The Call of War: The Watchers Chronicles: Book One

by Patricia Halladay

  “Stay away from Ianna, Marcus you are being warned. You have your soul bound, which you hid and lied about for over a month. Now leave Ianna to find her happiness, with someone who will treat her like the precious gift she is and respect the fierce warrior she was born to be.” Matthias grits out at Marcus.

  “Oh and you’re that person? Would she be happy with a weak vampire like you? You’re second best in everything Matthias, your family, your friends and the coven!” Marcus yells back.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I say causing everyone to turn to see me awake. “Matthias can I borrow your shower, since housekeeping have taken my clothes can I borrow a t-shirt and sweatpants? Please?” I ask causing Marcus to hiss. Matthias nods and gets me a change of clothes and then takes me to the bathroom.

  “I will be right outside ok? If you need me just shout for me.” Matthias says kissing my forehead.

  “Matthias, why is he here? He has Angelica, what does it matter if you and I are together or if your feeding from me once in a while? I know you’re not like him and won’t feed too often but I don’t get it. Why does he care?” I ask holding Matthias in the bathroom for a moment.

  “It’s because I am actually higher up than he is but choose to actually do the work. It was the same with his father. He is just a figure head, nothing more and he doesn’t like it. So he doesn’t want me with you, he wants to keep you on the side while he and Angelica run the coven.” Matthias says looking me straight in the eye. I have always known Matthias to tell me the truth. We made a blood oath, to watch out for each other, be brutally honest with each other and with vampires that shit is binding. He would never break the oath, and neither would I.

  “Can Meena tell me why? There has to be more to it.” I ask Matthias, he smiles and nods before kissing me again.

  “I’ll have her come speak to you while you shower ok?” He asks and I nod wanting to just sink into him. He leaves the bathroom, to which I hear more shouting, a slamming door and someone breath a very heavy sigh as I turn on the shower. There’s a light knock on the door, expecting it to be Meena I tell the person to come in, but it’s not Meena. It’s Vlad.

  “What the ever loving fuck Vlad? I thought Matthias was sending in Meena to talk to me.”

  “Yea she was going to, but we got a whisper that Matthias and Marcus were going at it downstairs, and she has more patience then I do. I would just rip the little fucker’s head off. So kid what would you like explained?” Vlad says looking hurt, which is weird considering it’s Vlad.

  “How about start from the beginning.” I say stepping into the shower to get cleaned. My body feels beautifully sore and full, like I don’t have a dark hole where my heart should be anymore.

  “Well this morning when early breakfast was placed on the tables, Matthias came down and asked the cook for a tray to bring you up food. When Marcus heard that, he asked why Matthias was bringing you breakfast, and Matthias answered him truthfully. Marcus punch Matthias as soon as he finished saying the two of you were together last night. Marcus was in a different kind of state than bloodthirsty, it was almost like he was heartbroken. He and Matthias got into it right there, I had to separate them. When Marcus screamed at him for being a traitor, I stepped in and told him I gave you two permission since he was busy fucking Angelica, his soul bound. This seem to hurt him further, he asked Matthias to end it before it started.” Vlad pauses as I drop the shampoo bottle.

  “I don’t understand, it’s the same when you find your mate with wolves right? Your soul bound is the only person you think about, the only person you want right?” I ask, while picking up the shampoo and putting some in my hair, to which Vlad nods. “Then why is Marcus acting like this? He has Angelica.” I finishes as I start to rinse the soap from my hair.

  “I don’t know, it’s almost like the fates are playing a cruel trick on us. I hope for his sake he figures it out. I can’t have him running a coven, if he is fighting over a girl with his second in command. It wouldn’t go over well either with Matthias’s parents. My sister would kill me, or she would have her husband do it since he is a Van Helsing.” Vlad says rolling his eyes. I chuckle at him, which causes him to give me a smile.

  “Vlad what does it mean when two vampires or a vampire and human experience bonding during sex?” I ask sticking my head out of the shower.

  “Wait, you and Matthias were bound during feeding last night? How long did it last?” Vlad asks almost anxious for my response.

  “It happened when he started to feed, and lasted I guess for most of the night. I honestly don’t know; I fell asleep still bonded to him. Matthias maybe able to tell you.” I say stepping back into the shower to rinse out the conditioner in my hair.

  “That means you are soul bound to Matthias. Ianna, Matthias said you asked about Marcus’s bloodline last night, what is it you wanted to know?” Vlad asks. I try to hide my smile at the thought I won’t be left alone in this life, that I will have Matthias.

  “During the last time Marcus and I were together. He told me that he was Orion reborn. I was so happy, I thought I would get the chance to have the life I wanted for so long, but then he found his soul bound instead. I just couldn’t figure out how that was since Orion and I were soul bound, wouldn’t we still soul bound in this life as we were in the past? I was so happy at the thought, but the only way for it to be true is if he is part of his bloodline. Each of the people I came back as are all related to Aretha through blood.” I say and Vlad looks at me with a funny expression.

  “I would assume so, sometimes souls get a second chance to complete their fates if they didn't the first time around. How is that possible? You didn’t have children in your first life.” Vlad says still giving me the strange look.

  “No but my mom wasn’t exactly a virgin when Prince Atten got her pregnant either.” I say looking at Vlad. “I had 3 older brothers and a younger sister. She was 2 when we were attacked by the other tribe. I was lucky though Hyda found me, my brothers and sister went to Momma Rumara and Daddy Iverus at the hidden temple. So they were ok too, I spent as much time as I could travelling there to see them. I made sure to find their families each time I came back too.” I say smiling thinking of my brothers and sister.

  “Well I can confirm that Marcus has no tie to Orion. If anything he has more blood ties to King Xerces of Persia, not to Orion.” Vlad says as I step out of the shower. I see a smile working its way across his face and it has me wondering what he knows. Just as I am about to ask, the door goes flying open and it’s Rabbit.

  “You’re both needed down stair. Marcus has issued a challenge for Matthias’s seat in the vampire council.” Rabbit says looking frantic. I grab the clothes Matthias left for me and get them on quickly. I grab my slipper on the way out too. I always leave my slippers with Matthias. In case I am out late and want to sneak back in. He always has my back.

  I follow Vlad downstairs to the main conference hall, where we find Meena trying to talk Marcus out of his challenge. Matthias has a death stare aimed at Marcus, while Angelica’s trying to get him to drop the fight also. When we fully enter the room, Angelica’s on me like a kid on candy, and her fangs and claws are out.

  “Why is it you have to ruin everything for everyone else? You’re nothing but a problem that needs to die.” She says but then Vlad grabs her, and she cries out in pain.

  “Touch my niece and I will personally rip out your heart. Do you understand me?” He ask before he throws her at Marcus. He catches Angelica easily and checks to see if she is okay. “Marcus, you have a choice to make. Either your coven and soul bound mate Angelica or exhalation to Transylvania with me permanently. You have one hour to choose.” He says directly at Marcus.

  “Why is he being punished? Matthias started this all because he slept with Marcus’s toy. This is Matthias’s fault.” Angelica says, challenging the Prince of Darkness.

  “Excuse me? Do you want to say that again?” I walk over to her with all blades out. “How long have you and Marcus
known you were soul bound to each other? And don’t lie because once I remove a body part, it won’t come back.” I say getting into her face. She pales when she realizes I am not afraid, nor will I use dirty tactics. I’ll attack her face to face, not when she is walking in to help defuse a situation.

  “Three months.” She says, Meena almost screams at Marcus, calling him a number of rude things.

  “So it’s been three months not one? In that three months, were you or your soul bound going to be honest with me and tell me I was nothing more than a fucking lunchable for you? What were you going to tell the children Marcus planned on having with me? Or was it to use them as a four course meal?” I ask putting the short blade to her throat. I get two hisses, one from Marcus, which I cut short by sticking my long sword into his throat and one from Matthias. “ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTIONS!” I roar and I see her visibly scared shitless.

  “I don’t know, I didn’t know he wanted children. With me or you.” She squeaks as I push the blade into her throat more.

  “Then both of you can fucking crawl back under the rock you came out from and die. Touch my soul bound again and I will take your head after I torture the fuck out of you and make Marcus watch! Do you understand me Angelica?” I say keeping her in my control.

  “Yes.” She whimpers, then I look at Marcus.

  “You ever come near me again, I will rip you apart with my bare hands. That’s if you survive Matthias.” I say causing him to gulp quite loudly. I take my blades away from both their necks. He clearly knows I have lost all respect for him. I walk back over to Vlad and Matthias, my blades retrack and I stay there holding both Marcus and Angelica’s eyes.

  “I chose my coven and Angelica.” Marcus says moving his gaze from me to Vlad.

  “Smart choice. You will have to find a new second in command. Matthias and Ianna will be coming back to Edinburgh, Scotland with Meena and I once this war is over and we have things settled.” Vlad tells him. Marcus nods in response. Meena ushers Matthias and I out of the conference room for Vlad to speak to Marcus.

  “So want to tell me what this is all about Marcus? I know what you told Ianna, and I have set her straight about who you are. So why are you being greedy? You haven’t even laid your claim on your soul bound yet and you are looking at taking someone else too. Not very nice young man.” Vlad says. Marcus runs his hands through his hair and down his face.

  “I have been getting bits and pieces of her memories, life, needs, desires and emotions every time I fed from her. I felt like we were connected on another level, I was hoping she was my soul bound. I just had to wait until she was eighteen, but it never happened. She wasn’t meant for me. I didn’t want to lose someone I had gotten so close to and love so deeply. Then I found out Angelica was my soul bound and it hurt that I wouldn’t lose her to someone else. I would lose her because I was meant for someone else. I do love Angelica, she is my everything, but I love Ianna too and I don’t know what to do with that.” Marcus says broken. He looks to Vlad for knowledge of what he should do.

  “You haven’t spent the time with Angelica like you should have to build your bond. The love you feel for Ianna will slowly turn into the love you have for a friend. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s what has to happen. Let fate take its course, don’t destroy it for Ianna, she just wants to live and be happy after filling the whole caused by her never ending rebirth. Spend time with Angelica like you’re supposed to, she needs to learn how to help you run the coven anyways, everything will fall into place.” Vlad tells him and walks out the door.

  Matthias, Meena and I went back upstairs so I could get dressed in my room. Meena looks to be on the verge of a feeding spree and Matthias has gone quiet. I watch as both Meena and Matthias get a whisper, which sets Matthias off and causes Meena to scream. I don’t know what is going on, but Meena looks at Matthias and then me.

  “Don’t let her out of your sights, there are rogues on the northeastern border, and we don’t know what they want.” Meena says walking to the door. “Keep him safe Aretha, or I will make sure you’re turned so I can beat the life out of you forever.” Then she leaves slamming my door and I turn to Matthias.

  “Ok then. Matthias sit your ass down now. You need to feed again.” I tell him and push him onto the bed. I straddle his lap and take my shirt off for him to choose where to feed from. He looks at me with a predatory smile, moving faster than I can track and he bites my nipple. “Fuck me!” I moan when my core heats up. I start to grind on Matthias’s harden cock, earning a slap on my ass. Matthias slips his hand down the back of my pants and starts fingering me from behind. My core erupts, sending wave after wave of heat throughout. I scream in pleasure and Matthias chooses then to go from my nipple to my neck to feed. Causing another orgasm to erupt, sending powerful waves of ecstasy through my body.

  “Fuck you taste so good, and your so fucking tight!” Matthias say pulling away. He brings his hand out of my pants and licks each finger clean of my juices. “Here you need to heal.” He says bringing his wrist to his mouth and biting it before giving it to me to drink from. I turn in his lap and drink a few mouthfuls; the sensation of healing is weird. You can literally feel and watch as the skin knits back together.

  “Matthias, we are soul bound right? It’s not just another game like Marcus right?” I ask, hearing Matthias hiss.

  “No it’s not a game warrior, you are my soul bound. There will be no other for me, you are my beginning and end when the time comes.” He whispers as he brushes his lips across my neck. My body reacts to him like a moth to a flame, it’s responds to the lightest of touches and send waves of electricity throughout. There is a knock on my door and then Helix walks in.

  “I am glad to see you in better control young Matthias, although next time let me beat the shit out of him ok? I can do more damage; you know since I am older.” Helix says laughing when Matthias smiles in agreement. “The rogue wolves are asking to speak to you Ianna. They are the ones from the attack on Theron’s allies.” He says still smiling.

  “Ok we’re coming.” I say getting off Matthias’s lap. “Are you feeling better now Matthias? Do you need more?” I ask pulling him up from the bed and grab my own clothes to wear.

  “No I should be fine, as long as he stays away from you.” Matthias says giving me a kiss before swinging me onto his back giving me a piggyback. I am suddenly hit with more of my memory from last night.

  Dream Memory continues …

  “Archers flank the camp on all sides. Stay hidden and make your arrows count! Riders to your horses, hoplite to your positions, and prepare for a charge!” General Octavian orders as many men move around the camp breaking it down.

  “General what is happening?” Alexander says getting off his horse while still in motion.

  “A large troop of soldiers is moving this way trying to start an uprising against the King. We don’t have numbers yet, but they are moving on foot.” Captain Orion tells him as he comes over to us. “Where were you?” He demands when Jason and I reach the group.

  “We got word that the goddess Athena was at one of her temples. We thought it a good idea to take Aretha to her to train. We spoke with the goddess and a centaur name Iverus. They both said to have her practice riding, her stance will follow easily afterwards. Our visit was interrupted by an attack. I would say it’s the war band coming this way, don’t know what their numbers are but they were in a fight when we left.” Jason tells Orion after bowing.

  “That means they could have heavily injured warriors and casualties. We best prepare for the worst but hope the gods are watching over us and give us their blessing.” General Octavian says coming up. “Get her somewhere safe and tell Iverus and Rumara thank you.” He says looking at from Jason to me. He places his hand on my cheek before sending me away with Alexander and Jason again. The boys grab their horses, weapons, and packs. This means we are heading to high ground, The Desert Scorpion’s Trail. It’s a pass of rocks that line the outer banks of a small
desert before coming to the coastal cities. We will stay there and keep those we can from making it to Athens and the King. 30 soldiers come with us, each carrying the same as Jason and Alexander.

  The ride lasted about a quarter of the day, and then set up of defensive positions took another hour. We sent one of the other soldiers towards Athens to warn the King. Hopefully, we will have reinforcements to help wipe this little problem out. While we wait, half of the soldiers rest and will take watch during the night. I notice off to the far east movement along the pass on the slop facing the direction we just came from. This could be an attack, or it could be just travelers.

  “Jason! Alexander! Jason! Alexander!” I yell as I run back to where they are positioned.

  “What’s wrong Aretha? What did you see?” Alexander asks.

  “Movement to the east, coming this way along the slop. They are moving fast!” I say panting.

  “Shit they went around the outside of the camp. Maybe they were taken out by some of the archers.” Jason says. In the distance a horn is heard, it sounds familiar, and I think I know who is coming this way.

  “It’s Daddy Iverus! That’s the horn from the temple!” I say looking at both men.

  “Ok just in case though, we need to be ready. Archers prepare your bows, do not release until commanded! They might be our alley!” Alexander commands. I watch as the group get closer when I see the banner of King Menelaos. “Archers stay at the ready!” Alexander called.

  “What are you doing those are our country man. Our fellow soldier!” Jason yelled.

  “Jason, how do you think the Spartans were able to attack my home when I was a boy? They carried the banner of our King, when in fact they were the enemy. Until they are closer we will stay at the ready.” Alexander told him glaring. As the boys argued I saw a shadow fly overhead, and realized Alexander was right. I grabbed his bow and shot at the bird. When it fell a few feet away Jason knew his mistake, he trusted a trick that thankfully his best friend and comrade didn’t.