I don't own Underworld or its characters! They belong solely to Len Wiseman and his 'people'.
A/N: See, I promised you a longer chapter (but will still strive to make them longer)! Again all reviews welcome (if you must flame then go ahead), but as I have said before, constructive criticism is much appreciated!
LadyAlera
Chapter 2: "Kraven Sent Me"
Selene had just zipped her leather bodice and was fastening her boots when Erika burst into her room. The blond pest was beginning to test the elder vampiress's patience, but she showed no signs of it, opting to ignore the younger vampire. She fixed her Berettas to her thighs, slid into her trench coat, and was just stowing some extra ammunition in the hidden pockets when Erika decided to speak.
"Kraven sent me." Selene turned to her and sighed.
"Why else would you be here?" The blond ignored her.
"He wishes to speak with you."
"Well it can wait. I need to meet Rigel in ten fifteen minutes. Just tell Kraven that you couldn't find me." she snapped, and then pushed past the younger vampiress, leaving her alone.
Selene attempted to get away from Erika as soon as possible, though she didn't hear anyone following her. She had to just about run through the empty halls to avoid running into Kraven—whether it be figuratively or literally. It would seem as if fate was not on the Death Dealer's side tonight, however, for as she began to descend the main staircase, Kraven was making his way up. Selene could see that he was irritated with something or someone, and at first, she thought that he was going to pass by and ignore her.
Kraven grabbed Selene's arm and pulled her back up the stairs with him. He pressed her roughly into the wall, glaring, icy eyes fixed on her the entire time.
"Didn't Erika tell you that I needed to speak with you?" he snarled.
"Yes. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if she is still standing in my room deliberating on what she is supposed to do next." As Selene finished, the sound of stilettos coming towards them was audible.
"My Lord, Selene…" Erika drifted off when she saw whom Kraven was holding against the wall. "Sorry, I guess you already know." With that, she turned on her heel and brusquely walked away.
"I can't believe this!" Selene exclaimed, eliciting a confused glare from Kraven, so she continued. "It seems as if she follows me around," and then quietly, "probably because of your orders." Kraven heard this last comment, and pressed her even harder against the wall.
"If you knew that I wished to speak with you, why would you try to avoid me?" Kraven hissed.
"Because I have more pressing matters to take care of." Selene spoke, pretending that she didn't notice his hand move from the top of her arm to her shoulder.
"What kind of important matters? Your family is gone; you can't bring them back," he spat, moving his hand to press threateningly against her sternum. His comment about her deceased family combined with the almost painful action pushed Selene over the edge. Growling, she warned him.
"Kraven, get off." He just glared at her, lips curling over his teeth to expose his elongated fangs. Selene felt him apply more pressure to her chest, and inwardly winced—Kraven had gone too far this time. Hissing, Selene brought the heel of her hand into his face, nodding with satisfaction when she heard something crack.
Kraven stumbled back with a mixed exclamation of surprise, anger, and pain, and fell into a table causing a full wineglass filled with cloned blood to shatter on the floor. He recovered himself quickly, and sprang to his feet to confront Selene, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know Kraven, you tell me! I don't have time for this."
Selene pushed past Kraven, and strode down the stairs, ignoring the groans of pain and angry snarls coming form the enraged vampire (he didn't think she would hear). Though they were hidden from the view of the group of vampires in the salon, the final parts of their conversation were heard. Selene knew this as she passed the lot of them, also hearing their comments.
"What do you think she did to anger Lord Kraven in such a way?" an overly made-up vampiress—whose dress left nothing to the imagination—whispered behind her hand.
"Well she is a Death Dealer. Perhaps she didn't fill her quota for the week," an older vampire answered with something close to a sarcastic sneer. His comment infuriated Selene—even more than Kraven did. Her grip on the intricate door handle tightened, placing grooves that fit the contours of her fingers in the metal. She turned to face the vampire that had insulted her, fangs elongated and eyes that were once chestnut now an icy cobalt. Her trench coat flared as she whipped around, adding to the effect.
"Do you have any idea what a Death Dealer does? There are no 'quotas' as you called them. We hunt down and kill any and all Lycans we come across!" Selene decided to show the skill needed to become a Death Dealer, as well as just how much goes into becoming a warrior like her. While finishing her 'speech', Selene simultaneously reached down and drew both Berettas in a motion so smooth and practiced that no one saw the movement. She aimed them both at the vampire who spoke—whose name she finally recalled to be Felix.
"Being a Death Dealer is not a simple task. I have had to train endlessly to get to where I am right now. You should be grateful and consider yourself lucky—if it weren't for the Death Dealers, you would be bowing down to a leader far more savage than Kraven."
"Care to enlighten me as to whom you speak of?"
"Lucian, leader of the Lycans," she murmured, enjoying it when his face paled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be." Selene threw open the door and stormed out of the mansion, allowing the weight of the heavy oak doors to slam themselves closed behind her. She shook her head and raised her face to the sky, willing the rain to wash away the stress from recent occurrences so that her full attention would be on the mission.
'I cannot allow my past encounters to distract me. I have to focus…for Cecelia and the rest of my family." The sudden self-reminder of why Selene had come there caused her to open her eyes, focusing on a dark-clad figure standing near the front gates.
"Well, Selene, this is a first. I have never seen you arrive late for an assignment." Rigel spoke in his quiet tone, but after decades of working alongside him, Selene could recognize the joking tone.
"I had to explain to one of Kraven's pets about what we do. Believe me, it will not happen again." With that, Rigel (who oddly resembles Bela Lugosi) opened the ornate iron fence, leading the way—on foot—through the night.
A/N: Well, there was chapter 2! I am going to make updating often a priority (1-3 days). If there happens to be a delay, I will be sure to notify all of my reviewers with private messages. I would like feedback on the length (I will try for longer each time), and if anyone has a suggestion for a better title, please feel free to tell me. I drew a blank when it came to that part. Anyway, I'll shut up now! Reviews appreciated (flames welcome). Thanks again for reading!
And once again, a big thank you goes out to EdwardCorvin17, for helping me polish my fanfic!
LadyAlera