Chapter 21:

Kain

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The first bubbling sensations of consciousness came slamming into me like a tidal wave and my eyes snapped open. My vision blurred for a moment, before I blinked to clear it. It was then I found myself staring at the plain stone ceiling, ugly cracks spreading across it's surface. Sitting up quickly, I looked around my new surroundings. I was back Vorador's mansion, in one of the guest rooms. I had been here before. Once these chambers housed some of the ancient vampires most seductive brides, his concubines, but all of them were gone now, dead or taken flight. The Soul Reaver lay on table next to my bed, the eye sockets of the skull hilt glowing softly blue. Vorador had been gracious enough not to take it while I was out.

-So finally you awaken- Raziel remarked from within the blade as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tried to rise. I found my own strength sufficiently depleted and I had to sit down again. – You're weak from lack of feeding- My first born added as if sensing my next question.

-How long have I lain unconscious?- I asked him telepathically, feeling a sudden well of sickness flood into my stomach.

-Three days.- Raziel told me but with a more humoured tone than I found comfortable. –You had enough Mana left to teleport back to Vorador's estate. Sabre's blood, whatever was in it, acted like intense venom. Had it not been for the treatments Janos gave you…- He left it hanging in the air, leaving the ending of that sentence up to my imagination. Looking to my side, I found a pitcher sat on the table next to the Reaver with a goblet ready. Looking in I discovered it full of fresh blood, my reflection staring up at me from the scarlet surface. Quickly I poured myself a drink and let my strength return. Magically summoned blood was never as satisfying as fresh game but it did the trick. After drinking half the pitcher, I felt enough of my strength in order to walk without loosing my balance. The room Vorador had so…kindly… let me use was not one he had taken time to refurbish in the last hundred years. The carpet had rotted away and the silk curtains were rags of their former splendour. Most of the furniture was filled with woodworm holes and the floor boards creaked loudly as I walked over them. The whole dismal place was lit only a single glass lantern.

The door at the far end of the room creaked open and Vorador was standing there beyound it with one hand on the door handle.

"Ah, you are awake." He remarked striding into the room. "I hope you'll be more picky about what blood you try to drink in future." I ignored his jest and set him a cold stare. "I hope your trip was memorable?"

"If nothing else." I replied. "I believe I found that clue to the Sarafan's new magic you were so keen to obtain." Vorador raised an eyebrow questioningly. "You said no vampire got close enough to one of them to see how they used their sunlight enchantments. I have."

During the battle with Sabre, I noticed that the runes engraved in his armoured chest plate would glow blood red whenever he employed some form of sunlight magic. Whether it was his wings or simple a blast of light, those runes would always be lit up. Vorador put a finger to his chin thoughtful, pondering this information.

"Enchanted armour?" He mused out load, eyes darting from left to right as if searching the roof for answers. "That narrows it down quite a bit Kain. I was sure that some relic they wore had something to do with it, now that I know it's their armour I should be able to investigate even further."

"I'm thrilled for you." I muttered sarcastically. "I also had a pleasure of meeting their commander." The ancient looked up in surprise.

"You met Sabre?" He asked. I gave him a very brief account of our duel and I left out the parts I felt he did not need to know about, like the Sarafan warrior being a servant of the Elder God and not being human. "And the sunlight magic didn't work on you?" His tone was that of genuine surprise.

"Sunlight can't hurt me anymore Vorador." I stated fixing him with a steely glare.

"It should have," The ancient replied flatly, matching my own glare with one of his own. "I've seen other ancients burn instantly under this new magic, and yet; if you are to be believed, it had no effect on you." I laughed once in my throat and walked past him to the open door.

"I'm not that easily to destroy." I paused at the doorway. "Did you discover anything of interest for me while I was away?" Vorador forged a smirk.

"Several things." He told me, catching up to my side as I walked out of the room. "But first, tell me; did you uncover anything of the Druids?" My descriptions once again brief, I told him what I had learned from the Seer and Princess Alicia. It wasn't much in my opinion, but clearly it surpassed any intelligence Vorador had been able to gather on them.

"As for this icon the Druids gave the Sarafan to secure their alliance, the Princess had not this information." The alliance between the Sarafan and the Druids themselves had been born very reluctantly and the Sarafan had only agreed to it when the Druids handed them an object, something of great important. It was imperative, at least in my opinion, that that something was uncovered.

"Can we trust her?" I managed a grin at his question.

"No. But she won't betray us to the Sarafan, of that I can vouch." Vorador fixed me with a quizzical glare. "She's very strong willed and ambitious. Her desire is to return Willdendorf to the times of the Great Lion and if I read her motivations right, she'll lead the people in a rebellion against the Sarafan to get it."

"And stab us in the back to get it if need be." I nodded once at his statement. The girl was allying herself with us as a means to an end. She could not achieve her own goals as long as the Sarafan remained in power and with their grip on the land tightening, she needed warriors. Who better than vampires, the sworn emeny of the order?

"Per chance, you managed to contact the Seroli while I was away?" Vorador told me that Ewoden, the former Sarafan knight, had retrieved some scrolls from one of their elders. The Lupine Gospels they were called and according to the ancient vampire, it may contain information about the true nature and purpose of the Scion of Balance. Although he was still working with it's translation, he would let me know once he procured anything of use.

"I should be done soon enough." He told me, his golden eyes darting to the window and the ruined estate just outside. There was something in his voice that told me he was holding something back. Per chance, he already had sufficient information but did not trust me enough to share. I did not speak of it to him; I had more pressing concerns at present.

"And the device needed to open the canister?" That was a top priority for me. I had come to Vorador and completed his errand for that very purpose.

"I have a rough location in mind." The ancient replied, two fingers on a cloven hand placed on his chin in thought. "It will be impossible for you to get to it though."

"Just tell me where." Vorador stopped by a large window that gazed out across the front of his grounds. Once, a magnificent garden had stretched all the way down to the iron gate at the far end. Water channelled from the swamp ran through a filter and came out fresh and clean in a selection of ponds. I presumed he had had it installed before he had accepted the Dark Gift. Now, there was only cracked stone and stagnant water; all the abundant plant life long since withered away. Only a few thorn ridden vines clung like a cancer to the decaying brickwork.

"Most Hylden Settlement and cities were destroyed during the wars." Vorador began, his arms folded behind his back. "The only dwelling I had previously known off was the Device, the massive construct under Meridian. However, through my contacts in the western lands I have heard of another ancient ruin that may hold such a device." He paused, watching the sky darken slightly, the distant crackle of thunder resonating in the distance. "West of the town of Steinchenchroe lies the lake of tears. One of the very few vampires in the area had reported that the locals talk of a city they see while in their fishing boats."

"And you believe this ancient ruin to be of Hylden origins?" I asked. Vorador nodded once in reply.

"Humans see Ancient vampire ruins all the time. They litter the land. They took note of this one as it clearly had different architecture. Also, my research had been able to confirm that the Hylden did indeed have a complex in that region, but was swallowed in a flood caused by the ancient vampires. A flood that made the lake of tears." This certainly made my task infinitely harder. Water was acidic to vampires and immersion in it could kill them. If the device I needed to open the canister was there, then it lay presently beyond my reach. Ironically, Steinchenchroe had been inside the clan territory of my son Ruhab; the only vampire who ever managed to evolve an immunity to water's touch.

I had never evolved that immunity.

"I will go there to confirm it." I told him and began to walk away. Vorador watched me go.

"And I will see what I can do with those leads you gave me." I ignored his statement and carried on. "Be warned Kain, one of my agents reports activity at the ruins of Dark Eden." I stopped there and listened. "Rumours abound that your younger self is preparing for an attack on the Sarafan armies hunting for him in the north; also they tell of the appearance of six vampire warriors arriving on the front. They single handily defeated an entire legion of the Order's best infantry. Know anything about that?" I managed a smile. It seemed that part of history had not been distrusted at least. Before being chased out of the south, I must have found the Sarafan crypt and the bodies of the inquisitors lain therein. I was witnessing the birth of the clans all over again. I left Vorador's question unanswered and walked away.

I did not leave the mansion right away it pains me to admit, but instead I went straight to the main bed chamber. My better judgement told me that I was being deceived by the ancient vampire, that it had been a mere illusion meant to stir my conscience. But even if it had been, it had still allowed me to see her face. I had lived for thousands of years with only her in my memory.

I pushed the door open, half expecting to find the bed empty. Just as before, there she was. Lain out on the bed and hair let out of it's usual pony tail. Her cheeks were still rosy, someone had taken up feeding her at regular intervals.

Through my mind ran memories as I watched her. From the very first time I saw her waiting for me awakening in the depths of Meridian, to the moment I slashed her across the throat. That last memory stung painfully, but I embraced it none the less. I would not pretend I had not committed that act, but would not attempt to justify my actions either.

I suddenly became aware that I was not the only one here. The other had made no attempt to hide himself and I had only missed his presence as my attention had been diverted. Janos Audron was sitting in one of the few good chairs left, his golden eyes fixed directly on me with an unblinking stare. I matched it with a sharp gaze my own and for a while, not a single word passed between us.

"I was confused at first, as to why Vorador would take such an interest in this female. Many of his agents have died in their duties and he never paid them a second thought." The winged vampire told me, his eyes darted momentarily to the bed. "He would not talk of it and I would not ask him, but then I know him well enough that I do not need to. I have been able to summarize that, this particular female had special significance for him. Deep feelings that demand him regarding her in this fashion." My stare remained fixed.

"He's in love with her?" I asked. Janos sighed out through his nose.

"Yes I suppose. Not that type of love if that's what your thinking Kain. The affection and attachment of a father to a daughter is perhaps more accurate." I looked down at her. The notion that this was an illusion was beginning to melt away. "Vorador told me about your connection with this one Kain." Janos added. Again that sting came again, unbidden and powerful; the very image and feeling acting like a poison far more potent that the blood of Sabre. "I will not judge you based on that single act and my faith in a higher power is somewhat lacking at present so I won't say there will be another to judge you. But what I will say is this." He pause to look me straight in the face. "It is never too late for redemption."

Without a word, I dissipated into bat form and vanishing out the open window into the sky.