Chapter 2

Amelia laid her head on the edge of the bed. "Why was so stupid? Why couldn't I stand up to him? How could he have gotten away with doing anything to me?" She shook her head and laid it back on the edge of the bed.

The door opened silently. "Perhaps I jumped too quickly to conclusions" a male voice said. Amelia turned.

"Markus?" she asked, hopefully. She couldn't see him beyond the curtains around her bed.

"Yes" He came into view. "I'm sorry. I knew that you had been forced to help Viktor but even when you told me that I couldn't-I'm sorry. I just was so…angry. I made Viktor! Every he has is thanks to me!"

Amelia nodded. Markus pulled her off the ground. "I'm sorry too, my lord." This was when he noticed something…A knife was stuck squarely in her chest.

"AMELIA!" he cried. He mouthed wordlessly. "Who?"

"Me" she said, swallowing. She clung to him and he lifted her up. "Please don't blame me. I'm old and I'm tired"

Markus shook his head. "HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Amelia shook her head but he didn't listen. He shoved open the door and carried her down the hall. "SOMEONE HELP ME!" Viktor came in from the other end of the hall.

"What are you yelling about?"

Markus shoved Amelia's bleeding body in his direction. "This!"

"What?" Viktor gripped Amelia's arm. "Amelia?!" Her eyes fluttered.

Sonja came from behind Viktor. She gasped. "Lady Amelia" she called, rushing forward.

"Stop…drawing…attention…Markus" Amelia gasped. "Let me….die…in peace."

"You're not dying today Amelia" Viktor said, taking her in his arms and carrying her to the thrown room, which was the just to the left. Viktor laid her on the stone table that was in the middle of the room.

"Why….do you…care…some much….Viktor?" Amelia spat, bringing up blood as she tried to breathe.

"Markus, come here" Viktor called. Markus walked to the side of the table and Sonja closed the door. "Hold her" he ordered. Markus held her down at the shoulders and Sonja petted her hair.

"Don't die on me" Sonja whispered in Amelia's ear. "I need you!"

"Who did this Amelia?" Viktor asked gripping the hilt of the knife carefully, with both hands.

"She did it herself" Markus whispered.

Viktor looked up at him suddenly. "What?" He yanked the blade out quite mercilessly, causing Amelia to scream. Markus slit his wrist and bled his blood onto the wound. It sizzled and closed.

"How could you be so stupid!" yelled Viktor yelled, waving the knife about.

Lycans watched from the bars of there cage.

Viktor pointed at Amelia. "You lecture me on being stupid and now you-you put this blade," He held the blade up in front of her nose. "Into your chest!" He paused to throw the blade against the wall, causing Sonja to jump. "Ruining a quite beautiful chest and…nearly killing yourself."

"I would do anything to get away from you" Amelia said, standing up, fully healed. "And why do you care!" Tears were beginning to make there way down her face. "You practically threatened me into harming William" She rose to her full height. "What does it matter to you if I die?"

"Amelia, I never threatened you" Viktor walked towards her and took a hold of her shoulders. "I just needed you on my side" he said in a whisper right in her ear. He turned to the other two. "No one knows of this…no one. We put this all behind us. All of this." Though what 'This' was, remained unspoken. Everyone knew what he meant. The part about: Viktor sneaking around; William…and Markus attachment to him and Amelia's attempted suicide.

Everyone nodded. But they didn't think about the single Lycan who still stood behind the bars. Sonja met his eyes and smiled. He smiled back before disappearing.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A few years pasted and life seemed normal. No Lycan attacks since William's capture and nothing really eventful happened.

Markus was on his way to Amelia's chambers and about to knock, when he heard a desperate and familiar voice.

"Please, Amelia, you must help me" the voice begged. It was the voice of Sonja. "I love him and he loves me-"

"You know it is forbidden" Amelia's voice said, in a sharp whisper.

"I cannot help how my heart feels"

Amelia sighed. "Have you already wed?"

"Of course. I would never disgrace my father…"

"Well then you must keep it secret. Let no one know!" There was a pause. "Do you understand?"

"What about Markus?"

"What about him?"

"Couldn't I tell him? He loves his brother thru this…maybe he'll understand. He may very well understand how I love Lucian because of his love for William." Markus clutched the door.

"Sonja…you must not speak that name. Your father will kill you for it. Do not give him reason."

"Please…Amelia, please. You understand! Markus loves you. I know this! Perhaps you can-"

"I will not use his love for me to twist him" Amelia's voice cut Sonja off.

Markus could take no more. He opened the door. Amelia and Sonja stood in the middle of the room. Both jumped as the door opened. Markus shut the door. "What are you two whispering about?" he asked, walking over to them.

Sonja looked subdued and stared at the ground. Amelia looked at Sonja then Markus. "I-we-"

"Who is Lucian?" Markus asked, looking between the women.

Sonja looked up hopefully and gripped his arms. "Lucian is my love. My husband but…" She glanced at Amelia, who nodded. "But he is a Lycan." She paused and then continued in a rush. "I thought maybe because of your love for William even though he was a Lycan perhaps you could understand my love." Sonja bit her lip as she waited for a response.

Markus merely looked her in the eyes and whispered, "Do not test your father."

"But if you stood up…if both of you stood up and said that you thought it was-"

"He would kill" Markus said, flatly.

"He cannot kill you!" Sonja said, franticly.

It was Markus turn to sound franticly and grip her shoulders. "But he could kill Amelia." The fear in his eyes told that he couldn't bare the loss.

Sonja dropped her eyes and nodded. "I had hoped…but I understand. It isn't fair for me to ask you to give up your love for mine."

"I do agree with you" Markus said, taking her hand. "I do understand your love, Sonja. But your father doesn't agree. And for now…his word is law."

Amelia hugged the young vampiress. "See him in secret. Keep it silent. Tell no one of your marriage." She paused and looked at Markus. "We shall keep your secret and help all we can but we will not test Viktor's anger."

Sonja nodded. "Thank you" She slipped out of the room.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Amelia!" Markus yelled running into her room. It was just after sunrise. "AMELIA!"

She sat up. "What is it?" She said, climbing from bed.

"Sonja tried to escape with Lucian. She was pregnant and Viktor now knows. He has condemned her to death for it." Markus was shaking as he held Amelia.

Amelia shook her head in disbelieve and ran to the thrown room. Viktor and the council stood out side of the doors. She pushed through them and opened the doors; Markus on her heels.

"Amelia" Viktor warned but she paid him no heed. She ran in to see Sonja tied to a pillar and a Lycan, whom she could only guess was Lucian, on the ground and a Vampire whipping him.

"Stop this" Amelia cried. "Stop this instant!" The vampire stopped for a moment and looked up. As did Lucian and the Lycans watching from behind the bars.

"Amelia" Sonja cried. Amelia ran for her when a heavy blow hit her in the back of the head. She let out a quiet gasp and she hit the ground.

"That was not necessary, Viktor" Markus yelled, running to Amelia's unconscious and bleeding body.

"My word is law and she," Viktor yelled, pointing to his daughter, "Broke that law."

"And so you shall kill her?" Markus lifted Amelia off the ground. Her blood stained the ground where she had landed.

"Yes" Viktor said. "Now put Amelia to bed and let me deal with this." A group of guards led Markus to Amelia's room where they left them.