Shattered

Heart

A World of Darkness Novel

Tangent Series

By Draven Nightly and Evan Owens

Prelude

The Father of Us All

And I first-born Caine, I, with sharp things, planted the dark seeds wet them, in earth tended them, watched them grow. And Abel, second-born Abel, tended the animals, aided their bloody births, fed them, and watched them grow.

I loved him, my Brother. He was the brightest, the sweetest, and the strongest. He was the first part of all my joy.

Then one day our Father said to us. "Caine, Abel to Him Above you must make a sacrifice - a gift of the first part of all that you have."

And I, first-born Caine, I gathered the tender shoots, the brightest fruits, the sweetest grass And Abel, second-born, Abel slaughtered the youngest, the strongest, the sweetest of his animals.

On the altar of our Father, we laid our sacrifices and lit fire under them and watched the smoke carry them up to the One Above

The sacrifice of Abel, second-born, smelled sweet to the One Above, and Abel was blessed. And, I, first-born Caine, I was struck from beyond by a harsh word and a curse, for my sacrifice was unworthy.

I looked at Abel's sacrifice, still smoking the flesh, the blood. I cried. I held my eyes. I prayed in night and day, and when Father said "The time for Sacrifice has come again."

And Abel led his youngest, his sweetest, and his most beloved to the sacrificial fire. I did not bring my youngest, my sweetest; for I knew the One Above would not want them.

And my brother, beloved Abel said to me "Caine, you did not bring a sacrifice, a gift of the first part of your joy, to burn on the altar of the One Above."

I cried tears of love as I, with sharp things, sacrificed that which was the first part of my joy, my brother.

And the Blood of Abel covered the altar and smelled sweet as it burned, but my Father, Adam, first created by God, said "Cursed are you, Caine, who killed your brother. As I was cast out so shall you be."

And He exiled me to wander in Darkness, the land of Nod.

Michael, General of Heaven, wielder of the holy Flame, said unto me,

"Son of Adam, Son of Eve, thy crime is great, and yet the mercy of my Father is also great. Will you not repent the evil that you have done, and let his mercy wash you clean?"

And I said to Michael, "Not by the One Above's grace, but mine own will I live, in pride."

Michael cursed me, saying "Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear my living flame and it will bite deep and savor your flesh."

Raphael spoke, saying "Caine, son of Adam, son of Eve, your brother Abel forgives you your sin. Will you not repent, and accept the mercy of the Almighty?"

And I said to Raphael "Not by Abel's forgiveness, but mine own, will be forgiven."

Raphael cursed me, saying "Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will fear the dawn, and the sun's rays will seek to burn you like fire where ever you hide always. Hide now for the Sun rises to take its wrath on you."

Uriel spoke to me quietly, saying "Son of Adam. Son of Eve. God Almighty has forgiven you your sin. Will you accept his mercy and let me take you to your reward, no longer cursed?

And I said to dark-winged Uriel, "Not by God's mercy, but my own, will

I live. I am what I am, I did what I did, and that will never change."

And then, through dread Uriel God Almighty cursed me, saying. "Then, for as long as you walk this earth, you and your children will cling to Darkness. You will drink only blood. You will eat only ashes. You will be always as you were at death, never dying, living on. You will walk forever in Darkness; all you touch will crumble into nothing, until the last days."

The archangel Gabriel said unto me, "Son of Adam, Son of Eve, behold, the mercy of the Father is greater than you can ever know, for even now there is a path opened a road of Mercy and you shall call this road Golconda. And tell you children of it, for by that road may they come once again dwell in the Light."

When my energies first surged through me, I discovered how to move like lightning Celerity, how to borrow the strength of the earth Potence, how to be as stone

Fortitude. These were like breathing once was to me.

Lilith, (The Lady of Night) then showed me how she hides herself from hunters Obfuscate, how she commands obedience Dominate, and how she demands respect Presence.

Then, Awakening myself further, I found the way to alter forms Protean, the way to have dominion over animals Animalism, and the way to make eyes see sight Auspex

But Caine grew lonely in his Power. Deep within him, the seed of loneliness blossomed, and grew a dark flower. He saw within his blood the potence of fertility. He learned the way to make a child for his own.

And, lo, Uriel, Dread Uriel, revealed himself to Caine that very night and said to him,

"Caine, though powerful you are, and marked of God, know you this: that any Childe you make will bear your curse, that any of your Progeny will forever walk in the Land of Nod, and fear flame and sun, drinking blood only and eating ashes only.

"And since they will carry their father's jealous seed, they will forever plot and fight amongst themselves. Doom not those of Adam's grandchildren who seek to walk in righteousness. Caine! Stay your dread Embrace!"

And so, it came to pass that Caine beget Enoch and, did Enoch beg for a brother, a sister, and Caine, indulgent Father, gave these to him, and their names were Zillah, whose blood was most-favored of Caine, and Irad, whose strength served Caine's arm.

And then wise Caine said. "An end to this crime. There shall be no more."

And as Caine's word was the law, his Brood obeyed him.

Then came the great Deluge, a great flood that washed over the world. Again, Caine fell into great sorrow and went into solitude.

And he left us, his Progeny, to our own ends. We found him, after much searching, deep in the earth, and he bade us go, saying that the Flood was a punishment, for his having returned to the world of life and subverting the true law.

He asked us to go, so that he might sleep.

So we returned alone to find the children of Noah, and announced that we were the new rulers.

Each created a Brood, in order to claim the glory of Caine, yet we did not have his wisdom or restraint.

A great war was waged, the Elders against their Children, just as Uriel had said.

And the Children slew their parents.

They brought in the Kingship Clan Ventrue, the Clan of the Beast Gangrel, the Moon Clan Malkavian, the Clan of the Hidden Nosferatu, the Wanderer Clan Ravnos, the Clan of the Rose Toreador, the Night Clan Lasombra, the Clan of Shapers Tzmisces, the Snake Clan Setites, the Clan of Death Cappadocians, the Healer's Clan Salubri, the Clan of the Hunt Assamites, and the Learned Clan Brujah.

Caine cursed Malkav, when that one defamed his image, and doomed him, and therefore his brood of Malkavians, to insanity, forever.

When Nosferatu was found indulging his tastes in foul ways with his own Children, Caine laid his hand on Nosferatu, told him that he would forever wear his evil, and twisted his visage.

He cursed us all, for killing the first part of his Children, the Second Generation, as we had hunted them down one by one, Zillah the Beautiful, Irad the Strong, and Enoch First-Ruler.

And none will say when Caine will arise again, from his sleep in the earth, and call for the city Gehenna, the Last City, the City of Judgment.

The Book of Nod

The Chronicle of Caine