Disclaimer: I do not own Raziel, Janos, Kain, or anything else from the Legacy of Kain games. I also do not own Earth, cookies, or any popular cultures references I may use.
Raziel began describing what he knew of the world to Janos. The old vampire wearily listened, occasionally asking for clarification when something was beyond his understanding. Raziel did not mention the games.
"And the bloodcurse?" Janos asked. "Did she speak truly?"
"You should have no desire for blood," Raziel said. "Though our appearance here would still cause most people to be afraid. I have found a way to walk among them." Raziel paused as he shifted form.
Janos blinked in surprise. "You would choose to be human?"
"I was human once," Raziel said carefully, "but this form is simply an improvement over the corpse that was forced to inhabit."
"Is that how you looked before?" Janos asked curiously.
"No, I chose a new face to match my new life here," Raziel said, afraid that Janos would ask more about his former appearance. Raziel did not want to explain what he looked like before. He did not want to tell Janos that he had once been his murderer.
Janos said nothing as he studied Raziel.
Raziel wondered for a moment if Janos already knew the truth. He broke the silence hastily. "Jennifer will want to know that you're awake."
Janos followed Raziel into the living room. Jennifer was sitting on the couch. Her head was resting against the back; she was snoring gently. Raziel gently laid a hand on her forehead, and Jennifer's eyes snapped open.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep," Jennifer said.
"You must be exhausted," Raziel said worriedly.
"I'll recover," Jennifer said as she stood up shakily.
Janos gracefully stepped closer to Jennifer. "I apologize for my rude behavior earlier. I did not realize what you had done for me."
Jennifer blushed as Janos grasped her hands in his massive talons. He still had his fangs, but he was also insanely cute. Jennifer wondered if he was doing that on purpose.
Raziel felt a brief pang of possessiveness; it made him feel uncomfortable to see Janos and Jennifer standing like that. Fortunately, the contact only lasted a moment.
The trio spent the few remaining hours of the night talking. Their conversation wandered mostly on Earthly subjects; only a few comments had anything to do with Nosgoth. At one point, Jennifer dragged out a tin of cookies and some coffee. Janos eyed the snacks warily for a moment, and then decided to try eating. He bit into a cookie and chewed with such concentration that Jennifer had to stop watching him before she burst out laughing. His eyes lit with pleasure, and for a while he considered the rest of the cookie as if it were some precious talisman.
"Is something wrong, Janos?" Jennifer asked, noticing his silent wonder.
"It has been countless centuries since I had last eaten," Janos said in awe, "and this is truly a magnificent food."
Raziel smiled into his coffee cup. He had feared that Jennifer's hesitation had been justifiable, but it seemed possible that Janos could live in this world.
Over the next few days, Jennifer and Raziel learned just how stubborn Janos could be. They never did find a good moment to tell him that he was really a doll. It was impossible to get him to disguise his vampiric form.
"That which is divine cannot be suppressed," Janos calmly asserted.
This sparked minor debates about the nature of the God of the Ancient Vampires. Jennifer politely kept silent. She realized that she didn't really know very much about the squid.
"Your God is not what you think," Raziel said finally. "I've seen him."
Janos was silent. Hurt and confusion crossed his face. He glanced at Jennifer. She nodded her head in a solemn affirmation.
Janos bowed his head in thought. "I do not believe it," he said stonily.
Raziel gave in to his frustration. His form flickered slightly as he stalked out of Jennifer's apartment.
After a few hours of quiet contemplation, Janos spoke to Jennifer. "I did not notice it the night that you brought me here, but I can sense great power in you.
"It's not that great," Jennifer said modestly. "Someone else has done it as well."
"Raziel's presence here was not your doing?" Janos questioned.
"No, I brought him here, but he's not the only one that's been summoned to this world," Jennifer admitted, reminding herself that Janos had not yet met Kain.
"I find it hard to believe that your abilities are so limited," Janos said, clasping Jennifer around the shoulders. "Ah, your potential is untapped. Allow me to teach you the magic of the vampires. It will allow you to achieve great things."
Jennifer was hesitant. "Why would I need to achieve great things?"
"You have been given your abilities for a reason," Janos said.
"Do you know what that reason is?" Jennifer asked fearfully.
"No," Janos said, trying to calm Jennifer, "but nothing happens purely by chance."
"Don't start in on that again," Jennifer groaned through her teeth. She relaxed slightly, "I accept your offer."
When Raziel trudged back into the apartment, Jennifer was standing face-to-face with Janos. Her eyes were half-lidded in concentration, and violet bands of energy coruscated between her hands. She dispelled the energy when she heard Raziel's footsteps.
"What are you doing?" Raziel asked curiously.
"I'm learning magic," Jennifer said. "Are you okay?" she added. Jennifer could see that Raziel was calm again, but she felt the need to try and reassure him anyway.
Raziel nodded to Jennifer and then turned to Janos. "I don't want to argue with you."
Janos acknowledged the truce with a curt nod.
For the next week, Janos spent most of his time teaching Jennifer everything that she could learn. She quickly advanced to the point where she could tap into the power on an instinctual level. Raziel also learned some simple spells, but he did not have the patience or desire for anything more.
One morning, Jennifer awoke to find Raziel staring out the window, and Janos was missing. She could read Raziel's face; it was troubled. Jennifer sensed that she shouldn't ask him about the missing ancient.
"He left," Raziel volunteered. "Janos found a clock tower to live in."
"It's odd that he would choose to live alone," Jennifer said simply.
Raziel shrugged and asked. "Are you sorry to see him go?"
"Are you?" Jennifer retorted gently.
"I asked you first," Raziel insisted.
Jennifer sighed. "I just hope he manages to survive. We never did tell him that he's a doll; he needs attention."
Raziel harrumphed softly, "I'm glad that he decided to live someplace else."
"Are you mad because you had to share your mentor? You can have him to yourself if that's it." Jennifer said.
Raziel's words died before he spoke them, 'I had to share you.'