--Kain--

The darkness of the halls were penetrated by infrequent beams of moonlight that spilled through the shades. The blue carpet contrasted with the cabernet carpet downstairs.

"Raziel," I said softly, stopping to address the weapon. "What were you trying to say downstairs? When we were talking? You almost had my attention completely..."

The skull's eyes blazed with that familiar fire, demanding, and if I was not mistaken, slightly... melancholy. I sighed. "You are not beyond love, not even in the confines of this sorcery," I whispered, brushing my fingers over the steel. Suddenly, heavy with grief and helplessness, I sheathed the sword again and retreated toward the bedroom where I heard Amanda talking to herself.

"--so much for water-vulnerability. Wow! This is great. Raziel, I can take a shower!"

There was a metal creak, a rush of water, and then another small brittle laugh; my blood turned freezing, and without thinking I rushed into the room, knocking open the pearl white door with its golden handle (not a doorknob), and caught sight of Amanda just as she was taking off her towel. Her back was to me, and the fine lined scars of her abuse were revealed until she spun her towel shut over her thankfully unseen front, spinning around. Her eyes were comically huge, her jaw having dropped open.

"What... are you doing here!?" she whispered. Raziel the dog sat on the closed toilet lid, his rear end wiggling with his joy. "What's wrong with you? Don'tcha have any freaking sense of privacy!?" Each word was articulated as if she were speaking to a dolt.

"You can't get in the water!" I managed, imagining myself blushing. "It'll burn you..."

"Are you kidding me?" She bent, and shoved her arm through the shower curtains, her eyes cold and impassive as the liquid soaked her fingers. When brought forth again, it was totally unharmed. She held her towel shut with that hand, then grabbed me with her dry fingers, pulling me. "Here, let me show you."

"NO!" I roared, pulling but the shower was only inches away, only inches away from stinging and burning and eventually the agony that came with the barest touch of water.

I didn't fight, afraid I'd hurt her or perhaps break something. Instead I shut my eyes, trembling until I felt the water pour on the hand she held. She let go, and my hand stayed in the rush of semi-hot water. I pulled it free, looking at it with mild shock. It didn't hurt... and some of the dirt and grime that had accumulated on my long journeys seemed to come off.

"See? Your vulnerability to water must have faded. Now, seeing as how I never was vulnerable, I'm gonna jump in. You mind?" Amanda pushed me, and out I went.

I sat on the edge of the bed, after closing the thick tapestries that guarded from the sun. I rubbed the water into my skin, finding myself wanting more of it. I never occured to me that I had no idea how long it had been since I've ever had a bath. Probably not since the laid me in my tomb... from which I rose, nothing like myself, and much angrier. Vengeance was on my mind... so many things were on my mind then...

Amanda emerged in a pair of white leggings she called sweat-pants, black, snug night-shirt and little else, fairly startling me too. I hardly heard the shower shut off and the door open. The young woman clambered onto the bed, yawning. Raziel closed in on us, jumping up, and barked at me as if I were in his way. I smirked, and moved over so the mutt may have his place. I watched her, collapsing though she was, struggle her way under the sheets and close her eyes. I took this as my signal to leave.

I reached for the door, stopping at her imploring tone, "Wait."

Her eyes were wide and bright. Both of their eyes were, seeing as the small dog had found his way snuggled against her legs. A smile evolved from the white lines of her mouth, charming me into coming back to her. I put the Soul Reaver aside on the shelf, nudging a few needless objects out of the way on my way, stepping up to her with my hands clasped behind me.

"What is it, daughter?"

"Will you be across the hall?"

"I'll be anywhere you need me to be. Right here, even."

"That'll do," she replied, scooting over with Raziel to make room.

I'll assume that she wants nothing more than to be near me, I thought privately. Which was probably true. But, as it was, Amanda was a confusing, contradictory creature. So, removing most of my bulky armor, I slipped into the blankets and yawned myself. I felt the sun beating against the shades to come in, but otherwise this house felt more safe than anything I'd ever known.

--Amanda--

In the morning - ah, I should rather say evening - I woke to find Kain had gone and woke up without me. Raziel was probably downstairs, eating breakfast with the bigger dogs, and hopefully not being on the menu. I stood up, thirsty and unsure as to what I would be drinking tonight. I went downstairs, perfectly comfortable without changing, and found myself heralded by the husky bitch I'd seen outside the night before. I smiled, bent, and she came to me willingly, sniffing me all over, before she let me touch her. She was beautifully soft. From the kitchen, Razzy came, wagging his little tail and begging attention. I gathered him up into my arms, carrying him into the kitchen.

There were a few cardboard boxes. Mr. Grant was just carrying the last one in, and his eyes were full of good cheer. Once more I felt like a little kid walking into Christmas morning, only it was full of creepy nice guys and, oh, let's not forget vampires and strange doors and sorcery.

"Where's Kain? And Soran, for that matter?"

"They've gone out for a few minutes. Mr. Kain took a shower. He was in there for forty-five minutes! What do you suppose he was doing in there?"

I smiled, considering. "Well... taking a shower, what else?"

Mr. Grant offered me another one of his I-am-the-servant grins and humored me. "Oh, I see. As you can see, all of our dog friends have been fed."

"Are Soran and Kain hunting now?"

"They're... getting breakfast, yes. Kain said something about bringing something back for you, but master Soran insisted that it would all be taken care of. Ta-da!" One flourish revealed to me a bottle of warmed blood. I cringed at first. Then I drank it all.

Kain came back after I finished the bottle. He was smiling, and clean, and amazingly pretty now that he wore some clothes that Soran bought him. There were some boxes filled with similar articles, and then Soran dropped a big old box in MY lap.

"It's heavy," I said, testing it. Inside was a beautiful leather jacket with my name embossed on the left breast pocket. I put this on for the hell of it, while Razzy tried to chew on the cardboard box lid I'd put on the floor. There were new pants, all of them fitting perfectly and felt fantastic. There were sweaters of all different colors, mostly red, blues and blacks.

"Who?" I wanted to know, glaring at the two guilty vampires.

"It was Kain's idea," Soran laughed softly, patting his shoulder before he flinched away. "Sorry. Anyway, he says he ought to spoil you once before you go."

"Where are we going now? Another portal? I swear, if I see another portal--"

"--he's got to go home and finish his destiny--"

"I can't stay here forever." Kain folded his arms over his broad chest, his new clothes making him look like a rockstar of some kind. I stood up, setting the box on the edge of the chair. "But..."

He must have read my thoughts, because I didn't want to leave. It felt great here, and the longer I stayed the longer I didn't want to go anywhere. Which is why we had to leave as soon as possible. I touched Razzy's ears, making sure I wasn't going to cry. I looked up, blinking a few times, knowing that I was going to no matter what. I clenched my hands.

"Can't I live... here?"

"You're coming with me. Now that you know Soran, his so-called relatives will be after you, especially for your powers. You're a vampire, but you're young yet. You have certain vulnerabilities that your elders will take advantage of."

"What kind of vulnerabilities?" I challenged, my voice taking on that agitating edge and snarly quality that Kain didn't like to hear. It was like listening to thorns break skin.

"Don't ask me," Kain returned coldly, approaching me with deliberate slowness. "Unless you want a demonstration."

A thrill skidded down my spine. The challenge itself was hard to deny, and rebellion was hard to give up once you were used to it. Instead of standing down, I stood tall. Unfortunately, Soran broke the confrontation before it could get ugly.

"Well, whenever you are ready to move on, I have transportation ready at any time."

"That won't be necessary," I grumbled, raking a hand through my hair angrily. "I have magic. Just give me what I need to get us there, and it'll take us less time than it takes for me to say 'abracadabra'."

--Kain--

The next day followed like any other day before traveling. Preparations were made, as much as could be for such a journey. I thought Amanda's challenge only meant two things: she was afraid. Also, if she didn't want to come with me, maybe she wanted to live peacefully. Maybe she didn't believe this portal would work, or worse, it did work and the both of us ended up on yet another bizarre planet. The thought had crossed my well-weathered mind.

I watched Amanda say good-bye to our new furry friend. It seemed all too soon to be saying such good-byes. She held her dog-friend close for a few moments (I could swear on my soul I saw a hint of understanding of what was going to happen, and sorrow in that little animal's wise dark eyes).