Author's Notes: Thank you to all my reviewers on all my fics. I appreciate it more than you could ever know. Special thanks to Jess and Kristen. Love you guys! This chapter doesn't feel quite as rushed as the others. Of course, this chapter took me longer than all the others. I'm sorry for the delay, but I've been involved in drama in school and we've been having major rehearsals and performances started this week. I only have two left. It's a great show, though. Everybody has worked so hard on it. ^_^ My muse always seems to want to write Kraven as a major jerk. I'm sure he was a nice guy at some point, but I just can't seem to write him that way.

Disclaimer: It was the same for the last chapter and it was the same for the chapter before that. Guess what? Hasn't changed.

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THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE: CHAPTER 3

Kraven pulled himself out of the heap he was laying in on the floor. He kept his hand against the stone wall, trying to steady himself, his breathing still erratic. He used the back of his other hand to wipe the small trail of blood from his chin. Well, this was certainly a wonderful way to be found. He was definitely not looking his best. Not to mention that Viktor didn't seem to believe his excuse for being in his daughter's room. Oh, well. As long as he was able to pass the buck off on that lycan, all was well. For now, anyway.

He sneered at the two servant wenches left behind after the big commotion about Sonja and the lycan. He figured one of them was the one who had let out that high-pitched, other worldly scream in his ear. He lightly pressed two fingers to his ear and shuddered just thinking about it.

"You should go to your chambers and lie down for awhile," one of the wenches said quietly. Kraven looked up. She had her red hair pulled back, a few stray curls falling around her face. Well, she couldn't compare to Sonja by any stretch of the imagination, but she was a beautiful vampiress. Kraven leaned against the wall, and considered his options. Well, he had been thoroughly humiliated by Sonja and her pet. What better to ease him and stroke his ego than to bed a vampire wench? Kraven grinned, white fangs showing.

"Yes, perhaps that would be a wise idea," Kraven said, feigning weakness. "Perhaps you would give me the pleasure of escorting me back... um..." He snapped his fingers, acting as if he was trying to recall her name. He didn't know it, he never had, and he didn't really care to now. But his act was going over so well with the vampiress, he couldn't very well drop it now.

"Christiana, my lord," the vampiress said with a smile and a small bow.

"Christiana," Kraven said, his eyes sparkling. The wench seemed too easily fooled. Oh, well. No matter. He would have her in his bed and his bruised ego would be back in order. He smirked to himself. He put an arm around the vampiress' waist, still playing his game. She put a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to steady the raven haired vampire. They walked slowly to Kraven's chambers, Kraven's hand wandering around Christiana's side and the vampiress giggling incessantly.

* * *

Viktor turned from the sight of his daughter ascending the wall followed quickly by that lycan, dodging silver arrows all the way. The Death Dealer behind him thought he saw unshed tears in the eyes of the Elder. He would never let them fall. Not even for his own daughter. An instant later, all emotion was gone from the Elder's face. His pale blue eyes were hard, his head held high. "Do not allow them to escape. Spare the lycan if at all possible, but do not harm one hair on Sonja's head. She will face judgment for betrayal of the coven." The Death Dealer nodded, quickly bowed, and went to inform the others of their orders.

As soon as he was alone, Viktor's eyes were cast to the floor, his posture no longer that of a mighty Elder. Age seemed to fill his features, his brow furrowed with worry. He would never allow such emotion and weakness show in front of anyone, especially not his Death Dealers. He felt that he could easily lose their fear and respect if he were to ever appear so weak, so out of control of his emotions, no matter how deep their loyalty to him.

Why had Sonja done this to him? Why did she feel the need to betray her people? Had he not given her everything she'd needed? Everything she'd wanted? Did he truly no longer have her love? She surely could not care for that lycan, that dog. He was a servant, she the daughter of an Elder, a vampire princess. She had always been raised in hopes of marrying a high-ranking Death Dealer, a nobleman perhaps. She had spoken of it ever since she was a small child. She wanted a fairy tale wedding. Viktor grinned sadly in spite of himself. Sonja had always been a spirited child, but a romantic at heart. He remembered the look in her eyes as her mother would read a tale to her. She would wait eagerly to find out if the princess would wed her prince charming. Viktor let out a weary, heartsick sigh for his lost wife and daughter before descending from the tower to join his Death Dealers in the hunt for Sonja and the lycan.

* * *

Lucian and Sonja scrambled up the wall as quickly as they could. Both slipped along the way, their feet loosing footholds in the stones. Silver arrows fired from Death Dealers' crossbows clicked against the stone and fell to the ground, some coming precariously close to Lucian. Sonja reached the top of the wall first. She looked down to the free ground below, then back at Lucian. "Go, Sonja! Go!" Lucian motioned her on with a free hand. Sonja's eyes quickly traveled from the ground outside of Ordoghaz's walls back to her lover.

"No!" She thrust an ivory hand back to Lucian. He grasped it and she helped him to pull himself up to the top. Sonja jumped, landing softly and almost silently on the damp grass below. Lucian growled, hitting the ground hard. "Lucian? Lucian, what is it?" Sonja hurried to his side, putting her hands on his shoulders. She gasped and pulled one hand away. It was stained with crimson. Blood. She searched Lucian's back and shoulders, finding the wound. "It was silver, wasn't it?" Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly. This wasn't the time.

"It will be okay in a moment. It merely grazed my shoulder." Lucian put a hand over the wound. He stood, hissing in pain. Sonja's eyes met his. "Really, I'll be fine soon. Now we must run!" The two took off into the night, heading for the protection of the trees. The light from the moon and stars were blocked by the leaves and branches, leaving them in darkness. The only sounds were the crickets and the sound of two sets of footsteps, running through the brush.

They could hear the approach of Death Dealers. They were only a short distance away. The only warmth Sonja could feel was Lucian's hand grasping hers, pulling her through the trees. She was breathing hard, but her adrenaline kept her running at an unimaginable pace, equaling Lucian's. She could see faint moonlight seeping through the trees and reflecting off a small stream a few feet away. They splashed through the cold water. It came up above her ankles, soaking the hem of her dress. It didn't matter. Their pace never slowed. She could begin to hear Lucian's breathing becoming harder. They couldn't hold out at this pace forever.

* * *

Kraven awoke in his chamber, the red haired vampiress' limbs intertwined with his own. There were red marks and smeared blood on her shoulder where he had bitten into it. He smiled to himself when he saw this. He could feel her breath against his neck. Yes, this had indeed been a good idea. He felt much better, more like his old self.

Christiana's eyes fluttered open and met Kraven's. He smiled, put his forehead to hers, and kissed her. As their lips parted, she looked up and smiled at him. Kraven grinned and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She sighed contently. Kraven smirked to himself. This was perfect.

"Thank you, lady, for everything. But now I do believe it is time for you to depart."

"Excuse me, my lord?" Christiana said, her voice full of confusion.

"Well, I believe we are finished here, therefore I have no further use for you." Kraven smiled down at her, his eyes pale and sparkling with amusement.

"But my lord, I--" Kraven placed a finger on her lips to silence her.

"No arguments. I do believe my word is your command." He slid off the bed and picked the vampiress up. She grabbed at the sheets as she was carried from the room. Kraven placed her out in the corridor, only a bed sheet wrapped around her. He turned back into his chamber and shut the door, leaving Christiana all alone in the hall. She wiped a tear from her cheek as she turned and made her way quickly back to the maid's quarters, rage replacing the sorrow in her eyes.

* * *

It was nearing dawn. Lucian and Sonja could see a pale light far at the horizon. Sonja's heart was beating faster than she could ever remember it beating. It wasn't long until the sun would rise and their escape would have been in vain. That was when they saw fires burning in a nearby town. Lucian held a hand up to stop Sonja. They both stood silently for a few moments. There was no sound other than the chirping of birds in the trees above their heads. They glanced at each other, excitement and joy building in their eyes. The Death Dealers had gone back or at least taken shelter for the day. They were in the clear. For now.

They clasped their hands and rushed down the hill toward the town below. Lucian could see a sign at the front of an inn. As long as their luck held out, they could get a room for the day.

Lucian threw open the wooden door of the inn and shoved Sonja inside as if he were running a race against the sun. Gasping for breath, he leaned against the desk. A man was sleeping with his head laid on the desk. Lucian poked him and the man awoke with a jolt. "What is it now?!" The man looked around the room angrily before his eyes settled on the couple. "Oh, begging your pardon. May I help you?"

"Yes, we'd like a room, please," Lucian said between breaths, his eyes pleading. The man's brow furrowed, wondering about the panting pair. He shrugged it off.

"Alright, though this is a mighty strange hour to be traveling. Just follow me." He led them down a hall and into a small room. A bit of dawn's light was coming in through the window. Sonja carefully skirted the patch of sunlight on the floor and as soon as the man exited the room Lucian drew the curtains and draped a blanket over the window. After assuring herself that it was safe, Sonja slowly walked over to Lucian, her sad eyes cast to the floor. Lucian placed two fingers under her chin, lifting her face so her eyes met his.

"Do you think we made the right choice?" Sonja asked softly. Lucian's eyes sparkled with unshed tears as he stared at Sonja.

"Yes. My love, I would have given everything to be free with you. And now we are, even though it will be hard." His hand cupped her cheek and he wiped a tear away from it with his thumb. "You know I love you. My Sonja. My princess." He leaned down and kissed her. Sonja wrapped her arms around him, pulling him as close as she could. She needed his warmth. She was afraid of what the coming days would hold for them. She knew her father. She knew his rules and laws. She knew his mind. He would never rest, or let his Death Dealers rest, until they were found and brought back to Ordoghaz. Assuming they survived the encounter, of course. She gasped.

"Lucian!" Lucian's head turned quickly. He looked down at Sonja, her hand on her stomach and a grin spreading across her face.

"What is it, love?"

"Lucian, the baby just kicked." Sonja's smile grew as she took Lucian's hand and placed it on her stomach. Lucian could feel the movement of the life inside of her. He smiled and kneeled next to Sonja. All their troubles seemed to fade away with the simple reminder of the child they had created together, the child that would soon come into the world. They didn't think about Viktor or the Death Dealers or Ordoghaz. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was the happiness they had in that moment. Lucian pulled Sonja in for a kiss. He knew they needed to rest. They had a long journey ahead of them, a journey with no end in sight.

They could rest later.