(Okay, this chapter introduces a new character, and pretty much follows
with the Kailyn plot. Hold in, everything will eventually make sense. Oh,
and Michael and Selene will be meeting up soon. Maybe in the next chapter)
CHAPTER FIVE WHAT NEXT?
MICHAEL
"How's he doing?" Michael asked, coming up behind Simon.
"Still unconscious, I'm afraid," Simon told him, shaking his head. "What are we going to do about this, Michael?"
Michael ran his hands though his hair. "We can't just leave her to them," He replied.
"But you want to risk our lives for some human?" Raze said.
"What else do you suggest?!" Michael snapped.
"Hold in there, mate. For all it's worth, I'm with you. We DO need to get her back. The chances are that the vampires are plotting something dark for her. She's too close to all of us. Even if she IS human," Simon said, shooting the last part at Raze. "I can think of several other Lycans that will come with us."
"That won't be necessary," A voice said from behind them. All turned to see a woman in her twenties standing in the doorway. Her curly blond hair settled on her shoulders, pulled back from her face by a small hair clip. She wore sunglasses to hide her face and was dressed in black leather pants, a tight black shirt and a black leather trench coat. There was a slight bulge at her ankle, and it was obvious that a gun was hidden there.
Raze growled at her instantly. "Vampire," He snapped.
"Not just any vampire," The girl corrected. She strolled into the room and looked down at Derek.
"How did you get in here?" Michael asked, reaching for a UV gun. The girl held out her hand and the gun telekinetically flew to her. All eyes widened, even Raze's. She pulled out the cartridges and let the bullets fall to the ground.
"My sister mentioned a way in," She said.
"And how did she know?"
"She's been staying with you, hasn't she?" The girl asked. She looked down, her face saddened. Then she turned to them and smirked. "I believe you called her Kailyn."
"Kailyn was human," Michael said.
"So she believes. You wouldn't be able to tell if she was a vampire. She's been VERY well hidden," She replied. She walked up to Michael and looked him over. "Caelan (pronounced Sylen) Blaire, sire. And I'm the only person who can help you get Kay back at this moment."
"Kay?"
"I changed her name after our parents died," She said. "All that isn't your business, though. You've got your secrets -." She smiled knowingly at each of them, "And I've got mine. This is a simple business matter. No more, no less. And what IS your business is that we get my sister back from these vampires. Then, I think it would be best if you would make your peace with the other vampire covens."
All the men stared dumbfounded at her. She walked around the room, slowly fingering things before she met each one of their stares.
"Why should we make peace?" Raze finally growled.
"I thought that was what Lucian wanted," Caelan said innocently.
"Lucian's dead," Said Raze.
"So I know. But shouldn't you honor his memory?"
"Who are you really?"
"I've told you my name, there is no more to say." Her face became serious. "I want the Hybrid to come with me to fetch my sister. No others." She gave Simon and Raze a meaningful look. "Got it?"
"Why do you think we'll agree to that," Simon said. He looked worriedly down at Derek. Caelan followed his gaze. She blinked out of where she had been, and appeared next to Derek, gun pointed at his head.
"Agreed?" She challenged.
"Agreed," Michael said quickly. She pulled the gun away.
"Then come," She said. She held her hand out, and he took it. The two instantly vanished.
"Damn it!" Simon cried out. He stepped to where Michael had been, but they were definitely gone. "That bitch is going to pay when I get my hands on her ..."
"Calm yourself, Simon," Raze said. "They'll be back."
"You don't know that," Simon snapped. He went to Derek, and brushed the boy's hair back. "She would've killed him if she didn't get her way. She'll kill Michael, too."
"Simon! She won't do anything!" Raze snapped.
Simon looked up, surprised. "You trust her?" He asked.
"I must be losing my mind," Raze said, shaking his head as he walked out. Simon stared after him for a few moments, and then turned his attention back to the boy in front of him.
The Creature's Dwelling
"Where are we?" Michael asked.
"Stay back," Caelan instructed, pushing him against the wall with one arm and holding a gun out with another. Michael was beginning to get frustrated with this woman. He found himself wondering if she wasn't EXACTLY like Selene when they had met. Then again, Selene hadn't been so elusive. She just hadn't spoken. Caelan would beat around the bush.
Michael let out a warning growl to her. She turned back to him. "DON'T growl at me. I'm doing this for your own good," She stated. Michael was about to ask her what she meant, when she said, "When I say 'go', attack the three vampires in there near the door. I'll get the two in the back. Be prepared after that, who knows how many more will come and at what rate. When we get to Kailyn, leave the room and turn to the right. If you keep going strait, you'll hit the exit. After that you'll have to get her quickly back to the Lycan den."
"If you can do all this blinking around, why don't you just blink in and take her?" Michael asked, after saying he understood. Caelan looked at him.
"Because they can do the same," She stated simply.
"Of course. Why would this be EASY?" Michael muttered.
"Go!"
The two charged into the room. All the vampires looked up in surprise.
"Caelan?" One asked. She went to him, first. Pointing her gun she shot him in the head. Seconds later he fell to the floor in a pile of ashes. She turned to the other and shot. Meanwhile, Michael cut one's head off with a dagger, and changed into Hybrid form, slashing out at the enemy. He managed to get only one wound, fortunately. Soon they were all gone.
"Quick, through here!" Caelan called, racing through a door before others had a chance to appear. Michael hesitated, and then realized he had no choice, and ran through after her.
SELENE
"How could I possibly help you gain an alliance? The Lycans don't trust me, either," Selene spat out.
"You know their leader, Michael Corvin, correct?" Markus inquired.
"I know OF him," Selene said, still worrying that if she told them where he was, they'd harm him. "We split ways after Viktor."
"That isn't what our sources say," Markus told her. Selene stiffened. "I told you Selene, we don't want to harm Michael. We don't have time to continue this petty war!"
"Forgive me for my distrust," Selene snapped, and then realized this was her elder that she had spoken back to. She looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Those rules are out, Selene. Speak back all you want, just help us. If the creature -."
"What is this creature you mention?"
Markus sighed, and then looked at Erika. "Not now. When the time is right, I'll explain all of it. But not now. All I need is your guaranteed cooperation. Please, Selene. Where is the leader of the Lycans?"
Selene was silent for a long time. Both Markus and Erika feared she wouldn't answer. But she did. "I need something to prove your loyalty to this cause. And I'll be going by myself to get them. If anyone follows me, they'll be shot on sight."
"Not alone. As you don't trust me, I'm not certain I can trust you. Take two death dealers with you of your choosing," He said. "You will set out two nights from now for wherever they are. Be certain to get a good sleep, and inform me of your escorts before tonight. As for proving loyalty, when you leave I'll give you something."
"How do you know I won't sneak away?" Selene inquired.
"Because I know that you don't want to see anyone else harmed. Even under your 'steely' exterior, you care," He reminded her. Selene looked down, hating the elder for understanding her better than she allowed herself to understand. "Erika, please show Selene around, show her to her room and such. Make certain that she chooses her companions, as well."
"Yes, Markus," She said. She waited for Selene to follow her. Once outside, Selene looked at Erika with annoyance.
"I can take care of myself. I don't need escorts," She mumbled angrily. Erika couldn't help but smirk.
"Markus thinks he can protect everyone," She stated as they walked around the apartment building.
"That isn't the Markus I knew," Selene stated.
"Just so that you know right now, Selene, everyone's changed. Things are very different from when you were once here. It isn't about power any more, it's about survival," Erika told her.
"Is that what you think?" Selene asked.
"It's what I know," Erika answered. "No one will dare challenge Markus. Just as no one will challenge Michael. Once they join together as leaders we will be invincible. Nothing will get past Vampires and Lycans."
Selene said nothing, she just stared ahead. Erika pushed open a door, and Selene looked around the room of her 'new' apartment.
"What about all my stuff?" She asked her.
"I could send someone to retrieve it."
"Fine," Selene answered.
"This is where you'll be staying. Not as great as your room at Ordoghaz, but -."
"I THINK I can manage," Selene snapped, stepping away from Erika, who, in turn, glared hatefully.
"Let's get a few things strait, Selene. I will try to be nice to you, but I really don't like you. I never have, and I probably never will."
"Ditto," Selene replied.
Erika acted as if she were never interrupted. "But I said I would TRY. Maybe you could do the same. We have to work together in this, whether either of us likes it or not, got it?" She demanded.
Selene looked back at her, brief surprise registered on her face, and then she nodded grimly. "Fine."
Erika tossed the pair of keys to Selene. Selene looked down at them, and then put them in her jeans. "Am I to stay here for the night? Or can I leave when I choose?"
"We're not holding you a prisoner, Selene. Markus told me to show you around the apartments, and that's exactly what I plan to do. But maybe an old friend would like to accompany us," Erika suggested.
"Who did you have in mind?"
Elsewhere in the apartments
"We were worried that the others had gotten to you," Kahn said after he gave Selene a hug. She stepped back, surprised by the generosity in this former death dealer. Erika was right, people had changed.
"Here I am," Selene stated.
"I thought that you might wish to accompany us. I'm to show Selene the grounds," Erika told him.
"Why not," Kahn said with a shrug. He turned to the man next to him, and barked a few orders in French before following the girls out. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long," Selene admitted. "Tell me of the battle field," Selene said, getting back into the way it had been back in the old days.
"Can't complain," Kahn answered. "Now that we've stopped hunting the Lycans there seems to be less to do."
"Kahn, do you know anything of 'the Creature'?" Selene demanded.
Kahn laughed. "Making imaginary enemies, are we?" Then he inspected Selene's face, then Erika's.
"I think a new war will be brewing," Selene said calmly as she started walking, trying to contemplate what that could mean. Seeing she was deep in thought, Kahn and Erika spoke to each other, not bothering to point out everything they walked past, knowing Selene wouldn't pay attention.
MICHAEL
"Not to bother you, but do you think you could have gotten us a LITTLE closer to where they kept Kailyn?" Michael demanded, after twisting a vampire's head so her spinal cord snapped. The body fell to the floor, and he refused to allow himself to acknowledge all the murdering he had just done. Caelan looked back at him.
"We're almost there," She told him. She kicked at a door, but it didn't knock down. She concentrated her eyes and the door blew up.
"How the hell are you doing that?" Michael demanded. She ignored his outcry and climbed through the door, Michael behind. Before them were six vampires. They all were staring patiently at the door to see what had come through with the explosion. They didn't seem as surprised as Michael would have expected.
"So the betrayer has returned," A man snarled. He looked Caelan over.
"Out of my way, Dex, or I'll be forced to kill you," She snapped.
"You've brought the hybrid with you! Your father will be furious," He stated. She turned to Michael. He quickly understood the look, and went and lifted the man out of the way. She smiled sweetly.
"I said out of my way," She reminded him. Then Michael tossed the screaming vampire across the room. "Anyone else want to challenge? Sixteen dead; can add a few more to that list." The others moved away and let the two pass.
Michael, hearing the gun click, jumped out of the way just as it hurtled towards them. It managed to hit Caelan in the arm, and she cried out in pain. Her upper body spun around, and she ripped her sunglasses off - revealing her entirely green eyes. She hissed at them, tongue changing to that of a lizard as it snaked its way out of her mouth. She turned fully around and looked at the others. One hissed back at her, showing his lizard tongue as well. The two female 'vampires' now against Caelan stepped up.
"Don't try to fight us," One said through pointy teeth. Caelan narrowed her eyes.
"We are the same as you," The other reminded her. Michael raised his eyebrow, but didn't question.
"We don't work together anymore," Caelan reminded them. Then she held out her hands and all the guns in the room flew to her. She put them off to the side, but tossed one to Michael.
"Don't fire!" A voice called. Caelan spun around and came face to face with a frightening man. He stood tall, not much bigger than Michael. His eyes were entirely black – demon's eyes. He was dressed similar to Viktor when he had attacked Michael in the sewers. His black hair was ratty and clouded his face. He stared down at the gun now pointed at his head, and then met Caelan's eyes.
"So you plan to kill me now?" He asked her.
Michael could see there was an unspoken battle between the two, but he had come for a reason, and they could settle this another time. He came between them, a low growl rising in the back of his throat.
"You can't take him, Michael," Caelan warned.
The man glowered at Michael. "Hybrid," He stated furiously. "An abomination."
"As are you," Caelan said softly. "I won't fight you."
"But your friend thinks he will," The man stated.
"We've come for Kay. You can't keep her from me forever," Caelan warned.
"She can't live," The man stated simply.
Caelan began to fume. She glanced at Michael to see if he was paying attention. Michael looked confused. What was she trying to tell him? He growled at her in frustration. Caelan turned her attention back to the man, and shot. He let out a screech like that of a banshee, and Michael had to keep himself from covering his ears. The creature's skin turned black, as his was blue, and his chords in his neck began to bulge out. He grew three horns on his head, and a lump on the forehead. His black eyes soon turned red. He turned into a terrifying creature, much more frightening than Michael in hybrid form.
Caelan tackled him, pushing him aside and away from the door. "Get Kailyn and get out of here!" She cried to him.
Michael didn't need to be told twice. He pushed open the door and went to the girl squatting frightened on the floor as he changed back. Kailyn looked up.
"Michael!" She exclaimed excitedly. He smiled with assurance and then helped her to her feet.
"We have to get out of here now," He told her.
"I'll agree," Kailyn said. Michael started to leave when someone appeared in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going?" He growled.
"You!" Kailyn cried. She started forward, but Michael held her back.
"Let me handle this," Michael said.
"That's the guy who brought me here. He stabbed Derek, and had them kill the others," Kailyn informed Michael.
Michael swallowed hard. He didn't have much longer. Caelan wouldn't be able to hold the others off for long. He instantly switched to Hybrid mode and then rushed forward, tackling the man to the ground. He blinked out and then appeared behind Michael. Lifting him up by the hair, he glowered at him.
"Is this PATHETIC creature the infamous hybrid I've heard so much about?" He asked, evaluating Michael as a weakling. Michael reached out and pinned him by the neck to the wall. He struggled to breath.
"Kailyn, go right until you reach the exit," He instructed. Kailyn did just that, running down the hall.
Five more things created a circle around her. She screamed and then spun around. Michael looked down the hall. He had to get to her.
"We'll take care of this another day," He said to the man. Then he banged the man's head hard against the wall, knocking him unconscious. He barreled against the others, and began to fight them off, giving Kailyn time to run away. Suddenly remembering the gun he had stuffed in his pocket, he fired at three off them. They screamed and then fell to the floor; their bodies burning to ash instantly. The other two he took out with some quick fighting moves. Then he followed after Kailyn.
Back at the Lycan Den
"They've been gone for more than half an hour," Simon said nervously. Derek shook his head, but still looked furious. He had awoken again fifteen minutes earlier, and had just had everything explained to him.
"Why wasn't anything done?" He demanded.
"What could we do? They just blinked out – poof, gone, sayonara. We can't exactly replace Michael, can we?" Simon asked.
"Replacing a hybrid is next to impossible," Raze growled.
"I was talking about Michael, not the hybrid within him," Simon stated. Raze and Derek exchanged glances.
"Maybe we should go in. I'm sure I could catch on to Kailyn's scent and -."
"You are not going out there, you hear?" Simon demanded. He took Derek's shoulders and shook him. "You hear?"
"Fine!"
"We should assemble a search party. Contact other Lycan clans," Raze suggested. "The farther we reach out the quicker we might find them."
"They couldn't have gone too far. The vampire was in a car. If it's taking them so long, they can't possibly still be in that car. They're most likely at a base, so it must be nearby," Derek reasoned.
"Good thinking."
"I'll assemble a team," Raze said, standing up.
"What good does that do? We won't be able to find them," Simon snapped.
Raze growled at him. "Do you have any other suggestions?"
"We've gone through this a ton of times already, Raze. There isn't anything we can do. You said yourself that she would bring him back," Simon snapped.
"Calm down, Dad," Derek told him. "Being stressed out clouds your judgment. I would know, that's how Kailyn was taken in the first place."
"Don't start to feel guilty now, Derek. I suggest we wait fifteen more minutes. If they aren't back by then, we'll go searching," Simon suggested.
Downstairs a door slammed.
The two men jumped up. Simon raced down the stairs, and Raze – being Raze – took his time slowly. Derek peered out of the window below to see Kailyn standing in the middle of the entry hall, jest where Ricky had been not much earlier. But Michael was no where to be found.
CHAPTER FIVE WHAT NEXT?
MICHAEL
"How's he doing?" Michael asked, coming up behind Simon.
"Still unconscious, I'm afraid," Simon told him, shaking his head. "What are we going to do about this, Michael?"
Michael ran his hands though his hair. "We can't just leave her to them," He replied.
"But you want to risk our lives for some human?" Raze said.
"What else do you suggest?!" Michael snapped.
"Hold in there, mate. For all it's worth, I'm with you. We DO need to get her back. The chances are that the vampires are plotting something dark for her. She's too close to all of us. Even if she IS human," Simon said, shooting the last part at Raze. "I can think of several other Lycans that will come with us."
"That won't be necessary," A voice said from behind them. All turned to see a woman in her twenties standing in the doorway. Her curly blond hair settled on her shoulders, pulled back from her face by a small hair clip. She wore sunglasses to hide her face and was dressed in black leather pants, a tight black shirt and a black leather trench coat. There was a slight bulge at her ankle, and it was obvious that a gun was hidden there.
Raze growled at her instantly. "Vampire," He snapped.
"Not just any vampire," The girl corrected. She strolled into the room and looked down at Derek.
"How did you get in here?" Michael asked, reaching for a UV gun. The girl held out her hand and the gun telekinetically flew to her. All eyes widened, even Raze's. She pulled out the cartridges and let the bullets fall to the ground.
"My sister mentioned a way in," She said.
"And how did she know?"
"She's been staying with you, hasn't she?" The girl asked. She looked down, her face saddened. Then she turned to them and smirked. "I believe you called her Kailyn."
"Kailyn was human," Michael said.
"So she believes. You wouldn't be able to tell if she was a vampire. She's been VERY well hidden," She replied. She walked up to Michael and looked him over. "Caelan (pronounced Sylen) Blaire, sire. And I'm the only person who can help you get Kay back at this moment."
"Kay?"
"I changed her name after our parents died," She said. "All that isn't your business, though. You've got your secrets -." She smiled knowingly at each of them, "And I've got mine. This is a simple business matter. No more, no less. And what IS your business is that we get my sister back from these vampires. Then, I think it would be best if you would make your peace with the other vampire covens."
All the men stared dumbfounded at her. She walked around the room, slowly fingering things before she met each one of their stares.
"Why should we make peace?" Raze finally growled.
"I thought that was what Lucian wanted," Caelan said innocently.
"Lucian's dead," Said Raze.
"So I know. But shouldn't you honor his memory?"
"Who are you really?"
"I've told you my name, there is no more to say." Her face became serious. "I want the Hybrid to come with me to fetch my sister. No others." She gave Simon and Raze a meaningful look. "Got it?"
"Why do you think we'll agree to that," Simon said. He looked worriedly down at Derek. Caelan followed his gaze. She blinked out of where she had been, and appeared next to Derek, gun pointed at his head.
"Agreed?" She challenged.
"Agreed," Michael said quickly. She pulled the gun away.
"Then come," She said. She held her hand out, and he took it. The two instantly vanished.
"Damn it!" Simon cried out. He stepped to where Michael had been, but they were definitely gone. "That bitch is going to pay when I get my hands on her ..."
"Calm yourself, Simon," Raze said. "They'll be back."
"You don't know that," Simon snapped. He went to Derek, and brushed the boy's hair back. "She would've killed him if she didn't get her way. She'll kill Michael, too."
"Simon! She won't do anything!" Raze snapped.
Simon looked up, surprised. "You trust her?" He asked.
"I must be losing my mind," Raze said, shaking his head as he walked out. Simon stared after him for a few moments, and then turned his attention back to the boy in front of him.
The Creature's Dwelling
"Where are we?" Michael asked.
"Stay back," Caelan instructed, pushing him against the wall with one arm and holding a gun out with another. Michael was beginning to get frustrated with this woman. He found himself wondering if she wasn't EXACTLY like Selene when they had met. Then again, Selene hadn't been so elusive. She just hadn't spoken. Caelan would beat around the bush.
Michael let out a warning growl to her. She turned back to him. "DON'T growl at me. I'm doing this for your own good," She stated. Michael was about to ask her what she meant, when she said, "When I say 'go', attack the three vampires in there near the door. I'll get the two in the back. Be prepared after that, who knows how many more will come and at what rate. When we get to Kailyn, leave the room and turn to the right. If you keep going strait, you'll hit the exit. After that you'll have to get her quickly back to the Lycan den."
"If you can do all this blinking around, why don't you just blink in and take her?" Michael asked, after saying he understood. Caelan looked at him.
"Because they can do the same," She stated simply.
"Of course. Why would this be EASY?" Michael muttered.
"Go!"
The two charged into the room. All the vampires looked up in surprise.
"Caelan?" One asked. She went to him, first. Pointing her gun she shot him in the head. Seconds later he fell to the floor in a pile of ashes. She turned to the other and shot. Meanwhile, Michael cut one's head off with a dagger, and changed into Hybrid form, slashing out at the enemy. He managed to get only one wound, fortunately. Soon they were all gone.
"Quick, through here!" Caelan called, racing through a door before others had a chance to appear. Michael hesitated, and then realized he had no choice, and ran through after her.
SELENE
"How could I possibly help you gain an alliance? The Lycans don't trust me, either," Selene spat out.
"You know their leader, Michael Corvin, correct?" Markus inquired.
"I know OF him," Selene said, still worrying that if she told them where he was, they'd harm him. "We split ways after Viktor."
"That isn't what our sources say," Markus told her. Selene stiffened. "I told you Selene, we don't want to harm Michael. We don't have time to continue this petty war!"
"Forgive me for my distrust," Selene snapped, and then realized this was her elder that she had spoken back to. She looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Those rules are out, Selene. Speak back all you want, just help us. If the creature -."
"What is this creature you mention?"
Markus sighed, and then looked at Erika. "Not now. When the time is right, I'll explain all of it. But not now. All I need is your guaranteed cooperation. Please, Selene. Where is the leader of the Lycans?"
Selene was silent for a long time. Both Markus and Erika feared she wouldn't answer. But she did. "I need something to prove your loyalty to this cause. And I'll be going by myself to get them. If anyone follows me, they'll be shot on sight."
"Not alone. As you don't trust me, I'm not certain I can trust you. Take two death dealers with you of your choosing," He said. "You will set out two nights from now for wherever they are. Be certain to get a good sleep, and inform me of your escorts before tonight. As for proving loyalty, when you leave I'll give you something."
"How do you know I won't sneak away?" Selene inquired.
"Because I know that you don't want to see anyone else harmed. Even under your 'steely' exterior, you care," He reminded her. Selene looked down, hating the elder for understanding her better than she allowed herself to understand. "Erika, please show Selene around, show her to her room and such. Make certain that she chooses her companions, as well."
"Yes, Markus," She said. She waited for Selene to follow her. Once outside, Selene looked at Erika with annoyance.
"I can take care of myself. I don't need escorts," She mumbled angrily. Erika couldn't help but smirk.
"Markus thinks he can protect everyone," She stated as they walked around the apartment building.
"That isn't the Markus I knew," Selene stated.
"Just so that you know right now, Selene, everyone's changed. Things are very different from when you were once here. It isn't about power any more, it's about survival," Erika told her.
"Is that what you think?" Selene asked.
"It's what I know," Erika answered. "No one will dare challenge Markus. Just as no one will challenge Michael. Once they join together as leaders we will be invincible. Nothing will get past Vampires and Lycans."
Selene said nothing, she just stared ahead. Erika pushed open a door, and Selene looked around the room of her 'new' apartment.
"What about all my stuff?" She asked her.
"I could send someone to retrieve it."
"Fine," Selene answered.
"This is where you'll be staying. Not as great as your room at Ordoghaz, but -."
"I THINK I can manage," Selene snapped, stepping away from Erika, who, in turn, glared hatefully.
"Let's get a few things strait, Selene. I will try to be nice to you, but I really don't like you. I never have, and I probably never will."
"Ditto," Selene replied.
Erika acted as if she were never interrupted. "But I said I would TRY. Maybe you could do the same. We have to work together in this, whether either of us likes it or not, got it?" She demanded.
Selene looked back at her, brief surprise registered on her face, and then she nodded grimly. "Fine."
Erika tossed the pair of keys to Selene. Selene looked down at them, and then put them in her jeans. "Am I to stay here for the night? Or can I leave when I choose?"
"We're not holding you a prisoner, Selene. Markus told me to show you around the apartments, and that's exactly what I plan to do. But maybe an old friend would like to accompany us," Erika suggested.
"Who did you have in mind?"
Elsewhere in the apartments
"We were worried that the others had gotten to you," Kahn said after he gave Selene a hug. She stepped back, surprised by the generosity in this former death dealer. Erika was right, people had changed.
"Here I am," Selene stated.
"I thought that you might wish to accompany us. I'm to show Selene the grounds," Erika told him.
"Why not," Kahn said with a shrug. He turned to the man next to him, and barked a few orders in French before following the girls out. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long," Selene admitted. "Tell me of the battle field," Selene said, getting back into the way it had been back in the old days.
"Can't complain," Kahn answered. "Now that we've stopped hunting the Lycans there seems to be less to do."
"Kahn, do you know anything of 'the Creature'?" Selene demanded.
Kahn laughed. "Making imaginary enemies, are we?" Then he inspected Selene's face, then Erika's.
"I think a new war will be brewing," Selene said calmly as she started walking, trying to contemplate what that could mean. Seeing she was deep in thought, Kahn and Erika spoke to each other, not bothering to point out everything they walked past, knowing Selene wouldn't pay attention.
MICHAEL
"Not to bother you, but do you think you could have gotten us a LITTLE closer to where they kept Kailyn?" Michael demanded, after twisting a vampire's head so her spinal cord snapped. The body fell to the floor, and he refused to allow himself to acknowledge all the murdering he had just done. Caelan looked back at him.
"We're almost there," She told him. She kicked at a door, but it didn't knock down. She concentrated her eyes and the door blew up.
"How the hell are you doing that?" Michael demanded. She ignored his outcry and climbed through the door, Michael behind. Before them were six vampires. They all were staring patiently at the door to see what had come through with the explosion. They didn't seem as surprised as Michael would have expected.
"So the betrayer has returned," A man snarled. He looked Caelan over.
"Out of my way, Dex, or I'll be forced to kill you," She snapped.
"You've brought the hybrid with you! Your father will be furious," He stated. She turned to Michael. He quickly understood the look, and went and lifted the man out of the way. She smiled sweetly.
"I said out of my way," She reminded him. Then Michael tossed the screaming vampire across the room. "Anyone else want to challenge? Sixteen dead; can add a few more to that list." The others moved away and let the two pass.
Michael, hearing the gun click, jumped out of the way just as it hurtled towards them. It managed to hit Caelan in the arm, and she cried out in pain. Her upper body spun around, and she ripped her sunglasses off - revealing her entirely green eyes. She hissed at them, tongue changing to that of a lizard as it snaked its way out of her mouth. She turned fully around and looked at the others. One hissed back at her, showing his lizard tongue as well. The two female 'vampires' now against Caelan stepped up.
"Don't try to fight us," One said through pointy teeth. Caelan narrowed her eyes.
"We are the same as you," The other reminded her. Michael raised his eyebrow, but didn't question.
"We don't work together anymore," Caelan reminded them. Then she held out her hands and all the guns in the room flew to her. She put them off to the side, but tossed one to Michael.
"Don't fire!" A voice called. Caelan spun around and came face to face with a frightening man. He stood tall, not much bigger than Michael. His eyes were entirely black – demon's eyes. He was dressed similar to Viktor when he had attacked Michael in the sewers. His black hair was ratty and clouded his face. He stared down at the gun now pointed at his head, and then met Caelan's eyes.
"So you plan to kill me now?" He asked her.
Michael could see there was an unspoken battle between the two, but he had come for a reason, and they could settle this another time. He came between them, a low growl rising in the back of his throat.
"You can't take him, Michael," Caelan warned.
The man glowered at Michael. "Hybrid," He stated furiously. "An abomination."
"As are you," Caelan said softly. "I won't fight you."
"But your friend thinks he will," The man stated.
"We've come for Kay. You can't keep her from me forever," Caelan warned.
"She can't live," The man stated simply.
Caelan began to fume. She glanced at Michael to see if he was paying attention. Michael looked confused. What was she trying to tell him? He growled at her in frustration. Caelan turned her attention back to the man, and shot. He let out a screech like that of a banshee, and Michael had to keep himself from covering his ears. The creature's skin turned black, as his was blue, and his chords in his neck began to bulge out. He grew three horns on his head, and a lump on the forehead. His black eyes soon turned red. He turned into a terrifying creature, much more frightening than Michael in hybrid form.
Caelan tackled him, pushing him aside and away from the door. "Get Kailyn and get out of here!" She cried to him.
Michael didn't need to be told twice. He pushed open the door and went to the girl squatting frightened on the floor as he changed back. Kailyn looked up.
"Michael!" She exclaimed excitedly. He smiled with assurance and then helped her to her feet.
"We have to get out of here now," He told her.
"I'll agree," Kailyn said. Michael started to leave when someone appeared in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going?" He growled.
"You!" Kailyn cried. She started forward, but Michael held her back.
"Let me handle this," Michael said.
"That's the guy who brought me here. He stabbed Derek, and had them kill the others," Kailyn informed Michael.
Michael swallowed hard. He didn't have much longer. Caelan wouldn't be able to hold the others off for long. He instantly switched to Hybrid mode and then rushed forward, tackling the man to the ground. He blinked out and then appeared behind Michael. Lifting him up by the hair, he glowered at him.
"Is this PATHETIC creature the infamous hybrid I've heard so much about?" He asked, evaluating Michael as a weakling. Michael reached out and pinned him by the neck to the wall. He struggled to breath.
"Kailyn, go right until you reach the exit," He instructed. Kailyn did just that, running down the hall.
Five more things created a circle around her. She screamed and then spun around. Michael looked down the hall. He had to get to her.
"We'll take care of this another day," He said to the man. Then he banged the man's head hard against the wall, knocking him unconscious. He barreled against the others, and began to fight them off, giving Kailyn time to run away. Suddenly remembering the gun he had stuffed in his pocket, he fired at three off them. They screamed and then fell to the floor; their bodies burning to ash instantly. The other two he took out with some quick fighting moves. Then he followed after Kailyn.
Back at the Lycan Den
"They've been gone for more than half an hour," Simon said nervously. Derek shook his head, but still looked furious. He had awoken again fifteen minutes earlier, and had just had everything explained to him.
"Why wasn't anything done?" He demanded.
"What could we do? They just blinked out – poof, gone, sayonara. We can't exactly replace Michael, can we?" Simon asked.
"Replacing a hybrid is next to impossible," Raze growled.
"I was talking about Michael, not the hybrid within him," Simon stated. Raze and Derek exchanged glances.
"Maybe we should go in. I'm sure I could catch on to Kailyn's scent and -."
"You are not going out there, you hear?" Simon demanded. He took Derek's shoulders and shook him. "You hear?"
"Fine!"
"We should assemble a search party. Contact other Lycan clans," Raze suggested. "The farther we reach out the quicker we might find them."
"They couldn't have gone too far. The vampire was in a car. If it's taking them so long, they can't possibly still be in that car. They're most likely at a base, so it must be nearby," Derek reasoned.
"Good thinking."
"I'll assemble a team," Raze said, standing up.
"What good does that do? We won't be able to find them," Simon snapped.
Raze growled at him. "Do you have any other suggestions?"
"We've gone through this a ton of times already, Raze. There isn't anything we can do. You said yourself that she would bring him back," Simon snapped.
"Calm down, Dad," Derek told him. "Being stressed out clouds your judgment. I would know, that's how Kailyn was taken in the first place."
"Don't start to feel guilty now, Derek. I suggest we wait fifteen more minutes. If they aren't back by then, we'll go searching," Simon suggested.
Downstairs a door slammed.
The two men jumped up. Simon raced down the stairs, and Raze – being Raze – took his time slowly. Derek peered out of the window below to see Kailyn standing in the middle of the entry hall, jest where Ricky had been not much earlier. But Michael was no where to be found.