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: This chapter is dedicated to BlackStars. Get well soon and I'll have more chapter's up as quick as I can! I wrote this pretty fast, so I hope it makes sense...if it doesn't, someone let me know, lol.

Chapter Fourteen - A Master's Plan

"You have news?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"It has been barely a month since I sent you on your errand, Servant." The words were barely a whisper as they flowed through the silken hood. "I trust your news is great, to have taken you away from the traitor's camp so soon."

"Yes, my Lord. You will be well pleased."

Though the chilled marble was rigid and his knees had begun to ache, Eston made no move to rise. He'd learned that Markus was a different master these days; wont to fly into a rage at the drop of a hat. It was better to suffer in silence until Markus gave him leave to make himself more comfortable.

The swish of robes alerted him to movement, a brush of cold air touched his cheek, yet Eston did not look up as most other's would have done. He was being tested; he knew that and he vowed not to fail. A solid twenty minutes passed before the chamber filled with soft laughter; a sound tinged with madness.

"You may rise, young one."

Eston looked upon Markus' countenance at last, barely catching himself from flinching. Though it was not the first time he'd seen his Master thus, it was still a shock. He was used to viewing an Elder that held his head up high with haughty arrogance, but now…now, the last Elder left to the coven was forced to hide his proud features beneath a dark, silken hood lest those under his care shy from him in disgust. To Eston's knowledge, all those that had glimpsed Markus' hybrid form were now dead; burned to death beneath the sun's harsh glare in an attempt to keep the truth from the coven. It had not worked, of course. Everyone had known of the change almost at once and those that could not stand the thought of being lead by such a creature had long since fled the mansion in search of a pure blood to lead them.

When word of Kraven's survival had reached Ordoghaz, the exodus had been swift and sure. The mansion was no longer filled to capacity with his kind. Most of them had left in search of Kraven and his decadence, dismissing from their minds the plight of the last Elder, but not Eston. He'd watched, hatred churning in his gut, as those he'd once called friends had abandoned their Master, running to the sanctuary Kraven had surreptitiously offered. Kraven…no matter what traitorous deeds he'd carried out, there were still those that preferred him over the one true leader of the Vampyres. A mindset that Eston could not understand.

"When last we met, Eston, you swore your allegiance to me. Is that still so?"

"Of course, my Lord Markus."

"So I can trust that your words will be true?"

"I would never speak falsely to you, my Lord!" Eston fell to his knees once again before the robed figure.

"Tell me your news of Kraven's disloyal coven." Markus made a small gesture with his gloved hand and Eston stood once more, spine rigid with respect.

"They found a spy within our own walls, Lord. Someone who has been plotting with the Lycans to keep Selene and Michael from your grasp." Eston dared not even blink when Markus began pacing the cavernous chamber.

"Who dared to take such action against me?"

"The one Vampyre we thought to be trustworthy above all others…Kahn."

"And does Kahn know where the bitch has hidden herself and her lover?"

"I was in charge of interrogating the prisoner and the Death Dealer kept his secrets well, though Kraven tried every means he could think of to break his will. The most we could learn was that they were in America. Then Kraven received word that…"

Eston paused, acutely aware of how dangerous his position now was. Though his news was important, he didn't relish being the bearer of it. Markus turned his black cloaked visage upon him and he shivered.

"Speak up, Eston. What news could be so bad as to freeze your tongue?"

"Selene and Michael are under Lucian's protection." The words rushed from him and he took an involuntary step back as Markus' rage broke free.

"What?" The word echoed back from the stone walls as he advanced on the young Vampyre. "You're telling me that the Lycan has escaped death twice now? That is impossible."

"It's the truth, my Lord, I swear it! Some members of the American coven brought the news to Kraven personally. I heard their story with my own ears." Eston's voice had begun to tremble along with his knees.

"Please tell me you learned an exact location! I swear, if this is all you have brought me…"

"I know where Lucian's lair is, my Lord! I didn't leave until I had all the information that I knew you would need."

"If you have so much knowledge, then tell me this…" Markus lowered his voice into a whisper that was somehow more frightening than his thunderous outburst had been. "How did Lucian manage to survive the silver nitrate rounds?"

Eston swallowed, clasping his hands in front of him. "Apparently, he had…injected himself with Corvin blood before the shots were fired. That saved him from immediate death…"

"So that is why he offered Selene and Michael refuge? I assume Lucian needed more of the Corvinus strand to speed along his recovery."

"Yes, he did need more…but it seems that there was another descendant that no one was aware of…a female…"

Eston's head cracked painfully against the marble pillar, stars bursting before his eyes. He had not seen the blow coming. Gasping, holding his aching head between his hands, he looked up at his Master. The Elder stood before him in silence for a few moments; a dark, towering figure of repressed fury.

"You will go to America immediately. Do not come back without the Corvinus woman." Markus said contemplatively as he lowered himself regally to his seat. "And, Eston…make sure she comes to me as a human…if she's been marked by a Lycan, slit her throat."