Nafalen ran down the hill. He saw a copse of trees to his right and veered towards it. Glancing back he could see that the group of horsemen were still after him.

'Well at least it's less the before,' he thought when he saw that there were only twelve of the seventeen riders left.

Nafalen dashed behind the trees and quickly scaled one, drawing his sword in preparation for their assault. He had no doubt that he could defeat them, but it would be a long battle.

As the riders reached the copse then pulled up on their reins, stopping their horses. the looked around, nafalen was no where to be seen. Then one ade the mistake of looking up.

Nafalen dropped on the man like a stone, snapping his neck in the process. Nafalen flung the man at another approaching soldier, nocking him off the horse. Nafalen jumped into the saddle and picked up the reins. he rode up next to an unsuspecting soldier, beheading him.

The leader of the men had realized what happen and began calling out orders. His men formed up in ranks, but another fell to a thrown dagger by Nafalen.

The vampire warrior twirled his sword in his hand and rose in in a salute to his now prepared enemies. Then he smiled a wicked smile and charged them. A soldier blocked his overhand cut, but lost him arm to the next attack. He pulled back as the nex man engaged Nafalen.

Eight humans left. Eight humans and one powerful vampire.

Chi had watched the entire scene from where she was sitting up high in a tree. He legs crossed and her elbow placed on top her leg with chin in palm of hand. The entire event intrigued her, but she continued watching mildly interested. Mortal events never interested her, but the fact that a fairly old vampire was stuck in it made her wonder.

Her silver hair was tied in a bun and a few strands framed her skin. She more a dark blue flowy skirt with small silver stars in it and a black corset top. The skirt she had made herself, letting her creativity go. She had enough of watching this, he would catch the attention of the entire mortal population.

She stretched her entire back and lifted her hands to the sky. She seemed to be praying but soon enough it became apparent what she was doing. The wind swirled around her and she then directed it to the fighters. One strand of wind would swirl around each fighter momentarily blinding them, the last strand she had she wrapped around the vampire and whisked him directly to her. Once he was facing her a good 40 feet on the ground, Chi still perched in her tree and him totally at her mercy she looked at him. "Pray tell, what did you do?"

Nafalen continued to fight, dispatching two more opponents. As he engaged the leader of the mortal group a strange blew around everyone, eventually wrapping itself around Nafalen and carrying him to a nearby tree. It set him down face to face with a woman who's silver hair swayed in the breeze.

"If you ever interfere with me again, I'll kill you," Nafalen said, rage in his voice.

Nafalen turned and began to walk away, back towards the humans who he was determined to finish off. Suddenly he stopped. With out turning he asked

"How did you do that?"

Chi watched the man her eyes completely unimpressed by the man in front of her. He would kill her? She would love to see that. A vampire doesn't live almost 6000 without learning a few tricks to keep herself alive. She was good at what she did and very good at keeping herself alive. Killing her wouldn't be easy.

She jumped down from the tree, landing lightly at her feet and cut him off, the soldiers were already leaving, confused as to where he had gone. "When you talk to an ancient you should turn to look at her or him, some or not as kind as I." A small smile played across her face to vanish, young vampires were so amusing. "How did I do what?" She was a mind reader but she wasn't going to go that far, well not yet.

“Ancient, bah,” Nafalen sneered. “There are those who would call me ancient. ‘Tis just a title, no more. A mere formality. Being old does not make one wise, nor strong for that matter. And do not play the fool with me. You know exactly about what I asked. The implied act is obvious, and you could read my mind if you wish.”

Nafalen looked over the woman’s shoulder and saw the humans escaping. Snarling he looked back at the woman who had interfered.

Chi narrowed her eyes, but that was the only thing that showed any emotion that now troubled her. Then her eyes returned to normal and she gave him an impassive look, completely blank. "With age comes one thing, for vampires and that is power. That is perhaps the only thing that should make you worry. I could tear you apart by simply looking at you, your mind and your body. It would be quite easy actually."

She let out soft shrug. "What I did, is a result of my age, the older you are the more powers you get, it is simply that." Chi let out another shrug. "I control the air and the wind, it does whatever I want it to." She let an ironic smile paint her lips. "Ancients are touchy, especially very old, you are nothing but an insolent child to me."

Nafalen snarled at her, holding back none of his anger. Not only did she interrupt his killing, she assaulted his pride and honor.

“If I am no more then a child to you let me be on my way and have nothing more to do with me. I am more powerful then you know, do not question that. Now let me by.”

Nafalen slipped around the woman and began to walk away toward a nearby town. He wanted to kill someone without mercy.

“Probably thinks she could kill and fight better then I as well,” Nafalen muttered a little more loudly then he intended.

Chi shook her head, one day he was going to get himself killed, by an ancient unless his attitude changed. She vanished, simply vanished and cut him off, reappearing abruptly in front of him. "I was born long before the turn of time, before even this thing they now call A.D., long before even that. I have powers that would boggle your mind, if you tried to attack you wouldn't even touch me."

She snorted, fighting was something very well-known to her. "I know fighting better than you, more likely. I know many styles and your sword." It flew from its scabbard to her hand and she did a few thrusts with it away from him. "Is completely useless against me." Air wrapped around it and it vanished. "I'll give it back to you, when you are in a better mood and not likely to kill anybody."

"Keep it for as long as you wish. I have plenty other forms of weaponry. Do not try to stop me Chi. You won't be able to, no matter how powerful you are."

Nafalen tightened his legs and with a great surge of strength, leaped far over her head and broke into a run as he landed. His agility and speed carrying him farther and farther away from her and closer to the village. Before long he was in the middle of the town, surrounded by a hoard of men armed with pitchforks, torched, and blades of various makes.

Nafalen pulled two fighting daggers from either boot and rose the right one in a salute to Chi, far in the distance. With that gesture, Nafalen spun into his dance. His blades whirred with unerring accuracy and a speed even a vampire could hardly follow. His hands worked the blades into intricate patterns, cutting, slicing, and stabbing. Within moments there were seven men dead at Nafalen feet. The rest had run off or were wounded and dying.

Chi gave anannoyed sigh, he simply didn't get it. With the creations of the covens, the Amman would be all over his butt in an instant. She vanished as mist surrouded her and was by his side in a flash. "I can stop you, but I thought being the diplomate would help first, apparently not. Do you want the Amman all over your butt, do you really? They are not nice vampires and they take their job very seriously. Something could happen to you and it wouldn't be very pretty."

Chi had seen what they could do, it had not been a pretty sight. They had taken a vampire that had been causing problems and had ripped all their limbs off one by one. Again, not a pretty sight. "In case you don't understand, I'm trying to save your hide, though I don't know why." That was the problem with vampires these days, had no respect for protocol, none what so ever. "Please explain to me why you are killing all these people?"

Nafalen flung a dagger, killing a man fleeing the scene. He turned his back to Chi, collecting his thoughts. Turning back around Nafalen looked Chi in the eye.

"I know the Amman. I have dealt with them before. But I’ll take your words under advisement. And as for your question, this if payback. It will stop when my vengeance is satisfied.”

Nafalen drew another knife from his belt, rearming both hands. He turned, flinging his cloak around as he began to stalk off.

Chi watched him stalk off. "Arrogant child." It was a mutter under her breath. Some vampires simply can't get enough and don't understand, he was one of them. Someone of her years understood the notion of vengeance and payback, yet you couldn't blame poor mortals for that. They were food, not something to be killed off, because you could.

If he thought that would deter her, he was wrong, she didn't give up. She was an odd one, yet most ancients were odd and she had learned that giving up on someone would not be a good idea. She glided to catch up with him. "What did they do to anger you, o all powerful one?" She was clearly sarcastic and clearly thought that he thought to highly of himself and vampires like that irritated her. It was a good thing that she was in a good mood, otherwise she wouldn't have been so nice.

Nafalen stopped dead in his tracks as she came up next to him, his arm shot out with incredible speed. His blade stopped at her throat, a millisecond before cutting her. He drew his face up to hers.

"They killed my sire. My friend. My father. It is not just my right, nor duty to enact justice. My vengeance fills me and I will not stop until it has been satisfied. I care not about who attempts to stop me."

Chi had saw the blade coming but could read his thoughts and gave an interesting look at the said blade, then burst into peals of amused laughter. Such ignorance as well in this one. "Do you honestly that you can kill me? I've done things, seen things that would horrify you, child." She calmly lifted her head exposing her throat. "Go ahead cut me, we'll see how far that will get you."

She didn't fear death, she probably couldn't get killed, she loved the last power she had gotten, it amused her to no extent. She was still experimentingwith it, but so far it had shown her how much power she actually had and it amazed her, continuously. She wouldn't die, oh no, she had a safeguard against that, really good safeguard.

Nafalen pressed the blade harder, feeling the flesh being cut open. Then he stopped his pressure.

"I'm not as stupid as you think, my oh so wise friend."

Nafalen stepped back and sheathed his blades. Nafalen crossed his arms.

"Why do you care what happens to these humans anyway?"

Chi felt the blookd trickle down her throat but did nothing. It was only if he pressed harder would something have to be done. The blade was then removed and her cut healed up rapidly, she had a really good healing power too. The joys of being an old vampire. "It depends on the persons point of view, to me you are acting foolishly."

Chi was blunt and forward. She said what was on her mind no matter the cost or the problems it would bring. "I care because for all vampires they are a source of food, we feed from them. How long will it take for your vengeance to end? How many mortal lives will you have to take before your rage quiets? Alot of vampires won't be happy about this and I'm not very happy myself."

She tilted her head looking at him. "Who killed your sire?"

Nafalen sighed.

"A man named Jaden Telmon. We were in battle and he beheaded Dacarus. And my vengeance will be ended, when it is ended. And not a moment sooner. And there are many vampires who have already tried to stop me. They are all dead."

Nafalen was beginning to get annoyed with this new pest. Why was she intruding on his revenge anyway?

Chi frowned as he named the killer of his sire. "Is Jaden dead?" She shook her head. "Killing innocent mortals does not fix your vengeance. Killing Jaden should be enough to cool your vengeance, not this senseless killing of mortals that enable us to survive. They are our life blood and you are killing them for no good reason."

She lifted an eyebrow and then her face smoothed out. "Perhaps you killed vampires, but how old were they? Did they know life the way I did? Did they live when farmlands had barely begun? Did they live when the Great Mother Earth was the only Goddess in existance? I doubt that, not many people have lived a life as long as mine. There are a few, but not very many and most of them won't come out until you have irritated them enough and they will kill you." Vampires that were than her by at least half a millenia were cold and ruthless. They weren't very nice vampires, but that was for him to find out if he truly wanted to.

"Not yet he isn't. Jaden will die by my hand, or his killer will, or his killer's killer. And there are more mortals in the world then the few I may kill. Vampires can find food elsewhere."

Nafalen turned and walked to a bench nearby. Sitting down Nafalen looked up,

"Do you really think that I would have waited to ask are even assess their ages while blades were whirling at me? I fear not the dark, old ones. Their time is over. They have worn out their stay. Nafalen Sintelnor will have his revenge, and he will avenge his sire, no, his father's, murder."

Chi face was bland though inside she was frowning. "If you have such a mind at killing Jaden, why isn't he dead yet? You obviously want to kill him or whoever kills him, but why is he not dead?" She approached the bench but sat across from him in an air chair she had created.

She let a small smile play across her lips. "And to think that he is free and causing havok, simply because you haven't killed him. Are you that afraid of him?" The question was innocent though perhaps it would get this man to move his ass. He wanted revenge yet he spent countless days slaughtering the innocent. Many words came to mind as to what he was yet she blocked them for the moment.

"My vengeance will be played out. I will kill Jaden. When I get to him." Nafalen's face churned into a snarl. "I am not afraid of him. The man is a coward, hiding in shadows and taking cheap shots when backs are turned."

Nafalen stood up, shattering the bench with his mind as he did.

"If you so believe that I am afraid and cannot kill him, I will prove you wrong right now."

Nafalen opened his mind and summoned a horse to him. Easily leaping into the saddle, Nafalen galloped off to the south.

Chi smiled as he was rode away on a horse, at least now he was doing something now. She closed her eyes and immaterialized herself and she was found floating next to the galloping horse. "If could hunt him before why didn't you do it?" That was something that confused Chi, if something had to be done why not get it over with and that way you could move on.

Chi hadn't been even mildly disturbed at the shattering of the bench, she could have done as much and probably more then simply shattering it. Shattering things showed a lost of control, cleanly breaking it apart showed more control and that would have been amazing to see. Well perhaps this one wasn't as stupid as she had thought.

Nafalen turned his head as she spoke. He was becoming amused at the way she toyed with him when she could easily get answers by reading his mind.

“I could have, I’m just decided to make my way there my way. This shouldn’t take to long though, and then maybe we can get back to our lives. He lives twenty-six leagues to the south.”

Nafalen turned and looked back ahead, focusing on the road ahead. He dug his heels into the horses flanks, spurring it on.

Chi could have read his mind, but there was no fun in that, besides with someone of his age, she would have to go through layers of different things and perhaps in the end by accident tear his mind apart. He wouldn't like that, he probably wouldn't notice much but he would be mad and we couldn't have that, now could we?

It had always been much more fun to toy with someone then to search their mind, unless she wanted them to go mad, but that was only when she had been seen as the Goddess of Vengeance, now she was simply an old vampire that found fun anyway she could and this was one of those ways. She kept up with Nafalen, floating effortlessly by his side.

Nafalen rode tirelessly into the night. His horse died of exhaustion after seven miles, so Nafalen just used his mind to carry himself at speeds a human wouldn’t even be able to see. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Nafalen say the slight rays of sun branching over the hills.

“We need somewhere to sleep for the day. You want pull some new trick out of your…bodice? There’s no where to stay around here.”

Chi felt sorry for the animal, but what needed to be done had to be done. She noticed the rays of the sunlight. She wrinkled her nose and landed on the floor. She made sure she wasn't too close to anything and the air shimmered in front of her, it expanded to surround her and than materialized. She had made them a tent. No sun would enter, none at all.

She stuck her head out. "You coming in or are you wanting to burn alive? I need you to come in or else I will lock you out. Tough luck for you, so make up your mind quick." She definitely loved her new power though she would have to dissassemble it the following night, at least they would be safe for the time being and no one would be able to do anything to it. I was sturdier than an actual tent and indestructible, well as far as she knew.

Nafalen watched as she conjured up a tent. He rolled his eyes,

“Yea, I’m coming. So how did you manage that one?” he asked.

Nafalen flung the tent flap aside and ducked in. He was surprised at how spacious it was.

“So will this keep the sun out or is it just for show Chi? It seems pretty thin.” Nafalen looked around skeptically.

Chi grinned at him her, white teeth flashing in the dark. Her hands shimmered once more and the tent flat closed tightly, no one but her would be able to untie it. "I did it with air, I've done this before with different things. Started small with sand and dirt, eventually moved to larger and bigger objects."

She gave him a really blank gaze. "It appears thin, but don't you worry, it will work just fine and the sun won't even come in." Her hands shined and a small light appeared at the top of the tent. A little light was fine and would help for the day to come. "No one will be able to come in and only I can untie that." She pointed to the lightly shimmering knot. "You get used to stuff like this. Anyways I did."

Nafalen flashed a slight mocking smile back.

"Well it's nice, I have to say. Pretty impressive knot too."

Nafalen touched the knot, marveling at its strength. Nafalen scooped up dirt and piled it into a mound. He hardened the mound with his mind and lay down, arms behind his head.

"I still like to do some things the old fashioned way. So why do you care about my vengeance anyway? Ok there's the murder of food, yea, but you personally. Why do you personally care?"

Chi shrugged, did it actually matter all that much why she cared? No, not really, she didn't always know why she did things but she still did them. "I suppose it is the mother in me. I never had children, being turned so young and I always wanted children even when I was a young child." She shrugged again. "I suppose I worry about the young vampires such as yourself. You seem so lost and your mind in such a turmoil, I hope to ease that."

She leaned against the tent and it didn't shift or ripple as a tent should, but seem to shift to create a wall behind her and support her back. She half-closed her eyes and her legs were crossed in front of her, hidden underneath her skirt. She seemed to either be on the verge of meditation or sleep, she could use some rest, it had been three days since she had last slept and she could definitely use it.

Nafalen let out a deep breath. He linked his fingers and leaned back very comfortably.

"Well in that case, I'm going to get some shut eye. So watch over and protect me will you mommy?" Nafalen said with extreme sarcasm.

He closed his eyes and attempted to fall to sleep, however he was unable to. Something about a strange woman right next to him was a little unsettling.

Chi opened one eye to look at him and then closed the eye again. It didn't matter to her what he said, he was a child and children needed direction. He had none but she was ready to give one to him. She settled sitting and fell asleep, thought she had tied a part of herself to wake if something changed and if he woke or did something that she could think as odd.

It felt good to sleep after floating around, following him and bringing that tent into existance. She would feel really good once she had slept enough, she would be fully recharged.

Nafalen watched Chi fall asleep and let himself drift away. He dreamed of slaughters and massacres, bloody bodies. A smile crept over his face as he slept. His coma-like state surrounded him. Nothing could wake him till nightfall.

Chi yawned as she opened one eye, well Nafalen was stil asleep that seemed fine enough. She could feel that the sun was setting, good. Soon they could be on their way and he could finish this and perhaps stop killing mortals. It was somewhat frustrating on her part.

She got up and stretched stiff muscles that eased almost immediately. The knot of the tent became undone and she waited a bit until the sun had completely set, before stepping outside. She looked around there was a moon and some stars. It was a beautiful night. The moon had traces of red and blue, it was a most peculiar sign, she shook her head out, it didn't quite matter right now. Now she had to wait for Nafalen to wake up.

Nafalen woke immediately as night fell. He watched Chi leave the tent and was up soon after. He stepped out of the tent and looked to his traveling companion.

"Hi Chi. So you want to leave now or just kind of, hang around?" Nafalen looked at her with upraised eyes.

He used his mind to lift him off the ground. He knew what her answer would be as he wanted his reign of terror to end. As he floated, Nafalen stretched his arms in the air, cracking his back.

Chi frowned at him and stretched a hand to the tent which seemed to fold on itself before vanishing completely. "That should give you your answer, Nafalen." She hadn't used his name yet though it was easily to her common knowledge to get. She did it all the times, it had been fun to do to mortals, they always thought you a God of some sort, endlessly amusing.

Air shimmered around her and she was then floating also in the air, next to him. "Are we going or should I expect to stay here for the next few hours?" Blunt as always, lovely really.

"The kill is mine, and mine alone, but you may come to watch if you wish. Otherwise just hang around here and I'll come back later. Maybe."

With that Nafalen flew off without another word. The miles flew past him and within a matter of a few hours a small group of houses was visible in the distance.

Nafalen stopped a little less then a mile from the houses. He knelt down, his hunter instincts coming into play. He counted the number of obvious guards, soldiers, and weapons. Then he saw what he was looking for. In the midst of the houses was a man on a horse, ordering men around.

Jaden.

Did he honestly think that Chi would simply stand around here? He was delusionnal. Of course she was going to follow him, besides she had his sword, he might need it. She sped off to catch up with him and give a low whistle crouched next to him. "Protected isn't he?" Her voice was low and cool, it was quiet enough that only a vampire would hear it, no one else.

Chi watched her eyes seeing weaknesses and strengths. Discarding some entrances and deciding on others. "I came, but I'm only here as a spectator and to make sure that one's disrupts the fight between you and Jaden. I'm also here in case you decide that you want your sword. I still have it." Her eyes hadn't left the sight of the houses the entire time.

The hunt was on.

"Only protected until he makes his mistake," Nafalen said, his eyes intent on the houses. "And my sword would be helpful, thank you."

Nafalen watched soldiers run through their motions, studying their fighting capabilities. Most of them were peasants and militia, but the had a fairly good leader. Nafalen watched Jaden with the most curiosity. He soon discovered how much Jaden's strength had grown since their last battle, but he had slowed down a bit, obviously from age.

Nafalen put his hand out, motioning for his sword. His blood was on fire, the heat of the upcoming battle filling him.

"Time to pay Jaden."

Chi would stay out of the way. This man was out for a kill and she would help, he had every right to advenge his father's death, Chi would probably have done the same if she had stayed with her sire.

A soft shimmer glowed around her hand and a sword appeared by her side. "There you go and don't get yourself killed, because then I'll have to kill him myself and I'd rather not get my pretty hands dirty." She was clearly being sarcastic though she did show concern for him. He could do it, the revenge in his heart would see to it.