Selene kept her eyes closed tight. She didn't know what was happening to her. Everything was starting to feel different, and she was starting to forget stuff. Of course, it was just simple stuff that was easy to forget. Ever since she had woken up and Michael had been gone. She had been forgetting where she was momentarily.
She supposed it had something to do with the virus that once again had been injected into her system. The symtoms William had given her seemed to ring out in her head as she began to see if any of them had been related to the way she had been acting as of yesterday.
The pain was gone for the moment. She didn't feel like she had a small metallic figure swimming through her veins and burning her skin. She felt Michael shift beside her and she tilted her head towards him, cracking her eye open she saw that he was still asleep with one arm thrown over his head the other resting on his stomach.
He eyes drifted to the banadages on his chest and face. As if she had been hit with a wall she felt very sad and for the first time wanted to cry for the pain he must be in. The whole reason he was in pain was because of her anyways. He tried to catch, Vincent and it turned out to be almost like a massacre.
She couldn't believe the man's blood had eaten away at his skin. Hopefully they wouldn't have another run in with him any time soon though. When she had walked into William's office yesterday and saw him laying on the bed covered in blood and bruises, not to mention his bone and muscle showing through his skin, she thought he was dead. His eyes were closed and his breathing harsh. For the second time in her life she thought she was going to lose him. The feeling wasn't a good one.
As they had walked back up to the room she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Part of her wanted to yell at him and scream. She wanted him to know how stupid it was to chase after someone dangerous. She wanted to make sure he knew that she was worried for him. Though she had never told him anything and accepted his kisses and embraces, they had been missing the last couple of days, and she had missed the contact she had shared with him.
It was hard for her to admit to herself too. She wasn't used to touching, or to feeling the things that she had long ago forgot. Somehow she liked to think that he brought out the human in her. The other part of her thought that it just must be the effects of the virus, and that this time it would work. If it did, she wouldn't be around much longer.
She let out a deep sigh and opened her eyes all of the way. The room was still dark, no windows, thank God, and no candles, that must have blown out during their sleep. After her eyes quickly adjusted to the amount, or lack there of, light she stood up.
Her movements were graceful and slow, she didn't want to wake Michael who was still healing. Giving the only man she would ever really trust anymore one last glance she headed to the shower to wash away her thoughts and pain of her memories that came flooding back once again with a hit of a bullet.
Selene let the warm water flow over her cold skin as her eye brows furrowed in thought. She didn't really know why she was still here, with the lycans, she supposed it was for Michael. The steam filled the room and the warm air entered her lungs when she took a deep breath in, just to feel the warmth.
The small overhead light in the small room seemed to become dimmer as the steam covered over it like the sun and a cloud. It was funny, how she still remembered the sun and the clouds, maybe it was because of her memories. Whatever it was, she was glad for that memory, although it did make her resent Viktor just a bit more.
After washing her hair Selene stepped out of the shower and dried her wet raven hair with a fuzzy dark blue towel. She sighed into the towel as she dried her face, it was going to be a long day and she just had a feeling it wasn't going to end in their favor once again like it had in the past.
She looked in the mirror at her reflection, it was funny how the humans thought of a vampire, that they couldn't see their reflection. Dead or alive, human or immortal, you will always have a reflection, it was your way of knowing that your still there, and you still have to face everything, a reality wake up. If they only knew.
After slipping on a knew suit Selene walked out of the bathroom her wet hair still moist and damp as she shut the door behind her.
Michael was sitting back in one of the chairs in the corner of the room one of his hands up and placed on his chin as he held his eyes closed. Selene raised an eyebrow at him and watched him hoping that he didn't notice her come out of the bathroom yet.
He shifted dropping his hand and wincing as it came into contact with his bandaged stomach. His eyes snapped open and although he wasn't looking in her direction she already knew that he had sensed her. Acting calmly she walked over and sat down on the couch beside him.
Michael looked over at her and smiled as much as he could with his bandages on.
"Feel any better?" He asked her.
"I think I should be asking you that question."
"Yeah, bu-"
"No, your the one who was beat within an inch of your life." Selene said cutting him off and crossing her arms over her chest.
Michael looked at her for a second, "I was just trying to help you."
"By getting yourself killed?" She asked her voice raising.
"Yes, if that is what it takes." He told her his voice matching her's.
"Michael, why can't you see, that is what they want isn't it. They want you out of the way, then it will be no problem killing me or the lycans."
"I can see that Selene. That's why I am still here. I won't let them beat me, I can't lose you, or the clan."
"Then why do you keep letting your anger take over? You are doing the same thing I tried to teach you not to." She yelled at him.
Michael kept his mouth shut and adverted his gaze to the floor, "You're right." He agreed with her, "But, I can't just sit back while everything is just happening like this."
"Sometimes you have to let things happen in order to make your move. You can't rush everything, I know that now. When I..I hunted lycans, I always wanted to go back out and attack them in force. Most of the time, we would succeed, but that is because we had better weapons and more people. That doesn't mean we didn't lose some of our best in the process."
"Then what am I supposed to do? I was just thrown into this! I have no clue what is going on and everyone expects me to save them, to protect them! And look at what has happened, you've been attacked again. Luke and Drake are banged up, and I am barely hanging on! What kind of leader am I?" Michael yelled letting out the thoughts that had been running through his head since he had woke up.
Selene paused at first but then spoke, "You're the kind of leader that is trying his best. You have big shoes to fill and it is going to be hard. They don't expect you to be their hero, they expect you to be there for them and to help them out when they need it most. You are here to make decisions that they can't make on their own and would end up fighting until there were none of them left."
"Did I mention I have no clue what I am doing or why I am even still alive?" He asked her.
"Yeah, part of that."
Michael sighed, "I just don't want to lose you."
"You won't as long as you keep a clear head."
"That is sorta of hard you know!" His voiced raising even though he didn't mean for it to.
"Well you don't think it isn't hard for me? It might be harder!" She said letting some of her frustration out.
"I know it has to be hard for you, but you have been here a hell of a lot longer than I have! You have some clue as to how things work, you have had more practice at this than me! Your not entrusted with thousands of lives!"
"No, but I have taken thousands of lives! It isn't easy living with an old enemy who will probably kill me when I am not expecting it! I may have been alive a lot longer than you, but I was living a lie for the most part of my years! Don't tell me that it is harder for you! You aren't the one who has been injected once again with a virus that is fatal if it works!"
Michael went silent and his lips dropped to a frown. Selene closed her eyes and shifted her head away from him.
"You, you never told me, no one ever told me that it was fatal." He told her his voice cracking.
She turned her head towards him, "You mean you didn't know?"
"No, no one ever told me." Michael stood up and ignored the pain that followed with his sharp movements. "I have to find out why I was never told." He said starting to leave.
Selene stopped him and stood in front of him, "Maybe they thought you already knew."
Michael sighed, "I just don't get it. Why didn't they tell me?"
"They probably thought I would have told you." Selene told him not wanting to see anymore blood shed for awhile. She knew it would happen if Michael marched down to William and Drake.
Michael was silent, his eyes were glazed over as he spoke, "So, I could lose you over this stupid virus."
Selene listened to him, his voice was tight and he closed his eyes.
"Yes, I suppose you could."
Michael looked up at her and swallowed, "Now do you understand why I must stop Vincent? Why I am so irrational."
Selene took a moment before nodding. He wanted to save her, even when he didn't know. He knew that Vincent or the power he felt held some sort of answer. She didn't want him to have more of a reason to be irrational now. "Yes, I do, but you can't just go off and fight him for a cure Michael. I don't even know if the virus has worked yet."
He just stared at her his face blank but his eyes held a sad look in their depths. Selene stood still frozen to the spot and not able to move, "Michael..."
He took a step towards her brushed a strand of wet hair back out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear, "I'm sorry." He whispered.
Selene was about to open her mouth to speak but Michael cut her off by covering her lips with his own. His kiss was hungry and at the same time gentle. This was the contact Selene had been missing, and on instinct her arms came up and tangled themselves in his hair.
Waves of warmth flowed through her veins as they continued to kiss parting once in awhile to look at eachother before kissing again. Finally Michael pulled away, "I'm sorry."
Selene looked at him confused, she didn't know if he was sorry for kissing her, or sorry for something he hadn't mentioned yet.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Please forgive me."
"For what Michael?" She practically yelled.
"For having to do this."
Selene was about to answer but he kissed her once more distracting her long enough for him to use his hybrid speed and run out of the door and the room.
Confused but still fully aware of what happened Selene ran out after him tracking his scent that she could tell from a mile away.
The lycans were staring at her but she never paid them attention as she looked around trying to find any trace of Michael but seeming to have lost him. Quickly she ran to William's office the only place she knew where to go and the only other place that she felt welcome.
William fell out of his chair as she swung the door open. "What is it?" He asked alarmed as he stood up and fixed his glasses.
"Michael, I can't find him. We were talking and he left."
William gave her a confused look, "Do you know where he might have gone?"
"No, but we were talking about..my virus and we had been arguing and he told me he was sorry and he left. I think he went to find Vincent."
"So, I am suggesting he found out about the virus being fatal then."
She nodded, "And I am guessing he wanted to rip my head off?" She nodded again.
"Instead he is going for the next best thing." A voice from the doorway called and there stood Drake, "And he is taking over half of our best fighters with him. He is storming Marcus' mansion."
William muttered something under his breath and Selene remained silent.
"Where is he?" Selene commanded.
"Second floor down gathering troops as we speak. He doesn't know I am here so I can only take you part way before rejoining the rest of the group. I think you are the only who could stop him anyways Selene."
She nodded and Drake led her out of the door and down some stairs and hallways until they made it to the end of one longer hallway where it seemed darker than most. Drake stopped and so did Selene, voices were coming from around the corner of the hallway.
"This way." Drake whispered moving slower now towards the corner of the hallway, "I will distract most of the fighters while you talk to the Boss...or...err..Michael." He said correcting himself.
Selene nodded and Drake ran into the room first. He knocked into one of the bigger fighters and he shoved him back knocking him into another person. This continued until practically everyone in the room was shoving eachother. Selene took this as her chance and ran into the room and to Michael where he stood with his back turned as he talked to another lycan.
"Michael, stop!"
He turned around to face her, his gaze concerned and confused, but also determined.
"This is insane. You can't do this." She explained to him stopping directly in front of him.
"I have to do this Selene. Whatever is going on, I just know that Marcus is a part of it. I may not know him or how he works, but it seems to me that with how he has ordered his death dealers, that and the vampire I saw last night when we met up with Vincent, it just has to be him."
"Michael, listen to me. Marcus, this is what he wants, I have been around and I know Marcus. He is trying to get you to come to him, and he will be ready. Viktor was all about going in full force and coming out on top. Amelia was about the beauty and the rich life. Marcus, he is about tactics, he knows how people work, he knows how to push their buttons to get what he wants."
Michael hung his head but looked back up at her, "I have to do this, Selene. If this is what he wants then I will give it to him, but he won't win."
"You don't have to do this Michael. Just wait, have a good plan before taking your chances. You said asked me what kind of leader were you. Take a look yourself. You are putting their lifes out their, for what? An ounce of revenge that is surely will only lead to wanting more for the lives that were lost in the battle."
Michael sighed, "You know that I care for you more than anything in this whole world. It is not like I haven't made a rational choice here. This is about saving you, this is about them getting the revenge they have waited so long to taste."
"But now is not the time." Selene said interrupting him, "Not now, not today."
Michael glanced around the room most of the lycans had stopped fighting and were now looking at him, lost and confused looks on their faces. "I'm sorry, it looks as if this will have to wait for another day." He told them.
Selene watched their reactions some of them looked relieved while others were still itching to get revenge.
Drake gave her a thumbs up from the crowd and grinned before heading out of the room with the others. Michael looked over at her and started to walk out of the room himself, Selene followed him, glad that she had atleast put a hold on death for a day.
Instead of following most of the lycans back into the main room Michael walked back to the room he shared with Selene. Selene followed him, knowing that he must be mad about her stopping him from leaving and protecting her the only way he could think of.
She studied him closely as she walked a few steps behind him. His back muscles were tense as he began to climb the stairs. His posture was sort of hunched over and his fists clenched at his sides.
He stopped at the door and took a deep breath before opening it and walking in, letting Selene shut it as she came in after him. Michael took off his coat and layed it on the chair as he sat down. Selene leaned against the wall and watched him, her gaze flickering over his bandaged wounds for just a moment before returning to his bruised face that was already almost healed. Still thoughts of yesterday in her head.
"Go ahead, give me a lecture on how I am not being rational." He told her.
Selene rolled her eyes, "We do I need to lecture you when you already know it?"
He looked at her, "I know you want to say something though don't you. Something about how I was acting irrational and thick headed."
"No." She said bluntly.
"Huh?" He asked not sure if he had heard her correctly, which would be almost impossible with his enhanced hearing.
"I said no, I am not going to lecture you, and I have nothing to tell you."
Michael just stared at her, "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you seem to be sorry a lot today don't you? Your sorry for things that haven't even happened yet."
"No, I am sorry for what just... almost took place." He said shaking his head slightly.
"But it didn't, so there is no reason for you to really be sorry."
Michael dropped the subject then and just stared at her. She shifted a bit uncomfortable under his strong gaze but kept her eyes focused on him. Images of the past few days flashed through her mind as her eyes searched his. Things seemed to have really gotten out of hand and she felt as if she was in some warped reality.
A reality where you felt things you once could not. A place where everything was the opposite. The place that made you wonder what was real and what was fake.
Michael shifted in his chair and his fingers fumbled with the cloth that was covering his wound. Without much thought to what he was doing he ripped the bandage off revealing his partially covered wound. There was a small hole where you could still see blood and a part of one of his organs that was not covered all of the way. Selene stared at it but quickly turned her head away as he covered it up.
It was things like his wound that he had recieved that made her think of what they were really up against. What she was up against. This man's blood ate away at Michael's skin until it was missing. That same blood was injected into her veins. What would it do to her? There were so many possibilities, but the one that she seemed to think about the most was to idea of dying.
Sure the thought had crossed her mind, she had been a Death Dealer. She faced death every night for two decades it constantly crossed her mind as a lycan had jumped at her or as her ammo ran out. This was different somehow, this felt different. As if she knew that her abilities wouldn't help her now. Her instincts wouldn't get her out of the trouble she once faced.
Michael stood up then and Selene was knocked out of her thoughts.
"I'm gonna go visit William, you should come. He said he would test your blood today anyways."
Selene nodded still trying to shake the thoughts that had gathered in her mind. Michael walked out of the room and held the door open for Selene once she walked out he shut the door and walked down the stairs behind her heading towards William's office.
~*~
Drake stood on the corner of the street as cars zoomed by. His blonde hair waving in the wind as dark and heavy clouds covered the clear sky and the moon. People walked past him, not aware of what he was and really not caring at the moment.
He sniffed the air and turned to walk down a deserted alley. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his coat he kicked aside trash that layed thrown aimlessly. Bums alseep in their boxes as the night grew longer. If it had not been for their snoring or his sensitive hearing, he would have thought them to be empty and dead bodies.
The sound of a heart beating rang out in his ears like a deathly scream in an echoing room. He could feel his blood lust rise but pushed it back down, he wasn't in the mood to hunt or eat at the moment.
He felt a eerie tingle in the back of his neck as the wind stopped blowing for the minute. Instinctively his head snapped up towards the sky. Light engulfed the alley as the cloud moved away from the large moon. It was like he had been put on a spotlight, singled out.
Turning his attention back to the path that layed at his feet he continued walking. Tired of walking around like a human Drake jumped and climbed up the side of a small building until he reached the roof. A gust of wind which was powerfully strong attempted to blow him over.
Sighing and watching his breath in the cold night at Drake looked around. If there was one thing he hated more than having to lie, it would be lying even if it meant death to someone close to you. This was the first time it was happening to him, but in the past it had happened to many others. In any case, the secret he carried was what kept him alive for as long as he has been.
Nearing a small abandoned building he began to sense two strong powers. One made his senses tingle with confusion for the fact that it couldn't identify the powers true race. The other power however, was unmistakenly a hybrid. Not just any hybrid though, it was one with the strong scent of a vampire, and the feeling of one that is old.
He knew exactly who it was. Both of them. Marcus and Vincent. They were in it together, that is why Vincent believed they turned against Lucian. Marcus was brainwashing the biggest weapon in this underground war.
Suddenly the scent of the hybrid was gone, as if he had disappeared. Raising an eyebrow Drake decided that now would be the best time to confront Vincent and tell him the truth.
Drake stepped onto the edge of the building looking at the next building across the small deserted street where he could still sense Vincent. Just as he started to leap off the ledge something caught his foot and slammed him back down into the stone of the roof.
"Oww... what the fuck?" He asked holding his nose as he stood up. His stare was met with a pair of black cold eyes.
The beast within him began to take over at the appearance of the vampire elder and his coat dropped to the ground. His eyes turned black and his body changed to the state of a wolf. He let out a gutteral roar and the hybrid Marcus just smirked at him.
"Lost little Lycan..." He whispered.
Drake lunged at him his claws digging into Marcus' chest leaving trails of blood. Marcus fought back clawing Drake in the face and punching him until he fell to the ground.
Drake growled and opened his mouth as Marcus lowered his fist to punch him again, instead of getting the punch like he wanted, Marcus' fist was met with that of a lycan's sharp and deadly fangs. Drake bit down hard, his teeth using every muscle they could to lock his jaw in place the bones of Marcus' hand cracking slowly under his giant fangs.
Marcus let out a grunt of pain as he kicked at Drake who was in heaven tasting the blood of a hybrid elder. The copper taste burnt his throat as he drank from him fiercely.
Using his free hand Marcus punched Drake in the face and pushed him away. Drake let go of the death grip he had on Marcus' hand and stood up. An enraged Marcus punched and kicked and clawed at Drake until he was on his knees, blood pouring out of his wounds.
"You damn animal!" He spat looking at his remains of a hand.
Drake seemed to smile even in his lycan form but that was soon ended when Marcus drove his claws straight into Drake's abdomen. His control gave away and with a gasping breath he changed back into his human form. His eyes wide in shock and in pain and Marus turned his hand inside of Drake's stomach, twisting his organs and ripping at his insides.
Blood began to pour from Drake's ears, mouth, eyes, and nose as Marcus removed his hand and continued cutting and slicing at Drake.
Marcus stopped however, and looked down as Drake layed motionless on the ground. "No point in killing you, when you will be dead before the sun rises." Marcus changed back into his human formed and bent down, placing his hand on his knee he spoke to Drake, "Tell your leader, I will be waiting for him, him and his traitor of a lover. If you ever make it back that is. I don't want to ruin your fun so I will be on my way." Marcus then left a torn and broken Drake laying on the roof top.
Drake's eyes began to roll to the back of his head as he pushed himself up off the ground. Carefully he placed on his coat and walked over to the edge of the building. "Let's try this one more time." He told no one in particular.
He stood on the edge, his feet hanging over the ledge, his feet feeling the emptiness below him as he jumped down. Without the use of most of his senses or abilities, he fell to his knees as he landed and winced.
"That's going to leave a mark." He told himself rising to his feet once again and beginning to walk towards the den, a trail of blood following him.
He leaned against the wall of a building a few meters away from the den. He could barely breath and the blood loss made his skin pale and cold. His vision was beginning to blur as he held his hand over the hole caused by the vampire leader himself.
He looked at the entrance to the den and that was the last thing he remembered as everything went dark and as he lost all of his feelings.
'What a way to die...' He thought as his voice in his head faded even from him.
~*~
A/N: Wow, I got another chapter done. I know, it may seem confusing and some of the characters might seem..well out of character, but I had to in order to get pass this chapter. This chapter sets up the main plot for the later chapters. Also this is the longest chapter I have written thus far, even though it may not seem like it.
Now, no one get upset with what just took place...who am I kidding? I bet none of you ever saw that one coming. Anyways, questions? comments? I don't have much of a life so they keep my busy, and I love feed back. Its sorta like saying..."FEED ME!"..'feed me reviews' heh..i'm stupid and I'm gonna go now...to err...start on the next chapter! Bye.
She supposed it had something to do with the virus that once again had been injected into her system. The symtoms William had given her seemed to ring out in her head as she began to see if any of them had been related to the way she had been acting as of yesterday.
The pain was gone for the moment. She didn't feel like she had a small metallic figure swimming through her veins and burning her skin. She felt Michael shift beside her and she tilted her head towards him, cracking her eye open she saw that he was still asleep with one arm thrown over his head the other resting on his stomach.
He eyes drifted to the banadages on his chest and face. As if she had been hit with a wall she felt very sad and for the first time wanted to cry for the pain he must be in. The whole reason he was in pain was because of her anyways. He tried to catch, Vincent and it turned out to be almost like a massacre.
She couldn't believe the man's blood had eaten away at his skin. Hopefully they wouldn't have another run in with him any time soon though. When she had walked into William's office yesterday and saw him laying on the bed covered in blood and bruises, not to mention his bone and muscle showing through his skin, she thought he was dead. His eyes were closed and his breathing harsh. For the second time in her life she thought she was going to lose him. The feeling wasn't a good one.
As they had walked back up to the room she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Part of her wanted to yell at him and scream. She wanted him to know how stupid it was to chase after someone dangerous. She wanted to make sure he knew that she was worried for him. Though she had never told him anything and accepted his kisses and embraces, they had been missing the last couple of days, and she had missed the contact she had shared with him.
It was hard for her to admit to herself too. She wasn't used to touching, or to feeling the things that she had long ago forgot. Somehow she liked to think that he brought out the human in her. The other part of her thought that it just must be the effects of the virus, and that this time it would work. If it did, she wouldn't be around much longer.
She let out a deep sigh and opened her eyes all of the way. The room was still dark, no windows, thank God, and no candles, that must have blown out during their sleep. After her eyes quickly adjusted to the amount, or lack there of, light she stood up.
Her movements were graceful and slow, she didn't want to wake Michael who was still healing. Giving the only man she would ever really trust anymore one last glance she headed to the shower to wash away her thoughts and pain of her memories that came flooding back once again with a hit of a bullet.
Selene let the warm water flow over her cold skin as her eye brows furrowed in thought. She didn't really know why she was still here, with the lycans, she supposed it was for Michael. The steam filled the room and the warm air entered her lungs when she took a deep breath in, just to feel the warmth.
The small overhead light in the small room seemed to become dimmer as the steam covered over it like the sun and a cloud. It was funny, how she still remembered the sun and the clouds, maybe it was because of her memories. Whatever it was, she was glad for that memory, although it did make her resent Viktor just a bit more.
After washing her hair Selene stepped out of the shower and dried her wet raven hair with a fuzzy dark blue towel. She sighed into the towel as she dried her face, it was going to be a long day and she just had a feeling it wasn't going to end in their favor once again like it had in the past.
She looked in the mirror at her reflection, it was funny how the humans thought of a vampire, that they couldn't see their reflection. Dead or alive, human or immortal, you will always have a reflection, it was your way of knowing that your still there, and you still have to face everything, a reality wake up. If they only knew.
After slipping on a knew suit Selene walked out of the bathroom her wet hair still moist and damp as she shut the door behind her.
Michael was sitting back in one of the chairs in the corner of the room one of his hands up and placed on his chin as he held his eyes closed. Selene raised an eyebrow at him and watched him hoping that he didn't notice her come out of the bathroom yet.
He shifted dropping his hand and wincing as it came into contact with his bandaged stomach. His eyes snapped open and although he wasn't looking in her direction she already knew that he had sensed her. Acting calmly she walked over and sat down on the couch beside him.
Michael looked over at her and smiled as much as he could with his bandages on.
"Feel any better?" He asked her.
"I think I should be asking you that question."
"Yeah, bu-"
"No, your the one who was beat within an inch of your life." Selene said cutting him off and crossing her arms over her chest.
Michael looked at her for a second, "I was just trying to help you."
"By getting yourself killed?" She asked her voice raising.
"Yes, if that is what it takes." He told her his voice matching her's.
"Michael, why can't you see, that is what they want isn't it. They want you out of the way, then it will be no problem killing me or the lycans."
"I can see that Selene. That's why I am still here. I won't let them beat me, I can't lose you, or the clan."
"Then why do you keep letting your anger take over? You are doing the same thing I tried to teach you not to." She yelled at him.
Michael kept his mouth shut and adverted his gaze to the floor, "You're right." He agreed with her, "But, I can't just sit back while everything is just happening like this."
"Sometimes you have to let things happen in order to make your move. You can't rush everything, I know that now. When I..I hunted lycans, I always wanted to go back out and attack them in force. Most of the time, we would succeed, but that is because we had better weapons and more people. That doesn't mean we didn't lose some of our best in the process."
"Then what am I supposed to do? I was just thrown into this! I have no clue what is going on and everyone expects me to save them, to protect them! And look at what has happened, you've been attacked again. Luke and Drake are banged up, and I am barely hanging on! What kind of leader am I?" Michael yelled letting out the thoughts that had been running through his head since he had woke up.
Selene paused at first but then spoke, "You're the kind of leader that is trying his best. You have big shoes to fill and it is going to be hard. They don't expect you to be their hero, they expect you to be there for them and to help them out when they need it most. You are here to make decisions that they can't make on their own and would end up fighting until there were none of them left."
"Did I mention I have no clue what I am doing or why I am even still alive?" He asked her.
"Yeah, part of that."
Michael sighed, "I just don't want to lose you."
"You won't as long as you keep a clear head."
"That is sorta of hard you know!" His voiced raising even though he didn't mean for it to.
"Well you don't think it isn't hard for me? It might be harder!" She said letting some of her frustration out.
"I know it has to be hard for you, but you have been here a hell of a lot longer than I have! You have some clue as to how things work, you have had more practice at this than me! Your not entrusted with thousands of lives!"
"No, but I have taken thousands of lives! It isn't easy living with an old enemy who will probably kill me when I am not expecting it! I may have been alive a lot longer than you, but I was living a lie for the most part of my years! Don't tell me that it is harder for you! You aren't the one who has been injected once again with a virus that is fatal if it works!"
Michael went silent and his lips dropped to a frown. Selene closed her eyes and shifted her head away from him.
"You, you never told me, no one ever told me that it was fatal." He told her his voice cracking.
She turned her head towards him, "You mean you didn't know?"
"No, no one ever told me." Michael stood up and ignored the pain that followed with his sharp movements. "I have to find out why I was never told." He said starting to leave.
Selene stopped him and stood in front of him, "Maybe they thought you already knew."
Michael sighed, "I just don't get it. Why didn't they tell me?"
"They probably thought I would have told you." Selene told him not wanting to see anymore blood shed for awhile. She knew it would happen if Michael marched down to William and Drake.
Michael was silent, his eyes were glazed over as he spoke, "So, I could lose you over this stupid virus."
Selene listened to him, his voice was tight and he closed his eyes.
"Yes, I suppose you could."
Michael looked up at her and swallowed, "Now do you understand why I must stop Vincent? Why I am so irrational."
Selene took a moment before nodding. He wanted to save her, even when he didn't know. He knew that Vincent or the power he felt held some sort of answer. She didn't want him to have more of a reason to be irrational now. "Yes, I do, but you can't just go off and fight him for a cure Michael. I don't even know if the virus has worked yet."
He just stared at her his face blank but his eyes held a sad look in their depths. Selene stood still frozen to the spot and not able to move, "Michael..."
He took a step towards her brushed a strand of wet hair back out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear, "I'm sorry." He whispered.
Selene was about to open her mouth to speak but Michael cut her off by covering her lips with his own. His kiss was hungry and at the same time gentle. This was the contact Selene had been missing, and on instinct her arms came up and tangled themselves in his hair.
Waves of warmth flowed through her veins as they continued to kiss parting once in awhile to look at eachother before kissing again. Finally Michael pulled away, "I'm sorry."
Selene looked at him confused, she didn't know if he was sorry for kissing her, or sorry for something he hadn't mentioned yet.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Please forgive me."
"For what Michael?" She practically yelled.
"For having to do this."
Selene was about to answer but he kissed her once more distracting her long enough for him to use his hybrid speed and run out of the door and the room.
Confused but still fully aware of what happened Selene ran out after him tracking his scent that she could tell from a mile away.
The lycans were staring at her but she never paid them attention as she looked around trying to find any trace of Michael but seeming to have lost him. Quickly she ran to William's office the only place she knew where to go and the only other place that she felt welcome.
William fell out of his chair as she swung the door open. "What is it?" He asked alarmed as he stood up and fixed his glasses.
"Michael, I can't find him. We were talking and he left."
William gave her a confused look, "Do you know where he might have gone?"
"No, but we were talking about..my virus and we had been arguing and he told me he was sorry and he left. I think he went to find Vincent."
"So, I am suggesting he found out about the virus being fatal then."
She nodded, "And I am guessing he wanted to rip my head off?" She nodded again.
"Instead he is going for the next best thing." A voice from the doorway called and there stood Drake, "And he is taking over half of our best fighters with him. He is storming Marcus' mansion."
William muttered something under his breath and Selene remained silent.
"Where is he?" Selene commanded.
"Second floor down gathering troops as we speak. He doesn't know I am here so I can only take you part way before rejoining the rest of the group. I think you are the only who could stop him anyways Selene."
She nodded and Drake led her out of the door and down some stairs and hallways until they made it to the end of one longer hallway where it seemed darker than most. Drake stopped and so did Selene, voices were coming from around the corner of the hallway.
"This way." Drake whispered moving slower now towards the corner of the hallway, "I will distract most of the fighters while you talk to the Boss...or...err..Michael." He said correcting himself.
Selene nodded and Drake ran into the room first. He knocked into one of the bigger fighters and he shoved him back knocking him into another person. This continued until practically everyone in the room was shoving eachother. Selene took this as her chance and ran into the room and to Michael where he stood with his back turned as he talked to another lycan.
"Michael, stop!"
He turned around to face her, his gaze concerned and confused, but also determined.
"This is insane. You can't do this." She explained to him stopping directly in front of him.
"I have to do this Selene. Whatever is going on, I just know that Marcus is a part of it. I may not know him or how he works, but it seems to me that with how he has ordered his death dealers, that and the vampire I saw last night when we met up with Vincent, it just has to be him."
"Michael, listen to me. Marcus, this is what he wants, I have been around and I know Marcus. He is trying to get you to come to him, and he will be ready. Viktor was all about going in full force and coming out on top. Amelia was about the beauty and the rich life. Marcus, he is about tactics, he knows how people work, he knows how to push their buttons to get what he wants."
Michael hung his head but looked back up at her, "I have to do this, Selene. If this is what he wants then I will give it to him, but he won't win."
"You don't have to do this Michael. Just wait, have a good plan before taking your chances. You said asked me what kind of leader were you. Take a look yourself. You are putting their lifes out their, for what? An ounce of revenge that is surely will only lead to wanting more for the lives that were lost in the battle."
Michael sighed, "You know that I care for you more than anything in this whole world. It is not like I haven't made a rational choice here. This is about saving you, this is about them getting the revenge they have waited so long to taste."
"But now is not the time." Selene said interrupting him, "Not now, not today."
Michael glanced around the room most of the lycans had stopped fighting and were now looking at him, lost and confused looks on their faces. "I'm sorry, it looks as if this will have to wait for another day." He told them.
Selene watched their reactions some of them looked relieved while others were still itching to get revenge.
Drake gave her a thumbs up from the crowd and grinned before heading out of the room with the others. Michael looked over at her and started to walk out of the room himself, Selene followed him, glad that she had atleast put a hold on death for a day.
Instead of following most of the lycans back into the main room Michael walked back to the room he shared with Selene. Selene followed him, knowing that he must be mad about her stopping him from leaving and protecting her the only way he could think of.
She studied him closely as she walked a few steps behind him. His back muscles were tense as he began to climb the stairs. His posture was sort of hunched over and his fists clenched at his sides.
He stopped at the door and took a deep breath before opening it and walking in, letting Selene shut it as she came in after him. Michael took off his coat and layed it on the chair as he sat down. Selene leaned against the wall and watched him, her gaze flickering over his bandaged wounds for just a moment before returning to his bruised face that was already almost healed. Still thoughts of yesterday in her head.
"Go ahead, give me a lecture on how I am not being rational." He told her.
Selene rolled her eyes, "We do I need to lecture you when you already know it?"
He looked at her, "I know you want to say something though don't you. Something about how I was acting irrational and thick headed."
"No." She said bluntly.
"Huh?" He asked not sure if he had heard her correctly, which would be almost impossible with his enhanced hearing.
"I said no, I am not going to lecture you, and I have nothing to tell you."
Michael just stared at her, "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you seem to be sorry a lot today don't you? Your sorry for things that haven't even happened yet."
"No, I am sorry for what just... almost took place." He said shaking his head slightly.
"But it didn't, so there is no reason for you to really be sorry."
Michael dropped the subject then and just stared at her. She shifted a bit uncomfortable under his strong gaze but kept her eyes focused on him. Images of the past few days flashed through her mind as her eyes searched his. Things seemed to have really gotten out of hand and she felt as if she was in some warped reality.
A reality where you felt things you once could not. A place where everything was the opposite. The place that made you wonder what was real and what was fake.
Michael shifted in his chair and his fingers fumbled with the cloth that was covering his wound. Without much thought to what he was doing he ripped the bandage off revealing his partially covered wound. There was a small hole where you could still see blood and a part of one of his organs that was not covered all of the way. Selene stared at it but quickly turned her head away as he covered it up.
It was things like his wound that he had recieved that made her think of what they were really up against. What she was up against. This man's blood ate away at Michael's skin until it was missing. That same blood was injected into her veins. What would it do to her? There were so many possibilities, but the one that she seemed to think about the most was to idea of dying.
Sure the thought had crossed her mind, she had been a Death Dealer. She faced death every night for two decades it constantly crossed her mind as a lycan had jumped at her or as her ammo ran out. This was different somehow, this felt different. As if she knew that her abilities wouldn't help her now. Her instincts wouldn't get her out of the trouble she once faced.
Michael stood up then and Selene was knocked out of her thoughts.
"I'm gonna go visit William, you should come. He said he would test your blood today anyways."
Selene nodded still trying to shake the thoughts that had gathered in her mind. Michael walked out of the room and held the door open for Selene once she walked out he shut the door and walked down the stairs behind her heading towards William's office.
~*~
Drake stood on the corner of the street as cars zoomed by. His blonde hair waving in the wind as dark and heavy clouds covered the clear sky and the moon. People walked past him, not aware of what he was and really not caring at the moment.
He sniffed the air and turned to walk down a deserted alley. Shoving his hands in the pockets of his coat he kicked aside trash that layed thrown aimlessly. Bums alseep in their boxes as the night grew longer. If it had not been for their snoring or his sensitive hearing, he would have thought them to be empty and dead bodies.
The sound of a heart beating rang out in his ears like a deathly scream in an echoing room. He could feel his blood lust rise but pushed it back down, he wasn't in the mood to hunt or eat at the moment.
He felt a eerie tingle in the back of his neck as the wind stopped blowing for the minute. Instinctively his head snapped up towards the sky. Light engulfed the alley as the cloud moved away from the large moon. It was like he had been put on a spotlight, singled out.
Turning his attention back to the path that layed at his feet he continued walking. Tired of walking around like a human Drake jumped and climbed up the side of a small building until he reached the roof. A gust of wind which was powerfully strong attempted to blow him over.
Sighing and watching his breath in the cold night at Drake looked around. If there was one thing he hated more than having to lie, it would be lying even if it meant death to someone close to you. This was the first time it was happening to him, but in the past it had happened to many others. In any case, the secret he carried was what kept him alive for as long as he has been.
Nearing a small abandoned building he began to sense two strong powers. One made his senses tingle with confusion for the fact that it couldn't identify the powers true race. The other power however, was unmistakenly a hybrid. Not just any hybrid though, it was one with the strong scent of a vampire, and the feeling of one that is old.
He knew exactly who it was. Both of them. Marcus and Vincent. They were in it together, that is why Vincent believed they turned against Lucian. Marcus was brainwashing the biggest weapon in this underground war.
Suddenly the scent of the hybrid was gone, as if he had disappeared. Raising an eyebrow Drake decided that now would be the best time to confront Vincent and tell him the truth.
Drake stepped onto the edge of the building looking at the next building across the small deserted street where he could still sense Vincent. Just as he started to leap off the ledge something caught his foot and slammed him back down into the stone of the roof.
"Oww... what the fuck?" He asked holding his nose as he stood up. His stare was met with a pair of black cold eyes.
The beast within him began to take over at the appearance of the vampire elder and his coat dropped to the ground. His eyes turned black and his body changed to the state of a wolf. He let out a gutteral roar and the hybrid Marcus just smirked at him.
"Lost little Lycan..." He whispered.
Drake lunged at him his claws digging into Marcus' chest leaving trails of blood. Marcus fought back clawing Drake in the face and punching him until he fell to the ground.
Drake growled and opened his mouth as Marcus lowered his fist to punch him again, instead of getting the punch like he wanted, Marcus' fist was met with that of a lycan's sharp and deadly fangs. Drake bit down hard, his teeth using every muscle they could to lock his jaw in place the bones of Marcus' hand cracking slowly under his giant fangs.
Marcus let out a grunt of pain as he kicked at Drake who was in heaven tasting the blood of a hybrid elder. The copper taste burnt his throat as he drank from him fiercely.
Using his free hand Marcus punched Drake in the face and pushed him away. Drake let go of the death grip he had on Marcus' hand and stood up. An enraged Marcus punched and kicked and clawed at Drake until he was on his knees, blood pouring out of his wounds.
"You damn animal!" He spat looking at his remains of a hand.
Drake seemed to smile even in his lycan form but that was soon ended when Marcus drove his claws straight into Drake's abdomen. His control gave away and with a gasping breath he changed back into his human form. His eyes wide in shock and in pain and Marus turned his hand inside of Drake's stomach, twisting his organs and ripping at his insides.
Blood began to pour from Drake's ears, mouth, eyes, and nose as Marcus removed his hand and continued cutting and slicing at Drake.
Marcus stopped however, and looked down as Drake layed motionless on the ground. "No point in killing you, when you will be dead before the sun rises." Marcus changed back into his human formed and bent down, placing his hand on his knee he spoke to Drake, "Tell your leader, I will be waiting for him, him and his traitor of a lover. If you ever make it back that is. I don't want to ruin your fun so I will be on my way." Marcus then left a torn and broken Drake laying on the roof top.
Drake's eyes began to roll to the back of his head as he pushed himself up off the ground. Carefully he placed on his coat and walked over to the edge of the building. "Let's try this one more time." He told no one in particular.
He stood on the edge, his feet hanging over the ledge, his feet feeling the emptiness below him as he jumped down. Without the use of most of his senses or abilities, he fell to his knees as he landed and winced.
"That's going to leave a mark." He told himself rising to his feet once again and beginning to walk towards the den, a trail of blood following him.
He leaned against the wall of a building a few meters away from the den. He could barely breath and the blood loss made his skin pale and cold. His vision was beginning to blur as he held his hand over the hole caused by the vampire leader himself.
He looked at the entrance to the den and that was the last thing he remembered as everything went dark and as he lost all of his feelings.
'What a way to die...' He thought as his voice in his head faded even from him.
~*~
A/N: Wow, I got another chapter done. I know, it may seem confusing and some of the characters might seem..well out of character, but I had to in order to get pass this chapter. This chapter sets up the main plot for the later chapters. Also this is the longest chapter I have written thus far, even though it may not seem like it.
Now, no one get upset with what just took place...who am I kidding? I bet none of you ever saw that one coming. Anyways, questions? comments? I don't have much of a life so they keep my busy, and I love feed back. Its sorta like saying..."FEED ME!"..'feed me reviews' heh..i'm stupid and I'm gonna go now...to err...start on the next chapter! Bye.