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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
- 40
- 41
- 42
Chapter Forty-one: There's no place like Home... ?
Modified reference to Taken in this chap. You'll know it when you see it. :-)
Anyway! On to Gaia/Earth with this chapter!
Thank you again for the reviews Jess and Strife VII! I am glad you are enjoying the story!
Also, side note I am referencing two schools that actually exist in Las Vegas and Henderson NV. I do not know the relationships between said schools for sports or anything else. I did research into the schools of the area and picked from there as far as distance and other factors for character background. I am originally from the southern parts of CA and currently live in WA. I do not know the actual relations, amicable or otherwise, for the students of these schools.
*-*/-Katrina POV-**-*
Janos and Vorador had worked out a way to safely bring a person, or persons, back to Nosgoth using the Path Stone by using Vorador's ravens as test subjects; pieces of the Pillar of Dimension, carefully runed so that the traveler who activated it would be brought to the place where the Path Stone in Nosgoth lay active and pulsing with magic. We had just had a nervous bit of waiting while Nikolai popped onto Gaia and back. I'd told him to look for anything like a newspaper, and then had to describe it for him briefly. Nosgoth hadn't yet developed paper and still used parchment so the thought of finding a newspaper easily on a street corner was a bit bizzare. I put that on my list of things to study during my soon to be forced vacation.
After we killed Auron, that is.
I looked over the newspaper, something that did not feel like it was made of actual paper and had what looked to be a small computer chip at one corner, that Nikolai had brought back through. I had been strangely eager for news of my home world despite the worry I also felt for my friend. I laughed outright when I saw the main headline praising solar roadways and how they had 'finally' finished the last bit of road installation within the U.S. and as well as more improvements that had been made world-wide regarding health care and transportation. There was even an interesting image of a electric motorcycle. I turned it over to the blank back and when I turned it back around 'page 2' had appeared. Despite the bizarreness of that, my breath hitched in my throat as I saw a photo of my parents and myself as an infant along with a photo of my college badge at eighteen with me smiling happily. I'd been so excited about getting into the college I'd wanted. I hesitantly reached out to touch the image as my jaw clenched tight, my curiosity at the new tech forgotten as memories flooded to the fore. Downside of being vampiricly inclined; you did not truly forget anything. You just pushed it aside and buried it away for later.
"What is it Childe?" Janos asked as he leaned close, noting my unease from the sudden twitch of my wings.
"That's... my parents... and me as a babe..." I pointed at the two photos, "and this is my college school photo. Why am I...?"
I shook my head and focused on the article itself as I read aloud.
"'One hundred and twenty-five years ago the vampire society that had been living in the shadows of our world revealed itself. Despite the rough transitional period as our societies meshed and unified around the world, the progress we have made as a society has been completed in leaps and bounds as age old historians and scientists came forth to share their brilliant minds with us once more. Today, June sixteenth of twenty-one-fifty-seven, we celebrate the Unveiling.
Yet this day is also filled with sorrow. Altair, the long standing King of the Draconian vampire Clan, has called upon us all once more. From Breed to Blood, Human to Half-blood he asks us to share any information on one of the missing daughters of the sky. Early before dawn's light, on this the anniversary day of the Unveiling and also the same date their kinswoman went missing, he called for a rally and said this to reporters;
'The gift of a child born and not made is a rare event even when one is dealing with a newly made vampire. For those of us who have reached a thousand years or more it is thought to be nigh on impossible. And yet there was a true miracle.
Calder Eklund,'" I let out a faint, choked noise as I tripped over the name of my father but cleared my throat swiftly and continued to read, "'was my right hand, my Captain and had been so for over a thousand years. He had found love and received a blessing in a born child as a result. Too soon was he stripped away from his family, dying in the line of duty to protect his Lord's family. My family. Respecting our most ancient of laws, his daughter was to be raised as a human until her thirtieth year and, outside of an emergency, only then would she have been offered the chance to Awaken her Vampiric blood.
Instead she was taken in the night and has been missing for one hundred and fifty-two years to the day. The magic of our clan usually allows us to track one of our own if they go missing. Yet this magic has failed us time and again when trying to find our missing kinswoman. We have failed her as her clan. I have failed her as her father's liege-lord. We know she lives, for the magic crystal is still active, still searches for her and even fluctuated briefly two years ago to the point where we thought she might have perished, yet the magic stabilized. Even with that, we have been unable to pinpoint her location. Spell-smiths the world over have been working to try to counter the magic that hides her from us to no success.
If any of you have information that may aid us in recovering our lost daughter of the skies then please contact us.
If you are the one hiding her, then know that your days are numbered. Even were she returned to us undamaged at this point, you will still suffer for your crime. My clan has existed for over five thousand years and in that time we have, all of us, developed a particular set of skills. Skills that make us a nightmare for people like you. We will find you and we will kill you for this transgression against our kinswoman. There will be no forgiveness for you.
Lastly, if there is any chance at all that you are reading this or hearing this, do not give up Katrina Eklund, daughter of my dearest friend. We are still looking for you even now. Hold strong as the Oak Grove your family is named for. Hold to Hope. We will find you.'"
I slumped down into the chair next to me as I looked over the photos again, not really taking notice of the few tears that had started down my cheeks. Kain reached out to brush the back of his taloned claws against the side of my neck in a soothing gesture that made me start slightly and I rubbed at my face.
"'Eklund' is your family name I take it?" Vorador said from where he stood, idly rolling a small ink pot between his taloned fingers. Janos's wings twitched with worry as he watched me and Nikolai moved over to sooth his lover's wings, though he, too, shot me a concerned look.
"Yes, it is, though I have never had cause to use it while here. What would be the point? I... I can't believe it though. They are still trying to find me?" I shook my head. "Fuck, shit and damnation, but I would have given up on me after a hundred and fifty-two years. That they still search for me. This is... a little overwhelming. I had thought to arrive forgotten, not yet sought out for rescue of all things."
"That tracking spell of theirs gave them the knowledge that you were still alive and, even once you were transported here, apparently that magic yet works," Kain said thoughtfully. "That they still look for you may mean also mean that we will have allies to help us in our hunt."
"If one of my own Childe went missing without word and I had such a spell, I would not rest 'til I found my Childe again," Vorador said suddenly. His voice went dark and cold as ice as he set the ink pot he had been playing with down. "If the crystal failed I still would not stop until I had found the responsible party and had my vengeance."
I let out a bitter laugh as I looked at the photo again. "For the first time I actually want to go back, if only to let them know them know that I have been safe and sound here on Nosgoth. Sentimental of me perhaps but... better that they know to stop looking for me. Still... one hundred and fifty-two years? I have been here just over four hundred now. How long were you there by your perception Nikolai? You were gone over for three hours to us."
"Three hours?" Nikolai shook his head as he suddenly understood Janos' initial outburst of 'finally!' when he had reappeared. "It was barely a few minutes, if even that. I appeared in an alleyway, grabbed what best matched the item you described and then activated the Pillar piece immediately after."
"That's..." I frowned slightly and then twitched when Vorador idly knocked over the ink pot he had been fiddling with. I barely caught it before it could hit the ground... with the Telekensis Gift I had recently developed in the past few months. Janos said that my new Gift carried the taste of Kain's magic, which meant I'd gained the Gift from him after centuries of us feeding off each other. I shot Vorador a dark look as I put the ink pot back and then continued my train of thought. "The math for that doesn't add up. The article said there was a fluctuation in the crystals magic two years ago for them, almost as if the crystal lost track of me for a few. If that fluctuation heralded my arrival here, then that means four-hundred and two years here would be equal to two years there, or two-hundred and one years here for every one year there... you... I'm no math expert, but you should have been gone a hell of a lot longer then three hours..."
"Time may not pass at an exact rate between the two realms, my Childe," Janos said as he gave my shoulder a pat. "Remember that the only way for Auron to communicate with the Sarafan lord the way he did was for both Stones to be active. This would have created a temporal link despite the distance between realms. Our own usage of the Stone has been carefully worked to ensure that we do not connect with his own."
"Right... wouldn't do any good to land right in a trap," I let out a faint sigh.
"Even with all of our planning, that may yet be the scenario we needs must plan for mine own," Kain rumbled in a firm tone.
I nodded my head at his words.
"I have everything packed that I might need," I gave the expanded satchel at my waist a pat as I stood. I raised a brow at Kain. "Did you decide what weapon you'll be bringing? You said you would be leaving the Soul Reaver here."
"Correct. I will not risk anything happening to the blade," he replied and he looked me over with a small scowl. Translation of that look?; 'I would prefer not to risk you, either, but needs must.' He continued a moment later. "Havoc and Malice will suit me well enough in the Reaver's stead."
I let out a soft snort at that. Kain only grabbed the twin axes when he wanted to watch something burn. He wasn't as much of a pyro as myself, as my own short sword was a testament to. It could do the same as either of the axes; at my will it burst into flame... which made me a teeny tiny bit giggly on occasion. It was a gift from Vorador, something he had made for me shortly after my Torpor. I'd named it Kindness, both to annoy Vorador as well as to say that I killed my enemies with kindness.
Silly, I know... but I always tried to find humor in the small things. Kain could oft find me doing something a simple as basking in the sun or moon light, people-watching or even just watching various animals during spring and summer.
"Do we need anything else?" I asked softly.
Kain had wanted to leave as soon as the method of travel was proven safe. With that being said, we both had carefully runed necklaces with what looked to be simple charms made from the Dimensional Pillar. The 'charms' would ensure that he was pulled back to our activated Stone immediately while I would return later on. Once Kain returned to Nosgoth he would keep the Nosgothian Path Stone inert until it was safe for me to return, which would give me time to learn about certain things on Gaia in order to help Nosgoth 's restoration.
If things went as pla... Vorador knocked over the ink pot again and I snarled at him even as my thoughts derailed, yet I caught it once more with my new Gift.
"Do you mind?" I snarled. "Quit that!"
"Make me," Vorador said with a smirk.
Kain shook his head at our antics even as he pulled his axes from his magical storage space and attached them to his belt. I'd managed to convince him to wear a simple black silk shirt and had my wings drawn in so that we would be able to blend into any crowds that might be nearby when we appeared. Other then that he wore his usual armor, minus the pauldrons he'd abandoned a number of years ago thanks to the tough sub-dermal armor that protected him. I wore my usual leather armor but had it covered with a loose top and my cargo-style pants. We wouldn't stand out too badly dressed as we were.
"Let us deal with the trash that threatens you. I would put an end to him once and for all," Kain said with a smile that was all fang and death. I returned the smile with my own dark grin.
Our farewells to the others were brief, Janos and Vorador would hold the fort while Kain was gone. Hopefully this would not take too long on either side of the dimensions, but we had spread the rumor about that Kain and I were simply going on a well deserved holiday away from everyone. Woe be to anyone who caused trouble during Kain's absence.
Janos placed his taloned hand on the Path Stone and activated its' magics. A portal similar to the one that Janos himself had used to escape the Hylden's prison realm opened, only this was a blue and green portal that seemed vibrant with life instead of sickly in coloration. I kept one hand on the hilt of my sword and tucked the other into the bend of Kain's offered arm. The perfect image of a couple going on a stroll... other then the weapons of course.
We stepped into the portal and everything twisted, shivered around us. For a brief moment I felt equally as if I were about to be ill, as I did when I had imbued my Mark and as I did when I was first able to fly free in the skies of Nosgoth. Beneath all that was a strange sense of 'welcome home...' and 'stay as long as you need...'. It was a perplexing sensation that lasted all of an instant before we stepped onto the concrete ground of an alleyway.
Kain sneezed violently beside me and held a hand up to cover his nose briefly.
My own nose crinkled at the scents that filled the air. Yet... it did not smell as bad as I'd feared. Cars had never been my favorite things what with the foul smelling exhaust, but that scent in the air was far less then what I had been expecting given enhanced senses. The worst of the scent came primarily from the reek of booze, piss and vomit from a human that was passed out nearby. I gave a small tug to Kain's arm and we moved swiftly out of the dark alley and onto the main sidewalk.
Into a subdued neon brightness that lit up the night with a soft glow.
The roads glowed faintly with neon light. The roads themselves were formed out of hexagon shaped... blocks perhaps? I knew that there were solar panels of some sort within thanks to the article but the intricacies... another thing to look into to slake my curiosity. LED lights made orange lines across the road and clearly marked the different lanes as cars of various styles, most not releasing the scent of exhaust, went back and forth as the people within went about their business. Kain stiffened beside me as he slowly looked around and I gave his arm a small squeeze as I tugged him into walking with me along the side walk. He kept pace with me easily but I could scent his unease. He spoke after several minutes of walking in silence as I looked at street signs and tried to see if I could figure out where on Gaia we were.
"Your descriptions of this world... seem to have been somewhat lacking," he murmured softly.
"Things changed," I responded in an equally soft tone. "I described and drew what I remembered from before my capture. There were new technological advancements practically every year even before then. I did say that things might have progressed to where some items might be somewhat unrecognizable even to me."
"You did at that," he said as he eyed the sleek looking cars on the road warily. "I find myself surprised that no one kills themselves with those fast moving contraptions."
"Mmm? The cars?" I followed his gaze and then chuckled. "Unless they have cured stupidity at some point, people do kill themselves by crashing into each other or buildings or trees. Drunk driving and lack of knowing how to drive in poor weather conditions were some of the primary causes for such deaths in my youth. I don't imagine that has much changed."
We came to a halt at a four way street and I found myself surprised at my automatic response in stopping. It had been so long since I had walked like this and yet those old instincts to check the roads were still there. I shook my head in amusement and then looked at the street signs... and promptly stiffened in shock. Kain noticed my sudden tensing and raised a brow at me. I looked at him.
"I believe... I know where we might be. Let's get a little further into the city first," I said.
He nodded and I started us further down the path. I came to a halt when we came to the corner of Erie Ave and Bermuda Road. Things were different, the buildings more advanced but... I led us left down Bermuda Road and we continued again for several more moments. At some point I came to a halt and stopped in front of a series of buildings as I let go of Kain's arm. A gated fence now surrounded the buildings and the parking lot. As it was late, the buildings and lot were empty and thus there was only the faintest amount of light from the street lamps. Within I could see many more buildings had been added at one point, but what stood out for me was the rounded building that still had the U.S. flag painted on it. I smirked and then shook my head with a laugh. Kain tilted his head at me.
"What do you find humorous?" he asked.
"Remember how I told you about schools? This is one," I nodded my head at the buildings. "Liberty High School, home of the Patriots."
The school name and mascot names were said with a minor amount of amusement and faintly remembered disdain.
"Not your school from your tone I take it?" Kain said with a raised brow. "You did explain 'school rivalries' at one point."
"Yeah, this wasn't my high school. I went to Chaparral, home of the Cow-boys and -girls," I jerked my thumb North-ward. "It's about ten and a half miles North of here if it still stands. But seeing this school... I know where we are now; Henderson, Nevada. Las Vegas, my home city, is just to the North of us."
"That is good to hear," I saw him relax faintly.
That we now had our bearings, even if we still had no true idea of where Auron was, both of us were able to relax slightly. We weren't in the middle of no-where and neither of us had wanted to stop to talk to any of the people walking around on the streets. Both of us were uncomfortable, even if this was my home world... things had changed quite a bit. Everything was more advanced.
"We can head North if you'd like, closer to where I lived," I said softly as I glanced back at the school buildings. "I don't know if you want to wait and see if that crystal responds to my being back on Gaia and be found by the Draconian's..."
"A good a plan as any at this point. They may prove helpful," he said with a nod. "Are you able...?"
"Excuse me," a kindly voice interrupted Kain and we both turned to face the male human that approached us. A cop who looked to be in his forties, though if we were still on Nosgoth I'd have guessed younger. I had no idea what the current lifespan for humans was now for Gaia. I'd already advised Kain to be mindful of Gaia's 'constables' and their duties, we didn't need any immediate trouble. The cops hands rested lightly on his belt but in easy reach of the stun gun, and odd looking gun, holstered on his hip. "Don't mean to bother you, but I do need to stop the pair of you and ask about those weapons."
"We aren't carrying concealed," I said as I patted the hilt of my sword lightly. Kain stayed silent next to me but I could feel his disdain at the humans interruption.
"They are real then? Ah," the human started faintly when Kain crossed his arms suddenly in his annoyance and made an idle claw sharpening motion. The human then nodded his head faintly in Kain's direction as he shifted warily. "Of course they're real. My apologies, vampires don't have a habit of carrying fake weapons like some of the human cos-players. I just needed to see if they were real and ask that you not cause any problems. If you're hunting a rogue though, I'll need to see a permit."
Kain and I shared a mildly confused look before I turned back to the officer with a shake of my head.
"We aren't intending to cause problems. These are just a bit of protection as we pass through the area," I said in a reassuring tone.
"Good to hear," the officer nodded his head.
"You are not... afraid?" Kain asked suddenly as he held up one taloned hand.
"No sir," the human said with a small smile. "Like most officers these days, I'm partnered with a vampire cop. He's a bit old fashioned, but Jon's a decent sort. Has talons like yours. Actually does the same thing when he's upset about something."
The officer mimicked the sharpening gesture Kain had made and I had to smile faintly. Kain let out a huff of breath a my amusement. I sent out a small, testing pulse of Aura energy to get a sense of the immediate area, no further, and then tilted my head.
"Where is your partner then?" I asked. "I don't sense anyone nearby."
The officer jerked a thumb east-ward.
"Jon needed to feed. He's visiting the nearby Red Cross blood donation center," he said. "If you're new to the area and need a bite to eat, pardon the pun, just head about a mile that way. Just remember to look for the Red Cross symbol that's emblazoned on a set of wings. They'll have chilled blood packs for you if you're in a hurry and often have willing donors milling about inside. Mind ya, don't take offered blood of anyone hanging around outside of the center. We've been having some issues with blood junkies lately."
"'Blood junkies'...?" Kain asked with a tilt of his head.
"Yeah, like adrenaline junkies but they go after that euphoric buzz caused by a vampire's bite," the officer shrugged. "More fatalities with blood junkies too 'cause the idiots keep offering blood beyond what's healthy just to get that buzz. Bad too when they start hovering around the centers like they've been the past few weeks, because if they get themselves killed then we have to pull in the big guys to make sure it's not a case of a vamp gone rogue if the vamp who was offered the blood bolts thinking that they lost control and drained more then they meant to. A bit of a headache, that."
"Well..." I blinked at that, not surprised as I reached up and gave my braid a small thoughtful tug, mindful of the currently non-lethal spikes. We had actually started to run into a similar issue in Nosgoth over the past few decades. I'd worked with Vorador and our Sire to make jewelry that would glow red when a willing donor was health enough to survive a feeding or blue if they were still recovering or ill. I wondered briefly why they hadn't thought to do the same thing here? Or perhaps they had but only those within the centers wore them? "Thank you for the warning. We will keep that in mind."
"Right then," the officer nodded his head and he offered a tight-lipped smile that didn't bare teeth. If he spent a decent amount of time around vampires the he'd gotten into that habit to avoid misunderstandings. "I'll leave you folks to it. Take care now."
I offered a thankful nod to the officer as he walked away and shook my head slowly as I looked back at Kain.
"That was a good bit of information," I said thoughtfully. "Not surprising that the police force is partnering officers like that since this 'Unveiling' occurred."
"Indeed, that your world's society seems so accepting of it is... strange," he frowned as he watched the officer walk off and then he started walking again, headed North. "A by-product of the education system you spoke of?"
"Possibly, the more you understand something, the less you fear it," I responded with a shrug. "The article did allude to the fact that things did not go smoothly during the first days after the Unveiling. How violent things went, or didn't, may have had to do with how vampires were revealed as more then myth to the general public. Did they do it preemptively before technological advancements would have forced the issue or was it a sudden incident caught in a way that could not be denied? Controlling how the information was released to the public would have made a hell of a difference regarding human reactions. The fact that there are blood banks tailored to suit vampiric needs makes me think that vampires took the initiative though."
"True enough," Kain said with a thoughtful nod. "Controlling the release of knowledge can have as much benefit as obtaining said knowledge in the first place. When one holds all the cards, one cannot have the deck stacked against them."
"It helps that a lot of old vampiric books rather romanticized the 'vampire myth'," I said with a chuckle. "To find out that a vampire's bite can indeed be orgasmic? Probably made a lot of people more excited about the prospect of vampires being real then cared to admit it."
Kain let out a snort of amusement, "You have always said that a healthy herd is a docile herd. I wonder if the humans here are even aware of the yolk that hangs around their necks."
Always about the potential power-plays with him, I thought in amusement even as I spoke. "If vampires are indeed running things in the background, they'll be doing it in a way that gives humans the illusion that they are in control. It may be more of a Democracy though."
Kain snorted at that, "I doubt that mine own. This Draconian Clan is led by a proclaimed King, is it not?"
"Doesn't mean that everything in the world is under his control," I responded with a grin as I waved my hand. "Keep in mind how many world leaders I knew of at the time of my capture. That lot got together in various meetings on occasion to make sure certain policies were held true the world over. Head of State meetings like that are essentially negotiations between different kingdoms and the Draconian King may just be one more face at those meetings, not in control of them."
"Hnnn," the noise he made was thoughtful and we continued walking in companionable silence.
Vampiric stamina meant that we did not need to stop and rest as we made the ten and a half mile walk to where my old home was. Had Kain been the gawking type, he would have been staring blatantly at all the brightly lit casinos as we entered Las Vegas proper. As it was he merely raised a brow and looked about with his usual aloofness even though I could sense his unease with how active, bright and noisy the city was. At one point we stopped at a cross-walk to wait for traffic to change. A woman was also waiting to cross, dressed in a gothic style that still seemed popular, or had made a resurgence. She offered a small nod in our direction and the her nose crinkled as two motorcyclists came to a stop next to us at the light. Both without helmets. One looked me over blatantly and let out a wolf-whistle as he ignored Kain and the fact that I had my hand tucked into the curve of my Mate's arm.
"Heya baby, you want me to show you a good time?" the man said with a leer and a distinctly Texan drawl. His buddy laughed next to him and was eyeing the other woman but without the leer. "Bet the dried up bastard next ta ya can't even get it up. Ain't ya supposed to be old hat by the time ya get those things?"
The human raised his hand and made a mocking gesture as if he had talons like Kain's. Kain stiffened next to me and a low rumble started in his chest. I tightened my grip on his arm slightly and offered the human a smile that was all fang as I nodded toward the woman next to me.
"Deary," I said as I did my best to mimic Alma's cold drawl. "If I wanted to have sex with another woman, I'd have asked the lady next to me."
Kain blinked and the low rumble stuttered in his chest. It didn't fade completely, but it was obvious that he was a bit confused at the verbal by-play. The one who was talking to me let out a human-weak growl even as his buddy laughed.
"Talk about a burn there mate!" the other man said with an Australian twang as he whooped with laughter. "Need me to call an ambo?"
"Shut up," the first on said as he kicked at the others leg, to no effect, before he turned back to me. He offered a dark grin as he eyed the sword at my hip. His eyes lit up with what was bound to be another horrible pick up line. "Ya like swords? I can show you a real one."
I snorted and both Kain and the woman next to us echoed the sound. I shook my head as I spoke, "I am sure that your skill as a cunning linguist is equal to that of a teething babe. If your feeble mind failed to understand that by the by, I do mean that you have no skill, nor 'sword', of any great merit."
The Australian burst into whooping laughter and damn near fell off his bike. The woman beside me laughed merrily into her hand and Kain coughed into his own as he smirked. The Texan male snarled, revved his engine and then made a sharp right turn, cutting off someone who was making a light-approved left. The sharp sounding horn made both Kain and I wince. The Australian face-palmed even as he continued to laugh.
"Sorry about that, bit of a runnin' bet with him this evening to see if he can manage to pick up a nice sheila with his horrid pick up lines," the male said as his laughter faded enough for him to talk. "You're the tenth to turn him down."
"Perhaps he should take that into consideration and modify his practices then," the woman next to us said with a muted valley-girl accent. "That or tuck tail and go home."
"Yup," the man nodded his head. "If you'll excuse me sheila's, sir, I'm going to try to keep that daft dingo from getting himself killed. G'day."
The light turned green and he made a safe right turn to follow after his buddy at high speed. I flinched and shook my head as I yelled after him.
"Helmet!"
"Vampire!" came the answering shout and I blinked.
I hadn't even thought to do an Aura pulse, the male could still have passed for human at first glance. Half-blood? I did let loose a soft pulse and the woman raised a brow at me even as I looked at her as my own brow raised.
"Bit rude that," she said with a small smile that showed a hint of fang. "Not from here I take it?"
"We are passing through at the moment," Kain said with a soft rumble. "Are all human males in this city as... crude as that fool?"
"Some more then most," the woman said with a shake of her head as we crossed the street as a group. "Most are all bark and no bite like that one."
"Is Winterwood Park still open?" I asked after a few moments of silence, suddenly feeling nostalgic.
She looked back at me with a raised brow and then nodded her head.
"It was expanded a long time ago actually. Nice little oasis park now," she tilted her head. "Been a while since you've been here, eh?"
"A bit," I said vaguely.
Her eyes narrowed on me and she frowned in confusion even as a faint flicker of almost recognition flashed in her eyes. I kept my expression carefully neutral. She shook her head and shrugged a minute later as she stopped at the next light and pressed the button to cross the main road...
"You two take care," she said as we continued to cross as the way was still clear for us to cross. "Fair nights and good hunting."
"To you as well," Kain said smoothly. Once we were out of ear shot he spoke softly. "I believe she almost recognized you from that... newspaper image."
"Most likely," I answered as I frowned. "Indulge me?"
"It is your world mine own," he rumbled soothingly. "We have the time if you wish to visit old memories."
I nodded and steered us in the direction of the park I had mentioned. The city noise quieted as we distanced ourselves from the main streets. We came across and passed my old school. I eyed a few spots that had changed, places that had been fast food joints where I had hung out with old school mates, a place that had been a library and had been turned into a museum at some point. Many things were the same, only with newer paint or newer materials and I found myself lost in the more pleasant memories of my childhood. We stopped at the park and I blinked in surprise before we started in.
It was indeed changed to look like a brilliant oasis-styled park.
Palm trees were spaced randomly through the park, giving it a more natural feel then the palm tree lined streets. Instead of grass, a bed a clover had been laid out and the soft plant crinkled pleasantly underfoot. I remembered that clover was easier to tend to then grass and, depending on the type of clover, it could survive some of the hottest Nevada days with just a little bit of tending. As we moved deeper into the park I took note of the fact that several spots looked the same. Even an old stone bench still stood under one large palm tree, worn even further by the elements then it had been in my youth. Kain gave my arm a tug as I ran my fingers over the time worn stone and drew my attention to the now enlarged pond nearby. My eyes widened and, had I not had centuries of practice maintaining a calm expression due to both courtly and battle-time duties, my jaw would have dropped in shock.
In the center of the large pond... was a statue of me... or what looked like me when I was yet eighteen.
I let go of Kain's arm and approached the pond as I looked the statue over. I had been fit in my youth but the statue had captured that still somewhat gangly aspect of those younger years. Muscles that had not filled out yet, a body that was still in the stages of that last growth spurt. As it was, I knew that I looked harder then that young image caught in stone, years of battle and activity had shaped me into a sleek hunter, a 'stiletto blade' as Kain had called me. One thing remained almost the same though; my smile. The stone mason had used an image of me taken by friends after I had managed to get approved for the college I'd wanted. I'd been in my usual cargo pants, a loose shirt and my old zip-up hoodie. My friends had snapped a picture when I had been smiling and turning to walk backwards at the same time. My smile had been happy, nervous and just a tiny bit predatory as we had been joking about my taking over the college library and just how I would 'maintain iron control over the wisdom of the ages held within'. The stone mason had caught all of that, from the twist of my hips as I'd been turning to the flick of my hand as I had been in the process of flipping one of my friends off. The photo actually made it look like I'd been turning to hold out my hand to someone, not about make a rude gesture, and the statue captured that instant just before insult perfectly.
A well tended gold plaque was embedded in the base of the statue and I blinked as I read it over.
"Well..." I said as I tilted my head. "They turned the park into a memorial park... for me. That's... nice... I suppose? I mean it is... pretty damned accurate. I even know what photo they used..."
"Interesting at the least," he tilted his head as he looked the well-tended statue over. "This is accurate? You look so... young."
"Clueless more like," I said with a hint of bitterness. "I only knew about the human dangers of this world at that point... lesson learned..."
He reached out to run the backs of his talons down my shirt covered back. I eased into the touch as his hand settled against the base of my back. His Aura brushed against mine in a soothing wave and I relaxed a little more, shoulders no longer so tense as I looked over the statue.
"You still have the same impishly shy smile," Kain said with a bit of amused pride in his voice. "Life's lessons did not break you."
"Here or on Nosgoth," I said.
I rolled my shoulders and started to say something else when the sound of wing-beats, heavy wing-beats, filled the air. Kain and I were instantly back to back with weapons drawn and held ready as we looked skyward. Ten winged vampires, seven with taloned hands and swords, three with human-looking hands and guns that looked like Colts but... weird, landed around us nary a second later. One of the younger looking males with human-looking hands stepped forward with a snarl that reverberated through the air.
"Get the hell away from her now!" he roared, his ire and gun both directed firmly at Kain.
Fuck, Shit and Damnation!
End chappy!
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