CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: Torn Loyalties

Subway Tunnels

Lucian came striding through the main chamber, carrying Alex in his arms. Raze was following, but at a much slower pace.

"Michael, we need some assistance over here," Lucian called out. "Any unharmed lycans, start a search, Kraven has escaped", he said issuing out orders.

Michael and Selene were with the agents, waiting for Lucian, Raze, & Alexandra to come back. When Michael caught sight of the bloody mess in Lucian's arms he immediately stood up and began clearing an area on the floor for Alex.

"Selene, please get together the supplies we were using earlier," he asked as watched Lucian place Alex's unconscious form on the floor.

Alex's human friends hurried over, bringing their supplies as well. Lucian felt a slight stab of jealousy, as he watched Malcolm open a bottle of water and gently wash the blood off of Alex's face.

"What happened to her," Aaron asked, watching in concern.

"I'm not sure, I walked into the weapons chamber to find Alexandra covered in blood, Raze on the floor, and a human male dead on the floor," Lucian explained. Then flinched as he remembered Raze was injured as well. "Raze is hurt badly. I'll go get him and bring him back as well," he told Michael and the others.

He stood and turned just as Raze entered the room. Lucian walked over to him and gave him a supporting arm to lean on. Then the two of them made their way over to the makeshift clinic.

Michael looked came over to asses the lycans' injuries. Alex, has fainted, probably from too much blood loss. The humans are medics, they can take care of her," he assured Lucian. "Damn, how did you survive this?" he asked turning to Raze when he saw the three bullet holes and the bite mark on his neck.

Raze glanced down at Alex before looking back up at Lucian and Michael. "She bit me, then tore a wound on her arm so that I could feed from her," he explained, his voice growing stronger. "I'm not sure why she did it?" he admitted outloud.

"Because that is who she is", Aaron told them as he walked over. Turning to Lucian he asked, "You said you saw a human dead in the room?"

Lucian glanced briefly at the Council member then focused his attention back on Michael. "Yes, there was an older human male lying in a pool of blood on the floor in the training room," he said answering the man's question.

"So, she did kill him," Aaron mused more to himself than to the other men around him.

"No, she didn't," Raze informed him.

"What do you mean?" Aaron asked confused. "Did you kill him then?"

"The man shot me in the back with silver nitrate," Raze said in disgust. "I was hardly in the position to take him down. After Alex tried to heal me, Kraven and the human shot at her. She managed to avoid the bullet and pulled me to safety. Then she confronted them, trying to give me time to recuperate," he stopped explaining and grunted in pain, as Michael probed the bullet wound in his shoulder.

"Sorry about that," Michael told the big lycan. "But I need to clear these wounds of all silver. You may as well sit back and suck it up," he told them.

Raze grunted again, but sat still and let Michael take back up where he had left off.

"Please continue," Aaron urged.

Looking at Lucian, Raze resumed, "She turned the tables on the human. She made it sound as if he had set Kraven up. The vampire was ready to kill the man, when the human turned his gun on himself. He shot himself in the head."

Lucian glanced over to where Alexandra laid on the floor, surrounded by the agents and Selene. He watched as the Australian carefully stitched up the wound on her arm, while Selene tried to clean her up as much as possible. She groaned softly, as her eyes fluttered open. He watched as her eyes lit up when she saw Malcolm and the others.

"What the hell….," she said her voice trailing off as she attempted to sit up.

"No way", Daniel told her pushing her shoulders back to the ground. "You stay right there and let Mal finish," he said reprimanding her.

Alex reluctantly stayed on the floor, but looked around her. Seeing Selene she asked, "Is Lucian okay?"

Selene looked over her shoulder to catch Lucian watching them closely. Turning back to Alex she reassured the young woman's fears, "He's fine. See, he's over there talking with Michael, Raze and your friend Aaron," she said, nodding her head in their direction.

Alex turned her head and found Lucian studying her intently. She felt the warmth of his gaze and she felt a sharp tug in her lower region. She quickly looked him over, checking for any sign of injury. Seeing none, she finally returned her gaze to his face and smiled, relieved his was unharmed.

She saw the distant look in his eyes fade when she smiled at him. But the cold, arrogant look returned when Malcolm interrupted their moment.

"There luv, your as good as new," he promised her in a forced attempt at cheerfulness.

She broke eye contact with Lucian and looked at the sad countenances of her friends. She could see they were grieving for Jorge, but they seemed to be grieving for her as well. They felt as though they had lost two teammates.

"How did I end up here?" she asked.

"Your knight in shining armor came charging into the room carrying you, the damsel in distress", Daniel said, bitterness tingeing his voice.

Selene glared at the hotheaded Irishman. "You fainted," she informed Alex. "Lucian brought you in here for Michael to have a look at you."

Again, Alex turned to the group beside her, searching for Lucian. He was still watching her, concern etched in his intense features. He was worried about her, and that made her feel all tingly inside.

Then noticing Michael was working on Raze, she pulled herself to a sitting position. The room seemed to tilt for a moment before it righted itself again. She must have lost more blood than she initially thought. Shrugging off the slight dizziness, she was determined to stand on her own two feet.

Sensing her intentions, Lucian came over and offered her his hand. Surprised, Alex reached out and took it. He offered her his strength, without making it look like she had to use his support to get up. He knew she hated showing weakness of any kind, and she was grateful.

Looking up into his intense gaze, she spoke up. "What is it about you that makes me faint whenever you're around?"

Lucian offered her that lopsided grin she had come to adore. "It must be my animal magnetism," he responded.

She snorted, but smiled as well. "Watch out old guy, that may have been a joke you just made," she told him.

"Yes, well it must be the company I've been keeping of late", he said straight-faced. "They seem to be rubbing off on me."

"How's Raze?" she asked, all joking aside.

Lucian continued his appraisal of her: his eyes darting over her pale features, the now stitched wound in her arm, and the blood that still adorned her clothing. "Michael's working on him now," he finally answered. He reached out and brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen in her face.

Alex looked to the floor, Lucian's tenderness washing over her. Right then, she wanted nothing more than for him to wrap his arms around her and hold her. Then she felt his fingers gently tug on her chin and raise her eyes to meet his.

"Princess, are you sure you're okay," he asked softly.

"She'll be just fine," Malcolm interjected, again breaking up their moment. "She's managed to survive this long without your assistance, and she's endured much worse, I know," he informed Lucian tightly.

Lucian dropped his arm, releasing her from his gentle grasp. "Yes, Alexandra is an extraordinary woman. I'm beginning to think she only endures our company because she would hate to hurt our feelings," he said with a small smile, never taking his eyes off of hers.

"I'm not so sure of that, Alex has always enjoyed my company," Malcolm spouted off smugly.

Alex watched as Lucian's jaw tightened and his eyes hardened. Malcolm had stepped over the line, and Lucian seemed ready to put him in his place. The testosterone levels were rising.

"Okay, I hope you two are finished with this little pissing contest. We have other things to worry about," she admonished them.

Lucian and Malcolm glared at one another for a few more moments, before Lucian turned to Alex. "You're right, as usual. It is of no importance as to how much time you've spent with our Australian friend here. That's your business, not mine," he announced before he turned his back on her and went back to Raze's side.

"OH!!! Who the hell did he think he was?" Alex thought to herself. "Pigs!" she muttered under her breath.

Selene, who had stood close to Alex and watched the entire exchange, grinned at the curse. "I agree totally, men can be such a pain in the ass!" she confided to Alex. "I bet you'd feel better once you're cleaned up a bit," she said in a conspiratorial whisper.

Alex sighed, she would love to stand under a steady stream of hot water and let it wash away the blood that tainted her skin as well as the memories that tainted her thoughts. But she needed to report all that had happened to Aaron. And then from there, she had some major thinking to do.

"A shower sounds amazing," she said agreeing with the female vampire. "But I must speak with Aaron first."

"That's not necessary," her former mentor said as he made his way over to her. "Mr. Raze has been kind enough to inform me of all that took place in the chamber. If you want to get cleaned up, we can speak later," Aaron suggested.

"I always give my statement once an assignment is concluded," she said, her temper beginning to simmer. "I've found Michael Corvin and ferreted out the traitor. I believe my assignment has been completed. I want to make my report."

Aaron didn't want to have to do this; he wanted Alex to come back with them. It was time to make some changes within the Council, and she would be the best place to start. But, he saw the pull between her and Lucian. She would never admit it, but she needed to stay here.

Turning, a sad look on his face, he said, "Agent Douglas, due to uncontrollable circumstances, you are relieved of your duties. I need any and all Council issued weapons and gear you may have in your possession."

Alex stood there dumbfounded. For once in her life, she had absolutely nothing to say. Aaron had just fired her, and none too gently either. She felt tears burn in the back of her throat. Swallowing hard, she pushed down her pain and looked over at the other council agents. They seemed as surprised as she was.

Daniel was the first to react, "What in the hell are you doing?" he asked Aaron.

Standing firm, Aaron responded, "I'm letting her go."

"Why did we come here and fight, why did Jorge forfeit his life if not to bring Alex back with us?" Daniel asked confused and angry.

"Agent Garcia lost his life in the line of duty, do not tarnish his sacrifice by saying it was in vain," Aaron replied angrily. "We were here to find out who was selling to the lycans; we have done that and taken care of the individual as well. Our work here is done," he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

"Actually, Alex accomplished all that, not us", Malcolm reminded him.

"And I know I speak for the Council, when I say that we appreciate all Ms. Douglas has done to help the cause. But due to her current circumstances, it would be in everyone's best interest if she were to vacate her position," Aaron replied. "Gather up your things, we're going back to headquarters," he told the agents. Unable to look Alex in the eye, he turned to follow his men.

"Aaron, why are you doing this?" Alex asked quietly.

It was the quiet sadness in her voice that stopped him. Angry Alex he could ignore, but a hurt Alex made him want to cry. Not daring to look at her, he offered up his only explanation, "You belong here, I'm just not sure you realize that yet."

"Isn't that my decision to make?" she asked fiercely.

Sighing, Aaron suddenly felt 2oo years old. Alex was like a daughter to him; he couldn't turn his back on her, no matter how badly she needed him to. He threw her a quick glance over his shoulder and spoke briefly, "We're leaving tomorrow morning, 5:00 am. The plane is picking us up at the same private airstrip you arrived on." Then he moved away from her, going to help his team.

Alex watched her friends gather their things together; and when Sterling threw Jorge's body over his shoulder, she felt a tear trickle down her cheek. They left, without a word. She had felt a short moment of happiness when Aaron had given her the chance of going home. But her happiness was short lived, for she immediately felt a stab of despair at the thought of leaving.

Selene walked over to her and placed her hands on Alex's shoulders. "Let's get you cleaned up. Then, we can figure things out from there", the vampire promised her.

Alex let Selene steer her away from the men and down the corridor to Lucian's room, while her heart warred with her head as to which decision she should make.