Chapter Eight: Interlude Two
"The Sarafan warriors have begun to build their numbers, my lord," said a female voice. Her companion shifted uneasily.
"Are they headed this way Umah?" the vampire Vorador inquired nervously.
"No, my lord. I do not understand it. They have begun traveling towards a human settlement. It makes no sense."
"They must be attempting to recruit new fighters. Our last encounter with the Sarafan has caused heavy casualties on both sides."
"Unfortunately, our casualties were far greater than the Sarafan's losses. With that Mobius meddling in this war, we are helpless. We must find a way to eliminate him," replied Umah.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" interrupted the sound of a third, unfamiliar voice. Umah and Vorador turned towards the shadows in surprise. Out from the darkness emerged the form of Kain. Vorador studied his new 'guest' warily. It was obvious that whoever this was, he was a vampire. But how Vorador never knew of this vampire's existence beforehand was a mystery to him.
"And who might you be?" Vorador demanded. "And how did you find my mansion? It is so far secluded in the swamps of Nosgoth that not even most vampires can find there way here."
"You could say that I am an ally," replied Kain, slightly disguising his voice. No need to cause questions that he couldn't answer without altering the course of time yet again. "And as to how I found your little hideaway...let's just say that I've known the location of your mansion for quite some time now."
"What business do you have with us then?" Umah demanded to know the stranger's reason for his intrusion. She didn't trust him. She could sense something different about him.
"Like I said before, I am a friend. I know your numbers are dwindling. You need all the help you can get. I am here to ensure the fall of the Sarafan Lord. You can count on that," replied Kain.
"And what assurance do you claim to have? You have yet to prove yourself," Umah inquired.
"This..." the future lord of vampires stated, as he unsheathed the Soul Reaver from his back. Umah and Vorador gasped in surprise.
"The Soul Reaver! But how? The Sarafan Lord has had that blade in his possession since he defeated Kain! Does this mean he is defeated?" Vorador exclaimed.
"Unfortunately, no," Kain replied bluntly.
"So you are a lackey for the Sarafan Lord then! Here to destroy the leader of the vampire resistance!" Umah declared as she leapt at Kain, determined to defend the un-life of her lord. Kain simply blocked her attack and batted her away with his free hand. Umah quickly recovered, crouching in a defensive stance, waiting for a counter attack that never came. She realized that this stranger was far too powerful for her to combat. Kain calmly remained where he was.
"Dear child, if I were here to kill Vorador, I would have been able to do it ten times over again already," he pointed out the obvious.
"Then how did you acquire the Soul Reaver," Vorador questioned curiously. Kain sheathed the blade.
"The Sarafan Lord still possesses the Reaver. The one I possess now is not from this time. This Reaver is from the past," explained Kain.
"So, you work for Mobius then," Umah deduced.
"Hardly. I was once a pawn of his, but I use his very own devices against him now. I have traveled to this time in hopes of stopping the Sarafan Lord from completing his plan."
"And how would you know what his plan would be?" inquired a forth voice. All heads turned to the direction of the female's voice. The sound of footsteps slowly crossing the wooden floor resonated through the room as the figure emerged from the shadows. Kain sneered at the newest arrival as she came into view. She was a Sarafan.
"Ah, Jenise. How is our guest faring? Has he stirred from his sleep yet?" Vorador welcomed the priestess. He seemed to have an enthusiastic liking for this woman.
"I'm afraid his condition has not changed. The Sarafan Lord really did a number on him if he has been unconscious for this many years. Seems like Kain will remain this way for quite a few more years to come," she replied. Kain was barely able to notice the hidden hesistation the priestess held towards Vorador.
"You have allowed a Sarafan into your midst? And a priestess at that?" fumed Kain, almost forgetting to disguise his voice.
"Ex-Sarafan," corrected Jenise. "I am no longer a pawn to that inhuman monster. Not after learning the truth." This bit of information piqued Kain's interest.
"And what truth have you come to discover, milady?"
"The Sarafan Lord isn't even human. He is a demon. A member of a race of beings called the Hilden. They are infesting on our world, trying to take it over for their own. The only thing preventing the Hilden from a full invasion on Nosgoth is the existence of the vampires. And the Hilden are using humans to do this dirty work for them," Jenise explained with disgust. Kain snorted. He already knew this information. "Now you tell me, vampire, how did you know what the Sarafan Lord intends to do?"
"I know how Mobius's tools of time work. I have used them to see into this era," Kain bent the truth ever so slightly so as to prevent revealing his identity. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some investigating I must attend to." With that last statement, Kain faded to nothingness as he teleported himself away.
"I don't trust him," replied Jenise, glaring at the spot Kain once occupied.
"Neither do I," agreed Umah. "I refuse to trust someone who doesn't even give the courtesy of giving his name.
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice but to trust him," Vorador commented. "He had ample time to do us all in, even after he revealed himself. But yet he chose not to. He knows something, and I am determined to learn what knowledge he possesses."
"So, what is our next move?" Umah inquired, changing the subject.
"You say the Sarafan are on the move?" questioned Jenise. "Where are they headed?"
"To a secluded village," answered Vorador. "Not far from the stronghold. Just beyond a mountain range I believe. Is that right Umah?"
"Correct, my lord. It is a difficult journey to this town. Very treacherous. That was the reasoning behind its location. Though why they would want to travel all the way to Nochton for new recruits is beyond me." Jenise's jaw dropped in shock.
"They don't plan on recruiting the villagers of Nochton. They are planning to attack it. I must go!" Jenise quickly departed, all thoughts on saving her home village.
"The Sarafan warriors have begun to build their numbers, my lord," said a female voice. Her companion shifted uneasily.
"Are they headed this way Umah?" the vampire Vorador inquired nervously.
"No, my lord. I do not understand it. They have begun traveling towards a human settlement. It makes no sense."
"They must be attempting to recruit new fighters. Our last encounter with the Sarafan has caused heavy casualties on both sides."
"Unfortunately, our casualties were far greater than the Sarafan's losses. With that Mobius meddling in this war, we are helpless. We must find a way to eliminate him," replied Umah.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" interrupted the sound of a third, unfamiliar voice. Umah and Vorador turned towards the shadows in surprise. Out from the darkness emerged the form of Kain. Vorador studied his new 'guest' warily. It was obvious that whoever this was, he was a vampire. But how Vorador never knew of this vampire's existence beforehand was a mystery to him.
"And who might you be?" Vorador demanded. "And how did you find my mansion? It is so far secluded in the swamps of Nosgoth that not even most vampires can find there way here."
"You could say that I am an ally," replied Kain, slightly disguising his voice. No need to cause questions that he couldn't answer without altering the course of time yet again. "And as to how I found your little hideaway...let's just say that I've known the location of your mansion for quite some time now."
"What business do you have with us then?" Umah demanded to know the stranger's reason for his intrusion. She didn't trust him. She could sense something different about him.
"Like I said before, I am a friend. I know your numbers are dwindling. You need all the help you can get. I am here to ensure the fall of the Sarafan Lord. You can count on that," replied Kain.
"And what assurance do you claim to have? You have yet to prove yourself," Umah inquired.
"This..." the future lord of vampires stated, as he unsheathed the Soul Reaver from his back. Umah and Vorador gasped in surprise.
"The Soul Reaver! But how? The Sarafan Lord has had that blade in his possession since he defeated Kain! Does this mean he is defeated?" Vorador exclaimed.
"Unfortunately, no," Kain replied bluntly.
"So you are a lackey for the Sarafan Lord then! Here to destroy the leader of the vampire resistance!" Umah declared as she leapt at Kain, determined to defend the un-life of her lord. Kain simply blocked her attack and batted her away with his free hand. Umah quickly recovered, crouching in a defensive stance, waiting for a counter attack that never came. She realized that this stranger was far too powerful for her to combat. Kain calmly remained where he was.
"Dear child, if I were here to kill Vorador, I would have been able to do it ten times over again already," he pointed out the obvious.
"Then how did you acquire the Soul Reaver," Vorador questioned curiously. Kain sheathed the blade.
"The Sarafan Lord still possesses the Reaver. The one I possess now is not from this time. This Reaver is from the past," explained Kain.
"So, you work for Mobius then," Umah deduced.
"Hardly. I was once a pawn of his, but I use his very own devices against him now. I have traveled to this time in hopes of stopping the Sarafan Lord from completing his plan."
"And how would you know what his plan would be?" inquired a forth voice. All heads turned to the direction of the female's voice. The sound of footsteps slowly crossing the wooden floor resonated through the room as the figure emerged from the shadows. Kain sneered at the newest arrival as she came into view. She was a Sarafan.
"Ah, Jenise. How is our guest faring? Has he stirred from his sleep yet?" Vorador welcomed the priestess. He seemed to have an enthusiastic liking for this woman.
"I'm afraid his condition has not changed. The Sarafan Lord really did a number on him if he has been unconscious for this many years. Seems like Kain will remain this way for quite a few more years to come," she replied. Kain was barely able to notice the hidden hesistation the priestess held towards Vorador.
"You have allowed a Sarafan into your midst? And a priestess at that?" fumed Kain, almost forgetting to disguise his voice.
"Ex-Sarafan," corrected Jenise. "I am no longer a pawn to that inhuman monster. Not after learning the truth." This bit of information piqued Kain's interest.
"And what truth have you come to discover, milady?"
"The Sarafan Lord isn't even human. He is a demon. A member of a race of beings called the Hilden. They are infesting on our world, trying to take it over for their own. The only thing preventing the Hilden from a full invasion on Nosgoth is the existence of the vampires. And the Hilden are using humans to do this dirty work for them," Jenise explained with disgust. Kain snorted. He already knew this information. "Now you tell me, vampire, how did you know what the Sarafan Lord intends to do?"
"I know how Mobius's tools of time work. I have used them to see into this era," Kain bent the truth ever so slightly so as to prevent revealing his identity. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some investigating I must attend to." With that last statement, Kain faded to nothingness as he teleported himself away.
"I don't trust him," replied Jenise, glaring at the spot Kain once occupied.
"Neither do I," agreed Umah. "I refuse to trust someone who doesn't even give the courtesy of giving his name.
"I'm afraid we don't have a choice but to trust him," Vorador commented. "He had ample time to do us all in, even after he revealed himself. But yet he chose not to. He knows something, and I am determined to learn what knowledge he possesses."
"So, what is our next move?" Umah inquired, changing the subject.
"You say the Sarafan are on the move?" questioned Jenise. "Where are they headed?"
"To a secluded village," answered Vorador. "Not far from the stronghold. Just beyond a mountain range I believe. Is that right Umah?"
"Correct, my lord. It is a difficult journey to this town. Very treacherous. That was the reasoning behind its location. Though why they would want to travel all the way to Nochton for new recruits is beyond me." Jenise's jaw dropped in shock.
"They don't plan on recruiting the villagers of Nochton. They are planning to attack it. I must go!" Jenise quickly departed, all thoughts on saving her home village.