A/N:A warning: a lot of this is going to be direct from the game script, but I'll be writing my own stuff too. Don't worry; soon I'll be making the rules, heh heh heh evil evil grin.
Chapter XV
I noticed Mortanius was still on his platform, apparently watching us. Catching Raziel's arm gently, I pointed up at him. "He knows something you'll want to learn," I told him. "But you're going alone. I don't want to confront him." Raziel nodded.
"Will you be all right here alone?" he asked.
"Keep an eye out for me," I replied. "But I think I'll be OK. Go." Raziel, to my surprise, squeezed my hand affectionately before climbing up to confront Mortanius. Although he was alone, the Necromancer was apparently speaking to the fledgling Kain through some magic: "Come to me, my undead son. Make haste to the Pillars – the stage is set for the grand finale. You will have your vengeance."
"Mortanius," said Raziel expressionlessly. Mortanius turned, and dismissed his Death's Head mask with a wave of his hand.
"So you have come out into the open, at last," he commented dryly. "The Binding must be fragile indeed. But you will find you are too late."
"What am I too late for this time?" inquired Raziel with some exasperation. Before he could respond, Mortanius was taken by a seizure similar to Turel's. A green glow ignited in his eyes for a moment, then faded.
"No," he said tightly. "No – not now. You are too late for the victory you sought. I have beaten you after all."
"You have mistaken my identity," said Raziel guardedly.
"Have I?" Mortanius responded. "You forget who schooled me on the Ancient prophecies-"Another seizure took him, and that time he lost to the possessing Hylden Lord.
"This vessel speaks truly: you are indeed overdue. But it no longer matters in the least. With or without you – we will prevail."
"Oh come on, not this again," I muttered. "This is getting boring." Thankfully Raziel was too far away to hear my low voice.
"So I finally meet the 'Unspoken' – and here it is nestled in the heart of the Circle itself. Ironic," said Raziel with considerable satire.
Chuckling, the Hylden Lord/Mortanius replied, "Poetic justice, to topple the foundations of the Pillars from within. We shall have our revenge, in full measure, and for all time." Mortanius was weakening. The green glow in his eyes faded then returned.
"Ah..." he groaned. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
"This one has little strength left. One must not break him…" The Hylden Lord released Mortanius, who staggered and collapsed onto a nearby stone seat. "Your kind does not like to lose," he grunted. Had Raziel possessed a bit less dignity, I'm sure he would have rolled his eyes. As it was, he only responded:
"I seek the Heart of Darkness."
"Ah, now you think of that," Mortanius said with some effort. "But as I told you, you are too late. The Heart has served its function. I have used it to set prophecy in motion. I created the champion foretold by my masters, who is destined to be your destroyer. The Scion of Balance will save Nosgoth – the Pillars will return to Vampire guardianship as intended, and your race will be cast down forever."
"Good God, you really have no idea what you're talking about, do you?" I said quietly.
With dawning realization, Raziel said, "Kain. You used the Heart of Darkness to create Kain!"
"How else?" scoffed Mortanius. "I refused at first to believe the ancient myths. I thought the vampires were simply a plague upon mankind, a pestilence we had to control. But they were right, and we were wrong to overthrow them – Moebius and I. We didn't understand what it was the Pillars were holding back. I have made my atonement. I will continue to make it to the end, which will be soon, now. But I know: Kain will set it right, he will restore Balance-" At that moment, the Hylden Lord tried to seize control again, but lost. "And none too soon," Mortanius added. "My enemy is growing stronger.
"Where is the Heart of Darkness now? Did you destroy it?" demanded Raziel.
Laughing, Mortanius responded, "You still don't understand, do you? You cannot make use of it as long as Kain guards it with his life."
Incredulous, Raziel said, "Kain…has it?" rather softly. Realization dawned completely, and finally Raziel understood. "It is in Kain!" he cried in shock.
"Check and mate," said Mortanius with a hint of a sneer. "This deed will redeem first me and then all Nosgoth. It must, it…unh…" The Hylden Lord's presence asserted itself forcefully:
"This one grows weak. But we will soon have a stronger vessel." Mortanius rose and advanced on Raziel, who retreated. "The long-awaited hour approaches – our release is at hand…" Just then, Mortanius faltered, then regained himself.
"Ah... I must…finish it. Now…" he said, almost mumbling. With that, Mortanius summoned his Death's Head mask again, and vanished. I watched it all with interest, my arms folded across my chest.
"Well that was interesting," I commented. Raziel just looked down at me and shook his head. "What?"
"Nothing," he said, jumping down to join me. "Let's leave these catacombs, shall we?"
"That's the best suggestion I've heard all night," I replied, and I meant it. I walked beside Raziel, silent and contemplating. Raziel apparently noticed.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I wish I could be more stimulating company, but anything I could hold a rousing conversation about would be of absolutely no assistance to either of us at present," I replied distantly. Again I got the feeling that Raziel would have smiled if he could. "I'm just thinking, that's all."
"About what?" asked Raziel gently.
"Everything," I said. "Everything and nothing. My friends, my family, my Fenrir…it seems like a dream now, and this is the reality I've always known, but at the same time I feel like I'm dreaming now and I'll wake up to everything I knew before. And I keep getting these feelings…" my voice trailed off.
"Of what?" asked Raziel.
"Of an impending seizure," I answered with a sigh. "Complex partial seizures; that's what my neurologist called them. I'd have these moments, primarily around the full moon, where I'd become dizzy, nauseas, disoriented. I'd get horrible stabbing pains in my head and stomach. And images would fill my mind. I couldn't shut them out. They were all so familiar, but I couldn't place them. Was I… was I remembering my life here?"
"Yes," said Raziel. "I told you, you're very powerful. The spells on you have been failing for a while. The episodes you just described are an unfortunate side effect. Don't fight them; that'll only make it worse."
"I'm not," I said. I sighed. "I don't really want to talk about this right now."
"I understand," said Raziel. To my everlasting surprise, Raziel put his arm around my shoulders. I looked up at him, and he gazed at me so gently. I smiled and leaned my head against his arm. Never had I felt so secure, so safe, so…wanted. With Raziel, I felt like I was needed, wanted. I had never felt like that before. I found that I liked it very much. I didn't want it to stop, and I didn't want Raziel to let me go. I found myself almost wishing he'd pick me up in his arms like he had when we went down to the Light Forge. I wanted to be near him; I wanted him to touch me, hold me, tell me…what? 'That he loves me…' I shook my head. Maybe I had loved him once, but now I was just confused. I always wondered why I could never love in the other world. Never had I ever felt anything for a member of the opposite sex – or the same sex, for that matter – except for giggling with my friends about how good-looking a boy was. Was it because deep down I still loved Raziel? I wondered…at least, I wanted to wonder, to mull it over thoughtfully, but unfortunately I didn't have that liberty. There was someone waiting for us in the entrance hall. When Raziel saw him, his grip on my shoulder tightened slightly.
"Kain," said Raziel coldly, on the defensive. "Why is this no surprise?"
"Because our destinies run together, Raziel," Kain replied easily, "like two rivers that have met and can never be distinct again. At your every fatal turn, you will find me."
"And the free will you said was mine, what has become of that?" Raziel retorted.
"You still have it," Kain replied. "And that has everything to do with my presence here now. That, and I knew I would find Soul with you." Whereupon he turned to me with a smile that froze my heart.
"You took your time, didn't you," I accused him. Kain only looked amused.
"What do you mean?" he inquired.
"Don't give me the innocent act," I retorted. "I invented it. You know what I mean. You broke into my home, smashed my vase, killed my roses, dragged me into this world against my will, and left me for that son of snakes Moebius to find. I suppose you have a conveniently inexplicable reason for all that?" Kain only shrugged. "Frankly, I expected better from you." He frowned at me, but didn't say anything. Raziel squeezed my shoulder, and I correctly interpreted it as a signal for me to shut up.
"It was your machinations, Kain, that set my destiny in motion," he said angrily. "The coin you tossed has struck the earth. Now you must abide by its outcome."
"The coin is still turning, Raziel," replied Kain, far too patiently. "To reach the resolution we both can live with, that will best serve our futures, Janos Audron must not be raised."
A faint tinge of green flared in Raziel's eyes, then faded as he snapped, "Because you do not wish it? Is my free will to be exercised only when it accords with your whim?"
"There is much more at stake in this than you know," replied Kain softly, looking at me. I knew exactly what the implication was, but I looked away from him. I knew Janos could not be raised, but it was not time to tell Raziel that yet. If I wanted my idea to work, I needed the Heart of Darkness. Thankfully, Raziel did not notice.
"Yes, and it is Janos who has the answers I desire," he said coldly.
"You must trust me, Raziel," insisted Kain. "Our intentions – for Nosgoth, for our futures – are not so diverse."
"I must trust you – or…?" asked Raziel. I sighed pointedly, but said nothing. I dared not interfere. In fact, I knew I should be moving away so I wouldn't get killed by what was soon to happen.
"I have not come here to threaten you, Raziel," Kain said in a voice I think he tried to render gentle.
"You say that, while you hold in your hand the instrument of my doom?" countered Raziel.
"I saved you from the Reaver once. I have no intention of imprisoning you within the blade." Kain returned the Blood Reaver to its place on his back.
"At least not until the moment it serves your plans to do so," scoffed Raziel.
"You are not the only one at risk," Kain informed him. "I may carry the instrument of your destruction, but I, too, have taken a chance in coming here. Or haven't you realized – you bear the only weapon that can kill me." At that, Raziel released my shoulder and activated the wraith blade.
"Then you know what I am – and who you are?"
"I believe I do."
"No you don't," I whispered, but neither heard me. I decided to keep my little quips to myself, for if they ever did hear me, my plans would be for naught.
"And still you think you can move me about like your pawn. Think again, Kain." Raziel attacked, his eyes glowing fully green. Kain recoiled back out of range. I hated watching this…and yet, I loved it.
"Take heed, Raziel."
"Why? If we are who we are, then are we not destined to fight to the death to decide the fate of Nosgoth?"
"Don't be a fool! I will not fight you."
Raziel was enraged. "And that will be the prophesied heroes' battle? I win, because you will not fight me?" He attacked again, and again Kain evaded the attack. "The mighty Kain, Scion of Balance, would-be savior of Nosgoth, surrenders before the final battle even begins," he said mockingly. He leapt at Kain, who hurled him aside. Kain drew the Blood Reaver and started forward.
"Very well, if this will make you see reason-" he said in a resigned tone. I quickly ducked around one of the columns as Raziel and Kain battled. Kain's swordplay wasn't quite as charismatic as Raziel's but it was powerful. His one failing was that he seemed to attack a bit wildly, trusting only his brute strength. Admittedly, considering that strength was preternatural, this wasn't necessarily an ineffective strategy, but Raziel could duck and dodge his blows with his lithesome grace and speed. However, Raziel was possessed by the residual spirit energy of the Hyldens who had possessed Turel. Consequently, he was attacking very wildly and actually a bit spastically. It would have been comical had the situation not been so serious. Finally Kain stood over Raziel, having beaten him into a semblance of submission.
"Now – you will listen to me," he said, again patiently. "The Heart of Darkness must remain undiscovered. Great harm will come of its use."
Pushing himself up, Raziel said, "You don't know where it is, do you?"
"No-"
"You never looked for it."
"It doesn't matter, Raziel. Listen to me – you must understand that every creature is bound to one predestined path. We are all shackled-"
"To the Wheel of Fate. Believe me, I know that even better than you do."
"All but one." Kain broke off for a moment and again looked to me, but not for an explanation this time. He was considering me, sizing me up. I suddenly realized why: I was half Hylden. I had spent at least a year in the Hylden dimension. Was I unbound from this diabolical Wheel the same as Raziel? I hoped Kain would say so or otherwise, but he didn't. He turned back to Raziel. "Because of your remaking, you are the one unbound creature, the one among us all that truly has free will. You have a choice, Raziel-"
"Which I'm sure I must make at your direction. Your pawn has reached the end of the board, Kain." Raziel rose menacingly, his eyes flaring green once more. "And now my powers may even surpass yours. How ironic if the creature that you made should prove your own undoing. Now – we finish this. Once and for all." He attacked Kain again, and I remembered my dream.
'You mean invictus – unconquerable!'
I shook my head to clear it again. I didn't have time to be lost in old dreams that meant nothing now. I watched this next battle, half horrified, half fascinated. I found myself mentally comparing Kain and Raziel's different attack patterns. This fight was shorter than the last, however, and I jumped, startled, as Kain was thrown back by the force of one of Raziel's attacks. Raziel started forward, raising the wraith blade for a finishing blow, but Kain countered, seizing Raziel's wrist with his left hand. A connection was made and, using Kain's body as a conduit, Raziel's essence began to flow into the Blood Reaver, which was still in Kain's right hand. Raziel began to collapse, his physical form flickering.
"Raziel!" I cried, my eyes wide with horror. I was losing the one person who made me feel…real. I wanted to run to him, but I stopped myself. I knew what was going to happen, and I had no choice but to wait.
"Ahh...you..." croaked Raziel, fading.
"No…Raziel..." said Kain in horror.
"Vae Victis-" gasped Raziel.
"I didn't-" Whatever Kain didn't do or mean to do, I'll never know. With one last burst of strength, Raziel rallied, plunging his claws into Kain's chest and ripping out the Heart of Darkness. He held up the heart triumphantly.
" 'Woe to the conquered' – I have found the Heart of Darkness! And you – go to oblivion."
"Raziel, don't…" I whispered, not caring if he heard me this time. He didn't. Raziel hurled Kain into a forming portal with a telekinetic blast, and Kain vanished. The green faded from Raziel's eyes, leaving him contemplating what he had done. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and I voiced it just to scare him:
"Kain is gone," I said, walking towards Raziel slowly. He just looked at me. "The madness of this place has somehow fueled your rage, and as it subsides you feel no elation, no sense of victory. Only a calm certainty that we have once again walked blindly into our enemies' trap. You can't be sure whether Kain had truly intended to destroy you – and now it appears we will never know." I sighed heavily.
"How do you know all that?" asked Raziel.
"Because I've played the game," I replied. Raziel nodded, but I don't think he caught the hidden meaning in my words. He too sighed.
"Come," he said. "We have a mission to complete."
"And a game to win," I answered.