Of Gods and Goddesses: Book 3 (Lords and Commoners Series)

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  “I’m glad you found me when you did. After all, I will need help with twins.”

  Valentina placed her arm around her daughter as they sat side-by-side on the couch.

  Val laid her head on her mother’s shoulder. Her touch was reassuring — all would be well. “Don’t think that I have forgotten about your vague reasons for abandoning me for all those years. You did a good job of changing the subject.” Val sat up and looked her mother in the eyes, demanding a real answer.

  Valentina sighed. “Oh darling, please don’t think for a moment that it was because I didn’t want to be with you or because I don’t love you. I do love you very much. I have always watched over you. I revealed myself as soon as you and your coven needed me. As you know our …” she searched for the right word “… alternative lifestyle has always been extremely persecuted throughout history. We have learned to keep to ourselves. We live an isolated life. A solitary life can grow to be a habit. Like an addiction, it can be difficult to break. Life’s easy here — simple. I’ll admit it was difficult to think about leaving to save your men. But I knew I had to. Honestly, I feared you would reject who I had become.”

  “I would not have rejected you.” Then Val thought of how uncertain she had been when she first came here. She had thought there was a good chance that they were mentally ill. She had almost rejected them.

  “The world has rejected us. So we keep our abilities a secret. I learned a long time ago to keep to my own kind,” Valentina said.

  Val nodded. “And now?”

  “The world is about to change and we are needed. So we may no longer have the luxury of keeping to ourselves. We may be forced out into the open.”

  “Can you really perform magic?”

  “We don’t have magic. We simply have a better understanding of nature and its elements. This allows us to do things that may appear magical to people who don’t fully understand the world and all its wonders. You’ve seen us perform the spell to maintain the protective shield around the volcano opening.”

  Val had thought they were simply praying for protection. “And you can see bits and pieces of the future; what else can you do?”

  “You want something tangible — evidence. Well, our gifts come in handy when we need to start a fire.” Valentina held out her hand and flames appeared. They hovered just above her palm. She threw the flames at a log in the fireplace and it caught fire at once.

  Val’s mouth hung open.

  “Our powers can also help us to put fires out.” Valentina held her hand palm-upward again, only this time water appeared above it. She moved her fingers in a circular motion and the water swirled around. She threw it at the log and extinguished the fire.

  “That looks like magic to me.”

  “Call it what you like. You see, fire and water are natural elements that can be controlled by the mind.”

  “And you can teach me to do that?”

  “Yes. But it takes time and much practice. Angela and Sasha are much older than they appear. Angela is a hundred and forty, while Sasha is approaching her hundredth birthday. They use their powers to slow their aging and they will return to the Great Mother someday as they are not immortal. It took us many years to learn how to use Mother Nature’s gifts to their full potential.”

  “What else can you do?”

  “What I just showed you are some of the most basic elements, the easiest to control. There are many possibilities. The brain is a very powerful tool. We can control our internal organs. For example, we can slow our heart rate. We can help to heal others. Then there are all manner of spells and curses, from simple to complex. These require the right ingredients and incantations. Blood is often a powerful medium. Celestial events can aid in the completion of spells as well.”

  Val could not imagine what all this entailed.

  Vallachia spent most nights reading to her babies as her belly grew. She wanted them to know their mother’s voice. They did appear to be growing slowly because at nine months Val’s stomach was only about the size of a football. Angela estimated that Val was about halfway through the pregnancy at that point. That was fine with Val. This was her only chance to have children and she was going to enjoy every moment of it. On the other hand, she was anxious to see them come into the world.

  Val’s only regret was that her friends could not be a part of this. It saddened her to think that her girls would not know their father’s voice when they were born. She wished that Teller could be here. One night Val broached the subject. “It’s not right that I am keeping them from Teller. He has a right to know.”

  “Normally I would agree with you,” Valentina said. “But you are a vampire and you were not meant to have children. This makes them special. It’s not safe for anyone to know.”

  “Not even their father? He would never hurt them. Surely if we talked to him he would understand that he could not tell anyone.”

  “It’s entirely too risky. It would be easy for others to find out if you were to leave the safety of this volcano. You can’t go to Teller because news spreads fast in the vampire world. And there’s no news like a pregnant vampire, let alone the Queen of Vampires having babies. You have never fully understood how much your people love you and follow your every move. Vampires are always eager to hear any news of their King and Queen. Your enemies are already on the lookout for the chosen ones. It’s simply a risk we cannot take.”

  “Are they to grow up not knowing their father?”

  “It’s for the best. If Teller were to tell just one person, the secret would be out. For you to remain hidden is the safest way.”

  Val frowned, as she rubbed her rounded belly. She wished there was a way for Teller to know and still keep her unborn children safe.

  Chapter 25 Northern Canada 2020 A.D

  The heartbeats grew stronger each day. Vallachia’s cravings for human food grew as well. She began drinking less blood and eating more. This put a strain on the food supplies and Valentina had to make more frequent trips to town. This was a dangerous time for them. Valentina risked being seen by one of Elda’s supporters anytime she was in public; her whereabouts were at risk of becoming known anytime she left the protective barrier, which kept them concealed from Elda’s sight.

  Once a day Valentina, Sasha and Angela would perform a ritual — the one Val thought was only a prayer. The women would hold hands and chant. They claimed that this put a seal around the mouth of the volcano.

  “Why can’t I see it?” Val asked one day. She could not tell any difference. It looked like the normal sky above them.

  “We can see it and feel it,” Sasha said.

  “What does it do?”

  “It keeps our enemies from finding us. Anyone who means us harm will not be able to see or smell you from the other side of the barrier,” Angela said.

  “Perhaps you will be able to see it, one day,” Valentina said.

  “Is this how Elda was able to elude us for all those years — she somehow concealed herself from us?” Val asked.

  “Most likely and her sight is strong. She knew the Court was coming well in advance,” Valentina said. “She would have had plenty of time to flee.”

  Late that night while the ladies were fast asleep, Val woke with a start. A familiar rhythm had changed. She listened hard. First she heard her own heartbeat increase, as panic took over. There was her heartbeat — boom, boom — the loudest, and only one other could be heard. It was a four-beat rhythm, not six. One of the babies' hearts had stopped beating!

  “Mom!” Val yelled. This was followed by a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, which caused her to scream. Val knew, without a doubt, one of her babies was struggling for its life. Her tiny heart had stopped beating regularly and she was thrashing about, trying desperately to survive.

  Valentina appeared from her room in a flash. “What’s the matter?”

  “It’s one of the babies!” A faint irregular heart beat could be heard. This was followed by another wave of pain. Another scream
escaped from Val. “She’s dying!”

  Valentina put her ear to Val’s stomach in order to better hear the heartbeats of the babies over the sound of Val’s racing heart. “Oh, no.”

  Angela emerged from her room. She appeared to be half asleep. “Val, wake up. There’s something wrong. I can feel it.” But Angela’s premonition was late.

  “There is something terribly wrong. Get Sasha at once!” Valentina yelled.

  It took Angela a moment to fully realize that they were already awake and well aware that there was a crisis at hand.

  “Mom, please save her. I can’t lose her!”

  “I know, Baby.” Valentina placed her hands on Val’s stomach and began to chant.

  Soon all three ladies had their hands on Val’s large round belly and were in deep meditative states.

  Val strained to hear the tiny hearts. One was constant — steady … strong. The other would come and go. When the beating would stop the baby would kick and Val would scream, more out of panic than pain.

  “It’s not working. This is a powerful healing spell. Why isn’t it working?” Angela’s voice cracked.

  Valentina furrowed her brow in concentration. Her eyes opened wide. “It’s you, dear. You must relax. Your heart is racing and you are tense. This is not helping your baby. You must calm yourself.”

  “Take a deep breath,” Angela said in a soothing voice.

  “Calm down!” Val yelled. “How in the hell do you expect me to do that?”

  “We have to put her out,” Valentina snapped.

  Sasha placed one hand over Val’s heart and one hand on her stomach. Valentina remained focused on the baby and Angela moved to place her hands on Val’s forehead.

  Despite feeling the worst panic she had ever experienced in her long life, Val began to relax. It was as if the ladies had complete control over her body.

  “Take a deep breath.”

  Val did.

  “Again.”

  Soon Val was breathing deeply and evenly on her own. Her eyelids grew heavy and moments later she was in a deep sleep.

  Val jerked awake from a nightmare in which blood was gushing from between her legs. She quickly looked for any signs of blood — signs of a miscarriage. But there was none.

  “All is well, my dear. The babies are both fine,” Valentina whispered as she ran her fingers through Val’s hair.

  Val rubbed her belly and listened carefully for a long time — two sets of light heartbeats, steady as a steam engine moving down a track. Six rhythmic beats for her and her two daughters, in perfect sync. A tear fell from Val’s eye as she laid her head on her mother’s chest. “You saved her.”

  “Don’t worry, both babies will be healthy. I can see it.”

  Chapter 26 Northern Canada 2020 A.D

  Angela and Sasha were exhausted after being up most of the night and putting all their energy into saving the unborn children and knocking Val out. They slept for the better part of the next day. Even Valentina slept for a couple of hours.

  Yet Val felt energized. They must have given me and the babies all of their strength, Val thought. Val made enough breakfast for everyone, which she proceeded to eat the majority of.

  “With my appetite for human food, do you think the babies are human?” Val inquired at dinner that night.

  “Since both parents are vampires wouldn’t that make them…oh, I don’t know… vampires?” Sasha said.

  “I don’t think they will be fully human or vampire,” Valentina said.

  “What will they be then, werewolves?” Sasha’s tone was sarcastic.

  “You know there are no such things as werewolves,” Valentina said.

  “Well there is not supposed to be a such thing as a vampire giving birth either,” Angela said.

  “Whatever these babies will be, they will be divine. And I’m not just saying that because I’m their grandmother. They will be kind-of-heart.”

  “You have seen this?” Val asked.

  “Yes,” Valentina said with certainty.

  Val smiled with relief. My babies will survive. No, they will thrive. “You said most people can become a … servant of the Goddess — it takes a pure heart, practice and dedication. When will I start my training?”

  “I’m glad you want to learn. As soon as my grandbabies are born, you will need to learn our ways in order to better protect them. For now your job is to focus on growing those little ones.” Valentina rubbed Val’s large belly with a gentle caress.

  “Do you think I will be able to learn? I’ve never been very … spiritual. I don’t think I could ever see the future like you,” Val said.

  “Ah but you already have. You have had dreams that came true, am I right?”

  “I suppose so, few and far between.” Val told them of how she dreamt of wolves killing her father numerous times and long before he actually died and her dream of finally finding Teller who transformed into a Dragon.

  “That’s remarkable. You had premonition dreams even when you were a human? I had to practice the ways of the Great Goddess for twenty years before I had my first premonition dream,” Angela said.

  “Val may become a powerful seer with practice.” Sasha looked impressed.

  “Your human mind could not fathom such a wretched beast as a vampire killing your father, so it made you into wolves in your dream. Wolves were something that made sense to you as a human girl. As for the dragon dream, of course there was no real dragon, yet Teller had become a member of the Dracul or Dragon Family,” Valentina translated for Sasha and Angela. “He truly had become a fierce ruler.”

  Val thought of her dream about the Gods, the perfect man and woman who were waiting for Val’s babies, the chosen ones, to be born. Val suddenly understood that it was true or at least partially true. It was what her brain was capable of understanding. There may have been much more to the story or parts that Val could not possibly fully comprehend but it was at least some of the story. “How do I learn to tell the difference between regular dreams or nightmares and the ones that will come true?”

  “You most likely already have some feelings about which ones are more vivid, frequent and important but you will be able to understand much more clearly with practice and training.”

  “Are you as powerful as Elda?” Val asked.

  “I’m afraid not. Elda is one of the most powerful soothsayers. It’s rumored that she had a strong sight even as a human and her visions come to her during the day, not as dreams. This is very rare. In fact, day visions occur for only the most tenured of servants. But Elda had them when she was still a young human. Who knows how powerful she has been able to become over the years?” Valentina explained.

  Val frowned.

  “Most intelligent and insightful people can become servants of the Great Goddess if they train daily. They do not have to be born with these gifts, as Elda may have been. But it takes a lot of work to learn how to see outside oneself. One must attain the ability to let go of the self. This is incredibly difficult, as most people spend their lives desperately clinging to the self. Then once the self is gone, one must learn to embrace and control the powers we possess.”

  Chapter 27 North America 2021 A.D

  On October 7, 2021 Val went into labor. The births of the twins went smoothly. Vampires have a high tolerance for pain and what pain Val did feel was eased by Angela’s chanting and Sasha’s caressing. Valentina gently guided each baby into the world when she was ready. After seven hours of labor, Val held two glorious baby girls, one in each arm. They were pink and healthy.

  Val had not given much thought to names. She knew she needed to see them first. She was right to wait because as soon as she gazed at them for the first time she knew within seconds — the slightly bigger one was Vera and the smaller one was Veva. They had thick tufts of curly golden hair on top of their heads and they blinked at their mother with emerald eyes. Other than Veva being smaller, they were mirror images of each other.

  Valentina stumbled, knocking over a t
ray full of medical supplies.

  Val looked up from her babies. “Mom! What’s wrong?”

  By the look in Valentina’s eyes, she was not in the room with them. She was far away, seeing something the others could not. “The chosen ones have taken their first breath. You must warn Elijah. The end is upon us.” Her voice was deeper, as if it was not entirely her own.

  Val looked to Angela for an explanation. “I’m afraid that is what a day vision looks like, my dear.”

  It had not quite been two years since Elijah had last seen his wife. The Court had been on high alert. Like old times, they began training regularly. They increased security. Samuel oversaw a corps of elite vampires, who did nothing but look for Elda. They had no success.

  The Court updated their emergency strategies. Their secret meeting places were upgraded and well stocked with weapons and blood. Vampires could survive with little else.

  Elijah woke with a start to the sound of a crow. This time he quickly untied the note from its leg. He had not heard from Vallachia in many months and was desperate to know if she was well.

  Get out now

  Three simple words but it was enough. Elijah did not pause to question it. He tucked his semiautomatic forty-five in the back of his pants, threw on his bulletproof vest, belted on his two favorite swords and his trusty razor-covered whips. This only took a handful of heartbeats. He sped down the corridor rousing everyone and commanding them to get out at once.

  As the Court exited the manor they found themselves surrounded by unfamiliar vampires. Again Elijah did not hesitate. He moved forward, taking off the heads of the nearest vampires with his lethal whips. Samuel and Riddick were at his side, as well as Teller, Abdullah and the twins. They rained bullets into the crowd of vampires and then drew their swords in order to finish them off or fight them off at close range.