Where have all my reviews gone? Just kidding, you guys. And Vogel is a bird, ever heard a bird talk? It's really funny, actually. But, I've only heard a bird talk, I don't know how good their grammar is, so like I said, I did my best. And this is a bit of a slash, but nothing graphic, I swear. Ally and Raevin won't even do anything, I promise.

Look, Ally and Raevin are neck deep in trouble… with Razielim. Guess I could have used Rahabim, but they haven't been water-proofed yet. So we're taking the Razielim, because somebody was wondering if Raziel was going to be in this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Eidos, or Soul Reaver, or anything LoK. Ally, Raevin, Vogel, and Ectoplasm are mine.

~Raevin~

******

Raevin pulled Ally and Ectoplasm deeper into the cave. If we're going to fight, I'd like to have the rock wall at my back. Raevin thought.

The four made their way back into the cave. When they reached the solid rock wall, they turned around to face any who were coming into the cave. "Do you think we have a chance?" Ally asked.

"I don't know. I just want the rock at my back so I don't have to look behind myself." Raevin said.

"You know… that makes perfect sense." Ally said, watching ahead of them. "What if we want to run?"

"Run? What's that?"

"Raevin, I'm serious."

"So am I." Raevin replied. "If we need to run, I'll make a path through vampires."

"And how are you going to do that?" Ally asked, glancing at her friend.

Raevin thought about that for a minute. "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Say what?"

"Never mind."

The two listened to the sound of footsteps coming closer. Raevin saw the shadows long before she saw the vampires. The vampires looked relatively human. They all had jet-black hair, but their eyes had gold irises. They had pale skin, almost as if they had been carved out of alabaster instead of created from raised corpses. Raevin ran through her mental list of all the things she was certain a vampire could do or had: heal slight wounds almost instantly, had super strength, amazing reflexes… and claws from the looks of it. Not to mention fangs and a thirst for blood.

The lead vampire saw the two girls as he rounded the corner. Stopping, he noticed their slight build, their health, and the fact that they were unarmed… for the moment. He noted that their weapons were within easy reach, and the lance leaning against the wall behind the younger girl. The fledgling closest to him leaned closer to his leader. "What should we do with them?" The fledgling asked in a whisper.

Raziel noted the hungry look in the eyes of his fledglings. He turned to the two girls and said "Well, might I as what you two are doing in my territory?"

Raevin leaned closer to Ally. "You didn't tell me this was Razielim territory."

"I didn't know." Came the answer.

"You do know I can hear you." Raziel said.

"Yes, we're aware of that." Raevin shot back.

"You've got a sharp tongue… for a girl." Raziel said calmly. The temper of the younger girl amused him.

Raevin glared. She clenched her jaw, then her fists. "I hope you didn't just try to insult me." She started.

Raziel laughed, and the rest of his team bust into either chuckles or howls of laughter. "Oh, not at all!" He said sarcastically. "Just trying to see if you'll be a challenge for us. I doubt, seeing as how young you two are."

Ally raised an eyebrow. "I'm already part vampire, no need to complete the change." She said, grasping the hilt of her newly sharpened sword but not drawing it.

One of the fledglings snickered. "Who bit you?"

"Dumahim."

It was Raziel's turn to raise an eyebrow. "So, you two are the two humans who caused my brother Dumah so much trouble… I didn't believe Dumah when he told me two human girls had managed to get the best of him, though." He said. "I have an idea. If the two of you can defeat four of my fledglings, killing them or not, then we will let you go."

Raevin growled. She didn't realize it until it had happened, and by then all the Razielim, Ally, Vogel, and Ectoplasm were looking at her strangely. She couldn't figure out why until she realized what she had sounded like. What the… that didn't even sound human. More like a very big animal or a demon… What's happening to me? Raevin thought. Well, whatever… "I'll fight. Leave Ally out of this." Raevin said suddenly. I have seriously got to think about what I say or do before it happens…

Ally blinked, giving Raevin a different look. "My, feeling pretty confident after that growl of yours." Raziel smirked. "I doubt even you could handle four of my fledglings."

"Care to test that theory?" Raevin hissed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ally hissed in a whisper, trying to let only Raevin hear.

"I'm not exactly sure… fulfilling destiny?"

"This is no time to smart off!" Ally whispered harshly, sending shivers up Raevin's spine.

Raevin ignored Ally's remark, even if she mentally kicked herself. "Any takers?" Raevin asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ectoplasm reared, screaming, and pawed the air. He landed with a thud, then charged past Raevin and at the vampire hoard. Raevin stared after Ectoplasm, mentally pushing her mind into his. STOP! She commanded.

The ghost horse came to a sliding halt just inches in front of Raziel, who hadn't even flinched. The two stared at each other coldly. "So, this is the ghost stallion… I've seen it before." Raziel murmured softly.

Ectoplasm snorted and took a few steps back. He turned his head and gave Raevin a hard glare, as if saying "Why the heck did you stop me?" Raevin just stared at him, and Ectoplasm turned, snorting, and walked over to stand beside Raevin.

"Fine. I'll fight four of your fledglings." Raevin said, taking a step forward. A few of the fledglings whistled, giving both Raevin and Ally the once over. Note to self: kill any vamp that looks me over. Raevin thought to herself. She loathed catcalls, especially if they came from animated corpses.

Raziel nodded thoughtfully. He motioned to the four vampires closest to him. "Have fun, don't get killed." Was all he said. The four chosen fledglings nodded, then rushed forward.

Raevin watched the four vampires advance on her, and made note of the two with swords. She sidestepped as one swung his sword, then she shoved past them, spinning around and delivering an impressive spin kick to the head of one of the vampires. "You know, the funny thing is that I was never good at that." She said to herself.

The three remaining vampires spun around, hissing and glaring. One swung his sword at her, the blade connecting to her shoulder. She cursed loudly, yanking herself free. She brought the ridge of her hand down on the attacking vampire's neck, stunning him. A clenched, taloned fist to the side of her head sent her sprawling. She sat there, stunned, watching a foot flying to her face. She ducked, jumped up, and sent the third vampire flying. Unarmed, and I'm doing pretty good. My head hurts, though…

She rubbed her head, retreating as the last vampire advanced on her. She felt groggy, and she couldn't focus her eyes anywhere. Why do I feel drugged? She heard the vampire take a step, heard a hiss as the sword swung through the air, then felt a sharp pain in her gut. She grabbed the vampire by the wrist as she fell backwards, and pulled him past her and into the wall. She didn't feel anything as she collapsed to the floor. Raevin was just glad she could feel something solid against her back.

Raevin felt someone grab her by the shoulders, and heard her name being called. She quickly closed her eyes tightly to keep from getting sick.

"Fledge, what did I say about using that plant?"

"Sorry, Lord Raziel…"

"You poisoned her?!"

"He wasn't supposed to. I've told my fledglings not to use any part of that plant. What surprises me, though, is that she didn't try to kill them when she had the chance…"

"She does a lot of strange things, even I have problems understanding her."

Raevin slowly opened her eyes to see Ally kneeling in front of her and Raziel standing over them. Vogel had, of course, not moved from his perch, but Ectoplasm had taken to pawing the ground and giving the vampires evil looks. "What was that plant?" She asked weakly, fighting to keep whatever was left of her dinner in her stomach.

"It's a weed of sorts…" Raziel said. "It grows all around my Keep. It drugs humans and gives vampires a headache."

"Then why do I have a headache and feel sick and drugged?" Raevin asked as her stomach lurched. She reached a hand up to lay it on her gut, and found she had a gaping hole where her gut was supposed to be. "Ooooh, not good…" She moaned. Due to her adrenalin, she hadn't felt how painful the wound was until she realized how bad it was.

Ally stared at Raevin's stomach, unable to think. She touched the edge of the wound with a shaking hand, and quickly drew it back when Raevin winced. "Please… is there any way you can save her? I don't want…. I don't want to lose her…" She begged Raziel.

Raziel looked at Ally thoughtfully, then looked at the four fledges Raevin had dispatched so easily without killing them. "We'll try. Follow us, I'll carry her. No one harm the girls or their animals!" he said, issuing an order to his fledglings. He gathered the quickly-fading Raevin and started to head out of the cave as the sky was beginning to take on the dawn's pink color….