* * *
The Annexes returned each with an armful of rifles, swords, crossbows, and some more things that neither Michael or Selene could recognize. They piled them on tables and laid them out in an organized manner, one Annex kept a table clear and laid out a map of the city. "Andrew," he called.
He came out of a dark hallway. "What've you got?" he asked, standing next to the Annex.
"I talked to a Lycan and he told me that the Death Dealers are working on lead bullets to destroy you. Nikolas hasn't found out about us yet."
"Go on," Andrew instructed as Selene and Michael stood next to him.
"I found out where Benjamin's den is and the Elders' new safehouse," he marked the spaces on the map with a red pen.
"Good job," Andrew complimented. "Alright, everyone, we'll split up into three's . . . Selene," he turned to her. "Do you know where the Death Dealers will be."
'Finally, something I know about' she thought. "If we resurface somewhere, they'll show up."
"Good, we'll attack the Den first then move onto the Elders. Whether the Death Dealers will show up at the Benjamin's or Nikolas's place is the problem, either way the Warriors will be after us."
"We'll be stripped of our powers for sure if we touch the Warriors," a woman stated.
"If this goes as planned, I'll make sure that all Annexes actually own their powers."
"I found out something else," the Annex with the map said. "It turns out that Kraven is still with Markus, as his advisor."
Selene found this very hard to believe. "How?" she asked. "He would've been killed for his heresy."
Andrew shook his head. "Everyone who knows about his heresy is either dead or unable to prove it."
"And Markus," the Annex continued. "He's like Michael, a Hybrid. Somehow he ingested Lycan blood that reawakened him, he's been able to keep it a secret but my source saw him change and told me just now."
"If he is than why is he trying to kill Michael?" another Annex spoke up.
Andrew rubbed his chin. "Because if he didn't there'd probably be questioning of his motives," he explained and turned to Michael. "Be prepared to have a one-on-one fight with your ancestor, Michael."
Michael nodded. "I'm ready."
"Get to working on splitting up into teams and getting your weapons ready, we leave as soon as we can," Andrew instructed.
Selene walked down the dark hallways, her arms crossed and breathing slowly.
Michael grabbed her arm and pulled her into another hallway. "Are you sure you want to do this, Selene?" he asked, his eyes looking deep into hers. "We can runaway . . ."
Selene's doe brown eyes looked at him sadly. "Micahel, don't you want to end this?"
"Of course I do, but I don't like going to fight with all these Annexes knowing that some-if any will come back. It was so much easier to risk our own lives, wasn't it? Then risking all those people's lives?"
Selene touched his cheek and nodded. "This is what they do . . . they risk their lives for people like us. I know it's not eay but we can't run, not this time."
Michael nodded and their lips met in a kiss and Michael remembered that she was worth dying for just like they both were to the Annexes.
* * *
About twenty minutes later, the fifteen people of different kinds stood in the center with Andrew in the center. "Alright, we'll get through this. We just need to let go of our fear . . . I know most of you are not warriors, but just think about your charges and how they'll be saved when this war has ended. Michael, go ahead and change. You said that the Lycans backed off after you two killed Viktor, maybe you'll be able to do that again if things get too bad."
Michael's eyes turned jet black and his skin changed to dark blue, his muscles began to get larger and his ribs got closer together and protruded through his T-shirt. No one seemed to be bothered by this, just amazed that he felt no pain.
When Michael was to his true form, he growled with anticipation. "I'll meet you there. Selene and Michael are with me." They latched onto his hands and once again buildings rushed by.
The Annexes returned each with an armful of rifles, swords, crossbows, and some more things that neither Michael or Selene could recognize. They piled them on tables and laid them out in an organized manner, one Annex kept a table clear and laid out a map of the city. "Andrew," he called.
He came out of a dark hallway. "What've you got?" he asked, standing next to the Annex.
"I talked to a Lycan and he told me that the Death Dealers are working on lead bullets to destroy you. Nikolas hasn't found out about us yet."
"Go on," Andrew instructed as Selene and Michael stood next to him.
"I found out where Benjamin's den is and the Elders' new safehouse," he marked the spaces on the map with a red pen.
"Good job," Andrew complimented. "Alright, everyone, we'll split up into three's . . . Selene," he turned to her. "Do you know where the Death Dealers will be."
'Finally, something I know about' she thought. "If we resurface somewhere, they'll show up."
"Good, we'll attack the Den first then move onto the Elders. Whether the Death Dealers will show up at the Benjamin's or Nikolas's place is the problem, either way the Warriors will be after us."
"We'll be stripped of our powers for sure if we touch the Warriors," a woman stated.
"If this goes as planned, I'll make sure that all Annexes actually own their powers."
"I found out something else," the Annex with the map said. "It turns out that Kraven is still with Markus, as his advisor."
Selene found this very hard to believe. "How?" she asked. "He would've been killed for his heresy."
Andrew shook his head. "Everyone who knows about his heresy is either dead or unable to prove it."
"And Markus," the Annex continued. "He's like Michael, a Hybrid. Somehow he ingested Lycan blood that reawakened him, he's been able to keep it a secret but my source saw him change and told me just now."
"If he is than why is he trying to kill Michael?" another Annex spoke up.
Andrew rubbed his chin. "Because if he didn't there'd probably be questioning of his motives," he explained and turned to Michael. "Be prepared to have a one-on-one fight with your ancestor, Michael."
Michael nodded. "I'm ready."
"Get to working on splitting up into teams and getting your weapons ready, we leave as soon as we can," Andrew instructed.
Selene walked down the dark hallways, her arms crossed and breathing slowly.
Michael grabbed her arm and pulled her into another hallway. "Are you sure you want to do this, Selene?" he asked, his eyes looking deep into hers. "We can runaway . . ."
Selene's doe brown eyes looked at him sadly. "Micahel, don't you want to end this?"
"Of course I do, but I don't like going to fight with all these Annexes knowing that some-if any will come back. It was so much easier to risk our own lives, wasn't it? Then risking all those people's lives?"
Selene touched his cheek and nodded. "This is what they do . . . they risk their lives for people like us. I know it's not eay but we can't run, not this time."
Michael nodded and their lips met in a kiss and Michael remembered that she was worth dying for just like they both were to the Annexes.
* * *
About twenty minutes later, the fifteen people of different kinds stood in the center with Andrew in the center. "Alright, we'll get through this. We just need to let go of our fear . . . I know most of you are not warriors, but just think about your charges and how they'll be saved when this war has ended. Michael, go ahead and change. You said that the Lycans backed off after you two killed Viktor, maybe you'll be able to do that again if things get too bad."
Michael's eyes turned jet black and his skin changed to dark blue, his muscles began to get larger and his ribs got closer together and protruded through his T-shirt. No one seemed to be bothered by this, just amazed that he felt no pain.
When Michael was to his true form, he growled with anticipation. "I'll meet you there. Selene and Michael are with me." They latched onto his hands and once again buildings rushed by.