Author's note: Thanks to all the reviews for the last chapter, you have NO idea how much they meant! And livingdeadgirl, I do not think did any better than you did with your L/S story (which needs to be posted here!!), but I am so very glad you enjoyed this story so far! And thanks to Erika, who has reviewed, I think, every single Underworld story I have written. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and remember, reviews are lovely, wonderful things, and they help the author out! Shameless begging, I know.

Disclaimer: I basically own nothing. Well, I own the characters NOT mentioned in Underworld the movie, script, novelization, or comic book adaptation. Please, Sony, do not sue me, I mean no copyright infringement. Savvy?

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CHAPTER SEVEN: AND BROKEN LAWS FALL AT OUR FEET

MOON PHASE - WANING GIBEOUS

Soren strode through the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, finally reaching the lycan quarters. He had been sent by Lord Viktor to retrieve Lucian, the younger son of the fallen alpha. He had no idea why the Elder wished to speak with the lycan slave, but Soren followed orders. He did not question them.

He entered the main den and saw the very lycan he was to find, Lucian. The lycan was telling a story to the young pups that had been born over the past few springs.

"You, the one they call Lucian," Soren called over, getting the lycan's attention. "Lord Viktor requires your presence immediately."

***

Lucian slowly entered the throne room, nervous. He kneeled before Lord Viktor, worried of what this was about. He cautiously looked up slightly, staring at the imposing form of his master.

"Leave us," the Elder instructed Soren, who was bowed next to Lucian. Soren quickly stood and walked out, leaving Lucian alone with Lord Viktor. "Come forward, lycan," he commanded, and Lucian knew at once the Elder must have seen the exchange between himself and Sonja. There was no other cause for his master to be so angered, as he clearly was.

Rising form his knees, he walked, head bowed, forward several steps before kneeling yet again. He kept his eyes on the ground. He would not provoke his master wrath any more, he would not strike back, he would not speak. He would take whatever punishment his master decided.

Her smile had been worth it.

"Listen to me, lycan," the vampire spat the word like it was a foul taste, and Lucian's resolved waned briefly, "and listen well. If I ever find you have looked yet again at my daughter the same way you did earlier tonight, I will have you whipped for weeks." Viktor paused for a moment. "And if you so much as speak to her, I shall have your brother whipped as well."

Lucian's head shot up for a moment, then he quickly bowed it again. Guilt ran through him. He had dragged his brother into this now.

"Do not for a moment think anything more than pity or natural kindness was in the glance my daughter gave you," Viktor hissed. "She is too kind for her own good sometimes. But make no mistake, you are nothing more than a servant, a lycan that suffered a similar loss that she did that same day. Nothing more."

Lucian closed his eyes, clenching his fists. He knew his master was probably right, but it still pained him to hear the harsh words of reality. He wanted to be so much more to her, wanted to mean something to her, no matter if it was forbidden. But he did not want his family, or even his princess to suffer. It was better if it was exactly what Lord Viktor said.

"Since I will be leaving tomorrow, and unable to make certain you obey, I will have to give you extra incentive," the Elder stated coldly.

Lucian knew what that meant, but he stayed where he was. He knew he would be punished somehow, and he knew he had brought this on himself. He had not only started to break the Covenant, he had done it openly, putting his family and even his princess in danger.

"But I will be lenient, as you have proven loyal otherwise," Viktor told him. "Ten lashes. That is all you will suffer."

***

Pain. Pain and the smell of his own blood pouring down his back were the only things Lucian was aware of. The silver of the whips had stung fiercely, but he had kept his screams inside, never making a sound, never provoking more of his master's or the Death Dealer's wraths. He had been silent and stoic, and was now free.

Ten lashes. Ten scars along his backside that he would wear for many days, perhaps a week or more even. But all through it, he had seen her simile, had seen the kindness in those emerald eyes. Despite what Lord Viktor had said, despite the fact that Lucian knew those cold, cruel words were true, Lucian had still been honored and overjoyed she had looked upon him with those eyes in kindness at least.

"Take him back to the lycan quarters," Viktor instructed. Lucian was barely able to register the Elder leaving the room, then he felt the Death Dealer, Soren again, lifting him up. He felt another come and help, but soon after that, darkness mercifully enveloped him.

***

Rendor looked up, hearing the approach of Death Dealers and, he sniffed the air, his blood suddenly running cold. Lucian was badly wounded, for the scent of his blood filled the air now. The other's noticed it too, and all in the room turned to see the doors to the main den open, revealing two Death Dealers dragging Lucian into the room. His back was torn and poured crimson.

"This is what happens to those that break the Covenant," Soren told them, his expression cold and almost disgusted. Probably due more to the fact that the scent of lycan blood filled the air, and vampires naturally found lycan blood offensive.

Rendor moved quickly to his brother's side, casting glares at the backs of the Dealers as they left. "I was afraid this would happen sooner or later," Rendor muttered and picked up his unconscious brother. Several others came over and helped, while of the older females gathered up some water and cloth and healing herbs for him.

Laying him down on his stomach gently, Rendor peeled away the remains of Lucian's tattered and blood soaked shirt. He saw ten deep wounds, the flesh such a deep red it was almost black in the dim light of the torches.

"Why Lucian?" Adewale asked softly. "He has always been so obedient."

Rendor kept quiet, simply taking one of the bowls of water offered to him and a cloth. He began to wipe away the blood as best he could, though his brother flinched even in his stupor.

"You heard them say, he broke the Covenant," one of the younger males said. "He must have given one of the female vampires a very appraising look and got caught."

Rendor clenched his teeth. "Get out, everyone, get out!" he ordered, refusing to let them talk this way when Lucian lay there, bleeding from wounds inflicted by the silver whips made especially for the lycans should they break any laws.

Once the room was cleared of everyone but himself and Lucian, Rendor quickly went back to work, cleaning his brother off. He sighed deeply, his eyes full of pity. His brother would wear those scars on his skin for many days. But under the skin, they would last for years.

"He was right, you know that," came Lucian's weak voice as the bloody lycan turned his head to stare at the wall. He seemed to flinch less now that he was conscious again, but Rendor was hardly surprised at that. "That is what happened."

"Does it really matter now, what you did to anger them? They whipped you, after all our years of loyalty and obedience," Rendor said with restrained fury. "You look like a bloody mess now, all because you looked at,"

Lucian turned and cut him off, his eyes haunted. "Don't. Do not ever in my presence refer to her as if she is merely one of the vampire maidservants. She is much more than that, to me, and to the vampires. If I had looked at a maidservant as I did Sonja this evening, they would have kicked me and backhanded me and left me be after that." He sighed and looked away again. "But I looked at the princess, Lord Viktor's daughter. And on the night before his departure. That is why I received the lashes."

Rendor looked at his brother with sympathy. "Yes, I know. Now brace yourself, I need to apply the herbs to help with the leftover silver." He waited for Lucian's nod before continuing, then gathered up the herbs left by the older females.

During their enslavement to the vampires, the females, after gathering herbs and other things outside the castle for themselves and for the vampires, began to experiment with the herbs themselves as they had not much else to do. Not that long after, as this was in the early years of enslavement, one of the lycans had bitten a Death Dealer while in wolfen form. He had received a severe lashing, and the morning in human form he had been barely unrecognizable. As the females tended to him, they discovered some of the herbs helped to get rid of the bits of silver left from the whips. It helped the scars to heal faster and on more severe wounds, completely.

Rendor applied the herbs to most of the fresh wounds as Lucian lie there, never flinching nor making a sound. He almost wished Lucian would flinch, but his brother remained motionless except for his breathing, which he also managed to control for the most part. Rendor started to apply the herbs to the last few wounds when Lucian suddenly pushed himself up, shaking his head and moving so that he sat on the bed, facing Rendor.

"No. I want a few to stay," he said quietly but firmly. His eyes were still haunted and weary, resigned to this pain.

"Lucian,"

"No," Lucian cut him off again. "What I did, it put not only myself but you and the others in danger as well. And her," he trailed off, his eyes lighting up slightly before darkening again. "If for one moment the vampires thought I would be a problem, they would not only punish me, but you as well to keep more from breaking the laws. And the Covenant is their most sacred law."

Rendor sighed. "I know."

"Besides, Lord Viktor, he has always been the wariest of the Elders, and I looked at his daughter. She is all his family left now," Lucian said with sympathy. "I think any male to give his daughter such a look, be it lycan or vampire, would be severely punished." He stared down at the floor now, almost lost in his thoughts as he spoke. "I broke the Covenant, and with Lord Viktor's daughter. The vampires are fair and just masters, but should we break their laws we bring their punishment."

***

The next day, Lucian was relieved of his duties, but ordered to remain in the lycan quarters. He had followed the instructions without question, and had taken care of the older pups that were too rowdy to play with the smaller ones born over the past few years, but still too young to be on guard outside. Never once did he wince and grimace in pain.

The others treated him the same for the most part, although many were careful not to make contact, as they did not want to cause him any pain. Rendor had not wanted to leave him, but Lucian had ordered him to after assuring him there was no need to worry and that the vampires would be angered if he stayed.

Soon, night had fallen, and the lycans were called to come and stand guard as well while Lord Viktor left the castle. Several Death Dealers would be traveling with him to port, but only a few would go with him on his travels. But since many would be going off, the lycans once again had to come for night duty.

Lucian had not been allowed night watch, but itching to be free of the walls of the lycan quarters even for only a few minutes, Lucian had crept out and followed the others to watch as Lord Viktor left. He knew there was only one reason he was doing this, he knew it was wrong and selfish and dangerous, but he had to see her again.

***

Sonja tried to smile and look happy as she hugged her father one last time. She tried to be strong, but it was hard. She wanted him to stay there, but she knew he had to get away. She wished she could go with him, but he probably would not let her leave the castle until she was a thousand years old.

"I will return son, do not worry," Viktor reassured his daughter. Smiling at her, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Remember, you have command in many areas while I am away, use your power wisely," he told her.

Sonja nodded. "I know, Father, I know. I will make certain we are safe and keep to the laws." She smiled at him, her smile faltering slightly as he finally turned and walked away, passing through the front entrance of the castle. Panic almost flooded her as she remembered when her mother had left her through those very gates. But she breathed in and regained control. Her father could take care of himself and the Death Dealers going with him, there was no need for worry.

Sonja finally turned away, deciding to head back to her chambers for a while. She wanted to be alone right now, not around the others and their pitying stares and empty reassurances. She walked down the hallways as they took her farther and farther away from the other vampires. She rounded another corner and came to a halt.

She saw him, Lucian. The lycan stared at her, his eyes wide and almost panicked as if he had been caught committing a crime. She stood there, staring back at him. She wanted to touch him, why was it so hard to resist the urge to reach out and touch him? She knew he was close enough, and she could see in his eyes he would run if she moved.

For several minutes they stayed there, staring at each other, unsure of what to do, if they should move. Fear flooded Lucian, fear and longing for her. Desire flooded Sonja, desire and something akin to curiosity. Both wanted to touch the other, both were to nervous to do so.

Sonja finally mustered up enough courage to step towards him, but Lucian stepped back. She sighed, this would never work. Then she saw him soften slightly, his eyes becoming less fearful and more, more, she did not know, but his gaze made her warm, somehow.

He stepped towards her slowly, and she took a step to him. Her breathing sped up, and she noticed his did as well.

What was happening? What was making them like this, acting so strangely? How could they be like this when only passing glances, stolen stares full of longing, one meeting many years ago in a similar loss was all that had happened between them truly? How could she have dreams of him? Did he ever dream of her?

Those and a million more questions raced through them, but everything suddenly stopped when they did, standing right next to each other.

Sonja stared up at him, his soft, gray eyes burning like fire, glimmering in the torchlight. She stared at him as his hands reached up and cupper her cheeks. She sighed softly at the contact.

He was warm against her, his body radiating heat she could never have. His hands were hot against her skin, his eyes wide and staring down at her adoringly. He slowly, tentatively leaned down, and Sonja closed her eyes as he kissed her.

Something happened then, something she could never describe, something perfect. She knew then, she knew. She had found her love, her mate. He knew it too, he knew it more than she did.

Arms wrapped around each waist as they pulled closer together, wanting more. Hunger was in the embrace, hunger of being starved of this for too long, of wanting it so badly for so many years. Rational thought fled them, and the voices in the back of their heads telling them they were breaking the Covenant, that they could be caught were quickly silenced. They knew all of that, but they did not care, not now.

Finally they parted, both warmer than before, both wanting more, both breathing heavily as their hearts beat wildly.

Sonja looked up at Lucian, wanting to say something. But the sound of approaching footsteps caused both to start, and she knew he had to leave. She kissed him again, quickly, fiercely, then let go of him, staring at him longingly as he reluctantly turned and ran off, away from the other approaching. Sonja sighed and then quickly headed to her chambers. She wanted to be away from the others even more now.