Thanks to Roxypony and Amela333 for the reviews. Well, here's the next chapter, finally!

Seeth awoke with a jolt as Kurda came barging into her room. She made to sit up quickly, then remembered she was in a hammock and thought better of the idea. Kurda was sitting on her chair with his head in his hands.

"What's the matter?" she asked, stretching her arms.

"This is so wrong," he murmured, stretching his face in irritation.

"Again...what's so wrong?" She swung her legs out of the hammock, blinking fiercely to clear the sleepiness. Kurda sighed.

"They've decided to make Darren do the Trials," he spat.

"Huh? But he's just-well not exactly-a kid. What were they thinking?" Seeth stared at Kurda incredulously. "Are they going to give him a few years to prepare?"

"No."

"Oh...such a waste. How'd he take it?"

Kurda smiled slightly. "He wanted to do it, but then I found out that he didn't know that if you fail, it means death. He thought he could feign injury to get out of it!"

"That's not good."

"No, it isn't. It's so unfair. If I were a prince this would never have happened!" he exclaimed.

"And you will be soon. Right now you guys have to focus on keeping Darren alive. He has a strong spirit, but we both know that that's not enough to get you through the Trials. Who's idea was it anyway?" Kurda made a derisive noise.

"Mika's."

Seeth rolled her eyes. She just couldn't understand why Mika had to be so severe. She sent out her senses to find out how Darren was coping. Kurda saw the change come over her. He'd seen her do that a few times before, but was still confused as to what exactly she was doing. As a vampire he didn't like the thought of others being able to probe his mind.

"Well," she said suddenly, sitting up straight. "He certainly has at least a forty percent chance of survival now."

"Why?" Kurda queried.

"Because Vanez wants to be Darren's tutor," she stated, grinning smugly. Kurda shook his head.

"Do I need to ask how you know that?"

"No. But just so you know, he has rather loud intention vibes; it's one of the characteristics of a war-master such as him. I can't read your thoughts, nor feel your intentions as easily. You're actually rather difficult to read." She frowned, her head on the side as she considered him.

"I'll take that as a good thing," he said with a nod.

"It is...unless you're hiding something..." she gave him an accusing look.

"I am not!" he exclaimed defensively.

She closed her eyes and took in the echoing waterfalls all around her. She loved this place, even if it was where the ever-dirty vampires took a wash every now and then. Seeth never let herself get grubby (-wow, vampires could stink). And she didn't need to.

Carefully, she scanned the place. No one else was there. Standing in front of one of the small torrents of water she held her hands together, preparing to cast: her thumbs and index fingers forming a diamond, her palms spread wide. Wonderful, hot steam filled the cavern as the temperature of the water rose to that of a hot shower. That was more like it.

After her shower, Seeth made her way to the Hall of Sport, three glamoured butterflies skipping along in front of her. She stopped dead when she saw Mika, leaning against the wall a few feet ahead of her. The butterflies crumbled to the floor before him (though obviously he hadn't done anything). Seeth grimaced. Of all people to catch her being flamboyant, it was him.

"Mika," she nodded. He stared at her for a few seconds, during which she shamefully twitched under his stabbing gaze. She suddenly thought horribly of what would happen if Mika ever found out about Leo. She banished the concern.

"Butterflies," his whispered dangerously. "How original."

"You don't like them?" she asked jovially (imitating Kurda). She raised an eyebrow teasingly. "I always thought you were a butterfly man, seeing as you were so into all that natural stuff." She knew it sounded mocking. But what the hell? She could have fun right?

Mika scowled blackly and advanced upon her. She almost stepped back, but her feet remained cemented to the floor.

"I have said this once..." he hissed, "and I will say it again to you, Seeth. No one is to know about my life before I became a vampire. No one is to know that I was a...like you. You have no right to deny me that."

"OK, OK!" she exclaimed, waving her hands in front of her. "Relax! I just thought you'd be fine talking to me about it-someone who already knows. Clearly I was wrong and I apologise."

He backed off a little, his face loosening from its angry grip. "Just because we barely have something in common does not mean we have something to share. I have no desire to talk to you about my human life. Others may see you as a friend, but I know what you are. You are no better than the demons you fight." With that he pushed past her, vanishing down the passageway.

Seeth stood for a minute, trying to ease her shock, which was slowly being replaced by anger. How dare he? He knew nothing about her, yet he was judging her-harshly at that. She felt a hateful curse brewing up inside her, but she pushed it down, a small voice in her head saying: but isn't that what you were doing to him? Seeth scoffed and carried on to the Hall. She definitely needed some activity to stop herself from turning Mika into a real bat and putting him in that night's bat-broth.