MICHAEL.

Michael nodded, a small smile appearing on his face at the mention of his mate. “I’ll leave as soon as I can.” He reassured her, not want to overstay his welcome here. “Selene is my mate, yes.” He loved his mate, and it showed by the smile on his face. If only he could bring himself to track her down again and show her that he’s alive. Even if he wanted to, he didn’t know where to look, or anything. “I haven’t seen her in such a long time, I think she thinks I’m dead.”

          a brief nod follows, sonja not exactly rushing to object to words of parting soon.   ❛ sometimes such a thought isn’t all that bad… being dead can be a good way to live. ❜   she speaks of her own past situation of the time BEFORE lucian had been killed, of which she knows michael is knowledgeable of.   ❛ and it can push those you love to fight harder. ❜   which both selene and lucian had striven to do.   ❛ how long has she believed you dead? ❜

MICHAEL.

Fate… she was saying that Selene’s death was fate, that this was meant to happen. He couldn’t keep himself from growling, from taking a few steps closer to her. For a moment, he had every intent to harm her for her statements. He needed her to help him save Selene. He couldn’t live without his mate, and he wasn’t afraid to hit low and hard in order to get help saving her. “So you’re going to condemn her to death for the same reason you were? You;re going to just allow her to die? Because why? You’re scared?” He needed to protect his mate and he would do whatever he had to to ensure her survival.

          it gives her a RUSH to feel this anger, to have it mirrored back to her by the hybrid. it won’t lessen her reaction, though, nor tone it down, sonja hissing her response back as she too approaches him; she will not back down.   ❛ because i am DEAD. if i do nothing, no one will suspect a thing. ❜   she reasons, but is hardly finished.   ❛ what do you expect me to do? break down the doors and reclaim the coven? ❜   it’s not necessarily a far off suggestion, though.

THE COUNTESS.

Oh, but she dared.

She dared when she kept her home and her lands while her husband was away. She dared to strike out at those who harmed the women in her village. She dared to feast upon the enemies after she freed herself from the confines of her castle. If she had not dared, Báthory would be nothing but an object flung away. Was this what Sonja wished to make of Selene? An object to fling aside and pay no attention towards? Did Sonja see herself as such?

“Yet, you would condemn the future of others, of Selene, or her child, to death? Her child.” The Countess scoffed at how lightly Sonja could accept an innocent to pay for the sins of their past lives. “You gave Selene the base to see herself as more than a mercenary for Viktor. She had her lover, and she bore from their unlikely union a child. Is this not similar to Lucian and your own? Their child does not deserve to be hunted and drained for others to continue to wage war.” If she must, she would strike down entire covens to protect the future of their covens.

Now?

Now their covens were torn to pieces over the greed of elders and unworthy males.

She struck her fist down against her arm rest, a point to reveal this was no matter to easily swept aside. Tension held its claws in The Countess to bring Sonja to a side that would need all of its allies, both past and present to give their future a chance to survive and thrive.

“Do not lie, you can easily pick a sword up and cleave an enemy’s clean off.” Even now, The Countess plucked a dagger from her nest of curly hair before flinging the object towards Sonja’s features. “Or hopefully catch the dagger and prove to me, our abilities to annihilate and decimate never fades away.”

          nostrils flare as eyes turn a bright blue, one that would scare any mortal. but alas, the countess is not mortal, nor is she easily scared off; not even by sonja. but somehow the female manages to keep herself in check, at least emotion wise, arms stiff across her chest until the other has finally finished her LECTURE. though irritated, sonja knows it’s needed.

          she’s on the verge of speaking, of negating her own purpose in this war, when the other grabs for a hidden blade and then flings it at sonja’s face. there’s no question as to whether or not she’ll catch it, for her reflexes are near legendary, hand lifting to grasp the hilt as if it had been in her own hand all along. the brightness of her gaze becomes obvious once more, words much more firm than before. there is no fear in the following articulation.

          ❛ you know, i could have used this passion centuries ago. ❜   someone at her side when it had been sonja and lucian would have helped… but the past cannot be dwelt upon, hence why the vampire will give in, even if only just.   ❛ what you’re asking of me evens out any debt i may have once owed you. ❜   after all, the countess has kept quiet on the vampire’s continued survival, and that had been the biggest debt she’d owed; the shelter and trust that came with it. and it’s not that sonja doesn’t wish to fight, for she KNOWS it’s what she should do, but the memories that follow it are overwhelming.   ❛ where is selene? ❜

COUNTESS.

Cowardice was never a trait she believed Sonja had, but in this moment, The Countess noted it and fear. Fear for what would transpire if the others, the covens and Lycans realized an heir of Viktor survived. Let her not be at fault for the sins of the parents, she mused to herself. “Yet, the world must end with your arrival. They must see you survived, despite Viktor’s efforts to kill his own blood. Selene became his surrogate daughter. How can you not see the reflection in the mirror with her? She needs our aid and you think of your own fear?” The Countess tsked at the thought of Sonja sacrificing Selene for a false safety.

“How can we sit back in relative safety and allow Selene to be sacrificed because she speaks a voice you and I voiced hundreds of years ago? She is to finish what you began. Would you cut such a voice down as your father tried to?”

          chin lifts at the countess’ tone, the scolding hardly something she’s used to. after all, she’s been in hiding for CENTURIES, only the vampire before her knowing of her continued existence. with what the other woman says, though, sonja isn’t able to ignore the reality of her own selfishness. she is afraid, has been afraid of the war reaching this point for so long; and now the time has come.

          gaze averts, the pure blood vampire ASHAMED of her actions and words now.   ❛ how dare you. ❜   but the countess’ words are working to push sonja to change her words, but not so easily.   ❛ i have seen so much death… my own FATHER condemned me and the love of my life is long gone. i have nothing left in this world after all it’s taken from me; why should i give anything back? ❜   

          but sonja is hardly finished, arms crossing firmly over her chest before looking upon the brunette again.   ❛ you’re asking me to fight. i haven’t fought in centuries… why do you think i will be of any help now? ❜   slowly but surely, the vampire is caving, hues a bright blue from the overwhelming emotions rushing through her. sonja is no coward, though; she is merely tired.

MICHAEL.

“I don’t know, I don’t know.” He seemed terrified, hands shaking. He knew it was wrong of him to come to her, to ask her to sacrifice everything to help him. Selene was in danger though, and he would do anything to protect his mate. He was pacing back and forth. What if, while he was here, she was killed. He couldn’t bring himself to think like that. “Give me advice on what to do. You were high up in the coven, you had power, you know how this works.” He wanted to ask her to come help him, but knew that would be far too much to ask. 

          his fear for his mate’s future is something sonja knows well, but even that can’t convince her to readily help. michael wishes for advice, but the vampire isn’t sure she can give out. after being out of touch with vampires and the rest of the world for so long, sonja doesn’t want to help; what can she do?   ❛ i hardly want to know how it works anymore. i stayed away this long for a reason, michael. i’ve lost SO much, and i see little reason why i should interfere with fate. ❜   she’s cruel in her reasoning, but only because of all the pain she’s endured in her own life. 

COUNTESS.

“Yes, to see your beautiful face and announce some plans.” In a few hours, another would be here to ask for sanctuary. At last, the war arrived to her castle and it was time to finalize her plans. This is where Sonja would come of air. Where the pieces would at least connect and reveal the vast picture.

“I must now call upon the favor once vowed hundreds of years ago. I would not ask it if it were not for great importance. I want your support in battle and for Selene to end this war. Forever.” She awaited to hear and expect a response from Sonja.

“Reveal yourself from the shadows.”

          she falters, for what countess is asking is the last thing sonja has expected. her lips part, jaw dropping slightly in the process.   ❛ — i cannot do that. i will help in any way i can, but not that. ❜   shaking her head, the woman goes on.   ❛ do you understand the risk that would follow if i told everyone of my survival? the war started because of my death, and it would have all been for nothing if they find out i’m alive. ❜   then again, the war was bound to happen anyways, the tension between vampire and lycan only growing as the years — and now centuries — pass.   ❛ you have my support, and i will speak with selene, but i cannot do more than that. ❜   she owes countess much, though, and if the other were to remind her sternly of such a thing, sonja will have little choice but to submit.

          ❛ — you wished to see me? ❜   the servant the countess had sent to retrieve sonja hadn’t said much, had only informed her that her presence was requested. hence why the vampire is here now, standing only a few feet before the countess.

@theoriginalbloodcountess

MICHAEL.

“I know I shouldn’t have come to find you.” Michael said, his gaze at the floor as he approached Sonja. He felt remorseful for tracking the older vampiress down, but he needed help. “The vampires have Selene…” He seemed scared, worried that something was going to happen to his mate. “They’re going to hold trial for her soon.” He ducked his head a bit, tears in his eyes as he spoke, the fear almost completely taking hold. He could only imagine the way they were holding his mate, and that she was alone and he didn’t want to think about her fate. Sure she was immune to sunlight, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be killed by other means. 

“I need your help, please.”

          what he’s asking of her is more than she’s given anyone, even lucian. eyes will brighten to that striking blue, fear and mild anger filling her. sonja has kept her own existence a secret for centuries, and coming into the forefront of attention of both species would cause so many problems that she’s unsure she’s ready to deal with.   ❛ —— what do you expect me to do? ❜   articulation is COLD, bitter even. then again, isn’t she being just as selfish in worrying about herself over all else?

MICHAEL.

“Of course not.” He reassured her, not wanting to cause her to do anything to him because of any risk. He wouldn’t let anything like that happen to her. He felt like he already knew her despite never having met her before today. He wouldn’t let anyone find her, even if it killed him. This woman was very important, and everyone thought she was dead, and perhaps it was better if it stayed that way. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for bursting in here like I did.” 

          she takes immediate comfort in his reassurance that he won’t say a word of her existence to anyone after he leaves, her stiffness faltering and her lips parting slightly.   ❛ thank you. ❜   is all the once death dealer says, even giving him a mild smirk. she doesn’t know michael well, not as well as he knows HER, but it doesn’t keep her from trusting him. if lucian had done so, then she wouldn’t question the situation too much.   ❛ it is not your fault. you had no reason to know i’d be here… and i hardly own this safe house. ❜   a soft chuckle follows, sonja approaching the hybrid slowly before stopping only a few feet short.   ❛ your mate is selene, yes? ❜   she’d heard much of the death dealer, for selene had been her replacement, in a way.

THOMAS.

              ^{“Thomas Sharpe, my lady. And yours?”}

^{He asked out of reciprocation and so he would know who to watch out for in the future. Relieved that she decided to lower her sword instead of running him through with it, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. This part of the woods was known for its silence; there were no owls hooting, wolves growling, or…anything, really. It felt almost eerie, and he wondered how she could stomach walking alone at night. But that was none of his business.}

           ❛ — sonja. this used to be my home. ❜   as if he’d believe her, for it would mean the woman is much older than she looks. nonetheless, she lifts her chin and turns her head to look upon what remains of the castle she’d once inhabited before she’d been CONDEMNED to death. with a sigh, she turns back to the young man before her. sonja says nothing just yet, however, instead thinning her lips and pursing them, as if challenging him to say something else.