Lazaruss :" If you have the wrong idea : Kain wants to die. He has had an eon ofbattles to many. He is sick about living trough my whole Path of redemption, but he still pushes on. Now ; This is going to be unexpected… Any way, here you go. "

Chains tighten and the noose grabs

All their arms are reaching to hold

Nothing but smoke is within their webs

and death is a prize for efforts so bold

Shadows and ash are nothing but scraps

but murky reflections are raging with strife

A bite and a snarl will shatter their traps

Rage bears rage

Our nightmares have come to life…

He came to, but he wasn't moving, nor opening eyes. He knew well what must have happened, and for now it would be best to let them think he's still out. Instead he focused on his other senses. There were nine of them around him, and his three children away to the left, chained to the other wall of the room. Many buzzing sounds, blinking and beeping emanated around him, so it must have bean a lab of a sort or another such facility. Like with a sonar he pinpointed the entire room to the detail. The presence of powerful magic reeked about the air. The soul reaver was there as well on the other end of the room, opposite to him. They were trying to unbind it, but their efforts were futile. Those locks had only one key. He felt wrapped in a very strong chain around his wings, which they obviously thought could bind his strength, and they also placed a collar around his neck that served as a dam between him and his magic powers. Fools.

Adella suddenly blinked. Kain was speaking to her in her head.

" Don't smile "; he whispered :" Leave them blind for now. "

She was confused that he reached her. She couldn't reach Tarian or Jasmine, nor could they reach her. But she was more joyous than puzzled :

" Kain… "; she whispered back :" Can you brake free ?"

" Not yet. Not by force. Whisper is the limit of my powers. "

" That's something. "; she said hopefully :" We can't do even that much... They are going to put you in !"

" Adella… "

" Listen to me ; The Machine of spinning mirrors ! They want to change you ! It will destroy all that you are and replace it with all that you are not. You must brake free before the mirrors start spinning !"

" What ever happens… "

" No, Kain, you must brake free and… "

" By the pillar's marble, if you are ever going to shut up and listen to me, let it be now !"; he gave her a minute before he continued :" What ever happens, know that you were the best daughter Kain could ask for and the best sister Raziel could have had. Bad things do happen, evil does exist and sometimes even our best efforts are wasted on the hand of faith. So do not house the blame or pass it on another, not the Kreedens or even the Hylden. To find the root of the world's misery you would have to follow a cord too long to unwrap in a thousand generations. Past is a memory, and the future is just a dream. Only our present defines what's really important. Do you understand ?"

" I… I think so. "

" You think so ?"; he said surprised and sighed :" After seven centuries, still a fledgling… Why do you fight, Adella ? Because you hate them ?"

" Yes… but also… "

" Because you want vengeance ?"

" That too… but also because… "

" Because… ?"

" Because… I believe my cause is just. "

" Then keep your faith and fight. Vengeance will come on her own. "; his presence begun to fade

" Wait ! I must tell you... "

" You have. "

As Kain opened his eyes, bright light of the long neon tubes from the ceiling assaulted his sight. It was hard to adapt to, but he did. The room was large, bright, and filled with complex machines all having a kreeden sitting at it to maintain it. A bit to the right, closer to the center of the floor was a large round silver chamber, no doubt a pod where they were about to stack him. The Machine of spinning mirrors was radiating with magic and buzzing with power. He could smell it. A very potent item, though a bit too unpredictable. For a moment he observed its features and compared his finds with the mark it left on his daughters, and the next he had a rough sketch in his head of how does it work.

" He's awake. "; one kreeden guard said. He was armed with a long crystal spear and stood at safe distance.

Two persons came forth. One was an elderly Kreeden wizard in a dusty apron. His hair and beard were greasy and gray with age, a stone hammer hung on his belt and he had an eye patch over his left eye. His right was somehow pale and a little blind, but he moved with a good sense of orientation. With his vision blurry, magic enhanced his other senses thus giving him an excellent sight. His long black staff was supporting his weight and the crystal on his forehead was a bit dusty. The other was a young witch, but age of the flesh had no meaning for those who store memories from their past lives. She was a pretty girl in a red and blue robe, her glassy eyes with no pupils were dark green and her crystal was the same color. She seemed somehow eager and glad, while her old companion was more serious and cautious.

" Welcome, ancient one. "; the girl spoke pleased :" It is a privilege to work with such a distinguished specimen. "

" My name is Haidres The Blind, and this is Anisha The Lustful. "; the old wizard spoke, carefully measuring Kain who was observing them uninterested

" In case you haven't realized, you have run out of options. "; Anisha smiled :" Your bonds are unbreakable. The lock is resistance and the key is compliance. You are helpless. "

" You really shouldn't be telling this to him."; Haidres growled at her

" You doubt your craft, Haidres ?"; she asked him smiling :" I don't doubt mine. "

" The machine hasn't affected him yet. "; he grudged at her with disliking :" And it is as much my craft as it is yours. "

She ignored him and addressed Kain :

" Behold the greatest creation of the Kreeden wizards ; The machine of spinning mirrors ! The mirrors inside are made of an extremely rare crystal tiles that can suck and reverse what ever stands between them… "

" Stop saying these things to him !"; Haidres interrupted her :" These are my secrets as well. "

" So what if he knows ? He'll have a change of heart soon. "

" When he does, than babble all you want, but not before. "

" How dare you ! I talk what I want, when I want !"

" You talk… "

" So… "; Kain suddenly spoke :" This is the Kreeden idea of torture ; chained in the presence of you two. "; they looked at him shocked, but Kain just sighed as if bored :" Is this goanna take much longer ? I do have a busy schedule. "

Anisha was furious, and Haidres clenched his teeth :

" We'll be there to watch as you bow before lady Jordana. "; he growled

" Oh, you get to watch ?"; Kain snorted delighted :" Do you get to bow after that, or are her old dogs unworthy to smell the stench of her perfume ?"

A giggle came from an unknown direction behind them. Anisha shrieked in frustration and slapped Kain's face :

" You filthy… "

But she didn't succeed. Her hand never came to Kain's cheek. With a sudden move, Kain's jaws snapped around her wrist and the teeth sunk in her flesh. She screamed and hurled her magic at him, but he only snarled and tightened his bite. She was screaming in pain as her arm bled, leaking down over Kain's chin and jaws. Haidres backed away and the guards begun to shoot at him, but nothing seemed to get trough his wings. Anisha's bones cracked like dry wood, erupting with blood and finally he completely ripped her hand off. She fell down in an agony of pain, watching helplessly as her bloody palm vanished in Kain's jaws. He chewed it and swallowed it whole.

" Delicious. "; Kain licked his blood-stained lips

" He took my hand !"; Anisha screamed in agony and coughed, panting :" My… my… wh… what is happening… to me… ?"

She began acting ill. Her knees faltered and she collapsed on the floor. Kain just watched with cold face. Instantly her blood-stained, torn stump of an arm began to turn into sand and to disintegrate. A vampire's bite was death…

" No… "; she cried :" No… help… help me… I command… make… make it… sto-… "

But it was over. Within seconds, she turned into dust and vaporized into nothing.

" That hit the spot. "; Kain smiled innocently

The Kreedens looked at him in their shock, but Haidres only laughed :

" Thank you so much, vampire ! Now I'm finally rid of the annoying witch ! For three generations I was obliged to stick with her, and now I'm free !"

" …until you join her. "; Kain stated the obvious

Haidres ignored him and looked at those around him :

" What are you all standing around for ? Complete the charging ! Mistress Jordana expects her prize by tonight ! Move, you snails !"

" Final preparations proceeding… "

A big mechanical wrench-like arm took Kain and delivered him to an opened pod. He was barely moving and Adella, Tarian and Jasmine were hissing and growling trying to rip trough their bonds, ignoring the stinging spears and other painful methods of lowering their aggression.

Kain observed his new quarters. It seemed like a carnival room with mirrors on every of the twelve walls, placed in circle. Each was cracked and broken, and he could smell the magic of the material that was forged into it. They made every direction seem like an endless corridor covered in spider webs of black cracks with him in the intersection. No reflections of him in any of them, but he felt that was about to change. But now that the guards were out of sight, it was time to brake free. With a skilled jump he was standing. He examined his chain. It was indeed strongly forged and he couldn't break trough it. And the necklace around his throat prevented him to phase trough.

So he couldn't force the chain to break, nor use his magic, but he still had his cunning. He was wrapped in his wings and the chain was placed around tight to prevent him moving his arms. But what they have all forgotten was that the thing was not expandable. It had a limited length, despite its tightness. Instead of trying to expand his wings and arms to outside, he started to force his muscles in reverse, squeezing his own body. It was a rupturing effort and his head was tossed up with jaw clenched so tight he felt his teeth would break, but it worked. He became about five inches thinner. Compressing his body, the chain loosened. A few more jumps and it fell off like an old snake skin.

At last the chain slipped. His wings opened and he just ripped the necklace off, but in the last moment a violent and powerful magic force flushed his being. The machine activated. Mirrors started to spin. Bright light struck his eyes. A horde of reflections started to attack him. With all he had, he fought against these ghosts that were trying to probe his soul but it was too draining. There were too many of them. He felt like slipping into the walls, dragged by an unswayable force, but he wasn't giving up. Like a beast from hell, he fought back, roaring and snarling so loud it shook the spinning pod.

The entire facility resonated in quakes and the gages and dials were spinning out of control. The kreedens constantly pored more and more power into their side of the process, but Kain didn't give in. Everything was overheating. Sparks were bursting out of every corner in small blasts and beastly roars from the spinning pod eliminated any possibility of conversation. But the machine held. It didn't fall apart or burned out. It was working, and soon it would waist Kain's strength.

With all the chaos and commotion, the three shackled vampires were completely forgotten. Despite, it seemed that they were helpless to aid their sire.

" We must do something !"; Adella shouted at the two next to her. They heard her trough all the noise, but the Kreedens didn't. Their ears weren't so sharp.

" But what ?"; Jasmine spoke :" We can't do anything on our own. "

" But together !"; Tarian shouted :" If we all focus together, we might squeeze enough drops of magic to cause some damage !"

" That control board over there !"; Jasmine shouted pointing with her sight

An unsuspecting kreeden assistant was working at it. The control desk had many buttons and a red flat screen that displayed the state of many variables, relevant to the process. It was clearly of significance, since Haidres him self was monitoring it, over his shoulder.

" All together now !"; Adella shouted :" Focus ! Focus hard !"

" For Kain !"; Jasmine growled

" Come on !"; Tarian hissed

Their collars began to glow. The runes on them seemed to grow like molten iron, but with all the other lights in the room it passed unnoticed. Kain's scream was burning out. He was loosing his grip. Had they have the ability, they would be covered in sweat, but it would be only one more sign of their effort. They were hissing and screaming with the tormenting endeavor, desperately going against the dam that blocked their powers.

With no warning the control board before him started to display incorrect data, and Haidres bulged. Instantly he slugged the assistant away and took over him self but the buttons started to melt under his fingers. And he suddenly realized :

" It's them !"; he shouted and pointed at the shackled vampires behind him. In that moment Kain's roar was quiet enough for the few closest to hear him :" Stop them ! Stop them before… "

The board exploded and instantly red lights and other warning signs started to emanate the entire chamber. The Kreedens run around helplessly, trying to stabilize the system but the damage was too disrupting for the delicate process and the speed of the rotation started to decrease. Power was extinguished and the gages started to relax. In a few moments everything was quiet with only a few still blinking lights. All present now directed their attention at the pod, now still and silent. Nothing was coming from within except for an overpowering sense of anticipation. Haidres and a few others slowly started to approach. The control of the mechanical arm was still functional and upon activation it went to open the pod and reach in.

But it never did. The circular chamber suddenly exploded, tearing the robotic arm to bits and blasting everywhere around. Kain broke trough, like fired from a cannon and slammed into a wall, falling face down. Before they could peace together what happened, another Kain stepped out of the ruined machine, with his steps cracking the shattered mirrors. The Kain who was thrown out rose and gazed at the other. They were glaring at each other with freezing malice and suddenly they roared with raging anger, charging at one another.

Those around could only perish or move aside. Adella, Tarian and Jasmine were shocked. The two Kains were identical, even in power and skill. Kain struck Kain, cutting trough his chest, but Kain slammed his jaw tossing him at the ceiling. Kain landed on him knocking him down and slamming in the floor so hard it made a crater and than Kain kicked him over the side crashing trough a wall with him. They were both ignoring everything but each other. Kreedens were trying to shoot them both, but in vain. They were hardly sensing it and those who got closer would simply fall apart in a red mush.

As claws would cut flesh, the long red arch would spill out after them, for an instant seeming like a razor. Roars and snarls were shacking the foundations of the complex. They didn't care about anything or any one, save their duel, and the Kreedens were helpless to make a difference. Haidres was a bit smarter than the rest, for he went to hide as far away as he could, after realizing that his magic can not dent the resolve of the two beasts. They were even too fast to aim at, storming trough everything in their path.

Kain tried to reach for the reaver, but Kain grabbed him and threw him away. But Kain grabbed for his wing and they both fled, crashing trough another wall. More and more Kreedens tried to contain them but the complex started to collapse. It couldn't take more of this. Kain ripped a construction pole and like with a giant club he slammed Kain into another wall. Kain rose and got slammed again. He tried to get up, but Kain slammed him once more and than Kain kicked the pull breaking it in two. Kain hurled his remaining half, but before he did, Kain flied at him crashing into the same wall, braking trough with his body. His knee got his chest, catapulting him trough the ceiling, but he only opened his wings and flew up in the dark clouds. Kain opened his wings too and followed, and they were both gone in a twister of wings and claws.

Haidres and the few remaining Kreedens came closer, gazing with horror into the hole in the ceiling.

" What have we unleashed… ?"; Haidres uttered petrified

The sky was black with raging clouds. Thunders burned within their sacks. Storming wind was tossing drops of rain around like spinning cords of silk and its moans desperately cried in the night. The two winged beasts were spinning around in a hurricane of blows and talons. The rain turned red with their blood. They banged at each other once more only to be blast away by a thunder, but it didn't break them apart. Kain hurled his telekinetic magic and Kain replied in kind. A barrier of green energy grew like a thick wall between them absorbing the thunders that only increased its size. The storm cried like thousands of tortured voices as the glow between them ignited the clouds. They were both shacking with effort. Blood was leaking out of their noses. The barrier grew and grew only tightening its efforts, spilling the overflowing magic around its edges like green flames. Finally it exploded, blasting them both to the opposite sides. Kain landed on a mountain wall and Kain slammed to the ground but they both went up again.

Their duel resumed with thunders, magic and claw filling the air with snarls louder than the wind's moan. At last as they bounced each other off, a pause prevailed. They were slowly flapping their wings, hovering in mid air, gently circling around each other on a distance. Their wounds were healing and decreasing and the pain of the flesh was dying out. Panting of exhaustion each was just watching the other, but not with height any more, but with wonder.

" You fight well. "; Kain said as a thunder cracked behind him

" I was thinking the same of you. "; Kain replied politely

" More fighting is a waist of time. "

" Any ideas ?"

" Coexistence… ?"

" Truce… ?"

" No. Tempting as it may be, I never go for compromises. "

" All or nothing… Well, just 'all' as far as I'm concerned. "

" Still, only one is real. "

" And we can't decide which. "

" Someone else should decide, than. "

" Raziel ?"

" You'll have to go trough me to touch him. "

" Same here. "

They both smiled and nodded :

" The pillars. "

" Sweet. Let them choose their scion. "

" But first… "

" …know that… "

" …it was… "

" … educational. "

" …special. "

They giggled trough sealed lips and than got silent, observing the eyes. Who will draw the pillar's energy first ? And so they went for it, piercing time and space to infuse them selves with the power of the black pillar of balance. Corruption fueled their souls and minds, filling their beings with all the taints of the world. It was disgusting and thrilling, turning their guts and accelerating their souls. A response came in a bright flash over the black clouds, that swept away trough them both. The black corrupted pillar has chosen its guardian…

A bright flash of white color consumed the night like a thick web of thunders. A powerful explosion took away the silence and all present fell to the ground in fear. As it subsided, a strange quiet rain took region over the land and the Kreedens observed the black clouds in anticipation. Trough the hole in the ceiling, another rain started to fall. It was ash. Black sand and gray dust, were gently dropping from above, like a grim snow of incinerated shades. It was in that moment of realization, that a winged vampire fell in their midst. The kreedens backed away pointing their weapons at him, but he was ignoring them eyes fixed on the falling ash. He smiled and cleaned it from his spiked shoulders, and than gazed at the mortals around him :

" Would you attack an ally ?"

Adella, Tarian and Jasmine bulged in horror :

" No !"

" No, Kain ! Don't !"

" Silence !"; Kain shouted and violently squeezed their throats with his TK grips :" I seemed to have broken your toy. "; he said to Haidres gesturing at the machine

" In a generation or two… "; Haidress gazed at it :" I'll fix it. "

" I'm hungry. "; Kain spoke to the Kreedens :" Who's fresh ?"

" First, "; Haidres said as he gestured his men to stand down :" show me how to remove the locks from the reaver. "

" Gladly. "; Kain paced nonchalantly to the blade while his children gasped and struggled. He grabbed for the hilt and the magic which held it glittered :" The key is… my hand. "

The magic dispersed and the soul reaver was free. Kain passed it trough the air as the sword's magic illuminated the mangled chamber.

" Good… "; Haidres spoke :" Now give it to me, and show me how to wield it !"

Kain smiled and offered him the hilt. His children tried to protest but the grip on them only tightened. Haidres took the reaver beholding its magnificence :

" It… is… spectacular !"; he said as the serpent blade burned in his hands

" But to wield it, "; Kain warned :" you must know the secret. "

" Which is… "

" To wield the soul reaver… you must be Kain !"

Haidres tried to scream, but blood chocked his lungs exploding to his mouth. Kain stabbed his fangs into his throat and wrapped them both in a husk of his wings. The Kreedens around tried to pierce it, but it was too strong, like a shield. Only Haidres' futile babble broke trough from within. At once a sphere-like blast of magic tossed all around on distant walls and Kain emerged, unwrapping his wings and scrapping the blood from his lips and claws. Haidres was on the ground before him, decomposing, and the soul reaver was in his claw.

Before the Kreedens picked them selves up, chains and collars on the three vampires broke on their own and they snarled with such anger the kreedens shook like twigs. Kain simply placed the reaver on his back and waited while his children finish the rest of the pests. His magic was a powerful block and calls for aid trough their crystals didn't get trough. Demonized with their wrath, vampires slaughtered them mercilessly and in a couple of seconds only, the room was silent again. They came to Kain observing him with blot :

" Was deception really necessary ?"; Tarian asked, grudged

" No… but it was amusing. "; Kain snorted

The room was a chaos of rubble, dust and small flames. Everything was demolished and shattered, including the Machine of spinning mirrors. They had no intention to linger about more and they went for the exit, but than a silent beeping stirred their silence. One miraculously preserved screen on the wall was announcing an incoming message from Jordana's palace.

" It's her… "; Jasmine said blind with hate

" Wait. "; Adella spoke :" I have a plan. "

Jordana was sitting on her throne in a Kreeden royal palace in Meridian. She was much hurt when they retrieved her and she needed an immediate attention so she couldn't be there for Kain's transformation. But now she has recovered and restored from Kain's painful, yet delightful handle, and was eager to learn of his treatment. A com screen was before her and she observed it with anticipation. It was strange. Nobody responded to her from the compound. She got worried that it might have gone wrong, but than Haidres appeared on the com with Kain behind him and a bunch of kreedens celebrating :

" Greetings mistress. "; he spoke :" Accept our sincerest apologies for the delay... "

" Never mind that. "; Jordana cut him off :" How did it go ?"

" Well, the machine was severely damaged, and Anisha died tragically, but the subject did pool trough. "

Jordana smiled with rapture. It was done. She did it. Success, at last :

" A small price to pay for such prize. I'm sure that you are grieved for your prodigy. "

" Deeply, mistress. "; Haidres smiled

" I thought so… I want Kain here as soon as possible. "

" What about the other three ?"; Haidres asked

" Oh, them… "; Jordana grudged :" I don't know why I wanted them captured alive. It must have bean Adella's trick of the mind. Well, she'll soon learn of the price of capture. Jasmine is to be spared and the rest… "; she suddenly had an idea :" In fact bring them all to me. "

" As you command. "; Haidres bowed and turned the screen off

As it was done, Jordana jumped with joy. She grabbed a small flower from a near by vase and smelled it deeply :

" You have bended, my darling ! You have bended… "

Adella removed the guise of Haidres and uncoiled her spells from the room. It at once became a ruin again and the kreedens who were present vanished into nothing. It was troubling to converse with Jordana with respect, but it gave them what they wanted ; an access to her presence with no guards to stand in their way. She knew all of them well enough to fool them. They will simply walk in the royal palace and march straight to her throne chamber, and once there… Oh boy…

" You think she bought it ?"; Tarian asked

Adella nodded and smiled :

" She 'wanted' to by it. It is easy to delude by giving them what they want. "

Kain smiled shrewdly, and all four went in the sky.

Lazaruss :" confusing, is it not ? Oh, and if someone else amongst you didn't understand the previous chapter, well that's too bad. "