"The war had begun ... /Victor increased his army," "Creating a legion of vampires to protect /them against the very first clan of werewolves." "A vicious and infectious breed, /unable to take human form ever again." "Until he was born." "Lucian." "And even though every fiber bit of /his soul wound him to slay this child," "he did not." "Over the years, this child grew... /He posses the strength and focus /that the ones before him did not." "What do you think, son?" "Shall we make more?" "From him?" " Like him!" "Lucian will always be the first of the breed." "The first of the Lycans." "Victor would use Lucian's /infectious blood to his benefit." "Taking advantage /of the child's thirst," "pitting it against him as /he was forced to feed on humans," "Victor's slaves." "Instead, he created /a new race of immortals." "Lycans." "Werewolf, but also human." "Unlike the others, this /new breed could be harnessed." "Enslaved to guard them in the /daylight hours of their masters." "Or so Victor thought, /So very long ago ..." "U N D E R W O R L D" "The Rise of the Lycans" "The nobles were upset, My Lord." "William's pestilence has not been checked." "Werewolves have killed their slaves." "Humans upset?" "Tanus, Please, take note of what a pain that brings me." "Yet, their lost slaves means our lost silver." "Enough!" "have I not increased our holdings ten-fold since Marcus and the media took their sleep?" "We deal with the wolves as we always have." "Have you nothing better to do, blacksmith, than to play with weapons of war?" "At least make your self useful." "A little gratitude, Sonja, to the one who saved your life." "I needed no savior." "Tell me, Lucian, does it burden your heart to you kill your own kind?" "Not at all." "They are mindless beasts, My Lord." "No relatives of mine." " Really?" "Father." "You are a credit to your race-- Do you know how to remain so?" "Keep your eyes on the ground." "Get rid of that." "You were sorry missed at council." "There are other demands of my time, as you know." "I see." "I hope you have enjoyed your little moonlit ride." "I was out patrolling." "You would disobey." "I told you to stay within these walls." "You risk too much, for a father to ignore!" "You would lead the wolves to the death dealers." "And why father, is my risk any greater than theirs?" "They are not my daughters." "And they are not council members." "You are." "And one day you will become an elder, your birthright." "Sonja, you are well thought of on council." "But that is very precarious thing." "They grow tired of your games and your absence." "The dangers of the forest are not greater than those of the council tribe." "You will learn the dance of politics, to be ruthless and cunning." "And above all, you will be loyal to your family." "To me." "After all, without the loyalty between us ... we are no better than the beasts at our door." "Lycan!" "No rest, dog!" "Enough!" "You dare raise your hand to me?" "I said that's enough." " So says the master's dog." "You will not always be his favorite." "When you fall I will be there." "Let us hope so." "What are you looking at?" "Get back to work!" "Get back to work!" "The matter before the council is simple." "We are under attack." "Six times in half as many weeks ..." "William's kind have reached our very walls." "What mayhem would follow if just one of them got through?" "Your fear, Coloman, is misplaced." "Are we not protected by an army of immortals?" "Superbly, My Lord." "However, the nobles are not." "And as I have pointed out, they are the grass on which we graze." "If we cannot protect our humans that makes us look weak." "And how would you project strength?" "As our death dealers patrol the night ... so our daylight guards can patrol the day." "Lycans patrol outside the walls?" "Have you lost your mind?" "They are born of beasts ... and the savagery of this dispicable fact cannot be bred away!" "I think you fear of this idea is misplaced." "We can create a priviledged class of Lycans." "greater rations, finer quarters... and put them under the hands of one we trust." "Perhaps your pet Lucian, the one who saved your daughter's life today." "In fact, I think we should hear her thoughts on this matter." "She seems to be needed elsewhere." " Find her." "I will take your suggestion... under advisesment." " Thank you, My Lord." "It would be gratifying to be able to re-assure the nobles when they arrive tomorrow, that we have their interests at hand." "Lady?" "Is it true what you told my father?" "That you feel nothing when you kill them?" "They're just animals." "Incapable of thought or feeling." "So why should I feel anything for them." "Sonja, if I were to leave from here..." "Would you come with me?" "Leave?" "Do not say that." "Do not even think it." "They would hunt you down and they would mark you like all the others." "Not if I could remove this." "Look!" "I made it." "This will be my freedom!" "Lucian, promise me you won't use it!" "Please!" " Is that your answer then?" "You will not come?" "So you want me to stay here for you?" "Like this?" "As an animal?" "Lucian." "Vampire and Lycan, we are both children of Corvinus." "But my family are slaves." "I will use this key ... and will leave this place." "But I can never be without you now." "Any news of my daughter?" " She is hard to find." "She refuses to see me." "And will not answer her door." "Why are the young so blind?" "She risks her seat on the council and for what?" "I cannot imagine." "You must prepare, My Lord." "Human nobles are on their way." "Its sharp." "No wolf will stand before it." "Ready the horses!" "Let someone else go." " Why?" "Last night, after I left you..." "Just let someone else go." "In case it has escape your notice, blacksmith ..." "I am quite capable of looking after myself." "And besides... you can watch over me from the wall." "Lady Sonja, your father has ordered you to stay behind." "I intend to see our guests safely through the gate." "Gate Master!" " This is not a request." "Your father is ruler of the Coven." "So, he keeps reminding me." "HA!" "Careful, blacksmith." "Lest your eyes betray your secret." "Shut it my child!" "Shut it." "Get your men out there, now!" " Down boy." "Your leash is too tight!" "Step away!" " There's too many of them ..." "They will be massacred!" "Stop him!" "Dimitri!" "Lucian!" "Sonja!" "Lucian, no!" "No!" "He did it to save me." "Am I not master of this house?" "You know you are forbidden to remove your shuckle." "Yes." "Yet you break my law after I gave you your life?" "Your days of flush living are over!" "Slave!" "Father, leave him be." "I told you already .." "Hold your tongue!" "You have to fight me for the last time." "Get her out of here!" "Burn the bodies." "Burn them all." "for removing the /collar ... 30 lashes!" "You have stung me, Lycan, with your betrayal." "You were like a son to me." "I gave you your life." " You gave me chains." "I would have thought that after all these years you would have known ... you can not have one without the other." "Do it!" "I told you I'll be there when you fell." "Stop this." "He is one of our protectors ..." " They are just beast themselves." "This could stir up the others." " Let them stir" "Do you fear and believe me, it will be worse if we do not punish them" "Do you see now, Coloman?" "You would trust them outside the walls?" "We can not even trust them inside!" "By my count, that's 21." "Continue." "Stay away from him." "Or they'll punish you too." "Your concern for Lucian was most touching." "A slave." " He had just saved my life." "Was it not you, who told me to show a little gratitude?" "And yourself?" "Have you no gratitude for the one who saved our daughter's life?" "I am awash with it." "That he lives shows the breath of my magnanimity." "Where it other circumstances, I would have had him fed in pieces to his own kind." "But his punishment is now over." "He will be freed." " Freed?" "Your judgement is clouded, Sonja." "We did not keep order with sentiment." "Lucian was forbidden to remove his collar and yet he did so." "For however finer reason ... he will remain in prison." "...A cautionary tale..." "Janosh and other nobles will soon arrive." "Your presence is expected." "I saw what you did out there." "Very brave ... for a human." "Have you come across them before?" "Only in stories." "Were you not afraid of them?" " Yes." "But I wanted to live." " Are you afraid of me?" "Yes." "Well then, help me." "I will not bite... much." "You are like them?" " No." "A Lycan, yes... but not like them." "Those you fought with tonight, were animals, first born of William ... pure bloods." "No trace of human left." "Savage, mindless beasts." "That's what you've been told." " I saw you." "They obeyed you." "Yes." "Yes, they did." "You should not be here." " I had to." "My love, I'm sorry." "I'm alright, I'm alright!" "This is my fault." "If I had not gone out ..." "Then you would not be who you are." "This is not your fault." "I can not remain here." "I have to leave this place." "My father will be watching me now than ever." "And what about your Death Dealers?" "Are there none that you can trust." "Unfortunately, their loyalty to my father is much greater than their loyalty to me." "Tannis?" " Tannis can not be trusted." "No." "Tannis, he knows about us." "How?" " I have no idea, but ... if he has still not told your father, then that means he wants something." "Sonja, find out what it is." "Bring them in." "Janosh!" "Do you not own the largest silver mine in these lands?" "It has been overrun, My Lord." "Our workers, infected, turned to beasts." "Most unfortunate...and costly." "I think half the rights to your mine should cover the expense of our assistance." "Your assistance?" "We have all seen the fires on the way here." "And have learned of the deaths of Baron Cavasher and his family." "The wolves are at your door as well." "So why should I pay tribute?" "When you can not so much as protect your own house!" "You have all but bled me dry already." "We have all heard the stories." "Look into his eyes!" "They are true!" "This place is cursed!" "They are no more human than the devils that invade our land!" "If devils you call us, rest assured ... better the devil you know." "Unhand me!" " Certainly." "Would anyone else like to be heard?" "We are not...animals!" "Is this what you want to be their entertainment...their play things?" "Their pets?" "Cowering beneath the whip ... and then fighting amongst ourselves?" "Is this what you want?" "I've lived by their rules my entire life." "I've protected them, envied them..." "And for what?" "To be treated like an animal." "We are not animals!" "We do have a choice!" "We can choose to be more than this!" "We can be slaves ... or we can be Lycans!" "Morning is upon us, my child." "it's time we left this wretched night behind." "Gladly." " There are some difficult decisions ahead." "I would like your help with one of them." "Of course, Father." "With Lucian gone... we must promote another Lycan in his place." "Gone?" "Coloman thinks he will stir the others." "We must remove him." "That will be difficult." "He has been with us so long." "Perhaps, Gyorg." "Or Thrasos." "They would be... trustworthy." " Excellent suggestions." "I will consider them strongly." "You, my child, are the most /precious thing in my heart." "What have you told my father?" "What have you told him?" " Nothing." "Why?" " Why what?" "Why have you told him nothing?" "Would your father welcome the man who bought him the news... that his beloved daughter was consorting with ... a Lycan?" "He isn't well known for his 'gratitude'." "And I am not yet in a position to use this for my benefit." "What sort of benefit?" "There are 12 council seats." " And we don't die often." "Sadly, no." "So what if I give up my seat on the Council and this simply left it to you?" "Why would you do that?" " Can you keep a secret?" "I would need something in return." "Two minutes." "Any longer is too risky." "I'm sorry." "There was no other way." "As to Tannis?" "You were right." "He will help us in exchange for a seat on the council." "And your father knows nothing?" " I'm sure of it!" "Ah, Sonja, this won't work!" "Lucian it has to." "I think some of the others will come with me:" "Sabas and Xristo, the Human Race." "My Love, Lucian there is no time!" "My father will have you killed tomorrow after the humans have returned." "You must leave at sunrise." "And you?" " The important thing is that you stay alive." "The best chance you have is when Victor and Death Dealers sleep." "I will be safely at my father's side when you go." "Hurry!" "If this plan works, I'll met you in three days time after the sun sets." "There is a clearing by the river." "I'll meet you there." "And if it doesn't?" " I will meet you at the clearing." "Get up." "Dumb animals." "Be brave." "You know what your problem is?" "You don't understand the natural order of things." "Things change." "Be ready when they do." "Consider it a parting gift." "Wait!" "Do you not realize this a gift I'm giving you?" "It is a curse!" "What have they done to us?" "You'll find out soon enough." "They turned us into..." "like you?" "Yes." "Why?" " He wants to use you for his own protection." "I would die first." "Well, that may well happen." "The time has come." "By sunrise I leave this place." "And if you are willing to take the risk, you may follow me" "There is a new life waiting behind these walls, my friend." "And you can be a part of it." "One of us." "Or stay and serve them." "New dogs today." "Let's see how they look." "It come too late." "He's already gone." "Are you with me?" "Sabas, Xristo, free the others The rest of you, with me!" "Freedom is yours." "Move!" "This way!" "Right Here!" "Run!" "Run!" "Keep moving!" "Raze!" "There is nothing you can do!" "I will come back." "I promise you!" "No!" "MyLord!" "MyLord, Lucian has escaped." "The forest, go!" "Go!" "MyLord!" "Move!" "Move!" "Get in there!" "Tannis!" "Come on, come on!" "Yes, My Lord?" "Where is the key I gave you for this?" "I locked it in the armory myself" "How, then, is it open?" "I have no idea." " I think I have." "Kill him!" " No!" "Please ..." "Check the armory." "There has to be an explanation." "Show me!" "I have never been outside the walls." "Well, Enjoy it while you can Xristo, because soon enough we're going to have to fight our way back in." "We did not all make it out, and I will not leave our brothers to rot back there." "We have humiliated Viktor It is they that will pay the cost." "We were lucky to make it out alive" "There is but a handful of us, we have no weapons." " true." "Now," "The noble who brought you here..." "can you lead us back to his estate?" "Yes." " Good." "Come on." "It has to be here." "Here." "He must have made another one." "I never doubted you." "I have no wish to remove one shackle from around your necks only to replace it with one of my own." "You have a choice." "You can run and hide... or you can stay and fight." "Any man who fights with me shall have his freedom ... and if he wishes it... immortality." "There are other estates to the west of here." "I want you to go there." "See how many will join us." "I will meet you back here in two days time." "Father!" "Did I startle you my dear?" "I'm sorry." " No!" "You did not." " It occurs to me ..." "That I have been...thoughtless." "So deep about being in my own anguish of Lucian's betrayal" "I gave no thought ... to your feelings." "My feelings?" " They worm their way into our lives ... and we forget the travesty of their birth." "I myself had tenderness towards Lucian." "It could had been anything but 'Death Dealer' perhaps." "Yes." "Perhaps." "But he was not as we hoped." "Was he?" "Did you help him escape?" "Help him?" "Of course not!" "Are you lying to me?" "There are many things That I have done against your will," "But he is a Lycan." "I'm sorry, my dear ... but you leave me no choice." "Father, please!" "I wanted to believe your lies!" "But I knew it cannot be true, not my own daughter" "How could you?" " Father ..." "I love him." " No!" "You have betrayed me!" "To be with an animal!" "I loved you more than anything!" "She does not leave this room." "No, I've got orders to wait." "At this rate, we'll have enough men by the end of the week." "Has there been any sign of Sonja?" " Nothing." "She should have been here by now." "With respect, Lucian, I do not see the wisdom in waiting for her." "She is not one of us." "Have you forgotten she was the one who set us free?" "But she is a vampire." "She has deceived you." "She could lead him here!" "Death Dealers will undoubtedly be on the hunt," "And they will eventually find us." "But not by her doing." "I trust Sonja with my life and as long as I make command, so shall you." "I told you not to say anything." "Lucian has sacked two estates in Brashoff, My Lord," "And has made off with the contents of their armories." "The slaves have joined his ranks." " Freedom is as much a disease... as William's pestilence." "You need to bring your pet back." "Thank you, Coloman!" "The obvious escaped me." "I do not need to lift a finger." "Lucian will return of his own free will." "I have something he wants." "My Lady." "Luka!" "What is it?" "Where is she?" "Sonja has been arrested." "He knows about the two of you." "He will kill her." "I thought you should know." "Nothing yet, My Lord." "It is a trap and you know that." " I will not let her die alone." "They followed you here, Lucian." "If you go, we will lose." "Let me tell you a secret, my friend." "They only thought they followed me ..." "But what they truly followed is the idea of being free." "That is what brought them here." "You can hold them together until I get back." "And lead them, if I do not." "Are you alright?" " Yes." "Lucian, you were Free" " Not without you." "We have to go now!" "My Lord!" "Your daughter has escaped." " Ah, of course she has." "This way!" "That one!" " Yes!" "Now!" "How dare you raise your hand to me?" "I do not want this." " I am your father!" "You think you can defeat me?" "I don't want to defeat you...." "Killing me won't save your precious Lycan." "Please call off your men!" "For the sake of your grandchild!" "A miracle, father!" "A union of the bloodlines." "I curse the day your mother gave her life ... to bring you into this world." "That thing inside you ... is a monstrosity!" "Sonja!" "This is over." "Remove him!" "Do you understand what you have done?" "This night was not about you, It was about him." "I could have given Lucian to the council and they need never have known of your indiscretion." "But after this..." "Never!" "No!" "If I had not left, none of this would have happened." "And you would not be who you are." "You're right." "No one should live life like this." "Others are free, because of you." "Things are forever changed, because of what you have done." "But I have failed you!" " No." "Lucian, my love ..." "You have not failed me." "The choices I made have led me here." "Not you." "You said yourself, there were risks that you were willing to take for me." "As would I for you." "For us." "Open the door!" "No!" " Get her!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "I'll kill you!" "All of you!" "The accused has committed high treason against the Coven." "She has consorted with animals!" "She has abetted in their escape." " I have saved this Coven many times over." "You have killed your own kind!" "And you've comingled bloodlines resulting in the thing...germinating within you." "Your past glory doesn't excuse your present guilt... nor does your station as a council member." "The punishment for these crimes..." "is death!" "How vote you?" "Aye." "Aye." " Aye." "Aye." " Aye." "She is your daughter." "Aye." "Take her to the chamber!" "No!" "You can not do this!" "Viktor." "Viktor, no!" "No, Viktor!" "No!" "Lucian!" "No, Sonja!" "Just.." "Just look at me!" "Keep your eyes on me." "Sonja, look at me!" "I love you." "And I love you." "Your face will not be here when this is over with..." "Goodbye, my love!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Sonja!" "Fetch my knives." " Yes." "My Lord." "Now, go free the others!" "Go!" "Follow me!" "You want your revenge?" " Yes!" "Its out there." "Now go!" "We have greater concerns than your precious scrolls!" "Go to the elders." "Now!" "Kill that dog!" "Viktor." "You defiled my daughter!" " I loved her!" "You killed her!" "I should have crushed you under my heel the day you were born." "Yes, you should have." "But you didn't!" "Lucian!" "Lucian!" "Lucian ... it is finished." "No." "This is just the beginning." "Let me tell you a little something /about your beloved dark father... /He is the one who /killed your family... /not the Lycans." "But when he got to you ... /he just couldn't bear the /thought of draining you dry." "You reminded him so /much of his precious Sonja." "The daughter he condemed to death." "Lies!"