“Go ahead. They mean nothing to me. Besides, they are helping you, so what good would it be for me to save their lives? Even my adopted mother is useless and helping you, so go ahead and kill them all you want Theron.” I say looking the piece of shit in the eyes. That’s when I see the creepiness come across his face.
“Oh I think I will do one better. She’s all yours Marcus.” Soren says moving over as Marcus walks in.
“Wow, I guess there was more respect for me to loose when it comes to you. You’re just like your father, now I know your Maxum’s for sure. You’re a disgusting piece of garbage, must run in the family.” I say looking bored as Marcus keeps coming towards me.
“You won’t think that for much longer. After I claim you, you will do everything I tell you too.” Marcus says as his fangs elongate. He grabs a fistful of my hair and twists my head baring my neck. He sinks his teeth in, and I cream in pain, causing him to release me instantly. Blood starts to run from the wound.
“What the fuck is wrong? I said claim her so we could use her, not rip her throat out!” Soren screams at Marcus.
“Guess Marcus didn’t tell you, I’m soul bound to Matthias, and he has already claimed me. So if another tries while Matthias is still alive then I die. See you in 20 years, can’t wait to kill you all then.” I say starting to lose consciousness again.
“SON OF A BITCH!” Soren screams as I feel the chains taken off me to be laid down.
I feel something being placed at my mouth, but I don’t take it in. I know what they are trying to do, give me blood so that when I die I come back under Marcus’s control as my sire. Not happening douchebag! I hear more talking, and something go clattering to the floor. I feel my short blade slide into my left hand and waste no time in using it. I open my eyes to see Angelica is over top of me smiling, guess she thinks I am helpless, guess again leech! I take my blade and slash her neck deep enough she isn’t going to heal. I drop it into my right hand and make the same movements, taking her head from her shoulders. My eyes go black as I pass out completely.
“Aretha, time to wake up my child! You can’t sleep all day kiddo; you need to get going!” Rumara says smiling when I open my eyes.
“Momma Rumara, where am I? Have I died again?” I ask getting up. I’m dressed in my favorite blue dress. It kind of reminds me of the Muses from Disney’s Hercules.
“No you haven’t died child, Matthias’s blood has put you into a state of sleep, so you can heal. I am here because there are some truths that you need to hear before moving forward in stopping this war. It may change your choices.” She says coming over to give me a hug.
“Ok what is it that you need to tell me?” I ask as we sit on the ground under a large tree. It looks like the tree Momma Rumara use to tell stories under.
“Well first child, you found Jason and Alexander, but they aren’t the only ones that traded for immortality with the gods. So did Hyda, and it’s Hyda that is looking to cause this war, not Theron. Every battle you have been brought into was because of her.” Rumara says.
“But how is that possible? She died I saw it!” I ask. Disbelief has me replaying that day over in my head. “What did I do that would cause her to want to cause me to have to fight? Was I not loving enough? Was I not a good daughter?” I ask looking to momma Rumara feeling broken and unworthy.
“It was not your fault Aretha. This was because of her husband; each war had his family descendants in them. She was trying to wipe out his bloodline. You just happen to be in the same time period. This war would be the last of her attempts because Soren is the last of General Thaddeus’s bloodline.” Rumara says.
“So if I save Theron that would cause more wars wouldn’t it?” I ask thinking this could be part of what could change the war. “I can’t save him, he murdered Orion. I was never given the choice of being happy, it’s always been battles and death. The one time I tried, my family was ripped away from me.” I say tears streaking my cheeks.
“I know child, and this time will be no different. I know the gods promised this is your last time, but you are right not to trust them. Your nephews are to take title of Atlantean Battle Warrior, but they plan on them getting killed so you have to keep the title.” Rumara says.
“You mean Zoe’s descendants are fighting with us? I need to know who they are. I need to protect them; I am the only one that can go against the gods. Please Momma?” I beg as I am still crying. I want this to end, I need this to end.
“Oh girl you already know who they are. They are still the overprotective big brothers they were to begin with.” Rumara says, and I start to hiccup trying to calm down. OH MY GOD!! I look to Rumara, and she starts to laugh knowing I have figured it out.
“The last thing I need to tell you is about Orion…” She starts but I cut her off.
“He came back right? Is he Marcus? Please?” I beg and she shakes her head no.
“He is not Marcus, but Marcus will be a part of the choice you make. He will kill Orion to be able to claim you. His love for you is not natural, he wasn’t in pain because of you killing Angelica, he was in pain because of your blood. You are soul bound for all eternity to Orion, you always have been. So even if you can’t be together in this life you will come back to try again, and the cycle will continue. My suggestion, fuck the gods over and live forever in this life.” Rumara say, I look at her confused. How would I do that? “Ok child it’s time to wake up, the cavalry has arrived and the fight for all supernatural life is starting sooner than it was fated.” She finishes cupping my cheeks and kissing my forehead.
“Momma Rumara, I am so sorry I couldn’t save you. Please tell daddy Iverus I am sorry for failing both of you.” I say with tears again pouring down.
“You didn’t fail us child, and we are still safe. We always will be. You know where to find us, we faked our death so that we could not be used against you. We knew what your enemies would do if they found us. Now go and kill that evil Bitch for hurting you my sweet Aretha! I love you my sweet baby! Always will.” She says giving me a hug before she fades out.
I can feel someone pick me up off the floor, and when I open my eyes I see that both Soren and Marcus have escaped. I realize where I was, I’m in the dungeons under the house that we use for traitors. Not many know of these cells, and I only know because Leader Maxum put me in them when he punished me. So it’s no surprise that is where they took me, and now I know why Marcus and Angelica sat near the far door, they have betrayed the coven.
Chapter 12
I hear a lot of chatter, most of which I can make out. Vlad is here and he is pissed! I can hear it in his deceptively calm voice, but he isn’t the only one, Meena and Lycaon sound as calm as Vlad. Oh shit I do not want to be Marcus or Soren, to piss Vlad off is bad but getting Meena pissed off is a death wish. Lycaon is the original lycan, from what I remember he is a good way to wipe the entire world population out within days. He’s a force of death, destruction, and cruel torture.
“Ok I love that you are all here to support me and keep me safe, but we have a coven leader and human that need to die.” I say sitting up. I feel someone move in behind me and then a bloodied wrist is put in front of me. I turn to see Matthias waiting for me to drink. “Awe you’re so sweet! Vampire cuddles is always fun.” I say before sealing my lips around his self-inflicted wound.
“Ohh that feels so good.” Matthias hisses as he lays butterfly kisses down my neck, before sinking his fangs in to claim me again. He pulls away the same time I do, and I again feel the healing. This time though, there is this foul smell as a yellowish liquid comes from the bite wound Marcus made.
“Fuck that stinks!” Eli says trying not to gag, hoping covering his nose will keep the smell away.
“What the fuck is that?” Jason asks looking horrified at the substance coming from my body.
“That would be vampire venom. It’s what kills us if they bite us. Because she has been claimed by her soul bound mate, his bite would kill her instead of claiming her. Do y
ou not teach that to your young vampires anymore Vlad?” Lycaon asks, looking from me to the Prince of Darkness.
“We do, but obviously Marcus either didn’t listen, didn’t care or didn’t know Matthias had claimed her.” He says rubbing his chin “Honestly though I am going with second choice, he didn’t care.” He says looking at Lycaon.
“They can’t get my weapons now with Dede dead, the blood ritual done and the next in line to take the weapons is here. So they wanted Marcus to turn me…” I start saying when Meena finished.
“So he would become your sire, and you would be under his control! Son of a bitch, they are planning a head for all possible outcomes aren’t they.” Meena seethes.
“Well first things first, Eli and Tanner your asses stay with either Vlad and Meena or with Jason, Alexander and Lycaon, do not leave their sides ever!” I tell the guys and they give me questioning looks. “Just do as you’re told. Secondly, this is all Hyda’s work. She traded for immortality like Jason and Alexander did. She is trying to wipe out General Thaddeus bloodline and Soren is the last of it.” This new information causes the vampires to hiss and Lycaon’s eyes to deepen in a gold color.
“Great, so we need to make sure we kill that fucker and help the woman out.” Alexander says with sarcasm on the last bit.
“Why would she want to wipeout his bloodline? He is her husband isn’t he?” Tanner asks.
“General Thaddeus would beat the hell out of Hyda, and me when I was brought into the house. He would also torture her by tying her up and making her watch as he fucked other women in their bed. I know because I slipped the women wild carrot seed to keep them from getting pregnant. I did it to make Hyda feel better. Thaddeus caught me one time and was beating me to death, but Octavian saved me.” I say looking at a very quiet Helix in the corner of the room.
“I wish I had of killed him then, I should have. If I had known I would have helped her look for and kill all his children then so you wouldn’t have to go through the many lives you did Ianna.” Helix says, and Ika wraps her arms around him in comfort.
“So what was it you needed to talk to us about Lycaon. You probably want to get home for dinner tonight, since this visit has been extended a few hours.” I say looking at the first lycan created.
“Ianna, you’ve been out for about seven or eight days now. When they attacked the meeting, it took us two days to find you and then when we did you were so close to death we thought we would lose you.” Meena says with a sad but blood thirsty look.
“So it’s been eight days in total then. Wow, I am going to kill that fucker! I missed the season finally of Inside the Wolds Toughest Prisons!” I say and everyone starts to laugh. We sit for a bit longer and talk about what Lycaon, Jason and Alexander had learned.
Come to find out, Hyda was at the meeting in the woods, and she too killed some of Soren’s allies. Which during the attack by Lycaon’s pack caused shock. They were surprised at first but rushed to help her. Lycaon didn’t see where she went after the attack. He said she got away, and her scent was too mixed with all those at the meeting he wasn’t able to track her. He gave us a list of those his pack killed, some of them were high ranking Watchers, Council members Amber, Bram and Adam were among the dead. It shocks me that Bram was part of this, but then again there have been a lot of people involved that I would have thought would not want this war.
The Coven doctor comes in and clears me. She said I healed quickly from the venom, considering how much was put in me. From what the doctor said there were three other bite marks on me when they brought me in. So that means during the two days, I was either fed upon to weaken my resolve and make me more controllable or Marcus had tried four times to claim me. The more I think of it though, something Soren said makes more sense. Angelica had been feeding off me, and Soren had caught her. When we walk out of the hospital room, I am quickly engulfed in hugs. Kya, Charlotte, and Tara are squeezing the life out of me, but I don’t mind as they were scared too.
“Please be more careful! Next time …” Tara says but gets cut off by Kane.
“There won’t be a next time! That fucker is going to die!” He roars, causing the hospital staff to look at him. I think he is going to challenge the Fates order for him not to interfere after I got my last sword.
“Well ok then, I will make sure not to get taken. Kane I need to speak with you when you’re not homicidal though please.” I say looking at the Demi-god. We start to head for the elevators to get out of the coven hospital.
“Let’s get back to the house first and eat. Then we have to start preparing for our attack. All the leaders and many more showed up later that night after they took you. Even the Seer council came, that is how we found you. The one lead us to the hidden passage from Marcus’s office to the cells under the house.” Charlotte says looking proud as a peahen. The elevator doors close after we all get in and starts it descent.
“Ok so why weren’t you three able to find me?” I look at Vlad, Meena and Matthias.
“Well see the thing is when Vlad saw you taken. He went blood crazed, and a lot of the attackers ended up donating, unwilling but still donating to calm him down. Matthias went into a stasis sleep, and Meena well, she was beyond blood crazed, she was almost rogue.” Lycaon says smirking at the three vampires. Damn I missed an epic show, but glad I did, wouldn’t want to clean that shit up. The doors open and we start to walk out the main doors. Thank god the hospital is across the football field size lawn beside the coven house.
“Why did you go into stasis Matthias?” I ask turning to look at the vamp walking behind me with his hand on my ass.
“It’s what happens when soul bound mates are ripped apart during the bond forming. You still have to claim me, and until this war is over, anything that causes you harm my body will go into stasis to keep you safe as much as it can.” He says squeezing my ass. So that is why the venom from the first three bites didn’t kill me, our bond was protecting me.
“So how do I claim Matthias? I know how it works with wolves, lycans, harpies and naga, but how does it work with vampires?” I ask looking at Meena. Like me, she was human when Vlad claimed her, so hopefully she will tell me how it is done.
“You were to become a Watcher to a vampire coven and don’t know how it is done? I think someone else wasn’t paying attention in class.” Lycaon says giving me a disapproving look.
“That was never covered in any of my classes, and I was never allowed to go to the claiming ceremonies in the coven. Also no one would ever tell me either, but I think that was all Maxum’s doing, not the covens.” I tell the lycan, which earns me a solid smack on the ass from Jason. Warning me to be respectful.
“Do that again and I will drain you of every last drop of blood mutt.” Matthias hisses, pulling me into his body. His eyes have gone from deep red to straight black, his fangs are twice their normal elongated size and he just sprouted leathery wings. Good thing we are just on the front deck of the coven house.
“Shit, that is new!” Vlad says looking surprised.
“Vlad he is almost ready! We need Victoria and Johnathan to come right away, they will want to see their son take the throne.” Meena says with a high pitched, excited voice. So I guess this means Matthias is to take Vlad’s position as Prince of Darkness. Meena will be happy, means they can relax in retirement.
“Jason, don’t piss him off okay? He is the one person who can do more damage than me in less time, and he is the source of our immortality ending.” Lycaon says taking a few steps back and placing both Jason and Alexander behind him. Wow never thought I would live to see the first and most powerful lycan scared shitless, that was pretty sweet!
“Matthias.” I call to get his attention back on me. “Matthias. Please my love look at me, not them. He didn’t mean to upset you. He was just disciplining me for being rude. It’s ok my love.” I place my hand on his cheek, which feels smooth with soft, fine, silky hair on it. I get his eyes to drop down to me, and his murderous look is softening
quickly as I hold his gaze.
“No one is to touch you ever! You are mine to love, touch, honor and torture with delicious pleasures and ecstasy. You are mine to punish as well, that right belongs to no one but me.” He says with power, and then smashes his lips to mine. I lose all sense of being as he engulfs my body and ignites my deepest passions and desires. The waves of pleasure he is sending through me, has my panties soaked and I am experiencing orgasm on top of orgasm. One hasn’t even finished before I am being slammed with another one. I won’t be able to fight if he keeps this up, and this was just a damn kiss, wonder what sex would be like. Matthias puts me down, that is when I realize he has at least 3 feet on me. He is tall to begin with at 6 foot, but now he is like 8 feet with the new addition of power.
“And no one will my friend, my wolf meant no disrespect to you.” Jason says trying to help. “He just didn’t like the way she spoke to Lycaon.” Matthias glares at Jason, causing a change in Jason’s eyes. His wolf must have come forward.
“I am sorry my lord, it won’t happen again. I will let you handle her disrespect to others.” He says. Wow his voice is extremely deep. That is pretty cool. Matthias nods and I can see a shrinking in height taking place.
“How the hell are you doing that? And where the fuck did the wings come from?” I ask now that I have pulled away from him. He smirks at me and pings my nose.
“Later, we need food and battle planning done. I think most of the leaders have pretty much got most things sorted out already though.” Matthias says, and we start to walk into the coven house. The inside of the main entrance and the grand staircase look like they have seen a hurricane come through here. The it is covered in debris, and I believe that is blood the walls have now been painted with. The smell of burning is in the air too.
The Call of War: The Watchers Chronicles: Book One Page 14
