Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

Chap. VII

When Ethan returned, he only found Selene standing by the window. Doesn't she ever rest? Michael was absent from the room, but Ethan could sense the hybrid boy in the next room. Hearing his breathing pattern, he found that Michael was asleep, although not soundly.

"Tension. Perhaps the most obvious thing in the air."

Selene didn't move, but that wasn't surprising. Ethan moved toward the window and stood on the opposite side of her.

"I apologize."

Ethan blinked at her words. Obviously, that was the absolute last thing he'd ever expect to hear from her. Selene was still staring out the window, but her gaze was now hard.

That must have been a hard thing to say, Selene.

"No apology necessary. You've obvious led a hard life. I can't expect you to trust me so soon, especially if I'm a lycan." Ethan took a short breath, "I guess if I were in your position, I'd be just as untrusting."

Selene didn't react once again and Ethan continued, looking at her, "I don't mean to pry, but are you two...?"

"No." she replied sharply.

Ethan wasn't surprised by the answer and continued, "No. I'm sorry for implying that. I just thought that..." Ethan stopped talking and Selene curved an eye to him.

"I've seen love before. How it can occur in the least possible situation, at the most unlikely of times. Kara and I met during a battle. She was from another pack and had come to join us. I saw her in battle and fell for her ever since."

Ethan's eyes stared out distantly, "I've been in love with her for so long, I've forgotten when it started. I love her still..."

His voice soon trailed and Selene found herself...actually feeling a swell of pity of the lycan. She knew that lycans mated for life and that the loss of a mate would normally drive a lycan crazy. It was the same with vampires, although they had a greater grasp of their emotions and their instincts were less driving as well.

But they were still there...

Ethan regained his composure, "I don't know what kind of life you led, but he has changed you, Selene. That much is clear." He turned to face her again and this time, his eyes connected with hers, "What you have to do now is understand. Understand him. Understand yourself. And understand your own feelings."

Selene wanted to turn away, but was unable to. What he said struck so many cords in her and yet seemed to tie them together. She hadn't had time to understand the things around. Everything in her life moved so fast recently and she was trying to make sense of it all. But she neglected to understand the very core of the problem itself. Why did she truly help Michael? What was it that she didn't want to admit to herself?

Ethan turned away and out the window once again, "Dawn is coming. You should get some rest."

For once, Selene didn't argue...

When Selene entered the room, she was surprised to find Michael still awake and sitting on the bed. His heart rate was strangely slow, but judging by the way he was staring off into space, she could see how he could have made that mistake. He seemed to be in deep thought. His head turned to her and Selene could see into his sad eyes.

"Do you hate me, Selene? Honestly."

Selene frowned, "Of course I don't..."

He cut her off, "You don't have to hide it. I would understand if you did. I show up and everything in your life suddenly turns upside-down. Don't worry. I'd be..."

Selene suddenly stepped forward and placed her fingers on his lip, preventing him from speaking any more. Michael was surprised by this act, but not half as surprised as Selene. Nevertheless, she did not take it back.

"Michael. Everything has been moving so fast for me. I just need time...to think and to sort things out." She moved her fingers away and her voice softened, "But I don't hate you. Understand that."

Michael simply stared at the dark beauty silently as her hands drifted away. Without realizing it, his hands shot up and took hold of them before they move away. Selene was shocked and it showed in her eyes. But she didn't pull away. Rather, her fingers traced around his and they connected in a loose embrace. Michael slowly lifted off the bed and stood before her, all the while keeping his eyes on hers. They continued like that for a while before they both looked away from each other, seeing the slow glow of the sun beginning to etch into the window. Michael moved to it and quickly pulled over the curtains, preventing it form coming in coming into the room. He then moved to the door, but not without passing Selene.

"I'll see you tonight."

After Michael left and closed the door behind him, he pulled up a chair and sat beside the door. Ethan, who was getting a chair of his own, noticed Michael's action and smiled.

"You really care about her, don't you?"

"Yes." he answered sheepishly.

Ethan's smile widened slightly, "I guess a part of you is lycan. I'm sure you are aware that before the war, we served as the vampire's guardians during the day."

Michael nodded, "Yes. Lucian told me that. He..." Michael's eyes narrowed in thought. "He would watch over Sonja when she slept during the day when she was with him."

Ethan grinned, "I told him he was hooked. That she had him on one heck of a leash. You know what he would say?"

Michael thought for a moment and then, "He hoped so. He never wanted to be more than a few away from her and...a leash would keep it that way."

Ethan nodded at the answer, "Back then, I didn't understand love. I didn't understand how much stronger it made him, even after she died."

Michael looked down at the floor and muttered out, "He still loved her. After all those years, all those centuries, he still loved her."

"I know."

Michael noted the sadness in his voice, "You love her still, huh? Kara, I mean."

He nodded solemnly, "You'd think that once a loved one is gone, the feelings would simmer away. But it doesn't. It stays in your heart and mind, growing stronger all the while."

"I had someone like that once before." Michael started. Ethan gave him a semi-strange look before asking.

"What happened?"

"She was killed in an accident." His eyes shifted direction, "I'd rather not get into it."

Michael remained quiet for a bit longer and then, "It was part of the reason why I gotten into medicine. I didn't want anyone else to experience something like that. In a way, she drove me."

Ethan chuckled a bit as he looked out the window once again, "Heh. Aren't we just the saddest creatures on the planet?" Smiles away, his gaze hardened, "Don't let that happen to Selene."

Michael gave a simple nod, but in his mind, it was already set.