Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Chap. XII

-0-

"Tell us everything, Selene."

Selene stood in the middle of the light within the darkness. Yet, she was unafraid and her cold exterior remained firm on her features. She briefly recalled when this whole affair started and began to tell the tale before the Elder and the others.

"It started several days ago. I and two other Death Dealers were out on patrol when we spotted a pair of lycans on the street. We tracked them into a subway station and they opened fire on us."

"In the midst of mortals?"

Selene nodded in affirmation, "I didn't know it at the time, but they were tracking a human named Michael Corvin. When I discovered this, I went in search for him only to be attacked when the lycans were searching for him as well. Somewhere along those lines, he was bitten by Lucian himself, but I didn't realize it until later. I brought him here in Ordoghaz to recover, but he escaped and ran away."

"So you unknowingly brought a lycan here." Marcus replied stoically. "Continue."

"After he left, Kraven was...upset at me. I felt that something was wrong with everything. I had told Kraven that there was a possibility that there was a lycan den underneath Budapest, but he ignored me. That made me more suspicious and I went into the library to test a theory. I had found..."

She was cut off, "You know well that it is forbidden to do what you have done."

"I had to be sure." he half-pleaded. "And that when I found out that the lycan that attacked me was Lucian. I felt powerless to do anything so I did the only thing I could think of. I revived Viktor."

Marcus's eyes went solid, "You have broken the Chain simply because you felt afraid?"

Selene's voice lowered somewhat, "Yes. If what I thought was true, then the entire coven could have been in danger. I did what I thought was best knowing and accepting the consequences."

Marcus seemed to nod at her last words, "Continue."

"Viktor awoke at the same time that Michael returned here looking for me. His transformation was beginning to affect him and he wanted to know what was happening to him. I went out and took him away."

Marcus tilted his head slightly, "You knew he was a lycan, so why did you even let him live that long?"

Selene hesitated, "I...I had to know why the lycans wanted him." She forced herself to focus, "I felt there was something more to this. I stored him away and then returned to Viktor."

"And?"

"He didn't believe what I had told him. He was infuriated by my breaking of the Chain. He had me restrained."

The youthful face of the vampire Elder shifted into momentary amusement, "But you escaped, I imagine."

"Yes. The power had gone out and I used the diversion to escape to go to Michael. But I was followed and Michael was captured by the lycans. But in the fight, I captured a lycan scientist and discovered why they wanted him. Michael had a quality in his DNA that allows him to be able to take on the traits of both vampire and lycan. That was what Lucian wanted, but I do not know why."

"And the scientist was killed later." Marcus added.

"By Viktor." Selene answered, nodding. "He revealed a plan of the assassination of Amelia and he paid the price with his life."

Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly, much to the notice of Selene. She had hit a cord, she knew. But before she could think more about, the Elder beckoned her to continue.

"Go on."

"Myself, Viktor and a group of Death Dealers went to the lycans den to destroy them. And I was to destroy Michael as well."

"But you didn't." he pressed. "You found him, but didn't kill him."

"Yes." she answered softly.

"What happened during the battle?"

"Lucian was killed by Kraven and Viktor arrived to kill Michael. But Michael had revealed to me the truth about the war and how it was started by Viktor. How Viktor's hatred of Lucian because he was with Sonja, his daughter started his rebellion and the war."

Many of the vampires watching from the shadows began to yell in anger at her accusation. But Marcus held up his hand and they all silenced. Looking back at Selene...

"You believed Michael over Viktor?"

Selene frowned slightly. She didn't like the way this was going. Many of Marcus's questions gave the sense that this was more of an inquiry than a trial. So far, she had sidestepped some of the questions. They weren't lies, but they weren't the absolute truth either.

To Marcus...and herself.

"He had no reason to lie." she answered. "And Viktor admitted it himself."

Marcus's gaze hardened further, "Even so, why did you turn against him? That reason alone shouldn't have been enough to sway you to kill him."

Selene blinked this time. Marcus already knew the answer to that, so why ask her? Such knowledge could possibly backlash against him. But she was in no position not to answer.

"I also discovered that he had murdered my family. He could have killed me, but I reminded him of his lost daughter. So instead, he turned me and told me that lycans had killed them."

Marcus sighed, "He made you his instrument and you went gladly."

"Yes."

Marcus gave an 'hm' and asked, "Tell me, how is it that you killed him? You're certainly not strong enough to kill an elder in a straight battle."

Selene hesitated again, but not as long as before. "Michael changed. He transformed into a hybrid and fought him. I joined him and that was how he was killed. I slew him with his own sword."

"So you came to Michael's, a hybrid's, rescue."

"Yes."

"Why?"

This is what she feared. That Marcus would ask the question that she still has yet to answer to herself. Her feelings for Michael were still hazy at best. She was so unsure. Her silence must have gone on for awhile because the Elder's eyes were beginning to become solid. She had to give an answer now.

"I...I...I care for him."

"So you defied everything you believed, everything that you have been taught, for him?" he said with a sneer.

"Everything I had been taught was a lie." she countered.

Marcus's eyes changed blue, showing that he was losing patience, "You didn't answer the question."

"Yes. I did." she replied firmly.

Silence ensued for awhile and Marcus's eyes shifted to normal once again. Nodding, "That will be all." He then waved his hand, "Take her away while we decide."

The Death Dealers moved beside her and Selene turned to walk out of the darkened room. Yet while she did, she couldn't help, but wonder about something. Something that was amiss. The Elder's eyes had changed. But for a brief moment, they weren't blue.

They were black...

"This is it?"

Michael, Ethan, Zhan, Sisera and two other lycans were crouched in the trees outside Ordoghaz. But they were in such a distance that they couldn't really see anything clearly.

"This is as close as we can get without being detected." Zhan explained. "We had a van, but it was lost awhile ago."

Ethan frowned slightly, "Great. I guess this will be harder than... Michael?"

He saw Michael arising from his position on the ground. 'Michael, you gave me your word.' But the hybrid turned to look at Ethan with reassurance.

"I...I know a way."

"What do you mean?" Sisera asked

"I...just know." He looked back at the building in the distance. "Like I've...been here before. Like I know the place."

A sudden realization hit Ethan immediately. 'Selene.' Of course, her bite had the same results as Lucian's. The lycan wanted to slap himself. Despite Michael being a hybrid, he seemed to view him as more lycan than vampire. Something he should have considered a lot earlier. 'But wait. But why is he recalling it now?'

"Michael, are you sure?"

Michael nodded with certainty, "Yes. But I have to move fast."

Ethan nodded and stood up himself, "I'll go with you. The rest of you will stay here."

Zhan growled instantly, "Who do you think...?"

"Quiet, Zhan." Sisera's sharp voice cut him off. "He's right. We shouldn't risk the pack."

Ethan nodded to her and ran off with Michael, who was well ahead of him.

Mansion

Selene had taken her usual position by the window. The trial as it is called had revealed little to her and left her with more questions. Mostly about Marcus's line of questioning. 'Was he trying to force it out of me?' It. That would be the big question, isn't it Selene? 'It', being her feelings for Michael. Her blatant denials so far have only caused more trouble for her and kept her from thinking straight. This couldn't keep up. She had to face it now. Unfortunately, her resolve was shortened when the door opened and the vampire Elder strode in. That was most unusual. Normally, she was supposed to be brought to Marcus, not the other way around. The door closed behind the youthful looking Elder and he kept his focus on Selene, who stood rigidly before him.

"You held out, Selene." he stated. "Withholding information does not and will not help you."

"My lord..."

Marcus cut her off, "I have no wish to see you destroyed. In fact, I believe that you may have done us all a favor by slaying Viktor."

Selene blinked in complete surprise, but Marcus continued despite that, "But as you said, there are consequences for such an act. Now, as I said before, you are withholding information."

"My lord, if I may." she started quietly. Her eyes lowered to the floor, but her voice was firm, "So are you."

She almost expected for him to react violently for asking such a question. But rather, he took it and countered, "What information I withhold in not your concern." Her eyes arose, "Even as a hybrid yourself?"

Marcus wasn't surprised. He had given away enough hints, he knew. Plus, his scent must have been more than enough evidence, although she couldn't place it earlier. All she needed was time.

"Yes. Especially as a hybrid."

"The doctor...his blood somehow reached you when Viktor killed him." she reasoned.

His eyes darkened as he walked past her and toward the window. "You have no idea what it's like to awaken like that. Confusion, primal instincts, new senses, unbridled rage. I was fortunate to gain control before any of the others could come." He turned to Selene and his eyes began to blacken, "But my change is different than the change of my kinsman, isn't it Selene?"

Selene found herself backing away as the darkness clouded out the Elder's eyes. Fear unexpectedly gripped her as she looked into Marcus's dark eyes. There was no reflection, no light, nothing. Just pitch-black darkness.

"I...don't..."

"I was reborn by accident. But not Michael." He drew closer to her and Selene backed away further until her back hit the wall. Fear had seized her and try as she might, she couldn't fight it.

"I spared you from the eyes of the council, but you will now talk to me and answer. I know that is was your bite that changed him. Why did you spare Michael? Why did you let him live? Why did you save him from you sire?"

Selene was totally paralyzed against the wall, but she heard every word. But what would she say? What should she say? The dark eyes bore into her very soul, threatening to swallow her. But suddenly, Marcus blinked and his eyes returned to their normal state. He turned his head to the window.

"He's coming."