LEGACY OF KAIN: BLACK HEARTS
CHAPTER 8: THE REAVER'S CURSE
Kali took one last glance at the depiction of Vorador. He seemed very menacing and relentless. He was represented as a demon with no remorse. The humans must have done something to make him slaughter them. Unless all vampires were like Kain, and he just hunted and massacred, simply because he could.
"Where to, boss?" Kali asked Raziel.
"To the pillars," he responded. "Where Kain is."
"Wait," Kali said. "You think Moebius was telling the truth?"
"Though that snake is known for deception," Raziel said. "He wants Kain dead as much as we do. When it comes to killing Kain, I don't think he would lie about that."
At the end of the hall, Kali noticed one of the militia men that Moebius had mentioned. But at the same time, he noticed them.
"Vampires!" he shouted. "Vampires in the stronghold!"
"Damn," Raziel said. "So much for stealth."
Raziel and Kali charged after the man, who continued to shout. When he noticed them charging after him, he tried to run, but Kali lunged towards him, and pinned him to the ground.
"Vampires!" He shouted.
"What should we do with him?" Kali asked.
"Vampires!" The man shouted.
"Make him shut up," Raziel said, sounding irritated.
"Vamp…" The man's scream was cut off by Raziel's claw splitting his head in half.
Kali pulled out a small vial, and filled it with the man's blood to save for later.
"There's less of a headache," she said.
"But now the stronghold will be expecting us," Raziel said. "Will you be ready to fight if we are outnumbered?"
"Of course," Kali answered. "After what happened after… The Razielim… I had to take on lots of other vampires. Humans shouldn't be a problem."
Raziel observed her expression as she said his their clan's name. Raziel knew she was still taking the massacre hard. He kneeled next to her.
"We will avenge all of them," Raziel promised. "Kain will pay."
"I know," she said. Kali looked at Raziel, and leaned towards him. She extended her arms, and wrapped them around his fragile apparent form.
"I know I will never be myself again," Raziel said, causing Kali's emotions to stir. "I will never again be the Raziel that you fell in love with. But my feelings for you will never change. I will make sure Kain suffers for the pain he brought you… that he brought us."
Kali tightened her embrace. If anything, she wished this moment wouldn't end. But, of course, nothing good ever lasts.
"There they are!" A soldier shouted. "Kill the vampires!"
Hesitantly, Kali and Raziel broke their embrace, and turned to the group of soldiers. Kali drew her sword, and with Moebius gone, Raziel was able to summon the Reaver blade.
The soldiers, armed with swords and spears, charged in a group of about ten men. Though they outnumbered their opponents, Kali and Raziel well outmatched them.
One after the other, the men all dropped dead. Kali and Raziel were dangerous alone. But together, they were unstoppable.
After all the men were defeated, Raziel and Kali continued to the next chamber. The room appeared to be some form of chapel, and at the far end, a ceremonial tomb was set up for a hero of the Sarafan, Sir William.
As Raziel approached he felt an odd sense of displacement, as if the world around him was shifting closer and farther away all at the same time. The vertigo caused him to stumble.
"Raziel, what's wrong?" Kali asked.
"There's something about that chapel…" Raziel said. "Come on; let's get to the bottom of this."
They approached the source of Raziel's feeling of displacement. The Soul Reaver, laid out like a holy relic, shattered from battle. The depictions showed Kain and William in a fierce combat, both armed with the powerful weapon.
Raziel couldn't take his eyes over the sword. He extended his arm, and grazed over the blade towards the hilt, without making contact. Kali noticed Raziel's mystical sword reacting to meeting its former self.
"Raziel…" Kali said, beginning to feel uncomfortable with the situation.
Then all hell broke loose, as Kali watched in horror as Raziel struggled to free his hand from the blade. The sheer magnitude of power made Kali experience a slight displacement as well.
Raziel began to collapse, unable to remove himself from the Reaver. His soul energy was leeched from him to restore the blade. The blade was now in control… but knowing better than to destroy its host, Raziel was released. He picked up the Reaver, watching with an intense fascination.
"Raziel," Kali said. "It's Moebius!"
Raziel whirred around to see Moebius observing them from behind.
"What have you done to me Moebius?!" Raziel growled, enraged. "Is this your trap?!"
"How mine?!" Moebius defended himself. "Don't forget, it was Kain who led you here, not I! While you curse me, the only soul in Nosgoth ready to guide and assist you, Kain laughs at our folly and revels in your dismay!"
"These blades now coiled in sinister embrace have inspired terror in the hearts of creatures far more durable than you, old man," Raziel threatened. "Bound together as they are, I can only imagine what they could do to your soul's fragile shell."
Moebius appeared terrified. Raziel's pure rage was beginning to frighten Kali as well.
"Raziel, I beg you to stay your hand," Moebius begged. "This was none of my doing. I have sought only to aid you in your righteous quest."
"Why, you're trembling, Moebius?" Raziel taunted. "Has your confidence abandoned you? You seem to have made a fatal error by leaving your precious staff behind. Is that where all your courage comes from?"
"Listen to me, Raziel," Moebius said, now desperate. "You don't know what you're doing. I have taken an enormous risk by appearing here before you, so defenseless, yet eager to prove my good intentions. If there's anything left of the Sarafan in you, you won't do this. While you threaten me, your true enemy eludes you!"
"Do not concern yourself with Kain, old man," Raziel said. "He'll join you in hell soon enough. As you said, death comes for us all."
"Yes…" Moebius said. "The Wheel of Fate demands it."
"What did you say?" Raziel asked, lowering his deadly weapon.
"The Wheel of Fate," Moebius said, regaining his confidence. "The inexorable cycle of death and rebirth to which all men are compelled. We serve the same God, Raziel. To strike me down would be striking God's own attendant, and I don't believe even you would take that risk."
"I tire of your games, Moebius," Raziel said, throwing the Reaver to the side. "Now that you fear me, I needn't concern myself with you. Kain is waiting for me."
"Go, then, Raziel," Moebius said. "Seek Kain out and destroy him, in the name of the one God we both serve. You, who were once a Sarafan priest; murdered, profaned, destroyed and reborn again from His mercy... You are now most powerfully equipped to be His agent; His instrument of restoration and retribution."
"My own vengeance is motivation enough," Raziel concluded the conversation. He turned away from Moebius, and walked away. Kali followed him out, leaving Moebius alone.
"By my soul," Moebius said to himself. "You almost had me, my little blue assassin. But that'll be the one and only chance you get, I assure you of that."