Return to The Slaughter House

Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to Edios and Crystal Dynamics, not me. I am making £0.00 out of this fic, it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Vorador . . . then he'd be mine.

Rating: PG-13

Note: Once upon a time I wrote a little fic called Slaughter House. Today I started a sequel.

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Chapter One

This was not what I expected.

I will be the first to admit that my experience with fledgelings is limited, but the few I had seen while resident with Vorador and my own experience had led me to believe that fledgelings were not the same as human children. They were adults, capable of thought, language and reason beyond the years of a child.

That was not what I was witnessing here.

What I had before me was a fully-grown man with the mind of an infant. He did not speak, he clung to me, afraid of every little thing that had the audacity to not be me. He coward behind me while I made an agreement with a driver to take us to Meridian. The driver had given me a pitying look ad muttered something about kindness to simpletons. I did not remember my mind being affected in my own raising, there was no period where I behaved as he did now, I died and when I woke up I was fine, better than fine. The fledgeling's I had seen in Vorador's care had all been much the same, human, dead for a few moments then fine.

The wretch I had risen was little more than an infant, his lack of understanding and language skills bothered me, he didn't speak, at least not fluent words. Though he had been eager to voice his complaint when I shoved him into the carriage and bid the driver move. Though, despite his initial unexplained fear of the carriage, he calmed soon enough and took to avidly watching the world through the window.

I must have done something wrong. It was the only explanation, what else would explain this behaviour?

He was biddable enough, recent tantrum aside, and quiet, which was appreciated. Rising him had taken more of my strength than I had anticipated, and I was in no mood to handle a difficult subordinate. I leaned back and focused on the jostling of the carriage, allowing it to distract me from my concerns about the mental fortitude of my new ward.

I jerked when I felt cool fingers on my arm, the damn boy moved silently when he wanted it, or so it appeared. He had moved from the opposite side of the carriage to sit next to me, I raised an eyebrow at him when he decided to take liberties and use me to rest against, my shoulder becoming his pillow. I thought briefly about pushing him away, I was not Vorador to coddle my fledgelings. But I changed my mind, deciding the effort was more than I was willing to expend. It was harmless after all.

The carriage lurched suddenly having gone over a deep pothole, the motion threw my fledgeling off my shoulder and he clattered to the floor. The sound of distress that escaped him was still not words, rather a simple noise of exclamation. He looked up at me, his expression affronted.

"It's just the road," I said. His look turned accusatory, I couldn't help the snort of amusement. "This isn't the wealthiest region, keeping the roads smooth enough for your delicate sensibilities is not a priority." He clambered to his feet and sat next to me, his shoulders hunched, and arms crossed in a clear sulk, something I would expect from a child, not emotionally mature enough to handle a fall. I turned my attention from him and watched the forest roll by.

I felt myself slipping into a doze when again his weight fell against me, but this time he jerked upright the moment he touched me. Looking at him it struck me how tired he looked. I suppose coming back from being dead was a tiering experience, even with my blood to help and he had been dead for so very long.

"You won't fall off of the bench if you lie down," I offered in a rare moment of empathy and pity, he blinked blearily at me and looked worried, his mouth downturned and his brows drawing in. "You'll be more stable, or you could lie on the floor if you are worried."

I had intended for him to spread himself out on the other bench, there was more room or I was prepared to move my legs if he chose the floor. He chose neither however and laid down where he was, his head ending up in my lap. I sighed but did not move him.

"You're going to end up spoiled at this rate," I let my hand rest on his head, his hair felt dry, brittle. He fidgeted under my touch. "Be still if you are staying there," I muttered and to my surprise, he did fall still. "So, you understand me?" I said. Blurry gold eyes turned to regard me, and he nodded, I felt my eyebrows climb.

His behaviour up to this point had shown no comprehension of anything, he hadn't seemed to understand me, his surroundings or his situation. Though he had clearly understood I was not an enemy, he had clung to me since the moment of his 'birth'. My levels of concern had been steadily rising since we left the tomb, to the point where I was wondering how long I would humour him before ending him. I could not have dead weight, not for what I intended to do. But this sudden silent comprehension sparked hope in me.

Vorador had accused me of impatience on several occasions, maybe it was a valid criticism? Perhaps I was expecting too much from him too soon? After all, I was comparing him to my own raising and the few, I had seen Vorador accomplish and those all had one thing in common, the raising happened shortly after the death, there was no decay. But he had been dead for centuries, he had been nothing but bones when I found him and had only my blood in him to repair that level of damage, perhaps it was going to take longer. I counselled myself to be patient.

"Do you know me?" I couldn't help but push, he nodded.

"You are Kain," he said, his voice weak and rather pathetic, but his words perfect. "You are my sire."

End Chapter One

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