Disclaimer: I do not own Underworld or any character associated with it. I love the story ergo, I write stories about it.
Chapter 14: Hyperballad
The neighborhood grew exponentially since Selene last visited. Where once rocky fields spralled from the small patches of grass at the very edges of her property, classically built homes with sod and cultured grass now stood. The area evolved from the few farmers and blue collar workers to old money families escaping their jobs and perfected homes in suburbia.
She leaned against the frame of the window, bringing her leg up to rest on the sill. Just past the gate to the drive way, two women power walked past in custom made jogging suits and expensive wind breakers. They chattered loudly, talking about their domestic dramas and gossiping about their fellow millionaires.
The rain turned over to mist by the time morning came. A fine fog gave her mideval house an eerie appearance. If she ever listened to the small culster of curious children that roamed these streets, she would hear about how her home was haunted by some spirit or another. That in the shadows of All Hallow's Eve, a mysterious figure was seen passing back and forth through the second floor windows. That the wolves that roamed in the mountains never came near the property; it was bewitched, they whispered to one another, and the animals can sense the spell's power.
With a short yawn, Selene turned her head away from the outside world. The pale light illuminated the simply furnished room, the dust swirling in the gentle breeze. Her uniform, weapons, and bag sat on the bureau across the room. The black duffle bag, the one with the small daisy embroidered on the side, sat on the floor.
She shivered as her bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. Crossing the room, she sat down on a chair and pulled the duffle onto her lap. Inside was a few small outfits already matched up for convience. A second pair of black running shoes with pink lightining streaks on the sides rested at the bottom. Next to it, a hair brush with several hair ties on its handle. Selene touched the fine hairs that remained stuck in the bristles, watching them recurl as she pulled the strands straight.
Something glimmered next to that, half covered by several pairs of socks. Curious, she pushed the socks aside and stopped completely. The pendant, the key to William's cell, lay at the bottom of the bag. She pulled it out, resting on the duffle as she studied it. Michael wore it for so long; she had noticed its absence at the airport, but said nothing. A tag hung off the chain and she turned it to read the inscription:
Nyssa, this pendant has been in our family for a very long time. Worn by a princess, a warrior, myself and now, it returns to a princess. When you have it, you continue our story and carry a piece of your mother and I with you always. I love you, princess. Dad.
Selene gently untied the tag, wiping at the threatening tears with the back of her hand. Carefully, she placed the note in the pocket of one of the small sweatshirts and zipped the duffle shut.
She paused before going over to the bedside. Her fingers gently brushed the curls away from Nyssa's face, the child's features calm and relaxed as if she only slept. She slipped the chain around the small, silk-skinned neck and fastened the clasp. The pendant rested perfectly against the snow white flesh, rising and falling gently with each breath Nyssa took.
The scent of burning flesh caused Samuel to cover his nose. The Dealers picked through the bodies, tossing them over the rails into a large pile at the center of the building. He dodged a splatter of thickened blood as another hit the top and rolled down the side. Leaning it, he recognized the lycan as one he trained back in Denver named Kevin. Talented, dedicated, and riddled with silver bullets.
"The girl is gone," one of the vampires reported to him.
"I figured that," he said with some annoyance. "Check the security recordings. There are cameras every where the house. One of them must have caught their escape."
"Yes, sir." The vampire turned away without a bow. Samuel smirked before turning the opposite direction. They hate getting orders from me, he thought with great amusement. He climbed four flights of stairs before reaching Christian who crouched near a dead vampire. Standing up, he nodded at Samuel and lead him into a room.
"She found the tracer you had on the girl," he announced. A Dealer nearby handed Christian a plastic bag which he inturn held up for Samuel. "So much for having a lead on them."
"Well, it got us here," Samuel said, looking over the papers on the table. "We'll have to do it the old fashioned way now." He paused at a page and held it up. "Stats on your safe houses all over Pest and responses for orders for all the other houses to be on stand-by. Looks like they knew something was coming."
They looked up as a Dealer came to a halt at the doorway. "Sir, the files on the computers have been deleted."
"Figures. They probably had a fail-safe to destroy their records should they be attacked." Christian shifted legs in irritation. "Anything on the cameras?"
"Yes, sir." The vampire pulled out a hand held device. He punched in a code and it hummed, the screen blinking the word "LOADING" in green. The colors flashed to reveal a black and white image. A Dealer came into view, gun raised as he checked the room next door. As he moved on, he raised his weapon to fire but stumbled back. Selene stepped from the room, firing repeatedly until the vampire tumbled over the railing.
"Nyssa's in the blankets," Samuel said, pointing to the bundle in Selene's arms. They watched as she turned and lowered her guns. The camera followed her to another woman at the end of the hall and through a door. The screen flashed again to show the two women in the garage downstairs, embracing briefly before getting in two different cars and hauling out of the exit.
"Tracers on the vehicles?"
"There are, but the program carrying their signal was destroyed with the computers," the Dealer replied. "We can put out an APB on them if you want sir."
"Do so," Christian said, waving the vampire off. He turned to Samuel and handed him the device. "Go back to Marcus and update him. He'll be able to find her before we do."
"How?"
"He drank her blood, remember?" The vampire smiled, his pointed fangs brillant against his almost purplish lips. "And she's probably going some where the lycans won't know about but she knows well. She's a creature of habit in fighting as well as tactics. It might be in her memories and he'll be able to find it out."
"My lord." Marcus turned around, watching as Samuel bowed.
"I assume my niece was not at the safe house?"
"Yes, my lord. Selene was able to get her out."
"Ah," he laughed, placing the martini glass of chocolate-laced blood down on the table. "I should have figured as much. Viktor trained that bitch himself; her skills are much more advanced that these young bloods. The tracer?"
"She discovered and destroyed it as well. We have footage of them leaving the building, but that is all."
"Did Christian not want to tell me the news himself? Did he think I would react better to your report than his?"
Samuel shifted uncomfortably as Marcus' eyes glowed in a flame of rage and blood lust. "My lord, you drank from Selene I was told."
"Yes."
"We think she may have gone somewhere she's been before. Some place that may be in her memories."
"Do you," Marcus challenged. He mulled the suggestion over with a mocking face. "I suppose it would only be fair to tell you that your news it old to me. A dealer reported back immediately with the information hours before you. Your cowardice in delaying this is appalling."
"My lord-"
"However," he silenced Samuel quickly, "you have brought us this far. I suppose I must find the child myself." He stepped closely to the lycan, inhaling the rancerous stench of fear off of him like a drug. "Consider yourself lucky. The only thing keeping you alive is Erika's affections. Now go."
He watched as the Samuel bowed low before rushing from the room. He laughed out loud, revelling in his continued ability to bring the strong to their knees. He finished off his glass with a deep breath, lowering it down to the table with a soft clink.
Staring out the window, he focused on some distant point in the city. A blank spot formed before his eyes before going completely black. He pressed through the electricity pulsing through each neuron of his body as he reached for those distinct memories of a zealous vampire warrior.
Two tiny bundles cradled closely in Selene's arms...the smell of blood and iron as she pressed her face into Viktor's shoulder..."Again! The only way to survive is to be perfect in battle," Viktor shouted as Selene stood up with blood streaming down her face. She raised her sword before parring his next swing...She closed the gate with a satisfying click. The house looked so beautiful in the freshly fallen snow..."Finally got this plowed," she mumbled, shifting gears as she passed a small sign that said: Thank You for Staying With Us Here in Soubouti.
"Stupid, Selene," he whispered, clearing his mind slowly. He looked up at the moon, its three quarters beautiful against the faint rain clouds. "Very stupid."
A/N: Its up, I''m here, and still rockin' n' rollin'. I'm half way through the next chapter, so expect that soon as well. Thank you for your love. And the chapters that popped up and went away? Yea, my bad. Technical difficulties.
til' next chapter,
anthestria