She needed to know who was aiding those humans, she needed to know who it was. Thoughtfully tracing the outline of her jaw with her fingers in thought. "Andres Tannis. Selene! Take me to him would you?" She looked at the elder surprised. Blinking a few times she nodded and headed to the garage to fetch a vehicle to go there.
"We'll wait until tomorrow, it's getting early. The mansion please." Driving home they could indeed feel a tinkling, though the sky was still black, it gave them enough indication to drive. Selene drove her new silver Mercedes up to the mansion. Upon returning there and once again walking into the main hall they were met with commotion. A single figure laid on the bottom of the stairs surrounded by humans and a few white lab coated doctors.
Squinting Selene spurted towards it.
"Michael! Micheal look at me!" Her voice was desperate and tears stung in her eyes as she shook him. Shaking him in her arms as she knelt by his side. Emelia looked up the stairs.
"As I expected Viktor, you never obeyed your own rules anyway!" She snarled at him. Selene looked up at him in disbelief. Her voice quiet as she looked at him with sadness.
"No... He was innocent! He did nothing to you!" She sobbed on his chest.
"My dear, what happened to you? Were you not the one to vow vengeance for your family?" He reminded her of the one thing she had left. And it sickened Emelia.
"Please excuse me while I go and throw up." She replied sarcastically and walked off, not in the mood to do anything to him.
"How could you murder him? We agreed he was no threat!" Selene was still eying him with disbelief over his deeds. Viktor started to walk down the steps, one at the time to stand over her and Michael.
"What makes you think he would be any different? He would have been taught by the lycans to feed and to hate you if he ever returned. IF he ever would return, you would have to face him. I spared you of that pain my dear." She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face before she stormed off after Emelia.
Emelia was leaning against the side of the sink. The bathroom had a white interior as most do, though the sink was red with thrown up blood. As Selene entered, crying she noticed the weak smiling elder hunched over groaning over the sink.
"Forgive me Selene. I just can't." She threw up a second time, spitting the blood out. Licking it off her lips she again turned to Selene whom spoke.
"Why did Viktor kill him? We agreed! All of us!"
The elder merely shook her head in a smirk. "You aren't naive, Selene. Just plain oblivious to what happened in the past." She humphed at her and the elder shrugged and turned the tap on, cleaning the sink.
"Well why don't you enlighten me, wise elder?" She spoke the word wise elder sarcastically. Smirking she waited for her to calm down.
"How about we interrogate Tannis instead? There a few things I want to know about a particular legend. You might as well ask him about it."
The tinkling stopped and Emelia uttered a faint smile. 'The sun was up.' "Well we'll wait until tomorrow. Shall we head to my chambers? Safer from Viktor and his remaining lackeys." Turning off the tap the weakened elder stumbled towards her chamber.
"Goddamn you, Viktor." Muttering to herself she limped towards her own chambers up the stairs. 'Where the hell is Victoria anyway? Why didn't she do something?'
Suddenly standing still with her eyes widened she walked to Viktor, whom was watching the limping elder.
"Viktor what did you do to the admiral?"
He shrugged. "None of your concern. Yet I suspect our coven is not yet secured." Emelia walked off. Nearly running up the steps as Selene followed her.
Entering her chambers she nearly threw a punch through the wall.
"Curse you! Curse you!" Each time she repeated the same words as she beat the wall. Collapsing in exhaustion she limped to her bed and sat down. Her hair filthy and falling over her face.
Selene sat beside her. Emelia didn't even care about him anymore. Lorenz was right, he betrayed her, now she was the last elder left. Marcus couldn't help her.
"I never thought she'd be killable. But then again, so I thought about Amilia. It seems my luck finally ran out." Sighing the elder looked bitterly at Selene.
"How much do you still know about your families death?" She was about to open her mouth when she started to thing and shook her head.
"Just vaguely that lycans killed my father in the barn and Viktor drove him off returning to see to him when he saw me." Emelia nodded putting her arm on her knee.
"This is going to hurt. But I see no other way. Do you believe me when I told you of the legend?" Selene nodded to her anger swelling up in her as she trembled thinking back about that night. "Well Viktor, Kraven and Soren killed your family. Not the lycans. I'm sorry, but he lied to you." Selene stood up watching her elder with widened eyes. She shook her head at her taking a few steps back.
"I share this because you deserve to know what he did to you. The end game has begun Selene. Pick your side. Victoria's or his. Either way I will not stop you." Sighing she stood and walked towards the small desk and draped her coat over the back of the chair. Selene stood there staring in disbelief what she just heard.
"There's more to that legend that is very similar to me isn't there?" Emelia nodded slowly walking back towards a cabinet. 'Thank god I didn't take my clothing with me to the coven.' Pulling a night grown out she threw it on the bed and absently sighed.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" Emelia eyed Selene after her comment.
"It can wait until Tannis, Selene. Patience." She unzipped her corset and dropped it on the small table next to the cabinet. Next she sat down and unstrapped her boots.
"I'm sorry about Michael, I didn't know Viktor was powerful enough to do anything to Victoria whist she was at full power..." sighing she pulled her boots off. Putting them under the small table.
Silently did Selene lean against the wall. Watching her from the corner of her eye she looked at her.
"Well you might as well clean yourself up as well." Grumbling she pulled the zipper down revealing her entire body. Thoughtfully turning away from Selene and stepped into the bathroom on the other side of the room. Closing the door Selene could hear running water.
Sancta Helena
He was yet again sitting at his desk, his Grey mantle surrounding him made him an imposing figure. He was stroking his white beard. Victoria hasn't reported back. Not for a full hour. A knocking on the door shook him up from his thoughts.
"You may enter."
The door opened and a figure dressed similar like him walked towards him, his red beard and long hair a sharp contrast to the Grey and black he wore. Behind him a familiar lady dressed in full plate armor closed the door behind him and took a side step, watching both closely.
"What news from our Victoria?"
The man siting shook his head. "I'm afraid Viktor may have gotten to her first."
The man's eyes glowed a cobalt blue as the standing man repeated the name with venom.
"Viktor... If anything has happened to her, I will kill him myself." The man growled, this was where he crossed the line. Double crossing him and his brother was already a boundary or three too far. But his sister that helped him? He was going to pay.
The second night was soon upon them and Emelia took Selene and a death dealer named Matthew with her to Andreas Tannis' Monastery.
"Well at least we can be thankful Michael didn't suffer much. I still can't see why you cared so much for him in the first place." He was in the drivers seat. Emelia had the entire backseat to herself and was comfortably lounging.
"Shut up Matthew." Selene, in the passenger seat ignored his ranting. She was feeling this wasn't the last time she would cry out in horror about her sire.
As they came up to the Monastery, a gate blocked the way. The sign said 'Beware of the dog.' Matthew got out of the car.
"What the hell?"
He pulled the lock out of it's hinges. Like he needed a gun for that. He opened the gate and jumped back into the car.
"So, where were we?" He slowly pulled up the drive way and looked both ways.
"I don't see any dogs." His emerald eyes were notable. It was one of the reasons Emelia had the black haired and young death dealer come. She sired him herself and knew his loyalties.
He stopped the Black army jeep a few meters in front of the entrance. "Okay. Dogs, likely a few vampires and an old idiot that knew too much." Loading his MP5 he stepped out of the car, followed shortly by the elder and Selene. He moved forwards and walked straight to the door checking inside. Emelia was the second followed by Selene. However as soon as she was half way the floor sucked her up as two trap doors opened and closed splitting the party from Selene. The vampires could hear growls coming from a few directions. No matter if it was the tunnel Selene was in or outside, they were everywhere.
Selene pulled out her twin barretta's, in a crouch position, ready to kill any and all lycans off with her silver nitrate. Meanwhile topside, Emelia was holding back a fully transformed lycan preventing it from biting her head off. A hail of bullets ensured no repeat of the train scenario happened. The lycan fell dead to the ground.
"Need help milady?" He extended his hand but Emelia shook her head.
"Watch your back." She got up just in time to see the lycan leap for Matthew.
"Aw crap." The lycan embedded it's claws in his shoulders triggering a scream as the lycan tried to tear him to shreds. Quickly and without thought did Emelia snap it's neck.
Selene had killed off her two lycans with relative ease and was proceeding underground. Whilst Emelia was checking Matthew.
"Matthew, are you going to live?" She looked at him concerned. Grunting he sat up, his chest heaving heavily.
"Next time put up signs saying. 'Beware of massive fucking dogs with superhuman strength.' Goddamn Tannis."
They proceeded inside with Matthew reloading his gun. "Okay, only three extra clips, so only semi auto from now on."
He clicked the mode and safety catch to semi and took the SMG against his shoulder nodding to Emelia.
"On your lead." Sighing she walked ahead of him, taking out her knife. Shot could be heard ringing in the other room and voices.
"I knew it was you Selene, the stench of Viktor's blood still lingers around you." Emelia and Matthew were at the doors and she commanded him to wait, smilingly waiting for the right moment.
"Tannis, I see your aiming hasn't improved." A snort was heard through the room.
"You haven't changed... You don't scare me Selene!"
Emelia nodded to Matthew and he kicked the doors open aiming down the sights at Andreas.
Emelia casually strolling in behind him. "Oh we're going to have to work on that."
Tannis looked at both in disbelief. Emelia walked up to him and he aimed the gun at her. She was quick to pull the gun from his hands and punched him against the door behind him.
"Not well mannered are you? Regardless. We need to talk."
Returning to his library he nervously sat down. The rifle in Selene's hands, containing UV rounds. Looking around Emelia couldn't help herself.
"You exile has become a bit more... comfortable since I last remembered."
Tannis was about to open his mouth when his eyes widened at Matthew. "You... You were there! At the counsel meeting where I was sent here!" He pointed a trembling finger at him. He merely shrugged this comment off still looking around.
Looking at his wardrobe he noticed a lot of lingerie and looked questionably at Tannis before Selene commented. "Two dead whores in the hallway I came from."
"Ah, I was about to think up worst case scenarios..." Emelia had to control her facial expression in order not to burst out into laughter.
"Tannis,what do you remember of Amilia of Moldavia?" Tannis gulped visibly before raising a nervous eyebrow.
"Wh- Who? S- surely you know the legend.. Wh- what could I possibly know?" Sighing at his lacking ability to lie she walked in front of him.
"It would be a shame for us to come all this way just to do what Viktor asked us to do hmm Selene?" She looked expectantly at her and she cocked a new round into the gun.
"P- Perhaps we can think this over. I have an old journal. Kept for safekeeping... For your... Discretion of course!"
Emelia looked at Tannis whom was still shaking and cursing under his breath. "Why can't I protect her as I promised?" He banged his head in his hand. "Why must I break my word. Ugh."
Coughing Emelia made her presence known again and tapped her boot impatiently. "You have my attention now, Tannis, whose word?" He bit his lips. Standing up he walked defeated into his library and pulled a small journal out of a drawer.
"Before disappearing, she trusted me her journal for safekeeping...This was... After I was exiled of course..." He gulped loudly watching both Selene and Matthew a second before turning back to Emelia.
"Amilia of Moldavia is alive, and she moves during day light." She raised her eyebrow at this last comment.
"Sorry, what? Since when?" He silently shrugged, sitting down again and passing through the pages.
Selene spoke up. "What makes Amilia so special?" Tannis and Emelia looked in turns at her with a 'You're kidding right?' glare before Tannis went to the first page and began reading out loud.
"Entry one,
I Do not understand it yet, but if what Father's advisor tells me is true, then I will never see day light again for as long as I live. The monsters in the legends are true! And I have become one of them, I barely feel the need to sleep. I barely feel warmth or cold.
My father walks amongst us once more, his illness gone like snow in front of the sun. His advisor... He must be very submissive to constantly listen to him. He has bitten me, I feel like god is turning his back on me, and why shouldn't he? I let myself be turned by this... Monster of a man. And now father and all of his generals are also them!
I hope god still shows mercy for the wronged. I don't know why I suddenly turn to him, I have a feeling I will never feel happy again..."
Tannis stopped reading and eyed Selene. "Amilia of Moldavia was once as Viktor. Human, the daughter of the ruler of these lands."
He proceeded to pull a different book out of his collection, showing a drawing of the first generation werewolves.
"He was turned to control the offspring of William, the very first werewolf, a vicious and infectious breed. Amilia was the third Vampire, older then Emelia here. Just as much vampire years as Viktor. And just as cold hearted as him... Or so he thought."
He switched back to the journal and turned a rough few pages ahead before he continue to carefully turn the pages. "Ah yes, here we are." Clearing his throat he began.
"I have just been sent to my chambers for disobeying father.
We finally spotted the illusive William, he was a big albino werewolf. Quite large too. I was ordered by father not to attack, to wait and see. I did not want to see. I just rode in on him and started to slash at him, driving him from the nearby village. I just want this nightmare to end...
It didn't do much to him but I managed to save some civilians from the horrible fate that would await them otherwise. They seemed quite nice to me! Allot nicer then father when he rode up and slapped me so hard that I nearly fly of my horse!
Nope it still hurts like gods wrath. Okay bit over reacting but... Why does father do that? Does he not care that I saved his people?"
Tannis coughed and poured himself some wine that, with his eyes nervously on a waiting Matthew, he quickly drained.
"Entry hundred and fifty three,
Diary I believe I have gone mad! I am forced to feed on blood and can't eat nothing else. Viktor did this to me. Marcus bit me but Viktor ordered him to. I do not hold it against him to hate my father. Only now am I beginning to understand how naive I have been for twenty five years. He is a horrible man.
Entry Hell, who cares, I read it and no one else ever will.
I am cursed, I am doomed to forever suffer for my naivety. God has punished me.
Now it's just me and Marcus left. God, I don't what to be alone... I wanted only to be happy. Not toy with weapons of war!"
Tannis stopped her again looking up at Selene. "Beginning to get the picture, Selene?" She had listened intensely and was slowly processing this new information. Standing closer to her Matthew whispered something to her before she looked at Tannis horrified.
"She never wanted to be turned?"
Tannis nodded and Emelia filled her in further.
"I gave each of my generals the option. Human or Vampire. Viktor in his accursed arrogance, never gave his daughter the choice. And now that she is alive and well. I believe it will not take long before the past will start to haunt Viktor. For I now realize I saw her in Budapest earlier." Selene blinked.
"How powerful is Amilia?" She asked this nervously yet neither Tannis nor Emelia responded immediately. After a uncomfortable silence Tannis spoke. More to himself then anyone else but her spoke. Putting his book away.
"If she moves during day light... This means surely that she can have a significant power increase if her virus strain over the years has evolved closer back to the original virus.. But then... Why hasn't Viktor moved in sunlight?"
Emelia let the former historian think whilst listening if anything sensible came out. Leaning against the table.
"Of course it could be that she was exposed to something. Or she has never slumbered. But that wouldn't make sense, Soren would be able to do so as well..."
He seemed to silently consider his options before pulling out a different book and turning the pages before coming to a picture familiar to Emelia.
Matthew moved in to see. "Vampires?"
Emelia shook her head. "Mortals."
Tannis filled her in this time. "Men loyal to Alexander Corvinus, the father of us all. It could be possible that she somehow managed to... Perhaps drink his blood or... I don't know, bite him. Either way, he could move in sunlight. And before being bitten by bat... So could Marcus."