LEGACY OF KAIN: BLACK HEARTS
CHAPTER ONE: ACCEPTED AS ONE OF US
Raziel entered the room where his brothers stood around a table. In his hand, he held a map of Nosgoth, and in his mind, a desperate lust for battle.
"Listen up," Raziel shouted, "All of you."
Raziel spread the map across the table. His brothers gathered, and studied it closely, locating some of the major landmarks.
"We have discovered that the humans have built a citadel here," Raziel explained, "That is our next target."
"A citadel?" Turel, the eldest besides Raziel, asked, "Why would they build a citadel?"
"It was constructed as a super weapon," Raziel said briefly, "But we don't need those details. Our primary objective is attack."
"How do you plan to do that?" Melchiah, the youngest of the lieutenants, asked.
"If you would silence yourselves, I will get to that." Raziel snarled, "We need to be cautious of this structure. We are not entirely sure if it is active. But we can test it. Melchiah, you and your clan will march on the citadel from the west."
Raziel looked at his brethren. No one seemed to protest.
"Zephon and Dumah, if the weapon is not fired, then you will take your clans and march to the south. Once the battle is fully unraveled, Rahab and Turel will march from the east to overwhelm them."
"And what of your clan, Raziel?" Rahab interrupted.
"My clan will deliver a final blow to cripple their defense." Raziel responded.
"Will Kain be accompanying us in this battle?" Zephon asked.
"No," Raziel responded to receive shocked looks from the other vampires, "In fact, he wants us each to begin establishing territories for our clans. Our empire is large, and we must expand. The clan, who delivers the final blow to the captain of this militia, will claim the Silenced Cathedral as their own. Gather your forces, and meet me at the Sanctuary of the Clans."
Each of the vampires left to gather their clan. Raziel went to his territory.
Raziel was the only one of the lieutenants who already had a territory established. Kain personally had it constructed by human slaves in order to expand his influence. As he entered, he was greeted by many vampires, adult and fledgling, bowing before him, and calling him master.
"Razielim," Raziel said as he reached the top of the stone stairs, "Gather your weapons, strength, and hunger. Tonight, we go to war."
Everyone cheered upon Raziel's words. At last, another march for conquest has begun.
Later that night, the clans waited eagerly outside the Sanctuary, the grand seat of Kain's empire. The excitement exploded when Kain and each of the lieutenants came out of the massive building.
"Tonight," Kain said, "The humans will cower before us. Our empire will spread by dawn, and the humans will be forced into hiding. I do not want to hear news of any mercy. If a man begs for mercy, you kill him. If a man fights, you kill him. If a man retreats, you kill him. Am I understood?"
The vampire crowd erupted into cheers. The lieutenants each marched towards the citadel and their clans followed behind. Once the citadel was in sight, everyone fell silent. Melchiah's clan marched towards it first, as planned.
Melchiah's clan began to slaughter and feed on any humans that happened to be patrolling the area. Once the humans figured out what was going on, a horn was sounded. Archers took positions on the walls, and launched flaming arrows into the crowds. Soldiers with torches, spears, and swords faced the clan head on.
Clearly, their grand weapon was not active. Zephon and Dumah moved their forces into the battle. And just moments after that, Rahab and Turel joined them. The humans were becoming overwhelmed and outnumbered, as planned.
Raziel lifted his hand, and his clan prepared to charge.
"Make them beg for Hell!" Raziel shouted.
He and his clan charged into the battle, heading straight for the citadel, and scaling the walls. Razielim practically painted the walls with the blood of the archers. With their defenses crippled, Raziel ordered his clan to break the main gates from the inside. Once the gates were down, Zephon ordered his clan to charge inside.
The humans were devastated. It took less the thirty minutes of battle to make their numbers dwindle to less the fifty. Zephon stood with his three best fighters outside the throne room doors.
"Break it down." Zephon ordered.
His clan did so without hesitation, and they charged in to find the corpse of the captain on the ground. Razielim was the only other clan that charged inside, but there was no sign of his banners anywhere.
"Hang our banners," Zephon said, "Claim this place in the name of Zephonim."
Three Razielim came into the room to see Zephon's banners on the walls.
"The Silenced Cathedral belongs to me," Zephon shouted, "Search the rooms and claim your prize, then leave me to my territory."
Each of the clans began to return to the Sanctuary as Zephonim raised their settlement. The three Razielim vampires searched the area for any small ransom they could find. They entered a room to find a small child with blood on her hands.
They charged towards her, and stopped in shock when one of them was dead, and burning. The child had stabbed him with a knife, and ignited his body with a match. The other two approached her slowly.
"Come with us," One of them beckoned, "We will not harm you."
The girl did not break her stance.
"You have proven yourself worthy of survival," The other vampire said, "We want you to meet our leader."
The girl slowly lowered her arms, and silently agreed to follow them. The vampires led her to Raziel's territory.
They approached Raziel outside the Razielim capitol building, and bowed before him.
"Master," One of them said, "We bring you a human."
"What for?" Raziel said, almost disgusted, "I believed Kain was understood when he said leave no one alive."
"Yes master," The other said, "But this one has certain… potential."
They told Raziel of the tale that happened at the citadel, how she managed to assassinate a Razielim vampire in a matter of seconds.
"Bring her forward," Raziel ordered.
Raziel looked at her straight in the eyes. Her expression was serious and unsettling. Raziel never saw this kind of emotion in someone so young.
"What is your name, child?" Raziel asked as he knelt to her level.
"Kali." Her Ice blue eyes seemed to show no emotion. Raziel thought this could work to Raziel's advantage.
"Come with me, Kali." Raziel said in a gentler tone. She followed him into the building, where she was lead to a private room for combat training. Raziel set up a dummy made from straw and wooden armor.
"Show me what you can do." Raziel said.
Kali hesitated for a moment. After a few seconds, Raziel noticed that she was observing the dummy. Perhaps she was looking for weak points? Suddenly, quicker than Raziel could mentally process, the dummy was on the ground and armor less in three swift strikes.
Raziel stared in awe. Now he knew what his soldiers told him was true.
"That was… impressive," Raziel said, "But your form was slightly sloppy."
"What do you mean?" Kali said. Well at least now Raziel had some communication.
"You have an unbalanced stance," Raziel explained, "You could be easily knocked off your feet."
"My stance is fine," Kali said.
"I'll prove it to you," Raziel challenged, "Attack me."
Kali took a moment to prepare herself, and then charged towards Raziel. Within two swift movements, Raziel had Kali pinned to the ground.
Raziel locked his eyes with hers, "Improve your stance."
Raziel released her from his grip. Raziel showed her a few stances that she could use with her quick technique. After a moment of practicing a few, Raziel gestured Kali to a small mattress.
"You may rest here for the night," He said, "But tomorrow, your real training begins."
Raziel left her to rest.