The World's Last Hope15

“The food was wonderful Carmen.”Bella complimented the woman.The beef stew was delicious and reminded Bella of the food of her time.She had liked it so much Bella had eaten five bowls and three loafs of fresh baked bread.The looks of surprise as she finished off the food amused Bella because she didn’t even eat enough to feel full. She had plans to go hunting later.Bella hadn’t been able to since she was had woken and felt the need to give into her animal side for a while.Being human was not something she was comfortable with and spending most of her time in that form was making her feel itchy in her own skin.

Carmen bowed her head.”Thank you.”

“So your majesty what are your plans now that you are here?”Tanya asked. She had wanted to broach the subject as soon as Bella sat down but felt it was only polite to let the monarch eat before Tanya questioned her.

“Please call me Bella.If we all used our titles all the time no-one would know who we were talking about.”Bella joked.

“Of course, you should in return call us by our first names as well.”Tanya was happy that she was given the permission to speak to Bella on the level of an equal.From all that had happened it seemed that the dragon wasn’t one to allow it often.

“As for what I plan to do that depends on how quickly people start to show up.Charles when are you expecting the first of our brethren to arrive?”Bella asked.

“Half are arriving by foot so I don’t expect them for a few days.Others however are using vehicles or flying in on planes.I wouldn’t be surprised if we had people showing up in a few hours.”Charlie had made sure to reach out to everyone and tell them the change of plans.He was grateful that they were using the vampire’s land because it would actually be able to accommodate the numbers he knew were going to come.

“That soon?”Irina had to hold back from squealing in excitement.She hadn’t thought that she would be meeting the were creatures so quickly.Hopefully Bella would be kind enough to give introductions because Tanya had already warned Irina to be careful not to insult anyone even by accident.

“Her majesty’s subjects have been waiting for the day of her release for many millennia.Even those who weren’t alive during her reign have been anxious for her return.”Charlie told them.

“I didn’t realize how beloved you are by your people.”Tanya had known by what Rosalie had said that Bella had been given the throne but didn’t realize that the members of her kingdom held out such loyalty after so many years had passed.She would have expected them to have moved on not encourage future generations to remain loyal as well.

“I have found through out my reign that true loyalty is earned.Be it by your words or by your actions. My people are loyal because they know they can count on me to stand beside them on the front lines to fight against any injustices.I didn’t earn the scars I proudly carry until I became queen.Before that I was simply a sheltered court mage who had little understanding of the world.It was when I had the weight of a kingdom own my shoulders I realized that I couldn’t be a ruler worthy of my people if I didn’t face the same challenges they did.”Bella told them.

“So did you live in a castle or did you live amongst your people?”Kate asked completely enraptured with her mate’s story.

“I lived in the castle officially but I traveled though out my lands most of the time.It was important to me that those who were kind enough to consider me worthy of being their queen knew that I understood them on a personal level not as just a bunch of people I controlled.”Bella looked to Charlie.”Those were some good times.Weren’t they my friend?”

“Yes they were your majesty.”Charlie smiled thinking of the many were communities he had visited with the queen.It was always fun to see the doubt in their eyes that the queen was interested in their lives.Then to see their surprise when Bella would actually work along side them to help with whatever chores or repairs were needed.”You won over many of those who doubted the legitimacy of your rule on those trips.”

“People didn’t want you as the queen?”Tanya had been told that Bella was so respected that the royals stepped aside willingly.

Bella waved her hand back and forth.”Some didn’t, others did.As I told Rosalie I wasn’t meant to be a ruler.I was the official court mage.When the seer told us of the prophecy that was when the royals stepped aside.At first their were many who believed that I used my magic to influence their decision.”

“Could you have actually done that?”Angela asked.She was now understanding her grandmother’s interest in the dragon.At first she just thought it was cool that Bella was a dragon but now she was interested in Bella’s previous life.The fact that one of her ancestors was involved in Bella’s life was astonishing.

“Yes, but I didn’t.In fact I did everything I could to decline the crown.Including running away.”Bella chuckled at the memory.”I thought I had made it to freedom until I was ambushed by a bunch of guards.It wasn’t my smartest idea because the seers had known of my plans before hand.”

“A bunch of guards were able to stop you?”Rosalie had seen how lethal Bella was and didn’t think that even a group of guards would have stopped her.

“Forgive me I forgot that you weren’t aware of dragons.Before the war with the Romanians my kind were in the hundreds.Dragons were also what made up the king and queens official guard.So when I say that I was ambushed by guards I mean I was ambushed by a bunch of dragons who were better trained than myself.I lasted all of a second before I was hogtied and taken back to the castle.”Bella told them.

“I can’t imagine what it would have been like to live at a time when so many dragons existed.”Beatrice would have loved to see what the world was like when Bella came to power.So many magical creatures lived during that time and witches were respected mostly because of Bella.It was Beatrice’s hope that the monarch would once again champion the witch’s cause and show those in the supernatural world that they should be respected.

Bella gave her a sad smile.”Those were times of great joy for me.The war changed all that as wars tend to do.”

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”Kate reached out and held Bella’s hand in her own to try and comfort her mate.

“Let’s all hope that the vampires and the other were creatures don’t have to suffer what I have gone through.”Bella said giving Kate’s hand a squeeze of thanks.”That’s why our alliance is so important.”

Noticing the subject chance Tanya happily went along to bring Bella out of her memories.She had remembered what it was like when Sasha died but she still had her sisters.Bella had no one. Every last dragon in the world was dead and Bella lived with the knowledge that without her all of her species would be lost.The burden was great and Tanya didn’t know if she would be able to function let alone press on with going through another war.”Yes, it is.”

“What are your plans for the vampires?”Bella asked.

“We reached out to our counterparts and have decided that we would ask you if you were willing to train some of our people.Kate had mentioned you were planning on it but we didn’t know in what capacity.”Tanya said.

“I don’t want to overstep but my plan was to have some of my warriors work with your people in small groups.I want to make sure that each side can be respectful before we mix them together in large numbers.”Bella knew that there was going to be friction between the two groups and if the witches showed up things would be very tense.

“I think that is a good idea.”Tanya was thinking along the same lines as Bella.She wanted as few problem as they could.”That way we can stop any kind of revolt from happening in either faction.”

“Exactly.”Bella agreed.

“It may be a sensitive topic but since your return we have now just discovered that witches are actually real.As we have no numbers of those still living will you be asking them for help as well?”Tanya asked.

“The reason you don’t know that witches are real is because they have a long history of hatred of vampires.Vampires don’t particularly like witches either.After I was sealed away witches were prosecuted and hunted by those I considered allies.That’s why they went into hiding.”Bella explained.”As for having their help that would be a question for Beatrice as she is my official court mage and the ambassador of her people.”

Beatrice eyes widened as she heard what Bella said.”Your majesty I can’t be your court mage.I’m not good with magic.Mine isn’t very strong and there are others that are more appropriate for the role.”

“The role is yours not only because I trust you but through birth.Melinda was my closet friend it would be almost an insult to think of anyone not related to her occupying the position.”Bella told her.

“But still.That’s to much.”Beatrice really didn’t feel worthy of such an honor.

“Grandma accept it.You would be perfect for the role.”Angela encouraged.Her grandmother’s devotion to magic and keeping her family’s legacy alive was more than enough reason for her to fill the role.

“I will have to think on it.”Beatrice wasn’t going to say yes right away.She would reach out to others and see what they had to say first.She may have been a leader in the witch community but she didn’t want anyone to think she was trying to gain power over anyone.

“You do that.Until you decide you will still be the ambassador as you are the only one here who has access to your people.”Bella said.

“Thank you your majesty.”Beatrice would gladly be an ambassador as she already had a good report with the queen.”As for anyone coming I have gotten more yeses to my invites than no’s.I except for at least one hundred of my people to answer you call for help.”

“A hundred witches?”Tanya couldn’t even try to keep her professional composure at the information. She had gone from learning that witches were real, to knowing two of them and now was being informed that at least a hundred were coming to Alaska.

“That’s on the low end.I haven’t finished contacting people and then of course some will come from learning about Bella’s presence from others.”Beatrice told her.

“They will be able to help with building.”Bella told them.

“How so?”Irina asked.She was almost vibrating in her chair with the news that a group of witches were going to be coming as well.Irina just hated that fact that they were at war because she would really like the chance to get to know some of the visitors.She would speak to Bella later about it.Now that Bella was a part of their coven Irina felt it was alright to ask her to introduce her around and maybe even vouch for her so that people would talk to her even if she was a vampire.

“With magic.”Seeing the confusion on everyone’s face except Charlie Bella explained.”If given the materials there are many spells and incantations that could be used to actually build a building.I myself could do it but it would be better asking the witches that were coming.”

“Why would it be better?”Rosalie would have to find time to talk to Bella alone.She wondered if Bella didn’t have time then she could recommend someone to teach Angela about magic.

“Witches aren’t highly thought of and are often times dismissed as weak.By allowing them to show off with their magic it would give everyone a chance to see how strong they really are.I personally am planning on dueling with some of them.”Bella knew that she wouldn’t get the respect of the witches unless she proved herself worthy.

“Why would you want to fight your allies?”Kate asked.

“It’s part of witch society that they respect those with power.I may be powerful but I have not proven it to this generation of their people.They won’t officially accept me as a leader until I earn it through combat.”Bella told them.

“Should one of us fight them also?”Tanya didn’t want any problems with the witches.So if they had to one of them should be able to win against a mortal.

Bella smiled when Beatrice and Charlie started to laugh.”You forget my friends they didn’t know about me how would they know about witches.”

“What’s so funny?I mean witches are human they would be no match against one of us.”Kate didn’t appreciate being laughed at and as Bella joined in with the other two she ripped her hand away from her mate.

“I apologize.”Bella tried to contain her mirth.Reaching out to take Kate’s hand again Bella was relieved that Kate didn’t object and let her take it.”I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“Still Kate has a point.Couldn’t a vampire easily win a fight against a witch?”Tanya had a feeling she wasn’t going to like whatever the answers to her questions was because no doubt they all were about learn of another dangerous threat in the supernatural world.One that they had no idea how to fight.

“No, not at all.Witches may have human bodies but they can take control of a vampire very easily.”Bella told them.

“You mean they can take control of our bodies?”Kate asked.

Bella nodded.”Like I said they could do it very easily.The only reason witches lost against the vampires after the war was because of the shear number differences.That and witches value life so they weren’t willing to sacrifice humans for the cause like the vampires were.”

“So you’re saying that if there were more witches in the world that they would be able to overthrow us and there would be little we could do about it?”Tanya would have to contact the other queens so they warned whatever vampires they sent to Alaska.The last thing they needed was for anyone to insult such a powerful entity.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.You don’t have to worry about them killing you though.They value life more than most others and rarely kill.”Bella told them.

Charlie snorted out a laugh.”Compared to some of the things I’ve seen a witch do I would almost prefer if they killed me.”

“That’s just great.”Kate grumbled.Now they not only had to worry about the were creatures but the witches as well.

“Don’t worry I have never seen her majesty not be able to undue whatever kind of punishment a witch has done.”Charlie said.

“Many of them were rather challenging though.”Bella held in a shudder thinking of how creative a witch could be.

“So how should we greet them when they come here?”Tanya wanted to make sure that they showed respect in the very beginning of the relationship so no-one would be tempted to use magic on anyone.

“Myself, Charles, Rosalie and Beatrice will be the ones greeting them when they first arrive.I would invite you but I am the one that will be dueling so they need to see me as the leader.If they didn’t and one of you stepped forward to duel and lost they would then be entitled to your crowns, you land and all of your subjects.”Bella explained.

Tanya was now happy that they spoke to Bella about all this because she would have just approached the witches and easily accepted the duel.A duel she most likely would have lost.”We will happily stand aside for you to do that.”

“That will make things easier then.”Bella pushed her chair away from the table and stood.”I would like to go hunt.Would that be alright with you three?”

“That’s fine.”Tanya said.

“Can I come with you?”Irina asked.

“Irina.”Tanya hissed.”We talked about boundaries.”

“What I wasn’t asking to ride her dragon again.”Irina didn't see the problem with asking.

Before Tanya could scold Irina more Bella spoke.”I am rather fast when I hunt but you are more than welcome to come along as I know Charles won’t let me go alone and I was going to invite Kate as well.”

“I will happily go with you.”Kate didn’t care what they did.She just wanted to spend time with her mate.

“Then it’s settled.The four of us will go hunting.”Bella said.

Irina jumped up and down and clapped her hands together.“This is going to be so great.”

“Be careful Irina.”Tanya called out as the four left the room.

“She’ll be fine.”Rosalie assured her.

“I just don’t want her to do something and upset everyone.”Tanya said. She stood from her chair and made her way to her study.Sitting around worrying about Irina wasn’t a good way to spend her time when they had so much to deal with. Knowing that the were creatures were more than likely going to start showing up soon Tanya had to make a plan on where to put them.Hopefully the witches would show up soon and the people bringing the building materials as well.That would make things go a lot faster.After closing the door to her study behind her Tanya made her way to her desk chair were she slumped down in it.For the first time in her immortal existence she felt tired.Not physically but mentally.The one bright note was that they had Bella on their side.Tanya may not like having to defer to someone else but Bella had been kind enough so far to give them at least the illusion of having a say in things.She knew that if Bella wanted to she could just bulldoze her way in and ignore the queens altogether, so it was nice that they weren’t being pushed aside.At least not yet.Tanya quickly added in her head.To keep that from happening she picked up her phone and dialed Italy.She would need the other queens’ help to keep the peace.