Disclaimer: I own only those characters not mentioned in Underworld the movie, the script, the novelization, and the comic book. The rest belongs to Sony and those involved with Underworld and its properties or whatever. Don't sue me. Savvy?

A/N: BTW, Aurelia would be played by Monica Bellucci, but I don't really have any other original characters cast. Marcus would be played by Stephen Billington, just like in Hybrid War. Obi, a Death Dealer in this, would be played by the actor that played Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns (can't remember his name, nor could I spell it if I did). That's about it. Please, review, please?

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PART TWO: WITH LOSS COMES GAIN

YEAR SPAN - 1297 - 1303 A.D.

CHAPTER THREE: TRAGEDIA

MOON PHASE - WAXING CRESCENT MOON

Lucian strode down a long hallway, heading for the lycans' quarters. Night had once again fallen, and the vampires were awake and able to defend themselves without worry. He hurried, for his father was leaving on a mission soon, he and another male lycan along with two Death Dealers were escorting the Lady Aurelia outside to the castle. The wife of Lord Viktor, Lucian's family's master, always had gone for walks in the forest outside the castle for as long as Lucian could remember. He could understand the need to get out himself.

As he turned a corner, he stopped abruptly. His breath left him, his heart halted, his eyes widened, his jaw fell open as he stared at what must have been the most beautiful being to ever grace the earth with her presence.

For a moment, Lucian believed in the old tales of beings called angels, for he could not imagine the elegant, lovely creature to be anything less. He knew she was vampire though, from her scent but he did not care. His suddenly felt dizzy, even though his breathing and heart had started again, though at incredibly rapid paces.

She was beautiful, though he felt that word did not come near close to describing her accurately. Her hair was light gold, like the morning rays of the sun breaking through the clouds, her skin was a pale alabaster, like the benevolent moon that his kind loved so dearly. Her body was slender and lithe, more graceful than the hawk in the sky. His eyes trailed up from the hem of her burgundy dress that clung to her slender form, to the bare shoulders and the swanlike neck to the side of her face as she was at an angle, staring up at the god and goddess of his people.

Lucian backed away and began to panic when she suddenly turned and saw him, her eyes, emerald and piercing and gentle, meeting his for one achingly beautiful and frightening moment.

"Sonja," he heard a soft, female voice call, and the moment was shattered as she turned away form him to face another woman, older and elegant as well, approaching her.

Quickly, Lucian backed around the corner, but stayed there and listened. He knew he shouldn't, he knew it was above his place and that he was most likely breaking some rule, but she was worth it. He simply wanted to hear her speak.

"Sonja, I just came to bid you goodbye as it is time for me to leave if I am to take this trip tonight," he heard the other female say. "Do not look so sad, I will be back before sunrise."

"I know Mother, I know," she, Sonja, finally said and Lucian closed his eyes. Her voice was like the finest material of the vampires' gowns, soft and caressing against his senses. "But just be careful, please?"

The older one laughed softly. "I always am and always will be, do not fear."

Suddenly, he heard them coming down the hall in his direction and he looked for somewhere he could hide quickly, but there was no place for him to. He stood frozen and hoped they would not notice him as they passed. When they did, they went on down the hall at his side, not turning down the one he stood in. He watched them as they passed and realized who they were.

Lady Aurelia and Princess Sonja, the wife and daughter of his master, Lord Viktor. They had to be, as two Dealers, his father and Dimitri, another lycan, were flanking them, and the older one had stated she was leaving. His father turned and smiled at him, saying a silent farewell, and Lucian nodded.

When his father turned away, Lucian once again stared at Sonja, cursing fate and the pale moon above. He had gawked at a vampire, that was bad enough, but she was the daughter of his owner and master, master of his whole family! He sighed in relief when the small entourage disappeared.

Wonderful, just simply wonderful. I stop and openly gawk at my master's daughter who just so happens to be the only princess among the vampires. I pray thee, Moon, do not let me in her presence again, I fear what will happen.

***

Sonja watched as her mother and her escorts left the castle, sighing as they disappeared into the dark forest. She reluctantly turned and bowed to Lord Marcus before walking off towards her chambers. She wished her mother would not go out so often, it worried her.

Silver moonlight bathed the hallway as she walked down it, then turned down another. Her mind drifted and she remembered the strange meeting, if it could be called that, before her mother had left. It had been with one of the lycans, she could tell by the armor and clothing he wore that he was one of the lycan guards. But his eyes, gray and haunting they had been, staring deep into hers.

"Sonja, stop," she reprimanded herself. He's a lycan, you should not think such things about a lycan! She shook her head. Her father would surely die or kill her if he were to ever discover she had allowed herself to think such kind and almost intimate thoughts about a lycan.

But those eyes, they had been so, so, she couldn't really describe them. Haunting, perhaps. Beautiful, certainly. Adoring, even. She wondered what his name was? Or if she would even see him again, or maybe she should simply stop thinking about it before she let her mind wander into areas no vampire was allowed to go.

Turning down another corridor, she came to the door to her chambers finally and quickly entered her private rooms, fleeing from the outside world and the Covenant and the laws and the pair of gray, wolfen eyes.

***

Aurelia and her escorts walked through the forest. She smiled, enjoying the feeling of freedom she was experiencing now, being outside the stifling walls of the castle. As much as she loved her home and her daughter, sometimes, it just wasn't enough. Not unless Viktor was with her as well. He had always been able to keep her willful spirit contained without caging her somehow.

But he was sleeping now, and would not be awakened for a few more years. And the walls felt as though they were closing in on her more and more.

Suddenly, A hand grabbed her arm and she turned to se one of the lycans was hold it, looking and sniffing around. The Death Dealers moved to take him away, but she waved them off, concerned about what would cause the lycan's alarm. The other werewolf was also sniffing, and then the Dealers became alert, pulling out their swords.

Perhaps this time you were right, Sonja.

***

Lucrecia walked out of the lycan quarters, ringing her hands together. Lucian trailed behind her, keeping close to his mother protectively. With Rendor on night watch in the tunnels and his father out with Aurelia's party, he was left to keep his mother safe.

"Mother, why are you so upset?" Lucian asked softly, feeling like a pup again. He hated being in the dark, not knowing what was wrong, only that something was. His mother glanced at him then focused once again on the hallway in front of her.

"You will know when we get to our destination, but not until then," she told him, reaching out and holding his hand.

He looked down at their joined hands and he swallowed. He knew that this time, unlike when he was little, this time it was for her own comfort more for his. He squeezed it reassuringly, nodding his understanding. "Whatever it is, Mother, I am certain it will all work out for the best."

Lucrecia smiled at him wanly. "Yes, you are right, I know. One day though, you will understand a lover's worry, and a parent's." With that cryptic statement, she then turned and led him to the Death Dealers main headquarters.

Lucian's eyes widened and he tried to stop her. The lycans were not allowed near here, he knew that well, and he was frightened of what they would do to punish his mother's action.

The Dealers stared at them, their expressions surprised and angered, and their current leader, Soren came over to them.

"You are not allowed here," the vampire told her blankly, his face calm yet firm. "Leave or I will be forced to bring this to Lord Marcus' attention."

Lucian looked at his mother, desperate to simply drag her out and back to the safety of the lycan quarters, but he stood firm when his mother did not back down. He watched as Lucrecia stood at her full height and then bowed her head slightly. Lucian followed and found he was just as tall as the lead Dealer.

"My husband is one of the two lycans to accompany Lady Aurelia tonight. He has not returned, nor have any of the others. Sunrise is only two hours away, and I fear for their safety," Lucrecia explained, and Lucian's eyes widened.

He had not thought of that, as he had been thinking in lycan terms. They had no reason to fear the morning light, but a vampire. Which meant they were indeed late, for vampires were never so careless to return so close to the sun's first rays.

Soren regarded her for a moment, then nodded. "You are right to bring this to my attention. I will see that Lord Marcus spares you," he informed them. "Now go, return to your quarters and I will see to it a search party immediately leaves to bring them back safely."

Lucrecia bowed her head low, Lucian following suite. "Thank you, noble sir," she replied and turned to leave. Lucian walked out behind her, watching the Dealers warily as they left. They quickly returned to the lycan quarters, and Lucian let out a small sigh of relief before embracing his mother.

"I'm sure Father is fine, they probably were held up by something, or simply do not realize the time that has passed.," Lucian tried to reassure his mother. And himself.

***

Rikard grabbed Aurelia again and began to lead her away, signaling one of the Death Dealers to come as well. Dimitri and the other Dealer would stay and fight the attackers while he and the first Dealer would lead Aurelia to safety. Or die trying.

They ran, his hand firmly holding Aurelia. There were only two things on his mind at that point: protect his master's wife and get home to his family. That was all that mattered now, and he would do anything to make sure both happened.

"Do we have a chance?" Aurelia asked softly.

"We must be silent, my lady, until we are certain we are safely away from earshot," Rikard explained and he noticed her nod from the corner of his eye. A whistling sound and then a groan alerted him that the Death Dealer with them had fallen. Whether or not his was fatally wounded was unclear, but Rikard could not stop. More whistling sounds, and Rikard paused long enough to pick the female vampire up, his body shielding her from the arrows flying around them.

"There they are, get them!" cried one of their pursuers, and his realized they were not Hungarian. Sounded more like Turks, perhaps. Probably thinking the Lady Aurelia was of Hungarian nobility. In a way she was, but not the kind they were looking for.

Rikard dodged through the woods, evading the arrows and putting more and more distance between them and the bloodthirsty pursuers. He could see the castle now, not far away at all. He finally ran through the last of the trees, entering the clearing only to see to his horror that the sun was now rising, its rays heading right for them.

***

Marcus strode into the Death Dealers' quarters, searching for Soren. The newly elected leader was going over maps of the area, talking to the search party the had just come back.

Without the Lady Aurelia.

"What is going on?! They were told not to come back unless they had Lady Aurelia with them!" Marcus roared, and nearly everyone in the rooms shrank. "Soren, the sun is rising and the wife of an Elder, the sister of another, is still out there! She has a daughter who is nearly sick with justified worry and fear, a family that cannot be alerted of the situation, the search party sent to rescue here has come back without her!!"

Soren bowed his head. "My Lord, I am sorry for their disobedience, but they have important news," he explained, and when Marcus remained silent, Soren went on. "Turkish troops have invaded some of the surrounding provinces, and they fear the Lady Aurelia may be in danger from the fanatical warriors."

"As well as Ordoghaz," Marcus said softly, voicing what Soren had left unspoken. "Gather the lycan warriors, all those that look able to fight the Turks, should we come into that situation. Now go!" he barked and Soren nodded to those from the search party, leading them towards the lycan quarters.

Marcus sighed. He prayed that Aurelia had gotten to shelter before the sun rose.

"Lord Marcus!" he heard someone shout. "Lord Marcus, come quick, it's the Lady Aurelia!"

***

Sonja heard shouts coming form outside and she rose from her bed, wiping her yes dry quickly before exiting her room and running towards the commotion.

"What is it? What has happened?" she asked one of the other females nearby. The pitying look sent her way made her want to scream and run away, but instead she ran forward, only to be greeted by a sight she did not think she would ever be able to forget, no matter how hard she tried to.

There on the ground lie two bodies. One of a lycan, his heart pierced by an arrow. The other, a badly burned female vampire.

Her mother.

Sonja dropped to her knees beside the burned form, tears forming in her eyes, but not falling. Not yet. She reached out, shoving Marcus away when he tried to pull her up, take her away from her mother. She stroked her mother's cheek and realized Aurelia wasn't dead yet.

"Mama," she whispered, and the barely recognizable face smiled wanly before crying out in pain. "Mama don't go, Papa will be awake soon, he can heal you, I know it," Sonja whispered, oblivious to all around her.

Aurelia managed to shake her head. "You haven't called us Mama and Papa since you were under a hundred," she whispered back, her voice hoarse and strained. "You must take care of your father for me, Sonja." As Sonja began to cry, Aurelia shushed her. "Don't cry, my princess, don't cry. You and he will have each other, you will both be fine. You must do two things for me," she said, and Sonja leaned down as Aurelia gave Sonja instructions.

"I will, Mama, I promise," the vampire princess managed to assure her mother. "I will."

"I love you," Aurelia whispered, and Sonja smiled sadly.

"I love you too."

Marcus came back over, pulling Sonja away gently. "Perhaps you should go back to your quarters, Princess," he said, but Sonja shook her head. "Very well." He sighed and drew his sword from its sheath. Meeting Aurelia's eyes, he gave her an apologetic gaze. "I am sorry."

***

Lucian ran past the Death Dealers, ignored their shouts at him. As soon as they had informed the lycans of the situation, instinct had kicked in, and he wasn't about to listen to any vampires trying to tell him to wait until given his orders. All that mattered was finding his father.

He ran to the front gates, only to stop short when he saw a crowd gathered round. He heard the faint sound of sobbing, and icy fear crept into his veins, freezing his heart. Slowly, ever so slowly, he walked closer to the crowd, then pushed his way through, ignoring the glares and cries of protest.

"No," a whisper came, and it was a moment before he realized it had come from his own mouth. He stared down at the two corpse on the ground. One was a female vampire, burned badly and decapitated. He other, the other was a male lycan, an arrow grotesquely protruding from his heart.

His father and the Lady Aurelia.

"NO!"

This time the cry did not come from him. Lucian turned and saw his mother, running towards the group, her eyes focused on the bloody corpse of his father as the crowd slowly backed away from the scene. Lucrecia ran towards the body, but Lucian reached out and grabbed her, holding her from it.

"No," she sobbed, over and over again, collapsing against Lucian and he blinked rapidly, fighting the tears as he comfortingly held his mother.

"Are you the lycan's family?" a firm, yet sympathetic voice said. Lucian looked to see Lord Marcus himself standing near them.

Lucian nodded. "Yes, yes that is, was, is my father, this is my mother," he explained. "I have a brother, he's down in the tunnels," the young lycan went on, shock subsiding a bit as he started to feel numb. He held his mother's sobbing form close, protectively. "What, what happened?"

"Perhaps you should come with me, I will send someone to fetch your brother," the vampire ruler told him. "What is his name?"

"Rendor," Lucian answered blandly.

"And yours?"

"Lucian."

***

Sonja looked up when she heard the lycan say his name. She had barely heard any of the conversation, her sobs drowning some of it out. But she had listened a bit, remembering what her mother had told her. And the lycan's voice had been so soft and kind and broken, her heart went out to him.

Her eyes widened when she saw it was none other than the lycan that had been staring at her earlier. She walked away from Obi, reaching out to touch the lycan's shoulder.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, wiping her eyes. "Did you say your name was Lucian?" The lycan nodded, his head bowed and she wished she could see his eyes. She stared him, and his weeping mother clutching him. Seeing how sorrowing they were as well, she found the strength to give the young male the message.

"Your father wanted you to know that he loved you all, and that he was proud of you especially, that you would be a wonderful leader," she told him softly.

The male lycan looked up tentatively, meeting her eyes again. Those beautiful, haunted grays eyes, glassy and hopeful. "Thank you," he replied, almost confused it seemed.

Feeling slightly awkward, she nodded and walked away, hurrying to the safety of her private chambers. Her hand went up to the pendant, now hanging from her neck.