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January 17

Now, I have truly met a stupid lycan. I never accused them of being bright and having much brains...but the stupid lycan bitch threw a flame thrower at me. What lycan, in any state of mind, would throw a flame thrower at an angry vampire Death Dealer? What was I supposed to do with it? Set it aside and continue shooting at her? Did she expect me to stop attacking to hold it? I did what any self-righteous vampire would do, I used it. On her. It's actually a really funny story, if not a little embarrassing.

I tracked down the woman I managed to pull out of Leonid. Yes, it was a woman and a lycan. She led us to am old church. Some of the older vampires recognized it, with bad memories. As soon as they entered, they were caught in a cross fire coming from the shadows. Every time they managed to advance, another spray of bullets would come in on them. It took Kahn and his team a little while to realize that they were shooting at automatics mounted on stands with motion detectors in front of them.

I was already past that. I was down in an old crypt of some sort. There were lots of skeletons placed in alcoves along the wall. They appeared to be the shells of the previous monks who worshiped there. I personally think that it is disgusting and disrespectful to throw a body on a shelf and leave it to rot away. I can't imagine why humans think it proper. Anyways, down in the death hole I had a bit of fun with the said lycan that wasn't too bright. She appeared to be of gypsy descent, with tanned skin and thick black hair. Later on, I found out that her name was Lebya. She wasn't part of the lycan pack, but an outcast. I wondered why.

Anyways, I met another lycan down in the tunnel. I almost mistook him for a human. Resisting the Change had altered his scent till it was less lycan. He didn't have the wild and feral look most lycans have. His hair was combed and presentable. He didn't even smell. If he wasn't a lycan, I would think I could trust him. He and Leyba were talking, arguing in fact. She was trying to seduce him, and the male lycan was getting angry, calling her ugly names. Then, I was fighting with Leyba, doing what I do best, which is destroy lycans and ruin ancient monuments. The crypt was getting torn up. Then she pulled out a flame thrower. That was a bad mistake. I was already overpowering her, and at the sight of the dreaded weapon, my anger rose. I saw Diego's dying shrieks as he burst into flame. The stupid lycan took aim at me, and pulled the trigger dramatically. Or, it would have been dramatic, if the weapon worked.

The lycan slut seemed to realize that that she was in deep shit. She was alone with an angry vampire Death Dealer with a score to settle. She tossed the flame thrower at me, trying to distract me. I caught it smoothly and adroitly fixed it while she attempted to get away. I aimed the weapon at the lycan, dramatically yelling as I pulled the trigger, "Die you stupid piece of shit!" And at my command, pretty flames shot out at the bitch, merry flames cackling over her skin, smelling like a human barbeque. I turned towards the male, somewhat surprised that he didn't try to help the woman.

The male shrugged, looking idly at the woman, bored. He glanced up at me and sweared as he saw me ready to douse him in stunning orange, yellow, and red. The flames of the woman really illuminated the room. It made it easier to see.

The male lycan threw his clothes off, baring himself naked in front of me. He changed, quickly, sprouting hair all over his body. Well, he was almost naked. Around his neck hung a fine gold chain, off of which, a small golden pendant dangled, set with clear stones in it. I hesitated for a second, wondering where a lowly lycan got such a fine piece of jewelry and why he was so anxious to keep it. The lycan growled at me lightly and turned to flee. My excellent marksmanship left him with a smoking behind and all the fur singed off his tail. Can you blame me? It wasn't a hard target to miss…

My door flew open and Viktor seemed to fill the room. He bellowed, and threw Kraven off of me. Kraven flew across the room and hit the wall, knocking him unconscious. Viktor stood defensively over me. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Y-y-e-s-s," I said shakily. Viktor ripped my restraints and handed me my clothes, turning away respectfully. As soon as I was clothed, he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards my door. Pausing to grab my leather clothes, he ushered me out of the door and down the hallway. He gently pushed me inside his room, instructed me not to leave, and then swept back out. I waited patiently for him to come back.

When he arrived, the first thing he did was wash a huge mass of red sticky blood off of his hands. He dropped a bundle on the bed beside me and gently cupped my face in his hands.

"You are alright…" he asked. I nodded, but he still checked me for any wounds before sitting back, satisfied. He handed me a cup filled with warmed blood and took one for himself.

"What did you do to Kraven?" I asked. I had to know.

"I taught him a lesson in manners and gave him a warning. That is all. I have brought you some clothes. You are leaving with me to go to Marcus' coven this upcoming night. We won't be there long."

I gasped. "But what about the duties I am to start tomorrow, here?"

"You can fulfill your duties while with me. Believe me, you will get more experience being with me than sitting by yourself in an empty room watching over an empty crypt. The crypt is coldly uncomfortable, but an excellent place to go to think. I often go there when I have a lot on my mind. It's quiet solitude is comforting."

I relaxed, glad I was to still start my duties. Viktor saw how tired I was a smiled gently. "Lie down and sleep Selene. You are perfectly safe here." I nodded sluggishly, obeying him. He gently placed the thick comforter over me and sat down in the chair beside the roaring fireplace. I watched him read for awhile, until the flickering flames led me down into sleep, where I dreamt strange things.

I dreamt that, instead of the hunter of lycans, I was the hunted. Vampires were chasing me, glowing blue whirls were flying at me faster then the eye could see. One struck my skin, but passed through the other end without breaking. A felt a searing pain but continued on. My legs were burning. I passed Kraven, tied up to a pole with his hands tied above his head and his feet shackled to the ground. He called out to me, but I was going to fast to stop. I shot passed him, darting up stairs and skirting corridors. I finally reached a corridor that I recognized in my dream state. I raced down the corridor, leaping high over many fancily dressed vampires seated on low tables, smoking and drinking blood mixed with campaign. I recognized a few of them. They all hissed at me, eyes so light in anger they appeared blind with no irises. I yanked open the doors leading outside and slammed it closed. Sunrise was only a few hours off, and I ran faster, racing against the sun. I darted out onto the road, looked to my left, and was hit by something dark, moving at a fast pace. I woke up before I hit the ground.

I sat, shaking slightly, the muscles in my legs throbbing and my breath coming fast. I sat, trying to remember my dream, which was slipping through my fingers like sand. Giving myself a slight shake, I lay back down and went to sleep.

Viktor woke me up early. It seemed that I never managed to wake up with the rest of the house; I always woke up before. Silently, I bathed and got dressed in my usual leather corset, but this time there a pair of black leather pants to go with it. I pulled them on. I felt foolish in them, like I was being something I was not. I also felt slightly embarrassed in pants. I had, after all, grown up wearing skirts and long dresses. After wetting my hair down and brushing it out, I glanced into the full length mirror Viktor had standing there.

I had grown up hearing fantastical stories of how vampires were the devils spawn, blood-sucking monsters who were terrified of crucifixes and garlic and who were not worthy to be able to see themselves in a mirror. Against the superstition and stories, vampires were not afraid of crucifixes or garlic. And they could see themselves in mirrors. I was doing so, and I was astounded at what I saw.

I was always a small girl, a little too thin, but not overly skinny. I had a healthy glow to my face and wore dresses which did not accentuate my figure too much. The reflection in the mirror was nothing like the girl I remembered before. The Selene I saw had short black hair that bounced around her shoulders. Her skin had no glow, unblemished alabaster white skin gleamed in the dim lighting. Her eyes were brighter and clearer. She was taller, her womanly form obvious in the tight leather clothes she was wearing. High boots covered her small calves with eight buckles running down the sides. The corset made her stomach look flat. Her muscles were more defined, her stand lithe and cat like. I couldn't believe that it was me. Yet the woman in my reflection moved when I moved, and spoke when I spoke, assuring me that it was not my imagination.

Slightly unnerved, I backed out of the bathroom, kicking the door closed. Viktor was waiting for me, extra clothes packed in a bundle. He took my nightgown and placed it in too. Wordlessly he handed me various knives which I took. I put one knife in each boot on the side, able to pull it out easily. I stuck one knife in a pocket hidden in the back of my pants, and kept the last in my hand. That's when Viktor nudged me towards the bed. On it was a black cloth bundle.

"Try it on, child," Viktor told me. I picked up the bundle, realizing what it was. I slid the leather trench coat onto my shoulders. It was long, almost touching the floor, with sleeves perfectly tailored to my arm length. In it, I felt different, more complete. I had seen many other Death Dealers wearing one and looked forward to receiving mine. I picked up the spare knife and slipped it into a pocket.

"Here. Strap this sword onto your back, under the coat." Viktor handed me his sword, taking a regular one for himself.

"But Viktor, this is your sword." I tried to hand it back to him but he refused.

"No, you carry it. You might need it." His eyes sparkled, as if foreseeing some unseen future. I nodded and strapped it to my back. I was ready to go now.

I picked up my pack and followed him out of his room. Several Death Dealers were already there, waiting for him. A few glanced curiously at me, but shifted their attention to the formidable Elder in front of them. "My Lord," one of them spoke up, a vampire I knew as Rigel. "Is Kraven to go with us?"

Viktor sneered. "No, and send some one to him to remind him of that. Tell him, that in my absence, he has the chance to redeem himself."

"Yes my Lord," Rigel said and with a short bow, hurried down the hallway. Viktor introduced me to the others.

"This is Selene, as many of you know. She has joined our ranks and was supposed to start her duties tonight, but, due to unforeseen circumstances, she is instead traveling with us to Marcus' coven." The others nodded their consent, and with Viktor's push, I walked towards the vampires, unsure of what to do.

"You'll stand by me. I'll tell you everything you need to know. Who referred you?" A short vampire I had never seen before was talking to me.

"Kraven," I said shortly.

"Oh." The vampire pulled a twisted face. "I don't like him much."

I looked at him in surprise. "A kindred spirit."

The vampire grinned good naturedly. "Under his command, you won't be doing anything. He's a bureaucrat, not a warrior. People look up to him only because he killed the ruthless lycan leader Lucian."

I nodded absentmindedly. "I didn't like him from the first time I saw him. He made me cringe."

"Yes, he does have that way. It's Selene, right?" I nodded. "Sorry I haven't introduced myself properly. My name is John." He held out a hand, which I shook.

"Come on." Rigel had come back after delivering his message. We were ready to go, taking a train partway across the country, and the rest on horse back. John turned towards me, with a worried expression. "Do you know how to ride?"

I turned an icy glare on him. "Of course I know how to ride. My family were horse breeders. I was born in the saddle." John looked relieved.

"Good, because I'm a horrible rider!" I turned to smile at him but our conversation was cut out as we moved towards the front doors of Viktor's house, on our way. On the way out, I caught a glimpse of Kraven out of the corner of my eye. He was staring at me resentfully, nor longer strutting around, but sullen and bruised. Then he was gone as we stepped out into the fresh moonlight, night air bringing pleasant scents around us.

PEOPLE! PLEASE REVIEW. IF I DON'T GET ANY REVIEWS, THEN I MIGHT DISCONTINUE MY STORY, THINKING THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT OR DON'T WANT ME TO FINISH. ASSURE ME OTHERWISE! Anyways, an update will come sooner; I'm off of school for a week!