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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
- 57
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- 59
Chapter Fifty-Eight: ...and plan for the Endgame.
Kain nodded his head regally at Raziel and Raziel rolled his shoulders, wings twitching uneasily at his back as he turned to look at the Seer.
"It did," he answered in a stiff tone. "Though you will forgive us if we do not explain the how of such events."
"I do understand. Completely," she said and she raised her hands briefly in a shrugging gesture. "What I do not know cannot be forced from my lips, nor from my mind. It was one of the reasons that we never spoke of our plans to Janos despite him being the Guardian of the Reaver. He would have remained silent and would not have spoken of things to others..."
"Yet he was eventually possessed by the Hylden Lord," Raziel said in a dark and knowing tone. "Anything he knew at that point would have been made available to our enemies."
"Precisely," the Seer said in a sorrowful tone. "Janos has always an open-minded sort. Had we brought our evidence to him, he would have been willing to aid us. Of this I have no doubt. The war between our races saddened him greatly. Friendships were shattered. Lovers separated. Oath's and treaties made between long-time allies broken down into meaningless dust. Yet... I fear at this point that if he came to know the truth, it would break him. I was glad indeed to see a vision of him leaving for your home-world, My Lady."
A non-so-subtle request to be provided with some kind of information with regards to my adopted Sire. Some small scrap of hope. From Raziel's expression, and Kain's as well, they were also curious. I sipped at the blood-wine thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded my head.
"He had indeed overheard one of our discussions regarding the Parasite, though I know not which one," I said and I looked Kain's way. "He had a severe crisis of faith as a result, but I and my Siblings were about to help him through it."
"He tried to do himself harm then?" Raziel questioned.
I closed my eyes and bit back a growl of frustration at the other male's question. I had been purposefully vague in order to avoid going into such details. Fuck, shit and damnation! I opened my eyes and took in the Seer's changed expression. Her eyes were wide, worried and I knew by the sincere fear in her expression that I would have to give her something more in order to assuage her fears regarding her old friend.
"Yes," I answered in a dark tone and Raziel frowned at the change in my voice. I flashed him a slightly annoyed look and he flinched faintly, just the slightest tightening around the eyes signalling that he understood why I was upset with him. "He did. However, with time and effort we were able to work with him and get him through it. It helped that he was unknowingly assisting your own efforts in trying to restore Nosgoth and the true Wheel."
"You... you are certain?" she asked, tone hopeful now.
"Very," I responded in a firm tone. "He was happy. Content. Mated to a wonderful partner and surrounded by my Siblings, all of whom readily accepted him into their Clan-subset. He has Vorador, his first childe, and Alma at his side as well. Believe me when I say that by the time I left, he had his hands full with that lot and happily so. He is again with a Clan that knows the joy of the skies and can share that joy with him. He is fine."
The 'now' remained unsaid and Raziel was wise enough not to press for more information this time around. The Hylden woman had looked particularly distressed at the thought of Janos being harmed and were it not for the clear knowledge regarding my Sire's preferences in companions I would have wondered just how closed they had been. As it was, it made more sense now for Janos and Vorador both to have kept the Hylden Seer secret from the others and known only as a 'friend' if she needed to be sought out.
She had started to relax as I spoke of Janos' well-being and she finally nodded once I was done. Her stance had changed to a relieved one but she did not speak further. Kain sipped from his own goblet and broke the silence moments later.
"You said to seek you out when next we needed your aid woman," he started in a low tone. "Mayhaps you will be able to assist is deciphering a message for us."
"I can but try Lord Scion," she said with a small bow of her head.
Kain nodded his head at me and I returned the nod before I spoke.
"I was given a message of three words only; 'Core', 'Deep' and 'Witch'," I said.
"Hnn," she tilted her head and blinked thoughtfully. "And who delivered this message to you, if I may ask?"
The three of us shared another glance before Kain nodded his head. Raziel turned to the Seer and spoke this time.
"My future self," he responded.
"Hm, from the focus being on those three words alone, I imagine that your future self is... incapacitated?" she asked with a small frown as she tapped on her chin thoughtfully.
"He is," Kain responded begrudgingly.
"The last word is an obvious clue to seek me out," she hummed. "And mayhaps a sign that your future self will be unable to assist in the battles ahead of you..."
"Conclusions that we have already reached," Raziel said in a stiff tone.
Kain shot a look Raziel's way and the other male twitched faintly before he looked away and focused on nursing his blood-wine. There was the faintest tilt of his head in the process, enough to count as a token yielding to his Sire's will. I blinked and then frowned faintly. It was plain that Raziel had issues centering about trusting others. Understandable really. I had hope that we could work with him on that though. Given that he had allowed Kain at his back, and more besides with him allowing us to Mark him, and that he was willing to back down now gave me hope regarding that facet of life.
The Seer spared me a small smile and then went back to looking thoughtful.
"'Core'... 'deep'..." she murmured. Her eyes seemed to loose focus on what was around her. "No hint of 'where' or even 'when'. Perhaps in the 'now'? I wonder if this might be tied to..."
The Seer collapsed abruptly. It was as if she were a puppet whose strings had been cut. Raziel and I moved as one to catch her arms to prevent her from hitting the ground. Her head lolled back and I noticed that her eyes were glowing with a golden light compared to a vampires white glow. At Kain's direction, we laid her out upon the couch in her 'living room' and watched her trembling form carefully. Were it not for the constant golden glow of her eyes and the slow beating of her heart, I might have thought her dead as her chest barely moved. That, or comatose. As it was, the three of us were forced to keep a silent vigil over her prone form.
Roughly ten minutes later, the Seer's body spasmed violently and she shot up into a sitting position with a high, fearful gasp. Between one blink and the next, her eyes lost the golden glow and she looked around frantically. Her eyes locked onto an odd stone that lay on the table and she grabbed it up and held it tight in her hand, obviously using it as a means to re-orient herself on the 'now'. A low, ragged sound escaped her and Kain moved to where she had grabbed the blood-wine that she had offered to us. He opened another bottle, sniffed at it and nodded after a moment. Rather than poor the fluid into anything, he moved over and handed the entire bottle to the Seer. She took it with a daze, yet grateful, look and knocked back several swallows of the fluid within. She fell back against the back of the couch, bottle held tight in one hand and hand clasped tight about the stone in the other with her eyes clenched shut.
"What did you see?" Raziel asked in a careful tone.
"There was not much to see in truth," she said softly. "I saw the Pillar's themselves extending from their broken points on the surface down to the secondary chambers and then... down further still. It is odd in a way..."
"What is?" I pressed gently.
"I did not realize just how far down they extended," she said and her tone grew awed. "Down into the very depths of the world. They seem to end in an open, massive cavern... that housed an equally massive lake of all things..."
"An subterranean lake, likely formed thanks to an aquifer," I said with a knowing nod.
"What else did you see?" Kain pressed.
"Just the Pillars themselves, though it is... odd," she frowned and moved her hand to rub at her forehead. "They ended in sharp points and stopped just above the bed of the lake... like..."
"Like spears," I breathed, suddenly excited. Another possibility suddenly being confirmed. "They look like the points of spears being stabbed through something, don't they?"
She looked at me, startled at first and then her face twisted with a dark satisfaction and awe.
"Yes," she hissed. "Just like spears piercing the body of a creature that I cannot see. We wounded the beast in truth then! Ah, but if only the blow had been enough to slay it!"
"Anything else?" Kain asked in a firm tone, forcing the woman to focus on him rather than focus on her lamenting.
"Ah... no," she shook her head. "I cannot see anything in the Spectral Realm. My sight is for those in the Realm of the Living, not the Realm of the Dead."
"Still, this helps us in part," I said and I flashed the woman a grateful smile. "'Core' must reference the Parasite core or heart and 'deep' the fact that it is trapped deep underground in the cavern that you saw. The beast has no way to escape us if we mount an attack on him there."
~It is a damn good thing that you inherited Raziel's Gift's when he purified you,~ I Whispered to Kain.
~Indeed,~ Kain nodded his head once as I glanced at him.
It was a harrowing thought. If Kain had not been granted Raziel's immunity to water, then he'd have been unable to reach the Parasite's core at all. As it was, Raziel would need to shift into the Reaver form in order for Kain to do any substantial damage to the Parasite, so we would be down a fighter. A glance at Raziel showed that he had reasoned that out as well, if his clenched jaw was anything to go by at least. I let out a huff of breath and looked back to the Seer.
"If I may, what made you gasp so?" I asked in concern. "You acted as if you had been hurt."
Given that I had some experience with dreams that could cause true harm, I wanted to be certain the other woman was alright.
"Ah, that," she frowned. "I am fine. In the vision, whilst there was nothing to be seen, it felt as if something had grabbed hold of me and had started to crush me..."
"Was this seen from one of our perspectives?" I asked with a frown.
She shook her head.
"No," she responded. "It was from my own. This vision... I believe that it ties in with another, long-standing vision that I have had before regarding a long set of tunnels and if I am right... I may very well end up trading my life in the process of leading you where you need to go to defeat the Parasite."
"Oh?" Kain raised a brow at her
"Mmm," she looked up at the ceiling. "I have long had a vision of being led to a cave by another. There are then two paths. One is well know by this 'other person' or 'persons', whilst the other leads down a particular set of tunneling pathways with dozens of branching paths, yet I know the way deeper underground. The vision always ends with the same sensation of being grabbed... which is then followed by a darkness that does not end..."
I shared a brief look with Kain and then stood up. I moved over to the Seer's side and lightly knocked my knuckle against her skull. She blinked up at me in confusion.
"I do not like the finality in your tone," I said to her. "Do not simply give up because you have seen a possible path. Now, tell me... why are you so certain that this vision of yours was from your own point of view and not someone else's?"
She gave me a bemused look and sat straighter.
"Because a vision regarding another person is always seen in the third-person, whilst a vision regarding one's self is are from my own eyes," she said in explanation. "It was how I knew that it was I that needed to have an escape route planned when the Hylden Sarafan Lord sent his minions to burn down my hut."
"Hmm, I understand," I nodded and then tilted my head, wings twitching and fanning lightly at the air with my continued annoyance. "This does not mean however, that you will die. One of us may well be able to prevent the incident that you have seen or you may merely have been rendered unconscious at the end of that vision."
"I do hope that you are correct My Lady," she responded with a faint, almost shy smile. "I would like to see the end of the beast that caused so much grief and the world that Nosgoth can grow to be once it is gone."
"We will need to plan out our strategy from here," Kain rumbled in a thoughtful tone.
"The Parasite's limbs can be equally unwieldy or alarmingly fast for their size. A blow will likely send you reeling regardless," Raziel said, offering up his own experiences.
"Let me hazard a guess, the larger they are, the slower they move?" I asked in clarification and he nodded. "Hm, that may well work in our favor in truth. Any limbs that close to the main body are likely to be large and cumbersome. Perhaps a handful of smaller limbs usually used to draw prey in."
"We cannot make assumptions however," Kain pointed out as he crossed his arms and tapped the tip of one talon against his bicep.
"True," I responded with a nod. "We do not know for certain what protections he might have. Hell, at this point I am not even certain what aid I might be able to provide beyond my usual scouting abilities. We do not know if I can even see or sense the beast given that I am not from Nosgoth. I do not like the idea of you fighting it alone."
"I will have Raziel with me," he said in response to my concern and Raziel nodded his head in agreement with his Sire.
I let out a huff of breath.
"Yes, but in what form?" I asked. "Reaver or Vampire? If the Parasite thinks that Raziel is yet trapped within the blade, than it will be prudent to initially approach with Raziel in Reaver form. If the blade is knocked from your grasp at any point, then there will be a brief time in which you can surprise the beast."
"That might not work given the numerous eyes upon the Parasite's limbs," Raziel pointed out as he raised a hand slightly.
"A fair point. Taking an enemy off guard requires keeping the element of surprise," I responded with a nod.
"Your own Gift may help in that regard," the Seer offered.
"Perhaps," I said. "But only if I have been able to remain out of sight and only if I can reach the blade itself and envelop it in my own Gift in such a way that the Parasite does not notice its' disappearance. It is just as likely that the beast may try to cause a cave in to separate Kain from the Reaver blade in such an instance and that would cut me off from it as well."
I did not mention that if such a thing happened and I was with the Reaver that I had a way to get to Kain's side in an instant.
"He will have the home-field advantage," I continued, "and that is even with the Pillars keeping him pinned in place. My Gift is nigh on useless for scouting at this point though, simply in lieu of the fact that we do not know if I can see the Parasite. Not do I believe that we should risk revealing Raziel's true ability to change forms too early in this end-game."
"These are all valid points," Kain said thoughtfully as he took a seat in a large chair, sprawling out in it as if it were his throne. "The Seer is unable to see into the Spectral Realm. Understandable given that even the Chronoplast is incapable of allowing such a thing. We can only use her abilities to gain a rough approximation of the size of this underground lake..."
"One can barely see the other end of the lake from the shore and the Pillars can be seen in the center of the body of water, the vision gave me that much to go on," the Seer offered.
"Not too big a lake then, but still large for an underground lake," I said with a nod.
"Hmmm," Kain shook his head faintly. "It would be prudent to confirm if you can even see the Parasite before we continue my Katrina. Or at the least see if there is a way to share our ability to see it to an extent."
"Try to see if Raziel can 'purify' me?" I asked. Kain nodded. "I am not certain if that would even work given my own other-world nature, but that would be the easiest thing to attempt first. If I still cannot see the Parasite after such an attempt, then we will have to plan from there."
I glanced at Raziel and he frowned faintly, but nodded his head.
"Be aware that I am uncertain if I can even duplicate the process," he warned. "I may well cause you harm in the attempt should we proceed..."
"I am aware," I said with a faint smile. "And we should at least try. Better to do this kind of a scouting mission armed with as many tools available to me as possible."
"Very well, if we are all agreed then?" Raziel asked as he looked at Kain.
Kain nodded again, silent and stern-faced. I could tell over the Marks that he was concerned with this idea but also willing to allow it to proceed. He stood and moved closer to us, ready to catch me if need but also to place himself subtly between myself and the Seer. For all the aid that she had freely given thus far, there had been too many times over the centuries that Kain had been betrayed by those who 'helped' him up to the very last second. Until the Parasite was defeated and the woman's loyalty proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would continue to be mindful of her actions and reactions. He might even watch her afterwards for any hidden agenda that required success in our current endeavors.
Raziel moved to stand in front of me and held out his hand, trepidation writ clearly upon his face. I gave him a reassuring smile and placed my smaller hand into his taloned grasp. I nodded my assent and he returned the nod a moment later. His eyes started to glow a soft, white-blue and I suddenly felt that odd touch, the brush of something stroking along my very soul. Like before, the sensation was equal parts reassuring and wrenching. The sensation increased in increments as a glow of white-blue light appeared at his hands and began to spread over my own. The wrenching sensation increased and then...
It suddenly felt like someone had taken a club to the back of my head...
I felt myself collapse much as the Seer had earlier and watched as if from a distance as Kain forcibly separated Raziel and I. Sensation was muted, dulled but I knew that I had been picked up and placed onto the couch that the Seer had previously been sitting on. Said woman had moved to the side and had distanced herself appropriately as to minimize her presence, and thus the perceived threat she presented, from the room as much as possible without actually leaving. I blinked dazedly at the cloth-covered ceiling and tried to organize my thoughts, yet thought remained as illusive as the dust motes within a beam of light.
I felt... exhausted. A kind of soul deep exhaustion really. Dimly I realized that fresh blood was being poured into my mouth. Kain's power-rich blood. My body reacted reflexively, swallowing down that lightning tinged fluid but it did not feel as if I needed the blood. Voiced and sound registered to me once more and I blinked in surprise. I had not realized that I could not hear anything until that point...
"...ring my own energy," Raziel was saying in a stiff tone. Like a soldier making a report... "Only it back-lashed abruptly and pulled some of her own soul into me, feeding me in the process... I stopped as soon as I realized things had gone wrong. I did not take much."
"Hn," Kain's voice was dark with his upset emotions. "If this did not work, then we will not be attempting it a second time."
"Agreed," Raziel responded, voice equally stiff and relieved with Kain's commanding tone.
I pushed Kain's wrist away from my mouth and licked my lips clean reflexively. Both males turned to look at me, worried frowns on their faces. I chuckled faintly at the sight. Rolling my shoulders, I stretched out and tested each limb critically and relaxed as everything worked like it was supposed to. I found that I did not feel physically sore. Rather that I felt... almost as if I had gotten a full night of sleep and yet remained tired. Honestly, a few hours of rest in a warm bed would have been wonderful...
"'m fine," I managed to say and I frowned at the slight slurring in my voice. "Jus' gimme a momen'."
"Even when waking up from a deep slumber, drained of blood or drunk you have never slurred your speech so Katrina," Kain growled out. Ah... he was pissed...
"I am fine," I stressed, focusing on keeping my voice. "I am just a little drained is..."
My eyes flew wide and I could feel the blood drain from my face. I sat up abruptly, damn near braining my skull against Kain's own. His taloned hands closed on my shoulders even as my fingers fumbled for the stone necklace about my neck. I outright ignored Kain's snapping voice, not even bothering to focus on his words. Nor did I focus on Raziel's own concerned sounding tones or the Seer's more soothing voice. I focused instead on the stone... and slowly relaxed as I realized that there had been no change to the energies contained within. Opening my eyes, I let out a relieved sigh of breath and felt my shoulders slump.
"Katrina!" I winced at Kain's tone and felt the sudden press of his Aura bearing down over my own in a demanding shove. "You will heed me!"
"I hear you," I said, voice now more steady than earlier. "My apologies for my reaction..."
At the steadiness of my voice, just the slightest bit of tension drained from his shoulders. He still looked pissed though...
"What happened to make you react so?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
"I thought of something and panicked," I said. I shot a half glance in the Seer's direction before meeting his gaze once more. "Everything is alright though."
"My Lady..." Raziel started, voice showing his anger and concern even if his face remained blank. I cut him off.
"I find that I am hungry," I said. And I was, almost desperately so compared to the earlier lassitude that I had felt. "Whatever just happened knocked my vampiric senses ass over teakettle. I only recently registered both your Aura and my own hunger."
Raziel stepped forward at that point and then dropped to one knee next to where I sat on the couch. Kain shifted to sit regally next to me, allowing Raziel to offer his throat up to me in supplication. I let out a hum of noise at the silent offer of both apology and sustenance. I leaned forward and placed a light kiss upon his throat, a silent acceptance of his wordless apology for having inadvertently done me harm. Moments later I sank my fangs into his throat in order to swallow several mouthfuls of his own power-rich blood.
~What is the importance of that small stone My Katrina?~ Kain purred into my mind. His tone was cold, sharp like the edge of a blade. I shivered faintly when his hand came to rest on the base of my back, talons teasing an idle pattern over my skin.
~I would rather not discuss it until the Parasite has been defeated,~ I responded as I fed. Slowly as not to force Raziel over the edge from my feeding.
~Katrina,~ his voice was a growl once again. He was not pleased with my response.
~I said earlier that it was a gift. I did not lie,~ I said firmly, holding my mental ground. ~I'll not discuss what it is but I will say this much; ask yourself why I might be concerned about it after having been drained so by Raziel's Reaver nature.~
I saw Kain frown out of the corner of my eye and his hand went still against my back. He looked at Raziel thoughtfully for a moment. His gaze snapped back to my own mere moments later, eyes narrowed. Hoping that he understood what I had hinted at, and that he would let it go, I turned my focus back to Raziel as I pulled my fangs free of his throat. Raziel let out a sighing groan and I kissed his neck lightly.
~I will leave this be for the nonce mine own,~ Kain rumbled into my mind. ~Know however that I do not like that you are keeping things from me.~
~Was I not wise to keep information regarding most of the weapons of Gaia to myself?~ I responded as I sat up, fingers raising as I moved to lightly stroke over Raziel's neck. I met Kain's gaze and straightened my shoulders. ~Would that information not have caused great harm if the wrong people found out or simply overheard our discussions about such weapons? I do not keep things from you out of spite my King. Mine Emperor. My reasons have always been well-reasoned and justified.~
~They have,~ he said with a nod of his head. He reached over and brushed his talons through my hair lightly.
Raziel looked at us both, face blank but concern in his eyes. I gave them both a gentle smile and then let out a faint sigh of sound. The Seer yet remained at a respectful distance yet within our sight.
"Well then," I started, "do we have a way to test the results of our little experiment before braving the depths?"
"At the moment, I do not believe so," Kain said with a frown. "The Parasite has hidden as much of itself as it can. Raziel and I have traveled to areas where he recalled seeing the beasts tendrils with him in Reaver form and we found nothing. However, now that we know where he lays skulking in the dark, we can perhaps scout the area."
"I might well be able to go down the paths that the Seer knows with her in hand," I said with a thoughtful hum. "My Gift can be wrapped about us both. If we also have one of your bats with me, then at the least you would be able to see through its' eyes and warn me if I am unable to see the Parasite myself."
Kain's visage darkened somewhat, yet remained thoughtful. Raziel frowned at my suggestion and shook his head. He started to say something and Kain moved his hand from my back in order to close it on the other male's shoulder. Raziel's face twisted with a brief flash of confusion before understanding flitted across his face. His expression went blank once more. Kain had likely just shared the properties of the ear-piece that I still wore even now. It was something neither of us wanted the Seer to know about.
If she didn't already know given her own gift of Sight...
"It is a fair plan," Kain said after another moment. "However, I would not risk our plan to attack him in his lair too soon if it fails.."
"Hm," I snapped my fingers suddenly and looked at Raziel. "Those lower levels below the Pillars... could you see the Parasite's limbs there?"
"I could," Raziel answered with a nod. "But when we visited the area with me in Reaver form, he was not present."
"Hm. He would not have shown himself to Kain of course, but it is still possible though that a portion of his body is trapped near the area," I reasoned aloud. "I can check that area first and foremost. Minimal risk. If neither of us can see him though, perhaps I could take a brief swim?"
"I would not advise that course of action," Raziel said with a shake of his head. "Whilst not as sensitive as a spider's web, the water would still transmit your movements in a way that might warn him of your presence regardless of any abilities you have. If you are still unable to see him, then you would be unable to defend against an attack."
~Nor would you be able to speak underwater,~ Kain added in my mind.
I nodded my head in acknowledgment of their words and tapped at my chin thoughtfully. Raziel let out a soft, frustrated sigh.
"I see no other way of scouting ahead," he said. "Traversing down to the levels that we may need to go to might well involve paths that Kain's Mist and Bat forms cannot reach."
"A fair enough assessment My Raziel," Kain rumbled.
"I can at least lead Lady Katrina to the entrance of the Pillar's lower level," Raziel started and I raised a hand.
"If the Parasite is not yet aware that you are anything but a sword, then we need to avoid anything that will tip our hand," I said. "Regardless of our respective means of keeping hidden from sight, he might still be able to sense your presence. We need to avoid that, so unless your Reaver Blade form is needed to unlock a door or something similar, then you need to remain here. I can continue ahead alone and have you direct my movements via the Whisper."
Raziel's mouth snapped shut and his jaw worked slowly. Other than that visible strain along the line of his jaw and the faintest twitch of his wings, there was no other sign of his current upset. Even with the Marks, even with my Gift, he wanted me to be safe. I softened my expression and ran my fingers through his hair soothingly. He nodded his head stiffly a moment later.
"My range over the Whisper is greater than most," he said and there was a small hint of pride in his tone. "This course of action may be the most prudent given your abilities My Lady. I would still suggest caution in your movements however. There is always the potential chance that the Parasite will be able to somehow sense your own presence via the simple fact that you have a soul. He might also try to coerce you into revealing information by pretending to be a benevolent benefactor... or by vicious mockery meant to enrage."
"Hm," I tilted my head at his words. "I'd not thought of that... Kain?"
"We will cross that bridge later, if we even arrive at such a point," he said firmly in response. "As it stands, we are close enough to the Pillars at this point for you to be in range of Raziel and myself via the Whisper. Fly ahead for me, mine own. Scout and be mine eyes once more. Let nothing hinder your hunt."
I flashed him a fanged smirk and bowed my head as I stood. He and Raziel would both remain here, I knew that. He would want to keep an eye on the Hylden woman while I was gone in order to ensure that the woman remained loyal to our cause.
Paranoid bastard, I thought to myself with fond exasperation. But he always did operate under that old saying, 'friends close, enemies closer'.
Or as my Brother Elijah oft liked to say, 'trust, but verify...'
Kain's small little bat from earlier had remained buried among the strands of my long hair. As such, Kain had not needed to create a new 'companion' to go with me on my mission. Similar to Vorador's Ravens, Kain's bats could act on their own when he was not focused upon them. This meant that the small creatures could oft be found in random nooks and crannies similar to normal bats and Kain had learned how to use them to spy on others when necessary. Oft times though, at least one small form made its' way to my side if he was using them in such a manner. While it was not always the same species of bat that came to me, it was usually one of the fox-faced fruit bats that found me and then nestled in the hair next to my throat and close to my Mark in order to rest. Kain knew how much I had adored, still adored, the small creatures. One could always tell when he was in control of the critters by the lightning-like glow that the eyes took on in such times.
Before I left, he had taken control of the small creature and moved it so that it could see yet still remain hidden. I'd left the two males behind to watch over the bemused Hylden woman and had taken flight, my Gift active before I even reached the cave's entrance. Following Raziel's directions, I made my way to the hidden path that now lay hidden near the Sanctuary of the Clans. It took some time to move a bit of the rubble aside, but I was able to clear a path down to the second level directly beneath Kain's throne. It was a wonder as to whether or not it had been galling for my Mate to find out that his seat of power had been built directly above his greatest enemy or perhaps now it was ironically satisfying to know that his throne would be directly above the Parasite's grave site.
We would not... could not lose to the beast...
As I continued down the hidden path, the cave got dark enough that I was having some trouble navigating the tunnel even with my enhanced sight. There were a few branching paths here and there, but Raziel guided me carefully through. Eventually things opened up though and as they did a larger and larger amount of bio-luminescent growths, mushrooms and other plants, lit the way for me with a natural light. Still, I was uneasy...
It had been some time since I had traversed through caves deep enough to reek so of such mushrooms and deep-rot. Elijah had loved exploring such locations and had often dragged me along on his little adventures. They were occasionally fun, but somewhat claustrophobic given that I preferred the wide open spaces of the sky. Considering the fact that I was actively touching Kain's and Raziel's minds, I should not have been surprised when they picked up on my low-level unease.
~Unless I am mistaken mine own,~ Kain rumbled bemusedly into my mind. ~I have never had you scout such a local for me.~
~You have not,~ I agreed with a small chuckle. ~I'd not have let you forgetting putting me through such a thing. Cave like this have a very unique smell due to the plant-life...~
~When and where have you traveled such areas then?~ Raziel asked, curiosity clear in his tone.
~On Gaia,~ I responded with fond frustration in my mental voice. ~My Brother, Elijah, enjoyed travelling once a year to places that most humans did not dare traverse. Some of the deepest caverns were somewhat like this. He often dragged me along with him on his little adventures. Many times they were spur of the moment trips designed to keep me from strangling Vorador...~
The last was said with a disgruntled air and not a little embarrassment that I could not quite hide. It amused and confused both males.
~What did that green-skinned hedonist do?~ Raziel asked.
I felt myself flush. One might well learn how to conceal one's emotions from their facial expressions, body movements and voice given enough time and effort. What one could not do however, was conceal one's emotions over a mental connection such as the Whisper. You are literally opening a mental link with the other person and to do that, some emotion would always be shared through said link. Fuck, shit and damnation!
When I continued to remain silent Kain's mind pushed against my own in a soothing wave.
~What, pray tell, happened to cause you such distress mine own?~ he asked.
~...Would you be willing to entertain a change of subject?~ I asked, mental tone near-formal and still somewhat embarrassed.
The touch of Raziel's mind shifted to the sense of one who's thoughts practically screamed 'oh, now this'll be good' and I shot him a flash of wordless annoyance at his open amusement as I continued down the dark-lit path before me. He gave a mental chuckle and sent back a wordless sense of mock-contriteness. The sense of Kain's amusement skyrocketed to almost palpable degree. Beneath it all, I could also feel his satisfaction at the continued, yet slow, sense of growing comradere between myself and Raziel.
~Explain your upset to me mine own,~ Kain Whispered. ~You have a bit of a journey yet ahead of you before you reach the underground chamber from what Raziel has told us.~
~Hmph. Let us simply say that despite my skill with card games,~ I hedged my words carefully as I spoke, ~that taking a bet whilst drinking and playing said card games with said green-skinned, hedonistic Eldar proved to be... ill-advised indeed.~
The amusement that I had been feeling from the two males fairly trebled in intensity. I let out a soft sigh as I rubbed at my forehead. I could taste just the edge of unease along the mental link that led to Raziel's mind.
~What did he ask of you My Lady?~ he queried.
~...better that I show you two some time later on,~ I said as the path before me abruptly widened further still. ~Suffice to say that it involved a dress fit for Gaia's standards, not Nosgoth's. And even then just barely so.~
~Very... well,~ Raziel responded, his mental voice pitched low with his confusion.
~Hn,~ Kain's voice was practically a lustful purr in comparison to Raziel's, but then again he knew about Gaia's standards of dress. ~I will eagerly await the chance to see this dress mine own. Did you by chance keep it or do you merely have one of your photo's?~
~Both,~ I grumbled good-naturedly after a moment of silence. ~I knew that you'd enjoy seeing the bloody thing if I decided to return. You are lucky I did not see fit to burn it.~
~Your propensity for pyromania is well known my own,~ he responded with a laugh. ~I am glad to hear that you refrained from taking such action.~
A rippling movement suddenly caught my attention and I froze warily. Both males went silent in the back of my mind, sensing my sudden unease. I relaxed as I realized that the rippling was the natural light reflecting off of the surface of water ahead of me. I hummed softly to myself, a noise that would go unheard by any but Kain's bat due to my Gift, and I continued ahead at a sedate pace. I turned a rounded corner and saw the wide platform which was speared through by the Pillars. I could just make out the grey and yellowed stone of the Pillars themselves. Unbroken here, but definitely showing signs of damage and age.
~I've arrived,~ I Whispered and their attentions focused razor-sharp on my own mind. I glanced down and saw the the little bat's eyes had started to glow faintly.
Nodding to myself, I began a careful approach toward the water's edge. I peaked over the edge and frowned faintly as I looked into the murky depths. Thankfully, there was a small number of creatures that glowed like star-light within the depths of the water, not many in truth, but enough to give me some light to go by as they swam about their home. Yet... I could see nothing more than those water-bound life-forms from my current angle.
~Can you see anything Kain?~ I asked.
~No,~ his voice was wary. ~While bats do not have the best sight, they would still allow me to see the Parasite's bloated corpse.~
~Let me try a different angle then,~ I said. ~This is not a good one to see deep into the water.~
~Be wary,~ Raziel said in a clipped tone that reminded me that he was a lieutenant-general in his own right.
~Of course,~ I responded in a firm tone as I crouched low.
Leaping across the distance between shore-line and platform was a simple enough thing to do. I landed and immediately crouched low as I looked around the area critically. The natural light was near as good as torch-light here, but the flickering on the walls was less distracting that the shadows that would have been created by flame. Still, what shadows existed were very closely examined to make sure that there was nothing lurking in wait. Nodding to myself once more, I made my way to the edge of the platform and looked over. The angle was by far better than the shore. I made my way along the rim of the platform, watchful of my step for any debris so as not to send them skittering. I froze abruptly.
There was an odd rippling movement in the water below and I could see no creature to created such motions...
As it neared, I tensed further still. There was a half-image of something not quite there. The creatures in the water took no notice of the half-shimmer, nor was there any movement of the water itself as there should have been with such a large form moving about so.
~I believe I see something,~ I said stiffly.
~Where?~ Kain snapped.
Kain's bat form shifted on my shoulder, head turning back around. It had been looking behind me to watch over my back in case of a sneak attack. I turned the small head so that it was pointed at that odd half-shimmer and then shifted as I knelt down a little closer. The bat swiftly slid down my arm, wings wrapping firmly about my wrist and the small form bristled seconds later with a little hissing chirp.
~It is one of his limbs,~ Kain growled into my mind. Dark satisfaction rang clear in his voice. The plan had worked, at least in part. ~Mine own... move to the left five paces for me...~
I tilted my head thoughtfully, confused by the order. I shifted to the right a few paces and then to the left roughly seven paces as if searching for something.
Better, I thought to myself, that it seem as if I am here on my own and seem confused, just in case the damned Parasite can see or sense me despite my Gift.
~As I thought...~ Kain rumbled thoughtfully, his voice still somewhat tense. I do not believe he can see you in truth, however he does seem to be capable of sensing you. The eyes upon the Parasite's limb followed your movements at a delayed pace, as if he had trouble tracking you.
~Should I...?~ I started, only to be cut off by an odd rumbling in the air and the rough trembling of the platform that I stood on. Shit!
"What manner of being walks through one of the Sanctums of the Divine?" A voice filled the air, tone equal parts threatening and conjoling. "Show yourself."
Well... fuck, I thought.
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