Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the original characters that I have created. The script of the movie belongs to the original writers, producers, etc.
Rating: M for violence and swearing and sexual references (in the future)
Author's Note: This chapter has been divided into two parts because its quite lengthy. This chapter has been beta-ed by Violent-Flames. Thank you so much for being my beta and taking the time. This is told from several POVs so I hope it doesn't confuse you too much. Sorry if it does. Also apologise for the long wait! Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 11:
Trinity shivered as the cool breeze brushed against her already rosy cheeks. She breathed out and watched the warm air from her mouth turn into mist. Beside her Rusty muttered under his breath about schedules and tardiness, as he rubbed his bare hands together hoping to gain some warmth on the cold, winter night. Blue eyes darted across to look at Leo who stood there staring out into the night with an impassive look on his handsome face before annoyance graced his features.
"Bloodly hell, where are they?" Leo muttered glancing up and down the empty train station before checking his watch for what seemed like the twentieth time. "Are you sure you got the right time?"
"Gabriel said midnight," Rusty replied brows creasing as his ears pricked up at the sound of an engine.
"You think that's them?" Trinity asked softly, almost afraid to speak too loudly incase something jumped out and attacked them.
She hated when shipments arrived at night. Rusty always made the meeting place so isolated. She glanced over her shoulder at the deserted train station, blue eyes trying to peer through the darkness.
"I'm sure it's them," Rusty said as the train came into sight.
Trinity bit her lip and swallowed thickly as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, telling her that something was out there perhaps watching them. Instinctively, she glanced back at the darkness hoping to catch whoever it was, only to see emptiness.
"Trinity? Are you listening?" Rusty asked gently nudging the younger woman.
She quickly turned around and nodded ignoring the strange look he gave her. It's nothing. There's nothing out there, she repeated silently to herself over and over as panic slowly began to creep its way in.
"You and Leo will check the shipment, I'll handle Ronaldo, okay?" Rusty ordered staring pointedly at the pair.
The train came to a halt and a moment later a man in his early thirties stepped out. Ronaldo was a man of average height and build. He had dark, unruly hair that matched the darkness in his eyes. He was man who oozed power and charisma. There was history between Rusty and Ronaldo, both being in the business of the black market and working for various wanted criminals.
"Ronaldo," Rusty greeted and Trinity watched in semi fascination as the pair hugged like old friends. "You're late."
"You're not paying me to be on time Rusty, you're paying me to deliver and I have," Ronaldo replied dismissing the fact that he was late.
"Payment is only given when everything checks out," Rusty reminded the older man.
"Of course," Ronaldo replied before nodding to his men, "Let them check the merchandise."
The train suddenly seemed to come alive. Armed men climbed the side of the carriages and positioned themselves on top setting up a perimeter along the train. Two slid down the side ladders and hurried to open the metal carriage doors.
Leo stepped into the carriage and opened the nearest crate, letting out a stream of cold mist. Bags of blood lay stared back up at him and he turned to glance at the dealer.
"How much is in here?"
"At least thirty bags worth of blood," Ronaldo replied and scratched his chin, looking thoughtfully at them, "You planning on getting injured a lot?"
"We have some people who are…rather accident prone," Rusty lied smoothly or so he hoped.
"You don't say," Ronaldo said giving the trio a strange look. He was never one to question what his clients ordered however he had heard some rather strange things about Rusty lately.
Trinity ran her finger against the cold plastic that held the red liquid before she traced the logo. Ziodex Industries. She wondered if Selene knew about the stolen crate of blood or anyone from the coven.
"…The rest is over here."
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"My Lord, she's here."
Those were the words Kraven had been waiting to hear. Fury was printed all over his face at the sudden position he found himself in. He stalked down the dimly lit hallway, feeling dread, anger and an uncertain panic beginning to well up inside him. Everything he had planned was now beginning to unravel right before his eyes, slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.
He had worked so hard to get himself here and he wasn't about to let some measly human infatuation and Selene's interference be his down fall. And now, now Viktor had been awakened filled with her memories and it was only a matter of time before the Elder connected the dots.
Why couldn't she have left it alone? He told her again and again to drop the matter but she refused. Everything he was doing was for them; she was going to be his queen and he was going to rule over the coven. He needed to gain some control back over the situation.
Dark eyes caught sight of the very woman who was the very cause of all this. Kraven reached out and grabbed the slender arm of the Death Dealer roughly pulling her aside and nodding at his men to give them some privacy.
"How could you do this me? Embarrass me like this?" Kraven hissed in a fit of rage. "The entire coven knows that I had plans for us."
"There is no us!" Selene glared pulling her arm free.
Why couldn't he understand that? She had no interest in him.
"You'll go before Viktor and tell him exactly what I tell you to. From here on out, you'll do as I say! Is that in any way unclear?" Kraven asked snarling at her.
Dark eyes narrowed dangerously as if the mere thought of being told what to do by this man repulsed her. Selene's control slipped and she slammed the palm of her hand against the base of Kraven's chin, watching in satisfaction as he went down in pain. She hoped he bit his tongue off.
Quickly she side stepped around him, making hast towards Viktor knowing that Kraven wouldn't dare do anything to her in front of the Elder. She was after all Viktor's childe.
Kraven gritted his teeth fighting down the urge to howl in pain. The taste of metallic hit his taste buds and he growled at the thought being made to bleed his own blood. Cursing Selene, he hurried back onto his feet, struggling to catch up with the lithe vampire.
Almost there, he thought as he reached out to grab the arm just as the doors began to close. No! He silently yelled fist banging against the marble stoned doors. His lips curled in rage realizing that he was too late. Everything was slipping from his grasp and he had no way of stopping it.
Spinning around, he stormed to the security booth, immediately dismissing the vampire on duty,
"Outside. Come on, move it!" Kraven all but barked glaring at the retreating vampire. If he couldn't be in there, then he'd listen to ever word that was being said.
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Coldness hit Selene the moment she entered the throne room. Shadows danced across the stone marble walls as she tried to suppress the shiver that threatened to over take her body. It wasn't long ago that she was standing outside staring aimlessly at the tomb that once housed her beloved Elder.
"Come closer, my child."
The words were so softly spoken, that Selene almost had to strain to hear them. She stepped closer and bowed respectfully to the Elder. A lump had formed in her throat the moment she had stepped into the large, dark, cold room. Her eyes had instantly and hungrily ate up the sight of the man whom she regarded to be her father. She had missed him.
"I've been lost without you, my lord," Selene softly said staring down at the markings on the stone floor. "Constantly hounded by Kraven and his never-ending infatuation."
Viktor's lips twitched at the mention of Kraven's infatuation with his childe. He had seen from day one. It was…amusing if not annoying, but it had not caused any harm, so he left it.
"It is the oldest story in the book. He desires the one thing he can not have," Viktor said staring down at his childe and meeting her dark eyes. "Now tell me…why have you come to believe that Lucian still lives?"
"I've given you all the proof you need," Selene replied her brows creasing as she stared up into the grey eyes that bore down on her.
"Incoherent thoughts and images, nothing more," Viktor said almost sadly before his anger shone through. "Which is precisely why the Awakening is performed by an Elder. You don not possess the necessary skills."
"But I did see Lucian. I shot him. You must believe me," Selene cut in trying to make him see the truth.
"The chain has never been broken. Not once. Not in 14 centuries. Not since we elders first began to leap frog through time. One awake, two asleep. That's the way of it. It's Marcus' turn to reign, not mine!" Viktor snapped.
"I had no choice. The coven is in danger and Michael is the key-" Selene tried to explain, this time from a different angle only to be immediately cut off by a cold, hard voice.
"Yes. The Human. Or should I say…humans?"
A shiver traveled down Selene's spine realizing that he had seen things that she had no intention of revealing. Disgust filled his voice and there was a look in his eyes that she had never seen before. A mixture of fear and anger shone brightly in the grey orbs and it made her wonder where it had come from. She closed her eyes and tried to gain some control over the situation. It wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to believe her.
"Please. Give me the chance to get the proof you require," she softly pleaded.
"Fine," Viktor said after a beat watching as brown eyes met his, "I will leave it to Kraven to collect the proof if there is any."
Anger and hurt flashed in her eyes as she stared up at him, not understanding how he could set Kraven to this task
"How could you trust him over me?" she asked like a defiant child.
"Because he is not the one who has been tainted by a mere mortal!" Viktor all but shouted, his mind flashing to a pair of blue eyes and soft lips. His eyes darkened at the mere thought. "I love you like a daughter, but you leave me with no choice. These rules are in place for a good reason and they are the only reason we have survived this long."
"You will not be shown an ounce of leniency!" He dangerously continued as his eyes stared down at the vampire before him.
The words were like a splash of cold water in the face. Selene paled and clenched her jaw fighting the urge to shout back. Instead, she hung her head unable to believe that he would do this to her. She was too upset and angry, not only at herself but at Kraven and the situation she now found herself in.
"You have broken the chain and the covenant! You must be judged!"
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"You should've listened to me and stayed out of this," Kraven smugly told Selene as he all but led her to her private quarters.
An icy look spread across Selene's face and it took everything in her not to reach out and wipe the look off his face permanently. Viktor had ordered to confide her in her quarters and all but barked at Kraven to find proof of Lucian's existence.
"Now you'll be lucky if I can convince the Council to spare your life."
"Tell me, did you have the nerve to cut the skin from his arm or did Luican do it?" Selene asked crossing her arms as she stared him down.
A look of fury spread across Kraven's face and his eyes narrowed at the accusation. He barely spared the surround Death Dealers a look, knowing that any hesitation would confirm her thoughts.
"Mark my words. Soon you'll be seeing things my way," Kraven replied turning and signaling the Death Dealers to follow him.
Once outside, Kraven straightened and turned to the two vampires. "No one opens this door. Understood? I can't afford to have my future queen run off again can we?"
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A young handsome blonde haired vampire stared out the small train window and into the darkness that was night. Tonight they'd be arriving in Budapest where his Elder would Awaken Marcus, and soon it would be time for her to slumber while Marcus began his reign. A crease formed on his brows as he continued to stare out into the countryside. He was young in age, twenty five to be exact and was still considered a child amongst the coven.
It was in his blood to become a Death Dealer and protect her, just like his fore father, his grand father and just like his father and his brother. He was however, not quite as good as his brother. He was still in his training and it would be a long time before he became a full fledged Death Dealer. This was more of an education trip. But some day, he knew he would be a Death Dealer and perhaps the Chief, just like his brother was.
Perhaps one day he'll be as good as Selene. A boyish grin spread across his lips at the thought. He could definitely take her in sparring match. He couldn't wait to get to Budapest to show her what he'd learned while living in New York.
"Jasper, I'm going to inform Amelia that we're almost there. Keep an eye and ear out, okay?" Nathan ordered casting his brother a look.
As soon as it had come, the rain had stopped. The heavy downfall withered to nothing within a minute. An elegant finger reached out and traced the path of a water droplet before the finger was withdrawn. A sharp knock caught her attention and a moment later it opened revealing one of the Death Dealers, Nathan.
"My Lady, we're almost there," he informed as he bowed respectfully.
She looked beautiful. Her dark hair was pulled back in an elegant bun with an ornate and a beautifully crafted silver necklace rested on her bare, pale neck. Her pale shoulders were bare and a lightly shaded blue silk dress completed her flawless and perfect figure.
Nathan had seen no creature as beautiful as her.
A small nod of acknowledgement was given. "How is Jasper faring?"
"Quite well my Lady," he replied lips twitching into a small smile at the mention of his brother.
It was the first time Jasper had been traveling with them. Nathan had never allowed the boy to come along, claiming he would be too much of a liability, but upon his sixteenth birthday, Jasper had declared his intentions to become a Death Dealer much like their father and grandfather.
"Good. If he turns out to be as good you then I'll have nothing to worry about."
She let her eyes trace his features noting that two vampires though different in ages looked remarkably similar. Nathan's blonde hair darkened as the years went on, Jasper's seemed to stay the same sun-kissed color. It was something Amelia always liked about him. It was almost as if he was able to step out into the sun and not get burned. And of course, if he turned out to be anything like his older brother, women would be swooning all over him.
"You are too kind."
"I only state the truth Nathan," Amelia smiled, one that he returned before a more serious and anxious expression spread across his face.
"Are you nervous my Lady?"
"About what?"
"Slumbering for two hundred years."
Amelia gave him a soft, sad smile and turned to stare out into night, "This is not the first time I have slumbered Nathan."
"Time has flown by my Lady, it's seems like only yesterday you were awakened by Viktor," Nathan softly said.
"Although it will be two hundred years until you next me see, it will only feel like a moment," Amelia replied turning back to face the handsome vampire. "You have served me well Nathan, much like your family."
"We only live to serve you," Nathan bowed his head respectfully.
"You say such the nicest things Nathan…I will miss you and your company."
"As will I my Lady."
"You may leave," Amelia softly ordered turning her attention back to the window and watched the reflection of Nathan leaving the private cabin. "And Nathan?"
"Yes my Lady?"
"Inform me when we arrive."
"Of course my Lady," he bowed.
Heavy thoughts left her mind and the pleasant sound of rain returned. She watched as the rain cascade down the glass, she loved it when it rained. It made her calm, helped her think more clearly. Two hundred years of slumber, the thought a lone sent a shiver down her spine. Loneliness would be the only company she would have, that and her dreams.
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Kahn handed a semi-automatic to one of the Death Dealers as he prepared the team to pick Amelia up from the station. However he stopped in mid sentence as his brown eyes caught sight of Kraven.
"Change of plans. Amelia will be picked up by Soren and his team," Kraven announced causing confusion to flood the Death Dealers.
It had always been the Death Dealers' job to protect the Elders. It had never been Kraven's team of vampires. Kahn warily stared at the regent leader, unsure how to take this. Kraven's team had gradually expanded their privileges, mostly due to Kraven, and it was beginning to upset the balance the Elders had in place.
"That's our job," Kahn replied only to be given a sneer.
"Not anymore."
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As the train neared Budapest, Nathan received a tap on the shoulder drawing his attention away from the game of poker he was playing.
"What is it Alec?" Nathan asked placing his cards down.
"There's been a slight change in plans Sir," Alec said standing to attention.
"What?" Nathan's head snapped around, blue eyes suddenly turning cold at the notation. "What kind of change and why wasn't I informed earlier?"
"We've just received word."
Poor excuse, Jasper thought but was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. His brother glared at the Death Dealer before calmly speaking. There was a hint of anxiety and impatience hanging in the air.
"What's changed?"
"We are no longer meeting Khan…Kraven's sending his own team which is to be led by a vampire by the name of Soren."
Nathan's brows creased as he digested the news. What possible reason did Kraven have to send his own team out and not that of Kahn's? Kraven should know by now that Amelia was a creature of habit. Kahn had always been the one to meet Amelia when returning to Budapest. He wondered what had changed.
"Alright, I want both you and Matthew to be with the council until we get there. Do you understand?" Nathan instructed sliding out of the booth, the poker game longer forgotten.
"Yes Sir."
"Good. Jasper, stay with the council at all times," Nathan ordered turning to his little brother who nodded.
There was something strange going on, he could feel it in his guts and he could see it on Nathan's face. A wary look had appeared on the Death Dealer and it made Jasper slightly nervous all of a sudden.
"Sir," Matthew entered the carriage, ready to report, "We'll be arriving in ten minutes."
"Alright, get the Council ready. I'll go and alert Amelia," Nathan turned and headed down the carriage to the private quarters of his mistress.
Soon Amelia will be arriving at the mansion to awaken Marcus and her reign will be over.
Gently rasping on the wooden door, the soft yet sharp voice of Amelia could be heard as he entered the cabin.
"It's time my Lady."
The black train slowed down to a halt and Nathan made his way to the carriage window and peered out into the night. Blue eyes looked past the tracks and caught sight of a group of men in dark suits, all clutching automatic weapons. There was only one man who stood slightly apart from the group. His long hair had been slicked back and stared expressionless as he stared back at the train.
Nathan guessed he was Soren.
A flash light was produced from his pocket and they all waited for the signal. Light flashed on and off, for four consecutive times before Nathan responded. He turned and nodded to Alec who stood guard at the other end of the carriage with Matthew at the front, keeping the Council members between them. Both Death Dealers nodded at him and Nathan gently tapped on Amelia's door, signaling that they were ready.
Amelia exited her private quarters with her head held high. Nathan trailed behind as he always done and as she passed, the Council members stood from their seats to walk behind the beautiful Elder. It all came to a sudden halt, when a blood curling sound echoed throughout the night.
Howling.