(Author's Note: Okay, for you fans of the SR/TR series out there: as I have been working on that series for nearly 2 years now, I am going to take about a month or two long hiatus from it. This will keep me from getting utterly sick of the characters and will allow me to recharge. It is by no means dead, and I still have plenty of ideas, but I want to take some time and focus on updating this story, the Shay'Telnira story, and a few other ideas I've had running around in my head for a while. So many thanks for your understanding and know it WILL be back. ^^)
The cold night air caressed across her skin as Lara leaned around one of the boxes that seemed almost strategically placed to allow someone to sneak toward the workers' commons without being noticed. The vampire beside her radiated tense energy as both watched a pair of guards meander slowly through the open courtyard. As the two guards walked passed, Kain quickly stood and darted to the next box ahead. Lara rolled her eyes and swore silently to herself at the vampire's impatient move as the guards, who had caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of their eyes, turned toward the box and drew their blades. She quickly pulled herself up onto the boxes and as the vampire rapidly moved toward the door and the guards passed underneath her, she jumped to the next box, landing silently. With a quick check on the progress of the guards, she hopped off the box and caught up the vampire as he entered the workers' commons. She shut the door swiftly and glared up at the vampire. He chose to ignore her as he headed into the building.
A bared door blocking their path suddenly impeded their progress. Next to it was a switch that wasn't activated. Kain snarled in annoyance and Lara sighed.
"Bugger."
"Wait here, woman," Kain stated as he turned to head back the way they came.
"Wait here?" she repeated. "What do you think I am? The perfectly docile housewife who will allow the big, strong man to do everything on his own?" Lara crossed her arms over her chest in irritation.
Kain snorted once, shooting a look at her over his shoulder.
"On the contrary, if you stay here, it means you can go in ahead of me and find out what lies ahead."
She eyed the vampire. "Are you subtly insulting me? I never thought you capable of such deceptions."
"Subtle? Whoever said I was being subtle in my insults?" he queried, a look of amusement across his face. He shook his head and stalked down the hall, heading away from her. Lara sighed deeply and leaned against the wall. That vampire certainly got under her skin.
After a short time, the green mist that indicated an activated glyph slid down the tubing reaching the switch. Once it had charged the switch, Lara pulled the lever and headed into the hall beyond, heading up a flight of stairs. At the top of the stairs, she leaned around to see the room beyond was a sort of mess hall. At the far end was another gate and a knight wielding a huge sword-axe weapon. She heard soft footsteps behind her and knew Kain had caught up. She felt him stop just behind her, looking out into the room.
"All right," Lara sighed softly, "there's only one guard and a gate behind him. If we move carefully, we can get around without attracting too much attention—"
Her sentence was cut off abruptly as Kain vaulted over her much like a large cat and dove onto the knight, his claws ripping into the mortal's skin and armor. The human peasant in the room screamed in fear and shoved passed Lara roughly to race downstairs. Lara groaned softly as Kain fed. She stormed up to him.
"You know absolutely nothing about espionage, do you?"
"I know of the concept, but I also know when I'm hungry." He gave her a cruel grin. "Would you like to volunteer for dinner, or do I continue with the 'eat the enemy' approach?"
Lara stared at the vampire a moment before shoving passed him, rolling her eyes. The man just didn't stop. She flipped open the gate and headed up the next flight of stairs to the top of the building. Below was a huge open courtyard with a high bridge and a locked and closed door at the other end. Beside her, Kain stiffened as Vorador reached out his conscious mind in search of the younger vampire.
The vampire abruptly chuckled as Vorador inquired whether he had been followed.
"These humans never looked twice in my direction. Little do they realize their future lord walks among them. Now, tell me of this place." As Vorador related what he knew, Kain stalked down the building's walkway, looking at the peasants on the ground below and the two female guards patrolling the bridge. Once the elder vampire had concluded, Kain finalized, "Have you any further wisdom to dispense?"
After a moment longer, the vampire nodded, then dropped down silently onto the bridge, about ten feet from the back of the guard who unwisely had her back toward both human and vampire. Lara grabbed the edge of the roof and carefully lowered herself to the stone bridge below. The vampire looked at the two guards, then back at the human.
"Have fun," he stated, a cruel grin gracing his features, before he jumped off the building to glide down to the ground below. Lara's eye twitched as the guard turned to see who had spoken. She was really going to kill him one of these days.
She quickly killed both guards and glanced down to see Kain flip on the switch below so the lever for the door would power up. A few quick jumps onto sets of blocks and he had climbed back onto the bridge again. As he fed on the two guards' bodies, Lara shot him a glare before flipping the lever up and cautiously stepping in. In the room beyond were three smaller rooms, and the two that had windows out into the hall had guards. A door was located on the right side, a pipe going from it to the room on her far left. Mist flowed over the ground in great amounts. Kain grabbed her by the shoulders firmly, but not strong enough to damage her terribly, and moved her out of the way so he could see clearly without her in front of him. He took in the situation quickly, then moved carefully so the guard in the left room could not see him. He concentrated a moment, then activated his Charm gift, wresting control of the human peasant so he went and turned the lever to activate the door. Kain relaxed before his gaze went to the mist on the floor. Fueling his blood down a different magical path, he felt his body become insubstantial as he merged into the mist, heading passed the guard and out the door. Lara glared at him for his blatant use of supernatural powers and not relying on his wits. She wanted to make a scathing remark about it, but she realized if she had the ability, she would use it, and there were many other things Lara would rather be than a hypocrite.
She released a breath, slid into a crouch, and carefully moved passed the window and out the door. Kain stood leaning against the door, waiting for his errant mortal to get out into the room beyond. Once she had stood and brushed herself off, he stalked over to a large elevator and stepped on it, his weight causing it to click and whir as it prepared to descend. Lara hopped onto it as it sank into a large room with a huge machine above a lower level. Quickly heading around, they saw another lever. Lara pulled it experimentally, but it didn't move. Seeing the problem, Kain easily leaped over the edge and floated down to the lower level. He made a quick circuit of the room turning the switches on that activated the machine. Only when he had turned on the last one did the lever up where Lara was standing click. There was a low whirring followed by a metallic clicking as the machine started up. Lara quickly descended the ladder and stood next to Kain as a small, knee-high box with symbols across it was brought in on a conveyer belt and stopped in the center. The machine let out a high pitched whine as green light began coalescing into the box.
"What is that?" Lara inquired softly. The workers around them gave the two an odd look, but continued about their job.
"It's a glyph box, apparently being fueled."
The box turned green as he finished his sentence and the conveyer belt started again. The vampire easily jumped up on it and the human followed after, gazing around at the machine as if memorizing it. Her eyes narrowed at its construction, but as they entered a smaller side room, she jumped off the conveyer belt. The box rolled into an open hole, apparently to some part of the factory below. Kain had already walked out into an open area of the factory. Lara walked out after him and they found themselves standing in a sort of hall between two buildings, the one they had just left, and another. Lara made a soothing motion at Kain, seeing the building was blocked up by two metal panels set into the stone.
"Wait here and let me look around. I'll be back in a moment."
He raised an eyebrow at her audacity.
"Now you're the one telling me to wait here?" It was so ludicrous he almost found it amusing. She met his gaze evenly.
"I am obviously more experienced in espionage than you, and I can find my way around. I just want to see if there's a side doorway we can find our way into."
"Fine." Kain rolled his eyes as he shook his head. "Have fun. I will be waiting when you return in defeat."
Lara sighed in annoyance before jogging lightly off. Kain cracked his knuckles, adjusted his gauntlets, and leaned back against the metal paneling. Unbeknownst to the vampire, within two guards were discussing a large object with a switch and if it was dangerous or not. The gruffer one advised against it, but the younger guard flipped the switch anyway.
A booming explosion brought Lara quickly back to the side of the building to see the metal paneling and a good portion of the stone had been blown out. Kain growled lowly from face-first on the ground and pushed himself up, shaking the dust and debris off his body. As he calmly adjusted his gauntlets again, he glared at Lara.
"That is the last time I listen to you, woman."
There were sudden shouts of surprise and both turned to see two guards race down the stairs toward them.
"I really do hate you, human."
"The feeling's mutual, vampire."
As one, Kain pulled back, his claws ready, and Lara pulled out her pistols. After a few moments and some gunshots, the two headed up to calmly step onto a gondola that was to take them to the main part of the factory. Lara settled down on one of the seats and Kain stood near the front, brooding. He glared at her from under his eyebrows while she staunchly ignored him.
Finally the gondola came to a halt in front of the main factory and Kain bounded from the tram to the platform much like a large predatory cat. Lara cautiously stepped out and watched as Kain stalked to the right side of the platform, grabbing onto a ladder and climbing upward. Lara headed over to the ladder to follow him. Three levels and the death of four female guards later, they stood at a large steel door. Lara quickly flipped the lever up and watched as the door slid away from them. Inside was another ladder and beyond that, a huge hallway like room with a grate over water. Four waterfalls, two on each side, coursed down the walls in a beautiful architecture design. Kain's eye twitched at the water before his gaze settled on two knights walking the length of the room. One of the knights noticed him and raced toward him. Kain gently pushed Lara back slightly and waited as the knight came up to him. The vampire easily caught the knight's feeble attacks before the armored man leaned back, panting heavily. Kain grinned maliciously, caught the knight by his throat, and tossed him down the shaft to the room below. By this time the other knight had noticed him, and Kain repeated the process. He dropped down to feed, then absconded with one of the knight's sword-axe weapons in tow. The two continued to a large elevator and headed up further into the factory.
The elevator brought them outside and they quickly traversed it, finding another one at the end of the path that took them down near the water. Lara sighed, annoyed.
"This place is a labyrinth."
Kain chuckled dryly. "This is nothing considering the slums of Meridian."
After a bit more, they found themselves in the final factory complex of the Industrial Quarter, and it was most obnoxiously wrought with hallways and closed doors. Finally climbing up the stairs to an open area, the two used a small train-like car armed with an explosive to blow a hole in the stone. After a quick jaunt through a cavern and the destruction of more than a few knights and guards, they finally arrived at a deeper part of the factory. Kain caught Lara by the shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he looked through one of the windows. Lara slid out of his grip and spotted what it was that drew his attention; inside the room were a guard, a glyph knight, and a tall male wearing a long black cape and steel armor.
"Sire!" the glyph knight cried. "A body! We found a body, sire!"
"It won't be the last," the male responded, his voice echoing strangely. "He is here. I sense the taint of his overwhelming arrogance. Call the guards in the power chamber. He must not be allowed to approach the Nexus Stone."
"Who is it, sire?" the human inquired worriedly.
"An old friend who will finally learn his place in the world at last. If you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, report to me at once."
The male moved out of sight range and Lara looked up at Kain to see his eyes were narrowed in rage.
"Who might he be?"
"I don't know," the vampire answered tersely. "He has been following me all night."
"And you haven't stopped him?" Lara raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"He's very good," was the short response. Kain threw out his power into a human worker, forcing him to open the door for the two. As soon as Kain had stepped it, he melted into his mist form and quickly snapped the neck of the guard. Lara followed after and emptied a pair of clips into the glyph knight. Lara stepped up to the body, looking down at it coldly.
"I suppose he won't be reporting to his 'sire' anytime soon."
"On the contrary, human," Kain responded, heading toward the door. "He can give this vampire a full report in hell once we send him to meet the human."
The two ran quickly up to another elevator that took them up one more floor and out into a huge open cavern with tracks along the floor. Following one of the trains that apparently carted material to and fro, they found one last elevator and took it to the final level. After heading through a shorter cavern, both finally ended in a large, open and clean area of the factory. Kain turned and walked down a flight of stairs to a large room with fires against the wall and a circular blue stone set into the floor. Stopping on it, he felt it shudder as it started to rise. He leaned out and caught Lara by the arm, bringing her onto the platform. It came to a stop in a circular room with a large machine above their head. In a round aura of power was a triangular golden and blue stone. Kain smirked as he started to reach for it.
"Behold, the great Kain, now a common thief," a voice purred out of the darkness. Kain's face whipped around to see the male who had been watching him all knight and he recognize him.
"Sebastion," Kain growled, "it is you who has been following me."
"And how long it took you to discover it. My master sent me to prevent your meddling further. He had not been aware that you had company, of course," he shot a deadly look at Lara, "but I decide to take the liberty to end him of that problem as well. Now you will both die."
"Your master knows his days are numbered," Kain retorted, moving every so slightly so he stood somewhat between the vampire and the human. "I might have spared your life by asking that you join me, but I learned that lesson two hundred years ago. You arranged the ambush that destroyed my arm. You sold yourself to our enemy."
"I dealt the blow that cost you the war. Glorious, was it not? So many kills so quickly, and all my doing." Sebastion sighed in pleasure at the memory.
"I never learned why."
"Did you think I would serve while you ruled Nosgoth?" Sebastion growled angrily. "You and not I? The Sarafan Lord knows how to value me. I am to rule by his side and achieve what you never could."
Lara glanced around and noticed out of the corner of her eye a box-like room set at the top of the chamber. Inside, a human ran to a switch and pulled it, then pulled another one. The pedestal sank to the ground of the room and mist started streaming out of fissures in the walls.
"You fool!" Kain chuckled dryly. "Do you think that butcher will let you live one moment longer than he has need of you? I will save you from your disappointment, Sebastion, and kill you now."
"I have waited two hundred years for the pleasure of killing you with my own hands," Sebastion laughed. "While you have been sleeping, my powers have been increasing. You haven't the smallest chance of defeating me. Besides, I saw what you are capable of, you and that . . . mortal." He smirked. "I've been watching you, and, unlike Marcus, I had forewarning there would be two of you here." He reached back and pulled out a long sword, it's silver blade sweeping out with a serrated edge. It was nearly as long as he was tall, but Sebastion wielded it like it was a feather. Kain cracked his knuckles.
"This just got more interesting."
Sebastion lunged forward, the sword screaming as it sheered the air, and Kain instantly brought his gauntlets up to block the strike. The metal of his armor gave a groan in protest at the strength behind the strike. Lara quickly moved to where she could shoot the vampire and not worry about hitting her compatriot. Sebastion growled in fury as the metal bullets buried into his skin while he exchanged block and parry with Kain. He could feel his power grow to immeasurable heights, the pain flowing into his body and beginning to awaken his Dark Gifts. He pulled the blade back as red fire crackled across its length and slammed forward, hitting Kain who had been caught off-guard by the sudden change in tactics. Given the ability to finally get everything he had felt for the last two hundred years out on the object of his hatred, he lunged forward as Kain tried to regain his composure. Lara's eyes widened at the savagery of the attacks and she felt worry hit her as she saw Kain's armor was beginning to rend back and split. The mist that poured out of the walls was getting closer to the two, and she knew what the water would do to Kain. She sprinted closer to the fight and brought her pistols up to the back of Sebastion's head before unloading both clips. Sebastion let out an animalistic scream of pain and rage and swung around, his arm catching Lara and sending her back, sliding painfully across the floor. Sebastion spun and pounced on her, his claws wrapping around her throat and beginning to squeeze painfully. He released her throat with one hand as Kain coughed, shoving himself up. Sebastion's hand curled into a fist as he prepared to punch Lara in the gut.
"Any last words, human?" he snarled softly. Lara's eyes stayed firmly on his.
"Gun!" she managed out. Sebastion looked taken back for a second, but Kain understood. He grabbed her back, pulled the first weapon out he touched, and tossed it across to her. Lara's fingers found it and she smiled thinly as she recognized it: her shotgun. She brought it around and shot both barrels into Sebastion's body. At such close range, the explosion shoved his body back as the it punched through his armor. Lara stood, coughing a few times, but kept shooting up until the vampire was rammed against the wall. The mist poured over his body and Sebastion screamed in pain, but Lara kept firing, keeping him firmly in the steam.
Finally, his voice died out and Sebastion slumped forward. The mist moved on and Kain moved toward him cautiously.
"Tell me of the Nexus Stone and this portal," Kain demanded. "What is its purpose here? Speak, and I will spare your life."
Sebastion coughed a few times. "You lie in your throat and we both know it. You are going to kill me."
"Indulge me, then, before you die."
"I'll tell you so that I may see your face when you learn you are powerless, you cannot win, your death is inevitable." Sebastion moved away from the steam vents and Lara sat down heavily on the stone, relearning how to breathe. Sebastion continued.
"The Nexus Stone's portal leads to an ancient device deep underground that will spell your destruction, Kain. A new reign with being in Nosgoth."
"What is the purpose of this device? How will it serve the Sarafan Lord?"
Sebastion sighed. "Alas, he has not entrusted me with that knowledge. But soon everyone will know it. His plans are even now coming into fruition."
"Where is the device?" Kain pressed. "Where under the earth?"
"It lies beneath Meridian. Seek for it, if you like. I die happy in the knowledge that all your efforts will be wasted." He turned to look at Lara out of the corner of his eye. "I do hope he kills you. I look forward to meeting you again in whatever comes after this, human."
Seeing the vampire's body cease to function, Kain sighed.
"Oh, Sebastion, our destiny could have been glorious. The land was ours for the taking. History would have been rewritten in our image. But not everyone shared my vision. And now your time is up. Your death will only make me stronger. I hope that knowledge comforts you, in your grave."
Kain closed his eyes and extended his hand, feeling the energy of Sebastion's power rise out of his body and is consumed by Kain's own. He gripped his body in pain before it diminished leaving the feeling of greater power. Kain straightened and walked over to Lara. She looked up at him a moment. About to stand, she paused in surprise when he offered her a hand. She met his gaze a moment, and his gaze told her if she made anything of it, the offer would be revoked. Not saying anything, she calmly took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. He caught her up in his arms and jumped up to the platform that had rose during the fight and set her down again. He stepped up to the Nexus Stone and grabbed it, pulling it out of its place before setting it in a clip on his breastplate.
Abruptly, there was an explosion and the factory rocked on its base. Kain glanced around and Lara stiffened in worry. Another explosion sounded, sending the human flying out of his place above. The vampire turned to stare at his human compatriot and both realized what was going on: the factory was falling apart. Kain quickly picked Lara up and jumped to where the human had been, looking around for an escape. None was to be found.
The factory rocked again, and Lara's head was painful smashed against the wall. She hissed slightly and Kain looked down at her, assessing the damage in an instant. When he knew it wasn't fatal, he pulled her closer to his body and moved away from falling machine parts. Lara's vision swam before fading into darkness and Kain retained consciousness long enough to keep Lara away from the greatest part of the explosions.
"Awaken," a voice gently said. Lara blinked awake slowly. Above her was a green-skinned face. Vorador helped her sit up. She looked over to find herself sitting on a sarcophagus top, Kain next to her. His eyes were tightly shut, and multiple burn wounds abound across his body.
"Is he alive?" Lara asked, genuine concern in her voice.
"Yes," Vorador answered. "When the factory met its untimely end, one of our vampires in the area found you two and brought you in."
Lara rubbed the back of her head. "I remember the entire place going up. How am I still alive?"
Vorador touched Kain's arm.
"It seemed he decided you were worth saving. It appears from the damage to his back that he kept you shielded from most of the beating."
Lara's eyes widened. "He . . . did that?"
Vorador chuckled. "I would never have thought him capable of such compassion. Perhaps it is more that he respects you. I do not know, nor do I ever wish to understand his mind. Come, you must wish to bathe and clean yourself up."
Lara slid slowly off the sarcophagus, then turned back.
"Will he be all right?"
"Of course. Our bodies can mend very quickly. He will awaken within an hour or so. Come."
Lara followed the vampire to have a well-deserved bath.
Kain blinked awake slowly, feeling the aches across his body.
"You are welcome back," Umah greeted from above him. "How do you feel?"
Kain sat up stiffly, a hand going to his chest. "A little better than dead. How did I come here? And where is Lara?"
"You are fortunate," Vorador stated from nearby. "One of our vampires saw you thrown from the roof of the factory as it was destroyed. He carried you here. The Sarafan were too occupied to notice you. As for your human compatriot, she is currently freshening up. She woke only about twenty minutes ago." He smirked, pointing to the gem on Kain's armor. "I see you have the Nexus Stone."
"And I see that you were courteous enough not to relieve me of it while I lay unconscious. We met another old friend, a vampire guarding it. Before I killed him, he told me something . . . unsettling. He spoke of an ancient device underground that will bring about victory for the Sarafan Lord. What do you know of this, Vorador?"
The ancient vampire considered the information carefully.
"I have heard tell of strange discoveries deep underground. Ancient legends speak of huge machines deep in the earth, left behind by the guards in eons passed. And I know the one who can tell us the truth of this matter. She is a Seer, a being said to be older even than I. We are fortunate in that she owes me a favor. Go to her, Kain, and learn what she knows."
"Go to her?" Kain repeated incredulously. "This city is a walled fortress. How do you propose I get out? And I suppose you will beset me with requests to take that irritating woman with me."
Vorador shook his head. "Not this time, Kain. As strong as she is, I doubt her ability to survive this road. Take her only if you want to watch over her and care for her. As for getting out, there is a secret way out of the city. I will show it to you. You may follow the canyon that leads north to her abode. The way will not be easy. Strange beasts roam outside the city, preying on travelers. The people call them demons."
"I believe I have met one of these already. I hope your Seer's knowledge is worth the risk. In the meantime, where is Lara?"
"She is in one of the private chambers." Vorador raised a claw and one of the male vampires came up to his side.
"Show our guest to the human, please."
"Yes, sire."
Kain was led into the back halls and to one of the side doors. The vampire guide quickly retreated and Kain knocked once on the door before entering. Lara straightened after have dried herself off completely, a towel wrapped around her body, her hair unbraided and down across her back. She looked at Kain expectantly as he studied her a moment.
"Yes?"
Kain simply walked to the bed and set her backpack down on it. He turned to her.
"Get ready. We leave in an hour. We're leaving the city."
He turned and headed out of the room. Lara looked at her backpack a long moment before a small smile flitted across her face. Her situation was beginning to look up.