Leaving for Dark Eden

Abel looked up from the low branch he had climbed up into, hearing Jessie's voice. She hadn't left yet then. "Little One, wait," he whispered. "If you are not too far with them yet I...I would like some familiar company. Just in case..." Already he was bending, but no matter, there was much strength in numbers after all.

Jessie froze in her tracks at Abel's message. She was very happy he had replied. She sensed where he was, and it wasn't that far from where the rest of her friends were traveling. She would have gone anyway, but this would make it easier to catch up later. As she was leaving, Novanus looked at her curiously. She mouthed the word "Abel" and Novanus understood, nodding and continuing with the others. Jessie melted into the shadows and covered the ground very quickly. She could be incredibly fast when she wanted to be.
She found herself in a very small clearing. Directly across from her, Abel was sitting on a low branch of a huge tree. She walked forward slowly and announced her presence, "Abel, I'm here." Abel jumped down from the tree branch and walked toward the sound of her voice. The very sight of the state he was in brought a tear to Jessie's eye. He didn't deserve any of this. It wasn't fair. She reached up and wiped the blood off of his cheek with the sleeve of her coat. He smiled. He seemed as if he wanted to ask something, but was reluctant to hear the answer.
Jessie spoke, "We have to help them. The Nerayan must not be allowed entry to this realm. Kain's fate won't matter if the Nerayan have consumed everything and everyone. Right now, we need to fight for Nosgoth. We will sort everything else out later. I promise." Jessie hoped her somewhat inspirational speech would be enough to convince Abel to come with her to Dark Eden and aid Izael and Gadorian by holding off the Nerayan with her other friends.

The kindred looked downward, "Perhaps you are right, for even now I know not my purpose for awakening so soon, just that my young brother had to be found. But, if time allows, I do not want to leave just yet," he said, turning and heading back to the massive oak he had been in and placing his cloven claw upon the old and chipping bark. "I still need to cool down and think for a bit longer." Abel leaned his head against the tree, closing his useless eyes to listen to the leaves move and breathe. Parasites were already invading the ancient trunk as they burrowed through the still-living wood. It still stood strong...but for how long?

Jessie leaned back against another tree and patiently watched Abel as he calmly thought things through. There wasn't much time, but this was important. Abel needed to be fully restored and ready for the upcoming battle. If it took too much time and they wouldn't be able to catch up to Novanus' group, Jessie could always teleport them. She had a considerable reserve of energy she had been saving for something like their current situation. Abel stood near the oak tree, mentally trying to put all of the pieces into place, while Novanus and the others drew ever closer to their destination.

Kour pulled the text from the shelf and brushed off the dust. "I was told the Order did not keep written texts. How…Where did you get this one?" He had to sit down as he opened the pages. The Deva took a look at the book. "Yes. I remember. I was one of the assistants to the High Priest. He gave it to me the night before he was murdered. He told me to hide it where the others would not find it. Little did he know how good I was at hiding things." "The others?" Kour asked. "The other priests. They were burning the books … all of them. Save for this one, of course. I believe this was the only one to survive." Kour now read with a fever. Thoughts raced as he turned page after page until he came to a passage which was frighteningly familiar…"Condition #1 - The minds of Nosgoth furnish the flames that bring them..."

Izael walked ahead of the main group with Gadorian. He was testing his new abilities, focusing his mind on the Sword, and through it trying to sense anything harmful to them. He walked with his eyes closed, but the Sword didn't allow him to stumble. They were progressing slowly. The temperature had turned warmer, and now heavy rain was pouring from skies above, melting the snow. "You must learn to observe your surroundings through the sword without concentrating; sensing your enemies is no good if you cannot see them," Gadorian said. Izael tried opening his eyes, but immediately lost his concentration, and stumbled. Cursing, he stood up and tried again. With great effort, he managed to merge his mind with the Sword's, and smiled as new kind of information flowed through him. His vision sharpened. He could see perfectly in the night. Not only that, he could also sense through the sword, hearing how every living object sang and danced in silence, feeling how a squirrel drank from a small river nearby and sensing how a snake was getting ready to kill it. But, hanging above it all, was a dark presence, a silent watcher with hostile intentions. It was interested in something...important...something was going to happen, very soon...so very soon...the snake burst forward towards the surprised squirrel...a predator was striking its prey...somewhere near...Izael could sense it...a vampire! The squirrel squeaked as the snake's teeth pierced its skin. "ABEL!" Izael yelled, and started running into the night. He could only pray he would not arrive too late.

Novanus watched Izael sprint into the night and wasted no time in following. If Abel was in danger then there was no time to waste. He sent out a probing thought even as he bounded through the forest. Abel was ok and Jessie was with him, but there was something else. A malignant presence was there, closing in on his pair of friends. He sped up, his vampiric speed making him appear almost a blur as he moved. Gadorian was close behind him.
In the distance he could see Izael. It was incredible how fast the young man was understanding how to use his sword. The mortal was moving faster then anything he had ever seen, his legs almost a blur. "And he's in full armor," thought Novanus. Incredible. Izael stopped just up ahead and Novanus came to a halt at his side, followed closely by Gadorian. The three of them looked up at the presence above Jessie and Abel. "My God!" exclaimed Novanus.

Kour closed the book in shock and disbelief and called out to the young apprentice. "Orugarde, we must leave, now." As the two made their way to the exit, Orugarde was prevented from taking another step, his feet frozen to the ground. "Not so fast, my friend," the Deva smiled in Kour's direction. "As payment for helping you, I'm claiming the young one. You are free to go. My rotting teeth could not handle your flesh, too old and tough." "Deva, you have been helpful and hospitable. I wish to strike a bargain. Release the lad and I will bring you…the Eye."
Kour's words caught the Deva's attention and she took a moment to think. "The Eye of the Damned?" The Deva laughed at the proposition. "What makes you think you can retrieve such a prize? Legend tells of its entombment, fused in solid rock, protected by traps and spells. It is written that a shroud of noxious gas envelops it." "Leave that to me. As a Guardian of the Order, I have certain… abilities. Now, do we have an agreement?" "First, you bring me the Eye, and then I will release the boy. No harm will come to him, you have my word."
With no choice left to him, Kour reached out his hand and placed it on the young one's shoulder. "Orugarde, I will return for you. You will not see your last breath here, this I promise you." "Yes, my Lord." And with that, Kour made his way to the exit, but not before one last word. "Deva! I warn you. You harm him, you die. This I promise you." As she watched Kour leave the grotto, under her breath she murmured, "We shall see, Guardian… we shall see."

Abel looked up to the sound of swift footfalls and the gasping voice. Immediately his expression changed to concern, but not for the hovering presence, who had taken specific precautions so as not to be sensed by his prey. "Novanus?" Abel started forward, "What is it?"
Jessie was a little bit confused to see Novanus, Izael, and Gadorian standing in front of her looking so surprised and concerned. She wondered what had drawn such a response from them. She heard Abel ask Novanus what was wrong, but the words did not register in her mind. She was following Novanus' gaze to the trees directly above her and Abel. An amused "Oh" escaped her lips before the full realization hit her. They were in big trouble.

Izael looked at the thing, his face turning to sheer horror. He couldn't believe his eyes at first, thinking that the Sword was mistaken somehow. Only when Izael looked into the eyes of Novanus, he understood. He turned to face the figure that hovered a few meters above Abel and Jessie. It was a vampire, there was no doubt, an Ancient vampire. Its elegant, blue features and black wings radiated calmness around it, but its eyes burned with a mad gleam and fire that confirmed Izael's worst fears. The vampire had an elegant great-sword that it held high in the air, ready to swing and remove Abel's head from his shoulders. Novanus spoke in a soft voice, "This...is impossible." Abel, still unable to sense anything wrong, looked puzzled. Then the ancient vampire struck. "NO!" Suddenly Izael was there, by Abel's side, blocking the blow that could've surely ended Abel's life. The ancient vampire hissed and finally revealed itself in its full glory to everyone. Gadorian looked shocked, as did Jessie. "Heresy! Betrayal!" Novanus spat the words out and attacked. However, his attack was easily repelled, and he was thrown against a tree, which was broken by the force of the impact. The ancient vampire spoke at last, "Heresy? Betrayal? Yes, I have been accused many times. But who are you to judge me? Compared to me, you are all young and weak, allying yourself with a human and a wraith. No, it is you who are heretics to our glory! The human race has grown too strong, and we are too few. But the Nerayan can drive them almost to extinction! Then vampires will be the masters again. The ends justify the means, you fools! Can you not see that only by desperate measures are we able to survive? And now you are in the way of our plans. Turn from your mad scheme now, and you will be given mercy."
Abel, finally understanding what was unfolding, turned to face their new enemy. "He is possessed. He has to be. There is no other explanation..." "Possessed by the Nerayan? I might be. I do not care, for we have common goals. Destruction of humans."
"We were to protect the humans! You have turned against all the Pillars stand for. This human here is the proof. He wields a sword created by vampires," Gadorian said. The ancient retorted, "Ah yes, but humans were never meant to become so powerful. I WAS there when the Pillars were created. I should know..."
"What do you mean?" Izael yelled, but then the ancient one attacked again.
The ancient one was heading directly for Izael. Before Izael could even react, Jessie stepped in front of him. Her Wraithen blade met the blade of her opponent. There was a tremendous clash and magical sparks radiated outwards in all directions. Both Jessie and the ancient were thrown backwards. Izael caught Jessie before she hit the ground and helped her back to her feet. The ancient, however, needed no such help. It landed on its feet and slid back a small distance, claws digging up the earth.
Jessie was ready for real battle now. That first blow had merely been to test what she was up against. Now that she had gauged her opponent's strength, she would not be thrown about so easily. She cast a shield of wind around herself. It would defend against the elemental magic that her opponent's sword relied upon. She saw her opponent cast a shield as well. 'Damn. This will be one hell of a challenge,' thought Jessie.
The ancient ran toward Jessie with incredible speed. Jessie used up some energy and kept pace, dodging and blocking blows as fast as the ancient could attack. She smiled to herself, glad that when creating her new form, she had incorporated certain elements from other forms. She glided back a bit. Her sword left a green trail in the air around her as she spun around and directed the full force of her rage attack at her opponent. The ancient attempted to block the attack with its sword, but the sword was not enough and Jessie was able to open a large wound that ran diagonally down the ancient's chest and abdomen. The ancient backed up a few paces and examined the wound with one hand. The ancient studied the blood on its claws from its own wound and merely laughed.

Kour's head ached as he left the grotto. Thoughts raced through his mind faster than he could assimilate them. "A betrayal in the Order?" He could not think of that now. As he ascended the cave, he mulled over the words in the text, the purpose of which was becoming clear. Written in the book were instructions about the Nerayan.
Condition #1 – The minds of Nosgoth furnish the flames that bring them.
Condition #2 - The Eye of the Damned, the clarity to focus them.
Condition #3 – The Divine One, the power to unite them.
These instructions were not of how to prevent them from coming… but the conditions necessary to bring them. He knew why they were emerging now. And they were not arriving on their own…they were being invited. His task now was to deny "them" the means by which to do it. He would secure and remove from their grasp "Condition #2".

The Deva released Orugarde from her icy hold. "Hmm… that went well, did it not?" "Yes, my Lady." "But time will tell if it worked or not." The Deva replaced the book she was holding back to its place on the shelf. "Well then. I suppose we won't be needing the Deva for now." As she passed her arm across her body, the hideous form dissolved from the head down in a mass of sparkling light. The figure now revealed was that of the Priestess Amar.

Lessa had been scouting ahead of the group to find the quickest path to Dark Eden. She had found the barrier when she felt that Novanus was in trouble, so she ran back to Seth and spurred him back. Soon she could hear a furious battle going on. She could see Jessie panting with a look of anger on her face. Izael was by a tree and Novanus looked shocked because there in front of them was an ancient. Lessa got off Seth and walked forward. For some reason this ancient was known to her, but from where...Of course.