'I am not a cursed being, as you so passionately believed. I am a wondrous creation, a Dark God,'
Kain speaking to Santarinus when he was pulled from the abyss.
Raziel frowned as he took the walk he had taken so many times before to Kain's chambers. He wasn't usually sent for in concern of something…trivial. Most likely, it was simply a report of the fledglings or another insignificant matter, but still…
He pushed open to the doors to his masters chambers with ease, and knelt down at the throne, his cloak bearing the mark of his clan draped over his right shoulder.
'Kain…you wished to see me?'
Kain glanced down at Raziel for a moment, then fixed his eyes on the Soul Reaver that lay in his hands, which for some reason were covered in bandages.
'Yes, Raziel, I was meaning to ask you…when did you last feed?'
'Not long ago, but not so recent that I could not sip another drop,'
'Good. Come with me, there is some trouble that I'd like you to deal with,'
'Trouble, Kain?'
'Follow me,'
Raziel stood up and followed Kain through a corridor at the back of the room, feeling dwarfed by the sheer vastness of his master's abode. Kain began to remove the bandages that covered his hands.
'I completed The Change last week, but it has not been a pleasant one,'
He held up his hands to the light to reveal long, ugly claws that protruded from the flesh were his fingers and thumb should have been.
Raziel glanced over at the claws.
'An interesting change. Does it pain you?'
'Yes, but not so that I cannot perform simple tasks. And…'
Kain raised his left hand above his head and suddenly slashed through the air at an impossible speed, his claws leaving trails of blue in the wake of his movement.
'Impressive,' Raziel mused, 'You could cut a human's throat at the speed of sound…'
Kain grinned, but due to the way his face had warped, it appeared as more of a grimace.
'Speaking of humans, Raziel…they concern our little problem,'
'Oh?'
'Two hours ago a man named Santarinus arrived at the gates, demanding he spoke with the murderer of his brother, Oblivius. I believe he is a vampire hunter, as was his brother. I have been informed that you killed Oblivius not two days ago, and fed upon him,'
'I fed upon a human by that name, yes,'
'I see. Now, the moment Santarinus even attempted to breach the gates, I had Dumah capture him from behind. We were planning to drain him and save the blood for times when Humans became scarce, but he demands that he avenges his brothers death by challenging you in combat. Do you object?'
'Not if you wish me to fight him,'
'I do. You will both be armed with steel spears, but the method of execution is at your disposal, with the exception of mutilation,'
'Why is that not permitted?' Raziel asked, stopping at the double doors that led into the holding cells.
'I will tell you later, Raziel. But for now, I simply ask that you kill Santarinus honourably,'
Raziel nodded, bowed, and slipped quietly into the holding cells, taking a spear off the wall as he entered….
