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

heard a knock on the door shortly before it opened.
Aimee ran to hug Ariana. “Is he okay?”
“Just power-drained.” Ariana told her. “He was hit by Dominionite Magic, but I healed him. You might want to watch his shoulder.”
“What about the demon girl?” Aimee asked.
“We Exiled her and two others to the Unknown.”
Aimee shook her head. “After all these years of peace. Somehow, I don’t believe it.”
“Me, either.” Ariana whispered, standing. “I have to get home. Derrick’s probably worried sick about me.”
Aimee nodded, then giggled. “Yeah, he is.”
With that, Ariana kissed Aaron’s cheek, and hugged Aimee goodbye.
“Let me know how he feels in the morning.” Ariana announced.
Aimee nodded, and Ariana went home, back to her own bed.

II

By the time Ariana climbed back into her own warm bed, she was half-way into the Dream Realm. She drifted in the Dream Realm until she found Queen Jezebel and Lord Maximaniac in the Grey Area’s Shady Kingdom.
“My Lord Max, I have something to tell you.” Ariana blurted without warning. “I just Exiled three of your Old Dominionites to the Unknown.”
Lord Maximaniac practically jumped from his chair, startling her. “You what!?” He stammered. “Why?”
Jezebel placed a hand on Maximaniac’s arm to calm him.
“Aaron was being haunted by a demon-girl named Shenara.” Ariana replied. “I realized something that might be of interest to you, My Lord Max.”
“Aye?” Maximaniac sat back down at his throne. “Tell me.”
“Do you remember a Dominionite Warrior naming herself Gloriana?” Ariana asked. He nodded and she told him the whole story.
Jezebel had been listening, too, and finally decided to speak up. “You felt the Dark Magic growing with your anger?”
“Yes, my Queen Jezebel.” Ariana nodded. “I was careful not to let it overcome me, but when I heard Gloriana say that, I was mad. Don’t the Grey Areans know of me, and who I am?”
“Aye, of course, but there are some...” Maximaniac let his voice trail.
“We call them Dark Areans. They do not wish to be good once again.” Jezebel said. “They are still Warriors at heart, if they have hearts.”
“Why would Gloriana want her and her daughters to be Exiled?” Ariana wondered. “It was so easy, they didn’t even put up a fight.”
“That, we could not tell you.” Maximaniac said.
Jezebel stood next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Come with me.” She turned to her mate. “We will not be gone long, my Lord.”
Maximaniac nodded, but both women could tell his head was still in the clouds.
Jezebel took Ariana to the small garden in back. “I know why Gloriana wanted that.”
Ariana stared.
“Max does not need to know.” Jezebel said. “Not yet, anyway. Gloriana needs a father for her daughter Shenara.”
“Who?” Ariana was confused. “What? Why?”
“You must listen and not tell a soul.” Jezebel replied. “Not even Protector Derrick, understand? We do not need the Crusaders getting into any trouble they cannot handle.”
“I promise, my Queen Jezebel.” Ariana bowed to her, showing her loyalty.
“Orthos never knew this, but he fathered a child with her.”
“While he was your husband?” Ariana sat next to her on the grass now. “Did you know then?”
“I knew, but failed to believe.” Jezebel said. “Her mate, Vestal Companion, never found out about the affair before his death in the Wars. Not even his own daughter Albrath knew. When Gloriana became pregnant with Shenara, I was pregnant with Damian. She disappeared from Warrior view after the Wars ended, taking her only daughter Albrath with her.”
“Where did she go?”
Jezebel shrugged. “No one knew.”
“Did you ever confront Orthos about it?”
Jezebel nodded. “Many times. Each confrontation, he denied the whole thing.” She said. “When I found out his betrayal, I lost what little love I had for him. I realized I missed my loving Maxwell.”
Ariana repeated. “Maxwell?”
Jezebel smiled. “That was Maximaniac’s name before he Banished himself.”
She reached into the air and pulled a scepter. It fit perfectly in the palm of Jezebel’s hand, with the silver rod as long as her arm. There were different Ancient Mystic runes covering the rod, but Ariana didn’t know enough of the Ancient language to translate. At the tip was a glowing black ball, about the size of a small basketball. Jezebel pointed it at Ariana.
“What are you going to do with that?” Ariana asked.
“A lesson in the Dark Magic, Young Guardian.” Jezebel smiled. “Tell me what you see.”
As soon as Ariana’s eyes hit the sphere, the memories of the orphanage came back to her, full force. She saw herself curled up in a bed, crying tears of pain. Little Ariana Moon was shaking, afraid. She was sure to be silent, she didn’t want any of Mrs. Gertrude’s spies to put her in the Torture Room.
“I see myself crying in bed.” Ariana whispered, her eyes glued to it. “I remember; it was after I was beaten for practicing magic. I was only seven. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“What had you done?” Jezebel dared to interrupt.
Ariana felt the tear racing down her cheek, wiping it away. “I only made a little unicorn statuette levitate to me. I wanted that unicorn back; Mrs. Gertrude had taken it away from me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I swear it.” She hugged herself, shaking. She pulled her eyes from the glowing black ball to stare at Jezebel.
“I beg for forgiveness, my Queen.” Ariana was in a daze, bowing at Jezebel’s feet and kissing her hand. “I was only a child. Please, forgive me.”
Jezebel smiled at her, holding Ariana’s hand. “You need no forgiveness from me. You could not control your desire for Magic.”
“What should I do about it?” Ariana asked.
“Nothing.” Jezebel supplied. “What is past has passed. There is nothing you can do about that. You wanted to learn the mysterious gifts you held, but no one was there to teach you.”
“Not until I met Lord Guardian.” Ariana added, then smiled. “I was so afraid of learning it. I kept thinking about the abuse, and what Mrs. Gertrude would do if she found out.”
“Katherine Hawk helped with that fear, did she not?” Jezebel asked. “Once Orthos Banished her to you, she became a friend.”
“Not only a friend, but a confidant and teacher.” Ariana stood. “We’ve been through so much together; it’s hard to believe she’s not with me anymore.”
Jezebel was silent, throwing the scepter into the air and making it disappear. “She cares a lot about you, Young Guardian. I believe you will be confidants, Crusaders, and friends until the end of time and destiny.” She hugged Ariana. “There, feel better now?”
Ariana stared, then smiled at her. “Yes, I do, in fact. I feel a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”
“Good.” Jezebel remarked with a grin. “Do you feel up to making your rounds?”
Ariana nodded. “Of course; I have to.” She supplied, waving her arms to change into her Guardian’s Gown. “I’m the Young Guardian.” She bowed once more. “Farewell, my Queen Jezebel.”
“Pleasant journeys,” Jezebel called after her, long after she’d disappeared.

III

As soon as Ariana had disappeared, Jezebel raced to her Mirror Room. Her mate saw her rush and excused himself from his delegates to follow her.
“Jezebel.” He tried calling to her to get her attention.
Jezebel found and flipped through her Spell-book with a determined look on her face. Lord Maximaniac was nervous just watching her.
“What are you looking for?” He growled roughly.
“The spell Sabrina used to return to the Dream Realm.” Jezebel replied.
“It would not very well be in your Spell-book.” Max remarked.
“It is.” Jezebel insisted, and faced her gargoyle mate. “I should know; I wrote it.”
Max was interested as he watched her throw the book up in the air, making it levitate. She whispered something under her breath in the Ancient language, a seeking spell to find what she was looking for.
Both watched as the book glowed yellow, its pages turning furiously, searching. It only took a moment, but the book stopped on a page, returning to Jezebel’s hands.
“Well?” Max asked just as Jezebel said. “I should have known.”
“What is it?”
“It’s called the Abolishment Spell.” Jezebel faced him as he read over her shoulders. “Orthos and I wrote it, in case one of us were Exiled before the other.”
Max stepped away, then turned back to her. “Why had you not used it before I banished myself for you?”
Jezebel could sense he was hurt, and comforted him with a hug and a kiss on the lips. “Once your own Spell-book fell, I stood, speechless. O’Dell was there, but dared not say a word as I picked it up. When I found your words of love for me within its pages, I was heartbroken.” Jezebel kissed him, waiting until he turned back into the human-male she’d known. “Besides, If I had, would we be in each others’ arms now?”
Max smiled, hugging her. “I suppose you are right, my love. It was destiny.” He took a deep breath, pointing back to the Spell-book. “Well, do you have a counter-spell?”
Jezebel nodded, smiling back.
“And?” Max pressed.
“I intend to find her and call it.” Jezebel remarked, disappearing.

Jezebel found her daughter near the old Garden Gate, taunting a helpless creature.
“I see you have not changed, Sabrina.” Jezebel spoke, startling both Sabrina and the creature. As soon as the creature saw her, he fled. “Trying to make Dominionite Warriors out of innocent souls.”
Sabrina stared at her. “What are you doing here, Mother?”
“I have come with a warning.” Jezebel announced. Not to mention, re-exile you in the process. She thought to herself. “A never-ending circle of hate only multiplies the trouble it causes.”
“Dare tell me you are on their side?” Sabrina scoffed. “You, of all people!”
Jezebel noticed the Black-as-Night Crystal around her neck, deciding to stay silent.
“The Ancient Mystics Exiled you, Mother, and you know it.” Sabrina pointed out. “Do you not hate them for that?”
Sabrina was telling the truth, unfortunately. Enchantra and Challandra had Exiled her to the Unknown for the trouble she caused during the Wars.
“I could never hate my own sisters; not now, not ever.” Jezebel shook her head. “I may have been hurt when I was first Exiled, but I assure you my daughter, I am not now.”
“You cannot tell me you do not hate them.” Sabrina scoffed. “You have complained for years at Dark Tower during the Wars; admit it.”
“I admit to nothing but my own selfishness.” Jezebel replied. “They only wished to teach me a lesson in love and loyalty; a lesson you yourself should learn.”
Sabrina only laughed. “The Ancient Mystics hurt us, tearing you away from us. How can you dare be on their side after all this?”
“Leave them alone, Sabrina.” Jezebel cried. “You have done nothing but hurt them with your games. Now, the hatred must be stopped.”
“Since when do I listen to you?” Sabrina cackled, then mocked. “You are nothing but a traitor, Queen Jezebel!”
Jezebel didn’t dare look into her daughter’s eyes, but warned her softly. “Be forewarned Sabrina. The Dark Magic will destroy you if you are not careful.”
Sabrina only laughed at that statement. “Not if I destroy the Ancient Mystics first!”
“You will only destroy yourself in the end; for you are a Ancient Mystic as well.” Jezebel replied. “Keep that in mind.”
Sabrina smirked. “As if!” She remarked before watching Jezebel leave.
In her argument, Jezebel forgot to call out the counter-spell.
Story #1:
Gloriana’s Curse

When the Crusades ended in a brilliant flash of Ancient Mystic Magic, the Barricade that connected the