Bruises

Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Reaver or any of the characters used in this story. I'm not making any money from writing this, I'm only doing it because I got a day off from work and I'm a bored teenager with nothing better to do.

Warnings: Angst, AU, all the warnings from the other parts as well. Also, maybe a little gore. Y'know, blood and violence? Great, huh?

Author: Koneko Shido

A/N: The final part, at last! Actually, I quite enjoyed writing this once I got over my little problem of not knowing anything about the actual game, and deciding that I pretty much don't care anymore. An AU sign covers it, right? So, we're golden!
Anyhow, send me a review once you've read it and tell me how it went, and if my muse decides to give me any more ideas I may possibly write a sequel. And in case you were wondering, I was trying REALLY hard to make the end of this part kind of sad, but romantic too. I'm used to writing parodies and humour fics... I dunno if I pulled it off very well... So, tell me, right?

Bruises: Part 4
By Koneko Shido

Fire burned all around, roaring like dragons in the darkness, sparks swirling violently up into the night as the battle raged on in between the burning trees. The ground was littered with bodies, human and vampire, skin blistering in the heat from the flames that clawed at them.
The Serafan were fighting the vampires again, having trapped them in between a burning forest and a lake. Between fire and water the vampires fought like cornered animals against the warrior priests, screams and snarls echoing out over the sounds of clashing swords and razor claws tearing at flesh.
The flames danced in Raziel's emerald eyes as he ducked a swipe from a set of deadly claws then dd oud out with his sword to skewer the beast, listening to its scream of agony as he moved on to the next vampire. He was surrounded by the creatures, circling him like wolves. Hissing, he thrust at the first with his sword, causing it to fall back and distracting a second long enough for him to crouch low in a cat-like movement and slash at its legs. It snarled in pain, staggering back on bloody legs, and fell into the lake with a sickening hiss of dissolving flesh. The vampire Raziel had knocked back recovered and swiped at him with evil claws, but the Serafan quickly bought his sword up to block the attack. However, this left him vulnerable to a third vampire, and he gasped sharply as the creature struck at him. He dodged most of the force of the blow, but was knocked to the floor by one of the monster's claws, which caught him across the temple, drawing a deep cut. It smirked cruelly at its minor victory and dived on him, but he rolled out of the way and plunged his sword through its back as it hit the floor where he had been.

* * * * * * *

Kain was watching Raziel fight once more, keeping to the shadows to watch the young Serafan duck and weave between his enemies. He was getting close, so very close, to persuading Raziel to join him, especially after he had shown Raziel the pillars of Nosgoth, and they had made love on his throne. He enjoyed watching Raziel fight, it seemed to bring out the beauty of the Serafan, show him for the fiery, passionate creature he really was underneath. The way he moved was fluid, perfect, almost feline.
But tonight... He seemed to be slower than usual, Kain noticed. Raziel was fighting exquisitely, as always, but every so often he would stumble or react more slowly than he normally did. It worried Kain a little and he watched carefully, his eyes narrowing as they fell upon a deep wound on Raziel's temple, blood soaking his dark hair and trickling down his cheek. The young Serafan's eyes were a little glazed and he staggered dizzily. So that was it, Kain frow He He had forgotten how very fragile humans were. A little blow to the head... could give one a concussion.
The blonde vampire growled and took a step towards where Raziel was struggling to beat off the vampires. Had they not heard his orders? Raziel was HIS! He was not to be harmed, how dare they ignore his orders? Well, their mistake would not be repeated.
Kain began to stalk over to them, paying little attention to the numerous battles going on all around, his attention focussed on Raziel, who was failing fast. Suddenly, though, the Serafave ave a sharp cry of agony and Kain's eyes widened, watching his lover fall to the fledgling vampires surrounding him.

* * * * * * *

Raziel stumbled dizzily, struggling to keep his eyes open. He felt tired and sick, everything was spinning around him and his whole body felt heavy and slow. But he wouldn't give up, he would never lay down and die, not just to give the creatures he was battling a taste of his flesh. It was so hard just to stay awake, though... The wound he'd been given to the head earlier throbbed painfully, reminding him of how frail he was compared to these vampires. He was human... Not like Kain. Kain was strong, powerful. He could tear any creature apart with his bare hands, and he wanted to give that strength to Raziel.
It was getting harder to concentrate now, harder to dodge all of the claws swiping at him and harder just to raise his sword to hold them off. Suddenly a vre ire in front of him let its guard down for an instant and Raziel took the opportunity to jerk forward and thrust his sword through its heart. As he darted forward, though, he left himself vulnerable and one of the creatures circling behind him took advantage of the opening, giving a vicious snarl and plunging its needle-tipped claws through Raziel's armour and deep into his back.
Raziel felt the burning agony shoot through him and he cried out in pain as the tips of the vampire's claws burst through his chest near his shoulder. As the creature laughed cruelly and withdrew its talons, the wounded Serafan slid to the ground, his sword falling from his numb fingers, knowing with sickening certainty that the last moments of his life were about to play out.

* * * * * * *

Kain's blood burned with rage as he watched Raziel fall weakly to the ground beside the lake. He vanished, reappearing an instant later before the vampire who had wounded his lover. The circle of fledglings gasped at seeing him and backed off, leaving the one who had disobeyed their master's orders to his fate.
"This one was not to be harmed! You dare to disregard my commands now?" Kain snarled, his eyes glowing unearthly red with rage. The young vampire before him trembled with fear, Raziel's blood dripping from its claws.
"I-it will not happen again, l-lord Kain..." It hissed, terrified.
"No. It shall not." Kain said in a voice as cold as ice. Then, with a movement so fast thher her vampires could barely follow it, Kain growled deep in his throat and tore out the fledgling's spine through its stomach, sending it crumpling to the ground in a gush of blood. The blonde vampire turned to the other fledglings and stared coldly at them, murder in his eyes for anyone else who dared disobey him.
"Leave, or you join that one." Kain hissed, gesturing with bloody claws to the pile of gore that had once been one of his vampires. The others took heed and wisely ran, leaving Kain to turn and kneel down beside where Raziel lay on the floor in a pool of blood, gasping weakly for each ragged breath.
Without a word, Kain lifted the dying Serafan's limp body from the ground and held him to his chest, vanishing in a swirl of white mist.

* * * * * * *

Kain reappeared in the dimly lit chamber of his throne room, kneeling down and laying Raziel gently before the pillars of Nosgoth as though he were some precious treasure.
"Ra." ." Kain said softly, stroking the Serafan's deathly pale face.
Raziel opened his dulled emerald eyes slowly, struggling to focus on the vampire above him.
"Kain..." He murmured, blood on his lips. In some, small way he was glad to see the blonde vampire; pleased that Kain would be the last thing he would see before he was lost to the eternal darkness of the abyss. His wounds were just a dull ache in the background of his mind now; he could barely feel the pain anymore through the soft darkness closing in on him from the edges of his vision.
"I will ask you one, last time, Raziel... Will you join me? Will you leave the humans and stay beside me forever?" Kain asked softly, seeing the light fading from the human's eyes. Raziel's blood was seeping from his wounds and slowly pooling on the floor around them, but Kain ignored it, running his claws gently through the Serafan's dark, silken hair.
"I... would rather... die..." Raziel murmured, coughing weakly. Kain took the dying human in his arms and held him, watching his little Serafan's eyes fill with tears he had never shown to anyone before.
"You are lying." Kain said quietly, and Raziel smiled softly through his tears.
"Yes..." He whispered.
"To grant you eternal life, I must first let you die, Raziel." Kain told him, looking down into his eyes. Raziel nodded weakly, his eyes sliding closed. "Are you afraid, little one?" Kain asked, stroking Raziel's hair tenderly.
"I am not afraid to die." Raziel breathed, but Kain held him closer, feeling him trembling, his strength draining from him.
"More lies, little one?" Kain whispered, and Raziel turned his head a little to hide his face against Kain's shoulder.
"Yes..." He breathed finally, his voice barely audible. Kain watched him, eyes darkening as Raziel's laboured breathing became even more ragged then stopped altogether, his hand slipping down from where his fingers had been desperately clutching Kain's shirt.

Kain looked down at Raziel's body, still and white and covered in blood. The vampire leant down a little and pressed his cool lips to Raziel's forehead gently, murmuring soft words as he stood up.
"You shall return, my Raziel."
And then Kain closed his eyes and reached into the underworld, catching a soul, and pulling it back.

The End.

Finished! Hah, I got there in the end, right? Kinda sad, but the one thing I *did* manage to gather about Soul Reaver is that it isn't a happy story, so hopefully this fits. Besidee ale all know likkle Raziel will be back, don't we? There might possibly be a sequel to this, if I can be bothered writing one with all the other stuff I have in progress at the moment. It all depends on how well this goes down, I suppose. So send me a review, tell me what you thought! But if you're gonna flame me, could you do it gently?