Underworld - The Turning

Written by
Wendy Dale Smith
st7ci-at-hotmail.com

To Reviewers: Just a reminder, I've moved the review replies to the end of the chapter.


Chapter 12

Michael approached the front gate with intense caution. It had taken him almost eighteen hours to get to Ordoghaz, and dawn was less than an hour away. He was still damp and frozen from the massive storm that hit him just as he left Vienna. It had caused him to lose his way twice once he entered the meandering Hungarian countryside. His anxiety had increased with each mile, and now he was completely tense and on edge. Not the best way to feel going into a war zone, he thought in frustration.

Michael glanced over the castle with curiosity as he drove through the gate. There were no lights, no visual evidence of any kind to say someone resided there. He then spotted Selene's SUV parked conspicuously in the drive, and his heart stopped cold. Until that moment, he had held out an inkling of hope that she would change her mind and turn around. Swallowing in grim determination, he sped up and slid to an abrupt stop behind the vehicle.

He quickly pulled his helmet off and dropped it to the ground. His eyes were bloodshot. His entire body throbbed with cold and fatigue. Yet he ignored the pain as he rushed to the truck. He could see nothing through the window. Yanking the driver's side door open, he stuck his head inside. After pulling his gloves off, he slowly brought his fingertips down the back of the seat. He drew his brows together in fear as he smelled her lingering scent, a scent that was telling him she had been at the castle for hours. He shut the car door and looked up at the mansion.

As he entered the castle foyer, he immediately picked up Selene's scent. Without hesitation, he followed it. He walked into the main hall and looked about with his nose. Almost absently he noted the dilapidated state of the castle's interior. The house was foreign, unfamiliar to Michael, and its state of disuse meant nothing to him. He looked up at the massive curving staircase to his left. His brow darkened as he gazed into the black spaces above. That's where she went. Sensing she was very close, he took the steps two at a time.

He picked up the scent of the creatures as soon as he stepped onto the second floor landing. They were near. He sensed their eyes on him. But Selene had been there, had walked down that hall, and his fear for her safety far outweighed any concern he might have felt for himself. Undeterred by their threat, he pressed on down the hallway.

He followed her scent to an opened doorway. He stepped into the room and immediately recognized its spacious interior. It was the room Selene had brought him to after he had saved her from a certain drowning. He looked over at the window he had leapt out of all those months ago. This had been her bedroom, he realized. Her scent lingered strongly in the space, but it was very old. She wasn't there. He continued down the hall, toward the stairs at the far end, taking those steps two at a time as well.

He felt his anxiety increase tenfold as he stepped into what was obviously a military training room. It looked like a larger version of Selene's cellar. As he focused on her scent, another smell buffeted him. He looked down with alarm, and found blood on the floor. He slowly bent down to touch it. It was her blood. Selene's blood.

They had hurt her.

Reaching the limit of his tolerance, something fractured inside Michael, and he willingly let the pieces come apart. Instantly, his terror became raw, uncontainable fury.

He ripped off his jacket as he began to change. Immediately, his hybrid senses picked up the two beings watching him. He didn't look up, did not give away that he knew they were there. The creatures were right above him, traveling noiselessly in the darkened shadows, upside-down on the six meter-high ceiling.

With a growl, he raised his machine gun and pulled the trigger.

The silence was torn asunder with a rapid burst of deafening, automatic fire. Michael vented an entire clip into the dark creature closest to him, taking it completely by surprise and knocking it off the ceiling. It hit the floor with a bone-jarring thud. Michael immediately reached up to intercept the other corporeal shadow that had launched at him from its flanking position. The part of him that could kill for retribution alone, that part of Michael that was human, felt a feral, vile joy as he attacked without restraint. In that moment, he would have gladly slaughtered every last one of them that had dared to shed a drop of her blood.

Selene's hand-to-hand training now a virtual instinct, Michael ducked and turned as he threw his spent weapon aside. Slipping past the creature as it landed on all fours, Michael spun back around and viciously slashed its face with one clawed hand. Blood and flesh flew across the room as he tore half its face off. With lightening speed and blind ferocity, Michael pinned the figure to the floor and took hold of its head. His claws lodging into the creature's skull, he bent swiftly and brutally bit into its neck. Feeling the body jerking spasmodically, he became even more enraged. Taking hold of its head and shoulder, Michael pulled with all his strength. Jerking his arms wide, he ripped the head clean from the body. Throwing the mangled remains aside, he roared his satisfaction.

The first assailant had barely recovered by the time Michael attacked. He bodily shoved the creature with a bone-crushing blow. By then, Michael could clearly see it was some sort of vampire. But knowing that made no difference. That this vampire had harmed Selene terrified and angered Michael beyond his ability to control it. They were a threat that needed to be neutralized. He followed the male vampire immediately as he slammed him against wall. He brought up his claws as he made contact, aiming for his enemy's soft underbelly. With a growl, Michael brutally penetrated the vampire's torso with both clawed hands. Feeling the back of the vampire's ribcage through soft vital organs, Michael ripped his arms wide, disemboweling the dark creature instantly.

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Marcus and the rest of the hybrids in the interrogation room jumped as they heard gunfire coming from somewhere on their floor.

Marcus cursed. "He's early."

Selene, still lying on the floor, opened her eyes. Having the presence of mind not to move, she immediately closed them again. She then heard someone burst into the room.

"They're set, My Lord," the unfamiliar voice blurted breathlessly. "Just flip this here and press that. Make sure you're well away. It'll bring the whole bloody place down," he said with relish.

"Excellent work," Marcus said eagerly. Selene heard others moving about in haste. "Get her to the guesthouse, make sure she's secure, and get back here immediately. The rest of you to the storage room. Hurry. I'm sure he's frightened enough." Marcus' voice was clipped, anxious.

Selene very nearly jerked in alarm at those words. She knew what he meant by the "guesthouse". Selene managed to remain passive while one of the hybrids undid her bindings and yanked her off the floor. She knew it was the only opportunity she had to escape. With as much speed and strength as her vampire abilities allowed, she wrenched her elbow into the hybrid's face, instantly hearing his nose and cheekbones shatter. With a cry, the hybrid immediately loosened his grip to clutch at his bloodied and broken nose.

Ignoring the doorway, Selene sprinted for the window. When she launched herself, fully prepared to dive head first through the third floor windowpane, a powerful unseen blow shoved her sideways, knocking the wind from her instantly. She hit the wall, slamming her head against it. From where she landed on the floor, Selene could just make out the figure looming over her. It was Erika, smiling in quiet satisfaction. It was the last thing she saw before blackness overcame her.

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Michael took deep, calming breaths as he gazed almost indifferently at the bloodbath he had wrought. The horror of what he had just committed was put aside, buried. He could still smell Selene, her blood, through all the carnage. His brows drew together as he thought of her in pain. He closed his eyes tightly. GO AWAY! he thought fiercely, ordering his hybrid state to abate. Something was telling him she was near, alive. And he sensed losing control like that again would only get her killed.

Looking around the room now with his human eyes, Michael spotted another large metal double-door. He walked to it with caution. Flanking the door as Selene had taught him, he listened carefully. Hearing movement on the other side, he sniffed. He could smell more of them. Okay, now what the hell do I do? he cursed silently, wishing he had paid more attention to her lessons. Losing patience with his own ineptness, Michael disregarded caution. He stepped back and burst through the reinforced metal doors without effort.

The large hallway was empty, but he could still smell her. Ignoring several doors that lined either side of the hall, he focused on the metal doors at the other end of the hallway, at the light that shown clearly through the cracks at its base. Setting his jaw, he rushed to them, and shoved the doors open. Michael took three quick steps into the empty room before he stopped, stance at the ready.

Leaning against the far wall stood a man in a dark suit and tie. His arms were crossed. His face was expressionless, showing no outward concern. Michael's nose flared, telling him another story. The other male became alarmed at the sight of Michael.

Michael realized the gruesome state he was in. Dark blood was running down his chest and arms. His hair was wet with it. He could hear the steady drip of the deep-red liquid as it hit the marble floor. In his mouth, the hybrid flesh tasted bitter. Gathering every vestige, he bent slightly and spit it out, never once taking his eyes off the man who stood before him. He saw him flinch.

Michael looked down at the floor, at the manacles and the dark pool of regurgitated blood at his feet. His senses were telling him Selene had been there just moments before. He turned his eyes slowly back up to the man who was silently watching him.

"Where is she?" Michael said softly. Michael didn't need to say more. The implications were obvious if the other man did not say exactly what Michael wanted to hear. The lycan in him was overwhelmed with terror, and ached with the desire to kill. He was already a hairsbreadth from losing control again.

The man looked up briefly at something behind Michael and grimaced. He scowled back at Michael again, eyes now very aggravated. Michael heard the hallway doors open, sensed the others coming long before they walked silently through the doorway to surround him. They moved with painstaking caution around Michael. He counted ten in all. He lowered his chin and continued to gaze at the man he now realized was Marcus Corvinus. Michael's nose flared. At that moment, he also knew something else.

Though Marcus looked the part, he was no longer a vampire. None of them were, despite their normal vampire appearances. What he had killed in the other room had been their altered state. Not knowing or caring how it was so, Michael set his jaw, waiting, and silently hoping the elder would give him the answer he so desperately needed.

Marcus stood carefully from the wall, his arms loose at his sides. He took no defensive stance. "She's safe," he finally replied.

That wasn't the right answer. Eyes blackening, Michael charged him.

The two hybrids closest to Marcus responded instantly, grabbing Michael bodily and shoving him away from their leader with such force, he flew backwards through the room's entrance. Without thought, he flipped and landed on all fours. His claws dug into the marble floor as he slid backwards to a halt. With a roar, he launched into the room again.

Their movements were as fast, but he was better trained. He ripped the throat out of the first hybrid that came at him. Without stopping, he attacked the next, ducking to the side and snapping the back of her neck with one powerful blow of his forearm. A third attacked simultaneously, ripping a huge gash down Michael's back and side. He roared in pain and leapt to the ceiling. Rebounding immediately, he flipped back behind the third aggressor and grabbed him by the neck, slamming him up against the wall. He growled and began to squeeze his hand into a fist, about to rip his throat out, when he heard Marcus bellow a command.

"STOP!"

All the vampire hybrids halted their movement.

Michael growled as the hybrid he had suspended against the wall struggled to break free. He began to squeeze. The vampire-like male immediately started to gurgle as claws punctured his jugular, filling and overflowing his mouth with arterial blood. Michael felt a small, cold breeze.

"Put him down or she's dead," Marcus said quietly right into Michael's ear.

Michael jerked back, dropping the hybrid immediately. Somehow, without Michael becoming aware of the movement, the elder was right at his side. Not even his enhanced senses had picked up Marcus' great speed. The action threw Michael off enough to halt his killing frenzy. He stared at Marcus with startled black eyes.

The Elder stayed in his powerful hybrid form only briefly. As Michael panted, still at the mercy of his hybrid state, he watched the elder turn back to his vampire form almost instantly. In awe, Michael realized the elder could control his turning with ease, no matter how enraged he was. For there was no doubt Marcus was furious. He exuded it to all the hybrids. As the elder looked about the room, Michael realized his rage wasn't directed solely at him.

"I told you not to attack!" Marcus barked at his subordinates. He shook his head. "Absolutely no patience," he growled in frustration as he watched Michael struggling to control his feral desires. He sighed angrily and glanced to his right. He then stalked over to inspect the hybrid Michael had slashed in the throat. The male was very dead. Marcus then cursed in a language Michael had never heard before.

"THREE!" he said as he turned blazing eyes at Michael. "Three gone!" he bellowed again. "Do you realize how difficult it is to turn them!?" He looked over his now dead vampire hybrid. "And I liked this one," he said in frustration. He looked at Michael in consternation, and then glanced at the two other hybrids that were gravely injured. "Get them out of here!" he barked. Michael watched as three more picked up the dead and injured and quickly exited the room. He counted five left including Marcus. Their odds weren't getting any better, Michael thought in dark pleasure.

"I knew you'd be difficult," Marcus said accusingly, as he glanced absently at the retreating members of his groups. He eyed the window as he turned back to face Michael. "Calm yourself, boy. I have questions for you," he said darkly. Glancing to his right again, Marcus walked up to Michael boldly, showing no wariness.

Michael realized then that Marcus was so physically powerful he had no reason to fear him. He would sense Michael's attack long before he made a move. The vampires here never had a chance, Michael thought grimly. He narrowed his eyes at the pacing elder. Yet he could tell the ancient hybrid was still anxious about something.

Confused, Michael took deep, calming breaths, focusing on controlling his anger. He felt himself finally come out of his feral state.

Seeing this, the elder nodded. "Good, good," he said approvingly. He then turned and walked to the window, deep in thought as he gazed out. He turned his head to look back at Michael. "How well do you know the curse of abomination?" Marcus said piercingly. With another glance out the window, Marcus began to pace again.

Michael just clenched his jaw as his eyes followed the elder carefully. "I know enough," he replied quietly.

"Do you really?" Marcus said ominously. "Oh, I doubt that very much."

Michael glared at him. The only thing he cared about knowing at the moment was Selene's location. "Where is she?!" he growled.

"Patience!" Marcus barked back. He glanced out the window. "Time to leave," he ordered the other hybrids. Quickly, they all bowed and left the two very powerful Corvinus males alone.

The two men stared at one another for several tense moments, one desperate and angry, one calm and pensive.

Marcus moved to stand a few meters in front of Michael, watching him soberly. "Why did she come back here? What did she hope to accomplish?" At Michael's silence, Marcus drew his brows together. "Did she want to die?"

Michael snarled at that. "Go fuck yourself."

Marcus grimaced. "Colorful, Michael," he said reproachfully. He skewed up his face in confusion. "Do you know she actually begged me not to harm you?" He raised his arms to encompass the house. "I've destroyed this entire coven!" he bellowed desperately. "Now with only nine hybrids to show for it," Marcus said in quiet agony. He looked up at Michael then with pained bafflement. "Why, in God's name, would I harm you?" He moved to the back wall again and leaned against it. Michael could only watch as the maddened play of emotions crossed his ancient relative's face. Marcus looked at Michael then with heartfelt longing. "How I envy your life to come."

Michael wasn't stupid. He sensed there was more at play with Marcus than the other man was revealing. His peculiar diatribe had a purpose. He then saw the elder's eyes dart to his right again. It was at least the third time he had done so. Michael's eyes narrowed. He jerked his head in the direction of Marcus' darting glance, to the large bay window facing east.

Suddenly, Michael realized exactly what Marcus was doing. Through the window, he saw the unmistakable cobalt blue of dawn approaching. The elder was stalling for time, waiting for the sun to rise. His heart clinched in panic, and he suddenly forgot all caution. In a flash, Michael stood nose to nose with the powerful hybrid, eyes blackened in terror fueled rage.

"Where is she, goddamn it!" he hissed, wanting to turn, but not letting the change take control.

Marcus shook his head and sighed as he stared at his relative. "Alright. You want to draw it out, that's fine with me," he said mysteriously. He knew he'd been found out, had given away his intent. He sighed again in disgust. Calmly, he finally let Michael know her location.

"In the woods, behind the house, there is a path…Follow it."

Michael paused. Seeing this, Marcus smiled at Michael's hesitation. Now that he finally got the information he so desperately wanted, Michael was uncertain of the elder's sincerity. Marcus glanced at the window openly, and said lightly, "I'd hurry if I were you."

Michael let out the breath he had been holding and looked out the window, to the terrifying, nascent glow of early dawn. He spared one last look at the elder before he turned and vaulted for the window, smashing through it as he leapt to the ground three stories below.

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To Reviewers:

Brettley – Michael can "read" Selene just as easily as Marcus can, if not more so. It's just that Marcus doesn't suffer from the uncertainties that Michael still suffers from. Marcus is ancient, and because of that, is much surer of his perceptions of the people around him.

Jubillie-gurl – That's a great question. Vivienne is running and maintaining an integrated den/coven for several reasons. The most important reason is to protect and preserve the ancient symbiosis of vampire and lycan relations. She had experienced that relative harmony for over 300 years, and knew that was the natural way for the two species to coexist. It was Viktor who insisted that a schism be in place, and that all lycans should be destroyed. Victor and Vivienne were consorts many centuries past, were married to one another, and had a child together – Sonya. But that marriage ended when Viktor burned Sonya at the stake. Viktor murdered Vivienne's beloved daughter and Vivienne hated Viktor for it…so much so that she schemed his downfall for 600 years.