Next chapter. I managed it much sooner than expected, so I wouldn't want my dear readers to expect so quick updates in the future. I'll try to update on a weekly basis, but cannot promise it. The pace of updates of course also depends on your interest. It always gives me a big push if you tell me what you like and what not.
Calm before the storm … I guess I could use the idiom to describe this chapter.
Chapter Ten
"It turned out much better than we expected after the first day, don't you agree?" Michael leaned to Selene while they walked through one of the corridors towards their quarters.
One week after they started the training with the vampires, things turned out much better than it looked on the first day. Selene still remembered how she almost flipped out on Michael and Eve due to her frustration with the incompetent vampires. Now they caught up with her pace of training and every day the improvements were visible. Not only improvements, during the week the group also grew from 20 to 30 vampires and also the new ones were not hanging behind the ones that started the training.
David was satisfied that the group performed so well and his face was now more often showing his good mood than before. He still hadn't worked out his relationship with his father, but they were at least talking to each other now, albeit in a definitely strained way. Nevertheless, that was definitely a good sign.
Eve was also taking part in all activities as the vampires, although her physical capabilities surpassed those of the young male vampires by far. So she more or less concentrated on the techniques and handling different sorts of weapons. Even though she was perfectly capable of fighting with her bare hands, she wanted to be able to use any kind of weapons. Secretly, not really admitting it to anyone, she looked up at her mother in awe, seeing how she could use almost any kind of weapon and wanted to become like her. On the other hand, she also saw how her father could be on pair with anyone by just using his hybrid advantages, his speed, accuracy and logic. All in all, Eve was slowly becoming a lethal combination of the skills of both her parents.
Michael was helping his lover in every aspect possible. He tried to learn the young vampires about hand to hand combat, even though he sometimes doubted himself to be really experienced in it. But those months after they killed Marcus and before they had been caught by Antigen, gave him a lot. He didn't even realize how much, but now, seeing how these young vampires looked up at him like he would be the best trainer they ever had for contact training he realized that he learned a lot in those months.
Selene was more than satisfied with the progress her trainees showed. After almost despairing on the first day, she saw that they tried very hard and that they were genuinely interested in gaining fighting skills and it made her change her opinion of them. Maybe there is still a chance to make real warriors out of them?
She turned to Michael and gave him a ghost of a smile. "Yes, they perform much better than I anticipated after that first day."
Michael smiled at her, took a quick look around to see if there was anyone watching and after he saw no one, he bowed to her and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.
Selene smiled into a kiss, knowing well why Michael checked the surroundings before kissing her. Even though they didn't talk about it, they somehow silently agreed that they would not show their affection in front of the others. Even though everyone knew that they were a pair, after all, Eve was a living proof that they were very intimate, it could still present them as weak, should they openly express their love. And Selene would never allow that. So Michael silently accepted her unspoken wish and in public acted slightly detached, accepting Selene's authority as the leader of the group. When they were behind closed door … well, that was another story. Fr from prying eyes they openly expressed their emotions. Even Selene learned how to do that. She might have told detective Sebastian just few months ago that she was not good with feelings, but now she realized that things have changed. Immensely!
"You know that I love you, right?" He whispered into her ear, while his lips gently caressed her temple.
"Yes, I do. And I hope that you know how much I love you." She turned to him and said barely audible, while her eyes reflected her emotions. It was so rare that she so openly showed her love that it always made Michael smile and feel the warmth in his chest.
He nodded and his arm suddenly found its way around her waist. "Let's hurry to our quarters. Eve is not due for another two hours. We should use the time …" He left it here, but his mischievous look told Selene everything. Unnecessarily, for she understood him perfectly.
She gave him a sly look and a grin that held a promise, before quickening her step. "Hurry up then!"
They both failed to see a dark shadow that leaned against one of the side corridors, so engrossed were they in each other. As soon as they disappeared down the corridor, the shadow stepped out of its hiding place.
Thomas stepped on the main corridor, looking in the direction where Selene and Michael just disappeared with thoughtful expression. There was no hate or disgust on his face, just genuine interest and perhaps a slight confusion.
Ever since Selene, Michael and Eve settled in the coven, he held himself back, but he constantly observed them. During the training, but also when they thought they were alone. Even though his initial reaction to the three was repulsive, he allowed himself time to see for himself before reaching any final decision about them.
After first days he began to wonder how they could act so differently when in public and when they didn't know that they have been observed. When in public, Selene as well as Michael acted like the true leaders and Eve acted like the most eager pupil. He saw that his men quickly acknowledged all of them the respect and it was now obvious that they unconditionally accepted Selene and Michael as their leaders.
He didn't feel threatened by this authority that the hybrid and renegade Death dealer gained. It was another kind of authority than his. He understood that now. After seeing that some of the most powerful vampires disagreed with him, he changed his tactics and it already showed results. He was again gaining on importance, without undermining the authority of the newcomers.
Maybe they were actually right? Maybe it really would be better to fight the lycans than to hide here and wait for something to happen? He began to doubt his own decision to keep in underground and not risking any clash with the powerful lycans.
But he also noticed how lovingly Selene, Michael and Eve acted around each other when they were alone. It was completely clear that the cold Death dealer as well as the mysterious hybrid, loved the little girl dearly. And she loved them back. It surprised Thomas to see how Selene and Michael changed when they were together with their daughter. There was no trace of coldness in Selene's face and yet he knew it could change in a split second, should someone come by. And he began to admire the former Death dealer.
He stood there for a long moment, just staring after the couple that vanished from his sight long ago, before slightly shaking his head and turning the other way.
XXXXXXXXXX
Michael walked down the corridor towards their quarters. Selene was still in the training room, together with Eve, but he had some things to arrange for the evening, so he excused himself and left a little early today. Just as he turned a corner, he almost ran into Thomas, who was standing in the middle of the corridor, obviously waiting for him.
"Thomas?" He acknowledged the presence of the older vampire, not really knowing how to react. After that initial fight with him, they haven't spoken at all and he was insecure as how to react and what Thomas wanted from him.
Thomas nodded once. "Mr. Corvin."
They looked at each other in silence for few moments, trying to judge each other and their intentions, before Thomas spoke as first. "We haven't spoken to each other since you came. I believe it's time that we correct that. If we're going to live in the same coven, we should at least be able to communicate like civilized people, don't you think so?"
Michael was perplexed as what could be Thomas' intentions, so he tried to be as neutral as possible. "I guess you're right. However, I don't know what could be the reason to start now after we've been here for almost two weeks." He tried not to sound ironic.
Thomas gave him a small humorless grin. "I'm interested in how the training is progressing."
His question caused Michael to wonder what Thomas' real intentions were. "I guess that your son could tell you the same; your men are progressing very fast and they have learned a lot."
Thomas nodded, looked down for a second but then tilted his face towards Michael again. "Actually, I would like to ask you some other question."
Michael groaned and smiled at the same time inwardly. I was right! He's after something. But he remained silent; he just looked at Thomas questioningly.
Thomas hesitated for a second, before he looked straight into Michael's eyes. "I could see that you both are really trying to pull the best out of my men. But what I really want to know is what your priorities are. You're not a vampire and I'm still confused about your ultimate motives. You're at least part lycan and it baffles me what would lead you to fight against your species. At least part species."
Michael was slightly surprised about this question. He expected something else, but after Thomas now asked him about his priorities, he suddenly found himself in a strange situation. He actually never thought about it, he simply accepted the things as they were without really considering them and their implications. So he now thought for few seconds, before a memory of his discussion with Selene, Eve and David before they joined the coven flashed through his mind. He now had his priorities straight.
Looking directly into Thomas' questioning eyes, he answered in a calm measured voice. "My only priority is to keep Selene and Eve safe. They are my world and without them I'd be lost. I'll do whatever it takes to protect them from anyone and anything that might threaten them, be it a lycan, a vampire, a human or a beast. I may be partly lycan, but they didn't and wouldn't accept me. Where my priorities are should be clear from the fact that I'm here."
Thomas listened intently and Michael's words seemed to make an impact on him. After few seconds he asked: "How do I know that you're not the spy for the lycans; how can I be sure that you're not working for humans?"
Michael gave him a lopsided smile: "You don't. You'll just have to trust me and Selene, as well as your son."
"Very well." Thomas nodded before turning and walking away. After two steps he stopped again and turned back to Michael: "I hope that you train my men well." Then he turned again.
But before he could make another step, Michael's slightly amused voice stopped him: "We will Thomas. And Thomas?" He waited until the vampire turned back to him before continuing. "You are not as good in hiding as you think. We know that you've been watching us secretly. I hope that you got your answers. Otherwise there's another possibility. You could have simply asked." With these words, he turned and went in the opposite direction as Thomas.
Thomas's face revealed slight shock upon hearing Michael's words. He actually believed that they haven't noticed him. However, he had just been faced with the fact that they knew about his secret observations all the time. While the shock slightly vanished from his face, his lips almost imperceptibly curled into a small but genuine smile.
XXXXXXXXXX
"NO!" A scream caused Michael to shoot up from his sleep, almost throwing Selene, curled into his side from the bed. He needed a second to clear his foggy mind. Then it penetrated his mind: it had been Eve that woke him with her scream and in an instant he was on his feet. He needed just another moment to reach Eve's bed and he saw her sitting on it, trembling like a leaf, her arms tightly encircled around her knees, which she pulled towards her chest. Her eyes were black and he could see that she was already half transformed into her hybrid form.
His heart fluttered in fear as he jumped to her and tried to hug her, but she resisted with all her strength. "NO! LET GO OF ME!" She screamed like a banshee and before Michael could react, she clawed at his arm with her already fully transformed hand.
Michael felt how she cut through his skin and tissue and searing pain shot through him. But it was his daughter and he wouldn't give up so easily. He reached for her again, just to have his other arm sliced open by Eve's wild clawing hands. She screamed all the time.
Selene needed a second more than Michael to come to her distressed daughter and her face showed her shock upon Eve's reaction. She saw how she clawed at Michael and for a split second hesitated. And that split second was exactly the time Michael needed to catch Eve's hands before they could hurt anyone more. He used his strength, surpassing Eve's, and held her pinned down.
"Eve, wake up! It's your dad and mom! We're here! Please, Eve, calm down." At first his pleas had no effect.
Selene now joined them and put her cold hand on Eve's forehead, even though the girl tried to shake it off. "She's burning!" She turned to Michael. True, Eve's body temperature was similar to Michael's, meaning much higher than hers, but now she was hot. "Sshh, Eve, it's mommy. You're safe now, darling." She spoke in calm, soothing voice and it seemed that their joint efforts finally got through to their daughter.
Eve's frantic movements slowly subsided and life returned to her black eyes, which turned back into her normal color. The nails retracted and after a final gasp, she turned her completely confused eyes to Selene. "Mommy?" Then she turned to Michael. "Daddy?"
Selene and Michael sighed relieved in unison. Michael let go of Eve's hands and Selene enveloped her in a hug. "It's OK, Eve. We're here."
Eve allowed her mother to gently rock her, but then her eyes fell to Michael's cut arms, with blood already stopping. She gasped deeply and stiffened instantly. Her horrified eyes turned to look into Michael's smiling ones. "Daddy? Did … did I do that?" Her voice was only a whisper and yet it revealed her complete shock.
"Don't worry, Eve. It's already healing, see? I'm just glad that you're OK." Michael tried to reassure her, but Eve's eyes widened even more and she covered her mouth with her hands, tearing herself away from Selene. Tears shot into her eyes and spilled over instantly.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" She cried desolate and couldn't tear her eyes from his already healing wounds. Her voice came muffled from behind her hands, still covering her mouth.
Michael understood that it was a complete shock for Eve to see what she had done and hurried to reassure her. He grabbed her hands and pulled them from her face before forcing her to look him in the eye. "Eve, it's nothing! You had a bad dream and tried to protect yourself because you believed that someone threatened you. I'm not angry with you. I love you, darling!"
Eve slowly got her sobbing under control and her eyes gazed at Michael pleadingly. "Really, daddy? How can you forgive me for hurting you?"
"Because I love you and because I know that you wouldn't willingly harm either me or your mother." Michael's voice was soft and loving and his palm gently cupped Eve's cheek, wiping away the stray tear that spilled over.
Selene hugged Eve from side and after Michael's hand left the girl's cheek, she pulled her into embrace, leaning her daughter's head against her chest. Over her head, her eyes met with Michael's and she gave him a smile before tilting her head down and kissing the crown of Eve's head. "Everything's going to be fine, baby. You could never hurt anyone of us."
For few minutes they remained silent, Selene gently rocking her daughter and shushing her quietly, while Michael got a hold of Eve's hands and tenderly rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles.
After Selene noticed that Eve's racing heart returned to its normal rhythm, she pulled back slightly to look into her daughter's eyes. "Would you like to talk about your dream?"
Eve shook her head. "No, not now. Maybe sometime, but not now. Please?"
Selene nodded. She would never force her precious baby into something she wouldn't want. "OK. When you're ready, we're here to listen to you. Don't forget it."
Eve looked relieved. She was still too confused by her dreams to talk about them now. She would. Later. Sometime. "Thank you, mommy."
Selene gave her a smile. "Now, try to go back to sleep, Eve. It's still long until the morning."
"I'll try." Eve choked out and pulled out of her mother's embrace to lie back on her pillow.
Selene and Michael returned to their bed and lay down, facing each other. Selene's fingers gently glided over the wounds, Eve caused to Michael, noticing, that they were almost gone. Her eyes then flickered up to look into her lover's ones. "Did it hurt?"
Michael gave her a reassuring smile, while his hand gently stroke Selene's side down to her hip. "No. It couldn't hurt."
Selene rolled her eyes with a slight smile on her lips. "I know it did. But you wouldn't admit it because it's your daughter who caused it."
Michael's smile widened. "Would you admit it if you were the one hurt by her?"
"No." Selene's answer was short. Then she paused before turning her attention to Michael's chest. Her fingers slowly caressed it and caused his breath to catch in his throat for a second. But Selene pretended not to have heard it and flickered her eyes to his once again: "I hope she'll talk to us about her dreams. She's had nightmares quite often. I'd like to help her get rid of it."
Michael now decided that Selene's teasing wasn't the right course of action at this time and his hand caught her fingers, still idly playing on his chest. He lifted it and kissed her knuckles, causing her to smile at him lovingly. "She'll talk to us when she's ready. Believe me! She knows how much we love her and will trust us, but she has to come to terms with herself."
Selene now gently squeezed Michael's hand. "I guess you're right. I just so want to help her."
"I know you do, my love. I know you do." Michael whispered while he kissed the top of Selene's head, which suddenly leaned against his chest a second before.
Eve lay curled in a small ball in her bed. The nightmares from just few minutes ago still haunted her although she felt strangely at ease. As she remembered how she hurt her father, a horror rose once again in her heart, but quickly subsided and made place for another feeling: feeling that she is loved and wanted. It was so intense that a tear of happiness suddenly poured out of her eye.
She heard her parents softly whispering on the other bed and strained her ears to hear what they were saying. After they finished their conversation, she smiled in her pillow. I know how much you love me, mommy, daddy. I will tell you all about my nightmare. Soon!
XXXXXXXXXX
"It's beautiful here!" Eve exclaimed happily and skipped to one of the view towers on the walls of Budapest Halászbástya. It was Sunday and they took the afternoon off from their training with the vampires in the coven. Just the three of them. Selene decided to bring them to the famous Fisherman's Bastion, situated on the Buda side of the Danube. She had been here often in the last century, because it offered a magnificent view on the Budapest and she used to hide in the dark of one of the towers, while looking out for the lycans that might have made the terrible mistake to cross her path.
They have been strolling along the Danube before and the day was slowly dying as they walked along the fortified walls of the bastion. As they walked, Selene explained the history of the mighty construction to Eve who was listening very intently.
If someone would pay attention to them, they would see a happy family on a Sunday walk. Nothing revealed that they were in fact completely different than the other visitors. Michael was on high alert but there were no lycans here and vampires were all in the hiding from the sun. It was a beautiful day, there was not a cloud in the sky and the sun shone down on them, making Selene feel better than she had felt in centuries. She was able to walk in the sun, the man she loved held her close to his warm body and her daughter was skipping along like a little girl, eager to find out as much as she could about everything.
A content smile on Selene's lips made her exquisite features almost glow and drew unwanted attention, especially from the male part of the visitors. She noticed it, but relied on her and Michael's senses and concentrated on her lover and daughter.
Michael noticed how men almost without exception looked at Selene and felt proud to be the one who won her heart, but at the same time slightly irritated that they could not pass for an average young family. Maybe going out with Selene isn't such a terrific idea after all. She's too striking and almost everyone looks at her. But, on the other hand … who would believe that such beautiful creature in the sun could ever be a vampire?
Eve also noticed the looks the men gave her mother and she joined Michael. "Dad? Why are all men looking at mom so curiously?" She had a general idea, but needed confirmation from Michael to be sure.
Michael grinned as she asked him just in the moment as he thought about it. "I believe that they are mesmerized by her beauty. As they will one day be by yours." He flattered his daughter and laid his hand across her shoulders.
Eve blushed slightly. True, she expected such an answer, but the second part was something she definitely didn't expect. She opened and closed her mouth few times, like fish out of water and decided not to answer.
Selene naturally heard their conversation and gave Michael a smiling look. True, she was now aware that she must pass as a very beautiful woman, but it flattered her nevertheless that her mate thought so about her. The attention of other men disturbed her, but the attention from Michael was something she enjoyed very much.
As the dusk slowly crept in, they were still on the walls of the fort, but the other visitors already left and Selene sighed relieved as she leaned against the wall on her elbows to look down at the Danube. "It all seems so peaceful from here up. No lycans, no soldiers, no police officers. If it could remain that way …" She trailed off.
Michael encircled her shoulders with his arm and pulled her close. She allowed him and leaned her head against his shoulder, sighing contentedly again. "Someday, Selene, we will be able to live in peace. I know it." He spoke softly.
"If I could only share your optimism, Michael. I've been in this war for six centuries. I don't know if I'm able to live in peace at all." Selene's voice sounded just a little sad, signaling Michael that she definitely wasn't the cold warrior any more, the one he got to meet so long ago. The longing in her voice showed him that she wanted to live a normal life, to be a mother to their daughter and his mate.
No, Michael was suddenly unsatisfied with the term 'mate'. It didn't even begin to describe the depth of their mutual feelings, the bond they shared. He realized that there was at least one word missing: soul. Yes, that was better; they were soul mates. He grinned slightly at the thought and it caught Selene's attention.
"Why are you grinning? I don't believe to have said something funny."
"It's not about anything you would have said, Selene. I was just thinking that we are definitely not mates."
Selene frowned. "What then?"
"I believe that we are soul mates, dear."
After a second of thoughtful expression, Selene's face brightened. "Maybe we are." She wanted to say something more as her phone began to ring.
She pulled it out and looked at the caller's ID. "David."
Michael sighed. "Haven't we asked not to be disturbed? Just this one afternoon?"
"Don't be so petty!" Selene admonished him while she tapped the screen. "Yes, David?"
David on the other side began to talk very quickly and Selene frowned. "Are you sure?" Her frown deepened and then she shot instantly: "No, don't! They're not ready yet. I don't want them to be involved in a fight. No. Sure I'm sure. OK, we'll take care. Bye."
Michael knew instantly that something was wrong and Eve joined him, also sensing that something was going on. Something unpleasant.
Selene pocketed the phone and turned to them. Her face was dark and her eyes were back to cold stare she had when Michael first met her. "David just told me that he spotted a group of ten lycans on their way here. He overheard their discussion and they know that I'm here, so they are coming after me. He wanted to send the trainees to our assistance, but I said no. I can't risk their lives yet. They have still a lot to learn and they would be easy prey for these lycans."
Michael's face grew darker with each word and after Selene finished, he nodded. "I agree with you. We shouldn't risk them yet. But … we have to think of Eve. Just the thought of losing her horrifies me."
"Dad! I did it before! I've killed some lycans before. I know how to take care of myself." Eve looked at Michael with stern face.
"I know, Eve, but still … we're your parents and are entitled to be worried for you." Selene beat Michael to answer their daughter.
"Yes, you are. But that doesn't mean that I'll hide and wait for you two to fight the beasts. Have you any idea how I would feel, should one of you perish? Mom? I nearly lost you just few weeks ago!" Eve was determined not to allow her parents to fight this battle alone.
"She's just like you, Selene." Michael sighed. "Stubborn more than you can imagine. I don't think we could persuade her to hide."
"Of course you can't! I'll fight with you." Eve raised her chin proudly.
"Actually, who says that we have to fight at all. We could run and hide." Michael suggested not seriously and response was as he expected it. He was in fact trying to test the determination of his two women and they didn't disappoint him.
Selene looked at him like he'd suddenly grow a second head and Eve's reaction was not different.
"Girls, I knew that you would not agree on that; I was just trying to break the tension." Michael chuckled humorlessly. Then he got serious and looked around. "We should find a place to hide before they arrive. We'd have much better chances if we could surprise them."
Selene nodded and pointed towards one of the towers. "There. I've hidden in there before and I know that it's a good place."
"Are you sure that it would be wise if we all wait for them on the same spot? Wouldn't it be better if we split and make an ambush, attacking them from different sides at a time?" Michael was a little doubtful.
Selene rolled her eyes. "Of course I didn't mean for us all to wait in there! It's just one place. One could wait there," she pointed at the second tower, very near to the first, "and one there." She pivoted to point in the opposite direction to the wall, where an alcove offered quite a shady place to hide from prying eyes.
Michael noticed that his soul mate was again all business, just like he knew her before. It always impressed him, how Selene could change her demeanor instantly. She could be a warm mother and lover in one moment, just to change into the cold, emotionless Death dealer in the next. "Good, I'll take the alcove in the wall, you should take the first tower and Eve can position herself in the biggest tower." He assigned the places without hesitation.
"Is it deliberate or just coincidence?" Eve asked with a slight grin on her face.
"What?" Michael looked at her perplexed, even though he believed to know what his daughter was talking about.
"That you assigned me the best hiding place, the farthest from the place where the lycans should arrive." Eve's grin widened.
"Absolutely not a coincidence." Michael answered with a grin of his own. "Now, let's get to your places and prepare. And Eve …" He looked at her sternly and waited for her to look into his eyes directly. "You're not going to interfere unless we should be in real troubles. Understood?"
Eve's face revealed how much she didn't like his demand, but she knew that it would bring nothing to object, especially seeing that Selene was giving her the same look as Michael, clearly agreeing with his request. So she nodded reluctantly, not answering.
Before leaving for her hiding place, Selene took a careful look around and noticed that it was now almost completely dark and there were no other people there. She turned to Michael and for a moment they looked deeply into each other's eyes, as if trying to gain strength for the coming battle from each other.
Almost subconsciously, Michael pulled her into embrace and kissed her passionately. Eve just rolled her eyes and shook her head with a slight smile on her lips. She now already got used to her parents, hugging and kissing every now and then. And she loved it. It showed to her that she was now a part of a loving family.
"Be careful!" Michael whispered as his lips left Selene's.
"I will." Selene answered crisply but lovingly. "And don't you dare dying on me again, understood?" She threatened in an almost playful voice. However a small catch in it showed Michael that she was really warning him not to play with his life.
"I have absolutely no intentions on dying anytime soon. Especially not today. We've still got a lot of work to do." He then turned and went for his hiding place, seeing that his two women also pointed themselves towards their assigned places to wait for the oncoming lycans.
TBC