Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Underworld or it's characters, so don't sue. The other characters and subsequent storylines are mine, so don't infringe. Many Thanks.

Author's Note: It was with great surprise that I opened my e-mail the other day and found a wonderful review waiting for me. Having been caught up in the Holiday Crush (thank God that's finally over with...at least for another year...) I haven't added anything new for Quite Some Time cough so I was a bit shocked to realize that people were still reading the story...and seemed to be waiting for more. Thanks Blackstars, for the encouragement! It's always great to get positive feedback...and it served as a kick in the butt for me to get back to writing! There's more on the way, as I already have the ending written in my head...and I hope to have it posted up here soon.

Chapter Ten - Pools of Red

Kraven eyed the naked, dangling form with disgust. Blood pooled beneath the chained figure, streaming from the dozens of lash marks he'd already inflicted. How he loathed having to do his own dirty work. Kraven had once commanded others to do this shit and now, here he was, stepping back from the stinking mess he'd made of the prisoner. It had been centuries since he'd held a whip in his hands and the first few lashes had been sloppy, but he'd quickly regained the skill he'd once had, though the joy he'd once felt in doing so still hadn't made an appearance.

"Are you ready to talk yet, Kahn? Or should I continue." Kraven swiped at a bead of sweat that threatened to run into his eye.

Kahn painfully sucked air into his lungs. "Go…fuck yourself."

A harsh laugh sounded from Kraven, "I see you still have some will of your own left in your worthless hide."

"More than you will ever know..."

The crack was sudden, giving Kahn no chance to prepare himself as the whip sharply bit into his already flayed skin. A piercing scream tore itself from his raw throat as pain radiated over his bloodied body. He hung limply, feeling the iron cuffs gouging into his wrists as he dangled from the strong chains. Kahn had long ago lost the strength to hold himself upright. He had no idea how long Kraven had been holding him here; in fact, he had no idea where here was. He'd been out alone patrolling the coven's grounds, hoping for word from Selene, when a cracking pain had pierced his skull, flooding his world with darkness. When he'd awakened, he'd been hanging from chains in this dimly light cavern; a chill, moisture rich breeze raising gooseflesh on his naked skin...and Kraven had been standing before him wearing an arrogant grin.

Anger had seethed through Kahn at the sight of him. Kahn had tried searching for the traitor after Viktor's death and Selene's subsequent disappearance, but having lost Kraven's trail early on, he'd let the search wane. His main concern had been keeping Selene free from Markus' crazed hands and worry for her had caused him to let his guard down. Though he knew Selene had been the cause of Viktor's death, Kahn felt that he knew Selene well enough to know she wouldn't have killed her sire without a damn good reason. Especially after she had risked her own neck in awakening him. Kraven, on the other hand, had callously plotted with the Lycans to murder Amelia, presumably so he could take control of the coven and hold all the power within his own hands. In Kahn's mind, Kraven's sin was much greater than Selene's.

"Where are they?"

Kahn raised his eyes to Kraven, noting that the latter was standing well away from his victim, as though he knew if given the chance, Kahn would tear him limb from bloody limb. Kahn felt a moment of triumph seeing the flash of blue anger in his enemy's eyes as he once again refused to give up his secrets.

"Damn you for an arrogant fool!" Kraven roared, "Do you not understand? I will find her and her hybrid pet. And when I do…"

"She will kill you." Kahn whispered, spitting blood and narrowly missing Kraven's expensive leather shoes in the process.

Kraven snarled. He had removed his shirt long ago and sweat ran down his body, across a tightly muscled chest that tightened and rippled as he let loose with the whip again. Once, twice…thrice and Kahn was once again hearing his own screams echo throughout the stone chamber. The sound filled Kraven with a primal satisfaction that he remembered feeling all those centuries ago, when it had been his job to do this on a regular basis. The sudden rush of it flowing through his veins almost made up for the disappointing turn his life had taken…almost, but not quite. He raised his arm again, bringing the weapon back for another round of punishment. Wanting to work out some of his discontent now that he had a helpless victim at his disposal.

"I don't think he's going to talk." The whisper floated to Kraven from a darkened corner of the room, stalling his movements. "No matter how much you torture him, love, I think he's willing to die before giving up her secrets."

A rush of heat had filled Erika as she watched her lover inflict horrible pain upon the Death Dealer, but she'd managed to keep her features steady. She'd known Kahn wouldn't talk, but she hadn't voiced her views to Kraven. Erika had longed for the chance to watch him in action, and now that she'd experienced it, she would willingly bring him anyone else he wanted. It had been worth all the danger; returning quietly to the mansion, bringing a few trustworthy coven members into her confidence, slowly rebuilding Kraven's following. When she'd had a good dozen members gathered under her wing, they'd grabbed Kahn and come back to Kraven.

Erika sashayed towards the two men, her gaze drifting lightly across Kraven's bare torso. He saw the way she unconsciously ran her tongue across her fangs and once again, felt buoyed by an unfathomable amount of power.

She took the whip from his hands, carefully putting it back in it's place on the wall amid the other assorted torture devices that hung there, most having long since gone to rust. "Come. You must be starving by now. We'll let Kahn just…hang out…for awhile. To think things through."

"Yes, maybe hunger will loosen his tongue." Kraven smiled lazily, quickly washing up with a bucket of ice-cold water. "Besides, we have guests to entertain."

Erika toweled him off, helping him into his shirt. "The whole coven is greatly displeased with Markus. They've been arriving here by the dozens, looking for someone to guide them through these dark days. It's only natural that you would be their choice, after all you did for them before…"

Her words trailed off as they left the chamber. Kahn watched the heavy oaken door close, hinges squealing in protest, and fought against the hunger that raged within him. Kraven hadn't fed him at all, and though he didn't know exactly how long he'd been here, it had been long enough that even the scent of his own blood pooling beneath him was slowly driving him mad. He needed to escape before his will broke and he unwillingly betrayed Selene, for he knew where she was…and who she was with. If Kraven found out about Lucian…Kahn shuddered. That didn't even bear thinking of.