Author's note: I have over a hundred reviews!!! I'm so happy!!!! Thanks so very, very much to my reviewers, this really means a lot to me!! So, here's another chapter for ya, hope ya'll enjoy it. I had t retire Marcus and Erika, but they'll be back and in the spotlight next chapter. Now, I am going to have to put this story slightly on hold, seeing as my mom is getting surgery this Thursday, and I REALLY need to finish another story of mine that's almost done. But I should get a chapter done this week, possibly two. As always, reviews are much loved and appreciated!!

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except the ones not in the Underworld comic, novelization, script, or movie. Savvy?

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CHAPTER 10: BACK FROM THE DEAD

Michael was the first to speak, though he barely registered that fact. "How, how can you be alive?" he asked, dumbfounded, as were many others. They had seen the silver infected corpse, with blood and the liquid metal oozing out of the bullet wounds.

Lucian came closer to them, a soft sigh escaping him. "Amelia's blood. Unfortunately, it didn't act as fast as I would have hoped, but at least it did at all," he explained. "I will explain further, in due time. Now though, is time for more important and pressing matters," he told them. His eyes searched for someone, until finding Zahra. She met his eyes sadly, and his suspicions were confirmed. "I was afraid of that," he whispered. He closed his eyes briefly before sending meaningful looks at Selene and Michael. Mourning fallen friends would have to wait.

"You two, I need to speak with you in private," he told them. His gaze flickered over to Michael's neck, and the young hybrid knew what it was Lucian wanted. The alpha then glanced at Xander to give him instructions. "When the others arrive, tell them to wait in here."

Xander nodded. "Yes sir." He walked off to wait for the rest of the lycans to arrive, smiling at the fact that Lucian was indeed alive.

Lucian turned back to Selene and Michael, motioning them to follow him out of the room. Quickly leading them out, he headed for the room that had once been his old private chamber.

***

Upon reaching the fairly large room, its walls crumbling and the windows bigger than they used to be, Lucian faced Michael.

"There's something I would like returned to me," he requested softly. And Michael nodded, taking off the necklace. He handed it back to Lucian, who clasped it tightly, for a moment, the feel of the warm metal soothing in his palm. It felt as if it had been decades, centuries since he had touched the ancient treasure. He again put it on, pleased to once again be wearing it.

"So," Selene began, "you're a hybrid now yourself." A statement, not a question. Lucian met her eyes and nodded, but she lowered her gaze as soon as he did.

"Yes, and I'm not the only other one besides Michael," he informed them, earning confused and worried looks from the pair. "Marcus has somehow become a hybrid himself, though he of course has not told the covens of this development," Lucian explained, a smirk on his face at the Elder's predicament.

Michael looked at Selene and Lucian. "How is that possible?"

"Singe." Selene simply said. "Singe's blood leaked into Marcus' crypt. And since he is of Corvinus blood, he would be able to take the change," she finished, looking down at the floor, completely lost in thought.

"And how did Singe's blood end up in that room?" Lucian asked, struggling not to sound accusatory. He had known that the scientist had to be dead, but that didn't mean he had taken the fact well.

"Viktor, killed him after he told us of your plans, and after we learned of Amelia's death," Selene replied, still not meeting Lucian's gaze. "I captured him when Michael was abducted."

Lucian nodded. So, that must have been what frightened Kraven into leaving and coming to the pack. He looked back at Selene, curious of why the ex-Death Dealer refused to meet his gaze. She seemed unsure, which was - from what he knew of her and had seen of her - odd. But now was not the time to ponder over it.

"Well, then that explains how Marcus is a hybrid. There is more to it though. Kraven, spineless bastard," Lucian muttered, "is free somewhere, after escaping his execution. Which I believe was supposed to happen this morning."

Selene finally looked up, slightly puzzled. "How do you know this?

Lucian grinned. "Because the security at Ordoghaz is only a problem for someone under two hundred," he replied. "Oh, and Marcus has chosen a consort."

"Who?" the vampire warrior asked. She may not be on their side anymore, but they were still her kindred.

"Some blond, I didn't try to find out really, saw her with him though," he told her. "It doesn't matter. At least not at the moment," Lucian added. "What does matter is, Kraven is free, the covens are in turmoil and Marcus, their only Elder and leader now is a hybrid, and probably not in his best condition to be a proper ruler. Now is the time to strike, if we want to win this. If we want it all to end," Lucian told them emphatically.

Michael nodded. "I agree. This needs to end."

They turned to Selene, who was strangely silent. She meet their gazes for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, if we have a chance to bring it to an end, we must take it." She met Lucian's eyes finally. "But how will we defeat Marcus, even if the covens are in such a state? He is a hybrid, and so far it looks like that does ensure immortality."

"That is something that has plagued me as well. If only Singe were here, he could see if there is any weakness in the blood or DNA, some sort of virus we could use or even create," Lucian mused. He turned to Michael. "I don't suppose you specialized in that field."

The younger hybrid shook his head. "No, almost none except for a few classes and overheard conversations at doctors' lounges. But Adam, someone I worked with," he explained when Selene and Lucian gaze him blank expressions, "had a friend who was studying that field, she wanted to work exclusively in it sometime."

Lucian's eyes almost visibly perked up. "What was his name?"

Michael looked at him. "Oh no, we can't kidnap her, and it's a her, by the way," he corrected.

"We need someone to try and find a way to defeat Marcus, and since nobody here has any medical knowledge beyond first aid, other than you, we have to bring in an outside source," Lucian insisted. "It's not like we'll kill her once she finds something we can use."

Michael would have looked at Selene, but he already knew that she would ultimately side with Lucian. She didn't like bringing innocent humans into the war, but the Death Dealer had sometimes employed humans themselves, most of which ended up becoming lycan bait. Relenting, he lowered his head in a submissive manner.

"Don't worry, Michael, no harm will come to her," Lucian assured him. "Now, what is this doctor's name?"

"Leila, Leila Deneuve."

***

I am definitely going to be in trouble when I get there, Leila thought to herself as she raced to the hospital. She was already late, an hour and a half late, and Nicolas was already in a bad enough mood from what she could tell on her answering machine. He had been ticked about her being a half hour late, now add an hour, not good.

Swiftly entering the building and heading for the elevator, she tried not to think about everything she had learned in her dreams last night. And this morning, if you wanted to get technical. But something like that didn't just go away. It plagued you and bothered you and made you acknowledge its presence so that it could drive you even more insane by making you run circles trying to understand it.

Vampire and werewolves, um, lycans, were in her dreams, she even dreamt she was this Sonja, a vampire, and her lover was a, a lycan. That was not normal dreaming. These were coherent and real. Too real. It was beginning to terrify her, and they were certainly taking their toll.

Shaking her head, forcing herself to forget for a little while, she stepped out of the elevator as the doors slip apart. Walking towards her office, she was met by a very tired and angry looking Nicolas.

"I know, I know, I'm extremely late, but it won't happen again unless there's an emergency, I promise," Leila told the older doctor, but he wouldn't settle for that.

"Leila, I know you're having a rough time, with your mother being ill and everything, but if you can't make it to work, call," he told her, keeping his voice calm. "I would rather you not come at all then show p over an hour late and expect that it's ok." He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, his expression kind. "I know how it is, we have all lost loved ones, and have had to watch them fade. But you must remember, your job is important and you can't screw up. Or else you might become the cause of another person losing a loved one."

Leila nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. I'll remember to call in next time," she assured him and he finally let her pass.

***

Anya smiled as Brian opened his eyes, conscious again at last. He struggled against his bonds, nearly breaking the chains. He was a Death Dealer after all. But it was still to no avail, and Anya had to bit back a mocking laugh at his expression. Lazily, she strolled over to the bed to lie beside him.

"Good afternoon, sleepy head," she cooed. "I thought you would never wake up." She laughed softly at the glare he sent her. "Now, now, I simply want to talk. You and I have much to discuss, very pressing matters."

Brian continued to glare. "You mean about that stunt you pulled with knocking me unconscious? Or whatever it was you did with Kraven?" he spat.

A devilish grin spread across her lips. "Both are really all part of one big plan, and you now play a crucial part. Let's put it this way, I'll slit your throat and drink your blood as it pours out, killing you, or you can do what I ask of you. You decide which."

The young Death Dealer she herself had sired just barely over a century ago looked away, thinking. He glanced back at her, his naturally high eyebrows raising in curiosity. "What's in it for me?"

"Well, what do you think about blondes?"

***

Selene only half-listened to Lucian as he informed the pack, now joined by the sect from Britain, of what the situation now was, and what their course of action would be. She almost completely missed his announcement that he, accompanied by Michael and herself, would return to Budapest tomorrow and find this Leila Deneuve. She already knew all of this, or at least all she needed to anyway.

She kept thinking about what Michael had told her. Kept replaying her memories of that night, kept thinking about the fact that Lucian, the leader of the lycans, had almost saved her and her family. The "What if?" scenarios nearly overwhelmed her.

What if he had gotten there in time? What if he had saved her, from Viktor, and had made her a lycan? What if he and Viktor had fought, killing one or the other? Or both ended up dying? What if someone else from her family had been saved, by Lucian and then turned?

Shaking her head, trying to clear it, she turned and silently slipped from the room. She hoped Michael wouldn't follow her, because all she wanted was a few minutes to herself to try and think this out.

How did you deal with the fact that not only was your family killed by the man you thought had saved you, but you were nearly killed by the fiercest leader of the very race you had thought responsible, and had spent almost all of your life trying to wipe out, was your would-be savior instead?

The best way you knew how, and the only way. Simply ignore it. But that wasn't working, so she had to find another way. Was she supposed to go up to Lucian and say, "Thank you for almost saving my family and I"? The fact of the matter was, she didn't know how she was supposed to deal with this, and she didn't like it.

Walking outside, thankful it was still a ways off from sunrise. Tomorrow evening, as soon as the sun set, she, Michael and Lucian would be traveling back to Budapest, Hungary. They would find this doctor, bring her back here, and try to find a way to strike Marcus. End the war, hopefully.

But she knew, it wouldn't be that easy. It never was.

***

Lucian approached Michael, the meeting with the pack over now. He noticed the young man looking around, most likely wondering where Selene had slipped off to.

"Michael," he called softly, getting the other hybrid's attention. "I wish to ask you something about Selene. She seemed, troubled earlier. Almost unsure, nervous even. Is something wrong?"

Michael shrugged. "I'm not sure myself. I can usually read her, but not all the time. I think though, that it might have something to do with the memory I had this morning, and then told her about," he explained to the alpha. When Lucian remained silent, Michael continued. "I saw the night her family was killed, when you came as Viktor and Kraven escaped."

Lucian nodded. "I see." He thought for a moment. He had long suspected that had been the case, but he had never been certain if the young girl he had seen with Viktor had been the one to grow to be one of the most tenacious Death Dealers. He looked back at Michael and motioned to one of the exits. "Listen, she slipped out earlier, I noticed her leave."

The younger hybrid moved to go after her, but Lucian grabbed his shoulder gently. "No, I would like to speak with her first," Lucian told him, then left at Michael's compliant nod. He walked outside, spotting the vampire at on of the lookout posts.

"I would rather not talk right now," she stated as he approached her slowly.

"You've never struck me as the type to ever want to talk, really," Lucian replied almost cheekily. He smiled softly as she faced him, her eyes glaring at him slightly. He came to stand next to her, no longer facing her.

Almost warily, she glanced at him, staring at him, thinking about what Michael told her earlier. Trying to imagine herself as his protégé, not Viktor's. Fighting for him and for his race, not Viktor and the vampires. She wondered what it would have been like to be a lycan under his rule, not a Death Dealer molded by the fallen Elder she had trusted for so long.

Lucian smiled, aware of her gaze, and he could almost hear her thoughts, the different lives she might have had being played out in her mind. He didn't blame her, it must be incredibly hard to take in how different, how completely opposite you life had nearly been.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there in time," he finally spoke. He looked at her, regret in his eyes. "I truly am."

Selene met his gaze, and she nodded. She saw what he was doing. Giving her some sort of closure. Because right now, they didn't have time for her to think about how her life could have turned out, she couldn't be caught up in alternate lives. And because he was genuinely sorry she had to suffer the same fate so many, including himself, had to at Viktor's hands.

"Thank you," she stated simply. "I think I'll go find Michael, he's probably wondering where I am now," she said and walked off.

The hybrid watched as she went to find her lover, for they had to be, they smelled so richly of each other's scent, smiling wistfully. A hand reached up to hold the pendant, the metal giving him some comfort. This was what he would do with his life after the war was over, if he survived. He would spend it here, watching the two of them. It would be his own form of closure.

***

Selene entered the medium sized room in which Michael and she had been sleeping. Sure enough, her hybrid was already in it, waiting for her it seemed. She almost smiled when he looked at her, his expression searching.

"Are you ok?" he asked her softly, and she nodded.

"I'm fine. How about you? How are you taking his return?" she replied, stepping close to him.

He shrugged. "To be honest, I'm relieved. I never wanted to be alpha, and he's much better at it than I am. And a part of me is happy for him, and then another part of me, the part of me that's still him I think, is almost sorry for him. He'll never get any rest it seems."

Selene nodded. She agreed. But right now, she wanted something. When it seemed that Michael was finished, at least for the moment, she reached up and pulled him down, kissing his semi-warm lips with her frozen ones.

***

Kraven strode down the sidewalk, looking around to make sure the were no Death Dealers or lycans in sight. He looked down at the address Anya had given him over the phone, which he had proceeded to write down. It was a coffee shop or something like that, near the hospital he was now walking by.

Rain poured down, and most of the people had umbrellas and were running to their cars or the Metro station. Some were coming from the hospital. He heard a honk and instinctively turned towards the sound. As he looked back, he barely had enough time to registered the person walking straight into him, and no time to avoid the collision.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," a female voice said as the young human backed away. At least they hadn't fallen to the ground. She looked up at him, and Kraven knew he must have dropped his jaw to the concrete below his feet. The girl gave him a similar look, obviously recognizing him.

But it was impossible. She was dead.

"Um, I, uh, I have to go, I'm sorry," she stuttered nervously, moving around him.

Kraven's arm shot out and he grabbed her arm, still dumfounded and desperate to look at her again, hoping he was only seeing things. Or the other way around, to prove that he wasn't crazy. Indeed, the emerald eyes staring back at him, the face that was covered in rain and filtered moonlight was perfectly identical to the face of Sonja. Viktor's daughter. Lucian's lover.

"Would you please let me go," she pleaded, struggling to get away. She appeared frightened, but unaware of who he really was. But she had recognized him, somehow. He noticed the tag on her shirt, she was a doctor here.

Letting go of her and watching as she ran off, he made a mental note to find out about this, Leila Deneuve.