Kain and Galen appeared from one of the shadows in the corner of the room. Galen was carrying Mizariah's body which he lay on the floor for her. Mizariah went back to her body and stood up.
"My lord Kain, I discovered this poor vampire when I arrived. She is completely incoherent and she has been severely beaten."
Kain recognised the helpless vampire chained to the floor as Anissina and judging by the state of her, she looked to be under some sort of mind control.
Mizariah spoke again "There is something else." She paused, knowing the reaction her next words were likely to receive.
"Speak child what is it?"
"My lord there is a vampire in the next room below us and he is none other than Sepheli whom you banished 200 years ago."
Kain's features darkened and Mizariah sensed his fury building though he said nothing but nodded for Mizariah to lead the way.
She led them through the same arch and passage that she had traversed not so long ago and they came upon the chamber where Koria was chained. There was no sign of Sepheli and Mizariah darted to Koria to loose her bonds.
Just as Koria was freed, Sepheli appeared in the room. He did not look surprised to see Kain.
"So the great Kain has found me." He ridiculed the words referring to Kain and Mizariah's anger boiled. How dare he insult her master like that! Galen sensing her anger laid a very gentle hand on her arm. Mizariah knew her father well enough to heed his warning and not move, so she stayed where she was and attempted to control her anger.
"Yes I have found you, I banished you 200 years ago and you dare to send a lackey to kidnap one of my servants?"
"Actually for your information, my 'lackey' was not supposed to go near your pathetic excuse for a home. The vampire she was supposed to bring had been murdered by vampire hunters. My influence over her only lasts for a certain amount of time and such was her search that the time was exceeded, leaving her desolate.
"You have been controlling her mind?"
"Yes for the past 200 years she has been under my complete control. She caters to my every whim without complaint."
Koria was hardly able to contain herself "That's because you stole her mind." She said through gritted teeth. Koria felt more sorry than ever for Anissina. If she had been under mind control for her entire existence as a vampire, then she would not know of her nature and that was why she had denied it.
"Yes I stole her mind and made her my devoted slave."
"She is not truly devoted to you." Kain was bristling with supressed fury and hate, "My servants are devoted to me because they have their own minds and can choose for themselves, not because I make them do it!"
"She did all sorts of little errands here and there, bringing humans for me to feed and the occasional vampire so I may gain new dark gifts. I now have quite a few. It was always my intention to destroy you Kain and rule Nosgoth for myself. Though I was going to wait until I had gained more dark gifts."
Kain growled low in his throat.
"Stronger vampires than you have attempted to defeat me Sepheli and all have fallen. What makes you think you will be any different? You will fall like the others."
"Your arrogance will be your downfall Kain."
"We shall see."
They adopted a defensive stance and Kain drew the Soul Reaver from his back and prepared to strike.
Without warning, a telekinetic blast ripped the Soul Reaver from Kain's hand and flung it to one side. Kain's surprise was evident. Sepheli used the surprise to pounce on Kain who stumbled backwards and tripped, crashing heavily to the floor.
Unable to bear seeing Kain being made to look clumsy, Mizariah dived at Sepheli who sensed her approach and rewarded her for her efforts by telekinetically stopping her and then throwing her against the wall where she crashed heavily into it and fell to the ground where she lay still.
Galen snarled but didn't pounce as he knew he would likely get the same reaction as Mizariah had received.
Kain and Sepheli fought and rolled on the floor of the room matching each other blow for blow. Galen could see Kain trying to summon the Reaver but was not being successful as Sepheli was giving him no time to concentrate.
Galen ran to where the Reaver was. He grabbed it, not caring whether or not it turned on him, all he cared about was getting the Reaver to Kain. The sword knew and didn't react to Galen's touch.
"My lord!"
Kain raised a hand and Galen flung the Reaver towards it. It was caught by Kain who suddenly sprang up and held the sword to Sepheli's throat
"Well now, it seems your little scheme is not going to plan am I correct? Did you honestly think you could rule this land?"
"I believe I could."
"I think not." And Kain drew the Reaver back before plunging it through Sepheli's stomach.
He screamed as the sword sucked his soul into the blade and his body became limp and then flaked into dust as he died. Kain shouldered the Reaver as a deep rumble was heard and bits of the ceiling began to fall.
"We have to get out! The place is collapsing. Galen take us to shadow NOW!" Kain ordered but Koria remembered something.
"Anissina! We can't leave her here she'll die."
Kain thought for a split second before leading them back through the passage and into the upper room. Galen had gathered Mizariah up in his arms from where she lay still unconscious and carried her from the room.
There was Anissina desperately trying to get the chain from out of the floor.
"Hold the chain up." Ordered Kain and she did so immediately. Using the Soul Reaver, he cut through the chain and Koria rushed to help her up.
The ceiling was collapsing with speed now and the floor was shifting beneath them.
"GALEN TAKE US TO SHADOW NOW!" Kain yelled above the noise.
Galen ordered them all to link arms and then grabbing the leader who was Kain, he pulled them all through the nearest shadow just as the room completely collapsed behind them.
Galen led them to an exit, which opened to reveal Palmar waiting in his and Koria's chambers.
The group suddenly appeared in front of Palmar and he started slightly. His surprise turned to delight when he saw Koria was safe and alive. He drew her into his arms and held her close to him.
Galen laid Mizariah on the bed tenderly and stroked her face. She began to stir. He was proud of her in spite of her foolishness in diving at Sepheli like that. Kain had been in danger and she cared not for her own safety only for Kain. He admired her for that.
She opened her eyes and looked up. Seeing him she smiled slightly before sitting bolt upright
"Kain!" Her face a mask of worry and fear until she spotted him by the door and she relaxed. She knew then that Sepheli was dead, having been dealt the justice he deserved. She looked over at the quivering heap in the corner, which was Anissina. She had crept there on their return and curled up into a ball.
Kain and Galen followed her gaze and Kain walked over to where she was cowering.
"Rise child." His voice was surprisingly gentle and Anissina lifted her bloody tear-stained face to look up at the face of Kain.
"I….I remember my lord."
She lowered her face again and her body shook with a wave of fresh tears. Mizariah could only imagine her torment. With Sepheli dead, her memory was restored and she now faced the full horror of two hundred years of killing her own kind for her master on top of everything else, Mizariah was sure she must have been degraded and beaten frequently. Her sympathy for the vampire showed in her eyes and Galen saw it and nodded his agreement. But would Kain see all that? Or would he view her as simply a traitor who had acted very well indeed.
Kain looked down at the vampire on the floor. He knew it had not been an act. Reaching down he placed a taloned hand on her shoulder.
"Rise child."
She got up slowly and stood before Kain, head bowed.
"Child you now remember your nature and the events of the last two hundred years?"
"Yes my lord. I murdered my own kind for him and I'm so sorry." Her voice faded to a whisper as she hung her head in shame.
"You are forgiven. I know that Sepheli had you under complete control and you did not know what you were doing. I am placing you with Koria and Palmar. They will look after you. Tell me child whom do you serve?"
"I will serve you my lord."
"Very good."
With a nod to the rest of the group, Kain turned and left the room.
Koria broke from Palmar's embrace and went over to where Anissina was. She had raised her head and was definitely looking better though she did look weak.
"Are you hungry Ani?"
Anissina did not flinch at the nickname, she decided she liked it from Koria. She nodded, yes she was very hungry and the thought of blood did not repulse her.
Koria handed her a goblet which she drained followed by another. When her hunger was sated she looked round the room. Yes she knew she would like it here among these vampires and she would serve Kain. The powerful lord had pardoned her for her crimes and for that she would serve him without question.
Yes her nightmare was finally over.