Wow, got some good reviews for the last chapter. Let me give some thanx:
iridescent eyes: Glad I could hook you up with a fanfic fix. I know I need them. It's now late at night, and I'm not so hyper, but still having fun. Which is all that matters right? Thank you very much for the review. Hopefully this will give you more to ponder instead of listening to boring teachers. I know that's what I do! :)
Merion: Ah, my true faithful reader, thank you once again for review. Always makes me happy. And if you haven't got my email yet I would love to help you on your fic. Just email me.
Rayefire: Wow, what a compliment! I'm glad I was able to sway you, although not sure how. I promise Selene will remain confusing, she is after all a rather confused character, but she will be showing some changes throughout the story. I only hope I can do her, as well as the rest, justice. Thanks again for coming out of the woodwork and reviewing. If you have any suggestions, let me know. :)
--That goes for anyone, I don't mind constructive criticism, but flames are unreasonable and uncalled for. Thanks!
So then, with all the energy I can muster here is chapter seven. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some Lycan/Vamp interaction.
Chapter Seven: Only Human on the Inside
Selene and Michael had taken a cab back to the area where they had left their car two nights before. The little neon had been ticketed for illegal parking, but other than that it was in good shape. Now Selene sat behind the wheel as she always did; quietly collecting her thoughts while driving like a bat out of hell. Michael didn't even blink as she rounded a turn so fast she almost lifted the car on two wheels. He had always been one to adapt quickly. Selene's mind; however, was stuck on the thought of the gut wrench she had felt upon leaving Lily's house. The girl had stared at her with solemn eyes as she'd handed Selene a brown paper bag containing the last of their blood supply.
"I won't need it." She joked, but Selene had heard the hitch in her voice. Then the girl had done something that had caught Selene so off guard that she'd behaved as if made of stone. In a quick but unsure movement Lily had loosely wrapped her arms around Selene's shoulders. The girl was nearly as tall as Selene herself, but in that instant she had appeared like the 8 year old Selene had met all those years ago. The impromptus hug had lasted mere seconds but had done a number on Selene's psyche. Lily had seemed less affected. Her glowing sapphire eyes stared directly into Selene's stormy brown ones, and she smiled.
"Good luck with everything. If you guys ever need help you know where to find me."
"Thank you Lily. Take care of yourself." Michael smiled brightly and shook her hand. They left after that and Selene had not said a word since.
Now, thinking of Michael, her eyes strayed from the road and over to Michael's feet. She followed the line of his long legs clothed in baggy blue jeans, pausing momentarily on his abdomen as her breath caught in her throat. Pulling her eyes away she stared at his face only to find brown orbs staring right back at her. //Damn.// She cursed and looked back at the road. //He always catches me looking at him.//
Wordlessly, Michael reached out and took her fidgeting hand in his. She looked hard at him, but his eyes had a foggy quality as he watched her drive. She felt her defenses melting and merely returned her eyes to the darkness ahead as she sped towards the underground caverns of the underworld. She made a mental note as they crossed the bridge that they were almost there, but a loud thud on the drivers' side door yanked her thoughts from her current home to her previous one at Ordoghaz. She was remembering the weapons room, watching as Kahn revealed his latest killing creation to her. It was a medium sized silver disc that after a minute upon impact exploded with such intense heat it was sure to char everything within a three mile radius. She distinctly remembered the sound it made when encountering its target.
"Shit!" She yelled as she smashed her entire fist through the window with a desperate urgency, latched onto the disc, and chucked it into the river. It exploded a fraction of an instant before it hit the water and sent the car spinning into the middle of the road.
"Holy shit!" Michael screamed as he grabbed onto the seat and watched the world spin into nothingness. He had expected to black out, but instead the car had come to a screeching halt right in front of an entire row of death dealers. He saw the flash of movement as Selene reached to the backseat and withdrew her twin Beretta's and opened fire upon her kin.
"Spares." She said calmly as if reading his thoughts. "I suggest you get down." With her right hand she jammed the car into reverse and sent the tires spinning before finally catching traction and retreating. She continued firing with her left hand as they backed down the bridge until she slammed on the breaks and halted the car. Handing one of her guns to him she looked him directly in the eyes. He could see the urgency behind them, but also noted the excitement. They had gone a hazy blue like they always did when she was in her element.
"Do you trust me?" She asked squarely.
He looked questioningly at her but answered none the less. "Of course."
"Then when I tell you to, open your door and jump." She didn't wait for a response as she rammed the car into first and peeled towards the charging vampires. She shifted quickly never taking her eyes off her target. She had been trained as a warrior, and a warrior she would always be. She calculated the perfect moment and without hesitation she used every bit of her immortal strength to yank the wheel to the right and sent the left side of the car off the ground and into the air. Momentum would do the rest.
"Now!" She screamed and caught her utility belt from the back seat is it fell toward her.
Michael opened his door and launched himself from the rolling car, Selene was an instant behind him and as their bodies hit the cool air their genetic advantages twisted and turned them till both landed feet first upon the pavement in enough time to see the four death dealers crushed by the rolling car. It caught flames as it impacted with the ground and Selene could hear the silence of the faint screams of what had once been her comrades. She didn't so much as blink at their loss.
"That was fun." She replied sarcastically. "Now let's get the hell out of here."
"Drop your weapons." A distinctly British voice rang out from the darkness. Selene turned around, whipping the tails of her long jacket behind her, aimed her gun directly at the voice, and hesitated. The dark figure stepped into the moonlight to revel a man whom Selene had held in the up most respect for centuries. His dark skin and shaved head gave him the look of a young man when in fact he was hundreds of years old. He had been her mentor, teacher, and once upon a time they had killed lycans together. She kept her gun pointed at his head as death dealers appeared from the surrounding buildings and enclosed her and Michael in the center of a circle. She turned to view the familiar faces, but couldn't stop her heart from racing as she stared down the barrel of 6 semi-automatic weapons. She heard the growl come from beside her and realized to her horror that Michael was changing into his hybrid form. Seizing his hand in hers she momentarily halted him.
"Not now." She grunted threw clenched teeth. "If you change they'll kill you."
Michael surveyed the situation and realized to his shame that she was correct. They were sorely out numbered and even with his strength he lacked the experience to defeat these specialized warriors. Pushing the animal down he kept his fangs and eyes toned and alert. He thought he caught the faint smell of something familiar, but it was gone before he was certain.
"Your hesitation was your mistake." He took a few steps towards the woman, still keeping his gun aimed.
"Hello Kahn." She spoke his name calmly, but still kept her gun aimed.
"I thought I taught you better than that?" There was a hint of sadness in his voice. She had been a good pupil, one he had had high hopes for. //But that is not the case now.// He reminded himself. //She betrayed the coven.//
"It would appear as though you didn't." She sneered at him, angry that he was still trying to teach her.
His back went rigid and his voice became stable as he was once again the master. "You cost me four good soldiers Selene."
"Well I guess did I manage to learn something after all." She calmly replied. Control was now her only defense.
He laughed and shook his head. "Of all immortals I never thought you would be the one to run off with a filthy cur. Now, both of you, I said drop your weapons."
"Now Kahn," Selene smiled wickedly down the sight of her barrel and sneered, "I thought you taught me better than that."
He grunted in response and aimed his rifle directly at Michael. "Very well then. If you don't come with me, I'll just blow the hell out of your lycan and we'll see what happens next."
Her face tightened and her anger skyrocketed. "You wouldn't."
"I would." And with that he fired two rounds at Michael's legs.
Selene's senses were working over time. She heard the bullets click inside the chamber seconds before he fired. Knocking Michael out of the way she fired two shots at her former weapons master. Only one of the ultra violet bullets hit him in the leg, but it was enough to make him go down. Without waiting she turned and opened fire on the rest of the death dealers. She may have gotten three shots off when from the darkness of the streets came 6 fully changed lycans.
Vampire and Lycan were evenly matched. The Vampires fired round after round at the charging beasts, but nothing seemed to slow them. The death dealers split the circle and moved to find cover. Two went down immediately as two enormous lycans lunged and ripped their throats. A third vampire unleashed an entire clip of metal into an ascending lycan when the animal pretended to fall, but in doing so reached out and took the vampire with him, crushing him to the ground and breaking his neck. The last three began to run for the safety of the buildings, but were chased into the night.
In all the commotion Michael had turned to watch his lycans descend upon vampires from out of nowhere. //I thought I smelled lycan!// Being instantly concerned for his brothers in arms he took the gun Selene had given him and began to fire into the mess of blood and chaos. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Selene walking over to where she had just shot that vampire.
Amidst the confusion Selene ran over to where Kahn had fallen. He was on the ground withering in pain as the heat from her bullet spread throughout his leg. It wasn't enough to kill him, but he was not in good shape. Selene watched him for a moment. He ceased his moaning when she approached him and looked her bravely in the face. He expected nothing less than a clean shot to end his life and he felt sure she would grant him that.
"Here." Selene threw at him the sack of blood that she had stored in her utility belt. "I suggest you fucking leave before I let those lycan's gut you for trying to shoot someone I care about."
He shot her a bewildered look. "I don't understand."
"I respect you Kahn. I always have, and to be honest I think you're smarter than this fictitious war. Think about it Kahn. You claim to know me so well, maybe you do. I left for a reason."
He only shook his head in perplexity. "Why?"
"Because I found out the truth. It's all lies Kahn. We've all been lied to. Even you." She looked over her shoulder and could see that the Lycans were wrapping things up quickly. She reached down with one hand and lifted him onto his feet. "Now, get the hell out of here."
Kahn clutched the bag she had given him and did his best to hobble into the night. He was in shock at the events that had just taken place, and his mind was reeling from Selene's words. //She saved my life.// He thought. Then something came to him.
"Selene!" He shouted back at her only a few feet away.
"What?"
He looked her in the eyes so that she would see the truth of his statement. "They know where she's at, that girl that you stayed with. We followed you from there. When I return without you, they'll go looking for her."
Selene nodded in gratitude. He had paid his debt. They were even now. "Kahn." She said regretfully. "Next time we meet I won't hesitate."
He nodded. "Neither will I." He turned around then and disappeared into the streets of the city.
Michael had watched the exchange with wide eyes. He wasn't sure what had confused him the most. The fact that she had let that vampire go or that she had said she cared about him. He was sure he had heard that right. She was going to kill that blood because he had shot at him, Michael, "Someone she cared about." But then she'd let him go! Was it wrong? Was he mad? The questions were swirling.
"Michael." A rather large man came up behind him and placed an enormous white hand upon his shoulder. "We thought we lost you!"
Michael recognized the, although not fully clothed, now fully human lycan. It was Tyran, one of the biggest lycans in the pack, and also one of the smartest. Michael had liked the rather child like innocence that seemed to surround him. He was terribly pale with light brown hair and pale green eyes. His hands were deformed from the shrapnel he had encountered years before in a battle. They had been pierced by a silver blade sometime in the 14th century and the tip of the blade and broken off in his paws. The doctors had been unable too dig out all the silver and so his hands had been poisoned beyond repair. He had a good sense of humor though and had become a close confidant in the past month.
Shaking the questions from his head Michael turned to face what he now considered to be his friend. "It's really a long story, but thanks for the rescue. How'd you know where we were at?"
Tyran smiled. "Man, we've been searching for you for days. You disappeared after our last raid and we thought something bad might have happened to you." He made a fake whimper and put on his best puppy face. "That would have been terrible!"
"Oh shut up you mangy dog!" Another rather large man stepped forward. This one was darker, built like a machine. His black curly hair was cut close to the scalp giving the impression of fuzz up top his head. The hair traveled down around the outside of his face and came together in a nicely trimmed goatee around the chin. His eyes were dark, and never the same color. In the light of the moon they shined an eerie yellow. Michael had always been a bit intimidated by him. He had a bad attitude and was always causing problems, but the guy was a tank.
"I've had enough of your stupid jokes in the last two days."
"Easy Flar. Lighten up a bit." Tyran glared at the beast and stuck out his tongue.
"Why I ought to..." Flar shook his fist and growled.
Michael stepped between the two. "That's enough! Focus on the task at hand. We need to get the hell out of these streets before someone or something comes back.
Tyran stood up straight and saluted Michael. "Sure boss, you're absolutely right, but did you see how we made those bloods run? Those cowards took off like nothing but a bunch of..." He stopped and swallowed hard as Selene stood in front of him, arms crossed over her chest, and glare going full tilt.
"What was that Tyran?" She tried to sound threatening, but in truth she didn't mind. Besides Michael, and she wasn't sure if he counted anymore, Tyran was the only Lycan she liked. He could be goofy, but she found that to be rather intriguing. //Strange, to have such a good attitude despite centuries of carnage.//
Tyran stumbled and took a dramatic bow. "I'm ever so sorry my lady. I of course do not include you in my insults toward your kind, for you are entirely different and no longer qualify." He grinned. "How was that?"
Selene almost felt a smile coming to her lips. "I'll get you later for it." Then she looked at Michael and all seriousness returned to her face. "We have a problem."
Michael groaned. When was there not a problem?
Selene continued. "Those death dealers followed us from Lily's house. They know where she's at and they will go back for her."
Michael looked at her for a moment. He knew she must have gotten that information from Kahn. He suddenly felt better about what he had just witnessed. True, she had let him go, but obviously she had gotten something from him. He mentally chastised himself for doubting her. "Then we have to go get her." He said confidently.
Selene nodded and began to speak when she was interrupted.
"That is out of the question." Flare took a step forward into the small circle the three had been forming. "We have to get Michael back within the safety of the compound." His voice was commanding, lacking in any hint of actual concern for Michael's well being.
"We have to go back. That girl saved our lives." Selene looked at him defiantly. "Michael wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for her. Are we supposed to just let her die for helping us?"
"It's you that their after." He pointed a large brown finger at her chest. "If you hadn't been there they never would have found her."
The accusation hit home, but she would bleed herself dry before she would ever let this mutt see that. "You know, Flare why don't you ever try to prove me wrong? If you hate me so much then show me. Prove to me that you're more than just a mangy, brainless animal." She crossed her arms in a defiantly dramatic display.
Tyran about had a fit. He danced over to Flar's side and clasped his heaving shoulders. "She got you. Selene two, Flare zero!" He laughed in the werewolf's ear.
Selene watched his eyes flaming in anger. She had left him no choice. A challenge he could not resist without losing face.
"Let's make this quick." He moaned and summoned the other four lycans to him.
Selene winked at him as he passed by and watched as he sulked into the street. Tyran ran ahead with the other lycans, but she stayed in the back with Michael.
"Are you alright?" She looked him up and down questioningly, her voice full of concern. Now that she had a moment to breathe she realized that he could have been hurt.
"I'm fine." He seemed a tad unsure of her. She had behaved strictly out of character this evening and now being the one to force a rescue mission he was wondering if maybe she had a fever. He'd never known her to be so caring. //Could it be that she's remembering what it's like to be human?// He couldn't be sure, but he was sure that he liked it. "How about you, are you alright?"
"Fine." She mumbled and looked down at the ground.
Once again he took her hand in his and began to lead the way up to the pack. "Let's go get Lily." He muttered and Selene nodded.
//I just hope we get there in time.// Selene thought heavily.
iridescent eyes: Glad I could hook you up with a fanfic fix. I know I need them. It's now late at night, and I'm not so hyper, but still having fun. Which is all that matters right? Thank you very much for the review. Hopefully this will give you more to ponder instead of listening to boring teachers. I know that's what I do! :)
Merion: Ah, my true faithful reader, thank you once again for review. Always makes me happy. And if you haven't got my email yet I would love to help you on your fic. Just email me.
Rayefire: Wow, what a compliment! I'm glad I was able to sway you, although not sure how. I promise Selene will remain confusing, she is after all a rather confused character, but she will be showing some changes throughout the story. I only hope I can do her, as well as the rest, justice. Thanks again for coming out of the woodwork and reviewing. If you have any suggestions, let me know. :)
--That goes for anyone, I don't mind constructive criticism, but flames are unreasonable and uncalled for. Thanks!
So then, with all the energy I can muster here is chapter seven. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some Lycan/Vamp interaction.
Chapter Seven: Only Human on the Inside
Selene and Michael had taken a cab back to the area where they had left their car two nights before. The little neon had been ticketed for illegal parking, but other than that it was in good shape. Now Selene sat behind the wheel as she always did; quietly collecting her thoughts while driving like a bat out of hell. Michael didn't even blink as she rounded a turn so fast she almost lifted the car on two wheels. He had always been one to adapt quickly. Selene's mind; however, was stuck on the thought of the gut wrench she had felt upon leaving Lily's house. The girl had stared at her with solemn eyes as she'd handed Selene a brown paper bag containing the last of their blood supply.
"I won't need it." She joked, but Selene had heard the hitch in her voice. Then the girl had done something that had caught Selene so off guard that she'd behaved as if made of stone. In a quick but unsure movement Lily had loosely wrapped her arms around Selene's shoulders. The girl was nearly as tall as Selene herself, but in that instant she had appeared like the 8 year old Selene had met all those years ago. The impromptus hug had lasted mere seconds but had done a number on Selene's psyche. Lily had seemed less affected. Her glowing sapphire eyes stared directly into Selene's stormy brown ones, and she smiled.
"Good luck with everything. If you guys ever need help you know where to find me."
"Thank you Lily. Take care of yourself." Michael smiled brightly and shook her hand. They left after that and Selene had not said a word since.
Now, thinking of Michael, her eyes strayed from the road and over to Michael's feet. She followed the line of his long legs clothed in baggy blue jeans, pausing momentarily on his abdomen as her breath caught in her throat. Pulling her eyes away she stared at his face only to find brown orbs staring right back at her. //Damn.// She cursed and looked back at the road. //He always catches me looking at him.//
Wordlessly, Michael reached out and took her fidgeting hand in his. She looked hard at him, but his eyes had a foggy quality as he watched her drive. She felt her defenses melting and merely returned her eyes to the darkness ahead as she sped towards the underground caverns of the underworld. She made a mental note as they crossed the bridge that they were almost there, but a loud thud on the drivers' side door yanked her thoughts from her current home to her previous one at Ordoghaz. She was remembering the weapons room, watching as Kahn revealed his latest killing creation to her. It was a medium sized silver disc that after a minute upon impact exploded with such intense heat it was sure to char everything within a three mile radius. She distinctly remembered the sound it made when encountering its target.
"Shit!" She yelled as she smashed her entire fist through the window with a desperate urgency, latched onto the disc, and chucked it into the river. It exploded a fraction of an instant before it hit the water and sent the car spinning into the middle of the road.
"Holy shit!" Michael screamed as he grabbed onto the seat and watched the world spin into nothingness. He had expected to black out, but instead the car had come to a screeching halt right in front of an entire row of death dealers. He saw the flash of movement as Selene reached to the backseat and withdrew her twin Beretta's and opened fire upon her kin.
"Spares." She said calmly as if reading his thoughts. "I suggest you get down." With her right hand she jammed the car into reverse and sent the tires spinning before finally catching traction and retreating. She continued firing with her left hand as they backed down the bridge until she slammed on the breaks and halted the car. Handing one of her guns to him she looked him directly in the eyes. He could see the urgency behind them, but also noted the excitement. They had gone a hazy blue like they always did when she was in her element.
"Do you trust me?" She asked squarely.
He looked questioningly at her but answered none the less. "Of course."
"Then when I tell you to, open your door and jump." She didn't wait for a response as she rammed the car into first and peeled towards the charging vampires. She shifted quickly never taking her eyes off her target. She had been trained as a warrior, and a warrior she would always be. She calculated the perfect moment and without hesitation she used every bit of her immortal strength to yank the wheel to the right and sent the left side of the car off the ground and into the air. Momentum would do the rest.
"Now!" She screamed and caught her utility belt from the back seat is it fell toward her.
Michael opened his door and launched himself from the rolling car, Selene was an instant behind him and as their bodies hit the cool air their genetic advantages twisted and turned them till both landed feet first upon the pavement in enough time to see the four death dealers crushed by the rolling car. It caught flames as it impacted with the ground and Selene could hear the silence of the faint screams of what had once been her comrades. She didn't so much as blink at their loss.
"That was fun." She replied sarcastically. "Now let's get the hell out of here."
"Drop your weapons." A distinctly British voice rang out from the darkness. Selene turned around, whipping the tails of her long jacket behind her, aimed her gun directly at the voice, and hesitated. The dark figure stepped into the moonlight to revel a man whom Selene had held in the up most respect for centuries. His dark skin and shaved head gave him the look of a young man when in fact he was hundreds of years old. He had been her mentor, teacher, and once upon a time they had killed lycans together. She kept her gun pointed at his head as death dealers appeared from the surrounding buildings and enclosed her and Michael in the center of a circle. She turned to view the familiar faces, but couldn't stop her heart from racing as she stared down the barrel of 6 semi-automatic weapons. She heard the growl come from beside her and realized to her horror that Michael was changing into his hybrid form. Seizing his hand in hers she momentarily halted him.
"Not now." She grunted threw clenched teeth. "If you change they'll kill you."
Michael surveyed the situation and realized to his shame that she was correct. They were sorely out numbered and even with his strength he lacked the experience to defeat these specialized warriors. Pushing the animal down he kept his fangs and eyes toned and alert. He thought he caught the faint smell of something familiar, but it was gone before he was certain.
"Your hesitation was your mistake." He took a few steps towards the woman, still keeping his gun aimed.
"Hello Kahn." She spoke his name calmly, but still kept her gun aimed.
"I thought I taught you better than that?" There was a hint of sadness in his voice. She had been a good pupil, one he had had high hopes for. //But that is not the case now.// He reminded himself. //She betrayed the coven.//
"It would appear as though you didn't." She sneered at him, angry that he was still trying to teach her.
His back went rigid and his voice became stable as he was once again the master. "You cost me four good soldiers Selene."
"Well I guess did I manage to learn something after all." She calmly replied. Control was now her only defense.
He laughed and shook his head. "Of all immortals I never thought you would be the one to run off with a filthy cur. Now, both of you, I said drop your weapons."
"Now Kahn," Selene smiled wickedly down the sight of her barrel and sneered, "I thought you taught me better than that."
He grunted in response and aimed his rifle directly at Michael. "Very well then. If you don't come with me, I'll just blow the hell out of your lycan and we'll see what happens next."
Her face tightened and her anger skyrocketed. "You wouldn't."
"I would." And with that he fired two rounds at Michael's legs.
Selene's senses were working over time. She heard the bullets click inside the chamber seconds before he fired. Knocking Michael out of the way she fired two shots at her former weapons master. Only one of the ultra violet bullets hit him in the leg, but it was enough to make him go down. Without waiting she turned and opened fire on the rest of the death dealers. She may have gotten three shots off when from the darkness of the streets came 6 fully changed lycans.
Vampire and Lycan were evenly matched. The Vampires fired round after round at the charging beasts, but nothing seemed to slow them. The death dealers split the circle and moved to find cover. Two went down immediately as two enormous lycans lunged and ripped their throats. A third vampire unleashed an entire clip of metal into an ascending lycan when the animal pretended to fall, but in doing so reached out and took the vampire with him, crushing him to the ground and breaking his neck. The last three began to run for the safety of the buildings, but were chased into the night.
In all the commotion Michael had turned to watch his lycans descend upon vampires from out of nowhere. //I thought I smelled lycan!// Being instantly concerned for his brothers in arms he took the gun Selene had given him and began to fire into the mess of blood and chaos. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Selene walking over to where she had just shot that vampire.
Amidst the confusion Selene ran over to where Kahn had fallen. He was on the ground withering in pain as the heat from her bullet spread throughout his leg. It wasn't enough to kill him, but he was not in good shape. Selene watched him for a moment. He ceased his moaning when she approached him and looked her bravely in the face. He expected nothing less than a clean shot to end his life and he felt sure she would grant him that.
"Here." Selene threw at him the sack of blood that she had stored in her utility belt. "I suggest you fucking leave before I let those lycan's gut you for trying to shoot someone I care about."
He shot her a bewildered look. "I don't understand."
"I respect you Kahn. I always have, and to be honest I think you're smarter than this fictitious war. Think about it Kahn. You claim to know me so well, maybe you do. I left for a reason."
He only shook his head in perplexity. "Why?"
"Because I found out the truth. It's all lies Kahn. We've all been lied to. Even you." She looked over her shoulder and could see that the Lycans were wrapping things up quickly. She reached down with one hand and lifted him onto his feet. "Now, get the hell out of here."
Kahn clutched the bag she had given him and did his best to hobble into the night. He was in shock at the events that had just taken place, and his mind was reeling from Selene's words. //She saved my life.// He thought. Then something came to him.
"Selene!" He shouted back at her only a few feet away.
"What?"
He looked her in the eyes so that she would see the truth of his statement. "They know where she's at, that girl that you stayed with. We followed you from there. When I return without you, they'll go looking for her."
Selene nodded in gratitude. He had paid his debt. They were even now. "Kahn." She said regretfully. "Next time we meet I won't hesitate."
He nodded. "Neither will I." He turned around then and disappeared into the streets of the city.
Michael had watched the exchange with wide eyes. He wasn't sure what had confused him the most. The fact that she had let that vampire go or that she had said she cared about him. He was sure he had heard that right. She was going to kill that blood because he had shot at him, Michael, "Someone she cared about." But then she'd let him go! Was it wrong? Was he mad? The questions were swirling.
"Michael." A rather large man came up behind him and placed an enormous white hand upon his shoulder. "We thought we lost you!"
Michael recognized the, although not fully clothed, now fully human lycan. It was Tyran, one of the biggest lycans in the pack, and also one of the smartest. Michael had liked the rather child like innocence that seemed to surround him. He was terribly pale with light brown hair and pale green eyes. His hands were deformed from the shrapnel he had encountered years before in a battle. They had been pierced by a silver blade sometime in the 14th century and the tip of the blade and broken off in his paws. The doctors had been unable too dig out all the silver and so his hands had been poisoned beyond repair. He had a good sense of humor though and had become a close confidant in the past month.
Shaking the questions from his head Michael turned to face what he now considered to be his friend. "It's really a long story, but thanks for the rescue. How'd you know where we were at?"
Tyran smiled. "Man, we've been searching for you for days. You disappeared after our last raid and we thought something bad might have happened to you." He made a fake whimper and put on his best puppy face. "That would have been terrible!"
"Oh shut up you mangy dog!" Another rather large man stepped forward. This one was darker, built like a machine. His black curly hair was cut close to the scalp giving the impression of fuzz up top his head. The hair traveled down around the outside of his face and came together in a nicely trimmed goatee around the chin. His eyes were dark, and never the same color. In the light of the moon they shined an eerie yellow. Michael had always been a bit intimidated by him. He had a bad attitude and was always causing problems, but the guy was a tank.
"I've had enough of your stupid jokes in the last two days."
"Easy Flar. Lighten up a bit." Tyran glared at the beast and stuck out his tongue.
"Why I ought to..." Flar shook his fist and growled.
Michael stepped between the two. "That's enough! Focus on the task at hand. We need to get the hell out of these streets before someone or something comes back.
Tyran stood up straight and saluted Michael. "Sure boss, you're absolutely right, but did you see how we made those bloods run? Those cowards took off like nothing but a bunch of..." He stopped and swallowed hard as Selene stood in front of him, arms crossed over her chest, and glare going full tilt.
"What was that Tyran?" She tried to sound threatening, but in truth she didn't mind. Besides Michael, and she wasn't sure if he counted anymore, Tyran was the only Lycan she liked. He could be goofy, but she found that to be rather intriguing. //Strange, to have such a good attitude despite centuries of carnage.//
Tyran stumbled and took a dramatic bow. "I'm ever so sorry my lady. I of course do not include you in my insults toward your kind, for you are entirely different and no longer qualify." He grinned. "How was that?"
Selene almost felt a smile coming to her lips. "I'll get you later for it." Then she looked at Michael and all seriousness returned to her face. "We have a problem."
Michael groaned. When was there not a problem?
Selene continued. "Those death dealers followed us from Lily's house. They know where she's at and they will go back for her."
Michael looked at her for a moment. He knew she must have gotten that information from Kahn. He suddenly felt better about what he had just witnessed. True, she had let him go, but obviously she had gotten something from him. He mentally chastised himself for doubting her. "Then we have to go get her." He said confidently.
Selene nodded and began to speak when she was interrupted.
"That is out of the question." Flare took a step forward into the small circle the three had been forming. "We have to get Michael back within the safety of the compound." His voice was commanding, lacking in any hint of actual concern for Michael's well being.
"We have to go back. That girl saved our lives." Selene looked at him defiantly. "Michael wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for her. Are we supposed to just let her die for helping us?"
"It's you that their after." He pointed a large brown finger at her chest. "If you hadn't been there they never would have found her."
The accusation hit home, but she would bleed herself dry before she would ever let this mutt see that. "You know, Flare why don't you ever try to prove me wrong? If you hate me so much then show me. Prove to me that you're more than just a mangy, brainless animal." She crossed her arms in a defiantly dramatic display.
Tyran about had a fit. He danced over to Flar's side and clasped his heaving shoulders. "She got you. Selene two, Flare zero!" He laughed in the werewolf's ear.
Selene watched his eyes flaming in anger. She had left him no choice. A challenge he could not resist without losing face.
"Let's make this quick." He moaned and summoned the other four lycans to him.
Selene winked at him as he passed by and watched as he sulked into the street. Tyran ran ahead with the other lycans, but she stayed in the back with Michael.
"Are you alright?" She looked him up and down questioningly, her voice full of concern. Now that she had a moment to breathe she realized that he could have been hurt.
"I'm fine." He seemed a tad unsure of her. She had behaved strictly out of character this evening and now being the one to force a rescue mission he was wondering if maybe she had a fever. He'd never known her to be so caring. //Could it be that she's remembering what it's like to be human?// He couldn't be sure, but he was sure that he liked it. "How about you, are you alright?"
"Fine." She mumbled and looked down at the ground.
Once again he took her hand in his and began to lead the way up to the pack. "Let's go get Lily." He muttered and Selene nodded.
//I just hope we get there in time.// Selene thought heavily.