The Blood of Caine

The Briefing

Freya found herself being led down corridors, through doors and down stairs, once more, by Caine. He was taking her back to Dmitri. Her weapons clinked as she walked and she receieved many looks of astonishment as she passed other vampires.

He placed his hand on the door and stopped to smile at her, "Dmitri's eyes are going to burst from his skull."

She frowned, "Why?"

"You'll see," Caine answered.

He gave the door a push, it opened to reveal Dmitri leaning against a wall doing something on his cell phone. He raised his eyes to look at them. His head snapped up and his jaw went slack. The cellular device fell from his hands.

"Are you out of your damned mind?" he shouted, "She's a fledgling."

Irritation marred Caine's beautiful features, "I am well aware of what Miss Craven is, Dmitri."

"Then you should see the madness in this decision!"

"Dmitri," Caine remained calm, "All three of us have agreed that she is more than ready."

"Listen!" Dmitri's face was going red, " She's going to get herself killed!" he hesitated, "You're going to get her killed! She's not ready!"

"By what I saw upon entering this just over an hour ago, I'd say she's more ready than you were."

Dmitri rushed forward, narrowly missing his phone. He grabbed Caine's collar and shoved him up against the door, it slammed shut on impact - sending echoes through the castle.

Dmitri's lips were curled over his teeth, showing his fangs, "She's. Not. Ready," his voice came out an animalistic hiss.

Caine looked down at him and his eyes seemed to brighten. Dmitri let go of Caine, dropped to his knees and cried out, obviously in pain.

Caine straightened his jacket and eased the mental death hold, in which he held Dmitri, "You have stepped out of line, Dmitri. Do not do it again, the consequences will be most dire."

His threat sent shivers down Freya's spin. Caine turned to leave the room. Dmitri stood and ran at him. Before she knew what she was doing, Freya stepped forward and Dmitri's chest collided with the palm of her left hand, she had a strong grip on Caine's collar with the right.

"Ready for what?" her tone was more abrasive than she intended for it to be.

Caine turned his head, his expression was surprised, then angry, then he seemed to be brimming with pride.

Freya released both men, "Ready for what?" she asked, her voice softer now.

"It would seem Vladimir has recruited you for his army," Dmitri answered.

"He has, and you are more than ready," Caine confirmed, "you will go out and find the various objects we need with the rest of The Order."

Freya arched and eyebrow, "The Order?"

Dmitri gave a nod, "The Order of Draculesti."

"That doesn't sound too difficult," Freya said, filled with confusion.

Dmitri's voice lacked expression and humour when, next, he spoke.

"We will be hunting objects that might not exist, encountering some very nasty individuals and racing against daylight," he said, "you will also watch several people, you may come to like, die and kill people you're told not to like."

"We are not people," Caine said, his voice barely audible, "They are not people."

He turned and stormed from the room. As soon as he left, Dmitri's face brightened.