Chapter V
The Pact
Kraven and his men stood at the gates of a large stone fortress, there were no lights except for the torches his men were carrying. At Kraven's feet lay the bodies of two Lycan warriors, they were young, easily overcome, the assault was taking place during a half moon, Lucian's men would be unable to transform. Kraven allowed a smile to creep across his face, with minimal reinforcements and the inability to change Kraven would have no trouble in capturing Lucian, and bringing him back to Viktor. He nodded to his men and then taking a deep breath, stepped over the corpses of the fallen warriors, and made his way along the draw bridge into the dark foreboding fortress that was Castle Lucian.
Kraven and his small army were able to walk unchallenged through the depths of the castle. "This is too easy" one of his Death Dealers commented.
"Relax" Kraven smiled arrogantly "This will be simple." Kraven and his men entered a darkened court yard, when the last of his men had entered cautiously the silence of the room was broken by the sound of the huge wooden doors slamming shut behind them. All of his men stood ready, forming a defensive circle so as to see an attack from any angle. Then the sound of footsteps, they were running, all around them. "It's a trap!" yelled one of his men. After a few seconds they were completely surrounded, two dozen Lycan warriors all armed with swords. There were far more Lycan than Viktor had previously indicated, Kraven was visibly shaken by what he saw. "Don't worry" one of his men reassured him "We can still take them."
"Do not be so sure!" A deep granite like voice boomed at them, it was coming from the main entrance to the court yard. Kraven cast a glance in the direction of the voice, several Lycan warriors stood aside, to allow a hulking black Lycan to approach the Vampires.
"You are an African?" asked Kraven
"I am a Lycan!" he bellowed
"How have the beasts been able to get to Africa?" he whispered under his breath "No, matter, prepare to die Lycan"
The African let out a sinister laugh "I do not think so" he dropped his weapons and removed his cloak, and then much to the confusion of Kraven and his men transformed into his wolf like form "what the hell?" Kraven felt sick to his stomach as he watched all of the men surrounding them transform into Lycan form. The court yard exploded into carnage as the Death Dealers fought with the beasts. Kraven watched as his men fell one by one, when he arrived at the castle all he could think about was making Selene proud of him, but now all that concerned him was survival. He swung his sword wildly, hardly hitting a thing, but keeping the Lycan away from him. Kraven stood with his back to the wall as he watched the horrific spectacle of his men being torn apart one by one. The last of his men fell, Kraven stood frozen to the spot as one of the Lycan approached him, he dropped his sword and awaited the inevitable, instead all he felt was a hard and sharp blow to the face, before falling into unconsciousness.
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When Kraven awoke he was tied to a chair in the middle of a nicely decorated room. He could see the huge black lycan who had lead the assault on his men. "Why don't you just kill me?" He asked groggily.
His question was answered by the sound of laughter "You'll have to forgive Raze" a well spoken voice told him "He doesn't much care for your kind." Kraven watched as a long haired man with a beard sat down in a chair in front of him. He was wearing a long robe that looked a little like Viktor's and a gold medallion which had a green gem in the center. "Hello Kraven" the man smiled politely.
"Lucian" hissed Kraven.
"I must admit Kraven" Lucian began in a somewhat petered tone "I am a little disappointed."
"Why is that?" asked Kraven cynically
"Well I was hoping Viktor would have sent someone important to stop me. Someone who when I sent him his head in a basket, he would miss. But instead he sends you, a second rate diplomat who the coven could really do without. Still I suppose you will have to do."
Kraven hung his head, half in fear, half in shame. This was supposed to have been so easy, what had gone wrong.
"Raze, be a good chap and dispose of this." Lucian said casually "Send his head to Viktor."
All of a sudden Kraven had a moment of clarity "wait!" he cried "You don't have to kill me, we can help each other."
Lucian laughed a little "How could you possibly be of use to me?"
"Because we want the same thing" said Kraven
"And what might that be?" asked Lucian
"We both want Viktor dead."
"Why would you want to kill Viktor?" asked Lucian with a raised eyebrow "He's made you rich, powerful, given you eternal life."
"Because Viktor's methods of rule were obsolete centuries ago, I should be the one to lead my people, that way I get power, you get revenge and we both leave each other alone."
Lucian looked at Kraven suspiciously "No" he said shaking his head "This isn't just about power, there is something else. Why do you really want Viktor out of the way?"
Kraven hesitated for a moment "Selene"
"Who?" asked Lucian
"Viktor's new chylde, his princess, his replacement for Sonja."
"What of her?" Lucian enquired
"I… I love her" Kraven confessed "And we know how Viktor can turn on those he loves, when they disappoint him. I can not let that happen."
Lucian stared at Kraven for a while "Untie him" he instructed Raze. "You would be my inside man?"
"Partners" corrected Kraven, "Equal Partners"
"Very well" Lucian conceded "So how do we do this? You tell him I'm dead, then give me the plans to his fortress and tell me when he's alone?"
"No" snapped Kraven "that will not work"
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Lucian
"We can not defeat Viktor, and we can not risk killing Markus, that means we have to attack the weak link."
"Amelia" Said Lucian
"But even that will be difficult" began Kraven "she will still have the loyalty of the Death Dealers, and all of the resources of the coven at her disposal."
"So what do you suggest Kraven?"
"We wait" he said plainly
"How long?" asked Lucian impatiently
"Until I have enough power within the coven to make my own decisions, to build my own force that rivals Viktor's Death Dealers."
"That could take centuries." Hissed Lucian
"It probably will" began Kraven "But when I get to that stage, I'll be able to kill Amelia and the council, Viktor will be in hibernation, and at your mercy. We can imprison Markus, thus preserving the bloodline and hammer out a peace treaty so that we can both become very powerful."
"Very well" Lucian nodded "I disappear for a few centuries, build up our numbers and you work behind the scenes."
"Indeed" nodded Kraven "There is one more thing though…"
"What might that be?" asked an impatient Lucian
"Proof that you are dead." He said coldly
"What do you suggest? And don't say my head."
"How about that?" said Kraven pointing to the medallion around his neck.
"No" he hissed "Not this." He paused for a moment before pulling out a knife from his robes. "Here" he said cutting Viktor's brand from his arm and throwing it into a horrified Kraven's lap. "I won't be needing this anymore."
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A lone figure lay motionless on the back of his horse, as it instinctively gallops towards home. Another lone figure stands alert atop of a watch tower, when he sees the steed come within sight of the castle it is his sacred duty to protect. "Sound the Alarm." He screamed at the top of his lungs, "someone's coming!" A couple of Death Dealers ran out to meet the horse. "Kraven" a Death Dealer said as he helped the man down from the horse "Where is everyone else?"
"They're dead Soren." Said a weary Kraven "They're all dead, now take me to Lord Viktor."
Soren helped the battered and bruised Kraven walk into Viktor's throne room.
"Kraven!" cried Selene as she ran from Viktor's side, she clung to the returning warrior as if she were afraid to let go. "What happened to you?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'm okay" he breathed, as he gently stroked her face.
"Kraven what happened?" Viktor barked "Where are my men? Where is Lucian?"
"They are all dead My Lord" he said breathlessly "There were more of them then anticipated, and their ability to transform is no longer swayed by the full moon."
"Impossible" snapped Viktor
"I wish it were My Lord" sighed Kraven
"What happened to the Death Dealers?" Viktor demanded
"They fought so bravely My Lord." He began with his head hung "They fought until there were no more left, and then it was just me and Lucian."
"You killed Lucian?" Exclaimed a surprised Viktor "How?"
"Silver to the heart My Lord." He bowed
Viktor turned to one of his Death Dealers "Go and find his body!"
"That may be impossible My Lord" he said "His fortress was in flames, his body could not have survived."
"I will not believe he is dead until I see some proof."
"That is why I cut this from his body!"
Viktor looked down at the piece of skin Kraven held in his hand, he took it and inspected it "Lucian's brand" he smiled.
"I told you he could do it" Selene grinned
Viktor placed a hand on Kraven's shoulder "We owe you so much, I assure you, your loyalty will be rewarded. From this day forward the entire coven will know you as Lord Kraven."
"Thank you My Lord" said Kraven as he dropped to a knee
"Now go and get cleaned up" said Viktor as he turned to take his leave "Come Selene"
"I will catch you up My Lord" she said, turning her attention back to Kraven.
"You did it" she told him, as she took the hero by his hand.
"I did it for you Selene" he said with a dark tone to his voice "I did it all for you."