Please review guys, I'm starting to think you don't want Madison and Eric to get together lol x Chapter 49: Trials And Tribulations

They arrived at an old warehouse, it was just after sun set and she and Godric stepped out into the colder night, she wore tight black trousers, black ankle high flat boots and a white t-shirt that clung to her body, Godric wore his usual ensemble but instead of white, tonight he dressed in black, it seemed only right to mark this dark occasion. The warehouse stank of dog and Madison admired Godric for his control, his senses were more heightened than hers and the smell must have been putrid to him but he didn't show it. They stood near the front near an older man who Madison couldn't help thinking she'd met before?

' Madison this is Jackson Herveaux, Alcide's father'

' Oh that's why you seem familiar, nice to meet you Mr Herveaux'

' Pleasure to meet you Miss Madison, I've heard wonderful things about you and please call me Jackson, you are considered a friend to the Shreveport pack you know?'

' I am?' the two men smiled and nodded

' It's a shame we have to meet under these circumstances though'

' Yes I'd rather it was anywhere but here as well' she said they shared a solemn smile and Madison set to work scanning the room and dropping all guards to hear the minds around her. She paused and a smile broke her face when she saw Lucian, as soon as he saw her he walked over to join them,

' Madison it's good to see you again, I must admit I feel better about this knowing you're here'

' Good to see you too Lucian, how is he?'

' Strangely nervous, he doesn't like this at all'

' So he suspects fouls play like the rest of us then?' Jackson cut in; Lucian turned and smiled,

' Jackson I didn't expect you to come all this way?'

' Rodrigo's a good friend to the Shreveport pack I offered to come show our support to him, we all back him'

' I wouldn't bet on that' Godric cut in, even Madison was surprised by his remark,

' You think this is going to happen in all packs, all the original leaders are going to be challenged under strange circumstances?' she asked him quietly

' Yes, I got a distinct impression that younger wolves are planning uprisings everywhere, even Isabelle has been visited by the Dallas pack leader because he is concerned'

' This is not good' Lucian muttered, all their faces fell

' So if Rodrigo wins tonight do you think it will make them all think twice?' Jackson asked Godric

' Let us hope so, it has happened before among vampires, a youngling challenges someone in authority like a sheriff and when they are put in their place no one dares try it again for a long time'

' He can do this' Lucian's voice was full of unwavering certainty and they all nodded in agreement.

Rodrigo emerged, he wore only his black trousers, Miles followed behind him, Madison had been told Miles would be Rodrigo's second and her stomach knotted to see him, the challenging wolf came next, the room instantly divided into who was siding with who, Madison was pleased to see the majority stood by Rodrigo, apart from a few foolish younglings and some who should have known better. The man was tall but shorter than Rodrigo, he had lighter skin and dark eyes that held none of Rodrigo's warmth, his hair was also lighter and his face held a look of over confidence,

' Little bastard thinks he's got it in the bag' Lucian muttered angrily, he was shaking and Madison put her hand on his shoulder to calm him,

' Maddie I'm begging you, despite my confidence in my old friend, if you find anything out tell me and I'll end this and shame that grotty little bastard'

' In a heartbeat' she muttered her anger was growing just as much as Lucian's as Rodrigo's opponent put on a show of flexing his arm muscles for the crowd,

' Dick!' she spat angrily, the three men around her laughed quietly as the rules were outlined,

' Rodrigo, current pack master will fight in three rounds against his challenger Drake, do you both have a chosen second to take your place should you choose to involve them?' both men nodded and the elderly man speaking continued,

' Each round will last until one opponent manages to pin his opponent for more than ten seconds, the wolf who claims the most victories will be pack master, understood gentlemen?' again they both nodded, Drake smiled a sickening smile, Madison focused on his mind, he was thinking of different tactics he was going to use, not all of them playing by the rules. Madison was truly angry now and she attempted something she'd only done with Sookie before;

"Rodrigo don't freak out and don't look at me, it's Maddie by the way but I suppose you guessed that, I've had a snoop round his head and seen some of his dirty tactics I'm going to show them to you so you'll be prepared, let's just say he doesn't intend to play by the rules" Rodrigo gave a small nod to show he'd understood and she projected the images into his head, he smirked a little with his head bowed when she was done and he nodded again,

' Found something out already?' Jackson asked smiling

' Just a few underhand tactics I thought he should know about' she smirked at him and he gripped her shoulder thankfully, the elderly man who was obviously refereeing spoke again,

' Wolves take your forms' both Rodrigo and Drake began to shudder as they transformed, Rodrigo into his black, glossy wolf; Drake into a more chocolate brown, dull wolf and then it began.

Madison found it hard to watch sometimes as the wolves tore chunks from each other, Rodrigo won the first round thankfully, but Drake managed to pin him and win the second, they took a break and Lucian went over to check on his friend,

' Have you caught anything yet?' Godric whispered to her

' No' Madison couldn't hide the worry in her voice, how was Drake so strong for a fairly new wolf, it bothered her and she edged away from Godric and Jackson and moved closer to Drake and his gang that surrounded him,

"It should have kicked in by now" she stopped where she was and listened, concentrating on Drake and his second in commands thoughts,

" I need more time for it to kick in I can feel it working, I wouldn't have got him in the second round if it weren't, why wont this stupid vamp blood work faster"

' Go get me more, I wont win without more' he whispered to his second, who obediently rushed outside,

"God why did I agree to this, I don't even like Drake and I don't see why I have to drain the damn vamp in the van, I got nothing against vamps", she'd heard enough,

Madison knew everything she needed to and pushed her way back to Godric,

' He's taken vampire blood that's why he's getting stronger, Drakes got a vampire chained up in a van outside, his seconds gone to get more blood' she explained breathlessly, Jackson immediately took off outside, Godric's expression scared her, she had never seen him so angry, she could almost feel the waves of rage flowing off him,

' Go and inform Lucian' he spoke slowly but his tone showed his rage, she nodded and pushed through the crowd to where Lucian was inspecting Rodrigo's wounds, after she'd told them both Miles and Lucian roared with rage, Rodrigo stood and obscured Madison from Drakes view, the whole room had turned to see what was happening,

' You're sure?' he whispered to her

' Positive, Jackson's gone to stop his second getting the blood and I'm not sure what Godric's doing but he's angrier than I've ever seen him' Rodrigo nodded and turned to look at the referee, Madison saw Godric next to him, the two men were talking and seconds later the referees face held the same anger as Godric's,

' This fight is over, Rodrigo remains pack leader' the crowd instantly began murmuring,

' Perhaps Rodrigo's challenger would like to explain why?' Godric challenged Drake, Drake had a mixture of terror and anger on his face, but Godric matched the anger and increased it,

' I have no idea what you mean?' he was going to play innocent,

' Then allow me to tell your pack what you have been doing, you've been draining one of my kind to increase your strength and you currently have him or her chained up in the back of a van outside, where you have just sent your second to fetch more blood for you, did I miss anything?' anger spread around the room and suddenly every wolf who had sided with Drake crossed over to join Rodrigo,

' I wouldn't touch the scum that is vampire blood' he shouted defiantly

' Bad move' Madison muttered, a deep growl erupted from Godric,

' You dare to stand before me and your brothers and lie, you dare to drain my kind to pursue your career aspirations?' the referee could sense Godric was ready to pounce,

' Let the pack leader decide his unworthy opponents fate' he shouted over the noise the crowd made, Rodrigo stood still and looked at Madison, at that moment Jackson walked in supporting the weak vampire, he was young in appearance but not in age, Madison could see the wisdom that came with age in his tired eyes, Jackson was also dragging Drakes unconscious second along the ground. Madison felt Godric's rage grow, he knew this vampire,

' Andre?'

' Godric' the vampire called Andre gave a small nod; it appeared to be all he could muster,

' You drained the child of queen Sophie-Anne LeClerq!' it didn't seem possible for Godric to get any angrier but he managed it, there was uproar among the pack and Madison knew they were all thinking the same thing; Sophie Anne would demand retribution for this, Rodrigo sensed the tension as well, Lucian and another pack member were restraining Drake so he couldn't run, and Rodrigo spoke;

' Godric, Andre is your kind and it is your kind that have been wronged here not mine, I leave his fate to you' a wicked smile flashed on Godric's face, Madison knew above anything else Godric hated drainers, Godric crossed the floor and spoke quietly with Andre,

' I have conferred with Andre, and he agrees that without justice Sophie Anne will personally demand satisfaction, therefore I have no choice but to appease the queen and slaughter your pack member' the room fell silent, no one dared argue with Godric right now, vampire or not,

' Agreed' Rodrigo said, Godric nodded and removed his black tunic,

' Then let him fight me to the death' Madison gasped with everyone else.

The fight was quick, with his vampire blood running low Drake was no match for a vampire of Godric's strength, as a final brutal act Godric tore the wolfs head from his body as though he'd just pulled a flower of its stem. The crowd began to disperse, several of the younger wolves came to offer their apologies to Rodrigo, and he accepted them graciously and immediately called Eric to inform him of Andre's whereabouts. When it was over Madison sat on her bed in Rodrigo's house, Godric walked quietly into the room,

' Do you think me wicked?' she opened her eyes and smiled at him genuinely shaking her head,

' Never'.