The stony floor of the Elders' Resting Chamber was cold and bitter under his the weight of his battered body. Silver chains were tightened to his wrists and ankle and were causing him real harm. Blood was leaking from a gash on the side of his bruised face and on his shoulder, where he could still feel a strange pressure, as if a hand was planted right there.
Beside him on the cold floor, he could see the shadows of two Vampires standing right beside him, speaking to each other. Seconds that seemed more like hours passed by, and he felt this feeling of anguish throughout his old damaged body; he knew he was going to die.
Slowly, he turned and looked up to the older Vampire who was standing there. He hadn't had time to notice anything else, for Viktor had struck him in the face with only one single blow. Blood splattered everywhere as he yelled in pain. He landed dead on the floor of the Crypt, his Lycan blood leaking on the floor.
Marcus suddenly opened his eyes, looking around him and breathing heavily as if he had ran a marathon. He has found himself sitting in the couch. His grey orbs glanced fretfully through the room. Yet again, another terrible headache. And for the second time in one night, another vision, or hallucination, he didn't know how to call that anymore. "What happened? What's happening to me?" he thought, almost panicking.
"Were you listening to what I was saying?" Marcus startled when he head Viktor's somber voice. Marcus's eyes fell on the other Elder standing beside him. The latter was staring at him rather derisorily, the inferno in his cold eyes firing Marcus. "Well, then?" Viktor demanded impatiently.
Marcus stammered, though not feeling so uncomfortable, "Yes, I… I apologize, Viktor, I really don't know what's happening to me lately… I'm feeling this pain--"
However, Viktor didn't seem quite impressed. "Spare me your ludicrous excuses," he said sharply. "Now if you could only make a single effort and only try to concentrate on this unfathomable standoff---"
"For your information," Marcus cut him off, "I'm willing as much as you to finish off with this dilemma." Viktor sent him a glare, which Marcus sent him back. "Now, back to what was being argued…" his voice softened slightly.
"As I was saying," Viktor interrupted him again, "this Coven has grown helpless and decadent during my absence." He started to pace in front of Marcus. "And since I have finally returned, it is up to me to fortify it again. As you can see, Marcus, there are still problems that need to be taken care of," he stopped in his pace and his cold eyes shot a despising glare at Marcus, "including some things that need to be put back into their respective places," he said pointedly.
Marcus, still sitting in the couch, narrowed his eyes, "Things that need to be put back into their respective places, you say? And you mean?" Marcus glared at him. If Viktor thought that Marcus was going back to slumber for another century, he was in the wrong.
"You know exactly what I mean, Marcus," Viktor said harshly. "Furthermore and as far as I know, I am much capable of ending this War on my own."
Marcus slowly turned his head towards Viktor and said, "You mean, your War?" A discreet chuckle and a slight smirk followed his words.
At first, Viktor felt rage invade his body as he wished he could rip Marcus's head off at this very moment. But then he judged wiser to ignore his reply and went on, "There have been many major and irrevocable disasters that have happened, and we can't afford any other cataclysm to arise. Therefore, you shall be the one who will return to slumber. And this will be as soon as possible," he said firmly, giving his back to Marcus.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, unafraid. "Ah, really, you think?" He knew that fate wasn't against him, and didn't fear Viktor.
Viktor dryly turned around to face the other Elder. "Are you questioning my decisions?" he accused sharply.
Marcus slowly rose from the couch and approached Viktor, still looking fearless. "Haven't I, always?"
Viktor's vampiric blue eyes widened in hatred and shock. How dare Marcus allowed himself to speak in such a tone to him, the oldest and strongest Vampire ever? Viktor's aristocratic features flushed with rage. If Marcus wasn't an Elder, Viktor wouldn't have hesitated to finish him off in no time.
Viktor approached him and glared deadly into Marcus's grey eyes, towering over him. "You speak to me on that tone again, and I guarantee you that the consequences will be extremely painful," he threateningly said between his fangs.
Another slight smirk appeared on Marcus's face as Viktor glared disbelievingly at him. "I can imagine from afar-- argh!!!" Marcus wrapped his arms around his ribcage and lightly bent over. Again, the pain had plagued him, but this time not his head, but his ribs. He could feel his bones throbbing and cracking, as if a thousand knives were transplanting him.
Viktor looked at him rather in shock, still not believing what he was witnessing. "What's gone with him?" he thought as Marcus's screams were filling up the room. As far as he knew, Viktor had always seen Marcus as an incompetent being full of conceit. Furthermore, it was to Viktor's great dismay that the Council had pronounced Marcus as a Vampire Elder, for Marcus was the only direct descendant of Alexander Corvinus. Yet, even if Viktor's hatred for Marcus was incurable, he couldn't help himself from wondering why the younger Elder was acting like this.
By that time, Marcus had leaned on the arm of the couch and was practically bent down, always wincing and screaming in pain, his arm around his chest and eyes closed. It seemed that he was in another world, like he was seeing things in his mind.
Viktor shot him a last glare and dryly turned around to leave him behind, but abruptly stopped in his pace. Something in Marcus seemed different… and that was the fact that his mouth was now full of huge fangs… and Viktor knew that these weren't ordinary Vampire fangs. "By the Ancestor's name… what's happening to him?" Viktor thought somewhat bothered.
And Marcus's eyelids opened, but his deep grey eyes weren't what were revealed. Instead, huge monstrous black eyes were gazing into emptiness. And these eyes, Viktor recognized them perfectly. The same eyes as Michael Corvin's. Hybrid eyes.
Viktor's blood froze inside his veins, as his heart seemed to hit the pit of his stomach. He couldn't believe what was happening before his very eyes. Marcus Corvinus has become a blend of a Vampire and a Lycan. What Viktor has feared and has tried to prevent for centuries. What he has fought against in the Underworld, not three nights ago. And besides, the reason why he had lost his precious daughter, six centuries ago.
Viktor's eyes widened in abhorrence as he stared in shock at a suffering Marcus. "Abomination…" he almost whispered. Yes, Marcus has become an abomination. He, the only direct descendant of Alexander Corvinus, the first true immortal. And this fact, Viktor knew that it was making things even worse… Viktor felt an insatiable rage invade him and sent another deadly glare to Marcus as he pulled out his sword. This creature was not going to survive longer, Viktor was sure of this fate.
He began to slowly step towards the beast, staring at it in disgust. Marcus's new power was incomparable to any other power… even Viktor's. A shiver went up Viktor's spine when he thought of what had up to now seemed impossible. He couldn't bare the thought that Marcus - whom he had always disliked, furthermore - could be even more powerful than he was himself. However, Viktor had yet to understand how it was possible that Marcus has become this… horror. As he knew, Marcus was a pure born Vampire, and the only way he could've become this… monstrosity, was to combine Lycan blood to his pure Vampire blood. But how could this disaster have happened? As far as Viktor could remember, Marcus seemed perfectly healthy the last time he saw him - which was two centuries from now - and absolutely no Lycan had approached… his tomb…
Viktor dryly stopped in his pace when a recent memory came back to his mind. A few nights ago, back in the Resting Chamber, he had in fact slain a Lycan himself, striking him across the face. He remembered the huge amount of blood that had poured out when the beast fell dead on the floor of the Crypt. Lycan blood. On the floor of the Crypt, below which Marcus was still slumbering.
Viktor's features paled even more as his eyes widened in disbelief. He had himself made this impure blood shed. And now, because of that, Marcus has become an abomination. And it was Viktor's own fault. Technically, he had created the thing he loathed more than anything else in this cursed world. He felt numb, frozen… he couldn't come to believe that he was himself the creator of this repugnance. And even though it was only Marcus's eyes and teeth that had changed, soon, his whole constitution will subject to the change.
And Viktor could simply not let this happen. Baring his fangs at his suffering 'opponent', he walked towards it, his mighty and deadly sword in hand. Viktor looked down at Marcus.
"I'm sorry, Marcus," Viktor said rather neutrally. "This will hurt me as much as it will hurt you." He raised the threatening blade of his sword.
Only for a split second, one could have identified what seemed to be pity across the Elder's face, but it was quickly covered by his usual cold mask of hatred and aloofness. Marcus was still yelling in pain, and thinking that he might soon fully transform into the hybrid made Viktor rage even more.
Suddenly and to his dismay - although perhaps relief? -, Viktor heard a knock on the door. Sighing exasperatedly, he lowered his sword and said rather impatiently, "What is it?"
The voice outside the door responded. "It is Derik, my Lord."
Viktor recognized the voice of one of his warriors. "You may enter," he said after putting his sword away.
"My Lord," Derik started in a professional manner. Viktor looked back at him, waiting for what he had to say, but then realized that his warrior was eyeing Marcus, an expression of worry visible on his cold features. "…If I can allow myself to ask, my Lord… is Lord Marcus feeling alright?"
Viktor dryly turned his head towards the other Elder who was still yelling and bent over, arms around his chest. As far as Viktor was concerned, never will he let anyone know that it was his fault that Marcus has become… this thing. "Do not bother, servant. He only suffers from a slight soreness. That's all," he said severely.
Another of Marcus's yells echoed through the room as the Death Dealer at the door looked at him in disbelief and then at Viktor. This wasn't only a simple faintness, as he could see… and hear.
Derik, stammered, somewhat uneasy, "…I would never underestimate your judgement, my Lord, but… Lord Marcus doesn't seem well at all and---"
Derik didn't know what made him stop in his sentence, whether Viktor's fixed stare or the fact that Marcus had now risen, looking completely fit. The latter looked around incredulously, panting heavily, and brought a hand to his forehead. He met Viktor's hard stare, but then his blue vampiric eyes fell upon the Death Dealer. "You all right, my Lord?" the latter asked, rather relieved.
Marcus responded by a faint nod and exhaled. "Yes… yes, I guess I am," he said, to what Viktor frowned.
"Are you," the latter asked, or more likely stated. He turned to the other Vampire. "Now, may I know the purpose of your call," Viktor demanded.
Derik nodded professionally. "The traitor has been found my Lords," he said.
Both Viktor and Marcus's eyes widened. "And who are we talking about, here?" Marcus asked.
"Kraven, my Lord," Derik answered. "It has been reported by Anyanka, that he's been seen harassing one of the maids," he added. Viktor's heart made a jump when he heard the name of the young Vampress.
"A maid, you say?" Marcus asked sceptically. "And who is she?"
"Unknown up to now, my Lord," Derik answered. "No other information has been given."
"I see," Marcus said dimly, bringing his hand to his chin. Something troubled him, he couldn't say what.
Viktor seemed also bothered. "Tell me, servant… was Kraven really that injudicious as to come back where he was sure to be caught?" he asked, sceptically, arching an eyebrow.
"Is this why you left him in charge," Marcus whispered from behind Viktor, who sent him another glare. "Now, why don't we pay him a visit?"
"I'm afraid that you shall go alone, Marcus," Viktor said. "For I have other concerns to look after."
"As you wish, Viktor," Marcus said, somewhat surprised. As far as Marcus could see, Viktor didn't look quite himself. Otherwise, he would've already pronounced Kraven's condemnation. "Strange…" Marcus thought. "Is this that of a revelation?" "All right, then… the afternoon is almost coming to an end, and I'd like very much to finally get some rest. Good evening, Viktor," he said before leaving with the Death Dealer.
Viktor didn't answer, but his cold blue eyes stared fiercely at Marcus while the hybrid passed in front of him. Viktor waited until Marcus had completely disappeared in the darkness of the hall before himself leaving his lodgings, vowing to himself that the abomination within Marcus will never arise before Viktor himself could dispatch him.