Chapter XI
The Inspection
Selene continued to bear witness to the stare down that was taking place between Kraven, and the man he had just introduced as Amelia's heir. "I did not know Amelia had an heir." She said, directing her comments to the stranger "I thought only Viktor and Markus were responsible for spreading the bloodline to lesser immortals."
The handsome stranger, this Malachi, finally turned his cold emerald stare away from Kraven, to focus his attention on Selene. "I enjoy the privilege of being Our Lady's only chylde." His voice was cold and dry, but had a distinct politeness about it. "My name is Malachi." He said holding out a hand, Kraven rolled his eyes as Selene excepted his gesture.
"Selene" she said as she accepted his handshake
"Selene…" Malachi hesitated "I have heard much about you" he brought her hand up to his mouth and gently kissed it "How can such a renowned warrior of the night be so beautiful?"
Selene withdrew her hand, however not before giving the stranger a flattered smile, and what Kraven could have sworn was a slight blush.
"I think we should be leaving now" he hissed, motioning towards the convoy of cars. "I'm sure our guest would like to get on with his inspection."
Malachi held out his hands, gesturing at the weather "Good idea" he said coldly "Gentlemen!" he called out to the Death Dealers that had accompanied him "What say we get out of the rain?" He watched as his men broke ranks and headed towards the waiting cars, all except one, who remained with Malachi. Malachi opened one of the rear doors of the nearest car and motioned for Selene to get in, holding the door for her he spoke "It doesn't seem right to make a lady stand in the rain." Selene smiled at him as she went to get in, however Kraven grabbed her soaked leather covered arm "I need to speak with our guest alone" he sneered "You may ride with my men." Selene rolled her eyes had turned away from Kraven and Malachi, then with an angelic grace she glided across the drenched concrete to one of the other waiting cars.
Kraven and Malachi sat in the back of Kraven's personal luxury car, one of Kraven's men was driving, and one of Malachi's was sitting in the passenger seat. "So, you are to carry out the inspection?" Kraven demanded.
"Cut the shit Kraven" Malachi spat, his voice losing the polite well spoken qualities he had previously exhibited "I've gotta be back in New York in a week, I want to carry out this inspection as quickly possible so I can return."
"That will not be a problem." Kraven reassured him "I do not want you here any longer than necessary."
"I'm glad we have an understanding" Malachi stated coldly "Where's my little friend Soren?"
"He's not here." Replied Kraven "He is on a mission for me"
"Lucky for him" Malachi hissed, his voice full of venom, Kraven saw as Malachi tightened his grip on the cane he held in his lap.
"I will not tolerate violence in my house." The regent affirmed, trying to assert his authority over this visitor.
"Kraven, the only other time I was in this country, your boy turned on me after I had to rescue our Lady's viceroy from a German prison camp, after you allowed him to fall into Nazi hands in the first place. However The Lady Amelia has given me a task, and I will not jeopardize that with my own personal grudge."
"That's good to hear" Kraven smiled smugly
"Besides, your going to be seeing a lot more of me." Added Malachi
"What do you mean?" demanded Kraven
"All will be revealed Kraven."
The remainder of the ride to the mansion was silent, neither man saying a word to the other. Kraven had to pretend the relations between the two covens were harmonious as he showed Malachi around the mansion facility introducing him to all of the members of his coven. He felt a wave of contempt surge through his being as he watched this arrogant young fool strut around his house, waving his little cane, glad handing all of Kraven's subjects. He was especially disgusted at the attention Malachi was giving Selene, kissing her hand, holding doors for her. Kraven vowed to himself that he would have his head for this one day; Selene was to be his Queen, no one else's. Malachi had insisted on seeing everything in the house, observing silently the workings of the coven, mentally taking notes to report back to his mistress. Kraven was relieved when he had finally stopped looking around, and the two were finally alone in his office.
"I trust everything is to your approval?" He enquired
Malachi shrugged his shoulders slightly "Your Death Dealers are very efficient, Selene is doing an excellent job leading them."
"Is that all you have to say?" Kraven asked with a raised eyebrow "You've just seen the entire coven and all you can mention is the Death Dealers?"
"The rest is less than impressive." Malachi sighed "Don't get me wrong mate, the maids do a good job keeping this place tidy, but the rest of the coven does not seem to be doing much, actually they don't seem to be doing anything. And that's not all that concerns me."
"What else concerns you?" Kraven asked insincerely
"There are an awful lot of red ties in this house Kraven?"
"Red ties?" asked Kraven "Who are you, the fashion police?"
Malachi laughed slightly "No, but the fact is all of the men wearing red ties are also carrying automatic weaponry, and they are loyal only to you. Now, when I was last here your men numbered at around half a dozen, and Dimitri's subsequent inspections indicated that your private force had grown to little more than a dozen. However it is now apparent that those numbers are slightly conservative."
Kraven shrugged his shoulders "Those men are not your concern, they are loyal to Amelia."
"I should think so to."
Kraven took a deep breath and leant across his desk "You said in the car that I would be seeing a lot more of you, what did you mean by that?"
"I'm sure you're aware of the success we have had with the Ziodec operation in the United States?"
"Of course I'm aware" responded Kraven
"Well the operation has been so successful that we are expanding the operation into Europe. The pharmaceutical and genetics business is fast becoming our biggest generator of income and political power."
"And you are to oversee this operation?" asked Kraven
"No" stated Malachi "I'm just Our Lady's representative; however I will be liaising with the directors of the European facilities from time to time."
"I see" sneered Kraven, "Then I guess this means that we will be working closely together. You know, we should put aside our differences, we are after all equivalents, me in charge of Viktor's affairs, and you will be in charge of Amelia's. I think we could be a good team. Kraven rose from his chair and held out his hand to Malachi. Malachi also stood and raised his eye brows slightly, and half heartedly returned the gesture.
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Malachi walked unescorted through the bowels of the mansion, knocking his cane along the richly carpeted floors of the mansion. He headed into the firing range; he could hear someone practicing, as he entered the room he allowed a smile to creep across his face. He had hoped he would see the lone figure that was practicing, he took a moment to take in the view, her PVC cat suit complemented her body perfectly, it was as if it were a second skin. He silently approached her "You're a good shot." He told her, as more bullets connected with the ceramic bust she was firing at. Selene shot him a hostile glance and began firing her weapon again. Malachi raised an eyebrow a little unsure as to why the beautiful creature of the night standing before him was being like this. When Selene ran out of bullets, he took the opportunity to speak up "Have I done something to upset you?"
"Last time you were in this country you stabbed a friend of mine."
Malachi thought for a moment "You're going to have to narrow that down"
"Rigel" spat Selene "My friend, my colleague! You stabbed him after a mission went wrong!"
"Oh that" Malachi realized "Yeah… Well in my defence it was him and Soren who attacked me first." Malachi tried to figure out Selene, it was obvious she was not impressed by his explanation. "If it makes any difference, I'm really sorry."
Selene shook her head and laughed a little "You've been buzzing around me all day, why?" she enquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Well it's not everyday you meet a princess" he said gracefully
"A princess?" repeated Selene
"A princess" confirmed Malachi
"And what are you basing that on?" asked Selene
"Well from what Amelia tells me you're Viktor's favored chylde, you are clearly strong, intelligent, graceful and beautiful. If that doesn't make you a princess I do not know what does."
Selene blushed a little "And as Amelia's favored chylde, I suppose that makes you a Prince?"
"No" he said modestly "I'm just a loyal servant, happy to serve." Selene took a moment to take in Malachi's features, his flawless skin, his Emerald eyes and strong physique.
"Why you?" she asked him.
"What do you mean?"
"Amelia went a thousand years without siring anyone, not even Eli and suddenly she sires you, why?
Malachi shrugged his shoulders, "I'm blessed" he said "We must bow before her wisdom."
Selene smiled a little, the relationship Malachi shared with Amelia seemed to be a mirror image of her relationship with Viktor "How long are you here for?" she asked
"A few days" he replied "I would be honored if you would join me for dinner while I'm here."
Selene considered his offer for a moment "I'll let you know" she teased him slightly "But I have to go now."
"Already?" he asked
"Yes" she smiled "I have things to attend to."
"Very well" he sighed as he picked up Selene's coat and held it for her "Thank you" she said warmly as she slipped into the leather overcoat "You're quite the gentlemen aren't you?"
"You must bring out the best in me." He said modestly, the two shared a brief moment of eye contact before Selene took her leave of him. He watched as she glided across the floor until she was out of sight, he turned his attention to a man sitting at a desk on the other side of the room. "It's Kahn isn't it?" he called out.
"It is" the man responded as he continued taking apart a weapon.
"Where's Selene going?"
"Hunting" he plainly stated "They go out every night and hunt down the Lycan."
"Excellent" he smiled
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Selene stalked her prey through the streets of Budapest, she could smell his fear on the wind, he was a new Lycan, unsure of his abilities, but it did not matter he had to die. Selene followed him into an ally, unaware of the lone figure following her movements from the rooftops. The figure made no noise, and the clouds did a good job shrouding his figure. However if Selene had cast her glance upwards she would have seen a tall silhouette, wearing a tail coat and carrying a cane, defying gravity in order to keep up with her. His view of the hunting ground was un-obscured, and he had a feeling that this would not be a simple hunt.
Selene followed the Lycan into an alley way, and fired her weapon, the silver penetrated the young mans organs, preventing him from making the change, he fell to the floor and began to convulse. However that was not the end of it, for the boy was just the bait, three more Lycan entered the alley, growling and snarling. Selene took out her heavy throwing stars and sent a wave of them towards the lead Lycan, driving it back. However she felt nervous as the other two continued to approach. Just as she braced herself for the attack, she saw a figure descend from the roof tops "Malachi!" she cried. As he descended Malachi twisted the handle of his cane and unsheathed a silver blade, he landed, driving the blade through the Lycan's neck like a hot knife through butter, severing its head. The two were easily able to put the other Lycan down.
"Thank you" Selene said breathlessly
"A pleasure" smiled Malachi "We should get a cleanup crew on that."
"I cant believe I fell into a trap" sighed Selene "Even you saw it, and you're the youngest of us."
"Let's get back to the mansion" he said softly.
Selene nodded, and went to follow him out of the alleyway; Malachi stopped and held out an arm, gesturing for Selene to link her own arm with him. She hesitated for a moment before rolling her eyes in a gesture of defeat, she took his arm and the two headed back to the safety of the mansion arm in arm.
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When Malachi and Selene returned to a mansion, they were laughing and joking about the events of their evening. They walked together through the corridors of the mansion until they got to Selene's room. "You didn't have to walk me back to my room." She told him,
"I know" he said "But I've enjoyed your company."
"Me too" she smiled "You probably saved my life tonight."
"You would have been fine." Malachi reassured her "I was just in the mood for a fight."
"Well its going to be morning soon" Selene told him "I'll see you at nightfall"
"I look forward to it." The two looked at each other awkwardly for a time, both unsure what to say, Selene moved closer to him, tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, as she did she cast a glance over his shoulder, only to see Kraven standing at the other end of the corridor, with a look of pure envy in his eye. She allowed herself to grin, perhaps this was her opportunity to finally prove to him that she was not interested, and besides Malachi was after all a good man, a strong warrior and her equal. She stood before Malachi before leaning in for a kiss, although he initially returned the kiss, he stopped and turned to see Kraven looking on with hatred from oozing from his being, he raised a finger and gently rested it on her mouth. "Are you just doing this to annoy him?" he asked
"I don't know" she said, as she kissed him again "I think I like you, but I haven't decided yet." She kissed him again and looked at him, with seductive eyes "Is that a problem?"
"Hell no!" he exclaimed, as Selene opened her door, she grabbed him by the tie and lead him into her chambers. A seething Kraven stepped out of the shadows to see what was happening, he saw Selene take the cane out of Malachi's hand, drop it to the floor and close the door behind her as she allowed herself to be taken into Malachi's arms.