Legacy of Kain ; Path of redemption 3

Lazaruss : Okey... This should complete my "Path of redemption" trilogy. I'm only going to advise you to reed the previous two parts first, before this one or you might find your self confused. Nosgoth has changed, Kain has changed, and it has bean 1350 years since Defiance. If you don't know how to find the first two parts click on " Author : Lazaruss " abowe the title of this story. Have fun.

Chapter one ; visits

After a long and troublesome day,an old general finally retreated to his home to get some rest. For the entire day his men scouted the country side, but there was no trace of any of the vampires. The fact was not unexpected, but it was disappointing and discouraging. Those actions had to be pinned on someone.

His bed room was dark and appealing for an old man like him, who has spent this day working restlessly, chasing shadows. Decorated with various military commendations and pictures of previous exploits, it stood as his own utopia where he could blend in and get some of that wanted rest. His bed was welcoming him like an old friend he could always turn to in a time of need, and with a smile of remission he crawled under its sheets and tended to fall asleep quickly. But it was denied to him. He was in the army for too long to sleep when there was unsettled work to be done, and despite the fact he could do nothing, his thoughts kept spinning him around the subject.

He opened his eyes after a few minutes realizing he won't be able to sleep tonight and took a look around the room just to get his mind of these things. The first thing that caught his eye was his medal for exquisite leadership he got practically at the beginning of his service. Even then the other superiors knew, he could one day surpass any of them. His picture of him with his first unit deep in the jungles of Termagent where they were stationed for three years with practically no contact with the outside world. Many other plaques and memories of those old days when he was a young soldier, stood before him as a testament of a good lived life. But not tonight. In these last years before his retirement he wondered if he made a mistake by allowing them to exist. Who will keep them in check after he is gone ?

Gazing more around the room he came across his comfy chair, backed away in the shades. That caught his curiosity. The thing had its front side turned to him, but it was suppose to stand a few feet closer to bed, and not there in that dark corner. As he sharpened his eyes he saw a vision of a figure sitting there, and at once he jumped for his gun, pointing it at the intruder.

" You've sent your men after us, General. "; the figure spoke slightly annoyed

An old soldier sighed slightly relieved, but still didn't lowered his gun. He knew now who his visitor was, and in his presence it would be foolish to lower your defenses.

" Geese, Kain ! You scared to death of me !"

" Fear is a good emotion. "

" Why can't you make an appointment like a normal person ?"

" Because I'm not. "; the vampire replied politely and than he lifted forward to the scarce light of the moon that shined trough the window :" I taught we agreed not to cross into each others territory. "

" You've killed one too many this time. It's bad enough covering your tracks as you kill randomly, now I have to… "

" We need to feed as well. "; Kain cut him off decisively

" That's not the point here. "

" O, but it is. There are 154 vampires and 4 789 523 452 humans in Nosgoth, you and I included. Considering everyone, you got the best of this math. "

" Look, Kain… "; General said in a tone that clearly stated that this conversation was draining him :" We agreed that you take what… who you must, to survive. People of the streets can't be traced to you or us. But when you've killed Sandra you've stirred the meter considerably. Now I can't… "

" Wait a minute. "; Kain stood up in misunderstanding :" What are you talking about ?"

His sudden gesture made General Leiman pull back a bit before the fear, that Kain's move would cause, but the old soldier knew better than to give into it. It was more a precaution than terror that made him back away slightly, and once he saw the confusion on Kain's face he continued, still holding him on the sight of his weapon :

" Don't play the ignorance game with me, vampire. You would have me believe that you can't keep your thrall in check ? One of you killed her. Ether you, or one of your vampires. "

Kain was greatly disturbed by this. His eyes twitched slightly left and right as he considered what he'd just heard.

" We have kept our side of the deal, General. "

" Well, a vampire killed Regent Sandra, there's no doubt about that. If it wasn't you, than who was it ?"

" You are sure, it was a vampire ?"

" The surveillance was tested. We couldn't see the attacker on the video, and the bodies of her and her armed escort were drained of blood. They became ash soon after. "

" Interesting. "; Kain said in a worried tone :" Someone wants us to start waging war with each other. "

The old general had his doubts about this. Kain could still be lying trying to cover his mistakes or leading NUC by some of his plans. But somewhere deep down he knew that it wasn't so, and while he decided to believe him, he didn't dismiss the other options.

Kain continued as if he was talking to him self :

" My senses can keep track of every one of my children and much more, but still I wasn't able to sense this ?"

He passed over his shock and determination resumed its dominance over his face. He turned to the window and opened it.

" Let's say, I believe you're innocent. "; General Leiman said :" Who else could have killed our regent ?"

Kain stood on the window and spoke looking at the night :

" Ether an ingenious human, or... "

" Or… "

" Something else. "; he was just about to go, but than he stopped

" I'll need to see that video for my self. "

" So, you'll look into the case ?"; General asked with a smile

Kain didn't answer. He just turned to him, serious and anticipating. General slowly stood up and opening his briefcase he took out a video disk. But he didn't give it to him nicely, but tossed it to him, still aiming him with his pulse-gun. He still didn't trust him to be completely innocent in the meter, but that attitude actually amused his visitor.

" You've done well, General. "; the ancient vampire said pleased :" Perhaps one day I'll let you amongst the ranks of my children. "

General Leiman spread his eyes in fear and got a tighter grip of his weapon, but Kain just smiled politely saying :

" One day soon, before the age chews you up ? To become a part of Adella's house ?"

" No, thank you ! I'd rather die of old age than share your curse. "

" A wise choice. "; Kain laughed amused and jumped out the window.

Adella, Tarian and Jasmine met up before the entrance to the underground mausoleum. The night was clear and fresh which made it most appealing to a vampire, but despite the pleasant scenery, there was much disturbance in their sire's call. The ground was bare and cowered with small gray dust, like a kind of desert that surrounded the ancient cemetery and separated it from the nearby forest. Ancient headstones all decayed and erased still rose from the earth but now they were just rocks without any reference of to who they were dedicated to. Time has erased all traces of human hands from them and covered them in mold and ugly herbs and weeds that sparsely grew scattered over the soil. The entrance to the crypt still stood un-swayed even after more than three thousand years, though many columns that once stood at the doorway were now lying on the ground broken and toppled. An opened dour caught the last rays of light and the inviting darkness practically begged them to come in. Upon the entrance the gate shut behind them and Kain's whisper welcomed them echoing trough the empty halls :

" …Come to me… Do not be afraid… "

Adella was afraid, unlike Tarian and Jasmine. This was a place where she died and was reborn as a vampire. Most of this troublesome experience left her memories, but seeing these gruesome tombs yet again started making it come back to her, and old fears bubbled up within her. Every turn, every stone, down to sand of moldy bones was crying out to her of her previous passing like it was yesterday, and she walked the corridors with great difficulty. But she walked them none the less, knowing that it isn't in her power to refuse Kain's command.

" Take it easy, big sister. "; Jasmine said encouraging :" I can smell your fear from here. "

" I'm… fine. "

" This was… the place of your resurrection… a most troubling experience… "; Tarian said smelling her emotions

It wasn't a surprise for them that he could tell it so distinctly. His dark gift included such sharp senses. At times he would have to burry him self under ground to get some rest from various taints of this world, but his perception also served as his sixth sense which he could use in combat extensively.

" So this was where you were stripped of your humanity. "; Jasmine said looking around :" Not much of a birth place. At least you don't have birthday parties here. "

" I'm sure you both are fascinated by it, "; Adella popped annoyed :" but I just want to get this over with as quickly as possible. "

Her rudeness earned her a couple of angry looks and she bowed her head down ashamed :

" I'm sorry. I just don't like to remember what happened to me the last time I was here. "

" Our sire obviously taught that coming here will be some kind of a lesson to you. "; Tarian noticed

" Perhaps not. "; Jasmine added :" Who can plunge the depths of his mind ?"

" In any case, you are not alone trough this. "; Tarian added placing his palm on her shoulder :" We are here with you, all the way. "

Adella smiled at them innocently and gratefully :

" Thank you. It does me good to draw courage from you. "

She turned towards the tomb-filled walls and suddenly they weren't so frightening to her, not now when her siblings were there to aid her, and all three steadily paced on to their sire's quarters.

The great room was just as Adella remembered it the first time she awoke within its gray walls. Kain still had no taste for housekeeping. Some torn old books lied scattered around the flour amidst many old bones, an old marble pedestal occupied its place in the corner, and also the stone table upon which she opened her vampire eyes for the first time. The only new details were a large ancient tapestry of a young black-haired knight in white armor that cowered the wall opposite to the entrance, a big stone coffin placed sidelong the wall and the flour, and also the stone table held a set disk player that stood out of the rest of decor. At first they didn't recognized this knight on tapestry, but than his familiar eyes and arrogant face reached out to them and they realized simultaneously who it was. It was their sire. This fraction of his former life intrigued them, especially Adella who realized that Kain too rose from here and the knowledge was so rewarding her fears vanished almost instantly. She knew that she will newer again fear this place so distinctly. This small fragment of ancient past comfort them and with impressed glares they've watched the innocence the tapestry radiated with. Adella came and reached for the pattern, but didn't touch it. It was too old and the smallest draft threatened to turn it to sand.

" It's hard to imagine… "; Jasmine started :" That he was once… "

" …like us. "

They smiled. Suddenly the stone lid of the coffin glided away to the left revealing Kain on the bed of black soil inside, with arms gripping the hilt of the reaver on his chest. He opened his eyes and arose at their presence taking a swift glare at the tapestry :

" You'll be surprised how swiftly these memories fade away. Oh yes, you will. "

They weren't startled by him. It was common for him to appear out of nowhere in their presence and they just slowly turned towards him with opened minds ready to welcome his words.

" Every one of us eventually looses his innocence. There are no exceptions. "

" Do you ever regret loosing it ?"; Adella dared to ask

Kain's examining eyes observed the white knight and he sighed.

" This is the last strand of my memory of my mortality. There is nothing else except this image of this foolish human. "; he turned his attention on them, and spoke with a serious tone :" Clouds gathered hidden from even my sight and the storm caught us all of guard. "

" What do you mean sire ? Something unexpected has happen ?"

Kain place the reaver on his back and came to the machine on the stone desk. As he activated it the screen showed a visage of a battle during night between a band of NUC officers and an invisible attacker. It was a massacre. Invisible claws sliced humans and their blood was spilled making the ground red even in shades. It lasted for only a few minutes and than the blood was sucked in the attacker's mouth. They watched it, surprised and confused and than Tarian asked :

" Who was it ?"

" I had my doubts… Now I don't. "; Kain said with his eyes fixed on the screen :" It was an ancient vampire. "

" Exactly how ancient ?"; Jasmine spoke looking at him

" Very ancient. "

" You aren't talking about your self, are you ?"

Kain came and deactivated the screen :

" This act was a message. Someone from the old days made his presence known. "

" Do you know who ?"

" No… "; Kain said grudged in his efforts to remember the past :" They all died… every one of them. I was certain I was the last. "; the wrinkles on his face withdrawn and he smiled deliciously :" Puzzles, puzzles… how they love to divert our attention. "

" If this attacker has malignant intentions, "; Jasmine deducted :" he will come after the houses first, and than you, sire. "

" Most probably. "

" We must be ready for this. "; Tarian said

" And we must find him or her before more damage is done. "; Adella added

Kain reached for the pedestal in the corner and two similar rings hovered from it to Jasmine's and Tarian's palms. They were like the ring Adella wore on a silver chain around her neck, the ring that Kain once removed from his huge left ear and placed in her palm as a memory.

" These trinkets, "; Kain started :" will summon me to your aid should you find your selves in a need. Use them wisely, but do not hesitate. "

" Thank you, sire. "; Jasmine and Tarian replied

Adella just smiled happily and together with her siblings went for the dour.

" One more thing… "; Kain stopped them

They turned to him again wondering and he smiled at them :

" My past progeny was stripped of their will. They were blind in their loyalty and fanatical in their devotion to me. Perhaps it was a necessity at the time to achieve cruelty we strived for. But the freedom and unity you and your houses retained has brought me more joy than their viciousness. I am very proud of you. "

" Thank you, sire. "; Tarian said happily

" I don't want to be just your sire and mentor. I also want to be your father. "

" And perhaps even our friend ?"; Adella asked with a restrained smile

Kain had to put on his cold face again to hide him self behind it and in this guise he gestured them to leave. As he found him self alone he faced the reaver, retaining the look for a minute or two :

" No one could ever surpass you. "

Lazaruss : For the rest of the story you'll have to wait untill i return from the sea. Reviews are velcome.