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Realms Converge	By : Candice Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 3562 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Legacy of Kain, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.Don't get to Nosgoth itself til chap 5

Chapter List
- 26
- 27
- 28
Edits as of 05/2016

So small note, if you've played Dragon Age: Inquisition, Alma talks like Vivienne.

-Author gets tapped on shoulder and turns. Author blinks rapidly and then sweatdrops-

Guys, seriously, this is supposed to be a first person point of view stor -Author yelps and barely dodges two sets of talons- Alright, alright you win! I'll write you in!

So back to Eldar Kain and Raziel briefly... At least it makes some sense to show their end of things... -cries-

Chapter Twenty-seven: Taking Steinchencroe.

Eldar Kain had not yet shared with Raziel what he had seen when he had viewed the changed events of history within the Chronoplast. Whatever he had witnessed, however, had put him in a somewhat better mood overall. When they actually had the good fortunate to stumble across a group of Sarafan warriors, Eldar Kain had laughed and had then torn through their ranks with abandon instead of the tempered fury that Raziel had first expected.

Raziel had hung back at a safe distance to take care of those that tried to flee the area but otherwise did not get involved in the fight. He did not wanted to steal any of his Sire's kills from the Eldar what with the cold rage that the older vampire had recently been in. Eldar Kain would oft make his displeasure known by taking it out of one's hide if one dared to steal one of his kills when he was in such a... state. Even Raziel.

With a fledge Katrina safe from the Sarafan once more, and Eldar Kain's dark mood abated, the pair had made their way back to the Seer's hut in order to question the woman further regarding the origins of the Pillar's and the vampiric curse. They learned that, through careful manipulations, the few amongst the Ancient's and the Hylden who had realized the truth of 'The Elder God' had managed to change the very nature of the Pillar's from their intended purpose.

The Parasite had intended to manipulate the Ancient's into making the Pillar's so that the creature would have a way to control how quickly it could feed. A pulse of its' power through the Nature Pillar, an earthquake or a tsunami later, and then it would have had a feast in naught but an instants time. All it would have had to do in those instances would be to claim that the catastrophe would have been 'far worse' and the Ancient's would have continued to remain complaisant in the belief that a true tragedy was avoided. Instead those brave few that had realized the danger had twisted the very nature of the Pillar's both into sealing spell that would bind the Hylden to another realm, and thus put their souls out of the reach of the Parasite and end the 'Holy War' that the creature had called for, and had caused the Pillar's to act as a leash upon the Parasite. The later would limit its' ability to feed instead of allowing it the free reign it had wanted. The Parasite would not be able to feed whenever it wished as it had initially planned.

Had Kain accepted the Sacrifice demanded of him in his youth, the bindings upon the Parasite would have failed completely. The creature would then been able to consume Human, Vampire and Hylden souls at its' leisure once more. Kain's stubborn headed defiance had bought Nosgoth herself time.

Even Janos, the Tenth Guardian and the keeper of the Reaver, had not been made aware of the fact that the Reaver itself had been created as the Key. Not to unlock the Pillar's or 'defeat the Hylden Champion' as the Eldar had been told, but as the Key Piece needed to 'Grant Purifying Sight' to the Scion of Balance. This would also grant the Scion, Kain, the powers that he would need in order to champion all those born of Nosgoth in his battle against the Parasite. The monster would consume the very soul of their world if it grew large enough to do so. In the end, the very edge of the coin that Kain had struggled to find with all of his manipulations of time had been the same shred of a chance that the small group of Ancient Vampire's and Hylden had sacrificed all for.

The possibility that Hope was not just a bitter illusion to choke upon as one died...

The creation of the Pillar's had resulted in one unforeseen bit of damage to the groups plan however. Something that the Seer regretted fiercely even now as she felt that it was her own fault that she had not Seen what would happen. She had not thought to look too closely at the immediate events after the Pillar's creation. She had instead focused so much on the potential far flung futures that she had not realized the immediate, damaging results of their actions and thus did not know how to react and stop what was to follow...

'God' had gone silent the moment the Pillar's were completed. The same moment that most of the Hylden were locked away. The very same moment the Vampiric curse tore through the ranks of Ancient and Hylden alike and changed their mortal natures. 'Cut off' from their 'God', thousands of Ancient's had slain themselves due to that silence, due to the harm they caused because of their sudden blood-lust and due to their sudden, unnatural immortality. The Seer had cursed herself a fool several times over for the losses that occurred. If she had only paid more attention then... but she had not...

The Parasite had still received its' feast due to the mass deaths, though its' ability to consume said souls was hindered by the Pillar's. It was able to regain strength enough thanks to the Ancient's suicides that by the time the ranks of the Pillar Guardian's had been filled with naught but humans primed for turning, the Parasite had been able to manipulate the one Guardian that would have the potential power to undo its' bindings through manipulation. The one Guardian that would have the Time to undo what the Seer and her now long dead allies had wrought upon the Parasite; Moebius.

"And so he proved to be more of a pawn then we believed," Eldar Kain mused as the Seer passed both he and Raziel another vial of blood-wine. "I find myself mourning the fact that I was unable to see his face when he saw the truth of what he served."

Raziel flashed his Sire a dark grin that was all fang as he spoke. Not in challenge but in savage victory.

"It was a singularly exquisite moment," he growled in vicious satisfaction.

"Ah, my Raziel," Eldar Kain said in a mock-pained tone. He tilted his head and put a taloned claw to his chest over where his heart had previously been. "I find myself feeling jealous."

"He deserved no less," Raziel said with a cold voice as he shook his head and the grin fell away. "His betrayals made an already murky situation worse."

"On that we are agreed," the Seer said in a dark tone that fairly hissed with contempt. "He nearly ruined everything in his foolishness."

"A question though," Raziel asked, suddenly focused on something that had begun to bother him some time ago. "The Parasite oft claimed that when I consumed a soul... that I was feeding his Wheel. Did he speak the truth?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "You are, for lack of a better term, competition for the feast that he would horde for himself. Though you are naught but the fox to his greater war hound. Any soul you consume is absorbed by your own essence and strengthens you, just as the blood you consume does the same."

Raziel looked distinctly uncomfortable as she finished speaking.

"Would there not be the chance that I would become as the Parasite then if I can consume the same food source as he?" he asked.

Eldar Kain frowned at the question and shot Raziel a brief, near concerned look. The Seer shook her head at his question.

"Can the fox suddenly turn into a greater war hound? Or does the fox merely become more clever at surviving over time?" she asked him. Raziel began to relax as she continued to speak. "You will never be as the Parasite is, do not fear."

"I must admit that is something of a relief to hear," Raziel said slowly as he sipped his blood-wine. "The apparent knowledge that I was to be trapped in the Reaver was harsh enough to deal with, I did not wish to find out that I could become the same kind of threat that we aim to deal with."

"An understandable concern, but not one to fret over," the Seer said as she stood. "Now, I have shared what I can with you and I am needed else-when. When next you need to search me out, listen for rumors of the Witch and you will find me."

"I thank you for your aid, Seer," Eldar Kain said as he pushed away from the wall.

"No Scion," she said as she bowed her head and prepared a teleportation rune. "Thank you. If anyone can save our Lady Nosgoth, it is you."

A moment later and the two males were left alone to their thoughts.

*-*/-Katrina POV-**-*

With the Sarafan warriors routed successfully we were able to begin rebuilding what we could of the capital city. Sanctuary however, was completely lost to us. The damage done to the hidden levels beneath the city was extensive. Many areas had even collapsed due to the various magical explosions that had resulted from the flames consuming many an artifact or magical concoction. Vorador's forge going up had caused the most damage. The surrounding area around what had been his forge had to undergo immediate fortifying once the flames were put out in order to prevent what would have been an inevitable collapse of the surface city.

With that being said the Cabal, known more and more as Kain's growing army, could no longer be safely housed at the capital due to many a young vampire's continued weakness to sunlight. At the worst the sun would not immediately kill them, but it did weaken and harm them over time to be so exposed to the light of day. A new Sanctuary needed to be found and fast.

"We could go to Termogent Forest and rebuild my mansion," Vorador had suggested.

The five of us, Kain, Janos, Alma, Vorador and I, discussed where to scout out a new location for Sanctuary from within the lower levels of the damaged Keep. Janos had already suggested his own warded retreat to the northeast, yet the location was firmly in Sarafan controlled lands and could not be easily reached. Kain shook his head and he tapped a claw delicately against the map around Vorador's old homestead.

"That location is far too close to enemy controlled lands at the moment," he said to the older vampire. "Same as with your Sire's retreat. It is not a viable location for a base at this time."

"Not only that," I piped up, "but Nikolai isn't the only new fledge for us to deal with since the attack. The forest is a swamp and the water will be lethal if one of them takes a fell step or forgets that they are no longer human. It is not a safe place for a fledge or our army."

Kain and Vorador both hmm'd their agreement with my words and went back to looking over the map with equally irritable scowls. Kain was upset due to the loss of his base of operations. Vorador was upset due to the fact that we had lost a handful of vampires, including one of his more recently (of only fifty years) acquired Bride's. Alma was also upset at that same loss. She had been mostly quiet so far during our discussion, a seething sorrow that was clear on her face due to the loss of her Sister. She had not offered up much in the way of ideas. I frowned as I looked back over the map and then I tapped at the marker that indicated Steinchencroe.

"I know it is not yet ours," I started carefully. "But wouldn't Steinchencroe be the quickest place that we could claim and then fortify? The city has well built walls that have already lasted the test of time."

"As well as underground fortifications and rooms added to it over the past two centuries," Alma said as she finally joined in on the conversation. "The only places nearby that could be a threat to us, would be town of Vasserbunde and the city of Coorhagen. Both locations have not fared well with the withdrawal of Sarafan troops. We also have word that those in Coorhagen are already beginning to dig in for an eventual siege what with how isolated they are tucked against the mountains."

"Steinchencroe also has a minimal Sarafan foothold at this point from what we have learned," I continued as I indicated myself and Alma. "Though they still have their normal guard force at this time. I would like install a few railroad agents into the city first in order to get at least some of the civilians out of there but..."

I looked at Kain, as it was his decision that would finalize any possible plans, and shrugged my shoulders as I waited for his response. My wings flared slightly at the movement of my shoulders and he reached out to idly scratch claws through the feathers of the wing closest to him whilst he eyed the map. He then moved to grab a few markers on the map and rearranged them. He nodded a few moments later and a grim smirk curled his lips.

"Acceptable. With the Lake of Tears to the West and the connecting river to the north they cannot easily attack our flank. With Nachtholm under our control we also have a back route past my own tomb if we have a need to retreat to the south. We will need control of the River of Tears in order to reach Vasserbunde and Coorhagen as it is. Once we have control of those three locations we will own the entirety of the West," Kain looked up at me with a raised brow. "How set are you on your railroad for this city?"

I shared a look with Alma and she frowned for a moment before she spoke up again, "My contact said that there are clear signs that those Sarafan that remain within the city are abusing their power. I would honestly not be surprised if the youngsters of the city are also being targeted for their fell games and not just the women."

Kain's face darkened at Alma's words and I felt my own face twist into a similar expression of anger and disgust. The thought that there were child molesters within the city was a potentially painful truth. With Nosgoth being the equivalent of Gaia's dark ages, finding youngsters in whore houses was not an overly surprising realization and humans here were also considered to be adults by age fifteen. There was really no one here to police such acts against those younger then fifteen summers, unless a particular Lord or Lady of noble blood actively paid attention to what was going on amongst their serfs. Most rarely cared about anything like that however and thus the crimes continued unabated.

I found myself thinking once again that I was grateful that Kain had already shared his opinion on raping people, ie: any of his warriors caught in such an act died by his hands. I could only imagine the kind of hell he might put someone through if they were guilty of hurting children in the same fashion, even if they were 'mere humans' to him. Even though he had been born amongst the 'privileged' himself, and had no real care for 'commoners', he still had lines that were not meant to be crossed.

"It is really going to be a matter of how many we can siphon out of the city before they notice that their... 'sport'... has gone missing," I said carefully as I thought of how to go about the plan of attack. "If we are lucky, then Alma's contact can get the word out within the city himself. He can then sneak people out by the same route that he took to reach us. If not, then we can use his route to sneak maybe two or three people into the city and have them organize things from there. I wouldn't risk more then three or else they would be noticed for being 'new'. I'd... well to be honest, I doubt that we would be able to keep up a viable railroad for more then a week before they realize that many of the people that they normally target have mysteriously disappeared."

Kain nodded his head as he took the information in, "Very well. One week for your railroad efforts and then we attack. I will gather our forces in the forest to the west of Steinchencroe."

The meeting broke apart at that point and each of us started off to either set into motion our portions of the plan or, in Vorador's case, to continue to direct the repairs of the city itself. Janos stopped me from following Alma though as he rested his hand on my shoulder. I signaled for her to continue on without me and turned to my adopted Sire.

"You are doing good work my Childe," he said softly and he smiled gently at me. "I am proud of you."

"I... am trying," I responded with a blush. Subject needed changing... "I... um, how is Nikolai doing? Is he taking the change well?"

"He and the others are taking some time to adapt to the blood hunger," Janos responded with a smile as we left the impromptu 'war room'. "Vorador has had his hands full these past few nights both in organizing repairs and keeping the youngsters out of trouble. I've had to step in a number of times to help him corral them and prevent any unfortunate incidents. Nikolai at the least has not been breaking everything he touches like the others have been. The new strength has taken many of them by surprise."

"I... hrm..." I coughed into my hand softly and my wings twitched a bit. I was a hesitant to ask but I was honestly curious. "Are you and Nikolai... urm... going to be alright?"

"Yes my Childe, we will be," Janos offered me a soft smile at my question. "I would have rather he had a few more years before being offered the choice to turn, but things will work out for the best the way they are."

"I'm just glad that I found him in time," I said with a soft sigh. "The healer told me later that he would not have lived much longer and, from what I understand of how Childe are made, they have to be alive at the start of the process."

"True," Janos frowned suddenly and looked away for a moment. "Kain actually confronted me on that the other night. He had tried to make a Childe himself in a similar manner years ago with no success. He is... a different kind of vampire compared to myself and Vorador somehow. Necromancy was involved in his creation process from what he told me, so I do not know how he would pass on his own Gift if he still intends to do so."

"Oh!" I yelped out suddenly and I face-palmed. "Right! That!"

"Pardon?" Janos asked me with a confused flaring of his wings.

"I just remembered something that might help him if he is still struggling with that! I'll see you later!" I called over my shoulder as I darted down the hall and I tried to catch Kain's scent in the air.

I caught Kain's scent easily enough and followed the winding trail to find him standing on one of the remaining parapets of the Keep. He stood with the Reaver drawn and the point of the blade dug into the stone at his feet as he looked over the damaged city with a frown. I padded over to his side quietly and leaned my hands against the stone barrier as I waited for him to finish thinking. He finally turned to me a few minutes later with a raised brow and his frown eased a touch when his eyes finally focused on me.

"Do you need something my Little One?" he asked. In a soft rumble of sound.

"To tell you something, yes," I said as I offered him a small smile. "Janos mentioned that you'd talked to him about problems with making your own Childe."

His expression darkened slightly. "I did. The conversation did not end well."

"You can't make a Childe the same way Janos or Vorador can," I said with a knowing nod and he bared his fangs in a small sneer of disgust. I hurriedly continued, "but that's just it, your origins are Necromatic. You'll have to go about it in a similar fashion to how you were made. I don't remember the exact 'how' of it, but when Janos said something I remembered enough to at least help you figure it out from there. Least-ways, I believe so."

He reached out and lightly grabbed my chin in his left hand. A claw passed lightly over my lower lip and drew the smallest amount of blood. The small cut healed swiftly and he ran his thumb over the blood that was drawn in order to smear it over my lower lip. His expression had relaxed once more into a thoughtful look.

"Speak then. What do you recall?" he asked with a soft thrum.

"Recently dead or old dead," I started slowly as I mentally organized what I could remember. "The stories said that you used Necromancy to... well, divide up your soul and then... join that soul piece with the soul that belonged to a particular corpse. Then you would place the fused soul back into the body in a kind of... reanimation process if you will. The older the corpse, the less likely the individual is likely to recall their past life as a human. Again, the exact how of it all never got explained or if it did I don't remember it, but... I believe that should be enough set you on the right path."

He was silent for several long moments before he nodded thoughtfully.

"It seems that I need to visit Avernus Cathedral once the eastern lands are under our control then," he said thoughtfully. "That or arrange a stealth mission to reclaim Mortanius' tomes."

He then leaned in close and licked the blood off of my lower lip with a slow sweep of his tongue. He pulled back with a dark smirk and then abruptly turned me around. He gave me a small shove and a swat to my rear-end that made me yelp reflexively. The impact to my rear caused my wings to flare with my surprise. I flashed him a mild glare over my shoulder and wing. His smirk widened to show a hint of fang.

"Off with you now my Little One. You have given me something to consider and you yourself have your little rescue mission to plan," he said in a mild tone that belied the heated look in his eyes.

"You cannot say that my efforts are not working," I said to him with my own smirk. "The twins we rescued practically worship you, especially since you saved them yourself the second time 'round."

"By bodily tossing them up onto the ledge that you found them perched upon," he turned away with a huff of breath and he started to look over the city once more. "Kill stealing whelps."

"Useful kill stealing whelps," I responded in a smug tone.

The words were barely out of my mouth when a burst of Telekinetic energy sent me sideways over the parapet. I let out a yelp as I twisted and caught an air current under my wings. I gained height swiftly and turned to loop the air above him. He smirked up at my annoyed face and then flipped me off. I laughed at that and returned the gesture, highly amused that I had introduced 'the bird' to Nosgoth. I then turned to wing my way toward the small baker's shop that Alma and I had taken over as our temporary Railroad HQ.

Over the next week Alma and I worked with her contact to siphon out those that we could from within the walled city. The boy was yet nervous around us, jittery really, but he had a near to indistinct face and was a lean enough build that he could disappear amongst a crowd as people barely paid him any mind. As per the instructions that we had given to him, he began to bring out what few other youngsters were in the city first and foremost. Five in total, beyond our young contact. Each child was malnourished to some extent and more then one of them showed signs of being beaten to the edge of death and also carried the acrid scents of... unwanted attentions. I was painfully reminded of the children that had been kept in Auron's hell-hole. Tiny forms that had been kept for their young blood, though if they had been used for other... things... I had not been forced to witness such depravity.

The few women that we were able to get out of the city before the week that Kain had given us was up were in similar states. Several of them were covered in the scents of multiple men, bruised and bloodied to boot. Alma had to pull me aside at one point when I could no longer contain my low growls of anger in order to give me a firm shake and then a completely unexpected hug. I'd relaxed into the comforting hold by increments but had eventually calmed.

"I know it is a harsh thing to bear witness to my dear," she said as she let go of me and held me out at arms length. "I, too, wish nothing more then to tear into the bastards within the city walls. We must wait for Kain's signal to attack though, so leash that rage tight until it is time for the attack. We have their scents. Know that they will not escape our vengeance."

"I get it, I really do," I said with a soft growl and I rubbed at my face. "I'm just... dealing with a few memories on top of all of... this. I will be fine."

"I understand that deary," she said soothingly and she gave my arm a gentle pat. "But refrain from growling where the poor dears can hear you. It does not help them nor does it help you."

"Right," I let out a soft sigh and then ruffled my wings a little as I rolled my shoulders in an attempt to alleviate my tension.

An hour later found me up in the sky with my Gift active. I circled the city in wide sweeps that kept my shadow out of sight of any of the guards on duty. I watched, as I had the past several nights, to see if the change of the guard happened roughly the same each night and, lo and behold, it had. The guards currently on duty had just started to relax, yawning with their weariness and I Whispered Kain.

~Guard change should happen soon. The ones on duty are starting to fall asleep,~ I told him.

~Good. Alma has already led a few vampires into the city,~ he responded. ~Try to take out the new guards as the shift changes. Be mindful of your shadow my Little One.~

~Of course,~ I said as I started to circle the city yet again.

The guards were spaced far enough apart that it was an easy enough job after they had traded off to dive and grab them one at a time. I coiled my gift around their forms, snapped their necks and then flew back into the air after I had lowered their bodies quietly to the ground. With the five 'fresh' guards dealt with, I signaled to Kain over the Whisper that they were dead. A large cadre of vampires darted forward from the eastern forest moments later, Kain and Alma amongst them, and the lot were quick to scale the now un-watched walls. Swift as lightning and silent as death, they snuck up upon the guards that were going to their rest and cut them down. Despite the initial attack starting off so well, a guardsman in glowing Sarafan armor suddenly burst out of the building that Kain had just passed with a warning shout that drew startled cries from the others within the city.

"'Ware! Vampires!" the human guard cried out.

Kain spun around swiftly and cleaved the man cleanly in twain with the Soul Reaver. Screams and war cries filled the air as dozens of humans suddenly found themselves locked in combat when they left the buildings that they had been in. Kain laughed outright when a group of humans tried to surround him and he used his superior speed to tear through their ranks with abandon. With my vantage in the air I noticed a crossbowman come out from his hiding place in an alleyway before Kain could and I dove swiftly to strike the human from behind, dropping my Gift at the last second as I did so.

The crossbow bolt went wide as I hit the male and I ripped the man's throat open viciously with my fangs. The bolt clipped the wall next to Kain, which caused him to twist around with an angry hiss. I spat out the piece of flesh that I had ripped free and I snapped the man's neck to hasten his death. I nodded to Kain respectfully and received a satisfied smirk in response. I wrapped my Gift around myself once more and leapt back into the air.

Again and again I dove from the skies in order to take out any humans that tried to flank our fighters. Alma tore through the ranks of the guards with her usual viciousness and I shook my head at her violent antics. Her actions did much to strike fear into the hearts of those who still lived though and the air thickened with the heady scents of blood and fear and death. I noticed when a guard suddenly turn from the fight and he began to bash his way into one of the buildings. A woman's scream rent the air when the door gave way and I dove swiftly to land just outside of the house. The harsh, impacting sound of a fist hitting flesh filled the air.

"Slut!" another punching sound filled the air. "Vampire's whore! You let them in didn't you?! Didn't you?!"

"Please! No!" the woman cried out in a pained voice. "Stop!"

I darted into the building, still wrapped within the safety of my Gift and found the guard tearing at the woman's clothes as he punched her again. I let out a dark growl as his scent hit my nose. I closed the door behind me and I let my Gift drop. My growling filled the air with a dangerous thrum of sound. This one. His scent had been on several of the females that we had already gotten out of the city as well as being on one of the children. He spun around, sword drawn and then wrenched the woman up by her hair and put his blade to her neck when he saw me. The scent of his fear and as well as the woman's flooded the room like a heady perfume to my instincts.

"Stay back demon! I'll kill her! Don' think I wont!" he shouted.

I tilted my head to the side slightly as I looked the two over. My wings twitched and flared wide slowly in a clear threat display. I took in a slow breath, mouth open, and I drew in their combined scents in through my nose and also over my tongue. My eyes, which had to have bled to a hunter's white by now, met the muddy brown of the woman's as she whimpered her fear. My head tilted just a little further when her eyes abruptly narrowed and her scent changed. I took another scenting breath and ran my tongue carefully over my fangs. Fear was still the primary scent but there was a subtle change to hers. It was a musky scent now like that of sandalwood, spice... and bitter almonds.

I realized what she meant to do a moment too late. She forced herself forward onto the blade before I could react. The movement successfully trapped the sword between her body and her left arm. She then jabbed her right elbow back hard into the man's sternum. The scent of blood filled the air as the blade cut into her unprotected flesh as a result of her actions. The man let out a surprised grunt and tried to pull his sword free and I used the woman's sacrificing distraction to dart forward and slash claws across his throat. A gout of blood sprayed across the far wall as I gouged his neck open in a wide swath with my claws. I kicked his dying form away from the woman. I caught her collapsing form in my arms and eased her to the ground. The sword had cut her arm open at the wrist and along the upper arm. It has also opened a thick line at her neck that pulsed blood in time with her heartbeat. Arterial blood. I held a hand helplessly over her neck as the blood gushed out and I shook my head helplessly when she blinked up at me.

"I... I can't save you," I said softly.

She shook her head weakly at my words and looked over at the body of the man. A dark look passed across her face, a twisted expression of satisfaction. She relaxed into my arms and let out a gurgling sigh as her eyes fluttered shut. I eased her onto her back and listened as her heartbeat first sped up and then faded and finally stuttered to a complete stop. I shook my head sadly as I stood. I grabbed the man's sword and stabbed it down into the head of the man's dead body before I wrapped my Gift back around myself and slipped silently out of the building. I leapt swiftly back into the air, circled the area and started to dive bomb the few human enemies left that were trying to find hiding places around the area. I recognized more then one scent and the ones that I did recognize found themselves dropped from... rather high up indeed.

~My dear, are you quite alright?~ Alma's concerned voice echoed over the Whisper.

"Yup, just fuckin' peachy keen," I said as dropped my Gift.

I landed right next to her on the roof of a building. I shook the blood of my most recent prey off of my claws. Some blood was NOT passing my lips. She let out a soft sigh and she turned to look at my blood spattered form.

"Must you be crude deary?" I knew that she meant my language and not my bloodied state.

"Not exactly in the mood to be prim and proper-like," I responded coldly.

I hopped up onto the raised wall and then crouched down as I looked out over the city with a small frown. Alma took in a slow breath of air and then frowned in my direction.

"You have the blood of a female upon you," she said softly.

"Yeah," I responded softly and I took a few brief moments to explain what had happened.

"I see," she said thoughtfully. She then walked over and thwapped me upside the head. I yelped at the mildly painful blow and raise my hand to cover the impact point.

"The hell was that for?" I asked as I rubbed the back of my head.

"You went off alone deary," she sniffed. "Do remember that if you find a target like that, you are to let me know so that I may back you up if there is a need."

"Right," I said with a small wince at her stern look. "Should have Whispered you, I know."

"As long as you understand what you did wrong my dear," she said with a delicate sniff as we moved to start the clean up process.

Now that those loyal to the Sarafan had been dealt with, we moved the bodies out of the city and began to tend to the humans left within the city walls. Using what I knew about proper sanitation, I made sure to guide the others in dealing with the bodies in a proper fashion and not just left to rot and promote illness amongst the surviving populace. Most of the humans looked to be grateful for the change in lordship once Kain made it clear from where he stood on one of the rooftops that there were some things he would not tolerate amongst the remaining populace. Once the area was mostly cleared, those who had stayed out of the fighting were gathered together.

As the humans were made to gather at the center of the city, and told about the changes that were to go into effect, one short and fat fool, a mayor of some sorts, refused to comply with Kain's demands and foolishly demanded that we leave the city. From the darkened looks that many a woman, and man, sent his way it was easy to tell that this was the man who had let the Sarafan into the city to have their way without interference in the first place. I wrapped my Gift around myself once more and moved carefully from my hidden spot on the roof and into the crowd. A few of them felt me brush past them and most froze in place rather then pull away, their own hind brains telling them not to move or else the predator next to them would kill them.

Not that I would...

I took a slow, scenting breath as I neared the man and then had to cover my mouth and nose as I moved rapidly away from him. He smelled of new sickness, alcohol, blood, death and the rot of old bodies. I moved toward the back of the crowd and grabbed one of the males at the far edge of the group. He flickered from sight, but none of the other humans noticed. As I had weakened the strength behind my Gift, I could hear his yelp of surprise and I gave him a small shake to silence him lest he grab the crowds attention.

"Hush, I have no intention of hurting you," I hissed into his ear. "Where does that fat fool live?"

"S-second largest building m-m'lady," the man squeaked out softly. "L-look for the banner of the l-lion."

"Good," I said softly. "Not a word now when I let you go now."

"Y-yes m'lady!" he whimpered.

I let go and the man stumbled back into sight. He stayed silent, pale faced and shivering as I left him standing at the back of the crowd. I leapt onto the roof and Whispered to one of the other vampires to find the house in question and check the building for what I had scented upon the mayor. The response came back within moments and I frowned darkly toward the male in question. Kain still stood sneering down at the human as he ranted madly. What I had done had taken less then four minutes and Kain looked be be indulging the man long enough that I knew he was going to use him as an example to the others. Perhaps I could help with that.

I flew swiftly over to the roof that Kain stood upon and I landed next to him even as I dropped my Gift. Several of the humans let out startled sounds at my sudden appearance and even the fat mayor fell silent with a stuttering breath. Kain turned to look at me with a raised brow and he made it seem as if he had been expecting my arrival.

~What is it my Little One?~ he asked over the Whisper.

~Checked the fat one's scent on a hunch. Death and rot and sickness. Had one of the others check his place. Basement of the fat bastard's house is filled with the dead bodies of women and men,~ I said with a mental growl. ~All of the bodies show signs of torture and carry his scent.~

~I see,~ Kain turned to narrow his eyes on the man and the foul thing tried to puff himself up as he started his rant back up again.

"You demons!" he yelled as he waved pudgy looking hands and tried to incite the crowd around him. "The Sarafan told us about the Angel that you've enslaved and here they are proven right! You are monsters that seek to enslave our very souls!"

A mad light had filled the man's eyes by the time he finished speaking. He believed what he said, that much was plain. Kain reached out a hand and lightly brushed it against the base of my back as he eased me forward a half step to stand where I was no longer at his side but just in front of him. I quizzically touched my mind to his and his voice Whispered through my mind in response.

~We may as well use this,~ he said with a hint of dark amusement. ~Tell them what you have found out my Little One.~

~Really? We're playing along with that man's madness?~ I asked in a dry tone. ~Encouraging the 'angel' rumors about me?~

~Yes,~ he responded in a satisfied tone.

~Alright then...~

I blinked and then looked out to the crowd. I took a calming breath and held it for a second before I let it out in a silent sigh.

"Do not speak of demons lest you are looking in a mirror," I called out in a firm tone a moment later. "Your own home is filled with the broken and tortured bodies of the very people you were meant to protect. You not only failed in your duty to the people of your city by willingly letting rapists in amongst the populace, but you yourself performed acts of wickedness against your own kin! The rest of you! Back away from him!"

I slashed my hand downward in a cutting gesture. The rest of the humans in the crowd promptly backed away from the mayor and he waved his hands again in an entreating gesture toward me.

"Lady Angel, please!" the man cried out in a now desperate tone. I could smell his growing fear from the roof top and it took all I had not to sneer at him. Revealing my fangs would likely be a bad idea right now. "Do not let these demons manipulate you into believing their lies! I have done aught I could to protect this fair city!"

"Liar!" came a voice from the crowd and an older woman hobbled forward to the edge of the crowd with the help of one of the men. "Anyone fair of face long ago disappeared into your home and were never returned to us! I say she speaks true!"

"Silence yourself, you old hag!" the mayor yelled out as he rounded about to try to strike out at her.

Alma was there in an instant and caught his fist in her hand before the blow could land. The crowd of humans began to mutter darkly amongst each other as they glared hatefully at the mayor. One could easily scent the growing rage and the potential for a mob. They started to speak in whispers of returning the damages he had wrought ten-fold. I let out a growl and flared my wings as well as my Aura out over the crowd.

"Enough!" I cried out in a commanding tone. "Do not stoop to his level and let his foulness stain you! Calm yourselves!"

Surprisingly, that order did indeed calm most of the humans. I turned partly toward Kain as I looked over the calming crowd and then glanced at where Kain's right hand was wrapped firmly around the hilt of the Soul Reaver and his left rested upon the pommel. I lit in on an idea and I turned to look at the mayor once more.

"There is no mercy to be found for one who rapes and tortures his own people for his amusement. You were meant to protect them, not be their tormentor. Nor would I see your sickness infect them," I reached out to brush my hand lightly over where Kain's own gripped the Reaver. I turned to look at Kain and he raised a brow at me. "A soul such as his should not be allowed to continue on."

"No mercy for one such as he?" Kain asked in a grim and clear voice that rang through the air. We were playing the crowd well, the pair of us.

"The only mercy I would ask for, is mercy for the tormented people of this city," I responded in a voice that rang just as clear, but in a gentler tone. Silk to his Steel.

"If they stay true," Kain said with a smirk. He leapt down to the ground and started to stalk toward the mayor with Reaver in hand.

The mayor squealed out a cry like a fat pig and tried to run from the silver-haired Vampire Lord. Kain was on him in less then a second and the Soul Reaver tore through the human with a ringing hum of power that widened my eyes as the mayor... literally exploded into bits. There was the faintest pulse of light that followed the bloody explosion and the sense of something screaming in pure agony filled the air for a brief moment. The Reaver itself glowed for all but a second before the hungry energy faded. The humans that had ringed the mayor in a wide circle backed up even further, fear clear in their eyes as they stared at Kain. Somehow, unlike the humans around him, he remained untouched by the blood and gore caused by the magical explosion wrought by the blade.

Kain eyed the sword for a long moment in silent contemplation before he slipped it back into its' sheath at his back. He bared his fangs at the crowd in a clear warning as he looked over them. His voice was cold as steel as it filled the air.

"My word is law," he growled out. "Stay loyal, obedient, and you will live and perhaps even live well. Prove false to me or to your own and you will suffer a fate far worse then death."

Kain turned and started for the largest building of the city. The crowd parted for him like water as he stalked past the lot with his head held high. I jumped from the roof and moved through the crowd at a more sedate pace. Alma nodded her head at me in a half-bow and smirked at me knowingly. I ignored her, though I felt the blush stain my cheeks, and continued to move after Kain.

Hope that everyone is enjoying the story!
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Realms Converge