This is my take on how Raziel's human life might have been, starting with his early childhood. It's probably been done before, but I just had an idea once and had to write it down. So here it is.

Unfortunately I'm absolutely horrible with this kind of story and my English isn't good enough for anything with a plot. I hope it doesn't such too much. T_T

The Lower Part Of Heaven

Chapter I: A safe place

By Kia

"Not anywhere around here!"

"But they already saw them in the eastern mountains, only two day's walk away from here. They killed one of Arn's friends."

"But this village is a safe place. That's why I came here in the first place." Grum nipped at his glass thoughtfully. "Besides, the vampires aren't so much of a problem in this part of Nosgoth."

"Yet."

"Okay, so what? They're still a minority, if I may say so, and with all those vampire hunters around they'll soon be entirely gone."

"Yeah, that's what they say for a hundred years already. But not even those Sarafan guys could make them disappear completely. Come on, join our hunting troop, we still need more men."

Grum laughed softly. "Listen, my friend, I can understand that you want to get rid of them, and that Arn wants to revenge his friend and such, but, believe me, this is a safe place. The river keeps them away, as well as the unpredictable weather with those heavy rainfalls. And if that wasn't enough yet…" He grinned at his old friend, "You smell so bad that they'd rather die than come closer."

His opposite opened his mouth for a probably quite impolite answer but Grum quickly continued talking, before his friend could throw some words at him he'd rather not wanted his little son to learn who was sitting a few steps away on the floor of the bar, playing with a cat. "I haven't actually seen one in ages. And I came here to find a safe place for my children to grow up, not to throw my life away and leave them alone by forcingly searching for trouble."

It wasn't the first time they had this talk, but the outcome was always the same. Grum stood up from his chair and paid for his beer, knowing that it was useless and that he was late for dinner.

Until about two years ago he and his family had lived in a small town close to the swamp, but after their first child was born they decided to move to a safer place. Now his wife was pregnant for the second time and his son had just gotten three years old without having ever seen a vampire. Gurm wanted it so stay like this.

"By the way, there are probably already more vampire hunters running though the land than there are vampires," he added with a slight smile. "You don't want them to get bored, do you?"

His friend only grunted in return and Grum walked over to his son, a soft smile on his face.

"Come on, Raziel," he said and picked the boy up. "Mama's waiting."

Little Raziel giggled and tried to get out of his fathers strong arms.

"Can I keep the kitty?" he asked.

"No, we don't have room for a kitty."

"Oh, please! Pretty, pretty please?"

"No, no, our family is growing, forgot?" With his child in his arms Grum stepped out of the bar and into the golden rays of the evening sun. The village lay calm and peaceful before them.

***

To their small house it was a rather long way, just to the opposite end of the village.

Raziel yawned and snuggled deeper into his fathers embrace. His mother had told him to never leave the house after dark but here, in his fathers arms, he felt save. He knew that there were evil and dangerous creatures somewhere in the world, everyone was talking about them, but he had never seen one and didn't care.

***

Meriah frowned as she heard someone enter the house.

"You are late," she scolded and went to greet her husband. She was a kind and loving woman who never managed to stay angry for long, but at last she could pretend.

"I met Kurin at the bar," Grum explained. "We had a little talk."

"I see." Meriah walked over to him to take her son out of his arms. "Come on, little one, time so sleep," she said softly and carried the already asleep boy to his bed.

Afterwards she carried her pregnant body back to the old couch and her husband who was sitting in it.

"He asked you again to join his vampire hunt, didn't he?" It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"And?"

"I won't."

Silence. Then Meriah smiled and leaned over to place a kiss onto his lips.

"Promise me you never will. I need you to take care of your family."

"I will do so." Grum smiled back at her and tenderly caressed her round form. "Don't worry. The vampires are little more than a legend here and our children will probably grow up without ever seeing one."

He softly kissed her cheek and she knew that he, like herself, was hoping that is was true.

-tbc-

June 28, 2003

Well, I hope it wasn't too bad. Please tell me what you think about it.

The next part will be a bit longer.