Chapter 5- Old Friends
Disclaimer- I don't own Underworld, any resemblance in the name of the characters is purely coincidental. (Lol)
"A friend of yours? Here? Now!" George's wife exclaimed with a shriek. Octavian glanced up at George with a bemused smile. George seemed to be scared out of his mind.
"Yes... honey. He's a friend from school." George stuttered out.
"I don't care! You're going to need to talk to that son of yours! He isn't listening to me anymore. Will you please actually try to clean up after yourself!" She exploded and ran around the basement pointing to all of the things that were out of place. "There is actually duct tape on the windows! How did you manage that?" She asked. She began to rip the duct tape off when George stopped her.
"I'll take care of it, honey. Just get ready for work." George yelled.
"Glad to see you actually pulling your weight around here!" She snapped, and she walked back up the stairs. Octavian began to laugh as George put the duct tape back over the small portion of the window that remained uncovered.
"It's not funny." George said angrily.
"It usually takes a human much longer to accept the truth in such matters." Octavian said, mercifully changing the subject.
"I read Ann Rice's novels." George said without turning.
"I only read one of them, it was 'Interview with the vampire'. Mostly right, except for the dying thing, and the fact that we are only at peace when we feed off of humans. That part is wrong."
"First Ann rice I read." George replied.
"Good."
"Why are you here?" George pressed, hoping this time to actually get a response.
"To get out of the sunlight... and... this." Octavian said, turning on the television. Only a few seconds after Octavian turned on the TV did a picture of him appear.
"And this picture taken by a man on the scene of the murders is the killer. He has medium sized black hair, blue eyes, and is about..." Octavian flipped off the television and turned back to George.
"Scene of the murders? How many did you kill?" George asked.
"Five." Octavian replied sullenly.
"Great..." This time George was the one massaging his temples.
"And arson." Octavian added.
"Arson?"
"Yeah... I burnt the place down after that." Octavian continued.
"Why?" George asked.
"Burn the Lycan bodies." Octavian answered defensively.
"The entire force will be up in arms looking for you!" George exclaimed.
"That's why I can't stay here long; but I will be back. I need you to do something for me. Those Lycans. I want you to find out everything you can about them. I'll check in on you soon." Octavian checked the clock. "I'm out of here in ten hours. Until then, I'll be here."
"What should I do?" George asked.
"Call in sick."
"Do I have a choice in the matter."
"Not really."
"Do you want something to drink." George said, pointing to the drink he held in his hands.
"I don't drink that stuff." Octavian said, he pulled out a small bag of blood and showed it to George.
"Oh yeah.. I forgot. Is that donated?"
"Clone blood." Octavian corrected.
"Wow... you must have a big organization and everything." George said with awe.
"Yep."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" George asked.
"Who would believe you?" Octavian said with a smile.
"You got a point there."
"I could use a cup for this." Octavian said, holding up his bag of blood. "It's better than drinking from the bag."
Alexander Corvinus' words still rang aloud in Gaius' brain as he finished dressing up for the party. He finished quickly and returned to the hallway, making his way back to the room. When he entered this time, he drew little attention, and he began to scan the room for people he knew. He caught sight of Selene and Michael after looking for quite some time. They were in the back corner of the room, alone, and with no other chairs pulled up to the table. Gaius made his way to Selene, who was silent; but smiling at Michael.
"This is stupid... what's going on." Michael questioned, impatiently; but still soothingly.
"I have no better of an idea than you." Selene replied, smiling still.
"I had no idea either, until Corvinus came to have a chat." Gaius said, interrupting their love-filled gaze. Selene turned her head quickly and angrily to the new unidentified speaker and recognized him at once.
"Gaius." She said softly; but intensely.
"Calm yourself, we aren't enemies any more." Gaius said, smiling.
"I forget sometimes." Selene replied coldly.
"Who is this?" Michael asked, feeling left out.
"He's a Lycan." Selene said, unable to hide a lingering sense of detestation.
"I prefer intellectual... who happens to be a Lycan." Gaius responded coolly.
"So what do you want?" She demanded, losing patience.
"I wanted to tell you that... Octavian never wanted to hurt you. The only reason that he never talked to you since that night was to protect you. If he had told you the truth, you would have followed him, and you would have placed yourself in grave danger." Gaius said.
"Would I have?" She asked icily.
"You two loved each other, anyone could tell. You know you would have followed him to any end." Gaius answered.
"We'll never know will we." Selene answered.
"He's been invited here, and he's coming. You should be warned that he doesn't know about your friend." Gaius said motioning to Michael.
"Leave." Selene demanded with an intense look of loathing the edges of her eyes began to turn bright blue.
"As you wish." Gaius replied, turning and walking back into the center of the room.
Selene had been shocked when she first received word that Alexander Corvinus was still alive; but nothing compared with this. In all of the years of his absence, Selene had almost forgotten about Octavian. As Gaius walked away she began to think of him again, staring off into space.
"What is it?" Michael asked, trying to comfort her.
"There is something that I haven't told you about myself." Selene said softly. Michael put his arm around her and smiled warmly at her.
"I'm sure there are things I haven't told you about myself." He said dismissively.
"No... this is different."
"Tell me about it." Michael insisted.
"Before Kraven was granted control over the Coven, I was involved with another man."
"I'm sure... a beautiful girl like you."
"His name was Octavian, he was my partner for about 20 years. They sent him on a mission to hunt down and kill a Lycan, who was hiding in America, by the name of Gaius." Selene continued.
"That Gaius?" Michael asked, pointing to the man across the room.
"Yes. Anyways, Gaius incapacitated him somehow, and convinced him that being a Death dealer was wrong."
"How did he do that?"
"Gaius is one of the smartest Lycans in existence. He probably told Octavian about the history of the war, about Lucian. No one knows, because Viktor didn't like anyone to talk about the defection. Gaius had never caused much trouble anyway. He had never turned a human into a Lycan, he never fed on humans. He never even killed a Vampire. So Viktor dropped it."
"What about Octavian?" Michael asked.
"He was officially excommunicated from the Coven and renounced. Every few years there would be an attempt to find him; but no one has yet. He never tried to communicate with me again." A look of concern seemed to cross Michael's face and Selene noticed. "Don't worry." She comforted lovingly. "He's water under the bridge. I would never give you up." Selene wrapped her arms around Michael and nuzzled against him. Michael continued to think about Octavian; but he returned Selene's loving embrace.
"Neither would I." He whispered softly.
This is all... see ya in 7 days.
