THE GREAT WAR

THIRD-PERSON POV

Gaia walked out of her mother’s room where she practiced magic feeling exhausted. The new batch of serum wouldn’t be ready for another 5 days, but Gaia wasn’t worried since the blood moon was still 8 days away; the new batch of serum would be ready by the time the blood moon begins. She, however, had only 2 vials left to last her until then. It’s been 2 days and she had already used one of the vials so for the next 3 days until the new batch of serum was finished, she had to survive on the remaining one. Gaia, however, had the best control when it came to drawing out her hunger if she never tastes a drop of blood. After what happened during the enslavement by William, Gaia was never to be trusted with the taste of blood, for the consequences would be dire.

And no one knew that better than Thomas.

Thomas spent most of his time with Gaia unless he was ordered to be elsewhere. They trusted each other and understood each other far better than anyone else. He never questioned Gaia when she made decisions and he always put her above anything.

He watched as she walked around the field training some of the members of the coven; fixing postures, correcting stances, giving advice on weapon usage, and training the witches on how to strengthen their attack spells in their combat spells. Usually training the witches was Delany’s job but she was caught up helping Lucus fortify the wards surrounding their territory. It was Lucas’s magic that kept the wards up that hid them from the outside world and away from William’s prying eyes. Gaia was the strongest person Thomas knew and the only person he looked up to. Their bond ran deeper than just friendship; they made a vow that had their souls bounded by the Sun god. He never forgot the events leading up to them becoming mweya.

The ding sounded and he watched as training was wrapped up before walking over and standing behind Gaia. When the field was empty without even having to say words out loud, he knew she was struggling inside.

After phasing to the waterfall behind Valkyrion, they sat on the edge and watched as the water flowed from the top silently into the streams below.

(This scene contains a mixed dialogue with/without written indicators)

“You’re thirsty. I can feel it”, he said after a moment of silence.

“I’m fine. I can handle it. I’ll take the other vial in 2 days since the new batch won’t be ready for another 3 days.”, she sighed.

“You can act as if you’re alright around others, but you know that doesn’t work with me. You need to rest, or you’ll burn yourself out, Gaia.”

Thomas watched as she used her magic to bring large droplets of water away from the waterfall and levitate them around her head. He watched as some of the sprites grabbed the droplets and wrapped them between a leaf before taking them back to their homes in the trees. He smacked her hand and watched as the droplets fell back into the water, “And no magic either.”

“Thomas, you’re treating me like a mortal which is highly insulting. A few days without food is not going to kill me or make me that weak.”

“You drew more from me when you placed a ward up on your mate’s territory yesterday. You’ve been on the training grounds ever since we got back, and you haven’t had a serum in 2 days not to mention the blood moon is just around the corner. Do excuse me for being concerned. You may be queen and leader of this coven Gaia, but you are my mweya before any of that.”

“You and I both know why you’re so concerned. And you know I’ve gone longer without my serum………what are we going to do?”

“I’ve nothing to worry about as of this moment. The problem is your mate and the wolves and the way they’re going to take that kind of news.”, he lied with a straight face.

“And your mates Thomas? How do you think they’re going to react to that?”, Gaia asked without looking at him.

Thomas closed his eyes in defeat at the fact that he couldn’t hide it from her. He knew it was only a matter of time before she found out, but he wanted to handle that after they finally killed William and definitely sort it out with his mates before she found out, “I knew you I couldn’t hide it from you.”, he chuckled.

“It’s the priest and a wolf, isn’t it? Though I can tell when you’ve hidden their smell. It’s probably a wolf I know too.”

"It's complicated... Niall isn't my mate."

"You're right. THAT is complicated. You're sticking your cock in a human who happens to also be your lover while your newly founded mate is a wolf. Celibacy is looking really good at the moment.", Gaia chuckled.

“*Sighs…. * Who would’ve thought something like this would happen? And to the two of us, nonetheless. If the council heard about this…. - But then I guess it wouldn’t matter anyway since they take orders from you.”

“Yeah, but not many people know that Thomas. Do you think it’s because of our soul tie?”

“Whatever it is, it’s fucking with me, you, and our entire plan to kill him. I feel so…”

“…. guilty. Yeah, I know what you mean.”, she sighed.

Gaia raised her head to the sky and spoke with strong sarcasm, “You Gods must think you’re so funny fucking around with us like this.”

“You remember how we first decided to become mweya Thomas?”, Gaia suddenly asked.

“You think that’s something either one of us could forget? Probably the only good thing that son of a bitch ever did back then in our entire fucked up life.”

“Makes me remember when mother died……the catalyst. I guess that’s when he finally stopped huh?”, he asked.

“When we ended the war.”, she responded.

“Yeah, and when he finally had the chance to plan and steal something that didn’t belong to him.”

**Flashback**

~The Great Supernatural War ~

**Southern Battlefield Main Camp**

“YOUR MAJESTY PRINCESS GAIA!! The messenger pigeon has brought reports from the battlefield. Prince Nathaniel has managed to push the hybrids back beyond the third wall in the west where they surrendered. Princess Delany has also reported that the humans have abandoned their camp in the north and retreated across the river. Both are heading east to carry aid to Prince Lucas with his fight against the shapeshifters.”, a young vampire soldier knelt as he reported the good news to Gaia, who was leading her coven in the current ongoing supernatural war. Her grandmother and many others had lost their lives from the beginning of the war, and she had to grow up overnight to ensure the safety of her remaining people and members of her coven.

Gaia stood at a round table overlooking a map of the different areas her army was stretched out in the war. Next to her stood Daniel her brother who was also her strategy commander, and the empty chair was reserved for William, her wisest teacher, and only master. William had gone back to the overrun territory with his son to look for his wife who got lost in the raid the werewolves had done the night before. After listening to the young soldier’s report, she turned back to her brother as they placed their attention back on the map, “If they’ve reclaimed both the north and the west then for sure they’ll win the battle in the east. We just need to do our part and win our battle here in the east.”

“The most troublesome was the west. They were the trickiest to deal with, but I must admire their alliance in this time of war. To think there would come a time when all the hybrids would come together to defend the west against us. We’re so close to winning Daniel. So close.”

She turned back to the young soldier still waiting after he gave his report, “Any news on my Master young soldier?”

“Reports say he was last spotted crossing the wards your highness.”

“That means he’s already on his way back. Alright. What’s your name young soldier?”

“George Your highness.”

“Go and check on the castle George and then report back to me.”

“Yes, your highness.”, George bowed and phased out to complete his task.

At the same time William finally entered the tent they were held up in with a young man behind him, both injured and covered in blood. Gaia and Daniel immediately knew Patricia, Williams’s wife didn’t make it. Gaia breathe out a sigh of relief as her best friend came into view. Thomas immediately ran into the hug Gaia offered sobbing as he cried about the death of his mother, “I’m sorry Thomas. I really am.”

When they let go Daniel tapped Thomas on the shoulder to offer his condolences, but Gaia realized William remained indifferent, “Are you, okay Master?”

William only nodded and moved to the map on the table, “Fine. She’d still be here had she listened to me. I cannot care about her death anymore, we’re currently at war.”

“Father! You-”

“Not now Thomas. Your mother was stubborn and it’s that stubbornness that led her to her death. The latest report Prince Daniel.”

Daniel looked at his sister with uncertainty and suspicion but reported, nonetheless.

“Good then all that’s left is for us to win our battle here in the south against the wolves and victory will be ours. Our plan is solid, all we need is for them to surrender by dawn. If not, we move ahead with the plan, take out their second base camp and leave no survivors.”, William stated.

“That was not the plan. The plan was to only keep them hostage, the wolves at the second base are only women, the elderly, and children. They’re not fighters William. Daniel interrupted.

“THEY MURDERED MY WIFE!”, William slammed his hand on the table in anger.

“THIS IS WAR WILLIAM. WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE DEATH ON BOTH SIDES!! But what you’re doing in intentionally massacring innocent people who had no place in this war. I will not allow it.”, Gaia countered.

William flipped his cloak and stood up defiantly to Gaia in anger but before he could say anything Gaia spoke, “I FORBID IT!”.

“The plan was we send a representative to negotiate with them and the leaders of each specie on ending this fucking war.”, Thomas spoke up.

William scoffed and turned to leave, “Those mangy mongrels and lowborn should be killed and thrown into mass graves. They were once our slaves and yet they’ve forgotten their place and would not have spared us the same mercy you’ve shown them. They would sooner kill us if they had the chance. We DO NOT negotiate with people beneath us.”

Gaia sighed and plopped down in her chair, “We’re so close to ending all of this. This feud has gone on long enough and I AM TIRED of pointless deaths.”

“But he’s not entirely wrong Gaia. They won’t listen to a representative. Only the leader will do and deep down you know this as well.”, Daniel turned to her.

“He’s right Gaia. Our best bet is to have you go. They’d never listen if it were anyone else.”, Thomas agreed.

“You both know that’s a huge responsibility. One I’m not sure I can handle. I wasn’t trained enough for this, and one simple mistake could cost us ALL our lives. But if they listen to me and we make peace, then that gives me power over all of them and this could be over.”, Gaia almost felt like giving up. None of them had time to grieve their losses and yet an inexperienced young girl had to grow up overnight with that faith of the entire coven in her hands. The tears of frustration pooled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She was tired of crying, tired of feeling so lost, and tired of this godforsaken air of death that surrounded them.

This war ends tomorrow. I’ll make sure of it.

Something changed in Gaia that night. Just as she expected, Nathaniel, Delany, and Lucus won the battle in the east with the surrender of the shapeshifters, and Daniel’s plan to hold the wolves’ second base camp hostage led to the victory of the north as well. Cheers of victory could be heard all around the battlefield.

The sun coven had won the war.

They won.

“We won.”

From then each leader met and agreed to Gaia’s demands where they signed a peace treaty and effectively ended the fighting. The great war had finally ended after 30years. And Gaia, leader of the sun coven had done it. After the war had ended, much was to be done but Gaia and the council ensured it would be completed without a doubt. William suggested they take in those left without a home and a place to go back, thus the Sun coven became a haven for refugees and the only coven to openly accept the mixing of species in mate bonds. However, years of hatred and fighting could not be undone overnight. What remained from the war was grief, anger, hatred, and a sense of loss. But the Flaningtons were determined to fix their coven with Gaia as their new leader. It didn’t take long for them to return to their prior status and glory; happiness was prominent in their coven and peace was finally there.

However, no one could’ve anticipated that the monster created then was who they nurtured within their own walls.