Chapter 7

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    Standing atop the Sanctuary of the clans Raziel could see far into his own clan territory and realized for the first time since he had first come out of the Abyss just how run down the place had become. LoN stood silently beside him surveying the land and flapped her wings once to lay them around her shoulders. She had followed him here to assist in whatever areas she could as he attempted to claim his destiny. Sighing lightly he lept off the high roof of the Sanctuary and hit the ground rather softly. He didn't know what possessed him to come back here after everything he went through to get out of the clan territories, but LoN had said that he destiny would be fulfilled here and he wanted to get it over with soon as he could.
    As Raziel landed and stood she appeared next to him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her cloak of greenish brown was pulled over her face to block her eyes from what little sun light there was today. She sighed looking at the Sanctuary. "Kain's been busy.."
    Raziel nodded silently as she turned her head to look around the area, she said before she hadn't been in the clan territories in centeries and it looked like it too. "It isn't any nicer in any of the other areas either."
    She nodded slowly as they made their way towards Raziel clan territory.
    Sighing slightly Raziel walked across the bridge that led to the 'island' in the center of the Lake of the Dead. LoN followed slowly behind him looking around in wonder. Crouching down at the edge of the landmass Raziel looked down at the ever turning waters of the Abyss. It was almost depressing to see it again. So many memories came flooding into his mind, mostly ones about Kallin.
    LoN frowned at him, "Stop that... what's done is done, you have to move on and start things a new."
    Raziel sighed, mostly because she was reading his thoughts again, but he knew she was right. He looked down into the Abyss again with another sigh and shook his head. "I can't help it.. I miss her so much.."
    She nodded and stood beside him, a hand on his shoulder. "I know... I felt the same way when Azraile died.. I thought I couldn't go on living," She paused, "..But I did."
    "..Because you had to."
    LoN nodded a bit looking across the Abyss.
    Raziel shook his head again, Kallin's presents had left him completly a few days ago and he felt totally alone. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye."
   "Neither did I."
   "It doesn't get any easier does it..?"
    "Afraid not." She walked away from him to look at the enterence to Raziel's clan territory. Slowly with a moan he stood and walked towards her. Jumping into the air he took a hold of his wings and glided to the other side flopping lightly to the ground. He looked back to see LoN still standing on the landmass with a grin on her face, her arms still crossed. Blurring, she appeared next to him and walked farther into Raziel's clan territory. With a smug smirk Raziel followed.

   "Hmm.. someone's up ahead. Comming this way."
   Bringing the Reaver to view Raziel stood there looking farther ahead. "Friend or foe?"
   LoN shook her head considering. "I don't know.. whoever it is is quite distraught."
   Raziel walked forward a little more and turned the corner around a large rock that had fallen not long ago from the mountain side above. He heard a short gasp and stopped nearly bumping into the person in front of him. Stumbling back a little the Reaver disappeared. Blinking slightly she took a few steps back against the rock wall and leaned heavily against it watching Raziel curriously. She didn't look like she wanted to be there at this moment. Ever suave and daring Raziel just stood there awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck not knowing what to say or do. He wanted so much to continue farther into his clan territory, but something inside of him told him to stay and talk to her, atleast to comfort her a little.
    "Er.. I.. ah.." Raziel fumbled for words. The women infront of him was beuty in all sense of the word. Her hair as dark as midnight was curled around her face in light waves that reached down passed her shoulders. She wore a simple grey dress that accented her figure perfectly and black boots that covered her legs and dissapeared under her dress. "I didn't mean to startle you.. I'm sorry.."
   She looked back at him curriously shifting her bundle in her arms and knelt down against the wall nuzzling it a little, a tear streaking down her cheek.
    "Look, I'm not going to bite you if that's what you're worried about." He said gently.
   She seemed to clutch the blanket closer to her with all her life. Looking off to the side a little she shook her head. "Vampire's don't bother me.. I've met a few before, and slayed a few as well."
    Raziel blinked shyly, "I'm.. not really much of a vampire anymore.."
   Mumbling under her breath lightly she seemed to ignore Raziel totaly and talked to the bundle gently with soothing words. He blinked slightly looking at her and quirked his head to the side to look to LoN for support. To his supprise she appeared to have abandoned him again. He sighed and looked back to the women infront of him. It was then he heard the faint cooing of a child as the women pulled the blankets from around the bundel revealing the face of a newborn, perhaps only a few days old. The child looked up at it's mother with those gentle grey eyes, already sharp as a hawks and it giggled lightly.
   Somewhat in awe Raziel just stood there watching the pair. The women looked up at him with the faintests of smiles at Raziel's gapping expression and spoke softly.
    "..This is my son...i believe his father is dead.."
   Not really expecting her to say anything to him he nodded faintly. "I see."
   She closed her eyes, hugging the child closer to her as set of tears ran down her cheek. "I hate you.."
   Raziel winced and shyed back a bit, what did he ever do to her? "I.. I'm sorry.. I..."
    She shook her head and opened her eyes to look up at him again, "No, I don't hate you.. it's him again.."
   "..Him?"
   "Nathaniel.." She closed her eyes again seeming to retract from him and the rest of the world, tears crept from her eyes and slid down her face. "He.. was.. my friend.. he changed and ganged up on my.. fiancee with another man... I... I think he's dead."
   "...I see." Raziel replied slowly.
   "Nathaniel's putting thoughts into my head... images of Darken being killed.." She sighed shakingly and rubbed her cheek against the newborn. "He told me.. he's going to come after Richard and take him from me.." She seemed to babble on as if she couldn't stop herself, "First Darken now Richard..." Not knowing what to say Raziel just stood there as she continued. "He was my best friend.. Darken told me to run, and I did.. I don't know what happend to him.. I should have stayed behind and helped him.
   "Or died with him." Raziel flinched, he hadn't ment to say that outloud. She didn't seem to notice.
   "Atleast we would be together."
   He cleared his throat lightly feeling suddenly drawn to help her. "If I may be so bold in asking," He said slowly. "Is there anything I can do? Anything to help you?" He struggled for the words and seemed to garble what he was saying.
   She shook her head slowly, still refusing to look at him.
   "Atleast let me find someone who can help. The Citidel is not far from here, perhaps-"
   "No..." She trembled slightly sinking farther down the wall to sit on the ground. "..I've lost everyone that could ever mean anything to me...except for Richard. To put that sort of responsibility on anyone.. I couldn't do it."
   "Please... after you've told me all this I feel like I have to do something..." He trailed off rubbing his shoulder awkwardly. Why was he making this harder than it should be?
   "It wouldn't feel right."
   "Because I'm.. me.." He sighed, it wasn't a question.
   She looked up at him blinking tears away and holding back those she could. "Of course not.."
   "Then why?"
    ".. I don't need help.. I can manage fine on my own."
   Raziel crouched down on one knee to look at her eye level. "Someone once told me things happen for a reason.. whether they be good or bad..." He lowered his tone a bit, "I may not be the best thing to come along right now, but I'm not this Nathaniel and I am willing to help you..."
   "What could you do then?"
   Raziel sighed, she really wasn't making this any simpler. "Atleast get the pair of you something to eat and somewhere to sleep tonight that's safe. The clan territories are no place to be a night." He stood slowly and walked close to her offering his hand to help her stand. As if expecting something she shyed away from him and looked up causiously. "Please?" He repeated.
    Looking at his outstretched claws she put her hand in his and grasped it as he pulled her to her feet gently. "Where do we go then?" She asked softly.
    Motioning a hand farther into his clan area he walked beside her in awkward silence. She was crying again faintly and tears were streaming down her cheeks silently.

As they made their way farther into the area Raziel stopped at an odd spot behind a wall and tapped lightly on it trying to find the door. It had been so long he he had actually used the door to get into this area he had nearly forgotten it was there. Will a little successful grunt Raziel shouldered it open and stepped aside to let the women go first. Reluctantly she stepped passed him and into the hall on the other side, Raziel followed shutting and locking the door behind him. Taking one of the leglected torches from the wall Raziel called upon a small fireball in his hand and lit the torch walking passed her and down the short hall way into his former living quarters. She continued following him silently and looked about the room with mild interest, her eyes seemed distant.
    Lighting a few forgotten candles and throwing the torch into the fireplace to warm the room a bit Raziel spoke softly. "You can take the bed over there if you'd like."
    She walked over to it and sat down, her arms still hugging the babe tightly in her arms.
    "Um.. do .. you want me to.. uhm.." He scratched his neck thoughtfully looking at the child. "So, you can sleep."
    She shook her head slowly and lay the child on the bed beside her, curling herself up next to it, her arms around it. "..We'll be fine."
    He nodded slowly and leaned down to poke at the fire idily. When he stood to look back at her the women was already asleep.
    "I hope you know what your getting yourself into."
    Raziel jumped nearly a foot in the air and spun around to see LoN standing in the hallway behind him. "You nearly scared the life out of me," He hissed quitely, "And where did you dissapear to anyway?"
    She walked forward to sit at one of the chairs against the wall of the small room. "I was keeping my nose out of other people's business. What were you thinking back there anyways?" She whispered quietly.
    Raziel shook his head slowly, "I don't think I was, but I wasn't going to let her die out there. If this Nathaniel person didn't find her Kain would have."
    LoN frowned slightly at the women, "I don't think Kain would have done much to her."
    "How do you figure that?" He said sitting himself down in a chair.
    LoN shook her head, "Just a hunch I suppose."
    Again Raziel scratched his neck thoughtfully, "Would you mind..."
    Smiling lightly LoN nodded at Raziel's muddled thoughts, "I'll find something for them to eat when they awake, I'm not about to let the poor darling starve."
    "Thank you.."
    "Just remember, after she's feed and we find someone to watch her you have duties to attend to."
    Raziel closed his eyes and nodded with a little groan. "I know, I know.." He said gruffly.
    With that LoN dissapeared from her chair.
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    She woke slowly and reluctantly and opened her eyes to the strange room around her. For a moment she had forgotten where she was until reality sunk in heavly against her. She sighed lightly and hugged the sleeping newborn in her arms and looked across the room to see the stranger that had 'rescued' her last night. Slouching backwards in a chair his head was leaning over the back of it, his arms crossed over his chest. She chuckled just a little at the sight, he must have been watching her most of the night and simply fallen asleep out of pure exhaustion. She sat up slowly scratching her neck with a yawn taking the boy from the bed and sat the both of them on the soft fur rug infront of the slow, still burning fire. Taking the blanket from around the boy she smiled distantly and watched him crawl around on his stomach. Already the days old infant was growing and learning so quickly... almost too quickly for her. Tickling him a little the child let out a giggle and squirmed about.
    With a sudden start Raziel grunted in his sleep waking himself up. He sat up slowly and stifly rubbing the back of his sore neck and looked down the other two in the room with a faint smile and stood from his chair cracking random joints that had fallen asleep in the night. Raziel winced slightly as his neck popped twice in the same spot. "Nrg.."
    "..That didn't sound healthy.."
    Raziel shrugged, "..I've heard worst things crack before."
    She nodded slowly. Raziel walked to the table in the center and grabbed one of the apples LoN apparently had left there sometime in the night and sat down near the women offering it to her. She looked at him slowly, taking it reluctantly and bit into it with a sigh. Raziel looked down at the child as it wiggled around on the rug. He smiled tickling him gently on the stomach. The child giggled grabbing hold of Raziel's middle claw and held it tightly. "Nng.. hey."
    The women giggled lightly watching Raziel attempt to flee the childs grasp. "I think he likes you." She said softly.
    Raziel grunted in agreement pulling his claw from the child's small fingers. Finding nothing to hold onto the little one crawled around slowly on his stomach. She giggled again shyly. "You look better this morning."
    She shrugged looking down at the half finished apple, "Todays.. just another day. Richard seems fine though."
    Raziel nodded and let out a little painful cry. Turning his head and most of himself around he saw the little boy attempting in vain to tug Raziel's tattered wings off his back. With a sigh Raziel scooped the child into his arms and grungingly tugged the youngesters fingers from around his wings.
    She giggled lightly unclutching the child's fingers from the offending wings and picked him up into her arms. "Hey.. you little rascal."
    Raziel smiled crossing his legs infront of him. "It's alright." He said slowly, "Some grip he's got there."
    "He should still be nicer. Shouldn't you?" She looked down at the infant who just giggled back at her.
    Looking down at the floor infront of him he blushed slightly, "I.. guess I'm just fine to play with.."
    She giggled, blushing lightly as well and smirked a little. "Guess so.."
    Clearing his throat awkwardly he looked back at her and smiled a bit. "I don't think I got a chance to introduce myself last night, I'm Raziel."
    She smiled lightly letting the child crawl around on the ground once more. "I'm known as Tallania."