Chapter 2

Drip…Drip…Drip…

Selene awoke to small droplets of water leaking through the rafters of the small wooden room. It took her a few seconds to realize that she was lying on her back on a rather cold examination table God knows where. She blinked sleepily at the bright rays of sunlight that warmed her skin. She smiled at the feeling. Sun. How she longed for it for decades. Selene twisted around, readying herself to get off the harshly cold table, but she cried out in alarm at the pain in her left side. She gasped, falling back onto the table, but this time managing a sitting position.

Selene clutched her side, trying to ease the throbbing sensation. She looked down at herself, seeing that her Death Dealer suit was ripped below her breasts, exposing her stomach; but not completely. It was bound with a thick gauze bandage, slightly tinted with red blood. Michael must of taken care of me last night. Selene thought. But where is he now? She scowled at her sincere and oddly human pain. She had never felt so weak and exposed. She jumped as the door behind her opened, and she instinctively reached for her Berettas, but they weren't there. She whisked off the table and readied for a fight, her side screaming with protest.

Michael froze in the doorway. Then his muscles relaxed. Just Selene. He eyed her cautiously for a few seconds before his eyes dropped to her bloodied bandage. He walked over to her, and he could see the relief in her eyes. What was she so worried about? He wondered. My intrusion? He shook the thought away quickly.

"Selene," Michael started. "You need to keep still." She scowled at him before sitting back onto the examination table. His heart skipped a beat. That was the Selene he knew.

Michael placed his hand on her injured side, taking off the gauze bandage. He jumped slightly as Selene gasped and tensed. He stared at her curiously. Had he hurt her? But he had barely touched her. He stole a quick glance at her face. Luckily, she wasn't looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on her bloodied side, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was trying desperately not to cry out from the pain.

What? Michael thought in a flurry. How…? His heart thudded at the possibility as he slowly unbound Selene's stomach. No..it isn't possible! She's a vampire. His worst thoughts were revealed. He gaped awkwardly at the bloodied mess of her side. Her wound hadn't healed! How is this possible? She should of healed hours ago. And it's still this painful? His mind couldn't come to a conclusion. Michael reached for a damp rag and slowly dabbed at the blood around her wound.

Selene tensed at every movement, and she shuddered. Michael worked in silence, he figured Selene was in too much pain to speak. He heart reached out for her, and he ached at her pain. He wished he could embrace her, comfort her. But he knew that this was Selene, a lethal x-Death Dealer warrior. She needed time to adjust to her new feelings and life. An hour later, Selene was re-bandaged and sleeping soundly on the table again.

Michael ran his hands through his light brown hair. He wiped Selene's blood from his hands and sat in an old wooden chair in the corner. He watched her sleep; she looked so peaceful. His mind screamed for an answer, but he found none. What had happened that night when the Corvinus brothers were killed? What had he missed when he had died? Did something happen to Selene? With a deep curiosity, he suddenly remembered the moment he jumped from the airborne chopper and reunited with Selene.

She had smelt so…strange. She had looked the same, but with some precaution, he had gotten close to her and, yes, it was Selene. But it wasn't her blood. Michael frowned with irritation. Why weren't things simple? He was always confused when it came to this new life and the Underworld. Why had he just thought of that? With a sudden curiosity, he stood from the chair and strode over to Selene's sleeping form.

He gazed down at her perfectly unblemished face, her perfectly sculpted features. He slightly brushed away a thick lock of dark brown hair that covered her left eye. His hand swept over her alarmingly soft alabaster cheek. Selene stirred slightly, and Michael froze. What would her reaction be if she saw me so close..so personal?Then, he let out a soft breath of relief as Selene sighed and lay still. He touched her cheek again, and Michael could of sworn he saw a slight raise to her lips. Selene…