RAISING MERIDIAN

VladimirsAngel: *voiceover* Welcome back, dear readers, to another tall tale from the Nexus: for the uninitiated, the Nexus is a meeting place of worlds, a dimension between dimensions, wherein dwell Vladimir Mikhail, keeper of the world-gates, and Lupa d'Acosta, wolf-girl and cross-dimensional pervert. Vladimir's house is distinguished by its houseguests and by the fact that it has a warp-gate leading to Nosgoth in its back garden. Currently in residence? Raziel, Reaver of Souls and Stealer of Duvets (in the red corner) Kain, Vampire Ruler of Nosgoth (who never does the washing up) Kurt Wagner (mutant and chocaholic) and Krobelus, Mage of Urath (is a big hit at children's parties).

*VladimirsAngel nudges Syvia, who grins a bit nervously and clears her throat.*

Syvia: I wrote a speech. *holds up a little piece of paper and looks at it.... squints and looks at it...* But it seems that my handwriting is so horrendous that not even I can read it. *crumples up the paper and tosses it over her shoulder*

The long and short of it is this, I've been wanting to work on a fic with Angel for some time now, and she offered to let me in on her newest project. I jumped at the chance... and hit my head on the ceiling, had to have bandages for a week, but the swelling went down quickly-

VladimirsAngel: *coughs* Bit off topic there.

Syvia: Again- I jumped at the chance to write some antics within Angel's universe and bring an original character in as well.

Mini Disclaimer: Celia Cameron belongs to me, but her great grandparents and the system of magic she practices belong to Mercedes Lackey. I am not making any money from this fic.

VladimirsAngel: Major disclaimer now! You know it – we don't own LOK. Kain, Raziel and Nosgothian folks belong to Eidos and various clever creators. Kurt Wagner belongs to Marvel Comics, and Krobelus to Volition. Now. On with the story, we've gibbered long enough.

Chapter One: Demons go "Boom"

A fine evening in the Nexus: Vladimir is critically inspecting the temperature in his new swimming pool as the last light of the sunset gleams from the arch of the warp-gate at the bottom of the back garden.

Vladimir: Cold again.

He clicks his teeth angrily.

Raziel, who is lazily doing the backstroke in the pool, does not seem bothered.

Raziel: Feels warm enough to me.

Vladimir: *peevishly* Well it would do, wouldn't it? See, I'm a warm-blooded mammal, and you're a cold-blooded…um…ex-vampire…thing…

Raziel: *sourly* So nice to be appreciated. I love you too.

He vaults out of the pool and shakes all over Vladimir, pointedly.

Vladimir: *wiping water out of his eyes* You know, I should have expected you to hold a grudge….

Raziel: Damn straight.

The warp-gate flares into life in a spectacular display of pyrotechnics, bathing Vladimir's house in eldritch green light. Upstairs, Lupa opens her window and leans out to watch.

Lupa: *calls down* I thought Kain was teaching Krobelus how to play Patience…

Vladimir: He is.

Lupa looks at Raziel, who is towelling his hair, then again at the Nosgoth gate.

Lupa: Then who…?

Vladimir: Aaaah! Janos! Quick, get the dust-sheets out of the woodshed! I will NOT have black pin-feathers in my new cream chenille settee!!

Lupa: *wearily* Janos is on holiday. He went last week.

Raziel: He sent me a note asking me to cancel the blood and look after the peasants.

The gate glows brighter and the air begins to hum with tension and power. Lightning crackles from around the gate's arch.

The Reaver curls into life around Raziel's arm.

Raziel: *looking shrewdly up at Lupa* Demon?

Lupa: *nods* Demon. Most likely.

Raziel: *pushing Vladimir gently out of the way and making a practice pass with the wraith-blade* Step back, ladies. Demon go "booooom".

Vladimir: *inscensed* Ladies!!?

Kurt's head appears by Lupa's in the window.

Kurt: What's going on?

Lupa: Demon.

Raziel: Which is going to go "boom" in a very short time.

Vladimir: *bordering on hysterically* Make him stop saying that!

Lupa: Calm down, Mir, my lovey.

The gate finally opens fully and disgorges its burden into the grass of Vladimir's back paddock. The figure is certainly not demon-sized, and lies face-down in the mud without making any move. It has long moon-pale hair, and an empty sheath for a long sword lies flat across its back.

Vladimir: *squints in the twilight* Is that…Dante?

Lupa squeaks in delight and disappears from the window.

Raziel: *sniffs* Oh, no. Not him again.

Vladimir: Oh, I forgot you'd met…

Raziel: *puts claws on hip and does a cruelly accurate imitation* "Let's rock, baby…." - how could I forget?

Vladimir laughs and Lupa hurries out from the house and over to the still figure.

Vladimir: He's compensating for something. Those guns…the sword…

Raziel: *looking at the wraith-blade, which is almost as long as he is tall* What are you implying exactly?

Lupa: *on her knees by the figure* uh…guys…

Vladimir: *realising his mistake* Oh…nothing…

Raziel: *cross* Compensating for what?

Lupa: *louder* guys?

Vladimir: *desperately* For not having a decent catchphrase.

Raziel frowns, unconvinced.

Lupa: HEY!

They both look at her.

Lupa: This is not Dante.

Vladimir: W-what?

Lupa: *exasperated* Are you both deaf? This is not Dante. He's got the same colour hair and he's insanely cute, but he's not Dante.

Vladimir: *coming over* Not Dante?

Raziel: *with a slight edge to his voice* Insanely cute, you say?

Vladimir kneels by the figure and half-lifts him up onto one knee. The newcomer slumps bonelessly, and his fangs gleam in the growing dark.

Raziel: *to Lupa* what qualifies as insanely cute, then?

Vladimir: *beginning to get angry as he checks the newcomer over* Do I have a sign up or something? "Vladimir's House, nice rooms, running water optional, all vampires should apply"?

Lupa: Another vampire?

Raziel: *not willing to let this one drop* So…what was I when I was a vampire? Did I qualify as insanely cute, or was I merely mildly schizophrenically cute?

Lupa: *patting his arm* Let it go, sweetie.

She helps Vladimir lift the unconscious vampire and carry him towards the house. Kurt is already at the door, and behind him the lamplight catches the metal of the mage's armour: obviously the lure of a possible demon battle has lured Kain and his Patience partner out of the Silent Hill room in the basement.

Kurt: Who's that?

Lupa: Don't know. Vampire.

Krobelus: *frowning* A vampire you don't know and you're bringing him indoors?

Lupa: You're a necromancer. Why would it bother you?

They are doing really well until Kain steps into the corridor with an ugly look on his greenish demon's face. He sees the stranger and blanches.

Vladimir: *eyeing the eau-de-nil shade of the old vampire's skin* You know, that's exactly the colour I wanted for re-painting the bathroom. Hold that thought while I fetch the curtain swatches.

Lupa: What's wrong, Kain?

Kain: *almost speechless* What is he doing here? Get him out. This minute!

Raziel: *instantly suspicious and enjoying Kain's discomfort* You know, I think we should let Whitey here stay. I've taken a liking to him.

Vladimir: Is this one of your boys, then? I might have known. You're to tell them that this is not a holiday camp! I don't have the room space. I'm already having the loft converted…

The white-haired vampire groans and shudders as he starts to regain consciousness.

Lupa: *stroking his brow* Poor baby. He's hurt.

Vladimir: *slapping her hand away* Wolf-slut! Leave him alone! You don't know where he's been!

Kain: *sighs* Unfortunately, I do.

Everyone looks at him.

Raziel: *threatening tone* Oh please. Don't leave us hanging, or I might have to return the favour.

Kain: Doesn't he look the least bit familiar to any of you?

Lupa: *immediately* No way! He's cuter than anyone I kn -

Vladimir diplomatically clamps a hand over her mouth.

Kain: No?

The young white-haired vampire opens eyes as red as fresh blood and blinks up at his rescuers. His gaze fixes upon Kain and his expression becomes confused, quizzical.

Kain: He's me, you fools. Me from several centuries ago.

Vladimir drops the vampire like a hot brick.

Lupa: *angrily, turning on Old Kain and Raziel* Were you ALL adorable when you were younger?! It's not fair! Why do I only ever get to meet the wrinkly versions?

Raziel: Well, that's not strictly true, is it….

Kain: *furious* Wrinkly?!

Lupa: *equally cross* Yeah, wrinkly. And green, and vaguely chitinous.

And she flicks him in the head to prove her point.