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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
- 63
- 64
- 65
We're on the second to last chapter! Thank you all again.
To Daniel Christopher, your kind review means the world to me, and thank you as well for helping with an incorrect name used back in chapter 49. That had since been fixed. :)
Chapter Sixty-three: Epilogue Part 2
After our rough yet playful hunt was over, I left to round up the five half-bloods that were the most likely to accept the offer of becoming Awakened Half-bloods. Raziel came with me on Kain's instructions. He wanted the Humans to see his 'Restored Son' and left instructions to have each of the Awakened individuals brought before him later to attempt to figure out who their Biological Father might have been by their scent. With his iron trap of a mind, he would likely recall which Clan had staged an attack around said point in time that they were conceived.
Habrian was first that I spoke to as he was the eldest and also the swiftest to find.
The reactions from those in the Purlieu, whilst along a similar vein as my original visit, was not quite as pronounced as before. People crowded around corners, at windows and in doorways to get a look at the significantly powerful sight that the pair of us made. They also looked as if they were prepared to bolt if they inadvertently drew our ire. I came to a halt near the forge and turned to eye several of the tools and weapons that they had set out for sale. Habrian was busy folding a chunk of metal that looked to be a dagger-sized piece. I was not about to interrupt his work. Vorador had long ago taught me the importance of remaining quiet when a blacksmith was shaping metal. Depending on where one was during the shaping process, one wrong blow could mean the piece was nothing better than slag and that the blacksmith would have to start the piece all over again by. Whilst the chunk looked to be early in the shaping process without any definable shape, I was not going to be rude. I picked up one of the blades, judging weight and balance. A fine piece indeed.
The sound of hot metal being quenched by oil sounded several minutes later and I lifted my attention away from the latest blade that I had picked up to examine. Habrian had finished the step he was on and he looked over the others to ensure that they were all remaining on task before he walked over to my side.
"My Lady," he greeted with a bow of his head. "Are you looking for a new blade or looking to have that talk with me now?"
"To talk," I answered simply as I carefully set aside the blade. "Do you have some place where we can speak privately?"
"Yes My Lady, I do," he turned and barked at one of the other males, the one that Raziel would likely wish to speak with. "Jacob! Keep an eye on these slackers! The Mother wants to have a word with me and I might be a while."
"As you say Master Habrian!" the youth called back and he turned almost immediately to someone whose hammer hit their anvil and then went flying. "Are you tryin' to get one of us killed!? Pay attention to what you're doing! If that hammer goes flyin' and hits one of us, or the Pillar's forbid, our esteemed visitors, then it's your hide that goes on the tanners block you artless, hasty-witted boar!"
I bit back a burst of laughter at Jacob's insult. I would need to get used to the Shakespearean styled insults once more and that thought filled me with a deep-seated fondness. Habrian shook his head and flashed myself and Raziel a hesitant smile as he led us toward one of the buildings. He held the door for us politely and then moved to pull out two chairs that looked to be highly detailed. This was a Masters work, or if not a Master than definitely the work of a skilled apprentice. I looked over the woodwork and let out a thoughtful hum as we took the offered seats. Habrian sat in a rather worn out chair.
"Your work or was it bought?" I asked, lightly running my fingers along the smooth grooves of the vines carved into the wooden chair.
"No. My son's work," Habrian's face twisted in a look that was both fond and mournful as he gave the chair he was on a pat. "This was one of his early ones."
"I am sorry," I said softly. "What happened to him if I may?"
"Murdered," Habrian said shortly. "Him and my wife."
"Our condolences," Raziel said in a soft voice. "I do hope his killer was caught?"
"Aye," Habrian nodded. "Though I'm doubting that you want to here me whining on about it."
"If you are comfortable telling us what happened, we will listen," I said softly.
"I... thank you My Lady Mother," he said and he shifted uncomfortably. "He was caught, as I said. In the act no less. Emperor Kain was coming through looking for feeders, stopped the killer himself... the man that my wife had left to be with me..."
He coughed into his hand and worked to school his expression. Raziel frowned.
"A simple act of jealousy then?" he asked.
"Nothing so simple My Lord," Habrian said with a shake of his head. "Goatish lout used to beat her and her boy, Kyle. Badly. I found out about it and brought it to the attention of the elders. Mighta been that nothing would have come of it as she was scared to speak up, but her boy was old enough to be angry on his mother's behalf and acted as a witness. Their marriage was dissolved and then he was tossed out into the wilds for a year as punishment."
His face darkened.
"He should have died out there..." Habrian said bitterly and then he sighed. "Any-rate... Illia and I got close over that year. Treated her right and fair. We got married. Eventually saw that her boy... my boy by then, had promise with woodworking. Paid for his apprenticeship and everything."
"Only her ex-husband came back and saw that she and Kyle were happy," I said with a knowing now, "with you no less. How long did he wait to time his attack?"
"Emperor Kain visits us once every decade," Habrian said with a shrug. "Always on the same day. Time before last, Illia stepped forward with Kyle as potential feeders to try to get away from him, but they were turned away... Wrong kind of blood I suppose. She never said anything to the Emperor about why. Maybe he'd have taken her in anyway. Maybe not. Too late now to know what would have happened."
"So to clairfy, during Kain's latest visit she and Kyle were not present or at least were only present long enough to greet him as appropriate," Raziel said with a wince.
Habrian nodded.
"Aye," he said sadly. "I was injured a week prior thanks to the clumsiness of one of my apprentices. My left leg was broken. Not by the same lad you saw today, that one's still young. Any-rate, they were walking back home after visiting me. I wanted them to stay with me. Didn't feel right sending 'em off home by themselves..."
"He timed his attack well then," Raziel said in a dark tone.
"He did," Habrian nodded. "Lotta people heard the screams. Lot more panicked. Thought it was a Wildling attack at first. Thought that they'd gotten brave enough to strike out at us even with the Emperor right bloody there. Couldn't do anything bed-ridden as I was... healing potions still take time to fix up a broken leg..."
His expression twisted with rage for a moment before he looked away from us to hide the tears that threatened to fall.
"The Emperor..." his voice cracked and he coughed into his hand to clear his throat. "Actually came to me personally... caught my scent on Illia and Kyle. Others pointed him my way. He... wasn't able to reach them in time. Tried though. Grateful that he tried..."
"But still upset that he wasn't able to reach them with his speed," I said softly.
"...aye Merciful Mother," he nodded hesitantly. "I... I'm not proud of it, but I raged at him a fair bit. He... had to knock me upside the head to get me to calm down. Surprised he didn't kill me for some of the things that I was saying to him..."
"You were grieving and in shock," I said softly and I reached forward to squeeze his hand gently in my own. "He understood that."
"I... suppose you're right My Lady," he let out a sigh and looked at where his hand was cupped by my own. "Mainly was just mad at myself. Promised to protect her and I failed because of my damned injury..."
I shared a glance at Raziel and he nodded his head.
~Given his scent and what I have seen from those Chosen in the past to be Turned, Habrian is highly likely to accept being Awakened,~ he Whispered to me.
~I thought so as well,~ I responded. ~Thank you.~
~Of course My La-~ at my mental growl his lips quirked upwards. ~Katrina.~
I looked back at Habrian.
"Thank you for telling us what happened. I am sure it was a harsh time for you. Now... I have an offer for you Habrian," I said softly. "And after hearing what happened to you and yours, I imagine you will want to accept."
"I..." he swallowed roughly and hesitated. "Turning?"
"Not quite," I said with a sad smile. "Awakening."
"I... there is a difference?" he blinked in confusion and raised a brow.
"Yes," I started. "You see, where I am originally from my own kind, Half-bloods, are more common. We are born to human mothers and vampiric fathers that are known as Cold-fires. As such, I am going to ask a set of very personal and harsh questions of you."
"Aye?" he tensed under my hands.
"Your mother was raped by a vampire roughly nine months before your birth wasn't she?" I asked bluntly.
"..." his jaw clenched tight and he gave a rough, jerky nod.
"And you've always been just a little bit stronger than other boys your age. Just a little faster?" I asked.
He nodded and again remained silent.
"Lastly," I said with a sad smile. "You're instincts regarding danger and the like have almost always been spot on."
"Aye," he said brokenly and he closed his eyes. "Aye."
I reached out to gently touch his cheek.
"You're like me in the fact that you are a Half-blood," I said softly and his head shot up, confusion writ clear in his eyes. "Your Vampiric blood lies dormant inside you right now, helping only in as much as it can in its' slumbering state. If you are given a gallon of human blood all at once, then that slumbering nature within you will Awaken. You will have no need to fear the elements or the sun. You will still be able to sustain yourself on human food. You will become..."
"Stronger... and faster," he said in a weak tone. "Able to heal... swiftly. How long... how long would it take for a broken leg to heal?"
"For one newly Awakened and being tended by their Eldars?" I asked in clarification.
He nodded his head.
"Days instead of weeks or months," I said softly.
A violent shudder ran through Habrian and the scent of raw grief grew to fill the room with its' bitter tang. His hands spasmed around my own. He fell forward out of his chair, knees cracking hard against the stone as he knelt before me. He pressed his forehead hard against where his hands were now wrapped around my own. He wept openly. I let out a soothing croon of sound and leaned forward to place my lips on the crown of his head. It took him several moments to calm.
"Please... please My Lady," Habrian started, his voice roughened by his grief. "Never again... Awaken me so that I might never again be so weak..."
"Habrian," I started and I let out a soft sigh as I forced his head up. "Listen to me. Becoming as I am now, Awakened, does not mean that failure will not touch you. It does not mean that injuries will not claim your time and leave you bed-ridden. It does not mean that you will not come to love others... only to lose them later. Ours is a choice; the short-lived life of a burning candle that can be snuffed out by the wind at any point or a long-lived life that can see all that you know and love turn to naught but dust to be carried off by that same wind."
"I understand My Lady," he said as he blinked at me through tear-filled eyes. "I understand. I do. I... I am older than most here. Already outlived my parents, a brother, cousins... child-hood friends... Illia... Kyle... I know that pain. Can accept it. But... I want to be better. Want to do better. Please, My Lady. Let me fight with all that I am to protect those that I might serve or come to love... Please!"
I looked him over carefully and took a deep breath of his scent. Honest grief. Honest pain. Honest and stubborn desire. I nodded and stood, placing my hand upon his head.
"So be it," I said in a firm tone. "Deal with your apprentices and your things and meet us at the shrine. You will not be returning for some time, so take all the time you need to make sure things are in order. Be aware, there are others that I must speak with regarding this subject so I might be a while. Tell no one of what we have discussed or you will be punished. Severely."
He swallowed roughly when my voice turn viciously cold and bowed his head.
"As you command My Lady," he responded.
Raziel stood and opened the door for me and we left Habrian behind to sort through his thoughts. I let out a heavy sigh and continued toward where we would find the next Half-blood, a young woman priestess that sold flowers outside of the shrine. I looked at Raziel a moment later.
"Do you think that we might be able to find where his wife and step-son are buried?" I asked softly.
"Perhaps we might find where they were interred," he said. He tilted his head. "But if Kain advised me correctly, then any bodies would have been cremated after a decade or in the event of an attack."
"Why?" I blinked at him, startled. "Brain degradation wouldn't affect them until they hit the fifty-year mark, though I know that can be dependent on how the body is interred. Why cremate after such a short time-frame?"
Raziel raised a brow at me.
"By that response My Lady," I let it slide as others were nearby, "Zombies are uncommon creatures on Gaia, aren't they?"
"I'd thought that they were rare creatures here too," I raised a brow at him. "Very few times did we have any sudden instances of zombies rising up from graveyards to cause us problems during the time that I was here. Necromancers also seemed rare enough at the time."
He chuckled faintly, bitterly and my brow hiked higher up to reach my hair-line.
"Necromancers are taught, not born..." he started and I let out a huff as I interrupted him.
"I know that. Like any magic, if you have the affinity for magic that is, you can learn such skills by study even if your naturally inclined to use, say, healing magics," I said.
"Precisely," his expression darkened somewhat. "If you know something of my Brothers, then you know that Melchiah's form, and those of his Children, were stuck in a constant state of slow decay?"
"..." I opened my mouth and then snapped it shut hard enough that my fangs clacked together. I spoke a moment later. "The Melchiahim... they focused on Necromantic magics in order to reduce the decay of their bodies. If they've lost their minds but still have their magic..."
I felt my face twist as the horror of that thought hit me and I froze mid-step.
"The number of zombies found in the Melchiahim territory alone..." I started in a shocked tone.
"Can be enough to make up a mindless army at times, yes," Raziel said grimly. "Kain has been watching the area closely, of course, and he culls their numbers as often as possible. However, the Melchiahim are surprisingly clever and those with Necromantic tend to number amongst the Eldars. Who remain hidden. The problem for the humans here lies in those times that the Melchiahim decide to make their attempts to raid the Citadel. Given that they require blood and bodies to restore themselves..."
"Best not to have any bodies on hand for them to raise against those within as one can never be certain until it is too late as to which Clan is staging an attack," I shook my head sadly. "I see. So if there has been an attack since Kain's last visit..."
"His wife and step-sons bodies both will have already been cremated," he finished grimly.
"I see," I said.
I closed my eyes sadly at the thought and then shook my head as I started toward the shrine once more. What would be, would be and Habrian had already mourned the loss of his loved ones.
Still, my mood was grim as we arrived at the shrine. The young priestess was selling her flowers, as was her usual habit from what I understood. She saw our approach and smiled as she bowed low. She'd been one of the few amongst the priests and priestesses to accept my words that she need not fall prostrate to the ground. I smiled and gently touched her chin, lifting lightly, and she straightened up with a small baring of her throat. I ran the tips of my claws over her throat lightly, not cutting, and then let my hand fall to my side. A deeper part of me was pleased by the knowledge that most within the Citadel followed some of the vampiric cultural norms when it came to greetings.
"My Lady Mother," she greeted in a soft voice that was like a soothing chime. She looked at Raziel and took in the sight of his talons... and his wings. "I... are... are you Lord Raziel...? Our Emperor's First?"
"I am," Raziel answered in a dry but bemused tone.
"You've returned to us as well..." she started in an awed tone and she bowed once more. "Welcome back My Lord. Does the Emperor know of this joyous news?"
"He is aware yes," Raziel said with a bemused huff. "We needs must speak with you young one. Is there a private area away from prying eyes and ears?"
"Oh... yes. There is a room near the Atrium," she straightened immediately and looked to me with awe-struck eyes. "Is this regarding our earlier conversation Merciful Mother?"
"It is," I said, containing a wince easily. "Lead on Aeriana."
"This way, please," she said with another small bow.
She turned and started to lead us inside and to the side room in question when an elderly female stalked over. It was obvious that she had only seen Aeriana and had not realized were were only a few paces behind the younger woman, so focused as she was on the object of her ire.
"Priestess Aeriana," she snapped in a tone that put it plain that the elderly woman thought it an insult for the younger to have the title of 'priestess'. "What do you think you are doing? Those flowers wont sell themselves girl, especially if you keep them in here. Get back outside!"
"Priestess Esmeralda," Aeriana said with a small smile that showed nothing of the upset that I could scent upon her. "If you will pardon me, but my duty to our Fair Mother is paramount and she wishes to speak with me."
"I care not about those foolish rumors being spread about," well then. That comment made it obvious that I'd somehow missed this woman during my visit. She continued to growl at the younger woman, still not noticing our presence... "If you're thinkin' you can hear the Fair Mother in your head then you are clearly unable to maintain such a loft-"
I flared my wings abruptly, no longer wishing to continue listening to the woman's ramblings. Her voice cut out as she noticed the sudden movement, a movement rapidly mirrored by Raziel, and then promptly fainted. Aeriana moved fast and caught the older woman up in her arms and carefully moved the older woman to sit at one of the pews, setting aside the basket of flowers as she moved. I listened carefully to the older woman's heart beat and, despite the acceleration and sudden fainting, she seemed fine over all save for the lingering scent of sickness upon her. No Sakura scent.
"I'm sorry about that," Aeriana said softly. "Priestess Esmeralda and I have not always seen eye to eye on scripture. Do you think she will be alright? She's older now... her heart..."
"Is fine," I said soothingly. "She'll just need to sleep off the shock of seeing us. I am surprised that I did not meet her during my visit the other day, but then again... her scent carries lingering sickness upon it..."
"She'd been ill," Aeriana said in confirmation as she straightened. "She takes the scripture rather seriously and insisted that she be put into limited isolation whilst she recovered."
"I... see," I blinked in surprise at that and then shook my head. This... scripture... could be reviewed later.
"This way," she led us off to the side room that she'd mentioned and then readied two chairs for us. We sat and only then did she take a seat herself.
"How may I assist you Fair Mother?" she asked softly.
"First, I would like to inquire when Kain's last visit was?" I asked softly.
"The Emperor last visited us six years ago, Fair Mother," she responded promptly.
"I see," I hesitated for less than a second and plunged on. "Have there been any Wildling attacks since then?"
"Yes Fair Mother," she responded sadly. "Not two years ago now there was a brutal attack by the Wildling Zephonim. All of the bodies within the Crypt were cremated swiftly when the attack started and we lost fifty-three of our numbers in the attack before the Emperor arrived on hand to put down the worst of the insurgents that dared to ignore His will."
"I see," I let out a sigh and shared a brief look with Raziel. Habrian's family was lost in truth then...
He sent a silent wave of comfort and solace over the Whisper, though his face remained calm. I let out another sigh and then turned back to Aeriana.
"Thank you for answering me," I said. "There are other matters to discuss however..."
"As you wish Fair Mother," she said with a bow of her head.
"'Scripture'," I started carefully, "explains that I am a Half-blood, correct?"
"It does Fair Mother," she responded, "Though it does not explain the how behind your nature."
"Ah," I leaned forward and tilted my head. "Here is what it means..."
I spent several minutes explaining to her the same thing that I had with Habrian. To my pleasant surprise, she asked pointed and carefully thought out questions. I smiled and was content to answer her questions as I explained to her how she shared my nature and what could be done to Awaken her. She fell silent for several long minutes, obviously lost in thought as she considered the ramifications of my words. Raziel remained silent throughout, merely offering a comforting presence against the back of my mind.
Eventually, she stirred from her thoughts.
"I would be willing to accept this Awakening," she said in a soft voice. "My mother perished birthing me. I have no other family save those that I am close to here in the Shrine. I am new enough to my role as a Priestess that it will not drastically upset the hierarchy of the Shrine. But I find that I must ask something of you..."
"Ask," I said gently, granting her the permission that she sought.
"You... you do not seem to be pleased with the ways of the church, Fair Mother," she started hesitantly, slowing gaining confidence the longer she spoke without having me interrupt her. "You have not spoken ill of it outright, but there was a dark note in your tone when you said 'Scripture' and when you visited us earlier... you did not seem overly pleased with the prayers offered up to you by the others..."
Raziel let out a soft chuckle at her words and side-eyed a glance my way.
"Lady Katrina is not one to enjoy being fawned over," he said in a bemused tone.
"No, I am not," I agreed with a small chuckle. "If you feel I am worth your respect, then so be it, but your prayers? I've never really thought of myself as some sort of... of celestial being worthy of prayer."
Raziel let out another soft chuckle and Aeriana smiled hesitantly.
"If I may be so bold, the Scripture did not lie about your gentle and humble nature," she said in a soft tone.
"Agreed," Raziel said before I could voice my own opinion. I let out a soft sigh.
"Enough," I said with a chuckle as I stood. Raziel stood next and then Aeriana. "Remain here if you would be so kind Aeriana. Habrian the Blacksmith will be arriving here soon, as well as potentially others. Do not share what I have told you with anyone else. Stories of my Mercy may hold primacy in your Scripture, but do not make the mistake of doubting that I am not also merciless when disobeyed or betrayed."
She paled under my stern stare and bowed her head before tilting it to expose her throat to me.
"I understand clearly Fair Mother," she said in a soft tone that barely shook with her unease. "I will not disappoint you."
"See that you don't," I said softly as I lightly reached out to touch her neck, once more not leaving even a scratch with my claws.
We turned and left the Shrine quietly. Priestess Esmeralda had recovered consciousness but had not yet moved from where we'd set her in the pews. She watched us, eyes wide in shock as we left the building. I let out an almost unheard sigh as we left the Shrine and Raziel reached out in a way that bumped the edge of my wing against the back of his talons. When he spoke, it was in a voice pitched low enough that only I might hear him as we walked.
"Even many of the humans in the Wilds worship you so," Raziel said. "I know that you will have been on your Gaia for some time. Likely not even shone the respect you deserve, Queen that you are..."
"I understand that Raziel," I said in an equally quiet tone. "It is unnerving in a way, but I will get used to it."
"If it helps...?" he started, looking thoughtful.
"Hm?" I glanced at him with a raised brow.
"I would be willing to worship at your temple any time you might wish it, My Lady," he purred in that low voice. His expression did not change in the slightest and easily concealed the sheer lewdness of his words.
I coughed faintly and barely managed to avoid sputtering like I might have when I was younger, but I could feel the blush darken my cheeks. He smiled at me, eyes dark with unrepentant humor and deeper emotions. I had to leash the urge to smack him upside the head. Not when we were walking out in the open so. He'd be made to pay for that comment later though. That was a certainty...
We found the other three easily enough. Melany was a Jeweler who made delicate pieces that were simple yet impressive, Raul was one of the older guardsmen on the wall, but not one of the commanding officers and Octavius was one of the shepherds tending to the Citadel's small flocks. Of those three, Melany and Raul accepted my offer whilst Octavius declined. He disliked politics and thoughts of battle, which he was sure to face if he chose to Awaken. He wanted to continue to enjoy the relatively simple and quiet life of a shepherd. If that meant he lived a shorter life than what he could otherwise have, then he was fine with it.
I could respect that.
We thanked him for his time and swore him to secrecy, which he was fine with. He was the sort to keep his word. He and the others had been suitably awed by both my presence and Raziel's, though thankfully they all avoided any outright fawning. I knew that part of that was because of their blood. Slumbering though that vampiric blood was in their veins, it was still strong enough to leave them all with strong personalities even when faced with someone who could easily outmatch them in a fight. Those same instincts also helped them recognize when it was best to yield or run rather than stand and fight.
The four met us at the Shrine and we called started for the Sanctuary. We did not need to call for a blood-letting as Kain had several dozen blood-vials stored away. All of various sizes. We had more than the four gallons, or fifteen liters, of blood that we needed in order to Awaken them. Raziel and I moved them to an isolated room in the keep, away from windows and dimly lit to keep them away from the brighter lights and scents that could be found elsewhere. Each of the four then drank from the Blood-vials that we handed to them, though I made sure that they downed the fluid at a more sedate rate than what I myself had been put through in my youth. Their bodies would rapidly absorb the blood rather than sit on their stomach and force them to be ill like any other fluid of that amount would.
One by one they drifted into a forced slumber as their bodies began to change. It was not un-like that of a Torpor, but the changes were far more subtle and the time that one remained unconscious was days rather than weeks or months.
When they woke, they reacted well enough to the darkened room which now seemed bright enough to their eyes to have been lit by several lamps. They got briefly distracted by the scents that were in the room and further still by the newness of being able to sense Vampiric Aura's. I had to smile in gentle amusement and sorrow. This was what I should have had. This gentle Awakening. This was what I would do my damnedest to ensure continued to happen. I would do my best to make sure that every Nosgothian Half-blood had the chance, and choice, to have a peaceful Awakening with people that they trusted on hand to teach them...
Vampiric predator instincts were subdued enough by Human omnivore instincts that we would not need to worry about the newly Awakened Half-bloods unintentionally attacking other humans for their blood. However, their enhanced strength would need to be dealt with first and foremost so that they did not accidentally do harm to others with unfamiliar strength. That took a few months of careful tutelage, but between Raziel and I we had them well in hand and there were very few mishaps, enough that we wouldn't have to worry about them accidentally breaking a human's bones. As far as any partnerships with humans if they found a companion? They'd need to have someone on hand to make sure an accident didn't happen in the midst of wild passion.
Once they were settled, I went to let Kain know and he had Raziel bring the four in whilst the pair of us sat in our respective thrones in order to swear fealty and make sure they recognized the sheer power in our respective Aura's. Oath's that were made readily. Happily.
With Raul and Habrian eager to help Kain and Raziel with reducing the numbers of the Wildlings and Aeriana and Melany eager to help me try to re-establish connections with the human communities outside of the Citadel, work started to get done. Many humans within those small villages and hamlets that still eked out a living on the land were eager to move closer to the areas closest to the Sanctuary that had been cleared of Wildling threat. There were multiple locations were unwilling to move, but willing to trade if trade routes could be established and protected and a handful of locations that eschewed anything vampiric even knowing who and what I was. I marked those locations clearly in my mind's eye as they might prove to be a threat later on. They did not attack us during our visit... but it was a close thing.
There were no Sakura scents to be found in any of those hamlets and towns...
One day when Melany, Aeriana and I had returned from our explorations, I found Kain and Raziel in the throne room looking over three human males. I raised a brow at them and then waved Aeriana and Melany away. The bowed their heads respectively and then slipped out of the room. I moved over to the pair just as Raziel nodded his head to Kain and then indicated for the three males to follow him. My other brow rose to meet the first. Kain turned to look at me and reached out to brush the back of his talons against my neck.
"What was that about?" I asked softly, indicating the direction that Raziel and the others had gone.
"Those three are prospective Children," Kain said in a thrumming tone that had me looking back at him. "He will be Turning them this very eve."
"I see," I blinked and then smiled. "That's good."
I tilted my head faintly and my lips curled downward into a frown a moment later.
"No one has caught your eye as yet as a prospective Childe?" I asked.
"No," he purred, a small secretive smile upon his lips. "Nor am I concerned with it at this time. I have confirmed, with the aid of the Seer, that we will not have to be quite so careful with Turning any new Children. As careful as I should have been when Turning Raziel and his Brother's. Raziel will be able to handle the restoration of our ranks for the most part and he deserves to have a Clan of his own once more, even if it will not truly replace those that he has lost. Besides, there are other things that needs be done before I look into Turning any Children of my own. Do not worry about such things Mine Own."
"Very well," I said with a blink and a raised brow. "I feel like you are hiding something from me however."
"Hn," he leaned forward and placed a light kiss to my lips. "I am, but it is nothing unpleasant."
"Hmm," I hummed as I leaned in and briefly deepened the kiss. "I'll hold you to that..."
"I expect that you will," he rumbled with a soft laugh before he lead me into the War Room.
I let out a breathless laugh when he lifted me up so that I sat on the edge of the large table and I braced my hands carefully on the table so as not to knock over any of the markers or scratch the detailing. My wings rose upwards and instantly curled forward around Kain in a winged hug. He chuckled at my careful movements and pushed me backwards in slow increments.
"The map has been carefully enchanted so as not to take damage from a wayward claw or talon mine own," he purred as he leaned forward loomingly over me. A hunter's grin curled his lips upwards as he forced one of my legs upwards. I did not fight the movement. "The table will be able to survive as well."
"And the markers?" I breathed, still fighting against the pushing pressure he was placing on my chest. "I'd hate for you to have to re-scout any areas."
"A token protest indeed from you mine own," Kain chuckled as he pressed his lips against my own in a nipping kiss that drew a bead of blood. "You know as well as I that we both have near-eidetic memories."
"'Methinks the lady doth protest too much'?" I quoted with a laugh as I returned the nip, loosing another inch of ground to the unyielding pressure.
"Methinks the lady is not truly protesting at all," he murmured and he gave a more forceful shove that pushed me flat against the table and the map.
I let out an 'oomph!' of noise as my back hit the detailed table-top and I was briefly glad that I had not been perched over the mountains. Markers scattered here and there, jostled both by the impact of my upper body against the table and my wings as they fanned outwards knocking markers over and off of the table entirely. A dark laugh escaped him and I moaned when he started to nibble at my neck.
Suffice to say, little work was done over the next few hours, though I did help him place the markers back in their original positions.
The next several months were spent either amongst the humans of the wilds as we carefully moved them closer to the Sanctuary, those that were willing to move, dealing with the Wildlings that tried to push in on our slowly re-claimed territories, aiding Raziel with his new fledglings or being aided in turn with the Awakened Half-bloods and flying over the land with Kain to spread some of the seeds that I had brought with me from Gaia to help the eco-system recover. Seeds of different kinds of grasses, clovers, trees and various other plant-life all planted with Kain's careful consideration. He was not a Nature Guardian to know precisely what to do or even help speed up plant growth, but as the Balance Guardian he was essentially a jack-of-all-trades and thus knew enough to know if it would be appropriate to plant a particular seed in a particular area.
After each of those particular trips, Kain would teleport us either to our chambers at the Sanctuary or the Retreat. Half the time, he would teleport to Raziel's location in order to bring the dark-haired male along with us. Pleasant interludes indeed and not all of them involved the use of the 'vest spell either. I realized that, thanks to the Chronoplast, he likely knew just when he would Quicken me. I wasn't going to bring it up with him however, as I both wanted it to remain a surprise as to the 'when' and also knew that we could not afford to have me pregnant so early in the Empire's restoration process. It would hobble my ability to battle effectively.
Things would happen when they happened...
As the century started to come to a close things were looking up for the Empire as a whole. Nosgoth was starting to show new life. Flora and Fauna had started to show signs of recovery, if not out-right booming, within the first fifty years. But whilst Nosgoth was improving, I found that things were not simple when it came to my relationship with Kain and Raziel. The near-constant busy-work for all of us meant that some things were pushed aside and... well... ignored. Having added Raziel into the mix had added an increased layer of complexity whenever tempers flared up. Whilst there was no animosity between myself and either of the two males, there was still a small divide standing between Kain and Raziel that was preventing their part of the relationship from fully healing. And that were both bull-headed enough that they would continue to ignore it if left to their own devices too... and I was getting tired of playing the middle-man. Especially when one considered that Kain and I had only had two major blow-ups over tactics since my return whilst Kain and Raziel...?
They'd had nineteen separate fights thus far, three of which had left Kain completely flustered... well, flustered for him I should say. Those times, Raziel had seemingly gotten enraged over nothing... or at least nothing that seemed serious enough to warrant such a reaction. Kain's confusion with those three events had matched my own, as again, there seemed to be no serious reason for such an explosion of temper. Raziel had calmed down barely an hour after those three incidents and whilst he did not offer verbal apology, he did offer up his throat to us both.
I realized what was wrong though when they had a major, fang and talon fight not three days after the celebration that marked the first century of the restored Empire. Thankfully, the fight had happened within our large and spacious quarters, but it had also resulted in the outright destruction of almost everything in the room. I'd entered the room at the tail-end of the fight and my presence alone also ended the fight to my surprise. Raziel had jerked away and out of Kain's reach as the Eldar attempted to restrain his flailing talons and limbs and had then stalked past me with a snarling hiss. His words to me could barely have been considered respectful...
"My presence is obviously unwanted at this time. Perhaps you can restore him to good humor, My Lady," he snarled, wings vibrating and held oh-so-close to his body. His next words were muttered and almost unheard even considering vampiric hearing. "Tis not as if he is not happier with you around him than I..."
It was then that I knew that Raziel was still afraid, even after a century, of being tossed aside and forgotten. I'd thought that they had addressed this fear. Truly, I did. But now...? I would not allow this to continue. I walked to the Seer's quarters and had grilled her with a number of questions in order to help trigger a vision. Content with her responses, I flew with her to Kain's Retreat... and promptly booby-trapped that entire building. Runes carefully carved and then charged by her magic to prevent teleportation out but not in. Runic wards to prevent the males from exiting the building proper. Not painful ones, no, they would simply have the sensation of walking into a brick wall. Lastly, runes to reinforce the entire building itself so that a hole could not be made for them to escape that way.
The Seer had seen that my plan would work, though I'd have to face the consequences of tricking them so. I was fine with that however, if it meant that their portion of our relationship could finally heal properly. I flew the Seer back to the Sanctuary and then made sure that the Retreat itself was emptied of the human servants and that they were all at their homes in the surrounding land. Vials of blood and bottles of bloodwine were made readily available, I was not about to starve them into good behavior after all.
Taking a deep, steadying breath I moved to the entryway of the building and tapped on the rune necessary to activate the wards that the Seer had helped me with. I would be staying nearby in case of any complications, keeping an eye on the building from a safe distance, but I would not be trapped within the building whilst they worked things out. I reached out over the Whisper for the both of them and projected a sense of urgency but not out right danger. It was rare indeed for me to call upon them both in such a way, especially given the nature of my ear-piece. They would come...
~Kain. Raziel,~ I said. ~I need you both in the entryway of the Retreat! Now if you would be so kind!~
I was rewarded with the sight of a near instant teleportaion, their forms appearing in the entryway bare seconds after my Whisper to them. Kain's taloned hand was tight around Raziel's bracer, talon-tips having dug grooves into the sturdy metal. By the upset expressions on both of their faces, I had caught them mid-argument if not at the very beginnings of an outright fight. I frowned at them and I knew that my expression was grim as I glared at them from outside the large double-doors.
"Good, you're both here," I sniffed as I looked the pair over.
Raziel had immediately started to look around the area for any threat and had not noticed my mood. Ever the protective Knight to look for danger... I did love that about him. Kain, in comparison, had immediately narrowed his eyes on my form. He had sensed the runes.
"What is wrong My Lady?" Raziel asked as his attention finally turned toward me, having perceived no threat in the immediate area.
"I do believe that the problem would be us my Raziel," Kain said, his tone low and yet... there was both faint annoyance and amusement to be found in his tone and the rumbling that was echoing in his chest.
It was Check and Mate... and he hadn't even known that we'd been playing. He could appreciate being one-upped by me whilst also being upset with me for having been able to take him by surprise. Raziel looked at Kain in shock.
"Us?" his gaze snapped back to my own. "My Lady?"
"My Dear Emperor has the right of things my Knight," I purred in a deadly tone. "The problem I have at this point in time is indeed the two of you... you dunderheaded, vain and inattentive males!"
Raziel wrenched his arm free of Kain's grasp. Kain allowed it and took a few steps closer to the door, reaching out to tap one talon-tip against the solid barrier that blocked the way out. His blue-gold gaze started to glow with power as he met my own eyes.
"And what, pray tell, did we do to offend you so Katrina?" he purred in an equally deadly tone.
"This unnecessary fighting between the two of you ends now," I growled. "Were it playfully intended, I would not care one wit. But both of you speak cutting words and do not address the obvious problem in the damned room!"
"Kain does as he pleases," Raziel said, that bitterness once more in his tone. His stance immediately shifted as he spoke. "He always has."
"That right there!" I said with a snap of my fingers in Raziel's direction. "That automatic bitterness. That automatic shift in your stance as if you expect reprisal. It needs to stop. You are not a whipped dog to expect a fist to the muzzle. You are a Vampire Lord. You are one of MY Marked Mates! I will see that the two of you are reconciled."
"Katrina," Kain rumbled. He was frowning now as he glanced over his shoulder to take in Raziel's stance. "We have reconciled..."
"Have you truly?" I hissed. "Is still expecting to be tossed aside and abandoned 'reconciled'? Look at his wings, they will always be the most expressive part of either he or myself. Look at them! It is obvious that he still expects at some point to be tossed from our beds and our lives. It is obvious that even though he is freed of the Reaver, he still thinks that we might not want him!"
Kain looked at Raziel at that point, really looked, and finally noticed the tension that I had recently recognized myself. The tension held all in Raziel's wings and how he held them folded so close to his body when he was not in flight, having sex or when I cleaned them. When I cleaned them, not Kain. Kain's expression tightened. He had finally realized that last item of note. He let out a heavy sigh and pinched at the bridge of his nose as he turned back to me.
"And thus you contrive this trap for us?" he asked and a softer tone that still held the edge of a growl.
"Would you have noticed the problem otherwise?" I countered. "Doubt is a tricky creature and can survive in the face of the most obvious of actions meant to counter it. However, the two of you have been ignoring what happened as if it had not happened at all! Ignoring a wound and allowing it to fester is unwise and you know that Kain. Talk to each other, please. Don't simply fight and fuck! I will return to let you out in a month."
"A month!?" Raziel all but yelled.
"I did not stutter, my Raziel," I said with a sniff. "I will keep all in line until them. I am the bloody Empress after all."
"You are indeed," Kain rumbled as he eyed me. "Very well, Katrina. We will make due with this... forced sabbatical..."
"Good," I growled as I turned away.
"Katrina..." he growled.
"Yes?" I asked as I came to a halt.
"We will be speaking about the execution of your plans later," he growled.
"Do as you will," I said with a sniff and I took flight as if leaving the area.
Someones in trouble~ *author sings* find out what happens, Next time!
heh, reviews are welcome things
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