LEGACY OF KAIN: BLACK HEARTS
CHAPTER 4: BIRTH OF A DARK AGE
Kali walked into Kain's throne room. Kain himself was sitting at his mighty seat at the Pillars. The five vampire lieutenants stood around the room forming a circle. Kali bowed before Kain, and he waved his hand, dismissing her to the side. She stood between Melchiah and Zephon.
After moments of waiting, Raziel walked into the room, his new gift folded behind his back. He stopped in the middle of the circle, and knelt onto one knee. As his wings unfolded, his brothers gasped. Never before had someone surpassed Kain. Kain looked even more perplexed. He stood to get a closer look.
Raziel stood to allow Kain to examine his evolution. Kain felt the wings, but seemed undecided. Raziel began to have a bad feeling. Kali could tell from the look in his eyes. Something wasn't right.
"Aahhh!" Raziel's scream filled the room as Kain tore the bones from his wings.
"No!" Kali shouted, but Zephon and Melchiah grabbed her by the arms before she could reach Raziel.
"Turel, Dumah," Kain said, "Grab him, and follow me."
They did so without hesitation. And after moments, Kali was left alone with the other three vampires.
"Aren't you going to do something?!" Kali said, her eyes red with rage, "He just dragged away your brother!"
"We will not question Kain," Zephon said.
Kali jerked away from Melchiah, taking his arm with her. She drew her sword and slashed as Zephon. Then she darted out the door before Rahab could reach her.
She ran as fast as she could to try to catch up with them. She knew where they were going, and what Kain had planned for Raziel… his eternal damnation.
When she arrived at the Abyss, Kain was kneeling before the edge, and Dumah and Turel dragged Raziel's limped figure behind them. Kali charged up the bridge, and fell to her knees before Kain.
"Kain!" She shouted, and Kain quickly turned to her, "I beg you, do not do this. Raziel is all I have left. Do not take him away from me!"
Kain thought about this, or at least pretended to. But he looked like his decision was final. Tears began to run down Kali's face. Luckily water didn't burn her.
"Haven't you ever loved someone?!" Kali shouted.
That definitely meant something to Kain. He appeared to be recalling memories of his past; something deep within him.
Kain turned back to Dumah and Turel, and they awaited his word.
"Cast him in."
Without a moment to spare, Turel and Dumah lifted his almost lifeless form, and hurled him into his doom.
"No!" Kali shouted as she ran towards the edge. Raziel's screams dissipated as he crashed into the water.
Kain gripped her with his telekinetic abilities before she could lunge off the cliff.
"Come, now," Kain said, "Let's not commit suicide today."
Kain pulled her towards him, took her by the arm, and dragged her away. Kali fought as much as she could, but it was useless. Kain did not struggle to hold her whatsoever.
"Let me go!" Kali demanded, "You traitor, you hypocrite, you bastard!"
Kain ignored her insults, and walked to the Razielim sanctuary. Kain threw Kali down in front of the other clan members, who were bowing before their high master.
"Your master has betrayed me," Kain said.
The clan's looks became very concerned. They knew that Raziel had evolved, but how was that betrayal?
Suddenly, Melchiahim, Zephonim, Rahabim, Dumahim, and Turelim came marching forward.
"Not a single bit of his legacy will remain," Kain said, and drew the Soul Reaver.
Razielim now looked worried. But Kali stood between Kain and the clan.
"Not one step further," She said, "We will not die without a fight."
As she said this, Raziel's clan seemed to gain confidence. Kali was giving them hope, and a will to fight back.
Kain chuckled, "I would promise you all a quick and painless death. But that would be a lie."
Suddenly, Razielim charged against their enemies. The battle raged between the groups, and Razielim was heavily outnumbered. Kali engaged Kain one-on-one.
Kain's mist form gave him an edge in combat, but Kali was still very fast. As they both attacked, the other blocked. They were equally matched. Kali wished she could say the same for the battle surrounding them. Everywhere, the Razielim were dropping lifeless.
The other clans began to storm the building. Razielim fledglings started to tear bricks out of the walls just to defend themselves. The battle had shifted into a massacre.
Kali persisted her attacks. All she wanted was to kill Kain. He had taken her love away from her. She wanted to return every emotional blow back to him.
Kain finally broke Kali's stance, and she fell. Kain's blade pierced her arm as she fell, but her pain was joined with another feeling. Comfort?
Kain prepared to deliver a final blow. He lifted his sword above his head, and slammed his blade downward. Kali dodged the attack… barely.
Kali recovered, and stood. She looked around at the battle. The Razielim flags were now all shredded. The building had been completely decimated. They did not fight to conquer. They just destroyed.
Kali's hope began to leave her. She wanted to fight to the death to save this clan, but what would death do for her? Perhaps she would rejoin with Raziel.
No. Hope must remain alive. She would have to escape this horror with her life. She turned and ran away from the battle.
A heavy weight dragged on Kali's chest; the guilt of running from Razielim, her family. She felt like a coward.
But she had to live. That was the only chance she had. She knew that somehow, in some form, Raziel would return to her. He has never let her down.
She ran as fast as she could, which was faster than most vampires. She took a swift glance behind her, and realized that she was not being pursued. She came to a stop in front of the bridge of the Abyss.
She slowly stepped up the hanging bridge, her feet becoming heavier with each step. She dreaded this place with every fiber of her being. As she reached the edge of the cliff, she dropped to her knees, and peered down into the spiraling pit.
"I was your queen," Kali said. Tears began to form in her eyes again, "Kain has left me with nothing. I promise you that he will pay."
She remembered hearing Raziel's screams as he fell. But he screamed for no one. There was no one that could save him.
"Just promise me one thing," Kali's throat throbbed, "Please come back to me. Don't let me do this alone."
Her last tear fell, and joined the waves that killed her love.