Mizariah snarled and glared at Ani as she rode up on Seth than Ani looked really frightened. Was this the same seemingly kind vampire who had looked after her when she had escaped her master? No one not even her old master had ever looked at her with as much anger and contempt as Mizariah was doing now.

Mizariah had left with Kain's permission as he had seen her anger and knew she must deal with Ani herself. He allowed her to leave and confront the disobedient vampire. Mizariah for once had not minded leaving Kain's side as she was so often loathe to do, she was much more interested in teaching Ani the lesson she deserved for disobeying her father. She had not felt so utterly consumed with anger for a long time. Oh Ani was going to pay for putting her father in such danger!

She descended the stairs with vampiric speed seeming almost to float down them and made her way to the courtyard to await Seth and Ani.

They approached her and Mizariah snarled at Ani who looked fearful. She dismounted and Mizariah strode up to her, drew her hand back and struck Ani with such force that she was thrown across the courtyard.

She crashed into a tree and lay in a heap at the base. Mizariah was at her side in an instant and grabbing her by the throat she held her aloft.

"WHAT DOD YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? YOU COULD HAVE GOT MY FATHER KILLED!"

Ani shook fearfully as Mizariah tightened her grip round Ani's throat. She drew her up close to her face and said in a deceptively calm voice.

"Kain should never have pardoned you. He should have killed you just like I will if anything happens to my father as a result of your disobedience."

Ani tried to nod but found it difficult with Mizariah's hand round her neck.

Mizariah released her and she fell to the floor in a heap. Mizariah looked at her distainfully. She had brought this upon herself.

"Go to your chambers until either myself, Galen or Kain calls for you."

Ani nodded and stood up, however as she did she suddenly looked Mizariah right in the eyes throwing her off guard for a moment as something akin to anger lay within her eyes.

"You're just like him, I do something wrong and am punished badly for it! I thought you were different, all I was trying to do was to help your father and this is how you thank me? If I were you, I'd watch my back Mizariah." She spat the last word out in Mizariah's face and she was too shocked and surprised for a moment to argue with Ani. Using this distraction, Ani turned and instead of heading towards the Sanctuary, she ran out through the main gates and away into the forest in the opposite direction to where Galen was fighting.

Mizariah returned to where Kain was and saw that he was recovered much to her relief. She darted to the window and saw Raziel fighting with Galen. Evidently he had arrived just in time. She did see that Galen had been wounded in his side. She already knew about this having felt the pain in her side when he had been struck. However, due to the amount of fighting he was doing, he was having a job to replenish his blood sufficiently to heal.

Mizariah knew Galen with be angry if she joined in the fight.

"My lord what should we do?"

Kain looked thoughtful "We could blast them with telekinesis from up here."

Mizariah nodded. "What about my father and Raziel? They are fighting and a number of Raziel's soldiers."

"Mizariah, I am going to order Galen and Raziel to retreat and as soon as they do we'll blast the human scum."

"Mizariah nodded and Kain concentrated, whispering to Galen to instruct him to retreat."

Galen understood and shouted at Raziel and the other vampires to retreat. The humans, thinking they had won, began to jump up and down and celebrate their 'victory'

Galen and the others had retreated a fair distance before Mizariah and Kain unleashed telekinetic blasts at the unsuspecting humans who were tossed aside by the blasts like rag dolls.

After reducing the human ranks somewhat, Kain and Mizariah stopped their blasts allowing Galen and the other vampires to surge forward with new fervour.

The humans then knew that they had lost the battle as one after the other they fell before Galen's knife and Raziel's sword.

Mizariah watched her father. She loved to watch him fight for real. He showed absolutely no mercy and as she watched, she knew he was revelling in being in a real battle instead of just training fledglings.

Kain rested a hand on Mizariah's shoulder. "Your father is excellent in battle Mizariah," This was praise indeed from the emperor of Nosgoth and Mizariah nodded "Yes he is my lord and I am proud to be his daughter."

In watching her father, Mizariah had temporarily forgotten about Ani but now she remembered and turned to Kain.

"My lord, Ani ran from me when I reprimanded her for her disobedience."

Kain frowned. "She must be found and brought back."

"She threatened me before she ran."

Mizariah was not really too worried about that as thanks to her father's training, she had learned to sense when danger was near in time to intercept it so a threat was not much of a concern to her.

"She threatened you? Foolish child, she does not obviously realise with whom she is making such pathetic threats."

Mizariah nodded. Yes in time she would come crawling back to the Sanctuary begging to be allowed back in. Mizariah knew she would be but would also be watched closely just in case she did try something.

Mizariah looked down at the battlefield and saw that Galen, Raziel and the other vampires had finished off the last of the humans, and were currently gorging themselves on their blood.

Mizariah looked at Kain who said "Shall we?" and indicating the finished fight down below.

Mizariah smiled and nodded. Together they went out to where the others were still feeding. Mizariah found some undrained victims and proceeded to rectify their state by draining them swiftly.

It was not long before she was sated and stood up to see Kain wiping hiw mouth of excess blood and looking satisfied.

Galen, Raziel and the others finished feeding and Kain called on a few servants to clean up the mess.

Raziel ordered his men to return to his own clan stronghold and accompanied Kain and the others back to Kain's rooms where they relaxed and talked for many hours.

Raziel told them funny battle stories that had them all laughing and even Kain smiled at the more amusing bits. Mizariah was glad to see him smile.

Many hours later when dawn was just beginning to break, they returned each to their own rooms.

Mizariah was tired and all she wanted to do was sleep. She bade good morning to her father and fell into her bed where she slept soundly until dawn.

Mizariah rose later than normal and when she went into her father, he had already got up and left. Mizariah poured herself a goblet of blood from the pitcher and drank it. She wondered where her father was. She would have to tell him of Ani if Kain had not already done so.

She left the room and made her way to Kain's chambers. She arrived and knocked. Kain bid her to enter and she did to find him alone.

"Ah Mizariah, if you see your father could you inform him I wish to speak with him?"

"You haven't seen him yet my lord?"

"No."

"I will whisper him to come."

"Father."

No response. Mizariah concentrated trying to sense him and what he was feeling but she felt nothing. Odd she usually felt something! Then suddenly and without warning the pain struck her and she doubled up in pain.

Kain was by her side in an instant. "Is it Galen?"

"Yes, I felt nothing and then intense pain in my stomach."

"Think you can find him?"

"Are we immortal?"

Kain nodded and Mizariah lay on the couch she often used in Kain's chambers to use her dark gift. She went to spirit and flew up through the ceiling and out into the night.

She had to find her father…