Chapter II

Return to the mansion

Kraven's limousine came to a screeching halt at the entrance to the mansion. He and his men got out and headed up the steps. "Okay" he began in an anxious tone, Amelia's envoy first, we kill Dimitri, and the Death Dealers guarding him. Everyone got that?"

"Wait" said the Death Dealer who had been with Kraven and his men "I'm not sure about this."

Kraven turned impatiently "Well then" he sneered "How about, when my New Order is installed I name you Chief of the Death Dealers, will that help you to become sure, or do I need to kill you now?" Kraven and his men trained their weapons on him.

"I am with you My Lord" he bowed

"I thought you would be" he smiled coldly, "Now lets go" as Kraven and his men entered through the doors of the mansion, they found it surprisingly empty, the usual gathering of aristocratic Vampires were not to be found. "Where is everyone" asked Kraven nervously

"They're all scared" was the response he received, he cast a glance towards the ornate staircase near the main doors, he saw a petit figure, with Ivory white skin and golden hair descending.

"Erika" he spoke softly "what are they scared of?

She shrugged her shoulders "I don't know, but something's wrong"

Kraven was in no mood to talk to his greatest admirer, there was much to be done, he turned to one of his men "Go and find Dimitri" he told him.

"Good luck" said Erika

"What do you mean?" Hissed Kraven

"He's gone"

"What!" he yelled "When? How?"

Erika flinched away in fear "He… got a phone call, and he rushed out, he took his Death Dealers with him."

Kraven clenched his fists and let out a grunt of frustration, if Amelia's envoy was aware of the attack on the train, then it would not be long before New York knew as well. "Shit" he cried.

"That's not the only strange thing that's happened" Erika added nervously

"What else" demanded Kraven

"We've been trying to get in touch with Ziodec for hours, there is no answer."

A look of horror flashed across Kraven's face, he took out his cell phone and dialed a number, all he heard was an automated voice "The number you have dialed is not excepting calls" repeated over and over, Kraven threw his phone against the wall. Ziodec was the legitimate face of the Vampires empire, it produced the cloned blood, and weapons they depended on.

"Its not just the phones" said Erika, "Its everything, fax, email, they've completely cut us off."

"Who could do this My Lord?" asked one of his men.

Kraven looked puzzled "Amelia… or the council, but they're dead" he shook his head, "that leaves only me and Amelia's chief of security… but he would have been with her, when she died."

"Then why would the Director cut us off?" asked Erika

"Because they know" he hissed "Lets go" he told his men, as Kraven lead his men towards the Elders resting place he knew his rise to power was going to be more difficult then he imagined, the words Lucian had spoken to him earlier in the night kept echoing in his mind, "Had it never occurred to you that you may actually have to bleed to pull of this little coup." These words now haunted Kraven, he knew that now he would have to bleed, even if they were able to destroy Markus without resistance Amelia's envoy had left the mansion, the retribution from the New York Coven would be devastating, not to mention the Lycans, without Lucian there would be no controlling them, what's worse is the fact that some of his men were dead, including Soren. However that did not matter anymore, despite these obstacles he was still closer than he had ever been to achieving total power, Viktor was dead, as was Amelia, the Council and a lot of Viktor's Death Dealers, soon Markus would be on this list as well. Kraven had come too far to be stopped now, he had come so far…

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Following the defeat of the Lycans, and the capture of William, Kraven had been forced to settle into a life of mediocrity. The power he thought would come with his new eternal life had been evading him. After decades of campaigning William had finally been captured, Amelia and her men had taken much of the credit. His role as Viktor's minister had fallen to one of Amelia's men, and with the Elders new system of rule, with one of them awake and the other two sleeping he felt he had been pushed to the side. His duties were to oversee the running of Viktor's minor territories and his Lycan slaves. He had lead an unremarkable life among the Vampires, that is until the early years of one of Viktor's reigns…

"Sir" a cold voice spoke to Kraven as he poured trough the documents on his huge wooden desk, Kraven turned to see a small, yet menacing man standing in the doorway to his office. He wore full armor, he had a beard and wore a silver whip on his belt. "May I have a word." He continued.

Kraven sighed "I don't see why not" he began "It's not like I have anything else to do."

"I have heard some disturbing news Sir" the man said coldly, with no hint of emotion what so ever. "It concerns one of the Lycans, one of Lord Viktor's."

"What kind of problem?" asked Kraven with a raised eyebrow.

"I have it on good information that a Lycan has been fornicating with one of the ladies of the coven."

"That is quite serious" sighed Kraven "Identify both the Lycan and Vampire, I'll see to it that they are put to death. Thank you Soren, for bringing this to my attention."

"Its more serious than that sir, the Lady, is the Lady Sonja."

Kraven's eyes widened, and a smile crept across his face "This could be my chance" he whispered.

"Sir?" asked Soren

Kraven rose from his chair and placed a hand on Soren's shoulder "I will see to it that you are rewarded for this." He said, before heading to Viktor's chambers.

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Kraven knelt before a furious Viktor, he had just delivered the news to him, his Master shot him a glance of utter contempt. "I should tear your heart out for spouting such lies." He hissed his voice full of venom.

"Why would I lie My Lord?" Said Kraven calmly "I have always been loyal."

"What does the Lycan say?" demanded Viktor "This Lucian"

"He says nothing Sir, neither confirming nor denying the claims, Soren is with him."

"Good" barked Viktor "He is an excellent tormentor; I want this Lycan to suffer. Now leave me, I must speak with my daughter."

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Kraven listened from the other side of the door as Viktor confronter his beloved daughter about what Kraven had told him.

"So it is true" he hissed "My own daughter, allowing herself to be defiled by a dog!"

"Do not say that father!" she screamed "I love Lucian and he loves me."

Kraven heard a loud thud as Viktor threw something across the room "You have betrayed your father! You have betrayed the covenant! And you have Betrayed Yourself!" Kraven could hear Vikor breathing heavily, trying to find the words "I am only thankful your mother is not alive to see this."

"Don't say that!" She screamed "My mother would never have turned her back on me, or her first Grandchild"

Kraven's eyes widened as he heard the revelation, this was better than he thought "Abomination" Viktor bellowed "Kraven get in here!" Kraven was shocked that Viktor had realized he was listening "Kraven I know you are out there!" Kraven entered the room, he saw Sonja on her knees at her fathers feet, she was in tears.

"Yes my Lord" he answered

"Take her out of my sight" he sneered "She wants the Lycans so much, let her live like them! Let her last hours be spent in chains."

"No!" Sonja screamed "Please don't do this father! For the sake of my child!"

Viktor glared at her "You have betrayed me and the covenant! You must be judged!"

Kraven took Sonja by the arm and lead her roughly through the castle towards the Lycan dungeon, he watched as the guards tied her to a stake, ignoring her pleas for the life of her child." By the time Viktor and the council had come to pass judgment Soren had brought out Lucian and began whipping him mercilessly. Sonja soon began pleading for his life as well as her own. The torment did not stop until sunrise, when the Vampires were forced to withdraw. Kraven looked on as Viktor watched the fiery demise of his daughter through a small window. He could hear the piercing screams of agony as she died.

When nightfall came Kraven watched as Viktor inspected the dusty skeletal remains of his daughter, and retrieved her medallion. Lucian struggled to his feet and let out a cry of pain, everyone in the room turned to see him transform into his hulking liking form, Kraven took cover behind a pillar as Viktor attempted to engage him. The attempt proved futile, Lucian toppled the Vampire ruler, retrieved his beloveds medallion and leapt through a window to make his escape. "My Lord" Kraven screamed as he beheld a terrifying sight, all of the other Lycan in the dungeon began to transform, forcing their way through the bars. There was a brief struggle, Viktor's Death Dealers had been able to put down most of them, however many were able to escape, Viktor watched as his slaves, as well as Amelia's and Markus's slaves ran off into the night.

"What now my Lord?" asked Kraven

Viktor hesitated for a moment, looking down at his daughter's remains, and then he walked over to Kraven and placed a firm hand on his shoulder "We go to war!"