Deanna leapt over the corpse, bolting towards the building.

The back door was open, and the windows smashed. She wove around the warped black wood, and darted towards the front rooms. Shards of glass littered the floor, sparkling like drops of water in the moonlight. Blood was smeared across the walls and floors, and bodies lay dead or dying on the floor.

Deanna picked up a fallen dagger as she slid silently into the communal room.

Chaos reigned.

Fangs shone in the dim light cast by the few unbroken lamps. Weapons clashed, and screams pierced the air.

Deanna stared around in horror.

How many attackers were there? Twenty? Fifty?

A child's terrified squeal snapped her head around. A vampire boy cowered as an attacker bore down on him, sword in his large hand.

Her dagger hit him in the neck, severing his jugular vein and skimming through his windpipe.

The vampire choked, before crumpling as Deanna ran forwards, tugging the child to his feet.

"Listen to me," she said, her senses alert to danger as she clutched the boy's shoulders. "I want you to find Xavier. Do you know where Xavier is?"

The boy nodded, his brown curls bobbing.

"Run to him. Listen to the hunters protecting him. Don't stop, and don't hide. Just run. Do you understand?"

The boy whimpered, his brown eyes wide, before he darted into the shadows, keeping to the edges of the fight.

Deanna jerked the sword from the vampire's fingers, stepping into the fray once again.

The weapon was light in her grasp, and well-balanced. It plunged into an unsuspecting vampire's back with a flash of silver. The woman screamed, her back arching as her legs collapsed.

Deanna drew the sword back out and swung it around. It hit the vampire firmly in the neck, cutting off her horrified shrieks.

"Run!" Deanna shouted to the mother vampire, who nodded her thanks, leaping up with her baby in her arms.

Suddenly, a male shout broke through the clash of swords and daggers.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

The answer was instantaneous. Vampires turned, their bloodied weapons still in hand, and bolted for the exits, leaving the Raziel coven's members in shock.

Deanna hissed, spinning the sword in her palm.

With a gasp, she hurled it at a retreating shadow.

The vampire crumpled with a squeal, its heart pierced.

She spun around to face the rest of Raziel's coven.

"Find Xavier now," she ordered, running to help a wounded Hunter.

He smiled when he saw her. "Very nice work for one so young."

She nodded silently, helping him limp across the floor stained with blood and littered with bodies.

The coven assembled in the communal room; the largest of the mansion's rooms.

Sobs filled the air, occasionally drowned out by the chatters of the survivors.

"Silence!" Xavier shouted, and was obeyed instantly. "Tonight we were attacked. The vampires have been identified as members of the Deminski, Polarii and Nambar covens. We ask that if anyone has information on why we were attacked, may they step forwards."

"I do," a voice snarled.

Corbett mounted the stage, anger distorting his features.

"An hour before we were attacked, I had an arguement with Deanna, a hunter of the fifty-seventh division. She stated that she was sure the Deminskis would encourage her hunting more than I."

Gasps echoed around the room, and Deanna stared in horror.

"Deanna of the fifty-seventh division," Xavier said, "step forwards now."

Deanna cleared her face of all emotion and stepped up beside Corbett.

"Do you have witnesses, son?"

"Yes," Corbett annouced. "Crevan and Blake of the fifty-seventh division."

Xavier turned to them. "Is it true that she said this?"

Blake nodded, not meeting Xavier's eyes.

"Yes, Master," Crevan replied, his blue eyes fixed on the ruler's.

Xavier turned to her, his grey eyes clouded. "Do you deny it?"

"No, I said that. But I didn't mean-"

"Then you are guilty of treason," Xavier interrupted. "You will be incarcerated until further notice."

Deanna stared, his eyes wide with shock.

Two hunters stepped forwards, chaining her hands behind her back.

The cold sting of silver brought her back to her senses.

"What?" she shrieked. "I didn't do anything! I'm not conspiring with the Deminskis or anything!"

"Silence," Xavier hissed, and she bowed her head, anger clear on her face. "The Deminskis will be summoned, and we will demand why they attacked us. Until the meeting, you will wait in the underground chambers."