A/N: Sorry for taking so long (writer's block 'shudder') I just wanted to thank all of you guys for reading, especially to my faithful reviewers ;) So, I just wanted to let you guys know that this is all going somewhere… I promise the romance will surface soon enough XD. Anyway, I hope you all like this new chapter. I'm gonna try to make them longer from now on, so…enjoy and if you like (or not) review! :D
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, but I wish……
Anya was in a state of confusion. Emotions of all kinds were coursing through her and she didn't know how to react. Viktor was alive. And to make it all worse, he was a vampire. She had obviously been aware that Viktor was not human, but a vampire? Since meeting Lucian, Anya had assumed that her hated enemy had been a Lycan as well. Of course, their fateful conversation had revealed otherwise. Lucian had been very calm in explaining Viktor's (and his army's) true identity. She guessed that it could not have been easy for him. There seemed to be a history between them, Lucian and Viktor that is, that went far beyond that of master and slave. Lucian hated Viktor with an unexplainable fierceness. He hadn't, obviously, said this to her, but his hate was almost palpable. The way his face had darkened when he told her of Viktor's return from the dead had been…well frightening. Anya shuddered at the memory. She hoped that she would never be the recipient of that anger.
"Milady?" Anya turned towards the familiar voice. "Are you well?" Farkas was probably the only person she could stand talking to right now. She sighed loudly as he entered her rooms.
"No", Anya said in a defeated tone.
"Would you like to talk about it?" her mentor asked softly.
"No", he began to say something but she cut him off. "But thank you for offering; I just need to sort this out on my own. And decide what I should do of course."
Farkas nodded in an understanding manner. "Just remember that I am an excellent listener", this brought a smile to her lips. "This noteworthy skill is always at your disposal, if you should so wish it" He smiled kindly at her before departing. Anya knew he was worried; he would not have approached her if he was not. Anya pursed her lips. It had been almost three days since she found out the truth. She supposed that she had not hidden the turmoil she was feeling as well as she thought. That paired with the fact that she had hardly emerged from bed in those three days, and had refused most of the food and drink that was offered to her, was probably causing quite a disturbance in the castle. Anya sighed once more as she realized that she should probably leave her rooms. As she walked towards her dresser, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. Immediately she grimaced. Her brilliant red hair, although it barely reached the nape of her neck, was sticking out in every direction. There were dark circles under her eyes that looked more like bruises, and her face looked gaunt and haggard. Anya had been in bed for almost three days but she had hardly slept. A bath, she definitely needed a bath. She quickly chose her attire, breeches and a sturdy leather jerkin and tunic, and told a nearby maid to ready a bath. Anya bit her lip nervously. She had not been completely truthful to Farkas. Anya had already made up her mind about what she was going to do. She only hoped that he would not go berserk when she told him. Farkas was not a religious man, but he was sure to object to Anya's turning into one of the immortal damned. She shook the thought from her head. There were plenty of things to do before she had to worry about that. The most important of which was to track down and speak to Lucian. Naturally she would need him in order to become a Lycan. Anya sighed yet again, and then went off to get ready for nightfall. This is going to be interesting.
Selene was distraught. She had just been informed that in just two days time, Lord Viktor was going to go into hibernation. Selene liked Amelia well enough, but she had wanted to serve under her dark savior for the first years of her immortal life. Actually, she had been hoping that he would teach her to fight. Although she was now a vampire with superhuman strength and speed, she was still no match for the seasoned warriors that made up the Lycan horde. An involuntary shudder ran down her spine. Those monsters were positively ruthless. How could a simple peasant girl like me be able to stand against them? She had voiced this opinion to Lord Viktor only a few days past, and his answer had been simple.
"You are now a part of the greatest vampire coven in existence, and you are under my protection. Nothing and no one will harm you my child, for you will soon become a death dealer", he had said to her. "It shall be those hellish beasts that will quake with fear at the mention of your name" He had smiled proudly down at her before taking his leave. His words had filled her with joy, but also a sense of unease. What if she could not become what Lord Viktor hoped? What if she ended up disappointing him? Selene frowned at the thought. Failure was not an option. She had to do what she could to avenge her family. The filthy mongrels that had killed them were now dead, killed by Viktor himself, but hundreds of their kin still roamed free. She clenched her fists at her sides. They did not deserve to live, not while innocents like her family were being sent into oblivion as a result of their ruthlessness. Selene gritted her teeth in anger. Those dogs deserve to die, she thought. Her lips curled into a smile. She would enjoy hunting them down, slaughtering them like the dogs they were. When she became a death dealer, no Lycan would withstand her wrath. For the next two centuries that Lord Viktor would sleep, she would train harder that she ever had before. She would be a force to be reckoned with. When Viktor awoke, he would not find the scared girl that he had left behind. The thought warmed her heart. Perhaps then I will be able to repay his kindness.
The dead leaves on the forest floor sounded as loud as a waterfall as Anya treaded upon them. The frigid, night air blew against her body, but she forced herself to ignore it. She was focused only on the path ahead, and the Lycan man she was searching for. Incredibly, butterflies began to swarm in her stomach. Ridiculous, she thought. I'll probably die tonight and all I can think about is whether Lucian's eyes are blue green or sky blue. She chuckled bitterly to herself. Here she was about to become a furry creature of the night, and she was wasting time fawning over the Lycan leader. For what seemed to be the hundredth time that day, Anya sighed. She was sure that she had gone insane. How could she even consider doing this? Perhaps she should turn back now with no one the wiser. If anyone asked where she had been all night she could say she had been patrolling the area. Or taking a walk, either one would do. No one would ever think to question her. She was after all, the baroness of Cachtice. Anya could do as she pleased. She smiled wryly to herself. Of course she would not turn back. She was much too stubborn. When Anya made up her mind on something no power on earth could dissuade her from seeing it through.
"Lady Anya, is that you?" a voice from behind her said. She whirled, startled, to face the man behind her. "It is you." Sabas' brilliant, white smile was the only thing she could see in the darkness.
"Why on earth would you sneak up on me like that? My heart almost stopped for a minute there", as if to prove her point, Anya's right hand was pressed against her racing heart.
"I didn't mean to startle you", he said with a wolfish grin (pun not intended). "I had a feeling that I would see you sneaking around the camp tonight."
"Did you really?" she raised her eyebrow at him. She forced herself to drop her hand. It would not do to show him any weakness.
"Yes. In fact, I told Lucian that you were probably going to try to stop your men from joining us," he seemed amused at this.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint, but you're wrong", Anya didn't sound sorry at all. Her tone was smug if anything. "I have some business to attend to with your master."
"Really… and what business might that be?" Sabas crossed his arms.
"Now you are just speaking out of turn," Anya's voice took on an edge. "It is none of your business. What I have to discuss with Lucian is a private matter."
"You're wrong there lady, the dealings of anyone who threatens the security of the pack are definitely my business."
"I'm not threatening anyone's security. Do you honestly believe a human woman could possibly harm a pack of twenty, or so, disciplined werewolves?" She snorted. "Now if it makes you feel better, I promise not to stick you with my nasty silver sword, alright?" Just like she had hoped, this remark angered the Lycan. He stiffened and looked coldly into her eyes.
"Fine," he spit. "Have your little chat with Lucian, but I swear if you cause any trouble…" he left the rest of the threat to her imagination. Anya looked at him innocently, and then lifted her right hand to her heart.
"Cross my heart, hope to die…" Sabas bristled. He turned and led her towards the encampment. "That can be arranged", he murmured so low that Anya could not hear. She just followed the Lycan, a large satisfied smile gracing her features.
Lucian sighed in disappointment. Not nearly enough of the Cachtice men had shown up to join them. He blamed Anya. Lucian grimaced. Lady Anya, he corrected himself. Remember your place peasant, Lucian told himself. He remembered her anger at being addressed only by her first name. Lucian wondered if this was due to his inferior birth, or the fury that she was feeling towards him at that moment. The latter seemed the more logical of the two. Lady Anya did not seem like the type that snubbed the lower classes simply because of her nobility. Damn it if she had behaved badly towards her servants many more of them would be with him now, ready to become Lycans.
At that moment Sabas emerged from the foliage with Lady Anya. Lucian did a double take. What in the world was she doing here? Lucian hadn't thought her capable of trying to stop him. It was impossible, he knew it and she knew it so why even bother? There had to be some other explanation to her presence?
Anya took in the Lycan's obvious confusion. She smiled wryly at him. Anya was biting her tongue to keep from laughing. Lucian's face was beyond comical. She strode up to him confidently. She greeted her men, now his men, without even looking in their direction. Her large dark eyes, which contained barely suppressed mirth, looked only at him. She was obviously enjoying their discomfort. He pursed his lips as she reached him. She was pressing her lips into a thin line which would indicate her displeasure, but Lucian knew without a doubt that she was trying (very hard) not to laugh. After a few more seconds, Anya managed to control herself. They were almost the same size, he was taller by an inch, so she drew herself to her full height. Pride shown in her eyes but there was no antagonism in her gaze. Lucian was surprised by this; he had assumed she was still angry at him.
Suddenly, Anya shot him a dazzling grin. "I thought I'd get a better greeting than this Lucian," she tilted her head to the side in a playful manner. If Lucian didn't know better, he'd have thought she was flirting. "I don't see the other recruits receiving the silent treatment." Did he hear correctly? Did she say the other recruits? A husky chuckle escaped her throat. "You heard right darling. I'm here to join you," she gave him a lopsided smile. "You won't discriminate because of my sex will you?" Her words sounded playful but there was a dangerous glint in her eyes that dared him to refuse her.
Lucian was beyond surprised; he was astounded. In a daze he went over to sit on a fallen tree trunk. He slowly shook his head from side to side, not in refusal but in shock. He couldn't form coherent thoughts, much less sentences. Anya laughed yet again. She walked up to him and crouched to see him straight in the eyes.
"Don't worry Lucian," the mirth in her eyes was blatant. "Take your time to adjust, we have eternity anyway right." Her smile was dangerous and, although she didn't know it, seductive. Right then and there Lucian came to a few realizations. One, she was serious, two she had made up her mind, and three he liked her. Lucian was dismayed by this fact. The girl had certainly made an impression. She was smart, she was tough, and she was beautiful. At that moment, although he tried to stop it, Lucian felt himself falling. It was not an unpleasant feeling.