First, some thanks:

Sylvanon the wolf gurl: Thanks! I hope you continue to like it!

Shiwolf: Marina is lucky-for now. Here's the next chapter. I hope you like!

Vladimirs Angel: We shall see, indeed! Kain can be a very nice vampire when he wants to be. ;)

I woke up later. I had a fitful sleep that left me more tired than rested. It had not been an easy night. To top it all off, I could've sworn there was someone else in the room watching me-several times.

I looked down at my stomach. The wound had completely healed. That was one small comfort. I was relieved until I heard the bedroom door creak open and Kain walked in.

"Are you better, now?" he asked in a playful voice.

"Yes," I replied in a small voice.

He smiled at me, almost leering. I shivered inwardly. Kain was so hard to read. What was he thinking now?

"What are you going to do with me?" I asked.

Kain's smile widened. "I told you. You are going to stay with me."

"But what about my sire, Lucius? He'll be looking for me. I know him."

I had a feeling I shouldn't have said that. Kain's grin froze on his face but his eyes burned with an inner fury. "The same sire that tried to kill you?" he demanded. "The sire you've been hiding from all this time? You can't fool me, Marina."

Kain paced around the room then with an enigmatic look on his face. "I really think we should pay him a visit."

"You mean-kill him?" I mused.

"Exactly," Kain hissed. "You owe nothing to him. From now on, I am your sire and your lord."

Did I hear Kain correctly? I must have because the world was spinning in front of me. So many emotions reeled through me. Surprise. Fear. And- satisfaction? Where had that last emotion come from?

"Now, let us go," Kain's voice broke through my thoughts. "We shall pay Lucius a visit, and it won't be a kind one either."

"He's my sire," I tried to reason. "I can't just."

"You must," he interrupted me curtly. "It's the only way your life won't be in any danger. Besides, sire or not, he should be dealt with like any other incompetent vampire."

"Now," Kain breathed, reaching down to his scabbard and unsheathing a long, sharp, wavy sword, "where can we find this sire of yours?"

***

Kain and I set out immediately. I told him where Lucius' mansion was located and as it turned out, Kain's own abode wasn't too far away. It surprised me that Kain wanted to go so soon. I had only just recovered! But he didn't seem to care and insisted that he wanted to bring me along so I could watch my sire and my tormentor die.

I had no regrets. I wouldn't try to save Lucius. I thought he was a wonderful, loving gentleman. Lucius was quite handsome with his long, silky, black hair and molten amber eyes. Admittedly, he had been a good sire-for awhile. He had been so caring and attentive with me. Until he started building his harem. Vampire women of all sorts came to him and all he had to do was send a scorching, flirtatious look in their direction. He even made more vampires for this purpose. Basically, he recruited all the most beautiful women of Nosgoth. I wasn't enough to keep him happy.

Women of all shapes and sizes came to him. Hair color didn't matter nor eye color or any other trivial matter such as that. As long as they were gorgeous, he accepted them with open arms. Lucius treated his mistresses of the house no differently than Vorador had treated his infamous Vampire Brides. It was even rumored that my sire was more of a pig than Vorador ever was!

Lucius had one particular favorite, besides myself. But since I no longer mattered to him, Brianna took the crown. Brianna was the most attractive woman of the household, and she knew it. Her hair was the color of rubies and her eyes were as silver as cold steel. She was a spiteful witch indeed.

It was now crystal-clear to me that Lucius was and always had been a cruel, evil individual that only cared for his own pleasures. But I had to wonder, wasn't Kain the exact same way? I suppose I would soon find out.

Kain's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Is this your sire's mansion?"

I looked up at the intimidating white marble mansion literally glowing in the moonlight. I knew it the place well enough. More importantly, I knew where Lucius would be now. And yes. I would betray him. But then, this was hardly betrayal. It was revenge.

"Yes it is," I whispered.

"Then, let us go inside. But we must be quiet." Kain warned.

"Yes. I understand."

Then Kain looked at me warily and I knew why. He though that perhaps I would join forces with Lucius and turn on him. He would soon find that nothing was further than the truth.

"Lucius is in his library," I whispered to Kain. "He insists to be alone once he's in there."

Kain smirked. "How fortunate for us."

Kain walked forward and I followed. We couldn't walk right through the front door so we went around the left side of the mansion. The small courtyard here had a stone fountain of water.

"A fountain?" Kain huffed. "Not the most intelligent vampire is he? He's just begging to be annihilated."

"My sire likes to impress and adores and creates beauty in all its forms," I explained. "Even dangerous things."

"You're right about that," Kain murmured. Then he glanced over at me.

Was Kain paying me a compliment? I didn't know whether to feel awed or feel apprehension.

"Here is the library window," I whispered.

Kain didn't waste any time. With one swift movement, he smashed the window of the hilt of his sword.

Kain and I crawled into the room through the window, and there standing in the doorway of the library was Brianna. Not Lucius. I could tell that she was none too glad to see me.

"Little Marina, so you're alive. We all hoped you'd died," spat Brianna.

"No such luck," I hissed.

Brianna arched her brow and pressed her thickly painted red lips into a smirk. "And who's your friend?" she sniffed. "He's hardly of regal bearing."

"Watch your tongue, girl," Kain growled. "Do you not recognize the ruler of this land when you see him? I am Kain."

Brianna eyed him evenly. Then she laughed. "I am not impressed. One day, our sire will defeat you and he will become ruler. Isn't that so, Marina?"

Before I could respond, Kain stepped in front of me.

"Move aside, girl," he commanded in a voice that could splinter stone. "We have no reason to fight you. We just want Lucius."

Brianna looked shocked. "We? You're a traitorous childe indeed, Marina! How could you?"

"How could he?" I shot back. "I refuse to be his pet and you shouldn't be either."

Brianna paused for a moment. For a spell, I thought she was considering my words. I was wrong.

"Lucius!" she called. "Your bitch of a childe is here along with an assassin!"

Lucius came running in almost immediately. "What is it dear Brianna?"

Then his eyes locked on me. "You," he breathed. "Marina, you've come home."

"But not to stay," I replied coolly. "I have unfinished business that must be dealt with immediately."

Lucius's eyes glowed red in anger, highlighting the demon within. Why hadn't I seen it before? "What-business?"

"Something that is called vengence," Kain drawled.

"So, my childe's lies have addled your mind, Kain. Yes. I know who you are. You should return her to me. Everything she has told you is false."

"I believe I am the monarch here and I say-you die." Kain lunged at Lucius and I was left with Brianna.

Before I could even blink, Brianna swiped at me with her claws-her main weapon. But I had a weapon of my own. I drew my flamberge and proceeded to strike her down. Brianna wasn't the best fighter, so I decided to use it to my advantage. But, Brianna was too quick and sidestepped me. And then from her hand, she threw an energy bolt at me. Brianna was partial to magic, but it would prove weak against my blade. I dodged the energy bolt and kicked her in the stomach. She gasped in pain. The white silk shift she wore was useless for defense.

From the other side of the room, I could see Lucius had his sword out as well. He was swinging it at Kain madly. Kain mere laughed and dodged Lucius's feeble attacks and redoubled his own efforts. Kain was clearly the better warrior.

Brianna was rushing at me with her talons outstretched. I whirled around her and backhanded her across the face. She hit the floor heavily. In an instant, I was raising my sword high above her head. I hesitated.

"You don't have the courage," Brianna hissed. "Lucius and I always found your sense of humanity sickening."

Angered by her words, I raised the sword again to strike Brianna, but someone beat me to it. Kain was there in an instant and used his own sword to cut off Brianna's head.

I looked up at Kain's face, startled. He was grinning at me. "It's done," he intoned. "But, I still don't know what to do about Lucius."

Lucius was knocked out cold, slumped in the corner of the library.

"You have several options," Kain informed me. "You could dispose of him right now or subject him to a slow burning agony in the Abyss. The perfect place for a disloyal weakling."

"I want to end it right now," I stated firmly.

I raised my sword and looked at Lucius's face one last time. "Goodbye, Lucius," I whispered.

Then, the sword clanged against the polished wooden floor, and then there was no more.

***

Marina was utterly silent as they treaded home to Kain's mansion. Overall, In Kain's mind, it had been a productive night. Revenge was always a worthy cause. And Marina's fighting technique was flawless as he expected. He didn't mind at all letting her into his abode. Quite the contrary. Perhaps she would become one of his lieutenants.

Kain looked over at Marina. Her face was bathed in moonlight. Her pale skinshone like ivory in its glow and her glossy black hair took on a bluish sheen that looked like the twilight itself. Her eyes were a rich molten gold, much like his own but so-expressive. She looked like a goddess of the night.

Slowly Marina's gaze turned on Kain, or rather the sword he carried in his hand. Marina glanced up and her eyes met with Kain's own. Quickly, she diverted her gaze.

Kain decided to save her some embarrassment. She was clearly apprehensive of him. "You're wondering about my sword?"

Marina nodded. "It looks very old and powerful."

"It is. It's called the Soul Reaver. It's an ancient blade that was forged by magic. It consumes the souls of its enemies," Kain explained cheerfully.

"Is it the only one of its kind?" Marina asked.

"In this era," Kain mumbled.

Slowly, Kain's mansion came into view. Then, Kain had an idea. He had an engagement tonight in his throne room and he wanted Marina to be there.

Kain grabbed Marina's hand. "Come. It's time for you to meet my sons."