Legacy of the Watchers Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Nancy Madore

  But the Olympians were still severely outnumbered. They would have no choice but to bring in other Nephilim from the outside. And as for the Nephilim, they would have done anything to get in. As an Olympian, they would no longer have to struggle to find a way back into this world after death. Nor would they require a body to exist in, but could live freely among men in their spirit forms. As long as their souls were not captured by the Titans, they could live on this earth forever.

  To protect the Olympian souls from being captured, Zeus crafted a special staff from the lava of the volcano. In what would become an unforgivable slight in the eyes of Poseidon, Zeus gave this staff to Hades, along with the secrets of the volcano. Hades could now save—or capture, as he saw fit—immortal souls.

  When the body of an Olympian warrior was slain, it was Hades’ job to ensure that their soul emerged safely from the volcano. From there, the soul could take another body from which to fight the Titans, or resume fighting in its spirit form. Most of them chose the former, especially during the war, because their souls were always in danger of being captured while outside a body—though they were much more vulnerable in those first few moments after death.

  In addition to protecting the Olympian souls—which was Hades first and highest objective—he was also tasked with capturing the souls of the fallen Titans and trapping them in Tartarus.

  In light of this new war against the Titans, the battle against the Nephilim race was practically forgotten, as was the crusade to protect the sons of men. This new war between the gods was about freedom and power, and the cost to fight the war was human flesh. They needed bodies to fight in. When one body fell, another was donned, much like a suit of armor. The flesh was irrelevant. They were fighting for their souls.

  Though the Nephilim were leery of these gods that were sent here to destroy them, they couldn’t help being drawn to them as well. It wasn’t just their ability to return with such ease after death, though this certainly appealed to them. But even more alluring was the freedom with which they could exist as Olympians. They would no longer have to hide what they were. They could take any form they liked, spirit or flesh, and not only be accepted, but be worshipped as a god. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. The Nephilim came in droves to compete for the chance to become an Olympian god.

  Poseidon resented this inclusion of the Nephilim race into his birthright. He felt it lowered his status as a true Olympian, even as it elevated the position of the Nephilim. Though he understood the Olympian army’s need for more warriors, he didn’t see why the outsiders had to be made into gods. He felt it was enough of a reward to be spared the fate of their race. They could fight or go to Tartarus, where they belonged. The years of indoctrination remained with him. The Nephilim were inferior. The Olympians risked their future by joining with them—for weren’t they the very ones that Uranus was sent here to destroy? Who was Zeus, to suddenly decide that they were gods? Did he think he was more powerful than the Supreme Ones?

  Poseidon decided to seek answers from the source. He found Uranus on his tiny island near the volcano. Uranus was in his angelic form, having never bothered to create another body for himself after Cronus destroyed the original.

  Poseidon was a little surprised—and even disappointed—by his grandfather’s appearance. He had expected something a little more remarkable in the father of all gods. But Uranus’ appearance was less impressive than the lowliest creature here on earth. It certainly did not compare to the brilliance of the immortals’ souls. But then again, there was nothing on earth like the souls of the immortals. They were something to behold! And no two were alike. Poseidon had always believed that they must have gotten them from their spirit father, but now he wondered if they didn’t come from their earth mother, Gaia. It made sense, once he thought about it, because, although their souls were fantastic, every aspect of them resembled a creature of earth.

  The immortals took great pride in their souls, and to see it for the very first time was a great consolation for that first, tragic death. Like most of the immortals, Poseidon looked forward to it, for he knew instinctively that his soul would be brilliant.

  The spirit of Uranus bore no resemblance to anything existing on this earth. And, though Uranus was the only angel that Poseidon had ever seen, he had the distinct impression that this was how they all looked. He stared at the sallow, almost sickly, skin and the thin, shapeless body in disgust. He was repulsed by the enormous eyes, which were as black as night and seemed to see beyond what was visually apparent.

  “Couldn’t you have created another body from the volcano?” asked Poseidon, unable to hide his revulsion.

  “I can create any form I wish to take,” replied Uranus, “from that of an ant to the mightiest lion.” His large eyes observed Poseidon impassively. “For the present, I prefer to be free of the corruptive influences of this earth.”

  “Then why remain here?” asked Poseidon.

  “Why indeed!” said Uranus. “I cannot go back home. Not while I remain in disgrace.”

  “Then it is as I thought,” said Poseidon. “You do not approve of my brother’s actions.”

  “No,” said Uranus. “I do not approve. But I understand why he is doing it. You cannot defeat the Titans without assistance.”

  “Give me the secret for capturing souls,” said Poseidon, “and I will fill Tartarus to overflowing.”

  Uranus seemed pleased by Poseidon’s words. “The secret of Tartarus is forbidden to creatures of this earth,” he told his grandson regretfully. “Even the immortals.”

  “Then why was it bestowed upon Zeus?” demanded Poseidon.

  “I underestimated the earth woman, Gaia,” admitted Uranus. “I grew weak with the flesh, and was careless. That is my disgrace.”

  “Then we are lost!” cried Poseidon.

  “No,” said Uranus. “I will give you an even greater power with which to wage war against the Titans. But you will have to relinquish your earthly body to acquire it.”

  Despite the many years of fighting Nephilim, Poseidon was one of the few Olympians who still had his original body. It was a good body, which had served him well. But his desire for power was greater than his love for his body. And he knew that it was only a matter of time before he would lose it to the Titans anyway. This way, he would be prepared for the next loss, and better equipped to save his own soul when that time came.

  Poseidon agreed to the terms, and Uranus went into the volcano and emerged with an enormous trident that he had crafted from the lava within.

  “Take this,” he said, “and no matter what happens, do not let go of it. Even in death, do not let it go.”

  “I will not let it go,” promised Poseidon.

  “It will be very painful,” warned Uranus. “But if you let go of the trident, it will have been for nothing.”

  Then Uranus began to speak in a language that Poseidon had never heard before. It was very different from the languages used here on earth, but it was not entirely unpleasant to Poseidon’s ears. And though it was unfamiliar, Poseidon found that he understood the words that were being spoken. They were a supplication for authority over the elements of the earth, and they filled Poseidon with wild exhilaration. He focused all of his energy on the trident in his hand, visualizing the power that it would bring him.

  Suddenly the trident came alive, as if by some invisible force. It began to vibrate and glow. As the vibrating grew stronger, the trident grew hotter—and it kept getting hotter still, until it was throbbing and seething like the volcano from which it came. Poseidon saw that it was scalding his hand, but he didn’t let go. He brought up his second hand, howling in pain when it came in contact with the smoldering trident. It was agony, but Poseidon held on with both hands. His flesh was giving way, and yet the trident just kept getting hotter and hotter. The heat was now moving up his arms, and radiating through his entire body. The pain was unbearable.

  It felt like an eternity as Poseidon waited for his body to die. Finally, wit
h a wail of pure anguish, he clutched the trident to his body, scalding it to the core. At last his corpse fell to the ground, even as his soul rose up above it. He looked down at the unrecognizable blob that was once such a great warrior and uttered a piercing cry that seemed to make the island tremble. Then he turned expectantly toward Uranus, who simply nodded his head in approval.

  Poseidon was suddenly aware of his soul. He stared down in amazement at the eight massive tentacles that stretched out in all directions. Yes, he thought, excited by what he saw. This is right! Then he saw the trident, firmly clutched in his right hand, almost as if it were fused there permanently. It was still glowing and vibrating, though Poseidon hardly noticed it now. It was a part of him, like a limb. Using his other hand, he felt his face, and was pleased to find that it was similar to the one he’d had in the flesh.

  Poseidon could not have been more satisfied. His soul was much more impressive than any of the others that he had seen. It seemed to reflect what he had known all along; that he was a great and mighty god. And now he had the trident.

  “Come,” said Uranus, “that I may show you your kingdom and this power I have bestowed upon you.”

  Poseidon followed his grandfather into the sea and beheld a world more beautiful than any he had seen before. He marveled over the vast and colorful creatures that dwelled underwater. He saw the volcano and gazed into its fiery depths, wondering again how the souls of the doomed were kept there.

  Uranus took Poseidon even further out to sea to instruct him on how to use the trident. Poseidon’s expectations were high, but even he was surprised when, under Uranus’ guidance, he pointed the trident and the ocean floor began to shake. It felt as if the earth would break in two! Poseidon sprung up out of the water and was amazed to see that it was rising with him. It rose higher and higher, even as the skies darkened overhead. He watched the storm that followed in astonishment.

  Poseidon was pleased. With this power, he would be even mightier than Zeus. He returned to Mount Olympus, proud of his soul and the attention it was getting.

  “You will need a body to fight in,” Zeus told him.

  “No, brother,” countered Poseidon. “Unlike you, I do not need a body to fight in.” And to prove his words, he leveled his trident at the ground and focused all of his energy on that point. He thrilled inwardly as the earth began to tremble. Zeus and the other Olympians gasped, first in alarm and then in amazement.

  “Stop!” cried Zeus. Poseidon obeyed, but only to aim his trident at some clouds that were overhead. After a moment they turned dark and thunderous.

  Zeus turned to his older brother in astonishment. “Indeed, you are right,” he agreed. “You do not need a body to fight!”

  The Olympians were ready for war.

  Chapter 25

  Long Island, New York

  “Wow!” exclaimed Gordon. “This is just…wow!”

  Gordon, Clive and Nadia were sitting around the living-room of her father’s beach house and, for the first time since she lost her father, it wasn’t painful for Nadia to be there.

  “This is big,” agreed Clive. “Bigger than anything we’ve encountered before!”

  “I can’t believe these Others set out to breed their own race of Nephilim in order to kill the children of the Watchers,” said Nadia. She couldn’t quite bring herself to use Poseidon’s term of ‘Supreme Ones.’ “Did Poseidon’s description of Uranus ring any bells for you guys?”

  Gordon nodded. “We always suspected that angels and aliens were one and the same,” he said. “The different forms they take are what make it so confusing.”

  “Exactly,” said Clive. “If they come as a beautiful human with wings, they seem godly. If they take the form of a snake, they seem evil. If they appear as themselves, they’re alien.”

  “The question is; why do they come here?” said Gordon. “Is there a creator who put them in charge of us or are they coming here on their own?”

  “How about the volcano,” said Clive. “Sounds like some kind of talisman to me.”

  “It’s definitely possible,” said Gordon. “The lava inside volcanoes can contain high levels of metals—including copper and iron.”

  “It would explain how Zeus turned ordinary Nephilim into Olympians,” said Clive. “He must’ve found a way to bind their souls to the volcano, just like we bind them to the rings.”

  “Yeah, but what about the souls that were trapped inside the volcano, in Tartarus?” asked Nadia.

  “That, too, is similar to how a ring would work,” said Gordon. “One spell makes them disappear—forever, if you want—and another spell makes them appear.”

  “That makes sense,” she said. “And if no one is openly controlling them, maybe they think they’re free.”

  “Maybe they are free,” said Gordon. “It’s just like Lilith…remember? Once she took her ring from Asmodeous she was, in a sense, free. She was still tied to the ring, obviously, but since she was the one in possession of it, she was in control.”

  “That would explain why their souls returned to the volcano after their bodies died,” said Clive. “They were returning to the talisman their soul was tied to. It’s probably the same for a djinn that’s bound to a ring. Just like if the body of Benderman had died, Poseidon would’ve returned to Wessler’s ring.”

  “You’re right!” exclaimed Gordon. “If their soul is tied to a talisman here, it wouldn’t have to fight to get back from that parallel world.”

  “I wonder how many djinn have figured this out,” said Clive. “Knowing this, it would almost make sense for a djinn to put himself in a ring.”

  “No muss, no fuss,” said Gordon. “They lose a body, their soul comes back to wherever they hid the ring. They could come and go as they please.”

  “No one could stop them,” agreed Clive.

  “Unless…,” Gordon was staring at Clive thoughtfully. “I wonder what would happen if someone captured them in a second ring.”

  It took Nadia a minute to realize where this was leading. “You mean…my father!” she cried. “Do you think that’s why you couldn’t get him out of the ring?”

  “I don’t know,” said Gordon. “But it would certainly explain why he’s there but we can’t quite get at him.”

  Clive nodded. “He could be caught between two rings.”

  “So Lilith…?” Nadia was having trouble keeping up.

  “Asmodeous could’ve told her where he stashed that first ring when he was instructing her,” said Gordon. “Now that she’s got the second ring from us….” He let the thought hang there.

  Nadia closed her eyes. Her mind was spinning.

  “It’s getting late,” said Clive. “Sasha’s making me dinner tonight. She’ll have my neck if I’m not on time.”

  “It’s good that you have your priorities straight,” said Gordon.

  “Oh my goodness!” cried Nadia, jumping up. “I’m supposed to meet Will!”

  “How’s it going with Will?” asked Clive. “Are you managing all right?”

  “It’s a little awkward,” she said. “I don’t like lying to him.”

  “We’re just trying to find out the truth,” said Gordon. “There shouldn’t be anything wrong with that.”

  “I know,” said Nadia. “It’s what comes after we find out the truth that scares me.”

  “Let’s not go there yet,” said Clive. “We’re taking this one step at a time, remember?”

  “Are we?” she asked, in a sudden moment of clarity. “Do either of you have any doubts in your mind about what’s happening here? Because it seems pretty clear to me.”

  Clive and Gordon exchanged glances. “What’s clear to you?” asked Clive.

  “That regardless of who—or what—is behind it, our government is waging environmental warfare on an unsuspecting country,” she replied.

  “Now hold on a minute,” said Gordon. “We don’t know that our government is doing any such thing. I’m willing to bet that neither Congress nor the presid
ent know anything about this. In fact, I doubt anyone at the Department of Defense knows about it either, now that Wessler’s dead. I believe we’re looking at ten individuals who are using and abusing a system that was put in place to protect this country. Our government would want to stop this as much as we do.”

  “By covering it up?” she asked. “The DOD set up the system these individuals are using and abusing. And in doing so, they have endangered us all!”

  “Nadia, the public can’t know everything that goes on in the defense department,” said Gordon.

  “Yes, but someone should!” she said. “Someone should be policing these top secret organizations. They have access to unconscionable power and they are virtually monitoring themselves! Either the DOD’s in on it or they’re too stupid to protect our country!”

  Gordon and Clive just stared at Nadia in astonishment. She was a little astonished herself. Something had taken hold of her. After a moment, she realized it was anger. The fear, the grief and everything else she’d been feeling had suddenly turned hard and unforgiving. Her sense of justice demanded retribution.

  “What are you saying?” asked Gordon.

  “I don’t know…yet,” she said. And it was true. She had no idea what she was saying…or thinking. All she knew was that she was mad as hell. “I guess for the moment, I resent the fact that we have to do all this in secret—like we’re the ones who have something to hide. We should be able to go to the DOD with what we have without fear of being silenced!”

  Gordon and Clive looked at each other again.

  “Don’t worry,” she said disgustedly. “I’m not going to the DOD. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from spending time with you guys, it’s to be afraid of the men who are supposed to protect me!”