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Creation Second Coming	By : Light7 Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 1174 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to Edios and Crystal Dynamics not me. I am making Ł0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Vorador . . . then he’d be mine.

Chapter List
- 1-Creation Second Coming
- 1
Creation

The second coming

Book one

Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to Edios and Crystal Dynamics not me. I am making £0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Vorador . . . then he’d be mine.

Warning: this fic contains YAOI (GuyXGuy) and a lemon, if this offends or upsets you do not read this, it that simple.

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Raziel/Kain

Setting: post all games

EXPRESS WARNING: Spoilers for all the games.

Summery: Old enemies raise their heads, an unlikely alliance is formed and Nosgoth is again in peril.

Italics mean either flashbacks or thoughts

* / * / * / * / *

It is a dark place here, cold and barren. This is the empty realm that was created for demons and old Gods to dwell. It is here, in this place, shrouded in the darkness that two figures meet. They are bone thin, dressed in rags and trembling. There is too little light here for mortal eyes but these tattered creatures are not mortal and their eyes glow bright green. They are Hylden, or rather they are some of the gaunt survivors of the once strong Hylden race. They come together in the darkness, embracing with a desperation born of fear and longing. After a moment one speaks.

“He means to do it Demitri,” the female whispers. “He will accomplish this, but I fear the cost will be to great for us to pay.”

“Fulvia” Demitri’s voice catches in his throat. “Philos means only to grant us the freedom Eino could not. Would you truly rather remain here?”

“If he does this it will bring about the end!” Fulvia snaps pushing away from Demitri. “For us and every other living thing in existence.”

“I care not for any others!” Demitri holds his hands out to her, “I care only for you and our Charmian!”

“You think Charmian and I have any bigger chance of surviving than anything else!” Fulvia demands, Demitri is silent, Fulvia sighs blowing her anger out of her in one breath. “I know Philos means well for us and that he believes he is doing the right thing but this ambition will kill us all.” There is silence in the darkness as Fulvia walks back to Demitri.

“I know Philos’ methods are a little...”

“Insane?” Fulvia snaps “Demitri this ‘method’ is foolish evil I can feel it, it twists and writhes inside me.”

“You have become over sensitive my love, your power picks up a small emotion and brings it out of proportion, nothing in this or any other world is truly evil.”

“This creature Philos has brought to us is,” Fulvia answers; she turns to leave “This will not end well Demitri.”

“Yes it will.” Demitri forces a smile. “You’ll see my love, soon we will walk Nosgoth again.”

Chapter One

The Southern lands are snow covered and cold. Raziel was less than pleased. Meridian had changed since Kain’s last visit when he fought against the Hylden and destroyed an entity capable of wiping out all life with a single thought. Far from its days where it was a slum, barely held together by oppression and forgotten hope Meridian was now a teaming metropolis, filled with the wealthy and the powerful.

“Everything looks fine,” Raziel murmured, huddling as close to a sheltered wall as possible while wrapping his fur lined coat closer around himself. “Can we go home now?”

“You complain like an old woman,” Ariel snapped reaching for the vampire and dragging him out into the street. “And I thought vampires were supposed to be tough and not mind the cold.”

“Quiet the opposite actually,” Raziel grumbled as Ariel linked arms with him and started them towards the docks. Raziel considered pushing her away but after a moment realized she was giving off body heat and pulled her closer. “We hate the cold, it might not kill us but it slows us down and if our blood freezes we enter a hibernation of sorts that can kill us,” Ariel blinked at him Raziel sighed. “If you’re asleep you can’t very well get out of the rain or avoid being hunted.”

“Oh right,” Ariel answered, she’d never really thought about it that way before. The docks were far from the lower quarter and their progress was slow, but thankfully, unlike when Kain had last been in the city, there was no curfew, the streets never closed down and best of all their were no ward gates.

“Anything?” Ariel asked?

“Nothing physical.” Raziel muttered sniffing gently at the air and trying not to be repulsed by the stink of it. “You?”

“Nothing seems to be upsetting the magic here.” Ariel sighed. “I’m beginning to think this was a waste of time.”

Odd rumors had been circulating in the city lately, reaching far to the north. No one had thought much of them but when the rumors continued the circle had decided to send someone. Raziel had grumbled when he had found out it had been him who’d been nominated. He had always hated winter even when young and had immediately started a three night long rant about how the circle hated him and were doing this to be spiteful. No one was surprised when Vorador locked him in a cupboard. Ariel had been nominated to join him in as she was more apt at sensing magical disturbances than Raziel. She hhad not complained half as much.

“So,” Raziel breathed watching his breath plume in the air. “Do you have any ideas as to what this could be.”

“None what so ever since the last time you asked me,” Ariel answered smirking. “I really am beginning to think this is nothing more than a waste of time.”

“That’s what Kain said,” Raziel muttered, “but he looked a bit odd when it came to the part about the green fog.”

“Odd as in?” Ariel asked, Raziel shrugged at the question. He knew of no other way to describe Kain’s reaction to the mention of green smoke. He was unsure why the mention of green would disturb his father but something in the back of his mind he felt he should know. Unfortunately the back of his mind was content to keep this knowledge a secret.

“I hate this city,” Raziel murmured and Ariel sighed loudly. “Well, its cold, its damp and its full of waste which stinks so badly it makes my nose burn.” Ariel smiled at his complaints.

“You sound like your father, he’s none to keen on industry either. You’re all living in the past. If your not careful you’ll get left behind.” Raziel rolled his eyes at Ariel’s words and sped up his pace a little, they were passing by the large ornate gates that separated the industrial quarter from the rest of the city and the smell made his eyes water.

“Magic is stronger than mans power,” Raziel answered, Ariel nodded.

“This is true, magic is stronger than industry but that is simply because industry is young now, it will grow more and more powerful as it progresses.”

“Industry needs things though,” Raziel snapped, “it needs fuel and man power and components. It breaks down every few minuets. Magic is self contained it needs no power, no components and it does not breakdown.”

“That might well be true for the magic you wield Raziel. But take Vorador or your father for example, you did not know Kain when he was newly made and nor did you know Vorador. The amount of times their magic went out of control, well, I’m surprised that the mansion still stands,” the previous balance guardian sighed. “Before you start snapping at me I am not completely taken with industry any more than you, it pollutes the world and it has a darkness to it that I do not favor, I merely admit that its advantages outnumber its disadvantages. It gives light, heat, food, it saves countless lives daily.”

“Yes but...Oh,” Raziel stopped. The two had entered the docks and Raziel’s words had been stolen from him. In the harbor stood a ship so huge it defied words, “I’ve never seen one that big before,” he muttered, Ariel smiled.

“Industry.” She snapped triumphantly. Raziel glared and fell silent. They walked into the Docks proper drawing some odd looks from the workers who were ill used to seeing such as them in their corner of the city. After over an hour of further wandering Raziel lost patience.

“This place stinks of engines and fish but nothing else,” he growled.

“Maybe you should stop smelling with your nose and start trying to feel with your intuition,” Ariel muttered frowning out at the sea, “but that said I think your right. It feels like something was here but it’s weak now, I think it’s gone.”

“What is this IT, you keep referring to?” Raziel held out clawed hands over a burning oil drum, the few human crowded around gave him a wary look and edged back. Despite there being peace between vampires and mortals the humans couldn’t completely fight their basic instincts of fight or flight when it came to being close to the vampires. Raziel smirked as the mortals backed off and moved closer to the fire enjoying the heat.

“I don’t know,” Ariel muttered standing next to him and warming her own hands, “stop tormenting people. It irritates me that you have picked up Kain’s poor habit of making others miserable when he feels so. If you’re that unhappy perhaps we should retire for the evening,”

“I suggested that ages ago,” Raziel huffed.

“If I remember correctly Raziel,” Ariel nudged the vampire, “you said it before we got outside.”

“I could see the snow out the window,” Raziel muttered looking sadly at the fire, he suddenly glared. “Lucky bastards getting to stay at the nice warm, comfortable mansion. Bloody guardians they did this to me on purpose and Kain didn’t even put in a word to get me out of it, I’m sure if he would have said something they would have backed down but no, he just laughed. Well I hope the roof collapses under all the snow and they all freeze to death in their sleep,”

“Raziel shut up,” Ariel snapped, Raziel blinked at the harshness of her voice.

“What?” He noticed Ariel’s expression of confusion and fear, he sniffed at the air and a low growl worked its way out of his throat, he knew that smell and it was not engine oil or fish. Blocking out the sound of the chattering mortals and the water splashing against the wood of the jetties, he tried to focus. A sudden sound to his left made him spin just in time to see a lone gas daemon. The creature looked half starved and carried many scars from previous battles. Raziel hissed as the daemon disappeared around the corner; it seemed he had found their little problem.

He tore after the wretch before he’d made the conscious decision to do so and cursed at himself. such an error could have gotten him killed, he never would have done something so foolish before the restoration. the pliancy of the land was making him sloppy. The Demon was weak and did not run far before he caught it. Leaping when he came into range he brought them both down. his claws buried into the demon’s back. The creature screeched and thrashed under him but fell still as his claws made short work of it.

“Did you need to be so . . . enthusiastic?” Ariel asked out of breath as she caught up with him.

“Yes,” Raziel snapped, “it is this bastards fault that I was forced to come all the way down to Meridian in the middle of winter.”

“Has anyone ever told you how over dramatic you are?” Ariel muttered frowning, Raziel was about to answer but stopped when he saw her expression.

“What?” he asked looking away from the still steaming body of the daemon.

“The daemon is dead,” Ariel said bluntly “so surely the weight in the air, the pressure, the green should be gone.”

“And it isn’t?” Raziel sighed loudly

“It’s getting stronger,” Ariel answered.

***

In the realm of darkness something stirs.

“We will be ready soon Demitri, I hope I can rely on you to do your duty?” a deep male voice echoes through the gloom.

“Was that ever in question Lord?” Demitri answers. There is a long silence between the two.

“Soon we will be free of this accursed place and we will have what was rightfully ours once more,” The deeper voice laughs. It takes but a moment before Demitri gains the courage to speak

“My Lord, some of your followers believe...well there is talk that. The price we will have to pay for this freedom, is it...”

“The price we will pay is nothing compared to what we will gain,” the deeper voice snaps, “and frankly Demitri it is questions like that that make me question your loyalty.”

***

The woods are silent in winter. Many creatures sleep in burrows and nests, warm and safe from predators. Only the sharp eyes of a fox noticed the swarm of silver furred bats that raced over the treetops, their movements too synchronized to be a true swarm. This was a single creature who had taken the form of many to achieve flight. Many pairs of eyes settled on the fox and the natural creature fled from the gaze of the unnatural. The bats continued their fight north towards the pillars.

It was not the first time Kain had felt this disturbance in the natural order but he had been ignoring it for. When the creature known as Despair had fallen Kain had found himself jumping at shadows, every time there was a slight shift in the natural balance he would take to the skies and to the pillars. Vorador had found his worrying highly amusing and Kain was sick of returning to the mansion only to be laughed at. The pillars loomed in the distance as he sped towards them, silently envying Janos his wings, it would be so much simpler to take flight with ones own wings rather than have to break down your very being, to have to guide yourself through many eyes, Kain had lost count of the amount of times he’d crashed or landed roughly in his early years. Slowly the swarm of bats glided down towards the marble base of the pillars, landing close to another form standing at the foot of the pillars. Kain recognized him as the nature guardian. The ancient guardians were slowly starting to accept the fact that the pillars were alive once more but some were more willing to accept this than others and the nature guardian was one of those who was quiet at ease with the idea that the pillars were alive. He seemed to be one of the less restricted guardians, freer to accept changes in the world than some of the others although dimension was close behind him.

“I thought you might show up,” the ancient guardian spoke calmly as if he had indeed been waiting for him. “You noticed this sooner than I thought, you are indeed who you claim to be,” he watched the swarm pull itself together and become the physically young scion.

“I know who I am.” Kain muttered, “prey tell what have I noticed?”

“You tell me,” Nature shrugged.

“Something is amiss,” Kain sighed, rubbing his temples with a clawed hand. He disliked feeling like he was being tested.

“This has something to do with what is happening in Meridian doesn’t it?” Nature asked slowly moving away from his pillar, Kain paused at the question before sighing.

“Maybe,” he answered deliberately being vague.

“Raziel, before he left for Meridian seemed somewhat disgruntled by your reaction to the rumor of green fog.”

“Why do you bring that up?” Kain asked, moving towards the balance pillar.

“Because it bothers me Scion,” the ancient Nature guardian answered looking smug. “You know more than you are telling me, the slight shift in energies, the rumors from Meridian, your current state of restlessness.”

“Restlessness,” Kain muttered trying to act as if he had no idea what the Nature guardian was referring to. He approached his pillar and leaned back against the warm marble, feeling the pulse of the magic within change to match the beat of his own blood. A wave of relaxation that always washed over him when he was here hit him and the scion closed his eyes.

“You’ve been disappearing for nights and according to Janos you have become a lot more irritable,” the Nature guardian approached the scion holding out a clawed, cloven hand he gently touched the scion jerking back when magic crackled between them.

“Is Janos your spy?” Kain smirked, the Nature guardian shook his head. Kain snorted “I dislike the colour green and I am bored with the stillness.”

“You’re a poor liar Balance,” the Nature guardian smiled, “if it was a mere case of you being bored then I doubt you would be causing such upset in your home. Now tell me what is happening?”

“I don’t know,” Kain answered opening eyes to look the ancient guardian in the face. It was jarring to say the words but he hoped it would off foot the other into shutting up.

“But you suspect,” the guardian pressed, Kain rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Yes, I have many suspicions, life would be to dull without suspicion,” Kain smirked. The guardian looked tired but somewhat pleading and Kain sighed. “The green smoke disturbs me this is true,” he admitted, the silence spoke volumes, “when the Hylden broke through they were very green.”

“The Hylden are a dusty brown in colour,” the Nature guardian muttered not sure why the scion laughed.

“I did not mean their skin,” Kain snapped, “it was more their essence, their magic it was very green,” he shook his head, “I cannot explain it more.”

“You do not need to I think I might understand you, you are referring to the energy they control, also I believe it may have something to do with the dimension they are contained in, we made it from our magic and dimension magic is very green,”

“You think they are coming back?” Kain said slowly looking to the balance pillar, eyes unconsciously scanning the white marble for marks of corruption. It was his turn to turn and stare confused when the nature guardian laughed at him, “I fail to see the amusement.”

“The Hylden cannot come back to this plane of existence,” Nature laughed, wiping a single blood tear from his eye.

“Funny,” Kain nodded, “considering what almost happened last time when you all thought they couldn’t return,” the nature guardian looked pained.

“Humans are not fit to be guardians and now there are no human guardians, the pillars are strong and pure, served by vampires,” his smile faded slightly, “but this does have a certain stink about it.”

“What do you think?” Kain asked confused, this did have a feeling of the Hylden about it. But the Nature guardian was right, the pillars were whole and pure, the magic following in them was untouched by corruption nothing was wrong with them.

“I am not sure. It may be we didn’t purge all the stray daemons like we believed we had and one is causing trouble, upsetting the energies.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Kain agreed feeling awkward, all of his past ‘panics’ had in fact been stray daemons upsetting Nosgoth’s energy and not a second attack by the Hylden or one of the other entities out in the ether.

“The disturbance is not powerful, it is small, and so far all reports of something out of the ordinary are coming from one place, most likely it is a daemon,” Nature smirked.

“Prey tell if you had already made your mind up as to what the disturbance was why did you pick my brain?” Kain hissed glaring at the nature guardian feeling foolish. The nature guardian looked solemn for a moment.

“I know that this is not something to worry about but I can’t stop myself, it feels as if something terrible will happen soon and I was curious to see if you shared my intuition,” Kain shook his head, he knew the nature guardian was most likely right and this was nothing but a stray daemon and he was simply still jumping at shadows, once again he felt foolish.

***

The mansion was warm and dry after Raziel returned from Meridian, it was everything he remembered, filled with food, soft beds, comfortable chairs and ‘mildly’ pleasant people. He could have quiet contently remained there for the rest of the winter in a warm soft bliss that he was sure he would never ever get tired of. But despite this fact shortly after his arrival home he found himself trudging through snow. Heading towards the pillars, cursing a blue streak as he did so. Raziel had been looking forward to returning home to the mansion, the few nights away had chilled him and had left him wanting. Vorador had snickered at him for his complaints but Raziel did not care. He’d been through hell and back to get this peace so why not enjoy it.

“I would enjoy it if he was in the bloody right place to enjoy it with,” Raziel mumbled to himself, “but no that would just be to damned easy.”

The pillars seemed to be further away than he remembered, but he was close now and he could smell his father which sent a pleasant little shiver down his spine but that shiver was all but ignored in the face of something more powerful. He could feel the agitation coming from Kain, it was almost strong enough to knock him down. The anger and frustration Raziel had felt evaporated from him in moments to be replaced by that same feeling of dread that Ariel had shown in Meridian. Wincing Raziel broke through the woods into the clearing in which the pillars rested and stopped. Kain stood at the center of them his back to Raziel. Raziel was getting used to the odd mix of confusion and excitement he felt when he saw his sire now. Regardless of appearance he was Kain. Yet he was not the Kain who had raised him, at least not in body. He was younger and far too slight in Raziel’s opinion, his hands still held fingers although his claws had come in during his last evolution a few months ago.

“I know your there Raziel,” Kain breathed and Raziel smiled. At least the old bastards memory was coming back to him. Kain turned to face him, a small forced smile on his face that only lasted a moment. Raziel stepped up onto the marble base and came to stand next to his father, his hand reaching out to touch on Kain’s arm, Kain moved as if to shake the touch away but stopped himself and moved pulling Raziel against him, making Raziel frown harder, something was bothering him, and it was bothering him alot.

“What’s wrong?” He asked feeling the tension even more so.

“I was hoping you could tell me,” Kain smirked, resting his chin on his child’s head, Raziel whined and pushed him back and taking a few steps away, hoping the distance would help him think. “There was nothing in Meridian?” Kain frowned

“There was a daemon,” Raziel watched his father’s face fall. “But that’s not the problem,” Kain’s eyebrows rose in curiosity.

“What is the problem then?” Kain asked moving towards his child until he was standing close enough to press the lines of their bodies together, Raziel smiled, Kain could be a subtle bastard when he wanted to be but he could also be incredibly forthright at times. Raziel pressed back and listened to the hitch in his father’s breathing.

“I hate to interrupt,” a voice called from above them and both looked up with venom in their eyes as Janos landed on the marble.

“Janos,” Raziel smiled at the blue winged ancient and tried to pull back from his father but found he wasn’t moving, apparently Kain was not willing to let him go, “what’s wrong?” Janos smiled noticing how Kain’s claws were biting into Raziel’s coat and how he was watching Janos with barely hidden anger.

“We were hoping you could tell us,” Janos’ words mirrored Kain’s earlier comment.

“I killed a rouge daemon in the docks. But the feeling of disturbance increased,” Raziel half hissed as his father slowly moved his leg in a very deliberate way. “It seemed to be coming in over the water,”

“The water?” Janos mussed, “indeed, I think I will have to look into this,” Kain frowned at him, a look of confusion not anger. “You remember what sits in the water just beyond Meridian Kain?”

“Yes,” Kain nodded. “I also recall it had been abandoned for centuries when I was young and that was some time ago.”

“Rude,” Raziel muttered earning himself odd looks, “talking in code.”

“We were not talking in code, tou are just ignorant as usual,” Kain rolled his eyes. “Come we best head back, if what you say is true then we will need to do something.”

“Yes we do need to do something,” Raziel growled when Kain pulled away earning himself a smirk from Kain and a look of pity from Janos.

“We will,” Kain assured. “But I would perfer to focus fully on the task and this news is distressingly distracting.”

“You can be...” Raziel’s words were cut off when Kain’s clawed hand touched his shoulder and the light of teleportation engulfed him. Raziel opened his eyes in the mansion and smirked at the surprised faces of Sebastian and Magnus.

“Hello,” Magnus smirked. “The larder is an odd place to teleport to, unless of course you were collecting supplies, you certainly smell like you should be collecting supplies,” he wiggled his eyebrows and Raziel punched him. It was bad enough without Magnus mocking them. “You have no sense of humor,” Magnus muttered.

“Kain?” Raziel looked to his father who was looking distinctly perplexed and frustrated.

“What?” Kain looked at him with an expression of weary defeat. Raziel gestured to the larder around them, rows of bottles glinting in the fire light. “At least I got us into the mansion this time,” Kain had been struggling with teleportation. Practice was helping but he had yet to end up at his desired destination once. The door opened and Janos came in.

“I would have brought you,” The ancient said, “but you left in something of an abrupt manor.”

“He clearly still needs the practice,” Magnus muttered getting punched again this time by Kain. “Attempting to break my nose wont help,”

“Stop this,” Janos snapped, “now come we need to discuss this,” he led them out of the larder and towards one of the libraries, where no doubt Vorador was waiting.

“What’s going on?” Sebastian asked catching up to Raziel.

“To be honest,” Raziel sighed, “I’m not sure. They mentioned something off the coast of Meridian before we came back though.”

“The ancient city of the Hylden,” Janos sighed.

“The what now?” Sebastian’s ears perked up.

“The ancient city of the Hylden, a most ancient race one who apposed my own they were...” Janos began but was interrupted by Kain.

“The Hylden and the vampires don’t like each other,” He said bluntly, “they fought, and as a result of these fights the Hylden were sealed off in a parallel dimension.” Sebastian blinked and Magnus looked blankly at Kain who sighed loudly, “Hylden not nice.” He said simply rolling his eyes.

“I was going to say that before I was interrupted,” Janos grumbled, Kain shrugged.

“If you would have told the story we would still be here this time next year,” he mumbled, Janos swallowed hard and seemed to be counting to ten. The ancient did not have the same legendry patience he once possessed. They entered a library where Vorador was indeed waiting. He had already pulled down a map of Meridian and the surrounding coastal area.

Raziel walked to the map and looked, spotting the eternal prison just off the coast. The eternal prison was still standing although no one really talked about it now. It was a clear demonstration of the ancient guardian’s cruelty which had later been adopted by the likes of Moebius. however it did serve a purpose, unpleasant though it was. Fortunately discussions were underway between the guardians about what to do about it. a way west from the prison Raziel noted another settlement, one he had never before seen on any map. He pointed at it.

“The Hylden city,” Vorador nodded, “their home before the war, abandoned since.”

“You think this is where the disturbance is coming from?” Raziel asked.

“Despite the location I do not think this is the Hylden,” Janos said slowly, “the energy in meridian Ariel described does not fit with that of the Hylden. Rather it has resemblances to the creature you pushed back three years ago.”

“So you think...” Sebastian started but stopped when Vorador interupted.

“We think that what ever that thing was before is using the Hylden’s gateway to try and come through again,”

“Why there though?” Raziel asked

“It is the furthest point on Nosgoth from the pillars, this creature may be using it because of that but also the binding will be somewhat weaker there.” Kain answered flicking Raziel’s ear

“I blame myself,” Janos breathed, “we knew that the city was another weak spot, why did I not think to destroy their gateway?”

“I already did that,” Kain frowned, “the nexus stone, the entire building went up in flame.”

“You closed it, this is true and we have blocked the weakness over Avernus. I don’t see how they could be getting through.” Vorador muttered.

“Maybe because you are applying bandages to axe wounds,” Raziel answered, everyone frowned at the young vampire currently being petted by his father, “you apply temporary solutions to eternal problems. Yes the gate was closed but it was not destroyed.”

“I fear you may be right,” Janos admitted, “but I am unsure of what to do.”

“We must go to it,” Kain said, “We should see if we are first correct before starting a panic,”

***

It is cold in the darkness with no light, no heat and no soft touches to warm those that dwell within. Those who do live here have become cold and hard, foreigners to warmth and kindness; strong survivors as those who are weak do not survive in a place such as this one. It is a tragedy that they feel they must sacrifice their softer emotions to survive, but not all of those who dwell here have given up, some have continued to fight to keep themselves whole.

Some have hope.

“Demitri, you are pushing him too far,” the voice of Fulvia cuts through the darkness, “he will take action soon if you do not stop; and it will be action you will not survive.”

“If I do stop my love we will all pay a price which is not worth paying, no matter the result the cost is far to high,” the voice of Demitri snaps, “I know the risks I am taking but if it will keep you and Charmian safe then I am willing to face his wrath, I faced Einos once before did I not?”

“You did and if he had listened to you he would have not treated the nexus stone so recklessly, nor would he have ignored the fledgling vampire, if he had listened to you the scion would not have killed him.” Fulvia repeats these words as if she has said them many times, a mantra reminding Demitri of his past.

“He did not believe the myth of the scion, he should have held true, if he had only listened then his plan could have worked, if he had taken steps he could have killed him but he left him to become stronger and he then rose up and destroyed him. Eino was a fool but not so much of a fool as Philos.” Demitri sighed, “for at least Eino held the welfare of the clan above his own personal pride.”

“Demitri please I beg of you, caution yourself. Eino trusted you, Philos does not, you must be careful or you will end up dying for nothing.”

“If I die it will not be for nothing,” Demitri snapped, “it will be to keep us safe. We will still be here but we will be safe.”

“Some would willingly choose death over this injustice, this imprisonment,” Fulvia whispered

“I know,”

***
“Azimuth?” Umah called as she entered the mortal circles home, absently she rubbed her hands together, a mortal gesture but one that still helped, and she hated this weather. She also hated coming to this place but when Vorador told you to do something you tended to do it especially in times like this when everyone was so tense that the slightest wrong action could cause a violent reaction. Umah walked slowly forwards, careful of each step, the circles home was full to bursting with trigger release traps, why it was so Umah had no idea considering that the wars were over and no one hunted any one else.
With a loud sigh Umah carefully stepped into the hallway that she hoped lead to Azimuths laboratory, careful not to step on any of the triggers that she knew about. But damn it all to hell they circle were constantly moving the damn triggers and setting the traps on timers. So she waited by the entrance to the hallway for a full five minuets and listened as several traps went off down the hallway; before she moved forwards careful about which tiles she stepped on and what the weight shift felt like under her feet. Slowly she made her way forwards for a few moments until quiet by accident she collided with Mortanius to busy looking at the tiles to look where she was going.
“Oh!” she squeaked then covered her mouth ashamed of the sound; it was not the most vampire like sound she could have made. Silently she cursed; she knew that if it had been anyone else they would have probably preformed a very stylish back flip landing a few feet away and hissing, maybe with some lightening flashes in the background, well maybe not but they wouldn’t have squeaked.
“Umah?” Mortanius spoke, “I was just coming to meet the envoy, I had no idea that Vorador had sent you,” he seemed genuinely surprised, Umah shrugged
“I came to find Lady Azimuth, they wish to have a dimension guardian with them and they wanted Azimuth over Mica,” She explained as the human guardian of death watched her smiling softly, a nice little smile somewhat out of place on a guardian of Death. He seemed somewhat fatherly and for some reason she found herself pondering for a moment if he should have the title of father of the scion rather than Janos despite the blood between Janos and Kain. The title seemed to suit Mortanius more than Janos.
“I cannot say I am surprised at this, your friends do tend to dislike the original guardians,” Mortanius’ words pulled her from her thoughts and she nodded to him. “Come I will take you to her,” reaching over to a tapestry he lifted it aside and revealed a doorway behind it. Umah nodded knowingly, secret passageways, she had known there had to be a way that the circle could move around their own home without having to worry about traps. “I’m guessing your friends wish to leave as soon as possible?” Mortanius continued as they walked down the candle lit passageway, “what with the severity of the situation.”
“Yes,” Umah agreed, “they do, I have been told to ask for or use my own teleportation to return to the mansion,” she smiled suddenly, “they are making Raziel go as well, he’s in a foul mood about the whole thing.”
“I can imagine,” Mortanius agreed, “he does dislike the cold I am led to believe.” The human guardian of death turned to face the wall again and opened a door Umah hadn’t noticed, they emerged into a laboratory.
“That’s an understatement,” Umah muttered as they entered.
Azimuth was leaning over a table a little way off, deep in concentration, so deep that she did not notice them enter until they were almost upon her. When she did notice them she dropped a small black bottle she was currently using and cursed. The bottle broke and the contents spilled onto the tiled floor and a pungent smell arose.
“Hello Lady Azimuth,” Umah winced at the smell, “I was told you would be expecting me.”
“Yes,” Azimuth muttered distracted by her broken bottle, “I was told you would be wanting me,” then almost as an after thought, “Ariel says that Meridian is cold at this time?” Umah nodded, then I will be but a moment please forgive me for delaying you.” She spoke very formally Umah noticed as the little witch ran out of the room. Mortanius noticed Umah’s frown and smiled a little
“She is nervous,” he spoke quietly. Umah looked to him surprised, “she does not remember parts of her past but for some reason Azimuth remembers the emotions she felt when she first met Kain. She has told me that she remembers feeling cocky, amazed and finally terrified.” The mortal guardian of death smiled a little wider but Umah could see the confusion underneath it. “Strange that none of the rest of us remember.”
“Kain has that effect on people,” Umah said, “people look at him and see that he is young and somewhat less than they expected physically, but then they feel the amount of power he has barely under control and it frightens them,” Umah shivered a little despite the warmth of the laboratory. “At least that’s how I felt.” She snorted suddenly, “I expected him to be taller.”
“Yes,” Mortanius smiled but it faded quickly, “he is volatile, and that worries me somewhat. But he has done much for Nosgoth and knows his responsibilities,” Mortanius said, “unfortunately those responsibilities do not detail how many people he can and cannot hurt,” he smirked.“He reminds me of my nephew somewhat.” The guardian of death would have continued but Azimuth chose that moment to reenter the laboratory and Umah turned to her.
“We will teleport,” she said trying to sound firm and was half surprised when the little woman nodded agreeing easily. She was wrapped in a thin cloak making Umah frown; she had said she knew Meridian was cold so why had she not gotten something warmer? Umah shook her head, it wasn’t important. Azimuth approached, reaching out she grasped Umah’s arm and Umah felt the tension in the air as they teleported. She was a little disappointed that she hadn’t been allowed to say goodbye to Mortanius, she favored the mortal guardian of Death, blushing slightly at her own thoughts Umah focused on what was happening around her as the front courtyard of the mansion came into focus around her. Azimuth paused waiting for Umah to lead them in, but Umah took a moment
“You do not need to be worried,” she swallowed, hoping not to embarrass the little witch but rather to help her, “he is a child really, a stupid, spoilt child. Both of them are, you needn’t worry.”
“I am not worried,” Azimuth snapped, “I am merely concerned for the fate of our land is once again in question.” Umah sighed, obviously the little witch did not want to talk about her fear. Azimuth shivered in the cold, the thin cloak doing nothing to protect her. Umah lead them inside, the corridors were warm and Umah smiled, she always felt safe in the mansion it was silly she knew for the mansion was no better protected than anywhere else in Nosgoth but this place felt safe to her. As they entered the main entrance hall Umah rolled her eyes, she could here Kain from here.
“Melchiah,” Kain was saying loudly, “look outside, tell me what you see,” there was a pause where Umah assumed Melchiah was talking at a normal level, “no not the trees, look at the ground,” Kain snapped, there was another moment of quiet speach before Kain spoke again, “yes snow. Snow means its cold so go put something warm on!” There was a sound of feet moving quickly and a door slammed.
“He sounds like my father once did,” Azimuth muttered, Umah smiled.
“He is irritated and i beleive he may be a little worried. He shows it by bellowing at everyone,” she answered entering the entrance hall. Vorador and Janos were talking together and seemed amused at Kain’s bellow at Melchiah. Raziel was complaining to his father who was quiet clearly not listening and was instead focusing on a very interesting thread in the carpet. Melchiah reentered the hall in a thick winter coat that came down past his knees, Umah smiled the coat seemed to be devouring the young vampire alive.
“You’re going to Meridian in that?” Kain suddenly blurted.
“This is warmer!” Melchiah snapped at his father as he came to stand beside him, “I doubt I could get much warmer without bringing hot coals inside my pockets,” Kain smirked at his childe.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” his hand skimmed over Melchiah’s head as if ruffling hair the young vampire did not posses. Melchiah made a face but it was clear he enjoyed the attention. Kain walked towards Azimuth frowning down at the little woman, Azimuth drew herself up trying to seem imposing which was near impossible given her height. “I honestly did not think I would have to dress this little expedition,” Kain muttered.
“My wardrobe is none of you business,” Azimuth said firmly.
“It is my business if you freeze,” Kain said, “if you freeze you die, if you die Mortanius yells at me, if Mortanius yells at me I will yell back, if I yell back Mortanius will throw those skeletal people at me and I hate those things and if Mortanius throws skeletal people at me I will kill him.” Kain paused for breath. “Now ask yourself, do you want Mortanius to die?”
“Over dramatic,” Umah smirked. Kain shrugged as Vorador handed Azimuth a thick fur lined cloak. Azimuth grumbled but pulled it on.
“It worked though,” Melchiah spoke walking up to Azimuth as Kain went off to snap at someone else. “please do not be offended lady,” the youngest of Kain’s sons spoke around the fur collar of his own coat. “My father is not enthused about this trip and his frustration is vented on those around him.”
“So i have been told,” Azimuth snorted, “and I doubt anyone is enthused with this trip.”
“I just hope it doesn’t rain,” Melchiah muttered. The idea of rain made Azimuth’s already poor mood worse, it reminded her of the vampiric weakness of water and if it did rain then no doubt she would have to spend even longer among the creatures.
“Can we please just get this over with,” Azimuth grumbled.
“I second that,” Raziel muttered, “This whole expedition is a bloody nightmare.” Azimuth smirked at him. A man after her own heart even if he was a vampire.

* * *
“So this is the Hylden city?” Raziel mussed as the mist cleared and the ruins of the once great city came into view. Kain mumbled something under his breath and turned away, Raziel sighed; he had know his father would be like this, when ever Kain disliked something he usually sulked and shouted at people. Raziel smiled remembering when Kain had ruled Nosgoth, even then he had sulked, and he had tried to hide it but had often failed. It was surprising really, to think someone who could accomplish so much was still so childish at heart.
Turning away from his fathers retreating shadow Raziel looked back to the Hylden city. It looked strange to him, he had seen many ruins in his time and all ruins had a certain feeling to them but not this place. Ruins usually felt warm, lived in, safe but this place felt cynical; like an abandoned hospital. There had been very little if any joy in this place. The buildings were sharp edged and brutal where the ancients used smooth lines and curves the Hylden seemed most fond of sharp corners and odd angles. For some reason just looking at this place disturbed him, the spirit of the reaver shivered suddenly a lot colder than he had been before.
“It is a strange place,” Azimuth spoke startling Raziel, he should have heard her or smelt her as she approached but he had not, she had just suddenly appeared at his side, it was disturbing. “It reminds me of the eternal prison.”
“I have not been there,” Raziel answered, “I have wanted to visit, I want to explore all of Nosgoth but Kain stopped me going too far south.”
“I can’t say I am surprised,” Azimuth looked to the once wraith and smiled a little. “From what I have come to understand from Vorador the Hylden took one he favored there I doubt he would want his son there as well.”
“True,” Raziel agreed watching as the ship turned so as to dock as close to the land as was safe. A portion of the gateway collapsed as he watched and briefly he wondered just how old this place was “Magnus’ fate there was painful for him,” he sighed, “do you believe that thing is trying to return?” Melchiah slowly walked up to the pair, muttering under his breath about the cold.
“I doubt it,” Azimuth spoke calmly, fussing for a moment with the thick fur she had been ‘made’ to wear
“But it is possible?” Melchiah breathed, his breath pluming on the cold air.
“The pillars are strong and pure once more, the land is strong also. It would be ridiculous for it to be able to get through now,”
“But if it was them this is a place were it could do it,” Kain’s voice made them turn. Raziel winced that was twice now in the last few minuets someone had managed to sneak up on him, he was losing his edge obviously. Melchiah sniggered at his elder brother and was rewarded with a punch in the arm.
“What do you mean here?” Azimuth asked, her voice was shaking less now as she was slowly coming to terms with the idea that the scion wasn’t after her blood, “what is so special about here?”
“Other than that it was a city where a race opposing the pillars dwelt when they lived on this plane?” Kain smirked a little as if the answer should be obvious, “this point is the furthest from the pillars and if you concentrate,” he closed his eyes, “the magic of the binding is stretched here, the way it is at Avernus,”
“But Avernus is because of all the dimension magic that was once focused there.” Azimuth began she opened her mouth to continue but was interrupted
“This entire island reeks of them. Their magic old as it may be may still give something else a way to stay connected to this plane. It could anchor them. If it can come threw this is where it will do it.” Kain spoke as if he knew he was right, as if he thought he could not be wrong.
“I don’t feel anything,” Melchiah said and jerked suddenly as his father’s bare hand closed over his forehead.
For a moment Melchiah just frowned wondering briefly if Kain really had had enough of him and was about to tear his head off, literally. However after a moment a strange sensation over took the youngest of Kain’s brood and he found himself feeling as if the air was suddenly thicker, closing in on him, sapping energy from him. Blinking Melchiah yelped, everything was suddenly shrouded in green fog. It was killing everything it touched, he could see it as it touched his brother, it was trying to kill him, slow him down make him weak. Turning to look at Lady Azimuth he flinched he could physically see the poison eating her alive. Melchiah jerked backwards trying to escape and found himself pressed back into his father who was holding him still as he tried to struggle.
“You see it?” Kain said calmly
“That was awful.” Melchiah said shakily, “So powerful,”
“It is that yes,” Kain agreed smirking now, once again his hand went to his child’s head and instantly Melchiah saw the green he swallowed knowing that this was a foreign power. But then out of the corner of his eye he saw his fathers hand, Kain made a pass and instantly the green closest to them disappeared and slowly the rest started to fade. It was not gone completely but the poison that had touched him, that had tried to crush his life was no longer there.
“It is not as powerful as me.” Kain smirked.
“But,” Melchiah began but stopped as the ship slowed and stopped, he watched actively as a few people moved setting anchor and drawing planks of wood to make a walk way between the ship and the land.
“I said don’t worry, it wont touch you.” Kain muttered as if tired of telling him. Melchiah smiled a little and watched as his father moved towards the ‘bridge’ before following, Raziel walked next to his brother who did now seem to have calmed a little, Lady Azimuth followed behind them.
Inside the city was dark and cold, the water here seemed to have stopped flowing and stood in great scummy pools, green mildew climbed what was left of the walls, strange black sea birds filled the sky with screaming cries. The whole place had an atmosphere of loss and emptiness, to Raziel it reminded him somewhat of when he had first risen from the abyss and had gone to his clan-lands only to find it decimated and empty. Raziel shivered and sped his pace to match that of his father, he looked up to see Kain staring ahead with some sort of grim determination and he frowned Kain seemed to know exactly where he was going, leading the group into an old tiny room, Raziel yelped when the doors closed of their own will and the room jolted. Kain smirked at him
“It was once called an elevator, it will take us up or down,” he paused frowning, “it surprises me that it still works. Its power source should have run dry a long time ago,” he sighed, “I’m liking this less and less.”
The four of them teleported across what had once been a bridge but had now collapsed, Raziel found himself staring avidly around at the buildings it made him sad to think that a race of people had once lived in such a place, it was so lifeless. If this was what the eternal prison was like then it was little wonder that the inhabitants had lost their minds. He was slowly following his father when he suddenly walked into him, Kain had frozen on the spot and was staring straight ahead, ahead was a large doorway, cracked and broken and from the cracked leaked green mist. It felt cold, as if it was simply destroying warmth absorbing it and turning it to ice in the air; it did not feel the same as the force of destruction which had threatened them so recently, in fact it felt very, very different.
“This isn’t the same thing that threatened us before is it?” Raziel looked up to Kain and flinched, for a moment honestly upset at this development before he turned to his child, mask of calm in place.
“No Raziel it is not.”
- 1
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