Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

Chap. VIII

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The day passed and the familiar night emerged upon the three once again. In the room, Selene set her Barrettas in place on her belt and slipped on her dark coat. When she exited, she saw Michael sitting in the place he was before. His eyes looked tired, but the focus in them showed that he wasn't sleeping anytime soon.

"Don't try to stop me" she said before he could even utter a word.

Ethan, who was by the window again, decided to intervene, "Are you serious about going alone? The thought itself is dangerous."

Selene looked over to him, "I made a blood oath and I will keep it." She moved to the door, "If I'm not back within the hour, then I won't be back at all."

Michael suddenly jumped from his seat, knocking the chair to the ground, "Selene, you can't be serious about this. I can't just let you go off like this. Especially after saying that."

Selene turned her back, "I'm going alone and that's final. If I even remotely sense either of you there, I will kill you myself."

Ethan remained passive but Michael grabbed Selene's arm. Selene was surprised by his act, but again she kept it in herself. She slowly turned her head.

"Let me go."

Michael's brows tightened, "I can stop you, you know."

Selene turned fully to see Michael's eyes beginning to change. Darkness clouded the once soft brown irises and his grip tightened slightly. 'He's serious.' Selene noted. She simply stared at him and closed in. Despite the darkness, his face showed his confusion. Selene said nothing as her face drifted closer and finally her lips touched his. Michael hesitated at her act, but as her lips pressed more, he slowly and surely sunk into it. Ethan watched the scene with a knowing smile. Selene then moved away and Michael's eyes opened, now reverted back to his normal brown color. His eyes were dazed and dreamy as he gazed at the dark vampiress adoringly.

Unfortunately...

Selene suddenly arched her shoulder back and lashed a fist in his face. Michael was caught completely off guard by the blow and fell to the floor. Ethan watched; his smile still on his face, as Michael's body slid across the floor and under him.

"Ouch. Maybe that was a bit..."

A click caught his attention and when he looked up, Selene was pointing one of her guns at Ethan.

"Don't follow."

Ethan shrugged, "How can I? Somebody has to be here when he wakes up."

Selene frowned at his light-hearted behavior, but diverted her attention to Michael's now unconscious body.

"Tell him..." she said with a pained touch in her voice."Tell him that I'm sorry."

Ethan nodded and Selene stepped out of the apartment. When she left, Ethan knelt down to Michael.

"Come on, lover boy. Cinderella is escaping."

The city square. Within the mess of old buildings and towers sat one single low-level building. It looked abandoned and there were no lights on the outside, but there were some illumination within. Selene walked up to the gates of this building and strode up the wide stairs. She pushed the doors open and found herself in an empty chamber. It was wide and spacious, with candlelight flicking near the tall windows. Selene strode in the center and stopped, waiting for the host.

Then the shadows on the walls began to move and in moments, she was surrounded by Death Dealers. Selene watched then come forward, unsurprised by their appearance. She had seen them right after she entered the building. The leveled their guns on her, but Selene didn't move and waited for the one she had called for. One of the figures moved, revealing Victor, the Death Dealer from the night before. And next to him, a slightly taller figure strode forward. A male with medium length black hair and wearing a long coat that touched the ground and was arrayed with various symbols.

'Just like Viktor's. An Elder's garb.'

"Lord Marcus."

Selene knelt to the floor and bowed her head to the elder. Marcus' appearance was the youngest of the Elders, seeming to be only a year younger than Amelia. Because of this, he didn't appear as half as threatening as Viktor. But his eyes were a different story. Deep and in a dark shade of blue, his glance alone could make one feel fear, whether he invoked it or not.

"Selene."

Selene stood up and faced him. She hadn't known Marcus that well, although it was a bit better than Amelia. Marcus would mostly reign over from the second coven, occasionally remaining in Ordoghaz from time to time. And at that time, Selene was either being trained as a Death Dealer or out of frequent missions. And she had never really considered the other elders because of her devotion to Viktor. But now, she would have to.

He was the last.

"Much has happened and I hear you are at the core of it." he started darkly. "Two elders are now dead and I hear one was at your own hand. I have awakened into chaos and you are going to fix it by telling me what has transpired."

Selene tried to force herself to hold his gaze, but was unable to and looked downward. "Yes, must has happened and blood has been shed. And yes, I was the one that slew Viktor."

Marcus cocked his head slightly, "Viktor. As I recalled, he was the one who sired you. And like a disobedient child, you turned against him."

Selene's fists tightened, but Marcus continued, "But I also recall that you were his most devoted servant. So you will tell me why you, of all vampires, killed him."

Selene began slowly, "I did not want that to happen. But I had no choice."

"No choice?" Marcus stressed his coated back-lashing a bit. "What was so important that you would slay an Elder?"

Selene looked away again, not really knowing what to tell him. Should she tell them about Michael? He was at the heart of this after all. But by telling him, she would place him in a graver danger than he is now.

"I...I had discovered that he had killed my family. He fed off of them to satisfy his bloodlust, but he let me live."

Marcus nodded, "I see. So you have discovered the truth. And Viktor has paid the price."

Selene gasped, "You knew?"

Again he nodded and turned away to the side, "The Chain passes on the memories of the Elders. I knew about all that he had done. I don't always agree, but it wasn't my decision; wasn't my time to reign."

Selene took a cautious step forward, "But...if you knew this...why wasn't it brought before he others? Why wasn't he charged for the crime...?"

Marcus whirled, "You have your own crimes to answer for. You have aligned yourself with a lycan and broken the Covenant."

Selene stepped back. So it was too late. Michael was in danger regardless. But still...

"He is not a lycan. Not entirely."

Marcus blinked before he growled lightly and grasped his head. Selene looked at him strangely, but the ice blue eyes returned upon her.

"Half lycan, half vampire. But stronger than both."

Selene blinked in surprise. 'How did he know that?' The only ones that heard those words were herself and Viktor. Singe, the lycan scientist, had uttered those words before he died.

'How could Marcus know?'

Marcus continued, "Selene. You will be held at the mansion until this matter is settled. Many things still need to be resolved and the two covens must be brought into order before the damage becomes too great."

He gave a signal and two Death Dealers moved beside her. Marcus turned his back, "When this matter is settled, you will be judged accordingly."

Selene didn't even try to fight. She knew this would happen. It was a miracle in itself that he kept her alive, but Marcus was never known to be oppressive. At least, not that she knew. So Selene quietly let herself be escorted away.

"Selene..."

Michael's eyes rolled as he awoken from Selene's punch. As soon as he realized what happened, he shot up from the floor, ignoring the pain that was pounding on his skull.

"I'm afraid not."

Michael turned to see Ethan kneeling down from where he was laying just a few moments ago. In a second, Michael grabbed Ethan by his shirt and yanked him up off the ground.

"Where is she? Why did you let her go? TELL ME!"

Ethan managed to stay calm. Michael was just worried, not really angry. If he was angry enough, he would have started to change. But his eyes remained the same brown color.

"I don't know. But if we are going to find out, then you better let me go."

Michael slowly calmed down and released him. Ethan fixed his shirt and looked back at the blond hybrid.

"Michael, listen. Even though I'm a lycan, you've been around Selene the longest. That means you have a better bead on her scent."

Michael blinked, "Me?"

Ethan sighed, "Part of you is lycan, right? You should have that ability."

Michael gave an uncertain look. He had never really explored his full abilities aside from his strength and speed. But now he had to, for Selene's sake. He closed his eyes and focused on the air. Immediately, various scents filled the air. They were so intense that they actually formed images in his mind. He began searching those images, looking until he found the one he was looking for.

Selene…

His eyes snapped open, "Follow me."

'Selene. Whether you like it or not, I'm coming for you.'