Disclaimer: I do not own Underworld, or any of the associated characters. Isn't it obvious?
Summary: See Previous Chapters

A/N: I was going to leave it at one chapter, but one of my reviewers asked me to keep going.

CHAPTER TWO

Why?

Why and how did this happen?

I was glad when Selene woke me. Kraven has always been self-serving, even if he prefers the term 'Ambitious', and Selene feared that he had formed an alliance with the Lycans. Also, while his interest in my grand-daughter had been amusing the last time I woke, if had transformed into fixation and a sense of entitlement, when Selene had repeatedly made it clear that she was not interested.

But that only leads to more problems.

My Awakening, out of turn and by one who lacks the proper training, has left me disoriented, which can lead to great errors in judgement. My distraction only became worse when I saw the signs that I had missed in Sonja: all of the indications of a girl who found herself falling in love for the first time. Not a good thing in a Death Dealer.

Her love had been a human until last night, when he was the casualty of a werewolf attack, and bitten by a Lycan.

So far, he has done no wrong, but he will not be able to control himself when the full moon rises and he changes for the first time. It pains me to have to act, this time, as it did not pain me to order the death of Lucian, when his betrayal came to light.

Of all the things for Selene to inherit from her father, did an attraction and loyalty to Lycans really have to be one of them?

Just once, I would like to awaken to a peaceful coven. Do Markus and Amelia have to deal with this when it is their turn to rule? Certainly they never had to deal with a lovesick grand-daughter who fell for a Lycan.

Then again, Markus wasn't exactly indifferent to his brother, and would have done anything to find a way to free him if he thought he could get away with it. Another reason to eliminate those who had raised Selene.

But I cannot show mercy to this Michael. The Death Dealers do not get along with those more interested in politics and pleasure, and if there were not already whispers about Selene having Lycan sympathies, then they would be sure to start soon. I would not put it past Kraven to encourage or start such rumours, to draw attention away from himself.

If Selene is the one to kill him, there will be no way for anyone to accuse her without being laughed at. It will hurt her, the last thing I wish for, but she has only known him for a few days. She will recover, and more importantly, I will not be forced to command her death. I love her as I did Sonja, and I will not lose another daughter.

Selene is hurt and confused, feeling betrayed at what Kraven 'revealed' to her. If she does not get a satisfying explanation, I will lose her as surely as I did Sonja, if not more-so, because I know that Sonja loved me until the end. I was grateful, because the crippling grief I felt was hard enough, and Selene and revenge were all that dragged me out of it. I do not know if I could have born Sonja's hatred on top of her death.

I hold out my arm, vein bared. Blood tells the truth, and I am trained. I can show her my actions, my reasons, rather than random images that will have her jumping to conclusions.

I thank whatever Gods may exist that she trusts me this far, or is so insistent on answers. I organize my memories as she bites down, and see them as she does.

The love I felt for Sonja, the wonder as she held a newborn Selene in her arms…

The shock when I discovered my daughter's lover, the fear and desperate plan when we knew that there was no way to keep it a secret…

The crippling grief when the Council decided on Sonja's death, the resolve to keep her daughter, my grand-child safe, even if it meant giving her up…

The adoration when I hired her father as an excuse to see her again, no matter if I could not openly acknowledge her…

The concern when I discovered that her adopted family were sympathetic to Lycans…

The knowledge that a quick death by my hands would be better than the lengths Markus would go to for his brother, the risk that he would harm the two girls to make their parents talk…

The truth that Michael had done no harm thus far, that if he had not been bitten, I would not mind bringing him into our coven, but the worry that a relationship with him would bring both of them to the attention of the remaining Lycans, especially if her belief in Lucian's survival was true...

I did not know if Lucian would recognize her as his daughter (she was no more than a toddler when he saw her last) or as an opportunity for revenge for Sonja...

The confusion was gone, for Selene did have a rather pragmatic attitude, but conflict remained. She loved this Michael, and would not see him die. Perhaps there was an alternative, as there had not been with Sonja and Lucian.

If he truly was the descendent of Alexander Corvinus, then perhaps he would have a greater control over his Lycan nature. Lucian had restrained himself for years out of love for Sonja, it was not impossible that Michael would do the same. Selene was a hybrid, and as stable as a trained soldier ever was. With the potential already in his veins, there was a chance that her lover would be the same.

It was against my better judgement, but the alternative was to lose another daughter.

They would be hunted, scorned, but Selene could take care of herself, and it was never a good idea to get a doctor angry at you.

Again, I bid farewell to one I loved more than life, wishing we had more time. There would be consequences, but with the coven in ruins thanks to Kraven, no one would question it too closely if I claimed to have not been able to find them.

I embraced Selene, forcing myself not to glare at Michael. "Be careful, my child. Be discreet, but keep in contact when you can. I want to know that you are well."

Selene is very difficult to surprise, so I feel a small flicker of pleasure at the shock in her eyes. She breaks formality, breaks the hard exterior she built to protect herself in my absence, and embraces me tightly, as she did when I turned her, whispering her thanks.

I hear shouts and the sound of fighting. Reinforcements are on the way.

Selene hauls her lover up and supports him as they flee through the tunnels, away from the turmoil. I silently wish them the best as they disappear from sight, before turning back to face the sounds of battle.

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A/N: I warned you that it was going to be AU, didn't I?

To everyone who didn't like the ending and wanted a more evil Viktor, go check out my other story 'The Pebble That Started The Avalanche'. Even if you did like this ending, go check it out anyway, because I would love some feedback.

Thanks, Nat.