Shiwolf: Yeah, the story's a little confusing at the moment. I apologize for that. I'll get it straightened out! Zephon's opinion hasn't changed a bit, but he's not in this chapter. I'm not much of a Zephon fan, but he does add wickedness to the plot!

I knocked at Raziel's door.

"Raziel?" I called. "Are you in there?"

"Yes. Please come in."

I carefully opened the door and cautiously stepped inside. Raziel was in the receiving room of his apartments, seated at a desk.

He looked up. "Yes, Marina? Can I help you?"

I hesitated. How could I explain it? I decided to open the conversation on a simpler note. "Where's Zephon?"

"Gone. Back to his Clan Territory. As has Melchiah. Melchiah never stays away from his children for long. They adore him."

I didn't have to ask why Zephon left. Kain had been watching Zephon like a hawk because of what he tried to do to me. I suppose Zephon had gotten tired of the game.

"Speaking of which," Raziel continued. "What clan are you? Are you Razielim? One of my children?"

"I don't know," I answered truthfully. Great. Now he'll think I'm trying to hide something.

Raziel raised an eyebrow. "Who turned your sire Lucius then? Me or one of my brothers had to have created your bloodline."

"My sire kept me in a proverbial cage. He didn't tell me anything of the outside world."

"Strange," Raziel murmured. "I suppose Lucius thought himself a king in his own right. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. We are all Kain's sons and daughters."

I nodded wordlessly. Then, I began. "Raziel. This may sound strange, but I've been having…dreams."

"Dreams? What kind of dreams? They could be prophetic or significant. It's a rare thing for a vampire to do."

"I thought so too. It's been years since that happened. But, I've been having dreams of my—mortal life."

"That's uncommon," Raziel replied. "But I'm beginning to realize that you're not a common vampire. You're special. Kain knows it too."

Raziel shifted in his chair. "But to try to provide an answer for you, you need to elaborate. What makes you think they're dreams of your mortal life?"

"I felt like it was me. It was me. I knew who I was. I felt things. I remember names and places. It happened. I know it did."

"Well, maybe it is possible. But--how old are you?" Raziel looked intrigued.

"Around two hundred. And I'm pretty sure I saw Nosgoth before the Pillars fell."

Raziel jumped to his feet. "Then--you'd have to be a thousand years old. It doesn't make sense. Could it be a past life?"

"Perhaps," I replied. This wasn't going well at all.

I purposefully left the part of Kain's presence out. It might cause even more trouble and confusion. Maybe I should've talked to Kain about this in the first place.

"Well," Raziel scratched his chin. "I'm afraid I have no answer for you, Marina. The only way you'd know for sure is if you—went back in time."

Raziel smiled at his own weak joke. I couldn't resist smiling back. Raziel was so—likeable. Not to mention handsome. True, Raziel looked similar to his brothers, but one could spot small differences. Raziel's hair was a bit shinier than the others; his facial features were a bit more sculpted. His smile was a bit more winning and his eyes had a twinkle in them that the others lacked. It was the same for anyone or anything. Even though the vases all looked the same, there always had to be the best crafted one. Raziel had been the first-born, so he had gotten the largest share of Kain's gifts and vampiric beauty.

"Will you be leaving too?" I asked.

"Soon. I don't like to be kept away for long. If you'd like, you can come with to my city. The City of the Razielim."

"I would like that. One day, maybe." But of course, I couldn't just leave. Not without Kain's permission. He had rescued me, so the choice was up to him. This was his palace after all. Even Raziel knew that.

"Well, I really must be going," I announced.

"Yes, and I must get back to work. But if you ever need me again, you'll know where I'll be."

Was Raziel being coy with me?

"Of course," I sputtered. "I thank you."

Gratefully, I rushed out of the room. The question was pounding even more heavily in my mind. Rahab! Rahab was a scholar at heart, therefore he knew things that most other vampires did not. He was almost as wise as his master. I decided to visit his room next.

I walked down the hallway until I came to Rahab's door. Where the others' doors had been brown wood, Rahab's was made of black stone. Because he's different. And that's why he'll help you.

Before I could reach the knocker, I heard a voice behind me. "No one is in there. Rahab left with Melchiah and Zephon last night."

I knew that voice. I spun around and faced Kain. I was aware at once how much taller was and how much stronger. He was almost sinister in his appearance with the torchlight making his golden eyes flare like miniature suns and casting shadows on the contours of his face. He cut an exquisite figure though with his muscled chest, leather pants, and russet cape thrown over one shoulder. Beautiful, but deadly.

A snake will not bite you unless you tread on it. And I had no imaginings of crossing Kain.

You shouldn't fear him, a voice whispered in my ear. He saved your life.

And he could take my life just as well, I thought bitterly.

            "Kain," I said anxiously. "Has Rahab gone back to his own Territory?"

            "Yes, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going to accompany Raziel on the journey to his city, and I want you to come with us. Dumah will come along for a part of the journey as well since his Territory is nearby. He too has his own city."

            "What about Turel?" I asked curiously.

            "He will go off on his own, as he always does. His Territory is closer to Zephon's and that is not the way we will be traveling."

            "I will be glad to go with you," I said graciously.

            Kain smiled at me. An enigmatic, almost eerie expression. Kain was looking at me differently. This wasn't the same Kain who rescued me nor was it the Kain that had comforted me as I lay weeping. No. This Kain seemed--dangerous. It was the only way to describe it. He was appraising me in a calculating way. What had happened to him? I decided that Kain's emotions could change as quickly as the direction of the wind.

            Under his steely gaze, I trembled. And it wasn't a chill. His luminous eyes were boring into mine and I couldn't look away.

            "Are you afraid of me?" he whispered.

            I knew better than to lie. "Yes."

            Kain chuckled. "There's no need for that. No need at all."

            Kain took a couple of steps towards me. He took my chin in his hand and tilted my face up. Then, he bent down and…knew what he intended. Just like my dream…

            His lips touched mine and they were soft and cool. I kissed him back before I even knew what I was doing. I felt his arms slide around me and our lips met again and again.

            I was reaching my hand up to touch his face when I head a door click open in the corridor. Hastily, Kain drew back from me. I understood at once that this was to be kept private.

            It was Dumah who sauntered in. When he saw me and Kain standing together, somehow he knew. I could tell by the look on his face. However, he wisely chose not to say anything.

            He cleared his throat. "Sire, I just wanted to ask you when we will be leaving for our journey."

            "In a fortnight. The four of us." Kain glanced at me.

            Dumah grinned at me. "Of course. Marina should get to see all of Nosgoth. Although, I wouldn't recommend visiting Melchiah's lands. They're built into a graveyard."

            "Melchiah will be grateful for all I have bestowed upon him. As will you. Marina can visit Melchiah another time."

            Dumah bowed and strolled out of the passage, leaving Kain and me alone again. I wasn't sure what to say or do. Everything seemed to frozen.

            Kain's eyes were on my lips and I knew what he was thinking. I won't lie when I say it felt good in Kain's arms. To be held. To be needed. But—the moment had passed. Kain had put that invisible barrier around himself again. Those that tried to broach it were ultimately impaled on its spikes.

            "I need to make preparations, Marina. You have your run of the Sanctuary of the Clans, but you will not leave. Understood?"

            I wasn't about to argue with him. "Yes, Kain."

            And just like that, he was gone. So. I was still a prisoner some might say. But, in my mind, the only prisoner I saw was Kain, locked away in his own pit of despair. I hoped that one day I would find a key of the purest gold to unlock his chains.

* * *

            His urge for her was stronger than ever. He had thought already of just letting her go off on her own, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He would regret it later. He knew this. Besides, she had too much potential. Potential that would be squandered and wasted on the road without a proper mentor.

            It was simply too late to change course now. And there was still a mystery to solve. He had begun to see Marina in a whole new light ever since his dream. He wished he could remember her from his past, but he had discarded most of those memories. No. He had no way to tell for certain. However, Kain had the feeling that yes, he did know this woman.

            Kain had a suspicion, but he would have to wait to test it. The answer might be in Lucius' mansion. Perhaps, in the basement. The mansion was up north, exactly where Kain intended to go. Sooner or later, the truth would be revealed.