Chapter X
Return of the Queen
Amelia flinched with pain as another strand of hair burst through the follicles of her scalp, despite the agony she managed a smile; she could feel her youth slowly restoring itself. Malachi, her loyal chylde and protector had not left her side since they had been reunited. His paramour, Nina had been disappointed, after nearly fifteen years apart, yet another obstacle had been thrown between them, yet Amelia was the Elder, her word must be absolute, Amelia stared intently at the flaky flesh of her hands before casting her glance to the tired figure sat at the foot of her throne "You may leave if you wish Malachi." She told him, he had cast aside his jacket and tie and sat wearily with his shirt sleeves rolled up.
"That wont be necessary My Lady" he sighed "I won't let you go through this on your own."
"Thank you Malachi" she smiled sincerely "But Nina will be missing you, you have after all be apart for some time."
"Too long My Lady" he began regretfully "But Nina and I have all eternity to be together, but I also have a responsibility to our people, the coven needs you My Lady, and so do I."
Amelia hesitated for a moment; unsure of what to say "And what of the coven?" she finally asked "Dimitri tells me that things have gone down hill since I've been away."
"I'm sure Dimitri has said a lot of things My Lady, however not all of them are completely true."
"Such as?" Asked Amelia
"Okay… the Lycan problem was too much for Nina to handle, but you know she's not a warrior, so yes we haven't been faring to well on the war front. However, during Nina's reign Ziodex profits have doubled, we gained more political support than ever before… you picked a good replacement."
"It's not Nina's actions that concern me, so much as yours." She said sternly
"Ah… I was hoping you wouldn't get to that." He cringed "Unfortunately in my efforts to get Nina back, I was forced to… upset a few people."
"Like a US Senator?
"Like I said, it's an unfortunate situation, but not a hopeless one."
Amelia brought her hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh "What is our situation?"
"Politically… we've been better, we've already had the CIA breathing down our necks, and we've alienated some of our allies in Washington. Financially… we're not doing as badly as Dimitri makes out, although mine and Nina's personal accounts, and the covens central funds have been largely run down, your personal finances are untouched and the money we are gaining from Ziodex dwarves anything we had before. As for the war, we're back on track, in the six months I spent looking for Nina the Lycan losses were substantial, Andre is dead, I'm expecting them to deliver their surrender here, in New York."
"Surrender?" Asked Amelia with a raised eyebrow
Malachi nodded slightly "They still have a lot of warriors My Lady, we will have to make some concessions, but without leadership, they will be unable to continue the war."
"I see…" Amelia nodded intently "Well done."
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New Orleans, Louisiana: Two Days Earlier
A lone girl sits alone in her fortified bedroom, knowing full well her Lycan body guards are standing on the other side of the door. During her brief period of captivity the flame haired Lycan had longed for this security, wanting nothing more than to be back with her people. That woman, a pretty Vampire, able to walk in daylight had taken her to the home of her father's enemy. She had been so relieved when she saw him on the other side of that bridge, but that reunion was not a long one, her father had sent her and all his men away. That was hours ago, and now she was here alone, while her father remained on that God forsaken bridge. "Oh where are you daddy?" she whined. A moment later she felt a feeling of relief, and allowed herself to smile, her heavy door creaked open as the girls anxious eyes looked for the man that had become her father. A man did indeed step through the door, a fairly unremarkable man, of slight build, he had neat blonde hair, and wore an expensive grey suit. This was not the man the girl had hoped to see.
"Owen…" she began in a fearful tone "Where is my Father?"
The man hung his head slightly as he perched himself on the edge of her bed "Abigail I need for you to be brave right now."
"No…" she whimpered "Please don't tell me…"
"Your father stayed to fight Malachi, he lost Abigail… your fathers dead."
The girl lost all control and broke down, nothing in her life made sense anymore "Why was he alone!" she cried through the tears.
"A matter of honour" Owen told her simply
"What do we do now?" she sobbed
"Malachi is expecting our surrender in New York" he sighed
"We cant surrender" she spat, her voice full of venom "Owen you're my fathers closest friend" she managed through the tears "You have to avenge him!"
"It's pointless Abigail, your father was all that was left of the old guard, with him and Lucian gone, there's not a man on the planet that can keep the hoard together, if we surrender now, with our current political connections, we can at least bargain a surrender that benefits us. I'm sorry Abigail, I have no choice, I'm going to get in touch with New York, It's over."
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"There… How do I look?" asked Amelia, as she slipped a robe on over her burial garments.
"You look beautiful My Lady" Malachi told her, as he took in her flawless vanilla complexion, her emerald eyes, and silky hair. Amelia's youth had fully restored itself, Malachi allowed himself to smile, she was how he always remembered her, how she looked when she had found him in that filthy London Alleyway, a true vision of beauty.
"That's much better" she said to herself "The whole regeneration process is most undignified."
"Will you see the coven now?" asked Malachi
"Not just yet, I have some concerns that I would like to run past you."
"Of course" he bowed
"I want things to be like they were before we left for Hungary"
"Of course My Lady"
"That means you will go back to being my head of security, all leadership will fall to me." She said sternly
"As you wish My Lady."
"That brings me to a sensitive issue I wanted to run past you." She began cautiously "Nina…"
"What of her?" Malachi asked cautiously
"When I take the throne, she will have to relinquish a lot of the power she has become used to, how would you like me to approach the matter?" she asked him confidently,
"Well she's used to being a Princess now… it would mean a lot to me if you gave her the courtesy of allowing her to keep her title."
"Of course I will" Amelia nodded "There is something else though… Selene, and her abomination…"
"They are under my protection My Lady" he interrupted her "I gave Selene my word, I WILL NOT allow any harm to come to them."
Amelia raised an eyebrow at her chylde "You have never spoke to me like that, your murderers mean that much to you?"
"That's in the past My Lady" he sighed "Were it not for the Hybrids strength we would never have got Nina back. Besides Selene is one of us, regardless of any mistakes."
Amelia laughed a little "I remember the time you came back from Hungary, the first time you met Selene; you spoke of nothing else for weeks. You were taken with her from the moment you laid eyes on her, and even now, there is still a soft spot."
"That was a lifetime ago" he muttered in an embarrassed tone "I love Nina more than anything else on this planet. Yes, I still feel a loyalty to Selene, but it's simply a matter of honour."
"More than anything else on the planet" she repeated coldly, as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach "Very well, Selene and her abomination will be granted the sanctuary of this coven. You are to take full responsibility for them."
"Of course My Lady" he bowed "Do not worry, Casper has a member of his team check in on them everyday, we'll keep an eye on them."
"Ah yes…" Amelia began "Casper… your mercenary. Dimitri has informed me that you have given him free reign during your hunt. You trust this man?"
Malachi shrugged his shoulders "As long as I pay him he'll stay loyal, plus he's got a genuine loyalty for Nina, he's very useful to us."
"I see" nodded Amelia "Keep him on a tight leash, the existence of this team is upsetting the Death Dealers, I do not want a rift forming in the coven. Remember, building an independent force is how Kraven got started."
"I'm nothing like Kraven" hissed Malachi "I am completely loyal to you."
"I know…" she sighed "I know. I'm sorry, I'm still a little stressed. Come… lets go for a walk, we'll see Nina, and then I'll take my throne."
"Of course My Lady" he bowed as he recovered his walking cane and offered Amelia his arm. As the two walked arm in arm towards the crypts entrance, the huge stone doors parted like the red sea before them. There were three men on the other side, two Death Dealers, and a well dressed member of Casper's team. The three men fell to a knee simultaneously as Amelia and Malachi silently glided past them. "Long live the queen" smiled Malachi.