Kerfera did not disappoint me and by the next morning she had joined her master at the bottom of the abyss. As I waited for Kain to return to the Sanctuary of the Clans, I had begun to get the overwhelming feeling that I was not alone amongst the pillars.

"Ovelin…" the female voice resounded off the pillars. My remembrance fluttered and I saw her. Nupraptor's lover…Balance of the Circle of Nine. 

"Ariel." I whispered. Memories flooded my conscience and I could see her so clearly it was almost like she was standing before me, alive and well. But as she floated towards me I saw a new Ariel; one I did not like at all.

"Has it been so long?" She asked softly. Her beautiful face was nearly gone replaced by the skeletal vagueness of a rotting corpse.

"Indeed it has, Ariel. Tell me…why do you haunt these woe begotten ruins of a once proud world?" Had time moved so swiftly? Had Ariel been dead so long?

"Not long after Vorador defeated the Serafan, the Unspoken murdered me and set Kain upon the Circle killing them all…" As I listened Ariel unfolded a tale that laid the fall of Nosgoth squarely on the shoulders of Kain. I was not totally surprised by this. Kain seemed the type to destroy a world single handedly. "You have done a terrible injustice, Ovelin." She ended quietly.

"He'll be all right." I answered quickly, thinking she meant Gathonel. "I haven't killed him yet."

"Not the fledgling." She told me. "In this life and the last, it was you who contributed to Nosgoth's downfall. You and your brother…" At her words, I screamed. The sound was primal and evil. The hall echoed the brutal sound eerily. Ariel disappeared. 

"Ovelin," This time it was Kain. "You get more depraved by the night don't you?" He sat on his throne sneering at me.

"Where is my reward?" I snarled back. I was in no mood to play games. "I've done what you asked of me."

"So you have." He agreed with a nod. "Your clan will be obtaining a new gift soon. In fact, I've already seen it happening in you and your master."

"Are you going to throw Rahab in the Abyss for it?" I shot back. "Is that to be my reward?"

Kain slammed his fists on the arms of the throne. "You should be thankful I told you that much!" He shouted. "Ungrateful cur. Get out of my sight." I weighed my options. I could stay and risk his anger further, picking the wound like the vulture I was. Or, I could lick my own wounds and live another day.

Deciding on the latter I turned and walked toward my home, my head held high, intent on telling Rahab of our upcoming gift…

When I was finished, Rahab said nothing. He sat on the edge of the bell tower and stared over the side. "So, Kain already knows." He said after a long moment of silence. "Somehow I'm not surprised." Standing he beckoned me to follow him down the winding staircase into a room below the tower.

"What new gift, pray tell, would he be referring to then?" I asked raising an eyebrow. I was beginning to get a little ill tempered this evening. I had not fed in days and had not truly rest ither.

Rahab stopped near the foot of the stairs.  In the short time I had been away, black water had overtaken the last three steps. He kneeled and before I could stop him he plunged his hand into the dark pool.

I waited, my whole body rigid, but after a few moments nothing happened. Shocked and amazed I watched on as Rahab stepped both feet into the ignominious water. "By the gods…" I murmured.  Rahab laughed at my lack of words and soon the two of us dived in and came up laughing anew unharmed.

For hours we swam until I had realized that exhaustion was the only thing threatening our existence. I returned to my chambers alone, euphoric. The dark gift (or curse as so many humans of my time had deemed it) could be mastered. Time was all I needed.

"Time?" The distinctive whine returned to me as if the Oracle stood before me. "Your time is nigh…"

Side by side the Serafan fought, our enemies falling under our feet. I could feel triumph just with my grasp. "For Nosgoth!" I shouted. But my victory cry was premature. From out of nowhere Vorador appeared, his sharp-toothed sword catching Dumah in the chest and throwing him backward. The battle was at a sudden stand still as we watched on horrified. Whirling around Vorador thrust his sword into Zephon, his eyes catching mine and holding them.

"Murderer!" He said loudly, jerking the sword from Zephon's wilting body. "Serafan." Zephon dropped to his knees, his body trembling in pain.

"Vorador." I answered coldly. My sword ready I gave a throaty growl and leapt for him. "Vampire scum!"

Vorador's sword met mine, sending sparks flying. "Ovelin, no!" The pleading voice belonged to my brother. Turning my head, I still couldn't make out his face. Vorador took that moment and his sword plunged into my arm.  I fell back in surprise tripping over Zephon. He was no longer breathing.

Turel took my place; he and the vampire scum Vorador battling across the fire lit terrain. My brother knelt next to me, but no matter how much I tired I still could not remember his name or see his face. I couldn't decide what was worse the pain in my arm or my anger.

I leapt up and ran for Vorador intent on his death. In slow motion I saw the vampire's hand go up and a ball, shinning a vibrant green, flew towards me. At the last moment, my own body still frozen in place, Melchia pushed me out of the way and I watched helplessly as the Putrescence spell ate away at his flesh.  Melchia's wailing was short lived. Vorador snarled at me, his yellow eyes gleaming in anger. Then, he turned back to Turel and promptly removed his head.

"Turel!" Dumah screamed weakly. He forced himself to his feet using his sword to hold him up. Dumah and Turel had been friends since their childhood. Vorador cared about that as much as we had cared about his vampire brides and he didn't bother to stop his attack. Dumah turned to me his own sword protruding from his back, his gasps coming in bloody gurgles. Dumah's body hit the ground with a heavy thud and four of us remained to fight an impossible enemy.

I swore that Vorador would die before night fell. "Demon!" I cried angrily.

"I am what I am, Serafan." He told me bluntly...