Wraiths
Chapter 10 'Return of the Dark master'
(New York Hamilton's Penthouse)
Isis looked at Alexander as he slept. For the last two days she had fulfilled his desires. She had thought that Carmilla was a demanding lover, but she was nothing compared to Alexander. Even though he was centuries younger than herself she couldn't get past how much knowledge and power he possessed. It was almost as if he was connected to something else besides his abilities as a vampire. She stood and walked out of the room. The thoughts of Raddrick brought a feeling of fear to her. Her former husband and now demonic being, would turn on her if he knew what happened.
Everyone on the council is convinced that I am older than I really am. Each one of them thinks that I am at least two thousand years old… It's funny in a way because I'm not near that. That fear has kept me in power, but if they learn… Goddess Freija if they learn that I am a Necromancer then I will be drawn and quartered. She thought as she sat up in bed.
"Good morning." Alexander said as he sat up too.
"Good morning to yourself. I need to attend a council meeting." She said as she climbed out of bed.
He watched the way her muscles worked in her back as she slipped a silk robes over her shoulders, covering her fantastic form. He had no doubt when she was human she was beautiful, but being turned had completed it. If he wanted to keep her, he needed let out what he knew already. The gift of the sight from the fairies had shown him exactly what she was and what had happened before.
"Going to hide the fact that you're a necromancer?" he asked.
He watched her back tense and for a moment, he thought she was going to deny it until he sawher shoulders slump. She knew she had been caught and there was no way out of it.
"Are you going to try to report me to the council?" she asked as she looked at the door.
"Why would I do a stupid thing like that? You are the best lover I have had in two hundred years. We can stand each other's company, and… I can protect you from that reborn husband of yours. I just need something." He said as he lay back and watched her turn toward him slightly.
Her light brown hair actually seemed accented by her black eyes. She could make her eyes become blood red, but he had seen them at their natural state and she had the darkest eyes he had ever seen.
"What do you need?" she asked.
"Agree to be my consort. I grow tired of going out every fifteen years or so to get a human. While they are vibrant creatures, most of them are fairly stupid. Well, at least the ones that I find to my fancy. I would rather have someone who calls to my mind as much as to my loins. I find that in you." He said as he looked at her.
"How would you protect me from my husband? He has already threatened me. The moment he finds out we have been… together… He will announce to the rest of the council what I am." She said
"I have contacts that would be able to take care of him. Not to mention that I could always help arrange for the fledging vampires hunting the necromancers to know where he is. Let them destroy both his physical and demonic body." He said with a smirk.
Isis felt a sense of security for the first time in a long time. She didn't really love Alexander, but he felt the same. There was no love between them, but an understanding and a need. She satisfied Alexander's lust and he protected her.
"I agree." She said as she looked at him.
"Then come back to bed." Alexander said with a smirk.
She dropped the red silk robe she was wearing and walked toward the bed. Without warning, Alexander grabbed her and pulled her over to him.
"I want… I want you too." She said as she turned away a little.
(The following morning Wayne Manor – Master Bedroom)
Diana felt the soft mattress behind her and looked to see Bruce holding Hippolyta. The newborn was quiet and seemed content to be in her father's arms. She looked to see the matching cribs in the room with them and Thomas was fast asleep. Diana felt a great appreciation for accepting the powers of Ra. Those powers included enhanced healing and she was glad to have it returned to her. She had seen what other women went through after having a baby, and while she would face it happily, she felt relief at not having to.
"Good morning 'Princess'." Bruce said as he held his daughter.
"Have you slept at all?" She asked.
"No, and finding out that Tim may have made me a grandfather hasn't helped." Bruce said as he looked at Diana with a smirk.
"Oh Hera… Artemis will kill him. It doesn't matter if Phoebe was banished or not she is still Artemis' daughter." Diana said as her eyes widened.
"Do I have to worry about the same from our daughter's name sake?" Bruce asked.
"Mother has turned her back on me. I failed my sisters, and I almost failed my mission. I was stupid Bruce, and Hera help me I didn't realize it until it was too late." She said as she looked at him.
"Diana you know that I forgave you. What happened between you and Superman is long since over." He said as he leaned toward her with their daughter in his arms.
She kissed him and silently thanked Aphrodite. The goddess of love must have played a part in this because Bruce never stopped loving her, and Hera knew that he had reasons to. She had wanted him to be her first. She wanted to give her innocence to Bruce, but things changed so quickly. She lost herself and now thanks to her husband she had come back to where she should be. Granted, she was a much wiser and less naïve woman, but she was back to being Diana of Themyscira even if her mother and sisters didn't accept it.
"I need to report to the watchtower. Constantine called my communicator a few minutes ago. Isabell is sifting through the list of names from Carmilla." Bruce said as he looked into Diana's eyes.
"I should be going as well…" She said as she looked at their children.
"Diana right now you are a mother. And, while there is a need for you to be on the Watchtower it pales in comparison with the need of your children for you. A similar thing can and should be said about me. I will return quickly and I will bring the information with me." He said as he looked at her.
Diana nodded. Bruce was right. Of course he's right. He's the Batman. She thought as he activated the communicator and then handed Hippolyta to her.
"Watchtower one to teleport." He said.
"One moment." Came the voice of Steel. A few seconds later Bruce found himself standing on the teleportation pad.
(Watchtower – Sealed Conference room)
Phoebe touched her stomach again and looked at Tim. She wasn't scared anymore, but she wondered what Constantine had meant.
(Two hours ago)
John Constantine looked into the eyes of both Tim and Phoebe. He groaned internally and knew that this could happen. It wouldn't be the first half breed, and it wouldn't be the last, but there was a chance that since Tim wasn't killing the child may not have any vampiric powers. They had asked what was the chances of the baby hurting Phoebe if she was pregnant, and he answered that there was no chance of it. Even if she were pregnant, the child growing inside of her would be bonded to her. The baby wouldn't hurt her until it came to the age of truly understanding good and evil.
"What does that mean?" Phoebe asked.
"When a half breed is born they are basically human until they reach puberty. At that point depending on the love between the couple, and the type of 'creature' the father or mother is will determine what, if any, powers the child will have. And to answer your next question let me say congratulations." John said as he looked at them.
"But how… How do you know?" Phoebe asked.
"Besides being an ancient I'm also a wizard. I can see life energies when I need to and when you asked that question I looked. There is a new life growing inside of you. It's in the very beginning stages. In a few months you will start to show, and in a little more than three quarters of a year you will have a baby." John said as he looked at them.
"We'll be alright." Tim said he put an arm around Phoebe.
"Of course you will be, but I suggest that you get ready for some sleepless nights and in your case, days." He said to Tim and Phoebe.
"Is… Is there anyway that we can see or find out if our baby will have vampire abilities? I want to know because I want to protect her… or him." Phoebe stated as she looked at Constantine.
"I will ask the Phantom Stranger to talk to you. Listen don't start worrying right now. The best thing for the both of you to do is roll with it." John said as he turned and walked toward Lois and Isabell.
Tim looked at Phoebe and smiled. He could have acted like a chicken with his head cut off, but instead it actually made him happy to know that he could give her children. He wasn't sure about giving her one so early on though.
"Are you alright with this?" He asked her.
"Of course I'm fine with this Tim… I'm a little worried for you though." She said as she looked into his eyes.
"Why are you worried for me?" he asked her.
"Mother is going to test you now. You are the first equal mate chosen by a Bana in over two thousand years. She is going to insist that you are worthy." Phoebe said with a little smirk.
Tim Smiled at her and then opened his comm link with Bruce. There was no use in hiding something like this from his adopted father. Within a few minutes and after a 'do you know what you are getting yourself into' speech from Bruce Tim felt relieved.
"You know this means that I am going to be closer to you when we go into battle." He said.
"I don't doubt it, but I'm a big girl Tim. My mother and sisters have been stomping out demons, monsters, and everything else longer than your country of birth has been around. I can handle myself." She said as she kissed his nose.
(Present – Watchtower – Sealed conference Room.)
Bruce looked at Constantine as he began dividing names among himself, Lois, Selina, Tim, Phoebe, Dick, Donna, and Zatanna.
"Don't engage any of these vampires. Zatanna see if you can get your connection in the order to grant us permission to speak with these individuals." Constantine said.
"Sojina isn't going to just roll over for us John. She's going to want to know what we know." Zatanna said.
"Give her what information you can without giving everything away. We don't have any other choice but to get permission." He said.
"We could do background checks. See if there is a long line of family owned businesses. I'm sure that the vampires do become laxed in their finances." Bruce said as he stood there.
"That's not a bad idea. Do you mind to do it Bruce?" John asked.
"I'll get on it. But if something happens in Gotham…" He began.
"Trust me we know Bruce." Zatanna said as she looked at him.
Bruce stood there for a moment and then smirked. He looked at Tim and Phoebe.
"The both of you need to go home. There is someone waiting to talk to you." Bruce said.
He watched Phoebe shuffle uncomfortably. Wordlessly she and Tim both seemed to know who was waiting for them and Bruce could almost 'hear' the conversation being said in their body language. Tim was going to stand up for Phoebe and it was going to make things worse. He watched as his son and might as well be daughter –in-law left and silently he wished them both the best of luck.
(Wayne Manor – Main Hall)
The blue light from the teleporter faded leaving Tim and Phoebe standing before a very upset Queen of the Bana. The different tribe of Amazons was known to be cunning, calculating, and at times much more deadly than their cousins from Themyscira. Still even facing their queen Tim showed no fear.
"I have received word of my daughter becoming pregnant." Artemis said as she looked at Tim.
"We planned on informing you ourselves." Phoebe said as she looked at her mother.
"Naturally you planned on it, but we received the message from the messenger of our cousin's gods. It appears that they find this quite amusing." Artemis said her voice sounding hard and cold.
"It was planned for me to be with child near this time anyway." Phoebe said defiance blaring in her voice.
"The child you where to carry was to be of a chosen male from our stock. You know the laws Phoebe. Banished or not you have chosen a mate. That mate must prove his worth." Artemis said as she looked at Tim.
"I will do anything for her." Tim said as he looked at Artemis.
Artemis studied Tim and watched as the sun from the glass touched him. He never moved or acted as if he was in pain even with his flesh starting to scorch. A soft smirk crossed her lips and she nodded.
"I will send a messenger and tell you when the trials will begin. I expect to see all of them completed. I also expect to see my grandchild." Artemis said as she turned and began to walk out of the manor.
"Mother… would you like to stay for breakfast?" Phoebe asked as she watched her mother.
A smile crossed Artemis' face. She turned and looked at her daughter and nodded slightly.
"Will you join us Timothy?" Artemis asked.
"Of course." Tim said as he followed them.
The light from the sun felt as if it was going to roast him alive. Tim could feel his skin burning, but he would be damned before he showed how much pain he was in. They walked into a cool sealed room and Artemis sat at the table. She watched Tim make no indications of being in pain as he pulled out the chair for Phoebe and then sat beside her. A few moments later they were greeted with Breakfast from the elder Englishman. Alfred smiled at Tim and Phoebe and then bowed with respect to Artemis.
"Your majesty please enjoy." He said as he turned and walked out.
Artemis looked at the scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, half grapefruit, and glass of Orange Juice sitting in front of her. She picked up a fork and took a testing bite of the food. After a few seconds she devored the entire plate and looked for Alfred.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked.
"I want that man to bring me seconds. Perhaps I should take him back with me. Tell me does he cook this personally?" She asked Phoebe.
"Yes, Alfred is a skilled cook, and basically well everything." Phoebe said.
"I really should take him back with me then." Artemis said as she rubbed her chin.