Selene opened her eyes to the gentle stroking of he hand. She lifted her head and saw Michael looking at her and smiling. She was so happy he was awake. Before she could stop herself, she lunged and hugged him. She took him by so much surprise that he was now pinned to his cot, with her halfway on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her, causing her to lean in more on his damaged torso. But he didn't care. He was about as happy to see her, as she was him.
But after a moment or two, she did pull away, sitting back in her chair.
" Happy to see me I guess?" he asked with a smile on his face.
" You have no idea. You missed a lot." She admitted.
" I know. Aubrey filled me in."
There was silence as Selene looked down. Finally she looked back at him, a question eating at her. " Michael…" she began.
" Yeah?"
" …You know what Marcus said…you know that it's not true, right? About me not loving you…?" she was having such a hard time saying it, but she knew it had to come out. She had to say it, because she knew now that it really was true.
" It's not?" he asked, the hope seeping from his voice.
She shook her head. " No. I see it know Michael, and I know it really is true. From when I first saw you that day at the subway station, I knew it. Then I denied it, but when I thought I had lost you last night, it was the worst feeling in the world. I don't ever want to feel that again, Michael…"
He looked at her. He couldn't believe it. Selene was feeling, she was feeling for him. He had always hoped this would happen, but now that it finally had, he was speechless. He literally could not speak. All he could do was act.
Slowly he leaned over to Selene, getting closer and closer to her. She met him halfway with a kiss. It was simple at first, but then it progressed. Her tongue pushed threw his lips and was met with his own. Selene wrapped her hands around Michael, wanting more heat. She ended up on his cot. He pulled away from her mouth, roaming around her neck and across her breastbone. Feeling aroused, her eyes changed to their ice blue, and she did what a vampire was expected to do; she bit into Michael's neck, and he bit back…
Aubrey was in his office talking with Raze about the move, when he felt it. As did Raze. They looked at each other, eyebrows raised. There was an enormous amount of heat and energy coming from the recovery area in Raze's office. It spread…
Ravyn was in the common room when she felt it. As did Jared and Frost, who she was talking with. The energy and heat radiated through the den. It was so strong, which worried Ravyn a bit. If they could sense it, surely any nearby vampires could.
It was around an hour before the heat finally died down, and another hour before anyone dared go into Raze's office, even Raze himself…
Michael stared up at the ceiling. He had his arm around Selene, who was asleep. He was stroking her bare shoulder, as both of their clothing had been cast aside a while ago. Now they lay under a blanket. He felt a twinge from his neck, where Selene's new bite mark had finally stopped bleeding. He felt bad about biting her though, hoping he didn't cause her any pain. He felt refreshed, his senses heightened. It was because of this that he heard someone approaching the door.
There was a knock. Quickly, but quietly, as to not disturb Selene, Michael got out of the caught and put his boxers and jeans back on. He walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Aubrey, with Raze behind him.
" Michael, it's time." Aubrey said.
" Yes, and if it's okay with you, I'd like my office back." Raze added.
Michael nodded. " Give me a minute." He closed the door and walked back over to Selene. He felt bad about waking her up, but he knew that they had to leave. He shook her and her eyes fluttered open.
" Michael? What?"
" We have to go, it's time."
She got dressed quickly, and they left Raze in his office.
" So what did the team find out?" Selene asked Aubrey as they walked down to his office.
" There are several locations around the perimeter of town where surveillance teams are set up. There's one right near the spot where you guys have to pass, so be careful there. Otherwise than that the coast is clear. I wrote down the direction to the den, and Ravyn was kind enough to draw a detailed map. Just follow that and you should be there and back by morning two days from now, providing you don't run in to any trouble. I put together some things you'll be needing for your travels, blood, medical equipment, and stuff like that." Aubrey said as he handed them the papers, and bag of stuff. " Also, Selene, I took the liberty of getting your guns cleaned and reloaded. There's extra ammo in that pack if you need it." Aubrey handed Selene her holster and guns.
" Thanks Aubrey." She took it from him.
" Well, you two seemed kind of busy to I figured I'd do it." Aubrey smirked.
Michael and Selene exchanged bashful glances with each other, and then looked away.
Aubrey handed Michael a shirt and gave them both their trench coats. " All set?"
Michael looked at Selene who nodded. " I guess so."
"Aright then." Aubrey said as he led them to a secret tunnel. He opened a door in the floor that led down underground. " Just go down here. Keep going until you can feel yourself going up hill. Once you do, look around, there should be a door. Go through there, and that will lead you up some stairs and up through a cellar door. Be careful once you're there. The cellar door is right by those vamps I told you about earlier. They're position on top of a building looking out of a wide meadow. The meadow is filled with tall crops, so you can stand up, but just be careful about how you move. There are traps so keep your eyes peeled. Don't run and don't make any big movements, or else you'll be seen for sure. Once you're in the woods, you should be safe, but keep your guard up. When you need to stop to rest, go up in shady trees that'll make it hard to be seen from below and above. The den is well hidden in the deepest part of the forest, so use your nose, Michael. You'll find it. It has a smell only lycans can pick up."
" Alright."
Aubrey patted Michael on the back. " As for the rest, you're on your own. See you two in a couple of days."
Michael and Selene nodded. The made one last check to make sure they had everything. Then they were ready. Michael let Selene jump down first.
" See you soon." Michael said as he jumped down as well.
The door above them shut and they were left in such thick darkness, even Michael couldn't see right away. He felt Selene's hand grab his. They didn't move as they waited for their eyes to adjust. But even when they did, they could only barely make each other out. Selene didn't like the feeling of being blind, but knowing that Michael was there calmed her a little. They could hear drops of water from somewhere, and Michael's breathing seemed like it was the loudest thing in the world. Their footsteps echoed in the eerie silence.
They walked for a while. Selene was the first to sense that they were going up hill. She told Michael. They felt around for a door, and when they found it, the opened it. It was a little lighter in this area, but any human would be disoriented still by the darkness. Michael found the stairs first, tripping on them. Selene helped him up.
" Selene, why don't you stay down here while I open the door. The sun could still be up."
" Alright, but be careful. Aubrey never said exactly how far away the surveillance team was…"
Michael took a deep breath. He reached up and felt the handle for the cellar door. He opened it a crack, and the dull light of dusk hit him. The sun was hidden behind a hill, and only it's harmless cast off light remained. He turned around and reached for Selene's hand. She grabbed it, and silently they came out of the cellar. Selene sensed the vampires immediately. They were stationed on a rooftop of a house no more than a block away. The building hid them for now, but there was a little less than a fourth of a mile of open land before they reached the safety of the crop field. And by open, she meant open, not a tree, or a bush, or anything.
Selene turned to Michael. " We have to make a run for it."
" Are you kidding me? They'll see us for sure."
" Well, I'm not so sure about you, but they'll defiantly see me. I'm fast, but not as fast as you."
Michael looked at her. " I'll run with you."
Michael peered out from around the building. A vampire stood looking out of the meadow. Then he turned around to watch the street. Michael turned to Selene. " We have to go now."
Selene stuffed the papers in her pocket and Michael slung the pack over his shoulder.
" Wait for it…" Michael said. The vampire was looking back over the field again, and then he went back to looking over the street. " Now!"
On his word, they sprinted across the open field. Michael could have run faster, but he dared not leave Selene behind. They ran as fast as they could, finally skidding into the crop field. But they hit the stalks of wheat and it made a shaking noise. Luckily, it stopped as the vampire turned around. He was like a light tower, rotating in a circle every few minutes.
Michael and Selene moved carefully now, and very slowly, trying not to move the stalks. Finally they found a walkway that separated the different sections of wheat and what have you. But soon, they ran into their first trap.
There were trip wires running across the walkway. They never would have seen them if it weren't for the moon. They glinted in the silvery light, looking almost like a spider web would. Only these ran horizontally, and whet up and down at different lengths on top of each other (Like lines of latitude.)
Michael and Selene took their coats off, and Selene was glad she had found a new leather suit. They threw the pack, their coats, and Selene's holster over the wires, where they landed in a pile on the other side. They had no idea what would happen if they so much as even touched one of these wires, and they weren't about to take and chances.
Michael went through first. He had to crouch and go in to odd positions so he didn't touch any wires. He went through slowly, and finally got to the end, breathing a sigh of relief.
Now it was Selene's turn. She went through the trip wires like there was nothing to it. With the grace and agility of a cat, she glided through it like she had done it a million times before. That is, until she go to the last two wires. The inertia caught up with her and she barely missed the second to last one, but she ran into the last one. They heard a click and Selene stopped dead. Nothing had happened, but she still didn't move. She knew that if she eased off the wire, it would set off and explosive.
Michael was on it. He moved their stuff back a bit. Then he walked over to Selene. He peered over the crops and saw a vampire looking at a lab top, and then he whipped his head in their direction. Michael hit the ground as fast as he could.
" I think you set off a sensor." He whispered.
" Get me out of here, Michael. Hurry."
Michael nodded his head. He wrapped his arms around her, and using his hybrid speed, he pulled her out and before they knew it, they were a couple of feet back, and a land mine exploded. Dust, earth, debris, and fire exploded into the air. There were shouting voices and Michael and Selene had no choice but to escape into the crops. They grabbed their stuff and ran away closer to the forest.
They were running, but suddenly Selene stopped.
" Selene! What are you doing?" Michael whispered as he came back to her.
" Give me some blood."
" What?"
" Just do it."
Michael sighed and quickly rummaged through the pack and handed Selene a cylinder of blood. She took it and opened the top. She chucked some around the spot they were in, spraying it on the crops and the ground. The warm blood steamed on contact with the cold earth. Selene then chucked the container as far away as possible, and then turned back to Michael.
" We have to make a run for the forest."
He nodded and they took off, running as fast as they could. The forest seemed so close, but they weren't covering ground that fast.
" What was that for?" Michael panted as he ran along side Selene.
" They will follow the blood until they realize it's not us. I bought us some time."
Suddenly there was I shout from a male voice. " I see them! Look!"
"But apparently not enough!" Selene whispered as she picked up the pace. A gunshot rang out, and Michael stumbled to the ground. But he was on his feet quickly and running after Selene. The last stretch to the forest seemed like it took forever. Another shot was fired, and this time Selene was the one who fell. Michael skidded to and went back to her.
" Selene!" he whispered.
She sat up, but was in obvious pain. More shots came, only this time they hit Michael. He hit the ground as the vampires entered the clearing. There was about ten of them.
" Well, well, well, look what we got here. Does that look like a traitor and her pet dog to you, Mark?"
" Sure does, Jimmy."
The vampire identified as Jimmy kicked Selene across the face.
The one identified as Mark, slugged Michael square in the jaw.
Jimmy looked down his nose at Selene. " You know, I used to look up to you Selene. You were the best Death Dealer our coven ever had. But then you had to run off with your pet puppy over here. You gave it all up, for what, love?" He kicked her again. Michael was infuriated, but a shot in the spinal cord had him paralyzed. " You're a disgrace, and I'm going to have so much pleasure in bringing you back to Marcus. But first, I'm going to see what all the fuss is about, and your little puppy is going to watch as we have our way with you." Jimmy grinned evilly. This remark earned a cheer from his male counterparts. " And when we're done, you'll be begging for Marcus to kill you."
Michael could only watch with several guns trained on his forehead, and Selene's, as Jimmy picked Selene up to her knees, and took off her trench coat, slowly un zipping the back of her suit.
Michael could feel himself losing to his alter ego. The rage burning inside him was so great, like a fire that engulfed him. Selene could see it burning in his eyes. She hated to admit it, but this might have been the only way to set them free. She made eye contact with Michael. She nodded.
That was all he needed.
In a flash, Michael was gone, and the Hybrid was back. He was in his true form and in the air before anyone could stop him. He landed behind Mark and broke his neck. A reign of bullets started coming at him, only the bullets weren't as fast as he was. He moved out of the way and hand the gun out of all of their hands, and was taking them all on.
This caught Jimmy by surprise and Selene had enough time to kick him in the nuts. She quickly zipped her suit back up and put her trench coat on, but then she felt something hard hit the back of her head, as Jimmy belted the butt of his gun across the back of her head. She hit the ground.
It was literally raining blood as the Hybrid clawed and scratched every body part that came close to him. He was ripping and shredding chunks out of the vampires. But they were stubborn little morons. They kept coming at him and jumping on top of him, but he was just as stubborn. He sank his teeth into one of them, but instead of enjoying his meal, he ripped the vampire's throat out. He was getting soaked in blood as he slaughtered them all, giving true meaning to the term 'blood bath.' He enjoyed himself greatly. But then all the vampires were dead, and the fun stopped. All accept one. The Hybrid turned around to where Jimmy and Selene were before, but now they were nowhere in sight.
Jimmy held his automatic pistol to Selene's head as he backed away. But the Hybrid pursued them.
" Now listen up, puppy. I know you don't want her dead. Come after me, and I'll shoot her brains out, got it!" Jimmy shouted.
Selene winced at the force with which was being slammed against her temple. But Jimmy didn't know how much of a mistake he was making. She had Michael's scent now. In lycan terms, she was now the alpha's mate. And if she were being threatened, the alpha would show no mercy in the slaughter of the one who was trying to hurt her. She just hoped that Michael would come back before the Hybrid turned on her as well.
Selene heard rustling all about them. She knew the Hybrid was just trying to make Jimmy scared. And boy, was it working. The fear coming off Jimmy was enough to make her throw up.
The rustling stopped. Jimmy became even more nervous as he kept backing up. But suddenly, he backed up right into the Hybrid. Jimmy flailed around with Selene, showing the Hybrid that he was ready to shoot her.
But the Hybrid slashed his claws over Selene's face with enough force to through her body aside, and out of the way. Then he quickly moved in before Jimmy could shoot and sank his fangs into Jimmy's throat. He ripped Jimmy's throat out, spraying blood everywhere.
In the lycan world, this was the ultimate insult. This meant that Jimmy wasn't even worth the savoring of his blood. The Hybrid slaughtered him sadistically for sport, not for the hunt. This would anger Marcus greatly, this, a mark of true defiance.
But like she feared, the Hybrid then turned on to Selene. She looked at him, the four scars on her cheek bleeding down onto her neck. The Hybrid let out a growl from the back of his throat as he stood over Selene. She backed away feebly, not being about to get to her feet under his mighty glare. She felt like a deer, caught in a wolf's stare. She couldn't run away, he wasn't letting her. The aura pulsated off him, she could all but see it, in all of its dark, mysterious horror.
He growled again as he slammed his fist across her face, sending her flying. He was on her in an instant, hitting her again. The power inside him was all too great. He picked her body up off the ground and threw it.
Selene hit the ground hard. She could hear him coming. She quickly pulled out her gun, but what could she do? Shooting him would only infuriate him even more. Then she got it.
The Hybrid burst into the clearing and lunged at Selene. But she quickly jumped into the air, dodging his attack. She landed on her feet, but then sank to her knees. She whirled around. The Hybrid lunged at her. She put her gun to her temple. He stopped dead in his tracks.
" Michael! Michael I know you're in there! It's me! It's Selene!"
Still keeping her gun to her temple she walked over to the Hybrid and put her hand over his nose.
" Smell me! Take in my scent! I am a part of you now! You and I are the same!" she shouted.
The Hybrid stopped. With Selene's hand over his snout, he had no choice but to breath in her scent. She smelled like him. She was his.
The Hybrid shrank back and Michael came back again. The cold black eyes melted into soft blue and Michael came back to his human form.
Selene dropped her gun and sank to her knees, no longer able to stand. But she opened her eyes with surprise when she didn't hit the ground. Michael had caught her, and laid her down softly.
" Oh Selene, I'm so sorry." He said hoarsely.
She smiled at him, touching his cheek with her hand. " It wasn't you Michael. It's okay. It wasn't you."
Michael collected the rest of their stuff. He cleaned up the scratch marks on Selene's face. He hoped they weren't permanent. He slung the bag on his back and then carried Selene threw the forest.
When he picked up the scent of something new in the forest, he followed it until it led him to an old tree. He found that it was hollow, and opened a secret door that led him down some stairs into the den. They rested there that night, finding that it was safe for the rest of the pack. Michael laid Selene down in a bed they would share, and laid next to her, keeping one arm protectively around her all morning.
Selene woke up with the warmth surrounding her, she felt around for Michael's hand, only to find that it wasn't there. She head noise's coming from the bathroom in their room. He was in there. But she still felt warm. She couldn't explain it. She walked over to the mirror mounted on bureau. She had to do a double take. Her normally ivory pale skin was a little bit flushed.
Selene narrowed her eyes at this. She felt warmer than she should have, warmer than was normal for a vampire. She sighed, assuming it was probably just from her excursion yesterday, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she didn't think it was.
Michael walked out of the bathroom, smelling fresh from his shower.
" Did you save me any hot water?" Selene asked him.
" Of course." He smiled, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her. She partook in the embrace, which struck him as odd, but he didn't say anything. " Hurry up though. We don't need Aubrey sending a search party out for us."
Selene pulled a fresh new leather suit out from the bag. " Technically we still have one more day. I guess he over estimated the time we'd need."
" Either that or it's the fact that we ran most of the way here."
Selene took her shower and dressed. When she was done they left, feeling safer this time, even daring to have a conversation, though they still whispered.
" Do you still think it's a good idea to move the pack?" Michael asked.
" Yeah, don't you?"
" Well, look at all the trouble we went through to get here. Not to mention we have to hunt farther away. We could be found easier. We'll be right under the vampire's noses, they're bound to see us eventually."
" Yes. But the vampires are going to find us eventually anyway. I'd just rather it be in the out skirts of town as opposed to right in town."
Michael considered this. " Yeah I guess you're right."
" And besides, at least this time we have the element of surprise on our hands. We can lure Marcus into a trap without him even knowing it's a trap. If we successfully move the lycans without Marcus's knowledge, then he'll still think we're back in the city. He won't know that there would be a hundred or so lycan's waiting in the shadows."
Michael smiled. " I'm so glad you're here. I'm so glad we're here."
Selene looked into Michael's deep blue orbs. She smiled. " Me too…"