Creation

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Book One: The Balance of Life and Death

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 eventually 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 

Summery: The Wars are over, Nosgoth has been saved. But a newer or perhaps older enemy rears its head.

Italics mean either flashbacks or thoughts

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Chapter Three

They returned to the mansion slowly, Raziel more worried than he had been in a while. He didn’t trust fate and knew that her ‘gifts’ where often double edged. What had she done to his father? Kain had looked so shaken when he had left, it was impossible not to worry. They left the pillars clearing shortly after Kain had, although they remained on the ground and on foot, their pace much slower than his fathers. No one said anything as they walked; the tension in the air was thick. Raziel nodded at Melchiah as his younger brother fell into step beside him; Melchiah managed a weak smile that lasted seconds before it faded and he looking to his feet as they walked. Raziel went back to brooding. Kain had looked sick when he left them to return to the mansion, paler than Raziel had ever seen him before. His hands had been trembling, and his voice had shaken when he spoke.

“What could she have done to him?” he breathed as they reached the swamp. Janos and Vorador looked at him sharply, both of them frowning.

“Is it not obvious?” Janos spoke, Raziel looked at him feeling lost. He had not felt this lost in such a long time, it made him sick to think that after all he’d been through he was still so very clueless.

“She gave him back his memory.” Vorador spoke “I told you something was wrong with him. There was a block in his mind, Fate may have removed it.”

“So father will remember all?” Melchiah asked. Raziel felt his stomach freeze. Since Kain had woken he had wanted nothing more than for him to remember him. But now that it might be a reality he realized that there was going to be a lot more to Kain’s memory than just he and his brothers in the time of the clans. There was going to be an awful lot more. Raziel cursed loudly drawing odd looks. Kain had just started to seem comfortable amongst them and Raziel had been enjoying it, he had even felt hopeful that he had been given a second chance at a relationship with his father and he had been determined not to mess it up this time. But if what Vorador said was true and Kain could recall everything then that chance was gone. Kain would remember how they had fallen apart, he would remember the anger between them and he would remember the violence. Raziel looked at his talons and saw blood and Janos’ heart.

“Maybe not.” Vorador’s words snapped Raziel out of his musings. “Maybe it will be gradual, maybe not all will return. I do not know.” They walked forward at a slightly faster pace now although progress was still slow. The swamp was as difficult to traverse as it had been the night after the rains.

“You look distressed.” Janos nudged Raziel “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“My father once told me I never knew what I wanted or that I often wanted the wrong thing. I think now that he was right.” Raziel swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. The swamp was passing them by far too quickly for Raziel’s tastes. His fear of Kain’s reactions destroying the worry he had felt. He no longer wanted to run back to the mansion. He tried to slow his pace and Melchiah walked into his back.

“I was under the impression that when you to parted things were amicable.” Janos said softly, Raziel shrugged and fell silent. Things had ended amicably he supposed but they had also ended quickly and then after the ending had come the guilt. It was a guilt that had not gone away, Raziel stopped at that thought and revised it, last night had been the first night in years that he had lost that feeling of guilt. The mansion loomed before them and Raziel felt sick. Melchiah noticed his brother’s slowing footsteps and nudged him forward.

“Raziel.” He pressed “cowardice does not become you, especially when you have so little to fear.”

“So little.” Raziel growled softly “you were not there Melchiah there was nothing little about any of it.”

“Be that as it may, you do him and yourself, a disservice if you run away now.” Melchiah always knew what to say and Raziel felt his fear beaten back by Melchiah’s words. He was no coward to run when afraid. Vorador opened the door to the mansion and Raziel winced as the heat hit him, he almost turned and fled again but Melchiah’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. He walked into the mansion behind Janos and Vorador, hiding behind them although he would never admit it. Vorador paused in the doorway and sniffed at the air. Raziel flinched at the magic he felt come from the elder, Vorador was searching his home.

“He’s in the war room,” Vorador said after a moment and started forwards. Raziel swallowed and continued to follow.

The war room was a grand name for something that was little more than a small museum. Vorador had filled the diminutive room with ancient blades and armor. A mammoth map of Nosgoth was framed on the wall; Raziel had once looked closely at it and had noticed a multitude of little holes covering it. When he had asked why it was in such poor condition Vorador had explained that it had been well used to plan the vampire’s assault across Nosgoth.

“Why would he be up there?” Melchiah asked. Raziel frowned, now that it was mentioned it was an odd place for Kain to be.

“I have no idea.” He said quietly.

“Let us go and ask him then.” Vorador sounded more amused than concerned and his taloned hand gripped Raziel’s shoulder hard when the younger vampire made a move to walk. They were swallowed in the light of Vorador’s teleportation spell and reappeared outside the door. “Melchiah is right.” Vorador said when the spell faded “Fear is unbecoming and hardly needed.”

“I’m not afraid.” Raziel growled, Vorador raised an eyebrow.

“You smell terrified.” He said and opened the door. Entering the cluttered room Raziel saw that his father had taken the map down from the wall. His removal had clearly been rough as the frame was broken, the map was torn and two corners were still on the wall. Kain was leaning over it writing frantic notes on a lose pad he’d found. Pins littered the table.

“Kain?” Vorador asked gently, Kain paused for a moment in his scribbling and looked up. Physically he looked no different than he had when Raziel had woken this afternoon. But something in him had changed. Raziel stared at him as Kain stared at Vorador.

“What did she do you?” Raziel asked before Vorador could say anything, Kain jerked towards him and blinked. H was silent for a long moment before speaking.  

“Nothing important.” He said smoothly and looked back down at the paper before growling and crumpling it into a ball. Kain sat still for a moment before writing something else down, a dangerous little smirk appeared on his mouth and his hand sped up.

“Kain.” Vorador pressed taking a tentative step forwards.

“Back off Vorador.” Kain snapped but Vorador did not back down, he sighed heavily and looked firm, the tentative attitude gone replaced by his usual iron will.

“Kain this isn’t right, stop this.” He growled

“You heard her.” Kain raised his voice. “This is what I am for.” Angrily Kain tore up the new piece of paper, hurling in the rough direction of a bin already piled high with wrong ideas. “Like any tool.”

“What you are for?” Janos came into the room having walked up from the entrance, Melchiah at his heal. “Nonsense child, a destiny is a grand thing to have but it is not the be all and end all of self.”

“Coming from you that is rich Audron.” Kain snarled “You seemed to define yourself though destiny and prophecy.”

“Kain.” Vorador snapped.

“You remember?” Raziel interrupted before Vorador and Kain turned to violence. Once again Kain froze and looked at Raziel, he blinked and frowned. Again he was quiet for a long moment before speaking.

“Something’s yes.” He admitted, Raziel opened his mouth to speak but Janos beat him to it changing the subject. 

“What are you trying to do?” the ancient asked seemingly unruffled by Kain’s earlier growling. Kain didn’t answer and just looked at his childe, his expression changing ever so slightly. “Kain,” Janos pressed.

“She said balance had been disrupted.” Kain muttered finally looking away “I want to know where.”

“What?” Vorador snapped still annoyed.

“Balance doesn’t disrupt itself, and despite what you may think disrupting it is a damn hard thing to do. It takes a large power to truly upset balance. Power leaves ripples, like pebbles thrown into a stream.” Kain looked back down at the map. “I want to know exactly where things have been going wrong more than can be natural.”  

“Alright.” Janos sat tentatively next to him. “I understand what you are asking but what will this achieve? We know balance had once more been upset, Chaos is pushing his limits, of course there will be more ‘chaotic’ occurrences.”

“All ripples have a starting point. If I can find the ripples I can find where they originate from.” Kain glared at the ancient, Raziel smirked Kain had always hated explaining himself.

“So what if we find the point of origin what will it achieve?” Vorador snapped sitting on the edge of the table and crinkling the ancient map.

“If Chaos is drawing energy from here we need to stop it. Chaos will feed of imbalance. I imagine to feed something as elemental as this creature the imbalance must be large, if we can find it and put a stop to it then we will hopefully solve our problem.”  Vorador sat still for a moment thinking this over, after a while he sighed unable to find an argument against what Kain was proposing.

“You make it sound so simple.” Melchiah whispered, Kain looked at him and smirked.

“Things often look simple on paper. But wait, it will be out of hand before you know where you are.”

“Optimistic.” Raziel swallowed, his father was starting to sound like he had before he had cast him into the abyss. The fledgling naiveté was gone; his mind no longer matched his body. Kain looked at him again his smirk gone instantly. Raziel burned under his gaze.

“Alright,” Vorador sighed drawing attention back to himself. “But how do we find the little imbalances.”

“Send out messengers.” Kain looked back at the map. Vorador nodded and stood once again. The power of the whisper crackled through him and after a few moments Umah stuck her head around the door.

“Sire?” she asked.

“Umah.” Vorador smiled pride evident in his smile; Raziel couldn’t help but smile a little despite his worry. “I have a job for you,” the young woman nodded.

“Yes Sire.” She stood in the doorway eyes remaining fixed on Vorador.

“Send out all the messengers, we need to know what has been going wrong in Nosgoth.” Vorador explained, Umah frowned.

“But nothing is wrong in Nosgoth.”

“Much is wrong with Nosgoth.” Kain muttered not looking up from the map. “It is natural for there to be wrong in Nosgoth.” He rolled his eyes “Does no one understand the concept of balance at all?”

“Then what am I to look for?” Umah asked irritated.

“At the moment I am unsure.” Kain looked up at her tone. “Anything that has happened that should not have. Demon sightings are the most obvious but a rise in violence or sickness could also be relevant.” Umah nodded bowed her head to her sire and left to round up her siblings. Vorador watched her leave then looked to Kain who had looked back to the map his eyes bloodshot and bleary.

“Go get some sleep.” Vorador walked to Kain and pushed him out of his chair. “My word I will call you if we get any news back but I don’t expect to in the next night or so.”

“I look that bad.” Kain asked as he was ushered toward the doorway, Vorador nodded.

“Yes you do and I dislike you taking it out on my fledglings. Go sleep, and stop thinking.” And with that Vorador pushed Kain out into the corridor where Melchiah was waiting and closed the door. Raziel listened as his father grumbled but allowed himself to be led away by Melchiah. Kain had always had a soft spot for his youngest.

“He looked upset.” Janos said quietly when the hallways were silent.

“This is the same reaction he had last time.” Vorador sat down heavily and rubbed his temples. “He was angry when he thought his only purpose in life was to die to heal the pillars.”

“Wouldn’t you be?” Raziel asked

“But death is not called for this time.” Janos frowned. Raziel rolled his eyes, for someone so old and wise Janos could be a little dense sometimes.

“He worries that he is not real.” Raziel tried to explain but the confused looks he got showed him he was making a mess of things. “He feels he is not a person but rather something made for a specific purpose. He thinks he is not a person but a thing in the guise of a person.”

“That is foolish.” Janos snorted “Having a destiny or a purpose in life does not detract from him as a person. He is still as ‘real’ as anyone else.”

“I’ve been telling him that since the day I was born.” Raziel opened the door; he looked back at the two in the room. “How much do you think he remembers?” Vorador shrugged.

“I cannot say, but I do not think it is everything. Two thousand or more years of life cannot be remembered all at once without driving the mind to madness.”

“Kain is not mad.” Raziel said firmly, Vorador held up his hands.

“I know, he did not seem mad to me either which is why I think his memory’s return will be gradual if it all comes back.” Vorador pressed “But if you are so worried go and speak with him.” Raziel nodded forcing his chest to loosen.

“I think I will have to.” He walked out of the room and closed the door.

He walked down the hallway and tried not to think. It was difficult but not impossible; he focused on the card game they had played last night. It had been amusing to discover that his father knew how to cheat at cards; it was not something he would have expected him to know. It had been nice to watch his brother’s fight for attention as they always had, he wondered if they would still do so now that Kain was becoming what he had been. He hoped they would, it had always been an amusement to watch them fight for what he had, all the while knowing they could never take it from him. Except perhaps Melchiah. He wondered what Melchiah would be talking with Kain about now. Kain had always had a soft spot for Melchiah and they had often spoken about things that Raziel had not been brave enough to approach. No doubt Melchiah would be able to ask Kain what he remembered. Raziel thought for a moment that he could always ask Melchiah what Kain remembered. He could always ask Melchiah the questions he was to afraid to ask his father. Did the memories make him angry or was he upset by them? Did he feel the grief that had been on his face as Raziel surrendered himself to the blade or was he confused still? Raziel stopped halfway down the hallway and turned around as if to walk away.

“I can talk to Melchiah in the morning.” He said quietly to himself. The anger that flared at his own thoughts made him turn back towards his father’s rooms. He was no coward to hide when there was something that required facing. He was not afraid of his father, he was not afraid of anything. Except that he was.

He stopped outside the big dark-wood door and again almost turned away. But the anger at his own cowardice made him knock and walk in before being called. Melchiah sat on the bed next to his father but stood when Raziel entered. He smiled at both his father and brother before walking towards the door. He turned in the hallway and offered Raziel a hopeful look before closing the door. Raziel took a deep breath.

“Your heart is hammering louder than I have ever heard it.” Kain’s voice was amused “I think.”

“You think?” Raziel couldn’t look at him.

“Yes I am not sure.”

“It is not like you to admit ignorance.” Raziel hated himself for saying it the moment he had, he was not here to pick a fight. “Forgive me.” He breathed and forced himself to look up. Kain had come to his feet and stood a step away from the bed, Raziel found himself looking at his clothes; they were the same ones he had worn yesterday. It was strange that he had changed so much while he still looked the same. Everything bar his appearance had changed, his aura, the way he spoke, it was slower and well formed, and his movements were purposeful and deliberate whereas before they had been fast and rather careless. The simmering magic had gone to, swallowed under Kain’s now complete and iron control.

“I forgive you.” Kain dipped his head slightly. Raziel clenched his jaw; the movement was so familiar to him that it made it impossible for him to think Kain did not remember everything.

“How much do you know?” he said suddenly before he lost his nerve. The question came out harsh and accusing, it was unintended and apparently unexpected as Kain raised his eyebrows at it.

“I fear I know little, there is much in my mind but I have yet to make sense of a good deal of it.” He admitted. Raziel frowned it was very unlike his father to admit such a weakness. Kain did not like to be thought of as dim witted. “But I think your question was more asking do I know you.” He smirked at Raziel’s blush. “I know you my child, my first born.”

“You knew that this morning.” Raziel heard himself say, Kain nodded.

“Yes I suppose I did.” He sat back down and let his head rest in his hands. “Events themselves are something of a mystery to me still but I know I raised you, I needed you to become something more and so I destroyed you.” Kain fell silent after that.

“You do not remember our merry chase after my destruction?” Raziel asked. Kain frowned at him and looked irritated.

“My memory is fragments child but I am not a fool. We could not have played chase after your destruction.” Kain muttered. “Before perhaps, but I cannot imagine you running from me.”

“You are like the others.” Raziel breathed quietly “Your memories only run to my being cast aside.”

“No.” Kain shook his head. “I recall some of what happened after. The creature that came to avenge Nosgoth.” Raziel said nothing, his stomach clenched hard like a vise.

“You remember him do you?” Raziel asked but Kain did not answer. Raziel sighed not sure how to proceed. Perhaps Vorador was right; let memories recover on their own. Forcing someone to remember something or in this case to understand their own memories could be more damaging than anything else. But he did not know how to act now, should he step back and leave Kain alone while he recovered or should he remain. What if he never understood or never recovered should he stay away for eternity? Raziel doubted he could do that. He walked to the bed and sat next to his father. Kain glanced at him and smiled a little before looking back at the floor. Frustration pooled in Raziel’s mind and gut alike, he was so close to a solution yet he was as blind to it as he had always been. What should he do?

“I have a question for you” Kain spoke suddenly surprising Raziel.

“Ask it then,” Raziel prompted after he took a moment to collect his wits.

“Why were you kind to me when I did not know myself?” Kain asked. Raziel blinked.

“Do you know yourself now?” he asked, Kain glared at him

“Do not answer my questions with more questions.” He snapped

“Why should I not be kind to you?” Raziel asked then before Kain could bark at him he continued “I was not being charitable if that is what you mean. I treat you now as I always should have.” Kain listened and nodded once but his expression did not show understanding. His brow was furrowed and his eyes still blood shot. He looked confused and exhausted.

“I used you, I condemned you to a fate much worse than my own,” Kain snorted suddenly “If that is what I do to those I love then I would really be worried if I were my enemy.” Raziel froze in place, every muscle tightening without thought or command. He had to take a moment to consciously unclench them.

“What did you say?” he asked looking back at Kain who still looked exhausted and now embarrassed.

“Nothing. Bugger off.” Kain snapped refusing to look at Raziel. Raziel laughed and once he had started it built and continued until Kain did look at him, not angry or embarrassed but concerned. It was not true laughter but hysteria. The sound was madness in decibels and Raziel could not stop it until Kain took him by his shoulders and shook him.  “You are mad.” Kain snapped when the laughter started to die, Raziel looked at him and for a moment Kain feared the hysteria would build again and he would have to strike his child unconscious to stop it but the laughter did not return instead Raziel kissed him.

“I am not mad.” Raziel pulled back almost as quickly as he had started “I am not mad.” He repeated.

“You bloody well are.” Kain swallowed loudly making Raziel smile, he couldn’t think of anything else to say to that so he kissed his father again. Kain stiffened under his touch, not afraid but surprised. Raziel dug claws into Kain’s shoulders drawing beads of blood, at the small act of violence Kain relaxed. A feeling of familiarality coming over him. Raziel made a small happy sound and drew back.

“I have been waiting to do that for fifty years.” Raziel breathed, Kain looked at him for a moment before speaking.

“I don’t understand you.” he sighed. “But I don’t think I ever have.”

“Don’t strain yourself.” Raziel couldn’t seem to stop himself from grinning, he looked at his father who was slightly flushed with a muddled but willing aura coming off him and debated with himself the sense in listening to his suddenly very awake libido.

“You are the one who seems to be straining.” Kain smirked

“You’re not helping.” Raziel grumbled “But I think Vorador might be right. You do look like Hell.” Kain looked affronted “Sleep would be the wiser course right now.” The fact that Kain only smirked proved to Raziel that he was right in his decision despite how much his dick said otherwise.

“I do not think you will ever be wise Raziel.” Kain continued to smirk. “Cocky, certainly.”

“You are not funny.” Raziel grumbled and made to stand. The action was difficult and somewhat embarrassing; his body’s reaction to his father was powerful and sudden. Kain looked smug, Raziel almost slapped him. It was easy to look smug when you hadn’t been celibate for the last fifty years. 

“I have no sense of humor.” Kain stretched and reclined back, still looking smug as he put himself on display. “Why are you leaving?”

“Because if I stay you will still be exhausted when Vorador’s children return with news.” Raziel snapped. Kain laughed a pleased sound.

“Confident.” He snorted when the laughter eased. Raziel glared and Kain expression softened. “You said you were not being kind to be charitable, so I am to believe your actions these last days were honest. Taking into account that YOU kissed me and your unsubtle reactions I can only conclude you want to come to my bed as you have always done.”

“You remember that do you?” Raziel swallowed, Kain smirked again and Raziel couldn’t help but smile at the purely masculine expression.

“I remember fragments from our time as Lords of Nosgoth, we were rarely bored.” Kain held out a hand. “Come.” He flexed his claws "Now," he added in case Raziel was unclear.



"Demanding." Raziel muttered returning to the bed and taking Kain’s hand, allowing himself to be pulled.

“I prefer commanding.” Kain corrected, drawing his childe to him. Raziel resisted for a moment and Kain released him looking exasperated. Raziel rolled his eyes at his father’s impatience and deliberately slowed his movements as he removed his clothes.

“You prefer a lot of things.” Raziel said as he leaned down to undo the fastenings on Kain’s trousers.

“And you don’t?” Kain lifted his hips in a moment of graciousness. Raziel smirked at him and discarded their clothing to the floor.

“I simply know what I enjoy.” Raziel grinned “But I am not averse to letting others have their way occasionally, unlike you.”

“Are you finished?” Kain reached for his child. Raziel allowed himself to be grabbed and pulled down into a kiss. It was calmer than he had expected and he closed his eyes to enjoy it. It was wonderful after so many years to be back in a position he had known so well. It had been so long ago since he had done this that it felt like another lifetime and the blood in his veins heated rapidly.

“I will be soon.” He muttered slightly disappointed. “You will not judge me harshly?” He yelped in surprise at the sudden roll that put Kain above him and looking superior.

"I will not judge you Raziel," he murmured, running his hand down his child’s stomach. “Although my ego may swell.”

“As long as it’s not the only thing.” Raziel hissed his eyes falling half shut as Kain’s hand wandered lower. Kain growled lightly at the comment and in punishment moved his hand higher up his child’s torso. His claws pressing harder than needed until with a deft movement they sliced through a nipple and drew blood. Raziel arched his back and keened as the blood was cleaned away quickly.

“Disrespectful whelp.” Kain grumbled as Raziel squirmed. He shifted himself until he was sitting across his child’s thighs, enjoying the body beneath him. His child looked desperate and he did it well. Kain leaned down to kiss him again taking pleasure from the claws that pierced his back, restricting his movement, holding him exactly where Raziel wanted him. He bled only a little and it did not worry him until he tried to pull back and found he could not. He tried again and heard Raziel growl in response, his grip tightening.  It was disconcerting to be held so firmly by one he was remembered being stronger than, his fragmented memories of previous encounters of this nature had all shown him easily over powering his child. But he had been stronger then, more evolved. Perhaps now things would have to be a little different.

Kain won his freedom by letting his free hand wander down to his child’s groin. Raziel’s eyes widened and he whimpered as the touch played over his shaft. He moaned something unintelligible, his back arching, his grip loosening and his legs shifting restlessly despite his father’s weight on them. Kain firmed his touch and smiled when Raziel let go of him to dig his claws into the sheets. Straightening his back he looked down at his child struggling beneath him. That such a simple touch could bring him to wordless begging was gratifying and a hungry gleam darkened his golden eyes.

“S… Stop.” Raziel managed through the maddening pleasure that was making him feel as if his skin was too small. Kain ignored his request and tightened his grip and sped his movement’s. Raziel shrieked, his body arching enough to lift Kain for a moment before he fell back. Breathing hard despite himself Kain leaned forwards pressing them both together, rubbing himself against his child as he sought to bring Raziel over the edge.

“I will not stop.” He whispered when his mouth was level with Raziel’s shoulder. “Come Raziel.” Despite his earlier request Raziel nodded and tried to press himself into the weight above him and the hand still moving on his cock.  The position was slightly awkward but it was wonderful and with a shout Raziel came hard, feeling years of pent up loneliness and longing leave him in wave after wave of release.

It took him a while to realize he couldn’t breathe. He tried to push up but his body spasmed with an aftershock. Kain growled into his shoulder, hand still moving slowly and now much more smoothly on his cock. The vibration of Kain’s growl made him shiver despite just having his first non-self-inflicted orgasm in longer than he would like to admit. He was still hard and the slow smooth touch was pleasing now that he could appreciate it.

“Thank you.” He said his throat dry. “May I have another?” he’d meant it as a joke but the growl he received was hungry not amused. Kain snapped his head up, eyes almost black and struck with a speed Raziel had not expected. The teeth in his throat burned like molten steel for a second before the rush of endorphins took him completely off guard. The sound he made as Kain deepened his bite was pathetic but he didn’t care. The aftershocks of his orgasm coupled with the pleasure of the bite made his head spin. “Kain.” He managed after a moment, arms coming up from the sheets to grip his father’s shoulders. He wriggled trying to get comfortable and received another growl which he ignored. He continued to fidget until he had managed to get a leg out from under Kain. Kain shifted to allow him to free the other and Raziel smiled, lifting them and using them to hold his father’s hips. Using his grip he pulled Kain closer until they were touching fully and started moving slowly, rubbing them together. Kain crooned into the bite. “You’re going to make me do all the work?” he asked when Kain showed no signs of letting go or helping. Kain started moving to complement his child’s thrusts. “I don’t want to rub off on you,” Raziel managed, “I want you to fuck me.” Kain released his bite then and licked at the wounds he’d inflicted, still moving slowly.

“Raziel,” he breathed.

“The cabinet by the bed will be stocked. Vorador is an absolute pervert.” Raziel grinned, his neck throbbing in time with the rest of him. Kain blinked and reached across to fumble in the cabinet, it took far too long and Raziel was starting to think he should have left Kain at his throat but eventually Kain returned looking as frustrated as Raziel felt.

“Obviously Vorador has more patience than I.” Kain muttered,

“Oh, you can speak.” Raziel couldn’t resist a jibe “I was beginning to wonder.” Kain glared.

“I could forgo this.” Kain waved the now open bottle at his child before settling himself back between Raziel’s legs. “It is easy to make light when you’ve already gotten yours.”

“Hey!” Raziel snapped “I waited for ‘mine’ for 50 years.” Kain raised an eyebrow at him and tipped oil onto his fingers.

“You expect me to believe that you have remained without pleasure for half a century?” Kain laughed and let slick fingers wander to his childe’s erection and trail down it, teasing. Raziel shuddered and nodded. “Bullshit.” Kain’s hand cupped his childe’s testicles and squeezed gently before wandering lower.

“I took no other to my bed.” Raziel tried to look sincere and not desperate. Kain let a finger circle the small opening he’d found, spreading oil before pressing inside. Raziel made a noise that made all the small hairs on Kain’s body stand to attention.

“I did not say that.” Kain swallowed as he pushed a finger inside further before withdrawing it and pressing inside again.

“Picky picky.” Raziel whined when a second digit was added to the invasion. “Gods!” he gasped when those fingers paused for a moment and crooked just so as to brush his prostate. “Again. More.”

“When was the last time you touched yourself?” Kain asked smirking knowing Raziel did not enjoy talk like this, he found it embarrassing. Kain had to admit that he often found it so himself, but tormenting his childe was one of his favorite ways to pass the time and this was delicious. “Tell me or I will stop doing this.”

“Bastard!” Raziel growled, believing that Kain’s threat would unlikely be carried out. Kain pulled his fingers out and did not press back inside. “Bastard!” Raziel snapped again. Kain looked smug. “Why does it matter?”

“I am curious by nature.” Kain grinned hoping Raziel did not notice the shake in his voice, or that his hand was currently spreading what was left of the oil onto himself.

“You are sadistic by nature.” Raziel growled, Kain said nothing. Raziel threw his head back feeling his cheeks flush with heat. He managed to hold onto his silence for a whole minute before breaking. “A week before you returned, I was in my rooms.” He gave in, remembering “I’d seen you in the hallways, it was not odd except for the fact that I could smell you. It was like you were right there with me. When I went back to my rooms I could still smell you.” He trailed off into a wordless growl, embarrassed by his admission. He closed his eyes and waited for the mocking rebuke that would surely come, but if it meant Kain would touch him now then it would be worth it. But no rebuke came, instead he felt his father’s weight over him, lighter than he ever remembered Kain being but still solid and real. He opened his eyes when he felt Kain move himself into position and stop.

“I am pleased that you missed me.” Kain smiled, Raziel growled moving his legs to wrap around his father again.

“Now.” He snarled, for once Kain did as he was told and pressed forwards. “Yessss.” Raziel hissed trying to relax into the invasion. It had been so very long since he had felt this. It was different now, his father was lighter than he had been and younger but it was still wonderful. Kain stopped when felly sheathed and took a moment to breathe. Raziel purred, the pain was present, his preparation had been somewhat rushed but it didn’t matter, if he bled it would make it smoother when they moved in a moment.

“Can I move you?” Kain said quietly, Raziel frowned but nodded. It was an odd question and made little sense until Kain sat back, still inside his childe and lifted Raziel's legs to his shoulders. He thrust forwards once and Raziel let out a groan as the pleasure coursed through him.

“Move.” Raziel crooned but Kain ignored him. Raziel blinked up at him and on impulse clenched his muscles; Kain twitched and closed his eyes. “Move.” Raziel snapped again. Kain opened his eyes and shook his head, Raziel started to growl something offensive when he was taken off guard. His legs were pushed down and he was rolled until Kain was beneath him.

“That’s it.” Kain breathed as Raziel took more of him than the previous positions had allowed. Kain shifted beneath him settling his hands on Raziel’s hips. The sudden movement had almost separated them and Raziel shuddered as he resettled himself, Kain almost touching his prostate. “Move.” Kain repeated his own instruction back at him and Raziel smiled. Putting his hands on his father’s chest he flexed his legs and drew himself up with help from supportive hands on his hips. He lowered himself shifting to find that angle that would be perfect. But Kain was impatient and bending his legs so his feet rested flat on the bed he thrust up hard. Raziel shivered and started moving faster.

“Kain!” he yelped, pushing down violently when one wickedly accurate thrust hit his prostate. The bed made sounds of protest as their movements became more violent. Kain’s claws broke the skin at Raziel’s hips and blood made Kain’s grip tenuous. “Father.” Raziel breathed, his chest heaving “Slower.” He panted, feeling his orgasm gathering. It was happening too fast, he wanted it to last longer this time, but Kain ignored him again and moved one blood covered hand to Raziel’s cock.

“Now.” Kain snapped. Raziel shook his head and clenched as tight as he could manage. The rhythm broke and Kain shouted as the warm channel currently drawing him to the end suddenly tightened to the point of pain. It was intense and forced him to orgasm. Raziel crooned when he saw his father spasm beneath him, and wrapping his own hand around his father’s still on his cock he led him in a few rough, fast strokes that had him joining Kain in completion.

“Cheat.” Kain managed when he was able, “Low down cheat.”

“You’re not the only one who’s a bastard.” Raziel smirked. With an effort he managed to sit up from where he had slumped. Trembling with the aftershock of orgasm it took him three attempts to free himself. In the end Kain helped, sliding a hand under his childe and lifting. Raziel fell to the side and stretched enjoying the feel of his body protesting. The bed was a mess, sheets were torn and bloodstained, but he doubted Vorador would be angry, it was a common occurrence in the mansion. Everyone was hard on the linen and upholstery. Raziel was slightly miffed that all the blood was his save from a few drops. His head was spinning with blood loss, but it was nothing that couldn’t be solved by rest and food.

“I am not a bastard.” Kain yawned “I am diplomatically challenged.” 

“That’s one way to put it.” Raziel muttered moving closer to Kain and nuzzling at his shoulder, he kissed the skin there marveling at it’s fragility.

“Again?” Kain asked sounding both interested and exhausted. He glanced at Raziel and realized what it was Raziel wanted and snorted. “If that is what you need.” He tilted his head back exposing his throat. Raziel made a small sound of pleasure before biting down. Kain tensed at the bite but relaxed quickly, the pleasure of the bite making him languid. He closed his eyes and let Raziel take back a little of what he had taken earlier. Raziel pulled back sooner than Kain had expected and he raised an eyebrow.

“Sleep.” Raziel muttered, putting his head back onto Kain’s shoulder. Kain yawned again and pulled blankets over them.

Raziel woke to an incessant sound. Someone was knocking loudly on the door.

“G’way.” Kain’s voice came from under him and Raziel frowned. Opening his eyes he noticed they’d moved during the night. Kain was now sprawled on his front with Raziel half sprawled over his back. It was warm and familiar. Raziel grinned and leaned down to settle himself and return to sleep.

“Kain.” Vorador’s voice came through the wood. The door opened and Vorador marched in and stopped. Raziel glared at him. Vorador took a moment to take in the clothing on the floor, the blood splattered bed and the reek of sex that filled the room. To his credit it only stopped him for a moment. “Ariel has come to see you.” He said. Kain tried to sit up but stopped when Raziel refused to move.

“Ariel?” Kain asked voice muffled by pillows.

“Yes, your predecessor. She has something which may help us. Get up.” Vorador snapped then paused and smirked “you might want to clean yourselves up a bit you look horrible,” he turned and walked out closing the door after him. Raziel could hear him sniggering.

“Bastard.” Raziel growled. Kain made a noise of distress. “What?” Raziel blinked confused. Kain murmured something into the pillow and all Raziel caught was

“…Fuck.” Raziel frowned

“What?” he asked.

“Actually, we might have time.” Kain smirked half asleep at him when Raziel finally got off and he was able to roll onto his back.

“Time?” Raziel asked only to be grabbed and pulled down into a kiss.

“You’ve had two, therefore you owe me one.” Kain muttered smugly. “I’m collecting.” He rolled them until he was above his child and ground down unmercifully, letting Raziel know exactly what he wanted. Raziel grinned, after so long alone it took very little encouragement for his body to jump to attention.

“Collecting,” he repeated “with interest?”

“Of course.” Kain muttered his mouth against his childe’s throat. He thrust down hard making Raziel’s back arch. There was a sudden louder knock at the door.

“Now Kain!” Vorador shouted “I will come in and get you!”

“Some days I really hate this place.” Raziel grumbled.

Ariel was in one of the sitting rooms in the east wing which was fortunately far enough away from Kain’s rooms for Raziel to calm himself before he had to speak with company.  He stopped outside the door for a moment to allow his father to catch him up. His hand reached for the door handle but was interrupted.

“Wait.” Kain muttered leaning forwards and closing his mouth over Raziel’s.

The kiss was unexpected and very pleasing. Raziel had forgotten how fond his father was of the gesture. He purred and leaned forward only to be pressed back with a thump against the wall as Kain pushed him hard. A sound of mild pain sounded in his throat but died when he felt his bones turn to jelly. Kain’s un-evolved form was definitely in Raziel’s good books as youth’s unbelievable stamina made itself very known.

“Here?” he asked, the word muffled. Kain made a sound of agreement.

“Eh hem.” The voice went unnoticed by either of the vampires, Raziel’s hand disappeared between them and Kain made an approving growl. “Excuse me gentlemen!” both vampires looked up at the shrill tone. “Before you consummate this on the wall would you spare us a few moments.” Ariel smiled sweetly and disappeared back inside the sitting room. Raziel blushed mortified and looked at Kain who seemed to be thinking this over. After a moment Kain shrugged and dragged his child into the room. Inside Vorador was smirking and Ariel was laughing, Raziel couldn’t look at either of them. Kain however had no such qualms and after a few minutes of embarrassed silence and staring at the floor from Raziel and ‘I’ve had sex’ grinning from Kain Ariel spoke.

“We haven’t had a balance guardian since you died,” Ariel said still sniggering quietly, Kain smirked at her and was looking far to content for Raziel’s liking. “I took it upon myself to ‘fill in’ for you until another guardian was called. When your messenger arrived last night I had to come myself.”

“Marvelous.” Kain muttered

“Of course.” Ariel raised her eyebrows “I believe I have the answer to your problem.” She glanced at Raziel “For goodness sake Raziel stop staring at the floor. I lived with you two for a millennium; I’ve seen a lot more than some heavy petting.” Raziel froze for a moment as he took on board exactly what Ariel had just said. Before his brain fizzled once and gave up working completely.

Ariel had been bound to the pillars, Kain’s. Throne. Room. Raziel felt faint and half wished for the elder god to reach up from death and wrap a slimy tentacle around him and pull him back to the spectral realm, Ariel had been in Kain’s throne room! She really had seen more than a bit of enthusiastic grouping. Raziel tried to count how much they had done on that damned chair and gave up when he ran out of fingers and toes.

“Can you excuse me for a moment.” he said standing and leaving without waiting for an answer. The moment he closed the door he could hear his father sniggering quietly along with Ariel and Vorador.

“You’ve embarrassed him.” Vorador snorted

“Easily done.” Ariel shrugged and looked to Kain who was staring at the door with an expression akin to a child whose toy had just been taken from him. “Kain?” Ariel nudged, Kain looked to her and nodded.

“A solution to our problem?” he asked, eyes wandering to the door.

“Kain.” Ariel snapped “Surely this is more important than your libido.” Kain glared at her for a moment before realizing that it was a pointless effort and sighing.

“It is important but allow me some self indulgence.” He muttered “I’ve had so little of it over all.” Ariel looked unimpressed.

“Well despite your unenthusiastic reaction, I have solved your problem. You wished to know about imbalance, I have been watching it for the last five years.”

“Why?” Vorador asked shocked.

“After I was granted life once more I did not wish to lose it or waste it like I did before. Nosgoth does not deserve to go through what it once did so with no other balance guardian I took it upon myself to make sure nothing like that would happen again.”

“So you’ve kept a note of what?” Kain asked, finally focusing on the matter at hand. He was hopeful, Ariel as a previous balance guardian would understand what a true imbalance was rather than just a genuine misfortune. Her information could be worth gold-dust if accurate.

“I noted everything to start with, I admit I was paranoid. But these last two years I’ve only noted what should not be. Demons sightings, that last minor plague and the unexplained discovery of salt-soil.”

“Salt?” Kain asked Ariel shrugged

“It’s what we are calling the land where things will not grow. It’s never happened before for more than a season but since the land was reborn small areas have withered and died.” She reached down onto the floor and lifted a large tomb. She handed it to Kain. “I have three more volumes at the circle home in Eden but this is the most recent and should show you a pattern if that is what you are looking for.”

“It is indeed.” Kain flicked through the tomb, pages and pages of tiny handwritten dates and locations. “Vorador can you call several of your least foolish fledglings to go through this book and mark the map.” Vorador stood and with a snort at being ordered so flippantly took the book and left the room.

“Before you do so.” Ariel sighed “I think you’ll find Avernus to be a point of interest.”

“I suspected Avernus.” Kain sighed leaning back in his chair. “It is a weak point in the dimensions, but apparently it has already been checked.”

“Checked for what?” Ariel asked, Kain shrugged

“Demon activity I assume, it was done well before my return.” He explained. Ariel sighed.

“If it was done by the guardians then I fear for us all.” She muttered, Kain snorted. “They are useless. I understand that the circle cannot be held by humans but I fail to see how these wimps are better equipped.” Kain laughed at her and nodded.

“I met them recently.” He admitted “I was warned about them previously but I was surprised to see how poor they were. Yet I am equally surprised to see you and yours at all.”

“We were granted life again but not our guardianship.” Ariel shrugged “Most seem content with that, but I and Mortanius feel otherwise.”

“I am not surprised at the necromancer but I am surprised at a few of the others and their complacency.” Kain admitted.

“Azimuth and Moebius live in fear now.” Ariel sighed. “The guardians tolerate them if they are silent but if they spoke out of turn they would be judged harshly.”

“You do the guardian’s a disservice.” Janos said entering the room. Kain rolled his eyes. “Kain Raziel is somewhat distressed.” Janos explained “I think perhaps you are required elsewhere. Vorador has fledglings working on the map they should be done in hours go and sort your fledgling.”

“Hours are enough time for what I have in mind I suppose.” Kain smirked and rose to his feet. He looked to Ariel. “You will remain?” he asked “I understand that before my fixing of things you knew me?”

“Yes I did, but surely you know? Vorador said your memory was restored.” Ariel frowned.

“Vorador says a lot of things. I have enough, but am interested in what I do not have. I would like to speak with you further.”

“Then I will stay, but so you know you will be welcome amongst us in Eden.” Ariel smiled and shook her head “It may be awkward but you will be welcome.”

“Awkward.” Kain muttered, Ariel smiled.

“Coming face to face with ones murderer can be unsettling at first but I’m sure they will get over it.” Ariel turned to Janos as Kain left the room in search of Raziel. He found him unsurprisingly with his youngest brother on one of the balconies.

“You realize running away only made it worse.” Kain muttered approaching from behind.

“I did not run.” Raziel snapped “I adapted myself to the circumstance.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Kain smirked and looked to Melchiah “Ariel has taken a great deal of the work from us.”

“Oh?” Melchiah raised an eyebrow.

“She has been keeping records.” Kain laughed, “I think it is much like her to do so.” He sighed “She spoke of Moebius also, apparently he lives and is somewhat oppressed.”

“The one useful thing the guardians have done.” Raziel grumbled still embarrassed. “Although considering who they are and who he is I believe he has oppressed himself.”

“You feel pity?” Melchiah asked, Raziel snorted and Kain shrugged.

“Not in a true sense no. Disappointment would be closer.” He explained, Melchiah frowned. “Moebius was a very old man who destroyed a race of creatures far mightier than himself. He was my enemy but he was somewhat respected. Hearing that he is now a down trodden little old man turns my stomach.”

“You seemed to enjoy down treading him yourself.” Raziel grumbled. Kain smirked.

“Yes well getting the upper hand on him was not an easy thing to accomplish and had to be enjoyed when it did happen.” Kain looked smug “His expression at death was something to be remembered, I’m actually rather irritated with myself for forgetting it.”

“You remember Moebius’ death?” Raziel tensed. Kain grinned.

“He told me I was to die. I pointed out that I had already done so. He seemed upset by his inability to frighten me.” Kain looked smug. Raziel felt himself relax when he realized Kain was not remembering Moebius’ true death and so was not remembering what occurred directly after either. Raziel still hadn’t figured out how to explain the ‘creature’ that had plagued Kain during his attempts to heal Nosgoth. It was something he knew he would want to do alone with his father, not on a balcony with others.

“Cheerful.” Melchiah muttered. “Would you care for a rematch?” he asked suddenly “Give me a chance to win something of what I lost back from you?” Raziel nearly laughed at Kain’s expression, it was clear to him that Kain had something quite different in mind as a way to kill time.

“That sounds wonderful.” Raziel grinned at Melchiah enjoying the look of disappointment on his father’s face. Melchiah nodded and walked from the balcony to find his brothers. Kain glared at Raziel when his youngest had gone.

“I did have other plans child.” He snapped.

“Did you?” Raziel feigned ignorance and followed his brother. “Well maybe later.” He laughed taking great joy in making Kain wait for once.

“I’m glad you so amused.” Kain grumbled following “Maybe there won’t be a later.”

“I think there will.” Raziel couldn’t help but grin.

It took three hours and six games for Vorador’s fledglings to make sense of Ariel’s notes and make marks on the map. Raziel took a great deal of pleasure during the games at tormenting his father. He tormented him until Kain had dug claws into Raziel’s hand that had been wandering uncomfortably high on Kain’s thigh. Pulling his bleeding hand back Raziel took the hint that enough was enough and stopped teasing. Not surprisingly Kain’s game improved remarkably from that point on. Umah found them at the end of the sixth game and called them to the war room. They walked slowly but upon arriving they saw the marked map and Kain’s analogy of ripples was clear as day.

“Well at least this tells us were we’re going.” Vorador breathed.

Ariel leaned forwards and placed another pin on the board before double checking it with her record, making small sounds of thought. She could easily have stopped inserting markers the pattern was clear; the rings around Avernus were obvious and unambiguous.

The city of Avernus was still in ruins from the fire which had still ravaged it despite the world being remade. A few mortal builders had taken it upon themselves to restore the city but progress was slow and unweilding. Accidents happened daily and disease had wiped out much of the work force. Vampires refused to assist the build on account of it being a Hylden city once long ago. The markers branched off from Avernus in great rings spreading wider to the rest of Nosgoth, directly to villages and citadels. The Pillars remained ‘pin-free’ this relieved Kain, at least he wouldn’t be expected to heal them once again.

“I cannot say I’m surprised,” Kain breathed. “It is a weak spot after all.” Melchiah frowned at that and Kain elaborated “Avernus is where the Hylden broke through.”

Raziel looked to the floor ashamed. Avernus was where he’d killed his brother Turel and his father. Turel had no memory of that time, like all of Kain’s children none remembered the time after Raziel was thrown into the Abyss. That memory was purely for Raziel and maybe one day Kain. Raziel was glad that his brothers did not remember his return, he was glad that there were some people who would only think of him as vampire Raziel and not the Reaver spirit. Turel was the only brother he had faltered in harming, but whether that was because of the influence the Hylden had on him or some form of brotherly love he did not know. For why would Turel who was his rival be shown his mercy when Melchiah whom he truly cared for was not, it made no sense, but then again he had gone after Melchiah first when his rage had been uncontrollable, his anger unrestrained. Once again Raziel felt gratitude that his brothers did not remember their demise.

“It must be something to do with the dimensional magic.” Vorador’s words brought Raziel out of his musings “Avernus has been home the dimension guardians since I was young.” Kain shrugged

“Maybe,” he sighed. “Now we need to know how this imbalance is being created.”

“I may be able to give enlightenment on this,” Janos spoke holding up a book, Raziel recognized it as one of the ancient’s oldest surviving texts. “This text was written by Hylden.” Janos spat. “But it does contain some small semblance of truth.”

“Why do you have it then?” Raziel asked and Janos looked ashamed

“They wished to turn us to their way of seeing things, they knew that –he swallowed- God was not God but something else.” The ancient faltered and Vorador reached out to him but Janos shook his hand off. “This book tells us of what the Hylden thought of as Gods and of those who stand behind the Gods, those who are forces in nature.”

“Janos.” Vorador breathed understanding how hard this was for the ancient to admit, for him to say aloud that the ancient vampires had been wrong to begin the war.

“Gods can only exist with believers, they take power from belief, strength from faith” Janos began again. “But it is also possible for non-God, creatures of enormous power to take a physical form through that same power, belief.” 

“What does this have to do with anything,” Melchiah asked

“This text talks of the powers that are not gods but anthropomorphic personifications,” Raziel coughed loudly to cover up his snigger

“Bless you,” he smiled, Janos glared.

“We have already spoken to one lately, Fate.” Janos dipped his head and waited as if expecting a big reaction, he didn’t get one. “These powers need no believers to live and will be here as long as people have a fate, as long as people lust and as long as people dream, despair and die. But through worshipers they can take a physical immortal form.”

“You think this Chaos creature is trying to take a physical form through belief?” Kain asked Janos nodded

“But why would that create an imbalance?” Vorador asked.

“Destruction as it is called in this book has always wished for a body, he is envious of those who possess a true form and can feel, sense, touch and lust. So yes I believe that he is trying to come through into our world and gain a physical form. An imbalance will provide him with a way through the walls were erected to banish the Hylden and it can be created by belief.”

“Belief can create imbalance?” Raziel frowned

“Father said it take a lot to create an imbalance.” Melchiah said

“It does.” Ariel admitted “But a lot of people, even people without power if there is enough of them with enough focus could tip the scales enough to allow petty imbalances and those petty imbalances can build up, like water dripping into a glass. It will not happen fast but the glass will overflow.”

“I do not understand.” Raziel shook his head. He held up a hand when Ariel went to continue “But I understand enough to know that mortal belief is apparently doing this. Mortals can be easily stopped.”

“Mortals perhaps but this creature is not mortal.” Vorador snapped.

“I’ve defeated so called immortal creatures before.” Kain said firmly. Vorador glared at him.

“Really, you remember this do you? Do you remember how you did it? Do you remember what tool you had which you now lack?” Kain hissed loudly at the words and Vorador hissed right back. The two looked as if they would leap at each other and Ariel very wisely moved out of the way.

“I did not think my abilities would be in question,” Kain hissed “least of all from you who witnessed the restoration.”

“A restoration you don’t fully recall.” Vorador snarled “You cannot go barreling into this fool!” Kain clenched fledgling claws and looked ready to leap.

“What you fought before was a daemon Kain.” Janos interrupted, bringing Kain’s attention to him although the fledgling’s eyes kept wandering to Vorador who was still hissing quietly until Janos glared at him “Behave.” The ancient barked then turned to Kain “You fought a powerful and manipulative daemon, and while Chaos is not a God it is one of the forces that cause the universe to function, you cannot kill it.”

“What are we meant to do then, give it flowers and tell it to have a nice time?” Raziel snapped “Welcome to Nosgoth force of destruction!”

“We don’t know,” Janos admitted, “we need to send it back and we need to keep it back,”

“We should scout out the area first,” Melchiah spoke knowing it was better to keep Raziel and likely his father occupied rather than let him sit and fume over a problem. “We might find something that will help.”

“There’s an idea.” Janos smiled understanding Melchiah’s motivation. “But Avernus is in constant danger of complete collapse. Please take others with you, should something go wrong.”

“We should take Magnus,” Kain mumbled, his pride hurt. “He has a skill for things like this.” He glared at Vorador “That much I remember.” Raziel frowned. It had been hard enough dealing with Magnus when Kain was not here, dealing with him now might prove troublesome. But he was not a child he could manage.

“I want to take Melchiah.” Raziel stated, his brother nodded. Raziel smiled, if he was going to have to survive Magnus he wanted back up.

They took a carriage at Melchiah’s insistence. It was slower but they would arrive well rested and it would lengthen the journey and keep them busy for longer, although the youngest son of Kain did not say the last reason. Raziel decided he disliked carriages, being in a confined space with someone who, despite it being accidental, made you uncomfortable was not how he wished to spend a day. Kain however settled in as if he did this often and went to sleep. Raziel glared at him for a good while before giving up and looking to his brother and the man who if they had been born together would have been his rival.

“What are we hoping to find?” Magnus asked after a few hours of uncomfortable silence. Raziel flinched at the words.

“Evidence of a mass mortal gathering I think.” Melchiah smirked “It should not be too difficult I believe.”

“Avernus was searched before.” Magnus muttered “It seems foolish to do so again.”

“I did not search it.” Raziel growled “Did you even bother to look in the catacombs?”

“Of course.” Magnus shrugged not rising to the bait. “We found mortal remains and not a lot else.”

“No chamber built to house demons?” Raziel asked smugly. Magnus shook his head. “Didn’t look very hard then did you.” A hand clipped him on the back of his head.

“Play nice.” Kain grumbled, Raziel glared at him. “Avernus is a tricky place; it would not surprise me if they could not find access to its hidden depths without someone who was attuned to such things.”

“Excuses.” Raziel grumbled

“If you knew such things existed why did you not accompany us?” Magnus asked trying to phrase the question in such a way so as not to offend but finding it difficult. Raziel rolled his eyes and remained silent, Melchiah answered for him.

“When you searched Avernus Raziel was in something of a disagreement with the guardians.” He explained “I think that was the time he threatened to pull wings off.”

“It is something I know hurts a great deal.” Raziel muttered “and no less than they disserve.”

“You have no wings.” Magnus muttered Raziel looked at him and sighed

“No I don’t.” he nodded, settled himself down against his father and tried to sleep. “Not any more.”

Avernus was in ruins. It was one of many cities still in ruins, the building work was fast but there is only so much mortal men best by constant disaster can handle and Avernus was low on the list to rebuild. Vampires rejected it on account of it being an old Hylden city and men were weak. Kain had a sneaking suspicion that once they had dealt with this problem Avernus would become higher on the list of priorities and the vampires would overcome their own distaste and turn Avernus into a fort. A great building to protect Nosgoth from the dimensional weakness. Absently he began to imagine what they could build maybe a labyrinth to stop anything that came through ever getting out? A tower with only one door at the panicle so anything to come through would fall to its death? Maybe the mortal circle could build it in the style of their buildings, so once inside the creature could wander forever and never find its way out, whenever it thought it was out it would just be further in.

“Kain?” Raziel asked bringing his father out of his day dream as the carriage pulled up to the edge of the ruins. There was no possibly way it could go further; they would have to go on foot. Disembarking from the carriage Raziel looked around nearly all the roads were blocked, the ruins of once tall and proud buildings that were now collapsed burnt shells surrounded them. They would either have to climb, a lot, or take down the barricades by hand which would take forever with so few of them to lift and move the rubble. He contemplated rooftops, but this city hardly had any surviving rooftops, only the walls had survived the fire. He was thinking when a loud crash behind them made Raziel turn just in time to see his father kick down a fractured doorway.

“What are you doing?” Magnus asked leaning into the ruined house peering after Kain, Raziel glared.

“There are tunnels,” Kain explained looking at the walls as Raziel pushed Magnus out of the way and entered the small shell of a house. “All the great cities had tunnels in case of invasion,” he felt around the wall for a moment, knocking softly in places, before smiling and kicking hard, part of the wall fell down showing stairs; Kain grinned and lead the way down. The stairway was narrow and dark; the wooden steps creaked as they walked down and entered the first basement, which led nowhere. Magnus looked as if he would say something but a glare from Raziel stopped him and the vampire kept his own council. He followed when his father kicked another hole in the wall and stopped in the darkness.

“Well whose bright idea was this then?” Kain snapped Raziel smirked, they had encountered the sewers of Avernus, the tunnels were still covered in shallow water from their days used as a sewer system.

“Yours,” Magnus smirked “and I say we risk it anyway.”

“You do?” Kain asked. “Off you go then.” He held out his arms indicating that Magnus should go forth alone. Magnus’ smirk grew in size and he leapt forwards landing on one of the few dry ledges before making his way forwards, jumping to another ledge when the need became clear.

“Show off,” Raziel muttered, Kain turned to him and smiled obviously enjoying his envy. Raziel pulled a face at him and Kain shifted into a mist form and moved over the water. “Another bigger show off.” Raziel grumbled and with those words he and Melchiah followed the steps Magnus had already trodden.

It amazed Raziel just how short the tunnels were in comparison to how long and winding the small streets above were. It took them half an hour to make their way leaping and shuffling through the underground network. They made their way forwards with surprising speed and after a short time Kain lead them up to the surface again.

“We’re right by the cathedral,” Melchiah breathed “That’s really handy.”

“It time of crisis the cathedral would be the best place to be.” Kain explained “It was strong and easy to defend with a way to call for help.” Melchiah looked sheepish at missing something so obvious and nodded. Avernus cathedral hadn’t burnt in the fire and was still whole if a little dirty. It looked out of place in the ravaged city. Magnus laughed as he walked in.

“This was the place the demons came from.” He sniggered to himself looking at the angelic carvings.

“Irony.” Raziel muttered.

“It was a Hylden city.” Melchiah said softly. “Janos tells me it was. Apparently man came later to it and built on top of ruins. It isn’t surprising that the Hylden broke through in a place that had been home to them.”

“Hylden,” Kain muttered absently lifting some dust from the earth and sniffing at it. “People have been down here recently.”

“The worshipers?” Raziel asked

“Probably,” Kain agreed.

“I smell something.” Magnus admitted “but not enough people if what Vorador and Ariel were saying is true.”

“Where are they?” Melchiah asked. “This place is silent.”

“Beneath us.” Raziel said firmly and walking to the side of the hall clambered up the wall.

“They are under us so you go up?” Magnus muttered. Raziel hauled himself onto the raised walkway and glared at Magnus before walking to the end of the walkway to retrieve a book. There was nothing there.

“There has to be something.” He muttered and jumped down. “I don’t understand.” He looked to his father “There was a book last time, something to open the gateway.”

“Perhaps it was lost in the fire?” Melchiah shrugged Raziel shook his head

“Not this, it would have been protected.” He muttered. “We need it to get down into the catacombs.”

“The catacombs are down there.” Magnus pointed to a door to the left. Kain smirked at them.

“He does not mean the catacombs; he is referring to the Hylden ruins beneath the cathedral.” He looked to Raziel “You worry too much.” He walked towards the altar “There is a weakness here.” 

“Maybe they are like Vorador.” Melchiah said softly, “He leaves keys and hidden entrances all over the mansion grounds.”

“I doubt they’ve done that.” Raziel grumbled “There was a book previously that when placed on the altar would open a door way to the Hylden ruins.”

“You think they had just one book?” Melchiah raised an eyebrow “Seriously one?”

“It does sound foolish.” Magnus smirked “Perhaps there is another.”

“Perhaps it is not needed.” Kain called from the altar “perhaps all you need is…” he trailed off and smirked. A green smoke coiled around his hands. Raziel recognized dimension magic.

“It’s beneath us not in another dimension.” He breathed. Kain rolled his eyes at him and pressed the magic in his hand to the altar. Raziel smiled when the magic caught and a doorway different to the one he had seen so long ago opened before them. His last portal to the underground ruins had been cold and small. This one was much larger and very green. It put Raziel in mind of Meridian.

“Magic.” Magnus breathed.

“A little yes.” Kain looked smug and walked with confidence through the doorway. Raziel followed and stepped out into a tunnel that was eerily familiar and unpleasant. “I’ve been here before.” Kain said quietly “More than once.”

“You once told me your blade was down here.” Raziel took a deep breath and sneezed when dust shot up his nose.

“This was not here before.” Magnus said stepping from the doorway.

“It was.” Raziel answered him. “It is well hidden.” He began down the tunnel, memories from his last trip down here causing him to be cautious. “There will be demons down here.” He said and watched Melchiah and Magnus tense. “This is where they come from.”

“I still don’t understand if you knew this why did you not say so before.” Magnus grumbled. Raziel glared but said nothing. Magnus was right he should have thought of this sooner. But he had been so wrapped up in his grief and his own petty dislike of the guardians that he had not cared what was happening. Nosgoth could have fallen to wreck and ruin and he would not have cared and that would have been a waste.

They continued down the tunnels. The smell of people was stronger down here despite the dust and smoke. It was dark lit only by a few torches and the heat was getting uncomfortable. Fortunately the darkness meant that the paintings on the walls were obscured. Raziel was grateful for that. A sound was growing in the dim light, low and threatening. It made Raziel’s stomach clench and he could see the tension in his companions. They came to a large doorway and stopped.

“I don’t like this.” Melchiah breathed “This place reeks of misery.”

“I smell a lot of people.” Magnus swallowed, audible over the low sound. “And I hear them, we’ve found what we came for, we should leave before something goes awry.”

“Nonsense.” Kain muttered “We came for information; I want to know what’s in there.”

“You’re a fool.” Magnus snapped “I can tell you what’s in there and it will be the death of us if you open that door.”

“Then I won’t open it.” Kain smirked and disappeared in a cloud of mist. Raziel watched as it slid through the cracks in the door and sighed. This was insane, Magnus was right; they had what they came for. They knew there were a great many people in the room, the room that had once imprisoned Turel. Kain was taking a foolish risk for no gain.

“I have to get him.” he muttered, Melchiah grabbed his arm.

“You stay where you are!” he snapped. “Do not open that door, Kain will be alright.”

“Kain’s being a damned fool.” Magnus snapped again “we need to get away from this door.” He began to retreat into the shadows. “If they come out we will be seen.” He snapped when he saw Raziel’s glare.

“You go and hide then!” he growled “I am not leaving him in there and I am not waiting here any longer.” He laid a hand on the door and jerked back. It was boiling hot to the touch, there was no way anything mortal would be able to open that door without injuring itself. The mortals within were trapped.

“Raziel?” Melchiah asked

“It’s scalding hot.” Raziel breathed “No man could open this,” he watched as the skin on his hands healed. “Even a vampire would struggle.” As he spoke mist started to seep through the door again, taking a few steps back Raziel gave Kain room to reform. “Well?” he asked when Kain stood in front of him again.

“We are going to need numbers.” Kain said quietly as he started walking back up the tunnel briskly.

“That’s what you learned?” Magnus snapped “I could have told you that without you going in there.”

“What did you see?” Raziel asked feeling unsettled. Kain’s expression was familiar to him, it was his mask, carefully blank and he only wore it when he was either very angry or very worried.

“There were hundreds.” Kain said ignoring Magnus. “Mindless creatures, held in thrall.” A look of disgust crossed his features. “They were eating each other.”

“We can’t just kill them.” Melchiah said softly “Raziel said they were trapped. They are victims.”

“They are already dead.” Kain said looking to his youngest. “It was eating them alive from within while they ate themselves from the outside. No doubt in a day or so it will have killed them all and will call more to it.”

“But I thought it needed their belief.” Raziel frowned, Kain shook his head.

“It was not feeding off their belief.” He snapped coming to the portal, “It was eating them. Now get through there before it realizes we are here.” He pushed his eldest through the portal. “Go!” he growled.

The return to the mansion was much faster than the trip to Avernus had been. The horses pulling the carriage were exhausted when they reached the swamp. Raziel was irritated as were Melchiah and Magnus. Kain had fallen silent when they entered the carriage and had refused to talk on the subject. Magnus had tried to discuss things with Melchiah but the low growl from Kain had silence him. Apparently quiet was needed. Stepping into the mansion was like stepping into fresh air when Raziel jumped from the carriage. He smirked at his own thoughts fresh air was not something he had ever openly associated with the swamp before. He followed his father up to the war room where Vorador and Janos were waiting. Raziel listened in silence as Kain explained to the two elders what he had seen and felt sick. Rows upon rows of mortals, standing, crouching, dying but all speaking slowly. The living eating the dead, all clutched in thrall to whatever was trying to break through.

“All those lives,” Janos breathed. “So many will die for this.”

“Many have already died.” Vorador pressed. “And more will if we do nothing.”  

“They are not there willingly,” Kain spoke softly. “It can call them and it will keep them there until it needs more of them.”

 “Maybe Fate will return them.” Melchiah reached pout to touch the ancient vampire who smiled gratefully. Vorador stood next to Kain and snorted loudly.

“How could something so innocent be raised by you?” he asked Kain who glared, but the glare didn’t last.

“I have no clue.” Kain mumbled after a moment “how did someone as soft as Janos raise something as ravenous and bloodthirsty as you.”

“Shut up Kain,” Vorador mumbled

“We will have to get all of them,” Janos sighed looking to Kain. “Even twenty or so alone could keep him powerful enough to form a body.”

“TWENTY!” Raziel snapped, shocked.

“They would have to give a lot of energy, but it has already shown it has no qualms about killing its followers. So yes twenty could do it, they could form him a weak flimsy body, most likely he would wait to gather more but it is best if you get them all.”

“We will,” Magnus answered. “Shall I send out word that we are to gather?” he asked Vorador who nodded.

“Yes.” Vorador muttered “I would have preferred a fight but if a slaughter is what is needed then it is what must be done.”   

Raziel watched in silence as the elders continued to make their plans. It made him feel foolish to see them planning in such detail what would effectively be a slaughter. Perhaps planning it as if it were a war made them feel better. Kain soon grew weary of it and left but Raziel remained. He was not a coward and if this is what had to be done then he would face it. He would not hide from it. Nosgoth would not fall again because of his cowardice. Brave thoughts aside the elders soon grew weary of their plans and conversation changed, Vorador began discussing the new extension he wanted for the north wing and Janos indulged him, listening to his plans. Raziel excused himself and thought of retiring for the day. But walking along the hallways he realized he would not be able to sleep. Mass slaughter was not something he enjoyed, he had always taken a morbid pleasure from war but this would not be war. It would be sacrifice, a large sacrifice to save Nosgoth.

“What if it’s already through?” Melchiah snapped him from his thoughts and he jumped.

“Don’t hide in shadows!” he snapped, Melchiah did not look apologetic merely worried. “It’s not through Melchiah.”

“But what if it is.” Melchiah pressed

“If it was then it would not need those beneath the cathedral to feed itself.” Raziel reached out and cupped his brother’s face. “Go to sleep Melchiah we will have a long awful night to face in the next few days, you will need to be rested.” Melchiah nodded and walked away. Raziel sighed Melchiah was worrying for nothing he was sure, but what if he wasn’t? Raziel walked down towards his rooms, but stopped outside the door. He could smell his father; Kain had come past here but had not gone inside. Grateful for the distraction he followed the scent trail towards a window. Looking out he smiled when he saw Kain a little way off sitting on one of the lower rooftops. He clambered out the window and went to him. Kain glanced at him as he approached and offered a wave.

“We attack as soon as all arrive back. Apparently Vorador has some fledgling’s out on another little fact finding mission.” Raziel spoke walking across the mansion rooftops towards where Kain had perched. “Are you worried?” he asked when his father made no reply to him.

“No.” Kain shook his head.

“Melchiah is, he fears that the creature could have already come through.” Raziel sat next to Kain and leaned on him. “I know he cannot be right but I find myself worrying also. How would we stop it if it was through already?”

“If it has physical form them we kill it the way we would kill anything else.” Kain shrugged.

“But it is a force of nature; surely something a little more … something would be needed.” Raziel sighed “I’m actually missing the Reaver.”

“You miss my sword?” Kain asked incredulous “Odd child.”

“Very odd.” Raziel agreed “But despite it all I would feel safer if you had it.” Kain shook his head and Raziel wondered if Kain remembered what the blade truly was. “Do you…?”

“Hush child I’m trying to listen.” Kain interrupted absently. Raziel frowned. Kain was looking out at the pillars, the pillars looked to Raziel the same as always but Kain was starting to look distinctly worried which was in turn making Raziel nervous.

“Is something wrong with the pillars?” he asked, Kain shook his head a little.

“No.” Kain answered. “But whatever it is it has been bothering me since we came up from Avernus.” he muttered. “It sounds like a call, I thought it was the creature but now I wonder?”

“A call?” Raziel asked even more confused, for some reason the image of a running wolf filled his mind, a great white creature moving with purpose across snow and barren land. The image gave the fledgling pause made him think, it was like he had seen such a thing before but couldn’t remember where, maybe Fate had removed some of his memories to, that frightened him a little but he shook the thought from his mind and looked back to his father who glared hard at the pillars for a moment before sighing and looking away.

"It is not music, but it is pleasing in a way I can't describe." Kain shrugged and tried to explain further. “Did you ever have the feeling you should be somewhere at a certain time.” Raziel shook his head “I have, I’ve had it all my life like someone whispering to me, telling me where to go. It led me to the tavern where I died, it led me to you and it led me here a few times.”

“And you’re hearing it now?” Raziel asked

“If hearing is the right word then yes,” Kain answered “Do you want to come?” he smiled and held out his hand.

“Where?” Raziel asked going to his father and taking his hand.

“The pillars.” Kain answered, Raziel paused and took his father’s hand and shouted as they tumbled together off the building. Kain laughed and erupted into bats wrapping the magic around his childe and taking him with him into the flight form. It was perhaps the most peculiar sensation Raziel had ever felt, he had half expected pain as his body broke apart and reshaped itself into a flock of the tiny creatures but there was no pain and no confusion or multiple vision. All the bats were looking in one direction and if he wished to look left then they did also and he kept his vision in one simple image. They flew in the direction of the pillars gently swaying as Kain tried to figure out exactly where they were going.

The pillars were calling him, he was sure of it now, a slow and calming siren song that stopped him doing anything else other than listen and go to it. Kain had to physically remind himself that his child was there, if he forgot that now and Raziel broke away he would be lost. But the pillars were not far, just through the swamp, he smiled mentally as he felt his fledgling’s mind stir besides his own, testing the parameters of bat form and he half wondered if it had donned on Raziel that they were flying.

The pillars reached up to the heavens and the first thing Raziel noticed was that they were glowing brightly before Kain had touched them. Yet this was a different light and somehow more menacing; they landed and he felt his body reform, testing his joints Raziel smirked finding everything back where it should be and turned to see his father emerge from the fine mist that often formed when shifting. Kain completely ignored him and walked right up to the balance pillar reaching out to touch it, as he did so the light flared but nothing else happened and after a moment Raziel watched as Kain leaned on the balance pillar, placing his forehead to the marble and whispered

“What’s wrong, tell me.” As if he expected the pillar to talk back to him. Raziel shivered hoping that wasn’t going to happen again. He had thought he knew everything about the pillars, but they had never glowed before now and he was damn sure they had never spoken. The air crackled loudly as raw magical power flashed across the pillars running between them and just missing Kain. Something was very wrong Raziel could feel it; the magic in the air was dangerous. Absently he stepped up onto the marble base of the pillars and the light intensified three times over.

“It’s you,” Kain spoke pulling back from his pillar and frowning."You are doing this. How?”

“What did I do?” Raziel snapped, panicking, “I didn’t touch anything; I’m not a guardian,”

“What did you do?” Kain snapped getting louder as the light grew brighter; a strong wind had picked up and blew loudly around the pillars. “They are taking something from you.” he calmed a little.

“You can feel that?” Raziel asked Kain nodded and held out a hand, Raziel did not want to take it, memories of when Kain’s touch had pulled him into the blade stirred in his mind and he half thought the same might happen now; it was one thing being trapped within a sword but a stone structure? Swallowing his fear Raziel rationalized that Kain wouldn’t hurt him and thus through Kain the pillars couldn’t either and he took his father’s hand.

Glyph power stirred in him at the contact, water and fire moving through him and down his arm along with stone and sound, Light and darkness joined and lashed. Raziel felt all of them merge inside his chest and for a moment he thought he would burst his ribcage. He heard himself cry out from the pressure and tried to stop. He could feel Kain’s hands on him and could hear him speaking but could not make out the words. The pressure built inside him and dropped him to his knees. Then when he thought he could take no more the pressure shifted, it moved from his chest into his shoulder. He thought it would force his arm from its socket but instead it continued to move through him. It ran down his arm and into his father and through Kain into the balance pillar. When it was gone and the ringing in his ears had stopped Raziel tried to stand. His legs shaking and breathing labored he could not do so. Instead he looked up at Kain who was looking bewildered and in pain. Whatever had passed from Raziel was moving through his father and into the pillar. It did not seem to take as long to go from Kain into the pillar thought and Kain drew back as the pillar glowed brighter the light collecting at the ring before moving like lightening through the air and into the central ring on the pillar base. The circular symbol at the base of the pillars began to glow brighter, its light drowning even the light of the pillars. Raziel shielded his eyes pressing his face against his Kain’s leg to shield himself.

 “You restored us; your life gives us life.” the balance pillar was glowing softly, brighter than the others and Raziel knew the voice was hers."We give you what you lost. We restore what was broken. But we will not claim the soul.”

“The pillars are talking again!” Raziel yelled into Kain’s leg. “The damn pillars are talking again!”

“Stay here.” Kain broke Raziel’s hold on him and walked away. For a moment Raziel wanted to curse at him but stopped himself when he saw that the light was coming from the circle at the center of the pillars. It was no longer blinding but looked almost like water.

“Take it from us.” Kain walked to the light in the center of the marble base and on blind faith reached in.

The flight back to the mansion was rushed and twice they almost crashed, Raziel lost everything he’d eaten in the last few nights and silently made a mental note to take back his ‘lost’ lunch from his father sometime soon. They approached the mansion at breakneck speed and didn’t slow as they rammed into a window shattering it with telekinetic power. Kain reformed in mid air with his childe and they fell ungracefully to the floor, the sound of the broken window brought Janos running from the central library which Vorador had built last season.

“What on Nosgoth is wrong with you two?” Janos snapped looking at the small window they had broken. “Have you no respect?” He froze “Where did you get that?” he breathed pausing in his rant to stare at the Reaver blade sitting contently in Kain’s lap. “Raziel have you?” Janos began again but Raziel waved a hand silencing him.

“I’m fine,” Raziel muttered feeling worse for wear. His stomach clenched again trying to empty itself despite having already done that. “It doesn’t feel the same.” He managed after a moment “I think the pillars changed it.” He looked to his father Kain was purring over the sword, he rolled his eyes. “You like it more than me don’t you!” Raziel snapped then rolled his eyes again. “Help, I’m jealous of a sword!” Kain sighed and put the blade down.

“WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WINDOW!” the shout was Vorador as he entered the room, Kain smirked at him and held up the blade watching as Vorador’s jaw fell open. “It was destroyed, it faded when you died!” he looked to Kain. “How did this happen?”

“The pillars have returned it to me.” Kain said simply “I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.” He handed the blade to Vorador.

“Is Raziel?” Vorador began looking grief stricken but was hit on the shoulder hard.

“I’m over here!” Raziel snapped “if you paid attention.” 

“Raziel is not in the blade,” Vorador sounded relieved, Kain looked confused.

“Why would Raziel be in the blade? That makes absolutely no sense Vorador.” He held a hand out to reclaim the sword.

“You don’t remember.” Vorador sighed and looked to Raziel who glared and shook his head.

“Remember.” Kain growled “Prey tell what do I not remember now?”

“Nothing of any consequence.” Raziel snapped “But why do you worry?”

“You said yourself it was a formidable weapon; by returning it does that mean I will have need of it?” Kain sighed.

“Well we are going to war tomorrow,” Vorador lifted an eyebrow, Kain glared

“I could have used any sword for that, I’ve got my flame sword somewhere, but they gave me back the Reaver the most formidable weapon we have.” Vorador looked worried at that but Janos spoke distracting them.

“Better to have it and not need it.” He breathed. Raziel snorted and walked to Vorador. He held out a hand, Vorador reluctantly gave up the blade he had carved himself to Raziel, who held it up. The feeling emanating from the blade was gone, the blade wasn’t alive anymore but there was still energy running through it, magic pulsed inside the blade but it no longer pulled at him. A sudden jolt made him let go as Kain telekinetically called the blade to him.

“It doesn’t feel the same,” Kain muttered “it doesn’t vibrate the same,” he hefted the blade down in a swing and listened to the blade scream as it cut the air.

“It is lacking something.” Raziel smirked “But it is still a sight to behold.”

“Come.” Vorador sighed “We should retire to the war room, I have received word that we will be ready to head to Avernus the night after next, and we should make plans.”

“Speak for yourself.” Raziel muttered but followed when Kain joined Vorador in the walk to the war room.

The next few nights passed quickly. Raziel spent most of it practicing with his brothers; it had been a while since he had last fought with any real interest. He had often sparred with Melchiah over the last fifty years but his heart had never been in it, now that there was a purpose he felt his old interest start to return.

“Raziel!” Melchiah snapped when Raziel caught him on the shoulder

“You should guard better.” Raziel smirked but lowered his blade. Melchiah made a face.

“You are cruel brother.” Turel came up behind Raziel and spoke softly “You are too hard on him.” Raziel scoffed

“If I were to soft he would be at risk, at least this way he truly knows his limitations and will be less likely to take risks.”

“This is to be a slaughter.” Turel lifted a weapon as Melchiah limped off to lick his bruises. “We will not be taking risks.”

“It could be a trap.” Raziel voiced words he did not believe. “You do not know this.” Turel took a swing and Raziel blocked. They moved across the floor blocking and lunging at each other. A few soft blows landed but nothing to do real damage. After the fourth knock to his head Turel held up his hand.

“You are impossible brother.” He conceded Raziel shrugged then winced; Turel had landed several blows and had done some minor damage.

“I have had a lot of practice.” Raziel shrugged.

“I doubt even Vorador could best you.” Turel dropped his blade and waited for his arm to heal enough before bending down to retrieve it.

“I want to see Father smoosh you.” Melchiah grumbled bitterly from the sidelines. Raziel laughed

“I’m not sure about that.” Raziel grinned “Last time we fought properly it wasn’t as one sided as you might expect.” Raziel pretended to preen and forcefully ignored the memories of the fight in Avernus.

“I doubt Kain would fight you.” Turel muttered “He and Vorador have been hold up now for nights.” Raziel nodded. He had seen little of his father over the last few nights, Kain remained locked in the war room with Vorador and had little time for sparing.

“Come.” Raziel walked to Melchiah and offered his hand “I’ll patch you up and we’ll see if Vorador has any of the ale left from Ushtenhiem.”

“Wonderful idea.” Turel smirked and followed. 

The night soon came when they had to depart. It was one of the quietest advances Raziel had ever taken part in. usually an advance was full of adrenalin, small fights would break out on the way and many would make merry trying to force themselves to forget that they could die when the fighting began. But this advance was quiet; no one felt the need to fight or to force merriment on each other. No one felt threatened only uncomfortable. Everyone knew this would not be a true fight. Only Melchiah worried.

“The Reaver was returned for a reason.” He snapped. “The pillars know something we don’t.”

“Melchiah stop worrying.” Raziel grumbled. Avernus was fast approaching and this distasteful job was bad enough without Melchiah worrying them all. Shaking his head of such thoughts Raziel watched his father and couldn’t help but smile, Kain had quiet obviously missed leading an army. Mind you if you had lead three different armies you might miss it to, Raziel briefly remembered tale of when Kain had lead the army of the hope along with King Ottmar, then the vampire army which had fallen at Meridian and then the second vampire army which had successfully concurred all of Nosgoth. The third army, the one Raziel had helped him lead; Raziel smiled to himself remembering those days before the sanctuary had been finished, sleeping in tents in camp, crushed together in the frozen wastelands freezing to a near true death. Strange that those were his best memories.

He watched now as Kain broke the army up, separating them into four groups, one group of sixty patrolled the city limits to catch those who would still have mind to flee the fight, another group of forty went to the rear of the cathedral and entered, the third group broke up and patrolled the tunnels and the final group went with him and Raziel into the main body of the cathedral. Memories of leading armies flooded Raziel’s mind and for a moment he wasn’t in Avernus he was in the barren lands of the future corrupted Nosgoth looking around the bloody battle field for his brothers and father. But then a clawed hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality and he glanced to his father. They had led their group down the still empty passageway towards the sacrificial chamber, the chamber which had once housed Turel. The sounds indicated that the worshipers were still inside.

“Give the word,” Kain smirked at his child and Raziel shivered, he hesitated only briefly before giving the command to attack. 

It wasn’t a battle Raziel quickly realized, this was a slaughter. Watching as mortal after mortal fell to claws, fangs and swords. The smells of mortal blood filled the room, as many fell, but the mortals were fighting back, gathering what they could, using whatever magic they could call but it would not be enough.

“They aren’t even fighting us.” Raziel sighed walking to stand by his father who was leaning against a wall not doing anything, reaver turned down in his hand.

“This is awful,” Melchiah came up to his father and Raziel, “this is not war,” Kain nodded,

“It is good we did not bring Janos,” he admitted then sighed frustrated.

Kain felt like he had just delivered the worst sucker punch in history, yet he had killed entire families before and not felt guilt; but that had been for food or for survival this was a massacre but a necessary massacre. Nosgoth’s survival depended on him eliminating this threat, these people were a real threat and he had to take them down before they became even more of a threat. Once Chaos had form it would be unstoppable. But still he felt like a coward attacking those who would not fight back.

“MY LORD!” one of the mortals who had a mind clambered onto the pedestal “MY LORD RISE UP AND DEFEND YOUR SERVANTS!”

“No Abdul,” the voice was like nails on glass “I will not, this is your battle, defend yourselves,”

“What he means,” Kain said slowly coming up behind the man. “Is that he cannot defend you, he is powerless without form.” Kain’s words were flat; there was no anger, no hatred and no guilt, just a tired knowledge that this had to be done.

“You!” the man stopped and frowned “you’re Kain, You’re the scion, and you saved Nosgoth why now do you destroy it!” Kain paused, blinking confused, this man did not understand that he was serving the one creature that could and would destroy all of Nosgoth, he almost groaned but found himself feeling to empty for even that.

“You truly do not know that which you serve?” he asked, this was Moebius all over again, dull mortals confused and lead by ancient beings of power, although killing Moebius had been a lot more satisfying than this. With a sigh he struck the mortal fell on the reaver. 

“You cannot kill me,” the voice breathed “I am immortal in ways nothing else is, I am endless.”

“Good for you,” Kain muttered, pulling the reaver from the mortal man. “Good for me to, for when I find a way to hurt you I will be glad that you cannot die! But you will wish that you could.”

“Fool vampire I am beyond your reach,” the voice of chaos breathed, the voice made Kain shiver, this truly was a creature of destruction, there was no imbalance in this creature for there were no opposites within it, it was just destruction, nothing else. Briefly the scion wondered what it must be like to know what your purpose was so clearly, to always know your course of action the way this creature must.

“For now,” Kain muttered after a moment “but know your food stocks are dead, you are beyond my reach but Nosgoth is beyond your reach.”

“Yes my innocents are gone, but there will always be enough human fodder for me to keep my claws in this world,” the voice was much weaker now. Kain said nothing but turned back to watch the end of the massacre.

It did not take long and the army slowly moved out of the chamber, there was no high spirits no feelings of elation just a quiet emptiness. Raziel walked with his father and youngest brother back towards the entrance to Avernus, blood covered the pathway as it rained down from the vampire’s weapons, cloths and bodies. It had been a bloodbath and one that no one had enjoyed. It was odd Raziel thought that surrounded by that much blood no one slipped into an animalistic frenzy, he himself had hardly noticed that there was any blood to busy being horrified by the amount of death caused. By the mortal leaders selfish desire to not inform his people of the vampire’s attack. They hadn’t even had weapons.

“I am going to fly,” Kain breathed as they came out into the open air, for once glad to lose the smell of blood. “I have things to discuss with Vorador.”

“I think I’m going to stay with the men,” Raziel answered “I need the air.” Kain nodded and Raziel and Melchiah watched as a cloud of silvery white bats launched into the night.

The way home was long and took the best part of the night, but eventually he arrived home with Melchiah. The mansion seemed homely tonight, it gave Raziel pause, he had lived in the mansion for the past fifty years, since the restoration of the pillars but never before had it felt like home the way the sanctuary had or the way his clan holding had. He found it odd that after such an awful night he could walk into the courtyard and feel his spirit lift the way it had when he entered the sanctuary.

“Raziel?” Melchiah asked as the elder brother stopped and looked up at the building.

“Sorry,” Raziel apologized “it’s just for the first time it feels like I’ve come home.” Melchiah smiled and nodded knowingly.

“For some,” the youngest of Kain’s sons breathed “home is a place, for others a time, some find home where ever they go, for it is where they are happy.” Melchiah smirked “but for you I think home is a person.”

“Since when did you become so worldly?” Raziel teased feeling his spirits rise.

“I’ve always been this amazing you just have never appreciated me,” Melchiah smirked and opened the door for his brother. They walked together through the mansion following the sounds and smells they knew so well until they were led to one of Vorador’s private parlors, in which they heard voices. Without knocking they entered.

“We are keeping that thing alive,” Kain sighed. “Unless we kill every living thing in Nosgoth it will continue to live,”

“Yes it is needed, but as long as it is kept in check things will be as they should.” Janos smiled

“Others will be called,” Raziel said slowly “Others will need to be killed,”

“No,” Magnus whispered “We will find a way to silence him.” Magnus was bloody, and pale. Shaken by the massacre.

“We have to build something,” Kain muttered going back to his own old idea “Nothing grand to draw attention but something, we need something that will prevent it reaching out to us.”

“Janos,” Raziel said “you once told me the pillars were a lock; the binding is what keep the Hylden out can it keep this creature out also?”

“We cannot build more pillars Raziel.” Janos sighed “It’s not possible.”

“Not overly subtle either.” Kain smirked at his child “We need something simple.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you build pillars.” Raziel answered “But the magic you gave them to make them a lock, can we do that to another edifice.”

“No one has that much power,” Janos sighed but a sound from Kain made them turn 

“I’d like to argue that point,” Kain smirked. “I think Raziel might have something there.” Raziel smiled at the praise and settled himself in for a long night.

A strong feeling of rightness settled in him and Raziel smiled as he watched the bickering. This was how his life was meant to have been, he had a home now and people to share it with. It wasn’t perfect but it was not meant to be. It was right and he doubted he could ever feel happier than he did now, despite the blood on his hands and the tasks ahead of him.

“How about a statue?” he asked and dodged the paperweight his father hurled at him.

 

END OF BOOK ONE

BOOK TWO COMING SOON