{Authors note: Okay bear with me! Thisd is my theory on what really happened to the pillars. Read it! It makes sense! I tried to keep this as close to reality as I could. again remember this is the future. ^_^ PLEASE????? Read and review???? please? This is my first shot at a serious full on adventure mystery. and trust me there are more chapters to follow.}



Chapter 2 - We Meet Again

Raziel returned to his fortress a few days later, tired but pleased with himself. It was not everyday he saved a life. And again it was not everyday he discovered that new rare creature existed. As he entred the old keep that once was his kingdom he was greeted by none other than Kain. Raziel was torn between ripping him apart and calling out with joy. He was still unsure if Kain was ally or enemy, but one thing was certain. He was far more trustworthy than any of Raziel's former 'allies'.

"So you come to speak of more Fatalistic prophecies?" he questioned as he approached the tall, Silvered vampire. " because If you are i know A few stone walls who might find you fascinating.'

"Where have you been Raziel? I'd have thought you'd have grown tired of exploring the same old landscape?" he questioned with a sly smile.

"If I told you, you'd call me a liar." Raziel sniffed, a little happier for the company. Even if it was Kain, and even if he still did not completely understand kains intentions, hewas still company. and someone to talk to.

"Tell me anyway, and Where in the gods' names is your cloak?"

"Very well," Raziel began, ,"Two Vampire hunters came in dragging behind them unwillingly this Demon goblish girl from the keep down there at the base of the cliff, the morons. I disposed of the men, but she was injured. Her hip had been crushed by an axe. I helped her up, secured her wound and carried her back to the castle. I had given her my cloak so she would not freeze. The wind is bitter toight. then I left, and I'm here now." he finished as he flopped down onto the dusty pillows rather ungracefully.

Kain wore that look he usually did. he one that was neither a smile nor a frown. almost an amused look as he spoke

"and Just how will you cover yourself?"

Raziel dismissed him with a wave of his taloned hand. "I do have another one you know. If you havent forgotten you always kept us well dressed."

"Ah yes, you memory gets even better with time." Kain admitted as he walked to the huge window that over looked the barren lands. He folded his arms and looked out. Raziel noted that his eyes seemed to dull, like he was deep in sorrow or lost in his own thoughts. He remained silent for a long while, before he spoke, in the softest voice Raziel had ever heard escape the elder vampire lips.

"I did not damn this world..."

Raziel nodded. "That you didn't Kain... The elder god is entwined around the Pillars like a parasitic louse. and notice the pillars shattered far beneath the ground...they shattered so conveniently right at the place where the elder god had seated himself..."

Kain turned to look at Raziel "what are you saying?"

Raziel looked up into the eyes of his vampiric father, the only family he had left and spoke with resolve. "When you refused the sacrifice...you did not damn the world...that parasite that calls himself the Elder God did. Your simple refusal would not cause the pillars to shatter...escpecially so deep underground."

"How can you be certain Raziel?" Kain was skeptical.

"It is simple. You were decieved by Moebius so long ago. That started the Crusade...but remember Moebius worked for the Elder God...they had the collapse of the pillars carefully planned. Just like they had most of my destiny planned..."

Kain looked at raziel with a look of revelation. "Dear Gods! Raziel... you may be right..."

Raziel placed a hand on Kain's Arm. "I know I am Kain."

Kain actually smiled, which caught the reaver completely off guard."Thank you Raziel. But I am afraid I must be off, I need some time to think these matters through."

"As you wish." Raziel looked after Kain as the graceful figure of his master faded from view. he shook his head and went back to the pillows. As he settled down, his thoughts wandered to all corners. To kain, to the past, the future, and to everthing that had happened. He thought of the pillars and the old guardians and the legend...

"wait! the legend! " Raziel sprang up from his bed again wit ha haunted look. "the Pillars choose a new guardian at the moment of the old ones death! Kain was born the minute Ariel died...But who was born the minute Kain died? Kain can't be the true pillar of Balance now! He's already dead! He was murdered Just like Ariel was!" Raziel pounded one fist against the open palm of the other in realization. Kain was not the one who damned Nosgoth!

He had to find Kain. He grabbed his cowl from the wardrobe in the far corner. It was much darker and more the original crimson color than the old one he had used to wrap up the girl. As he swung open his door he was greeted with a thud as something ran into him, knocking him backwards. Summoning the reaver as he rose he was ready to tear apart the one who did it, but when he looked down he dropped his hand to his side and dismissed the reaver.

He found himself looking into those intense blue eyes. the same as before He started and lost balance, falling backwards and sprawling out in a comical heap on the floor. " Lovely..."

The girl just laughed, "I came to bring you your cloak. Here."

Raziel grinned embarassed as he got up, "Thank you, but please knock next time. you nearly killed me a third time. And you have healed already?"

She smiled "Magic. Now I should be getting back. Its getting late."

Raziel was happy she had healed. She was but a child in his eyes, and she had so much ahead of her. He spoke as she turned to leave "Be careful out there."

She smiled over her shoulder. "I will. Maybe our paths shall cross again."

Raziel shook his head as he brought the cloak back to the wardrobe. He had barely closed the door when the mysterious girl came barreling into his room winded.

"By the Dark Gods child! Whats wrong?"

"Hunters, there are many. and they're headed this way! " he breathed as she held a gracefully decorated battle axe in her hand.

Raziel Summoned the soul reaver and crept to the hallway, listening for voices.

"The Soul Reaver is in there." One of the hunters grunted.

"But The Reaver is a dangerous beast!" another whined.

"It doesnt matter,we will just kill him. He is a vampire, like the others." said a third

~Well for a Vampire hunter you certainly aren't very bright. Ive met boulders with more sense.~ Raziel scowled as he motioned for her to hide and moving into the hallway, just enough to project his voice off of the walls, he called out just loud enough for them to hear.

"The reaver is no ordinary Vampire.....I know."



One of the hunters looked up to see a cloaked figure walking towards him. "How do you know?"

"I have met him. He is powerful and fierce. He has no heart and no mercy. He is more savage and cruel than any other vampire you have ever faced!" Raziel put on his best mysterious accent and hid in his cloak, amused at the way the men were fooled so easily. Twice in a week now he got to amuse himself with the stupidity of some people.

"So how do we find him?" Asked the smallest hunter.

"You really wish to know? It is difficult...You must lure him out of hiding . You have to go inside." As he reached the fron doors he notied they had set fire to the outer halls.

~Well this is going to be interesting. they've set fire to my keep... I am positive these 'men' are not too intelligent. They trusted a man with no face...Theyre in for a surprise....~ He thought as he smiled.

"Follow me. I know this place. But do it quickly, before the fire engulfs the place."



The hunters folowed him with out question. As he led them through the winding corridors one of the Hunters spoke "so ....Who are you?"

Raziels eyes flashed out from under the hood, "I am a man who fought the reaver...and paid dearly...I lost half of my face to him..." he lied. Well maybe not a complete lie, he was missing part of his face.

"is he really that bad?" another asked as he looked around nervously. The man didnt have time to finish before he was on the ground dead. Raziel had the man's heart in his hand.

"Oh trust me.....I am VERY cruel." raziel grinned as he threw off his cloak. The sight of him terrified some of the hunters, but the beating heart said it best. "You were looking for me?"

As one hunter lunged at him, Raziel leaped out of the way and grabbed a staff from the nearby wall. and impaled him. The man had not even stopped thrashing before Raziel had leaped up again effortlessly and killed two more of them. And as they fell to the ground the others stared open mouthed. Raziel looked at the eight others." Who's next?"

One of the eight was stupid enough to challenge him. Raziel lashed out and with his claws slashed him. then as the man lunged, raziel did a backspring and with one powerful kick, sent the man crashing into the wall. One loud crunch was heard and then the man lay still, blood dripping out of his ear. "I told you I was dangerous. your mistake." Raziel snarled.

The others decided on trying to close raziel in, but as they did, He began to levitate. The hunters stood there wondering what he was doing.

He raised his arms. He chanted. And as he finished he raised both arms into the air and two balls of fire formed on each hand. As he threw his hands down the fire exploded around him in a ring incenerating all but two of the hunters. They turned on their heels and ran not even looking back. Raziel gave a sniff and went back into his keep, ignoring the growing flames.

He found Kain again when he had entered. He stood by the demon, as bodies were strewn around the room. When he saw Raziel he turned,

"Where have you been? I thought they were going to kill her for sure!" Raziel just shook his head and grabbed the travel sack that hung on the hook in the wardrobe... every room in the keep was torched and damaged beyond repair. And the flames were dangerously close to destroying them.

"Kain no time to stay here. Let's go. The flames are rising."

Kain nodded as he and the girl followed Raziel down the back passages and finally through the long corridors. they came out into the cold rain from the back of the stronghold. Kain was not bothered by the rain as it was far too acidic to be dangeous to his evolved form. the girl just pulled her hair back exposing the gleaming horns even more. Kain watched her curious before looking back at Raziel.

"You know the demon?"

Raziel Nodded. "thats the one I had saved three days earlier."

Kain inspected her with a serious look. "what is your name Child?"

"Salaycita...just call me Salay milord"

Kain smiled. " a respectful..." He could not think of a word to describe her,

"I am a mixture of things. call me a Chimera if you wish."

"Very well Salay. You'd best be on your way home." Kain concluded as he watched her face.

She tured to leave and stopped dead. Her castle far below was in flames, the people inside now fled. She sighed. "they wanted me dead. See how they burned the castle where I resided..." She sniffed. "not that it was a great place to live..." She replaced her axe on her back and placed her hands on her hips. "I'd reather be lost on my own in a lava pit than go back."

Kain Nodded. "Very well for now you shall travel with us, but be aware of the dangers young one. I sense change in the air."

She looked at the Ancient Vampire with a look of respect. "As you wish."

Kain chuckled softly, "Now if only my sons were more obedient."

Razel sniffed. "Well I was...until you tossed me. Oh Kain...before I forget. I just thought of something. I can Prove you didn't destroy the pillars."

Kain halted abruptly and whipped around to face his Eldest son "Enlighten me."

Raziel got them off the road and into a thicket of trees. He perched in a dead tree on an outstretched limb and began relating his theory.

"You were born the minute Ariel was murdered correct?"

Kain nodded.

"And Ariel became a ghost...the undead. you took her place as the guardian of balance. Now when you were all infected with madness the pillars crumbled correct?"

Again Kain nodded.

"But who was born the minute you were murdered?"

Kain was caught off guard as his eyes widened.

Raziel continued. "Now when Ariel was murdered, you took her place. So when you were murdered, who took your place? You came back as a vampire. Undead just as Ariel was. Someone had to have taken your place. you did not have to sacrifice yourself. becasue you were actually the first Sacrifice, not the last."

Kain was even paler with revelation. "I..."

Raziel looked at him through eyes of compassion for once. "Kain...." he took a deep breath. "Father... Cast off the guilt you were cursed with, cast away your uneccesary sorrow. Let us restore balance...together. Let us bring the new guardians."

Salay smiled softly, glad to see that things were beginning to resolve themselves. Gaps were closed and father and son reunited in cause. She had heard of Nosgoth's twisted history and for some bizarre reason felt that she could play a part in the lands redemption.

Kain looked up at Raziel utterly shocked, and was quiet, just staring at his son's pale blue face. when he finally found the words, they were few.

"yes my son. Yes."