Review Responses:
Varyssa: Yup, it's been a long time for the reunion! This wouldn't be much of a romance without more well…romance. Thanks for reviewing! :)
Smoke: Oops. My mistake. Forgot about the Azimuth thing. But actually, the way Marina is revived is quite believable in the LoK universe.
Tom T. Thomson: It sucks, but sequels are good! I just this particular story has run out of steam.
phoenix: Kain saves Marina in a sense, but not really. This fic may be ended but a continuation is in the works. Thanks for your support!
Chibi Lunnie: Evil cliffhangers, he-he! The story's continuing weekly for the most part. Thanks for your review!
Rikku142: A dangerous lover, huh? ;) There should be more Kain romances. You keep writing too!
shalisa: Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for reviewing!
Valnazzar: A taker for the sequel? Good!
I awoke on something hard and cold. Blackness swam in front of my vision. An ocean of dark. There was the sound of flames sputtering in the distance. I could almost feel their heat. Fire that would dance along my skin for eternity. So, this was the true fate of all vampires. Perhaps I would meet a Hylden down here. I knew now that I was in hell.
Opening my eyes slowly, I decided to face whatever lurked above me. My chest hurt so much, as if liquid heat were spreading across it in a stain.
Moaning slightly, I let my vision focus and turned myself around to look into his golden eyes and found them misted over like hazy moons. Kain. He was holding me gently on the stone floor in the main part of the cathedral. Light still emanated from the stained glass; illuminating the area around us, resembling a circle of bright everlasting love.
"Kain…?" I grasped the word sleepily.
"Don't try to talk," he whispered gently. "You've been through quite an ordeal."
"As have you," I breathed, gesturing to a gaping hole in Kain's chest. I was seconds away from asking what exactly led to it, but a realization dawned on me in my foggy state of mind. Gaping hole…missing heart…Janos Audron. Only the gods knew how I came to this conclusion.
Kain appeared pain, and not in the physical kind. "Raziel nearly took my life as well. He did not succeed however."
"He tore your heart from your chest--no. Janos' heart!" I corrected.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but as it turned out I guessed correctly. "When the necromancer made me, he created me from very special means obviously. The Death Guardian is more devious than the Time-Streamer himself."
"So, that's where the heart was hidden," I said stupidly. Vorador's aim had been quite misdirected indeed.
Tenderly, Kain cradled me, and lightly stroked a talon through my ebony strands of hair, a talon that most likely had felled more than a dozen beings. This is what I missed. I could stay in this cathedral or anywhere really, as long as Kain were beside me. However, that was not to be at this point and time.
"Where did you get the ruby?" he inquired softly. "Is it the same necklace the mortal woman wore? It was glowing all the while from when I found you in the pit and carried you here."
"It's a gift from my father, Anarcrothe. I spoke with him previously. He said it would protect me."
"And so it has," he replied ironically. "It must protect the wearer from all elemental and mystical attacks, including even that of the Soul Reaver itself. How perceptive of him to prepare for a situation such as this. The States Guardian finally did something right."
Letting the insult to my father pass, I decided it was unnecessary to defend him. I was not assured of his loyalty anyway. There were more pressing issues here. "Kain? How did you survive?"
He growled slightly at the memory of it. "I was thrust inside the hell dimension of the Hylden after Raziel defeated me. I fought and clawed my way out and…here I am," he finished with mischievous smile decorating his features.
"But, your heart is missing—"
"I suppose my role of Scion of Balance allows me to survive. That would be the only way I could have escaped death." He brightened a bit. "I've been battling against fate my entire existence, but this is one twist I can live with. Both of us, still on our feet, together."
I was on the verge of grinning too, but chose against it when Kain's exuberance faded and he once again became serious. "Marina, this is far from over. I must go to the Vampire Citadel, the place of our ancestors, and stop Raziel. Janos Audron must never walk again."
"What am I to do?" I asked, although I already knew the answer.
"You must stay in the cathedral; for safety's sake. I must embark at once, and I can bring only myself. I nearly lost you once; it will not happen in the near future." Lovingly, he looked down at me. His passionate gaze told me at once what he'd rather be doing, but duty came first. Extending a helpful hand, he set me upright. "Now, remain here. We'll meet soon."
With a parting kiss on my lips, he assumed the guise of his bat form, and flew out a convenient stained glass window. I watched in awe as the great scattering of brown winged mammals flitted into the air. Kain had rarely used his bat form, but whenever he did, it was a stupendous sight. To my knowledge, Kain was the only one that was able to use this medium. Usually, he simply teleported to where he needed to go. In either case, he could only transport himself, leaving me to fend on my own. Well, that was that.
Sighing, I peered around the cathedral that no longer seemed as angelic. The previously beautiful blue and silver misted radiance had turned into a hellish crimson, bathing the altar in a gory glow. I was left to my own devices. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my sword. How thoughtful of Kain.
The cathedral was deserted. I could sense that much. All enemies were dead. Visible ones anyway. Fingering the ruby at my throat, I considered the situation in front of me while Anarcrothe's words came drifting back. "If you wish it, grip the jewel, and will yourself to the Water Temple, the place of our ancestors…"
From what the Guardian of States told me, this place was near to the Vampire Citadel. I was genuinely shocked at this development. I thought I knew all the landmarks in Nosgoth. Evidently, I had much more to learn.
Gripping the bauble on its sparkling gold chain, I willed myself to another place in my mind. Not completely sure of what to do, I just conjured up the memory of water. Refreshing, cleansing water. Like the lake in Melchiah's homelands. The races with Rahab…the element dripping from my skin as I returned to Sanctuary…the moon reflected in the clear liquid below…the bubbling stream that flowed past my former home; half in shadow due to the sun, creating speckles of cool shade on the gleaming current…
The necklace warmed, and I was adrift. The elements the relic had been composed of called me across space to my namesake. I abruptly found myself standing in the middle of the teal and cerulean Water symbol that had been swirled with foamy white. Ultramarine shadows surrounded the area, and the room was alive with the liquid element. A huge fountain was in front of me with three waterfalls cascading down into a wide, tiled pool. Lesser fountains were set in wall niches around the perimeter; throwing off a sea green illumination, with scallop shells etched into the thick stone above them. I half-expected a mermaid to wave from the depths of this temple that looked as if it had been built at the bottom of the ocean.
Trading carefully, I examined the rooms around me. All doors led to empty chambers, except for one with an odd ribbon of granite set with numerous notches. It could be climbed, I realized. My climbing abilities were mediocre at best, but I had to try. There was no other way out. Anarcrothe told me how to get here, yet not how to escape.
Digging my claws into the rock, I pulled myself up without much difficulty to the opening and walked out onto an overhang. I gazed down upon the central fountain room from the balustrade. How magnificent this place was. These Winged Ancients walked here, I was sure of it. Especially those that served under the Water Element. Did some of their mystical power flow through my veins? The ruby necklace thought so. It was nearly pulsing on my chest; vibrating with the fluidity of running water.
Yet, a copper gate halted my progress. Beyond, I could spy another portal that could perhaps lead to the Vampire Citadel. I recognized the fact that I could not break it, nor could I phase myself through the barrier. However…
I clutched the necklace and again willed myself to turn into mist; perspiration the pounding waves created when they crashed against land. Amazingly, my body obeyed my wishes and I passed through the gate. This necklace the Alchemist had created was powerful. Maybe too powerful.
I approached the new portal and momentarily felt my mind separate from my physical form. An intense sensation of dislocation washed over me, and before I could grow concerned, I emerged into another temple.
I noticed there were orange flames licking up and down the walls in paint. Hanging scarlet lamps glowed below the curved, sculpted ceilings. I could safely assume this was the Fire Temple.
I walked out of the room and jumped down to the next onto a stone shelf. After hopping on the ground level, I came across four gleaming marble chairs. Obviously, these seated the four Guardians that paid homage to the element of Light. The other half of the circle supported Darkness. The Balance Guardian consisted of both. In Kain's case, I could not distinguish what was stronger.
Haltingly moving into the central chamber, I took note of the flaming yellow fire symbol on a smoky brown background in the middle of the floor. Additionally, there was another feature that interested me. As in the Water Temple, there was a curious crystal canister that was at least three times my height. Its function I could not guess.
Ultimately, I passed it by and located another portal. The Vampire Citadel should be in view soon.I was annoyed after regaining my equilibrium when I wound up in…another temple! Rays of sparkling, fiery light pierced through the wrought iron roof. All was bathed in a soft gold glow. Shining mirrors attached to the walls only reflected this glow more intensely. It came as no surprise to discover that this was the Temple of Light. Why would my search lead me here? Was the States Guardian lying?
I had spent nearly ten minutes roaming these musty shrines of the Ancients. Sand again was slipping through my fingers. If the Time-Streamer could see me now, he'd guffaw in delight.
Plunging forward, my path was blocked by another gate. I simply stood back, and relied on the magical ruby necklace to transform into river vapor to slide through it. Was this power limited only to me, or could Teresa and Eleanore utilize it as well? It didn't matter. They had not been born yet and even when they were, they wouldn't get the chance to possess it without Zara's intervention.
I jumped down to the center of the gleaming white floor and heard the distinct hum of energy. Another portal. This had to be it. I hoped that I would not have to traverse through all of the elemental temples. I would be too late.
Sighing, I approached the violet, pulsating portal and was off yet again.
Oh, my brain hurts. So many descriptions… Anyway, I'm thinking about where to set the sequel and have two ideas. Should it be at the end of Defiance/Blood Omen or in Blood Omen 2? Tell me if you have any ideas!