A Thousand Years

Chapter Fourteen: Swift Recovery

When I next opened my eyes, it seemed like days had passed... I knew from my instinctive restlessness that it must be night, or close to it. My entire body was aching and stiff. I could barely move. I don't know how long I lay there, staring up at the ceiling... Presently my gaze focused on the mirror across the small room, and I felt my entire body give a jump of surprise.

Sickening was the sight of my once-handsome face... I looked absolutely hideous, with bubbling scar tissue all down my face, neck, shoulders, and chest. Will I forever be left with these scars...? I thought to myself in horror, reaching up with one hand to touch the scar tissue. It felt hard and uneven beneath my fingertips... I didn't want to know what my back looked like. Slowly, I found the strength to sit up. I was ravenous... I had to hunt, no matter how weak I was... My body craved that healing blood.

I slowly left my chambers and wandered out into the deserted hallways. Distantly I heard the even breathing of my brothers, fast asleep in their chambers. So it must not yet be night... A little bit further and I stopped in front of Kain's chambers, but I heard no breath or heartbeat within.

...What? I thought to myself in confusion. ...Where would Kain be? He should be resting up for the battle... Especially after carrying on into the day as he had...

I heard a scuffling noise near the entrance, and caught the faint sound of a frightened whimper. Immediately I began toward the entrance, and stopped abruptly as I saw Kain with a warrior in his grasp, his hand over the man's mouth, the other arm pinning the man's arms to his sides. He stopped at seeing me, surprised at my wakeful state. His voice, as always, was a silken sound in my ears. "You truly are the strongest of your brothers, to have not only survived that torture, but to be up and walking around not even a day after."

"..I'm sure your generous donation aided my recovery," I commented softly. Gone were the days I would brighten under his praise. I simply took it as a fact to consider. The warrior's eyes were bulging at the sight of me, groaning behind Kain's hand. I gestured to him slightly. "...Why bring a warrior here?"

"For you to feed," Kain replied simply, snapping the terrified guard's neck and killing him instantly. He held the body out to me, and I took it, sinking my fangs into the neck to drain every last drop of the warrior's blood. The sweet elixir filled me with strength and removed the soreness from my body.

When I was finished, Kain took the body out to go dispose of it while I simply looked after him in puzzlement. He was practically doting on my like a mother hen... How strange. He could have plucked any human off the streets, but instead he chose a warrior whose powerful blood would speed my recovery tenfold. There's no doubt a reason behind it, I thought to myself bitterly. Oh, of course... He probably wants me back in battle as soon as possible. As Kain returned, I gestured slightly to my face and asked, "..Will I forever be left with these scars?"

"No, Raziel. They have already diminished, and will continue to fade with every feeding. Vampires cannot permanently scar." He noticed my glance toward the scar on his chest and gestured to it dismissively, "This was my death wound as a human. Death wounds and scars from before our rebirth as vampires, depending on the state of the body when resurrected, may follow us into the unlife."

"What do you mean, 'depending on the state of the body?'" I questioned curiously as Kain and I began walking deeper into the clan.

"Depending on the amount the body has decomposed," Kain clarified. "If the flesh has decomposed to the point where it has rotted away the scar tissue, that scar will not be present in one's rebirth."

"I see." We paused outside of my chambers, and I looked up at Kain, voicing the question on my mind. "...Since I am recovering more swiftly than you seem to have expected, would you still have me join you in battle tonight?"

"That is entirely up to you, Raziel." His reaction puzzled me... Rarely did any of us have a choice in what we were supposed to do, because Kain's word was law.

"...Is it?" I tried to clarify, hoping for an explanation.

"If you feel strong enough to enter into battle, then by all means, you may join us. But if you feel you are still too weak, that your weakness will slow you down and leave you vulnerable, then you are welcome to stay behind," Kain explained patiently.

I considered for a moment before giving my reply. "...Very well. There are few enough of us as it is... You will be needing us all to assist you."

Kain nodded in approval. "Nevertheless, I want you to stay by my side throughout the battle. I want to make sure what happened last night does not happen again. You seem to have a knack for stumbling upon danger unexpectedly."

I shrugged. "Very well." Distantly I could hear my brothers rousing slowly from their sleep one by one as I could feel the sun setting below the horizon.

"By the way," Kain commented thoughtfully as he leaned back against the wall, his arms folded upon his chest, "You did a very good job on taking down Avernus's bells. Now their only means of help would be to send out messengers, and they can only go so fast. We should be finished by the time help arrives."

"...Is Bane all right?" I hadn't yet seen my faithful stallion and was worried for his safety.

"Worried sick about you," Kain snorted. "I had to tie him to the other horses so he would leave. He kept trying to return to Avernus Cathedral. He is in the stables."

I could hear Turel and Dumah exiting their rooms, commenting quickly, "I'd best check up on him then." I departed hastily for the stables, stepping out into the night, the sky still a shade of grey that would soon darken to black. Call me vain, but I didn't want to see the horrified or pitying looks on my brothers' faces at the sight of my scars.

Kain made no move to stop me as I headed out into the woods toward the stables. The dogs all gathered around as I neared, tails waving, nudging my hands to be petted. I was all too willing to comply. They were such social and loyal dogs that if they wished for a petting, who was I to deny them? Petting furred animals also has a caliming, soothing effect on one's state of mind. I call it "fuzz therapy."

I could hear Bane whinnying within, shifting restlessly in his stall. He could sense me out here and wanted to see me. Immediately I headed inside and to his stable, reaching up to pet his muzzle as he pranced in excitement and relief, ears perking forward. He looked exhausted... He obviously hadn't gotten any sleep. Karma was well-rested on the other hand, and reached her head over the stalls to lip at my hair affectionately.

The sounds of the dog's excited whimpers alerted me to the presence of someone else approaching the stable. I sighed... It would be foolish to go running again when someone was obviously looking for me. I turned just as Dumah and Zephon stepped inside. Both of them stared at me with mingled worry and horror, Zephon blanching more so than Dumah. "Raziel," Dumah greeted cautiously, "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I replied with a shrug. "..A few more feedings, and I should be back to normal."

"What the hell did those bastards do to you?" Zephon whispered in horror. He couldn't take his eyes off of my scarred body.

I frowned slightly, uncomfortable with his staring. "...They beat me, whipped me, and poured water on me."

"Fucking sons of bitches," Zephon growled, flinching sympathetically.

"Will you be joining us tonight after all?" Dumah asked, noting my energized state. I nodded in affirmation, and he nodded in return. "If you need my help, just ask."

"Thanks, but Kain has ordered me to stay by his side for the entirety of the battle. I doubt I'll be needing any."

A/N - Sorry for the rather lengthly delay... And for cutting it off here. My will to write has basically been shot to the ground. I posted the first chapter to a story I had in mind to start... A Final Fantasy 7 story... And I'm just way too sensitive to criticism. I should never have asked for the opinions of the writers on pairings because I hate disappointing people... Some are right, it would be better without a pairing, while others like certain pairings and hope for them... It's just really discouraging opening up a review alert e-mail with high hopes, only to have the words "NO NO NO NO NO!" jump out at you first thing. Others were disappointed at the posting of the short summary of what I had planned for the story, saying I shouldn't have entered it in because I'd lose readers that way... I was hoping the summary would encourage them to keep reading rather than driving them away, but I guess I was wrong... Like I said, I'm far too sensitive to criticism, especially a lot of it.

Sigh...