Kain paced worriedly around the floor of the Sanctuary of the Clans. It had been almost a week now that Raziel had left to hibernate deep within his clan territory... and that made him worry.
Over 2000 years ago Moebius the time streamer had told him his destiny. Everything he would do between life and death was told to him. It made him worry A LOT.
Now 2000 years later, after he had re-populated Nosgoth with his vampire legeons, he was delt another decision... Raziel. Raziel, Moebius had told him, was the key to the soul reaver's existance, but he had never said how or why. Simply, that it was Raziel whom was responsible for the soul reaver's being. Which ment if his first born was not sacrificed to the Abyss tomorrow, the Reaver -and Kain most likely- would cease to exist.
Kain knew he had to.. it had to be that way or else.. Kain didn't want to die and he was afraid of what the other realm held for him. He had done to many terrible things in his life and he didn't want to face the consequences just yet.
Kain sighed deeping flopping into the seat beneath the pillar of Ballance. He was glad his leutenants weren't around to see him worrying, they all looked up to him as a father and a clan leader and he didn't want them seeing him right now. Somehow he had to come up with a reason for sarcaficing Raziel and fast. Kain had been thinking and planning ever since he raised his sons from the tomb of the Sarafan and gave them the gift of vampirism. Planning, ever since he heard Moebius's words so long ago and planning still after Raziel had left to hibernate. He wanted nothing to do with his son's distruction, he loved Raziel as if he were his own son.. but still the lingering doubt remained.
With a heavy heart he stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. .. It was going to be a very long night.
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Kain squinted in the bright sunlight as his leutenants dragged the unconcious Raziel behind him. He had done it.. and in a moment Raziel would be no more. He felt horrible and wanted nothing more than to go back to the darkness of his layer and go to sleep.
Somewhere behind him Raziel moaned with pain...
"Cast him in..."
Without more than a look back Turel and Dumah tossed Raziel off the ledge into the Abyss. Kain didn't look back to see his first born plumet into the water and dissapear.
With a shaking sigh he stomped off away from the Lake of the Dead.. it would be another three centeries before he would see Raziel again.
"My son... I'm sorry..."
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Chapter 1
Raziel sat silently in the darkness thinking.. he hated thinking this deeply. It made him depressed. All except one of his four brothers were gone and Kain was out there waiting for him. It made him sigh. It had been only a few days since the Elder had brought him back from the other realm and he was begining to grow accustomed to his new form.
Now he was crouched on a large tombstone outside the human Citadel watching the lights of the city burn down as the evening passed by. He had been looking for Turel, but found this instead. It had been so long since he had seen the human cities, and he wanted a closer look. However, as he sat there he was beginning to have his doubts about going inside. The humans in this time may have gotten used to vampires, but what would they think of him if he were to be detected? He may not make it out alive.
When he heard the foot steps in the soft ground it was almost to late. Rather loudly Raziel jumped from his vantage point on the tombstone, hit the ground and climbed onto the roof of a nearby crypt, crouching quite low to the ground.
"Hello?" The voice was female. "Who's there?"
From his high view of the cemetery his vampiric vision allowed him to watch the figure of the women walking closer to the area. She was dressed in simple peasants clothing and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders. Something inside of him was urging him to say something. Anything! Despite the gnawing urge, he still didn't feel right as he spoke.
"Forgive me ma'am, I didn't mean to startle you, you… just startled me is all."
She looked around for the owner of the voice. "Might I be so bold as to ask why you're hanging around a graveyard in the middle of the night?"
"If I could inquire why you are walking through one." He replied.
The women sighed, "If you must know, I'm looking for someone I heard might be still alive."
Raziel was rather confused, but his voice was toped with sarcasm. "You're looking for someone alive in a land of the dead?"
The women didn't seem to notice. "He's… not exactly like that…" Her voice hesitated a bit; she leaned against one of the tombstones.
He raised a brow. "I… don't think I follow."
"My love…" She paused for a moment hugging her arms around her shoulders. "My love was taken from me years ago, but I had recently heard rumors that he was alive and living as a vampire."
Raziel gave something of a little snort; he would hardly consider vampirism 'living'.
"I see"
She shook her head, "No you don't, but I have to be on my way." She stood straight and began walking forward.
Just for fun Raziel asked, "What by chance was his name? I may have heard the same news that might be able to help you."
She stopped and looked off to the side sadly hesitantly, "…Raziel, sir."
Had Raziel a jaw it would have hit the ground in front of him at that moment. Ever mussle in his body began to tense, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He stood, leaped off the building and ran as fast as his legs could carry him off into the darkness, that feeling of wanting to know replaced with fear.
The women, preparing herself for an attack, held a dagger in her hands ready to strike. After a moment of nothing, she clutched the dagger close to her and ran back to the Citadel as quickly as she could.
Raziel stood panting for breath on the edge of his clan territory. He couldn't say why he had bolted, but he had and now he was thoroughly confused. Only two days ago he had found the tomb of Sarafan where he and his human brethren were laid to rest over three thousand or so years ago. He had accepted the fact he had been human and was attempting to get used to the idea of being Sarafan. But never before had he given a thought to the idea of him having a true life before. This was all so new and foreign to him.
He waited until his breath came back to him before he moved from his position on the ground and walked farther into his clan territory. If he truly was her human lover, than she had to be just as old as he. She had to be human, Raziel thought; she came from the human city, surly she couldn't be that old? The humans would think her a witch or worse, a vampire, and kill her for sure. Raziel shook his head sending his bangs shaking around his face. She probably meant another Raziel he chuckled to himself, Raziel was a human name after all, there had to be many throughout history. He frowned- then again, it was also once a vampire lieutenant's name, and who would want their child named after Kain's first born? He decided with heavy resolve he was going to find that women again tomorrow night and find out what she knew.
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The sun rose across the ruins of Raziel's former city and across the face of the former vampire. With a slight yawn Raziel opened one eye at a time to another morning and again looked over his appearance. And another morning... Raziel thought with a sigh. He sat up and re-ajusted the cowl around his lower face. Someday, he thought, I should look in a reflection and see just how much is left Looking around he could see most of his major clan area. He had been sleeping atop one of the tallest building and had spent most of the night there since he had bolted from the cemetary. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it definatly was the safest from vampire fledgling attacks. He debated going back to the Citadel now, but decided against it. It would be more likely that he would be seen as this hour than he would shrouded in the darkness of night.
Which left Raziel with a dilema, it was morning.. He would have to wait almost another twelve hours before the sun would go down and he could find his way back to the cemetary. Which left him with nothing to do until then. Raziel stood looking about his clan territory with a sigh as memories of the past flooded into his mind. Rather than jumping down to the ground, he took a foot hold in the side of the building and crawled down the side of the wall to the bottom. Looking around at the abbandoned area with a sigh he walked off to find something to busy himself with until the sun set.
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Every mussle in his body was ready to sprint down the hill into the valley behind the Citidel. He had waited all day long busying himself around Nosgoth's land gathering a glyph spell or two and now he watched impatiently as the sun slowly sank behind the mountains far off in the distance. Despite his aquired abbility to swim in Nosgoth's waters he really hadn't gotten used to the feel of the water on his flesh. In all honesty it still made him nervous. So, he had simply climbed over the mountains and now he was making his way down to the grounds behind the cemetery. He really hadn't given alot of thought of how he was going to find that women again, nor could he in all honesty remember what she looked like, but somehow he was going to find her.
Or she was going to find him.
Jumping down the last few paces Raziel landed in an awkward crouching possition apparently misjudging the distance to the ground. Someone off to the side gasped heavily as he heard retreating footsteps. He turned quickly to see a women sprinting away from him. Doing a rather interesting double take Raziel realized it wasn't just a women... it was the women from last night .. and she was getting away.
Without thought Raziel began running after her. He wasn't stupid enough to start yelling 'hey wait!', but he wished he could find a better way to approach the situation and make her slow down and talk to him.
Rather than running towards the backgates of the Citidel however she seemed to be avoiding it entirely and heading to the side of it. Then he saw where she was heading. There was a rather small wooden door hidden amungst overgrown shrubs and piles of wood. Slowing to a hault, Raziel waited until he was sure the women was passed the shrubs and in the doorway. Quickly he shifted into the Spectral Realm and ran into the overgrowth. Sure enough the door was left open and Raziel squeezed in the open door.
Now, finding a way to shift back would be a problem. Walking around aimlessly he found a portal to the Material Plane off in a corner and shifted. He stood for a moment until he heard the faint panting off a women and the slam of the door he had walked passed. He heard bolts being rattled and slow unsteady foot falls as she walked slowly closer. Raziel frowned at the reaver that gave out its usual bright greenish glow. He wished he could find a way to hide that.. it would be alot easier to hide and stalk if he could call it at will or hide it somehow.
Ducking out of the stone hallway and into an empty room, Raziel knelt in the darkness until the women passed him. Somewhere in the hallway she had gotten a torch and lit it as the light danced off the walls around her. It wasn't until the light passed him that he stepped out of the room and silently followed the sound of footsteps. As he walked he noticed that there were doors everywhere several feet from each other on either side of the halls. They looked more like prison cells than actual rooms.
Not long after the footsteps stopped and the light up ahead went dim, followed by the sound of a women cursing quietly to herself. Raziel took the chance, sidestepping into one of the 'cells' and cleared his throat. Imediatly he heard the sound of her wipping around to look behind her.
"Who are you.. and why are you following me?" Her voice was clouded with anger and fear.
"I.. just wanted to talk is all"
"You.." She paused. "Your the one from last night aren't you? How did you get in here without me hearing? What do you want after fleeing so quickly last night, hm?!" Her voice was getting bolder.
"I wanted to know some more about what you told me yesterday."
"Why? So you can fill me with hope about my love being alive only to dash it away when I find out he's really some kind of monster?"
If only she knew... Raziel shook his head. "I wont fill you with anything.. but I simply wanted to know more."
She paused for a moment as light flickered against the walls.
"I asure you I mean you know harm, I just.. think I remember hearing about a Raziel before."
"Come out of the shadows so we can talk... face to face."
Raziel choked, he had been waiting for that. He hesitated. "I... don't think I should."
"Why?" Her voice snapped, then she paused again and said more quietly. "Who exactly are you?"
Raziel sighed, this wasn't going well at all. Might as well get this over with.. "...I think something along the lines of 'what are you' would be more appropriate.."
Now out right confusion was drowned in her voice, "Come into the light and I can be a judge of that."
With a half hearted sigh Raziel stood from his crouched possition on the ground and turned the corner. The women gasped lightly putting a hand over her mouth, the other hand clutching the torch, she took a few steps back against a wall. Raziel stood there attempting to look as less-threatning as he could.. which obviously wasn't doing much at this point considering both his appearance and the newly charged soul reaver winding its way down his arm. He just stood there looking back at her.
"I.. believe you have a tale to tell me when I am done telling you mine." She said slowly. Raziel simply nodded.
"I guess I should start from the begining then.." She sighed hanging the torch in its holder on the wall. "I was born over two thousand years ago to a poor family in Uschtenhiem before it was attacked by the vampire clans." She paused waiting for some kind of reaction from him, she didn't get one. "I was thirteen when I met him. Strong, nice, funny, and everything I wanted in a husband." She sighed apparently not ready to tell him all this. "His father had been a Sarafan since long before the clan wars and so when his father passed away he was eligible to take training and take up his father's possition. We were both fourteen at the time." Raziel nodded as she sat down on the stone floor leaning against a wall. "Some years later when he had risen enough in ranks he was able to marry and chose a women that would become a Sarafan priestess. One night in early winter he came to my door and asked me to marry him infront of my parents. We were to be wed in the spring. I left the next morning for the Sarafan Stronghold, with my love beside me and my parents behind me in the city. I wasn't particularly fond of the idea of becoming a priestess, but as long as he was with me I couldn't care. Almost a month went by and I hadn't gotten into used to the idea of spells and magic and become a Sarafan. Love was bringing Raziel and I closer every minute that passed."
"One day in the heart of winter he told me he had heard news that a path had been opened to Janos Audron's layer and he and his brothers were going to slay the monster once and for all."
Raziel winced slightly at the idea of the almighty Janos as a MONSTER. From stories he had heard from elder vampires Janos was next to being a god. It wasn't until the Sarafan crueling murdered him that his legacy soon began to die out.
She continued, "When he returned he seemed only a shell of his former self. Rambling something about a demon." She shook hear head, "To this day I'm not sure what he was talking about, his words made no sense at all. He said it was a incarnation of the Elder God himself. But he wouldn't say anything aside from it was demon and Janos was dead. He had given the black heart to Moebius and had left to find me. We talked most of the day as I tried to pull from him information, but shortly after Malek broke in saying that his brothers were gathering in the great hall to slay the demon that had followed them back to the Stronghold. I begged him not to go, but he left me." She began to weap and started talking in choppy sentances. "He left me alone in that room. I heard his voice down the hall from courtyard on the other side of my bedroom. He was talking to someone, but I couldn't tell if he was talking to himself or if another was there with him. The voices were muffled... then I heard the swords clash, the noice of a body hitting the ground, his voice crying as another began talking. I ran out of my room to the courtyard and saw it... the demon. The soul reaver lay on the floor and my love lay beside it on the ground. The demon looked at me with those eyes and dissapeard just as quickly as I had seen it. I slumped to my knees and cried out for Raziel to open his eyes......" She took a deep shaky breath attempting to steady herself. She'd obviously kept this in for a long time. "But he didn't. Moebius came in soon after trying to steady me and said that not only had Raziel been slain, but so had his brothers, Malek, and a few other members of the brotherhood. So, now without a husband, I was cast out of the Stronghold and sent back to Uschtenhiem alone where I lived until it was attacked by wandering fledgeling vampires about a year later. The entire town fought long and hard against them as my family and I hid on the top floor of our home. One of the vampires broke down our door and killed my mother. It took a bite out of my arm and part of my leg. Father attempted to attack it, but at the last minute it grabed his leg and they both fell out the window and onto the street below. He saved my life, but took his instead." She wipped her eyes witht he back of her hand. "I went back to the Stronghold and moved in with my sister who had married Raziel's brother Turel and her family. It wasn't until almost fifty years later that I realized what that vampire fledgeling had done to me... I was ageless, I could not die and the Sarafan were begining to wonder about me. With a heavy heart I left the city and wandered around aimlessly from town to town always comming back here every hundred years to check on my sisters family. It wasn't until recently when I came back to the Citidel and heard news that a Raziel was living as a vampire clan leader under the eyes of Kain the dark vampire." Obviously, Raziel realized her time sense was a little off. Apparently 'recently' ment over three centeries ago. "Curriosity over came me and I followed behind an angry mob of people into the west as they killed any vampire that stood in their way. I managed to sneak away into the darkness once I got farther into the clan lands. I wandered into a library or sleeping quarters of some kind and found a journal that had been kept by the vampire luteinant named Raziel. I knew it had to be him... I just..." She stopped, tears rolling down her cheeks. Raziel sighed slightly. Well, that was that then. Apparently his Sarafan self was killed by a.. demon? It seemed more likely facts had been twisted around a bit, but it was better than not knowing at all.
Raziel sighed, "I guess I should tell you my story then and see what transpires from it." And so Raziel told her about his resurection from the Abyss, his journey across Nosgoth as he slayed four out of five vampire brothers and devowed their souls, the search for Kain; the black hearted creature that threw a loyal clan member into the waters of the Lake of the Dead so long ago. She listened intently throughout the whole story. With a sigh Raziel finished slightly releved to have finally gotten all of that off his chest.
"All this time you've been walking around Nosgoth murdering Raziel's brothers for something they did to Raziel? Why would the Elder create you simply to avenge the death of a vampire?"
Raziel swallowed hard. "I was created to release the souls of the brothers so they could complete their destiny's. Turel, Melchiah, Zephon, Rahab, Dumah, and Raziel were supposed to stay dead that day. Kain brought them back as vampires before their souls could cross to the other realm. It wasn't supposed to be that way."
"The Elder told you all this?"
Raziel shook his head. "The Elder told me to either redeem myself or avenge myself. Everything I know now is what I've learned over the last few days."
"Avenge yourself? I understood that the Elder created you?"
Noding again he replied, "The Elder pulled my soul from the other realm to reanimate the rotted carcass you see now."
Fear washed away to pitty as she looked at him now. "I'm .. sorry.."
Raziel simply shrugged replying quietly. "I've kind of gotten used to it." They sat silently for a minute or two listening to the crackle of the torch.
"The Elder never told you who's body you took over did he?"
Again he shook his head. "He didn't have to. I retained most of my memories from my 'former' life." He stopped hesitently looking back at her. The look on her face longed to hear more. "I was Raziel..... the vampire luteinant, second to Kain's army of darkness and the former Sarafan human."
Tears weld up in her eyes as she put a hand over her mouth. Raziel at first thought she had the horrible reality flooding in on her too quickly and now realized her love was nothing more than a jawless monster. It suprised him when she wipped her tears away with a smile on her face. "I knew that night something was out there.. waiting for me. I knew you were there." She began crying again.
With a releaved sigh Raziel leaned backwards against the wall beside him, "Although now you know my name, I'm afraid I never got yours."
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They sat there in the torchlight for most of the night and into the morning. It wasn't until he noticed Kallin swaying slightly that he took any notice to the time. "Perhaps I should go an let you get some sleep now." He stood stretching out his leg that had recently falling asleep. "Keep the torch, I think I can find my way out in the darkness."
Kallin nodded and turned to the back of the hallway to sleep. Raziel turned and began to walk towards the exit he had used before to come in.
".... Raziel?"
"Mmm?" Raziel turned to see Kallin standing awkwardly scratching her arm with a slight yawn.
"W..would you mind staying with me until I fall asleep?" Even in the darkness of the dim room he could see the blush that crept over her features. One similar to her's began working its way across his cheeks. All he could do was nod.
With a tired smile she ducked under what was left of the door that used to at one time hold prisoners. Raziel walked forward ducking lower than she had and awkwardly placed himself on a stone 'bench' carved out of the wall. Kallin climbed under a pile of old torn up blankets and faced him with a half awake smile. Raziel drummed his claws on the rock unconfortably.
"Will I ever see you again after tonight?"
Raziel shook out his leg adjusting his cloth gauntlets and flexing his claws. "It depends on if you want to see me again." He spoke slowly. He really didn't have to ask that, he could tell Kallin wanted to see him again... he rather did too. "Tomorrow then?"
"When?" She asked half awake.
"Sun down? At the cemetary? I have a better chance of meeting you if I don't have to slip in and out of the Citidel every time." With another nod and a yawn Kallin closed her eyes. He he wouldn't mind seeing her again really. I may not remember anything about being human.. but apparently I had very good taste...Smiling lightly to himself, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall.
Raziel woke quickly snapping his head up. He sat in the same possition he had been in when Kallin had gone to sleep. With a yawn he stood slowly stretching out his cramped leg. The torch had burned out hours ago most likely and he stood in the darkness and saw the vague outline of Kallin sleeping under the pile of blankets. He longed to touch her with all his heart, but quickly decided against it- she loved the human Sarafan Raziel, not the un-dead creature he was now. With a sigh he silently walked out of the empty cell, down the hall and out into the early hours of the morning.
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And so, that's how the next few months went. Raziel and Kallin met every night outside the Citidel getting caught up on old times and starting to write things a new.
One night as sundown gave away to evening, Raziel waited outside the cemetary. Kallin was late and he was having a sudden feeling something wasn't quite right.. and it gnawed at him. After waiting a few more minutes he gave in, snuck into the Citidel and down to Kallin's layer.
"Kallin?" He spoke the words softly into the darkness of the hallways as he shut and bolted the door behind him. There wasn't a reply as he made his way down to the basement. Then he heared it.. the soft whimpering. "Kaly?" There was a gasp and the sound of someone shuffling on the ground in the room Kallin used.
"Please, let me die in peace.. leave me alone." It was her, she turned her head not wanting to look at him.
"Kaly please talk to me..." He ducked under the door and walked in following the sound of her heavy breathing. "What happend?" She was shaking slightly, he ran over to her and took her in his arms and hugged her tightly and comfortingly.
She sat and hesitated for a moment, afraid to talk to him, she looked into his gaze, he could see her eyes welling up with tears and her bottom lip quivering "It was Kain..." She choked on tears as she tried to speak "He.... he was too strong... he... he... ra... " She burst into tears before finishing her sentence and hugged Raziel as tightly as she could.
It was clear what had happened, a rage beyond boiling point filled him, it was the powerful cold hatred, boiling emotions took over his voice "I will find him... tonight... I'll kill him with my bare hands."
Kallin began to shake heavly, tears rolling down her face, "I think I may be pregnant."
All at once Raziel's anger fell away from him as he stared at her in shock. "You... w-what?"
"I think I may be with child." She said slowly. "I'm imortal Raziel! I don't want to out live my children! I want to die.. now!" She wrenched free of Raziel's grasp.
Raziel sat down beside her, laying his claws in his lap. "Kaly, now matter what that bastard did to you.." He swallowed. "I love you. I have from the moment we met."
Kallin began to cry harder, "But.. Kain.. he's... oh gods, Raziel.. I don't want Kain's children!"
Raziel sighed.. she wasn't making this easy for him. "Kaly.. I love you...I want to spend the rest of my existance with you."
She choked back tears and looked at him. "W..what?"
He scooted next to her and took her in his arms. "Centeries ago I pledged my life to you as a Sarafan warrior, but I was murdered before I could finish that promise. Please.. Kaly let me fulfill it now.. please.." He shook his head, "I don't remember anything from when I was human and I probably never will. But I don't know what I could do with out you. I love you."
Kallin fell into Raziel and hugged him crying into his cowl. "What about the child?"
"We can raise it together, you and I. It will never have to know it was Kain."
Kallin sniffed back tears, "I love you with all my heart, Raziel. I promise I'll love you forever." With an unsteady sigh she leaned against him, Raziel leaned back hugging her tightly.
"There's an abbandoned cabin in the woods not far north outside of Nosgoth's clan territory. It's safer than here and more ... private. Kain will never find us there."
Kallin smiled. "It sounds wonderful."
Raziel couldn't help but smile back.... things were going to be different from here on.. no more Kain, no more brothers, no more carring about who or what he was. He loved Kallin with all his heart and she loved him for who he was...they were going to spend their eternity together.....
But sometimes... destiny has a way of interfering...