answers to reviewers questions or statements:
Fenrir44: Maybe.
Spawn Hades: We're gonna see that this mole may be more trouble than he's worth.
lord web of life of destiny: No Peter's not joining the Lycans.
gunman: There's certain things that the Elders don't like being public knowledge and Marcus, Viktor and Amelia have always struck me as people who like to keep things inhouse between them.
Hardlight: Never played the game but I think a sequel is coming out soon.
KasugaRomio: Huh? Far as I saw, Peter never showed a hint he knew who David's father was.
Jason Chandler: Well William did spend hundreds of years without food before he was released and it looked like he didn't have much to eat when Selene and the Cleaners all showed up, so yeah, man was practically starved and he was overpowering Michael for most of their fight. God knows how tough he'd be at full strength though the fact that all three Elders were present at his capture, does give me a hint that he may have been the most powerful non Hybrid character and one of the most powerful characters in Underworld in general. I mean he was able to avoid capture for decades if not centuries'.
Esquire-man: The mask wearing is more out of habit than anything else. And like Peter said, he's paranoid, maybe he expects someone to toss sunlight into his eyes or something.
Krolikson: Peter has a sort of web of people that help him in his day to day affairs, but we wont see that much until he heads back to New York and we start to get closer to the events of the movies.
N4M3L355: Yeah, for once Peter wont have to worry about limited funding or resources to make his things... instead, it's his co-workers he has to keep a close eye on.
BadReader: You really think Ben would be working with the people that killed one of his brothers regardless if he was one of them? You do realize one of the underlying themes of the war in the movies is that the Lycans were made out to be the bad guys when it was the Vampires who were in the wrong, right?
Jestalnaker94000: Maybe.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel or Underworld characters seen, mentioned or used.
No matter how many years it's been, no matter how much the city changes with the addition of new buildings, New York would always be home in Ben's opinion.
The lights, the people, the towering skyscrapers, it all just seemed to feel right for the Lycan. True the noise and air pollution sucked because of his enhanced senses but he was willing to stomach it for the most part.
'It also helps this is the last place the Vampires will think to look for us' Ben thought as he and Raze stood in a parking garage just a block away from the building that the New World Coven was using as their headquarters in the middle of the day.
Raze seemed uneasy being so close to their enemies but Bren assured him that his mole assured them that the Vampires will never think to look for Lycans in their own city. They were completely confident that all of them were wiped out decades ago and the last of their kind is barely surviving out in the European countryside. Far as they were concerned, the Vampires were about to hit some sort of golden age for their kind now that their mortal enemies were all but gone or soon will be.
"How much longer do we have to wait for this contact of yours?" Raze demanded as he paced back and forth, his eyes darting all over the place for signs of hidden enemies.
"Shouldn't be long" Ben answered with a yawn as he stared out a window and watched the traffic below pass by "He likes to make people wait as some kind of power move. To show that we need him not the other way around when in reality he needs us more than we need him. What he doesn't know is that in this case, we actually do need him but the trick is to make him think we don't so that way he's more... manageable"
Raze stopped in is pacing and glanced at Ben with a dumbfounded look on his face "That makes no sense in any shape or form"
Ben rolled his eyes at this "He thinks he's important but he wasn't until now"
Raze growled at this and resumed his pacing before he stopped at the sound of a car below them entering the garage.
"Easy boy, it's just someone coming to park their car is all" Ben chuckled, earing a glare of annoyance from Raze.
"I don't like meeting this close to them" Raze nodded in the direction of the Vampire's coven "If they find out we're here-"
"We'll be fine Raze, relax" Ben said with a sigh "Honestly, I'm starting to think the reason you've been bald all these years is because you worried your hair away"
"My worry is what's kept many of us alive" Raze clarified.
"True, but in this case I'm gonna need you to relax a bit" Ben stated as he turned towards Raze and gave him a pointed look "You let my mole see how ruffled you are, he'll use that to his advantage. Or he'll up and run for the hills and snitch us out, either one I'm not inclined to have happen"
Raze grunted at this before he and Ben saw a car coming up from the lower level, all black with tinted windows and no license plate on the bumper. The two Lycans froze and stared at the car as it came to a stop a few meters from the two before it flashed it's headlights twice and the engine cut off.
"That's him" Ben nodded towards the car.
"Finally" Raze growled as he and Ben watched someone climb out of the rear driver side door.
"Benjamin! And Benjamin's tall scary, looking friend" the pale skinned man said as he climbed out of the car and gave a wide grin towards Ben and Raze.
"Frost" Ben replied with a blank face while Raze simply narrowed his eyes at the approaching vampire.
Deacon Frost was without a doubt, in Ben's mind, the biggest pile of crap to have ever been brought into this world and given a chance to keep festering in it. The man seemed to think himself some sort of second coming of Alexander Corvinus despite the fact that he wasn't born a vampire but instead turned and often tried to hold himself to the same level as 'Pure Born' Vampires and members of the High Council. Honestly Ben was surprised that the man hasn't been killed yet with how he seems to piss of just about everyone he meets.
'Hmm, maybe Amelia is too busy with Peter to give Frost any thought' Ben thought with a silent snort.
"So, what brings you fine boys all the way to America?" Frost said as he clapped his hands together before rubbing them as his eyes darted between Ben and Raze "Hotdogs? Women? Hollywood? Or are you in the market for some pu-"
"I need to get into my brother's lab" Ben said, causing Frost's eyes to widen slightly.
"Uh, what?" he said, unsure if he heard right.
"My brother, Peter, looks like me but more pale and a vampire" Ben said with a hint of annoyance in his tone "One of y'all's... head researchers, or whatever it is you call them. I need to get into his lab"
"Why?" Frost said with confusion "Wasn't the information I sent to you, at great personal risk and oh yeah thanks for asking but yes I'm okay, good enough?"
"No, I need more" Ben said as he folded his arms across his chest "Just get me inside your Coven's tower and I'll handle the rest"
Frost stared at Ben for a long time, his gaze unblinking as he processed what he was just told. Finally the man broke into a fit of laughter that caused him to double over from it's intensity. Ben frowned at the man while Raze silently glared at the vampire. After nearly a minute of uninterrupted laughter, and Raze taking a threatening step forward, Frost quieted down for a second to stare at Ben with a look of amusement.
"And here I thought your brother was the comedian. Haven't laughed that hard since I turned" the vampire said with a smirk "Thanks for that"
"Frost..." Ben said with a hint of warning in his tone, his nails very briefly extended into claws before the Lycan caught himself.
"Do you have any idea how fortified that bitch's place is?" Deacon gestured to the New World Coven's tower "We're talking dozens of Death Dealers, three times as many humans that we've raised and trained to be nothing but subservient to us and make Navy Seals or whatever look like fucking mall cops in comparison, and the best security money can buy! Even if I wanted to get you, a fucking Lycan of all things, into the very heart of the Vampire Nation's current base of power, I couldn't. You'd be fucking dead before we even make it pass the main lobby"
"Which is why me and Raze are gonna be dead going in" Ben said, causing Frost to frown.
"Uh, excuse me? The fuck does that mean?" he asked.
"According to some of the reports you've sent me over the years, the Coven receives a shipment of Lycans, be they dead or alive, for Peter and a few other researchers to test and study" Ben said as he gestured to himself and Raze "Your gonna get us into one of those shipments, preferably the ones where their already dead. Once I'm inside, I'll make my way into Peter's lab, grab what I need and be on my marry way with Amelia none the wiser"
"And if your discovered?" Frost said with a pointed look "What than?"
"Well I'll be doing this during the day when most of you all are asleep or whatever it the fuck it is your kind does during the day" Ben waved off Frost's question.
"We sleep/They sleep" Raze and Frost said at the same time, causing the former to glower at the vampire.
"Aww look at that, you guys are getting along already" Ben teased while Frost ran his hands over his face in order to hide the frustration he was feeling from all of this.
"I just know I'm going to regret this..." Frost muttered before he took a deep breath and quickly exhaled it through his nose "Alright, there's going to be a shipment of Lycans delivered this weekend for some of the egg heads to examine. I have a few people that'll be on the security detail that can help you get inside"
"How many people know of you dealings with us?" Raze asked with a frown as his eyes darted towards the parked car.
"A few, don't worry about it" Frost frowned at the large man before he turned towards Ben "But, I'm gonna need a little help with something first. Consider it a upfront payment for helping you two infiltrate the literal fucking heart of Vampire society"
Raze opened his mouth to respond, likely with something along the lines of 'no' before Ben beat him to it and sighed "Lets hear it"
Frost smirked at this "There's a rave going on at this meat packing plant we own the night before your pals stiffs are dropped off. I have it on good authority that a pain in the ass for the Vampire Nation is gonna be there and I want you two to deal with him"
Ben and Raze both stared at the Vampire for several moments before they both shared a glance, some unspoken conversation passing between the two, before Ben answered for the both of them.
"Annnnnd... we should give a fuck, why?" Ben asked while Raze simply glowered at Frost.
"Cause if the asshole that'll be there that night kills me, whose gonna get your flea ridden asses inside to your brothers lab?" Frost asked with a arrogant grin.
"Why the fuck are you even going to this damn rave thing if that guy whom your afraid of is gonna be there and try to kill you?!" Ben asked with annoyance.
"If this man is as big of a threat to you and your kind, why not have the Death Dealers deal with it?" Raze asked with a growl "How do we know this isn't a trap?"
"Because dumb fuck, I have no control over any Death Dealers, they report to the Coven Leaders or the Council, which I'm not either of, and if Amelia finds out I ever met with you two, regardless if it was to lead you into a fucking trap, she'd rip my fangs out and leave me out to burn in the sun" Frost stated with a chuckle as he folded his arms across his chest "You boys want my help? Well, your gonna get it after you help me out. Simple as that"
'One of these days Frost, I'm gonna rip your fucking head off' Ben thought darkly before he grunted "Fine, we'll help"
Frost nodded at this before he clapped his hands together and began to rub them in glee "Great, I'll send over the details later"
"Fine, but just so you know Frost, if you do end up betraying us..." Ben began before pausing to glance at a angered Raze "Well... let's just say my friend here won't leave much of you left to identify"
"Ooh, I'm terrified" Frost mocked before he flinched as Raze took a single step forward, growling at the shorter man.
"Terrified, probably not" Ben said with a smirk as he watched Frost stare up at Raze with a unsettled look in his eyes as he began to realize that he was within arms reach of a very old and very powerful Lycan "But you'll still be screaming all the same when Raze gets his hands on you... they always scream. And he's had hundreds of years to make you sound like a damn symphony while he does it"
And with that, Ben gestured for his companion to follow him past the Vampire turncoat "See you at the rave Frost"
Well the easy part was over... now Ben had to plan on what to do for when they get to the hard part of this whole endeavor.
And deal with whatever or whoever the fuck that's after Frost.
...
"My lady...?"
Amelia paused in reading a current status update in regards to the current numbers of vampires within the Old and New World Coven's and glanced at the door to her office to see one of her advisors, secretary by this point really, had peeked her head through the large wooden doors. The black wood and dark steel of the doors made the secretary look even more pale then they already were.
"What is it?" Amelia asked with a hint of annoyance in her tone, this was the sixth interruption tonight and she was growing wary of them.
"The Lady Damaskinos is here" the secretary said, doing her best to not flinch under the ancient electric yellow eyed gaze of her mistress.
"I see" Amelia said with a slow nod as she closed the folder that housed the population numbers and set it aside "Let her in"
The secretary nodded and quickly retreated from view to fetch the Vampiric Noble Woman. The Damaskinos were one of the oldest and most influential families within the Vampire Nation, at least two of their number sat upon the Council currently and were instrumental in helping Amelia modernize the Vampire Nation when she was awoken nearly a hundred years ago.
Thankfully, the patriarch of the Damaskinos clan, Eli Damaskinos didn't try to use this as some way to increase his already substantial influence in Vampire society or even dare to hint at the possibility of adding a fourth Elder. Though it was this lack of action on either front that set Amelia on edge, she's known Eli since they were both still human, hell she sired the man after she was turned, and she knew that this inaction was more than it seemed.
'Oh well, it'll be Marcus's problem soon enough and those two hate one another with a passion' Amelia thought with a snort as she watched the daughter of Eli enter her office.
Nyssa Damaskinos was by all accounts, eternally beautiful in every way one could possibly imagine and the very definition of grace in every movement she made. She was also one of the most skilled Death Dealers alive, comparable to the likes of Selene or even Amelia herself. If there ever came a time where an Elder had to be replaced, something that Amelia privately hoped will be either of her male counterparts, Nyssa will rise to the station rather than her father.
Despite all of that, the only issue that Amelia had with the woman, which was more of a pet peeve at this point than anything else, was that she and Peter had courted during the two hundred years that the Elder hibernated. True the two's relationship ended decades before Amelia and Peter ever began to secretly court let alone sleep with one another, a part of Amelia couldn't help but feel a tad bit possessive of her beloved.
"Nyssa, welcome" Amelia said as she slowly stood up from her seat and made her way around the black marble table to properly greet the several hundred year old woman.
"My lady, I apologize for this unexpected arrival" Nyssa said with a small bow as Amelia drew closer.
"Your excused my dear..." Amelia said as she leaned forward and planted a small kiss on Nyssa's cheek before repeating the gesture for the other side "I'm sure you have your reasons and if not, your arrival is a welcomed break from my duties"
Not really, Amelia's been putting off a few things she has planned today for months now on account she's spent as much time as she could, without drawing too much unnecessary attention or scrutiny, in Peter's company before she must return to hibernation. Two hundred years while seemingly quick for a slumbering Elder, was still a long time to others and anything could happen.
Nyssa smiled shyly at this "I'm glad my unexpected presence brought you some form of comfort"
"Indeed" Amelia said as she gestured for Nyssa to take a seat "Are you thirsty my dear?"
"No my lady" Nyssa said with a polite shake of her head as the Vampire Elder took her seat across from her.
It was admittedly a struggle to not fidget under the electric yellow of Amelia's eyes, how they seemed more fitting on some large hunting jungle cat than a immortal Elder.
"How is your father, well I hope?" Amelia asked as she slid a few documents into her drawer before locking it.
"He's well my lady, though he still sometimes privately complains that he wished you turned him a decade or so sooner" Nyssa said with a chuckle "According to him, spending eternity in one's twilight years isn't all that grand as it seems, even for a Vampire"
"I'll keep that in mind for next time" Amelia smirked before her expression hardened "Now than, why is it your here? I doubt it was to joke of your father's health at his own expense"
Nyssa seemed to squirm slightly under Amelia's gaze "It's... difficult to explain my lady. And frankly, we aren't exactly sure what it is we've discovered is even true or not"
"What's not?" Amelia asked her eyes narrowing slightly.
"The Lycans are looking for William Corvinus" Nyssa said as she stared into Amelia's eyes with a mixture of uncertainty and fear.
Amelia's heart skipped a beat at this, her mind racing on just how the Damaskinos had uncovered what's left of the Lycan's grand plan "I beg your pardon?"
Nyssa reached into the pocket of her jacket and retrieved a small flash drive and held it out towards the Elder to take. Amelia took it and quickly plugged it in to her desktop and accessed the files stored on it and began to read through them.
"A week ago me and several Death Dealers had stumbled across what appeared to be some sort safe house of a pack of Lycans" Nyssa began as Amelia's eyes slowly widened at what she was seeing "It seemed that they had gathered a number of old texts and ledgers that seemed to have originated from Castle Corvinus, the original seat of power for us until Lucian stole it"
"I'm surprised they ever bothered to keep this in the first place" Amelia muttered as she continued to scan the contents of the flash drive with growing unease.
It seemed the Lycans had figured out that since the Vampire Elders, namely Viktor, had William imprisoned, some sort of record had to have existed of either it's construction or preservation. To Amelia's knowledge, no such thing existed, if Viktor did have any plans made on William's prison, it's long since been destroyed to prevent Marcus from finding it. Still, try as he might, even Viktor can't completely hide what was sure to be a monumental and expensive project at the time. The prison would have to have been built somewhere very remote so as to ensure no poor human stumbled across it. Second, the prison would've have to have been built using large amounts of Silver in a effort to keep William weakened throughout his imprisonment, while the father of all Werewolves was highly resistant compared to those he sired, even he had his limits. Third and finally the prison itself had to be built with quite possibly the strongest Immortal alive remaining imprisoned for all time.
When one considers all that, maintaining said location's existence a secret would be next to impossible for that time.
Nyssa nodded at the Elders response "We believe that the Lycans are trying to find and follow the materials used in said prison's construction. Labor, silver, wood, stone, supplies to feed and cloth the workers and maintain their tools. They also seem to know that at the very least, the prison remains somewhere within our old domain. With respect my Lady, I doubt either you or your fellow Elders would allow such a place to be beyond your boarders"
"Assuming, of course, that's what we're hoping for in attempt to keep the Lycans from venturing out and actually finding William's prison" Amelia stated with a frown as she leaned back in her seat and began to contemplate her next course of actions.
For now she'll need to do damage control on the inevitable spread of rumors of the Lycan's plans, Nyssa and Eli's silence was assured but their underlings was another matter entirely and she could no longer afford to deny the claims and waste resources trying to quell them. She'd also have to get in contact with Peter and strongly suggest he move his ass in finding these Lycans and eliminating them as quickly as possible.
But the biggest issue she was now facing was what she was going to do about Marcus when he awoke to the very real possibility of William's discovery and possible release.
After centuries of slaughter, of discovering one village after another having been razed by William and his horde of Werewolves, seeing thousands ripped to pieces by the ravenous beasts, Amelia's fellow Elder still held on to the belief that his twin could be brought under control. Amelia and Viktor never found evidence that Marcus was still looking for William, but she and likely Viktor knew that if given the chance, Marcus would release his brother... and likely eliminate Amelia and Viktor to ensure his brother's 'safety'.
"My father wishes to know how you want us to proceed from here my Lady" Nyssa said after several tense moments of silence between the pair.
'Indeed' Amelia thought with a brief exhale through her nose before she rose from her seat "Contact your father and let him know that I'll be hosting a emergency meeting with the council in two days time. His presence is mandatory, I don't care if he has to attend it in a damn hospital bed, but he will be there!"
"Yes my lady" Nyssa said with a curt nod.
"Excellent" Amelia said as she gestured for Nyssa to follow her towards her office's door "Forgive me, but I'm going to need you to leave, I must speak with a number of my advisors currently here and prepare for the arrival of the Council"
"As you wish my lady" Nyssa said as she rose and followed the Elder to the door "And my Lady, if I may ask..."
"Ask away dear" Amelia said as she turned towards the younger Vampiric woman.
"Do... do you happen to know if Peer is still here?" Nyssa asked nervously "I was hoping to speak with him in regards to a possible project he could aide my father with"
A flash of annoyance erupted within Amelia but she quickly reigned it in before it could appear on her face "He's currently on an assignment for me, but I shall let him know you wish to speak with him and he can contact you directly when he has the chance"
When this business with William is put to rest... maybe.
And Amelia ensures Peter's affections remain firmly centered around her.
And Deacon Frost is left out to burn in the sun.
...
And done.
Next chapter, Among Wolves...