Disclaimer: I don't own the movie "Underworld", its characters or plot concept.
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An Alternate Future
Chapter Two
A pale woman in white met them on the stone steps of the courtyard. Behind her, the great doors were thrown open like a gaping mouth. In its shadows, Nemea could just make out the outline of her forefather. Yet, even without him there, the memories he had left her father were enough to tell who the woman was. Smiling at the sight of them, she enveloped the blonde boy in a tight embrace. He struggled in show, but it was clear the two were close.
"You were gone long. The sun is almost upon us. ...Did you wander off again?"
At her chiding smile, the boy had the grace to bow his head.
"Oh, Sacha. Things are dangerous now. Some of the lycans have become rabid."
"We know, Princess," Kahn interjected with a low bow. "His Highness encountered one."
"She saved me," Sacha said excitedly, dragging Nemea forward to meet his sister.
"You have the gratitude of our household,..." The fair-haired woman waited for a name.
"Nemea. My name is Nemea."
"Thank you, Nemea." The woman smiled and bowed her head. "I am Sacha's sister, Sonja."
Even as Nemea bowed her head in turn, she felt the wary eyes on her. Not only the watcher in the shadows, but the woman before her as well. She would have to be very careful of what she did from then on. As a female warrior, she was a curiousity to them. It was only expected that they be cautious of her.
"Welcome to our home."
Sonja stepped aside and led the way with a lit taper in her hand. They walked torch-lit corridors with no windows, until they reached a grand hall. A roaring fire warmed the hearth and lit up the entire room with its glow. A u-shaped table extended down three walls. The latter were covered with rich tapestries, the former with a bounty of food. Straw covered the stone floor where domesticated wolves curled up at their master's feet. The imposing figure himself sat atop a dais at the center of his court. Vampire nobles and their human pets filled the table, while the lycan vassals stood by the walls with pitchers of drink and dishes of the next course.
It spoke much of their composure that they did not let her presence disturb them. Rather, they waited for their liege to speak. The personage in question continued to hold out his goblet as it was filled. Afterwards, he brought it to his lips and looked to his children.
"We have a guest amongst us."
"The lady Nemea saved Sacha from a rabid lycan," said Sonja.
"An event which would not have occurred in the first place if he had stayed with his escort...or they with him."
A piercing look was sent at the latter with their bowed heads. The dark-skinned leader stepped forward and spoke.
"My apologies, Majesty. I take full responsibility for the threat on his Highness' life."
"As I expect you to. ...I trust that you will not disappoint me a second time, Kahn?"
"I would not dare to do so, Majesty."
"I should hope not. ...So, mi'lady," the vampire lord drawled the word with veiled sarcasm. "It seems I owe you my gratitude. An heir is not something easy to replace."
Sacha came forward at his father's beckoning hand and went to stand beside him. The vampire ran his hand through the boy's golden locks and continued to study Nemea.
"They are as rare as a woman warrior in these parts," he continued. "In fact, I believe you are the first of your kind. ...But, where are my manners?" He smiled at Sonja.
"Let her sit at your side, daughter. And after she has supped, she may tell us her tale."
"Come."
Sonja smiled and motioned towards an empty seat near the dais. Another chair and table setting was brought to the table, and the two sat down to eat. As she brought her goblet near, Nemea could smell the intoxicating aroma of fresh blood. She forced herself to control her sips. Now was not the time to surrender to the heady richness of true human blood. As the feast went on, she planned her story in her head, drawing together the last strings of one she'd weaved long ago. She had not planned to use it then, but there had been a lot things she hadn't planned to happen. Still, it was no use thinking of the past, though it may be the future of those she sat with. She had to remember why she was there.
In time, the vassals drew near to clear the table. By then, they'd regained their human features, a sign that the moon had been replaced by its fiery counterpart. Just behind her, Nemea had even caught a glimpse of the one who had Turned her father. His eyes had been on Sonja, but sensing her gaze, he met her eyes for a brief moment. Then, he cast them to the ground in subservience. It was difficult to forget that in this time the lycans were truly slaves at the beck and call of their vampire masters. Nemea shook her head.
"So, are you ready to entertain us?" Viktor asked, disrupting her thoughts.
"I am no minstrel, mi'lord," Nemea coolly retorted.
At her insolence, the vampire lord actually smiled.
"A true warrior, but with a woman's face and name. You've fire in you. ...Just be careful that it does not burn you."
His smile did not quite reach his eyes as he spoke. In response, Nemea forced herself to bow her head in assent. Although she hated the one who'd betrayed her mother's trust, she had to tolerate him for the sake of what she had to do.
"Your name," he continued. "Nemea. The Lady of Nemea, goddess of that same town, daughter of Zeus and Selene. ...A lady's name for a soldier? How quaint."
"My mother chose it for me. ...Her name was Selene."
"I thought so. Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon."
"Yes. ...She was a vampire, as was my father."
And that was partly true.
"What happened to them?"
"They were killed because of what they were."
Killed by the likes of you.
"So, you have travelled the land all this time?"
"I have."
"Well, you are welcome to stay here from now on. It is the least I can offer you in return for my son's life. You could even be his nursemaid if you are so inclined," Viktor laughed. "Let us see how skilled you are then. Not many can keep a hold on this will-o-wisp."
"But, I have no need of a nursemaid," the boy sleepily protested.
"No," Viktor assented. "You need a firm hand and an iron collar."
The vampire lord turned to arch an eyebrow at Nemea.
"So, what of it? You are welcome to stay in either case. But, are you up to the task?"
"I am."
"Good."
The man smiled smugly, having been certain from the start that he'd get his way. Then, he rose from his seat and nodded to his court.
"Good morning."
And with that, he disappeared behind the curtain at the back of his chair. Two members of the court followed him. At the sight of them, Nemea had to rein in a surge of anger. Kraven and Soren. She longed to spill their blood, but she knew better. The last thing she needed was to call unnecessary attention to herself, and killing Viktor's right-hand man was a sure way of doing just that. Remember, she rebuked herself. Remember your purpose.
"Nemea."
She turned to find a concerned Sonja. The woman must have wondered at the look in her eyes. So, Nemea forced herself to smile and rose to join the other woman. Sacha leaned against his sister, already sleeping. The blonde turned to her faithful shadow and he took the boy into his arms. With her hands free, Sonja smiled and beckoned at Nemea. The dark-haired woman followed the odd trio down several corridors. As she followed the glowing candlelight, she committed to memory the twists and turns of the palace. Finally, they reached the family's sleeping quarters. Nemea guessed a heavy door at the end of the hall to belong to Viktor. There were only two other doors in the place. Nemea was surprised when Sonja gestured for her to follow through one of them.
"What is behind the other door?"
"My mother's room."
"I see."
Sonja led the way to a windowless room. It was average-sized, but its ceiling was high and had the constellations painted on it in gold. A canopied bed almost filled the place. It was there that the lycan gently laid down Sacha. He drew back, and Sonja brushed past him to give her brother a kiss. Then, she turned to Nemea with a smile and pointed to one side of the room. There was a small door there.
"It leads to a small room with a cot. You will be comfortable there. But, if you need anything, you can tell me when night falls. My room is just across. But, be careful not to surprise Lucian. He takes the matter of my safety quite seriously." She smiled at the lycan as if that was humorous. He remained stoic.
"I will be fine. Thank you, mi'lady."
Another beatific smile and then, Nemea was alone in the darkness.
-----
An Alternate Future
Chapter Two
A pale woman in white met them on the stone steps of the courtyard. Behind her, the great doors were thrown open like a gaping mouth. In its shadows, Nemea could just make out the outline of her forefather. Yet, even without him there, the memories he had left her father were enough to tell who the woman was. Smiling at the sight of them, she enveloped the blonde boy in a tight embrace. He struggled in show, but it was clear the two were close.
"You were gone long. The sun is almost upon us. ...Did you wander off again?"
At her chiding smile, the boy had the grace to bow his head.
"Oh, Sacha. Things are dangerous now. Some of the lycans have become rabid."
"We know, Princess," Kahn interjected with a low bow. "His Highness encountered one."
"She saved me," Sacha said excitedly, dragging Nemea forward to meet his sister.
"You have the gratitude of our household,..." The fair-haired woman waited for a name.
"Nemea. My name is Nemea."
"Thank you, Nemea." The woman smiled and bowed her head. "I am Sacha's sister, Sonja."
Even as Nemea bowed her head in turn, she felt the wary eyes on her. Not only the watcher in the shadows, but the woman before her as well. She would have to be very careful of what she did from then on. As a female warrior, she was a curiousity to them. It was only expected that they be cautious of her.
"Welcome to our home."
Sonja stepped aside and led the way with a lit taper in her hand. They walked torch-lit corridors with no windows, until they reached a grand hall. A roaring fire warmed the hearth and lit up the entire room with its glow. A u-shaped table extended down three walls. The latter were covered with rich tapestries, the former with a bounty of food. Straw covered the stone floor where domesticated wolves curled up at their master's feet. The imposing figure himself sat atop a dais at the center of his court. Vampire nobles and their human pets filled the table, while the lycan vassals stood by the walls with pitchers of drink and dishes of the next course.
It spoke much of their composure that they did not let her presence disturb them. Rather, they waited for their liege to speak. The personage in question continued to hold out his goblet as it was filled. Afterwards, he brought it to his lips and looked to his children.
"We have a guest amongst us."
"The lady Nemea saved Sacha from a rabid lycan," said Sonja.
"An event which would not have occurred in the first place if he had stayed with his escort...or they with him."
A piercing look was sent at the latter with their bowed heads. The dark-skinned leader stepped forward and spoke.
"My apologies, Majesty. I take full responsibility for the threat on his Highness' life."
"As I expect you to. ...I trust that you will not disappoint me a second time, Kahn?"
"I would not dare to do so, Majesty."
"I should hope not. ...So, mi'lady," the vampire lord drawled the word with veiled sarcasm. "It seems I owe you my gratitude. An heir is not something easy to replace."
Sacha came forward at his father's beckoning hand and went to stand beside him. The vampire ran his hand through the boy's golden locks and continued to study Nemea.
"They are as rare as a woman warrior in these parts," he continued. "In fact, I believe you are the first of your kind. ...But, where are my manners?" He smiled at Sonja.
"Let her sit at your side, daughter. And after she has supped, she may tell us her tale."
"Come."
Sonja smiled and motioned towards an empty seat near the dais. Another chair and table setting was brought to the table, and the two sat down to eat. As she brought her goblet near, Nemea could smell the intoxicating aroma of fresh blood. She forced herself to control her sips. Now was not the time to surrender to the heady richness of true human blood. As the feast went on, she planned her story in her head, drawing together the last strings of one she'd weaved long ago. She had not planned to use it then, but there had been a lot things she hadn't planned to happen. Still, it was no use thinking of the past, though it may be the future of those she sat with. She had to remember why she was there.
In time, the vassals drew near to clear the table. By then, they'd regained their human features, a sign that the moon had been replaced by its fiery counterpart. Just behind her, Nemea had even caught a glimpse of the one who had Turned her father. His eyes had been on Sonja, but sensing her gaze, he met her eyes for a brief moment. Then, he cast them to the ground in subservience. It was difficult to forget that in this time the lycans were truly slaves at the beck and call of their vampire masters. Nemea shook her head.
"So, are you ready to entertain us?" Viktor asked, disrupting her thoughts.
"I am no minstrel, mi'lord," Nemea coolly retorted.
At her insolence, the vampire lord actually smiled.
"A true warrior, but with a woman's face and name. You've fire in you. ...Just be careful that it does not burn you."
His smile did not quite reach his eyes as he spoke. In response, Nemea forced herself to bow her head in assent. Although she hated the one who'd betrayed her mother's trust, she had to tolerate him for the sake of what she had to do.
"Your name," he continued. "Nemea. The Lady of Nemea, goddess of that same town, daughter of Zeus and Selene. ...A lady's name for a soldier? How quaint."
"My mother chose it for me. ...Her name was Selene."
"I thought so. Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon."
"Yes. ...She was a vampire, as was my father."
And that was partly true.
"What happened to them?"
"They were killed because of what they were."
Killed by the likes of you.
"So, you have travelled the land all this time?"
"I have."
"Well, you are welcome to stay here from now on. It is the least I can offer you in return for my son's life. You could even be his nursemaid if you are so inclined," Viktor laughed. "Let us see how skilled you are then. Not many can keep a hold on this will-o-wisp."
"But, I have no need of a nursemaid," the boy sleepily protested.
"No," Viktor assented. "You need a firm hand and an iron collar."
The vampire lord turned to arch an eyebrow at Nemea.
"So, what of it? You are welcome to stay in either case. But, are you up to the task?"
"I am."
"Good."
The man smiled smugly, having been certain from the start that he'd get his way. Then, he rose from his seat and nodded to his court.
"Good morning."
And with that, he disappeared behind the curtain at the back of his chair. Two members of the court followed him. At the sight of them, Nemea had to rein in a surge of anger. Kraven and Soren. She longed to spill their blood, but she knew better. The last thing she needed was to call unnecessary attention to herself, and killing Viktor's right-hand man was a sure way of doing just that. Remember, she rebuked herself. Remember your purpose.
"Nemea."
She turned to find a concerned Sonja. The woman must have wondered at the look in her eyes. So, Nemea forced herself to smile and rose to join the other woman. Sacha leaned against his sister, already sleeping. The blonde turned to her faithful shadow and he took the boy into his arms. With her hands free, Sonja smiled and beckoned at Nemea. The dark-haired woman followed the odd trio down several corridors. As she followed the glowing candlelight, she committed to memory the twists and turns of the palace. Finally, they reached the family's sleeping quarters. Nemea guessed a heavy door at the end of the hall to belong to Viktor. There were only two other doors in the place. Nemea was surprised when Sonja gestured for her to follow through one of them.
"What is behind the other door?"
"My mother's room."
"I see."
Sonja led the way to a windowless room. It was average-sized, but its ceiling was high and had the constellations painted on it in gold. A canopied bed almost filled the place. It was there that the lycan gently laid down Sacha. He drew back, and Sonja brushed past him to give her brother a kiss. Then, she turned to Nemea with a smile and pointed to one side of the room. There was a small door there.
"It leads to a small room with a cot. You will be comfortable there. But, if you need anything, you can tell me when night falls. My room is just across. But, be careful not to surprise Lucian. He takes the matter of my safety quite seriously." She smiled at the lycan as if that was humorous. He remained stoic.
"I will be fine. Thank you, mi'lady."
Another beatific smile and then, Nemea was alone in the darkness.