Disclaimer: I don't own Legacy of Kain or any other identifiable pop culture references.
Just to let everyone know, this is a rough version of a story that's fighting me. This time I am going to beg for reviews because I need the help. Good reviews, bad ones, ones that chide me for not thinking about the obvious… they're all good. All that I ask is that no one say "d00d, your story sux0rs." Tell me what sucks.
The reward for all this? I intend to improve the story as I go along. That, and if I can actually manage to finish this one, you'll get to see where I was going with it.
Raziel sharpened his claws on the stone of his perch. He wondered why he was sitting on these ruins in the middle of this stinking swamp. He had the unsettling feeling that he was supposed to be doing something else.
Going to Janos hadn't been much help. Some mysterious girl had suddenly appeared in the Aerie just as Janos was about to explain Raziel's role in Nosgoth's destiny. Then the Sarafan had shown up with Moebius' staff. Raziel had tried to fight them off, but it had been difficult to battle six armored warriors with only his claws. When Raziel managed to knock the helmet off the lead Sarafan, he had frozen in shock at seeing his mortal self. The battle had ended quickly, with the wraith as the loser.
Raziel stood and cracked his back. He was dimly aware that Janos had been standing on the edge of his balcony when the Sarafan burst in, and sometime during the battle he had disappeared. Raziel wondered if perhaps Janos had been knocked over the edge. If that was the case, then hopefully Janos had survived.
Raziel reached up to crack his neck, but stopped. There was something else nagging at his senses. He noticed movement in the trees that lined the impassable cliffs that rose above the frozen swamp. Raziel watched something moved slowly towards him.
Raziel was a little bit surprised to find that he had been watching Kain. Usually, the master vampire was much harder to detect. Raziel noticed that Kain was carrying something wrapped in his red cloak.
Kain stared at Raziel for a moment, and then seemed to reach out to him with one taloned hand. Raziel yelped in surprise as he was telekinetically yanked through the air to land in the snow at Kain's feet. Raziel hastily stood up and prepared to lunge at Kain.
"I don't want to fight you, Raziel," Kain said.
Raziel could swear that Kain was worried about something. He glanced at the bundle in Kain's arms. It was the girl that had appeared in Janos' retreat. Her short blonde hair was now dirty and matted, and her icy blue eyes were closed. She looked even smaller in comparison to Kain's muscles than she had in Janos' retreat.
"Who is she?" Raziel asked.
Kain frowned at his sleeping charge. "I intend to find out."
"Something must have sparked your interest," Raziel pointed out.
"This girl has single-handedly disrupted the flow of history. I need to see what damage she has caused, and if necessary, use her to correct it," Kain growled.
"I suppose then that you no longer need me," Raziel sniffed.
"Your role has not changed," Kain said. "Follow me to Vorador if you can't figure out what to do next."
As Kain turned to walk away, Raziel was shocked to see the Reaver in its usual place on Kain's back. Raziel had grown so accustomed to the distortion that he usually felt in the blade's presence that he hadn't noticed it was there. He was now chilled by the absence of that familiar sensation.
"Where did you find that?" Raziel asked.
"The Reaver was in Janos' possession, but the Sarafan took it to their stronghold, along with the girl," Kain said. "I suggest that you keep your distance, Raziel."
Raziel thought it odd that Kain would say such a thing. It was true that Raziel was no longer loyal to Kain, but it hadn't occurred to him to try and take the sword without it being offered. Raziel realized that Kain's words were not a threat, but a warning.
"What's going on, Kain?" Raziel asked.
"I doubt that you would trust my answers," Kain said as he jogged along. Though there was truth to what Kain said, he was also concerned that he would need Raziel's ignorance of what this sword would do to him.
Raziel followed Kain into Vorador's mansion. The opulent building was just as impressive as Kain had described in his boasted tales. Raziel had to admit to himself that it was strange to be at Kain's side again. He willingness for a truce came from recognizing that this was bigger than either of them could imagine.
"Get out of my way!" Kain shouted.
Some of Vorador's brides had tried to defend the mansion against the intruders. At the sound of Kain's voice, they hastily retreated back into the shadows.
Within moments, Kain and Raziel burst into Vorador's dining room. Raziel was relieved to see that Janos had made it here as well.
"Who are you?" Vorador demanded.
"My name is Kain, and this is my first born, Raziel," Kain said. He readjusted his hold on the girl. "Have someone trustworthy tend to this girl, it is important that she survive."
Vorador's ears twitched in recognition of the voice. "I see that you retrieved the Reaver as promised, but why did you tell me that my sire had been captured?"
"Would you have attacked the circle otherwise?" Kain asked as he handed the girl to a human servant. "I hate the deception, but it was necessary."
"Both of you have jeopardized everything with this act," Janos spat. He stood and approached Kain. Janos had the unsettling feeling that he and Kain were somehow connected. The winged vampire put these feelings aside and said, "Those pillars are more important than vengeance on their guardians, no matter what actions they take."
"Don't lecture me," Kain said angrily. "Their deaths were necessary.
"Who are you to judge that?" Janos demanded.
"I believe that my coming was also foretold," Kain said, letting the anger drain from his voice. "I am the Scion of Balance."
"Then there isn't much time," Janos said.
"Things have changed," Kain said. "There is time enough to find the correct course of action."
"Kain, the Reaver was meant for Raziel," Janos said. "Give it to him."
"I already have," Kain said. "Raziel, show him."
As Raziel summoned his wraith blade, both Janos and Vorador recoiled in alarm.
"How is this possible?" Janos asked in wonder.
"I'm afraid that further explanations could cause more damage," Kain said, his voice dripping with importance. "Be careful what you tell them, Raziel. For now, I must try to figure out what went wrong."