AUTHOR'S CORNER

I've contemplated doing this for a long time. This story is my first venture into fan fiction. Ever. So do be kind, will you?

Also, I haven't seen or used any elements from Rise of the Lycans because I want this story to be my untainted version of Lucian/Sonja inspired by the FIRST film. This is particularly because I don't like the Sonja I've seen in trailers. If she and Lucian are the rebellious traitors from the start, they lose their appeal as sympathetic victims.

Anyways, here it goes.

He heard her. He needed her. For the first time, he had sifted through the ice that had encased him in many ways and felt it again. Felt her again...

***

It was too cold.

And noisy. In a strange way, at that. Most did not speak much louder than a whisper, but Sonja could hear each vampire annunciate every syllable. She felt trapped in a dark chasm. A deep, hollow cave filled with rubies, lace, and pearly smiles. The extravagance of vampire balls had once amazed her as a child, but as she grew she came to realize it was nothing more than gossip and bland chatter masquerading as importance. She couldn't remember when her adolescent fascination with the pristine, vampire world had died.

"My Sonja," her father's voice called as her approached her with the same grace and august as a tiger, king over his dark jungle and its sulky inhabitants. He gave her what she had called 'Daddy's true face' when she was younger, the only shred of honest warmth anyone would ever see on the vampire leader's face. It was Sonja's and hers alone. His fair hair and skin seemed to be an incredible contrast to his black coat, intricate gold embroidery stretching across his shoulders and down his back like the skin of a prize animal. His tall stature and constant icy blue eyes gave him an intimidating appearance to say the least, though Sonja had been raised by it and had never known to fear it.

"Dearest, wouldn't you at least try to show the slightest shred of interest in our social gatherings?" he asked her with a gentle voice, tucking a lock of her hair carefully behind her ear. His hands felt as though they were covered in a thin layer of a winter morning's frost, both in color and touch. He had obviously just woken from his great sleep, recently replacing Markus as leader of the coven.

"Father, you must be starved. I don't see why you waste your time here with these people," she remarked with an almost too disrespectful tone. The aristocratic vampires had fallen from her favor while under Markus' reign, their greedy mouths lapping up innocent blood...

"You really are too kind, Sonja. If you let it win you over, Amelia will easily usurp you as next in line for the Third."

Sonja wasn't a politician. She had no ambitions of becoming the coven's next great leader, though he father had desired to see her become the first female leader, furthering his control of the clan. It also secured her position in the vampire world so he wouldn't have to constantly worry for her safety while he was away ruling in another province. Their population was growing and spreading, making the families as difficult to rule as the Mongolian empire.

The leaders followed a careful pattern. Spend a few years in one castle until that council is molded to the leader's views and works as flawlessly as the cogs in a master-crafted clock. Once the bureaucracy is air-tight and the council is capable of ruling on its own, they move to the next castle with the greatest need of a stable leadership. It seemed like a system waiting to crack, but it had somehow survived with little trouble through centuries.

"Of course, Father," she replied, her voice crumbling into its more routine submission.

Giving her another earnest smile, he kissed her wrist, a vampire custom, before departing and disappearing into the crowd of rubies, emeralds, and black...

***

"You're getting too old for this." A grumble that somehow managed to escape his Lycan son's ears, eyes glinting with a mischievous light. He was already into his adult years, yet he had managed to evade actually growing up. His younger brothers had already their found mates, one even with a child, but not Lucian. His entire appearance radiated a wild and free glow, almost as if no matter how much clothes he put on to hide it; anyone could recognize the sheer wild in him.

It worried his father. Most lycans with that kind of nature were younglings. An older lycan with an untamed personality would undoubtedly attract trouble and suspicion from their vampire masters. Yet somehow, Lucian had avoided that as well. Though his appearance couldn't help but resonate untamed, his wolfish qualities extended into charm. Well-mannered and with a deep-rooted sense of chivalry and loyalty, he played a good daywatcher for the vampires, and despite their suspicion, no one could deny that Ambrus' son was a dedicated guardian.

He watched as Lucian ascended into the sky, like the winged sun god told in old lycan folklore. Lucian had jumped maybe thirty feet when he landed as if he had only taken one step.

"Won't you join me, Father?" he called across the distance, a teasing smirk lit his warm complexion. Ambrus rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath before attempting the same great leap. Ambrus momentarily felt the great wind of youthful excitement fill his lungs, though it immediately and violently left him when he crashed into his waiting son.

"Graceful landing, if I do say so myself," Ambrus laughed, helping his slightly dazed son up off the floor. They both stared at the sun melting into the horizon, signaling the near-end of their shift. The vampire's ball would have started by now. Lucian had always been curious what festivities the blood-kind enjoyed, but had never been bold enough to disturb their sacred rituals.

"Get home to your mother, boy. I have some things to contemplate," Ambrus commanded, both as a father and as the alpha male of his family. Lycans only disobeyed direct orders from superiors if it was urgent, and feeling no need to be alarmed, Lucian gave a small nod and left his father. He had been needing time for thinking a lot lately.

***

Sonja pulled a painful pin out of her golden-blonde hair, which promptly fell down onto her shoulders once released from its confinement. She strode down familiar corridors alone, having managed to escape the ongoing party. Her dress was the darkest blue, only colors of deep shades allowed, with black beads sewn into the corset. How she hated it. She wanted to wear something rich with color and life, something that could shine in her lightless world.

Additional footsteps echoed in the halls, swiftly approaching behind her. She clenched her fists as her stomach panicked, forgetting to devise some excuse for her abrupt leave. Expecting the agitated face of her disappointed father, she turned and expected the worst, but instead, found the exact opposite.

TO BE CONTINUED

I have breaking off at the point that they meet, but it felt like a good place to stop. I didn't want my first chapter to be too long. R&R, won't you please?