New Comment : Some of you may be confused as to why I'm re-writing chapter one instead of writing a new chapter. (coughs and plays with shirt collar nervously) Well, it's because when I came back to write more after a bad case of writers block (man, you'd think with all these vaccines they shoot us with they'd have one to cure writers block. BUT NO!) I noticed how short and choppy and unbelievable the first chapter was. I was very ashamed. (hangs head in shame) Something had to be done. So I sliced and diced and fryed and deep-fryed and made chapter one much better than it was before. Enjoy!

Here and now, before anything else can be said, I declare that this story is for Kohaku.

Disclaimer : It would lift my sad excuse for a soul if I owned the LOK characters and places. Unfortunately I don't even own the computer I'm using to type this so I can only wish that I owned my favorite LOK people, like Raziel, Kain, Vorador... Janos... I'd want Moebius too...so I can decapitate that little bastard! (cough hack) Yeah. Okay... time for me to shut up now.

Cold Fire Phantoms

By Semdai Bloodquill

Chapter One : Balance

With all the illusions rendered helpless before my opened eyes, I stood, looking down at the shattered Pillars and taking in the magnitude of the revelations Raziel had shown me. Guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders from the horrors I had forced upon him. Was there any real reason for all the madness that had transpired here in this ruined citadel in the past few hands of time. Yes, there had been cause... but where was the reason? Had it all been for nothing? The true enemy was exposed, but was that shred of knowledge worth Raziel's sacrifice? The destiny I had tried so hard to change had come regardless.

And what was my fate now? It had been Raziel's destiny to slay me before he entered the sword, but that was left undone. Raziel's soul was captive in the Reaver blade and I was still alive to wield it. For a moment I felt a profound sense of sadness and loss for my fallen lieutenant, then a strong desire to hunt down and destroy the monster that was truly responsible for all the wrongs that had been done.

Those sentiments died quickly, replaced by thoughts of what to do next. Somewhere out there Janos was suffering as the Hylden Lord who had invaded his body and mind hatched new plots. Somewhere, the Elder God was burrowing into the world and sealing himself away. Somewhere, my younger self was dipping into the Underworld and stealing the souls of the fallen Sarafan brothers, resurrecting them as vampires. But what was I to do now? Seek out the Elder and destroy him once and for all? Track down and slay the Hylden Lord and end Janos' suffering? Would any good come of such actions?

I felt lost and alone for the first time in my long life...and it weighed heavily on my shoulders.

" Now what," Kain murmured softly to himself. The old vampire sighed heavily and tightened his grip on the hilt of the Reaver. The sword seemed to hum with emotions of its own, as if Raziel was reaching out to him from his prison. Kain inhaled deeply, preparing for another heavy sigh, and an unfamiliar scent caught in his nostrils. The Citadel itself smelled of mold, dust, and decay, but this new scent was neither. It was the smell of living blood.

Taking the Reaver in both hands, Kain whirled around to face the intruder. He saw no one.

" Show yourself," Kain challenged boldly. Silence followed the echo of his voice. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Kain spotted his lurking observer.

Gaunt as a corpse, hair that was long and white as snow, and with eyes like dull rubies, the onlooker clung to the crumbling ceiling. Kain pretended not to notice the creature as he shifted position. Pretending to be nervous, he moved slowly to the side, putting himself in line for a shot.

Lightning fast, Kain sheathed the Reaver and concentrated on his telekinetic powers. Seizing the observer with his mental grip, Kain ripped the skeletal being from the ceiling and hurled it to the floor. The creature cried out as it hit the stone floor and rolled several feet before Kain snared it again. Bringing the little spy to bear, Kain retained his hold on the creature as it squirmed in the air before him.

" Who are you," Kain demanded savagely. When the creature did not answer, Kain tightened his mental hold. " I won't ask again," he warned.

" I mean you no harm, Lord Kain," the spy cried out in pain. " I was sent only to watch you."

" You still haven't answered my question, spy," Kain growled, throwing the observer to the ground roughly.

" My name is Athillo."

" Good. Now who sent you?" Kain loosened his grip on Athillo.

" I came at the behest of my mistress," Athillo admitted, slowly climbing to his feet. Kain tried to hide his shock. Vorador's execution should have made him the last of Nosgoth's vampires. Yet standing before him was another living (more or less), breathing vampire. Athillo stood eye to eye with Kain, his dark crimson eyes calm and serene.

" You're a vampire," Kain stated as calmly as he could.

" Aye," Athillo said calmly.

" I suppose I'm not the last one left after all," Kain said lightly, turning back to the smoking Pillars.

Athillo offered a shrug of his bony shoulders and tenderly scratched at the back of his skinny neck. Kain found himself incapable of determining how old Athillo was. He looked as if he had only been a teenager when he was turned. In any case, he was a piteous looking wretch, grossly underfed and thin as a stick. Compared to Kain's powerful build Athillo was little more than a very tall child.

" What were you thinking about, Scion?" Athillo asked.

Kain tensed. " What did you call me?"

" Are you not the Scion of Balance, milord?" Somehow Kain felt that Athillo had not been asking. " Is that sword on your back not the Soul Reaver?"

" Perhaps," Kain admitted slowly, turning his head slightly. Athillo had also turned his back to Kain by then.

" You are exactly as she said you would be. Tall, menacing, brooding over a great loss-"

Kain seized Athillo with his telekinetic powers and sent cruel shocks through the weaker vampire. Athillo gasped in pain and dropped to one knee, clutching his chest.

" You know much, runt," Kain growled wickedly. " Too much for me to trust you." He tightened his hold and Athillo fell to the side with a cry. " Cease with your riddles and tell me what you want."

" Restore- Balance-" Athillo choked. Kain hurled Athillo across the room. He hit the wall with a heavy thud and slid weakly to the floor.

" I am so sick of hearing everyone say that. 'Balance must be restored!' 'The corrupted Guardians must die!' 'Nosgoth must be healed!' Why is it my problem now! The Pillars have fallen! The Hylden are free! And Raziel-" Kain's voice froze. He quivered with long suppressed anger.

" I know that you suffer my lord." Athillo's voice was a small thing compared to Kain's great rage. " All of Nosgoth suffers without Balance, but it pales against you. How heavy your shoulders must be with the weight of all Nosgoth on them."

" What would you have me do? Go out and slay the Hylden Lord? Or the Elder God? Or perhaps even myself?"

" We would have you join us, Scion."

" Don't call me that. And what do you mean 'we?' Are there yet more vampires left in Nosgoth?" Now that he had seen Athillo, the idea did not seem so preposterous as before. Still Athillo was an unimpressive creature and Kain had to wonder what pathetic excuses for vampires had survived with him.

" Aye, my Lord. A few."

" What do you think you have to offer me?" Kain asked glumly.

" You seek your path now that your enemies have been revealed," Athillo stated, " your path is hidden from you though, and you carry guilt on your shoulders." Kain narrowed his yellow eyes at Athillo. " There is one who may be able to point you down your path, Lord Kain," the younger vampire continued. " If you wish it, she can help you." Athillo held out his hand, his curving talons extended. Kain stared for a long time at the clawed hand, unsure of what to do.

" I don't trust you," Kain stated.

" I'll not ask you to trust me," Athillo replied.

'"You'll not use me as the instrument of your messianic delusions."

" Very well Raziel. I'll not ask you to trust me. Your truths are for you to discover alone."'

Kain thought of how vehemently Raziel had distrusted him then...and how it had only fueled their downfall.

Kain reached out and grasped Athillo's hand firmly. Athillo smiled.

To be continued...

AN : The idea for this story erupted in my brain after I beat 'Legacy of Kain : Defiance.' I was not happy with the ending. Not happy at all. Oh wait, that's not true entirely, I was very happy to find all the Bonus Material you get for beating the game. Outtakes so great. But no outtake, no matter how hilarious, could make me feel better about the end of the game. I cried at the end because I was so unhappy. (Yes, I cried real tears) Then when I showed my buddy Kohaku the end she was upset too. She REALLY loves Raziel and needless to say, the end kind of pissed her off. She immediately charged me with the task of 'fixing' the injustices done to her Precious. Well, one idea led to another and here is the result.

So, do you like it? Do you want more? This first chapter was posted to see if anybody is interested in reading this story. If I get at least three reviews asking for more, then more there shall be. If not, I'll discontinue this and devote more time to my other three stories. Please send me feedback.

Semdai Bloodquill