Young Guardian Trilogy by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (read aloud .txt) 📕

her mind.
Sabrina closed Ariana's eyes and returned to the Dominion to tell her brother Damian of her devilish plan.

IV

Nearby, Luna Sister was writing in her notebook when she felt something wasn't quite right. In her place, Luna closed her eyes and thought about the Ancient Mystic Palace.
In a flash, she was there and rung the bell.
Challandra answered. "Grand Magus, I am happy you have remembered how to join us. Come with me."
"What's going on, Challandra? Is it Ariana?" Luna was worried for her twin.
Challandra nodded. "Aye. Young Guardian is in serious danger. We have told young Derrick of the possibility of Sabrina taking over Ariana's body, leaving her mind lost in the Dominion."
"How awful!" Luna gasped. "What can I do to help her?"
"Get to her before it is too late." Challandra supplied. "Find her, before Sabrina strikes and wins."
Luna nodded, stepping through her aura trace.
The time had finally come for Luna and Derrick to reunite with Ariana -- to save her. 
Part 2:
The Dominion Quest

Chapter Nineteen:
Ariana's Demise

Three days later, Ariana and Mark were talking. The subject came to the Dream Realm, and she felt a little uncomfortable.
"Have you heard of Enchantra?" Mark asked out of the blue.
Ariana's eyes snapped open. "Yes, of course, but how have you?"
"I know she lives in the Dream Realm with her sister in the Palace." Mark explained.
Ariana pleaded. "What do you know, and why?"
He told her of what happened while she was in the hospital, and his visit.
"Really? You have two Companions with you?" Ariana replied, astonished. "Show me." Half of her was skeptic; the other believed him because of Katherine Hawk, her own Companion friend.
"Are you sure?"
Ariana nodded.
Mark closed his eyes and called in his mind for Wolf Stargazer. Mark-as-Wolf opened his eyes. Wolf blinked, saying "hello?" When he saw who it was, he lowered his head in respect. "Why hello, Young Guardian. Where, may I ask, am I?"
Ariana smiled, thinking of Katherine. She was actually talking to her friend’s crush! Just to make sure, Ariana asked. "You're in the Outer Realm. Who may I ask are you to know of me as your Young Guardian?"
"I am called Wolf Stargazer." Wolf introduced. “I was once a Warrior with the Dominionite Army, but I rebelled and now I am Banished to Heart-Brother Mark.”
Ariana looked into his eyes and indeed saw a different being peeking out. As his name suggested, she saw the face and aura of the timberwolf. "Nice to meet you, Wolf. Katherine told me some pretty revealing things about you." Ariana smiled.
"What sort of things?" Wolf asked. "Or should I not ask?"
Ariana thought for a minute. "Did you want to talk to her?"
Wolf brightened up. "May I? Really, Young Guardian?"
Ariana nodded. She closed her eyes and called for her Balinese feline friend.
Katherine, where are you? I have someone here that would like to speak to you.
Katherine responded immediately. How?
Do you remember the orphanage? What we did? Ariana asked.
A soul-switch? Katherine sighed. All right, but be careful, please?
I promise.
The girls proceeded to switch places with each other.
"Hello? Who is there?" Katherine asked. She opened Ariana's eyes and tried to focus. Her voice through Ariana's sounded what she would call "Northern," from the Outer Realm country called England. Katherine didn't recognize the boy in front of her.
"I am called Wolf Stargazer," the boy's voice replied softly.
"Wolf! But how?" Katherine gasped. She stared into the eyes and indeed saw the soul of her crush.
"Same as you, Katherine, my precious Balinese." Wolf explained.
Katherine purred, blushing.
"I hear from Young Guardian that you speak of me often." He replied with a smile. "What is that all about?"
Katherine shrugged, and managed to choke out, "I like you, Wolf. I really do. I want to be more than just friends, even if our species do not approve."
"Ah, but that is where you are wrong, Kat." He replied, tweaking Ariana's nose. "It is up to us to allow it. Who cares what others tell us to think? We have minds and hearts of our own."
Katherine dared to say what was on her mind. "Do you wish more than friendship, Wolf?"
"Come back with me to our world, and find out." Wolf teased. He smiled at her, looking deep into her eyes.
The look in his eyes made Katherine nervous. "We had better be going, before Sabrina strikes."
"Besides," Wolf replied, "we could continue this conversation back home. Meet me in the Canine Wood, at Stargazer Castle."
Katherine purred. "I will be there."
Wolf gave Katherine a kiss before each returned to the Dream Realm.

While the two had been talking, Sabrina thought it were the perfect time to put her plan into high gear. She had her brother Damian kidnap Young Guardian under false pretenses.
To think, my brother is so gullible! He actually believes Young Guardian loves him! Ha!
Damian trapped her in a cage, unable to use Ancient Mystic powers in Dark Tower dungeons. When Katherine left, Sabrina hopped in. She knew how to imitate her enemy, and believed she would have fun as an Earthbound.
Time to give the Outer Realm a shot. Sabrina thought with a sadistic grin.

Mark returned and asked. "Well, what did you think of Wolf?"
Ariana stared at him, and he could tell something was different about her. She smiled innocently, her tone sounding bored. "I liked him. Wolf was pretty cool."
Mark smiled, but was astonished as well as afraid to see Ariana's silver-blue eyes turn a dark shade of red!
"But I am definitely cooler!" A new voice cackled from Ariana’s mouth.
Mark stood up from the bed, suspicious. When she told him her secret, she never mentioned demons taking over her body. "Who are you?"
Whatever demon was in Ariana’s body stood and found a mirror before introducing herself. Running Ariana's fingers through her hair, she stuck her tongue at the reflection. She turned back to Mark, disgusted. "My name is Sabrina. I could be your fantasy, or your worst enemy." She faced him, finally noticing his gender. "If you play your cards right, boy."
Mark stared as he watched Sabrina stroke his cheek. He recalled what Ariana had told him about her. Sabrina lived in Dark Tower in the Dominion of the Dream Realm. She was also the most seductive soul in the Dream Realm. She hates fun, humor, and her cousins, whoever they were.
Mark thought of his more playful Companion, Psycho. He called to Psycho to let the joke-playing prankster run free over Sabrina's mean butt.
Before he could do anything, Sabrina started kissing him, hard and passionately. Psycho was pushed back to the edge of Mark’s mind, forgotten.
He enjoyed this from her, but knew it was wrong. Mark tried to break away, but Sabrina seduced him into making love to her.
He thought about it. It would be like getting what he always wanted from her. Thing was, it wasn't really Ariana, so it would be like making love to a complete (and seductive) stranger.
Sabrina's patience was thin, and she didn't wait for his response. She grabbed him between the legs and started to seduce him in the most pleasurable ways. Mark had to admit -- he liked it.
Before he knew it, Sabrina had won his body over, and he had fulfilled his ultimate fantasy. Why did he feel so bad, then? He quickly dressed and left the room, heading back to his own, ashamed.
Unfortunately, Ariana-as-Sabrina followed. "Well, lover-boy," Sabrina cooed. "How did it feel making your every wish come true?"
Mark angered. He betrayed Ariana's love, and took advantage of her body without her permission. It wasn't right, as Ariana told him when he wanted it earlier.
"Sabrina, please leave.” He supplied in a low tone, his hands clenched and eyes not meeting hers. “I don't want you to make me hurt Ariana any more than I already have."
There, he said it. His back was to her, and he ran an upset hand through his black hair, frustrated and confused.
She refused to leave.
He was furious now, and he faced her impish grin. "Go away, Sabrina! I don't want you; I want Ariana back! Where is she?"
"She is not in the Outer Realm that is for sure." Sabrina grinned like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. "I am afraid she will never return again!" Sabrina laughed wickedly before leaving, letting Ariana's body go limp.
Mark caught her body and stared sadly at her now-closed eyes. He carried her to his bed and lay her down gently. He stroked her long reddish-blond hair, kissing her gently on the lips. He watched as Ariana's eyes fluttered open.
"Where am I? Who are you?" A British-accent came out of Ariana's mouth.
"Ariana?" Mark asked, hopeful.
When she shook her head no, he jumped off the bed and stood still, afraid of Sabrina's return.
"Please, sir." It was Katherine. "Do not be afraid. I will not harm you."
"How do I know?" Mark asked, suspicious.
Katherine took a deep breath, and purred. "Ask your Companion, Wolf Stargazer. I am Katherine Hawk, Young Guardian's friend."
Mark felt confused.
"I can tell you are bewildered, sir." Katherine said. "What is your name, so I may address you correctly?"
"Mark Grey," Mark said automatically. "I'm Ariana's adopted brother."
"Well Mark. If you wish, I can tell you why I am here, instead of Ariana herself." Katherine replied.
He nodded and she sat Ariana's body upright before explaining.
Ariana was locked in a cage, unable to escape using her powers. Since she couldn't break free from the Merchant's grasp, someone had to take her place. Both Ariana and Katherine have known each other for years. In the meantime, someone had to rescue her.
"Please, do not hate her!" Katherine pleaded, concluding her story.
"I could never hate Ariana." Mark replied, stroking her nose. "She means too much to me for that."
Katherine purrs. "I have some advice for you, Mark."
"Go ahead."
"If Sabrina should show up again, make it as impossible for her as you can." Katherine smiled. "My cousin may be a seductress, but she hates anybody to be more impossible than she!"
Mark laughed and gently kissed his new friend on the cheek. He liked Katherine already! He even knew what he was going to do if Sabrina ever showed up again!


Chapter Twenty:
Young Guardian Fallen

Luna Sister could feel her twin slowly slipping out of her grasp. She pedaled her bike as fast as her legs could go, searching for Ariana along the streets of Hill View. She could feel herself getting closer as she reached the Rich District.
She heard the honk of a car behind her and she quickly turned and saw a Jeep, with Derrick Reading in the driver's seat. Luna stopped in her tracks and Derrick slowed to stop beside her.
"Can you sense her?" Derrick asked.
There wasn't any time for pleasantries. It was a matter of life and death for the Young Guardian of the Dream Realm.
"No, but I have a feeling we're getting close."
"Hop in. I'll give you a lift." Derrick replied. "Throw your bike in back."
Luna did so, and the two of them were on their way.

II

Meanwhile, Mark sat next to Ariana's unconscious body, wondering what to do. Sabrina, in fact, had just left and Psycho had scared her away -- for a while.
He let her body rest in her bed as he took a quick bike ride to clear his thoughts.
So much has happened in such a short time.