This is still for Kohaku... even if I didn't get the three reviews I wanted she wont let me discontinue.

Disclaimer - It would lift my- hey wait a second! I already said this! Oh well... I guess I'll just say it again. I don't own LOK or its people and places. (Sob)

Cold Fire Phantoms

By Semdai Bloodquill

Chapter Two : Sorcerer

"Tell me about yourself," Kain prodded as he leapt down the side of a deep ravine. Athillo jumped down beside him and led the way across the chasm floor.

"Where shall I start," the young vampire asked.

"I don't care," Kain replied gruffly.

"I'm the second youngest of my five brothers," Athillo began, "and therefor in next to last in line to inherit anything when my mother dies. Almost everything will go to my oldest brother, Rancor. He's everything that I'm not. Strong and powerful and commanding. Enlil, that's my next brother, is the only one who can stand up to him."

Kain hopped onto a slanting log that Athillo simply walked under. The older vampire lingered in his perch for several seconds before resuming his trek behind Athillo, who was now describing his third brother.

"Terwaz is the really quiet one. Talks as little as inhumanly possible. Keeps to himself, that sort of thing," Athillo had to pause for a moment once they cleared the ravine. The ruby-eyed vampire bit his bottom lip and looked from side to side.

"You're not lost, are you," Kain ventured.

"Not at all," Athillo assured, "I'm just trying to decide which way to go."

"Does it really matter," Kain snorted.

"To you, maybe not," Athillo said calmly, "but to me... both roads will eventually lead to my home, but each road is very different. The left will take us past the Pillars and eventually we will have to cross Moebius's Keep. The other road is shorter but we will have to pass through the swamp. If we go through the swamp we might run into Moebius's hunters, they lurk in there constantly, and my younger brother, Zangai, should be there too somewhere."

"Lets just go through the swamp," Kain interrupted.

"As you wish," Athillo agreed, turning down the right side road. The younger vampire didn't speak again though. Instead he remained silent and deep in thought.

Kain followed behind Athillo equally as silent. Quickly the landscape became dark and muddy, the trees became thick and gnarled. Soon enough, Kain and Athillo found they had to leap from rock to rock to avoid being burned by the murky water of the mire.

"Where's this younger brother of yours," Kain asked, tired of the silence.

"Most likely he's up on the high ground in his retreat," Athillo replied, "doubtless, he already knows we're here." Kain twisted about, trying to catch a glimpse of any life other than himself and his young guide. A large, black crow peered down at them from a low hanging branch. An identical bird landed next to it and cawed darkly.

"Zangai definitely knows we are here," Athillo remarked, staring at the birds, "do you think you could jump to that terrace up there?" The younger vampire pointed to a partially obscured ledge several feet above their heads. Kain thought for a moment, gauging the distance, then he sprang up to the balcony.

Once he steadied himself, Kain immediately knew he was not alone. Glancing around, he saw a small, dirty form sprawled on the ground a few feet away. The creature lay on its side, its eyes closed, its baggy clothes caked with swamp slime and blood. Kain crept closer to the body and shooed away the half a dozen or so birds that pecked at it. It was undeniably a vampire.

Athillo joined Kain on the terrace a moment later. As soon as he saw the body, Athillo gulped softly and knelt beside the still form of his brother. Worry darkened Athillo's ruby eyes when he placed a hand on Zangai's forehead.

"He's alive but he's sunk so deep inside himself that I can't bring him out," he said, "something attacked him and he had to run..." Athillo flinched as he probed through his brother's memories. " He crossed a group of hunters and they almost got him... he made it here and collapsed... he set his birds to watch... and everything goes black." Athillo laid his head against Zangai's and closed his eyes. He murmured softly to his brother while his hands felt for any wounds.

Kain kept his distance.

"Found them," Athillo said triumphantly. He rolled Zangai carefully over and showed Kain the broken arrow shafts in the little vampire's back. None of the wounds seemed serious. Athillo carefully removed each arrow one by one until all seven arrows were out. Zangai whimpered softly when the last one came free.

"Sounds like he's waking up," Kain remarked.

"He's getting there," Athillo agreed, "he's lost a lot of blood though. It's not safe to leave him here alone. We'll have to take him with us." As he said this, Athillo crouched down and pulled Zangai into a sitting position. The wounded vampire slumped forward and Athillo lifted him onto his back. The red-eyed brother stood. "Let's go."

Burdened as they were by Zangai, their progress slowed. Occasionally, Zangai would open his eyes (which were a very pale gray), though never for very long. Athillo would talk quietly to his brother until the younger vampire slipped back to sleep, at which time the trek would be silent until Zangai awoke again.

After an hour of jumping and trudging through the swamp, Kain and Athillo were stopped by sounds of humans. Zangai even lifted his head and peered intently into the mire.

"Hunters," he hissed to Athillo, "just ahead." Athillo gingerly set Zangai down in the shadows then jumped nimbly into a tree to better see the group. The ruby-eyed brother cursed foully under his breath. The group was a large one, as the groups in the swamps usually were, three slender, well-armed men, four tall women in blue armor, a spellcaster in her red clothes, and two big dogs. Tentatively, Athillo reached out with his mind and charmed the larger of the dogs.

'Attack' he ordered the beast 'attack the other dog.' The canine growled at his fellow, who raised is hackles in anger. 'Attack. Attack now.' The bigger animal barked and lunged. The hunters jumped up and scrambled to pull the dogs apart while Athillo slipped back to the ground and crept back to Zangai and Kain.

"Seven fighters, a spellcaster, and two dogs," he hissed to Kain, "I got the dogs to start fighting with each other and that should keep them busy for a few moments." One of the animals yelped loudly. " I'll get into the trees again and charm as many hunters as I can. With some luck, I think I can scatter the group long enough for us to get by," Athillo continued, "Once I've scattered them, I need you to take Zangai and get past as fast as you can. There's some old ruins ahead, wait for me there."

"And if your plan fails," Kain interrupted, "what if you can't take on the group alone and they kill you?" Athillo's expression turned grave.

"Then you'll have to keep heading north, and go into the mountains. My older brothers will find you there," he said curtly.

"I have a better idea," Kain stated.

"I'm listening," Athillo returned.

"We hide your brother for the moment. You get into the trees and do your charming. And I'll go in and kill the hunters at the same time."

"A well conceived plan," Athillo agreed, "as long as you don't attack the humans under my command. That will rebound the attack back at me. I'm vulnerable while charming so please watch your attacks."

"You trust me that easily," Kain questioned.

"I don't have much other choice," Athillo answered, "my little brother's life is on the line here. Good luck." With that, Athillo was back in the trees. Carefully reaching out with his mind, Athillo draped his consciousness over that of the spellcaster. She put up a fair resistance but a few moments of force had her completely subdued. Athillo gulped in air as his head began to hurt. He pushed the ache aside and concentrated again. One human, even a mage, was no match against seven warriors, he needed at least two more. Several minutes of headache later, he had control over the female warrior standing guard. His temples throbbed with strain as he set his will over the remaining dog as well (the other having been killed in the fight).

'Go. Attack. Kill.' he moaned softly in pain as he gave the command. The dog was the first to obey. The big brute turned and sank his teeth into the man beside him. The man howled and struck the dog viscously. Athillo had to let go of the animal's mind fast. The dog yelped pitifully and went down bloody as the man cursed. Athillo then noticed that his other minions were not obeying.

'Go. Kill. Now.' He ordered again. The female on guard turned and attacked her partner. The other guard never saw the attack coming and she screamed in pain as Athillo's minion impaled her on a pike. The rest of the group jumped to action and surrounded the traitor guard. Athillo let her go and concentrated his hardest on the spellcaster, who was fighting him again. [Do my will.] he ordered 'Kill now.' The female guard cried out as her fellows hacked her apart. The spellcaster finally let a fireball fly at her comrades, half of them managed to dodge.

Kain burst from the shadows at that moment and began slashing wildly at the remaining hunters. Athillo's mind reeled and pounded as he fought with the sorceress. Finally he could bear it no longer, Athillo crushed the mage's mind savagely. She crumpled without another sound. Athillo slumped weakly in his perch, weak from exhaustion.

Kain swung the Reaver savagely. The blade hummed and seemed to sing in his hands. How natural it felt in his hands, as if it had been made for him and him alone.

'Behind!' screamed a voice in his head. The Reaver jerked in Kain's hands, it twisted itself around and slashed at the hunter about to impale its wielder. The man fell back screaming, holding the stump where his arm had once been. Kain blinked in shock. The Reaver had moved of its own accord to save him. Was this Raziel's doing?

The lilting sound of music touched Kain's ears. The old vampire was calmed by the notes and almost fell under their spell, until the sword twisted in his hands again, jarring him back to reality. The remaining three hunters stopped and their eyes glazed over, even the injured man stopped screaming and fell into the trance.

Kain watched in confusion as the music compelled the hunters. One of the two unharmed warriors, the female, turned slowly and slashed the wounded man's throat. Bright blood spurted from the wound and the man came out of his stupor. He tried to scream again but the only sound he managed was a pathetic gurgle.

The two guards who remained faced each other without emotion. The enchanting music quickened and grew lower. The female hunter lifted her pike and swung it with all her might. The pike sank into the man's shoulder, severed his collarbone, and lodged itself in his chest. The man let out a choked gargle as he fell to the ground beside his dead fellows.

The music subsided abruptly and the female guard swayed. She shook her head as if to clear it. Then she beheld the carnage before her. In horror, she put her hands over her mouth, frantically trying to understand why her companions were dead and why her pike was lodged in one of the bodies. She saw Kain with the bloody Reaver, and she lost all sense.

Before she could act, however, she was attacked from behind. Kain watched as she stumbled forward, a dark, humanoid shape clinging to her back. She screamed when the thing, which Kain realized was Zangai, sank his fangs into her shoulder. Wildly, she thrashed, trying to shake off the little vampire. Zangai dug his finger talons into her other shoulder. He latched onto her waist with his toe claws and fed from her shoulder wounds.

The guard was growing weaker. With a final burst of strength, she attempted to throw Zangai off of her. She fell back into the deep, murky swamp water, taking Zangai with her.

Kain cursed and rushed to the water's edge, but dared not go in further. The water would burn him like acid if he touched it. The water darkened with blood several feet in front of him, but Kain saw no trace of Zangai.

Athillo knelt beside him. Kain wondered how the red-eyed vampire had managed to approach without his knowing.

"Your brother went into the water," Kain stated, "I could not stop him." Athillo didn't reply, his blood-colored eyes scanned the water, but he did not speak. Kain, assuming that Athillo was mourning, felt a twinge of sympathy for him.

Quite suddenly, Athillo smiled and pointed to the center of the water. Kain looked as well. The surface exploded and Zangai leapt up from the water like a dolphin, not harmed in the least by the water. The gray-eyed vampire climbed from the water and shook himself off. Zangai even stood in the shallow water and twisted water from his cloak and his long, black hair. His eyelids no longer drooped and he seemed revitalized by the blood and water.

"You have a nice swim," Athillo asked comically.

"Very nice if one ignores the muck and doesn't open the eyes," Zangai replied with a grin on his face. Athillo chuckled and clapped his brother on the shoulder.

"Let's go before more hunters show up," the red-eyed brother suggested. The three vampires set off once again in silence. Athillo led the way while Zangai hovered around Kain. After a long period of quiet, it was the little, gray-eyed vampire that finally spoke.

"Your sword is very sad, my Lord," Zangai stated softly, "there seems to be something trapped within it." Kain was caught completely off guard by Zangai's words. He stopped and faced the vampire with the ash colored eyes.

"What do you mean," Kain asked darkly. Athillo stood rigid ahead of them, watching the scene. Zangai stared up at Kain, who was a head taller than him, his eyes showing no emotion.

"Something inside the blade cries in anguish, begging to be fed, and crying for release," Zangai explained, "I can't hear it very well, my powers with spirits and other entities are not as strong as my mother's. She could tell you what the sword is saying."

"Raziel..." Kain felt the sword surge with energy, even though he wasn't touching the blade.

To be continued...

AN : I didn't get 3 reviews like I wanted... grrr. But Kohaku won't let me discontinue. She says I can't stop until I fix the wrongs done to Raziel. sigh... Please R&R.

To the reviewers : Thank you for your opinions! (bows graciously) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

To bryan - To answer your question about who is vampiricly alive aside from Kain and Janos...let me think... (counts on fingers) Kain and Janos of course... Athillo and his brothers (Rancor, Enlil, Terwaz, and Zangai)... Their mother (who will appear in the next chapter)... a handful of other vampires that stay with the Mother (determined not to spoil it by saying her name)... and that's it. Unless I add some more later...which I might do. yeah... Thanx for the review!

To Varyssa - It warms my black little heart that I'm not the only one who was disappointed about Defiance's end and that you want to hear my thoughts on the matter. (dances happily) Someone cares! Yay! (trips over dog and falls) I am not cut out for dancing. Anyway, I agree with you on your comment "What is Kain supposed to do now?" I wondered that too, while I was bawling my big, brown and gold-ringed eyes out over Raziel and Janos. Thanx for the review!