Author's Note: Since the last chapter was so bad, I'm going to pretend that it didn't happen. (I could rewrite it, but I don't feel like subjecting people to an endless amount of them, so it's staying as-is until the final rewrite.) The changes are that Janos meets Raziel in a hallway and they talk about is why Raziel was using a Sarafan sword. I might include a truncated conversation about what Janos expects Raziel to do. Janos doesn't tell Raziel about Vorador's suspicions that Raziel isn't the Vampire Messiah, and Janos doesn't realize yet that Raziel doesn't drink blood. The other change is that Kain didn't go anywhere, he's just resting and thinking. This is a slightly short chapter, I know, but when combined with the changed version of the last chapter, it will work out to my average length.
Thanks to LunaticPandora and Varyssa for the reviews, and everyone else for the silence that accompanies a bad chapter.
Raziel, Janos, Kain, and Vorador stood on top of the courtyard wall and watched as another wave of Sarafan troops stood ready for battle. This group was smaller than the last, but Raziel recognized the armored forms of his mortal self and bretheren.
"Janos Audron," the Sarafan Raziel shouted. "Surrender, you vile fiend, and we will grant you the mercy of a quick death."
The wraith Raziel flexed his claws in anger. He could barely contain his indignation and rage at finding that the noble heritage that he had so revered was nothing more than an optimistic fantasy. Raziel felt that this righteous crusader was worse than the vampire that he was destined to become.
Raziel was about to leap off the wall to silence his abominable former self when Janos laid a restraining talon on his shoulder. "Do not risk your safety," the angelic vampire said.
Raziel blinked as he realized that Janos did not recognize the similarities between the wraith and the priest. "I won't allow him to keep treating you this way."
"I have seen generations of Sarafan spend their lives attempting to end mine," Janos said sadly. "More will come."
"This has to stop," Raziel said angrily. He boldly leapt off the wall to face the Sarafan army.
"Raziel, no!" Janos shouted. The angelic vampire glided down to protect his messiah, but he suddenly collapsed in pain. Turel had been hiding with Moebius' staff, but now he brandished it against the vampires.
Raziel realized what he had done and lashed out at Turel's green-armored chest. Surprised, Turel tried to swing the staff like his pike. Raziel wrenched the staff out of Turel's hands and began running with it deep into the swamp.
"He's mine!" a voice rang out. Raziel smirked to himself because he recognized it as his own.
Once the sounds of battle faded, the wraith turned around and flung the staff into the mud.
"I don't know what you are, but it doesn't matter because I'm going to destroy you," the Sarafan Raziel said.
The wraith smirked with his eyes. "You're welcome to try, but first tell me something. What kind of priest would rape a prisoner?"
The Sarafan looked surprised. "She was nothing more than a vampire whore. By serving your vile race, she has proven that she is no better."
The wraith crossed his lanky arms across his chest. "I see. Do you realize that perhaps it is you who is no better than the vampires that you despise?"
The Sarafan's face screwed into a scowl of contempt and disgust. "I am nothing like you."
The wraith stared stonily at his former self. Hooves squiching slightly in the mud, he strode towards the Sarafan with a measured step. "Are you so sure about that?" The wraith asked flatly. If the situation had been different, he was sure that he would be laughing.
Despite himself, the Sarafan began trembling. "Stand away, monster," he said. Raziel had faced many vampires in his time, but this was something different.
"Look at me," the wraith said. "I am your future."
The Sarafan sneered in horror as he understood what this monster was saying. With a fierce yell, he raised his sword and rushed at the wraith.
The wraith dodged the Sarafan's angry charge. He could tell that this was going to be a difficult battle. The staff was still disabling his wraith blade, but he also knew that he couldn't dare use it on his former self.
Fortunately for the wraith, the Sarafan was too overcome with rage and fear to fight properly. His sword swings were wild and uncontrolled. The wraith was angry as well, but he kept his emotions in check. He managed to place several deep scratches on the unprotected parts of the Sarafan's body.
Weak from loss of blood, the Sarafan stumbled. The wraith knocked the sword from the warrior-priest's hand. The wraith wrapped one clawed hand around the Sarafan's throat and used the other to restrain the bladed left wrist.
The Sarafan tried desperately with his right hand to pry the wraith's claws from his throat. Realizing that it was pointless, he spat, "You are everything that I hate."
"The feeling is mutual," the wraith replied coldly. He slowly squeezed his former self's throat. Blood flowed around his claws, and a wet crunch as he crushed his windpipe.
Raziel dropped his dead body onto the soft ground and watched as his own soul slowly drifted into the spectral realm. He considered that he could attempt to consume that soul or perhaps destroy the body, anything to keep them from being reunited. Raziel wondered what that would accomplish before deciding that wiping out his own existence was not the answer.
With a sigh, Raziel hoisted the dead body onto his shoulders and began trudging back towards Vorador's mansion.