Standard disclaimers apply. I do not own Raziel or any other LOK vampires. Nor do I own any other popular culture references I may make.
A/N: There is something severly wrong with this chapter. If anyone spots it, let me know because I can't find it.
Raziel was finally getting bored with the escapism of television and video games. Most of Jennifer's 'collection' was not very interesting. It seemed like she had made mostly poor choices until she had discovered Nosogth, and then stopped buying games entirely. Raziel now spent much of his spare time wandering around and watching people, instead.
Raziel glanced up at the town's clock tower. All of the faces read different times, and not one of them was right. There was probably some deep metaphor in that image, but he was sick of trying to find meaning in the things he saw. Instead, Raziel wondered if Janos was settling into his new life.
Slipping inside the building was easy. The base was open but no one noticed his presence. It was only after he had climbed the many flights of stairs that he had a problem. The trapdoor at the top had a sturdy padlock. Raziel debated with himself whether or not he should just break the lock off, but he finally decided to try and find another way in.
He perched in one of the towers windows and looked up. There was another opening that Raziel could reach; though only through the providence of crumbling mortar in the brickwork. He glanced down; the chances of anyone looking up to see him were slim. The wraith Raziel swung out of the window and clambered to the next level of the tower, resuming his human form as soon as he hit the floor.
The ancient vampire was nowhere to be seen, but this was obviously Janos' main living space. It was by no means as luxurious as his old mountain retreat. There was a simple bed and dining set, plus a chair that would be comfortable for a winged creature. A light field of magic suffused this open space. Raziel spent a moment wondering what it was for until he noticed the pigeons perched on the edge of the roof. There was a box of scrap metal resting on top of the trapdoor in the floor. Breaking the padlock earlier would not have helped.
A familiar rustle of feathers alerted Raziel to Janos' return. "How did you manage to get up here?" Janos asked curiously.
Raziel looked over the ledge where he had pulled himself up. "There are very few things that can deter me."
Janos briefly inspected Raziel's route, he was surprised that it had been possible. "I should have known," he muttered in admiration. "Perhaps it would be easier if you used a spell next time."
Raziel shrugged. "I suppose."
"Is there something on your mind?" Janos asked, inviting Raziel to sit down.
Raziel pulled out one of the dining chairs and sat on it backwards. "I merely want to know if you are well."
"I have spent this time contemplating my purpose here, and it disturbs me to find that I have completely lost my faith in everything I have known," Janos said slouching wearily in his chair.
"You must be devastated," Raziel said in sympathy.
"It is hard, but I also feel a great sense of release. I have fulfilled my obligations," Janos' posture straightened. Tell me about our God, I am ready to listen."
Raziel was mildly surprised at Janos' turnaround, but he patiently described his encounters with the Elder God. Janos did interrupt occasionally with his own views, but Raziel was able to explain these as well.
After about an hour of this, Janos wearily collapsed; his face was a mask of pain. He muttered quietly in his original language. "What is there now?" he finally asked hauntingly."I don't know," Raziel said. "Does it really matter?"
"Do you believe in anything?" Janos asked Raziel.
"I used to," Raziel said sardonically, "but I've believed in too many things; only to find out later that the opposite was true."
Janos sighed, "I do not think that I could survive without something to believe in. I just hope that I can find the truth."
"Why don't you come back to Jennifer's place with me?" Raziel asked. He wasn't sure that now was the time to leave Janos alone.
"I will come back for a visit, but this is a more suitable home," Janos said, gesturing at the open walls and visible horizon.
Raziel saw that Janos was preparing for a transport spell, so he quickly backed away. "I'd rather walk." Raziel had never gotten comfortable with the idea, and he knew how disorienting it could be.
Raziel shifted back into his wraith form and glided towards a fire escape across the street. Suddenly, Janos plucked him out of the air and flew upwards. Raziel was so surprised that he almost attacked Janos. He choked out his protest, "This is undignified,"
"It is faster," Janos murmured against Raziel's ear.
Raziel allowed himself to relax as he watched the ground slide away below him. Even though he hadn't yet tried to regrow his wings since that night in the cemetery, he was still slightly resentful of Janos' ability. At least he wasn't afraid of heights.
After a few minutes, Raziel spotted Jennifer's balcony. He twisted out of Janos' hold and let himself drop most of the way, catching himself only at the last moment. He switched forms and frowned up at Janos. He was coasting down at a more leisurely rate.
Raziel turned to enter the apartment when Jennifer came rushing out at him. She was following a ridiculously small sword. It would have impaled Raziel, but recognition flashed through Jennifer's eyes and the blade passed over his left shoulder instead. Raziel grabbed Jennifer by the arms as her momentum threatened to pitch both of them off.
"Thank goodness it's you!" Jennifer cried as she accidentally dropped her sword over the edge of the balcony. "Someone's been skulking around out here." She hauled Raziel into the apartment.
Janos followed a moment later. "You dropped your knife," he said disapprovingly. Though the sword was almost as long as Jennifer's arm, it looked tiny in Janos' massive talons. He leaned it against the wall.
"Why were you planning on stabbing the intruder?" Raziel asked.
"I don't want anyone to know that I can do magic if I can help it," Jennifer said. "I didn't want to actually kill him, either."
"If you're going to be pulling crazy stunts like that, I'm going to have to teach you how to fight," Raziel said sternly.
"Why would you need to hide it?" Janos asked curiously.
"Magic isn't supposed to be real," Jennifer said, letting bands of energy crackle between her fingers. "Though really that means that anyone who sees me would only be considered crazy if they told anyone."
The trio found themselves in another wandering conversation. This time it meandered through things like the Ancients' Prophecies and public libraries. Janos eventually questioned Jennifer on what her beliefs were.
Jennifer thought carefully for a moment. "I suppose there are deities out there, but I don't owe my allegiance to any particular one."
Janos shook his head in wonder. "Such a lack of faith. Do you ever feel lost?"
Jennifer smiled reflectively, "Sometimes." She let her eyes wander, as if examining her own thoughts. "I always have faith in something, even if it's only myself."
Janos stared evenly at Jennifer, considering her flexible ways and wondering if hers were right.
Raziel was a little surprised at Jennifer's unconcerned attitude, but he also figured that it was healthy in its own way. It would certainly be a good example for Janos.
Suddenly, Jennifer froze and stared at the balcony. Raziel sprang up and ducked outside. After a few minutes, he came back in through the door. "It was just a kid," he said scornfully. "I scared him pretty bad, so he won't be back anytime soon."
Jennifer sighed shakily, "It was a lucky thing that he wasn't hurt."
Raziel nodded sternly.
After that, Janos used a spell to transport himself back to his clock tower. He needed to contemplate some more.