71. Face to face with the Watchers.
When Eve finally opened her eyes, she was greeted by a somewhat familiar face. She was sure that the man standing in front of her was someone she knew. Eve's eyes travelled over his skinny frame; then the realization hit her. It was him- the man who saved her from her former best friend's dog in the alley. She lunged at him, wrapping her arms around the male's neck, and clinging to him as if her life depended on their closeness.
"Watcher! I'm so glad to see you. I never got to say thank you properly! Thank you for saving me and looking after my reckless decisions!" Eve sobbed in the crook of his neck. The Watcher wrapped his arms around her waist and held Eve tightly. "Never would I have thought that my duties will include hugging our Queen. I'm honoured to be assigned to protect our Queen's future. There is no need for showing your gratitude; it is my job after all." The Watcher smiled, feeling proud that he managed to find Eve so fast. His kind lived within the shadows, the darkest places imaginable, waiting patiently. Until the coronation- most of his sisters and brothers will sleep. All of them slept for centuries, waiting for the next King in line.
"I'm sorry for being a little too emotional. I never got your name; it would be rude to keep calling you The Watcher. I'm Eve, by the way," Eve let go of him and stood back on her feet.
"My apologies, Queen Eve. My name is Anto, but I don't mind being called The Watcher if that's easier for you," the male kneeled in front of her, showing off his ultimate trust.
"Anto, I like that. Now, would you mind telling me a little more about your kind? I'm a bit clueless about creatures out there until I met Eros, I knew only about werewolf existence. I've met the bleeder and you, aside from wolves and pumas," Eve sat back on the bed she had slept on before. Oddly, she had no questions about where exactly she was, the fact that Anto was there made her feel safe. The man was there to protect her, not to hurt or kill her.
"Is there anything particular you'd like to find out, my Queen?" Anto sat on the hardwood floor and looked up at Eve. He looked like a guard dog, admiring his owner.
"I would like to find out more about you, my friend. Who are you? Where do you come from? Do you have any family? As much as you want me to know, really," Eve smiled shyly.
Antos' heart skipped a beat. His Queen just called him a friend. That must mean that Eve sees him as someone close. Anto was doing something right, hoping that he wouldn't fail her trust in the future.
"I come from ancient, dark times- from a world of oblivion. I was born when King Magnus ruled over the kingdom. He killed his sister- Queen Alicia, to take the throne. May Gods take mercy over his soul, may the undead souls pray for him, but that man was evil. My kind, we are not created by Mother Nature, yet she accepted us as her children, hoping for better days to come. I'm not really bad, Queen Eve, I'm just made up of bad things. I was born with a soul that doesn't want to be saved from the darkness. All of us would rather stay in the shadows. It's okay for humans to get startled and be afraid of the dark.”
“But then, when King Magnus died, Mother Nature saved our souls, sending each of us in deep slumber until the real King came. I awakened thirty years ago; since then, I've been looking for our ruler. I've been watching over you for quite a while, from the day when the King found you. Queen Eve, you are a fearless woman, fighting for what's right. It's a pleasure to serve you," Anto spoke with passion, the spark in his eyes made Eve understand how dedicated the man was.
"What's your purpose, exactly? Or are you free and able to do whatever you want? There is nothing I value more than freedom." Eve sighed, feeling bad about what Anto told her. He has been a servant for someone for his whole life, put to sleep for centuries when there was nobody to serve. That doesn't sound like life. For Eve, it seemed like slavery.
"My work is to wait here, in the shadows, to swallow your enemies' souls and tear their hearts apart." Anto grinned, showing off weirdly shaped teeth. The man didn't have canines as werewolves did; most of his teeth looked razor-sharp and dangerous. Eve gulped, thinking about the outcome, if she had to fight one of the Watchers. Anto didn't look like someone person could get scared of, but Eve knew better. From what he told just now- she could understand that he and his whole kind was designed to kill. But why?
"Anto, why, and how were you created?" Eve asked cautiously, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"We were created by witches who worked under King Magnus. After he killed his sister, the throne was his, but holding his place wasn't the simplest task. King knew that he would age, and soon, he wouldn't be able to defend himself if someone got into the castle. He needed something- no, someone, more potent than his guard dogs and witches. So, they created us- creatures, driven by bloodthirst, yet loyal beyond limits. It's like we were programmed to follow someone's lead, serving them blindly. We are children of war, Queen Eve," Anto said, as if he was utterly content with how his life was. How could someone be so calm about such things? Didn't he crave freedom? For his own decisions, mistakes, experience, and a life he had complete control over?
"But... Have you ever craved freedom? Are you okay with the way your life is supposed to be? Doesn't the whole scene sound like enslavement to you?" Eve kept asking more questions, curious about Anto’s true feelings and thoughts.
"I haven't thought of it yet, Queen Eve. I guess it would be nice to have control over my life, but all of us were created with a purpose to serve. My kind is like an upgraded guard dog version," Anto shrugged his shoulders. His eyes never left Eve; the man was obviously earnest about his responsibilities. He watched the human as if he was a hawk. Eve observed Anto, her breath hitched.
"Anto, are you breathing?" she whispered.
"No, I don't have any need for oxygen. Most of my organs are similar to humans, yet we don't have lungs, some of my family members chose to live underwater."
"How about families then? You have brothers and sisters, right? Parents? A partner, maybe love of your life and children?"
Anto laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. His Queen was a wise woman, yet she couldn't catch on to simple details and put two and two together.
"We have partners for breeding. My kind doesn't do families, but yes, I do have sisters, brothers, and parents. We don't feel things you feel, my Queen. Having a heart doesn't mean that it's able to feel or catch any kind of feelings. We feel thirst, hatred, wrath, and any other negative, revengeful emotion humans can think of. We are created for protection and vengeance, nothing more." When Anto explained more details to Eve, she felt sorry for him. Obviously, there was a reason for his existence, but creating a guard and taking any pleasure away from him was low.
"I've watched many cities burn. I've walked over many dead bodies, most caused by me or my kind. I've seen pure, raw destruction and suffering of many people. The world is cruel and dangerous."
"Does that mean that you're..." Eve bit her lip, holding her breath.
"Undead, yes- trapped between the world of the living and dead. A ghost- walking among others, hiding in shadows, waiting for the next assignment to come. I've been in Hell; I know how it feels and looks like there. I am nothing but a weapon created by greed and envy, and I will never be more. Life is what it is, but I assure you that I'm here to look after you- to protect and serve," Anto did sound a little hurt, yet the tone of his voice let Eve believe he had come to accept fate as it is.
"I'm not worried about my safety around you, Anto. I'm troubled about your happiness and the quality of your life. Are you content with it? Don't you think that you deserve more than just a couple of new assignments and orders to kill? I couldn't send you to battle my enemies, if I would have any," Eve tried to reason him. She knew that there is more to life than things you're supposedly created for.
"Oh, but you do." Anto grinned.
"I what?" Eve raised an eyebrow.
"You do have enemies. Two, for now, but more are yet to come. Think of it- a human, soon-to-be the Queen. A seemingly easy targeted person, holding so much power over so many different creatures, including my kind. You have no idea how powerful you are and how much greater you'll grow as the kingdom will hear news about the King's heir," Anto sounded so proud, Eve could nearly imagine him in the role of grandfather. He was old enough to be one, for sure.
"How do you know?"
"I can feel it. Everyone around here can. Shifter or not, most creatures of the night can sense such things. Two heartbeats mean only one thing, especially if one is so much more durable than others, as in your case. I bet it's a girl. A girl would suit you more; sure, you'd like that too.”
"The news came pretty suddenly; I haven't thought about preferred gender yet. The idea of me becoming a mother still feels a bit unreal. I believe that as soon as the bump starts growing, I'll accept the fact." Eve sighed, getting up from the bed again, reaching a hand for Anto, to help him get on his feet.
"Do you want the baby, though?" He stood up without taking even a glance at Eve's hand. He would never accept help when he doesn't need it, even more- from a pregnant woman.
Eve should worry about herself more rather than taking way too many problems on her shoulders.
"Of course! How could I not? It is my child, after all, planned or not- I still love the little bundle of joy. No matter what gender and what kind, my child is my child- period. I will love and protect the baby with everything I have, even though I lost it all. Like a phoenix, I will raise from ashes to protect and provide for our child," her eyes were filled with tears, the woman was struggling to keep them from escaping. She had no intention to appear weak in front of the Watcher.
"Our..." Anto repeated.
"Yes, ours. Mine and Eros, it takes two to get a baby, right? Anto, I don't know what I should do," Eve leaned against him, unknowingly looking for support.
"I don't understand," the man wrapped his arms around Eve, feeling that his Queen is looking for comfort. Antos' seemingly emotionless and, at times, selfish nature couldn't resist the Queen what she wanted.
"How do I tell him about the baby? Should I bother to tell even? I'm scared that if Eros finds out, so will many more people, and there will be more dangerous times. Enemies, more influential than just his mother around my baby. I can't allow anyone to harm my child, and sadly, I don't think that Eros would be able to protect us both. One bad moon and my child might die." The chatter in the room died, tense silence overtaking both of them. The Watcher had already sworn to protect his Queen with his life. His brothers and sisters will stand by the Queen. Anto knew that now he will have to wait until others awaken, feeling the danger King's child was already under. Soon they all will come face to face with Watchers.
"You're right, my Queen. The bad moon is coming."