Turel tuned away from the rest of the group and began to concentrate. Then Kain turned to Esie and Raziel. "We will find a way to bring that lava flow here."

Raziel stepped closer to Kain. Turning his back on Turel for the moment. "Do you trust him with this charge?" He asked in a low voice.

Kain leaned closer to him. He glanced toward Esie who had turned her attention toward the area of the lava flow. "I don't need him distracted. Besides, she knows this region better than anyone."

"Anyone left alive that is." Raziel interjected."

Kain's expression soured at this comment. "Which is why I need everyone concentrated on the task at hand." He poked a chiding claw at his chief Lieutenant. "Because I allocate tasks as befitting the abilities of My subordinates I don't need your jealousy entering into this situation, Raziel. By and by we shall all find a purpose in time."

They heard Esie clearing her throat. The pair turned away from their discussion, and found her standing in front of them with an expression that hinted a bit of puzzlement across her now aquiline vampiric features.

Raziel straighted his posture and faced forward. "Sire." He quietly intoned with a hint of condescension.

Kain poked him further. "Thats better."

"What is your plan for the lava?" Esie asked.

"After the other arrive, we will take a look." Kain said.

"They are coming." Turel reported.

With in minutes some vampires had teleported to the spot. Others were coming in bat form. Soon the hillside they were standing on a small army was raised. Kain conferred with Turel and Dumah for a few moments. Esie walked over to a large rock laying halfway out of the ground. Raziel followed her.

"That's the first time I heard you challenge your Lord." Esie commented.

"My question was justifiable. Turel follows orders well, but has trouble making his own." Raziel said.

Esie was quiet. Then she pointed to the lava lazily belching from the exposed volcano. "I think its a bad idea. The lava is moving too slow. The air is too cold, its hardening too quickly."

"So we have to keep it warm too." Raziel fell into thought.

"We're stupid." Esie said to herself. "Lord Kain, have your men drive the Anthrophagites toward that valley." She pointed to a recently cooled Lava field. Steam was still rising off of it.

"What will that accomplish?" Kain asked.

"The crust is weak." Esie said.

"They will fall through as if they are standing on thin ice." Raziel said suddenly understanding what Esie wanted.

Kain nodded after a thought. "Go," He ordered Turel.

Esie moved to join the army, but Kain held her back. He motioned with his head. "I think you need to do something else."

Esie looked over Kain's shoulder. There in the distance was her brothers banner. Esie loaded her crossbow, and flew towards them. Raziel turned to watch the battle with the Anthrophagites, but then he noticed Kain was watching Esie. Raziel turned to watch as well.

Most of Lowell's men lay dead. A few were running away. It was quickly coming down to just Lowell and Esie. Lowell did not want to face his half sister. He spurred his horse in the opposite direction. Esie chased him swarming him in her bat form. Kain walked closer to have a better look. Raziel was just as curious.

Esie had Lowell by the neck. "Traitor!" She screamed at him.

"You don't understand." Lowell whimpered. "What happen to you was why I did it."

"You would have condemned all of our people." Esie hissed.

"At least I didn't kill them outright." Lowell said. "I don't know how,but I know this explosion was your doing."

"Look to yourself. I wouldn't have had to, if you hadn't been making deals with devils." Esie began to drag Lowell toward Kain and Raziel.

"And you haven't!" Lowell was struggling, but Esie would not let go. "do you think they will leave this place quietly."

Esie stopped and laughed. "I know they won't. At least we will survive with a few vampires here. The same cannot be said about the Hylden." She flung Lowell down at Kain's feet. "You forgot your oath as Steward. We protect the survival of our people, at whatever cost."

Lowell struggled to stand up. "I didn't. I wanted more than us scratching a half life off the rocks and lichen. We should be one of the most powerful countries in Nosgoth, not the most ridiculed." Lowell said.

"You forgot who rules Nosgoth." Esie said nodded toward Kain. "He will judge you now."

"How quickly you turned from the humans." Lowell spat at Esie.

Kain pulled out the Reaver and used the tip of it to raise Lowell's face, forcing Lowell to look at Kain.

"Tell me, did you seek out the Hylden or just try to use them?" Kain asked.

"I knew they were there. They ruled this planet once. They will again." Lowell said.

Kain pressed the tip harder. "Guilty of treason." Kain said.

Esie asked for Raziel's blade. She walked behind Lowell, grabbed the back of his head to force his head back. Then slit his throat. The gore gushed from his throat, and as his half sister gorged herself upon it, the sounds of battle raged around them. The abhorrent herd of Anthrophagites waled as they twisted in agony in their burning. While the vampires flung the few stragglers that were not caught in the initial assault back into the lava to join their doomed kin.

Esie sat down on the ground watching the last of the Anthrophagites being cast in. "My Father has no heirs now. No matter." She said to no one.

"Are you going to return with us?" Kain asked.

"Yes, the paths to this region are open now. I have fulfilled all of my promises."

Turel made his way up the hillside. He looked at Lowell's body and then at Esie, but did not say anything.

"Turel, take Esie back to The Sanctuary." Kain said.

Turel bowed. He touched Esie's arm and they both teleported out of there. Kain looked over the battle. There was not much let to do. Raziel stood beside him.

"You never came here to help the humans did you?" Raziel asked.

"No, you should know that by now." Kain said.

"But you still helped them."

"Just a side effect. I was only thinking about our survival." Kain told Raziel.