Chapter 14: The Alliance

Selene arrived at the safe house at exactly 8:00. The sun had settled in for the night and the nearly full moon was shining brightly. It illuminated her path as she cautiously climbed the steps of the abandoned building. Her guns were drawn as she kicked the door in with her foot, moved in, and took a position behind a wall, searching every corner with her eyes.

"Ah, right on time." A voice came from the top of the winding stair case. A figure descended the stairs, keeping in shadow's to mask his identity.

Selene watched as what was obviously a man come toward her. She kept her Beretta's aimed, but she could not see his face. "Who are you?" She shouted threateningly.

The figure stopped at the last stair, still lurking in the darkness. "You don't recognize me? I'm hurt Selene." Then, with a devilish grin he stepped forward and into the small pool of moonlight casting on the ground.

Selene's mouth dropped. "Kraven?"

"None other."

Reaffirming her target Selene thrust the gun in his face. "You fucking bastard where the hell is she?"

Kraven smiled wickedly and shook his head. "Now, now is that anyway to treat an old friend?"

"Friend my ass you pervert. Give me the girl."

"And what if I don't?"

"Then I'll kill you."

Again he shook his head. He kept his hands behind his back, standing poised and regal. "Honestly Selene, how stupid to you think I am?"

She snarled. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

The smile dropped from his face. "You know, you've really got to learn to be more polite. That was always your problem. You never knew when to sit down and shut up." He advanced on her, till he was inches from her face. "Now, I suggest you tone yourself down or every gun that's fixed on you right now is liable to go off."

"You lie. I'd have heard someone."

"You didn't hear anyone this evening."

She cocked her head, but still kept her guns at his chest.

"You must be getting hard of hearing in your old age." He circled her threateningly; she followed with her eyes and weapons. "Or perhaps it's living with all those lycans." He took a large sniff of the air around her. "You know what they say. You lay with dogs; you come up smelling like one."

She angrily stuck her Beretta against his forehead. "Shut the fuck up Kraven. Give me Lily, and I'll be on my way."

Kraven's voice dropped to a low growl. "Remove your weapon from my head now."

"Only after I pull the trigger."

"Bring her out boys!" He hollered, while never taking his eyes from the vampiress.

Selene looked up as a tied and gagged Lily was brought down to their level. A small trickle of dried blood was just above her eyebrow. Even now she struggled against her captives, screaming incoherent syllables through her gag.

Selene breathed a small sigh of relief at seeing the girl still alive. She focused her attention back to Kraven. "Now, we'll be leaving."

"Not so fast." As Kraven spoke twenty young boys fell from the rafters and encased Selene. The man holding Lily pulled a shot gun from the holster at his side and placed it at Lily's temple.

Selene surveyed the scene, then lifted her gun and dropped it to the floor. "Fine. Bastard." She muttered under her breath.

Kraven took a few steps back, the smug smile returning to his face. "And you thought no one was here. Stupid girl."

Selene clenched her fists at her sides. She anxiously glanced at Lily who was gaping at her with wide eyes. Turning back to the man she truly hated she sneered. "Alright you bloody bastard what do you want?"

Kraven flashed his teeth. "What do I want? Now that's a very interesting question. You see my dear." He came close to her again. She remained very still as he caressed her cheek with his fingers. "It's you I've always wanted."

"Kraven," Her voice warned him to stay away, but he was having far too much fun.

"But then I realized something." He backed away once more and opened his arms. "I only wanted you because you could give me what I desired most of all."

"And that is?" She questioned angrily.

"Power my dear, power. You were Viktor's daughter, I his right hand. Nothing would have sealed my position further than a bonding with you."

"I was never his daughter." She spoke through clenched teeth, hands fisting at her sides.

"Believe what you want." He sneered. "But you and I are both traitors now. Funny how that worked out didn't it? And I desire you for the same reason now as I did then. You are in a rather interesting position right now Selene."

He casually walked over to Lily and pulled the necklace out from beneath her sweatshirt. "This pretty little trinket and the lovely girl that wears it have put you in a position to take down Markus. Tell me Selene, what did you plan to do with the coven once you'd gained control?"

"What?" Selene's mind was moving quickly to keep up. "How do you know all this?"

Kraven snickered. "I have my ways. Now answer the question. What are you planning to do once Markus is out of the way?"

"I don't know." Selene answered truthfully. She hadn't thought further than getting the elder to sign a treaty.

"You see Selene that is exactly why you need me around. You're a warrior, not a bureaucrat. The simple things like running an entire coven don't come naturally to you."

She was tired of his insults. "Get to the point Kraven."

Kraven paced in front of his captive, hands clasped behind his back. "Ah yes, the point." He stopped pacing and stared directly at her. "I have a proposition for you."

Selene raged. "You want to make a deal? Fuck off Kraven."

Kraven shook his head. "You know, I was afraid you'd say that." He calmly walked over to Lily and punched her hard in the gut. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she dropped to her knees on the ground. She hollered through her gag and doubled over. After a minute she looked up at Kraven, eyes flaring with anger.

Kraven turned to Selene. "Shall we try this again?"

Selene looked at Lily, then to the many guns aimed in their direction. She sighed heavily. "Speak quickly." She warned.

Kraven smiled smugly. "Very well. Let me see if I have this correct. You plan to infiltrate the mansion by using the girl, then have her lead the death dealers to your disgusting lycan lair and trap them there in order to leave Markus defenseless. Is that correct?"

"That would be." Where the hell did he find all this out? She screamed inside herself, royally pissed at her situation.

Kraven nodded. "Good, but you underestimate the force of Markus's army. The covens have united. It is no longer just Ordoghaz vampires you'll be dealing with, but Amelia's as well. You are going to need help, more soldiers to storm the mansion with. I can give you those soldiers."

Selene's heart skipped. So the covens HAVE joined. That complicated things. Crossing her arms she spoke carefully. "Where do you plan to find this army? I can't imagine that the other covens have accepted you back into their graces, so where did this supposed army of yours come from?"

"I'm glad you asked. Look around you Selene. Meet the street vampires." He moved his hand, palm open to encompass the twenty or so men surrounding them. "And I have at least another two hundred back home."

"Street vampires?"

"That's right. They are the forgotten bloods, the discarded leftovers of shameless vampires who craved human blood and failed to clean up the mess. Necessity has made them quieter, faster, and more agile than any spoiled vampire of the coven. I stumbled into their group after you so graciously killed Viktor for me. The boys were nice enough to take me in, and being as they had no direction I gave them one."

Selene rolled her eyes. "Well Kraven you've certainly come a long way. From regent of the most powerful house in the country to leader of a renegade band of street thugs. Congratulations!"

Kraven's tone darkened. "Do not underestimate their skills. Centuries of living on the street have made their skin thick, and they are most adept at infantry."

"I find that hard to believe Kraven."

"They got past you didn't they?"

Selene paused. It was true. They had stolen Lily right out from under her nose. Perhaps he had a point. "So what's in it for you Kraven?"

"Simple. Once Markus is thrown out onto his elder ass I want control of Ordoghaz."

"I can't grant you that."

"Of course you can. I have it on good authority that you have quite the connection with the new lycanthrope alpha. Hum...let's see if I remember his name, Michael wasn't it?" Kraven smirked.

Selene glared at him. "You truly are a bloodsucking bastard."

"So nice of you to notice."

Selene took a deep breath. "I can't offer you the house, but I can offer immunity, and if you hold up to your end..." She paused, sickened by the fact that she was actually going to help him. "And if you keep your end of the deal I will request that you be given your own coven."

"Request isn't good enough Selene."

"I can't make a deal for the whole pack Kraven."

"You should try." He grinned maliciously. "We could ask Lily again. What do you think?" He made a move for the girl.

"Fine!" Selene roared. "I will demand that you be given your own place to run your own coven, but you'll have to answer to the regulations of our rules. I don't want another war as soon as this one is over, understood?"

Kraven bared his fangs in triumph. "Done." He said firmly, then untied Lily and removed her gag.

The moment that her hands were free Lily brought her palm up to meet Kraven's nose, dropping him hard to the floor as blood flowed forth from his nostrils.

"Ow!" He screamed.

"Take that you son of a bitch. Don't every fucking touch me again." She kicked him in the side then knelt down to leer in his face. "And I swear to God if you fuck this up for us it will be you who wears the gag next time."

Selene ran over to Lily and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Enough." She said angrily, but her face wore a strange smile.

Kraven looked up while still holding his bleeding nose. "She's definitely one of yours." He commented, then stood up.

Just then two vampires came bursting through the front door dragging a kicking and fighting Michael and Tyran.

"We found them snooping around boss. We know you said shoot, but it seemed more fun to catch them."

Kraven sighed heavily. "Doesn't anybody follow my orders around here?"

"Apparently not." Lily replied sarcastically.

"Shut up." Kraven mumbled.

"Michael?" Selene questioned the male before her.

"Hi honey." He smiled sweetly.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." His tone lost its playful quality.

"We followed you." Tyran spoke up. "We just wanted to make sure you were safe."

Selene rolled her eyes. "If I'd had wanted you to come, I'd have woken you!"

"Well how the hell should I know? It's not like I actually talk to you anymore. You're always busy doing something."

"So are you!" She roared. "This whole thing was your bright idea."

Kraven stepped between the two. "What's this? A lover's quarrel?"

Selene looked at him with death in her eyes.

"Hey, wait a second." Michael narrowed his eyes at the raven-haired man before him. "You're that asshole who shot me!" A growl escaped his throat and his eyes went ebony.

Selene grabbed his wrist quickly. "Michael, now is not the time. Kraven and I have an agreement..."

"What?" Angry, Michael used his strength to throw the vampire holding him against the wall.

Tyran's eyes widened. In his current form, he could not have done that. He decided to speak for Michael. Calmly he looked at Selene. "What kind of an agreement?"

Selene folded her arms across her chest. "One that I think could help us. Kraven has access to over two hundred rather skilled street vampires. He's offered to let us use them to help us take Ordoghaz."

Like a caged animal Michael paced furiously back and forth, trying with all his might not to rip Kraven's throat out. "What's does he want in return?" He turned to the dark haired vampire. "I know someone like you wouldn't do anything without some sort of personal benefit."

Kraven sneered. "Very observant for a bitch's cur."

Michael lunged. He caught Kraven by the throat and lifted him a good four feet off the ground. The vampire struggled and choked as Michael squeezed tighter. He didn't notice the vampires swarm around him, leveling their guns at him and his party.

"Michael?" Selene said softly as she neared him. His eyes were focused on his kill, but she ignored his signs of frenzy and gently placed her hand on his arm. "Come back to me Michael." Her voice was barely audible, but Michael's senses didn't need much.

Somewhere, in the lighter portions of his mind, Michael could hear her voice echo. It soothed him, as it always did, and he became more aware of what was actually happening. It took another moment to push the beast aside, but as his eyes became more focused he dropped Kraven to the floor. Kraven gagged and choked for air, but appeared unharmed other wise.

Michael took a stabilizing breath, then directed his stare downward at the vampire below his feet. "Get up." He growled.

Kraven's eyes burned with cold fire. His hatred seethed from every pore of his undead body. Rising slowly he kept eye contact with Michael the entire time.

"I want you to swear." Michael continued. He reached down and yanked the dagger that hung astutely from Kraven's side. He unsheathed it and ran the blade down the inside of his palm. Turning his hand over, he let the crimson droplets fall. "I want your oath that you will bring no harm to my pack and when this is over you will take your coven and disappear."

Selene's eyes widened. Does he understand what he's doing?

Kraven eyed Michael suspiciously. "The abomination wishes to enter a blood oath with me?"

"The vampire courses through my veins the same as it does yours." Michael turned the hilt of the dagger towards Kraven.

Kraven stared at it for a moment. He knew the oath had been issued as a challenge. To bind himself to the creature before him sickened him. "I guess it never occurred to you that you might actually have to bleed to pull of this little coup." Lucien's words came flooding back into his mind. He had not bled then, but he would now. He had no other choice. Angrily taking the dagger from Michael's hand he sliced his palm and let his own blood mix with Michael's on the floor. To his horror, Michael's blood swallowed his up like a vermin and absorbed it into his deadly combination of lycanthrope and vampire. He shivered inwardly.

"Done." Michael said loudly, then he looked Kraven directly in the eyes. "Now if you threaten my clan in anyway, I'll bite first and ask questions later."

"If you double cross me Michael, by oath I have right to your life."

"Then we understand each other." Michael turned to Selene, stared at her with empty eyes, and walked out the front door.

Kraven watched him leave then looked at Selene. "High strung bastard you have there."

Selene turned to him and got right in his face. "I'm warning you now, if you so much as think of touching him I will kill you. Blood oath or not, I will take enormous pleasure in staining the ground with every last drop of your blood."

"You threaten me for a Lycan?"

"Not a threat Kraven, a promise."

"Fine." He replied angrily. Snapping his fingers a rather tall, lanky looking boy with light ed hair and brown eyes stepped forward. "This is Mark. I'm sending him with you to discuss the specifics of our arrangement."

The boy tipped his head to Selene. "My Lady."

"He's polite for a vampire." Selene casually noted.

"Good upbringing." Kraven commented dryly. "I'll expect to hear from Mark tomorrow night. Good evening." He turned and headed back up the stairs, hands clasped regally behind his back. The rest of his horde followed him and left Tyran, Lily, and Selene in silence.

"Jesus." Selene let out a sigh of exasperation. "Could this shit get any more complicated?"

"War is always complicated." Tyran said easily.

"That's not what I was referring too." She glanced at the door Michael had hastily exited through.

Tyran smiled. "I know."

Selene looked to Lily. "Are you alright?"

Lily nodded. "I'm sorry you had to deal with him."

Selene shook her head. "I didn't make the deal because of you. We need the numbers. Storming the mansion won't be easy. We need all the help we can get, despite what Michael might think."

"He doesn't want to endanger any one else." Tyran said.

"I know that, but there is no room for ideals in war. You have to make sacrifices."

"And does sacrificing a personal relationship count?"

Selene glared at the wolf for a moment, then chose to ignore his question by turning to the vampire standing next to Lily. "I hope you're prepared for this boy, for you're about to enter the snakes pit.

"I thought it was a wolves den my lady?" Mark replied kindly.

She shook her head. "Cut that "my lady" crap out. Selene is fine." She walked past Tyran, avoiding his piercing gaze. "Let's get the hell out of here."

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Hey ya'll. I had wanted to get this chappy up by Friday, but once again I'm having internet problems. Now I'm at school. Things are getting desperate! For all those who have fic's I'm reading, if I don't review right away, it's just cause I couldn't get to them! But hopefully, things will be fixed soon. Anyways, you guys like this chapter. There will be more to come! Thanks as always for the support and encouragement! I'm a bit blocked right now, hoping it will go away very soon. You guys are awesome thank you!

The Lady Mage: Thank goodness someone noticed the sexual tension between the two! I was worried it might have been lost. I figure with all the stress the two have been going though, their dying! Thanks for the reviews! I'm sure to talk to you later.

Adalon Ithilriel: LOL! I can so imagine my little brother doing that! The things kids do, it's hilarious. It wasn't meant to be funny, but I'm glad it was. As always Adalon your reviews have made me smile. :) You know, you're the reason Flar keeps showing up. He wasn't that big to begin with, but since you like him so much, or hate him so much, I've made plans for him. Thanks again!

Morrgaine : Glad you liked the cliffy, and yeah I know the Selene/Michael thing wasn't a whole lot. But in the next chapter things split open between the two. I just have to get everyone in place first. Thanks for reviewing as always! Really keeps me writing. Thank you.

Redd : Smiles I totally forgot that your character's name was Lucas! Ha ha. But, mine really doesn't have a whole lot to do. He's just a name. ;) And if you want to know what Lily knows...keep reading! :) Thanks so much for reviewing. I would say I hope your editor stays off your back, but being as I want a post on your story I couldn't in my right mind beguile her the right to nag you. Plus, I'm a big sister. It's our right! :) Thanks again.

Azrael: Hello there and thanks for reviewing! You're right about the adam's apple thing! I didn't know that. See learn something new every day. But thank you for pointing it out. I don't take offense. My stuff is far from perfect and can always use suggestions. Thank you again!

Thiana : Your back! Woo! I have to go check out your story. Thanks for coming back to mine. Glad your enjoying it! Glad the humor is working too. I was worried. Thanks again for reviewing!

AngryTolkienPurist: Hello and welcome to my mad, mad, mad world. :) JK. Thank you for the review! I can't believe you plowed through the whole thing! Markus is a hybrid, but he hasn't told the coven about it. He's an abomination, and until he can give them reason to accept him he has to keep a secret. Don't worry, it will come out soon enough. ;) Anyways, thanks again for reading! Hope your dreams weren't' to ful! Or maybe that's a good thing? ;)

Thanks again guys! I'll try to post soon.