Author's note: Well, I can say that this chapter does not have a cliffy ending. There's a fight scene though! And the reunion you've all been waiting for it seems. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, and thanks for the bugging, Kristen and Cat!! You know who you are, ;) Thanks!! Hope ya'll enjoy this, and as always, please review!!

WARNING: This chapter does contain a rather gruesome death scene, and would probably garner an R rating. But it's not long and the person deserved it, in my opinion. Just thought you all should be warned.

Disclaimer: I own nothing really. Only the original characters, and Dominique and Marcus are only my ideas of them. They don't belong to me. I make no claim to them. Please don't sue me, Sony, I love your movies. Savvy?

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CHAPTER 18: KNOW THY ENEMY

Lucian raised his right arm, his blade popping out from the sleeve of his coat. He stared down the Elder, who waved his Death Dealers back before they could do anything in defense against the lycan hybrid.

"I don't want to fight, Lucian," Marcus stated. "In fact, I'm afraid I need your help."

"Too bad, because I can't," Lucian replied coldly. He charged, and Marcus moved to block. The others realized they had to get the fight outside the small room, for everyone's sake. Selene ordered Michael and Adam to get out, but Michael had different plans.

He ran in front of Marcus, breaking up the fighting [air, and Lucian halted mid strike as he gave Michael a cold glare.

"Get out of the way, Michael," he growled, but Michael stood still.

"Lucian, you can't, he's obviously here for a reason, there might be another way," Michael pleaded. "If you go on and kill Marcus, then how do you know Sonja will still be spared."

But Lucian refused to listen. Michael had feared he wouldn't be able to get through Lucian's rage and desperation that easily. Michael hesitated a moment, not wanting this to happen, but Lucian simply took off his blade.

"I won't fight you with a weapon," he stated. And then struck.

Selene almost moved to help Michael, but she restrained herself. If it looked like Lucian would indeed kill the younger hybrid, she would stop him. But until then, it was their fight. She watched as Marcus stood up straight, watching the fight with interest. She was surprised when she saw Erika rush over to him, and even more surprised to see the Elder embrace her.

Adam took her attention away from the pair though before she could think over what it meant. "Should we stop this?"

She shook her head. "No, not unless it looks like one might die."

***

Michael and Lucian made their way towards the door, trying to get more room to fight. Both let the change come, now fighting in full hybrid form. What little bit of their shirts was left was quickly being ripped apart and blood began to cover the ground. Lucian clawed at Michael's torso, leaving four claw marks.

Michael roared in pain, then slashed Lucian up the chest, almost reaching the alpha's neck, but Lucian grabbed Michael's arm in time and twisted it savagely. Michael growled, but he pulled his arm from Lucian's grasp before he could break it, and then backhanded the older hybrid.

Lucian hit the wall, but landed on his feet and charged Michael, ramming the younger crossbreed against the opposing wall. It crumbled slightly from the impact, and Michael grimaced when some of the broken concrete managed to cut through his tougher skin.

In retaliation, he clawed at Lucian's exposed back, his nails digging into Lucian's skin and ripping down his side. Lucian growled and let go, backing away a few steps. They stared at each other for a moment, panting and bleeding. But neither would give up.

Lucian moved to swipe at Michael's head, and even as he realized Lucian wanted him to do so, he ducked and the older hybrid had him. Kicking Michael's legs from under him at the same time as he moved to cut Michael's cheek, Lucian had him on the floor.

He glared down at Michael, but made no move to strike again. "Why? Why did you try to stop me?" he asked, his voice deeper and bravely in hybrid form.

Michael looked up at him. "Because he wanted our help, and I couldn't let you go ahead with it," Michael whispered hoarsely. "And I knew that no good would come of it, no matter who lived."

"Why did you want to kill me so badly," Marcus paused and visibly swallowed his pride, "Lucian?"

Selene answered. "Because Kraven has Sonja, who is somehow alive. And he told Lucian to kill you if he wanted Sonja to stay alive." She quickly walked over to Michael, helping him stand. He changed back to human form once on his feet, as did Lucian. Selene grimaced when she saw Michael's wounds.

Cut across the abdomen, his wrist was twisted severely, and his shoulder back was cut in several places. He was fortunate, though, because she knew Marcus would be in even worse condition. But still, it would take several hours for everything to heal completely.

Lucian was not much better, she noted as the older hybrid changed as well. His chest was slashed, and blood poured from his back, his lip cut as well, blood trickling from his mouth. Panting, he wiped the blood away from his mouth and glowered at Marcus.

"Did you say Kraven contacted Lucian?" Kahn asked. Lucian, Selene, Michael and Adam all nodded. "Well, I might be able to help," he told them, and everyone looked at him questioningly. "That was what I wanted to tell you at the mansion, I started to think about who would have the most motive to free Kraven, cause trouble. And I started to think about Anya, and realized she did, she's been causing trouble since Amelia was killed. So, I put a tap on her cell," Kahn explained. "If she is the one, whenever she contacts Kraven, we'll know."

"And that means we could find out where he is hopefully," Adam aid, and everyone looked at him. The vampires stared at him curiously, Lucian glared, and Michael and Selene just nodded. "Then the only ones who have to die are these two you keep mentioning, Kraven and Anya."

All turned to Lucian, waiting for his decision. With a weary nod, he agreed and turned towards the medical room. "Come on, Michael, you need to get those wounds bandaged."

Selene nodded. "He's right, let's go," she said and helped him follow Lucian.

***

Sonja slowly opened her eyes, looking around. She spotted Kraven on the other bed, going through some papers. She moaned, turning her now sore neck and she remembered what had happened. Reaching up, she felt at her neck, and her heart sank when she felt the bite mark.

"Don't sound so happy, dear," he said to her, his voice mocking and cruel. "Besides, at least if you and Lucian are reunited, you'll both live forever. Just not as the same species."

"Bastard," she hissed and moved so that she was sitting on the bed, facing him. She wasn't bound, but then she had ripped the fabric even with normal human strength, what good would they do now? She looked to see if she could possibly make it to the door before Kraven, but she highly doubted it.

Still, I could probably get away, I'm stronger now, she reasoned. But suddenly he was over there, holding her arm.

I know what's going on in that little mind of yours, Princess," he sneered as he dragged her over to the bed he was sitting on. "And it's foolish. You're father was my sire, and you're just turned. You haven't yet gotten your strength, it takes a few days. So I can still pin you down as easily as before."

Sonja glowered, but kept still and he let her go. She ran back over to the other bed, scooting so that she sat against the wall, facing him again. She sighed. She wondered if Lucian was all right.

***

Brian frowned as he sat in a chair in Anya's room. The female vampire had insisted he come back with her to celebrate, and he wondered now why he hadn't just flipped her off. But there he sat, watching her beam proudly at her victory. He sighed and got up.

"I'm leaving, I have work to do," he told her, but she was quickly in front of the door. She smiled at him, and he suddenly had the feeling she had a specific manner of celebration in mind. One that he did not particularly care to participate in. At least not with her, anyway.

"But, Brian, you don't. The only problem the Death Dealers had was Kraven, and now that Marcus is gone, they don't have that problem anymore." She strode up to him, flashing her fangs. "Besides, all work and no play makes you very, very dull," she whispered.

Brian simply glared at her contemptuously. "Look, I don't want you, I don't want to have sex with you, I don't want to touch you, so don't try to seduce me!" he spat. "The one I wanted is gone, and I don't think you are much of a substitute."

With that, he walked out, smirking as he imagined the frozen fire in his sire's eyes as she stared at his back in shock and wounded pride.

"You know, I'm sure Marcus isn't the only one who banged that blonde bitch," Anya spat back.

Brian turned and flashed his fangs at her in a similar way as she had done seconds earlier. "You think you know everything, don't you?" He then turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

***

Kraven looked at the clock impatiently. He thought about going ahead and calling Anya, but he decided not to let her know she was irritating him.

He smiled when his cell finally rang, and he quickly answered it.

***

Everyone listened with intently as Kraven and Anya talked, Lucian standing right next to Kahn. The Death Dealer glanced at Lucian every few seconds, wary of the feared lycan. Lucian paid him no attention.

"So, you have control of the coven? Are you positive?" Kraven's voice asked, and Anya's laugh replied.

"Yes, Marcus and your sniveling play thing are both gone, as well as Kahn and a few other Death Dealers. You should relax, Kraven," she haughtily told him. "Besides, if you have Sonja, you have nothing to worry about from Lucian."

Lucian growled softly at the disdainful way she said his beloved's name, but otherwise kept silent. Erika was silently fuming over being called Kraven's sniveling play thing.

"Yes, I do. And you should know that Lucian is going to kill Marcus, Because as haughty as you are now, I would hate for you to suffer the humiliation it would bring if Marcus came back to claim the covens again. He is an Elder, and a Corvinus. I sincerely doubt he'd give up so easily."

"True," Anya admitted. "So, where do you want to meet, I have your ticket," she said, and Lucian perked up even more.

"The club near the hospital, it's nice and public," Kraven replied.

"There we go, we've got them" Kahn said, and everyone nodded. Lucian walked away, heading towards the exit. He put his blade and coat back on.

"Let's go."

***

The Death Dealers glanced at Selene and Michael, and their other companion, warily. They knew they had to help them and Lucian, but they still were not crazy about it. This was Lucian, and Selene. The most feared lycan leader, and the traitor that had killed Viktor. They were still trying to figure out who this Sonja was as well. She obviously meant the world to the lycan alpha, but why?

Alexis shook her head, clearing it of these confusing thoughts. She glanced over at the dark-haired one next to Michael. He smelled like Michael and Lucian, a strange mixture of lycan and vampire. He was also kind of cute, in a geeky sort of way with his glasses. But he wasn't Brian.

She looked away at that thought. Brian, who had helped Anya usurped Marcus' power. And what was Marcus now? He smelled like the three males with Selene, only his vampire scent was much more prominent, whereas they smelled more distinctly of lycan. How had they been created? It was known that you could not have a blending of both species and survive. But how else would it be explained?

Again, she shook her head. Now was probably not the best time to think about that. She sighed. Why had Brian betrayed them, betrayed her? He knew she cared for him, and for a while, she thought he had cared for her. Then something happened. He changed, as if he became infatuated with someone else. She suspected it was Erika, but she didn't know for sure.

Alexis mentally slapped herself. She was not going to dwell on it. He had sided with Anya, she had sided with Lord Marcus. She hoped it was not because he was part of this plot, and that was all she could do now.

She glanced back over at the dark-haired one. He really was cute.

***

"This is it," Adam said as they approached the nightclub only a block away from the hospital. "Michael and I usually pass it when we head out for coffee on our breaks," he informed them.

Lucian simply nodded and strode towards it. He entered, and the others followed his lead, making sure they were ready for anything. The club was dark and filled with people, humans dancing and swaying to loud beats.

Lucian sniffed the air, searching for Kraven or Sonja's scent. All he could smell was the scent of human sweat and sex, no trace of vampire of lycan. Or the familiar sweet smell of his beloved. He needed to get in the crowd, he had no idea where Kraven could be inside the huge building. He began to move into the crowd, ignoring the mortal humans surrounding him.

He didn't turn to see if the others had followed him in, or if they were anywhere near him. He had one purpose, one focus and one only: find Kraven and Sonja. Once he did, he'd figure out the rest, but he knew it would involve ripping Kraven's throat out, and clutching Sonja as if he would die should he let go.

***

Marcus searched through the crowd, looking for Anya. Erika stood next to him, looking around warily as well. He sniffed the air in a similar motion as Lucian. He couldn't pick up on anything, but he looked around still.

Grabbing Erika's hand, he waded through the crowd, making sure they didn't get separated. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of leather and vampire in the air.

And it wasn't the same scent as the loyal Dealers or Selene.

***

Lucian stopped abruptly. There they were, talking to a vampire he vaguely remembered from Viktor's court over six hundred years ago. Anya. And there she was. Sonja, standing there, struggling slightly against Kraven's hold.

Lucian slowly approached, carefully not to alert them of his presence. But as he drew nearer, he realized something was even more familiar about Sonja's scent. She wasn't human any more, she was vampire. And he knew how.

"Damn him," Lucian cursed quietly, and strode over to the group. Sonja noticed him first, and she quickly had to hide her expression of relief and joy. He met her eyes, and she kept silent, watching him approach.

"Let her go, and I'll make you're death quick," Lucian stated loudly to be heard over the music. Kraven and Anya turned to face him, startled and alarmed. Smirking, Lucian spoke again. "Surprised to see me?

Then all Hell broke loose.

***

Marcus pushed Erika behind him as soon as he spotted Brian, and then he realized there were several more Dealers in the club. Anya had obviously come prepared, or so she hoped. But with four hybrids, he doubted they would have much problem overpowering the traitor and her sentinels.

Brian and three other Dealers saw them, and began making their way towards the pair. He turned and saw Kahn and Mason facing four Dealers, and they drew their guns.

Marcus glanced back at Erika. "I'm afraid the humans are going to witness an immortal bloodbath."

***

Lucian lunged at Kraven, his claws growing slightly and his eyes turning black. He tackled the vampire, who dragged Sonja down with him. Lucian sat up and punched, but his attention was caught by Sonja who cried out as Kraven twisted her arm. The momentary distraction was all Kraven needed to knock Lucian away and get up.

Dragging Sonja with him, he ran out towards the back exit. Lucian rose to run after him, but screams from behind made him turn to see several Death Dealers engaged in battle, some with others of their kind, some with his companions.

The humans were screaming in panic and he knew the police would arrive soon. Little matter, his kind had run into this sort of trouble before. And they had acquired police uniforms and other handy supplies from it in the end.

He turned and ran after Kraven and Sonja, running at full speed, which brought him out to the back of the club. He opened the exit door just as Kraven and Sonja got just over five feet from it. He growled low in his throat, alerting Kraven of his presence.

"I told you, I would have made it quick had you only let her go," Lucian told him. And the vampire stared at him in fear yet again. Just as he had the night their pact had been made, when he thought Lucian would kill him as the alpha and his lycan brothers and sisters had done to all the other Death Dealers.

That was when Kraven realized his mistake.

After that night, up until now, he had made the fatal error of not really thinking of Lucian as a lycan, not the same way as he did the rest. Because Lucian never changed in his presence, never fed around him. He had forgotten that deep down, beneath his cool and calm exterior, he was lycan. He was savage and fierce and protective. He would stop at nothing to save his loved one.

He was a lycan, and Sonja was his mate. He did not hate the change, he did not despise what he was, he did not think he was above it. He had just not found the need for it, found human form better suited for his plans. But now, now he was going to change and he was going to truly rip Kraven apart, let out the wolf he had kept hidden for so many years.

Six hundred years.

He let it come, and he ignored the brief pain from his wounds as the bandages ripped apart. He shed his coat and let the change complete. His skin now blue and metallic, his fangs long, his claws fully extended, his ribs enlarged, he stared at Kraven in full hybrid form.

Kraven stared in confused horror, his grip loosening. Sonja backed out of the way, and Lucian seized the moment. Pouncing on Kraven, he bit down on the vampire's throat. His claws dug into his chest, and Kraven yelled in pain as his blood covered Lucian. The lycan hybrid finally pulled out the vampire's heart, and crushed it, watching blue eyes loose focus and his breathing stop.

Lucian stood slowly, turning to face Sonja.

She stared at him and at the bloody corpse at his feet. Her eyes were pale blue, and her eyes were misty as she met his gaze. Lucian stared at her a moment before changing back to normal form. She approached him, her left hand reaching out to trace the still healing scars from the fight with Michael.

As soon as her fingers touched his chest, her skin making contact with his, he broke, grabbing her and pulling her tightly to him, sobbing into her beautiful, golden hair. He felt her slender arms wrap around him returning the embrace. He felt her crying on his shoulder, and he pulled away slightly, staring at her face, her beautiful, pale face, her eyes shining with tears. He saw that he had soaked her with Kraven's blood, and gave her an apologetic look.

"Forget about my clothes and just hold me," she whispered, and Lucian eagerly obliged.

***

The sounds of sirens outside put the fighting inside the club to a halt, and Anya called out to the Death Dealers.

"Fall back!" she shouted, and they reluctantly backed off the small group they had been trying to overpower with no success. Several Death Dealers lay on the ground, dead by the hybrids.

Alexis glared at Brian, waiting to see if he would follow obediently. He stared at her, his eyes soft, and she almost wanted to forgive him. But then he turned and led the Death Dealers away. They followed Anya out a side exit, while Michael ran towards the back, soon followed by Alexis and the others.

When they finally got outside, they were greeted with the sight and Lucian, crying slightly as he held a woman, a vampire by her scent. They stared at the scene, the vampires confused, Marcus unsure how to react, Adam and Michael were smiling slightly, and Selene was stone faced yet her eyes were soft as she watched the pair.

"I hate to interrupt, but the police are here," Marcus stated, and the two looked over to see they had an audience. He noted the bloody and gruesome corpse of Kraven, and smirked. The others simply scrunched their noses.

Lucian glowered, but nodded, while Sonja just clung to him. They all ran off, sneaking away from the police as they headed back for the underground lair.

Selene glanced over at Sonja. So, she was the one Lucian had fallen in love with so long ago? The one he would obviously do anything for, would die for and would kill for. Turning to Lucian, Selene whispered, "You two should go back to her apartment." When he threw her a questioning look, she simply shrugged and replied, "You've been separated for six centuries, I think you should have some time alone. Besides, none of us can really do anything until sundown as sunrise is only an hour away."

Lucian nodded, and he and Sonja slipped away. Michael stared at her for a moment when she turned back, smiling. Then he focused once again on getting back to the old lair.