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Creation	By : Light7 Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 1245 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to Edios and Crystal Dynamics not me. I am making Ł0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Vorador then he’d be mine.

Chapter List
- 1-Creation
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 1
- 2
Creation
Book One: The Balance of Life and Death

Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to Edios and Crystal Dynamics not me. I am making £0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Vorador then he’d be mine.
Warning: this fic eventually contains YAOI (GuyXGuy) and a lemon, if this offends or upsets you do not read this, it that simple.
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Raziel/Kain
Setting: post all games
Summery: The Wars are over, Nosgoth has been saved. But a newer or perhaps older enemy rears its head.
Italics mean either flashbacks or thoughts

* / * / * / * / *

Chapter One

{Kain}

It was over.

It was all over. The idea felt outlandish and alien to him. But regardless of its peculiarity it was truth. It was all over. After an immortal lifetime of fighting, his victory had been achieved, and perhaps most unexpectedly he had been alive to witness it.

The pillars rumbled ominously but quietly, their power coiling within them. The clattering of small stones alerted him to the change building around him. The stones now skittering across the marble base were being pulled towards the pillars. Upon closer inspection it became clear that they were not stones but small fragments of the pillars themselves. The fragments began moving faster as the force pulling them increased. They increased in size, being drawn from the very edge of the clearing. It struck Kain in that moment that he was witnessing the reverse of the pillars destruction and this was possibly as hazardous a place to stand as it had been when the pillars first shattered.

He made it off of the marble plateau just before the first man sized lump of marble hurtled at breakneck speed past him and up to the sky to join with its pillar. At a safer distance he watched as sections of marble longer than he was tall linked back together, as if pulled by invisible hands. Had his heart still been in his chest it would have raced, now it was only his facial expression that gave any hint as to what he felt seeing the pillars reform. It was horrendously noisy, the wind roared through the clearing loud enough to deafen a man. The pillars connected together with ominous claps. But overall it did not take long before the pillars stood whole once more but still blackened.

Only when they had been still for a few minutes did Kain approach. The marble base hummed beneath his feet when he stepped back onto it, his eyes widened at the indication and he only had time to crouch, his arms over his head as the disappeared wind reappeared. It struck hard and fast and would have knocked him to the ground had he not been brought low already. As it was it was enough of a force to knock the blackness from the pillars as if it were nothing more than stubborn dust. Kain coughed as he got back to his feet, his lungs lined with the filth. He spat a few times, trying to clear the taste of it from his mouth. No doubt he would be coughing lumps of the stuff up for days.

Slowly he finished his approach. Still coughing he laid a hand on the balance pillar and felt something he had never expected to feel in his lifetime. The pillar resonated against him and a feeling of conscious thought ghosted through him. He snapped his hand back from the edifice, glaring between his hand and the now white marble. His claw tips tingled and he rubbed them together, then reached out again. The feeling was quieter this time, as if the pillar knew it had shocked him and was trying not to do so again. Kain rolled his eyes at himself, he was becoming delusional. But there was no denying it, when he touched the pillar, it touched him back.

The cry of birds sounded above him and pulling his hand back he had to wonder how such delicate creatures as birds had survived the corruption when those more durable had not. But that mattered little now. The time stream would be repaired. All the rips and tears would mend and everything lost would be recovered. He could finally relax, it was over. He was not sure where this sudden confidence came from, how he knew that the pillars, now restored, would be strong enough to repair the damage done by the creature that had squatted beneath them. But know it he did and he struggled to keep his composure. Not wanting his legs to have to give out beneath him he sat, his back to the balance pillar. His thoughts turning dark despite his victory. All his sacrifice, all his effort, had all been worth it?

A pang of guilt and loss seared through him at the thought of Raziel. Not all the sacrifice had been worth it. Some sacrifices had been too much. But Raziel had disagreed. He had thought it was worth it. Otherwise he would not have given himself so willingly at the end. Kain closed his eyes. Raziel had given himself to the sword when he had understood the true gravity of the situation. Kain had watched as Raziel’s eyes had grown dim, as he had faded into the sword, and he’d watched as Raziel’s hatred for him had fallen away like the blackness from the pillars. He’d been so angry at that point, enraged with the world. He’d been angry enough at that moment to quite easily have said ‘sod it all,’ and have pulled the sword from his child. Let the world crumble and rot, it was not worth losing one so needed. He lifted the blade and settled it across his lap. Not all the sacrifice had been worth it.

Movement disturbed him. Turning he spotted Vorador on the edge of the clearing. The elder vampire looked up at the perfect pillars, then down at the vampire sitting at the base of the balance pillar. A look of disappointment crossed Vorador’s features, but a lazy wave from Kain let Vorador know he wasn’t looking at a corpse. Kain watched as the elder vampire made his way across the grass towards him and even managed a smirk up at him. Vorador sat down heavily beside him.

“Bastard,” Vorador spoke, his voice soft as if this were now a holy place. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“I’d appreciate it if you could hold off on any life-threatening ailments,” Kain murmured yawning. “After all the effort I’ve just put into saving you and everything else, it would be a bit insulting for you to die again so soon.”

“I’ll try.” Vorador was looking up at the pillars, watching the perfect edifices rise upwards and disappear into the sky.

“Thank you.” Kain yawned again.

Vorador raised an eyebrow at him but Kain didn’t answer his silent question. It was not surprising he was tired. He had every right to be tired and he was exhausted. Exhausted in a way that was not only physical. He had felt this fatigue now for a long time. It was only his determination and stubbornness that had kept him going. But now what was there left to keep him here? It was not the first time he had thought of dying. The idea had crossed his mind many a time. Countless nights he had contemplated how he would truly feel if the only way to restore balance would be for his life to be sacrificed. In the beginning he had been angry at such an idea. He had felt that it robbed his life of it’s meaning. But then, over time, that anger had faded, and an acceptance had grown in its place. Until after thousands of years of fighting, he had begun to welcome the idea. Dying had stopped feeling like an unjust ending and had started to feel more like a well earned freedom. He’d saved the world, surely that gave his life back the meaning that had been stolen by the creature beneath the pillars. A strange smile crossed his lips.

“Your expression concerns me.” Vorador’s voice cut through Kain’s thoughts.

“There is little need for such concern.” Kain reached out to run fingers over the deadly blade lying across his lap. He could be free. After such a long lifetime Raziel could have his vengeance. He stopped suddenly. Something was wrong. The blade was warm, warmer than it ever had been.

He muttered a decorative profanity, making Vorador raise his eyebrows at him in surprise. Sitting up, ignoring the ache in his back, he lifted the blade. It was warm to the touch and heating up more with every passing moment. He cursed again, the blade was shaking hard enough to come free of him had his grip been weaker. The blade continued to heat up in his hands until it was burning him. He tipped the blade off his lap and watched it scorch the ground.

“What?” Vorador asked.

“Bastard!” Kain snapped. “He burnt me.” He glared at the blade. Reaching out to touch it he snatched his fingers back when the air surrounding the blade smouldered, burning his fingertips. “What are you playing at now?” he muttered. The blade had always felt right in his hands, had always felt like it belonged there. There had always been a strange power holding the two of them together. Never before had the blade truly harmed him, even when Raziel had held it at his throat or when the Serefan Lord had fought him with it. Kain glanced at his hands, watching the last of the burn heal and fade.

“You don’t know what’s wrong, do you?” Vorador sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his claws as if he felt a headache coming.

“No, I feel I rarely know what’s going on anymore. I’m becoming rather good at improvising” Kain muttered, watching the blade as it grew hotter still, the blade turning white now and seeming to melt, shaped metal slowly becoming formless.

“It is destroying itself,” Vorador breathed. Then suddenly everything went white.

* * *

{Raziel}

The heat was becoming too much to bare. He would have cried out if he had been able. It was the abyss all over again, white hot fire. But there was something different to the heat this time. It was burning hot, and yet it was ice cold. Truly it hurt. It hurt more than he believed was possible. But it was different to the abyss. This heat was not pulling him apart. It was forcing him back together.

“Fire is used both to create and destroy.” A voice spoke. He tried to move, to get a look at where the voice could be coming from. It was not a voice he recognised. It was deep but female, calm and resigned. He reached out a hand in the direction he assumed it was coming from and stopped dead.

It was then that the difference struck him. He had form once more. Legs and arms, fingers and toes, it was all here and it was all pristine white and whole. He stared for one unending second at his own hand. It was whole, he had two talons, and a thumb that when united were solid and deadly. His talons were long and elegant. Looking down at his torso he saw the same pristine form. He was no longer the wraith-like creature he had become. He was himself as he knew himself to be, he was solid and whole. He was vampire once more. The feeling of having a body, of being able to reach out and touch things once more and to be touched by things was almost too much. He felt himself go dizzy. But a coolness rushed through him, sobering him, taking all feelings of dizziness away.

“Welcome, Raziel.” The voice spoke again. It was female, soft and gentle. Instantly he flinched, distrusting and wary.

“Who are you?” He demanded. “Why have you brought me here?” He opened his mouth to ask where exactly ‘here’ was and felt himself bite his own tongue. He laughed, joy overtaking suspicion. It had been so long he’d almost forgotten how to use his mouth, almost forgotten how sharp his fangs were.

“I am Fate, Raziel.” The woman’s voice spoke. “I appear in a form you will understand. I have brought you to the void to give you a choice. The first real choice you will make.”

“What choice?” he shouted, turning round, looking for the woman but not finding her.

“The only choice that matters and the only one I can give you. The only one i can give you and your father both.” Raziel rolled his eyes, delighted for a split second at being able to do so once again. Why couldn’t anyone just speak plainly was beyond him, was no one capable of plain speech any more? Then a new thought struck him, sudden and painful.

“Kain’s here?” he asked

“Yes.” Fate answered. “In a way, you cannot reach him however. The choice I give you must not be influenced by anything or anyone.”

“Wonderful.” Raziel muttered. It was the first time in a millennium that he hadn’t been raging at his Sire and he couldn’t go to him, couldn’t speak to him. He shivered, suddenly cold. All that time he’d wasted hating him when Kain had been right all along, it made his entire body ache. Perhaps once this was over?

“Give me the choice.” He muttered, but before any response could be made the light surrounding him grew more intense, and for a split second it burned him and made his eyes feel like water had been poured into them. “What!” he shouted.

“Your father has made his choice.” Fate spoke “Now you must do the same.” The light dimmed slightly and for a moment Raziel could see beyond it. He could see the pillars, Vorador and Nosgoth. “I give you the choice that was denied you long ago.” The woman spoke. “I offer you the respite of death or the chance to live out your life as it was originally intended.”

“Live or die,” Raziel simplified, not much of a choice in his opinion. The answer was obvious.

The light was gone. He was kneeling at the foot of the pillars, hands and knees pressed against the cold marble. His chest was tight, unable to expand to it’s full extent. He gasped for air for a few moments, then he relaxed and his breath came more easily. A weight settled itself across his shoulders. He turned to look and saw a burgundy coat had been draped over him. He looked up and saw Vorador, who was leaning over him curiously.

“Raziel?” he asked. Raziel nodded. His throat too dry for words.

Raziel looked around, noticing the purity of the pillars, and the silence of the landscape around them. Kain had done it, Kain had won. He had always known his father would eventually triumph. He had never lost faith. Despite the anger he had felt he had always known Kain would be victorious. Kain always was. The thought brought a smile to his face for a few moments before it was replaced by confusion.

“Vorador,” he managed his voice hoarse from years of silence. It took a few attempts to get his question out “where is Kain?”

“He is over there child, but do not go to him just yet, find your breath first.” Vorador answered and his expression made Raziel’s blood run ice cold.
* * *

So the land healed. It did not all happen at once as Raziel had expected, but slowly over a period of years. Things recovered gradually and a great deal of the changes were subtle. Raziel often didn’t notice them until they were pointed out to him. The return of a specific animal for instance, often went unnoticed. Or when the swamp lost the smell of death and decay and instead began to smell like renewal and life. It became a primordial soup, as potent and rich in life as any forest or plain. Some of the changes were not in the least bit subtle. The return of the ancients from death was perhaps the most obvious change to take place. Raziel often found wonder in the sight of the sky filling with black wings and blue skin. The day Janos first took flight before him had caused his heart to clench. Although when the ancient had lifted him into the sky with him he had screamed blue murder.

The ancients were not the only sentient life to return from death. Humans and the newer breed of vampires who had renamed themselves the second generation were also included in this elixir of life. Raziel’s brothers had been among the first.

“Melchiah.” Raziel called “I thought it was only women who were supposed to take this long preparing?”

“You act as if it has been an age.” Melchiah’s voice snapped from behind the wardrobe door. “I swear it’s been three minutes since you walked in.”

“Three minutes to long.” Raziel grumbled.

“Since when were you so keen.” Melchiah appeared from his wardrobe struggling with cufflinks. “I thought you detested these funerals.”

“I do not detest them!” Raziel growled, watching his brother struggle for a few more moments before stepping over and assisting with the rouge cufflinks. “I merely think them pointless.” He explained. “These creatures lived and died in a separate timeline, what point is there in celebrating them now?”

“You are a fool.” Melchiah grudgingly let his brother fix the catches on his cufflinks. “Funerals have never been for the dead, they are always for the living and if the living remembers these creatures then it is no surprise they want to celebrate their passing.” He allowed Raziel to help him into his jacket. “You did not complain when we celebrated Kain.”

“Kain was different!” Raziel snapped “Very different.” He forced Melchiah to turn with more force than needed and started fixing buttons closed.

“But not so different to warrant a return.” Melchiah muttered, Raziel snarled before he could help himself and his brother fell silent. Not all those who had passed were reborn. Apparently Fate did not look too kindly on those who had thrown her gift of life back at her. Those of the population -be they human or vampire- who had died by their own hand did not return.

“Come.” Raziel growled then coughed as if his growl had been unintended and was instead a misjudgement on his part as to how his throat was. Melchiah nodded, forgiving his brother the snap.

Raziel lead them out into the corridor and from there out into the gardens. The walk was silent, most of the mansions population was outside already. Many of the funerals were held here, although some had been held further north. There were funerals every week, usually mourning more than one individual. The ancient race had indeed returned to Nosgoth but only a few of their number had made that return. This had unsurprisingly caused much grief among those who had returned to life, and the first few years of the purification were spent in mourning for those who were truly lost. Funerals were held and the dead sanctified in hope that one day Fate would forgive there weakness and return them to life.

“Janos asked me for a list last night. “ Melchiah’s voice snapped Raziel from his thoughts.

“A list?” he asked, holding a door for his younger sibling. Melchiah nodded.

“Of my clan. He said most of his race had undergone the proper rights and their souls were in Fates hands now. He wants to make a start on our clans.” Melchiah unconsciously widened the space between him and his brother, waiting for the expected outburst. But none came.

“It is a blessing I suppose that you do not recall their fate.” Raziel muttered stepping onto the grass.

“I suppose, although it make their loss no easier to bare.” Melchiah answered. “I nearly struck Janos when he asked for the list of their names.” That comment caught Raziel’s attention. Melchiah was not a push over but he was not prone to violence especially towards one such as Janos.

“Why?” he asked eventually.

“Because I loved my clan.” Melchiah said softly “and do you know what he said when I asked why they were not here now but we are?” Raziel shook his head. “He told me ‘You were the children of the scion, you belong here’ so we belong here but the Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of the scion do not?” Melchiah looked as if he would say more but stopped as they had reached the edge of the crowd that had gathered to say farewell to the last ancients who had not returned. Raziel could faintly hear Janos calling out to a God who had proven false, begging for acceptance and forgiveness. Raziel snorted and tired not to listen. He knew Janos was not preying to that thing beneath the pillars but rather imploring his ‘true’ god to make itself known now that the imposter was gone.

“I hate this.” Raziel snarled after a few moments “I wish he would not get so upset if I just avoided it all together.”

“Shh.” Melchiah shushed his older brother “He knows how you feel but he wants to show you that it was not all their fault, they worshiped a God, their God was replaced by a monstrosity but it does not devalue the idea of God.”

“I will not sit here and hear pretty speeches about how it was all a misunderstanding.” Raziel snapped.

“I don’t like these ceremonies either.” Melchiah breather quietly “I hate the idea that only the worthy can come back. Who judges the ‘worthy’? But I respect Janos and you should as well.”

“Worthy.” Raziel repeated “It’s all lies.” A few of the vampires around them started grumbling at their chatter “It’s got nothing to do with worth, he was worthy and he’s not here yet.”

“You know that is different.” Melchiah answered “Kain chose to leave.”

“No he bloody did not!” Raziel snapped and turning stalked away. Even from a distance Raziel listened with the others to Janos’ pleadings for the remainder of the service. When it ended he avoided the crowd walking back to the mansion and remained in the garden.

“He won’t come back,” Vorador’s voice snapped him from his thoughts much like Melchiah’s had earlier. He turned to watch the old vampire approach.

“Melchiah’s been telling tales again I see.” Raziel grumbled, turning away from Vorador.

“He worries for you Child. He worries that you will never stop your mourning.” Vorador pressed, Raziel shrugged and heard Vorador sigh “You need to accept it. Kain went into the light and you came out. You chose life. Are you really going to spend it waiting for him?”

“Yes!” Raziel spoke sharply, abruptly, “he will come back! Melchiah and the others did! Janos did!” The mention of his sire made Vorador swallow and look away. It was bitterly unfair and he understood Raziel’s anger. Everyone else had regained what they had lost, but not Raziel. What he loved remained dead.

“Raziel.” Vorador sat down next to the fledgling, watching the side of his face as the fledgling frowned. He smiled. He could understand why Kain had loved him, beautiful, strong and fiercely loyal, yes, he could understand very easily. “Your brothers came back because of the way they died. Fate has fixed the time stream. Everything is as it should be now. Those who died wrongly are given a second chance.” He stopped as Raziel turned to glare at him

“Are you saying that he really was meant to sacrifice himself? You believe what he did was right! That it was right for the world to demand the blood of the one who saved it? You’re saying its right for these frauds to rule in his place!” Vorador sighed and closed his eyes.

“The ancients that have returned to us are the ones who died in the war or by other means. They are not the suicides. Those who died by their own hand or chose death willingly are not permitted life again.”

“Kain did not commit suicide!” Raziel snapped, looking appalled that Vorador had even suggested the idea.

“Fate gave you a choice, Raziel. It is extremely likely that she gave that same choice to Kain. That is why he will never come back. He chose to die! He doesn’t want to be here!” the elder vampire was cut off as claws racked across his face. Raziel was on his feet, his claws bloody.

“He would not just abandon me here.” the fledgling hissed before stalking away across the garden. Vorador stood, feeling his face heal almost instantly.

“Stubborn,” he breathed “just like your father.”

Raziel stopped walking a little way away at the old mausoleum that had once housed Janos. He turned and surveyed the rest of the garden. It was beautiful, but he hated it. He would sell his life and soul to have the old corrupted Nosgoth back, the Nosgoth of bare stone and sunken abbeys. If it meant he could be with his father again. If he could only be back when he was a child, to be a true fledgling again in mind as well as form. He mourned the loss of those days when he hadn’t cared for anything, when he’d had nothing but his father to think of. He gritted his teeth hard. Kain would come back, he knew it.

“He’s right you know,” a voice made Raziel turn, and he glared at his father “I am not coming back.”

“Janos says you’re not real,” Raziel breathed, closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them slowly. “You’re just a figment of my over active imagination.”

“He’s right too.” Kain nodded. “Your imagination is extremely overactive.”

“Trust you to side with them.” Raziel huffed. Kain walked to his child but did not come within touching distance before he stopped.

“You realise you owe Vorador an apology. Just because you do not like the truth does not mean you can start slashing people’s faces open.”

“You would have. Besides you of all people cannot lecture me on controlling my temper,” Raziel smiled.

“If I recall rightly, I couldn’t lecture you on anything.” Kain paused. “Well I could try, but it was rare that you graced me with listening.”

“I listened.” Raziel protested.

“Then listen to me now. You are making a mockery of everything by this damned sulking.” Kain’s voice was quiet but there was anger in his words.

“Not sulking.” Raziel sighed, feeling a lump in his throat. Kain sighed and rolled his eyes.

“You are still not listening.” He sounded weary. “I suppose I should not be surprised.”

“RAZIEL!” Melchiah’s voice echoed through the garden, making Raziel jump. The younger vampire was running up behind his brother.

“Hello Melchiah.” Raziel forced a smile.

“Don’t be angry.” Melchiah breathed catching his breath “I did not mean for Vorador to speak with you.”

“I am not angry with you.”Raziel looked down, “Come I owe Vorador an apology.”

“I wish you would not fight with Vorador. Kain’s not here to protect you anymore.”

“I know,” Raziel muttered turning round to look back at the mausoleum, half expecting his father to still be there “I know he’s not.”

The following evening Raziel went down to the Graveyard. He did so at least thrice a week. He would go more often but Vorador had put barriers in his way. Raziel glanced at one of those barriers now walking silently beside him. Melchiah pretended not to notice the dirty looks he was being given and looked at their surroundings. The graveyard had become one of the most beatific places in Nosgoth since the regeneration. With so many not returning vampires and humans wanted somewhere grand to remember the dead.

“This is the fourth visit this week.” Melchiah said softly, “You know Vorador is only keeping quiet because of yesterday.” He held the gate for his older brother.

“Vorador acts like an old mother.” Raziel muttered as he preceded his brother into the graveyard “Someone needs to tell him we have no need of a surrogate.”

“He feels responsible. I think he believes he has adopted us. I heard one of the mortal servers joking only last week that perhaps we should call him ‘uncle’ Vorador.” Melchiah smiled, but his expression faded when he saw his brother took no mirth from his words. “I spoke with Vorador this morning, he is concerned.”

“I wish he would direct his concern elsewhere.” Raziel interrupted.

“For once he was not concerned with you.” Melchiah corrected. “He has been getting a lot of hassle from the guardians as of late.”

“Hassling old vampires is all those damned wretches are good for.” Raziel snarled. “Heaven knows they do little else. But tell me for amusements sake what they are getting their frills in a twist for this time.”

“Raziel I am well aware of your dislike for the guardians as is everyone else. But there is little your dislike will achieve.” Melchiah’s voice was tired. “I wish you would be less vocal about it.”

“Melchiah,” Raziel answered, his tone an imitation of his brothers. Melchiah rolled his eyes and fell silent for a few moments. Absently reading a few of the stones as they marched past them.

“The Daemons are still here,” Melchiah stated after a few moments. Raziel nodded

“Yes, they have been for the last fifty years.” Raziel looked up at the repaired temple of Light. The doors now forever open. The portal was no longer active but the shrine was still accessible through the lake citadel.

“If the Demons are linked to the corruption then they should have gone when the monstrosity perished. Maybe they are linked to the corruption and that’s not yet gone. Maybe it has hidden itself away waiting to become stronger,” his words were speeding up, his tone more irate.

“Melchiah you worry too much,” Raziel’s eyes followed the path, following his old footsteps. He must have walked this path a hundred times in the last six months alone and countless time in the last fifty years.

“What if I’m right Raziel and your lack of effort pursuing it gives it the time it needs to grow stronger,” Melchiah paused letting his words sink in before continuing. “What if all that awfulness happens again. I don’t think I could bare it.”

“I’m well aware that the Daemon numbers are increasing but honestly I think it’s probably a simple problem with a simple answer.” Raziel tried to sound a little reassuring.

“Janos said the Daemon world was locked by the Pillars and the Reaver was the key. What if the lock was not locked properly and with the Reaver being gone, what if we can’t close the daemon world off ever?” Melchiah swallowed his panic before it could become larger. He did want to talk to his brother about his worries but he hated discussing this kind of thing here, it felt sacrilegious. As if he was criticising his father in his resting place.

“Janos says lots of things,” Raziel murmured then upon seeing his brothers face he relented. “Do you want to know what I really think is wrong?”

“Yes,” Melchiah nodded. They turned a corner and came upon an ancient building for housing the dead. The building was big enough to hold a city’s worth of dead but this one only held one.

“I think Daemons came through when the gates were open and have scattered all over the land. Obviously some of them have escaped us and maybe they’re breeding on this plane. I don’t think the gate is open Melchiah. The pillars are whole and pristine. Nothing is wrong anymore.”

“But what if,” Melchiah opened his mouth to question further but was silenced by his brother

“Do we have to do this here?” Raziel stopped at the mausoleum and frowned at his brother, who had the decency to look ashamed. Melchiah shook his head. “Thank you,” Raziel turned and entered leaving Melchiah alone by the door.

Melchiah waited a few moments for his brother to wander deeper into the overlarge mausoleum before he too entered. He did not enter far before stopping. Raziel did not like company when he was here. Melchiah looked around as he had done almost every time he came here. The writing above the door was not a name like many of the other mausoleums. Instead carved in the stone was a title ‘Scion of Balance’. Melchiah shook his head slightly and breathed his father’s name. It sounded so strange to say it aloud now. Very few creatures ever uttered it. The name Kain had become sacred. Melchiah flinched suddenly, disturbed by the sound of movement that wasn’t Raziel’s. He turned in time to see Gregory one of the graveyards attendants.

“Good morning to you, Lord Melchiah.” Gregory was an old human, sixty seven years on this world. Gregory was just old enough to remember what Nosgoth had been like before the purification and as such respected the dead more so than some of the younger attendants.

“You startled me Gregory.” Melchiah smiled.

“Don’t you be telling lies in this place Lord.” Gregory smiled. “The dead have ears you know.” The mortal paused and looked slightly awkward “Lord Raziel inside is he?”

“Yes my brother is inside.” Melchiah nodded, Gregory nodded and fidgeted. “You should speak your mind if it troubles you so.” Melchiah encouraged.

“He is a nice man your brother. Bit quiet but never cruel.” Gregory said quickly then slowed. “I fancy he spends a bit too much time here though.”

“He misses him.” Melchiah shrugged. Gregory was right, Raziel spent far too much time here. But there was nothing anyone could do to stop Raziel doing something he wanted. The only person capable of changing Raziel’s mind was lying cold in a room down the hall.

“True, that he does.” Gregory nodded slowly. “Your Brother, Lord Raziel, he has talked to me sometimes. He says he’s seen him, you know in other places.” Melchiah felt his eyes widen. Gregory looked panicked “Aint no worry Sire I not said anything to anyone and I won’t. None should know this but you and yours. This be private.” Melchiah relaxed a little bit but still tensed.

“Thank you Gregory, your silence is noted. But why tell me this?”

“My uncle went same way.” Gregory absently swept at some nonexistent dust from the floor with his broom. “He used to talk to my aunt forty years after she died. We had him committed in the end, I’d hate for Lord Raziel to go that way,”

“What are you saying Gregory,” Melchiah lowered his voice and did his best to keep the growl out of it. He had spent the last fifty years listening to people talk about how his brother was going loopy and he’d spent the last fifty years defending him, he was not about to hear it from Gregory.

“Just that maybe it would be best if best if Lord Raziel didn’t come down here no more,” Gregory mumbled “I mean no offence sir, it be alright to talk to the dead but it’s not good when they talk back.”

“Talk back!” Melchiah couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice. Gregory looked confused as if his words were becoming muddled.

“I don’t mean literally Lord, sir, but Lord Raziel he talks, and then he waits and talks back as if he’d been answered, it’s no good my Lord.”

“No I don’t suppose it is,” Melchiah pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit he had picked up from Turel. “But you try and stop Lord Raziel doing something he wants to do and if you keep your limbs come back and tell me.” Gregory laughed

“Don’t fancy I will my Lord but if any one manages I’ll buy em a drink.” lifting his broom Gregory turned to leave. “Fare you well my Lord,”

“Goodbye Gregory.” Melchiah watched the mortal leave before he resumed waiting for his brother absently looking out one of the windows searching through the gradually clouding sky for the sun. They were due back at the mansion in a short time.

Shortly after yesterdays funeral a messenger had flown in from the guardians with news and commands for both Vorador and Janos. Janos had been ordered to consult with the mountains Seers and had taken to the wing shortly after the message was delivered. Anxiously Melchiah glanced at the sky tracing the suns movements. Janos would be back soon. The sound of speech interrupted his worry and replaced it with a new concern. The voice was Raziel’s but he was not speaking to Melchiah. Melchiah knew he could only defend his brother for so long before others started demanding that something be done. The guardians were already claiming that Raziel’s imprisonment in the Reaver had deranged him. Melchiah had tried to explain otherwise but knew that they would not listen, refusing to believe that Raziel’s grief was causing his erratic behaviour not his past imprisonment. In anger the youngest of Kain’s children kicked at a fragment of stone and glared at the ceiling

“If you are bloody well up there then you might want to lend a hand,” he growled then bit his tongue when he realised what he had just done.

“I heard that.” the delighted voice of Raziel made Melchiah jump. Melchiah smiled despite himself and turned to exit the mausoleum. Together in companionable silence the brothers walked out of the graveyard and towards the swamp.

“You think I am going crazy don’t you.” Raziel said suddenly as they entered the damp and somewhat rank swamp. Melchiah didn’t know what to say and remained silent. “Sometimes I think you might be right.”

“You are not crazy Raziel. Grief stricken yes but crazy I don’t believe it.” Melchiah said firmly as they leapt from outcropping to outcropping. “We need to talk Vorador into inserting walkways.”

“Don’t change the subject.” Raziel snapped “Besides he’s still paranoid he would never make the swamp passable.”

“I’m not changing the subject.” Melchiah almost slipped into the damp filth. “We could make them wooden, easy to burn should an attack come.”

“No one is grief stricken for fifty years!” Raziel snapped, grabbing his brother’s hand and pulling him away from the danger. “You honestly think anything out here would burn?”

“We are immortal Raziel, fifty years is nothing to us.” Melchiah smirked, trying to make light of the situation.

“I really see him at times, he talks to me.” Raziel admitted quietly.

“I know he does.” Melchiah nodded. They travelled the rest of the distance in silence.

The mansion was warm and dry with the faint smell of new paint. Raziel used to enjoy the smell of new paint but now it was sickening. With the constant growth of the vampire race a great deal of them were currently behind housed at the mansion while citadels were built. The mansion had taken a lot of wear and tear over the last fifty years and someone always seemed to be adding a new coat of paint or new strip of wallpaper. Raziel tried not to breathe as he walked through the halls to the west wing library but the smell made his eyes water despite his efforts. Melchiah had made excuses upon entering the mansion to return to his rooms for a moment before joining him and so Raziel dawdled to the west wing alone.

“Good afternoon Raziel,” the voice made him turn. Magnus smiled at him closing the door the east wing behind him.

“Hello Magnus,” Raziel answered. He shuffled a little as the other vampire walked beside him. Raziel had never known what to make of Magnus. Sometimes he felt that he and Magnus shared something in common. Magnus had suffered a terrible fate defending Kain, much like he had in the end.

Magnus had shared a part of Kain’s life that Raziel could only guess at. Kain had never been one for telling tales of his past and Raziel only knew snippets. But he knew that in the time when Kain knew Magnus something terrible had happened to him and that something had all out destroyed Kain’s sense of trust. So much so that even when Raziel had been a newborn and incapable of betrayal Kain had always watched him warily waiting to be stabbed in the back. It wounded Raziel that Magnus had known his father when he was still trusting and open to the world, in all honesty Raziel often found himself resenting Magnus for it.

“You look excited.” Magnus droned, Raziel rolled his eyes

“Another meeting. I swear if my hallucinations don’t drive me mad first these damn meetings will” Raziel sighed making Magnus laugh and clap him on the shoulder

“It takes a brave man to poke fun at himself,” Magnus laughed before shaking his head, suddenly losing his humour “Janos has returned from the Seer’s.”

“Yes,” Raziel rolled his eyes earning a strange look from Magnus “I have spoken with Seer’s, Oracle’s and Fate so please forgive me if I remain unimpressed with what they have to say.” The two vampires walked in silence for a moment or so before Magnus spoke again

“I thought Nosgoth was at peace now?” he snorted “some peace with Daemons still roaming the lands,”

“If this is peace then give me back the corruption any day,” Raziel grumbled, Magnus did not laugh this time he knew that there was a thread of truth in Raziel’s words.

“You shouldn’t say that.” Magnus mumbled not looking at him.

“If anyone has a right to it is me.” Raziel snapped.

“True,” Magnus nodded. “Very true indeed.” He sighed and seemed to slip back into his normal cheerful demeanour. “Let us hope peace becomes peaceful sometime soon shall we?”

“I’ll drink to that!” Raziel agreed as Magnus opened the library door.

“Nice to see you could join us.” Vorador snapped at the pair as they entered.

“We thought we had better gift you with our glowing presence.” Magnus smiled. “Personally I’m shocked that you managed to get this late into the night without coming to bask in our radiance.”

While Magnus was ranting on about his radiance Raziel looked around the Library. His brothers sat around one of the smaller tables, cards in hands. Raziel smiled and remembered the nights he had spent with them, gambling over cards. It used to get stupid when they ran out of money, they’d bet slaves, lovers, clothes. He was quiet sure once that Rahab had betted his brother Dumah at one point. Raziel scanned the rest of the room quickly, frowning when the person he was looking for was not there.

“Where’s Janos?” he asked turning to Vorador.

“Well it seems lateness is the new fashion.” Vorador deadpanned, concern flashed on his features “he should be here by now.”

“He will be here.” Raziel murmured looking up at the sky through the glass doors expecting to see a flash of blue, but the rain clouds hid everything. It hadn’t rained yet but the rainy season was long overdue.

“It was foolish to go now, so close to the season.” Vorador said irritation tinting his voice. “It seems the daemon problem is becoming higher on the list of priorities if they are willing to risk Janos so easily.”

“Worried for me?” Janos’ voice behind them made both Raziel and Vorador jump “I’m supposed to be the one worrying about you.” Janos smiled at Vorador and Raziel turned away walking towards his bothers table where they were playing poker.

“There you are.” Turel smiled at his brother as he approached, Raziel forced a smile and sat.

“Janos back yet?” Rahab asked while Zephon took the moment to sneak a peak at his brother’s cards

“Yes, he’s otherwise engaged for the next few minutes though.” Raziel shrugged, squashing any and all feelings of jealousy.

“Oh.” Rahab nodded peaking over Raziel’s shoulder seeing just how busy Janos was, “you can pair up with me for this game of you would like. I could use an extra eye or shoulder to hide behind!” he spoke with plain reference to the fact Zephon was still looking at his cards. Raziel smiled and moved closer to his brother but before the game could begin again it was stopped.

“The three were ambiguous as they always are,” Janos’ voice raised above the chatter of the room. “I am unsure what to make of their words so I will give them to you as they were given to me.”

“We will need a translator.” Janos’ smile widened and he nodded.

“Indeed I think we may need one.” Janos sighed loudly. “But we will see what you all make of it.” He took a deep breath and spoke slowly “The one that was absorbed will emerge. The nine will sing once more when all is silent and the one will prove to eight and take its rightful place. Darkness will seek to overcome the world. The choice will be made and the worshipers will fall.”

“What does it have to do with the daemons?” Sebastian asked “I didn’t hear a word about them,”

“I have been thinking on these words during my flight home and I cannot make much of it either.” Janos muttered “I believe the best course of action would be to speak with the guardians. They translated a great many prophecies in the past.”

“You are not going tonight?” Vorador asked, Janos nodded. “The rain is long overdue, you must remain here.”

“Child I can teleport.” Janos raised a dark blue eyebrow, smiling softly at his child’s concern. Vorador drew his sire out of the library and the chatter resumed. Raziel remained with his brothers and played a few hands. But conversation revolved around the newly revealed prophecy and Raziel soon lost his taste for the game and made excuses. He walked back to the north wing alone.

“Sometime I wonder why I get out of bed at all.” Raziel breathed and opened the door to his room. Closing the door he turned and leaned against the wood eyes closed. Why could Fate and Seers never speak plainly? Why were they prone to giving fancy names to people? What was wrong with peoples first name? He hated it when people called him Reaver or Reaver Spirit, his name was Raziel. The Reaver was a sword and a prison, it was not him. A creak of bed springs made his eyes snap open suddenly.

“Oh it is just you.” he muttered letting out the breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding.

“Sound a little more enthused if you please.” Kain grumbled standing and walking to Raziel’s writing table, his claw tips running over the spines of books Raziel kept on the table. “You seem out of sort’s child.”

“The three Seers gave another prophecy today. So I think I have every right to be out of sorts.” Raziel answered sharply. Kain blinked at him. “They were the ones that told of what would happen to us. This new prophecy is very ambiguous and nobody has a damn clue what they’re talking about.”

“And you cannot figure out what to do about it?” Kain asked his tone clearly suggesting he thought his childe had taken one too many blows to the head. Absently he walked over to the bed and sat. Raziel followed.

“If you’re going to be sarcastic you can go.” Raziel grumbled, sitting next to his father.

“If you would calm down and put your temper to the side for one minute you might think of the answer yourself.” Kain nudged, they were silent for a while before Kain lost patience, “foolish child.” He snapped.

“What?” Raziel frowned confused. Kain glared at him.

“Since when were you the village idiot?” he snapped. “Go to the guardian of Time and tell him to open up the time stream so you can look at it. Or used the Chronoplast yourself.”

“I’m not asking THEM for anything,” Raziel glared right back at his father “Your sense of humour has gotten strange since you died.” Raziel mumbled, Kain looked like he would bang his head on a wall with frustration but took a deep breath instead.

“Fine do not ask them. Wait and see what happens and if you’re not prepared on your own head be it.” Kain spoke firmly before fading into nothingness. Raziel sat and glared at the space where his father had been sat for a while before saying to himself

“I wonder how many other peoples imagination yells at them. I bet it’s just mine.”

Four weeks passed and the prophecy remained as foreign as it had when first received. Raziel’s mood turned immensely foul. A combination of frustration at the prophecy and irritation as the storms arrived. The rainy season in Nosgoth was not long but when it started it did not stop or let up until the end of the season. Effectively all vampires were trapped within the confines of the mansion for weeks. Vampires can live together if need be but to be in such closed quarters it was not surprising for minor wars to break out.

Raziel looked out of the window. What was hopefully the last storm of the rainy season was in full swing. Despite hating the rainy season Raziel had to admit he did like storms. He liked sitting and listening to them. He loved the sound of rain hitting the glass hard enough to almost break it, and the wind howling through the gardens. He wondered how many trees had died this year due to the wind. He used to sit up and listen to the storms when he was young. He would sit and listen to the raging weather tearing Nosgoth apart countered by the slow even breaths of his sleeping father. It had always made him happy to do so.

“Some storm.” Melchiah said opening the door and slipping into the dull room. Unintentionally wrenching Raziel from painful memories, Raziel was grateful.

“It is loud.” Raziel admitted blinking hard. His eyes were stinging far more than they had a right to. “Where is everyone? The mansions so still, I was expecting another fight like yesterday. But today is silent. It is like everyone is evolving.”

“It is quiet.” Melchiah nodded and came to kneel next to his brother by the window. “What were you thinking?”

“Strange question.” Raziel smiled and jumped as a branch whipped at the window. Melchiah stood for a moment and went to the bed pulling one of the thick furs away and taking it back to the window, he dropped half over his brother and the other half around his shoulders.

“I remember the storms when we were young. They scared me half to death.” Melchiah laughed quietly pulling the fur up close.

“You were already dead.” Raziel pointed out, the fur soft against his dead skin. He curled deeper into it wrapping the warmth around himself and pressing closer to his brother, grateful for the company. Storms always made him think too much.

“Yes, and Zephon used to run around the sanctuary trying to terrify me.” Melchiah sounded peeved “Bastard.” Raziel snorted a laugh

“I remember when you tried to get even and the two of you ended up locked in the courtyard.” Raziel muttered, “I thought he would leave you out there.”

“Yes so did we, Kain was never overly patient. I’m surprised we all didn’t grow up twisted,”

“I think we did.” Raziel corrected. “Grow up twisted that is.”

“I find it strange.” Melchiah mumbled. “That I cannot remember anything after you, well after Kain, after you left.” Raziel sighed

“Fates way of fixing things. I doubt anything interesting happened anyway. After all without me what would you have done with yourself.” he yawned feeling grateful to his younger brother for coming to him, finally able to stop thinking and relax Raziel rested his head on Melchiah’s shoulder and let himself doze.

The damage done by the storm was devastating to the landscape. Trees were pulled from the ground, fields were flooded. Raziel escaped the mansion shortly after the storm ended and had been shocked at the level of devastation. He walked to the graveyard alone, leaving Melchiah sleeping. The world was still and despite the destruction, it was calm everywhere. The graveyard had faired well, a few trees were uprooted and a few stones damaged as a result. But mostly it was unscathed, until he reached the mausoleum that had once housed his father.

The ancient building was clearly damaged. What was left of the walls shook in the wind, remaining upright through luck alone. As he watched, frozen in place one of the walls toppled before him. The clattering of collapsing bricks had broken his shock and had driven him forward. He forced his way inside and further into the body of the now ruined building. The storm had been terrible indeed to do such damage. He clambered through the destruction, fighting to reach the central chamber. Upon forcing beams and stones from the doorway he entered and stopped. What was left of the walls in the central chamber were blackened, as if burned by a great flame. The air stank of electricity and power and Raziel began to rethink his assumption that it was the storm that had done this to the building. He knew this feeling in the air and these burn marks. He knew this spell. He had witnessed the aftermath of when Kain’s lightening spell was called indoors once before. It was not dissimilar to the destruction he was now seeing.

Raziel walked further into the chamber to where his father’s sarcophagus had been laid. It had been a large stone casket, large enough for several to fit easily. Now it was rubble, pushed apart from the inside. Raziel felt his heart quicken in his chest. Hope stirred within him and he felt his legs tremble. Franticly he sniffed at the air but could only scent the energy that had been here shortly before him. He turned but did so too fast, excitement getting the better of him. He fell, legs tangling with themselves. He toppled but landed on something soft. Looking at what he had fallen on he instantly recognised the attendant. It was Gregory. He was long dead, his throat torn out. Getting to his feet Raziel spotted the corpses of two other attendants a little way away. There were bloody footprints leading out the south doorway that was somehow still intact. For a moment he almost followed those footprints but stopped himself. This had been what he had been waiting for for the last fifty years. He did not want to take risks, he would need help. So he turned and ran towards the mansion.

“VORADOR!” the cry made the elder vampire almost fall from his chair as Raziel barrelled into the east wing library covered in muck, blood and swamp residue smelling like the inside of a half rotten corpse.

“What has happened to you?” the elder vampire managed before Raziel started speaking, ignoring the elders question.

“He is gone Vorador!” Raziel panted, gripping the elders arm and trying to pull him from his seat. “Come we have to find him!” Vorador glared at the blood and muck Raziel was getting on his coat, the delicate stitching would not take kindly to being washed, he hissed lightly.

“Who?” Vorador frowned and eventually allowed the over egger fledgling to pull him out of his chair, his book falling to the floor. Raziel seemed half crazed, eyes wild with excitement and fear, clawed hands shaking violently. Vorador half expected him to start foaming at the mouth.

“Kain!” Raziel snapped still dragging at the elder, pulling him through the mansion. Raziel glared at Vorador and noting the elders confused expression he elaborated. “I went to the graveyard, everything was asunder. The attendants were dead, drained and dry like dust. Kain is gone.”

“You are mad Raziel.” Vorador spoke appalled and stopped walking and no matter how hard the fledgling pulled he would not be moved, Raziel hissed and let go of the elder holding up a hand.

“I came back for your help.” Raziel snapped. “I could have pursued him myself, but I came back for you. Do not make me regret it.” Raziel turned and stalked down the corridor towards the main entrance of the mansion, Vorador following. The corridors were filled with his tension and Raziel could feel the power of the glyphs stir in him. He half expected fire to burst out across his skin, but he swallowed it, keeping it inside. Now was not the time to lose control, not when Vorador already thought him mad.

“Wait,” Vorador snapped. Raziel span on his heal ready to yell at the ancient vampire. “We will need aid.” Raziel glared, eager to be on his way but Vorador was right and he nodded his consent. Vorador went very still and Raziel felt the power of the whisper emanate from the ancient beast. He waited for a few moments before Vorador turned to him again.

“Well?” he snapped, tension making him angry.

“Janos is already on his way here.” Vorador snapped “your brothers are all too far away to help except,”

“Us.” Turel interrupted the ancient vampire, Melchiah on his heels. “Magnus is just coming along with Sebastian, I did not hunt for Marcus or Faustus.”

“Why so many?” Raziel asked. He knew that he needed some aid in finding his father but did they really need so many? Vorador looked uncomfortable. Raziel felt his undead heart beat even faster and his head span slightly, this could not be good.

“I have been brought back from death young one.” Vorador sighed. “It is a frightening experience, you are disorientated, alone, and your memory is jumbled. Both times when I was brought back I attacked those around me and had to be subdued until my memory gave me what I needed to be calm.”

“What are you saying?” Melchiah spoke angrily before Raziel could manage. “That we’re going to have to subdue our father! We’ll be killed I’ve seen him obliterate armies before!!”

“We just need to keep him still until he can think properly.” Vorador protested. “He’ll be weak and unsure of himself, it won’t be that difficult.”

“I do not like this.” Turel said softly, “Melchiah is right this is too dangerous.”

“You want us to hide then?” Raziel snapped “I’ll go myself if I have to.”

“Do not be so foolish.” Vorador snapped “We will go together. You do not even know where he went.” Raziel was silent, Vorador nodded. “No doubt he’ll be starving so he’ll have headed to the nearest village. Ziegsturhl, he’ll be in Ziegsturhl or maybe Nachtholm.” Vorador paused. “But to be certain we will track him from the graveyard.” Raziel turned to look behind him as the scent of Janos came up the corridor just before the ancient vampire who was accompanied by Magnus and Sebastian, he turned back to Vorador.

“Are you certain?” Janos asked not stopping to breathe.

“No.” Vorador shook his head “But it is not a chance I wish to take.” With those words spoken he took Raziel by the shoulder and teleported them to the graveyard. They arrived moments before Janos and the others. Without waiting Raziel tore down the corridor leading to the main chamber which was the same as when he’d left it. The vampires spread all over the room checking it over but it was Janos who called everyone’s attention. He was knelt by the bloody footprints left behind.

“I may be wrong but wasn’t your father evolved when he died?” Janos asked Raziel swallowed, he knew someone would notice.

“He was.” Vorador answered as if just realising what his sire was looking at. The footprints were human, not the taloned feet of an evolved vampire.

“What does this mean?” Magnus asked voicing Raziel’s question. “That it’s not Kain? If not then where is he? And who did this?” Vorador stood up and took a deep breath through his nose sharply.

“Kain left through this door.” He said slowly. “Maybe he was carried out?”

“Either way we go this way.” Raziel snapped bolting down the corridor following the prints until they faded then he followed his nose. The smell of ozone had faded and he was easily able to follow the scent. He ran forwards not realising when he ran through wrought iron bars until a shout from Melchiah stopped him. Vorador slipped through the bars with a mist form and Raziel silently thanked fate for allowing him to keep his wraith abilities.

“You two go on.” Melchiah said, noting his brother eagerness to be going.

“If you find him contact me.” Janos spoke carefully as if watching his words “I’ll teleport us to you.”

“When!” Raziel snapped correcting the ancient vampire. “When we find him. Not if.”

Abandoning Janos and his brother’s Raziel ran forwards out of the burial shrine. Vorador running beside him. They stopped for a moment less able to follow the scent outside. The wind and cool air dissipating it. Raziel snarled and started to panic. It was Vorador who drew his attention to the blood, blood had been splattered on the ground, and a few feet away rested the body of a guard.

“It’s not going to be much of a homecoming if he goes on a killing spree,” Vorador muttered

“Janos does not think it is him,” Raziel breathed

“Janos never really knew Kain. They met once a long time ago in Meridian but it was a short meeting. I knew Kain. I lived with him for a long time.” Vorador stopped as if that was explanation enough. Raziel nodded, not wanting to waste time forcing Vorador to explain. They resumed their run towards Ziegsturhl. Upon entering the village Vorador laid a talon on Raziel’s shoulder.

“Rooftops,” Vorador breathed “we’ll cover more ground.” And with that they leapt upwards onto one of the lower buildings before leaping again onto a higher one. Together they searched the village and it didn’t take long to find what they were looking for. The scent of death floated on the breeze, they followed it to a large building that turned out to be a coaching inn. Vorador rolled his eyes, dreading the repercussions of a massacre. Raziel simply watched the building, unblinking and tense. The anticipation made him dizzy and he felt himself go faint. Only Vorador’s grip on his shoulders kept him upright. The rooftop was damp still from the rains and slippery, his near faint had made them both wobble.

“Do not pass out,” Vorador snapped before going very still again and speaking through the whisper, moments later Janos, Melchiah, Magnus and Sebastian appeared on the rooftop. Magnus slipped and slid down to the gutter where he managed to get a grip. Sebastian and Janos reached down to help him. Raziel watched them for a moment before he sprang back up at the sound of a glass breaking. Leaping to the edge of the rooftop he peered over the lip and watched as a figure left the building.

It was Kain. Yet it was not.

Raziel blinked several times unable to understand what he was seeing. All of his senses told him that this was his father yet his eyes told him otherwise. Before him stood a fledgling vampire, this was no ancient. The creature on the ground below him was tall and strong looking but not as strong as his father had been. The skin that was not covered in the remains of clothing was pure white, no emerald tint touched it. The hair was the same colour but far shorter than Kain’s had been at the time of his death. Raziel remembered it reaching just above his waist when lose but this creatures only fell to his shoulders. Yet this creature smelt exactly like his father had. It moved the same way and the feel of it was the same. Everything was right and yet everything was wrong.

“By the gods,” Vorador’s voice breathed beside him. Raziel jumped not noticing the elder’s arrival, to enthralled by the creature bellow that was now licking blood from its hand.

“What is it, a Daemon?” Raziel managed before the lump in his throat stopped him talking. Vorador looked at him as if Raziel had just said the most absurd thing in history

“It is Kain.” Vorador snapped then frowned “but he is as he was when I first met him. He looks newborn.” Raziel frowned then dropped to the ground, Kain went deathly still at the sound.

“Kain?” Raziel breathed as the fledgling slowly turned. Raziel expected any number of reactions except for the one he got. Kain blinked golden eyes at him, tilting his head curiously for a second before speaking.

“Who are you?” he asked, Raziel couldn’t answer. Hearing his father speak once more robbed him of his own voice. Without thought for how the one before him would react he approached closer and glared. The fledgling frowned at him before glaring right back.

“Kain?” Raziel whispered. Kain frowned in confusion and slowly nodded flinching backwards as Raziel reached up to touch his face.

“Who are?” Kain froze as behind Raziel Melchiah dropped from the rooftop, followed by Magnus, Sebastian and Janos. Kain crouched and hissed loudly. Raziel span to look at those who had dropped from the roof and suddenly felt the tension in the air as Kain called magic to him, he went to turn back to Kain, to speak to him but was knocked of his feet by a bolt of raw magical energy. He crashed into his brother and Janos knocking them both to the floor. Scrambling to his feet he saw the tail end of the tattered cloak disappear round a corner.

“You idiots.” Vorador dropped gracelessly from the rooftop, landing heavily and tumbling backwards. “Why did you do that!”

“What?” Magnus asked, “We didn’t do anything,”

“You spooked him!” Vorador got back to his feet and walked after Kain, Raziel ran to catch up.

“Shouldn’t we run?” he asked, his heart still pounding.

“No.” Vorador said firmly. “The last thing we want is for him to panic, god knows what he would do. I do not want to be responsible for setting him off and him destroying a village.” Raziel nodded unable to calm his hammering heart.

“He didn’t know me,” Raziel breathed feeling his heart stop in his chest.

“I told you his memory will be impeded for a while. Maybe for a few days. We have to restrain him till then and then we can,”

“Vorador?” both vampires span around like lightening and stared, Kain stood half submerged in the darkness of an alleyway, tattered cloak held around him. The material was ragged and practically falling from him. Blood soaked and mud covered. Kain frowned hard and slowly stepped a little into the light bare feet sinking into the mud which was splattered high up his legs from having run through the forest. “Vorador?” the fledgling spoke again.

“Kain?” Vorador swallowed. “We’ve been looking for you.” Vorador held out an emerald talon to the younger fledgling and waited, wanting Kain to come to him. Raziel watched as without question or hesitation Kain took Vorador’s talon with a blood covered hand and Raziel felt a stab of grief. So this was his father before the betrayal at Meridian. Vorador pulled him further out of the shadows and made a show of looking him over. Kain growled at the scrutiny.

“You seem in one piece, I’m glad,” Vorador smiled. “Come we will return home, you look like you need a rest and a clean would not go amiss.” Kain pulled back from the elder.

“Who are you?” Kain frowned. Vorador lifted an eyebrow

“You spoke my name.” Vorador pressed taking another step towards the fledgling. Kain took another step back. Raziel watched unsure what to do.

“The word I know.” Kain conceded “But you I do not.”

“Then know enough that we are like you, we will help you.” Vorador spoke slowly, “we can provide food, shelter and answers.”

“I do not need help.” Kain snapped.

“Yes you do.” Raziel said before he could stop himself. Kain glared at him over Vorador’s shoulder. “A fledgling alone at the end of the rainy season, you will not last alone.”

“I can take care of myself.” Kain snapped. “Who are you to tell me otherwise.” Raziel sighed and rolled his eyes. He had forgotten in the last fifty years just how stubborn his father could be.

“Tell me.” He said smirking “Do you know who you are? Do you know where or when you are? What of how you came to be here?” Raziel waited for a moment to let the words sink in. “Come with us not for aid then but for answers.” Kain seemed to think on this.

“You know me?” he asked after a few tense moments. Raziel nodded.

“Yes Kain I know you very well.”

END OF PART ONE
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