Selene's pov
"Hello hello hello, it's us." Shouted two energetic twin boys in front of the camera before they started fighting for the spotlight. "Dante move I'm doing it." Cried the one dressed in blue. "You move Virgil, it's my turn." Cried the one dressed in red. They were then both grabbed from behind and thrown over the shoulders of their elder sister. "The both of you are moving. Mother and father have a very important meeting to do now." Eve stated as she marched away with her protesting brothers. "But big sis." They whined in unison. "No buts. Now come along, I'll play hide and seek with you if you promise to behave." She offered and they both cheered. She turned at the door to look back at her parents. "I'll look after them mom, but that means I'll have to miss the council meeting. Is it ok?" She asked. "Of course dear, we'll update you when it's finished." I told her, before Michael added. "And try to keep them out of trouble, please." Eve rolled her eyes "easy said than done dad." She said before closing the doors behind her.
Then the sound of laughter came from the four large monitors before us. "I see that my grandsons are keeping you on your toes, my they grow so fast. Hard to believe it's already been five years." boomed Jonathan form his throne room in the U.S. "I know the feeling, I take my eyes off of Cecilia for all of two seconds and boom. She's trying to climb Kilimanjaro." Andre declared with proud laughter. "Oh, it's so weird that I can actually sympathize with you guys on the parental level. I literally have to sleep with one eye open or Christine tries to make a break for it." Blaire admitted with a depressed sigh. "Yes they do keep us busy, but would any of you be willing to give them up?" I suggested and the happy atmosphere immediately vanished. "Not on your fucking life." Blaire hissed through the monitor, a similar answer came from Andre. "Then I say we get to the heart of why we are all here."
"Yes, the war. The time for the curtains to rise has finally come." Maria affirmed. "Yes it has. Five years ago we started this war in the shadows. Building our forces, gathering Intel and placing ours spies in key positions around the world. All while hiding from humanity, staying in the dark to keep them in the dark. But they are starting to catch on now and we have no reason to hide any longer." Michael stated, taking command of the council. "Not to mention we now have an even stronger reason to fight, even more precious things to protect." This struck a deep cord with Blaire, Andre and me. We had children now who meant more to us than our own lives. And we knew that humans would not think twice to kill them. "And it's not just us. There are families now, in our coven, and even more hybrid children. The rift between the lycan and vampire clans is finally starting to heal." This revelation caused their eyes to go wide. "Whoa seriously, same here man, well not hybrids. In fact last month marked the birth of the eighteenth pure born Avian." Blaire boosted. "We all had births happen within our respected houses. Which now makes this war far more meaningful than we had planned; I for one am dying to get this underway. The sooner this ends, the easier I'll sleep knowing that the younger generation – my children are safe."
Jonathan's words resounded deep within each of us, bearing the weight of all of our feelings. "My thoughts exactly father. I will not allow my children to live in a world where they have to run and hide. Where they have to live in fear simply for being what they are. No, I will not allow it, even if it means humanity's extinction." Michael seethed, gripping the arm of his throne to the point of cracking it." I reached over and took his hand to calm him. "We all agree with my husband's sentiment. This war is not one of power, or acquisition, it's of survival. Either they die, or we do. Now let's make sure it's them."
We spent the rest of the meeting strategizing, and then finalizing our initial attack plan. Deciding to use their own cities in gorilla style warfare while picking off their numbers and adding to our own. Keeping them awake with constant attacks in order to cripple their resolve as the war drags on, making their fears work for us. For we have all the time in the world, they do not. We spent the last five years learning how the military moves in war zones. How their chain of command works, their weapons, armour, skills, everything. All they know of us however is that silver is lethal to lycans, sunlight to vampires. The world governments are catching wind of the new species, but that is generally it. They don't know too much more than that. And while humans outnumber us 100 to 1, we are the ones who truly hold the advantage.
About eighty percent of humanity is normal ordinary people, with no real idea of fighting or warfare. They hide behind the military and police to protect them. So the only real threat is the twenty percent that does know you to fight. And at the core of that is the five percent or so that make up their leaders. And they are who we will eliminate first. "Alright everyone, make your preparations, we launch the first attack in 24 hours." No one answered Michael, they didn't need to, only resolute nods were given. As the monitors went dark I couldn't help but sigh. I'd just escaped one war only to dive right into another. At least I have Michael with me now, and something more meaningful then vengeance to drive me. Michael pulled me into in arms the moment I was on my feet.
"Don't you dare die on me in this; I can't do eternity by myself." He whispered into my ear. I fought to keep the smile off my face, smiling would have to wait until after this war was over. "I have no intention to. I mean, who would look after the kids?" he snorted at that. "Just make sure you don't die on me. I've lived through that feeling twice, I won't survive the third." I dropped my eyes from his, the pain of those memories threatening to pull me under again. But the only pull I felt was into his arms as he held me closer. "Never again, I promise you, never again." He kissed me deeply and I all but almost forgot we were about to start world war three. I wove my arms around his neck to deepen the kiss, losing myself in it. That is until the kids rushed back into the room to cling to the father. Why always Michael though, I'm here too you know.
"I'm sorry mom they just- wait is the meeting already over?" Eve asked while trying to pry her brothers from their father's legs. "Actually yes it is, and we've reached a rather special decision regarding you." I explained. I watched as her eyebrows began to furrow in suspicion. "What decision would that be exactly?" she inquired, her tone low. I deflected her question to her father with my eyes, mostly because I didn't want to be the one to tell her. He shot me a 'thanks a lot' look before turning to her and clearing his throat. "Listen honey, after a lot of debate we realized something important. And that realization is the children. They weren't apart of the picture five years ago, but they are now." I watched as slow realization dawned in her eyes. "They have to be kept safe." She whispered and we nodded.
"And so we've devised a very specialized mission for you, one which only you can be asked to perform." I stressed, hoping it would appease her. "I think I already know what it is." she said, looking the both of us in the eye. I could see in her eyes that she understood what she had to do, and I couldn't be prouder of her courage. "All the children from every coven will be gathered and hidden in a discreet location, away from the war. And you, Eve, have been chosen by the council to safeguard them all, alongside David. There is no one else we trust more for such a task." I made clear. She seemed to ponder this at first, and I couldn't blame her. After all, I was the one who trained her, she was meant to be a general in this war. Or to succeed me should I fall –no matter how unlikely that alternative may be. Now I was basically asking her to sit out the entire war, as a babysitter no else.
But she simply looked to her brothers, climbing all over their father. And her decision was made. "I accept mom, I'll protect the kids, and I won't fail." I smiled and nodded proudly at her. "And where exactly is this remote location we'll be hidden in?" David inquired from by Eve's side. "Oh yes, that. Well the council decided to make it Greenland - which bugles me as to why they would give such a place such a name." I said mildly confused, causing Michael to giggle for some reason. Oh he had so better not be laughing at me. "Don't sweat it my love, it bugles everyone. Why is Greenland mostly covered in ice where as Iceland is predominantly green. No one gets it at all, maybe that's the point." He said still laughing, then he turned to David and the laughter abruptly ended. "David" Michael's tone was now deadly serious, "Protect my daughter."
"Oh I intend to sir." David declared with resolution. This caused Eve to immediately try and hide the faint blush staining her cheeks. "Who knows, do a good job and I might just give you my blessing." Micheal said, gaining not just Eve and David's confusion, but mine as well. "Oh c'mon, how stupid do you think I am? I know you two have been secretly dating for the past year." I watched dumbfounded as David's breath caught in his throat and Eve's jaw dropped open. And I here I thought I was the only one of us who knew. Note to self, Michael is far more perceptive than he lets on, I should be more careful around him from now on." Eve immediately shot me a traitorous glance to which I vehemently shook my head. "Don't blame your mother; she said nothing to me, even though she's known the whole time." now it was Micheal giving me the accusatory look.
"What, it was not something for me to reveal. Although, the dating aspect of it is something that I was not aware of. Would you care to explain this to me young lady. I thought we had an agreement, did we not." To think that she's been hiding something like this from me, I'm not sure whether to be proud or furious. "Oooooo, Busted" the twins cried out while laughing at the look on their sister's face. "Look mom, dad, I'm so sorry I lied, I just didn't think you'd understand. And I swear we haven't done anything, yet, only held hands, I swear. Ok there is that one kiss, but I sort of tricked him into it. I would explain more but there's no time for that and I should really get the twins ready." She pleaded while trying to escape and I didn't have the heart to press her further. "Plus what she said is true; we do not have such a luxury now, the war starts in 24 hours. She would be busy getting the kids to safety before then."
"So the attack plans have been made then?" David asked, derailing the previous conversation and I nodded. "David I want you to gather the entire coven in the great chamber, it's time to brief the troops. Eve get the boys ready, you leave to collect the others immediately after." Michael ordered and then pulled the boys into a fierce hug before pulling me in as well. "Listen boys, you're going to go with your sister to a special place now and you won't see mommy and daddy for a while ok. But know that we love you, we always will and we'll come see you very soon. So I want you to behave yourselves and listen to your big sister ok. I'll be very cross with you if you don't, understand." They both nodded silently, sensing the seriousness in his voice. Never in my life has it been so hard to say good-bye, to let go, as it was now. I didn't know if I could let them go, ever. If not for Michael, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to. "Take care of you brothers." Michael said, pushing them towards their sister and David.
"I swear I will dad. But you and mom have to swear too. Swear that you'll come back for us. Because I have no plans to succeed you until am at least five hundred years old." She jested with a smile and we returned it. "Funny, I wasn't planning for you to succeed me until you were at least a thousand." I joked and we all laughed. "Ok time to go, Selene" Michael said after the laughter died down and I nodded. I watched the kids as they waved goodbye before Michael and I headed to the great hall. David had done his job and gathered everyone, they were all aware as to why. As Michael and I stood on the ledge above the expanse, the in the air excitement was palpable. They suddenly began stomping in unison when they saw us, growing louder and louder. Michael stepped forward and raised his hand for silence and all went quiet.
"VAMPIRE, LYCANS, HEAR ME NOW!" He shouted. "How many of you believed that a day like today was possible. That two species, at war for over a millennia could possibly coexist. Yet here we are, no longer enemy's, but allies. I know that this is not easy for some of you, not after all the fighting, all the hate. Especially for the lycans, who were treated as animals, and then kept as slaves. No, I don't expect this to be easy for you at all. Yet you have chosen to stand here today with me, not for the sake of vampires, but for the sake of peace." There were loud cheers from the lycans in the crowd, even some howls. Michal called for silence again. "But that peace is threatened now, by humans. They have decided that we do not have the right to live, that we are a plague upon the earth that they must wipe from existence." Angry growls and hisses bellowed up from the crowd. "What gives them the right to judge us? What gives them the right to condemn us to death when we have walked this earth for millennia beside them? WHAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT!" Michael thundered and the hall shook with the unity of their cries.
"I say Fine then, if they can deem us unworthy to live along side them, then so shall we. We will rip this world that they have polluted and scared from their greedy and selfish hands. We will slaughter their women, their men, their children, as they have ours. We will pull humanity from its high horse and grind its face back into the mud it came from. We will show them why they fear us. And we, will, rule, this, world." The roars of the crowd were deafening and the fire of their spirits could blister the soul. Michael had to raise his hands again to regain control. "In 24 hours, humanity's reign ends, and ours begins. So if you wish as I wish. For a world where you no longer live in fear, fear for your life. Fear for the lives of your children and loved ones. A world you no longer have to hide in. THEN FIGHT FOR IT WITH ME." It looked as if the roars of the crowd were so strong that it pushed Michael backwards. But he was actually stepping down to give me the floor.
"Now here is the first stage of the war so listen well. Every head of state on every continent is our target, every president, prime minister and Politian, which will be made especially easy as most world leaders will be in London tomorrow. For a UN conference on how to destroy us for good, they will not leave it alive. Tomorrow our brothers and sister around the world will assassinate every other person of interest, be they governmental or military. This will launch humanity into a panic as they scramble for new leaders, which of course will be hindered by their own individual greed for power. At stage two we will cripple international communications. Humanity has a nasty habit of banding together when they face collective annihilation. So let's not give them the chance for that. Now you will be led by me, Michael and Clarisse. David and Eve have been assigned to a secret mission to safeguard the children of all the covens. As such their location must remain a secret known only by the council."
There were soft murmurs at this news, but understanding to it as well. "Now everyone as my husband has said. Humanity's reign ends tomorrow. So feed well tonight, say your good-byes and make ready your hearts. For tomorrow, we go to war."
TBC