WARNING : Spoilers for Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (If you haven't already played it... stop reading this and pick it up – it's only about $10 now...)
This story is from Raziel's POV during his period of fratricide...
My life suffocates
planting the seeds of hate
I've loved - turned to hate
trapped far beyond my fate
I give, you take
this life that I forsake
Been cheated of my youth -
You turn this lie to truth
Anger, misery
You will suffer unto me...
(Harvester of Sorrow - Metallica)
Should I feel ashamed?
My fight is with Kain. He was my Lord, but also very much a father to me. He rescued me from the twilight world of death and gave me the purity of un- life. I was well aware of the price of this gift and dutifully served him for countless ages of Man. I fought wars for him. I slaughtered armies of crazed human warriors. I destroyed the rebellion that threatened to tear the Clans apart centuries ago.
Then in an instant, all my years of faithful service were thrown to the side like the torn wings from my back just as I was thrown like so much refuse into the swirling vortex of the Abyss.
It was an eternity of unspeakable pain as my flesh was torn from my bones. My blood boiled in the acidic liquid rushing all around me. The pain... the torture... was this the reward for a millennia of devotion to my sire? Was this the just punishment for a mutation that was out of my control? Or was it just simple jealousy?
Then as if the hell I endured was not bad enough, I had to end it all by finding myself in service to a new master, one who had the external appearance of Kain's internal foul, demonic spirit.
Now here I find myself standing before the dead body of my brother Melchiah, ground like so much meat, rotting in this infernal underground tomb. I have killed him and taken his soul. I have grown stronger by murdering one whom I had trusted as my family, my brother, my friend.
The voice of that old parasite that I now serve tells me that I will continue to grow stronger by killing my brothers. This Elder God says that the monstrous visages of my deformed brethren show the inner evil of the creatures created by Kain that I could never see before. He says that my brothers, along with Kain and all vampires are abominations that plague Nosgoth.
Yes, I can feel the strength. I can feel the ages that have passed since my damnation. Taking Melchiah's soul has opened my eyes to the destruction of Nosgoth and the debasement of our once pure race.
But I also feel the loneliness of being trapped underground for centuries. I can feel the terror of the coming doom and the self-hatred that the mutations had brought my brother. I feel the years of pain, of fear, of hunger...
It is too much to bear. My hatred of Kain can propel me toward him, but how can I live with this cursed existence? When my only reason for being here is the slaughter of my former allies? When I am brought so low as to commit fratricide just to sate this new hunger of mine for revenge? Is that reason enough to commit whatever part of me that survived the Abyss to further damnation?
No, I've had enough of this.
With Melchiah's soul I can now enter the Sanctuary of the Clans and face Kain at his seat of power. If, that is, the bastard is still there...
Well there you go. Let me know if you like it and want me to continue.
Thanks for reading! All reviews welcome!
