Sebastian was hot on Serena's heels as she walked away, his mood quickly darkening. As they approached his mother Sebastian was about to open his mouth and confront her when Serena surprised him and did it herself. Seb felt proud, she'd been so soft spoken... taking everything his parents had dished out with a quiet grace he envied. He'd only managed to keep hold of his temper this long because he'd been afraid what would happen if he allowed himself to blow up. What usually followed was a dark spell that would affect them both and he didn't want to risk Serena's pregnancy.

As Serena went off on his mother, Sebastian caught himself smiling and tucking his hands in his pockets. His mother's eyes boggled and her face went red and as Serena turned on her heel and stomped off his mother sputtered. "You're going to let that... that... blood whore talk to me that way?"

Sebastian's smile fell from his face and his hands exited his pockets, "I didn't want to have to do this... but I'm done. In front of full view of everyone there Seb lit into his mother. "You will never speak to Serena that way again. In fact, the next time you see her you will apologize. You will beg her forgiveness and after that you will avoid us both and stay away from both she and my child. The only time you will see either of us is when it is absolutely necessary and when you do you will go out of your way to be polite."

His father stepped up beside his mother, "You will not talk to your mother that way Sebastian."

Seb sneered, "I can and I will. Both of you have been nothing but cruel. I'm tired of it and if I have to repeat myself... I'll do it using compulsion and I'll make sure neither of you sleep for a fucking month do I make myself perfectly clear?"

His mother gasped, "Sebastian! Compulsion-"

"Is something I'm very good at and the only reason I haven't used it against you already is because of the effect it could have on my soon to be WIFE and child."

His mother took a breath and stomped off and his father frowned, "You've shamed this family. Don't come back home..."

Sebastian laughed, "Why would I?"

His father stomped off as well and Sebastian went after Serena, catching her wrist. "They'll be leaving us alone now... I'm sorry I didn't face them before now.."

~*~

As Anna moved through the tunnels she grimaced... The place was like a maze but they had a plan this time. "Are you ready?"

The two Moroi earth users nodded and stepped up to the plate. The cavern rumbled and the two side cavern passages caved in, effectively leaving only one direction they could be attacked in. There were a few outraged cries and Anna took a breath, "Here they come..."

As six strigoi came up the tunnels the three fire users went to work, casting fireballs at any strigoi that broke through the line of Elites.

It took no time at all to put the Strigoi down and Anna began to feel some hope that maybe the Queens plan of attack would work after all...