Aiden's Story (A Watcher Novel)

by S. J. West

Justin sat down at my table as if our meeting was a planned one. Yet, perhaps it was from his perspective.

  “You look bored, Aiden,” Justin said knowingly as he watched me push the food on my plate around with little interest in actually eating it for the nourishment of my body. “Scouting out your next true meal?”

  I stared at what Justin was wearing and began to laugh.

  “A bit blasphemous, isn’t it?” I asked, laying my fork down on my plate and sitting back in my chair to take in the full spectacle of him. “Priest robes? Really? Aren’t you the least bit concerned lightning might strike you down at any moment?”

  Justin smiled, showing unnaturally white teeth in that day and age. His white hair was cut short, and the stubble across the lower portion of his face made it apparent he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. As the sun’s rays reflected off the water of the Bosporus behind me, his ice blue eyes appeared to glow with amusement.

  “I don’t think either of us is too concerned about displeasing our father at this point in our lives. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I suppose not,” I said. “Why are you here, Justin? I assume this meeting isn’t just a happy coincidence.”

  “I was wondering if you would like to join a group I’ve formed. I know you’ve been avoiding contact with other Watchers, but those of us who share the same predilections, where the humans are concerned, have come together to form a brotherhood of sorts.”

  “And what exactly does this ‘brotherhood’ of yours do?” I asked, intrigued by the notion that the others would willingly join forces to form an alliance.

  “You’ve been on your own for quite some time now,” Justin noted, making me wonder just how long he had been watching me. “We thought it was time we offered you a position within our ranks.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “We’re simply trying to make Earth a place we all want to actually live in for an eternity.” Justin leaned forward and spoke in a low voice so he wouldn’t be overheard by the other patrons. “I’m sure you’ve learned how susceptible humans can be to a little bit of guidance in the right direction. It doesn’t take much to bend them to your will if you whisper the right combination of words into their ears.”

  Justin was right, of course. I already knew how receptive humans were to the power of suggestion. For some, it only took a few words of encouragement. For others, a little faith and ego boosting did the trick.

  “And what exactly would I have to do to become a part of this little group of yours?”

  “The occasional assignment here and there,” Justin said off-handedly. “I’m sure I can find ones that suit your particular talents well.”

  “And what do these assignments accomplish?” I queried, finding the notion interesting enough to see where it would all lead.

  “Wealth and power, of course,” Justin replied. “If we’re going to be living here forever, I don’t see why we can’t do it in style.”

  “Wealth is easy enough to come by,” I noted.

  And it was true. I could go almost anywhere and steal anything I wanted. Why did I need the help of the other Watchers to do that?

  “But wouldn’t it be more of a challenge to actually make the humans give it to you of their own free will instead of stealing it from them? Manipulation can have its own reward. I find their adoration quite cute in a way. All some humans seem to want is for someone to believe in them. If you can become that person and be someone they can fully trust, then they will worship you for the rest of their short, pitiful lives. We can act as their guides through the ways of the world and show them how to lead fulfilling lives.”

  “As long as I get what I want, I really don’t care if they feel fulfilled or not,” I told him.

  “Then do it for whatever reason best fills the emptiness inside you,” Justin told me. “I know you feel it. We all do. Some of us more than others.”

  The woman and man I had been watching stood from their table preparing to leave. I knew I would lose track of them if I didn’t end my conversation with Justin quickly.

  “I suppose you’ve come here with an assignment already in mind for me,” I said, knowing someone like Justin wouldn’t just show up without having a plan already set into place.

  “Yes,” Justin said with a pleased look on his face. “I have a position ready for you inside Sultan Murad’s household. You would become one of his personal bodyguards if you choose to side with us.”

  “And why would the sultan just accept a complete stranger into his household to protect him?” I scoffed.

  “We have people already in place there. Baruch is prepared to make a position for you whenever you’re ready.”

  I did remember Baruch. He was part of God’s Vanguard, but we only interacted during practice matches and battles. He wasn’t someone I called friend. Though, there was really only one person at that point in my life who I considered as a friend, Desmond. Even after all that I had done after our fall, Desmond never gave up on me. Secretly, a part of me didn’t want him to. If he thought I was someone worth spending time trying to save, maybe there was a spark of hope I would one day find my way back to who I was.

  “Fine,” I said, standing up from the table and laying down some money to pay for my uneaten meal. “Where should I meet him?”

  “Come here tomorrow and I will have Baruch meet you,” Justin told me.

  “And where will you be?”

  “Oh, I’ll be going back to the Vatican in Rome,” Justin said. “Someone has to keep a leash on Malcolm.”

  “Malcolm?” I asked, not having seen him in quite some time. “What is he doing at the Vatican?”

  “He’s known as Cardinal Devereaux there, and he’s been fornicating his way through the lovely ladies of the aristocracy to gain more power. At least, that’s his excuse. I’m sure he’s just having fun playing their jealousies against one another. Women flock to him like butterflies to a flower for some reason.”

  “And if he gets a royal pregnant?” I asked.

  “Then that one mysteriously disappears. Malcolm doesn’t want to curse another child of his with the transformation. Though, if he did, his position with us would be higher in the ranks.”

  “I assume you’re the leader of this little group you’ve assembled.”

  Justin smiled. “Yes. Then there’s Robert. He’s second in command.”

  “And what’s he doing?”

  “Oh, he’s involved in a little project I have going in Germany at the moment.”

  I noticed the woman and man walk out the door of the restaurant.

  “I’ve got to go,” I told Justin. “I’ll meet Baruch here tomorrow at noon.”

  “I will let him know,” Justin said, sounding pleased. “I think you’ll find that we have a lot to offer you, Aiden. I’m glad you’re joining us.”

  I nodded curtly to Justin and dashed out the door of the restaurant to find a meal that would truly satisfy my hunger.

  The next day I went back to the restaurant and found Baruch waiting for me.

  “It’s been a long time, Aiden,” Baruch said, holding out his hand to me as I joined him. “I’m glad to see you’re uniting with us.”

  “I’m bored,” I admitted. “I can’t think of much else to do here that would be of much interest to me. So tell me, do you gain any satisfaction working for Justin?”

  I sat down across from Baruch as he retook his seat.

  “I wouldn’t exactly say I was working for him,” Baruch replied, appearing not to like the way I worded my question.

  “You go where he says to go, right?”

  Baruch nodded.

  “Then I don’t see how you can think of it any other way.”

  Baruch still looked troubled by the implication.

  “What exactly is it that we’re supposed to do for the sultan?” I asked. “What’s the point of us being there?”

  “The Ottoman Empires is one of the most far reaching powers on Earth at the moment. We keep an eye on the s
ultan’s plans and find moments we can take advantage of to help steer humanity further into chaos.”

  “To what end?”

  Baruch shrugged. “I don’t know. You would have to ask Justin. Personally, I just find it fun. The more chaos there is the more wars are fought. I like to fight. I know it’s one of your favorite past times, considering how many wars you’ve been involved in during the past few centuries.”

  “Not much else to do here,” I said with a shrug. “Though, it gets aggravating having to hold back against the humans so I don’t draw too much attention to myself.”

  “Yes, I know what you mean,” Baruch agreed, crossing his arms over his chest. “But, now that you’re with us, maybe we can have some fun. We get together every so often for a friendly competition against one another.”

  “What sort of competition?” I asked, intrigued by the possibility of fighting against my peers.

  “An all-out brawl,” Baruch replied with a grin. “It helps release some built up aggression. You don’t have to hold back your abilities with us. With you added into the mix now, it’ll make the match much more interesting. I know it’ll make Malcolm happy.”

  “Why is that?”

  “He usually wins, but I think he secretly wishes one of us could beat him. Now, he’ll have a challenge, which will mean more to him than winning.”

  The prospect of being able to fight my fellow angels excited me more than I cared to admit.

  “So, how exactly did you manage to secure me a spot as one of the sultan’s bodyguards?” I asked.

  “I told him you were an immortal like me,” Baruch answered, shrugging as if it was no big deal to reveal such a secret to a human.

  “You did what?” I asked in disbelief. “And what exactly did you have to do to prove that small miracle?”

  “I let him cut off my head,” Baruch replied. “When I came back to life, he was convinced I was what I claimed to be.”

  “Is he going to ask to cut my head off too for proof?”

  Baruch chuckled. “No. He trusts us.”

  “Us? Who else is there?”

  “Brutus. He’s been there with me for a while now, but he’s decided our mission isn’t one he wants for himself anymore. He’s planning to go live on some isolated island off the coast of Greece so he can forge his weapons. You’ll be taking his place by my side to serve the sultan.”

  “When do I start?”

  “Today,” Baruch said, leaving his untouched meal on the table as he stood up. “We should probably go there now. We’re staying in the city of Gallipoli at the moment.”

  Baruch phased us into what would be our living quarters while staying in Gallipoli.

  “Since we have special needs,” Baruch said, “the sultan allows us to live away from the other Janissaries.”

  “I thought the Janissary corps was made up of young slave boys. I don’t think you or I could ever be mistaken for boys.”

  “The sultan simply tells people that we were trained somewhere else, not with the others. No one questions his word. Now, follow me and I’ll show you to your room.”

  Baruch walked into the bedroom off to the right and went directly to a wardrobe standing against the wall opposite the bed. He took out a red and green Janissary uniform. In the pile of clothing was a pair of red baggy trousers, a white linen shirt, a green long-sleeved overcoat, and a sash, which was worn wound over the shirt and could be used to store money and a dagger. The Janissary headgear is probably one of the most distinctive pieces of clothing belonging to a fighting force. The hat was composed of a piece of tubular white felt that was folded over and hung down the back to the waist.

  “Get dressed and I’ll introduce you to the sultan,” Baruch told me as he left me alone in my room to do just that.

  After I dressed, I went back out to the general living area in our quarters.

  “Exactly how much does the sultan know about our special needs, as you put it?” I asked Baruch.

  “He knows we prefer human blood over food,” Baruch told me. “And he provides us with the sustenance we need whenever we need it. So, you don’t have to go out and hunt your meals down anymore. They will be provided for you.”

  “But that takes away half the fun,” I complained.

  “I know,” Baruch said with a sigh, telling me he also enjoyed the thrill of the chase. “But, it makes the sultan happy to think he’s providing for us. Follow me. It’s time for me to introduce you to Sultan Murad before his scheduled meeting begins.”

  Baruch escorted me through the building to the sultan’s salon. Sultan Murad II was in his late thirties when I first met him. He was dressed in gold robes and sitting on a plush golden throne. He wasn’t a handsome man, and his girth was evidence of his prosperity. He wore a white turban on his head and the lower portion of his face was covered with a long brown beard. His dark, beady little eyes watched me with keen interest as I entered the room and stood before him.

  Baruch bowed slightly at the waist as he said, “Sultan Murad, I would like to introduce you to my brother, Aiden. He will be taking Brutus’ place.”

  Murad looked me up and down appraisingly.

  “And why does he not bow to me?” Murad asked rather haughtily.

  “I bow to no one, and I kneel to no one,” I told Murad. “If you’re looking for a slave, then I might as well leave now. If you’re looking for someone who can help you win wars and keep you alive, then I suggest you keep me close by your side.”

  Murad studied me for a moment longer before he nodded his head approvingly.

  “Perhaps if I had had you in the battle near the Danube, I wouldn’t be having the meeting I’m about to have today,” he finally said. “Come. I would like you both to stand by my side while I greet our guests.”

  Baruch and I stood on either side of the sultan’s throne as the doors to the room were opened. A distinguished gentleman walked in with two young boys following behind him. One boy looked to be in his early teens and the other not even ten years of age yet.

  As they stood before the sultan, they all bowed to him.

  “You are the only one I summoned who had the gumption to actually show up, Dragon,” Murad said angrily. “I do not like being defied so blatantly.”

  “I cannot speak for the others,” the man said in all humbleness. “But I hope you appreciate my coming here today and heeding your command, Sultan Murad. I do not wish to have you as an enemy. I would rather we stayed on friendly terms with each other.”

  “Wallachia is more mine than it is yours,” Murad said snidely. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

  The ruler of Wallachia reluctantly nodded his head.

  “I hope our yearly tribute of gold shows how much we respect you, Sultan Murad. I even brought my two sons with me today so they too can see what a fair and just ruler you are.”

  Sultan Murad lifted his chin up a notch as he looked down his nose at the two boys standing in front of him. The older boy looked at him in defiance. The younger one cowered under the sultan’s glare.

  “I appreciate your loyalty,” the sultan said slowly. “But, I believe the terms of our agreement will need to be…renegotiated.”

  I watched as the man’s body stiffened as he stared hard at Sultan Murad.

  “Your summons said this meeting was under the banner of truce.”

  “And so it will be if you do as I say.” The sultan looked at Baruch. “Escort Prince Vlad to his chambers until I have set the conditions for his release.” The sultan looked at me. “You take the boys to the room over there,” he instructed with a nod to an adjacent room, “until I decide what I want to do with them.”

  “I did not come here today to be held captive by you,” Prince Vlad said. “Let me take my sons and return home. We will do whatever you command of us.”

  “That is not for you to decide,” Murad said heatedly, not liking being talked back to. “I will let you know at a time of my own choosing what is to become of you and your sons. Now, do as I say o
r I will slay all three of you where you stand and there will be nothing left to discuss!”

  The Prince of Wallachia hurriedly knelt down in front of his eldest son as Baruch and I approached them.

  “Do whatever they tell you to do,” he told his son. “You are the eldest and must keep an eye on Radu while you’re here. Hopefully, the sultan and I can come to terms quickly, and he will allow you to come home with me.”

  “Don’t fear for us, father,” the oldest son said, holding his head up. “The Lord will protect us.”

  I faltered in my steps when I heard the boy make his proclamation. It wasn’t just his words but the conviction with which he said them. My anger towards my father had been simmering just below the surface for thousands of years, just waiting for something to bring it to a full boil. I didn’t want to focus that rage onto a child, but in that moment, it was.

  I grabbed the two boys by the back of their coat collars and hauled them out of the room and into the adjacent one.

  “Be strong, Vlad!” His father called out to him as I shut the door.

  I don’t know how much you have read about the history of Vlad the Impaler. He and his brother, Radu, became the sultan’s hostages in order to keep his father, Vlad II, in line and loyal. It’s ironic that I had any dealings with him, considering he was the one who Bram Stoker based his vampire story on.

  While they were prisoners of the sultan, Vlad and Radu were moved to the Turkish capital city of Edirne. Being the sons of a nobleman allowed them the privilege of being treated better than ordinary prisoners. They were well educated in the palace in all aspects of math, science, and combat. Radu was young and his mind pliable. He was a handsome boy and well-liked by many. Vlad, on the other hand, was belligerent in his attitude towards the Turks. He proved to be much smarter and far more cunning than his brother. He was quick to anger, which led to quarrels with his teachers and anyone else in authority he came into contact with. Because of this fact, he ended up being flogged on a regular basis.

  I was the one who disciplined him the most. I wish I could tell you I didn’t enjoy it, but I did. I liked making him suffer because he kept to his faith and believed God would save him one day. He prayed to my father after each flogging, but he never received a reply. I could have told him not to waste his breath. It would have done him more good to keep the air in his lungs than use it to pray to a God who didn’t care.