(Here's the next update y'all. Hope it's good. I'm afraid getting to one of the central pieces of this book will take a bit more time and a few more chapters than I thought, sorry.)

gemm1mt: Yeah…

Chapter 18: In the Catacombs

(Themyscira, Palace of Themyscira, the next day)

Drew stood against one of the pillars of the throne room, in his lounging attire. Diana stood at the bottom of the steps leading up to the island's throne, where her mother currently sits.

"Ares will gather an army of evil men and monsters, bringing them to our home. He's always sought terror and bloodshed throughout the world. With whatever nightmarish forces he brings with him, we must be ready. Diana, I have something you must do that you did before that…I did not intend to happen." Queen Hippolyta grunted in frustration.

"Mother, are you certain. They won't-" Diana started to say.

"They will do what needs to be done, even if what happened last time during our encounter must happen again." Queen Hippolyta interjected.

Diana partially grinned then nodded in understanding. She began walking away.

"What of Drew?" Diana asked.

The shapeshifter turned to look at the Amazon princess then his attention went to her mother.

"He shall remain here, there is something that I must show him. It is one the lies in the catacombs." Queen Hippolyta answered.

"Are you certain, mother?" Diana asked.

"I am. Go and don't delay." Queen Hippolyta answered.

Diana nodded and continued to walk away. Drew started to walk towards her.

"Boy." Queen Hippolyta grunted.

The shapeshifter turned to look at the queen, who got off her throne and began walking down the steps.

"Go with her, Drew. There is more for you to learn. I'll be back." Diana said then walked away.

Drew watched her walk away then turned to the queen.

"Follow me." The queen said.

Drew followed her out of the throne room and to another part of the island. They walked for several minutes until they entered a secluded building, one that appeared far less unkept than the others on the island except for apparent steel bars that were implanted in the door.

"You going to lock me up, your majesty?" Drew grumbled, fangs slightly showing.

"Calm yourself, that is not what this is. And don't ever bare your teeth at me." Queen Hippolyta grunted in reply.

"I'm not. I've just been in cages before and that looks like one. It gives me bad feelings." Drew sighed, his voice softening.

Queen Hippolyta's hard eyes softened slightly.

"Diana told me recently of your past…I love my daughter, far more than you could imagine. Fathers…I can't speak for…men have always…nevertheless, your mother's lack of love troubles me greatly…a child…" Queen Hippolyta stammered, her voice unsure.

"Perhaps it's best not to speak of it. It's…not a good story." Drew sighed, his voice and eyes filling with hard to conceal despair.

The queen sighed and nodded. They moved to the door. Drew saw the bars held in place by locks, which he then took out then opened the door. He stood to the sighed and motioned a hand for the queen to go first. Queen Hippolyta sighed as she walked past him into the building and Drew followed. In the building it was dark yet along the wall are containers for lit torches, one which Hippolyta grabbed. There is a set of stairs that goes down which the two walked. Not long after they came upon a large room which was partially lit by several torches. They illuminated an ancient cell, with someone inside.

"Hippolyta, to what do I owe this 'honor'?" The imprisoned individual asked, her voice as smooth as velvet and an underlying sultry tone.

"Circe, do not trifle with me, witch. I have no doubt you have sense what surrounds Themyscira." Queen Hippolyta growled.

Drew's eyes looked at the queen with confusion and disapproval. The clanging of chains was heard as the woman in a ragged dress bound in steel chains around her wrists and ankles with chains linked to bars on the wall behind her while she moved into the light of the torches' fire. She stood as tall as the queen as well as having a similar toned, hourglass figure. Circe's long hair is a deep red with purple tints through shades with her long flowing hair. The irises of her eyes are a stunning violet. Her skin was flawless and of a similar tone like the queen's. Her beauty rivaled the queen's and her daughter's. Her lips and teeth moved into a grin as her eyes fell upon Drew.

"And who is this handsome creature? A new suitor?" Circe chuckled.

"Answer me, Circe." Queen Hippolyta growled.

Drew just blushed.

"If you're going to be so dramatic about it…fine. I have sensed it…despite these chains made by your Amazonian magic…I sense Ares coming. He will make his move soon." Circe sighed, bored with the situation.

"His power is greater than his last assault?" Queen Hippolyta asked.

"Yes, your highness." Circe scoffed.

"Witch-" Queen Hippolyta snarled, walking towards the cell while starting to unsheathe the blade within the scabbard tied to her waist.

Drew blocked her path.

"She's defenseless your majesty." Drew warned.

"Hardly, despite the mystic chains that keep her from using her sorcery, Circe's tongue is a sharp as a serpent's fangs." Queen Hippolyta grunted, scoffing at the shapeshifter's words.

"What do you mean?" Drew grunted in confusion.

"Circe is an ancient, immortal sorceress, who has the rather unfortunate impulse to turn people into animals. We locked her here to rot, but her magic is quite powerful. She can sense other magic while not being able to use her own." Queen Hippolyta explained.

"Oh my dear, Hippolyta, do go on." Circe chuckled.

"Then perhaps she could help in the fight." Drew stated.

"You would trust this, witch?" Queen Hippolyta growled in response.

"If Ares is coming to undoubtedly slaughter your sisters with a force greater than you've ever faced before, her power will be needed. I know the Amazons are great warriors, you might need more than just swords and spears to win the fight that comes." Drew replied.

"She would turn us into beasts the moment she was freed. I couldn't stand being an animal." Queen Hippolyta grunted in response.

Drew's eyes narrowed with annoyance. Queen Hippolyta rolled her eyes and resheathed her blade.

"Don't get me that look, boy. We aren't all shapeshifters." Queen Hippolyta grunted scoffingly.

"Shapeshifter?" Circe gasped.

Drew turned to look at the sorceress. He opened his mouth, revealing lupine teeth. Circe grinned.

"It seems you have power within you as well." Circe chuckled.

"One that I don't understand." Drew replied.

"I could show you." The sorceress chuckled, grinning at the young man who blushed in return.

"Circe, I will not have you free on my island." Queen Hippolyta grunted.

The sound of a horn blew.

"My daughter has returned. We will continue this later." Queen Hippolyta growled, walking away.

"Do visit me again, young man. It's been so long since I've been in the company of a handsome stranger." Circe chuckled, a seductive grin spread across her beautiful face.

Drew blushed at this and nodded nervously. The sorceress grinned at this. Drew walked to catch up with the Queen of the Amazons. Something prickled Drew's nose, the young man sensing something. His eyes then fell upon two familiar figures standing at Diana's sides. He grumbled in his mind.

"Your majesty." One of the individuals said, nodding to the queen.

"Let's make this quick. We have business to attend to and he needs to go back to the Tower." The second grunted, glaring at Drew when saying the last part of his second sentence.

Drew growled under his breath, eyes narrowed at the second individual who directed the latter part of his statement towards him: Batman. The other, Superman, stood awkwardly as the Amazons moved to watch the altercation.

"He stays." Queen Hippolyta grunted.

"He goes back n-" Batman grunted.

"He stays or you leave now." Queen Hippolyta interjected, unimpressed eyes staring at the Dark Knight as she approached him.

"Bruce, when Ares comes…he won't stop until he gets whatever he wants. We need every warrior we can get." Diana stated, her voice calm.

"We can handle him, Diana. Having Drew here will only complicate things. The magic imbued to Metallo by Ares weakened Drew, I imagine he would fare less well against the one who holds the complete power of that kind." Superman said.

"You think you will fare any better, Kal?" Diana grunted scoffingly.

"Enough! We will fight together…even if we don't see eye to eye…you helped us before, a few years ago against Circe. You two barely survived that battle, be glad that the Amazons find your strength, alien, and your intellect, knight, acceptable feats. When Ares comes, his strength will be more brutal than anything you've ever faced. The God of War has that title for a reason." Queen Hippolyta grunted.

Superman and Batman both tried to say something, but Diana held out calming hands to either of them.

"We cannot fight Ares and each other. He will kill us…or enslave us if that happens." Diana reasoned.

"Fine…once the fight against Ares is done…" Batman grunted.

"Then we return, after resting, and prepare for whatever comes." Diana said.

Batman and Superman nodded.

"Ares comes soon; we must have the last preparations in place. Come, we have work to do." Queen Hippolyta stated.

To be continued…

(Again, sorry about the late update.)