LEGACY OF KAIN: BLACK HEARTS
CHAPTER 18: JANOS AUDRON
Kali saw the human far before he leaped. For a human, he was stealthy, but not many creatures were able to hide from her. She spent so much of her childhood in the shadows, she can see in them as clear as day. So she wasn't very surprised by his ambush.
She somersaulted out of her assailant's path, and quickly drew her sword. To her surprise, the human drew his just as quickly, if not faster, and their blades connected.
"What the hell?!" Kali shouted.
"Funny," the man said. "That's just where I was planning on sending you!"
"I've already been there!" Kali shouted as she parried another attack. "Multiple times actually."
Their battle continued. It was clear by the way this man attacked that he was not here to have a fair fight. His strikes were meant to kill. If Kali took one hit, she'd be a goner.
Luckily, she was fast. But she knew she would have to strike to kill before he had the chance to.
She delivered an attack, which was quickly parried. But rather than withdrawing her blade for another strike, she slid it down his until it connected with the intricate hilt, and twisted, causing his sword to fly out of his hands.
"Who are you, and who sent you?" Kali asked,
The man remained silent, and took a fighting stance.
"Alright," Kali said and swung her sword at his neck. She was surprised to her a clank of metal.
The man had a blade that extended from underneath his hand. This was hardly a fair fight. Now he couldn't be disarmed. That bastard.
Kali swung again, but the man was quick enough to parry again. The man pushed her sword out of the way, and thrusted his blade towards her. Kali jumped away just in time to avoid being impaled.
Kali took a moment to observe her for. There was no insignias on him, so she couldn't tell who he worked for by his appearance. He must have been a mercenary of some sort, meaning he was hired. But that would mean someone in this time period had to know her, and want her dead. The only person who fits those conditions is…
"You work for Moebius, don't you?" Kali accused.
Instead of answering, the man leaped for his sword. Instinctively, Kali pounced and pinned him to the ground.
"I'm not playing this one sided conversation game with you!" Kali shouted. "I have enough of those already."
The man kicked Kali off of himself. Kali rolled on the ground, then turned towards him. As he recuperated, Kali threw her sword into his foot. The man screamed as the snow began to turn red around his boot.
"Well not I know you have a voice." Kali approached the man. He raised his arm with that damned hidden blade for an attack. She simply grabbed his hand, and twisted his arm. The man screamed again as his elbow made a 360 spin. She removed the bracer from his arm.
"Thanks for the little gift." Kali said, slipping it onto her left arm, and tightening it to fit her.
"Damn vampire…" the man moaned.
"Okay, I've heard enough." Kali said as she twisted and ripped the sword from his foot, then drove it into his chest, sending him back on the ground.
"Now lay there and suffer," Kali said as she removed her sword, and walked away, leaving the man still gasping for breath.
Kali looked out onto the lake, and saw Raziel gesturing her towards him.
Once she reached him, neither of them said nothing. They just proceeded into the temple. But she was used to that at this point.
They climbed many stairs and crossed many nearly crumbling bridges until they reached a closed do at the top. Raziel gently pushed the door open, and cautiously stepped across the threshold.
Kali stepped in behind him, and observed the chamber. It was ancient and worn. On the other side, there was a gaping hole in the wall. The snowy landscape allowed the room to be illuminated with a subtle white glow. On the other side of the chamber, there stood a large, winged figure.
"Janos Audron?" Raziel asked.
"It is heartening, after all these years, to hear my name spoken without contempt."
Janos turned to the, and revealed his features. His skin was a bright blue, his wings angelic, and his face saddened. Kali guessed that was from the years of watching this world become corrupt from the Sarafan crusade.
Janos seemed surprised by the sight, like Kali shouldn't have been there. The same aura every damn creature they ran into seemed to have.
He stepped forward and observed Raziel.
"Raziel," he said. "My child, what have they done to you?"
"I've been dragged to Hell and back." Raziel answered. "All, it seems to reach this moment. But I don't yet know why…"
"And your friend…" Janos said. "I must admit, my dear, I did not expect you to accompany Raziel. May I ask your name?"
"Kali." She answered hesitantly. She wasn't used to someone addressing her directly when she was with Raziel. It was always Raziel and the half-blood.
"Ah, Kali." Janos said. He looked down at his wrist. "I see you have acquired a prize. I always believed that Sarafan assassin was coming for me."
"Assassin?" Raziel asked, and looked at Kali. "What assassin?"
"Oh, so now you show concern?" Kali asked, still looking straight ahead.
"Have I not before?" Raziel asked.
"Would I be asking if you did?" Kali said coldly.
Janos held up his hands as if to say, keep me out of this one.
"I don't have time for this." Raziel said.
"You've had plenty of time for everyone else." Kali said, reaching her breaking point.
"Kali…" Raziel said.
"If I may intervene…" Janos interrupted.
Kali and Raziel both were ready to stop Janos's interruption, but they decided against it. They were guests here, after all.
Janos paused, as if he didn't think he would make it that far in his intervention. "I don't mean to intrude on personal business, but it seems that you have some obstacles blocking your paths along this long and winding journey of your… relationship?"
"Yeah," Kali said. "You can say that again."
"Winding for sure," Raziel said.
"Perhaps, Kali," Janos continued, "there is something you wish to say to Raziel?"
"I have nothing to say to him." Kali said.
"Don't lie to yourself, Kali." Janos said. "Denial leads to lies, and lies leads to corruption. I'm sure you've witnessed that along your path."
Kali thought of Moebius. His lies led to the corruption of the entire Circle. She turned to Raziel.
"I…" she began. "I miss you."
"I haven't left." Raziel replied.
"No, you don't understand." Kali said.
"Then enlighten him," Janos said. "You must allow him to understand."
"I miss the vampire that was in you." Kali said. "Ever since you changed, I feel that you aren't you. You've become cold, and narrow-minded, only set on revenge. But you even seem unsure on that. I've been ignored along your entire journey, and it's breaking me apart."
Kali felt tears forming in her eyes. But she regained the power to contain them when she saw Raziel looking at her, concerned for her.
"Kali," Raziel said. "I didn't realize… I've been mistreating you all along this… rampage of a quest."
The tears returned to Kali's eyes. But they weren't just sadness. They were also hopeful.
Raziel stepped forward. "I was consumed in my lust for truth, that I had forgotten much about you… your feelings, and my feelings for you. I don't know how I can make it up to you." Raziel took Kali's hands and kneeled. "But, perhaps I can beg your forgiveness."
"What of it?" Kali replied. "If I accept your apology, how can I trust that it won't return to the way it was before this?"
"You will just have to trust me." Raziel said. "As before, when times were simpler."
"That's just it." Kali said. "Things just aren't simple anymore."
"Then we will adapt." Raziel replied. "You have been abused and ignored by those close to you for your entire life. But I assure you will never more receive such treatment from me."
Janos smiled as Raziel stood to embrace Raziel. It always amazed him how much a little disclosure can solve.
"I love you, Kali." Raziel said.
"I love you too, Raziel." Kali responded.
They turned back to Janos, who seemed to have all the answers to their problems.
"May I see that weapon of yours?" Janos said. "It seems a little too… human for your tastes."
"Of course." Kali removed the bracer from her arm and handed it to Janos.
"I noticed the vials on your belt. I can remove the third party harvesting with a little upgrade to your bracer."
Janos went to work on the weapon.
Raziel stepped towards him, his hand joined with Kali's. "Perhaps you have more answers that counseling?"
"For thousands of years," Janos began, "I have waited... alone here, losing faith... At the time of the Binding, nine guardians were called to serve the Pillars. And I was summoned as the tenth guardian - the keeper of the Reaver, the weapon of our salvation. Over time, our race died out. Until I alone remained... sustained only by my obligation to you, and by my guardianship of the blade."
"And the other nine?" Raziel asked. "Why did their guardianship not sustain them?"
"I don't know," Janos replied. "As our race dwindled, the humans prospered. I have watched, over the centuries, as our history faded into myth, and finally receded altogether. The humans have forgotten us entirely, and claimed the Pillars for themselves, wholly ignorant of their true purpose. to them, I am merely a devil. The origin of their vampire 'plague'."
"You are no devil." Kali said.
"I appreciate your sentiment," Janos smiled. "But an entire race disagrees."
"Why would the pillars summon human guardians, then, if they are meant to be served by vampires?"
"The Pillars choose their guardians from birth, Raziel," Janos continued, "and vampires are no longer born. This is the crux of our dilemma. And this is the terrible irony, with their vampire purge, the members of the Circle have assaulted the very architects of the Pillars they are sworn to protect. They have embarked on a treacherous path. With every vampire they kill, the humans are slitting their own throats. They know I'm up here, beyond their reach. And it terrifies them."
"Mankind seems to have brought you only torment and grief." Raziel said.
"You must hate them." Kali agreed.
"They fear what they do not understand, and they despise what they fear." Janos said. "But no, I do not hate them."
"Vorador does." Kali pointed out.
"He has suffered much," Janos reminded them. "He cannot forgive them."
"Should they be forgiven?" Raziel asked.
"They do not understand what they are doing." Janos said as he finished his work on the bracer. "They are simply unenlightened and vulnerable to manipulation."
He handed the weapon to Kali. "Pierces with that blade will now absorb blood into vials stored inside the bracer itself. I'm sure you will find this useful."
"Thank you," Kali said. "I certainly will."
"So it's true then," Raziel said, returning to the original subject. "What Kain and Vorador have told me. I really am some kind of unholy vampire messiah."
"Unholy?" Janos asked. "No. Messiah… perhaps."
"I don't like that word." Kali said.
"Yes," Raziel agreed. "It reeks of martyrdom."
Janos stepped towards Raziel. "Raziel, your role in this world's destiny is more crucial, and more benevolent, than you've allowed yourself to believe. Your journey will not be easy - dark powers are allied against you. But I think you already know that. You seem to have been cruelly tested.
"The binding must be secured, Raziel." Janos continued. "The Pillars are the lock…"
"And the Reaver is the key!" Raziel and Kali said together.
"Yes," Janos answered. He stepped to the back of the chamber, where a large chest sat.
"The Reaver is here?" Raziel asked. "Why do I feel nothing?"
Janos picked up the Reaver, and flourished it to Raziel. "The most formidable weapon ever forged by our sword smiths... They infused the blade with vampiric energy, empowering the Reaver to drain our enemies of their precious lifeblood."
Janos held the blade out to Raziel. Raziel reached for the Reaver, but hesitated. "Please… take it away from me."
Janos obeyed Raziel's request as he heard commotion from outside.
"I fear you two have been followed," Janos said. "You must save yourselves!"
Janos placed his hands on Raziel and Kali.
"Janos…" Raziel said. "No!"
They were both transported out of the room.