Marcus' now inanimate face had a permanent look of surprise where it sat across the room from his body. The last thing he would ever remember seeing was his own body, too far away to hope that the severed nerve center could reattach itself. In an instant, Michael was cradling Selene like a child, supporting her head. Her breath was shallow, and the coughing up of blood was a sure sign something internal had been damaged. Without a second thought, he slashed his wrist with an elongated nail, letting the blood drip on the luscious curve of her upper lip. It trickled between her white teeth and into the cavern of her throat. Sputtering, Selene began to convulse violently. Her normally dark eyes went their Vampiric ice blue, then a very deep shade of violet. because she had been a Vampire for so long, the color of her skin became milk white, slender fingers flexing as the work of a new change settled over her body. Her rib cage expanded, her breath came in a cough as her teeth sharpened to menacing spikes, then faded back to normal. Although she was not awake, her breath had evened into a smoother pattern, her pulse quieted, and she was Selene again, a porcelain doll in Michael's arms. He lifted her gently over one shoulder, picked up the sword, and began his ascent of the stairs. The Coven moved aside like butterflies in a gale, bending knee to Michael. He eyed them with only fleeting interest. His goal was to get her up the stairs to a room where she would be able to rest and recover. It was as he was halfway up the second flight of stairs when the Death Dealers returned from their false mission. Erika was in an extremely foul mood, ready to take Xanatos down to the lab and disembowel him for the liar he was. All she could do was stare open-mouthed at the mixed court of Vampires and Lycans bending knee to the couple. In an instant, her team was surrounded and subsequently locked below in the stocks. For Michael, the world contained only Selene. But for Raze and Xanatos, it meant a forging of a treaty, or a return to bloodshed. They approached one another in front of the entire assembly. "For your loyalty, you have ours," Xanatos said. No one made even a slight move to interfere, they were too in shock.
"We will live as equals, ruled only by Michael's direct descendants. A united Underworld, a kingdom of all creatures of the Night will be forged." The pair clasped hands with one another with a measured amount of respect.
"We wait for Michael to tell us what will happen," Xanatos ordered. "There will be no fighting. I suggest you all get some rest."
The room was spinning slowly into focus. Selene opened her slanted hazel eyes with the care one has when seeing the world for the first time in a few days. Her eyelids flickered as Michael's face came into focus. "There you are," she said gently.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked her intently. It was a question she knew she was going to have to answer eventually.
"It would have clouded your judgment even further," she said miserably. "I wanted to, but..." Michael silenced her with a kiss.
"I want you to marry me," he said firmly. "I'll need your help. Raze and Xanatos forged an alliance between the species. The Immortals are united. I can't rule a kingdom like this alone."
"And I can't live without you," Selene answered. "The late mornings, the feeding the crying..." Michael smiled. "All right, I'll marry you," she finished, exasperated. They shared one long kiss, and that, as they say, was all.
Selene speaks: It all seems such a happy ending. And for Michael and myself, with our hopes for the future, it was. But the old enmity was still not forgotten, and it would take many years and much patience to realize a unified Underworld. Michael grew into a wise leader. He named Raze and Xanatos his counsel and gave them the rule of their own kind. Our son, Eric, the first true-born Hybrid, was named heir to the throne and started his grooming as King. I watched my son grow from a curious boy into a young man with much sadness. We often make sacrifices for a greater cause, and mine as a parent was greater than most. The Corvin line had secured its successor. When Eric came of age, Michael abdicated and left Eric in control of things. We decided to make a family outside the political circle, and so, with a heartfelt goodbye, Michael and I left the mansion and the city and built a house in the countryside of Wales. There, our daughter, Elise was born, and we strove to be a real family. Away from the Immortal Coven. Away from the bad memories. It's a pity that in the long road of immortality, life has a way of breaking even the most perfect of peaces...
A/N: Sorry it's over! It's sure been fun. But keep checking back, as I plan to start a new one soon. Thanks to EVERYONE. Reviews are most appreciated! :)