Review Responses:

Selphiefan 89: Glad you like the writing! :)

bahamut: Sorry, I haven't e-mailed, I only got to work on this story today, and to start thinking of another one…anyway I'll e-mail you soon. Halloween was crazy.

Smoke: The ruby's still relevant, but I'm not sure how important I want to make it in the story. Thanks for reviewing!

Valnazzar: I have resolved to get this story completed. I hate having an unfinished fic hanging around. Thanks for your review.

NeoSparda: I don't want to follow Soul Reaver too closely, but I will include just enough to get the story through. I'm planning to have Marina to do her own thing.

Shiva: Nah, I don't care for Dumah either, although he does seem to be popular. Appreciate your reviews as always!

Ghostly jade mist surrounded me as I gazed around the warped, alien landscape. The screams and wails of the lost sounded in my ears. It hurt. Yet, I found the strength to walk into a small cavern. Something was here. A surprise. Waiting in the shadows. In the blackness, two flashes of sickly green jumped out at me.

"Is anyone here?" I whispered. It was appropriate to whisper when standing on someone's grave.

The cave lightened and I was amazed at what I had discovered. I'd found him. He'd been alive all along. Raziel was crouched in the corner appearing just as regal as before. The vivid scarlet cape trailing along his shoulder dominated the cramped space; the only true spot of color in here. His well-toned body was quivering; shaking to the tips of his leathery wings. His tangled ebony hair had fallen into dull eyes that appeared to have lost their vibrant, fiery glow. Raziel's head was slumped towards the ground, not looking at anything. Not even at the stones themselves.

"Raziel," I said gently. "What are you doing here?"

"Because your race sent me here," he murmured. "I hide now."

"From whom?"

He looked up at me, his eyes pure balls of green radiance now. It was harsh to look upon and made my own eyes ache. "Them," he croaked.

I gasped in fear as the cavern suddenly rumbled and rocked, already in the process of crumbling to the ground, as if there were vicious beasts tearing our shelter apart. Quickly, I darted through the narrow opening. And then I realized what I had done. I had failed Raziel…one more time. Leaving him to be crushed.

In shock, I watched on as an eerie wind began to blow, carrying the howls and moans of the dead, Raziel now among them. It was…unnatural. I had the distinct feeling I wasn't on earth anymore. Suddenly alarmed, with an unnamable sense of terror uncoiling within me, I fled. But I wouldn't run far, I knew. My misdeed had stained me. The wails only grew louder the further I ran. Cutting through the rocky wasteland, I desperately searched for an escape. Eventually, I came to realize, there was none.

"Soon enough, you'll be joining your corrupt family!" an ancient voice roared.

( )

"…and then I wake up," I explained.

Turel gazed at me wonderingly; his large, shining orbs studying me carefully. I took in his fearsome appearance. He was hunched over like some feral beast on all fours. He large, curved ears dominated his green-scaled face. The spikes on his back were blood stained and terrible. I worried for Turel. I really did. He seemed so quiet and secretive; yet so despondent and agonized. I related to him the most. I needed to talk to someone besides Kain about my macabre dreams. Melchiah would shake in fright and offer some wisdom about "the inevitable doom that awaits us all"; Rahab, not being the dreaming sort would grunt and change the subject, Zephon would probably laugh and promptly bite my head soon after, and Dumah was rather indisposed. I trusted Turel, even though no one else shared my opinion. As for Kain, he would glance at me, fire lighting his eyes, and agree it was an ominous sign of things to come and that nothing could change it. Was it for the best I forgot about it until Raziel reemerged from the grave? I was still skeptical about this.

Turel rasped noisily. The exhalation echoed around his lair of obsidian and volcanic rock. A convenient hole in the ceiling let in the only source of light; making the interior of Turel's chamber glitter like black onyx. "It seems as if we may have a family reunion," he commented sarcastically.

"Do you believe the dreams are prophetic?"

Turel sighed. "Maybe. The land knows something is wrong. The earthquakes are becoming more frequent."

This was indeed true. The dusty ground rumbled and shook beneath us more regularly. First, it had been every couple of years. Now, it was nearly every year. What was next? Monthly? Weekly? When the soil was littered with cracks and broke off into the Abyss? Something was in the air. Something was happening.

"Have you talked to Kain?" Turel went on leisurely as if he had all afternoon to chat. And he did.

"Yes," I answered tightly. "He believes it's an omen." As soon as I had spoken, fear overwhelmed me. Had I given too much information? Was it wrong to be speaking so plainly about what very well be our fate?

Turel chuckled. "You needn't be anxious about your affairs. I won't speak a word to anyone. I've kept your secret for centuries, remember?"

I did remember. Turel had been in the room while I had explained my long, complicated, newly discovered history and birthright to Kain. He hadn't spoken of it. Not until now that is.

"How did you know I was nervous?" I asked good-naturedly.

Turel kept looking at me with that deadpan expression. He stepped a bit closer to my crouching form. "Because of your heartbeat. It grew faster before."

Quickly glancing at his ears, I wasn't going to argue. Turel meant no harm, but I was beginning to feel ill at ease. "Have you heard the news about your brother?"

"Was my brother. There was no love lost between Dumah and I. It doesn't matter anyway. We shall all be as one in the end."

I was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Nosgoth is corrupt. With every word we speak, it becomes tainted further. Nothing can reverse it. Soon, it will be unlivable for both the vampire and human races. Death is our shared destiny. Beings such as we can only bide our time--" I did not wish to hear anymore. I made a motion to leave, but Turel's next sentence rooted me to spot.

"--unless we leave this period and begin anew." He eyed me conspiringly.

To my credit, I did not suddenly become deaf. Nor did I lose the ability to speak as many did when something unpleasant was revealed. We both knew there was another way. We were the only three that had this wisdom. This "privileged knowledge." In the mountains, above the Ash Village, was a chamber. A beautiful marble chamber filled with machinery that could transport you to another era. A Time-Streaming Chamber. I had vowed never to go near one again. However, I couldn't. I wasn't going to be an abandoner.

"The Time-Streaming Chamber I arrived from." I said blandly. "No. I too have not forgotten."

"It's our only chance," Turel wheezed. "Don't you dare mention this to any others. The Dumahim and Zephonim deserve whatever reward they reap."

"I won't," I hissed. "I haven't."

Turel moaned softly and reclined on the stone floor. He always seemed so pained. I considered Turel's strategy for a new beginning. I could leave. I could've left already. But really, what did I have to look forward to in the past? The Brotherhood of the Sarafan? Spending time with them would make my time in the present almost plentiful. The Sarafan methods to kill vampires were too terrible to list. Besides, one name held me back from exploring the earlier milestones of Nosgoth's history. Kain. It would hurt to leave him. One could only move forward, and never glance back. Yet, secretly, I wondered about Kain. He knew of the Time-Streaming Chamber. I was genuinely surprised he had not used it earlier. Was he waiting for something? Raziel's return? Perhaps.

Also, if Turel knew, all the Turelim knew. The Oracle's Caves may be guarded by his children someday. The entire Turelim Clan might decide to disperse on the winds of time, and not suffer the fate of the Razielim.

"Have you talked to any of my brothers in the past few days?" Turel questioned, reluctant to end the conversation.

"Rahab. We spoke of my future evolution." It was pointless to lie. Turel could sense every little twitch and bodily reaction that would betray my truth.

"Oh, that. I personally wouldn't worry, Marina. You'll be an amazing being, you can be sure of that. You are the child of a Guardian, you know. It'll be quite an interesting development."

"So, you don't believe I will become like Rahab?"

Turel sniggered in the dimness. "You, with a fish tail? I think not. You may swim like a Rahabim, but you're not. You are akin to Kain. A special being, created by special means."

Well. Turel's perspective was certainly fresh and different, although I didn't completely agree. I have had enough. Standing, I attempted a smile in Turel's general direction. "Thanks for listening, Turel. I enjoy our talks together. You're not blind like the others."

"I assume you mean "blind" figuratively. Physically, I believe I'm getting there."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the huge shape in front of me. Turel's eyesight was poor, and it was failing still. I supposed Turel would have the senses of a bat in the future by using his exceptional hearing to find his way around his territory and hunt for blood. "I'm afraid I have to leave, Turel. I'll visit you again soon."

"I'll be waiting."

( )

I gazed at the expanse of blue in front of me. Impulsively, I dove beneath the waves. I had been avoiding this lake. It had too many memories that were best left forgotten. Melchiah and Rahab used to meet with me here for leisure. Then, Rahab had been happy, and we had swum together in races for play. I had been happier too; not filled with dread as I was now. Closing my eyes, sitting on the rough bottom, I thought of a better time with the refreshing, soothing, cool pressure all around my body. Embracing me. If I cried beneath the water, no one would notice. My tears were no different than the element I was surrounded by.

I opened my eyes finally, drinking in the hazy, green scene spread around me. Was this what the bottom of the Abyss looked like? Was Raziel really in a place that was very much similar to this?

Suddenly, the lake water wasn't as relaxing anymore. I propelled myself upwards and surfaced, feeling the sharp, frigid wind slice across the skin of my cheeks. I in the direction of the rocky outcropping and pulled myself up; the droplets of wetness rolling off me immediately soaked up by the parched terrain. I scanned the area for any unwelcome visitors, and with a start realized I was no longer alone. I watched a tall form come towards me, emerging from the nighttime shadows. Bracing myself for a fight, I fluidly slid into my defensive position.

Fortunately, I recognized the voice that issued from the darkness. "Always ready for battle, Marina?" Kain stepped into the silvery light of the moon.

"Of course," I replied rather defiantly but good-humoredly as well. "You never know what's lurking about."

"Never fear, it's only me," Kain answered with a bit of an ironic smile. "And, it seems like I have succeeded in my task to find you."

"You were looking for me?" I was shocked by this. Searching for lost vampires was not in Kain's nature. If one disappeared, it was assumed they weren't strong enough to survive in this empire.

Kain fastened his golden eyes on me forlornly. "You were gone for three days. I sensed you were here, so I decided to meet with you."

He missed me. He wouldn't admit it—ever—but it was there; this much was clear. Clearer than the lake that lay behind me, or the crystalline brightness of the stars above. My heart went out to him. "I'm sorry I stayed away for so long. I set out for Turel's territory and spent the day, then did some traveling and exploring on my own, and next I had a wild urge to revisit the lake…"

"Think no more of it, Marina. But, what were you discussing with Turel for so long, may I ask?"

"Various matters of state," I replied briskly. "Yet, somehow my dreams entered the conversation also."

Kain's pleasant smile immediately disappeared. "That was not wise. Those dreams could have profound meaning that others might misinterpret. You could draw hazardous conditions to yourself."

"I only told Turel. He knows more about my origins than the others do."

Kain sighed impatiently. "True, but Turel cannot be trusted fully. None of my former lieutenants are. In the future, I'd put no such prophecies to voice, not even to me."

It was if I had been slapped. Slowly, the depth of Kain's "opinion" dawned on me with absolute lucidity. He was correct. I was putting myself at great risk. In any event, Kain couldn't prevent the inevitable. If Raziel was destined to return, there was no help for it. The incessant dreams were my yoke to bear.

"I watched you swim," Kain said huskily. "It was magnificent to behold. You were so graceful under the water, more dexterous and skillful than Rahab at his best.

This unexpected praise astounded me. First, he was scolding me, now…he was complimenting me? I would never understand the males in this empire, especially the one standing here with me at present. Did I dare reveal what Turel's possible plans for "a fresh start" entailed? I would, but not tonight. Shivering slightly in the ripping north wind, I turned to Kain. "You think my aquatic abilities impressive?"

"Absolutely. Swimming is one medium even I would be able to accomplish. You are quite a rare creature, Marina."

So everyone kept telling me. Wrapping my arms around myself, I quivered in the nippy air. It was relentless enough to chill a vampire to his bones. Where had I conjured up the idea of jumping in the freezing water anyway? A moment of desperation? Passion? Kain took in my quaking form, and wordlessly removed his rich velvet cloak and draped it around my shoulders, taking care not to touch the beads of liquid on my skin.

"Thank you," I murmured. "You are very kind, Kain."

"I can be kind, Marina. Although at times, I have been forced to be cruel." I stared at him wonderingly. What could I say to that testament? Nothing. "May I escort you home?" he continued. "Or are you going to spend the evening out with the beasts? Not that there's any difference between them and those inside the Sanctuary of the Clans."

I felt myself smile at this witty assessment. "I'll go back with you, Kain." I longed to wrap my hand around Kain's own, but I couldn't. The wet sheen that coated it made that gesture impossible. It struck me that my immunity of water would always be a barrier between Kain and I, much like a dike that split a river in two.

( )

I bolted up from the bed, gasping for breath. I did not remember the dream itself, save it had been terrifying, just like the others. After a while, I relaxed and let my body drift downwards. There were no demons lurking, no beings with glowing green eyes, or mutated creatures with sharp claws. And no Raziel. Oh, here I was in this artificially darkened bedroom, late in the afternoon, scared like a little human. When a vampire slept, all he needed to worry about the human sneaking up on him with an axe or a bow. We met the lethal creatures when we awoke at night!

I glanced over to my right and was met with a pair of smoldering, glowing, gold eyes, but was unafraid. "Another one?" Kain's voice asked gruffly.

I simply nodded and moved closer to him, sliding my arms around him. Not objecting, his own wrapped around me. Our lips met. Years and years ago, I had decided to sleep in Kain's crimson bed, a mutual arrangement. Though I still had my cerulean blue bedroom that held my scarce possessions, I rarely spent the day in there. This was more convenient, and the lumbering guards were none the wiser, not that it mattered what they thought. I couldn't stop thinking if the bold, newly devoted Dumahim would replace the reserved, cagey Turelim in this service.

In this quiet hour, when Kain slumbered again and his arms went still, I wondered about exactly or who I was. I was no longer the pampered concubine, or the naïve vampiress, or "the girl" anymore. I was taking on another role, yet I hadn't the slightest idea what it was. Was some mystical hand drawing up every destiny and I had somehow detected a change in my own? What could I accomplish, this daughter of a Guardian turned vampire? I guessed only time would tell. So, along with everybody else, I would wait.

##TBC. Well, there's another update! I'm thinking of writing a Sebastian fic next from his human life to how he became Lord of the Industrial Quarter. Just an idea floating around, nothing planned yet. Sound good? I always wanted to do something in BO2 era. Oh, and look for bahamut's and my joined fic which is in the works at the moment.