Bruises

Disclaimer: As you all know, I do not own Soul Reaver or any of the characters in this story. You really don't want to sue me, I can be a real bitch when I want to. *Evil grin*

Warnings: AU!!!!! *ahem* Also mentions of rape, major OOC-ness, TWT, probably loads of other stuff too that I can't think of right now because I have my music on too loud and it's making my fragile little brain vibrate to the point where even thinking at all is becoming a major hassle. No, I'm not going to turn it down. I happen to like it, thankyouverymuch. American Hi-Fi rock. *Smile*

Author: Koneko Shido

Author's ranting: Remember, no flame me for screwing with details, this is AU!! [Got whined at on FFN for that...]

Bruises: Part 2

Kain had left after that single kiss and Raziel had lain on the bed for almost an hour, his eyes closed, thinking about the vampire and his words and feeling that soft touch against his lips over and over again. Then he had sighed and pulled himself wearily up to collect his discarded sword and futilely bar the window, knowing that it would not stop Kain from entering again if he wanted to. It comforted him a little, though, to know that if Kain did return he would find his way blocked in a clear message that he was unwelcome.
Then, drawing back the sheets on his bed, Raziel finally him himself sleep, sword in hand.

* * * * * * *

Raziel closed the door to his room and slid to his knees, curling in on himself and shaking but making no sound. He closed his eyes tightly and took a few trembling breaths, forcing himself to be strong and ignore the fiery pain that flared through his body.
He had fought today with the fledglings who had ventured out since the sun was shrouded in dark clouds and mist hung like spirits in the air, though no rain fell yet to burn the vampires and send them crawling back to their master. It was perfect conditions for the vampires Kain had spawned to hunt during the day, so the Serafan had left their sanctuary to kill as many as they could. Raziel had lost himself in the battle, letting the heat and blood wash away his thoughts and dancing gracefully between the clumsy vampires, spinning in the air to slash at them with his sword and thrusting out to spear their dead hearts. He was almost disappointed when the sky boomed with the first crack of thunder and the fledgling vampires f sen sensing the coming rain. The Serafan had stared after them, adrenaline making their blood pulse and yearn for more, then the warrior priests had retreated back to their sanctuary to clean their wounds and sharpen their blades for the next time. Raziel had followed, wiping the blood from his sword on one of the bodies that littered the ground andcingcing as he began to feel the sting of the small wounds he'd acquired during the brief fight.
Raziel had cleaned his sword properly when he got back to the sanctuary, turning it and watching the light play along the razor sharp edge, knowing that his sword was the only thing he would ever be able to rely on. Sheathing the blade, Raziel had left for his own room, walking along the dim corridors of the large sanctuary with his wounds throbbing at him to be cleaned and bound. He was almost there, almost at the nearest thing to safety he had when a hand shot out from the shadows and grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face Zephon, who smirked at him cruelly.
"Did I startle you, Raziel?" Zephon asked, grabbing the wrist of Raziel's other arm as the smaller Serafan went for his sword instinctively.
"Let go of me." Raziel demanded, though he knew what was coming. He could vaguely see the dark shapes of the other Serafan shifting in the shadows further back behind Zephon, who just laughed.
"I think not." He hissed, pulling Raziel into the shadows.

* * * * * * *

Raziel got shakily to his feet from where he had been knelt on the floor and stumbled towards his bed, removing his torn clothes with trembling fingers and pulling on his sleeping robe. He tied it at his waist tightly, shivering, then drew back the sheets and crawled onto the bedttintting himself collapse and curl up like a child, burying his face in his hands.
'Let me take you from this...' Kain's deep voice echoed in Raziel's mind and the young Serafan shuddered, closing his eyes.

* * * * * * *

Kain lounged on his throne at the base of the pillars of Nosgoth, elegantly swirling the crimson blood around in the glass he held between his claws. He smirked as he thought of how delightful it would be to have Raziel knelt at his side, what a beautiful sight the young Serafan would make sipping the blood from the glass offered to him by his master.
"You know of the Serafan named Raziel?" Kain murmured, shifting his gaze from the red liquid in his glass down to the fledgling knelt before the throne, its head bowed.
"Yes, master." It replied in a snake-like hiss of a voice, eyes glittering.
"He is not to be harmed." Kain ordered, sipping at his glass of still-warm blood.
"Yes, master." The young vampire said again. It was not his place to question the orders of Kain, jto cto carry them out. It stood and bowed low, then scurried out of the huge chamber to spread the word to the other vampires that Raziel was not to be hurt. Kain watched it go and licked the blood from his lips, standing up and discarding the glass. It was time to visit his little Serafan.

* * * * * * *

Kain stood on the balcony outside Raziel's chambers, smirking at the barred window. It was like a sign saying 'keep out' and it almost made Kain smile. His Serafan priest was indeed a fiery little creature, Kain doubted that any other human would have dared try to bar him out. Well, Kain had never expected to be welcomed warmly, so he vanished in a swirl of mist and reappeared inside the darkened room, padding over to the bed like a cat, expecting to see Raziel sleeping peacefully.
What Kain found was Raziel curled up on the bed, shivering in his sleep and clutching the blanket tightly as though it were a lifeline. The darkness was no obstacle for the vampire and he scowled, clearly able to see the dark smudge marring Raziel's cheek and the red marks on his neck, leading down into his robe. Kain reached out to gently brush a claw against the Serafan's pale cheek, tracing the bruise, and Raziel made a soft, pained little soun hin his sleep and shifted slightly, his eyelashes fluttering.
The vampire drew back his hand and sat down on the bed, waiting and watching as Raziel slowly awoke, sensing a presence in the room.
"Who's there?" Raziel demanded, sitting up warily and trying to keep any weakness from his voice, reaching out to his side to light the oil lamp he kept beside his bed. The light flared into life, revealing Kain, who sat further down the bed and was staring intently at Raziel, who gasped upon seeing him and clutched his sword tightly, thankful it was hidden beneath the blanket from the vampire's eyes.
"You puzzle me, Serafan. Why suffer this, when you could join me and be stronger than any of these fools?" Kain asked, reaching out and brushing the marks on Razielthrothroat. The human flinched and pulled away sharply, even that light touch stirring the memories of his abuse within him and making him shiver.
"Why do you even care?" Raziel hissed, glaring hotly at the vampire, who laughed.
"Such fire, you are indeed an exquisite creature, Raziel. And how many of my children have you killed today?" Kain asked, ignoring Raziel's question.
"Not enough. It is never enough." Raziel growled, grip tightening on his sword, even though he knew it to be useless. Kain just chuckled deeply and stared at Raziel's bruised but beautiful face, raising an elegant eyebrow.
"And it seems your fellow priests have been busy once again taking what is not theirs." Kain said, spitting the word 'priests' disdainfully.
"And I suppose you see me as yours now, master of the vampires?" Raziel hissed, narrowing his eyes angrily. Kain shook his head.
"On the contrary, one being cannot ever truly be owned by another, no matter how dominated they are. I do not want to own you. I wish to free you from your self-imposed shackles." Kain explained, standing up and wandering over to the window, drawing back the shutters to look out at the beautiful night.
"I do not need your pity! I do not need the help of a vampire, why do you not kill me, or rape me, or whatever it is you came here to do?" Raziel demanded, forcing himself to ignore the aching burn in his muscles as he drew back the covers and stood up, holding his sword out before him. Kain looked down at it then smirked and turned back to the window, paying little heed to the blade Raziel held.
"I simply came here to speak with you, I rather enjoy our little arguments on the fate of the world and the worth of humanity." Was the vampire's reply. Raziel felt the burning in his muscles reach a peak and he sat down on the edge of the bed, trying not to make it too obvious that he could no longer stand up.
"I have nothing to say to you, now leave me alone!" Raziel snarled, glaring at Kain's back. His sword was slowly falling lower and lower, his strength fading as he tried to raise it again and it slippeom hom his numb fingers to clatter on the stone floor. At the noise Kain spun around, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Raziel, who was reaching for the sword slowly, wincing. Abruptly Kain stalked over and grasped Raziel's chin, forcing his head up, and stared down into his eyes, noticing the slightly glazed look they held. Growling angrily, Kain reached down and tore Raziel's robe open, running his eyes over the fresh bruises.
"You are a fool to suffer this!" Kain snarled, releasing Raziel, who quickly gathered his robe about him again, his pale cheeks flushed with shame and anger.
"What other choice have I, vampire?" The human spat, his fists clenching in the sheets at his sides.
"Come with me and none shall ever touch you without your consent again!" Kain replied, fire in his eyes as he looked down at the young Serafan.
"We are enemies, and that is how it always has been and always shall be." Raziel stated firmly, turning his head to the side and looking away from Kain's intense gaze. The vampire sighed and took a step forward, standing before Raziel and brushing the bruise on his cheek with a gentle claw.
"Things are never as black and white as they seem, my little Raziel." Kain said in a softer voice, watching as Raziel's eyes slid closed at the touch. Then he drew back his hand and vanished, leaving Raziel to open his emerald eyes and raise a hand to touch his cheek where Kain's claw had been, shivering.
"No, they are not." Raziel agreed, then laid back down, putting out the oil lamp.
He left the window unbarred.

TBC

Ok so far? C'mon, review! You know you want to!! Please? *looks pathetic*