Breaking the Covenant
Chapter 1: The New Death Dealer in Town
Elizabeta got out of the black car and watched as it drove off down the gravel driveway. She turned and looked towards the manor and sighed. She didn't like being summoned to this manor, but she had to answer the call when it came. She knew a lot about the awakening ceremony and had been summoned to help direct the ceremony to awaken Markus. Sometimes she hated being the daughter of a regent. Her mother would be coming to the manor in a few days, but had urged Elizabeta to arrive days before her to make sure everything was ready. Elizabeta reluctantly agreed. The last time she had come to the manor, she had been hounded by Kraven. Her mother had told her to be polite to the pompous fool, but Elizabeta was disgusted by him. He had been left in charge while Viktor was asleep and fancied himself to be a ladies' man and had convinced himself that he could woo her. She looked up and saw Kraven emerging from the manor to greet her. The very sight of him made her skin crawl and the way he looked at her only made things worse.
Kraven approached the petite vampiress standing in the driveway. It had been a long time since he had last seen her, but she was still as beautiful as she had been all those years ago. Her green eyes watched him carefully and she nervously pushed some of her long black hair behind her ear while adjusting the bag on her shoulder. She was wearing a white button up shirt, black slacks, and black patent leather heels. His eyes drifted to her chest and he could faintly see the lines of brassiere underneath. He wondered what color it was and how long it would be before he'd get to see it.
"Elizabeta," he said as he took her hand and shook it firmly, "It's been a long time."
She smiled and let him kiss her cheek even if the feel of his lips on her skin disgusted her.
"Yes, it has been," she said politely, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."
"You are actually a few hours early," he said, "We weren't expecting you until near daybreak."
"I always try to arrive early. I apologize if I was too early for your liking."
"No, no. It's a pleasant surprise," he said as he pressed her hand in his, "Would you like to sit and chat over a drink before you get started on the preparations?"
Elizabeta felt her skin crawl once more at his suggestion. She could hear her mother's voice in her head reminding her that a match with Kraven would further her placement in the vampire world. The union of a regent and the daughter of a regent would ensure that both parties would remain in power. He was also the one who killed the leader of the lycan rebellion after all. He was a hero to the vampires and being his lover, or even his wife, would make her like a queen. She swallowed her disgust and smiled charmingly. She could see his features soften at her smile and his posture relax. Elizabeta had a talent of charming those around her by appearing meek and polite. She wanted nothing more than to punch Kraven in the face and break his nose.
"A drink sounds lovely," she said sweetly, "thank you for your hospitality, Kraven."
Just saying his name made her feel disgusted.
Kraven wrapped an arm around her waist, much to Elizabeta's displeasure, and led her into the manor.
Elizabeta sipped on her glass of blood while Kraven spoke about all that had happened at the manor since the last time she had visited. She found the conversation to be dreadfully dull, but pretended to listen to be polite.
"How has your mother been?" he finally asked.
Elizabeta snapped to attention and made sure she made eye contact with him. His eyes were for once looking at her face and not her chest.
"Mother is doing well," she said, "She is eager to see you again."
She didn't entirely understand her mother's eagerness to see Kraven again, but she had a sneaking suspicion as to a possible reason for her excitement. Whatever it was, it wasn't good for Elizabeta.
"I am eager to see her once more as well," he said, "There is something that I wish to discuss with her."
She felt an icy pit grow in her stomach. Oh no. That wasn't good.
"Do you mind me asking what your topic of conversation with her might be?" she gently pried.
Kraven took a sip of his drink and set his glass down.
"It's time that I find a queen," he said, "and I have tried to form an arrangement with another woman, but she doesn't see eye to eye with me."
Elizabeta felt pity for that vampiress and found that she couldn't blame her at all for refusing him. She sank back slightly in her chair as he stared at her.
"I always found you to be more beautiful than her anyway," he said before rising from his seat, which caused Elizabeta to sink back further into her chair.
"I'm flattered by your compliment, Kraven," she said, "But I don't understand where you're going with this."
Kraven walked towards her and stood over her, so she was forced to crane her head back to look up at him. He no doubt felt powerful doing that to her.
"I wanted to ask your mother for her blessing."
Elizabeta's heart skipped a beat and she clenched the wooden arms of her chair.
"Her blessing?" she asked, "What are you intending to do?"
Kraven took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"I intend to make you my queen," he said.
Elizabeta couldn't stop her nails from embedding themselves in the wooden arm of the chair.
"You have a sensible head on your shoulders, Elizabeta. I'm sure you realize just how beneficial a union with me would be to you and your mother."
She was more than aware of the power she would gain. Anything she wanted would be hers and her mother as well as Kraven would be ensured to remain in power. She could hear her mother's voice in her head screaming at her to accept his offer. Kraven watched her expectantly and he had a smug look on his face. No doubt he was thinking that the meek little Elizabeta wouldn't refuse his proposal.
"I-I don't know what to say."
"Accept," he said as he squeezed her hand in his, "I can give you more than any other vampire could."
She knew that he was telling the truth, but she didn't like that his statement was true. She also knew that there wouldn't be any love in their union or that it would be one-sided at the very least. Perhaps it would even be based on nothing but Kraven's lust for her. Her mother would no doubt tell her that the love would grow, but Elizabeta wasn't so sure. Kraven disgusted her to her very core and just the thought of being his wife made her want to go stand out in the sunlight and burn herself to death.
"I need some time to think," she finally said, "It's a lot to take in. I'm only the humble daughter of a regent after all. I'm not used to the attentions of such a powerful vampire. I need to consider if I am truly ready to marry at my young age."
She made sure to stroke his ego to remain on his good side. She had seen Kraven angry before and she didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.
Kraven squeezed her hand tighter, obviously not pleased with her answer.
"You are not as young as you believe you are. You are of the age to marry. Besides, I have had my eye on you since you were a child. I could tell that you would grow to be a beautiful woman."
Elizabeta's stomach churned at his words. He had sexualized her when she was a child? She remembered him playing games with her when her mother had brought her to the manor when she was very young. Knowing that he was thinking about what she would grow up to look like and considering marrying her disgusted her beyond words.
"You flatter me again," she lied, "I just need to prepare myself for you, Kraven. I never dreamed to be asked to be the wife of the slayer of Lucian. It is a great honor that I need time to comprehend."
Kraven grinned as she stroked his ego once more. Elizabeta knew she was digging her own grave by continuing to be polite to him, but she had no choice. It was either be polite to him or anger him to the point of violence.
"I will give you time to consider my proposal," he said with a grin, "Your mother will no doubt give me her blessing when I ask her. You have three days to think it over before I gain Markus' approval and propose to you once more."
He was no doubt planning on doing it before all of the elders and Markus, so that she would be pressured to say yes. He certainly wasn't a stupid man. Pompous, but not stupid.
Elizabeta nodded her head and gently removed her hand from his grasp.
"I understand," she said, "I thank you for having chosen me to propose to. It is an honor to be considered."
Kraven rested his hand on her head and ran his fingers through her dark hair.
"I eagerly await your answer, Elizabeta."
She shut her eyes as his fingers went to her cheek and traced the lines of her jaw. She felt his breath on her face as he leaned in close. She hurriedly put her fingers to his lips and gently pushed him away.
"I'm sorry," she said, "But I can't just yet. It's all too much to comprehend at once."
He pushed her fingers away and grasped her chin roughly between his fingers.
"I just want a taste," he said before leaning in once more.
Elizabeta panicked internally. She couldn't force him away. Kraven was much older and stronger than her and his temper was something to fear. She shut her eyes tightly, so she didn't have to see his face as he kissed her. His lips roughly pressed against hers and he cupped the back of her head. Elizabeta kept her lips tightly shut as his tongue pressed against them. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of a true kiss. He pulled away after what felt like an eternity and Elizabeta couldn't help but cover her mouth.
Kraven grinned and ran his fingers down her neck and rested his fingers on the button of her blouse. He undid one button to expose her cleavage as Elizabeta watched unable to do anything.
"Three days, Elizabeta," he reminded her, "Try not to get too distracted by your duties. I would like to spend some time with you to help you decide."
Elizabeta rubbed at her lips with the back of her hand as she walked down the halls towards her room. She could still feel his lips on her skin and wanted nothing more than to scrub her skin raw. Elizabeta had to move out of the way of a troupe of Death Dealers walking down the hallway. One of them broke off and grabbed her by the arm.
"If you continue to rub at it, you'll draw blood."
Elizabeta smiled as she recognized the voice.
"Selene, it's been too long."
"You look upset, Beta. What is the matter?"
Elizabeta looked down the hallway both ways before beckoning for Selene to follow her. She led her friend to the guest room she was staying in and locked the door behind them. She threw her bag on the bed and groaned.
"Selene, kill me now. Mother is going to hound me when she gets here."
"What happened?" the vampiress asked as her eyebrows furrowed together.
Elizabeta began to pace around the room nervously.
"Kraven asked me to be his queen."
She didn't expect Selene to sigh in relief.
"Well that's horrible news for you, but good news for me."
Elizabeta looked at her friend in surprise.
"You're the vampiress who rejected him?"
"Yes. You couldn't expect me to become tied down to him, could you?"
"No, I don't expect anything less from you. However, I'm pretty sure that he won't take being rejected twice very well."
"If your mother will even let you decide for yourself that is," Selene said as she folded her arms over her chest.
Selene had a point. Elizabeta's mother was known to be very, if not extremely, controlling of her daughter's life. There was no doubt that Elizabeta's mother would force her to marry Kraven.
"I don't know what to do, Selene. Maybe I should run away, find myself a man, and elope with him."
Selene grinned and shook her head.
"Your mother would disown you."
"That's the point!"
"When does your mother arrive?"
"In two days or less. I'm sure that Kraven would have sent word to her about his intentions and she will hurry to the manor to kiss his feet."
Selene rolled her eyes as she pictured Elizabeta's mother fawning over Kraven and playing to his expectations.
"Your mother disgusts me," she said honestly.
"Sometimes I have to agree with you. Do you know what he told me in an attempt to win me over?"
Selene cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.
"I can't even begin to imagine with him."
"He said that when he was playing with me when I was a child, he was thinking about what I would look like grown up."
Selene stared in surprise.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! Why would I make that up?"
"I believe you," her friend assured her, "I'm just surprised that he'd stoop that low."
"I'm not," Elizabeta said, "Nothing he does surprises me anymore."
Selene stayed to chat with Elizabeta for a while before getting up to leave.
"Selene," Elizabeta said as her friend walked towards the door, "do you want to go out on the town with me? I need to let off some steam."
Selene shook her head.
"Wish I could, Beta, but I have something I need to take care of. Lycans were following a human."
Elizabeta tilted her head.
"Lycans were following a human," she repeated, "Why would they do something like that?"
"I don't know," her friend admitted, "that's what I'm going to try to figure out."
"Good luck to you. I'll certainly miss you while I grind up on some guy."
Selene grinned and left the room.
Elizabeta immediately got dressed for a night out clubbing and sneakily left her room. She tried to walk down the hallway quietly and prayed that she wouldn't run into Kraven.
Unfortunately, her prayers were not answered. Kraven rounded the corner and it took everything Elizabeta had not to turn and run like a coward. He stopped dead in his tracks and ran his eyes up and down her body. She regretted wearing nothing but a tight black latex dress and platform heels.
"Going somewhere?" he asked as he stalked towards her.
"Just going out on the town," she said, "I wanted to see how much the city has changed since the last time I was here."
"Dressed so enticingly?"
Kraven wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in close to him. Elizabeta dropped her purse to the ground in surprise.
"I think you're trying to seduce me," he breathed in her ear as he ran his hand down her back, "are you, my queen?"
Elizabeta couldn't take it anymore. She had had enough of being polite and meek for one night. She shoved him roughly away and he stumbled back a few steps.
"I'm not your queen yet," she reminded him in a firm voice, "And if you must know, I wanted to go dancing alone. I'm sure that because I am a guest I am allowed to come and go as I please as long as it is within reason and doesn't endanger the coven. Am I wrong?"
Kraven's jaw twitched. Elizabeta had hit him where it hurt. He couldn't detain her due to jealousy because Elizabeta was sure that even her mother would be displeased with Kraven's behavior. He took a few hurried steps toward her and gripped her by the back of her head.
"Don't even think about going home with another man," he hissed, "I will know."
"I don't plan on it, regent," she lied, "I just want to dance."
He let go of her and stalked off.
"Return before sunrise or else you'll be trapped outside," he called over his shoulder.
Elizabeta didn't answer him. She picked up her purse and angrily stormed off down the hallway.