CHAPTER 6 - Overcome

Inside the castle once more, Sonja made her daily round through the library, then back out, a book in hand, attempting, perhaps, to preoccupy herself for a few hours elsewhere, curled up in a chair in the main den sounded just about right...

"Sonja."

The sound of her name was not unheard of, but coming from her father, in this area of the castle, it nearly was. She stopped and turned around quickly, blinking in surprise, suddenly cautious. "Yes, father?" she asked, seeing him standing there, having just emerged from a doorway.

He said nothing for a moment, only watched her waiting, his eyes slow and pondering. He broke the piercing silence with the hint of a smile. "You do not know how it pleases me to see you happy." he said at last, opening his arms to her.

Sonja had not realized there was a piece of her heart missing, but as she found her feet racing to her father, with childlike innocence, and then his arms around her as she buried her face in his chest, she found that missing piece, and once again, she was complete. He held her tightly, and kissed the top of her head as she breathed in the scent of his tunic.

"Well now." he said, pulling her back gently so he could look at her. "Where have you been?"

For one brief moment, Sonja felt her heart thud with panic. Lucian... But no. Her father knew nothing of that, certainly. "I have been in the library." Sonja replied, lifting the book in her hand casually for her father's attention, to prove her point.

Her father must have heard her heart beat quicken, so that his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What is in the library?" he asked.

Sonja did her best to blink at him with a confused expression. "Nothing." she stated flatly.

"Hmm." Viktor murmured thoughtfully. But he seemed little interested in the library's mysteries, so asked no more questions. "Sonja." he began again. "I have something I must speak with you concerning."

"Yes?" Sonja asked, anxious to be of any assistance to him. She had missed him in the weeks after her daylight encounters. He had not spoken with her, and now that he had begun once more, she would not do anything to destroy that bond, again.

"Sonja, I have seen great improvement in you, the past week, so I feel it is fitting that I extend a pardon to you." Viktor spoke heavily. "You are a wise girl, and I feel that you have learned sufficient from your encounter, without needing my punishment in addition. I am dismissing the limitations I put on you, in forbidding you from leaving the castle."

The weight behind the words would have made her cry out for joy a week ago, and yet, now with the nighttime air granted her again, she didn't know what she would do with it, for the night was her time to wait for Lucian, for nothing else.

Her father waited expectantly, watching her expressions. When she could not bring herself to be glad for her freedom, she found the one thing that did make her glad. "Thank you for your trust, in me." Sonja said, bowing her head to her father, feeling humbled.

Then Viktor smiled once more, and reached for the chain that hung around his neck. "I would like you to wear this, for me." he added, handing her the chain, on which, hung an over-sized pendant, gold, with one small green stone in the center. Sonja took the pendant carefully, and examined it, as her father continued. "You must wear it all times, for it is valuable, to me, and to the safety of our clan. I am giving it to you now, for I know that I can trust you."

Viktor took the chain from her and placed it around her neck. "This is a great responsibility."

Sonja looked up at him, and saw the seriousness in his face. "I won't let you down." she promised.


"What is that?" Lucian asked curiously, once it was day again.

Sonja sat beside him on the pew, and fingered the pendant around her neck absently, looking back to Lucian when he spoke. "Oh, it's..." She bit her lip thoughtfully. "My father gave it to me." she said finally. "He's speaking with me again. He says that he trusts me, and that I must wear this at all times. He says it's important."

"Just like the one that wears it." Lucian commented, stroking her hair with his hand.

Sonja blushed and quickly turned her face, to hide her smile.

Lucian chuckled silently to himself and shook his head. "You don't like it when I compliment you." he observed, leaning forward so that he might see her face.

Sonja turned her face back to him and rolled her eyes, sighing. "I'm not sure I deserve it, that's why."

"Of course you deserve it. You're the most important thing in my life."

Sonja pursed her lips and frowned. After a moment, she forced a painful laugh. "I wonder what the other Lycans would think of you saying that." she murmured, mostly to herself. "They would probably agree with me. I don't deserve it..."

When Lucian said nothing, Sonja turned her face back to him, wondering. "...What do they think?"

Lucian shook his head to himself, as if having his own argument, then sighed. "Does it matter?" he asked. "What do the Vampires think?"

"I..." Sonja swallowed, catching Lucian's quickly souring mood. She had not meant for that. "I...I don't suppose they know. You know that."

"Right."

She regretted having spoken. She should have just accepted Lucian's sincerity, and been content. Why did she have to bring up the others? Couldn't she do anything right?

She saw Lucian watching her out of the corner of his eye, his face critically dark as it was turned away, not fully looking at her. She had hurt him, somehow. He was torn...

And torn he was. There she sat, so close to him. And yet... Yet she was so far away. There was a gap there, larger than space. He wanted her, more than anything or anyone he had ever wanted before. Everything about her burned in him, blinding him, tearing at him till he felt shredded, and still. Still she sat, so hard to touch, forbidden...

They were so different. He could never really have her, beyond a simple 'playmate'. It couldn't be real. Real love, real passion... A real life could never be kept a secret. Someone would know. Someone would undoubtedly discover them, and that would mean death.

It couldn't go on like this forever. Someone would ask questions. Someone would betray them.

Was it better to have, and lose, or better to never have had at all?

Did she even understand? Did she even imagine, to know the outcome of such a thing? Such a thing...

He sighed and shook his head once more, suddenly tired. He felt finished. He had finally let reality in.

"What are you thinking, Lucian?" Sonja asked quietly, her voice echoing through his own thoughts.

He looked at her, her eyes wide with concern and a little guilt, and fear. Those eyes... "I'm thinking of the future." he replied before he could stop himself.

Sonja's eyes deepened as she thought, interpreting. She didn't seem to understand... She didn't understand. How could she? She was a Vampire, and he, a Lycan. She could not see. She had not imagined. She could never realize what it was they were doing. What they were trying to do. It was impossible. It was all a waste.

"I'm sorry." Lucian muttered, shaking his head and resting it in his hands. It was over. It had to be. "I'm sorry. I... Sonja. This... I just... We're different."

A shadow crossed her face, as he spoke, and she started to understand what he was saying.

"No!" she said quickly, grabbing at his arm in desperation, though he remained seated. "No! Lucian, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have been so down. I'm sorry. It doesn't matter what anybody thinks. What matters is what we think. Please. I'm sorry. It doesn't matter..."

"But it does!" Lucian interrupted, and she jumped at the sudden fierceness in his voice. "It does matter what they think. We are part of them. Us in them, and them in us. It is they who determine the courses our lives must, and will take."

"I don't believe that." Sonja said, fighting back. "We can chose. Lucian, we can chose."

"This is silly." Lucian snarled under his breath, shaking Sonja's hands off, and rising to his feet. "I'm sorry." he said, looking down at her. "I...I have to go... I'm sorry."

His feet began to carry him down the aisle, away from her, towards the door. Sonja flew to her own feet, her heart pounding desperately as she felt the first tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Wait! No, Lucian."

He stopped mid-stride. When he turned back to her, his face was masked in sorrow. "No, Sonja. It can't be. Please. Listen to me, and try to understand..."

"I love you, Lucian."

His argument fell flat.

Her heart was beating at a hysterical pace as the tears fell from her eyes. She didn't blink them away. She hardly even noticed. She saw only him, and how his feet had turned towards her once more. His eyes remained clouded, detached. But he was standing there, strong and proud. He... She did love him.

In the blink of an eye she had closed the distance between them, and stood before him. He watched her, depleted, as the tears continued down her face. "Sonja..." He whispered her name remorsefully, bowing his head, ashamed.

"Do you love me?" she demanded, waiting blankly for his reply.

He took in a breath, pained, and stared at her. Believing, strong, and perfect... "Always."

She needed no more. She threw her arms around his neck, holding him close to her heart as she buried her tears in his shoulder and kissed his neck softly. She could feel him shiver in surprise, yet she did not let go. She would never let go.

She pulled back to stare at his face, those eyes of his now clear as he watched her intensely, focusing and refocusing, trying to understand.

"Noone..." Sonja began, pulling her face towards his own. "No one...controls my destiny... Whatever that may be."

His arms found their way around her waist and he was there, kissing her lips fiercely, breathing against her cheek as she held him tighter, running her fingers through his hair.

Her life could end now. It could end now, for all she cared.


Kraven was a Vampire, and, thereby, could taste, smell, and hear blood, wherever it was at.

He had curiously followed Sonja, and had seen her enter the chapel. He had thought nothing of it, and had continued down the passageway, to another hallway, another destination.

He had thought nothing of it, until he realized that the chapel was a solitary place, a place to be alone. And if Sonja was in there, it may well be just the opportunity he had been seeking for, to have a word with her. He was not brave enough to attempt a flirtatious conversation with a hard-headed girl in a public place, for fear of denial and the embarrassment that would most certainly accompany it. But in a private place? He had none to fear.

He turned around, down the path, and made his way back to the chapel doors, clearing his throat as he got nearer, and smoothing his hair.

And that's when he heard it. A raised heartbeat. Two of them. Completely different, yet exactly the same. He quieted his approach, curious, now, determined to solve this mystery. He made his breathing shallow, and treaded lightly.

There was breathing too... Kissing! So Sonja had a lover? This was not common knowledge, especially seeing as their meeting was in a secluded place. Did Viktor even know?

Fortunately for him, the door did not have a tight lock, so sliding the door open a small crack, quietly, was not a problem. He put his face forward, and peered into the room, not knowing what to expect, as the heartbeat he heard drove him mad.

His eyes adjusted to the environment, and he was able to make out two forms, Sonja's face towards him. The other was a man, dressed strangely. Kraven couldn't recognize him.

The smell was... He smelled like...

Kraven's eyes widened as he realized what it was he was seeing. Sonja... with a Lycan.

He shut the door as quietly and quickly as he could, then headed down the hall.