Ok, so I don't own Raziel or any Soul Reaver Legacy Of Kain character! The only thing I own is Vera (and trust me, no one else would want her but me)! Again, I KNOW I TOOK CREATIVE LIBERTIES IN THE STORY (like Raziel not know he was a sarafan until now, etc, etc. It was confusing enough for a school friend to read this who didn't know Soul Reaver so I needed to back track a bit!) Please try to deal with it but if it's really hard for you I suggest you don't read it! I know how things really unfolded in the game, trust me, I just was having trouble and the way I wrote it was easiest and least confusing for me! I respect opinions and criticism just not overly mean "advice." Thank you and please enjoy!
Raziel
Janos had just sealed me into a corner after six men burst into his castle! Why would he not want me to help him?! And Vera… He had done nothing to help her. If she was beside me when he created the seal, she would be safe right now. Instead, he seals a strong, already dead wraith and leaves a small, loud, obnoxious and weak human girl unprotected. Not his best decision.
And who were these shadow men? The first of the six stepped into the light. Was that…me?!
The man had my narrowed brown eyes, my chiseled face before I became this horrid creature, my black hair…Yes, it was me. I knew I was in the past but…How far back in the past was I? I knew I was a vampire before my untimely death – I remember that life very well, but this me before me was…human! And the men that stepped in after him were my brethren!
It was true. Rahab, the sulky but smartest of the six of them, besides me, of course, with his short pitch black hair and pale skin, lips turned down in a scowl; Dumah, the largest and most unintelligent of the six of us was the strongest which was the only thing he really had going for him. His eyes were small and spread far apart, his lips thin but always smirking; waiting for a fight. The brother beside him was Zephon, the man who never took life or undeath seriously; Turel, the brother with the largest ears, who could most usually be found following Zephon around; and last, my youngest brother, Melchiah. Bald and, as a vampire the weakest of all of us since Kain made him last he rarely contributed anything to conversation but relished in killing humans…
My brothers and I from the past all wore armor, meaning that we must've been the highest honor of human priests, who were a constant war with the vampires, also known as the Sarafan. So they were here to…NO!
I watched in horror as my human self pried Janos' ribcage apart and yanked his heart from his body.
"The heart of darkness, brothers!" The human me shouted, and they all whooped in triumph.
No! No! No! No! This could not end like this! I slammed myself up against the seal, but it was no use, from the outside no one could hear me. Unfortunately, I could hear them.
"NO!" As if echoing my thoughts, Vera screamed out the word in such pain and angst I wondered if I was in the same position as the elder vampire if she would care so much…
"What was that?" Dumah asked stupidly, looking at the dead body of Janos Audron as if with his heart ripped out he could still scream, even though it sounded quite clearly like a teenage girl.
"I'll check it out, brother." Rahab started toward the plant Vera stupidly hid behind and stared at her cluelessly.
That was right. Rahab had never really been interested in or talked to women before. He spent most of his time reading books in his room, holed up until we all went out to feed. He never took orders from me well, always challenging me, but as the eldest and strongest of all my brothers, I made him pay in any way I could, from physically assaulting him myself to sending lies to Kain about him so that Kain punished him. I wondered how the human me was to him?
"I'm a sorceress and I'll hurt you with my magic if you take one step closer to me!" Vera dramatically screamed to the room as I panicked. No, no, no! Vera, the humans would've treated you well, maybe released you some where outside the castle after questioning, but now that you told them you're not one of them…They won't be so friendly, to put it mildly.
Good. They did not believe her…But wait, what was she doing?! That idiot girl! Her powers were weak and sporadic, of course they would not appear fully until she learned to control them! Instead, she gave them proof by a faint glow from her palms that looked like flame. That stupid girl had doomed herself.
As if on cue, Rahab starting coming at her with a large sword as she was staring from my human self to her palms in disbelief.
Vera! No! I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, not wanting to see her die. And right then I knew. It was not loathing I had for this girl, it was something a lot stronger. Something I had been in denial about because I had never felt it before in my life. I-
Wait.
I looked up to see Rahab standing beside Vera's body, a satisfied smirk on his face as he sheathed his weapon…But no, he hadn't stabbed her, he had hit her in the head with the hilt of his sword to knock her out.
Of course. My brothers and I could never resist a pretty girl, and this one was of little threat to them, they knew now.
"Come. Let us go back to the castle and show Moebius our victory!" My human self lifted the heart again and again my brothers cheered. "Turel, get the Soul Reaver from the back room! Rahab, bring the girl! I could have a lot fun with her!"
All my brothers laughed, except Rahab, who lifted Vera up awkwardly and carefully and carried her to the rest of them. Turel went down the hall Janos and Vera had went down minutes before and came back shortly, after the sound of breaking glass, with the Reaver.
My heart sank. As a vampire, I was known for seducing human women and having my way with them, then killing them and feeding from their bodies…I was a heartless bastard, with a large harem of vampire women as well. My clan of vampires was the most powerful and most cultlike of all my brothers' – they listened without question and brought me whatever I wished, which was usually the most beautiful women they could find…
I had hoped I was a more compassionate human, but watching the human me rip Janos' heart out without any remorse pretty much destroyed that hope.
The six left with Janos' heart, the Reaver and Vera as I slammed myself up against the dead vampire's force field in vain. Ten minutes after they left, the seal broke and I was free. Janos wanted them to be as far away from the castle as possible before he let me free, not anticipating Vera's likeliness to open her large mouth and get herself caught.
Anger flooded my entire body as I looked to Janos' body. Yes, the legends told of him being vicious and cruel, but the legend was obviously started by humans. The old vampire was very kind, and though he was quite interested in Vera, he showed the both of us compassion and patience, willing to help us with anything. And Vera…How dare they take what is not theirs? And if I think I'm going to let me lay one hand on her…Hmm…
I needed a plan.
Vera
"Is…is this heaven? Oh god, no! I'm in hell! I knew I shouldn't have watched Dance Your Ass Off every week and laughed at all the horrid dancing! But it was so addicting! And it made me feel so good about MY body! Noooo!" I yelled after opening my eyes and seeing nothing but darkness. I blinkd a few times and realized I was in a very small closet-like room with the door partially opened. It was a little damp and smelled like mothballs…
Ok, I wasn't in hell. My memories were coming back to me. That jerky jerk Rahab hit me with his sword, but the bottom of it. I guess I was glad I wasn't dead, but now I had a huge egg on my head. Ooooh, I love when I rhyme!
I tried to move my hands to feel the lump on my head, but my they were tied together. Great. My butt was about to fall asleep, too…
Suddenly, I heard yelling from outside the door getting closer and closer. I peeked through the crack but didn't see much, only Rahab looking supremely pissed.
"Raziel, you've gotten every girl you've ever wanted! You know I've never been interested in any other girl until now! Just let me talk to her!" He snarled to his brother and I saw his eyes dart quickly to me, then he looked away. Though the rest of the door was keeping me from seeing the human Raziel, I could tell he wasn't that affected by Rahab's yelling by the way he smugly talked.
"Look, Rahab, we're priests. We aren't allowed to marry. So I can enjoy whatever woman I please as long as I continue to devote my life to the slaying of vampires. You think you're in love with this weak little sorceress? Well all the more reason for me to take her! You're not allowed to love in this position you're in, you know that!"
"I do NOT love her, brother! Something about her just makes me want to save her from YOU!"
"Let her decide, then. You know who they always choose, Rahab." I could hear the sneer in the human Raziel's voice and almost felt bad for the other brother.
"…Fine." Rahab's voice was a mix of bitterness and frustration, but he walked to the door I was behind and dragged me out without looking at me.
At first, the brightness hurt my eyes and I had to blink a few times to get used to the heavily lighted huge room. Along the walls of the room were statues of each of the brothers, as if they needed any more of a confidence booster…And I didn't want to see six MORE of those jerks! I noticed just behind Raziel there was an entrance to a hallway. I tried to see how far the hallways stretched on, and if it would be worth it to make a break for it, but Rahab yanked me to attention. I was gunna say something nasty to him, but his brother interrupted before I could even think of an insult.
"Girl!" Raziel pointed at me with a large smirk on his dumb face. Wow, did I appreciate his nice greeting and polite introduction. "If you could be questioned by either myself or Rahab, who would it be?"
"Raziel, this is ridiculous! Why don't we ask Moebius to decide who she goes with?" Rahab snapped quickly before I could even open my mouth.
"Moebius left for some meeting or another. Let the girl decide." Raziel smirked again and looked at me like he would a juicy steak…Speaking of juicy steak I was starving! But, thoughts of food would have to wait, because they both were staring at me now, waiting for my answer….Hold on a sec…did they mention pervy old dude?
"First off, my name's Vera, not girl. Second, I don't know. You guys both killed Janos Audron, but considering Raziel number 2 actually did the killing, I choose Rahab. Even though he did smack me over the head with the bottom of his sword." As I finished, I couldn't help but notice that Raziel had such a look of shock and anger on his face as his fists shook violently. I rose an eyebrow at him, wondering why it was such a huge deal and why there was such a competition between the two brothers when there were four more they could argue with.
"Fine. I'm headed to my chambers when you change your mind." Human Raziel stomped off in the opposite direction of us, up the large staircase. When he reached the top, he took one last look back to glare at his brother. Wow, what a baby!
"You…you chose…" Rahab looked shocked as well, then shook his head and scowled again. "Why were you up in Janos Audron's castle? Did he capture you or did you choose to go there?"
"Thanks for the wonderful greeting." I scowled sarcastically, but continued mostly just to try and defend my friend, " Anyway, I was up there because Ra…my friend wanted answers from Janos. He was a great guy… I only knew him for a few minutes, but he was the nicest anyone else had ever been to me…Kinda sad if you think about it." I felt awful for not being able to save Janos, and thinking of his awful death almost put tears to my eyes. If my powers had just done something, ANYTHING, I might've been able to help him, but no.
"Mmm-hmm…" Rahab sounded like he didn't believe my story, but he didn't say anything against it and continued with the questions. "Who was your friend? Was she a sorceress, too? Where is it you come from with clothing such as that and powers so weak at such an age?"
"Look, Rahab, that Raziel seemed like a real doucher, and I'm glad you stood up for me and all, but you still let him kill my friend. Sooo, I'm not just gunna stand here and answer your questions like I'm not pissed." I tried to fold my arms over my chest, but noticed they were still tied together from the back. Instead, I glared into the eyes of Raziel's apparent brother.
I couldn't ignore the fact that my Raz and Rahab's Raz were related in some way…They sounded the same, had the same hair, and nasty attitude, though my Raziel was actually playing for the good guys…Still…I'd have to ask him…If I saw him again. This was what he wanted, right? Me to go away and never come back. Moebius or whatever his name was interested in me apparently, but Raz seemed to hate me so much it didn't seem to matter…But what Janos said almost seemed believable. I saw Raziel's face when Janos' grabbed my hand, and he looked like he was gunna explode…But he had stuff to say to Janos, so he was most likely pissed that Janos chose me to talk to first…
Guess I'll know the truth if Raz comes and saves me…or not.
"Little gi- Vera," Rahab started, an immense scowl on his face, "Don't flatter yourself. When I said I felt differently about you to my brother, I meant in a sort of…protective way. I don't know. I suppose what I mean is…If there was a girl I didn't care about and you about to be killed and I had to choose to save one of you, I'd think about it for a while, then probably save you." He said, not making eye contact with me in embarrassment. "You probably cast a spell on me in the castle or something to make me feel like this. Besides, I'll say anything that defies what Raziel wishes."
"Well, gee wiz, thanks a ton." I said sarcastically, "How I've always wished for someone to maybe think they sort of kinda wanna save me from a horrible death."
"Yes, well, don't think it means anything…I'm still a curious about a few things, so if you could please continue answering my questions…I suppose I apologize for my brother killing someone you thought was a friend. As much as Janos was an awful vampire, I really didn't care whether he lived or died so it wasn't my decision to storm his castle."
"…I'm guessing that's as good as an apology as I'm going to get…Fine, I'll tell you my story…But only because it wastes time and I'm pretty sure my friend's gunna come and save me any minute now."
Or at least I hoped he would.
Raziel
The more I thought, the angrier I got…At everything. First and foremost Kain, who had become a vampire after he refused the sacrifice. After, he had created me and my vampire brothers…Out of all the humans he could choose, he turned humans who despised vampires more than anything else in the world into their most hated enemy. He probably found humor out of it as well, that horrendous bastard!
As a vampire, I was Kain's most trusted of generals, and when he made me, he gave me the most of his power, and gave less and less to each brother he turned. Therefore, I was the smartest and most handsome of all my brethren. I was his prize, his favorite, his second in command…Vampires evolve over years on earth, and their evolution depends on their personality traits. I was the first to evolve of all my brothers, and I was given by the gods beautiful bat-like wings. Kain grew jealous of my gift and in turn ordered my brothers to throw me into an abyss. They obliged willingly. My descent into the swirling agony was a long one, and I died long before I fell to the bottom years later. However, what claimed to be a God woke me from death and told me he was responsible for keeping the wheel of fate turning. He urged me to take revenge on my brothers and Kain and I did, finding each of my brothers mutated into different creatures, their evolutions turning them into monsters. Poetic justice I suppose, but that wasn't enough. I killed them all but Kain, who eluded me. Kain; the vampire who only grew stronger over the years of my death; Kain, who murdered my clan minutes after my death; Kain, who retained his body unlike my brothers and remained the selfish disgusting man he'd always been.
While searching for Kain, I have encountered many troubling questions about my fate…Questions I had hoped Janos knew the answers to, but no. The humans that were my brothers and I destroyed my only lead…
And Vera. That horribly annoying girl…What would they do to her now knowing that she wasn't a human? I did not want to think about it.
I needed that heart. And I needed that girl. I needed to storm the stronghold.
The Sarafan stronghold was easy to find, as it was large and easily spotted from miles away. After descending from Janos' home, I made my way around the village quietly and carefully, not wanting to be spotted and waste precious time I didn't have to save Vera.
The village was small, and from the outside it was almost like a large circle. I was careful to sneak by each individual house and duck behind one when I saw a guard. By now it was around two, and almost every person in the town was outside. I cursed at the horrendous timing, knowing that if I'd gone through the town instead of around it, I might be able to save a little more time at the cost of a few lives…Normally, I would not oppose to this, but after I'd met Vera I had gotten too soft when it came to killing 'innocent' humans. Though I was going to show no mercy to my bastard brothers.
There. I had made it past the town easily, as expected, with little time wasted. The castle was looking over the city, "protecting" it from inhuman attacks. There was a large stone wall surrounding the castle, with an unguarded but locked gate.
How confident were these humans that they did not even think to put someone outside the castle, thinking no one would dare challenged the mighty Sarafan.
I made the Soul Reaver appear on my hand, the purple light swirling around my arm until it took shape as the sword. After Kain had shattered the unbreakable sword on my back in a not too long ago battle, it appeared to me when I willed it to. I rose my hand and smashed it down on the lock to the gate, shattering it in seconds.
Look out Sarafan. Here comes your worst nightmare.
First to spot me were Melchiah and Dumah, and after a short battle I'd slain them both and sucked their souls into my jawless mouth. Their screams alerted my other brothers, and as I continued around the maze that was the castle I was attacked by Zephon and Turel. Zephon took my front, Turel my back. As they both went to stab me in the chest and backside, I jumped high into the air, causing them to stab each other and fall to the ground.
I ran farther into the castle until I was out of the narrow passage ways and into a large and square barren room. I didn't need to travel any farther, because as I walked in, I saw Rahab in conversation with Vera, whose arms were tied together from the back. Rahab noticed me first and pushed Vera aside and behind him before addressing me.
"Vile creature! Whatever it is you're here for, I'm going to have to ask you to leave at once! The Sarafan stronghold is not welcome to disgusting beasts such as yourself!" He smirked at me and drew his sword, turning once to look at Vera before charging me.
"Raz! Don't hurt him! He's actually not as big as an asshole as the other Raziel is! He saved me from you!...Er…the other you! Or at least I think it was you!" Vera yelled and tried to run after Rahab but tripped and fell on her back, off balance from her hands being incapacitated. "Ow! I feel like a turtle on its back! Can't…get…up!" She rolled around until she was able to sit up, but she couldn't seem to find the strength to lift herself up from that, staring at me in wide-eyed anticipation.
"Vera, you don't know who you're dealing with! This man saved you from nothing! Human or Vampire, Rahab has always been a liar!" I ran at my brother with the Soul Reaver extended, but he evaded the attack with a duck and sidestep.
"Oh please," Rahab started, hatred burning in his eyes at me, "I can't be half as bad as whatever it is you are! You think this young girl is going to believe you over me?! You're a monster! I vowed to protect this girl with my life! Why? Because for some reason, I see her differently then any other girl! So if you want to kill me, fine but let her live!" Rahab slashed his sword around in an angry fit of rage, hacking and whacking the air like an insane madman.
His words then and there were the cause of his death. For as he talked about how he felt for Vera, the anger in my chest boiled to new existing heights. I grabbed him from behind as he slashed wildly in front of him, thinking I was still there, and stabbed him hard through the back.
"Good night, brother. It's even better to kill you a second time." I whispered into his ear and yanked the sword from his back as he fell to the ground, blood gushing from his chest.
"RAZ! NO!" Vera screamed in a high pitch squeal of surprise, staring at me in a new light, her mouth open in horror.
Before I could explain myself, the human me came down from the stairway behind Vera, the Soul Reaver raised above his head.
"You disgusting creature!" The human me yelled and ran down the stairs, shoving Vera face down, who was in his path. She shot up again and glared at him, then her face went back to shock when it looked at me.
"How interesting. As a human I was an idiot." I stared me down, then threw my arm down at him. He dodged expertly and in turn tried to stab me, but I grabbed the Soul Reaver allowing it to cut into my skin and yanked it from his hands.
"What the-?!" My human self looked from my hands to my face in shock before I turned it around and stabbed him with both my Soul Reaver and his.
His eyes rolled back into his head and he fell to the ground beside Rahab as I took out the swords. I couldn't look at Vera, not wanting to see her look of realization that I was really and truly a monster. I looked at the Soul Reaver from the past, staring at every crevis and twist, not daring to look anywhere else.
But wait…What was it making me do?! The Reaver was forcing my hand down and – "Ugh…" I groaned as the sword forced me to stab myself.
"Raziel! What are you doing?! STOP!" I heard Vera scream but it was no use. The Reaver was in control and it was sucking out all my life force, and I could feel myself fading away.
Then I knew.
This was my life. A large circle. I was a human, but killed by me from the future, then Kain resurrected the human me and my brothers as vampires. Then, I was thrown into the abyss as a vampire, becoming a wraith. Kain must come looking for me, and eventually smash the Reaver over my back in an attempt to kill me, releasing a fraction of my soul and completing my powers; giving me the Soul Reaver in my arm…
"Raziel, please don't die! Janos was right, ok?! I…I was supposed to change your fate but…I guess I can't do that without admitting something…I- I know this is really soon but I think I…I think I love you. I know I just saw you kill two people but…Nothing you do can change this feeling I have. And I think it's love. Please don't die…For me." I heard Vera's voice crack in heavy emotion, for once serious with me.
The words washed over me, changing everything. Vera thought she loved me…And I knew I loved her. But it wasn't enough now. The Reaver wouldn't let my hand pull the energy sucking blade from my chest. I fell to my knees, squeezing out all I could for Vera…
"I…love…you…too…" I turned around and fell to my knees, seeing Vera's tears as she thrashed around, trying to untie her hands in a desperate attempt to save me.
Just when I was starting to fade from this world, I heard a noise from behind me…Whoever it was stood in front of me, and before I knew it had yanked my hand away from the Reaver's hilt, then pulled it from my chest.
"This is not how or where it ends, Raziel." That voice…it was….Kain?! But how did he get here?!
I tried to raise to my feet but fell to my hands and knees again. "Don't…don't hurt the girl…" I said in nearly a whisper, then fell to the floor in exhaustion.
"Oh, yes, I heard your little love fest as I was walking in…Do not worry. I'll have you figure it out on your own. Ask Moebius about the girl. Until then, I'll see you." As I heard his footstep disappear into nothing, my weakness consumed me.
