CHAPTER ONE

There are many similarities between Vampires and Lycans as they walk in their 'human' forms. The glowing eyes as they become enraged. The slightly elongated and sharp canines. Claws as sharp as talons. The smell of death on them from their feasts. Extra strength, increased speed, and heightened senses. Hell, they're so similar that it can be difficult for a Vampire to tell a Lycan from one of their own. And vice-versa. The most noticeable difference between them is the effect the sun has on them.

Well, once again, my abnormal bloodline and abilities give way to Mike's reasoning for throwing me into this next mission.
The bastard.

"What the Hell makes you think you can do this?" I shouted with a fiery temper. "And I thought you were throwing me to the wolves last time! Boy, was I wrong!"

"Please calm down, War. And put that chair down."

CRASH!

"I meant on the floor. Not out the window," Mike said as he sighed heavily.

Then there was a knock on the door. This was a bit unusual for me because Hunters tend to avoid this room whenever Mike decides to lay a mission on me. Reasons being out the window at the moment.

"Come in," Mike said in his deep voice that traveled well without him needing to raise it.

The door opened and Lord Dracula, or Daddy as I like to call him, walked in. I was completely at a loss for words from this. Daddy had an agreement with the Hunters I work with. They use me as a Huntress and Daddy keeps his people out of their territory. This is the first time since my mother's existence in which my father had stepped foot in this area, let alone my boss's office.

"Mr. Tepes. Thank you for coming. Please excuse the mess and the lack of seats," Mike said as he sent a dull expression my way.

"What?" I rolled my eyes and stood next to my father as he sat in an extra chair that didn't make it out the window. I made a mental note to take care of that soon.

"I'm very sorry for Serenity's rude reaction," my father apologized on my behalf. Now this is something that isn't that unusual. I always tend to get myself into things that Daddy has to take charge over. It's just his way of showing his love for his only child who mirrored the love of his life in a dark, mysterious sort of way.

"No. It's quite all right. I'm used to it. And besides, I haven't been able to explain the full extent of the situation," Mike told him.

Okay. This is weird, I thought. Why is Daddy here anyway?

"War. This mission that I told you about. Well, your father is the client," Mike told me.

"What? Daddy, what type of mission is it that you need to rely on Hunters for?" I asked moving to his front, completely perplexed.

"Something very difficult to deal with," he sighed.

This was scary. I've never known there to be anything that Daddy couldn't take care of. I mean, he's the KING of VAMPIRES for Lucifer's sake!

I waved my hand in the area next to him and materialized a simple wooden chair to sit in, angling it to face Daddy but still be able to look at Mike. I sat down, my hand over my father's.

"What is it, Papa?" I asked with concern in my eyes and voice.

"My darling. Do you know the stories of how the Lycan clans came to be?" he asked.

"Yes. It is said that a curse was placed on a Vampire. A gypsy transformed his soul beast from a bat to a wolf," I answered with the memories of my requested bedtime stories running through my mind. I used to beg my nannies to tell me it. Nathaniel and I used to hear it together when we were young and living together in Daddy's castle. But I was still confused at what that had to do with whatever it was that was too much for Daddy to handle.

"Well, my pet," he sighed, placing his other hand over the one I had on his. "There is a lot more to it than that."

As he said that, the door opened and two Hunters escorted in none other than Ivan Volkov.

Ivan and I had a difficult relationship. Our parents went behind our backs and bargained an arranged marriage for us. Normally, marriages in my family were between cousins. This applied to my uncle's son, Nathaniel, and I before we were even conceived. But because Nathaniel's mother was a maid in our house who my uncle had an affair with and because my uncle died, Nathaniel's mother was banished from Transylvania, taking Nathaniel with her, and the engagement was annulled.

Daddy wanted to make sure his Vampire kingdom would be left in good hands should anything happen to him so he chose a friend of Nathaniel's who was from a strong and thriving Russian Clan mainly consisting of Elders. Ivan was a tall guy with a well-built body. He was quick, smart, great in bed, and killer in a fight.

I let out a soft, angry growl at the sight of him.

It had been two months since the formal dinner between our families in honor of the engagement. A dinner I conveniently disappeared from at the start of. Heh heh.

"What is he doing here?" I asked in a growl.

No way was I going to be kind to a jerk I don't even really know and yet still have to get married to on my twenty-first birthday and I hate him for that even thought he had nothing to do with our predicament. The jerk.

"Now, now, my love. Please try to behave appropriately," my father cooed to me. Trying to calm my nerves.

Hah! If I wanted to behave appropriately to this situation, I'd send Ivan out with those chairs. Hey, one night of Yearner sex does not mean we are going steady.

I gave a low sound that was between a sigh and a frustrated growl. "Fine. So what's the deal?" I asked, trying to abide to my father's wishes.

'Trying' being the operative term, I thought.

"Actually, Ivan is the one who has requested this meeting," Daddy said as he gestured to the giant teen vampire standing placidly off to the side.

I looked to Ivan. He was hot and all, but I still didn't want to get married to him. I was promised to Nathaniel and that's the one I want. Okay. So that has nothing to do with why we're here today. But I still wanted to make that abundantly clear.

Ivan cleared his throat and gave us the low-down on the situation.

Believe it or not, the Lycan clans are actually family branches from the Volkov Clan. Obvious that Volk means wolf.

You see, hundreds of years back, some crazy, senile old hag put a curse on a distant branch of the Volkov Clan, changing their inner demon from the ever-so legendary-or-rumored bat to a wolf. Thus, creating Lycans.

Ever since, they have spread their curse among unsuspected humans.

The leader of the branch family that was cursed begged the head of the Volkov Clan to allow him to take lead and sever ties completely with the main branch. With the whole family. He refused.

Hundreds of years of resentment boiled down to Sean, the new pack leader. He believed that if the Clan wanted to take charge of their own kind and sever ties with the main Clan, he shouldn't need permission to do so.

Though, not all felt the same way. Some were still loyal to the main family and split from the pack, creating two clans of Lycans for the unsuspected world to fear. After a few years, the three branches began to split further apart. Sean's pack was dubbed the Ab`ik Clan, taking their name from his grnadfather, Amir Ab`ik. Sean took the leadership of the Ab`ik Clan after Amir passed away not too long ago.

The clan, which was loyal—now resting as neutral—is T'Neic Na Clan. The name taken from their leader, Keimon T'Neic.

Ivan's great-grandfather—Nicholas Volkov—just so happens to be the leader of the Volkov Clan; in the ranks just under Daddy.

Must be why you-know-who was chosen as a 'suitable heir' for Dracula's thrown. Bloody bastard.

Now, the reason he needed Hunters was this. The Volkov Clan is close to at war with T'Neic Na Clan.

"My grandfather doesn't know about my coming to Hunters for help. Truth be told, I am still a little unclear on my actions as well. But I need all the help I can get to keep my family from going to war with the Lycans. The Lycans are the responsibility of the Volkov Clan. And this war may very well spill over into the human world," Ivan told us. "There have been deaths on both sides. Provoctions to start the fighting."

"So what, exactly, do you need the Hunters for?" I asked him.

"As you know, there are two clans of Lycans. The Ab`ik and the T'Neic Na Clans. Surprisingly, it is T'Neic Na Clan that we are having problems with. At least, that is what we are lead to believe." He gave a wary sigh. "I have no grounds to cover it, but I don't think that they have any participation in this. I believe it is the Ab`ik Clan behind the slaughters," he said.

"And you'd like to use the Hunters like puppets in your little war game," I scowled at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

Ivan sighed heavily. "It's not like that, Serenity."

"Don't you dare call me that!" I shouted, jumping to my feet. "You have no right to call me by that name!"

My father got up to hold me back. "Calm yourself, Love."

My eyes were shining silver, matching my hair.

My mother was one to give me that name. And ever since her death, very few have been allowed to call me that. Only those close to me. Those who were close to my mother. He had no right.

My father pulled me to him. Holding me until my eyes changed back to their ash blue color.

"I am sorry if I offended you," Ivan said, confused by my reaction to his use of my first name.

"It is quite all right, Ivan," Daddy said. Then he turned his attention to me. "My precious child. This is a mission that only you can do. This isn't from him. This is from me. The war may not just spill over to human society. It may very well bring us into it. Your family. As being the Princess of Vampires, you need to put your people first. You need to be strong for them. And put this war at rest," he told me, looking into my eyes. "You are so strong willed and spirited. Just like your mother. Do her proud."

I took a second to calm my voice before speaking to him. "Yes, Papa."

He always knows what to say, doesn't he?

"All right," Mike said after everything was calm. "This is what we need you to do..."