I'm not sure about exactly what prompted Edwin to tell his name to Kain. More likely it was a one-sided introduction rather than Kain asking for it.
Unfortunately, this story introduced itself as a short peice. One more chapter, I think. It's still hand-written and I'm not sure when I'll type it out.
Kain sat in the branches of a huge oak, watching his old home. His familiar seat creaked ominously, a reminder that even a tree's lifetime would be short in his perception. Kain had returned here a few times each decade.
In the first years Kain had returned, he and his son would sit and talk through the night. It staved off Kain's loneliness in a world that was otherwise nothing but hostile to him. Edwin too had benefited from their rare conversations, dipping into Kain's superior wisdom on certain matters.
Edwin had prospered well enough, though he never reached the wealth befitting his lineage. He had married a beautiful woman that had blessed him with many children. Though he was an awkward father, Edwin loved them all. He had actually faired better as a grandfather, until age finally took him.
Though Kain was sad at Edwin's passing, he understood that it was the price of taking interest in a mortal. He didn't talk to anyone else in his family. Kain was content to watch them from afar whenever nostalgia took him.
Kain's reverie was interrupted by a yell drifting out over the field. A small boy was chasing a dog and calling after it. They ran heedlessly through the grasses and into the forest. Kain slipped down from his perch and followed the boy into the woods.
A loud roar changed the focus of Kain's concern. Instead of sneaking silently after the boy, Kain broke into a full run. Unheeded branches lashed against his face as he dove through the underbrush. Within a moment, Kain burst into a clearing. The boy was on his hands and knees at the edge of the clearing, a demon stood at the opposite edge. The boy's dog was foolishly barking at the demon's heels.
The demon's arms bristled with electricity. Kain had faced larger creatures during his original journeys, but he did not underestimate this beast. Though lanky, it's animalistic form was still strong. Kain stepped forward, the Soul Reaver humming with anticipation.
The demon swung at Kain, but he easily blocked the massive pincer. Kain pushed the demon's arm up and away and quickly brought his sword around to slash at its slim abdomen. The demon recoiled, roaring in pain. Before it could recover, Kain brought the Reaver around again to slash upwards and through its face. The demon staggered back, momentarily too stunned to respond. Kain brought the Reaver around for one final strike, this time feeding his magical energy into it and encouraging the possessed sword to find the foul beast's soul.
The demon collapsed to the ground before melting into a puddle of noxious gore. Kain scooped up the child and began running back in the direction from whence they came. The boy screeched for his dog, but the fool animal had run deeper into the forest, and Kain had no concern for it.
Once out in the open, Kain set the child down, but he was sure to leave a restraining talon on the boy's shoulder lest he try to reenter the forest. "You are Bertie?" Kain asked. He had heard some of the childrens' names while eavesdropping.
"My name is Bertram," the boy scowled. "Only my mom gets to call me Bertie."
"You were very reckless today," Kain harshly reprimanded. He noticed the lack of fear in the boy's eyes, even though he was face-to-face with an angry vampire. "Only a fool fears nothing."
"Nothing's ever tried to hurt me before," Bertram admitted. "And you did save me."
"I saved you for lunch," Kain growled before sinking his fangs into the boy's neck.
Kain fought with his instincts over Bertram's life. There was a risk in feeding from him, but the boy would not survive if he didn't gain a respect for danger. Reluctantly, Kain released his throat. Bertram was unconscious, and he would be anemic for several weeks. Hopefully that was enough time for the lesson to sink in. There were many other children of Bertram's generation in the family, and all of them would die eventually, but Kain preferred to see them live out the full arc of their lives.
Kain stealthily laid Bertram on the path to the manor's front door. He was confident that the foolish boy would be found soon enough, just as he was confident that his features had sharpened enough that Bertram would not make the same connection between portrait and vampire that Edwin had so long ago.