Lucas sat there chained by herbal iron his arms around the trunk of the pine tree. He was still frightened. He knew Dimitri was dead. By the way the woman had returned. He swallowed. Lucas was sweating and his skin still prickled as he raised his head back. He looked at Reverend who was cleaning her hands in the water trough. The horses didn't mind.

She took a cloth wiping them dry slowly. Her nails pristine and untouched. Lucas swallowed he was afraid to speak. Yet he did stammering.

"What....what will you do with me?", he asked.

"Nothing", replied Reverend.

"Nothing.....? I...I don't trust you", he said.

Lucas didn't know why he was being honest. He could have just as easily lied to Reverend about his instincts and feeling. He didn't know why he was feeling this. He didn't know why his mind was screaming him to run.

"Curious about the natural feeling?", asked Reverend.

Lucas was silent. Reverend only spoke after she received silence, "You are afraid of me because I am your natural predator. I hunt you....I have hunted you for thousands of years.....your ancestors and their ancestors before them. Every creature is probed to adapt. To adjust", said Reverend.

"It's just...."

"Instincts", finished Lucas.

"Precisely", said Reverend.

There was silence between them, "If you naturally hunt me why did you not.....",

"Because I would have seen no benefit", replied Reverend.

"You take benefit in killing?", asked Lucas appalled.

Reverend nicked her head, "There is a child in there. I am a hunter. That noble little lord threatened her safety. It's my moral duty that I set upon myself to ensure that it is not endangered. As we say, good hunting", said Reverend referring to the hunters guild motto. Good hunting.

"Oh......." whispered Lucas.

"Who are you?", asked Lucas suddenly.

Reverend looked up, "I am called Reverend", she replied.

Lucas swallowed, "Your.....your.....the Reverend?", asked Lucas.

Reverend smirked, "There are many other clergy men....but I'm afraid I haven't met a vampire priest yet", she said amused.

"But your the Reverend ", said Lucas.

Reverend shrugged, "And your the little lap dog", she said laughing.

"You could be so much more! The power you have you could utterly defeat Dracula himself and rule---!!!!"

She snatched his chin glaring, "Don't mistake me saving you was to hear a lecture! I know full well what I am and what I can do! But I will not rule over mortal men because it is an insult to their intelligence! Your kind is nothing, absolutely nothing like mine!", hissed Reverend. 

"You are a vampire you can't deny that!", growled Lucas. 

Reverend smirked, "I'll tell you a little secret", she whispered leaning closer. Her breath was foggy and cold. 

"There is a difference between me and you. Your kind was created through the deal with the devil himself. And you constantly struggle for power and envy one another", said Reverend. 

"You aren't any different! You slaughter the nobles! You hate them as well! Nobles hate one another!", hissed Lucas. 

"You're right....I.....hate.....nobles", she whispered her voice humored. But she wasn't finished yet and her words were alluring almost deafening to Lucas's ears. 

"Yet....I hate nobles enough to kill them.....and I would kill you in a heart beat", warned Reverend. 

"Then why didn't you kill me then?", asked Lucas. 

"Oh....trust me I so dearly want to!", snarled Reverend shoving up Lucas's head exposing his neck. Bare and chilling. Lucas thought his head was going to be torn off from the agony. 

"I didn't kill you because I promised I wouldn't....", snapped Reverend. 

"Promised who?", asked Lucas. 

"Your other brother...other elder brother that is....some call him Dusk....other's prefer The Traitor of Eons", said Reverend. 

Lucas tensed. His elder brother was alive?! His skin prickled. 

Reverend laughed stepping back, "The look on your face is priceless! Ha! You actually believed you killed him?", asked Reverend. 

"My, my, you must've bloody sucked too much stupidity in your years! Ha!", Reverend smirked, "I didn't kill you because....he came and asked me not to", said Reverend. "Even after you, his own blood brother tore him apart bit by bit".

Reverend turned walking away. 

"Why!? Why do you curse me with this?! You heathen! You sickening heathen! You deserve nothing better than to go to bloody hell! You sickening slaughtering monster!", yelled Lucas distorting his features trying to break free. 

Reverend sighed, "Because vampire or man, there is no difference, someone who tries to kill their own family....is not to be judged by me....." 

"But rather by God himself. Morning come...it will be decided", said Reverend. 

"Do keep in mind though, I'm not a preacher", said Reverend.