Chapter 3 - unexpected allies

When they had escaped the castle and the slayers, they had set off along the old dirt trails that were rarely travelled, as the main road was used more. Raziel had decided it was better to travel in disguise for the time being. And Usually when Kain sensed something, it was no doubt true. So Raziel had managed to get into the human citidel and while the others waited he brought back the clothing they would use. Raziel was dressed in crimson red breeches, his gold leg guards, a black Tunic and a red hooded cloak that hid his face completely.

Salay wore a heavy blue hooded robe to hide her wings and a long heavy linen tunic of light blue with matching leggings. her soft brown leather boots completed the outfit and they looked no different then a travelling trio, which is just what they wanted. Kain of course was elaborate as usual with a long blue cloak that hung to the ground and the matching tunic embroidered with gold. He left his hood down letting his silver hair spill down his back, and even in the dull light his hair shone.

Salay had mentioned the presence of signs that sugested vampires still lived high in the mountains, almost as far north as the ruins of Dark Eden. It was in that direction they decided to travel, and even Raziel, as pessimistic as he was felt that maybe this could lead him to some of their own kind. They had changed the future and broke the cycle. Maybe that had saved a few vampires? He wasn't sure but he was more than willing to find out. There had to be more, he hadn't travelled that far north before and just maybe...maybe they would still exist there.

They had travelled for almost a week, only stopping to rest when needed. and the only one who needed true rest was Salay. But, she had proven herself very capable and strong. She never complined, nor did she whine. she just followed along obiediently. She was intelligetn, with sharp senses, and her wings aloowed her a bit more luck when scouting. She hunted for food on her own and never asked their help but was more than willing to share her meals.

I know you don't eat as I do but you may have some." she said as she sat around their makeshift camp.

Kain, who did not much need blood at the moment accepted her offer. Raziel politely declined. He could not eat even if he wished to. So he was content to sit with them and add a dry comment or two to lighten the situation. Raziel noted well that Kain seemed to adore the girl and treated her like a daughter. It didn't bother Raziel, in fact, he felt better knowing her wouldn't have to defend her from his master.

When she finally fell asleep Kain came to join his son in the large, flat boulder. He curled one foot up under him and brought the other knee up to his chin. He looked at Raziel and spoke, softly enough as not to wake the slumbering girl.

"Raziel...How did you know? How did you figure this whole thing out?"

Raziel just shrugged. " I guess I decided I could trust you...from there things just fell into place. It just came to me out of the blue."

Kain nodded sagely "You were never lacking intelligence thats for sure."

"Even when I followed the Elder God blindly?"

"Even then. Raziel you've always been brilliant. Just too Sarcastic for your own good."

Raziel looked at kain with what could have been considered a sly grin, "I get that from a certain father..."

The dark dingy morning came all too soon and they set off again, each day brought them closer and closer to the ruins of Dark Eden, Each time they were forced to enter a human inhabited area, they wasted no time. Coming in, in nothing but shrouded mystery, gathering their needed supplies and leaving nothing but mystery in their wake. In their trips into town they gathered clothes, some extra food for Salay, since she could not hunt every night and weapons for the two vampires as the blades made them seem more human.

It was midnight, on the first day of the second week in their journey, and they were well into the mountains now. they had stopped to rest in a cave because there was a storm and the pouring rain made it almost impossible to scale the cliffs. they sat in a corner around a small fire. Salay was claning her axe and the other two were organizing their backpacks.

"Milord, where are we going to go after this storm is over."Salay asked as she looked up from her work.

" Please just use our names. No formalities young one. Were heading North, and if we find nothing there, we will head west. Though I hope the first choice shall turn up successful."

Salay liked being in the company of the two. Even though they were on the run, she still found it enjoyable. Raziel was amusing when he broke into fits of curses and insults to people who annoyed him, and Kain just added to the Fun. She had imagined him much worse than her real way. He was rather was easy to approach in truth.

That night was just like all of their other nights and they slept peacefully without disturbance. When the morning came they swept the remnants of their fire out of the cave and took their belongings. They then headed north along the steep and rocky sides, careful to stay close to the mountains so they would have less chance of being seen. They may have been strong, but they were by far outnumbered.

By noon they had crossed a good distance and had stopped to rest under an outcropping as Salay had found her hip acting up. She had insisted she was alright but Raziel and Kain would go no further until she had rested.

Salay rested for only an hour and they were just about to get moving when they heard hunters. they all froze, as still as death, and listened.

"They must have left the keep at least a week ago, they could be anywhenre."

"Keep looking, I want that soul reaver."

"but where do we start."

"We'll keep following that mountain path,"

"yes sir."

Only when Raziel was sure they were gone did he dare move.

"we have to head west now, before they come back. theyre going north."

"Wont they see us?" Salay questioned.

"If we stay here they'll find us for sure. we wont be seen if we hurry." Kain said, "now come on."

They all dashed across the rocks and path, as fast as they could until they were sure that he hunters had not seen them. then They slowed to a brisk walk and kept on moving west, until evening fell.

By nightfall they were exhausted, and they had seen no sign of a town. Raziel decided that they would just stop on the other side of the mountain for the night. they climbed slowly along the steep path, stopping every little while to catch their breath and check on each other. Worn, and weary, they made it to the top of the embankment to find themselves looking at a huge fortress built into the side of the mountain. Flags flew atop the roof on horizontal poles, and banners flapped in the breeze. They could not see the emblem for it was too dark, but they werent looking at it for too long before Raziel collapsed onto the wet ground, he was the only one who hadn't fed and now he was just steps from fading into the spectral realm. Salay gave a startled cry and dashed over.

"Raziel are you alright?"

"I am fine. Just weary." he answered weakly.

The Demoness' cry had dawn the attention of the people inside the fortress and a pair of armed guards came rushing out to see what had happened.

"what has happened?" The taller one asked.

"He needs to feed..." Kain hissed softly.

"Quickly,get him inside!" the guards insisted as Salay helped Raziel walk to the doors. It was strange, though it was a human fortress, and they knew the pair were vampires, they were still warm and welcoming, showing them to shared quarters and bringing Raziel down to feed on the souls of a few brigands and bandits.

When he returned he was at full strength and he was thouroughly puzzled. "I swear these people worship vampires.."

"Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest Raziel." Kain said simply as he sat with his feet curled under him, studying a map.

The loud crash of metal on metal startled Salay from her nap. Raziel looked around. His sensitive ears could pick up the sound of people at the Drawbridge of the castle. He got up and looked down at Salay.

"Stay here! Do not even venture outside your room. and do not open the door unless youre sure who or what is behind it. This time you had best stay here." His white eyes fell upon her as he spoke and seemed to plead with her to heed his every word. She looked up at him with frightened eyes. "but.." "stay here!" he hised quietly. He was hissing not in anger but in worry. he repeated, "Stay here." and with that he silently slipped out of the room.

Raziel was not impressed when he found out what all the fuss was about. A group of vampire hunters stood at the fortress gates, demanding the release of the Raziel and his comapanions to them. they had followed them.

The fortress guard stood fast and simply said, "Never. They are safe within these walls and they leave only when they are ready."

Raziel stood upon the wall and spoke "It doesn't surprise me that you bloody idiots would still continue to pursue me. I should have known you would become like a horde of parasites."

"come down here and speak to my face, monster!" The leader called.

"You dont want me to do that." Raziel said calmly.

"And why not?"

"Because If I do come down there and say it, you can be certain that your body will be scattered about this field in pieces."

"Creature, you talk too much for one who fights alone."

"It is better to fight alone, than to be the leader of a bunch of imbeciles like yours."

"Come down or we will knock you down!"

Raziel grinned. "As you wish but you have been warned. Just remember when you are being torn limb from limb and screaming in excruciating pain, I will be laughing."

Raziel lept from the castle walls and glided easily down landing in front of the hunter. The hunter took a swipe at him and raziel easily dodged. "Is that all you've got?"

Within seconds, horde had rushed at Raziel. He lept up and swung himself onto the bannerpost.

"Well No need to hurry! I have forever. Do you?" he liked annoying the hunters. It was... amusing.

One hunter lit an arrow on fire and launched it at Raziel, the tip grazing the remnants of his wing and making him snarl in pain. "You fool!"

The hunter laughed...for it was the last thing he did.

In a matter of moments, Raziel had lept down, removed the unfortunate idiots head from his body, and lept back up to the post. While the hunters recovered from the sudden attack, Raziel took the time to do a quick survey. he had been overconfident. There was nothing for him to use as a weapon, besides his claws and against almost a hundred hunters, they were out of the question. Kain was there on the walls with him but it still wasn't enough. He was so taken with finding a way to beat them that he didn't see the bola coming towards him until it tangled around his limbs, toppling him to the ground. He landed with a heavy thud and hit so hard that he could see lights dancing in front of his eyes. He may have been beyond death but he was very dizzy and could not get up. He could tell the hunters were coming to pick him up and closed his eyes, waiting for the pain. all he heard before he was swept up from the ground was a thud, and a yell.

When he opened his eyes he was back inside the fortress and was looking into a pair of very worried, intelligent green eyes...

Green eyes?

Raziel didn't know anyone with green eyes...

"are you alright Raziel?" The voice that belonged to the eyes was male, and when Raziel managed to shake off the dizziness, he took a look at his saviour...as soon as he did, he wished he hadn't. He jumped and sprang to his feet. The green eyes did not change from concern. "I was wondering where you'd slunk off to."

"I felt so much shame after my hands bore you into the abyss, that I fled into the Winterlands and hid there awaitng your arrival. Waitingfor you to kill me as you did the others. You never came, so I remained there... until now. I was travelling back this way, and I saw you. I knew it was you Raziel, the vengeful look in your eyes could not be mistaken. Now, dear brother, you may kill me if you so desire. It is only fair after all that I have done to you." the eyes had still not changed, from concern and care. The creature was tall, on strong legs with broad shoulders. Long Ebon hair seemed to fall about him like a partial curtain. His eyes were full of intelligence, and emotion.

"what trickery is it you use now Turel?" Raziel spat.

"No trickery brother. " Turel knelt at Raziel's feet. "Do what you will with me."

Raziel had drawn his soul Reaver in anger and had raised it above his head, ready to strike down his brother. Kain silently turned his head. Just before he was to bring the sword down, something glistening caught his eye. Turel awaited his fate calm and stoic, the only thing betraying him were the two single acidic teardrops tracking down his face. Raziel dropped his hand and the soul reaver dissappeared. He has killed almost every one he had ever known. Turel was the only one left. "I have killed almost all of my own breathren, I cannot kill you."

Raziel did not know what was going on until he found himself in a warm embrace. Raziel, being the strongest one, and the oldest had never felt the warmth of close family. He felt a warmth spread through him and felt safe. He let his brother hold him, as he was still in shock. feeling that maybe...just maybe he could forgive his brother someday.

~after all the killing I've done, I am no different than he is.~

"I am...sorry." Turels voice wavered as he spoke, and there was no mistaking the emotion. He still had one brother left...

Kain watched from afar, pleased that history had rearranged its self so. He was proud of both of his sons, and that was something no one could take away.