Selene looked at the dark road ahead of her. The rain poured from the sky, soaking the once dry pavement and cleaning it from the previous day's events. If only people could be cleaned just as easily.
She ran as fast as her tired body could carry her, silver nitrate bullets filled the gun in her hand and the one on her left hip. Extra rounds rested at her side in a protective case. She could feel her lungs adjusting to the increased speed, supplying her body with the needed oxygen. She looked back, though she couldn't see any more Lycans she knew they were there. She could feel them deep in the pit of her gut. They would give her a false sense of hope before striking from the side. She had seen them not too long ago, they had approached Eve and herself in the middle of the evening and had chased them a good distance off their course. There had been at least twenty. She had fired off twelve rounds while trying to make a shield for Eve to escape unnoticed. Three had died instantly, two were injured beyond help, and most likely left for dead, while five had only been grazed with the flying bullets. The others had taken hot pursuit after Eve once Selene had paused to reload.
She had chased six of them down, shooting as she ran, gaining a great lead as she now desperately searched for her daughter. She wasn't sure how long it had been since she had lost them, or even where. The only important thing was for now, not a Lycan was in view. Desperate for answers of her daughter's whereabouts, she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she was close enough to grab hold of her daughter's sight.
Just as quickly as her eyes closed did the image of a fast moving world appear before her; though the vision was blurry with Eve's tears, Selene knew she was close. To both sides water calmly rested in the banks below, only being interrupted by ripples the falling drops offered from the sky. She opened her eyes and noticed a bridge not that far ahead, her heart leapt in her chest as her eyes rested on the image of her daughter atop the stone structure, desperately searching for her mother.
Anger rose in her as she watched Eve looked side to side, confusion on her face. She was being surrounded, her long black hair plastered to her face, making her appear far younger and vulnerable than she really was.
Selene's pace quickened as she neared the only thing in her life that had come to matter, other than Michael. She slowed as she saw her daughter looking at a man who kneeled in front of her, his hand caressed her soft check. Other, taller, men surrounded the one kneeling before her almost making it impossible to see the man who dared to lay hands on her little girl. Three more men dressed in black blocked Eve's only way of escaping. Her face filled with horror as she looked up and made eye contact with her mother. Selene froze as she watched one of the men dressed in black grabbed a hold of Eve, quickly bringing a knife to her neck. Her body jolted at the sudden act, taking her by surprise. The one who had been speaking to her rose to his feet, but didn't bother to turn and see what had been the cause of the child's reaction.
Selene watched as the man in charge walked forward and whispered something to a skeleton of a man. He was tall and skinny, his face looked as if nothing separated the skin from the bones, and his eyes were small and hollow, as if life hadn't existed there for over thousands of years. It was hard to tell if he was a Lycan or a Vampire, but knew whatever he was, he gave the woman a feeling of looking at Viktor from afar.
The skeleton man nodded as his eyes locked with Selene's. A grin, one she was sure death would give before collecting his souls, spread across his thin face, causing the excess skin to wrinkle up and cover his eyes, making them nearly impossible to see. Before having time to think, a strong force came up behind her and place a gun at the back of her head.
"Drop it." The voice was cool and smug. She raised her hands to the crying sky and winced as the cold metal fell from her grasp and to the floor. She then felt the strong hands on her hip as they pulled out the gun at her side. He tossed it to the floor just as quickly with a loud 'clang'. Her heart sunk as a thousand thoughts ran through her mind.
Who were these men? What did they want?
She tried to think of a way to get out alive and with Eve, but came up empty. One wrong move and they would attack, she knew little of what these men were capable of and Eve was still weak. Not to mention if they didn't know what she was, she would risk exposing her.
"Mum!" Eve called out as Selene's attacker grabbed both her hands and placed them behind her back. Twisting her wrist in the forceful process, something, though was unnecessary, she knew the man enjoyed doing.
Selene's gaze shot up and made eye contact with her daughter, silently telling her it was all going to be aright. Sadly, Eve saw through her tough exterior and looked away. The tears that had once blurred her vision were now cascading down her cheeks, mixing with the pouring rain water.
"Well, well, well…" The voice was arrogant, smug and too over confident. "What do we have here?" She knew the voice long before making eye contact with its owner.
"Kraven!" She spat it out, as if it were acid to her lips. Her eyes gave her away, she knew it. They were wide and full of disbelief. She had heard not long after defeating Marcus and William that he was dead, murdered by the hands of Marcus himself.
She had believed it…until now.
"Hello Selene." He whispered pushing back water soaked strands of hair from her face. "Long time no see." He mumbled coyly.
"Not long enough." She muttered back through gritted teeth. He smiled, not the least bit surprised with her reaction.
"What's wrong Selene? Thought I was dead? Thought I'd leave the only woman I ever loved to find happiness with her Lycan lover?" Disdain dripped from every word, Selene watched as Eve winced at the reference to her father. A small, almost inaudible, moan escaped the child.
"Shut up!" The knife man spat, digging it deeper into her throat. A dark read substance began to drip out the small cut. The knife stayed there, keeping it open before the wound had a chance to heal itself. It wasn't needed, she hadn't fed in over a month, healing was not one of her strengths at the moment.
They had finally found him, after weeks of searching. Just has they had left Hungary and entered into Romania, Eve had picked up on his scent. They found him, tucked away in the woods, ripped limb from limb, and left for dead. When they had gotten to him, it was already too late. It had been hard on Eve, she would never get to know her father. It had nearly killed Selene to witness him defeated. Eve was her world now, the only reason she chose to continue. Though it had been hard at first, she knew she had no choice.
"What's wrong sweetie?" Kraven asked turning and walking towards Eve. If looks could kill, Eve would have had Kraven dead where he stood. "You have your mother's face." He whispered kneeling down to look the broken child in the eyes. He grabbed her cheeks, cupping her chin in his palm while harshly lifting her head so their gazes met. "You have your mother's lips." He spat, placing a harsh kiss on them.
Selene sprang forward ready to rip him to shreds, but the two men behind her held her back.
"Leave her alone!" She shouted out through the thunder and into the night.
Eve opened her mouth, bringing her teeth to close around his bottom lip, breaking the skin, only letting go once he had pulled himself free. His blood rested on her lips and she licked it off slowly, enjoying the taste of it. A small hole separated the skin as the red substance spilled down his chin and neck. He brought his hand up, striking the innocent child, Selene forced her eyes closed. He had once hit her like that, years ago when she had just barely met Michael.
"But your eyes…." He had grabbed a chunk full of her hair out of anger, pulling her head back forcefully. "Those are not your mother's eyes." Eve tried not to give herself away, but it was hard, she was scared. "Are you really the spitting image of your mother? Or is their more of your father than you'd like to admit?"
He let go of her hair as the once soft blue eyes grew dark as the night sky above them, soon a crystal blue ring reflected in the middle.
"Daddy wasn't strong enough to stop me, and you won't be any different." He cupped her cheek as he spoke, giving it a soft slap as he finished. Eve's skin began to change once hearing Kraven had been the one to murder her father. He had been the one to cause her mother such pain and agony, he had been the reason she would never meet the other half responsible for her existence. "And now you'll meet the same demise he did." He said pulling a silver sword from a holster on his back. A bolt of lightening pierced the sky, reflecting the light onto the shiny object.
"KRAVEN! WAIT!" Selene yelled, throwing herself towards him, but not getting very far. "PLEASE!" She begged. "I'll do anything you want, just please don't hurt her. She's all I have left. Please!"
Even to her own ears she sounded weak and desperate. Kraven smiled inwardly as her pleas hit his ears, she had finally been broken. She was fighting against every fiber in her being that told her not to do so. She couldn't help it, despite how she felt about being emotional and vulnerable. She knew she would never forgive herself for being the cause of her daughter's death.
Tears formed in her eyes and just like that…she was defeated. There was everything to loose and nothing more to gain. She had lost so much, her family centuries ago; her vampire family had turned their backs on her, betraying her. And now her own family, her last chance at happiness was about to be taken away as well.
Kraven turned and looked Selene in the eyes, grateful things were going his way. He had the Lycans pick up their scent and chase Selene and Eve into plain view. Right where they were now. He was either going to kill Eve or leave with Selene, there were no other options, and no room for screw up.
"I'll let her leave, allow her to be the feral animal she is." The taller male dug the knife deeper into the young hybrids neck, more blood poured out. "Let the Lycans deal with her." He spat out.
"In exchange for what?" She asked softly, disgusted with herself that she'd make such a deal, but she was willing to do anything to save the life of her only child.
"In exchange for you." He had his men bring her to her feet so they were looking into the other's eyes. "You come back with me, we'll get married and taking control of the vampires, we'll return to rulers we once were."
"They won't want me, I'm marked." Ever since she had been with Michael and killed the elders, the vampires feared and loathed her. No longer accepting who she was, but what she was, a hybrid loving vampire with a hybrid daughter.
"Let me worry about that." He said bringing the knife to her lips. "What you have to do is chose, your daughter's life, or a life without your daughter."
It wasn't a choice, no mother in their right mind would choose to have their offspring murdered, not when they could do anything to prevent it. Selene looked up again, locking eyes with the child she would always love.
"EVE!" She called into the night. "GET OUT OF HERE! NEVER COME BACK!" she watched as the girl's face fell, her body changing back to its human form. Confusion ruled covered her soft delicate features. The last words that left her mouth tasted like bile knowing they would be last she would ever speak to her. "LEAVE! NOW!"
She knew Eve was lost, she hadn't heard the deal she made with Kraven for her life and freedom. Instead she took her mother's words to heart. She forcefully pushed the men off of her, and took off running into the night. Tears took over her vision, blurring the world around her. Her hand pressed firmly across her neck in an attempt to stop the blood from spilling. She was alone, never to be loved again. She began to wonder if her mother had ever loved her at all.
"Now, my love…"Kraven said commanding his men to release her. "WE have a wedding to plan."
"I'd rather die than spend another moment with you." She got out, spitting in his face. He wiped the saliva off, unfazed by her sudden change in demeanor.
"Oh Selene. I will have your heart." He stated clearly, shoving his hand to her chest. She fell back in excorticating pain as she felt the skin beneath her left breast open without so much as a cut. He had broken through her flesh with just his bare hand, she felt him search aimlessly before reaching his desired object. "Even if I have to take it from you."
Selene stood in shock as she stared at the beating organ in his hand. Her fingers rushed to the gaping wound in the middle of her torso, she could feel them quickly becoming covered in blood as she realized he had ripped it from her chest. She watched awestruck as he squeezed it until it stopped beating, then she slowly felt her body fall backwards off the bridge, watching as Kraven departed unmoved by her death.
As she fell she heard gunshots ring out into the night. The men at Kraven's side ran off in the direction Eve had disappeared to. She knew Eve was dead or would be soon. She had tried so hard, come so far, only to be defeated. Her body crashed into the water, her world going dark as the cold liquid engulfed her. She had lost Michael, Eve and now her own life.
Maybe one had to die in order to live.
Selene opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She had expected to see herself at the bottom of the bank, water surrounding her. Fate telling her she was supposed to live an eternal life alone, knowing the ones she loved were dead. Instead what she found made her heart stop.
Sitting at the foot of the bed, Eve stared at her curiously, not sure what to make of the image in front of her. Off to the side the warm inviting sun poured in from the open window, the tattered curtains dancing with the light breeze. Selene's hands fell to her chest, grasping at the black shirt, finding it dry. She quickly lifted it up, her fingers roaming the bare flesh beneath her left breast. She was surprised to find no open wound rested there, and no blood looked to have spilt either.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room and she found herself still in the couple's apartment in Hungary. Outside the people of the 'cleansed' country were just starting their days. She was alive, Eve was alive. And somewhere out there she hoped Michael was still alive, while Kraven lay dead.
"Are you alright?" Eve asked almost afraid to speak, her gaze was turned away, not sure what to make of her mother's early morning self groping.
"Fine. It was just a nightmare." Selene mumbled bringing her hazel eyes to meet Eve's soft blue ones. She said it more to herself, trying to convince her heart the world she had just escaped from as only concocted by her own subconscious mind and that not only was her daughter alive and well, but she would never do anything to bring the look of betrayal to her daughter's face again. "You look just like your father." She whispered. Eve was taken back by the statement and looked at her mother confused before smiling lightly and allowing a soft blush to creep along her cheeks. "What time is it?" She asked wiping the sleep from her eyes, anxious to change the topic of conversation and build up the wall around her heart once more.
Soon, as time would pass she would learn to express her feelings to her daughter, but not yet, not now.
The sun outside told her it was at least mid day, she had slept the greater part of the morning away. Eve got up from the foot of the bed and walked out of the room. Selene watched confused as she reentered; a small object in her grasp.
"It says one-four-nine." She whispered looking down at the silver in her hand. Selene noticed it was a watch, no doubt left behind by the family who had once called this place home.
"It's almost two?" She questioned, Eve shrugged unsure what it meant. "You understand numbers, but not how to tell time?" She questioned, suddenly realizing her daughter's education was limited.
"Yes. The woman who was to watch over me…Lida….she tried to teach me, every day she would bring books with words and numbers. I started to learn as soon as I began to talk. She told me she wanted me to understand the world."
"Why would she care if they were just going to kill you?" She asked confused. Eve shrugged, she hated to think about her time in Antigen. Though the woman had tried to befriend her and offer motherly love, it was never the same. Nobody ever could or ever would be her mother, other than Selene.
Selene watched quietly from the bed as Eve made her way to the overstuffed chair next to the window. She picked up a small book and opened to a page it appeared she had previously marked. She noticed it was a children's book, Eve had more than likely taken it from the nursery while she slept.
"Have you been reading this whole time?" Selene asked walking over to her daughter and looking at the bright colors that made a happy world on the page, completely different from the one outside the window.
"No." She mumbled placing it in her lap and looking off to her side, her eyes never making contact with her mothers.
"What's wrong?" Selene asked softly, desperately searching for the cause of her daughter's indifference to the world around her.
"Nothing." She muttered, still refusing to make eye contact.
"You're lying." She whispered coldly, more so than she intended. She sought to break a wall Eve had put up, but seemed to push her away with the statement. The girl before her was so much like herself it scared her.
Had she done something wrong?
"I am not." She stated harshly, her cold eyes meeting Selene's. As she stared into the blue iris's she saw hurt and loneliness.
"What aren't you telling me, my child?" Selene tried again, trying to offer the girl comfort with the term of endearment. Maybe she'd be more approachable and Eve would trust her more if she just attempt to connect with the girl, she was after all her mother.
Eve stared into her mother's eyes. She looked lost, never had she faced anything as confusing as the girl before her. She knew her mother was trying. It had been hard enough for her as it was, and Eve wasn't making it any easier.
She quickly sat up in her seat, her gaze left her mother's and turned towards the window. Selene watched as her daughter shot out of the chair, the book in her lap falling to the floor as she jumped to look out the window, her elbow holding up her head. Curious, Selene crept up behind her and followed her eyes to the street below. Under the hot midday sun families rushed about their days, but Selene noticed it was a little boy walking along the sidewalk across the street that held her daughter's attention.
"Dillon! Slow down!" A woman called not that far behind him. The boy was playing hop-scotch along a chalk riddled ground only he saw.
Selene had seen him before, his mother would walk little Dillon to and from school every weekday. Eve had taken a liking to the boy, watching him with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. Selene had allowed her daughter's infatuation to continue, seeing there was no harm in it. Eve giggled softly as the little boy Anthony ran up to Dillon and tried to trip his older brother, but failed.
"I want to meet him." Eve said looking to Selene as the boys and their mother disappeared from view.
"Absolutely not." She got out quickly.
"Why not?" It wasn't a whine, just a simple question.
"Because Eve, you're different than other children. A human would never understand you, let alone try and get to know you."
"But Mum, I wouldn't tell him. I would just say hi and that's all." Eve begged now, longing for company of her own age. She loved her mother, but all children needed friends their own age. Selene knew this, but also knew that Eve was too much of a risk to a world still paranoid about Lycans and vampires. Had word gotten out that a hybrid of the two species existed there would be no protecting her or Michael.
"No Eve. It's too risky. It's for your own good."
"It's not fair mum. I didn't ask for this…who would?" She got up from the window, angry tears filled her eyes. "I just want a friend."
"I know you do, and believe me one day you will, but not now Eve."
"When Mum? I don't want to be alone forever."
"I know, and you won't be, you have me and your father."
"That's not enough!" She screamed, her mother's eyes softened at the hurtful words. She knew Eve was mad, she every right to be, but it still didn't make the words hurt any less. "I have you Mum. We don't know where dad is, and I want someone my own age."
"Not now, not when we are so close to getting out with our lives. Now is not the time to start making friends. We have more important things to do."
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" She repeated again, throwing herself on the chair behind her. Outraged by her over sheltered life, she was beginning to think the walls Antigen held her in were no different then the ones her mother put up.
Selene didn't know what to do, Eve was at the age where she was starting to hate everything her parents would say and purposely want to disobey. She just hoped her daughter was smart enough to not do anything stupid. Knowing she needed time to relax and calm down, She left the room.
She would do anything for her daughter, she knew that already, she only wished it didn't mean hurting her in order to protect her. She just hoped she'd find Michael soon.
Just so it's clear and there are no misunderstandings...the whole ordeal with Kraven and Eve were just a nightmare of Selene's. Its gonna help her admit her love for Eve and be a little more affectionate. I just hope that was clear enough in the story...if not sorry.
Hope it was alright, please review...thanks