Tom T. Thomson: Yeah, I've been really slow on updating. Can't find time to write with all these projects at school. Anyway, I'm happy you liked the chapter!
bahamut: Yeah, I guess there is a little bit of me in Marina. It's the way I write. Well, I'm glad you're liking the story so much!
spectral oak: My little theory is that Kain forgot how to love in the two thousand years he's lived and that Marina broke through the barriers. Just my two cents. I'm glad you like it though!
Shiva: Kain certainly needs some romance in the storyline! Strange how Kain doesn't have a love interest. Thanks for your review!
Rove: Thank you for your kind e-mail. Don't have your e-mail address, so I'm writing it here. Zephon is a little smart-alec, isn't he?
Kain's gaze burned into mine like fire. Like candle flames. His lips parted and…
"Humans!" a voice cried. "Vampire hunters from the damned Citadel are flooding the lands of the Turelim!"
A ragged Turelim came into view. He had cuts across his pallid face. And slashes through his arms and chest, his armor completely ripped away in some places. He had a wild look in his eyes and he was brandishing a rusted dagger. Was he mad?
"Bernard, what is it?" Turel wore a concerned a look on his face.
"They call themselves the Acolytes of Light," the bedraggled vampire Bernard went on. "We think they're trying to form a new Sarafan order."
The room exploded at once. There were oaths and hardy shouts. Proclamations of "let's kill those vile bastards" were multitude. Conversations ran rampant until one harsh voice grated out, "Be silent."
One and all stared at Kain, including myself. Kain's face was as solid as stone and his words were just as rough. "We must avert this invasion before they can saturate more territories. I propose that we send our strongest generals and prevent the spread of this pestilence."
"I'll assist you, brother," Rahab declared. Kain's fourth looked to Zephon who scowled in reply.
"As will I," Melchiah's voice boomed. I was genuinely surprised to see him there. Melchiah had done his best to remain hidden, or so it seemed.
"Lord Raziel and his best warriors will fight alongside us." Bernard mopped his brow that was stained with dried blood.
Zephon, who had absent from the conversation so far, smirked. "Why not send Marina? I think it would be the perfect way for her to prove herself. Sire?"
Kain sent his son a challenging glare. "Why, that would be a brilliant idea, Zephon. In fact, why don't you go as well? I think you would enjoy the experience immensely."
The Zephonim leader clearly didn't expect this. His mouth fell open in surprise, but he couldn't very well say no. Once again, Zephon sneered at me as if I had something to do with this new development, even though I hadn't uttered a syllable.
Kain stood straighter. Any trace of a man in love had vanished. He was now in his stately stance. The Emperor of Nosgoth. Would I ever get used to that?
"We must do all we can to prevent this band of dogs from becoming more powerful. This is the first threat we've had in nearly a century. This must be dealt with immediately. Zephon, Rahab, Marina, and Turel obviously, shall go. As will any other able-bodied general or lieutenant." With this last word, Kain eyed Zephon.
Turel came up behind me and clapped his hand on my shoulder. "Get your sword- arm ready, general. We're going to war."
***
If I had thought Dumah's territory had looked forbidding, it was paradise compared to the Turelim Stronghold.
One had to pass through the craggy mountain paths, not unlike Dumah's own Ash Village. Then, it grew less cold and the snow melted on the increasingly hotter ground eventually altogether scorching into ash. It was if I was walking into a furnace. And as it turned out, I was.
Turel's lands had an impressive smoking volcano as its beacon. The landscape around me had a warped appearance, like molten lead in a blacksmith's shop, and the soil was just as dark. Coal black and uneven with jagged edges. Mayhaps, this was once an old mining establishment. Deep gullies and steep hills were commonplace. Caves dotted the area, resembling the mouths of beasts. A hellish red mist was scattered on the winds and there was a thick fog swirling around my boots. In spite of the stifling heat, I felt an odd shiver run through me. A shiver that had stated coincidentally ever since Raziel had fallen into line with me.
Proud handsome Raziel. The perfect specimen. A gold coin amongnst the silver. Kain's treasure. Or was that a lie? I was having trouble focusing while marching beside him. Not a good thing on the battlefield of a potential war.
When Raziel lightly touched my shoulder, I jumped. "Don't be so nervous, Marina. Your talents speak for themselves. They are after all, only human." Raziel sent such a sweet reassuring smile my way, my heart nearly broke.
You could tell him right now, a relentless voice in my thoughts whispered. But common sense ruled out. This was neither the time nor the place. What exactly would Kain do if I warned his first-born ahead of time?
Then, you would be cast into the Abyss first of all, that mocking voice jeered. My intuition told me to wait this one out. For now.
I made my best effort to return Raziel's smile. "It's just my first war. I'm not sure what the correct protocol calls for."
The Razielim leader snorted. "A war? It won't go that far. For one thing, we vampires are stronger and we outnumber them. However well trained they are, we are the more experienced. This is nothing compared to some of our earlier conflicts."
I had to smirk at that. Raziel along with everyone else in Nosgoth, ave Kain and Turel, thought I was so young. Barely more than a fledgling at a mere two hundred years. A small age compared to most of the others. And here, I had been born in the same time as Kain. When he had been human anyway. I had just been transported through the years. Technically, one could argue I was as old as Kain himself. Mentally, if not physically. Still, there was no use explaining that to Raziel.
Already, I could feel the bricks of an invisible wall being built between us. So many secrets, unspoken feelings, and hidden guilt. Raziel had been my best companion. Once, I could tell him anything. But now, everything had changed. Inside and out.
There were fifty of us in our traveling party. I was somewhere in the middle with Turel in front of me and Rahab in back. I couldn't spot any of the others. It was wrong to think as such, but I hoped Zephon was right in front. He deserved it. Would Kain had sent me if Zephon had not spoken up? I knew not, but somehow, I don't think he would have.
We were currently crossing a wide wooden bridge. Off in the distance, I could see some slate buildings. Magnificent structures with domes that spiraled off into infinity. High archways lent an exotic touch and rows of stained glass windows sparkled blue, green, and red in the light of our torches that were carried by the younger ones.
"That's my palace," Turel explained while throwing me a casual glance over his shoulder. "That's where those sons of bitches were heading, or so my man, Bernard claims."
We circled around the dark palace and walked towards the mountainous ledges and cliffs surrounding it. The inky stone of these natural formations had orange cracks split through them. Lava, I realized. And blood. There was no mistaking the glistening pools of crimson, making smooth boulders even glossier. Human and vampire blood.
"They must be hiding in the mountains," Turel whispered. "If they have made camp, we'll have a better chance of attacking them by surprise."
Seconds later, I realized Turel had made a fatal error. There came battle cries and shouts from behind us. I turned and saw twenty of them lining up forming an impenetrable barrier, armed with crossbows. The rebels opened fire and our side didn't even have a chance at defending ourselves.
The Rahabim and Turelim retaliated with force projectiles that sent the mortals reeling backwards while the rest of us charged ahead, using every ounce of our vampiric speed.
In moments, my weapon was out and I entered the fray. The heat of war. It was…intoxicating, admittedly. The humans held their ground even though their crossbows did little good at close range. Many scattered and ran for higher elevations. I joined the pack chasing after them. First, one, then two, and finally three fell before my might. I tried in vain to keep in check the red fury and the bloodlust boiling up within me. A keen blade required a keen mind.
"What do you know? The woman can fight!" Zephon's annoying, sarcastic voice yelled.
I ignored him and focused on the task at hand. At last, the skirmish ended with corpses littering the blood-spattered dirt. Mostly human, but two of the weaker vampires had fallen. A Rahabim and a Melchahim . Melchiah himself was standing over his slain child. Tenatively, I made my way over to his grieving form.
"I'm sorry," I said softly.
Melchiah shook his head. "I'm sorry. For all of us. There's no glory in these wars. Sometimes, I wish we could live in peace with the mortals, but that can never be. Luke, at least, died an honorable and hopefully a painless death. His spirit is set free."
Melchiah gazed at me with soulful eyes. I didn't know how to respond, but I shared his convictions all the same. All at once, I could feel remorse welling up inside me, but one did what one had to do.
Turel's deep voice floated towards us. "They're in the palace! A whole mob of them! They have to be put in their place. Who's with me?"
Nonetheless, my own voice mingled with the others, despite what I felt inside. With my "army", I rushed the palace and ducked inside as soon as the heavy iron doors were forced open. The mortals had barricaded themselves within, but they were no match for immortals.
All of a sudden, they came at us, like a trap being sprung. Quickly, our opponents formed a ring of steel, their dirty faces leering at us. At this moment, it all came down to pure skill. Who had it, and who didn't. We scattered, seeking our victims and becoming lost in the flurry so as not to become a target. We charged at them in all directions, thundering down the burgundy plush carpeting of the spacious corridors.
Some of our ambitious generals had climbed up to higher ground and were attacking the rebel forces from afar. I decided to do what I could on ground level. First, I was reluctant to fight, but I soon came to enjoy it much to my dismay.
I didn't even need to see them. They were just blurry shapes. Like misty shadows coming at you, only to be vanquished by the light of a steady flame. And my flame was my rapier, reflecting the burnings of combat off its polished surface, which was covered with ruddiness all the same. Some were old, but most were young. There were even children. One boy looked barely twelve. I supposed any race of people, after having been beat down so much will revolt no matter what the age. If one couldn't be free, why grow old at all?
I cut down several men-at-arms, and felt the appraising eyes of my comrades on my back. Due to the shortage of female generals, many thought that I didn't even know how to battle and that my new position only came from Kain's bedchamber. But that idea in time would be proven wrong.
We were winning. Without a doubt. Perhaps we had taken them by surprise after all. There was a pause in the brawl and I allowed my eyes to wander. I first spotted Turel who caught my eye. He grinned. "Marina, the battle is almost won! It's so exhilarating, isn't it?" he called to me.
Exhilarating? I saw the heap of the dead at my feet and the hate on every face around me. The cruelty etched on Zephon's features. The pain in Melchiah's eyes. The sneer on Rahab's lips. This wasn't exhilarating. This was sheer hell.
Turel strode towards me, his sword slung over one shoulder, eyes blazing with pride. "Too bad Dumah couldn't join us, but he had to defend his own territory from these invaders since his Stronghold is so near. Dumah loves the clatter of metal and the scent of fear."
"Where's Raziel?" I asked abruptly. I wasn't sure what possessed me to, but Raziel had been absent from the front-lines for a long time. Or was he, like Turel, off enjoying himself somewhere too?
Confusion collided with the smugness on Turel's face. "Raziel? I think he went up there with some of his brethren."
I gazed upward and sure enough there was Raziel on a black spiral staircase. He had an intense expression, but with an amused curl to his lips. I couldn't tell if he loved this scene or loathed it.
Out of the corner of my vision, I saw a bow being raised. And it was pointing at Raziel, aimed directly at his heart. A sneaky human, that resembled more of a bandit than a soldier, was crouched on the rafters above us. There was no way to get to either in time. No way to warn Raziel. But I had to try.
"Up there!" I shouted. "Raziel! Get out of the way! He's going to shoot!"
Too late. The arrow left the bow and made a beeline for Raziel just as he inclined his head towards me. My hand shot out, and a white, sparkling blast exploded from my fingertips and knocked the arrow out of the way. I didn't know what happened at first. Time had lost all meaning.
Horrified, the human looked down at me. Automatically, I used my newfound power to knock him from his perch. No time to think. My fellow vampires were staring at me in shock, but they regained their wits and proceeded to stab the perpetrator. I was oblivious to the heated conflict on all sides of me. I was staring at my hands as if there was a message written on them that could help my mind understand what was happening to me. My new ability had very much saved the day. Only, where in the name of Janos did I get it? It had been a telekinetic blast I knew.
Then it hit me. Kain. He had telekinesis, and I drank his blood right before he tasted mine. Did he intend for this to happen?