Chapter XIII
The Aftermath
Malachi and his Death Dealers found themselves held up in a dark room, deep within the depths of William's prison. Amelia had sent a Ziodec medical team to their location, to tend to the wounded, and protect the Vampires during daylight hours. Malachi had been in constant communication with Amelia and the other members of the temporary council, in order to determine what the coven would do next. He began pacing up and down the stone room, he hated waiting.
When dusk finally came, the Vampires and the medical team left the prison aboard two helicopters, despite his victory Malachi still did not feel safe, nor would he until he was back at Amelia's side, there was no physical threat that scared him, rather it was the uncertainty that this victory had brought. Only Amelia could guide the coven in this uncertain time.
When the helicopters finally came into sight of the Ziodec facility, he could see a group of people waiting to greet them. Unsurprisingly Nina was there, as was Director Holtz and a team of his guards. Malachi was the first off of his helicopter; he looked over to the other side of the roof to see Nina hurrying towards him. She wrapped his arms around his waist and didn't want to let go. He half returned her embrace and gently cast her aside.
"What's wrong?" she asked him
Malachi nodded towards the floor of the helicopter he had just got out of, there were two body bags on the floor. "I've got to deal with this first" he said coldly. He and his men carried the bodies of their fallen comrades from the helicopter, through the Ziodec facility and into a research room that was now doubling as a morgue. They placed the bodies on separate tables along side two more bodies, the remains of Dimitri's Death Dealers. Malachi and the Death Dealers stood for a moment in silence out of respect for their fallen comrades. "How many of us have to die Malachi?" asked Thomas. Malachi thought for a moment, since Amelia's train had pulled up in that God forsaken Station to this point they had lost six Death Dealers, the entire council and who knows how many humans, that's not even including the loss of the Budapest coven. This had to stop, "no more" he responded "all of you come with me." Malachi and the Death Dealers walked with a purpose through the corridors of the facility.
"Where are you going!" demanded Nina, as the group passed her
"To see Amelia" he said in a short patronizing tone of voice "Its time to go home."
"Don't be stupid Malachi" she snapped "She's our leader"
"Then its time for her to lead" he responded quickly
"Stand down!" she demanded
Malachi laughed a little "Sorry angel, I outrank you"
Malachi and his Death Dealers entered Amelia's office, much to the surprise of the elder. "Malachi?" she asked with a raised eyebrow
"My Lady" he bowed
"What do you want?" she asked
"To go home, my Lady"
"Soon" she assured him
"Now, my Lady" he insisted
Amelia's eyes widened as she rose from her chair, "You dare speak to me like this?" she hissed
"I'm not losing anymore men, my Lady." He told her
"My men" she corrected him "Are you rising against me?
"No my Lady" he sighed "I'm pleading with you."
Amelia looked into his eyes, "There is still much to do here Malachi"
"Please Amelia"
Amelia froze for a moment, he had not called her by name for decades, it had always been either Princess, or My Lady, she looked at her chylde and smiled "Okay" she said warmly. "We'll leave tomorrow"
"Thank you My Lady" he bowed and turned to leave
"Malachi" she called after him. As he turned around Amelia waited for his men to leave before hugging him, Malachi returned the hold. "I'm sorry I had to put you through that alone" she assured him "I wanted nothing more than to be fighting at your side last night."
"No worries my Lady" he said
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Malachi walked to the overnight quarters that had already been prepared for him, when he opened the door Nina was already there.
"Is your little rebellion over?" she asked sarcastically
"Very funny" he said dryly "I've got a bit of good news"
"What?" she asked
"We're going home angel" he said
"To New York?" she smiled widely "How did you get Amelia to agree to that?"
"Just my winning personality" he told her "we leave tomorrow"
"Well.." began Nina "I guess we'll have to find something to do until then." She stood before him with a devilish smile and slipped down the straps of her stop "It's a good job they gave you a double bed" she smiled licking her lips.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Director Holtz stood in the doorway of Amelia's office "May I come in My Lady?" he asked humbly.
"Of course" she agreed "What can I do for you?"
"I have some disturbing news My Lady?" he told her
"Explain" she ordered
"It concerns the death of Lord Viktor" he said, as he handed her a CD "I think you should see this." Amelia placed the CD into her computer and watched a window popped up, it was video footage, and Amelia was visibly shocked by what she saw. It was Viktor, locked in battle with what can only be described as an abomination of the covenant, he seemed to have the upper hand until another player entered the fray, a lone vampire jumped into the shot and decapitated Viktor. Amelia covered her mouth with her hand as she watched Viktor's head and body crumple to the ground. "Selene" she said in disbelief. "Where did you get this?" she demanded.
"I sent a retrieval team to investigate the wreckage of the Sankta Helena" he began to explain "we were able to retrieve several items of interest. It would appear that Alexander Corvinus was keeping an eye on Lucian."
"Were you able to recover Lord Viktor's body?" she asked with a hint of hope in her voice
"I'm afraid not My Lady?" he told her
"That is a shame"
"I'm concerned My Lady" Holtz began "This creature was able to hold his own against Viktor, and from Malachi's report it would seem he was more than a match for Marcus and William"
"What are you getting at Mr. Holtz?" asked Amelia
"My Lady we have a creature of potentially unlimited power, allied with a high ranking Death Dealer, who knows our secrets, procedures and who is responsible for the death of an elder?" He paused for a moment before continuing "Selene is now immune to sunlight as well My Lady, allied with the Hybrid, this could be the most serious threat the coven has ever faced. They have broken the covenant My Lady."
"They must be judged" Sighed Amelia "They must be punished"
"They must be stopped now My Lady" Holtz insisted
"I promised my men they would be going home tomorrow" she said, as if she were trying to convince Holtz
"These two need to be stopped My Lady"
"I promised Malachi" she said
"Are you at full strength My Lady?" he asked her
"No" she confessed, in an almost embarrassed tone.
"Then we are going to need him" Said Holtz
Amelia hesitated for a moment "summon him" she ordered
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Malachi and Nina lay in bed staring into each others eyes "That was nice" purred Nina, as she traced Malachi's chest with a finger.
"Just nice?" he asked her
"Very nice" she smiled, she pressed her body up against his and traced her fangs over his neck "Can I get another taste?" she breathed
"I think I can allow that" said Malachi, as he kissed the nape of her neck, and allowed his hand to explore his lover's body, Nina's body began to move back and forth, in time with the movement of his hand "Malachi" she gently purred into his ear before caressing its lobe with her tongue.
"Sir!" the lovers were interrupted by a loud voice and a heavy knock on the door.
"Oh you are shitting me." He hissed under his breath "What the fuck to you want!" he demanded
"You've been summoned sir" said an armed Ziodec guard on the other side of the door "Amelia and the Director wish to see you."
"I'll be ten minutes" said Malachi dismissively as he turned his attention back to Nina.
"Now Sir" the guard insisted "They're in Amelia's office"
"For fuck sake" he mumbled "I'm on my way!" He told the guard
"Both of you" the Guard added
"Fine!" yelled Malachi. He got out of bed and scrambled to put his clothes on, Nina did the same, however at a much slower pace "come on" he told her.
"I'm coming" she answered. The two walked through the corridors of Ziodec towards Amelia's office. Malachi did not have time to put a tie on or gather his weapons, he wore his suit, however it was apparent that he had dressed very quickly. Nina had put in even less effort into getting ready, she walked barefoot through the corridors, not bothering to dress up for the meeting she wore an old grey Ziodec hooded top, and the same black combat trousers she had worn earlier, the fact that she had not had time to find her belt meant that her trousers hung very loosely on her hips, exposing her black thong underwear. The couple were the last to enter Amelia's office, Dimitri and the Director were already in attendance. Amelia was a little taken aback by the unkempt appearance of her usually immaculate council members. "Nice of you to make the effort Nina" Amelia dryly noted.
"Apologies My Lady" she smiled insincerely "I was obviously under the mistaken impression that it was our night off. Though I don't know where I could have gotten such a crazy idea from."
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Nina" Amelia observed. "Sit down" Nina smiled as she took a seat and waited for Amelia's report. Amelia told them about the video of Selene killing victor, and the room was almost silent.
"I don't believe it" said Malachi breaking the silence "Selene loved Viktor"
"Well apparently she loves this abomination more" began Amelia "I have decided that allowing them to escape judgment would be a fatal flaw. They must be eliminated"
"We can't my Lady" said Malachi shaking his head "Were it not for Selene and Michael we would not have defeated Markus"
"I have enough faith in you to believe that you would have. And now I need you to do this for me."
"You said we were going home My Lady, you promised me" he said, making sure he did not lose eye contact with his sire.
"The decision has been made Malachi"
"You can not be serious" interrupted Nina "we lost an entire coven and four Death Dealers trying to defeat one Hybrid, and now we are supposed to go straight after another one?"
"It is necessary for the survival of the covenant Nina" Asserted Amelia "Can I count on your loyalty?" she asked "Both of you?"
"Of course My Lady" bowed Nina
"I am yours to command as always My Lady" bowed Malachi "But there is no honor in this, Selene is an old friend and Michael was instrumental in the defeat of Markus"
"Honor is not always a luxury we can afford" said Amelia in a sorrowful tone "It is our sacred duty to do what is right for our people and preserve the sanctity of the covenant."
"May I ask you a question My Lady?" enquired Nina
"Of course Child" replied Amelia
"Are you expecting Malachi to undertake this mission?"
Amelia paused to think for a moment "If Malachi needs my help I will gladly fight by his side"
Malachi spoke up "Am I right in assuming this mission is to be undertaken as soon as possible My Lady?" he asked
"You are" she told him "As soon as we are able to locate them"
"And are you at full strength?" he asked his mistress
"No I am not" Amelia confessed
"Then your direct assistance will not be required my Lady" he bowed
"I don't believe this" exclaimed Nina
"Don't worry" said Malachi "This won't be like fighting Markus" he told her
"In what way? He's still a hybrid"
"True" he told her "But Markus was an elder, dangerous, I was watching Michael fight, there's something about him."
"What do you mean?" asked Amelia
"It's true Michael is bigger, stronger, faster and more powerful than I am…"
"You're not filling us with confidence" interrupted Nina
Malachi continued, purposely ignoring the comment of his lover "As I was saying, despite his obvious advantages he has one weakness, a complete lack of skill. When he was fighting William there was absolutely no skill he was just attacking wildly, leaving any actual fighting to Selene."
"How can we use that to our advantage?" asked Amelia
"When we find them, we send the Death Dealers in to engage them. Their sole purpose is to separate Michael and Selene, leading her as far away from him as possible, while driving Michael to a secluded location where I will be waiting for him, then we'll see just how powerful this hybrid is, without the brains of the operation to hold his hand. Then, I just might be able to beat him."
"You honestly think that would work?" asked Dimitri
"You saw the video, despite his strength Viktor was able to outfight him, he had the upper hand, until Selene got involved. I don't think he can handle an opponent with a higher level of skill.
Amelia considered what Malachi had said "Do we have enough Death Dealers to do what you are planning?" she asked
"Yes"
"Will you put aside your personal feelings and allow me to deal with Selene as I see fit?"
"Yes"
"Do you honestly believe you can defeat and kill this hybrid in one on one combat, alone, without my help?" There was silence while she awaited his answer "Malachi?"
"Yes"
