Lazaruss : Very well. You didn't help me about my rimes, so now you'll have to settle for this…
Shadows rise and children die away
Puppets dance on songs of their shame
Love's strength with freedom they pay
but it's all their fault, she is not to blame.
She rushes to fight for she has no choice
Cowards have burned the Fire-lord's wife
Like loyal dogs they'll heel to her voice
but the end is nigh. Nightmares have come to life.
Jasmine was crouched, her eyes pressed on her folded knees that she embraced with her arms. Sloping black hair shrouded the shoulders of her veins-painted body that was peaceful and sleeping, hovering in a green husk of Kain's magic about three feet from the floor. Her wounds were healed and she has recovered, but Kain didn't let her be awake. First he placed a powerful spell upon her, holding her asleep and only than did they restore her with fresh blood. After that Kain bonded her in his kinetic shackles and she just hovered there, slumbering. He tied his casting to hold on its own and left her shackled, to stay there until they could figure out a way to restore her.
The place they chose for their hiding was a cave in the canyons west of Meridian, somewhere at the middle of the cliff's height. It seemed somehow cliché by now. The area was a gray rocky terrain, hardly reachable for those without wings, and the bare stone held poor life and traces of it too scarce to locate. Walls of the cave's enterier were black and a certain amount of thick soil replaced the floor. Jasmine's bonds were the only source of light there was. Tall rising cliffs shadowed them as Kain joined Sian outside the cave entrance. He was back in his coat with Havoc and Malice crossed on his back. As Kain approached, Sian sighed :
" I'm afraid. "; he spoke, not turning :" If we could restore Adella, will she still… will she love me ?"
" One thing at the time. "; Kain spoke :" It is cruelty enough that we want to bring them back at all. "; he couldn't help but smile
" I… know. "; he turned to him :" Shall we find the humans ?"
" No. "; Kain spoke :"We found where Adella is. "; Sian gasped
" You dug it up from Jasmine's mind ?"
" She's erected walls around it to block our probing. ": Kain crossed his arms :" But we managed to drag that out of her. "
" The right question… "; Sian spoke :" How come that Jasmine is so evolved ?"
" She stole something that wasn't hers. "; Kain gazed at the canyon's walls :" It gave her great power, but it almost destroyed her. "
" What is 'it' ? Can we bring 'it' back ?"; Sian asked
" She is bonded now. The only way to break her from it would be to kill her. "; Sian closed his eyes sadly and Kain placed his hand on his shoulder :" Don't despair. Never despair. There is no worse way to waist time. "
Sian shook his head, trying to force such thoughts out and he gazed back in the cave :
" I've seen her soul. "; he said :" It is all twisted and deformed, far from what it once was. Jordana holds her very strong and Jasmine even holds back. How can we brake her from it ?"
Kain gazed back as well :
" It will be difficult and very dangerous. We must work out the process carefully. A slightest false move could even infect us with her loyalty. "
Sian shivered. Too bad they didn't have access to that infernal machine of spinning mirrors. That would bring her back. No. That thing was too dangerous. If he ever gets a chance he swore to destroy it. Jasmine was safe for the moment. Adella was the current problem… Adella. Just the thought of her filled him with such grief he wanted to cry again. They were so much in love. The memories hurt him, but he couldn't resist their voice.
Kain's sudden scream drew his attention, ending his recollections. His sire grabbed for his head. Splitting rumble was tearing his ears, and at once an earthquake shook the ground. The canyon begun to collapse on it self, with rocks poring down from above and its walls started to crack and splinter. It was a lot stronger now.
The land slide was about to descend upon them and burry them underneath, and Kain was roaring and twisting, with his mighty blows into the stone walls only increasing the potential danger. Sian took up the axes and begun to fight the descending rubble. It was all he could do, to prevent them being caved in. The boulders rained and the gravel showered and havoc and Malice swung trough so fast, they disintegrated anything in their path. As soon as he got to him, Sian slugged Kain pushing him outside the cave. At least he won't damage its foundation that way.
It lasted too long and Sian thought that it'll never end, but finally the land got still and everything subsided. He was exhausted and bruised but the cave was holding and Jasmine was uninjured. It all went well this time.
Kain was on the ground barely moving. This really got him good. If something like this would happen during a battle, they would practically have no chance. No. No if-s. That was a new philosophy he adopted. Deal with such things when they happen. Planning was wasted on a hand of faith.
He ran to him and helped him up, taking him back to a cave. Kain was week and ill like this depleted all of his strength, like he starved for a year. As soon as he got to the cave darkness, he wrapped him self in his wings like a roll, with only his head and spiked shoulders peeking out. Strongly gripping the reaver's hilt, he went to sleep or what ever it was to recover, reclined on a wall like a rolled carpet.
Sian sighed. For a moment, the success of their mission seemed like the most elusive thing in the world, but he focused on other things. For one, Kain seemed to have a good idea. He too was tired and it was a while since he had a bit of rest him self. Being gifted with a strong sense for the emotions around him, he was often exhausted by their complexity and weight, and every now and than he had to get some rest from it. At the wave of his palm the soft earth opened in a comfy bead, and once he lied there, the ground covered him and he too went to sleep.
Jordana was kneeling in a ritual circle before a smoking altar made of bones and sculls to resemble a seat. Her priest's robe was brown and red with blue edges and red paint besmeared her face like a mask. The crystal on her forehead was not painted over. The room was large, dark and gloomy, round in shape, with fat poles bordering it. A few braziers and many candles lay scattered about the floor, and a group of Kreeden priests surrounded them chanting in a choir. Upon the seat of bone and scull stood a yellow diamond on a leather strip like a necklace that seemed to absorb the smoke around it and glow with inner light. Jordana was chanting in a ritual tune, her pale pupil-less eyes stuck on the black smoke, and than she presented a dagger in her palm.
" It is time, Adella. "; she said
Adella walked out of the shades, leading him by the hand. He was out of his armor and stripped to the waist, his eyes fixed on a point in front of him. Her claws made a few slices on him, inscribing runes necessary for the ritual, and she even had a few licks of his leaking blood. As Adella stopped, he stopped with frozen gaze and mechanical moves.
" Here is my dolly. "; Adella spoke
" You didn't damage his mind too much ?"; Jordana asked her
" No, mistress. "; Adella giggled :" My dolly is all better now… "
She took Randok's left arm and broke his small finger, ripping it off completely. He didn't notice, rather than resuming gazing blankly at nothing while his palm now leaked his blood trough that wound. Not a single line on his face shivered.
" He was so sad... "; Adella whispered, chewing his ripped off finger :" Now he'll never be. Never again. "
" Bring him here. "; Jordana stood up and made room.
At Adella's gesture Randok paced to where Jordana was kneeling and lied down on his back before the skeletal seat and altar. Jordana kneeled before him and rose the ritual dagger, addressing him :
" You are going to die now my hunter, but your death will serve a greater purpose. Remember your vengeance and fulfill it !"
" Remember, dolly. "; Adella ordered him :" Remember the words of your mistress. "
" …yes mistress… "; Randok spoke lightly before Jordana stabbed the dagger trough his hearth.
At once, thunders stroke the altar and the yellow crystal got hovering on its own above it. Randok's shadow seemed to take a seat on the altar, observing them with its empty eyes. The sacrifice of a great warrior was accepted and his soul infused the necklace. Jordana pooled the dagger out of her former hunter and took the yellow diamond on a cord in her palm. Adella kneeled before it and Jordana placed the necklace around her neck in a sacred manner :
" Stephan !"; Jordana spoke :" Harvester Of Fallen Warriors ; Bestow your force onto this child, my chosen and your accepted ! Aid her in her task and let her never falter. "
Adella's eyes now shined with the golden light from the diamond and she stood up seriously, though smiled :
" We'll be family again… "
He blinked. The night was clear and black with stars tinkling above his head. It was beautiful. No green clouds or any other. He had forgotten how pretty they were, a dark blue ceiling with countless tiny white dots. The field was green with soft grass and sleeping flowers, singing with crickets and other nightly sounds. Numerous fireflies were hiding amidst rich herbs glittering in their tiny flames. It was all so alive and joyous like in a dream. Nosgoth was pyre again.
Sian smelled the air, full of nectar and wild scents of warm-blooded creatures, just waiting for his fangs and a game of hunting. Everything was in place. Everything was where it should be. As it should be. He wanted to run, to chase, to hunt. Like a freed beast that hadn't had its chain removed for a long time. But just as he wanted to indulge him self he stopped in his tracks.
There she was, as beautiful as he remembered, with those wide sapphire eyes and soft blue skin. She was dressed in an outfit made of thin silver chains, not in a web, but lined close to one another, connected to small metal plates that covered her bosom. She also bore a very short kilt, almost panties of this silver metal, with her legs in a long transparent boots of glass and plastic. The hair on her head was silver with black ends, large like a lion's mane, sloping under her shoulders, and around her neck was a big yellow diamond that glittered in the night.
" Tarian, my love… "; she spoke :" You've come back to me… "
At once it struck him. All that he hoped and wanted, she was not any more. Adella was the enemy. He snarled at her trough his sharp fangs and grabbed a hold of his axes that grew red hot with his fires.
Four more Adellas at once appeared out of nothing around him. Before he had a chance against them, they grabbed him and disarmed him. Each of them was even stronger than him. Adella was the oldest of Kain's progeny. He was pinned hard, barely moving, hissing threateningly at them and silently growling in his throat.
Everything shifted and the world passed by them, moving them to another place. The palace chamber was dark-purple with yellow curtains hanging amongst its numerous poles. He was shackled to a wall with hard chains, too tight to move. His dark gifts were bonded as well, by a silver collar with magic runes on it. She was there again, beautiful and inviting, awakening forgotten urges within his blood.
" My dear Tarian. "; she spoke, approaching him seductively :" Sing me a song. The way you used to, long ago. "
He exposed his teeth and snarled at her, but she seemed not to notice. Her eyes were big and bright, shining with some inner glow… He shut his eyes and spoke to her :
" Tarian is dead, Adella !"
" No !"; she shrieked :" You have only forgotten ! You will remember… I shall make you remember… "
The next moment he felt her palm on his chest. Her touch was so soft he had to shiver. He shook in his chains trying to rip them off, but it was in vane. She licked his cheek, barely touching him, and she moved too fast for him to bite her. That caused her to giggle :
" I've desired you for so long, Lord of my fire. "; Her fingers run trough his black hair, curling it :" Didn't you desire me ?"
" No !"; he hissed :" Stay away from me !"
Instead, she focused her magic and something forced him to open his eyes. There she was before him, her sweet face, puffy lips and those huge eyes above those dark scars of sadness. She was so beautiful he could only stare at her with longing. Her eyes were so deep. He had to look away but they were drawing him like magnets, like a flame to a moth. It was her spell. This whole thing was her spell. He had to fight it.
" I missed you so much… "; she whispered
" I… "
" …missed me so much ?"
" Yes… No… stop that !"
" You want me, my love…": her look suddenly became sharper ;" … want me… "
He did. He urged to touch her, to feel her again, to run his fingers trough her lush hair. His soul begged for a kiss from those soft dark lips and his hearth was beating again loud and alive like that of a human. Her power was too great. He never had such difficulty fighting it. They occasionally practiced in the past, but this was so much more powerful. He couldn't help it. He was still madly in love with her, but he had to block her influence on it. It was taking over him like a pleasant wave of warmth. She was using it against…
All that she did. He had to remember all that she did. She killed his children. His Tergetti… The eyes were so beautiful. They made him want to sing and dance with joy just to gaze at them… No, she killed them and she stood on the side of Kreedens. She was lost… The poor thing. She was so alone and sad… She was the enemy… she was so gorgeous… The destroyer. He had to kill her… He had to kiss her… He was going mad with desires and passion…
" Adella… "; he uttered
" …Tarian. "; She whispered in his arms :" Lord of my fire… "
" Adella… My Angel of the night… "
" You missed me so much… "
" I missed you so much… so much… "
He fell in her hug and sobbed in her warm arms. So long since he felt her hug. It took everything away, all the pain and grief and he was happy again. She was his home, the place where everything else was distant, where the world was on its own and no evil could reach him. He kissed her gently, with his finger tips barely touching her blue cheeks. Her palms were gliding over his strong broad shoulders, slowly dropping his coat down…
The earth fell around him as he jumped out of his underground bed. The cave was dark and soothing and the dawn had just begun to arrive. Jasmine was still hovering in an egg of Kain's magic, and Kain was now on the floor, cross-legged with his wings highly stretched, to be out of the way. His eyes were closed, with palms on his knees. He was meditating. It was something he learned how to do long ago. They saw it a couple of times, but he never revealed them the means of it. The soul reaver was stabbed in the ground before him as if facing him, sparkling with its dancing energies.
Sian rose from his soil-bed and shook the dirt off. It was a most unpleasant sleep and he didn't get much rest out of it. Not as much he had hoped for, any way. His head was aching and he felt thirsty, like nightmares were troubling him all night. But that wasn't the case. He didn't have any dreams, considering that his sleep was so ill. Before Kain shown up, he always dreamed of pain and destruction of the land, and the cries of his family calling him for aid. It was the first time in a long while that he didn't have those, troubling him, but somehow it didn't lighten his sleep.
" Are you all right ?"; he asked Kain who seemed very distant :" Kain ?"
The ancient vampire opened his sealed eyes and looked at him :
" Let's go. "; he stood up to go and placed the reaver on his back
" What about her ?"; Sian asked referring to Jasmine
" The seals upon her aren't breakable. "; Kain answered as he paced outside
Dawn was painting the sky in a sick form of purple and green, but the shades on the bottom of the canyon made it seem like the night was still holding. As Sian stepped outside, he found Kain just standing there with his back turned, observing the darkness in chasm's base. His long white hair was falling down to the middle of his back, gently rippling on the dust-filled morning breeze.
" A hidden presence was with us tonight. "; Kain simply said, not turning
" Who ?"; Sian frowned
" Adella. Her astral projection. "; he raised his head
Sian bulged :
" Are you sure ?"
" No. It fled when we noticed, but it was probably her. "
If it was, she must have come looking for Jasmine. But why didn't she try something ? Kain must have spooked her away. Astral projections were elusive things. He found him self wishing to have met her than. Maybe she would listen… No. A foolish hope. And a foolish thought. It didn't meter, since he was about to meet her anyway. But than it became clear ; she knew they are coming for her.
" She will set a trap for us. "; Sian stated :" She wants Jasmine back as well. "
" Such is life. "; Kain smirked and opened his wings
Adella's castle was nestled in an isolated area, south of Ushtenheim, surrounded by many rocky mountains and cliffs. It was a Kreeden-built fortress of blue stone with dark towers. Its black banners displayed a white eye from which Adella's scars of sorrow descended down. Steep mountain sides shielded the forth efficiently, but not from those with the ability to fly. The castle it self seemed more like a walled building, tiled with black windows, than an ancient forth, its roof, rounded esthetically above the tenth floor. Kain and Sian descended before the entrance and stood for a moment to observe the scenery. There were many heart beats of different creatures, some being vampires, other humans, even Kreedens inside the stone walls. But no fear in the habitants welcomed their senses. They were all most likely Adella's slaves, placed under her hypnotic spells to please her in her madness.
An iron grate barred their passage, but a powerful blast of magic tore it open like an old rag. Within, a white empty stone courtyard swiftly got filled with Adella's minions. As Kain and Sian entered, local guards of all varieties stopped in their mechanical routines, and grabbed a hold of their weapons. Kreeden soldiers, human lords and even a few vampires both older and younger at once became aware of them and went to kill the intruders in the name of their mistress. Kain and especially Sian recognized some of the older vampires. They were from the three houses, Sumnaly, Tergetti and Zatarra, but now they were unreachable. With her magic, Adella shattered their minds irreversibly, leaving only fanatical loyalty and a sense of worship for her. There were also a few fledglings a decade or less old, in the same state, but the total number of vampires was not over ten. She even dressed them all up as dolls, in pink skirts and other childish outfits, but they also bore many scars that stated their true position. How humiliating it would be for them, if they'd have any way to remember what they were.
Kain grudged and begun to slaughter them all without a second thought. Sian first hesitated and than joined him, running Havoc and Malice trough their flesh. It was not an easy fight. They all paid no heed to pain or other un-fatal wounds, and it gave more trouble. Their skill was propelled by their fanatic devotion and all of them crashed against the two intruders mercilessly, without a shred of fear. But it had no point. The reaver and the axes were so much mightier weapons and the skill and persistence of the invading vampires were inexhaustible. In a while the white patio was stained in red. Kain and Sian were on the opposite sides of the courtyard, cleaning their blades and refreshing on the blood of the fallen.
" You broke my dollies !"; Adella's whisper echoed from within :" You are bad. I don't like you !"
" Make your best effort, child. "; Kain spoke to her :" We expect it to be special. "
Her giggle echoed all around them, and than she spoke :
" Come to me, my love. "
Sian at once turned pale as a chock. That shade of gray leaked out of his wrinkled skin. He shivered and bulged :
" No… I… "
" Come to me, my love. "; she whispered slowly and willfully
Something broke within him. He returned Havoc and Malice on his back and opened a flame gate. Before Kain could act, he was gone and the gate closed behind him.
Kain snarled, annoyed. It was not in his nature to overlook something like this. Adella must have influenced on Sian's feelings about her, to make her spell on him strong enough. The poor fool fell for it like a fly for a sugar. Sian was a strong will but his affection to Adella was stronger. Another fine example of sentiments being more nuisance than gain. But it didn't meter in a long run. Both Sian and Adella were within the castle now, and he was about to stop by for a visit.
With a few blows from the reaver, he shred the entrance to bits and nonchalantly paced inside.
Adella was kissing him, gently floundering in his arms. They were in a bluish room with many blur pictures on its foggy walls. They were kneeling on top of a large white silken bed. The sound of her heart beets, the sent of her skin, everything about her was intoxicating him. He could hardly believe this was truth. She was his love again. They were together, enjoying each other like they used to so long ago… So long. Oh, how long has it bin since he felt her like this. He just wanted to hold her forever, to please her, to taste her and never to let go. He let her go in the Kreeden dungeons, he couldn't let her go again.
" Forgive me… "; he whispered, almost sobbing :" I abandoned you… I couldn't… "
" Shush, my love. "; she softly placed her palm on his lips :" We are together again. That's all that meters. "
He kissed her, hugging her as strongly as he could. It was all he ever wanted to do.
What ever resistance rose before him, was less bother than a children's obstacle. They would have done better with barricades made of paper and twigs. A few more of Adella's 'dolls' tried to block his path, and perished seconds after. Kain was hardly paying any heed to them. His objectives were his two offspring and nothing more. Armed with the soul reaver, he turned him self into a machine for dispatching useless minions, with his soul as cold as the crude metal.
The sense of Adella and Tarian was still unclear. Some kind of magic veil shrouded them efficiently. He knew roughly where to go and when he was drawing nearer, but most of the time he was stumbling blindly trough damp darkened hallways. The scenery resembled an inside of a long forgotten ruin, with extinguished torches, and scares spider webs. The air was filled with monotonous fog, streaming silently trough vast space. A few peaces of ancient furniture occupied some corners, all succumb to the moisture and mold, seeming like it would melt into mud if one would use it. Some unrecognizable pictures occupied walls on various places, probably of Adella's family. She had a tendency for pictures of those dear to her.
But it all had no meaning to Kain as he paced steadily towards his goal with his shadow following him faithfully. Or so it seemed. His dark image on the floor begun to divert on its own without the shift of light and came in front of him. Kain's sharp eye noticed it, but not too soon. His shadow gained holes for eyes and mouth, and at once it spat something at him. Kain razed his talons to block, but it was more like a wail of tar, than a blow. It apparently did nothing to him, except besmearing over his claws and arms. And than he saw that it was actually like a cloud of black smoke, a peace of shade pillowing and circling around his talons. What ever it was it didn't seem like something washable.
His shadow laughed at him wickedly, but he just lowered his cold sight at it, asking :
" Amusing, is it ?"
He leapt at it and grabbed for its throat. His power imbued his talons and they grabbed around the neck like it was flesh. With a strong rip, he separated the shade off the floor as if ungluing it. It struggled and wiggled, waving its wings and coughing at him, but when he tighten his grip, it slid out as if he squeezed it out of his grasp. His shadow fell back on the wall and moved away in the dark where it was practically invisible.
Kain looked at his talons, now shrouded in thin layers of shade-cloud. The black mist was circling about them slowly and chaotically. His head bended sideways and he gained a sort of a 'dazed animal' look :
" Gloves… ?"
" Marks !"; the dark responded attracting his attention
" Shadow !"; he addressed it pleased :" Lovely of you to grow a tongue. Now we can rip it out. "
" The marks of Stephan's are upon you, warrior. "; it spoke with a scraggly voice :" You'll belong to me by the days end !"
Kain tossed his head up and laughed :
" Claim us than. "
" Oh, I shall… "
Suddenly a metallic footsteps stirred the monotony and another shade appeared. Kain recognized its shape. It was an armored Hylden. A few more came to his presence, and Kain-shadow laughed from the dark :
" I am the Harvester Of Fallen, and you are scheduled as my next crop. When you fall, your soul is mine. "
" If ! "; Kain took up the reaver
He engaged in a fight with the shrieking shadows. The blade didn't have that strong effect on them, probably due to a lack of a soul, but it served well enough. What ever gave these wraiths life, didn't pose a problem for Raziel's bite. Shades screamed and fought and Kain fought back, slowly suppressing the dark menace.
He fought restlessly, and more and more shades started to come out of every dark corner. Kain recognized their forms ; They were shadows of his second enemies, second, for he had only two kinds : those that haven't yet met him and those dead. There was the Sarafan Lord and the traitor Desmond, and many others he could or could not remember. They fought him with their old wrath and his progress became very difficult. It took all his effort to drive them back while the Kain-shadow Stephan giggled and taunted :
" You can't go on forever… you have made too many of them… too many shadows were forgotten along the way… I was paid for your soul, it belongs to me… "
Adella was using a chock and a black board to write a complex equation and her calculations. It was so large one would spin around it for years before figuring it out. Behind her, Tarian was on the bed, sharing the company of four other Adellas that nurtured him and played with him. He was lost in their handle, enjoying their arms and kisses and the sweet blood they would pore into his mouth. All five of them were slowly loosing their clothing except for Adella who was doing the math. She dropped the chock and spoke to her yellow crystal :
" More time ! He needs more ! Slow him down ! Slow him down until it is time !"
The effort Kain placed in this war with the past was draining him. Brut force was wasted on these things. Though without souls, they had all the features of those they represented and their might begun to overpower him. He had to figure out a way to be rid of the main one, the summoner, that Stephan-entity who took over his own shadow.
This was ridiculous. They were shadows after all, spies of darkness in the region of light. A warrior must know his enemies if he is to defeat them. Light and dark… Yes, that might work. He jumped at the ceiling and broke trough to the upper floors. There was not so much moisture there. The shadows followed him like a black wind, but he just waited to see the one he was after. Stephan had to follow his spawn as well to keep an eye on his prize. As the master wraith approached trough the hole in the ceiling Kain razed the reaver. At once its magic light flashed all around and the army of darkness was erased. Kain's shadow was alone now, recovering from the brightness' bite, but instantly Stephan went to spawn more soldiers :
" No. "; he spoke with his crude tone :" I am Stephan ! Harvester Of Fallen Warriors ! I can nev… "; the rest of his sentence was replaced by a screaming shriek as the soul reaver finally tasted his essence.
Kain sliced trough his fabric again and Stephan had to flee. Raziel has wounded him bad, but it didn't destroy him. Kain opened his wings and flied after his shadow, with the reaver blade dispersing the dark where he would hide. He chased him to a wooden dour. Stephan pooled beneath the edge and Kain broke them open, and there he stopped in mid air and after descending down again, closed his wings behind him.
Adella had a flaming sword she took from Tarian after the Kreedens twisted her and a yellow diamond hanging around her neck. But the most striking thing about her was that Stephan replaced her own shadow. The dark image on the floor beneath her was that of Kain. At that moment, she was on the com, addressing another familiar person on her screen ; Lady Ashee. She was just in the middle of her sentence when the dour burst :
" …-thing is going… Kain !"; as she spoke to him, Adella backed away giving them room to talk, no doubt for Ashee's sake
" Lady Ashee. "; he addressed the screen :" Or is it Jordana ?"
" Surprised ?"; she asked
" We missed you in Dark Eden. "
She was a bit caught, but she smiled none the less.
" The perfume, isn't it ?"; she smelled her palm :" I have a weakness for that which is so sweet and yet so dangerous... "; she giggled at him
" We'll be sure to indulge you… "; Kain said, blowing the screen up in smithereens.
The room was large and tall with a lot of greenish platforms and terraces lining its walls. The dark floor was under a white carpet that stretched all over it except about a foot from the walls. Many big crystal chandeliers hung on long cords glittering with old fat candles whose spilt wax was making them look more ugly than pretty. Except for the big rounded stone seat that was undoubtedly Adella's throne, and the now shattered screen, there were hardly any other artifacts there. A closet-fridge with blood supplies, a strange tapestry depicting a green sun over a pink sky and pale field, and a few torturing devices lined on the wall here and there, still bearing traces of recent use. The only remaining thing was a white carved stone pedestal that was more of a table or a desk.
" You're too early. "; Adella said to him
" You're too late. "; he started to approach her :" Where is your husband ?"
" You stay away from him !"; she pointed the flamesword at him :" I won't let you take him from me again !"
Kain came close enough. He stood in an attack position with the reaver sideways to her. Adella crossed swords with him and for an instant the blades made an X between them. She screamed and attacked. It was a lot better than before, probably with a hint or two from her new shadow, but still not nearly good enough. Kain toyed with her, instead of killing her. He wanted her to deplete all of her strength on him and so far his intention was working. Fighting him was the hardest thing she could imagine. He never gave her a moment of rest, and she constantly had to block his attacks as fast as she could.
Signs of her weariness started to give away swiftly. Kain thought it was strange that she didn't summon her illusions to aid her, and he decided to find out. With a lightning move, he grabbed her throat, razing her before him. Returning the reaver on his back, he gutted her with his claw. She squealed and ripped her self away, which stated that she was the real one. But the wound was not on her, nor was the blood on his talon. Instead, only the gem around her neck glittered and Stephan moaned.
So, Stephan was shielding her form harm, was he ? It was time to get his shadow back. Binding Adella in his Kinetic shackles, he lifted her above the floor separating her form the shadow on it. Stephan tried to flee, but Kain threw him self at him too fast. His red, shade-covered talons grabbed him again and the reaver stabbed trough its texture of darkness. Stephan screamed and tried to escape but he was too week. Kain placed him on the ground and the reaver beneath his throat :
" Return that which you stole from us. "
The shadow only moaned in respond, but Kain didn't give it time to think it over. A blast from the reaver helped sway Stephan's choice :
" Leave our dark-twin and go, fellow Harvester. "; Kain suggested in a demanding manner :" Be wise ; welcome our practice of mercy. "
But suddenly a large gong, like that of a clock, started to bang and echo the chamber.
" He won't !"; Adella laughed :" He won't because the time has expired !"
Kain gazed at her wondering and at once he screamed in pain, grabbing for his large ears. A massive earthquake shook the chamber threatening to tear the entire castle to rubble, and Kain's scream out loud the earth's moan.
" Right on cue !"; Adella marveled as the bonds of Kain's magic dispersed due to his torment
She in fact calculated the exact moment when this would happen, following the progress of the pillar's decay. That was the complex math she was performing on her boards. Everything that she threw down his path till now was just to slow him down so they would reach this moment.
Kain was on his knees, desperately trying to block the child's cry from his ears. It was blowing his thoughts away with waters of pure pain and illness. He could barely resume kneeling down, rather than just fainting, but he did. Raziel was on the floor before him, but he couldn't reach for him. He couldn't separate his palms from his ears which he was pressing so strong he felt like his head would explode.
He was exhausted on his back and flooding with satisfaction. Adella lied next to him, placing her head on his shoulder and her palm across his chest. Another one was playing with his lips, holding his head in her lap, and the third was on his other side, licking a few smudged drops of blood from his pale chest with her gentle tong. He didn't know where the fourth was, but he wasn't able to care. It was all so wonderful. After an eternity of sorrow he has at last found his peace. He glanced at Adella who was towering before him :
" I love you. "; he spoke, passing his palm over her face :" My angel of the night… I wish… "
A gong interrupted his chain of thoughts. Suddenly a huge earthquake shook the room, and Kain's distant scream of pain echoed trough the halls. Strangely enough, the bed remained still as if it was floating above the floor. Pictures on the walls started to fall and brake to bits as the room shifted and shivered. Hearing his sire's roar, he jumped in a sitting position :
" Kain !"
He had to go and aid him, but she stopped him :
" Don't go, my love !"; she said with her sweet voice begging him :" Don't abandon me again !"
" …a…abandon… ?"
No. He couldn't leave her. Not again. He left her once before, when she freed him in the Kreeden dungeons, and he lost her for it. He couldn't let her go for a second time. Never again !
Kain's roar came once more, rousing conflicts in his hearth. He had to aid his sire, but he couldn't force him self to leave Adella. He just couldn't leave her again. She appeared before him and wrapped him in her gentle hug. She was so beautiful he could only sit like that, bathing in her radiance. The earthquake started to fade, but for him it was already gone.
" Just forget about him, Tarian. "; she whispered with a voice of a nightingale :" Let him fall. You don't care. You got all you wanted. "
" I… don't care… I got… all… "
Something was wrong. He knew she was right, but he just couldn't say it. Kain was in peril. He didn't care. He didn't. Why was he wanting to go after him ? Why did he have to do something, when she finally came back to him ? Adella was so alone and sad. Why did he want to let her out of his arms ? He was in a war with him self, Tarian against someone called Sian.
" It is not victory to defeat them, but to defeat my self. "
Those words… Where did they come from ? A lesson hardly learned is the one best remembered. It started to come back to him as the room quivered and quaked. No ! Burn those thoughts ! Burn those feelings ! Burn them all ! Burn it all !
His whole body trembled and smoked, not responding to anything around him. He yelled and ignited with cleansing fire exploding from him like blast of light. Adella screamed, but he couldn't stop. He wanted to stop but it couldn't switch off ! More and more heat emerged out of him flooding the room with flames and heat. It was all burning and melting around him like the inferno of the sun pored into the chamber, and trough the songs of cracking wood his snarl echoed bouncing over the walls.
Kain was unconscious on the white stone pedestal, wrapped in his wings. Next to him, Adella was playing with the reaver and Stephan was still replacing her shadow. As she spun the blade around, she giggled and talked as if Kain was listening to her :
" Your respect has a very steep price. No one except Raziel has it. Why ? Was it because he was the only one who ever beaten you ? Well, now I've earned your respect just like him, wouldn't you say ?"; she looked at him :" Why don't you say it to me ? I want you to say it to me !"
" Marks of Stephan's are upon him !"; the shadow spoke :" I want this great warrior !"
" No !"; she said :" Pretty mistress will have him, not you… but I could get… a taste… "; she took Kain's arm between his wrapped wings, brushing it over her hungry face :" … just a taste of his sweet… sweet blood… "
All of a sudden, the wall on one higher balcony exploded, forcing her to pay attention. She dropped Kain's arm and took up the soul reaver, hissing at the new treat. It was Sian. He landed to the center of the floor. Smoke of ash pillowed from his coat and hair, and Havoc and Malice were black and red with heat. He hissed angry, but she only smiled :
" It is you, Tarian. Dear Lord of my fire. "
" There is no more Tarian, Adella. "; he hissed at her
" No ! There is ! My eyes will bring him back !"
" Not this time !"; he snarled :" Not now, when I can defeat my self !"
He hissed at her trough his fangs and she hissed back like a viper. The reaver and the axes crossed between them and a bunch of black smoke filled with white sparks exploded out of their weapons. Sian danced as best as he could, but Adella was stronger, faster and more skilled. He was swiftly backing away before her. As they fought, she was bulging her eyes and lightly smiling, displaying the amount of her insanity, and Sian constantly suppressed his despair and all else that would get in the way. There was no Adella or the reaver or Kain, only a better foe he had to figure out how to outsmart. That was his prime task with brut fighting as his second, and nothing more. He was a weapon with a cause, an item made for this purpose. He had to stay cold-headed, to stay focused…
But it was in wane. One swift slice with the reaver and Havoc and Malice were out of his hands, flying trough the air. Sian jumped away, and Adella looked at him sadly. A brief pause retained as they observed each other.
" You won't hurt me. "; he said, sensing her emotions :" I can feel it in you. "
" I… can't hurt you, my love… "; she whispered sadly :" Stephan ; hurt him for me. "
The golden jewel around her neck glittered. The shadow of Kain beneath her, separated and went on the wall. Instantly two other shadows emerged ; shadows of Darmon and Randok with their eyes glowing with ghastly lights. Conrad appeared behind him soon after. They were surrounding him again. He hissed at them threateningly, but they ignored it and attacked with their own wrath. They were coordinated and strong, much more than a disorganized mob they were, and despite his efforts, they grabbed him and hurled him on his knees. Their grip was too powerful and he couldn't brake free.
Adella giggled like a little girl. She placed the reaver on her back, got on all four and started to crawl to him like a cat. He hissed and growled from within his throat, but the shades that held him didn't mind. Adella was over him again, and once more she was teasing his senses and tickling his desires. Those big silver-blue disks were staring at him once more, poring her magic into his mind and spinning his thoughts. But what she had forgotten, was that he had magic of his own, this time. Last time she bewitched him, she placed a collar around his neck that blocked his powers. This time that little detail was left out. He was waiting 'till she gets close enough… She was so stunning… a little closer… his lovely Adella… just a little closer…
Without a warning, a gust of flame separated from his face. It was an effort to use his fire against her, and he had to swallow his grief, but he succeeded. An instant of burning pain and she screamed. The shades around him stirred and he seized the opportunity. Ripping his arm out of their grasp, he swung it for her throat. His palm clenched around the yellow gem and he pored all his strength into it, franticly. Before Adella realized, the stone cracked and a cloud of crystal dust pillowed from beneath Sian's palm.
Stephan screamed, the shades dispersed, and Kain's own shadow returned back to its master. Those dark gusts around his talons faded and all of Adella's allies returned once they came.
Adella was wiping her seared face. Though she couldn't see it, she felt what has happened and she desperately tried to get back on her feet. Once she did, and the scars healed, she saw Kain, slowly rising from the stone in a sitting position. He was week, exhausted and ill, but his angry face still made her quiver :
" You got something that belongs to me. "; he said referring to the reaver
" Stay back !"; she shrieked :" Stay away from me ! I don't want you !"
Sian jumped in the way, but she used the magic of the sword to blast him to the far end of the room and than she jumped at Kain. Poring all her might into it, she slashed the soul reaver trough the air, lunching all her wrath at her sire.
An instant passed before she swallowed her amazement. Kain was holding the blade with his left claw, somewhere at the middle. All of Adella's strength was depleted once he grabbed for the flying sword, and all its force dispersed as he caught it in mid air. Adella was shocked. With a simple thug, he yanked it out of her hands and placed it on his back.
But he was still week. How ever impressive this was, he was still ill with the pillar's cry. This act must have taken all of his strength. Lunching her self at him, she knocked him on his back and they embraced. She forced her mesmerizing gaze onto him and they just stood there observing each other
" Open your mind to me !"; she hissed slowly :" Open up and let me in !"
" …welcome… "; that was his thought as the wall that blocked her, dispersed
Mad deviant laughter tore the silken blackness… An eye on a pike, blinking over the field of dead vampires… bones were ripped out of screaming flesh… a giant fish was devouring an entire city with its tail hidden amongst the black night… needle and a floss were snowing her body for a brick wall in thousands of places… Sawed heads were crushing down upon her like an avalanche…
" … No !"; she screamed :" Let me out !"
…blood stained feathers was raining from the burning sky like a red snow… A human laughed as an endless horde of rats chewed his legs to blood…Thousands of faces crying beneath a river of lava… A giant fist was crushing her will on a forge made of hardened blood… unbroken white pillars were toppling on the land like giant clubs, braking it to bits…
" Enough ! Please, enough !"
Razor sharp cards were slicing across her skin, flying around her in a twister of chaos. A pot of boiling water floated with her body parts. Sand of her smashed bones was leaking out of every hole and cut she had. A laughing soul reaver was spinning over the sky, cutting it into night. She was forced to swallow her own hearth and chew it to bits. Her internal organs found them selves nailed to a wall like trophies. Her peeled bloody skin stretched over the floor as a rug. Thousands of damned souls reaching out from abyss grabbing her and dragging her down with them. Sun was burning her skin to boils of blood. A swarm of locus sweeping over her until only her skeleton remained. A mighty whirl pull of black oil sucked her in along with the entire world…
Sian rose to his feet and gazed at Adella and Kain. Kain was on his back and Adella was over him with her face directly above his own. It was only a second since she knocked him down and now she was frozen, screaming louder and louder. She rose from him, still screaming and at once she collapsed on the ground, instantly growing silent. Kain rose too, acting as if nothing happened, cleaning the dust off his arms. As Sian turned Adella on her back, she was just staring blankly at nothing, not giving any sign of consciousness :
" What did you do ?"; Sian asked
Kain just shrugged those spiked shoulders with a smile of innocence :
" Indulged her. "
Sian took her in his arms, Kain took the reaver and they teleported away.
Jordana was sipping her chilled drink, sitting on her gilded marble throne. The word reached her of Adella's success, and soon after of her loss. When her forces that were about to collect her prize came to the Castle Sumnally, they found nothing and nobody, but a message on the wall inscribed in messy blood :
" See you very soon… "
As this information got to her, Jordana couldn't help but smile wickedly. She wouldn't prefer that Kain falls to Adella. It would make him week. This proved him stronger than she hoped and it only pleased her more. Let him be strong, as strong as he can, and far above her expectations. When her plans come together and he is bonded by her side, their common strength will be unmatched. Never more will the Kreedens be in danger of being enslaved. Not by White-skins, not by anyone.
Her guest arrived and bowed before her feet. It was an elderly Kreeden wizard with an eye patch and a small stone hammer hanging on his belt. He had a short white beard and a thin black staff, about a foot higher than him self. His apron was brown and old and the crystal on his forehead was a bit dusty, but the guards brought him here with the highest respect. His messy hair, shrouding his forehead, was white, almost glowing like his practically blind left eye.
" I live to serve you, mistress. "; he spoke
" Loyal Haidres, I bestow upon you a task worthy of your skill ; make me a chain which can withstand a mountains weight, that has no lock and no key. "
" Such a craft can only be made and used once. "; Haidras said :" I trust my mistress is wise enough to know the danger of such items. "
" Danger is what it will be used on. "; Jordana said :" Have it ready. "
" As you command. "; Haidres bowed :" … Mistress… my plea has bean rejected… "
" Anisha is your responsibility. "; Jordana said :" Her magic is strong and she deserves you for a supervisor. "
" She's a pain in the neck, mistress. "; Haidres moaned
" She always was, but she's still useful. She came up with the Machine… which reminds me ; let her get it ready. Soon it too will be used. Depart, mentor. I will hear no more. "
He bowed a little grieved and left all grumpy. Jordana kicked back and smiled. The moment for her final move was drawing nigh. Everything was going according to her plans…
Lazaruss ( IMPORTANT ): Ummm… Listen, guys ; Sissy Samurai pointed out that you are perhaps too ashamed by the skill of my writing. I don't want to out match you, or anything. I just want to tell this story. I'm sorry if it makes you feel like you aren't good enough writers. When I started I too had no idea how these things are to be done. I still don't. But I started to reed fantasy novels and it cleared much. So, if you have issues about this… well I'm sorry. What more can I say ?