Disclaimer – I don't own Legacy of Kain. If I did, I wouldn't be doing this.

Beyond the Edge: Additional

(These are the odd bits that got written because I was asked to or I just fancied doing them at the time but had no place for them in the actual plot.)

Title - Narcissism

Rating – Nothing higher than PG-13, coz I'm not changing the overall rating for one extra bit.

Genre – Romance (You have been warned).

Location – Would take place in chapter 13 after the events at Caucahn's castle but before the funeral pyre and Kain's return to his own timeline.

Type – Optional/Request

Notes – This chapter went through about four incarnations before I finally settled on this, which is actually an amalgamationof allthe attempts.I've never done anything even resembling romance before and it is not my style so bare with me, ok. It was written as a thank-you to a regular reviewer who was there from start to finish.

Warning – unavoidable OOCness, I've tried hard but LoK and love don't go together in my opinion. Seriously, I think it's a bad idea.

For Varyssa

"Maddrell, where is Khila?" Kain demanded of the Razielim as he strode purposefully towards him.

Maddrell was sifting through a cavernous room within the Refuge filled with firewood for suitable pieces to be used on a funeral pyre. "I have no idea; to be honest I thought that she was with you. She usually isn't too far from wherever you happen to be at the time."

"I haven't seen her since she went off to change her clothes. Before that she had said she wanted to help with the arrangements for Jor so I assumed she would be here."

"Well, she isn't." Maddrell replied and threw some more wood into a sack. "Why do you need her anyway, give the poor girl a rest why don't you? She's been trailing around behind you since you found her."

Kain growled something indistinct and turned to leave again.

"Why do you worry?" Maddrell asked quietly, causing him to pause. "Alright, so she's like family…biologically speaking…but since when has that mattered to you? You executed Raziel without qualms and let every one of your sons be killed without showing a shred of remorse. Then, of course, you disappear without a word to anyone and leave them to defend themselves against the invading Hylden forces. So, what makes her different? Oh … wait … that's a silly question really."

"And what might you mean by that?" Kain demanded.

"You're a bloody narcissist and she is you. So, you're only showing care for yourself, am I right?"

Kain refused to stoop to his level and engage in childish taunting so simply walked off while his temper held out. His grand-fledgling's accusations had, however, caused him to question himself. Why was he looking for her? The action had been practically instinctive and he hadn't really thought about what he was doing. He had not seen her around in a little while…so he had taken it upon himself to locate her. But why? He couldn't work that part out. He felt ridiculous; how could he not even know the contents of his own skull?

Well…he did have one last thought as to where she might be.

Yes. It would make sense for her to be there; to pay her respects and say her last goodbye to a fellow pet turned free vampire.

His assumption was correct and he found her within the small chamber that had become a temporary, makeshift morgue for the body and bones that they had brought back from the castle of the now dead Lord Caucahn.

The room had once-upon-a-time been a bedchamber, but its inhabitants had long since evolved to a point where they could no longer use it. The body of Jor was laid out on the bed that hadn't been slept in for god knows how many years and the skeleton of the 'abomination' rested in a wooden chest at the foot of the bed. The air was thick with the smell of dust and the sound of small grunts coming from Khila. She had done as he had earlier suggested and had found some new clothes to change into. The corpses littering the Refuge had supplied her with a veritable wardrobe of options. In the end she had settled for a simple shirt and trousers combination which had quite surprised him. He had expected her to have chosen one of the many dresses of the female dead…not because he thought it wasn't a woman's place to wear trousers, as it didn't bother him in the slightest, but because he had been so use to seeing her in the dress beforehand. She had worn dresses all her life…he had been surprised that she had been willing to make such a change in her lifestyle so quickly. She was half kneeling on the bed, leaning over Jor and seemed to be pulling on his muzzle.

"Khila?" he called quietly as he approached.

She stopped tugging but didn't let go of the metal cage. She turned her face to him. "I can't get it off him." she said, her voice strained as if tight with held back tears.

"I'm not surprised; it's solid."

"But you could get mine off of me…why can't I get his off of him?"

"Because I didn't remove yours that way."

"Well how did you then?"

"I had to heat up the metal before I could break it."

"Oh…" she released the muzzle and carefully laid Jor's head back down. "I don't have a way to do that."

"Yes you do. I gave it to you." He said, laying one hand on her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" she looked up at him like a confused child.

"Your Dark Gifts; I gave you a form of Immolate. You seem, however, to pass out from doing so as if to prevent self combustion. If you can control it; you can easily break that muzzle."

"I don't know how."

"Try."

"I'll just pass out again."

"Then you will wake up and try again. And again and again until you learn to guide it."

She gave him a firm nod and took hold of the muzzle once more. She acquired an almost constipated expression as she tried to force her strange type of Immolate to work.

"Don't strain yourself." Kain said. "You don't want to rupture something."

She gave a frustrated grunt and stopped giving herself a hernia. "I can't do it."

"You've barely tried."

She shook her head but gave it another go regardless…again Kain had to prevent her from bursting with the strain. "I don't think that forcing it is going to help in the slightest. Just relax, concentrate and let it flow."

"Sounds so easy…" she sighed and decided that it was about time to try again.

She closed her eyes and this time tried a new tactic as Kain had suggested. She curled her claws around the muzzle's bars and tried some gentle encouragement rather then outright bullying to persuade the Dark Gift to come forward. The Dark heat began to rise again and as before so did the sickly drowsiness that was the bane of her new Gift. With grim determination she fought against the desire to keel over backwards and focused every conscious thought she had on what she was doing.

"Don't force it, just guide it. Heat and flame are not animals that can be simply tamed and controlled." Kain advised and watched with fascination.

The heat haze was a welcome arrival to the scene; rising from her hands as it signified that she was finally getting the hang of it; the last two times she had passed out before the heat haze had arrived. By this time, however, all she wanted to do was pass out, as trying to hold the burning inside her solely in her hands was making her want to chop her own hands off to stop the horrific sensation within them that made her feel her blood was boiling in her veins.

The metal she held began to hiss while it slowly changed in colour from darkened grey to a dully glowing, deep orange. Seeing that it had softened, she easily pulled the muzzle away from itself, the bars splitting with little resistance. With it broken she released the hold she had on the Dark Gift and instantly felt all of the discomfort and sickness fade away, back from whence they came. Flinging the mangled mess of semi softened metal framework in a victorious gesture she turned and flung her arms around Kain's neck in a celebratory embrace, excitedly uttering the words "I did it!"

Kain was somewhat shocked by the action, but was happy that she was so enthusiastic about the completion of her first controlled and deliberate use of a Dark Gift. The way her entire self seemed to beam with pride and triumph reminded him of when he had been teaching his sons to use their Gifts. He distinctly remembered the spring in Rahab's step and the smile on his face that had been present all night after he had first managed to hit something with a telekinetic bolt without it being an accident.

Khila gave a happy sigh, her face buried against his neck and in that instant Kain was suddenly extremely aware of how close he was to her…so close he could feel her chest press against his as she breathed and her breath against his skin.

This is wrong. He told himself. This feeling…can't be right…

She looked up, resting her head on his shoulder with a smug grin plastered on her face.

Wrong…this is all wrong. But even as he said it in his thoughts he unconsciously settled his hands on her waist, resting on the curve of her hips.

But it didn't matter what he yelled at himself, he found that he just didn't want to end it…there were other little thoughts racing around in the privacy of his mind along with the self warnings.

Khila leaned her head back, still watching him and not in the least bit tired any more after the Gift lesson, and laid her arms on his broad shoulders rather than around them. She smiled again. "I can't believe it worked!"

He raised one hand up and tucked a few stray silky strands of her hair behind her ear before laying the same hand on her cheek and drawing his thumb claw over her lips.

The action suddenly made her realise why he was looking at her the way he was. Originally she had just thought he was returning the gesture in a way…but now knew it meant a little more than her initial naïve thought about their togetherness.

He closed his eyes and let her scent fill his senses…wondering if the way she smelt was the way that he smelt. It was an odd thing to wonder but he couldn't help it.

Khila was somewhat torn as she didn't know how to react to this…she knew what she thought she aught to do but…her rather tragic past had added up to such confusion within her when it came to these feelings. As a human she had been innocent, in the biblical sense of the word, but that had been well and truly lost to Caucahn in various violent and torturous ways that were the source of 'the scars that don't show on the outside.' Her Hylden master had been a cruel and malicious sadist, who revelled in the misery and pain he could inflict upon her, both mental and disgustingly physical. She wasn't overly fond of the way Kain was looking at her…she would never tell him but it reminded her a little of the way Caucahn looked at her sometimes…as though he couldn't decide what to make of her…or what to do with her.

However, the reason for the 'look' was simply because Kain was likewise unsure and vaguely uneasy, if truth be told…but for far different reasons to her. He had never been abused or tortured in such a way as she, but he never really had good relations with women; manipulation and deceit had been a staple part of any 'relationships' he had had. The only women of any memorable significance in his life had both been traitors; Ariel and Umah. One a ghost who had ordered him on quests, kept vital information from him and then had asked him to commit suicide, while the other was an overly buxom, deceiving creature that had tried to steal everything from him and then had dared to beg for his aid when she could have easily have been the first to ever experience true compassion and care from the cold vampire overlord. His human past was long gone and forgotten and as emperor of Nosgoth any closeness he had had with those of the female persuasion had usually lasted all of one night…or as long as it took him to grow bored. The only women that hadn't tried to mess him about had been few; the Seer…and Khila.

Again he cupped the side of her face with one hand and closed his eyes but this time he pressed his lips to hers in a simple, soft and passionate kiss. For a moment as he felt his lips join hers all he felt was an inexplicable sickening fear begin to swell in the pit of his stomach…but that fear was short lived and the sickening soon settled into a rising fluttering that wasn't too unpleasant.

He felt her small claws trace along the scar that crossed his abdomen and he couldn't help but shudder at the touch. It wasn't even as if the skin was sensitive anymore…it hadn't been for centuries…maybe even millennia…but having her deliberately stroke along its length just reminded him that it was there. He did so try to forget.

As if in response to that she felt him slide his tongue into her mouth to drag over the tips of her fangs while his hands began to caress her waist.

Her claws moved up to bury themselves in his silvery white hair that was identical to her own and as she did this Kain let his palms drift slowly down her body, over her chest and down to her hips again, lovingly following the contours of her figure. He released her mouth to instead kiss her neck, allowing his teeth to drag over her skin.

"What are you doing?" he heard her mumble almost nervously. It wasn't as though she didn't enjoy it…but it was also slightly unnerving.

Lost in the moment as he was, he neglected to give her an answer. He could feel her blood pulsing through the veins just below her skin and every part of his being screamed out for him to draw it out of her. His tongue lapped against her soft warm flesh as the bloodlust inside of him snaked its way though his thoughts and wrapped about them like vines; poisoning what could have remained pure and beautiful for both of them. Now influenced solely by his vampiric desires a slow smile spread, his lips locked against her neck and his jaws clamped together, forcing his fangs into her jugular.

She screamed out loud and slammed both fists against him. He ignored her and simply crushed her tighter against him to prevent her struggling.

"Let me go! You're hurting me! Stop!" she cried out but her words were not heard; he wasn't listening…"Please!"

She felt his bite intensify and wished she had a way to stop him. She didn't blame or curse him for this turn of events, as she had felt that way inclined herself if she was going to be honest. The problem was that it had been a while since he had been able to sink his teeth into anything or anyone and being so close to her had just reminded his instincts of that…as she contemplated this, the pain faded and it didn't seem so bad anymore, more of an uncomfortable tingling than anything else. She remembered what she had done to Maddrell…her form of Charm; she could force him off of her if she wanted to. Her expression lessened from pain to contentment, she buried her claws into his hair, rested her head on his and let him do as he pleased. After all, it was the least she could do after all that he had done for her.

"So long as you give me a smile." She whispered, stroking him in a soothing manner.

This, Kain did hear and it was enough to help loosen his lust's grip on his conscious thoughts. He pulled his teeth from the punctures in her skin and tried to rectify any discomfort he had caused by returning to kissing deeply her in the manner in which they had begun.

She tasted her own blood in and on his mouth and for some reason she found it more arousing than disgusting. Any barriers that there may have still been between them were shattered in an instant. Khila didn't care what may have been inflicted on her in the past; Kain was not Caucahn no matter how he looked at her sometimes. His touch, sliding under her shirt to make contact with her bare skin, though somewhat rough was not intended to hurt or humiliate her. She relaxed into his hold while small encouraging moans of delight escaped her throat as his palms pressed against the swells of her chest.

Warmth coiled in his stomach and he began to feel himself throbbing with undeniable lust. Moments later he was almost taken aback by Khila's uncharacteristic boldness when he felt her more delicate claws sliding under the waistband of his leather trousers, below the straps that secured them to him.

They were both far too engrossed in their increasingly intimate embrace to notice the footsteps echoing towards the room…or the handle begin to turn…or the door swinging open…or Maddrell stepping quietly inside.

Well…almost quietly…

"Ye gods!" The Razielim exclaimed. "I didn't need to see that!" and he covered his eyes with his hands while trying to back blindly out of the door. Unfortunately all he managed to do was lean on it and close it, with him still inside.

Kain and Khila quickly removed their hands from where they were buried under various items of disarrayed clothing and took a step back. Khila's face flushed and she started rubbing her hands while Kain simply glared at the intruder…and adjusted his trousers.

"It is usual to knock before making ones presence known in a room." he growled. "I shall assumed that you have heard of manners?"

"I'm scarred for life." Maddrell mumbled and lowered his hands. "You're sick…I remember what I said, but this is ridiculous. What were you thinking! Actually, I don't want that answered."

"Stop babbling, what do you want?" he wasn't getting any calmer. It had been a long time since had been able to actually enjoy himself in a way that didn't involve killing people that deserved it. He did not appreciate being so rudely made to desist. Though in way, maybe it was best that they didn't take it any further. After all, realistically, it was less like narcissism and more like incest.

"I came to collect the body and the bones, what do you think!"

Khila wasn't sure what to do now…she had to admit that she had been enjoying it as well; she had been willing to give in completely to him, something that she had never felt when Caucahn had forced her into things. She had always fought her former master in those situations even though it made him treat her worse.

"Well you may as well get on with it." Kain said and gestured to the corpse. "Nothing is getting in your way now."

"Too damn right." he stated while pushing past them both to pick up Jor's body in his arms, as his wings made it awkward to sling it over his shoulder. He then gestured to Khila. "If you're not too busy would you kindly grab those bones and bring them for me, Kitten?"

"Stop calling me Kitten." She grumbled, opened the door for him and then stepped over to the chest where the bones were kept. "I'll catch you up."

"Alright…good grief." He muttered as he exited the room, taking Jor's remains with him to where the pyre had been set.

Khila bent down, grasping the bottom edges of the chest and hefted them into cradled arms against herself. "Perhaps now wasn't the right time." She said shyly, all but trying to hide behind that which she now held.

"Time is something I have had my fill of." Kain sighed while perching on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his hands and closing his eyes, face tilted to the ceiling. "People have always been trying to control my time...so, I plan to make my own time from now on."

Khila paused at the door. "Can I help?"

-End-

Author's (second) Note – Ooh, what a crappy ending and not a lot happened really, did it? I hope I haven't offended anyone, as I know there are quite a few of you who told me not to write anything like this. It was only an experiment. Please don't flame me.