The Queen and the King. And a Necklace of the new female God of the Amazons

Dracula stood in front of the mirror and nervously tugged at his robe while his wife sat on the bed and watched him with a grin. Selina and he had just returned from Gotham and had barely arrived when one of the Amazons announced that the Queen was seeking an audience. This news had made her husband more nervous than the whole trouble in Gotham. It was fascinating to see how such a powerful being could be so easily flustered.

"Shall I tell the queen you'll be late?" she grinned, and Dracula looked at her in horror.

"My dear, I hope that was one of your newfangled jokes, wasn't it?"

"Who knows. Maybe!" Selina just grinned broadly and stood up. "Relax Vlad. She's certainly not here to pick a fight with you. After all, she's your most important ally on the island. And as far as I know, you've always obeyed her laws."

"I did...but my Wife?" sighed Vlad, making Selina laugh.

"Then they should just guard their great stuff better!" she grinned broadly and hugged her husband. "But don't worry dearest! I would never drive a wedge between you and sometimes I even return the stuff! every now and then... at least I take it upon myself to do so!" she finally admitted meekly and then laughed again.

"What do you think the queen wants from me?" Dracula finally asked, tugging his suit into place one last time and presenting himself to her. As she made final adjustments to his suit, she smiled at him.

"I'm sure she just wants to talk to an old comrade in arms. You're probably the last being she knows from her homeland besides the gods, and probably the only man she respects."

"Respects?" he asked with a laugh, and she added.

"Tolerates! And now stop worrying. I also promise I won't bother you. I plan to return to Gotham anyway. Then you can prepare for the battle in peace and spend some time with the queen."

"Prepare for the fight? It's just for the masses...a.... what do you call it? Public Relation?"

"Darling. Bruce... will fight you just as fiercely as he did five years ago. He doesn't care if it's for charity or not. He wants to compete with you because he still feels like he lost 5 years ago."

"Mhm." Dracula only replied and went to the window from where he had a magnificent view of the island of the Amazons. In the bright sunlight he could understand why many called this island Paradis Island. He had to agree with Selina. He might never have been able to beat Bruce at chess, but 5 years ago it had looked different. And if he was honest, he felt the same as Bruce. He wanted to finally find out which of them was the stronger. It had taken the two of them 5 years to set the stage for such a fight until they were finally both satisfied.

While his wife left the estate, Dracula watched as an Amazon longship approached his castle. Besides the natural defenses of the fortress, only Dinah was left in the castle. Talia had used the time in America to check on her son, who was probably now wearing the mantle of Batman, and Zatanna had not been back to the castle for several days. However, he did not believe the queen would attack without an official declaration of war. And even if so. The queen and her Amazons may have been capable warriors, but they possessed no magical powers and were no match in a fight. Only the Queen's daughter, Diana, was of divine blood and thus theoretically capable of keeping up with him.

Finally, he went to the throne room and took a seat on his throne. As expected, shortly after, the queen entered with an entourage of 2 warrior women who left the room again at her beckoning. So, it was not a declaration of war.

Delighted, he eyed the eternally young queen, who was still as beautiful as she had been 4 millennia ago. She wore a snow-white robe that had been made by master hands and besides the golden bracers that every Amazon wore, she had a silver tiara and an elaborate necklace that was forged of gold and precious stones of all kinds. This necklace somehow seemed a little out of place, because it did not seem Greek. However, the Amazons were no longer confined to their island. Apparently, the urge for jewelry was timeless and cross-country. He had to admit that the necklace was very beautiful and well suited to the queen.

"Lord Tepes? That's what you call yourselves nowadays, isn't it?" the queen smiled, radiating the strength he was used to from her. But something also irritated him about her. Perhaps he just sensed the reason for her presence.

"Queen Hippolyta. You are welcome to call me Khaine. Just like the good old days, when everything was simpler and more relaxed."

"Simpler and more relaxed? Only a man can say that." Said the queen calmly but firmly, and Dracula smirked as he apologized.

"Forgive my choice of words your highness. I meant the absence of all those pesky gadgets my wives have brought to this castle."

"You mean smartphones?" asked Hippolyta curiously, and when he nodded, she smirked. "Under the circumstances, I can understand your words much better. My daughter also gave me one of those devilish things. It is ... disturbing how much they depend on this device."

"May I ask what gives me the honor of this visit?" asked Dracula carefully trying for the right tone, earning a gentle smile.

"Can it be that you are nervous?"

"No? Why? I am visited by a queen who wants nothing more to do with men, and at her call a whole army comes to meet me... why should I be nervous?"

"I can reassure you Lord Khaine. I have no intention of declaring war on you and even if it is true that I have withdrawn from the world of men, you are an honorable man. One among a billion... maybe more. On the other hand, you're not such a real man anymore, are you?" the queen said calmly and Dracula raised his brow.

"So, I'm not a man anymore? What am I then?"

"More than a man. Even back then you fought like a god, and my daughter said you've gotten even stronger. Anyway, she was impressed by your abilities. To be perfectly honest. I'm just here because I wanted to see how you are doing here. There was some friction with my Amazons and I wanted to find out what happened."

"Frictions? What did my wife... oh... you mean because of the man who is staying with me as a guest?"

"That's exactly why. Artemis was not pleased with how you handled her. However, you have not disobeyed my orders so far and yet..." she said slowly and stretched and Dracula continued.

"Are you not sure if you have done the right thing? I will linger here as long as I have your permission. If I am no longer welcome, or if it causes you trouble, I will leave immediately and without resistance." He said kindly and Hippolyta smiled in understanding.

"I know you will. You were always a man of honor and helped us in battle back then without any need, simply because you thought it was the right thing to do. You were one of the main reasons why I never started a war all these centuries. A beacon and proof that men can be different. That's why I'm so sorry to visit you in the sunlight. I heard you could bear it, but it would weaken you, no?" she asked, visibly worried.

"It diminishes my strength, that is true, but do not worry." He smiled and Hippolyta put her hand on her chest, seemingly relieved. Nervously she played a little with the necklace and Dracula noticed with fascination how perfectly the gems were cut. They were gorgeous colors just refracted by the gems and flashed in his eyes. For a moment, he actually caught himself staring at the queen's breasts and cleared his throat in embarrassment.

"I assume you were just admiring the necklace, right?" she laughed, amused. "Otherwise, I guess I'd have to take back some of my previous statements."

"Yes. I noticed the necklace earlier. It's not from your old home, is it?"

"No. It's a gift. A gift that I received only recently. I liked it so much that I saved it for special occasions." She smiled and ran her hand over the necklace again, sliding a finger over the gemstones. "And I must confess it pleases me that you recognize the beauty of the necklace." She smiled and Dracula nodded. She had really shown good taste with this necklace. It could well have been Dinah's. His youngest bride had developed exquisite taste in jewelry and clothing. And something about this necklace looked familiar to him.

The way the light broke into the gemstone was interesting and beautiful to look at.

"And you're sure I won't disturb you? When your strength is weakened during the day? Isn't it much more pleasant to move at night? It must be really exhausting to be awake during the day? How is it? Are you just tired or do you feel exhausted?" the queen asked in a soft voice while slowly moving in and out. The lifting and lowering of her breasts only made the gems sparkle even more beautifully.

Dracula nodded with a smile while his gaze strangely kept looking at the sparkling gems. It was almost as if his eyes were drawn to Hippolyta's jewel again and again. His eyes flashed magically for a moment as he looked at the room magically. He knew for a fact that the queen had no hypnotic powers, so if this fascination he felt for the necklace was something supernatural, it could only be magic of the gods. However, he could not perceive any divine magic or the like. The only thing that could be seen, as always, was the vampiric magic of the castle that was just everywhere. Thus, he could be reassured. It was probably only his dullness that made him see enemies where there were none. The queen was quite right in her concern. He really felt dull today. It was more than the simple weakness of the sunlight. He felt tired and his mind felt a little like it was wrapped in a sponge. The queen's voice snapped him out of these strange thoughts.

"Lord Khaine? It seems you are in thought. Perhaps I can help to bring you to other thoughts." Said the queen worriedly and raised her hand whereupon her 2 guards took their places behind her and slowly began to move prancingly. The movements of the two were graceful, slow and of a grace that was unparalleled. They moved almost in a sensual way right and left behind the queen. He looked confusedly back and forth between the three women. Something was wrong here, but his mind felt numb.

"Lord Khaine. You need to rest. I heard about the fight you will have against Batman. You will need all your strength for that fight. Therefore, you should definitely rest a little longer. My daughter said that he will not spare you." Said the queen calmly and put one hand under the necklace to lift it a little. With the other hand she opened the clasp in her neck and lifted the necklace right in front of her face, turning it slightly back and forth.

"I've heard that before today." Said Dracula, trying to remember who had told him that, but it just wouldn't come to him.

"Then it must be true. You just need to relax some more...rest. Relax yourself. So that you have all your strength available for the fight. And that's why you should rest a little now. You're home, you're safe. Nothing can happen to you here. This is the place where you are always safe and where no one wants to harm you. This is the place where you can rest. Where you don't have to be vigilant."

Slowly but surely Dracula nodded to these words that echoed deep in his mind. He was perfectly safe here, and the queen was right. He needed to get some rest. In 3 days, he would fight Bruce again and even if it was only a show fight it didn't mean he could take it on his light shoulders.

Hippolyta watched as the Prince of Darkness slowly but surely relaxed and his eyes were almost only on the chain. Just as the Goddess of Night had prophesied to her. She was the tool of the one true Goddess and she would carry out her orders. Loyalty and honor had become meaningless to Hippolyta. There was only complete obedience to the goddess of the Amazons. Soon all Amazons would welcome the new religion and then she herself would receive the gift that the High Priestess had already received. It had come just as the goddess had predicted. The trust that Dracula had had in her had been his weakness. Now it was time to exploit that weakness for the good of Goddess Dinah.

"That's it, Khaine. Relax... rest... it's all good... you're safe here... you can finally rest and relax. My warriors and I will make sure that you can relax... You can put yourself completely in my hands... You know that you are the only man I would never betray... The trust between us has grown on the battlefield..." she said and slowly rose. With careful steps she came closer to Dracula and knelt down directly in front of him, now holding the chain directly between her eyes and slowly swinging it back and forth. "That's it Khaine. Relax... take a deep breath... exhale calmly... All worries leave your body. You can finally relax... completely relax. Let me help you Khaine. Let my voice guide you. I can help you to relax... you just have to concentrate on my voice!" said the queen of Amazons calmly and noted with satisfaction how the eyes of the powerful vampire followed the chain back and forth.

She saw Dinah step out of an adjoining room and smile with satisfaction. She had been watching the queen's attempt closely and had planned everything carefully. She had bundled all her hypnotic powers into this one artifact and thus surprised Dracula. It had been clear to her that he would always be on his guard if he expected his opponent to play with such tricks, but this was not the case with the queen. She was neither magically gifted nor skilled in these arts and thus not an obvious threat to Dracula. On top of that, she had chosen this time of day because of the vampires' natural weakness during the day. The fact that Dracula was distracted by the upcoming tournament made things even easier for her. It was the riskiest game Dinah had played so far, but the stakes were worth it. She was incapable of harming her lord, of course he had seen to that, but that was not her intention. All that mattered to her here was the power itself. The intoxicating feeling of absolute control. And the sight of a hypnotized Dracula was like a drug for her. By now she had understood why there were always three women at Dracula's side.

Each of them embodied an aspect of his soul, while Selina was the anchor for his humanity. Conversely, this also meant that Talia, Zatanna and she herself had each internalized an aspect of his power. But that did not mean that the women could be superior to him. Even in their best moments, they were at best his equals. The only exception was Talia. Her physical abilities were almost equal to Dracula's, but her father's brutal training had given Talia abilities that even someone like Dracula didn't have. Selina had to grin as she thought back to a training fight a year ago. Dracula's face had been unforgettable when he had to admit that his own wife had become a better warrior than he was. And at that very moment it was Dinah who had surpassed her master. She had won.

Slowly she stepped out of the shadows and smiled diabolically. The queen looked at her for a moment and then turned her head back to Dracula and slowly spoke to him. With her gentle voice, she led the mind deeper and deeper into the spell.