Twist & Turn

The Fall of Kain

A Final Fantasy IV Story

by Spaceman Spiff

Chapter Three

The Awakening

He could feel it running like ice water through the very fibers of his being, spreading like a virulent plague. It pumped through his heart like a wild colt at full sprint, ricocheting off the tips of his fingers and back again. It was all consuming. It was euphoria.

Despite the cold he felt at his core, he felt alive. He didn't want to open his eyes, for fear that the feeling might be lost, but his curiosity won over easily. When his eyelids lifted he was surprised to see…nothing. It was if he hadn't opened his eyes at all. He reached out for something, anything, but was rewarded with emptiness. This impenetrable darkness didn't seem to lead anywhere, in any direction, but Kain tried to take a step forward, only to realize he wasn't standing on any kind of surface. He was floating in the middle of a void.

What the hell is this? Kain's thoughts echoed in his head, as though he had just spoken the words in the bowels of a great cavern. But without any tangible surface to grasp or set his foot upon, he couldn't imagine where he might be. Am I dead?

The thought of residing in some desolate purgatory began to eat at him, and his once euphoric state was fading quickly. He began to struggle against the ethereal prison, writhing in the nothingness in some vain attempt to break through. Though he knew it was futile, he continued the fight, and he opened his mouth to shout loudly into the void, only to find nothing escaped his throat. No sounds, no echoes, just a vacancy of all senses. The shock of it left him momentarily paralyzed, and that's when he heard it. Soft noises, like mumbling behind a closed door. He couldn't localize the sound, but it began to become clearer in his ears, and bits and pieces of salient speech started pouring in.

"He ssstill appearsss resissstant, Massster Golbez…" Kain was unsure of his own cognitive state, but he swore the voice was hissing at him. It was a sound most foul, and Kain found anger swelling quickly within him that he could not see this entity. He was taken aback at the sudden rush of hatred, an emotion he usually repressed so well.

"He is not worth our time," said another voice, a deep, scratching monotone that sounded much like the undead, if the undead could speak. "We should kill him now."

Kain's temper was aflare once more at these words. He began to look around desperately for some avenue of escape, wanting nothing more than to quickly end the lives of his captors.

You will not take me! Kain's thoughts reverberated loudly through the cavernous void, hoping that whoever was beyond the dark curtain could hear him.

"Patience," spoke a familiar voice, one that had recently infested Kain's mind. "He needs only a little more time. The flame of hatred in his heart is growing stronger. In due time, he will be of great service to us."

"He is so young, Master," spoke a soft, feminine voice, ever so sweet compared to the previous sounds he had heard. "His mind may still be too rebellious."

"I must agree with Master Golbez," replied a fifth being. It was a strong, masculine voice, with the confidence of a noble in the King's court. "His strength, both of body and valor, will be an invaluable asset. You should have more faith in our master's foresight."

Kain was listening intently now, giving in to the futility of his struggle against the emptiness. He tucked away each of these voices, the subtle nuances of their personas, keeping them for a future time when he could exact his revenge upon them. There was a furor that Kain had not felt before, a possession of rage to which he had never allowed himself to succumb, and with it came an incredible power, that feeling of euphoria slowly creeping back into his veins.

:::Allow Me To Redirect That Animosity:::

Kain felt the voice more than heard it. It seeped into his mind, wrapping tendrils of cold effluent around him. Then his surroundings began to change. The dark began to transition to a blurred vision of a cottage tucked in the corner of a small village. A large oasis could be seen just past the house, and beyond that endless dunes stretching into the mountains on the horizon. Then a jarring sensation came over Kain as his feet touched the cobblestone walkway. He looked down as the vision came into full focus, the flecks of various minerals clearly distinct on the smooth stones beneath his feet. He turned his head towards the door and felt an insatiable urge to open it, to peer into the world before him.

Kain carefully and quietly pushed the wooden door, its hinges offering no sounds to alert those inside. He was startled to notice an old man standing at a fireplace a mere ten feet away from him, but the gentleman seemed too busy brewing something in the cauldron to notice the intruder. Kain looked past the man, down a short hallway that seemed to open into the bedchamber. What he saw sent a mix of emotions coursing through him. The Dark Knight was on one knee at the bedside, holding someone's hand. He could hear him talking, but was too far away to discern anything intelligible. His curiosity took over, and without concern of the old man's presence, he began walking through the cottage down the hallway.

"I will do everything in my power to cure this illness," Kain heard the first clear words from Cecil as he had finally crept within earshot. He stood in a shadowed corner just outside the bedchamber.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," a weak, but melodic voice responded. Kain knew immediately who it was. "I found Kain in the village, but he stayed behind to confront the King."

"Don't concern yourself with Kain, my love," Cecil spoke somewhat harshly. Kain's eye twitched in response, a scowl drawn across his face. "He can take care of himself."

Kain was beginning to seethe. He could feel his fury's desire to unleash itself within him, and it took all of his strength to keep it chained down.

"You're right… I won't…give him…another thought," Rosa spoke through raspy coughs, her sickness clearly getting worse. Kain felt his heart beating wildly in his chest. He wanted to burst into the room and confess to her, to somehow prove that Cecil was not the man she thought he was. But his time to act had passed as Cecil stood up, resting his hand on Rosa's forehead, the light of the fireplace casting his shadow over her pallid face.

"Please rest, Rosa. I will return," Cecil said before turning towards the doorway where Kain was hiding. Kain quickly pressed himself as tightly as he could into his dark corner as Cecil walked urgently past him. He thought he had escaped the Dark Knight's notice until Cecil stopped halfway down the hallway. Kain's breathing stopped altogether.

"I know you're there, Kain," Cecil spoke sternly, without affection, without ever turning to face Kain. "Meet me outside."

At that, the Dark Knight continued walking until he disappeared through the front door. Kain was dumbstruck for a moment, unsure of exactly what course of action to take. He peered quickly into the bedchamber, glimpsing the gentle woman's face that lay bedridden, her short, labored breaths pricking him with needles of sorrow. He then turned back towards the front door, trying to foresee what would transpire when he went through to the other side. In the deepest recesses of his desires, he hoped he would have a chance to fight the Dark Knight, to prove that he was the better warrior, to prove he was the better suitor for Rosa's hand. He walked swiftly but quietly through the cottage, trying not to alert the old man at the hearth who was still working with vigilance to concoct what Kain imagined was the cure for Rosa's illness.

When Kain stepped outside it was nighttime, as if the sun had plunged below the horizon in a matter of minutes. A sparkling sea of black ink overhead revealed an untold number of stars. A few sporadic torches were keeping the village in a warm hue, but out of the shadows stepped a dark figure. Kain quickly identified his former companion, the armor of the Dark Knight a legendary apparition. There was something cold in his stance, and Kain stood his ground with his own implacable demeanor towards the man before him.

"Are you lost, friend?" Cecil spoke, clearly feigning kindness. Kain's brow furrowed deeply as he tried to ascertain the meaning of his words.

"What kind of friend leaves a fellow soldier on the battlefield?" Kain replied with no mask over his disgust at Cecil's desertion. "You left me for dead, without even the decency of a cursory investigation. We have spilt our own blood together, Cecil. What say you?"

"I had no choice," Cecil replied. "I had only time to save myself. Searching for you would have been a waste of two lives."

"Do you hear yourself?!" Kain responded curtly, his temper flaring quicker than usual. "Have you no loyalty? No honor? I wasn't some expendable foot soldier sent at your heel!"

"If anything, you were a liability," Cecil spoke more harshly now. Kain could feel the thrust of his heart against his ribcage, the cold blood feeding into his veins filling him with hatred. "I couldn't risk continuing my mission with you. You showed an intolerable lack of composure in Mist, and your inability to handle the situation was what nearly killed us both."

"You lie!" Kain spat furiously. "We were used by the King to extinguish the Summoners, you must have realized that!"

"No, Kain. You were used!" Cecil replied forcefully. "The King had no intention of destroying Mist, he merely wanted to send them a message. He wanted to acquire their abilities, absorb them into the kingdom for use in the impending war. I could foresee their resistance, however, and took the necessary steps to avoid rousing such a powerful enemy."

"You…" Kain was nearly rendered speechless at this sudden revelation. His mouth hung ajar, a slight breeze wicking the wetness on his tongue. A newfound urge to kill the man before him surged into his mind, and his jaw suddenly clenched with anger. "You traitor!"

"Say what you will," Cecil responded with composure. "I did what I felt needed to be done. I assume you would have spared their lives? That is what makes you so impotent, your useless compassion for those that stand in your way. You are weak."

"Let me show you how weak I am!" Kain flared as he quickly closed the distance between them. With surprising speed his hand was around the Dark Knight's throat, effortlessly lifting him into the air and thrusting him against the wall of the cottage. "You are a disgrace to the Kingdom of Baron! Ending your life will be my first step in showing His Majesty my strength, and I will be the one he calls upon when only the most capable leader is needed!"

"You…are…a fool," Cecil choked out between erratic breaths, Kain's fingers wrapping tighter still around his neck. Somehow Cecil was still able to utter a few last words as Kain felt his pulse slowing dramatically. "It's clear…why Rosa…has no respect…for you…"

Kain's hatred was like a wildfire, spreading without mercy through his body, pumping pure rage into the capillaries of his fingers as they squeezed as tightly as possible around Cecil's neck. That's when everything went dark, the surroundings returning to a blank sheet of black, the feeling of cobblestones no longer at his feet, and the Dark Knight no longer within his grasp. He felt his body collapse, with his mind following quickly behind as he began to lose consciousness. But not before the chill of euphoria washed over him once again, a blissful return to sleep, and the voice speaking to him once more.

:::You are ready:::

:::

Kain's eyelids fluttered several times before he regained control of his senses and was able to slowly open them to the light pouring through the window at his bedside. His hand reached up to shield his eyes as he began to focus on his surroundings. The stone walls were impeccably shaped, work only accomplished by the masters of masonry. The bed was plush with the down of highland chocobos, a breed only found in the northern mountains of Baron. His linens were soft and smooth, threads of cotton so finely spun that only nobles and royalty could afford the luxury of their comfort.

He sat up to take in the rest of the room, still unable to look out at the glaring, sunlit world outside the window. The room was not large, but with minimal furnishings it seemed quite spacious. A simple table with two chairs, a vase with a wilted rose hunched over the brim resting wearily upon it. On the far wall was a tall square table with a washbowl, a mirror hanging on the wall behind it. Next to the washbowl was a beautifully carved wardrobe. At the foot of the bed was a large trunk, and standing before it was a bare, wooden mannequin for displaying armor. Beside it was an empty weapon rack.

Where am I? Confusion was the only feeling that he could manage at the moment. The environment was unknown, yet eerily familiar. His eyes had finally adjusted to the light, and he took the opportunity to peer out the window in hopes of gaining some clarity. What he saw was at once enlightening and perplexing. I am in Baron?

A wisp of wind blew through the window, a pleasant fragrance following it, along with the strange sensation of a presence. Kain turned quickly to find a woman standing in the middle of the room. Kain found her strikingly beautiful, a face that exuded both strength and grace, skin as flawless as a master-crafted opal sculpture. The pale ochre of her hair seemed to swirl down her left shoulder like a whirlwind, falling to a sharp point at her exposed navel. Her white silk robes covered just enough to leave Kain's imagination churning, and they seemed to sway lightly in a constant breeze. Kain was unsure what to think of her, but her demeanor seemed warm and inviting.

"You're awake," she spoke with a soft, familiar voice. It was a dulcet sound that likely steered men to her bidding, which Kain found slightly alarming. And yet, he couldn't help wanting to hear it again. "We were beginning to worry you might not recover."

"What happened?" Kain spoke groggily, not having used his voice in what felt like weeks. "I do not recall how I got here."

"You were mortally wounded in the battle at Mist," the woman said as she gently made her way to the bedside, taking a seat next to Kain. "A search party was able to recover your body, and Master Golbez has breathed new life into you."

"Master…" Kain said, suddenly overtaken by an upwelling of visions he couldn't grasp . He had to shut his eyes tight as he began collecting any memories he could of the past. He recalled only the voice, the voice that filled him with the incredible power, giving him a renewed vigor. He opened his eyes and turned to the beautiful siren beside him. "Where is he now?"

"He awaits you in the throne room," she replied, though her voice suggested he should be in no hurry to leave. "You may wish to rest a bit more if feel you need more time. I can…help you relax."

Kain felt a gentle hand moving beneath the sheet, stroking his inner thigh. It sent a blissful shiver up his spine, arousing the hairs on his neck. He was suddenly aware that he had been left in the bed completely stripped of clothing. While the sensations were hard to deny, he was in no mood to be toyed with. He stood up quickly, walking with purpose to the wardrobe in hopes that appropriate clothing lay hidden inside. He could hear a huff, followed by a bluster of wind within the room. He turned back towards the bed to find that she was gone, just the flutter of a bird perched on the window chirping to the morning sun.

Was that just my imagination? Kain wondered, unsure of how anyone could appear and disappear so quickly. He pushed the thought aside for the moment as he turned back to the wardrobe, only to see the woman standing next to it, smiling seductively. Kain was a bit more wary now, as he was beginning to see that this woman was more than she seemed.

"Might I suggest something in a darker shade to go with your disposition?" she spoke with a flirtatious jest. He could not deny her beauty, and part of him wanted to reciprocate the banter, but he maintained his focus, even as her eyes lustfully ran up and down his bare body.

"Please, leave me be," Kain replied coldly. "I only wish to speak to Golbez."

"Well then, I can only advise you to be respectful of our master," she said with a more serious tone. "He gave you a new life, and he can easily strip you of more than your clothes if he so wishes." Her playful smile then returned, and with a swift movement she was pressed up against him, her lips grazing his ear as she spoke. "But I personally think that is far enough."

And with that she disappeared into the air, only the brief gust of wind beforehand as a sign of her impending departure. Kain stood there in wonder as he tried to make sense of what had just happened, and how he had arrived back in the castle at Baron. He wasn't even sure which room he was in, as he did not recognize any part of it. These thoughts bounced back and forth as he donned a white linen shirt and tan linen slacks. A pair of leather sandals rested in the bottom of the wardrobe, and Kain found them immeasurably more comfortable than the boots he was used to wearing.

He made his way to the washbowl, filling it from the carafe beside it with cool water to wash his face. He glanced in the mirror after splashing the refreshing liquid on his dry skin. His hair was a bit disheveled as it ran rampant down to his shoulders. He ripped a piece of his linen shirt from the tail to tie his hair back into a short, loose ponytail, taming the ragged mane. He tucked the tail of his shirt in, and glanced in the mirror once more, feeling rejuvenated. He hadn't noticed the dark, billowing fog hiding in the pupils of his eyes.

Before making his leave, he reached into the wardrobe once more to grab a blue suede waistcoat, its color reminiscent of his armor. As he made his way to the stairwell he noticed the Baron coat of arms hanging above the doorway, and below it a sign etched into a gold plaque that read: Reserved for the Captain of the Red Wings. Below that was a framed edict on royal papyrus, the King's seal emblazoned above elegant calligraphy issuing command of the fleet to Sir Kain Highwind, Commanding Officer, Knights of the Dragon. Kain's eyes were alight with realization.

Is this possible? Kain was trying to think of how this mistake had been made. In the search for answers he stumbled across a memory of Cecil's rank as Captain being stripped by the King, and his subsequent treason in Mist. The thought of Cecil quickly repulsed him, but there was a feeling of satisfaction that he now had usurped his rival. His Majesty must have realized my true loyalties rest here in the Kingdom of Baron, and has rewarded me with this.

A smile began to stretch across his lips as things seemed to be falling perfectly into place, and he started to strut with renewed confidence down the stairwell. The housekeeper was tending to a fire at the bottom floor of the tower, preparing what smelled like a delicious meal on the fire. When she noticed him descending the last flight of stairs, she stopped what she was doing and bowed on a knee to him.

"Lord Kain, I am your humble servant, Sera," she introduced herself, never looking at him directly. "I have made you breakfast, My Lord."

"Thank you, but I have no time for food," Kain said with haughty urgency. His status in the kingdom had already given his ego a great inflation, and he found speaking to this woman an insufferable burden. "In the future, do not speak to me unless spoken to."

"Yes, of course, My Lord."

Sera never stood from her bow, her face never leaving its timid glance at the stone floor. Kain said nothing more and left the tower, eager to get to the throne room and speak to the man that had wrenched him from the grip of death. The castle looked all too familiar now, walking the parapet to the chamber doors seemed like a return to everyday life, with one major exception. Soldiers and Royal Guards saluted him at every turn. Never had Kain been given so much respect by soldiers of Baron, as the Knights of the Dragon were still a fledgling regiment in the military, easily overshadowed by the venerable Order of the Dark Sword. He smiled, but never returned the salute, assuring them that he was far too important to be bothered with such things. By the time he had reached the doors to the throne room he felt like the King himself. He was sure that he would lead the kingdom of Baron into many victorious battles at the helm of the Red Wings, and was eager to impress.

The Royal Guard parted the doors into the antechamber, informing Kain that His Majesty and Lord Golbez were awaiting his presence. Kain stopped just short of the two golden-gilden doors, encrusted with dazzling jewels. The last time he had walked through those doors he was defending a man that he no longer called a friend. The thought of being a part of his treasonous actions put a twist in his stomach that soon flared into a cold fire. His breathing quickened and he could feel a deep hatred fueling a magnificent energy within him. It was a righteous feeling, and it honed his mind like a grindstone working a dagger to a fine edge.

"Lord Kain, are you alright?" one of the Royal Guards asked, Kain seemingly in a trance.

"I am more than alright," Kain replied, smiling devilishly at the guard. "Tell His Majesty and Lord Golbez that I am ready to see them."