( ✝ )

[courtiering]

𝐈. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐌 ERIKA: I'D NEVER TREAT YOU LIKE THAT. KRAVEN: OF COURSE NOT. NOW RUN ALONG AND MAKE SURE SHE'S DRESSED AND READY FOR HER GUESTS. ERIKA: IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, YOU KNOW. SELENE: WHAT IS? ERIKA: I DOUBT VIKTOR WOULD WANT YOU FREEZING IN HERE, STARING AT HIS TOMB FOR HOURS. SELENE: NO, HE'D WANT THE DEATH DEALERS OUT THERE, SCOURING EVERY INCH OF THE CITY. KRAVEN. I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY VIKTOR LEFT HIM IN CHARGE. HE'S A BUREAUCRAT, NOT A WARRIOR. ERIKA: WE NEED TO GET YOU READY. SELENE: FOR WHAT? ERIKA: THE PARTY. AMELIA'S ENVOY WILL BE HERE ANY MINUTE. ERIKA: OH, YES. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY WEAR THIS ONE. IT'S PERFECT. SELENE: [LOOKING AT SURVEILLANCE OF MICHAEL. THEY WERE AFTER YOU. ERIKA: HE'S ATTRACTIVE... FOR A HUMAN. KRAVEN: WHO'S ATTRACTIVE? KRAVEN: I PLANNED TO HAVE YOU AT MY SIDE THIS EVENING. SELENE: TAKE ERIKA. SHE'S DYING TO BE AT YOUR SIDE. ERIKA: SO, FOR ONCE, THE RUMORS WERE TRUE. THE WHOLE HOUSE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY BUZZING ABOUT YOUR NEW PET. OH, GOD. ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO TURN HIM? SELENE: OF COURSE NOT. ERIKA: SO WHY DID YOU BRING HIM HERE? SELENE: HE SAVED MY LIFE. WHY ARE YOU HERE? ERIKA: KRAVEN SENT ME. HE WANTS TO SEE YOU. NOW. ERIKA: I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU. HE'S BEEN BITTEN. YOUR HUMAN, HE'S BEEN MARKED BY A LYCAN. SELENE: DID KRAVEN PUT YOU UP TO THIS? ERIKA: NO. I SAW THE WOUND WITH MY OWN EYES, I SWEAR IT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COVENANT? YOU KNOW IT'S FORBIDDEN! ERIKA: LOOK, I WARNED HER. I WARNED HER, BUT SHE DIDN'T LISTEN! SHE NEVER LISTENS! I SHOULD'VE TOLD YOU SOONER. KRAVEN: TOLD ME WHAT? ERIKA: HER HUMAN, MICHAEL... HE'S NOT A HUMAN AT ALL. HE'S A LYCAN. KRAVEN: WHAT?! KRAVEN: THAT BITCH HAS BETRAYED ME. NOW HE KNOWS EVERYTHING SHE'S BEEN OBSESSING ABOUT. ARE YOU TO BE TRUSTED? ERIKA: OF COURSE. KRAVEN: MEET ME IN MY QUARTERS IN 20 MINUTES. IT'S TIME I FILLED YOU IN ON A FEW THINGS. KRAVEN: I NEED YOU TO KEEP WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU UNDER THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE. ERIKA: IT CAN WAIT. KRAVEN: [WHILE ERIKA OVERHEARS.] NO ONE OPENS THIS DOOR. UNDERSTOOD? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY FUTURE QUEEN RUN OFF WITH THAT LYCAN AGAIN. SELENE: WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME? ERIKA: I'M NOT. I'M HELPING ME. ERIKA: IT'S SELENE, SHE'S ESCAPED. TO GO TO HIM, TO MICHAEL. 𝐈𝐈. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 TWO ATTRACTIVE VAMPIRE WOMEN, EACH LESS THAN A MORTAL LIFETIME OLD AND HENCE LITTLE MORE THAN SERVANT WENCHES, ATTENDED TO HIM DILIGENTLY, SEEMINGLY JUST AS ENTHRALLED BY HIS PHYSICAL PERFECTION AND CONSIDERABLE MANLINESS AS HE. THEY KNELT BESIDE HIM AS THEY GENTLY EASED A PAIR OF TAILORED SILK TROUSERS OVER FIRST ONE FOOT, THEN THE OTHER. THEIR COOL, EAGER FINGERS TRACED THE RIPPLING CONTOURS OF HIS SCULPTED MUSCLES AS THEY RAISED THE TROUSERS UP HIS LEGS, THEN PROCEEDED SLOWLY TO BUTTON THE FRONT OF THE PANTS FROM THE BOTTOM UP, ONE DELICIOUS CENTIMETER AT A TIME. TRADING A GLANCE, THEY GIGGLED LIKE NAUGHTY SCHOOLGIRLS. TO HIS SURPRISE, ONE OF THE HOVERING SERVANT GIRLS CAME SLINKING UP TO HIM, LAYING A HAND GENTLY ON HIS ARM. "I WOULD NEVER DREAM OF TREATING YOU LIKE THAT," SHE COOED SEDUCTIVELY, BRUSHING A FINGER UP AND DOWN HIS ARM, AN OBVIOUS INVITIATION FOR ANYTHING HE MIGHT DESIRE. KRAVEN GLANCED DOWN AT THE CLINGING VAMPIRESS. IN FACT, HE HAD ALL BUT FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE TWO UNDERLINGS' PRESCENCE, BUT NOW HE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SIMPERING MAIDSERVANT AT HIS SIDE. SHE WAS A SLIM, BLONDE THING, WITH BLUE EYES AND A SLPHLIKE FIGURE THAT WAS SCARCELY HIDDEN BY HER SEQUINNED BLACK FROCK AND LONG BLACK GLOVES. A LACY BLACK CHOKER ENCIRCLED HER NECK, OFFERING VEILED GLIMPSES OF HER JUGULAR. WHAT IS HER NAME AGAIN? KRAVEN PONDERED ABSENTLY, HE HAD DIM MEMORIES OF INITIATING HER AT A NIGHTCLUB IN POCCADILLY LESS THAN THIRTY YEARS AGO. AH, YES... ERIKA. SHE PRESSED HER TENDER FORM AGAINST HIM, BASKING IN HIS ATTENTION. HER ADORING EYES PROMISED HIM ABSOLUTE DEVOTION AND OBEDIENCE, IN BOTH BODY AND SOUL. "OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T," HE INFORMED HER BLUNTLY, HIS DIMISSIVE TONE STRIKING THE LOVESTRUCK VAMPIRESS LIKE A SLAP ACROSS HER FACE. TO THINK THAT SHE HAS THE AUDACITY TO OFFER ME THE BLIND ALLEGIANCE THAT IS ALREADY MINE BY RIGHT! HIS WOUNDED PRIDE TOOK SOME COMFORT IN THE CRUSHED AND CHASTENED EXPRESSION ON THE SILLY TART'S FACE. AT LEAST I CAN STILL PUT SOMEONE IN HER PLACE AROUND HERE. ERIKA CREPT AWAY MEEKLY, CHOKING BACK A HEARTBROKEN SOB. KRAVEN WATCHED HER SLIP SUBMISSIVELY DOWN THE STAIRS, ACCOMPANIED BY HER LESS PRESUMPTUOUS SISTER IN SERVITUDE. IF ONLY SELENE WOULD BE SO OLBIGING, HE THOUGHT WISTFULLY. THE LENGTHY CORRIDOR WAS INED WITH MARBLE BUSTS, COMMEMORATING MANY OF THE COVEN'S GREATEST WARRIORS AND LEADERS. THIS EFFORT TO IMMORTALIZE THE GREAT AND NEAR GREAT WAS A TAD SUPERFLUOUS, GIVEN THAT THE INDIVIDUALS BEING HONORED WERE ALREADY BLESSED WITH ETERNAL LIFE, BUT EVEN VAMPIRES CAN HAVE EGOS. AND HURT FEELINGS. ERIKA STORMED DOWN THE EMPTY HALLWAY, BITING DOWN ON HER LOWER LIP SO HARD THAT SHE TASTED BLOOD. THE OTHER SERVANT GIRL, DOMINIQUE, HAD SCURRIED AWAY ON ANOTHER ERRAND, BUT ERIKA BARELY NOTICED HER ASSOCIATE'S DEPATURE. HER BRUISED HEART STILL ACHED FROM KRAVEN'S CASUAL DISREGARD. HIS HARSH, INDIFFERENT TONE RANG IN HER EARS. HOW COULD HE JUST DIMISS ME LIKE THAT? SHE AGONIZED. DOESN'T HE KNOW THAT I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM? IF SHE WERE HONEST WITH HERSELF, ERIKA WOULD HAVE TO ADMIT THAT HER ATTRACTION TO KRAVEN WAS ONLY PARTLY INSPIRED BY THE ARISTOCRATIC VAMPIRE'S UNDENIABLE GOOD LOOKS AND CHARISMA. HIS LOFTY POSITION IN THE COVEN APPEALED TO HER JUST AS MUCH AS HIS PHYSIQUE AND FEATURES. AS A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE COVEN, LESS THAN A MORTAL LIFETIME OLD, ERIKA WAS STUCK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VAMPIRIC PECKING ORDER, AND SHE COULD THIN OF NO FASTER WAY TO CLIMB THE LEADDER THAN BY ATTACHING HERSELF TO THE MOST POWERFUL NOSFERATU IN ALL OF EUROPE. ALTOUGH BORN HUMAN, UNLIKE THE OTHER PUREBLOODED ELDERS, KRAVEN WAS STILL A VAMPIRE TO BE RECKONED WITH, AND ERIKA HAD SPENT MANY A LONG DAY, SEQUESTERED AWAY FROM THE SUN IN THE MODEST SERVANTS' QUARTERS SHE SHARED WITH FOUR OR FIVE OTHER VAMPIRE NEWBIES, FANTASIZING ABOUT REIGNING OVER THE MANOR AS KRAVEN'S ROYAL CONSORT. BUT ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS THAT COLDHEARTED KILLING MACHINE, SELENE! A BUST OF KRAVEN CAUGHT HER EYE, HIS REGAL PROFILE CAPTURED IN CHISELED STONE. SHE SWERVED PURPOSELY TO ONE SIDE, KNOCKING THE BUST OFF ITS PEDESTAL. THE SCULPTED HEAD CRASHED TO THE FLOOR, EXPLODING INTO A ZILLION PIECES. SNOW WHITE SHARDS OF BROKEN MARBLE WENT SKITTERING EVERYWHERE. NOT SO HANDSOME NOW, ARE YOU, MY LORD? A MOMENT OF VINDICTIVE GLEE GAVE WAY TO ALARM AS SHE REALIZED EXACTLY WHAT SHE HAD DONE. SHE STOPPED IN HER TRACKS AND LOOKED BACK AT THE FRIGHTFUL MESS ON THE FLOOR. IN A PANIC, SHE SCAMPERED BACK AND DROPPED TO HER KNEES BESIDE THE REMAINS OF THE BUST. LOOKING ABOUT HER FURTIVELY, SHE HASTILY BEGAN SWEEPING THE INCRIMINATING FRAGMENTS BEHIND THE CONCEALING FOLDS OF A LARGE HANGING TAPESTRY. CRIMSON TEARS LEAKED FROM HER EYES AS HER ANGUISHED SOUL REBELLED AT THE CRUEL INJUSTICE OF IT ALL. WHY SELEN? SHE WONDERED BITTERLY, TORN BETWEEN DESPAIR AND INDIGNATION. WHY NOT ME? SELENE WAS STILL GAZING SADLY AT VIKTOR'S TOMB WHEN ERIKA SLIPPED INTO THE VIEWING ROOM BEHIND HER. "IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, YOU KNOW," THE SERVANT GIRL SAID A FEW MOMENTS LATER, AFTER WAITING IN VAIN FOR SELENE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER PRESCENCE. "WHAT IS?" SELENE ASKED. SHE REMAINED FACING THE CRYPT, HER BACK TO THE LISSOME BLONDE VAMPIRESS. SUMMONING UP HER NERVE, ERIKA CREPT UP NEXT TO THE PREOCCUPIED WARRIOR WOMAN. "I SERIOUSLY DOUBT VIKOT WANTS YOU FREEZING YOUR ASS IN HERE, STARING AT HIS TOMB FOR HOURS ON END." FOR THE FIRST TIME, SELENE TURNED TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE OTHER WOMAN. "NO," SHE AGREED VEHEMENTLY. "HE'D WANT THE DEATH DEALERS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, SCOURING EVERY SQUARE CENTIMETRE OF THE CITY." SHE CLENCHED HER FIRSTS AT HER SIDES. "DAMN KRAVEN! HE'S A BUREUCRAT, NOT A WARRIOR," SELENE SAID. "WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?" ERIKA ASKED CHEEKILY. "HE'D STILL BE A PRICK." THE GIRL'S FLIPPANCY CAUGHT SELENE BY SURPRISE. PERHAPS SHE HAS A BIT MORE BRAINS AND INDEPENDANCE THAN I FIRST ASSUMED. "BUT THEN AGAIN," ERIKA SAID, FLASHING A WICKED GRIN AS SHE LEANED LANGUIDLY AGAINST THE THICK PLEXIGLASS WINDOW, "HE IS QUITE THE DEVILISHLY HANDSOME PRICK." SELENE'S ROOM AT THE MANSION WAS ALMOST AS SPARTAN AS THE DOJO UPSTAIRS. ERIKA PASSED BEHIND HER, HOLDING UP AN ELEGANT DRESS. THE BLONDE VAMPIRESS STROLLED UP TO A CHROME-ACCENTED MIRROR MOUNTED ON A STARK WHITE WALL. SHE POSED BEFORE THE MIRROR, HOLDING THE CLINGY EMBROIDERED GOWN IN FRONT OF HER. "OH, YES," ERIKA SAID GIRLISHLY. "YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY WEAR THIS ONE. IT'S PERFECT." SHE DID A GRACEFUL TWIRL BEFORE THE MIRROR, THEN ADDED UNDER HER BREATH, "MAYBE TOO PERFECT." EVEN CONCENTRATING ON THE DIGITALIZED PHOTO, SELENE COULDN'T MISS THE UNDERCURRENT OF ENVY IN THE YOUNGER VAMPIRE'S VOICE. ERIKA WAS DECADES AWAY, IN BOTH POWER AND PRESTIGE, FROM RATING SUCH POSH ATTIRE. THE SERVANT GIRL'S OWN FLIMSY LITTLE FROCK WAS CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER AND MORE TAWDRY, MAKING ERIKA LOOK MORE LIKE A LONDON SHOWGIRL THAN AN UNDEAD ARISTOCRAT. "MMM, HE'S CUTE," ERIKA COMMENTED, PEEKING OVER SELENE'S SHOULDER. "FOR A HUMAN." SELENE HAD BRIEFLY FORGOTTEN THA THE SERVANT GIRL WAS STILL IN THE ROOM. "WHO'S CUTE?" A THIRD VOICE ASKED. BOTH SELENE AND ERIKA LOOKED UP TO SEE KRAVEN, STANDING IN THE DOORWAY. AN IRKED, PETULANT EXPRESSION COMPROMISED HIS DASHING APPEARANCE. FOR HERSELF, SELENE SUPRESSED A FLARE OF IRRITATION AT THE INTRUSION; KRAVEN HADN'T FELT IT NECESSARY TO KNOCK FIRST. ERIKA, ON THE OTHER HAND, IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO HUMBLE SERVANT MODE. LOWERING HER EYES, SHE BOWED DEMURELY AND SHUFFLED OUT OF THE ROOM WITH A MINIMUM OF FUSS. A COOL HAND TUGGED ON HIS ELBOW AND HE TURNED TO SEE THAT SAME BLONDE SERVANT WENCH, ERIKA, STANDING AT HIS SIDE. SHE WAS WEARING, IN KEEPING WITH THE OCCASSION, A DARK SEQUINNED DRESS, WITH ELBOW-LENGTH GLOVES, WHICH DID NOT LOOK TOO CONSPICULOUSLY THREADBARE AMIDST THE MORE DAZZLING FINERY OF THE VAMPIRE NOBLES. WHAT THE DEVIL DOES SHE WANT? KRAVEN WONDERED, IRKED BY THE INTRUSION. THE MAIDSERVANT POINTED DEMURELY AT HER LIPS, THEN BECKONED FOR HIS EAR. CURIOUS, KRAVEN BENT OVER AND LET ERIKA WHISPER IN HIS EAR. HIS ANNOYANCE AT THE SERVANT GIRL WAS INSTANTLY SUSPENDED BY A MORE VOLCANIC FURY DIRECTED AT ANOTHER. "SO," A PERT VOICE INTERRUPTED, "FOR ONCE THE RUMOURS ARE TRUE." SELENE TURNED AWAY TO SEE ERIKA STROLLING BLITHELY ACROSS THE SUITE. SHE FROWNED, ANNOYED. THE PERT BLONDE SERVANT GIRL WAS INVADING SELENE'S QUARTERS SO REGULARLY THAT THE OLDER VAMPIRESS WAS STARTING TO FEEL AS IF SHE HAD AN UNWANTED ROOMMATEE. BESIDES, THIS WAS NONE OF ERIKA'S BUSINESS. "THE WHOLE HOUSE IS ABSOLUTELY BUZZING ABOUT YOUR NEW PET," ERIKA CHRIPED ENTHUSIASTICALLY. SHE APPROACHED THE CHAISE LONGUE, EXAMINING CORVIN WITH OPEN CURIOSITY. "OH GOD. YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO TURN HIM, AREN'T YOU?" SELENE ROLLED HER EYES. "OF COURSE NOT." SHE HAD NEVER CONVERTED A HUMAN INTO A VAMPIRE, VOLUNTARILY OR OTHERWISE, IN ALL HER LONG YEARS AMONG THE UNDEAD. KILLING LYCANS WAS HER LIFE'S WORK, NOT SEDUCING THE INNOCENT. ERIKA NODDED, AS IF SHE UNDERSTOOD WHERE SELENE WAS COMING FROM. THE SYLPHLIKE VAMPIRESS MADE A SLOW CIRCLE AROUND THE CHAISE LONGUE, DRAGGING HER PAINTED FINGERNAILS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE BRUGUNDY-COLOURED VELVET PILLOWS. "YOUR STANCE ON HUMANS IS A MATTER OF RECORD," SHE ACKNOWLEDGED. AS FAR AS SELENE WAS CONCERNED, MORTALS WERE STRICTLY INNOCENT BYSTANDERS IN THE WAR AGAINST THE LYCANS. "I HAVE NO STANCE. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM," SHE INSISTED, PERHAPS A LITTLE DEFENSIVELY. "EXACTLY," ERIKA POINTED OUT WITH A MISCHIEVOUS GLEAM IN HER EYES. HER WHITE SHOULDERS SPILLED FROM THE TOP OF HER BLACK FROCK. "SO WHY BRING HIM HERE?" "HE SAVED MY LIFE," SELENE SAID SOFTLY AFTER A MOMENT'S THOUGHT. ERIKA'S JAW DROPPED, REVEALING DAINTY WHITE FANGS. SHE WAS CLEARLY FLABBERGASTED AT THE NOTION OF A MERE HUMAN COMING TO THE AID OF A VAMPIRE, AND A DEATH DEALER, NO LESS! SHE GLANCED AT CORVIN WITH GREATER INTEREST AND PERHAPS A FLICKER OF JEALOUSY. DID SHE ENVY SELENE HER HUMAN PRINCE CHARMING? LEFT ALONE IN SELENE'S PRIVATE QUARTERS, WHICH WERE EVER SO MUCH FINGER THAN HER OWN, ERIKA CONSIDERED THE UNCONCIOUS HUMAN COLLAPSED UPON THE CHAISE LONGUE. HE REALLY WAS QUITE HANDSOME, IF NOT QUITE THE GREEK GOD THAT LORD KRAVEN WAS. NOT BAD FOR A HUMAN, SHE DECIDED, IF YOU LIKE THAT SORT OF THING... BORED, SHE CUDDLED BESIDE HIM, ENJOYING THE WARMTH OF HIS MORTAL BODY AGAINST HER COOL FLESH. SHE PLAYFULLY TICKLED HIS NECK, RUNNING A TEASING NAIL ALONG HIS JUGULAR, AND TWISTED HIS TOUSLED BROWN HAIR AROUND HER FINGERS. ALL THE WHILE, SHE TRIED NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SELENE WAS ALONE WITH KRAVEN IN HIS OPULENT SUITE. DON'T BE SILLY, SHE SCOLDED HERSELF, DRIVING AWAY THE JEALOUS FANTASIES BEDEVILING HER MIND. KRAVEN HAD BEEN POSITIVELY INCENSED BY SELENE WHEN HE'D DISPATCHED ERIKA TO FIND HER. JUDGING BY THE IRATE LOOK ON HIS FACE, HE WAS MORE LIKELY TO HORSE-WHIP SELENE THAN MAKE LOVE TO HER. FRANKLY, I WOULDN'T MIND A GOOD SPANKING FROM LORD KRAVEN, AS LONG AS IT WAS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. IT WAS ALL HORRIBLY UNFAIR; SELENE WAS GETTING ALL OF KRAVEN'S ATTENTION AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN APPRECIATE IT! WHAT'S THISHE'S BEEN TURNED, SHE REALISED IN ALARM AND DISGUST, RECOILING FROM THE TOUCH OF HIS INFECTED FLESH. A BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHTNING LIT UP THE ROOM. THUNDER BOOMED AND THE HUMAN SUDDENLY SNAPPED AWAKE, SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS. THIS WAS TOO MUCH FOR ERIKA, WHO SPRANG STRAIGHT UP LIKE A STARTLED CAT, STICKING TO THE CEILING WHILE HISSING AT THE SHRIEKING HUMAN BELOW. HER CLAWS DUG INTO MOLDED PLASTER AS THE STUNNED MORTAL STARED UP AT HER, EYES BLINKING IN HORRIFIED AMAZEMENT. ERIKA DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK TO TURN A HUMAN INTO A LYCANTHROPE, BUT SHE WASN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES. "SHIT!" MICHAEL MUTTERED. HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW, HE TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE ROOM JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE BLONDE DROP FROM THE CEILING ONTO THE FLOOR, BLOCKING THE DOORWAY TO THE HALL OUTSIDE. THE GOLDEN-HAIRED NYMPHET GLARED AT MICHAEL, HISSING LIKE A PISSED-OFF CAT. SHE RAISED HER HANDS IN FRONT OF HER DEFENSIVELY, HER SHARPENED FINGERNAILS EXTENDED LIKE CLAWS. SHE BARED SHINY WHITE TEETH, COMPLETE WITH POINTED FANGS THAT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A HOLLYWOOD HORROR MOVIE. KRAVEN STORMED INTO THE ROOM, STARTLING ERIKA, WHO LET OUT A HIGH-PITCHED YELP. IGNORING THE SERVANT WENCH, KRAVEN SEARCHED THE CHAMBER FOR MICHAEL CORVIN WHOM SELENE WAS SO OBSSESED WITH, BUT THE INCONVIENIENT HUMAN WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. FRUSTRATED, KRAVEN SHOT AN INQUIRING LOOK AT ERIKA, WHO NODDED SHEEPISHLY TOWARD THE OPEN WINDOW. A COLD DRAFT BLEW AGAINST KRAVEN, RUSTLING HIS INKY LOCKS AND SILK JACKET. ERIKA COWERED APPREHENSIVELY NEAR THE DOOR, NO DOUBT FEARFUL THAT KRAVEN WOULD BLAME HER FOR THE HUMAN'S ESCAPE. SELENE SUSPECTED THAT THE LISSOME MAIDSERVANT HAD LITTLE TO FEAR; KRAVEN'S DIRE WRATH APPEARED DIRECTED AT SELENE ALONE. "LEAVE US!" HE SNAPPED AT ERIKA, WHO READILY COMPLIED BY DARTING OUT THE DOOR, LEAVING SELENE ALONE WITH THE DE FACTOR MASTER OF THE MANSION. SHE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING, TELL SOMEONE, BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE. LUCIAN, LORD OF THE WEREWOLVES, WAS APROWL IN THE NIGHT AND HE WAS AFTER MICHAEL! SELENE LURCHED OUT OF HER CHAIR AND WHIRLED TOWARD THE EXIT. TO HER SURPRISE, SHE FOUND THE UBIQUITOUS ERIKA STANDING IN THE DOORWAY. AGAIN? SELENE THOUGHT IMPATIENTLY. I NEED TO FASTEN A BELL TO THIS INQUISITIVE LITTLE DOMESTIC. "I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU EVERYWHERE," THE BLOND SERVANT VAMP EXAPLAINED, SOUNDING A TRIFLE PUT OUT. SHE GLANCED AROUND THE MUSTY ARCHIVE HALL WITH DISDAIN, AS THOUGH NO VAMPIRESS IN HER RIGHT MIND WOULD FREQUENT SUCH A TEDIOUS LOCALE. SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW? SELENE THOUGHT IN RESPONSE TO ERIKA'S COMPLAINT. "NOT NOW," SHE SAID BRUSQUELY. IF LUCIAN WERE BACK AND PLOTTING AGAINST HER COVEN, THEN APPEASING ERIKA WAS THE LAST OF HER CONCERNS. SHE MOVED TOWARDS THE EXIT, EXPECTING ERIKA TO STEP ASIDE. INSTEAD, A SLIM WHITE ARM SHOT OUT, BLOCKING THE DOORWAY. "HE'S BEEN BITTEN. YOUR HUMAN," THE PETITE MAIDSERVANT BLURTED. "HE'S BEEN MARKED BY A LYCAN." HE TURNED TO EXIT THE CRYPT, HIS MIND ALREADY DEVISING THE DIABOLICAL PUNISHMENTS HE WOULD INFLICT ON SELENE IF SHE EVER DARED TO SHOW HER DUPLICITOUS FACE AT THE MANOR AGAIN, AND HE WAS STARTLED TO FIND A JITTERY BLONDE SERVANT GIRL STANDING BEHIND HIM. HER ELFIN FACE WAS WAN, EVEN BY VAMPIRE STANDARDS, AND SHE TREMBLED NERVOUSLY, AS THOUGH AN ENTIRE PACK OF WEREWOLVES WERE SALIVATING OVER HER DAINTY FLESH DEEP WITHIN THE CRYPT, KRAVEN WAS BESIDE HIMSELF. "HOW COULD SHE CHOOSE A MANGY LYCAN DOG OVER ME?" HE RANTED. THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEM TOGETHER MADE HIS COLD BLOOD BOIL. "IT'S INCONVEIVABLE!" HE ANGRILY TURNED ON THE SHAPELY BLONDE BEARER OF THIS HIGHLY UPSETTING NEWS. "WAIT," HE SAID, A HOPEFUL THOUGHT STRIKING HIM. HE PEERED SUSPICIOUSLY AT THE COWERING SERVANT GIRL, WHO, IF MEMORY SERVED, WAS NAMED ERIKA. "YOU'RE THE JEALOUS ONE, AREN'T YOU?" PERHAPS THIS WAS MERELY A CLUMSY, NOT TO MENTION TASTELESS ATTEMPT TO DIVERT HIS AFFECTIONS FROM SELENE? ALAS, THE SILLY LITTLE VAMP REACTED WITH HORROR TO HIS IMPLIED ACCUSATION. "NO! I SWEAR, MY LORD. I WOULD NEVER LIE TO YOU!" SADLY, KRAVEN BELIEVED HER, WHICH LEFT HIM NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THE OBSCENE REALITY OF SELENE'S TREACHEROUS LIASON. DRAWING NEAR HIM, ERIKA WINCED AT HIS HEATED DENUNCIATION OF SELENE. SHE CLEARLY DISLIKED SEEING HIS PASSION DIRECTED AT ANOTHER VAMPIRESS, NO MATTER HOW BITTER HIS DISPOSITION. MEEKLY, TENTATIVELY, SHE REACHED OUT TO COMFORT HIM. HER TINY HANDS LIT SOFTLY ON HIS ARM. IRRITATED, HE SHOVED HER AWAY ROUGHLY. STUPID TART! HE FUMED. THE LAST THING HE NEEDED NOW WAS SOME LOVESICK MENIAL FAWNING OVER HIM. HIS ETERNAL LIFE WAS AT RISK! CHOKING BACK A SOB, ERIKA STUMBLED AWAY FROM HIM, HER PALE VAMPIRIC FACE FLUSHING RED WITH SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT. THE OBVIOUS DEPTH OF HER HEARTACHE PENETRATED KRAVEN'S BROODING PREOCCUPATION, SPURRING HIM TO RECONSIDER THE SERVANT GIRL'S ADVANCES. PERHAPS HE SHOULD NOT BE SO FAST TO TOSS AWAY SUCH A FERVENT DEVOTEE? "WAIT!" HE CALLED AFTER HER. ERIKA FROZE AS THOUGH THUNDERSTRUCK. HER BLUE EYES WERE WET AS SHE TURNED TO LOOK BACK AT HIM. CRIMSON TEARS STREAKED HER CHEEKS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY THIRTY YEARS, KRAVEN REALLY LOOKED AT ERIKA, INSPECTING HER FLAXEN HAIR, SILKY SKIN, AND LISSOME FIGURE. BARE WHITE SHOULDERS AND ENTICING THROAT OFFERED A PREVIEW OF THE CREAMY DELIGHTS BENEATH HER TARTY BLACK FROCK. SHE WAS A TASTY MORSEL, HE HAD TO ADMIT, IF NOT QUITE THE IRRESITABLE GODDESS THAT SELENE WAS. THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN AND ERIKA ENTERED THE SUITE. HE HAD DISPATCHED HER TO NOTIFY THE HOUSE STAFF OF VIKTOR'S RESURRECTION, THE BETTER TO PREVENT PERNICIOUS RUMOURS AND GOSSIP SPREADING UNCHECKED THROUGHOUT THE MANOR. BY WAY OF DAMAGE CONTROL, HE HAD CLAIMED CREDIT FOR THE ELDER'S AWAKENING, INSTRUCTING ERIKA TO SPREAD THE STORY THAT HE HAD BEEN ACTING UNDER TOP-SECRET DIRECTIVES FROM AMELIA HERSELF, FOR REASONS PRIVY ONLY TO THE TWO OF THEM. "GOOD, YOU'RE HERE," HE ADDRESSED THE TARDY MAIDSERVANT. ERIKA HAD BEEN GONE FOR AT LEAST FIFTEEN MINUTES OR SO; FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, SHE HAD TAKEN THE TIME TO TOUCH UP HER MAKEUP AND LET DOWN HER HAIR. "NOW, I NEED YOU TO KEEP WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU UNDER THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE—" ERIKA SUPRISED HIM BY REACHING OUT AND PRESSING A FINGER AGAINST HIS LIPS. HER BLUE EYES LOOKED INTO HIS. "IT CAN WAIT," SHE WHISPERED HUSKILY. WITH A SEXY SMIRK, SHE REACHED BACK AND UNDID THE CLASPS OF HER LACY BLACK FROCK. THE GARMENT SLID TO THE FLOOR, EXPOSING A SYLPHLIKE FEMALE FORM THAT HAD NOT AGED A DAY SINCE THAT FATEFUL NIGHT IN PICCADILLY TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO. HER BARE FEET SLIPPED FREE OF THE DISCARDED DRESS, BRINGING HER UNDRAPED FLESH WITHIN A FINGR'S REACH OF HER SEATED SIRE. DESPITE THE WEIGHTY CONCERNS TROUBLING HIS MIND, HE FELT HIS UNDEAD BODY RESPONDING TO HER GENEROUSLY DISPLAYED FEMALE CHRMS. WHY NOT? HE REASONED. HE NEEDED EVERY MINION HE COULD MUSTER RIGHT NOW AND IF THIS WAS WHAT IT TOOK TO SECURE THE GIRL'S ABSOLUTE ALLEGIANCE... WELL, THERE WERE WORSE WAYS TO PASS THE HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE. ACCEPTING HER PROVOCATIVE INVIATION, HE TOOK HOLD OF HER SLIM WHITE HIPS AND PULLED HER TO HIM, WRAPPING HIS ARMS AROUND HER SLENDER WAIST. HIS LIPS FOUND HER BELLY AND HER TAUT FLESH QUIVERED UNCONTROLABLY AS HE KISSED AND LICKED HIS WAY UP TOWARDS HER BREASTS. HER SUPPLE SKIN WAS SMOOTH AS PORCELAIN AND COOL AS A REFRESHING MOUNTAIN STREAM, AND HIS HUNGRY TONGUE LEFT A MOIST TRAIL ACROSS THE SENSOUS CONTOURS OF HER NUBILE BODY. ERIKA GASPED ONCE, THEN BIT DOWN HARD UPON HER LIP. KRAVEN SMILED AT HIS OWN AMATORY PROWESS; NO DOUBT THE SILLY MINX HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT EVER SINCE SHE BECAME A VAMPIRE. YES! ERIKA THOUGHT RAPTUROUSLY. AT LAST! KRAVEN'S ICY LIPS EXPLORED HER BREASTS, HIS KEEN TEETH TEASING FIRST ONE NIPPLE, THEN THE OTHER. KRAVEN'S STRONG HANDS GRIPPED HER RUMP, HIS DEMANDING GRASP LEAVING ITS IMPRINT UPON HER PLIANT FLESH SHE RAN HER FINGERS THROUGH HIS BLACK MANE, CLINGING TO HIS UNBOUND HAIR AS THOUGH HER IMMORTAL LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. ERIKA COULD NOT BELIEVE HER GOOD FORTUNE. FINALLY, HER MOST FERVENT FANTASIES WERE COMING TRUE. LORD KRAVEN WAS MAKING LOVE TO HER, NOT SELENE, NO DOMINQUE, NOT ANY OF THE OTHER GIRLS. THE REGENT OF THE MANOR, THE RULER OF THE COVEN, HAD CHOSEN HER. KRAVEN WAS INSATIABLE, SUCKING ON ERIKA'S BLEEDING BREAST UNTIL SHE LOST ALL SENSE OF TIME AND SPACE. STILL FULLY CLOTHED HIMSELF, THE VAMPIRE LORD HELD HER NUDE BODY ERECT ABOVE THE CARPETED FLOOR OF THE SUITE AS HIS THIRSTY MOUTH DRAINED HER OF VOLITIN. BLOOD TRICKED FROM THE CORNERS OF HIS MOUTH. ERIKA KNEW SHE SHOULD PROTEST BEFORE HER MASTER EMPTIED HER BEYOND RECOVERY, BUT SHE COULDN'T BRING HERSELF TO LET GO OF KRAVEN'S BLACK LOCKS. THIS WAS WHAT SHE HAD ALWAYS LONGED FOR, AFTER ALL, AND AN ORGASMIC THRILL RIPPLED ENDLESSLY THROUGHOUT HER PALPITATING BODY AS, EYES TIGHTLY SHUT, SHE TITLED HER HEAD BACK, OFFERING KRAVEN HER THROAT AS WELL AS HER BREAST, SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO PARTAKE OF HER PULSING JUGULAR. BITE ME! DRINK ME! SHE ENTREATED HIM LUSTILY. MAKE ME YOURS! TOTTERING ON UNSTEADY LEGS, SHE WATCHED IN DISBLIEF AS THE LORD OF THE MANOR, WHO ONLY SECONDS AGO HAD BEEN MELDED TO HER IN AN INTIMATE BOND OF BLOOD AND DESIRE, STEPPED ACROS THE ROOM TO RETRIEVE HIS CELL PHONE FROM A JACKET. ERIKA HEARD THE VOICE OF SOREN, KRAVEN'S DOUR LIEUTENANT, EMERGE FROM THE ELECTRONIC MOUTHPIECE. "SHE'S HERE." HIS FACE STILL FLUSHED AND RUDDY WITH ERIKA'S CRIMSON ESSCENCE, KRAVEN RUSHED OUT OF THE SUITE WITHOUT A WORD, LEAVING ERIKA STANDING NAKED AND ALONE ON THE PERSIAN CARPET, ABANDONED, DISCARDED, AND ALMOST COMPLETELY DRAINED OF BLOOD. ERIKA WATCHED AS SELENE WAS ESCORTED THROUGH THE SALON AND UP THE GRAND STAIRCASE BY FOUR ARMED GUARDS. UNSURPRISINGLY, KRAVEN DID NOT EVEN SPARE ERIKA A GLANCE AS HE PASSED HER BY, DESPITE THEIR INTIMATE ENCOUNTER LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO. ERIKA SNAKED THROUGH THE NATTERING CROWD, KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON SELENE AND HER IMPOSING ENTOURAGE. THE SERVANT VAMP HAD PUT HER LACY UNIFORM BACK ON, YET HER ABUSED FEELINGS STILL FELT RAW AND EXPOSED. SHE COULDN'T FORGET THE WAY KRAVEN HAD LEFT HER THE INSTANT HE'D RECIEVED WORD OF SELENE'S RETURN. SHE FELT EXPLOITED, USED, LIKE AN EMPTY BOTTLE OF BLOOD LEFT DISCARDED AFTER A DRUNKEN BINGE. HE NEVER REALLY CARED ABOUT ME, SHE REALIZED, HER LACERATED BREAST STILL SORE FROM KRAVEN'S RAVENOUS ATTENTION. NOT FOR A SINGLE MOMENT. ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS SELENE. "NO ONE OPENS THIS DOOR, UNDERSTOOD? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY FUTURE QUEEN RUNNING OFF WITH THAT LYCAN AGAIN." KRAVEN'S WORDS STABBED ERIKA LIKE A WOODEN STAKE THROUGH HER HEART. FUTURE QUEEN NOTHING HAD CHANGED, SHE REALIZED. EVEN AFTER ALL OF SELENE'S REJECTIONS AND BETRAYALS, AFTER ERIKA HAD GIVEN FREELY OF HER OWN PRECIOUS BLOOD AND BODY, KRAVEN WAS STILL OBSSESSED WITH SELENE. ALWAYS SELENE. ERIKA RETREATED INTO THE SHADOWS AS KRAVEN STORMED PASR HER DOWN THE HALL. THE BETRAYED AND BROKENHEARTED SERVANT GIRL FELT THE LAST EMBER OF HER DEVOTION DIE, REPLACED BY A LONGING FOR SOMETHING VERY NEW AND DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE ALWAYS CRAVED BEFORE: REVENGE. THE DUSTY UTILTY CLOSET WAS TUCKED AWAY IN AN UNFREQUENTED CORNER OF ORDOGHAZ, KNOWN ONLY TO THE MANSION'S STAFF OF MENIALS. ERIKA DOUBTED THAT KRAVEN COULD HAVE FOUND THE CLOSET — AND FUSE BOX WITHIN — EVEN IF HIS ETERNAL LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. SOMETIMES THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO BEING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PECKING ORDER. DRIED TEARS STAINED HER ALABASTER CHEEKS WHILE THE STING OF HER SHODDY TREATMENT AT KRAVEN'S HANDS FESTERED DEEP INSIDE HER BROKEN HEART. IF HE THINKS HE CAN JUST THROW ME AWAY IN FAVOR OF SELENE, HE'S GOT ANOTHER THING COMING. CONFUSED BUT GRATEFUL, SELENE DIRECTED A QUIZZICAL LOOK AT ERIKA. UP UNTIL NOW, SELENE HAD JUDGED THE PERT YOUNG MAIDSERVANT TO BE THROUGHLY IN KRAVEN'S THRALL. "WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME?" ERIKA ROLLED HER EYES, AS IF AMAZED THAT SELENE DIDN'T GET IT. "I'M NOT," SHE STATED EMPHATICALLY. "I'M HELPING ME." HE SPOTTED ERIKA SERVING DRINKS AT THE FAR END OF THE SALON. WEAVING HURRIEDLY THROUGH THE CRUSH OF UNDEAD BODIES, HE CAME UP BEHIND HER AND POSSESSIVELY GRABBED HER ARM. THE PETITE BLONDE VAMPIRESS STARTLED, ALMOST SPILLING A FLAGON OF BLOOD, THEN GAZED UP AT KRAVEN WITH WIDE BLUE EYES. HE BENT TOWARD HER, THE BETTER TO WHISPER SOFTLY IN HER EAR. "MY LORD! WAIT!" ERIKA CALLED OUT URGENTLY TO KRAVEN AS SHE CAME DASHING OUT THE DOOR TOWARD THE LIMO. A WORN LEATHER JACKET HAD BEEN THROWN OVER HER FLIMSY BLACK FROCK, BUT THE CHILL OF THE EVENING STILL INVADED HER BONES. THERE HAD BEEN NO TIME TO DRESS WARMLY, THOUGH, NOT IF SHE WANTED TO JOIN KRAVEN IN HIS DARING ESCAPE. I'M COMING, MY LOVE! SHE THOUGHT AS HER HIGH HEELS CLICKED RAPIDLY AGAINST THE FRONT STEPS. SHE DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE PARTICULARS OF THE SCANDAL THAT HER OVERTAKEN KRAVEN, NOR DID SHE MUCH CARE. IT WAS ENOUGH THAT HE HAD TURNED TO HER IN HIS HOUR OF GREATEST NEED. SHE EVEN FORGAVE HIM FOR HIS ABRUPT DEPATURE FROM THE BOUDOIR EARLIER; IT WAS CLEAR NOW THAT NOTHING LESS THAN A CRISIS OF THE UTMOST MAGNITUDE HAD TORN HIM FROM HER EMBRACE. THIS IS MY MOMENT, SHE EXULTED. AT LEAST, SHE HAD PROVEN THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY VAMPIRESS WHO WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR HIM. HER IMAGINATION SOARED AHEAD OF HER EAGER FEET, PICTURING HERSELF AND KRAVEN WINGING AWAY TO SOME EXOTIC FOREIGN LOVE NEST WHERE THE EXILED REGENT FINALLY WOULD REWARD HER FOR HER STEADFAST DEVOTION, BESTOWING HER THE PLENTEOUS BOUNTY OF HIS ETERNAL AFFECTION UPON HER AND HER ALONE. SHE SPECULATED EXCITEDLY ABOUT WHERE THEIR DARING FLIGHT MIGHT TAKE THEM. LONDON? PARIS? THE RIVEIRA? ALREADY HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD IN HER TECHNICOLOUR FANTASIES SHE ARRIVED AT THE OPEN DOOR OF THE WAITING LIMOSINE. HER TRIUMPHANT FACE BEAMING, ERIKA REACHED BENEATH HER JACKET AND PULLED OUT THE WEAPON SHE HAD JUST STOLEN FROM KAHN'S DOJO. EXACTLY AS KRAVEN HAD DESCRIBED IT, THE PROTOTYPE GUN WITH ITS SILVER NITRATE CARTRIDGES WAS AN EXTREMELY INTIMIDATING PIECE OF ORDNANCE. ERIKA FELT LIKE A DEATH DEALER JUST HOLDING THE MASSIVE GUN. KRAVEN SMILED AND SNATCHED THE PISTOL FROM HER HAND. ERIKA WILLINGLY RELINQUISHED THE WEAPON, THEN MOVED TO SLIDE INTO THE LIMO BESIDE HIM. BEFORE SHE COULD, HOWEVER, KRAVEN SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT IN HER FACE. ERIKA STOOD FROZEN IN SHOCK, HER JAW DROPPING TO THE PAVEMENT AS THE DELUXE LIMOSINE PULLED AWAY. ERIKA WATCHED THE LIMO'S TAILLIGHTS DISAPPEAR INTO THE NIGHT. SHE STOOD MUTELY AT THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY, STUNNED BY THE SHEER ENORMITY OF KRAVEN'S BETRAYAL. THAT'S IT! SHE THOUGHT INDIGNANTLY, FED UP BEYOND ALL MEASURE. SHE STAMPED HER FOOT ON THE CHISELED CURB, NEARLY BREAKING THE HEEL. I'M THROUGH WITH KRAVEN FOREVER. SHE WONDERED IF VIKTOR LIKED BLONDES...