The Last Born Son


Raziel stepped forth from the tomb that was once his own. Even thought he was within the spectral realm he knew the sun was near the completion of it's daily course. Raziel's mind reeled with his new found history. The hatred of Kain growing more and more inside him. Each moment away from the grave robing Kain, made Raziel loath his ex lord even further. That "thing" he had once called master would die, slowly and painfully. Not only for Raziel's vengeance, not only for turning of his brother's in arms, but for Nosgoth itself, and last of humanity that lived on it's baron land.

Raziel almost hated that there was not a sluagh in sight. He needed something to place his wrath upon. To tear the beast from limb to limb and imagine the thing was Kain. The wrath blade, the once all powerful Soul Reaver, twitched on his right arm and hand. It hungered for Kain's death as well as Raziel. Then and only then would both blade and master would be contented.

Raziel sighed. Back to the material world where he could find one his brother's, Dumah's, children to destroy. He found the blue portal that sat outside the tomb. It lay there before a monument that bore the inscription of the proud deeds that he and brothers had once done. He entered to blue swirling mass that poured forth from the earth. He gathered his energies and with all his force willed himself into the material world.

Raziel heard a high-pitched call. The sound would have pierced his eardrums if he still had any. IT made his head hurt. When the call subsided, Raziel looked forth to where the sound had come from. A creature akin to a bat clung to the monument. Its large red eyes stared at Raziel in shock. The beast climbed to the monument's top and perched there.

The beast, bat like, was brown in color, with a black mane that flowed down it's back and around the sides of it's neck. It's face, quite humanoid with long, high crested, and pointed ears. The creature's arms were enormous wings, on which the beast balanced upon two claws, leaving the third to extend the wing. Raziel knew the beast was a true flyer, for it's chest was large and muscled, perfect to bear the weigh of the beast. The legs of the beast were short and it's feet had two toes that ended in claws. The only clothing it wore was a loin cloth, which hung low on the beast's hips.

It called again. Raziel head began to ring. He wanted to silence the beast once and for all. As he looked upon it, ready to pounce, he noticed the beast had the fangs of a vampire! Could this beast be one of his brother's children? Could it be calling for more of it's kind? It did not attack, could the beast be frightened of him? Maybe it was something the Elder God sent to, help him, on his journey? The beast finale became silent.

"Creature! Why do you come here, to a place where the Lord Kain has forbidden all," the beast questioned a startled Raziel. The beast's voice was high, but masculine at the same time.

"So you know of Kain," hissed Raziel. "By any means do you know of where I could find him, beast!"

The beast stared at Raziel, every once and a while its large eyes glanced at the wrath blade. It finally spoke, "I know not where Lord Kain is, and I care even less to know. I ask you, why do you seek him? It will only lead to your destruction. Are you a new son of his sent to finish off what he could not complete by himself? I may be young, but I will not fall so easily." The beast bared its teeth and gave another cry.

Raziel wavered from the sound, but tried not to show his weakness. He would not be killed by a fledgling. When he regained himself, Raziel called back to the beast, "I shall be the destroyer, not Kain. I will have my vengeance on him. I am no longer his son, ever since he ordered me to be cast into the Abyss." Raziel thrust the wrath blade toward the beast. "If you are to stand in my way, then you shall fall with him!"

The beast backed down, a look of confusion in it's eyes. "You were cast into the Abyss? So was my master." It's voice was less threatening, more like a child questioning a parent. "After my lord was killed, Lord Kain sent his remaining lieutenants to exterminate my kind. I am the last," it lied.

Raziel let his right arm drop. Could this be the last of his once proud clan? No creature could be one of his children. But a millennium had passed and like his brothers had changed could this be what he would have evolved into? He needed to know. "Speak the name of your lord. I may have known him."

It remained silent for some time. Then it spoke, "My lord's name was Raziel."

Raziel stepped back. This was one of his own children. Kain had not killed them off entirely, one survived. His child though young and the last would be of some help. "I am your Lord Raziel," he spoke, "I am glad my clan survived, though how be it only one. I am still glad." Raziel would have smiled if he could.

The child thrust itself into the air only to land beside Raziel. He bowed low, placing his chin on the ground only to lift it up again. "The old one was right," the child said with a smile. "He said you would someday come back to us and save Nosgoth."

"The old one," Raziel looked down on his child and hissed "You said you were the last!"

The child looked away. "I lied only to save my kind. If you were sent to kill us, I cou-"

"You are forgiven," Raziel cut him off. "So what be your name fledgling?"

The child looked up. "Rehael, my lord. I am your last born son. It 'twas you who crossed me, my lord."

Puzzled, Raziel asked, "Why do you have the eyes of a fledgling? I do remember you, and you are not that young."

"Because we hide in the light and feed in the dark, our hides have become sensitive to it. I am not fledgling, but can still be hurt by the sun, my lord," Rehael explained to his lord. "It is what we do to live. We have given up the day to become the hunters of the night. The humans take no notice of us and the vampires who we feed off cannot seem to find us."

"Hmm, you drink the blood of other vampires?" Raziel pondered for a moment. "You know that is a sin, and only allowed if life or death."

"It is our life or theirs," exclaimed Rehael. He stood up on all fours. "How can you say that after you find your clan is living!"

Raziel looked at him hard. "No need to rage. Kill and feed off as many as you wish. They'll all die after I get my vengeance. My clan will no longer starve." Raziel became softer as he spoke, "When was the last time you fed?"

Rehael calmed down and said "Last nigh, my lord. I have followed you and picked at your scraps. How do you feed? You leave the carcass full with blood."

"I have no longer the hunger for blood, but now feast upon the souls of the fallen," spoke Raziel calmly. "If you are to come with me, then stay out of my way. I don't want any hindrances. As long as you obey that one rule, you may have the blood of whatever I kill."

"My lord is gracious to me," said Rehael. "But first, we must return to our clan territory. They all must see you and you to see them."

"No," growled Raziel. "I will not return until I kill Kain. I will go to kill Dumah first. If you wish not to follow, then go home."

"I will not leave you, my lord. I will go with you, to win." Rehael smiled as he spoke, "We thought you lost once. I will make sure we shall never lose you again. To the north, to Dumah's."

Raziel turned and began to walk. To Dumah. Then to Kain. He thought to himself. Dumah will pay for obeying those orders.

"My lord."

Raziel looked at his child. "What is the thing that is attached to your arm," questioned Rehael.

Raziel spoke, "This is what is left of the Soul Reaver after Kain broke the blade across my back. It is no more real than I am."

"What do you mean, my lord?"

"I am a sprit, nothing more, nothing less. I must force myself into this world."

"I don't think I understand, but I will as this journey comes to an end." After saying that Rehael thrust himself into the sky. He pumped his wings to gain more altitude, then headed in the direction of Dumah's territory.

At that moment Raziel wished he had his own wings back. To fly, it would make things so much easer. All he could do was run. To Dumah, then to Kain and to who knows where.