!
The two parts of him were torn. On one hand, he wanted the girl as he wanted Ariana. To love him and care for him. On the other hand, his conscience told him to get away, fast, before he did something he might regret. Aaron didn’t know what to think or believe.
“Come on, Aaron.” The look-alike whispered in his ear as they embraced. She sounded so much like Ariana, it was eerie. “Protect me.”
He found his voice. “What do you need protection from?”
“The Maiden and the Merchant.” The girl supplied. She stroked him, from his chin to his chest.
He could feel the bulge in his jeans pulsate, and he began to sweat nervously. She was doing the same thing as Sabrina had in the past!
Finding his wits, he pulled away. The girl’s image changed back to the red-haired demon girl.
Don’t look a Dominionite in the eye. Mrs. Woods’ reminder rang in his head.
“Who are you?” Aaron demanded loud enough to hear his voice echo in his Dream Realm.
The girl smiled, moving to kiss his ear. “Shenara.” Her cat-like voice purred, kissing his mouth.
Aaron knew what she was trying to do. He’d been put through it plenty of times before with Sabrina, the Maiden of the Unknown. Shenara, whoever she was, was trying to weaken his magic with a kiss. He knew better, though. He knew to close himself off before Shenara could totally drain him of the Unicorn Magic.
Her lips parted from his, finally realizing what he was doing. A scowl was on her face.
“Next time, my sweet.” Shenara blew him a kiss. “You will be mine.”
She left him standing in his Dream Realm, speechless.

He awoke from the scene, exhausted but proud of himself. He’d stalled time for himself before he could come up with a plan to Exile her.

II

Shenara reappeared in the Dark Area of the Dream Realm’s Old Dominion.
“Well, how did you do?” Her sister, Albrath was curious when Shenara appeared in front of her. Albrath’s white curls of hair bounced, wondering.
“I failed, sister.” Shenara cried, throwing a blast of Dominionite Magic to a wall in frustration. “I will never be as evil as the Maiden.”
The blast had almost hit their mother, who was standing in the doorway.
“Never mind her,” Gloriana supplied. “You are your own demon-mistress. I am sure a mere weakling like Aaron Theodore will be begging to give you his power. You will see.”
“Yes, sister.” Albrath supplied, and Shenara glared. “Be patient.”
“I suppose you can do better?” Shenara spat sarcastically.
“No need.” Albrath shrugged. “I have no grudges against the Maiden.”
“Who said I have a grudge against her?” Shenara continued.
Gloriana grinned a sneer as vicious as the Master himself. “Admit it, darling. You are jealous of Sabrina. You want to be just like her.”
Both Gloriana’s daughters’ eyes