Chapter two ; a visitor

As she walked back to the outside, Adella wasn't the least bit scared. This was a good lesson for all three of them and they all paced pleased and confident. They went out and it was time to go their separate paths. Tarian would go north, Jasmine east and Adella west, but first they tossed one last look at Kain's mausoleum.

" I think we've melted his ice a little bit. "; Jasmine noticed :" Who knows… In a century or two… "

Tarian laughed trying to imagine Kain picking flowers on a happy meadow.

" Keep dreaming, Jasmine. "; Adella said thoughtfully, but than added :" Still, it's not wrong to dream. "

At the sound of those words, Tarian seamed to have had some reminder or a realization.

" Adella… "; he started :" …If you'd like, I could give you a ride… My craft is right over there… "

" No thanks. "; she looked at him gratefully :" If you don't mind I would enjoy a walk right now. It's not so far to my sanctuary, and besides you two have much to travel even without me on your back. "

" Whisper when you get there. " he said :" Just so… You know. "

" Dear Tarian ; Always there for his sisters. "; she smiled at him :" Feel free to stop by. It's always good to see you both. "; she turned and walked on into the woods.

Tarian stood there while she was lost out of the reach of his senses, and finally sighed almost sadly.

" Oh, my god. "; Jasmine realized :" How is this possible ?"

It was as if Tarian only than noticed she was still here.

" Errr… what do you mean ?"

" You hide your feelings well, but you've slipped this time. A vampire in love with another vampire !"

He sighed :

" Only… she doesn't notice. "

" She's immature at some points, but this… This is unexpected. None could notice this on purpose. None would think it's even possible. "

" It's not. "; Tarian cut her off :" We can't… I can't feel the passion. "; He looked at her sadly :" There's no passion, no kisses, no mortal pleasures for the likes of us. The only comfort we receive is in the taste of blood… But still I can't resist being drawn to her. My undead heart wants to jump out of my chest just to be near her. I… "; his face fell on his palm.

Jasmine placed her arm over his shoulder, hugging him :

" … You could at least tell her… "

" No. If she denies me, I'll suffer even more, and if she accepts, we both will, longing for what we can not have. It's better this way. "; he looked at her :" Don't tell anyone. "

" My lips are sealed. "

Tarian and Jasmine were good friends, even before they've crossed paths with Kain. But at one point things started going down hill for Tarian. He lost his job, he found him self up to his neck in depths and he even gave in to alcohol. For two years he struggled to move on, but some old depths came along, he got mugged and traits started knocking on his dour. Jasmine tried to help, but nothing she tried was working, and soon the money started to run out for her too. Tarian fled in the slums not to drag her down with him, and it was there where he met his sire, or where Kain met him. Tarian still remembered how he whispered from every corner, overwhelming him with his voice but nowhere to be seen :

" Lost lamb Tarian… "

" Who are you ! Where are you !"

" You've intrigued me enough to offer you this choice. I am a vampire, and I offer you a way out of the maze of your troubles. "; the voice continued as Tarian laughed :" I want to give you the darkest gift of all, Tarian ; the gift of a new life as a vampire. "

" It seams I've had a few drinks too many. "; Tarian said grabbing for his laughing face

" But if this was real… "; the voice said :" … if this wasn't some drunken hallucination, what would you say to such an offer ? An escape into a new world, with new troubles and new possibilities ?"

Tarian made a stupefied grin at the shade before him :

" A new world…? "; he laughed :" Sure. Why not ? I've had enough of this one. "

Kain stepped before him than, dispersing the drunken fog in his head and Tarian found him self shocked and frozen in fear. The next time he opened his eyes, he was a vampire. Kain begun to instruct him that night, but a few days after Jasmine came along searching for him. Somehow she tracked him down to the slums. It was a surprise for both of them when they ran into each other, and she tried to flee, but Kain froze her legs on the spot. Tarian never knew why Kain didn't kill her, instead of making her into his sister, but what ever his reasons were they were both children of the night from than on. Although Tarian had no relatives, Jasmine's family mourned her death and he always felt responsible for her from than on. A month later they've met Adella, who was surprised to meet them as they were to meet her, and they all became a family eventually. Tarian developed the ability to handle fire and flame, while Jasmine could call upon the plants to come alive for instance to have roots of tries dig it self out of the ground, even to make them attack her enemies.

Tarian was long since angry at the world for being cast down in the gutter, so now with vampiric powers and strengths at his disposal he grew to be quite cruel to those who he counted amongst his enemies, sometimes even his house members and he considered him self the strongest of them all, perhaps trying to escape his shameful weakness that caused him to flee in the slums in the first place. He passed some of that on Jasmine who too was bitter, not at the world that rejected her, but at her former husband who almost immediately after her death found him self a new wife. He also died "mysteriously" after a couple of weeks. Eventually they've left these childish grudges aside, tending to be more like Adella and their three houses became quite close like a real family.

Jasmine looked at the earth road before them. Though nature opened its secrets to her and the Zatara house, she still hasn't completely unlocked the mystery of bat form. Kain would rather have them all learn on their own and she really came close, but there was a few bugs left to unravel. It was time to walk, but as they started, two figures came down the dirty road encountering with them. They both instantly realized what was wrong and hissed at the stranger next to Adella.

For the past hover Kain constantly watched the battle video, rewinding it times and again. He was searching the pattern or any clue to the vampire attacker, and the more he watched the more did the moves and the slaughter seemed familiar. As he imagined the figure and its shape he realized that its arms were broad too much to be normal. They were completed with wings.

" … Could it be… ?"

" Hardly a chamber… "

The gesture Kain made was so fast it extended beyond the light making his body bounce the rays away and glitter chaotically in its new position. He was facing the speaker and the reaver was pointed at the intruder's chest, but the intruder didn't seem like he was startled. Instead he resumed his sentence with out any breaking :

" … worthy of a ruler, wouldn't you say ?"

Shock exploded over Kain's face as he recognized him. The creature looked like a giant bat with arms and wings merged together. The skin of each wing was connected to the hips and legs and also a short tail stretched from the back to the ground. Wings were un spread with their supporting bones gathered close to one another, making arms largely free to move like a human would use them, but they were obviously proportional to that of a bat and more than sufficient to fly. Red and white clothing was now torn so the wings could emerge out of it and the cape he once wore was gone. A pair of huge ears dominated the bold head and that was where the similarities with the bat ended. He had green skin and a statue so familiar Kain could do little else but stare at him :

" Just the look on your face made all the centuries worth wile. "; Vorador said with a satisfied laughter trough closed lips :" Priceless… "

Kain swallowed his shock and regained his dominant attitude :

" You are dead. Turel and Zephon killed you. "; he said still holding the reaver pointed at him

" Those infants !"; Vorador finally burst with laughter :" Surely you had doubts about their success !"

" These doubts vanished somewhere in two and a half thousand years. "

Vorador stilled himself, bended his wings while crossing his arms behind his back, and sighing satisfied :

" Has it bean that long ?"

" Under which rock were you hiding all this time ? You would have been spotted anywhere in Nosgoth. "

" No, Kain. I would have bean spotted anywhere in your Empire. That's why I went to the only place in Nosgoth your rule did not reach ; The Eternal Prison. "

" The Eternal Prison !"; Kain realized loudly and than grudged :" I should have known. "

Vorador observed him coldly and than started pacing around the chamber :

" You have grown strong and powerful, Kain. You always did develop fast. "; he tossed a look at him over his shoulder :" And the soul reaver makes you more than a mach to any one, indeed any thing I can imagine. "

" Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand !"

" Traits of death with hesitation are uncommon for you. You never asked for a reason before. "

" If anyone deserves my judgment to hesitate, it would be you. "

" Ah… So you didn't change that much after all. How about… curiosity ?"; Kain's eyes glittered slightly and Vorador smiled :" For all the past time I waited and watched. I should have resurfaced ages ago, but a long… hibernation slowed me down. "; He stretched the wings on his arms displaying their magnificence :" Once it was done, you've vanished from the face of the earth, and that boy of yours Desmond was your only remain. "

" And you did nothing to prevent him from making an alliance with the Hylden. "

" Why would I care ?"

" Indeed… "; Kain gained a thoughtful look :" You were banished from your home to the Eternal Prison, you've watched helplessly as my Empire corrupted the land, you've seen and suffered perhaps everything I ever did and now… what ?"

Vorador shook his head in denial :

" Rash, Kain. With you it is always business, business, business. I taught we could go hunting together. To catch up on old times. "

Kain just grew darker with the reaver still pointed at him. Vorador laughed :

" Of course, how could you drop your guard before someone who threatens your "utopia" ? You were a conqueror because you were weak, and now you are benevolent when you've grown strong. Both than and now, you've always made sure that nothing can shake your selfish world. "

" Pardon me if I'm not so willing to give you my trust. But you are wrong about few things. "; he placed the reaver on his back and turned away :" I have no desire for your death. All you'll get from me is a warning not to shake my selfish world any more. Now, get out. "

Vorador passed his palm over those short tentacles that occupied his chin with constant gaze upon him, and than finally went for the dour. At the exit he tossed :

" You really are different, but you still amuse me. "

" You'll find I'm like scissors ; first you play and than you loose your eye. "

" I have little things left to loose… Unlike you. "; he vanished in the darkness

Kain sighed. He really had no desire to kill him, despite the fact that everything in his being told him otherwise. Now he will constantly have to look over his shoulder for Vorador's moves. But still, he had always had respect for the old bat and considering everything they went trough he wouldn't just kill him at sight. In the end Kain was lonely in this land and Vorador's presence made him smile slightly. It meant that his world didn't die completely.

Overcoming his feelings, he began to wonder about Vorador's motives. Long ago, at the early days of his Empire, the clans closed around Termagent forest and sealed Vorador's mansion from the rest of the land. Being denied the air, Vorador had no choice but to strike at the nearest ones, hoping to wipe them out in one strong unexpected blow. But despite the fact that Kain didn't want to attack him, he was more than prepared for any Vorador's move and the nearby clans of Zephon and Turel bounced him back. After that Kain gave the order to advance, but stayed out of it him self and the angry clans stormed Vorador's mansion to the ground. Turel and Zephon informed that they've personally killed him and dumped his body in the swamp waters. After a several centuries Kain truly did believe them, but now it seemed that Vorador eluded them after all. He always was comfortable in isolation and the Eternal Prison must have bean the perfect sanctuary for him. But to watch helplessly as the land decayed and the atrocities the corruption spawned must have bean more than difficult. And now once again Kain had it all, and Vorador had nothing. He will definitely want his vengeance, and it will be to reverse the situation. He will want to strip Kain of everything and seize it for him self.

Realizing that was not so shocking. Kain was well prepared to deal with anyone who would attempt to such a thing and he sadly sighed also realizing that if Vorador does try something, they will have to fight to the death. It didn't suit his tastes and desires but he was willing to play the game in that direction.

The calling of the rings almost startled him. All three were summoning him at the same time. And at the same place. The call was coming from Adella's living quarters.