Author's note: I do not, in any way shape or form, own any of the Underworld characters. If I did, Lucian and Raze would be alive and kicking vampire butt. I only own the character of Anya.

Prologue

Cachtice, Hungary 1402

Anya anxiously paced the halls of Cachtice Castle. Her father, Baron Casmir Janosh, had been gone only a few days, but she was a nervous mess. She had begged him not to go see Lord Viktor himself, as he did not have his tribute prepared. She ardently argued that it would be madness to arrive with no tribute and that the powerful lord would not tolerate such an insult.

"He will not understand father!" She had pleaded fervently.

"Those blasted creatures have overrun the mines!!! Lord Viktor must be informed. How can he expect me to pay him tribute when he offers no protection?" Her father fumed, his face turning crimson with his anger. They had already had this discussion many times. His fifteen year old daughter had managed to dissuade him from openly defying Viktor many times before, but the recent attacks on the mines had been the last straw for the proud nobleman.

"Father please, you have heard the stories about them. That place is cursed. They are not human, father. God knows what Lord Viktor will do to you if you rebel!!!" Anya'svoice trembled with the strength of her emotions. Her tears overflowed and fell, but she did not heed them. She stared at her father intently with dark, pleading eyes.

Janosh was moved deeply by his daughter's emotional plea. His anger diminished and he gave her a sad little smile.

"I know its difficult darling, but you must be strong for me. Viktor cannot be allowed to continue this way. My priority is to protect you, my only family, and I cannot do that if he continues to bleed me dry!" His voice had risen again, but he checked himself and sighed deeply. "I love you more than anything my little Anya, but I must do what must be done."

With a sob, Anya had stumbled into her father's arms. She had a terrible foreboding, but she knew she could not win this argument. Her father had made up his mind. There was no more she could do. She had held him all the harder for it.

As she walked to her rooms, she prayed that her fears had been misguided. Her father had reassured her that everything would be fine and eventually she had believed him. He had held her for hours until she was calm enough to let go. Afterwards, she had tried to convince herself that her father would, indeed, be fine. Lord Viktor could not possibly hurt her father; he had been ever loyal in years past. No man could be so heartless. That was what made her pause. If the stories were true, then Viktor was no man. She shuddered as she began to ready herself for bed. Could it be possible that Castle Corvinus was inhabited by creatures of the night? By vampires? She thought of that as she blew out the candles in her room and went to her bed. That night she slept not a wink for terror. All she could think of was her father, alone, and facing the evil of Castle Corvinus. Only later would she find out that at that very moment, Lord Viktor was throwing her frightened father into a wall, and to his death. That night she had, unknowingly, become the Baroness Anya of Cachtice. And Viktor . . . well let's just say he had just sealed his fate.

Budapest, Hungary 1402

Lucian screamed in pain as he was lashed repeatedly and mercilessly in the back. His beloved wife, Sonja, wept openly as she saw her lover being tortured cruelly by her own people. Her father stood by, his face impassive as watched his former pet writhe in agony. When he gave the signal, Soren the Death Dealer stopped in mid-lash. He and the counsel members walked solemnly out of the death chamber. Viktor lingered in the doorway, turning partially to look at his only daughter. He clenched his fist then walked away, barely containing his emotions.

Sonja's gaze remained fixed on Lucian's defeated form in front of her. She knew her time had come. Soon the blasted death chamber would be filled with sunlight, and being a vampire, she knew she could not survive this. Sonja had been resolved to confront her fate with dignity and honor. But at the last minute her will wavered and she began to tremble. Deep, groaning sounds echoed in the room as an iron hatch in the ceiling was slowly being opened. A speck of sunlight hurt her eyes and she whimpered in terror. Lucian, looking up for the first time since the flogging, screamed at her desperately.

"No Sonja, look at me. Keep your eyes on me!"He strained against the wretched chains that held him fast. "I love you", he declared, his eyes wide with the horror of what was to come.

"As I love you", Sonja responded. She knew, with every fiber of her being, that this was true. Whatever happened that day, their love would transcend it all. She was calmer now, ready to meet her doom. She had no regrets but one; that her unborn child had to perish with her. Sonja looked at the ceiling once more, and felt the burning sunlight wash over her icy skin. She felt the pain of it briefly and then there was nothing. Sonja was no more. Her only legacy was the in the screaming Lycan before her charred corpse. Lucian howled the name of his beloved, mourning for her and their unborn child.

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In a castle far away, the young baroness was being informed of her father's demise. She crumpled to the ground, grief washing over her body. Anya screamed in anguish and, just for a moment, joined Lucian in his ghostly lament.