In a large room with dreadful sand colored wallpaper sits a woman with curly auburn hair at a large oak desk. She flips through some of the files on in front of her, she's unimpressed by what the reports say. They're bleeding money. The company is spending it faster than it's being produced. She had inherited the company through a long line of complicated channels and stock purchases. She picked up the phone, automatically her receptionist, Melody, answered.

"Yes, Ms. Sheen."

"Send for Charles. I want to see him before the end of the day."

"Of course, Ms. Sheen... uhm... I can fit him in at 3 before you leave for the Merck & Co. meeting."

"Yes," she agreed then hung up the phone.

Charles was head of accounting and she needed to come up with a new budgeting system before everything she had worked for was run into the ground. The phone rang again and she answered.

"Yes."

"Ms. Sheen, Javi is here," Melody giggled, no doubt being pestered by Javi's flirtatious antics.

"Yes, send him in."

She hung up the receiver and leaned back into her chair waiting for her office doors to open and withing a few seconds there stood Javier. He walked into her office with a charming smile and a pin stripped suit, strutting over to her desk.

"Hello gorgeous," he grinned.

"Watch your mouth," she scowled.

"Woah woah," Javi through his hands up in surrender. "Jo, you're getting tense cooped up in this office."

"No, I'm getting sick of your attitude."

"Sorry, I look at the sunny side of life," he smiled again and sat on the left chair opposite of the oak desk.

"There is nothing sunny about how much your spending on the new recruits."

"Gotta spend money to make money, Jo."

"And how are you making money, Javi," she leaned forward onto her hands, her curls falling over her shoulders. "What I'm seeing here is you pissing it away. We aren't made of money and every cent is supposed to be for the pack."

"I am spending it on the pack. I just had to buy a new food, these guys eat like they have three stomachs. Plus one of them charges the water heater and those are not as cheap as you might think."

"Javi," she leaned back in her chair covering her face with her hands. "You can't use this money for that. Why didn't you talk to Tiphus? He's in charge of the apartments and you know that."

"I know I should have told you before I-..."

"No," she slammed her hand on the table. "You don't understand. I working my ass off for this pack and you aren't holding up your end."

"I'm closing in on the target," Javi replied to her shock.

"You found her?," she gripped the desk with anticipation.

Javi swallowed and ran his hand through his hair," Not exactly. But I've narrowed it down."

"No exactly," she repeated through gritted teeth, the pressure she was applying to her desk was enough that she could hear it starting to splinter. She took a deep breath and sat back. " What does not exactly mean? You've been looking for nearly a year and have reported nothing. All those little scouting trips, just to come back with a new set of STDs and an empty wallet."

Javier swallowed his growl. "I've been waiting for the right moment. I believe she's in Brussels."

"Brussels? Why am I just now hearing about this?"

"I'm still not certain and I didn't want to give a false report, ma'am."

"Ugh," she shuddered," It's almost worse when you pretend to be formal."

Javi grinned, he had a special way to get under her skin like no one else, one of his many talents.

"Sorry, Jo."

"You know I hate that," she muttered, running her fingers over the new divots engrained into the wood from her near outburst. Being called Jo reminded her of Marius and how she despised his tactics. He was just a little wolf clawing for power any way he could get it, so hungry and blind that he ran himself into the ground. She did not mourn him when she heard of his death at the Eastern Castle. Now that she was in charge, she was going to make sure this was the final time they would face the Vampires, she would be the one to end this war and go down forever in history for it.

"Well, I came by because Hayden and the boys are wondering when you're planning to come out. The new recruits should probably see you and hear about your master plans."

"Ha," she scoffed. "The new recruits couldn't handle my master plan. You and Hayden are to prepare them. Once we find the girl, things will be moving quickly, and I need everyone assembled. You need to get to Brussels, track down this lead and find her."

Javi was bitter," Why not send Klaus? Isn't that his jobs anyway?"

She rolled her eyes; Javi was always worming himself out of doing anything. All he wanted was to fuck the new hot girls, drink, and party. For the most part he got to do whatever he wanted because it didn't hurt the larger operation, but now they were moving on a time crunch and things were going to get serious.

"If I did send Klaus, maybe I would finally get a proper report, but unfortunately, he is busy. You will go to Brussels. I want this girl found and I want her found now, Javier. My patience with you is wearing thin."

Javi sat back up in his chair, he seemed unfazed by her words, but his silence gave away his true feelings.

"I will find her for you Jolene," he said flatly.

"Good. And because of your overspending, I'm taking your credit card and I expect you to roll in under budget next month."

Javi glared at her; he always wore his emotions on his sleeve. No doubt he wished to reform right here and claw her throat out, but he showed restraint to the idea.

"I will," he nodded.

"Then go," she tilted her chin towards the door. She needed to get back to getting the fund reset, for her plan to work they would need more money.

Selene dismissed her class for the day and strode through the corridors to get back to her room. Selene had taken the week to finish up her urgent duties as an Elder and make sure David was drowning in everything after she and Lena left. She held her head high and never replied when other greeted her in the halls, she was too focused on planning her trip. She would need guns, blades, and maybe some explosives to make it on the way to finding Eve. She was trying to remember the number of safe houses nearby when she was stopped. She knew the face of Cassius, the Vampire who stood before her blocking her path.

"Elder Selene," he bowed his head to show his respect.

Selene was not impressed; Cassius was always trying to fake incidents where he could run into Selene. She didn't understand why he never took his requests to David; he was far more reasonable and willing to say yes than she was.

"Cassius," she replied dryly.

"The entire coven grieves your departure tomorrow."

"David will still be here to take charge."

"Yes," Cassius agreed. "But many have grown fond of you and wish you to stay here."

"This is not my domain," she replied.

Selene had always thought this, David had control over the Eastern castle and Lena over the Northern, but these were the final two covens left after years of being massacred. After killing Marius, there was talk of combining the two covens into one, but the Nordic Vampires cherished their solitude and traditions too much too much to be morphed into Eastern Vampires. Selene did not have a domain to control over, but she wasn't looking for one either. She looked at both covens as if they were her own and tried to be fair and political when making decisions on their behalf.

"We are of one coven, are we not, Eastern and North combined to be stronger? Yet I still wonder why we are separating our assets, splitting up our united coven?" Cassius was asking in order to pry. He hated not being at the center of the information flow and no doubt was confused by the Northerners leave.

"Your curiosity sounds like you do not trust the Elders," Selene watched his face fall and continued. "We are still the same coven, but the north holds a place sacred to our people. We should protect what little we have left; do you not agree?"

"You will always be an Elder of high regard," Cassius spoke with a creepy half smile.

"You and I both know that is not always the case, Cassius," Selene said with a straight face. She had murdered two of the previous Elders herself, with this she knew that an Elder position just as fragile as a Vampire's immortality.

"Perhaps that is the case," he straightened his shoulders. "Do you plan to stay in Var Dohr for long, Selene?"

"I will stay as long as Lena requests."

"Let us hope you can return soon," the same creepy smile spread across his face.

"Good day, Cassius," Selene walked around him, ending the conversation before it ever really started.

She could sense he was trying to get information about why she was suddenly leaving for Var Dohr, but he had not right to ask such questions. Cassius had been trying to worm his way close to one of the Elders since they had disbanded the old council and made the Elder council instead. Without the council, Cassius held little power around the castle and Selene was beginning to think he was trying to stage a revolt. She had mentioned it to David who had promised to keep an eye out while she and Lena were away.

After speaking with Cassius, she made a detour and went to the castle arsenal instead, picking up the supplies she would need for her journey.

"I need four Berattas, twenty mags of liquid silver, three 5-inch daggers, and a Kimel AP," she told Lars, the new director of weapons.

"Is that so", Lars replied and crossed his arms. "What need of all that does the Elder Death Dealer have?"

Lars was a massive man from Scandinavia, about 6'7 and ripped from years of intense training with elite military teams. He stood out among the rest of the coven, not just from his size but his bushy red beard and bald head. If you ever saw him, he had a large cigar wedged between his teeth and would make the habit of trying to talk around it. This made understanding him and his thick accent all the more difficult.

"I am to escort Elder Lena back to Var Dohr."

"Seems to me her security team has already come by and picked up what they needed," he stood unmoved by Selene's words, his tattoos were taunt against his muscles and a puff of smoke escaped his nostrils.

"Lars, this is not a request. Give me four Berattas, twenty mags, three daggers, and a Kimel AP."

"Can't quite let go of the old days, eh," he chuckled and turned back to the stockpile. "Tell me then, what do you suppose is comin' after Elder Lena?"

"It's impossible to say when the Lycan will finally attack."

Lars chuckled," Yeah, they have a nasty habit of surprise."

Selene looked past him to the locked area of the forge, that's where they kept the weapons deadly to Vampires. She knew her mission was dangerous and that enemies could be anyone, even Vampires. Selene needed some ultraviolent bullets but had no way to ask for them without seeming suspicious. Even as an Elder, her motives would be questioned if she went around carrying deadly weapons to her coven.

"Four Berattas... here the mags... and the blades... what else was it? A Kimel? Sure, a Kimel AP."

Lars set down the final weapon and Selene started to pick them up one after another until she noticed in the mags, there were two extras, and they were glowing. It was the ultraviolent bullets, but she hadn't asked for them.

"What is this," she picked up the mag and held it out to Lars.

"Those? Oh," he chuckled and then leaned forward. His eyes lost all charm, and the smoke clouded the distance between them. "Those are just in case. Never know what you'll be faced with out there," he spoke grimly. "Security refused to take 'em. I figured you'd be more willin'," he leaned back.

"Carrying this could be seen as treasonous," she replied setting the mag back down on the table.

"You know better than most that treason is always a possibility," Lars took a long drag of his cigar.

"And you?," she slipped the mag into her Beretta and pointed it at his chest.

Selene didn't know why she felt such animosity towards him, she felt on edge and cornered being alone with him. she had looked into him after he started running the arsenal, but he had no priors to rebellions or vigilante groups. He had been loyal to Marcus for the past 2 centuries after being bitten and had mostly worked in forging weapons.

"I see treason for what it is," he replied, unfazed by that the deadly ammunition he had provided her was now pointed back at him.

"And what is that?"

"A chance to grow," he grinned around his cigar.

Selene lowered her gun, she felt foolish for drawing it so quickly. As an Elder she needed more restraint, but it was something she was still working on. She went back to packing her supplies silently, but Lars took this upon himself.

"You, a Death Dealer shared the blood of Alexander Corvinus himself, now you walk in the sun like a God among us."

She glared at him through her bangs and threw her bag over her shoulder.

"Now an Elder... but still your story is far from over," his dark eyes gleamed in the low light.

She strode away without another word to him, he certainly had a knack for putting her on edge. How would he know anything about her story? Her life span was triple his and she had seen more than he could ever bear, who does he think he is? Maybe she should have shot him. No, that would have been too far. But she could have done it with a normal bullet, he would have been fine.

"I wish only to speak with you," David knock again at Lena's door. "Please, Lena."

Lena sat on her bed, far from the door where she could hear David calling from her. She knew she would have to face him, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He came to her after all, and they could forget all of this and move forward. She stood from her bed and glided to the sound of David's voice; she hesitated before opening the door. She wasn't ready to face him and as soon as she saw his dreamy dark eyes, she felt another spell of humiliation. She refused to look feeble and held his gaze.

"Good evening, my lord," she said softly.

"May I come in?," David asked.

"Perhaps we should discuss what you wish here," Lena blocked the entry.

"Lena," David sighed and his shoulders fell. "I don't understand. You've been avoiding me, and I think I should know why."

Lena tilted her head higher to look up to David," I fear I have put a rift between us," she confessed instantly. Lena knew that letting issues of the heart fester would only lead to more trouble down the road. She needed to be honest and apologize for her words, perhaps he would show her mercy. Shutting herself away this past week had been a fool's errand and now she had to face the consequences.

"I spoke without thinking and I regret making such a scene. I should have been honest with you."

"A rift? Lena, what are you talking about?," David shook his head, clearly not understanding.

"What I said that day... I felt so... so ashamed to say it and now I can barely utter the courage to repeat it."

"Lena," David reached forward taking her hand in his. "It pains me to say this because I never want to forget a word you say, but my mind cannot think of a reason for you to be so embarrassed."

Lena sighed and squeezed David's hand," We have never really discussed our binge of the heart."

"Oh...," David finally understood what Lena was talking about. "You want to define our relationship?"

"I suppose my views on this might differ from yours greatly. Something I should have considered before diving in without a second thought."

"Can I come in, my lady?," he asked her again.

"Yes, I suppose now is the time," she stepped to the side and let David enter her room.

Lena hated this awkwardness, she wanted to just say what needed to be said and get this all over with.

"I have feelings for you," she stated quickly, shutting the door behind her

David had walked into the room and turned, leaning against the frame of her bed. He stared at her for a moment, she was truly the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on in his lifetime. She exuded elegance and carried herself with grace, she looked lovely like always with her hair swept around one side of her neck. She was never one for games or trickery, she was a straight shooter which is why Selene and she got along so well. Why had she been so secretive this past week about her feelings?

"I have feelings for you too, Lena," David admitted. "Is that what this has been about? You're worried that things will change when you leave for the north?"

"No," Lena still stood by the door.

"Then what is it?"

"I believe that I've let my feelings for you take me over. I've been swimming in the euphoria that you have brought me, but now I have to face our reality."

"Our reality? Which is?"

Lena was pained by what she was about to say. She never had anticipated this was the conversation she would be having with David. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, wanted to be with him for always and rule side by side. She wanted to run into his arms and feel surrounded by his warmth and taste his blood like it was her own, feel his memories and forge a future. She could not say this. Lena knew that what they shared was precious, but extremely fragile. If anyone had found out about there rendezvous, it would catastrophic. Even as Elders they couldn't sweep it all under the rug and force their coven to forget, whispers would spread, plots would stir. It would cause an uproar in their short reign, something Lena was not willing to sacrifice.

She looked past the man she saw before her, into his soul and glimpsed into his future. She saw him going down in history as the best elder to ever lead this coven. She saw him smiling and laughing, she saw herself by his side. Then she saw the bloodshed. David would have a good future if she were to free him. He would rule honorably and fight for all of them until his death. If she cripples him and leads him to destruction, it would be unforgiveable.

"We cannot be together, David."

David stood up quickly and was making his way to Lena when she put a handout to stop him.

"Please, I must say this, and you must hear it, for you know it to be true."

David stopped, respecting Lena's request and waited for her to continue.

"We are both Elders, both rulers of this joined Coven that we have created through bloodshed and loss. Now that we all rule as one, we are vulnerable- not just you and I, but Selene as well. We are open to attack at any time and if we take this path, it will lead to more bloodshed of our coven. You are a weakness to me," she looked away from David's burning stare. "A weakness that we both cannot afford."

David was quiet. Lena turned to look at him again, but his eyes were not on her, he was staring at the painting of the mountains beside her bed. David didn't know what to say. Lena was right and he hated that she was right. He didn't want her to be right, he was trying to find some way to twist it all back together. There had to be something that he could say to sway her mind. Finally, he crossed his arms and turned to the beautiful woman that stood in front of him.

"You're right," he agreed with a huff. "I hate that you're right, but you are. If we stay together, it will only bring hardship to the coven," he stepped forward, close enough that Lena had to resist to lean into him. "It would destroy me if I saw you hurt on my behalf."

Lena fought back the tear she felt in her eyes, she didn't want to say goodbye to David, not like this.

"Perhaps it's best to end this before we get too attached," she choked on her words.

"Yes," David mumbled, using his hand to tilt Lena's chin up so he could look into her icy eyes. "Perhaps it's for the best."

"I do not say this with a light heart," Lena reveals. "It pains me to put this distance between us."

David fingers danced up her cheek and pushed her snowy hair behind her ear, her skin was smooth and warm. David was taking this last opportunity to touch her; he was trying to savor every moment.

"It's not easy for me either," he left his hand cradled on the side of her neck, he used his thumb to wipe away the single tear that fell from her eye. He felt that same pain, he wanted to show her, but he knew it would only make it harder for them to part. She was right. They were vulnerable, but ending it now was too late. He loved her. The realization made him hate himself, how could he have never said this. He had never been in love before, so this was all new to him. Of course, he loved her, she was everything he could dream of. But now it was too late to tell her, for if he admitted it, he could never let her go.

"I will send correspondence when we arrive safely to Var Dohr," Lena sniffled.

David stepped away from her, trying to abide by her wishes.

"Please send for me if you ever need me. I will keep you informed of any situation that arises here."

"Of course," she couldn't force herself to look at him. He was her weakness and that was a very dangerous thing, if anyone ever found out, they could cripple the coven.

"Get home safe, Lena," were David's final words before compelling his body to leave the room. He didn't linger outside her door like he wanted to, no. This was how it had to be and on lonely nights when he missed her more than anything, he would taste his memories. With this it meant he had to conceal them and never give his blood out willingly or someone would see how precious she was to him.