Disclaimer: I don't own Underworld. If I did, people would hate me.


Michel listened as Khalid knocked gently on a door.

"Eli," she whispered.

"I know," a little girl's voice said. "I'm getting my stuff."

"Okay," Khalid said, before walking down the hall and into another room. It was then that Michael turned his attention back to the conversation that Taylor and Pierce were having.

"Khalid's lost her damn mind," Pierce said. "Thanks to her, we now have to keep tabs on a Hybrid, a Blood, and a kid."

"We were going to have to get Michael eventually," Taylor said. "There is no possible way Cadent can keep the others in check for very long."

"Too bad Raze died," Pierce said, quietly. "He would've made a much better Alpha than Cadent."

"Speaking of Raze, how do we tell Khalid about him and Lucian ?" Taylor asked.

"If all goes well, it'll be Cadent that tells her," Pierce said. "She's not as likely to rip his head off."

"Actually," Selene said, "Khalid already knows about Lucian."

"No one asked you, you filthy Blood," Pierce snapped.

"Dog," Selene said.

"I swear to God, I'm gonna-"

"Pierce, shut up," Khalid said, as she walked back into the room. She was carrying two big black duffle-bags, and was being followed closely by a five-year-old girl with medium brown hair and cobalt blue eyes.

"So, that's your little ankle-biter," Pierce said.

"Her name is Eli," Khalid said.

"Short for something ?" Michael asked.

"Elizabeth," Khalid said.

"Qui ils est ?" Eli asked, looking up at Khalid.

"Cela est Michael, et Selene, et ces deux idiots sont là-bas Taylor et Transpercent," Khalid said. Eli giggled as Pierce glared at Khalid.

"What did you just say about me ?" he asked.

"Who said I was talking about you ?" Khalid asked.

"Transpercent is French for Pierce," he said. "I'm not stupid."

"Aurait pu me tromper," Eli muttered. Khalid laughed.

"Be nice, Eli," she said, grinning.

"What's she just say about me ?" Pierce asked.

"Nothing," Khalid said.

"Look," Taylor said, "I hate to interrupt, but we have to go. Now."

"Alright," Khalid said. "Everybody out."


The group walked down the street in silence. The rain had stopped, but it was obvious that it could start up again at any time.

"So," Khalid spoke up "why would Cadent send you two to get me, when Raze could've just as easily done it by himself ?" Pierce and Taylor shot each other nervous glances. They hadn't expected Khalid to ask them about Raze.

"Well, he, uh...." Pierce struggled to come up with a convincing excuse.

"He was killed," Taylor said. He didn't see any point in beating around the bush.

"When ?" Khalid asked, her voice taking on a harsh tone.

"Earlier tonight," Taylor said.

"HE did it, didn't he ?" Khalid asked.

"I wasn't there," Taylor said.

"Why the-" Khalid stopped in mid-sentence as the group found themselves right in front of about 20 Death Dealers.

"Oh, shit," Pierce murmured. Michael changed, and Pierce, Taylor, and Khalid were about to follow suit when two Hybrids appeared out of nowhere and stepped defensivly in front of the group. One of the Hybrids was a good foot-and-a-half taller than Michael, and his skin was such a dark blue that it was almost black. The other was Michael's height, and was about the same color.

"Sie soll dies nicht sehen, Khalid," the taller one said over his shoulder. Khalid was slightly shocked, but nonetheless, she grabbed Eli's shoulders and turned her around so that her back was to the Death Dealers. She covered Eli's ears as the two Hybrids attacked the Death Dealers, ripping them limb-from-limb. After all of the Death Dealers had been "dealt with", the two Hybrids turned to face the group. Eli smiled as she ran to the shorter Hybrid.

"Grandpa !" she yelled. Lucian smiled and picked Eli up, spinning her around.

"Are you behaving ?" he asked.

"Yes," Eli said in her most innocent voice. Lucian looked at Khalid.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost," he said.

"What do you expect ?" Khalid asked. "Last I'd heard, you were dead."

Lucian shook his head.

"As you can plainly see, I am most definitly NOT dead." Lucian then looked at the rest of the group.

"Michael, Selene," he said, changing back into his human form.

"Lucian," they said.

"How are you possibly still alive ?" Pierce asked.

"I'll explain later," Lucian said. It was then that Lucian noticed that Khalid was staring rather intently at the other Hybrid.

"What's the matter, Khalid ?" the Hybrid asked. "Don't recognize me ?"

A look of realization passed over Khalid's face.

"Raze."


Synch14: I hate to disappoint you, but no. Taylor isn't Eli's father, but after you mentioned it, I realized that it sorta sounds like it. Just to warn you, though, you may hate me after you find out who her father actually is. Thanks for the review.