** I DO NOT OWN UNDERWORLD OR ANY CHARACTERS MENTIONED FROM THE ORGINAL SERIES **
"I do not want another war, David," Selene kept her gaze locked on the falling snow outside her window.
"It's the same war, Selene," David crossed his arms. " And it is now our duty as Elders to keep this coven safe."
"The coven is safe and with Selene training our newest members we have real Death Dealers again," Lena took Selene's side.
The Elders were in Selene's room, it was where they held most of their meetings because Selene so hated to sit on the throne they had made for her. She was now and Elder but the clan revered her as some God of War due to her many victories and the countless amount of Lycans she had slain. Even with her reputation of killing Viktor and Marcus, she was respected by her clan though she often her the whispers of her ruthlessness. Not everyone liked her, she knew that ll too well, that behind every corner there were people plotting ehr demise. The Elder council was discussing what needed to be done with Lycan's trying to once again rebuild their own forces. It was an endless loop for Selene, one she had seen for centuries, a battle, many wounded, rebuilding only to fight again. It was never ending and it was nothing she wanted part in.
"If we can preserve our forces, we can avoid a new battle altogether," David paced.
"If Lycan's want to fight, they will fight," Selene turned from the window.
"Maybe if we were able to give our soldiers an edge against the Lycan army," Lena set down her glass. She looked so perfect, her long white hair swirled around her neck like the snow falling outside. She resembled an ice queen in her pale blue gown that exposed her many tattoos. Lena was of Nordic blood and had no love from the black and red attire of the other clans. She often was seen wearing pastel colored gowns with her white fur coat overtop. She was a free spirit, braiding flowers into her hair during springtime and going barefoot absolutely everywhere she could. She looked more like a Goddess than she did a Vampire at times, especially when paired with her kind demeanor and value of life.
"No," Selene cut her off. "I won't."
David and Lena shared a look before David went to Selene's side. "I know we've talked about this in the past, but if we were immune to sunlight in the way that these Lycan's are changing themselves to be immune to silver, we would be unstoppable."
David also broke the original dress code that the Elders preceding them had followed. But instead of changing color, David changed centuries, he preferred to wear his jeans and cotton shirts. Cassius has implored him to dress more of his title, but whenever David could he was wearing his casual clothes. In times of council or speaking before the clan, David would dress in suits. Very nice suits, custom made and one of kind, but still modern suits that made Cassius grumble.
Selene gave him a cold look," I was not given this gift by Alexander Corvinus to make one of his descendants more powerful than the other."
"You gave it to me."
"I saved your life," Selene spoke sharply. "The rest was inevitable."
"I would do it myself if I could," David told her honestly.
David had tried to grant others to walk in the sun, but he was unsuccessful. The strain was in Selene's blood and hers alone, another untimely gift from Alexander Corvinus.
"You gave it me too," Lena stood.
Selene fought the urge to roll her eyes," Yes, I gave it to you because you are an Elder, hardly fair than the two of us be in the sun while you hide in the shadows. Besides, you repaid me in abundance."
Lena had shown Selene the Sacred World, a place beyond this Earth. A place where Selene had found true peace and a new will to survive. A place she had glimpsed to her daughter.
"Then how else can we have the upper hand against the Lycans, I'd love to hear your ideas, Selene," David sat on the edge of the couch.
"David," Lena spoke in a soft tone, resting her hand on his shoulder. It was her kind way of telling him he was being to harsh and to let her take the lead. She went to where Selene sat in the window, looking out at the frosted roofs below.
"It's been a long year," Lena spoke only to Selene.
Selene tensed up, she knew exactly what Lena was doing. It had been a year since they had been named Elders, a year of meeting and politics, a year of knowing she would never see Michael again. It was another year added of not knowing where her daughter was, if she was safe or if she was happy. This past year had been one of the longest in her existence.
"Yes, it has," Selene replied.
"You never speak of it," Lena sat beside Selene.
"Speak of what?"
"Any of it," Lena's piercing blue eyes drilled into Selene. Selene knew she wasn't trying to pry or be rude, she only wanted to be there for Selene.
"There is good reason for that."
A moment of silence filled the room, Lena could see Selene was still grieving the loss of her beloved. Selene had not changed, she still loved to wear her skin tight leather suit and corset paired with chunky boots and guns. She also wore a fur lined cloak most places as a symbol of respect for that the Nordic clan had done for her and her admiration of the clan itself. Her hair was still tinted with white on the bottom and as time passed it seemed to creep farther and farther up to her scalp.
"I wish I could have known Michael," Lena finally spoke. "He must have been truly greater than any man I've ever known for you to hold him in such high regard."
"He was more than man," Selene let her hair fall into her face to hide the sadness in her eyes.
"You say he is gone?"
Selene stiffened," Yes. He's gone."
"But you are not alone, my Selene," Lena put her hand over Selene's, a gesture to comfort her.
A single tear fell from Selene's eye," I feel so alone without him," she admitted in a voice barely above a whisper.
"We are your family," David finally broke his silence, kneeling beside the two by the window. "We are here for you," he added his hand to the pile.
"I know," Selene let out a slow breath. "I've been so lost in myself that I haven't looked right in front of me."
"Michael may be gone," Lena squeezed Selene's hand. "But you still have a daughter."
Selene felt choked just thinking about Eve, the air seemed to leave the room. Her daughter, a piece of her and a piece of Michael was out there. Somewhere hidden from the world for being who she was.
"You've been so strong," Lena comforted her. "You made such a sacrifice for her that she may never understand."
"Jolene may not even know of her existence," David tried to add to the sentiment of the moment.
Jolene. The new Lycan leader. She vowed to better than Lucian and Marius, to finally destroy all Vampires and let Lycan's reign king.
"Of course she knows," Selene wouldn't let herself be swayed. "Finding Eve was Marius' legacy and he failed. Jolene will try to succeed and give Lycans the immunity they so crave."
"They have not found her yet," Lena reminded Selene. "She is still hidden."
"As she should be," Selene withdrew her hand from the others. "If I find her she is in more danger."
"No, if you find her, you can finally keep her safe," David stood. "If the Lycan's find her first, her life will not be spared. They will kill her."
"David," Lena tried to stop him from saying it.
"I know that," Selene admitted. "I know that no matter what I do she is at risk. It feels impossible to help her without hurting her in some other way. I don't even know where to being to find her."
"You are still a Death Dealer at heart, my Selene," Lena gave an optimistic smile. "They way you have trained our warriors, you are an expert tracker."
"She's right," David nodded. "You have so many skills. In the past you never found her because you weren't looking for her."
"My Selene, you are the purest and strongest of us all, you will find her," Lena's eyes held a promise in them as if she could see the future.
"I will this request granted by the council," Selene looked between them.
"Granted," David smiled.
Since being named Elders, David had abolished the old rule of only one being awake to reign. He made the argument that the three of them together would give the Vampires more power and it made more sense to have them all together to rule together. Lena agreed and Selene was thankful because she loathed the idea of being put to sleep as Viktor and Marcus had been. Why would she want to "leap frog" through time? time was only the measurement, but she knew nothing would ever really change.
"Yes, I will go," Selene felt her mouth broaden to a smile.
"A smile is so rare to see," Lena smiled in return.
"I do fear for your safety, you are an Elder now and we can't lose you so soon," David began to pace again.
"We will send her with a team of security," Lena offered.
"No," Selene's smile fell. "I do this alone."
"That's not an option, Selene," David replied.
"I've always done things alone. I work better by myself, last thing I need is some screwy security team getting in my way."
"I wish I could accompany you," Lena admitted. "But we cannot all travel together and leave the castle unguarded."
"It is unfortunate," David agreed.
"I go alone," Selene stated firmly. "I need to find her my way."
David sighed, it was hard to tell Selene no.
"Shall I lie to the clan then? Tell them you went off to Var Dohr with Lena? I do not want to start of rule as Elders under false pretenses."
"Neither do I, David, but there are people in these walls that still have no trust for me. They fear my daughter and are angered by my past of betrayal. I cannot have anyone come who I don't trust completely and there is no one here besides you two that fit that criteria."
"I know you're right," David sighed. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"When have you known me to get hurt?"
"It will not be a lie, Selene can accompany me to Var Dohr, then if she were to leave afterwards, we have no way to know," Lena winked.
"Then it's done. You'll leave by the end of the week," David smiled and ended the meeting.
Lena and David left Selene to prepare and were met by their personal guard who had been waiting outside for them.
"Are you excited to be going home after all this time?," David asked Lena as they walled on the cobblestone.
"A year is not long to you and I," she smiled. "But I will be happy to see my home and the rest of my clan."
"I will miss you when you are gone," David told her sincerely.
"It is I who will miss you," she stopped walking and turned to him.
"Leave us," David commanded of the guards without looking away from Lena's frosty eyes. Once alone, David stepped closer to Lena, looking down at her with his dark eyes ignited. "You will miss me?"
"Yes," Lena's back hit the stone wall and she was trapped by David.
"Or will you miss this," he leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck then letting his teeth graze her skin.
Lena was electrified by this, David knew it was a weakness she had. She tried not let it show but she sparked with passion being so close to him.
"Or this?," David taunted her by pressing her against the wall, kissing her neck, leaving her breathless.
"David," she called out to him in the empty hall.
"I will miss all of you," he whispered against her skin, his hand pulling at the bottom of her dress. "I will miss you touch, your skin, your voice," he spoke in a hushed urgent voice. His hand was now sliding up her leg and she looked to David who's eyes were burning with desire. "I'll miss your mouth," he kissed her hard. "I'll miss your moans."
"Ahhh," Lena moaned as David's hand found her.
"I'll miss you in your entirety," he confessed.
"David, we must not do this here," she pleaded as he began to move his fingers.
"I'll miss that too," he chuckled. "How shy you are, even with me," his smile had a sinister glimmer as he pushed deeper.
"David," Lena moaned and arched her hips against him.
"Not here, huh? Yet you seem so eager?," he teased her more.
"Do not taunt me like this," she kissed him, pulling him closer to her.
She would miss him. How could she not miss this? David was a pureblood, she had seen it the moment he stepped into her castle just over a year ago. He knew nothing of his birthright. It would seem odd to some that Lena had known Amelia, spent time with her while she was in Var Dohr, helped her deliver her child. Lena had known of David his whole life, but to a Vampire, that is nothing. Life is endless and time is irrelevant.
Lena pulled from him," I will miss your honesty, your valor, and the way your eyes look into mine."
David smiled and dropped his head, Lena was still learning how to talk dirty, but she was so sincere it made David's heart throb.
"You will never cease to amaze me," he kissed her once more before letting her dress fall and stepping back.
"I could say the same, you are quite brazen at times," she pulled on her skirt to even it out.
"How can you expect me to resist such beauty," he gently cupped Lena's chin and looked deep into her eyes. "You are exquisite."
She wanted to melt into his arms, he had such a way to woe her that she would never get used to it.
"I hope to spend my eternity with you," she swooned, but then heard herself. "Oh," she gasped and pulled away from David. "I.. I'm sorry."
The pair had been enamored for the better part of the year, the first time he felt that spark was when he had saved her Var Dohr. She was pinned down by a Lycan and he killed the beast and helped her stand. She had been covered in blood but showed no fear and turned to fight on. In their time together, they had shaken one another to the core numerous times, feeling an electric pulse of ecstasy each time they were together. They vowed to keep it secret given the fact they were now both Elders and were faced with many tasks to keep the last of their race alive. In this time, they had never spoke of their feelings, only letting their passion run wild.
Lena knew David was a dedicated friend as he had spent days consoling Selene after the coronation. She was wrecked by the discovery of her Michael being slain by Marius, especially since it was only to obtain his blood in an effort to grow stronger. David was also a devoted leader, he was strategic and calculating in every move to better the clans and the race. Even with countless woman falling at his feet after finding out he was a pureblood and now promoted to an elder status, he never paid them any mind. Never once did Lena see him with a consort or leaving a woman's quarters and never had she heard a rumor about promiscuity surrounding him.
Perhaps she had not been guarded enough around him, she let herself relax and feel safe. This is why she had slipped about being with him, she was so embarrassed.
"I should go, my lord," she bowed slightly and shifted away faster than David could comprehend.
David now alone in the hall was left stuttering by himself. What had just happened? Why did she run away?
David first had approached Lena in hopes of learning more about his mother, Amelia. She gladly filled him in with all she knew, how his mother was surprisingly kind during her time in Var Dohr despite the rumors of her bloodlust. David had been intrigued by hearing about his mother, but partially it was an excuse to speak with Lena more frequently. He watched how she was beyond forgiving to others, never raising her voice or scolding anyone who spoke down to her. She never used her power as an Elder to threaten or embarrass anyone. Once she gained her power of being in the sun, she abused it more than any of us. She walked around the castle during the day, scaling the walls and picking flowers. Her aura was intoxicating, she had such a pure heart, like nothing he had ever seen in another Vampire.
He knew that they must be kept a secret, and once he made his move they spent a lot of their time together during the day. They would stroll near the castle where no one could spy on them or listen to them. He first kissed her in the forest after seeing who could climb trees faster. She had won of course, she told him she often spend time climbing the mountain during the night and collecting fresh snow on the peaks.
He didn't understand what caused her to run away. Maybe he had stepped over a line doing this inside the castle. Perhaps she was embarrassed that someone might have seen them, scared about her new title. He would ask her the next time they saw one another.
Thanks for reading! xoxo