Reluctantly, the family parted for the night, each of the children hugging Marcus while he was in human form before retiring back to their beds. Cuddled up in bed together, Selene and Marcus spent the rest of the night catching up on the years until near daybreak, when they finally fell asleep. Two hours later, a well rested Saxon approached their door, this time knocking very carefully.
"Mum? Dad?" he called, unsure whether Marcus was still human, and also unwilling to embarrass himself for a second time. Selene grumbled, slowly waking as she pulled the covers up over her head. She was tired from a long, eventful night and just wanted to sleep.
"Mum?" Saxon called again, hearing no verbal response but a low grumble. Selene rolled over and snuggled down even more. However, her forehead brushed against something cold and wet. Her eyes snapping open, she jumped when finding herself face to face with the straggly dog beside her in bed. It did not take her long to remember that it was Marcus.
"Sorry honey," she said resting her head back down. "It's just, well, you know!"
Leaning forward, Marcus licked her on the face, only to have her jolt away from him, screwing up her face. "I know you're my husband, but that is too weird," she said, wiping her face. A gentle knocking came from the door again.
"Sorry to interrupt, but there's something I need to show you," Saxon called through the door. Selene sat up and rolled her eyes, now on the verge of losing her patience.
"We have all day Saxon! What's the bloody rush for it now?" she snapped.
There was a moment of silence. "I just wanted to show you before the others get up, that's all," Saxon said, this time a little quieter.
Selene dropped her shoulders and let out a long sigh of annoyance. Brushing the hair away from her face, she asked, "Can I at least sleep for a few hours afterwards," making an attempt to reason with him.
"Sure, you can sleep all day," he replied
"Good enough for me," she said, slowly getting up.
Leaving Marcus behind, Selene dressed and met with Saxon in the hall. From there he led her down into the lower part of the keep that wound its way deep into the mountain.
"This is quite a distance, it wouldn't have mattered if the others were up," Selene said, thinking this was unnecessary at this time.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't trust Sophia or Kain yet. I don't know Dorian either. They are all asleep and unaware to where we are going." Saxon explained.
Better be important, she hoped, still wanting to turn back and get back into bed. As they walked through the passage, Selene could tell this part of the keep was old since most the bricks in the walls where crumbling with time. Saxon had not said anything yet, but Selene knew this had something to do with the prophecy.
Their path was eventually blocked by two large metal doors, both engraved with the figure of a winged woman, again with Viktor's sword and the shield.
"That shield is constant throughout the keep," She pointed to it on the door.
"I'll tell you when we get inside," He spoke quietly as if someone was listening. Remaining silent, Selene watched Saxon open the door using the usual rune combination. Before he pushed open the doors, he turned and faced her
"There's just one thing," Saxon said, gaining her attention back from the pattern on the door.
"You must promise not to be pissed off," He said to her, when she looked up at him. Her facial expression instantly changed
"What do you mean not to be pissed off?" She asked, her mind was now off going back to bed, and now focused on a curiosity of what was through the door.
"Just try not to be shitty. I did everything for a reason."
"Okay." Selene sighed.
Placing his hands on the structure, it took him quite a bit of force for him to push it open, and as soon as a small gush of wind flowed out, Selene instantly grabbed her stomach in pain.
"Are you okay?" Saxon asked concerned
"Yes I'm fine. The sword is in here isn't it?"
"Yes but its locked in a safe."
"I can feel its presence," She said, slowly standing up strait as the pain eased. The area of her stomach that ached was the exact spot Kain had stabbed her.
"I'm not angry but you could have warned me," Selene said thinking this was what Saxon was warning her about.
"Actually that's not why I said it. Come on this way," Saxon guided her through, closing the door behind them. Leading her further through another stone passage, and down under an archway, they came to a large circular chamber. From what Selene could see, the walls contained large lifelike sculptures evenly spaced around the room, all leaning out toward the centre. Each of the faces held a morbid expression the skin seemed to be so sucked in it showed the skeletal features giving the deathly appearance.
"This is a tomb" Selene figured, looking to Saxon.
"Well yes, it's the Corvinus Vault. The Ossuary's hold bodies, but others hold relics, books, scrolls, things recorded in history and such. And of course things like powerful weapons that no mortal or immortal should have, are kept here so no one will find them." Saxon explained.
Selene knew instantly he was talking about the sword, but was there a possibility the shield was in here too?
"Each of these metal engraved plates is an Ossuary," Saxon said, pointing to the wall. Between each of the deathly stone figures, was three metal plates all stacked on top of each other from the roof to the floor. Each plate that covered an Ossuary was at least the size of a coffin.
"Why is this place a tomb, and a safe?"
"Ah, now that's the interesting bit. In here there are the worst of immortal corpses and the best. Over here is the tomb of Hector," Saxon pointed to plate across the room. It was well sealed against the wall, with an extra inscription carved in the metal and stone around it, and to top it off it had metal bars over the plate sealing it good and proper.
"I can read the name Hector on it, but I never thought anything of it till last night when you mentioned him to Dad. Then I decided since you knew more then I thought knew, it was time you came and saw this place."
"Hector was… well evil. Why is he here? Why is he not lying somewhere deep in a ditch as a pile of bones?"
"Unless left in the sun a Vampyres body doesn't fully decay. That leaves a chance for someone to maybe one day find a way to resurrect them."
"Who the hell would want to resurrect Hector?" Selene spat, not liking the idea of ever meeting Hector.
"Not to resurrect, to keep from being resurrected. With this inscription seal around his remains makes it impossible to resurrect him, even from the resurrection circle in Burwood."
"Good," She said, taking another look around.
"Before we go any further I think we need a bit more light," Saxon said, taking a lighter out of his pocket. The room at this point was only lit by one single torch near the entrance. Flicking the lighter on Saxon wove the flame near the hand of the closest statue, instantly it caught alight burning as a torch.
"It's strange, the torches in here are the hands, it's like they are doing what you do when you light your hands with your fire power," Saxon moved around the room lighting them all, one by one.
Selene herd him, but she did not answer since her eyes were fixed on the circular rings on the floor. Each ring was metal, all a different colours, and contained unusual shapes and letter forms she had never seen. To her, it looked somewhat like a star chart, each ring had a round disc somewhere on it with a symbol, and some rings had up to five. Crouching lower she examined the rings as the room grew lighter, now she could see there was a clear gap between each ring that could only indicate they would or could, move at some point.
"That's the combination lock. It opens most the Ossuary's except ones like Hectors. Each Ossuary has its individual symbol that sits on the outer ring, when an Ossuary is not to be opened the symbol is removed from the ring." Saxon told her.
Selene looked closer scanning the ring with her eyes, it was true the symbol on Hectors Ossuary, was not there.
"I see," She said, looking at the rest of the plates.
"Good, because it took me quite a few weeks to work this bloody thing out," Saxon laughed. The room looked larger now that it was fully lit, and now Selene could see a different Ossuary on the across from the doors they came through. Instead of three levels it was one large plate that could lead to another vault. Each side of it had identical statues mirroring the other. They where of a well built man, whose face was full of melancholy looking down at the limp woman in his arms, who was clearly in the clutches of death. Saxon saw Selene staring at the statues with great interest
"That's another smaller vault. I haven't figured out how to open it yet, but I know who's in there."
"The woman?" Selene guessed.
"Actually both of them are. They where the very first Vampyres," He said smiling, he knew that would gain her full interest.
Selene swiftly turned around to look at him, her face was filled with surprise
"This is their tomb? I thought the legends said it was the sons of Corvinus?"
"Yes that's true, but there is much more to it. That's the great thing about this place it has so many records of what happened. I've been recording them into my computer because they are so old and frail, pretty much on the verge of falling apart," He explained, walking up beside her.
"He was the son of Corvinus and she was his wife."
Selene narrowed her eyes
"That's strange, it's like I've seen this scene before… her stomach!" Selene said going pale, she placed her hand on her own stomach. There on the stone woman's stomach was an identical wound.
"I know, but that's not the half of it. Look at this," Saxon gently brushed the dust off the chest of the male it revealed a tattoo identical to Marcus's. Selene was becoming very uncomfortable in the vault, too many things were coincidental with her own life.
"There is so much to uncover down here, that I don't know where to begin," Saxon said, then looked at his mother who was incredibly pale.
"Saxon, why did you really bring me here?" She snapped, not wanting to stay for much longer.
"That's what I don't want you to get angry about."
"Saxon just spit it out!" She was tired and didn't want any long speeches.
"Okay. The tomb that held you, it didn't just randomly malfunction. It was my fault, I stuffed up the levers and the gears," Saxon moved away from her in a round about way, and moved over to the middle of the circles upon the floor.
"What do you mean stuffed up the levers and gears?" She asked sternly. It was the same tone she used on him, his brother and sister when they where young, the 'your about to be in trouble' tone only parents have. Saxon bent down and began turning the small stone discs in the middle circle
"Originally Kain and Marcus were the tombs guardians, but when Kain turned against the base, Marcus reappointed me as a guardian replacing Kain," Saxon explained while continuing to move the discs.
"I unfortunately, lead those who wanted Viktor dead right to the tomb. There are still many immortals, and mortals who hate him. Yet at that point I didn't do anything since the defence mechanism took care of them."
Before long the large circles upon the floor began to slowly move
"That was until a pack of unruly Lycans swarmed the tomb to collect him. This was at the same time I found this place. There are languages in here only someone as old as Viktor could understand."
"So you moved him to here." Selene figured it out before he said anything.
"They weren't after you, but being immortal they did do a lot of damage to Viktor's side of the tomb. So I moved him to a place no one would find him." Saxon stood up and watched the symbols move until an alignment came together pointing at a row of Ossuary's.
"When I adjusted Viktor's clock so it would spit his coffin, I didn't realize it was also linked to your clock. I didn't mean to, and I thought I had fixed them. That was until you showed up in the keep… I had no idea dad had put a back up system in the device. That was what kicked in when the main mechanism eventually failed from my tampering," Saxon said watching the outer circle, it finally began to rotate after all the rest of the rings had come to a complete stop.
"You can just imagine my surprise when I saw you. I was relieved though, there was a chance what I did to the mechanism could have killed you, or trapped you inside never to wake up," Saxon continued. He hesitated since she had remained quiet he thought she was angry with him.
"You thought I would be angry over that? Other then waking up early, nothing bad came of it. You did it in the interest of protecting Viktor. I'm not angry in the slightest, however, next time if it's a contraption your father made, consult him before fiddling with it." She gave him a short lecture. Saxon smiled
"I know I learnt that," Saxon walked over to the row for Ossuary's the rings aligned to as the outer ring was slowing to a stop. It eventually stopped on a symbol matching the middle plate. Selene watched the metal plate come out the wall, making a horrible metal dragging along stone sound. The plate that at least three inches thick moved down as soon as it was clear of the wall revealing the end of Viktor's coffin. Saxon reached in and slid it out, placing it on the floor. Selene had seen the dry, shrivelled remains of Viktor before
"Just like a shrivelled prune," she mumbled with a smirk. After seeing Viktor's past she looked at him differently, there was a better respect for him despite his ruthless past.
"I think it would be best if you woke him, since you've woken him before."
"Or burn him to bits from my poisonous blood, besides we need more blood then a bite of the wrist."
"I know," Saxon reached in and pulled out a bag of blood packs.
"And your blood wont kill him, he's made from your blood remember."
"That was before I became part Vorador."
"Oh… I didn't know that," Saxon said, rather disappointed, dropping his shoulders.
"We can use that blood," Selene pointed to the bag.
"Not really, its sheep blood. Viktor doesn't need memories of eating grass, and staring at other sheep."
Selene let out a small laugh
"Kind of funny if we did, but there is the possibility that it won't wake him properly. It will be better if it was human like blood."
"Well that counts me out since I have blood like yours, so does Roslyn and Sophia. Lucian certainly won't do it, not to mention Viktor would be furious if his blood was used. Dorian is a Lycan, same thing… Dad?" Saxon suggested.
"How about the hybrid workers?"
"No they always prefer to be kept out of things like this, they have done for years, and I will respect their wishes."
"Well, your father it is… it shouldn't matter that he's a dog he still thinks like a human."
"Well it's the best we have. I know my way better, wait here and I'll get him," Saxon shoved the bag into Selene's grip, and was at the door in a blink.
"Saxon… Bloody hell" She grumbled, but he was already out the door and running down the hall not wanting to waste any time.
This was the last place she wanted to be alone, she was not afraid of tombs or the dead, but somehow this place seemed to send a shudder down her spine striking a small nerve of fear. She looked at the bag in her hand, and then at Viktor, she really wanted to wake him at this point
"Better not," She told herself, putting the bag down.
Sitting down against the wall next to Viktor's coffin, Selene sighed to herself feeling the pull of sleep making her close her eyes.
For a moment she enjoyed the hollow silence inside the vault, until the sound of fingernails quickly scraping along rusty metal broke the silence.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she shot her eyes open, surely she heard no sound it had to be in her mind. Since she was so tiered, she put it down to quickly drifting off.
Selene kept herself awake so her mind would not play tricks again, instead she ended up staring at the statues either side of the vault across from her. After at least a minute staring at the pair, she decided to get back to her feet and have another closer look. She had nothing to be afraid of since she was one of the most powerful immortals she reminded herself, yet history was long forgotten, and there could be truths or powers locked within that could kill even someone as powerful as herself.
Walking over to the door regardless of her instincts, she brushed away more dust and cobwebs from the males face revealing the fine detail. He looked a little like Marcus in his face, except he had longer hair and along his neck was long narrow scars. Selene expected to see a set of four small circular scars, but his neck was bare. Selene frowned with confusion, he supposedly was meant to have been bitten by a bat leaving a permanent scar. Moving toward the vault door, Selene leaned down a little and brushed the dust off the side of his neck to see if the bite was indeed on the other side. Still there was nothing, no scratch, no little round puncture marks. Either the craftsman left them off, or maybe he wasn't bitten on the neck at all, and the biting on the neck was something later Vampyres did since it was so close to the jugular in the neck.
Selene stood up strait, and stepped back getting a better view. She then looked to the main entrance wondering what was taking Saxon so long.
After another minute her attention went back to the statues.
Curiosity kills Selene more then it does the cat.
Crouching down, Selene took a look at the woman whose head was tilted right back almost hiding the face. Wiping the dust from her face, Selene could see the woman's mouth was partly open showing her set of fangs. Upon the woman's shoulder was a distinctive Vampyric bite, human size. Like the male looked like Marcus, the woman looked a more like Selene, then Selene was comfortable with.
Selene instantly sat back with a gasp, her eyes wide looking upon the statues eyes that where painted red.
"It can't be!" Selene swung around and wiped the dust off the second statues face, only to reveal paint marks. Red blood was once painted dipping from the wound down her neck, over her face and into her eyes.
Sighing with relief, Selene stood up and turned around to head back to Viktor's coffin when it struck her. Like walking into something in the pitch dark when you thought you knew where everything was, Selene's stomach sank, it felt like her blood was running cold though her hard beating heart. Never had she been scared like this, not since she was human. Before her, every statue's head along the walls of the round room had all turned to look directly at her. All the dark almost empty eye sockets stared at her, their skeletal features stern, watching.
"This better be another fucken vision!" She cursed to herself.
She was not going to stick around to wait and see what would happen next, and made a run for the entrance. As her feet hit the metal rings in the centre of the floor they began to turn, throwing her off balance and onto her side. The rings turned faster then they did before, she got to her knees and tried to stand up again and jump for the level stone floor, but the speed was disorientating her making it hard to jump. Instead she quickly stepped onto the next ring, which rotated the opposite way sending her back the other direction. Hopping from ring to ring, Selene finally reached the outer ring. Lifting her foot, Selene stepped forward off this involuntary carousal, only to have a section of the floor drop down and another ring rise replacing it.
"Why does this shit always happen to me!" Selene threw herself off the ring far enough to reach the wall, landing on a flat stable surface. Sitting for a moment she held her head, waiting for the dizziness to slow before she stumbled for the door only to find she was at the second vault where she began.
Huffing with frustration she shot up to her feet.
"I hate this place already," she grumbled, brushing herself off.
"Do fear here."
Selene froze, the statue of the woman moved, opening her mouth speaking. The sides of her mouth crumbled and chipped away as she spoke. Selene had seen this before when Orlian when he had taken a statue as a form possessing it
"Not again!" Selene hissed.
