Turel was right to worry about the sun. Even more so that they now carried with them a fledgling who might have been ever more variable to the sun's rays than Rahab.
Riding up to his brother, Turel said, "We will not make it before sunrise." Raziel sighed. Jarle, who was riding in front of Raziel, moaned softly in his sleep. "We need to find shelter, and ." Vampires, by nature, were pale, but Jarle made most look tanned. "And we need to find him something to eat."
"You're right. We'd best start looking for a place to hide him." Raziel looked down at the sleeping fledgling and ran his talons through his soft hair. Something was tugging at his memory. Something about the place they were traveling through. Then it hit him. "Back a ways, there was a cave." At Turel's look, he added, "A fairly large one. Not a bit damp. Should be able to hold the three of us and the horses." Without waiting to see what Turel might say, Raziel turned his horse's head back the way they had come.
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Cold. So cold.
"Do you know what you've done?!"
Something was touching his hand. It was wet. And it burned.
"I didn't mean--"
"That doesn't matter!"
Slowly, he pulled away from the water. His whole body seemed to ache.
"It's this damn curse!"
"Or just lack of will power."
The voices were coming from an other room.
"Do you dare mock me!"
Curiosity over came him and he moved closer to the room. Inside were two figures. Tall and angelic. Blue skin and, from there back, were large.
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The cave was just as he remembered it. Large enough for all of the vampires to stay for the day comfortably.
At Turel's disgusted look, Raziel laughed. "It's just for the day, brother."
"And where do you plan on getting blood for the boy," Turel said, gesturing to Jarle.
At Turel's words, Jarle looked up from his exploring of the cave. "Blood? For what?" Both Elders turned to look at him. Under their gaze, Jarle flinched. He obviously did not get something that was important.
"Do you really not know?" Jarle nodded. "Dark Gods."
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He remembered in school he was told to look at pictures of these creatures. Blue skin and golden eyes.
"These are of the Ancient race. They hold more power then you will ever. Ever since the end of the War, they have become Gods."
Everyone knew what the teacher meant by the War. True, they only knew of what their elders had told them, but it scared them enough.
And now.
He remembered the teacher saying, "They have become Dark Gods."
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Raziel walked up to Jarle and said softly, "Do you mean to tell us that you have never fed?"
Jarle nodded.
"That would explain why he's so pale," Turel joked. The joke became non-existent when Raziel shot him a look that had killed mortals.
"Turel, go find something for him."
"But--"
"Now!" Raziel watched his brother leave the cave before turning back to Jarle. "What is the last thing you remember before you met us?"
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Instinct drove him. When light shown through the trees, be it man or sun, he ran. The sound of water told him not to go that way.
And a scent of something more powerful drove him even farther. Drove him until he could not go any farther.
Weakness over took him. It forced him to the ground. To wait..
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When night fell again, the three vampires set off once more to the Clans' safest grounds. They traveled in silence for the most part. Jarle, now fed, was much more lively and asked questions about a lot of things. They made only one stop. After a comment made by Turel, Raziel decided to stop and teach Jarle the basics of hunting and fighting. Jarle surprised both of the elder vampires by showing a lot more training in fighting then either thought he would.
"Perhaps we should go through Dumah's Clan and show off this youngster," Turel chuckled as they set off again.
"And keep Kain waiting? I like my head how it is, thank you very much." Raziel laughed and at Jarle's confused look, he added, "Attached."
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He remembered arms holding him. Holding him as one would a child who they only wanted to keep calm. Not because they cared. The voices he had heard before were talking again.
"I still don't understand how this will work."
"You don't need to. I do."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
He remembered the arms carrying him to a strange building. The strangest building he had ever seen. Large doors were opened and there stood something he would never forget.
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"Finally."
Before them stood the Sanctuary of the Clans. It was called the most brilliant piece of architect the vampires had ever done. The Clan Banners swaying in the wind only added to the beauty.
Raziel dismounted and lifted a half dazed Jarle from the horse. "Come, Kain does not like to be kept waiting." He led the fledgling to the doors, which opened as he approached. Minutes turned into seconds as Jarle stared at all the finery in the hall they walked down.
His attention was brought back as another set of double doors were opened. And there was, it could be no other, Kain. But Jarle's attention shifted again. To the broken Pillars of Nothsgoth. But they were not as he remembered them.
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Author's Note: A bit longer than the first. Thank you to Mikoto Zoku and Death Raven for their reviews. Don't except updates so close together. This takes longer than I thought it did.
