Tom T. Thomson: Thank you very much! Glad you like and are keeping up with the story!

Goolecap: You're welcome! Dru deserves better than what she got…so far.

I hissed at them and raised my claws up defensively. I had never taken two vampires at once. I only hoped that Kain's prized lieutenant had taught me well enough. According to Dumah, his children were always spoiling for a fight. And I was sure to give them one.

As I expected, Jasper was the first to react and lunged at me. I found it was always better to make your opponent strike first. That way, you could counteract it and exploit their weaknesses if possible.

I dodged under Jasper's arm and sent a crashing blow into the back of his head. Marcel growled and rushed at me, but I kicked out with my leg and made him trip. Marcel landed ungracefully headfirst into the snow.

Jasper roared. Anger marked his features. Rage was the worst emotion to feel in battle. I could use that to my advantage. Expertly, I once again dodged Jasper's furious punches and spun on my heel, bended one leg up, and smashed him in the kneecap. With him stunned, I sent my fist crashing into his jaw with all my vampiric strength behind it, knocking him to the frosty dirt. One down.

Marcel took that opportunity grab me from behind, looping one arm around my shoulders and wrapping the other around my waist. He then proceeded to roughly expose my neck, going in for the kill. I reared my head back, slamming Marcel right in the face. Marcel's grip loosened slightly. Seizing the initiative, I look his arm off my shoulder and sent my elbow sailing into his nose. I could sense by the way his body tensed he meant to flip me over, so I wrapped my fingers around his throat, distracting him even further. With one swift final movement, I twisted his arm around and tackled him to the ground.

 My predator instincts were singing now. Wanting to kill. And perhaps to feed. I pushed aside those destructive notions and sent Marcel spiraling through the air into a nearby cluster of boulders. I allowed myself to swell with triumph. I had won. This round anyway.

"Marina!" a voice shouted. "There you are!" I spotted Dumah jogging over towards to me. I waited patiently until he reached my side. Breathless, he began to speak. "What are you doing out here? You shouldn't have come alone. You could have been lost forever."

"I almost was," I replied gesturing at the crumpled forms of Jasper and Marcel. Before Dumah could say anything, I defended myself. "They attacked me first. I told them who I was, but they didn't believe me."

"No. They wouldn't have. Jasper is always aggressive and his companion Marcel does as he does. They'll be fine. But it looks as if they've met their match."

"They had it coming," I blurted out.

Dumah's eyes shone with a genuine pride as if he were my creator instead of another. "You see? I said all along that you have talent. Since you're here, you may as well see our humble village. Just promise not to knock anybody else out."

Then, Dumah threw his head back and laughed. It made me shiver inwardly, and not from the cold. Dumah's attentions and compliments never made me feel comfortable. Dumah's haughtiness would be his downfall. I was learning that fighting for glory with no restraint was a dangerous business as well. Sometimes, like Jasper and Marcel, you ended up unconscious on the ground.

* * *

The Dumahim were pleasing to the eye and full of witty conversations, but beneath that pleasant shell, they were even more arrogant than Dumah and cast surreptitious, knowing glances at each other when I passed by. A proud people, but extremely vain.

Although, the architecture was marvelous. Beige sandstone buildings had been built, tier upon tier, each one more exceptionally crafted than the other. High turrets and towers with curving points lent a stylish yet lethal appearance. Crows roosted here, staring down at us with their ebony eyes. Elegant latticework done in intricate designs served as windows.                                                                                                                 The Ash Village was more cramped than Raziel's city. Also, where Raziel's city had been more modest in decoration as it was vast, Dumah's township was more like an opulent mansion, their finery crowded together. There was more than one guard stationed at the wooden gates. Did the Dumahim wish to keep others out or secretly keep themselves in?

Dumah showed me everything, his words laced with honey, but I could sense the overwhelming superiority within. I was terribly bored and becoming more and more irritable. Dumah prattled on and on, even going as far to take me to his own receiving room than had an inlaid stained glass mosaic behind his rather simple throne; the only unassuming thing in the room. Dumah still wanted to take on the façade of a "humble" ruler.

Finally, when I couldn't bear another leering face or a false, showy grin, I requested to return home. Dumah reluctantly gave in. Dumah was probably so self-important, he most likely thought his own domain was the finest in Nosgoth. In all honesty, I thought Dumah would rather have me live with him, but he feared the wrath of his overlord. It seemed he still had some sense in his rather stuffed head after all.

I didn't even glance at the Abyss when I crossed over it. The roar and splashes of water were louder than ever, but that was my imagination I'm sure. I didn't want to think about the whirlpool or Raziel if possible. Strangely, Dumah didn't ask me where I had gone. I eventually accepted the fact that he didn't know about the incident and that I would be a fool if I brought it up. In any case, Dumah only wanted to hear about himself.  And as for mentioning that eerie vision to Dumah, well, I might as well write my own death warrant if I dared to speak of it. To anyone.

All too soon, we arrived at the main gate of the Sanctuary of the Clans. As usual, it was bustling with activity. Several vampires were loading goods on wagons and carts. I could tell by their learned voices and distant air that they were Rahabium. Dumah grabbed me by the arm and led me through the wrought iron gate and the familiar polished corridors towards Kain's Throne room. The Pillars. Kain would be there, and maybe even Raziel.

The apprehension that had rooted in me blossomed into fear. My blood turned as cold as the snow I had recently treaded across. Why was I so nervous? Was I afraid of Kain getting angry at me? For rushing headstrong into the Time-Streaming Device? Or was I merely afraid that I would share Raziel's supposed fate? I would never be the same after my travels to Nosgoth's past. I couldn't decide if that was for better or for worse.

You musn't think of that, I scolded. Not if you wish to survive.

I saw as soon as I entered the room that Raziel was thankfully not present. Just Turel. Besides Kain, Turel was the only one who knew what had happened to me. Dumah was still blissfully unaware.

"Marina!" Turel gasped. "You're safe!" I relaxed a bit. Turel seemed genuinely relieved.

Kain quickly shot Turel a glare. "Dumah, would you leave us for a moment? We wish to speak with Marina privately."

Dumah looked momentarily confused, but Kain needn't press. An order was an order. Dumah looked side-ways at me, and quietly left the room, his footsteps hollow with defeat.

My gaze swept over Kain's face. He appeared tense. I bowed slightly. I wasn't sure how to address him or in what manner he would react to me. In time, Kain did react, and it was in a completely shocking way. He smiled! For the first time that I had ever seen.

"Marina," he said in a low tone. "I am so glad you're back. Tell me, what happened to you? And, please, don't leave out any details."

Everything? Even I didn't understand it all! But I couldn't very well make up a story right under Kain's stare on such short notice. And judging by the sight the Soul Reaver, always grasped in Kain's right hand, that wouldn't be the wisest decision.

So, I told my tale, save for the "prophecy" I had witnessed. Kain couldn't know that, and I instinctively knew that Kain wouldn't share a roof with someone hanging a bit of forbidden knowledge over his head. Or let them live for that matter. Turel seemed doubtful when I had finished my account, but Kain looked pleased.

"Yes. Such a place exists in Nosgoth," he said to Turel. "But it's of no importance to you or your brothers. Concern yourself with the present."

Relief spread over Turel's features. Clearly, he did not wish to know of such arcane designs.

"Let us not mention this to the others," Kain added. "Marina was barely gone a day, and it's for the best not to cause any alarm. Especially Raziel. He has enough to deal with."

A shiver ran up my spine. Did Kain know? Had he visited that place hidden in the bowels of the mountains? Was he the one that had removed all the locks in order to glimpse the distant or imminent future? For my sake, I hoped not.

Kain's composure was calm, but something burning in his eyes gave him away. As if he were fighting some powerful impulse. To kill?

I was dismissed. Later, I stole to my chambers to get settled in and be alone to decide upon the best course of action. But that was not to be. Scarcely had I stepped into my bedroom, there was a tapping at the door. I automatically thought of Dumah.

I hastily opened it and nearly keeled over when I saw Kain. Again, he smiled. He knows.

"Hello, Marina. I was just checking on you to see you if you needed anything."

I returned his smile warily. "No, Kain. But, you are very generous."

This unexpected statement invoked a change in Kain. "I missed you," he admitted softly.

"And I you, my lord," I whispered.

The atmosphere in the room changed. Everything hummed with energy. The low candlelight seemed scorching. I could almost witness lightening waving and lancing through the air. The attraction between us could no longer be denied.

Kain bent his head down and kissed me fully on the lips. I returned his kiss with the same fervor and wrapped my arms around his neck. I knew at once what this would lead to. Kain wouldn't be satisfied with a simple kiss and neither would I.

Somehow, we steered ourselves over to the bed and lay down next to each other with nothing between us. Not anymore. His passionate kisses enveloped me. Tempted me. Running my fingers through the silvery strands of his hair, I relished the feeling of his skin touching mine, his heart pressed against mine. Then the fires of love consumed us both.