1. Epilogue -
Nearly a millennium has passed since I last encountered Kain personally. Nosgoth has been corrupted beyond repair, although I do not blame him for such an occurrence. There are dark forces afoot, and humanity is amongst the biggest foe. I have started writing my memoirs, to remember my past. I feel as if more and more of it is lost as each day progresses. I have had enough time to adjust to my new surroundings here at the Citadel. My followers and I are committed to preserving the vampire race, no matter what the cost. Many of our battles involve the disbanded Sarafan Order - the many rogue militants still plaguing our surrounding lands. I feel that our wars will never end, however we still fight, for the promise "a better life" and the "dark gifts" according to the prophecies of Kain.
"M'lady. The intruder approaches." Breckins interrupted. I dropped my quill and closed my memoirs.
"Where is he?" I inquired.
"He approaches from the western gate." Breckins replied. "It is as our master foretold. You must head to the Undercity Lair, m'lady. Before it is too late."
I merely laughed. "Too late for him or me, Breckins?" I said as I reached for my ceremonial dagger. "The time to disprove prophecy has arrived."
Breckins helped me down the darkened corridor leading to the threshold of the Citadel's Undercity Lair. I was able to avoid the many reservoirs by means of hidden passageways. I entered cautiously into the main temple of the lair. My stalker had also found his way to my lower sanctum. From the shadows I could watch his semi-physical form seeking me out like a predator hot on the trail of his prey. I mustered up all the courage I could and approached him from behind.
"Heretic!" I called out. "Welcome to your undoing." A sadistic smile graced my lips as I unsheathed my dagger. "Your sorcery is useless in this holy place."
The demon turned around to face me. I became overwhelmed with a sense of meeting this one before. And then it hit me. My mind focused back to the time where I had stumbled into Kain's temple, which surrounded the Pillars of Nosgoth. I caught glimpses of the vampire brethren who captured me, and tortured me in the confines of their dungeon. Then, I saw him. This was the lieutenant Raziel - the vampire who took me to Kain when he was ordered to do so. He was no longer in the vampyric form that I had encountered before. He was skeletal, and what was left of his flesh appeared blue and decaying; the obvious results of him betraying Kain.
Then the demon spoke, coldly and with the same arrogant tone that I had remembered. "My faith in destiny is all I need to prevail."
I halted my visions from continuing any further. I remembered how the original ones turned out. Now was the time to take fate into my own hands and prove destiny wrong once and for all.
"Faith?" I questioned as a laugh escaped me. "Faith left you when you were excommunicated by our Lord Kain."
The demon clenched his fists and approached me. "I was executed, not excommunicated. You will learn the difference." He said.
I watched as his right arm began to glow brightly with some sort of spiritual energy. My mouth was agape. The prophecy - the Soul Reaver. Such power - I required this power. With it, all of Nosgoth would bow before me, and I could rule at Kain's side for eternity. I smiled wickedly as I projected my soul towards the Soul Reaver, in hopes of possessing it as my own.
Raziel shielded himself from my attack, his spiritual blade simply absorbing it, and becoming drawn to me for more. I dropped my dagger; mortal weapons would not stand a chance in this battle. I turned around and darted across the marbled floor of the temple, running away in desperate hopes of sparing myself his wrath and my own embarrassment. It was then that destiny took its swift upper hand. I found myself cornered in the western wall of the temple. The prophecy would in fact prove true.
Raziel approached me, his spiritual blade drawn and aimed at my throat. "Your faith has failed you." He said. "Where are your precious vampires now? Where is your holy Kain?"
I stood my ground, I would not allow myself to fear that which has been prophesized. "You are the one who has betrayed his faith - his brethren. His creator." I accused. "I have served my gods."
Raziel grabbed me by my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. "And now, you will meet them." He replied as he drove his blade deep within my chest.
I could feel my soul being torn from the shell of my body - my end was drawing near. I watched as Raziel called back his blade, and began to remove the cowl from what was left of his face. I closed my eyes.
"Kain." I whispered as Raziel feasted on what was left of my soul, absorbing my power of possession, before leaving the temple to peruse his own destiny.
Nearly a millennium has passed since I last encountered Kain personally. Nosgoth has been corrupted beyond repair, although I do not blame him for such an occurrence. There are dark forces afoot, and humanity is amongst the biggest foe. I have started writing my memoirs, to remember my past. I feel as if more and more of it is lost as each day progresses. I have had enough time to adjust to my new surroundings here at the Citadel. My followers and I are committed to preserving the vampire race, no matter what the cost. Many of our battles involve the disbanded Sarafan Order - the many rogue militants still plaguing our surrounding lands. I feel that our wars will never end, however we still fight, for the promise "a better life" and the "dark gifts" according to the prophecies of Kain.
"M'lady. The intruder approaches." Breckins interrupted. I dropped my quill and closed my memoirs.
"Where is he?" I inquired.
"He approaches from the western gate." Breckins replied. "It is as our master foretold. You must head to the Undercity Lair, m'lady. Before it is too late."
I merely laughed. "Too late for him or me, Breckins?" I said as I reached for my ceremonial dagger. "The time to disprove prophecy has arrived."
Breckins helped me down the darkened corridor leading to the threshold of the Citadel's Undercity Lair. I was able to avoid the many reservoirs by means of hidden passageways. I entered cautiously into the main temple of the lair. My stalker had also found his way to my lower sanctum. From the shadows I could watch his semi-physical form seeking me out like a predator hot on the trail of his prey. I mustered up all the courage I could and approached him from behind.
"Heretic!" I called out. "Welcome to your undoing." A sadistic smile graced my lips as I unsheathed my dagger. "Your sorcery is useless in this holy place."
The demon turned around to face me. I became overwhelmed with a sense of meeting this one before. And then it hit me. My mind focused back to the time where I had stumbled into Kain's temple, which surrounded the Pillars of Nosgoth. I caught glimpses of the vampire brethren who captured me, and tortured me in the confines of their dungeon. Then, I saw him. This was the lieutenant Raziel - the vampire who took me to Kain when he was ordered to do so. He was no longer in the vampyric form that I had encountered before. He was skeletal, and what was left of his flesh appeared blue and decaying; the obvious results of him betraying Kain.
Then the demon spoke, coldly and with the same arrogant tone that I had remembered. "My faith in destiny is all I need to prevail."
I halted my visions from continuing any further. I remembered how the original ones turned out. Now was the time to take fate into my own hands and prove destiny wrong once and for all.
"Faith?" I questioned as a laugh escaped me. "Faith left you when you were excommunicated by our Lord Kain."
The demon clenched his fists and approached me. "I was executed, not excommunicated. You will learn the difference." He said.
I watched as his right arm began to glow brightly with some sort of spiritual energy. My mouth was agape. The prophecy - the Soul Reaver. Such power - I required this power. With it, all of Nosgoth would bow before me, and I could rule at Kain's side for eternity. I smiled wickedly as I projected my soul towards the Soul Reaver, in hopes of possessing it as my own.
Raziel shielded himself from my attack, his spiritual blade simply absorbing it, and becoming drawn to me for more. I dropped my dagger; mortal weapons would not stand a chance in this battle. I turned around and darted across the marbled floor of the temple, running away in desperate hopes of sparing myself his wrath and my own embarrassment. It was then that destiny took its swift upper hand. I found myself cornered in the western wall of the temple. The prophecy would in fact prove true.
Raziel approached me, his spiritual blade drawn and aimed at my throat. "Your faith has failed you." He said. "Where are your precious vampires now? Where is your holy Kain?"
I stood my ground, I would not allow myself to fear that which has been prophesized. "You are the one who has betrayed his faith - his brethren. His creator." I accused. "I have served my gods."
Raziel grabbed me by my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. "And now, you will meet them." He replied as he drove his blade deep within my chest.
I could feel my soul being torn from the shell of my body - my end was drawing near. I watched as Raziel called back his blade, and began to remove the cowl from what was left of his face. I closed my eyes.
"Kain." I whispered as Raziel feasted on what was left of my soul, absorbing my power of possession, before leaving the temple to peruse his own destiny.
