Disclaimer: I don't own the movie "Underworld", its characters or plot concept.
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An Alternate Future
Chapter Twenty-One
Kraven glared out the car window at the darkening sky. The sun had fallen but an hour earlier, yet the sky was still tinged a gruesome crimson. It tainted the rising moon, streaks of blood on silver. It did not bode well for the upcoming meeting. The request for his presence at Markus' court had come soon after Nemea had been sedated.
Explanations were in order for his actions. Even the demise of the rabid lycans could not excuse the serious breach in protocol he'd committed, the break in the change of command. While he was head of the campaign against the renegades, the steps he had recently taken to destroy them were of such gravity that they should have required the approval of the ruling Elder. Something Kraven had not bothered to do in his enraged state.
Soren smiled weakly from beside him. As second-in-command, he would receive the same punishment as Kraven. The most severe penalty for their kind was death by sunlight. It was something reserved for the gravest of offenses. However, the Elder Markus had a different idea of what was grave. A puritan leader, he ruled his subjects with an iron fist, forcing them to conform with their kind's archaic beliefs.
Although Markus did allow the use of modern technology, he religiously followed the precepts of the old Code. Relationships with the enslaved lycans was strictly forbidden. The lax in this aspect of the Code within Viktor and Amelia's covens had chilled relations amongst the vampire groups. As a result, whenever Markus ruled, the other covens made sure to keep quiet any "improper" relationships. Any related issues were silently brought to the attention of either Viktor's regent, Sacha, or Kris in the Americas.
Now, Kraven had to worry about keeping Nemea's condition under wraps, and facing Markus' wrath at the same time. The Elder was a stickler for rules and regulations, and it was certain that Kraven's actions would be severly dealt with.
When the car reached its destination, Kraven nodded at Soren and stepped out into the castle courtyard. The ancient house was past city borders in the middle of a government-protected forest. Vampire taxes at work, Kraven smiled humorlessly to himself. The castle itself seemed deserted and open to anyone when, in fact, it had an impressive security system. Guards strictly monitored the grounds, and the comings and goings of visitors. Having received the necessary clearance, Kraven and Soren continued into the greeting hall.
The two were alone, unescorted by any of their own men, putting them at an evident disadvantage. However, when the summons had arrived, Kraven had been reluctant to involve anyone else unless there was no choice. Bringing Sacha into this, for instance, would only turn things into a power struggle. It was a complication he wished to avoid. Better to take whatever punishment Markus handed him.
The Elder in question sat atop a dias, surrounded by curious court members. Unlike Viktor and his dislike of pomp and ceremony, Markus enjoyed parading everything. His face held a look of cruel amusement, eyes a cold blue. Kraven forced himself not to react when he saw the exiled Erika at the Elder's side. Without a word, he and Soren stopped at an appropriate distance and waited for Markus to speak his piece. After a long silence meant to unnerve the two, the Elder finally spoke in a low, drawling voice.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to starve us by burning the city to the ground, Kraven," he started. "You might think that a small price to pay for the renegades' demise, but you will find that not all of us agree with you - least of all, me."
"My apologies, sire," Kraven smoothly responded with bowed head. "I thought it to be the best course of action at that time."
"Is that so?" A slender eyebrow was arched. "It seemed more of a rash action to me. ...How is your pretty wife, the Lady Nemea?"
Do not react, Kraven sharply told himself. He merely wants to provoke you. Markus had obviously heard the particulars of the events before the fire. Kraven only hoped that Markus did not know about Nemea's condition.
"She is seriously injured," was his flat reply.
"That is too bad. Do send her my best wishes."
Clearly disappointed at the lack of reaction, the Elder leaned back in his seat, fingertips pressed lightly against each other.
"Well, then..." He shrugged in slight annoyance. "You know why you've been called here?"
"I do, sire."
"Then, you know that you must be punished for your impetuous behavior?"
"Yes, sire."
"Very well. As of tomorrow, you will leave this city. You and your subordinate are to be banished from this place until the end of my rule. You are exiled," he stated, his manner deliberate.
Kraven's head snapped up at the pronouncement, placing a smile of delight on Markus' lips.
"Sire..."
"Nothing you can say will make me revoke that sentence, Kraven. Do you not think it a punishment befitting your actions? ...And since the renegades are gone, your task is accomplished. There is nothing left for you to do."
"But, I cannot leave my wife in her condition," Kraven pleaded with Markus, unashamed.
Markus' brow rose at the obvious emotion in Viktor's usually stoic lieutenant. The whole time Erika had been whispering in the Elder's ear, but apparently he'd lost patience with her prodding. A raised hand immediately silenced her, leaving her with a sulky look. For a long moment, nothing was said. Then, the Elder rose from his seat to speak in a tone that did not allow any further protests.
"You have three days."
Without another word, he swept out of the room. The court trailed after him, a-buzz with whispers. But, Erika lingered behind to give Kraven a triumphant smile. She knew better than anyone else that even a few days of consolation could not soften the blow of exile. But, what gave her greater joy was the knowledge that Nemea's condition was serious enough to warrant Kraven's plea. For her, she had won. Head raised high, she smirked and nodded her goodbye to the two.
On their way back to the hospital, Soren knew better than to speak. Once there, Kraven immediately headed for Nemea's room. Singe stood outside, talking to the lycan on guard. Ignoring their respectful nods, Kraven went straight to the point.
"How is she?"
"She's...awake," Singe answered reluctantly.
"Can I see her?"
"Your son is with her now. ...I think it best if you let them talk alone. He has managed to calm her down. If she becomes upset again - "
"You think my presence would upset her," Kraven flatly interrupted.
"I...I believe so," the lycan assented with an uncomfortable smile.
The vampire looked at the closed door with a blank look on his face. He was at a loss on what to do. How could things have gone so terribly wrong in just one night?
-----
An Alternate Future
Chapter Twenty-One
Kraven glared out the car window at the darkening sky. The sun had fallen but an hour earlier, yet the sky was still tinged a gruesome crimson. It tainted the rising moon, streaks of blood on silver. It did not bode well for the upcoming meeting. The request for his presence at Markus' court had come soon after Nemea had been sedated.
Explanations were in order for his actions. Even the demise of the rabid lycans could not excuse the serious breach in protocol he'd committed, the break in the change of command. While he was head of the campaign against the renegades, the steps he had recently taken to destroy them were of such gravity that they should have required the approval of the ruling Elder. Something Kraven had not bothered to do in his enraged state.
Soren smiled weakly from beside him. As second-in-command, he would receive the same punishment as Kraven. The most severe penalty for their kind was death by sunlight. It was something reserved for the gravest of offenses. However, the Elder Markus had a different idea of what was grave. A puritan leader, he ruled his subjects with an iron fist, forcing them to conform with their kind's archaic beliefs.
Although Markus did allow the use of modern technology, he religiously followed the precepts of the old Code. Relationships with the enslaved lycans was strictly forbidden. The lax in this aspect of the Code within Viktor and Amelia's covens had chilled relations amongst the vampire groups. As a result, whenever Markus ruled, the other covens made sure to keep quiet any "improper" relationships. Any related issues were silently brought to the attention of either Viktor's regent, Sacha, or Kris in the Americas.
Now, Kraven had to worry about keeping Nemea's condition under wraps, and facing Markus' wrath at the same time. The Elder was a stickler for rules and regulations, and it was certain that Kraven's actions would be severly dealt with.
When the car reached its destination, Kraven nodded at Soren and stepped out into the castle courtyard. The ancient house was past city borders in the middle of a government-protected forest. Vampire taxes at work, Kraven smiled humorlessly to himself. The castle itself seemed deserted and open to anyone when, in fact, it had an impressive security system. Guards strictly monitored the grounds, and the comings and goings of visitors. Having received the necessary clearance, Kraven and Soren continued into the greeting hall.
The two were alone, unescorted by any of their own men, putting them at an evident disadvantage. However, when the summons had arrived, Kraven had been reluctant to involve anyone else unless there was no choice. Bringing Sacha into this, for instance, would only turn things into a power struggle. It was a complication he wished to avoid. Better to take whatever punishment Markus handed him.
The Elder in question sat atop a dias, surrounded by curious court members. Unlike Viktor and his dislike of pomp and ceremony, Markus enjoyed parading everything. His face held a look of cruel amusement, eyes a cold blue. Kraven forced himself not to react when he saw the exiled Erika at the Elder's side. Without a word, he and Soren stopped at an appropriate distance and waited for Markus to speak his piece. After a long silence meant to unnerve the two, the Elder finally spoke in a low, drawling voice.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to starve us by burning the city to the ground, Kraven," he started. "You might think that a small price to pay for the renegades' demise, but you will find that not all of us agree with you - least of all, me."
"My apologies, sire," Kraven smoothly responded with bowed head. "I thought it to be the best course of action at that time."
"Is that so?" A slender eyebrow was arched. "It seemed more of a rash action to me. ...How is your pretty wife, the Lady Nemea?"
Do not react, Kraven sharply told himself. He merely wants to provoke you. Markus had obviously heard the particulars of the events before the fire. Kraven only hoped that Markus did not know about Nemea's condition.
"She is seriously injured," was his flat reply.
"That is too bad. Do send her my best wishes."
Clearly disappointed at the lack of reaction, the Elder leaned back in his seat, fingertips pressed lightly against each other.
"Well, then..." He shrugged in slight annoyance. "You know why you've been called here?"
"I do, sire."
"Then, you know that you must be punished for your impetuous behavior?"
"Yes, sire."
"Very well. As of tomorrow, you will leave this city. You and your subordinate are to be banished from this place until the end of my rule. You are exiled," he stated, his manner deliberate.
Kraven's head snapped up at the pronouncement, placing a smile of delight on Markus' lips.
"Sire..."
"Nothing you can say will make me revoke that sentence, Kraven. Do you not think it a punishment befitting your actions? ...And since the renegades are gone, your task is accomplished. There is nothing left for you to do."
"But, I cannot leave my wife in her condition," Kraven pleaded with Markus, unashamed.
Markus' brow rose at the obvious emotion in Viktor's usually stoic lieutenant. The whole time Erika had been whispering in the Elder's ear, but apparently he'd lost patience with her prodding. A raised hand immediately silenced her, leaving her with a sulky look. For a long moment, nothing was said. Then, the Elder rose from his seat to speak in a tone that did not allow any further protests.
"You have three days."
Without another word, he swept out of the room. The court trailed after him, a-buzz with whispers. But, Erika lingered behind to give Kraven a triumphant smile. She knew better than anyone else that even a few days of consolation could not soften the blow of exile. But, what gave her greater joy was the knowledge that Nemea's condition was serious enough to warrant Kraven's plea. For her, she had won. Head raised high, she smirked and nodded her goodbye to the two.
On their way back to the hospital, Soren knew better than to speak. Once there, Kraven immediately headed for Nemea's room. Singe stood outside, talking to the lycan on guard. Ignoring their respectful nods, Kraven went straight to the point.
"How is she?"
"She's...awake," Singe answered reluctantly.
"Can I see her?"
"Your son is with her now. ...I think it best if you let them talk alone. He has managed to calm her down. If she becomes upset again - "
"You think my presence would upset her," Kraven flatly interrupted.
"I...I believe so," the lycan assented with an uncomfortable smile.
The vampire looked at the closed door with a blank look on his face. He was at a loss on what to do. How could things have gone so terribly wrong in just one night?