Chapter XV

New York New York

Kraven and Selene stood in silence, today they were in unfamiliar territory, the New World. Both Kraven's arrogance and Selene's hostility were set aside today, for although they were surrounded by familiar faces they had not seen them for a lifetime, these faces, former colleagues, former friends; however these faces had been changed by nearly eighty years in the New World, their success in both industry and the war had left them feeling superior to their Hungarian Kindred. Selene and Kraven instinctively stood close to one another, despite their past they needed each other for security; Amelia had forbade Kraven form bringing his additional personnel security and the watchful eyes of the American coven were looking at them as if they were outsiders. The room in which they were standing seemed to swallow the two Vampires whole, their guide, Dimitri, Amelia's envoy stood just before them; he had met them from the airport and not let them out of his sight since they landed. This room, this Great Hall housed a huge oak table which the council sat, after initial pleasantries the six most powerful non elders sat in silence as Kraven nervously shifted his weight from foot to foot. Kraven and Selene were stood just to the side of this table, directly in front of a small stair case; the half dozen steps were covered in a claret red carpet and had a brass hand rail running up the middle. This stair case lead to a raised platform that overlooked the entire room, covered in the same claret carpet it housed three objects. In the center was Amelia's throne, an ornately carved golden structure emblazed with her seal, defiantly more luxurious then the throne in the Hungarian coven, and on either side of the throne were two smaller chairs facing inward. Kraven noticed that even Selene was in awe of their surroundings.

The silence of the room was broken when the double doors behind Amelia's throne were opened by two Death Dealers in ceremonial armor. "All upstanding" one of the Death Dealer's commanded, Kraven watched as the Council and the other New York aristocrats stood to attention; and then, there she was, Amelia; the Elder Princess a vision of beauty and grace, she appeared at the double doors of the platform entrance and glided across the claret red carpet. Kraven watched on as two more familiar faces appeared in the doorway, Amelia was flanked first of all by Eli, her Viceroy, who positioned himself by the seat to the right of Amelia's throne, and following him was Amelia's heir Malachi. Kraven watched as the handsome, cane wielding young Vampire stood by the chair to Amelia's left and exchanged a brief moment of eye contact with Selene; rolling his eyes he turned his attention back to Amelia, who was looking over her coven with a cold heir of authority. She silently took a seat, and the rest of the coven followed suit.

"Welcome Regent" she spoke coldly "How are you finding New York?"

"It… it is most impressive My Lady" said Kraven genuinely as he looked around the Hall "It is an honor to be here."

Amelia nodded in recognition of Kraven's statement "Do you know why I have called you here Regent?" she asked him

"Not exactly My Lady" he began nervously "I hope I have not disappointed you in anyway?"

"Quite the opposite Kraven" she began "My Head of Security was most impressed with your facility following his inspection."

"He was?" asked Kraven with a raised Eyebrow as he cast a surprised glance at Malachi who was slouched back in his chair.

"Yes I was Kraven" he smiled smugly, entering the conversation "You seem to be running a tight ship."

Kraven looked at Malachi suspiciously, after their altercation he was sure Malachi's report would have been damning, however it was not "Thank you" he said hesitantly.

"Regent I have brought you here for one simple reason" Amelia said unfeelingly, bringing herself back into the conversation "Malachi has been successful in establishing a Ziodec presence in Europe, however now the operation is up and running we are going to need directors for all of our facilities. Now it is imperative that the boards of these facilities are human, however the Director's themselves must be Vampires. Over the next few days you will help me appoint directors for these facilities based on the current political landscape of Europe. Is that clear?"

"Yes My Lady" he said confidently

"Good" smiled Amelia "You may take tonight to enjoy all our coven has to offer, and we will begin tomorrow."

"Thank you My Lady" he bowed

"Um… My Lady" Selene spoke up, her head bowed

"Yes My Child?" asked Amelia

"Why have you extended this invitation to me as well?"

"You are leader of the Hungarian Death Dealers Selene, you are a very experienced warrior; however we feel that some of our more advanced weapons would be a great advantage to you. Therefore while Kraven and I are discussing matters of business, Malachi will introduce you to some of our latest developments."

"Thank you My Lady" she smiled widely, turning her attention to Amelia's laid back heir "I look forward to it."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The quarters Kraven had been assigned were luxurious, he had enjoyed the evenings entertainment for the most part, Amelia had made sure Dimitri had made Kraven feel welcome. What Kraven had enjoyed most however, was the fact that Malachi had paid Selene virtually no attention since they arrived. Though they had exchanged pleasantries, they had not been able to get as close as they had been in Budapest. Kraven had noticed that Amelia had hardly allowed Malachi to leave her side, it had become apparent to Kraven that Malachi was indeed more than a spoiled chylde, he was Amelia's last and best line of defence. Knowing dawn was approaching Kraven stepped out onto his balcony to enjoy the last moments of the cold night air. He stood shirt open, swirling a glass of blood, as he leant on the balcony he saw two figures walking through the gardens below. Kraven watched as the moonlight danced on the pale skin of these two figures, Kraven allowed a smirk to come across his face as Malachi and Amelia walked arm in arm through the gardens, little did they know that soon, very soon they would both be dead and he would add this coven to the one already under his control. "How sweet" he smiled to himself, as the loyal chylde accompanied his Sire. Kraven was a little dazzled as the moon light reflected off of the ornate silver handle of Malachi's cane into his eyes. As the two passed Kraven's balcony Amelia carried on, aware of Kraven's watchful gaze but uninterested. Malachi however cast a glance to Kraven, who half heartedly raised a glass to him. Malachi unhooked his arm from Amelia's and looked up at the regent, Kraven's piercing cobalt blue eyes stared down at Malachi, his usual confidence gone, he knew this was not his house. Malachi stared back at Kraven, however there was something different about him, Malachi stared back at Kraven through brown eyes, dead brown eyes that offered no window to the soul, Kraven's eyes widened as he saw this, something Malachi noticed, he blinked for a split second and when he opened his eyes Kraven's cobalt eyes were once again staring into the Emerald Green eyes, that were familiar to him.

"Malachi" Amelia encouraged gently breaking the tension between the two, Malachi immediately took the arm of his mistress and sire and carried on with their journey.

"You don't like him do you Malachi?" Asked Amelia

"I don't know him My Lady." Was his response

"That's never stopped you before" she observed "Is all this about Selene?"

"It is for Kraven My Lady." He said honestly

"And for you?" Amelia asked

"Its about respect My Lady" he stated emphatically "He doesn't show you enough of it."

"My loyal protector" Amelia smiled stroking his arm "You are going to have to get along with him when I slumber Malachi, I'm leaving you in charge of all my affairs."

"I'm aware of that My Lady" he sighed

"I'm not sure you are Malachi" she began "Markus is not the same as Viktor and myself, when I say I am leaving you in charge of my affairs I mean it, your word in this coven will be absolute, Markus will be powerless, the Council will see to it."

"I don't understand My Lady" he said in a confused voice

"You will" she assured him, patting his hand "Until then I am completely withdrawing you from the European arena, after this visit you are to have no more contact with Kraven or Selene until Markus's awakening."

"Of course My Lady." He bowed

"That's not a problem for you?"

"No My Lady"

……………………………………………………………………………………………

"So this is your hunting ground?" Selene smiled as she stood on the edge of an incredibly tall building, her features perfectly lit by the fall moon. This was a far cry from the festivities of the night before, with the party atmosphere of well decorated halls being swapped for the cold exposed rooftops of New York City. Selene usually hated the full moon, the time when her enemy was at its most deadly, however tonight she felt strangely secure, despite her unfamiliar surroundings, for shrouded by the shadows of the foreboding rooftop was her companion, leaning on his cane and engulfed by his flowing black trench coat he was the embodiment every legend of the night.

"There" she pointed down to the street at a young man hurrying through along a road.

"No" her companion said coldly

"But he's a Lycan" spat Selene "You said we would be hunting tonight."

"And we will my dear" he assured her "But he's just a pup, its not worth revealing our location to take out a runt."

"So we just leave him to roam the city?" Selene snapped at him

"No Selene, we let the Death Dealers pick him up, we're after something much bigger tonight."

Selene sighed and sat down on the roof, allowing her legs to dangle over the edge "So I hear Amelia's withdrawing you from Europe?" she said breaking the silence.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I still have friends in this coven" she smiled

"Are you mad?" he asked her

"No" she sighed "You're a good man Malachi, but the two of us can't work, lets face it the sparks gone."

"I guess so" Malachi said plainly "Are we still friends?"

Selene smiled slightly and nodded, "What about him?" she asked pointing down to a man at street level.

Malachi stepped forward and looked over the edge "That's our Alpha" he said unfeelingly "Lets go"

The two Vampires leapt effortlessly from rooftop to rooftop to keep up with the Lycan, "shall we?" he asked, Selene answered him by drawing her pistols and pulling back the hammers. Malachi responded in kind by twisting the handle of his cane and unsheathing his blade.

"Do you ever use a gun?" she asked sarcastically.

"I've been known to." He smiled, the two then dropped effortlessly from the rooftop and landed gracefully on either side of the Lycan. "Hello mate" Malachi grinned menacingly.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kraven and Selene both gripped the arms of their chairs tightly as their luxury jet left the tarmac. "Did you have fun?" asked Kraven, Selene shrugged her shoulders. "Must have been nice to see your boyfriend again"

"He's not my boyfriend Kraven." She said dismissively "So, I trust you brown nosed your way to a higher position?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response" hissed Kraven. Kraven turned his head to look out of the window, seeing the wealth of the New York coven had once again rekindled Kraven's desire for power. He began to imagine himself sitting on Amelia's throne when the council and Elders were dead. He paused for a moment, though when he made the pact with Lucian, Amelia seemed like the weakest link that had changed. Her chief of security was not just her chylde, but was an attack dog, loyal only to her. Kraven began to doubt whether his forces would be able to best both Amelia and her heir, after all he had bested Soren. Although he had not wanted to do this, he would have to give Lucian a bigger role in their plot, though Kraven would be able to take care of the slumbering Elders, Amelia would prove to be more of a problem, he frowned to himself as he realized what must be done, only the Lycan's had the strength to defeat Amelia, only the Lycans could give him the power he desired.