~Author's note~ Well here it is, my new LoK Fanfic. *BEAR IN MIND* This fic is after Soul Reaver 2! So this is in the new Future Kain and Raziel created!!! Please READ AND REVIEW! Im really glad this fic turned out so well and I hope those of you who have read my other fics, will enjoy this fic!~

Chapter 1- A New beginning

Raziel slept peacefully for the first time in his after life. Being a Vampire was hard for him but being the reaver of souls was even harder. His once beautiful body had been destroyed and his wings torn apart mercilessly. now he was Evolved...destroyed in a way, but strangely beautiful in a morbid way, now starting to resemble the Seraphim of Ancient times. He had been forced to destroy his brothers and closest friends, and now was alone, Even Kain was gone, but he knew not where. He had been through hell and back, but in the end He discovered why Kain had thrown him into the lake of the dead in the first place. Kain was allowing Raziel to move forward and change the cycle of destiny that if things had stayed as they were, would carry on endlessly. So he really couldnt fault Kain. Kain, after all did open his eyes and had been a father and guide to him, always keeping him on the true path, and helping him to break the elder God's hold on the world. So, in a way Raziel learned to respect his Vampiric "Father".

Eventually, Raziel learned to live in his new form and could now use his skills with great ease. And now that he realized he would never again look at his living reflection in the water or his vampiric reflection in his mirror, He accepted his fate and lived on. Appearance was forever decieving.

Raziel's peaceful sleep was disturbed by a large crash. He sprang to his feet fully awake, the Soul Reaver drawn. He heard the familiar footsteps of a human in the long corridor.

"With my luck they'll be Vampire Slayers," Raziel muttered as he stood still as stone.

Raziel was correct in his asssumptions. Three Hunters were walking down the corridor, speaking in low whispers.

"Why are we here in this abandoned place? I don't think any creature living, dead or undead would reside here. This is insanity!" the female spoke quietly

The other two males silenced her and kept walking, but just before they reached Raziel's hiding spot the female spoke again, "this place gives me the creeps, worse than any vampire. Let's turn back..." She was cut off by the larger males hand as it clamped over her mouth.

"Silence! It's not that frightening!"

Raziel was amused at the man's stupidity, "You should have listened to your female friend. Your Second mistake my good sir..." Raziel muttered under his breath again.

"Did you hear that? If I were you I'd turn back." The female piped up.



"Quiet! Besides the only thing likely to be living here is a ghost or at worst a fledgeling vampire." The males both glared at her.

"Again you underestimate me, strike three!" Raziel grinned devoiusly, or at least what would have been a smile as he was mising his lower jaw. He hadn't killed in almost two months and it would be nice to see fresh blood, even though he did not need it. He could swear his blood lust was returning, even though he was beyond the need for blood's sustanence.

"Certainly not my idea of intelligent life" Raziel said aloud as he jumped down from the rafters, landing in front of them with his white eyes glowing.

"what the hell is that!" The second male finally spoke. Raziel could tell by his face the man was terrified. This was too easy. Raziel was going to enjoy this far too much.

"Whaddya mean mistake three!" the first hunter demanded.

Even though Raziel had no bottom jaw, he could still feel his upper lip curl into another of his evil smiles under the cloak. "First you Enter my stronghold without permission. not exactly wise by my standards. You did not listen to your female friend here. That would have avoided this encounter altogether? Then you underestimate the 'fledgling' vampire inside? Do I *look* like a fledgeling vampire to you" An eye ridge twitched slightly. "Correct me if I'm wrong but," Raziel spoke in his sultry voice with heavy sarcasm, "wouldn't that be the third error youve mafe thia very night?"

The smaller male lunged at Raziel with a cry. Raziel, his senses sharpened beyond that of any mortal by years of being undead, easily grabbed the man by the neck and gave a quick twist, snapping the spine. The Female looked at Raziel with wide eyes.

"He killed him!" The female gasped. "In one fell Swipe!"

Now the man with the attitude, came forward. The man wasnt very bright as Raziel could plainly see."Let's see you defeat me wretch."

The name made Raziel's blood boil. That was the ultimate insult to any one who was even remotely vampire. "Appearances decieve human! As you wish, you shall have your fight But I have one question before you die Just why do you challenge me?"

The man answered by swinging his axe at Raziel, but Raziel had already thrust the Soul reaver into the man's chest before the axe came down. Blood went everywhere, but most of it covered the woman who did her best to shield her body from the grisly spray. Raziel went with better judgement and left the female standing. He never even bothered looking at her.

He was confused as to why the woman did not run, as he had given her time, until he noticed she couldn't. She was on a long chain attatched to the wrists of both men. Raziel just shrugged and turned, walking away. She gave an agonized cry. Normally, Raziel would have ignored it, but somehow he got the idea, she was in the stronghold against her will. He turned around and walked to her. She looked up at him terrified. She could not speak, being choked with terror. Her unnatual blue eyes sparkled with tears, and she could barely control whatever pain it was that was hurting her. Her skin seemed unnatural...almost violet grey in the dim light. Raziel was going to give her one chance to state her business. If she lied of her reasons or her reason displeased him he would leave her there.

"Are you a Hunter and Why are you here?" Raziel demanded.

A few moments followed before the girl spoke, "I am not a hunter, I was captured by these men and taken from the stronghold nearby....Please don't kill me. I mean no harm." She was scared and winced in pain but kept her voice level. Raziel wondered if he dared trust her, and thought about whether she had set this up to trap him, but one look at her gave him the answer. She was hardly human. Her Skin was a pale mauve, and graceful wings of a dark purple membrane arched gracefully from her back. Small horns adorned her raven hair like a crown. He eyes were slanted and unnatually coloured with a slit pupil. Her hands and feet were taloned, and a long spade tipped tail wound around her leg. She looked Goblish, but again she seemed Dmeonic, even Gargoylish. She was unable to move from the pool of blood she lay in. Even if she could have goten up, he doubted she would try to attck him. Raziel realized for the first time since He had been reborn, he felt pity and sorrow for another person.

"Let me help you." He said as softly as he could, as he approached her. The chains were tangled around her and her leg was horribly bloody from where axe had fallen. that was his fault for not being more careful. He removed the chains with the Soul Reaver, and knelt beside her to remove the shackles. As he knelt, she began to shake violently, the loss of blood slowly bringing her down into shock. Raziel turned to her a spoke soothingly, surprising himself with the softness and sincerity of it.

"I won't hurt you. Don't move. You have my word. I'm going to help you." He whispered as he moved the axe away from her. There was a large gash and the bone was broken but she could be saved. He spoke again in his kindest tone, which was worlds apart from his normal Dry sarcasm. "Please don't fear me. I am sorry if my appearence frightens you." He was at thepoint of surprising himself with his own tone.

She looked at him for a moment, catching his white gaze before speaking, "oh i--it's not that! I just...just don't know who... or what you are."

An awkward silence followed for awhile before he spoke and reluctantly away his name, "My name is Raziel, and I am what they call a Reaver of Souls." He was never good with women, or children...even as his Human or vampire self.

Her eyes took on a look of curiosity, "Were you born a...a... Reaver of Souls, or were you something else before?"

Raziel was speaking more than he wished to, but he told her anyway. "I was Human once Until I was twenty-one, I led the Sarafan in their crusade until, in a time twist which is too long to relate, I was killed. then I was raised by the great Vampire Kain, as his favored son. That was during his reign. I was the most respected vampire on his counsel. But .." Raziel forced himself to continue, although the memory burned. "I was fortunate to be blessed with a gift before my master, Kain. That being my once beautiful wings Kain was a firm believer in destiny and knew that I was destined to Save Nosgoth... and threw me into the Lake of the Dead. And as you know, water burns vampires like acid. There, I burned and was tortured for what seemed like an eternity, before I was released form the depths and the Elder god greeted me. I was reduced to this torturous form..." Raziel shook the torn remnants of his wings..

The woman looked like she was ready to cry. "You must hate Kain?"

"No. At first I was blinded by rage, pursuing him relentlessly, vowing to kill him. At first I couldn't understand why he had done this to me. It was later I learned the truth."

"You poor thing. It must be horrible. But," She smiled, despite her pain as she kept pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding as Raziel worked as fast as he could to stitch the wound using a pin and some strands of her hair, "You're really not that scary, you just have to get used to it, thats all." She reached one hand up and touched it to his face. "see?"

Raziel knelt there stunned. She was a young creature, maybe sixteen. She was unique as he doubted there was another creature like her. He only moved away when her hand fell, pulling down his cloak. He turned away as fast as he could. He was not about to scare her again.

"What's wrong Raziel? Why won't you look upon me?" She asked.

"I--I am not the most appealing of sights under my cowl..." He trailed off, hiding in himself.

"You won't scare me. I told you already that your physical form does not and will not scare me!" and with that she reached out and turned him to face her. Raziel hung his head. When he looked up, she was looking at him with a sad smile. "So that's why you hide your face. Im amazed!"

Raziel was taken aback by her kindness. "What? Why are you amazed?"

"you have no bottom jaw, yet you can speak in such a rich voice. I've never heard a voice so pleasing to hear."

the corners of Raziel's upper lip curled up into an attempted smile, "I thank you for the complement."

"That was a smile...Ow!" she screamed as she twisted and her hip moved.

"No! No! Don't move you'll hurt it more!" he cried as he broke one of the men's spears in half and used it to secure her hip in place. "I'm going to bring you home." he said as he wrapped his cloak around her , instead of his face. He picked her up onto his back. She gripped him firmly and held on folding her own wings tight to her back. They were of no use in her weakened state" Hold on tight! I'm going to glide down the cliff to the stronghold. Just put your trust in me."

As he reached the top of the cliff, he made sure she was holding on tightly, and jumped using the remenants of his wings as a hanglider,starting a lazy piral down to the Castle below. the trip was fasterthan normal as he carried more weight. He landed at the base of the castle. He made sure she was holding on tight and began to scale the wall. She gave a gasp of surprise and delight as he climbed effortlessly.

"You are amazing!" She cried as he reached the Balcony of her room.

"There. Safe and sound. " He said as he climbed up onto her balcony and helped her to her room. When he turned to leave, he spoke softly. "I have to leave. If the see me, they will surely kill me." He gave that smile again, but did not take back his cloak. "Call for your Guards aand tell them what happened, but whatever you do, don't tell them my name or what I am! Goodnight."

As Raziel glided away, the girl watched. "I didn't even show him my gratitude or even tell him my name." She shook her head perplexed as she called for the guards.

"What an odd creature..."