The Call of War: The Watchers Chronicles: Book One

by Patricia Halladay

  “Kind of, but I am sure I will understand more as I go. Just one more question because I am starving.” I say causing Hades to laugh.

  “Blood or food babe?” Matthias ask as he hugs me again and rubs my belly.

  “Food for now. Anyways, is your name Matthias or Orion?” I ask looking up at the herculean bat I am sitting with.

  “Matthias, it was the name my grandfather gave me. He said I reminded him of his best friend, before he was killed in a war down here.” He says moving my hair and nuzzling into my neck.

  “Then why the name Orion? It does suit you though.” I say wrapping my arms around his big head.

  “It was so I could fit in with you on the mortal plane during the time of ancient Greece. My name wouldn’t have suited up there.” He says, tilting his head and giving me a smile.

  “Ok I am good now; can we go eat food? Please?” I ask. I turn in Matthias’s lap again, so I am straddling him, but I wrap my legs around his waist. He chuckles at me before picking me up. He starts to walk, and I see we are leaving Hades standing where we were just sitting.

  “I will see you soon ok. Charon will be happy to give you the tour on the boat when you come home! Stay out of trouble kid!” He yells, and everything fades away. I wake up still in Matthias’s huge arms, but we are in the shower again.

  “I thought it best we didn’t go to dinner smelling of sex.” He says and laughs when I groan burying my head in his chest.

  “I’m sorry.” I apologize to him.

  “Why are you sorry warrior?” He asks setting me on my feet. He shrinks down to his original size, but he is still smiling at me.

  “For not realizing sooner. For making you wait so long, for hurting you when I married Thorin. I am just sorry.” I say. He still smile softly at me, which just makes me feel like I am the biggest dumbass for not noticing all this time.

  “Don’t be, you had every right to try and have the life of a mother. What the gods did was to keep my grandfather from wiping them out. What Hades didn’t tell you was the 9 Kings of the Underworld are all Titans. Ones that escaped the war with Zeus because they didn’t care, Hades offered something better for them, so they took it. The gods were worried that they would bring all of the Underworld up to wage war. Especially when a Queen is involved, you know how that works right?” He asks, I nod my head and laugh because I know all too well how that works. “I kept them from doing that, I told them I would come back when I knew I could bring you home safely and that you would be able to handle our life together. So there was a bigger purpose to you having to live so many lives. You will be well prepared to be a fair and just Queen.” He finishes says at the same time he finishes washing both of us. When we get out of the shower, Meena, Vlad and Dr. Ng are waiting for us in the bedroom. Matthias goes and grabs clothes for himself from his closet.

  “And what about Ianna? You going to make her walk around naked?” Meena asks looking seriously angry that Matthias didn’t give me clothing.

  “Give me a damn minute to go get her clothes from her room. Holy fuck woman.” Matthias says as he walks over to the door. Vlad snickers, and yelps when Meena hits him.

  “I need to check you over Ianna, before I can say it is safe for you and the little one to leave this protected bubble your husband has you in.” Dr. Ng says coming over to start the checkup. He has to check the baby so being in a towel actually works for the most part. Vlad grabs a pair of Matthias’s boxers for temporary coverage while the doctor does check the baby.

  Chapter 16

  Matthias walked back in a few minutes into Dr. Ng checking the baby over. He placed the clothing in the bathroom for me to change. The doctor’s equipment was cold and sent shivers down my body. Matthias chuckled at me, climbing in behind me on the bed, he wrapped his arms around my shoulders to help warm me back up.

  “Well with you being turned now, the little one will develop at a much faster rate and will require less feeding for you. Now let’s make sure momma is going to be ok, how does this feel child?” Dr. Ng asks placing another freezing piece of equipment on me.

  “That is damn cold! I know I am a vampire, but seriously that is colder than a dead body in a freezer!” I say starting to shiver.

  “Well now that is unusual. Matthias, you are going to have to take her back to the Kingdom immediately. She isn’t meant to be on this plane, I would say she is a true dhampir and somewhere along her bloodline after her first death it took place. Ianna, I will look into your bloodline all the way to Prince Atten, I will also speak to Helix. I have never heard of this happening before.” Dr. Ng says.

  “Could that be why I was abandoned? I killed my mother on the battlefield, she was a bit crazed and said she killed my father just before leaving me in the bush.” I tell the doctor.

  “But I thought you were left at like a library or church? Could she have been found and brought somewhere the humans would have found her?” Meena asks.

  “I would say talk to both Helix and Isabella, she’s in the dungeon enjoying torturing the fuck out of Marcus. Hyda has killed Soren and she had given Theron soul the mark of the forsaken, so he will not be coming back.” Dr. Ng says with a smile.

  “Doc are you smiling because of what she is doing to him, or because you are thinking of how to make it worse?” Vlad ask with a chuckle. Like he already knows that answer.

  “I was thinking of new techniques I learned at the last medical conference in Venice. I would love to practice those, and a live specimen is best to get accurate results.” He says giving me a wink. I shake my head, these two can be a handful.

  “Ok get Isabella and Helix in here now, I need to get Ianna home in like the next ten minutes. I don’t want her sick.” Matthias demands, and I watch as Vlad whispers Helix. Soon, Helix, Ika and Isabella are all laughing as the walk in the door. They bow to Vlad and Meena, and then Isabella comes to wrap me in a hug.

  “Oh my dear girl! You scared the soul right out of me! Don’t you ever do that again!” She scolds me and then hugs me again.

  “Isabella, we don’t have long, there is a huge possibility that Ianna is a true dhampir and she needs to go back to the Seven Kingdoms immediately. What can you and Helix tell us of her birth parents?” Matthias asks looking at the older woman.

  “I know the same as everyone else, I am sorry I can’t help, but I am sure…” Isabella is cut off by a voice I have waited centuries to hear again.

  “Her father was a vampire. He was actually one of the Lords under Victoria and Johnathan. Her mother was human but went crazy after giving birth to Ianna. She killed Francis and actually left Ianna a few inches away from his body. He died protecting Ianna.” Hyda says walking just in beside Helix. “Good to see you old friend, I am glad you were able to keep her safe.” She says patting Helix on the shoulder.

  “So you brought her out of the woods to be found. Why did you not keep her with you?” Meena asks looking shocked at the revelation.

  “I have been working as an undercover operative for the better part of 30 years. We were actually investigating Soren and Tavis for theft of ancient antiquities but could never prove it. Just after Jasmine went crazy and left Ianna to die in the woods, she showed up at Travis’s office. She tried to kill them too when they stopped her from removing the Wave of Poseidon from the stone. She said the little Atlantean bitch is dead and will never get her hands on it, they immediately knew who she was talking about and started working on her to find Ianna. By the time they did Helix had already started training her again, and she was well protected by the Watcher Council.” Hyda says. My teeth start to chatter a bit and Matthias looks at me.

  “Hyda are you able to come to the Seven Kingdoms to finish telling us everything. Ianna needs to go home now, or she will not make it.” Matthias says with deep concern.

  “Why didn’t you say something! Yes lets go now!” Hyda says grabbing a thick blanket and wrapping me in it. She starts rubbing up and down to help bring heat back into my body. I close my eyes when the room
starts to spin, and I feel like throwing up. Soon the feeling dissipates, and I am feeling extremely warm.

  Once the heat starts to sink into my body, I feel much better and stronger. When I go to stand up straight I open my eyes, instantly I notice we are no longer in the coven house. We are in a room that looks similar to Matthias’s room there, but out the window it’s a totally different view. The sun is out and making the ski a brilliant bluish orange color, almost the same as when the sun sets. The deep red sand stretches for miles and that is when I fully realize we are back in the Mammon’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of Greed.

  “It’s been so long since I was here last, the kingdom looks better and expanded more since the last war.” Hyda says looking out the window.

  “Yes, Grandfather was able to win that war, thanks to a certain General’s wife.” Matthias says smiling at Hyda.

  “It was the least I could do since he fucked so many over. I was happy to help, your grandfather gave me a safe place to stay while trying to figure out what an innocent soul was doing here. Even he said I should have been sent to the heavens, but once I explained who I was in life, he knew I had greater things to do. So he kept me here and trained me, I could not have been more grateful for his help.” She answers him. The pride in what she did showing through.

  “So is that how you got your immortality Hyda? And why did you not come to look for me?” I ask walking over to a large couch and sit still wrapped in the blanket.

  “Mammon told me that you were being well taken care of, and that I needed to take my path which would one day bring us back together. So I had faith in what he said, and the few times I did run into you, I always found your nine foot tall shadow not too far off, so I left you to follow your path. I had to calm him and keep him from going to war with Olympus, when you took another for your husband, although he did not want your family killed. That angered him just as much, and he told Hera that if she wanted to keep Zeus alive then Alexandrea would be given a position of power. Since it was Hera’s fault that you and Thorin came to be with one another, she knew you were soul bound to his grandson for eternity.” She explains, which gives me a sense of peace knowing someone sought justice for Alexandrea and Thorin.

  “So how is it that I am a true dhampir? I have never craved blood until I was turned, and I didn’t have fangs until now. Shouldn’t I have experienced all that before?” I ask. I am a bit confused because what I know of a true dhampir is, they feed both on humans and vampires, they have some of their strengths and some of their weaknesses. It starts from birth, and I have never had any of that.

  “You were never given blood to start that side of your bloodline. True dhampir children need to feed right off, if they don’t they either die or in very rare cases like you, they become human. I think it was because of your true soul bound mate that your bloodline showed. When was the first time you fed from Matthias?” Dr. Ng asks.

  “The night we bonded. It was the first time he fed from me because of going blood thirsty. When he released inside of me, he had me take from him to heal all bite marks, because I still had some from Marcus’s previous feeding.” I say giving Matthias a look of guilt.

  “Don’t do that Ianna. There is a possibility that Marcus knew from the first time he fed from you. I could taste something different in your blood, so I can imagine he could also. This is not your fault my Queen, you didn’t know, and I should have put a stop to his feeding from you long ago.” Matthias says cupping my face and rubbing our noses together causing me to giggle.

  “Well child now that we have figure that out, how do you feel?” Dr. Ng asks looking at me still wrapped in the blanket. Hyda has me done up like a burrito and I am going to need help to get out.

  “I feel much better, and warm too. Can someone help me out of Hyda’s burrito wrapping skills?” I ask, which Hyda just laughs and shakes her head no.

  “You need to stay in that until you basically start sweating to death. Then we will know your body is back up to temperature and you and the little one are safe. So get comfy kid, you will be like that for at least another two hours.” Vlad says laughing when I start to pout.

  “How do you feel otherwise? Are you still hungry? I will get the cooks to bring you something, Margret wanted to know as soon as we were home, so she could start the preparations for the rehearsal meal and the coronation dinner.” Matthias says just as the door gets thrown open and six very powerful looking people walk in.

  “Your Highness, thank you for welcoming us in your home!” Vlad says bowing to an older looking man.

  “Ahh, young Vlad! So good to see you my boy! And of course the pleasure is all mine when having you and your exquisite young bride in my home! You are a very lucky man!” He says bowing to Meena and kissing her hand.

  “Thank you Prince Mammon! Always so gracious and humble.” Meena says bowing also. So this is the Prince of Greed. Nice, but not what I would expect. He is dressed like a businessman but doesn’t have all the bling that you would expect with being the Prince of Greed.

  “Grandfather, it is good to see you finally!” Matthias greets the same man with a hug.

  “Matthias, you are finally home for good right? No more going up to the mortal realm?” Mammon says before moving his gaze to me and quirking an eyebrow. “This must be Aretha, or Ianna as she is known in this life. I have waited so long to finally meet you my dear. You truly are a worthy bride and ruler of the Kingdom of Greed.” He says giving Matthias a strong slap on the back.

  “Grandfather, sorry we didn’t come the proper way, but there is a possibility that Ianna is a true dhampir and she was getting sick rapidly on the mortal realm once turned. She carries our first child as we speak, so I must speak to Margret about getting something to eat for her and the baby.” Matthias says, and Mammon’s smile grows showing his elongated fangs.

  “Your Francis’s daughter, I am sorry for what happened to your father. He was a good vampire, very loyal and protective of what was his. He is here and I am sure he would love very much to see you. He will be extremely excited to see you and learn he is going to be a grandpa too. Johnathan whisper Margret to get food and blood up here now, I am sure our young Princess is hungry.” Mammon says coming to sit with me on the couch. “This blanket wrapped around you must be Hyda’s work. Are you feeling extremely hot yet?” He asks looking me over. I shake my head no, because truthfully I am perfectly warm.

  “Father, we should have Medusa look her over, or Persephone might be a better choice. Since I know you won’t allow Hera to examine her.” A woman says.

  “Victoria what have I told you about saying that name here? She should be dead and not ruling over the heavens with that pussy Zeus. We all know Hades is the true ruler of the gods, he just choose not to be a prick. So abso-fucking-lutely not! She does not even come near my Granddaughter and Great Granddaughter, is that understood?” Mammon roars, causing everyone to pale in color.

  “My Lord, it’s ok Dr. Ng took a look at me before we came down. He said the little one was fine, that it was me that was a concern. I should be good now though, as long as I don’t have to move to far from my blanket.” I say, causing Mammon to chuckle and give me a hug. Just as he does the door opens and a woman pushing a food cart comes in front of me.

  “Your Highness, please eat! You will need your strength with a growing Prince of Greed withing your womb. I will bring fresh blood, it will be elk though, humans are hard to keep alive down here because of the heat.” The woman says.

  “Thank you Irimaya, tell Margret to come here to plan out the meals for the celebrations. Our new Princess came from the mortal realm quicker than expected.” An older woman comes over and give the young woman a smile. Irimaya smiles, bows, and then leaves chattering to herself about how exciting this all is.

  “Ianna this is Lilith, the first wife of Adam and the Queen of Demons. She rules the Kingdom of Lust. Lilith, you harm either Ianna or the baby she carries, and I will wipe you out. You know that I am the only one standing in
Wrath, Pride, and Envy’s way of dethroning you not only as the Princess of Lust, but also as the Queen of Demons. So I dare you to test me on this!” Mammon says causing a woman I know to be ruthless to pale in comparison to a ghost, with a look of raw fear to go with it.

  “Of course not Prince Mammon, that would be foolish…” Lilith starts but I don’t hear truth to her words. “Francis would be so upset with me if I hurt his daughter and grandchild. He is the love of my life; I would never do anything to hurt him or his family.” She finishes and I still don’t hear truth to what she says.

  “Ahh so you’re the Evil Step-Mother, now I get it. Well you best be keeping to your word, as we all know what happens to the Evil Step-Mother now don’t we?” I say getting up from the couch and my blanket slips, Lilith starts to back away along with the others when I walk towards her.

  “Holy shit!” Johnathan says and he looks as pale as Lilith.

  “Aretha, calm down child we don’t need a bloodbath, although Lilith you have been warned to behave. I would stay in Aretha’s good graces if I were you.” Hyda says looking at the Queen of Demons. I feel hands wrap around my waist and rub my stomach.

  “Come my love, you need to eat.” Matthias whispers in my ears.

  “I am starving, but not for food. I think a Demon Queen will do nicely to satisfy my thirst!” I say moving in on Lilith. She shrieks as I step closer and wrap my hand around her neck.