Disclaimer: duh.

Is it just me, or does the new rating system suck? I hate it. I sent in a complaint. I think the old way was better and a lot less confusing. Anyone feel the same? Anyways, on with the story!

January 20

Over the next few weeks, I trained hard, improving rapidly. I had yet to go on a hunt, but I had done lots of stake-out nights. Kraven had left me alone, going back to trying to impress Viktor and groveling at his feet. He still was making snide remarks on how I should be his consort, and how my place was by his side. He was annoying me greatly, and it was only a matter of time before I would explode. He was blissfully unaware of this.

And then the time came, when I killed my first lycan…

It was a bright night, the moon full and swollen in the sky. It was relatively warm for a fall night. Viktor lent me his sword every night I went out. We had been tipped off that there was going to be lycan stakeout in an old abandoned warehouse, so I was sent over there to watch over it. John came with me, as well as Kahn, much to my relief.

I was crouching on a narrow precipice hanging over the road, across from the warehouse. I blended in perfectly with my black leather uniform. I kept careful watch, using all my sense to try and find the lycans. John was stationed on the warehouse roof, out of sight to the passerby. Kahn was down on the road, searching from there as well.

We waited, stiff, unmoving for several hours. Then, at about one in the morning, we saw three lycans walking down the road to the warehouse. I saw Kahn signal to me, and I returned the wave, seeing John do the same. The lycans were still unaware that we were there. Kahn moved quickly and silently behind them, blocking their path through. I could see them, through the cracked and dirty window, move into the main room, an empty space with cold walls and a concrete floor, littered with rubble. There began talking and muttering to themselves.

I could only hear snatches of what they were saying. "…good place… away from the vampires and Death Dealers… yes, I heard that they put them both to death…" My face hardened and I listened in closer. "… find us here. Never… yeah, it's a good place." The lycans spilt up, searching around the floor. One picked up pieces of rubble and threw it at his friend. He missed, hitting a towering pile of stone. Kahn, standing behind the wall, chose this moment to tip the small quarry over, crushing the other lycan beneath it. A huge cloud of dust mushroomed up, giving Kahn time to disappear while the lycans coughed.

John waved to Kahn, asking if he should attack. Kahn fervently shook his head no. It was obvious to me that it would be a bad time. The lycans would be suspicious and angry, their senses open. John, however, didn't listen to Kahn, and swung inside, is blades out. The lycans swung about, snarling at the vampire like rabid dogs, spit flying from their mouths, eyes a brilliant cobalt blue. John grinned, teasing the lycan, making fun of his fallen comrade. That was too much for the head lycan.

Snarling, the lycan stripped naked. I had a full view of him, and blushed. I looked up at Kahn, who was watching from the floor. He motioned for me to stay put and out of the way. I got angry then. I had every right to kill the bastards, more than he did.

I watched, heatedly and enthralled as the lycan began to change. His kin grew dark and sprouted fur, his rib cape expanding. I could hear the cracks of his bones as they shifted. His jaw popped forward, his nose lengthening into a snout. His ears became pointed. John stepped back, finally realizing that his idea was a stupid one. Kahn swung in, ready to come to John's defense. The lycan growled, and swiped at John as he jumped past and out of the window. The smaller lycan followed suit. Blood seeped out of John's wound, grayish organs sliding out from beneath his flesh. He fell over, eyes blue, and sat, shaking. I knew he wasn't going to make it.

Kahn had burst out of the warehouse, following the lycans. I swooped inside to help John but it was too late. I went to follow Kahn when I heard an odd noise. I sprung around to see the smaller lycan had returned and began feasting on John's organs. That was too much for me. With a cry, I sprung forward, sword out, ready to kill. The lycan looked at me and growled. I hissed.

With unnatural speed, the lycan jumped, but I had already moved. I ducked and rolled past the lycan, standing up in a turn smoothly. I jumped for the wall, the lycan following me. I was in a corner and knew enough to know that that was a bad idea. I dropped to the center of the room, the lycan stalking me. There was no doubt that I was its prey.

He jumped at me, and I sliced at him, cutting him deeply across the leg, almost severing the limb. It healed instantly, allowing him to jump on me. We rolled together on the floor, kicking and punching where ever we could. I was strong, and was easily overpowering him when he was in his human state. While feeding, he had reversed the change, thinking I had left. It was a little embarrassing to me to know that I was fighting with a naked man. I preserved my modesty.

Still, this gave me an idea. I rolled around towards the sword I dropped, fleeing the lycan and jumping over the sweep kick he sent my way. I grabbed the sword, turning around, an drawing it across his skin at waist level. His screaming howl told me I had succeeded in cutting off his… private area. He knelt down, clutching himself, and changed rapidly.

I didn't give him enough time to finish his transformation. Kahn came into the warehouse in just enough time to see me decapitate the lycan. The corpse fell headless, its body changing back to its human form. Kahn stared at it and at me. "Good job Selene. I didn't think that you would be able to kill it."

I glared at him. "John is dead. Why didn't you stop him? He did not need to die."

Kahn grimaced. "If I had tried to stop him, I could have been seen. But then, we also could have killed all of them in one go." I was still angry but let it go, knowing that he was right.

"What happened to the other lycan that you were chasing?"

"He got away. Scampered pretty fast." I cleaned off the edge of my blade on the naked lycan. Kahn gently picked John up, and he headed off.

When we arrived at the mansion, Kahn led me over to a small shed I had never noticed before. Two Death Dealers were there, sitting around talking. "John died, by a lycan," he said shortly, placing the body on a bed.

We left. "What was that?"

"Any time a vampire dies, they are taken here. They are registered and then left for the sun. Their ashes are gathered and sprinkled on the ground, and they are given a memorial. It is honorable to die in battle, and their spirits are freed." I nodded. It made sense.

We entered the dojo, depositing our gear. Vampires called to us, welcoming us back and asking how it went. "A moment of silence for our fallen comrade John," Kahn called out in a commanding voice. All talking ceased, and we all were respectful.

"Did you kill him? The lycan?"

"Nah, Selene got rid of him." Some Death Dealers turned towards me.

"Well, congratulations on killing your first lycan." I nodded, and left the dojo, making my way to Viktor's room to return his sword. He let me in on the first knock.

I handed him the sword. Viktor took it, smiling slightly. "You killed your first lycan. I am proud of you Selene." I looked at him, smiling faintly, returning his hug. I never told how much his praise meant to me. It was obvious, when looking into my eyes. A fierce determination, a will that made me the most feared Death Dealer, one who killed the most lycans than anyone else in a life time. Viktor was very proud.