Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap.XIX

Marcus had regrouped the covens in the council hall. He had been contemplating this all day and night, but he still didn't feel any better about this now than he did before. Still it had to be done. 'No more secrets.' Gazing at the crowd, he saw that Octavia was absent. It caused him to feel good at first. Octavia wasn't exactly the best person for him to be around. But it was because of this that suspicions soon set in his mind. She should have been there. He called for everyone. Everyone had to know of the decisions he had to make. For them to have a continued future, this must happen. Even if it cost him…Ignoring Octavia's absence, Marcus began to address the council.

"The time has come to address issues that I hope to resolve soon. I have weighed the implications of what has occurred these past couple of days as well as the future of our two covens." He stopped and took a breath, "But first…"

"First, you will reveal yourself, abomination!"

Marcus's eyes widened as he and the entire assembly turned to the entrance. From there strode in Octavia, flanked by Lucas and a couple of armed Death Dealers

"Octavia. Explain yourself now."

"Why don't you, Marcus?" she spat at him accusingly. "Why don't you reveal what you really are? That's right. I know what you are now." She turned to look at the stunned crowd around them and continued, "Marcus is no longer a vampire. He is a lycan hybrid! An abomination! You will not find the truth in this creature."

The Elder practically roared, "Octavia…!"

The anger and rage he felt at that moment had broken through the fragile control he had over his hybrid psyche. Before he knew it, the striking blue eyes of the Elder had darkened and became as black as night. Octavia saw this and reacted quickly by pointing at him

"See!" she screeched. "See his eyes!"

The others surrounding them all saw this and Marcus saw too late his error. His eyes closed and when they opened, they were as they were before. Addressing the crowd…

"It is true. I have been changed during my…"

Octavia cut him off, "See, he admits it! He can not be our elder. He is not even a true vampire!"

The fury began to return again, but he kept it in check this time. Barely…

"Octavia, I warn you…"

"You will do nothing, creature."

This caused Marcus's fury to drop and the others to gasp at the voice. Emerging from the shadows behind Octavia came a handsome, dark-haired man. His features were handsome and his eyes literally had dark intentions behind them.

"Kraven."

Kraven strode out in the center just before the council and addressed the council himself, "People, despite what you have heard, I am not your enemy." Pointing at Marcus, "He is. Everything that has happened has been according to his designs. I managed to discover this plot and barely escaped with my life."

"How dare you…!"

"Silence freak! You do not belong here." Waving his arm, the aristocratic vampire motioned for the Death Dealers. "Take him away until we can decide how to dispose of it." Kraven ordered.

Marcus looked at the group surrounding him. As an Elder, both he and they knew that they didn't stand a chance against him. And those few survivors who had seen Michael in action knew that Marcus could literally crush them all. But that wouldn't do anything except turn the people against him further. 'They were probably counting on that.' There was an elaborate deception here that's for certain. And it came from those two. He had to uncover the veil they set over themselves and reveal them for what they really were. And if that meant surrendering to them, then so be it.

"Don't make this hard on yourself." Octavia snickered.

Marcus simply resigned to their capture and they lead him away. But not before giving her one final glance. But it wasn't through vampire eyes. It was through hybrids.

'It will be hard on you, I promise.'

Michael stood outside of the medical ward, unmoving and not even breathing a sound. Every now and again, his hand would clench and unclench, but nothing else beyond that. Ethan stepped out to see this and felt a great swell of pity for the hybrid. His body was bandaged from the wounds inflicted by Zhan, but nothing he felt now could even compare with the agony Michael felt. He couldn't imagine how he felt right now. Or…perhaps he could.

"I…killed her."

Ethan looked intently at Michael as he whispered those word and more, "I should have…shouldn't have…I…"

Ethan moved directly in front of him, "Michael, don't. There was no way you could have known this would happen. You will not blame yourself or second guess things now."

"You don't understand. I should have known. Selene once told me…a bite on a vampire by a lycan or vice versa would be fatal. I'm a hybrid." He shook his head in despair, "I should have…"

"Michael, did you initiate it or did Selene?"

Michael's head snapped up in surprise and finally met Ethan's glance. It wasn't a question he expected and certain not one he felt comfortable answering. But despite this, he lowered his head and responded softly.

"I did."

"Did you force yourself on her?"

A slight frown grew at the thought of that, "No."

"I didn't think so. She knew this more than anything. His voice softened, "…yet she risked it for one moment with you."

The words entered his head, but it didn't comfort him in the slightest. But Ethan continued.

"She's not dead. We don't know what is happening to her, but as far as we know, she is still alive." He placed his hands on the hybrid's shoulders, "Don't go feeling sorry for yourself. Especially now."

Michael slowly raised his head once again and this time, it remained up. Ethan gave a reassuring nod to which Michael returned. Whispering…

"Can…I see her?"

"She's still unconscious, but yes."

Michael grabbed the handle of the knob, but it took him another minute to turn it and enter in. There on the bed lay the dark vampiress. Her eyes were lid shut as if she was asleep and she remained immobile. Her neck still bore the sprayed black mark that surrounded the now sealed bite. But in that, Michael saw the truth of Ethan's words. If she was able to heal, then she must still be alive. 'Then why isn't she awake?' Michael berated mentally. Sounds of commotion could be heard, causing Ethan to turn. He knew that Sisera was mobilizing the pack in order to get them out of there. But where to? That's another question. Ethan himself didn't know, but he realized that he would have to figure that out later. The scouts that had been sent to Ordoghaz have reported no activity whatsoever. They didn't know what that means, but they weren't going to waste the opportunity to escape. Looking back at Michael, he saw that he was kneeling down beside the bed with his hands enclosed around hers. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that Michael wasn't going to go or do anything without her.

"We'll find a way to move her along with us."

"I'll stay here." Michael stated simply.

"I know." Ethan replied. Turning his head, he looked out on the moving groups. With a sigh of conviction, he said, "Leave everything to me."

Ethan stepped out to do what he had to do. What that was, he couldn't say. But the time had come for him…to lead.

"Thank you…for everything." Michael said softly. Ethan heard it and replied.

"Don't thank me yet. This night has only just begun." He gave a thin smile, "But you're welcome."

A half an hour after their invasion into the council, Octavia and Kraven rejoined in her private room. Everyone was still confused as to what was going on and as a result of that, no one questioned them or anything else for that matter. A void had been left within the covens and these two were going to fill it.

"I must say this worked out a lot better than I could have imagined." the vampiress jested. "Not one person spoke out against us."

"They're simple fools, as oblivious as the humans are now." Kraven added. He was now cloaked in the robes of an elder. "Which is all the better. Now for the final phase of the plan."

The lycans?" Octavia muttered.

"I've been tracking their movements after that night. I barely managed to escape Viktor's wrath, but I have to thank Selene for doing the job for me. And she made good bait for that creature and his brethren. They came for her and that lycan went on a rampage. Foolish animal. He would have been killed if not for me." He held up a small mechanical device, "And thanks to the transmitter I tagged him with, I know exactly where they are."

Octavia blinked lightly, "You are going to lead them yourself? That doesn't sound like you."

"A worthy elder needs to be able to lead." he smiled. "And I plan on going out there to finish things between me and…Michael." He said that name like a curse and Octavia took quick note of it.

"You mean the one with Selene?" She smiled darkly, "Vindictive, aren't you?"

"I want to make sure my queen is brought back here." he shot back. "And he will be the perfect scapegoat. I'll kill him and the other lycans and that will make us perfect to be the new elders of the covens."

Octavia mused aloud, "A coven for each of us, then."

This time, it was Kraven who blinked at her. "And here I thought you just wanted to see Marcus suffer."

"I do. But this is an added bonus. We will each get what we want. We both get to see our enemies die and reign unquestioned among the great covens."

The door creaked slightly, causing the two of them to turn and see Erika enter inside. She came in before them and knelt down before Kraven.

"You have returned, my lord."

His looked at her with a hint of disdain and annoyance, "Oh you. Prepare the banquet hall. We will feast upon our return."

"As you wish, my lord."