Hey everyone. Sorry for the long wait. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Training day

Morning had arrived. The birds chirped loudly, repeating their resonant mantra over and over, creating music for the outside world to enjoy. The frost had melted away from the tree leaves, water dripping on the ground. Last night had been cold. The windows themselves had frost on them, blocking some of the sunlight from shining through.

Amaryllis was aware that it was time to get up, but that did not mean she wanted to. She lazily turned in her still dazed state and cracked one eye open. 'Damn birds,' she thought. 'I'm trying to sleep.' But sleep would not last long. She was well aware that in a few moments, Kain would be here to drag her out of bed to start training. That's if he could get her out. Amaryllis smirked to herself.

"I'm not getting up," she assured herself.

"And why not?"

"Ah!" Amaryllis immediately sat up in her bed, breathing heavily. It was Kain, as she predicted. He leaned against the left bed post, arms crossed, a solemn expression upon his face. He did not look amused in the least.

"How did..." The wolf was short of breath. She hesitated to speak, fright still lingering in her mind. Once she caught her breath, she began to speak. "How did you get in here? I didn't here you come in."

The vampire lord raised a brow. "It is my room if you do not recall. Unless of course you've established your own rule over my bed and claimed it as your own." Amaryllis smiled.

"Sire, why would I want to claim your bed as my own? Mine lies down the hall, not far from here at all. And if I were to rule, don't you think I'd find a more prosperous place than a bedroom? One that belongs to my father, might I add."

"Whether you decide to stay here or not, right now you're being overthrown."

"What are-"

Before Amaryllis had a chance to act, she was already on the floor. Kain had flipped over the mattress, without a care where his daughter landed.

"Ohh. That...hurt," Amaryllis groaned, freeing herself from the breath stealing blankets. "Why did you do that, father? Ah. Now I'm going to bruise."

"Oh stop it. Enough of your whining, brat. Only the weak complain, humans complain. But not you, you will not. From here on out, you will not cry because you bruise, fuss because you failed, or remain assured because you're certain you can accomplish my tasks. Only when you have successfully completed your task are you able to look me in the eye and say , 'I have mastered it, father.' Is that clear, Amaryllis? This training is nothing like you have ever imagined. I will not go easy on you because you are my daughter or because you're a beginner. No. If you want to prove your worthiness to me than you will remain in this harsh training until the end. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she whispered. As much as Amaryllis hated to admit, she knew she was a baby. Ever since Zephon began teasing her and Melchiah ignoring her, she only called to Kain and Raziel for help. And like the heroes they were, they came to the rescue. But not anymore. As of what Kain had said, no more whining will be tolerated.

"Good. I'm glad you're beginning to see things my way. I mean really can you imagine what your brothers must think of you, weak and useless?" Amaryllis put her head down. Yet again, Kain was right.

"No, Father."

"Well...wouldn't you like to show them that they are wrong, that you indeed possess strength to stand up for yourself?"

"Yes."

Kain smiled. 'I hit a soft spot,' he thought. "Come. The day won't wait for us, we're wasting time. Dress in appropriate clothing and meet me downstairs." Kain made his way to the door and paused momentarily before stepping out. "Your first task: get dressed in five minutes. If you fail...well you'll find out if you do. You start once I close the door." Amaryllis nodded in reply. Kain narrowed his eyes at the wolf before seeing his way out.

The door was shut. It was on.

Amaryllis quickly got up only to fall, blankets wrapped around her ankles. She tried releasing herself from the grip of the warm, strong bindings that held her still. At last she freed herself, running to the door and down the hall as fast as her legs could carry her. The little wolf grabbed the knob with all her might and turned it, allowing entry into her room. Her dresser was the first thing she went for, only to find disappointment. The dresser was locked. Amaryllis began to panic. The chains that bound the dresser shut were far too difficult for her to break. Even with the right amount of concentration, psychic powers would be of no use. But then again, her powers were still in the process of developing. If she could barely shatter a vase with much effort, there would be no hope to win this battle.

Amaryllis looked around for something to possibly break the lock. The minutes had gone by, that much she knew. Two or three minutes remained at most. What was she to do now? Give up? Walk downstairs and tell her Father that she has surrendered and wishes to receive punishment now? No. She couldn't do that. Kain had clearly stated that from now on she could not be weak. And as Rahab would often say, "Any word from Kain's mouth is law."

Then suddenly, it hit her.

"Are those..." her eyes went to the bed. And what she saw was a sight to behold. Amaryllis smiled. A sight to behold indeed. There were cloths on her bed, neatly folded and laid out for her to wear. Almost as if someone just put them there...

Amaryllis mentally kicked herself. Kain had put them there. And for good reason. He knew that his daughter would never make it in time if it meant searching in the depths of her dresser for cloths. This was not a test for speed; this was a test for intelligence. And like the "half-human" she was, she didn't take control of the situation like a warrior would. The main task was to search the room until she found the items she sought, not go strait for the obvious bait: the dresser.

Amaryllis quickly undressed, throwing her dirty clothes all over, caring not where they landed. With her new, training clothes on, she rushed down the stairs and into the living room to meet her Master. Her eyes darted all over when she realized her master was not present.

"I must have beat the time," she quietly said. "I'm so good."

"Well, I must say I'm surprised that you made it down here..." Kain walked in, clad in leather pants and a light shirt. (T-shirt I guess.) In his arms were two swords, a bow and quiver filled with arrows on his back and a sheath with a dagger. Strange how the Soul Reaver was not present. Kain gave Amaryllis a grin and came towards her. Amaryllis smiled.

"...only two minutes late," he finished. The grin faded into a frown. Amaryllis swallowed hard.

'So. I guess I didn't make it after all,' she thought.

"Well since you have failed to complete the first easy task, that possibly an infant could have completed, you will now be punished." Amaryllis' jaw hit the floor. This was so damn insulting.

"What am I to do then, Father?" A loud clank occurred. Kain had dropped all the weapons.

"What did you call me?" Amaryllis stepped back in shock.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Kain narrowed his eyes and raised his arm out in front of him. A mixture of colors surrounded his hand, swirling together and forming different patterns. Amaryllis gripped her throat tightly. Something was wrong.

"Fa...Father. What...what is happening? I feel-"

"What you feel does not matter. I warn you, child, I grow weary of your ignorance. You will call me sire, not father. Understand? If that word slips from that foul tongue I will make this so called training, Hell for you. Do not make the same mistake your brothers did when they were younger, before you were born. They will look back on it and quiver in fear." Kain released his telekinetic hold on Amaryllis.

"You'd do best to succeed where they failed, child," he said readjusting his glove. "Do you acknowledge my words?" Kain did not take his eyes of his hand.

Amaryllis rubbed her neck roughly and swallowed hard.

"I do, sire. I do," she whispered.

"Good," he replied. "Now pick up all these weapons and follow me." Amaryllis watched Kain depart for the exit, queuing her to do what was told. The arrows were thrown over her shoulder, along with the bow. The dagger was placed in her pocket, leaving the two swords to deal with. She picked one up fairly easily, without much strain. The second one was a bit more heavier than she predicted. Still, she was actually able to hold one in each hand.

Kain was standing a ways from the mansion, crossed armed and deep in thought. He would soon find out if Amaryllis is the expected divine savior of her kind.

"You made it. I thought you would never show," Kain frowned. I guess he was serious. Amaryllis dropped everything in one single motion and rested her hands on her knees. Her lips went dry and she licked them, wondering what her next task was.

"Come closer and stretch with me," he ordered. Amaryllis did as she was told. "It's always good to have warm muscles before any sort of training or exercising." Amaryllis nodded in understanding. "I'm not going to be massaging any sore muscles you may have after we are done. That's all up to you." Amaryllis stretched her arms over her head, pulling them until the desired feeling was felt.

"Sire." Kain sat on the floor, leaning forward to touch his feet.

"What?"

"Was Raziel a good warrior?" Kain sat back, still remaining on the floor.

"What do you mean was? Is. Raziel is still alive if you are not aware." Amaryllis sat down on the floor as well and crossed her legs.

"Alright. Is Raziel a good warrior?" Kain quirked a brow.

"What do you think?"

"Well...I don't really know that's why I'm asking." Everything was silent for a moment. Kain's gaze went infront of him, avoiding Amaryllis. Kain sighed.

"Yes," he whispered. "He is almost as good as I. But alas, he still has a ways to go." Amaryllis began pulling out the grass blades one by one and tossing them aside.

"Is Raziel an angel?"

Kain snorted. "A what?"

"An angel."

"Why would you say something like that?"

"Because he is really nice, strong, and...nice. And everyone keeps mentioning that Raziel is handsome. What does this mean, handsome?" The vampire lord stood, wiping his pants of dirt and grass.

"You are becoming quite troublesome, young one," Kain replied. "It means that a person or thing is good looking."

Amaryllis stood as well. "Oh, so does that mean that I'm handsome too, sire?"

"No. Handsome is more of a masculine term, for boys and men. Pretty or beautiful are much more feminine words for you...or any other girl or woman."

"Hm. Yes that sounds right. Raziel is very handsome then."

Kain smirked. "You think so?"

"Yes. Don't you?" Kain did not reply immediately. He instead busied himself on pulling a sword out of the scabbard and twirling it.

"Well do you?"

Kain caught the sword by the hilt. "Why so many questions, girl? We have work to do now."

Amaryllis nodded and said nothing more. It was just a simple subject. Why was it so hard to talk about Raziel. Amaryllis began to notice that her Father avoided this matter quite often. But why?

"Yes...I think he is very handsome indeed. Are you satisfied?" Amaryllis smiled. "Now pick up the other sword and let's begin." Amaryllis unsheathed the lighter sword and held it with both hands on the hilt.

"Why is the point really flat like that? I thought swords were supposed to be sharp like our teeth." Amaryllis smiled revealing her small canines.

Kain rolled his eyes. "Do you not have a brain? The term is dull. The point is dull, meaning not sharp like it once was. And this is because this is your first training session. Do you honestly think I would let you fight with a new sword and watch you get impaled or skewered?"

"No. But you did say this training would be harsh."

Kain sighed. "Once you are able to wield a dull blade we will move on from there. Until then you're stuck with this blade. Now spread your legs about a shoulder length apart. Not that much...good like that, now bend your knees a little. Hold the blade infront of you with both hands...not that far...there that's fine. Bend your elbows a bit and bring the sword towards you as well."

"Like this?"

"Good. Your stance is average but we will work on it. Now...come at me with the intention to kill," Kain ordered. Amaryllis didn't budge. "Come Amaryllis. If a warrior is what you are destined to be then you shall do what is asked. Come and kill me." Amaryllis knew killing was bad. Rahab would often read her bedtime stories from a book called the "Bible." It stated that mortals had ten commandments that they were to obey or they would be marked as a sinner and could go to Hell. They were breaking God's own laws. There was one that somehow lingered in Amaryllis' thoughts. And somehow it would not leave. "Thou shall not kill." The little wolf thought about those four words for a minute, knowing that killing was wrong. But Kain did not say to literally kill him, only to act like your going to kill him.

Amaryllis cleared her thoughts and readied herself in the stance once again. The grip on the hilt was firm, blood was boiling, heart was pounding. She felt power coursing through her body, unbelievably strong. Her eyes narrowed, her fangs bared.

"Here I come," she whispered.

Okay that's all for now, guys. I know this chapter seems a little out of tune and I haven't updated in a while but I've been having some family issues. So I'M SORRY FOR THAT!!!!!!!! But at least I wrote something, even if it's not my best. I'll try to update soon. I graduate H.S on the 14th. YEAH!! I'm going to college. Woo hoo. Please review. Thanks-Lil V.

P.S I don't know if the whole sword stance is correct but I'm not an expert so I'm sorry if it's wrong. I hope you sword experts don't kill me. :(