Fanfiction : Soul Reaver The Second Coming

[_Ink]

CHAPTER ONE: THE DAY OF OUR LIVES
The world has progressed far ahead, far ahead now, in a very strange matter that no one would have understood that 2000 years ago, a great war was fought to defend the world that came to be now, that the man behind the fulcrum of peace was vampiric, a powerful vampire who survived the worst against his fate and triumphant over his victory against the world that is against him.
He is Kain, the one man who is praised for centuries for his greatness, his saving of Nosgoth, his ruling of it and his laws of his words.
He has never had a child, not one, even when he is human, he believes that it would only hinder him in his destiny and to be a vampiric being, he sacrificed his pride to the curse of vampirism. But he never looked back. he viewed his choice as the correct path, and the one he has chosen to walk.
The day now is 2009, Nosgoth Calendar, The Uni-Holy Date Records. the year is recorded since the dawn of humanity council of the pre-industrial council which was where Kain was first born, in the midst of humans that bear so little resemblance to his extraordinary fate.
The days have long been gone. Now and then, humans who are interested searched the ruins of the past, hoping to unearth the past of the once glorious civilization of vampires and human, believing it to be true.
It is true, but obviously as time went by, humans have long forgotten the unwritten history of the pillars, the time and the fate of which they are engaged to, The man, who built the world from his fate that destroyed all other fates, the one who sacrificed his death, to be one cursed creature, and to win against it.
******
He was hungry, as he picked up the sandwich that lay in his plate, slowly consuming it bite by bite.
His life is ordinary, he always thinks to himself that he wished the game characters would come alive and take hi away to a vibrant life of power, action and adventure, where he can be the hero and he will win against all sorts of difficulties.
He is aged 23 this year, barely out of the university and is looking ahead to find a nice job, at least one that guarantees him good pay, good life and the likes.
He looks ahead for anything that might come his way, he wished there was more spice to his life.
"You are spacing out again, Az..."
The voice of Simon Gent awakened him, he has been thinkin of some kinda adventure again, lately he seems to remember a lot of his weird adventure dreams a lot, he goes back to them a lot in a way that when he is eating, he zones out and could spend hours on a meal, ending up to find the noodles or the palate already cold and mushy.
"Oh....i am at it again, the dreams, they seem to be well recorded, i can remember scenes where i am killing these people around me...am i going nuts...?"
" No, you just have a imaginary friend....haha..." Simon winced at his friend as he looks at him with a confused face.
Azriel Norren is a weird name to some, but he is always proud of it. he never complains over it. "you mean you are that imaginary friend?"
"I look real, don't I? c'mon, finish the sandwich and lets get going, the girls will be waiting for us at the mall..."
Simon wiggled his foot in a strange manner tipping side to side, but one thing is for sure, he is getting impatient.
Hurriedly, Azriel finished the sandwich, careful not to let it choke him alive as he swallowed it whole, trying to close his mouth around it and mumbling between his teeth "ok....lets gogh..."
Simon turned on his electric bike as Azriel jumped to the pillion seat behind him. They have to rush to the centerhouse mall called Nosgoth Mall, which is a funny name to Azriel.
*****
The bike stopped, there are people everywhere, all walking around with bags of goods and then some with their families, all seemed in a happy mood and Azriel felt weird as he is feeling unwell, his stomach is churning somewhat.
Simon showed the way and let him to the mall entry, he has never been here before, gladly, Azriel followed.
The girls that they are about to meet is Ryna Linsell and Sharon Wong, both are former classmates when they are all in university and now with a separate lifestyle all unlike his own, Azriel felt like a drifter without a job, only managed to imagine he has one. Naturally, he never did, and his qualifications are too mediocre for one to apply for a good job.
Sharon greeted the two as Ryna came forward to pull onto Simon's arm, Azriel thought to himself again at how these two hook up, he knew that they were drunk last season and then all of a sudden these two were dating, this saddened him a bit as he looked at how alone he is very much so.
Sharon greeted him with a sweet voice, "Azzy, nice to see you again after so long.....i missed you!"
Azriel could not respond before she gave a punch to him on the stomach, she is always a bit tomboyish, still haven't changed, he can see that. Azriel held his stomach at the wince of pain she inflicted.
"Hey....yeah nice to see you again, i am great, at least now i have my own crib..."
Sharon responded excitingly, "Really? wow...that is cool, i wanted my own place to stay away from those stupid parents of mine....they are so old-fashioned...!"
Azriel didn't feel all that much better now, his stomach was churning just now, and now the punch worsened it.
"Sharon, you really would be best to keep that down, your parents work here right...?"
"Yeah, so what, they can't spy at me all the time, i am simply speaking out in my life!"
"alright....hey lets go in, we are heading to the center arcade right....?"
Simon answered, " yeah, c'mon, lets go, they say there is a presentation of some kinda new show today, gonna be big i think!"
They left the entry and entered the hall, eager to join the crowd at the premiere of the new show. "Soul Sword Legacy" that is the movie name, Azriel did want to see it, it seemed good of a show that has a knight that fights vampires and stuff, the action scenes seemed too cool to pass up.
*****
The place was full to the brim, there are people everywhere. Azriel is suffering from all the pushing as they tried hard to get ahead of the crowd, heading to the entry and making sure they get a front row seat.
This arcade is unique, new movies are premiered here for free and people can gather here by the thousands to watch them, Azriel loved this place that fueled his desire to fantasize.
He wanted very badly to see this movie. he felt more and more excited as he neared the center.
The center of the arcade is unique in design, several pillars supported the center, according to the builder, they have purchased this piece of land over much effort in order to protect these artifact pillars, which are semi deconstructed by the age, it is said to have a history, however no one is sure what that history is.
In this time, most history records have dissapeared from the last recent wars, about 500 years back, when a huge war broke out over the world that caused a major extinction of plants, and most history books have been banned to make way for a new revolution, the reason is still greatly hidden from the public, but it is as true as it gets, there is none left of records from the last 1000 years, only bits and pieces of ruins like these pillars in the center.
These pillars all have an emblem on them, each with a design differently, though historians have placed great effort in preventing this site to be sold, obviously the money was too tempting to let up.
The pillars are arranged strangely in a circle, perhaps it used to be a stage, the builder thought of this and made it into an arcade. The average capacity is some 1500 people at any one time can be seated to watch the movie previewed. This place was recently opened by the Minister too, Azriel stared in awe at the wideness of the place.
The movie already started, The gang seated themselves and watched near, Sharon pulled near to Azriel as he blushed at her sudden actions.
"No worries, big boy, i ain't gonna rape you...!"
"Don't say that, i am just surprised..."
"you are blushing, how cute!"
Simon and Ryna laughed at this point as they listened.
"Azriel, you gotta be more outgoing you know, i am sure Sharon is willing to help you...."
"hehe...if i remember right, you are a still a greenhorn...!"
Azriel blushed more, it is true that he must be the only virgin around this band of people. "don't say that outloud!"
Sharon said to him next to his ear as she teased him, "you know, come over my place tonight, we will figure some way for you to lose it..."
"NO! I am not going!"
Sharon laughed again, amused by the fact he can be so innocent.
****
The movie has ran halfway, Azriel felt that he needed to go for the loo and proceeded there, he has to find it first.
The signs showed the way as he walked in the crowd to his destination, eager to release his load. Opening the door, he was amazed by how clean it was.
****
He finished unloading and then standing up, he noticed a green piece of tile that is stuck to the wall.
This is weird because the rest of the wall is silver in color and one articular tile that is green stands out, that makes it very weird and unique.
Azriel went nearer, as he approached the tile, he felt weird, a tingling sensation that raced up and down his spine, he wonders what is happening. Taking one step at a time, he reached nearer, and then he touches the tile.
The room shook, the floor around him shook as an earthquake would and the force sent Azriel to his knees as he pulled himself near to a sink, the pipes supporting his grip to prevent him from falling on his sides.
The tile glowed in eerie green light, the tingling feeling in him grows more and more evident as he screamed at the top of his lungs, calling for help, calling for attention so that someone might hear him in his desperate call for help.
The shake grew so strong that the floor is teared apart bit by bit, dust fell down from the ceilings and the wall cracked open, the green light emitting from the tile grew stronger, encompassing the room with it, a sound of something like electric passing into and out from something can be heard.
Azriel picked himself up and proceeded to the restroom door, outside he could hear people screaming in panic, obviously they feel the quake, he wonders if he is the culprit, he knew he should have left that green tile alone.
"Stupid Stupid Stupid...!" tears welled in his eyes as he cursed himself for his curiousity. he opened the door and attempted to go out.
Just then, the shaking become so intense that the ceiling crushed, a huge piece falling directly at him, he couldn't get out, and he screamed...
The ceiling crashed on him, shortening his breath and pushing his blood out from his veins with the impact, unmentionable pain shocked Azriel's brain as he felt it racing into his body. He screamed blindly, and he screamed and screamed, he could feel life seeping away from him as more and more pieces of bricks separately hit him in place not covered by the ceiling piece that fell on him.
His hands was buried in dust, the pain almost killing him as a brick fell onto his legs. The shaking is so strong now, the floor beneath him is crumbling. He let go of himself, and then he knew, he is dead. there is no point to struggle, there is no one to help him out, and he will be buried with the ruins of this building never knowing what happened.
He knew this is the end, and last, he closed his eyes and awaited the death that will greet him.
The green light, last he saw, engulfed him from outside, wrapping him, consuming him like a beast of light. The shaking he longer felt, his spine must be broken, the weight is far too strong, the pain is over, he knew now, he is dead.
****

In order to not disrupt the forum posts, I put them in spoilers, read them in there. Thanks.

[MissShizuka]

That's awesome, but shouldn't this be in the original stories thing?
One question though, what teh hell is a greenhorn?

[_Ink]

meaning a virgin in a sense.
Thanks for reading, I am happy finally someone did!

[Hollow]

very nice story :P

[prime91]

cool, I liked it, what did you shorten from the chapter? I would've liked to see more from the mall thing, so that you wouldn't bash into action right away, but I like it and now I will force you to post the second chapter *holds a shotgun against Devildude's head*
(no need to be scared though :D)

[_Ink]

Part 2 Chapter 1
Azriel awoke, his eyes opened slowly, confused and very very much in a pain.
first thing he felt was weird and confusion, where is he, he wonders....
The place he is in is dark, there is only light from here and there in between holes in the wall, the quake has stopped, there is no longer green lights around the room, he feels around and realized he is trapped under piles and piles of bricks and stones, the celing piece that crushed him now lay in pieces, possibly crushed by the impacts of the rest of the building faling down.
He thought he was dead, and he is sure he must have been...he couldn't understand but was thanking to whoever may be blessing him, that kept him alive. He tries to summon his hand to move, it appears that he can feel his body, looks like his spine was ok after all, slowly, he slided the hands over his body and pushed the bricks aside.
He felt energetic, funny considering all that he went through just now, it is impossible but he couldn't care less, all he wanted to do now is to find his friends and rescue himself out of this rubble.
With a breath, he pushed opened an opening in between the rubble. Careful not to get hurt by the shards. He felt stronger now than ever.
He rose, from the rubble and went out to the light source, he knew that must be an opening, he walked slowly, not sure of the darkness around him what it may carry.
The light greeted his eyes and he saw, that in front of him, stood the once great hall, the one that he was with his friends watching the movie just now, how long has it been since then, there are corpses everywhere, he knew they must have been there as well, the quake, did it kill them?
Quickly, he ran to that place, he is surprised by his agility now, he is so fine and so energetic, there is nothing wrong with him, he could feel that he is totally fine, But the scene around him is not a dream, he is seeing corpses after the quake.
Looking around frantically, he could see the face of Sharon, and Ryna was laying astride with her legs bent in a manner that no human body can achieve, Simon was lying above her, he was probably trying to protect her.
Quickly, he rushed to them, hoping that they are still alive although injured. He prayed aloud, "please! let them be alive, let them be alive..."
He felt like crying but the tears won't flow, he doesn't why as he lifted Simon slowly, careful to check if he is still alive.
he could see that Sharon was no longer breathing, the fire extinguisher that lay on her head, the blood flowing beneath, he knew that she is dead. He could not bear to see her face underneath the object that crushed her head.
Simon did not breath as he carried him, putting his hands onto his chest, to feel the heartbeat. This shocked him more than ever.
Not becaue of Simon, more so because he just realized that his skin has changed colors, he is now blue, the skin on him more scarred than ever, like a canvas of dead skin, rotting underneath the stink, but there is no odor he can smell.
He has only three fingers left, something happened to him, his fingers have merged and became three separate fingers, albeit larger and wider in size.
He felt so shocked that he almost let go of Simon, and he awoke once more from his shock and held close his transformed hand to Simon's chest, to feel that heartbeat.
It is not there, he could feel nothing, Simon is dead, there is no breath, no heartbeat. He is dead. He cursed himself for this, he cursed and cursed as he put him down slowly, adjusting his head a little, he could tell now that his head is twisted.
He slowly turned Ryna, careful not to hurt her.
"Ryna, Ryna....wake up, you are still alive right....please....."
More sadness flooded him, he wanted so bad to cry, he could hardly feel the tears, his eyes still dry, there is only the dust that floated in front of his eyes.
"Ryna....please, you must alive...."
he could see that she is breathing shallow. She is still here, alive, her legs look broken, but nothing is better than being not dead.
He prayed silently, slowly, as he touched the face, her face, wiping the dust away from her with his hands. "Wake...please wake..."
Ryna slowly did, and she opened her eyes, to greet the pain of her broken limbs, tearing at her as she cried, the tears flowed in streams to clean the dust around the cheeks, a little flowed in between the blue hands and fingers of Azriel.
She seemed ok, Azriel rejoiced and carried her up slowly, lying her against the wall piece that broke, careful not hurting her as she adjusted her vision.
She lifted her hands, wiped her eyes as the pain hurt her, but she still did it, Azriel was surprised as how strong she is, the pain would have made him cry out.
She finally opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the face of Azriel.
She screamed......and the empty ruins echoed her voice....
"Nooooo......Monster.....stay away from me....you freak!"
She couldn't move because of her pain and she was in panic. Azriel tried to calm her.
"Monster...? Calm down...calm down...it is me...Azriel!"
"Nooo.....please don;t hurt me....." tears welled in her eyes as she plead.
"No...i am not going to hurt you, I am Azriel, believe me...please...calm down..."
"......"
She stopped, finally taking in his words...
"Azriel....?"
"Yes....it is me....i am glad you are alive...!"
"No, this is not possible....you can't be him...."
"I know...i know i have changed, but here i am......"
Confusion stirred in her...she couldn't tell what is it, fear or otherwise.
"I am Azriel...believe in me...."
"you have changed...you look horrible, you are....blue...."
"I know...i am not sure why but i am alive...but i must take you out to an ambulance now!"
"Oh my God....you stink like a corpse......your chest....it si rotten....!"
he looked at himself and realized that he could no longer see his stomach, replaced by dried skin and blue rot, his chest bones are visible under the thin fibres that covered it, he was not sure but he knew that he has changed a lot, he isn't even sure why he is still alive....
"I know...i don't know why i changed....but i am alive...thank God...."
"Azriel....your eyes....i can't see your pupils....can you see me...?"
"Yes...very clearly....but i can't smell anything, my nose seems like its gone..."
"Azriel....are you feeling any pain....?"
"No....no pain at all, i feel great, even better that you are still alive...."
"Simon....! Sharon, where are they....?"
pondering awhile, he moved himself and pointed behind him, there lay the corpse of Simon, and the mangled body of Sharon, covered in blood and dust and debris.
She cried more, witnessing the sight, Azriel wanted to comfort her, and he placed his blue hands onto her. Carefully soothing he shoulders.
"Azriel....they are dead...."
"Yes...they are dead...i know..."
"no....no no no....not them....no...." sobs drowned her cries.
"Please...i cannot do anything, but i must send you to a doctor now, you need medical help..."
Controlling her sobs, she said," I know....no...they are dead....can we take them as well....?"
"you know i can't do that...."
"Please...take them with us....please...maybe the doctors can still save them..."
"LISTEN TO YOURSELF! THEY ARE DEAD! THE DOCTORS CAN"T HELP THEM ANYMORE!....please....listen to me....we can't help them..."
shocked by his voice, she was scared but was finally cleared....she controlled her sobs and nodded to him...signalling him to save her from this rubble.
He carried her slowly, and placed her lightly on his arms, just like a hero would carry his maiden. She felt light, much lighter than a baby, he never knew he was so strong.
They went to the exit that they could find, far ahead at the end of the hall, still opened as it crashed halfway.
"Don't worry....i will make sure you are saved...you will live and then i will come back when i could to bury them..."
"promise me....please...."
"I promise....i promise...." Azriel answered below his shallow breath. His voice changed as well, it now sounded distant, lile an echo of the mountains, he felt strange.
The night greeted them, there is noise everywhere, but people are gathering at the main entrance, eager to rescue the buried, police and firemen and ambulances rushed pass, unnoticing the figure that stood there, him and a girl in his arms.
He walked to the crowd, careful not to hurt her, she has fell asleep, probably too tired. He looked at her angelic face, he always had a feeling for her, he felt that he has done something good for once in his life.
The crowd is near, an ambulance noticed him and stopped the car, taking with them the stretcher. Azriel was surprised they didn't seem surprised by his looks, or maybe the night was too dark too see.
The men rushed at him and they screamed....
Azriel was right, they didn't know and he tried best as he could to calm them down...
"calm down...i am just saving this girl, she is hurt...."
A policeman rushed there and was shocked by him and aimed his gun at him
"Let go of the girl, Monster or i will open fire!"
"no you are mistaken, i am saving her....!"
"I said put her down! This is your last warning!"
Azriel knew he is at a dead end and slowly put down Ryna on the floor, careful not to make sudden movements and hurting her. He laid her down smoothly as he retreated slowly as well.
"there, i have let her go....please save her...her legs are broken..."
"Silence! you monster, you must be behind this freak quake are you!"
"no, no, no....it is not me....i was just...."
Azriel thought to himself, how could he explain it, that a green light changed him into some monster....?
Azriel realized that he could not explain, and the policeman was getting impatient, he said with his shallow voice," please save her....!"
"We will but you won't!"
"what....?"
"You are a suspect for this quake, and you are coming with us!"
the gun still aimed at him, Azriel couldn't respond.
"I was only trying to save her....."
"My ass you were, i am taking you in! You better stand still and don;t be funny, this gun is loaded and i can kill you...!"
Azriel realized obviously this man is frightened but he must not go with them, he must not go the prison, he is innocent.
By instinct, he turned suddenly and ran behind.
the policeman, realizing that he is running away, fired at him.
The bullet grazed him on the ribs, causing pain, and then the second shot came and hit him in the chest and went through him. the pain almost tearing him apart.
The funny thing is that he felt okay still, the pain is like the feeling of hot water scalding his skin, but it was no serious pain, just small shocks that tear at him, he is never used to pain anyway.
He maneuvered and with one heavy step, jumped up onto the wall and then to the opposite wall. Maneuvering again and he jumped up the roof of an abandoned building, He was instantly surprised by himself, he felt so light and powerful, that he almost felt glad this happened to him.
the policeman was shocked at this creature and continued to fire shots, Azriel simply turned and ran on the roof, away from him and continued running.
He could feel that his wounds are healing, very fast, somewhere within his imaginative nature, he could tell that he is no longer human. He said to himself," Must be meant to happen...."
*******
Chapter 1 part 2

[prime91]

yeah cool story, waiting for the next one. The Simon and Sharon-dieing part didn't really touch me because you didn't get too know them. But that's okay.

How many parts of chapter 1 are there ^_^? And I really want to see the story unfold! keep up the good work.

[_Ink]

CHAPTER 2: Family Affairs
He opened his eyes, the moonlight atop grazed his vision, like a silent sound of spring water flowing, he hears noises from everywhere, people having their talks, their private lives going on, none noticing that a monster is now standing on their roofs.
he has just awaken, the dream he had again messed around in his head. The dreams that of those he had adventures with being a roleplaying hero. some kinda hero who saves lives and what's not. he wished all the time that he would be blessed with such powers to get out of his mundane life.
He checked himself, slowly clearing himself up from the sleep, the day has passed without him, it was already night, how many hours has he slept since he escaped from the police and hid himself in the roof shelter here?
He was exposed to the cold, for he is almost barechested, but he feel no such feeling, his skin is still warm, to him, the cold is unfelt, there is no longer there the wounds inflicted the by the bullets shot at him yesterday night.
he looked at the place, the wound is perfectly sealed, only a small reminder of a blemish much like an acne wound remains.
he wonders how far is he from home as he stood up.
All of a sudden, something happened, he catches a sounds and a feeling of something dropping from his body. he wonders what it was as he leaned down to pick up the object.
To his shock, it is his lower jaw. He was shocked that there was no words coming from him as he dropped the piece and shrinked back a few steps, eyes not moving from the piece of his lower jaw as he put his hands to his incomplete face, touching the missing piece at his face. Thoughts have raged him, he couldn't understand why is this happening, there is nothing to explain what or why for him.
Azriel spoke to himself in a trembling voice, "this is not happening....what the hell....? i lost my jaw....?"
he realized at this point his voice is still there, even though his tongue is gone, along with the lower piece attached to it. He tried searching for his tongue, he could not find it.
there was nothing there, an empty space that now lays open to the air, as he crossed his hands onto the empty part, " and i always thought the tongue is made for talking, looks like the guys at the science fair may think differently now...."
he told himself that he does not have to worry now, he is different, he might as well expect the unexpected, or however way he can make it through the day. He is still confused, what is happening, what has happened, what turned him this way, he was still in a confusion, he doesn't know where to start searching, where to see what for an answer to his questions.
earlier, just as he laid himself to rest, he was thinking of going to the library, now he thinks clearly that is not an option, he will scare people with this look of his.
he doubts the library has any explanations for him anyway, is this a mutation, is it scientific or mutation, he could not tell, he wonders of he should have taken science class, maybe he could have learned a bit more.
he looked again at ahead, far atop the roof and down below the busy city streets he saw people, smaller than ants passing by, still unaware a monster among them. He dreaded at the thought that he calls himself a monster, should he....?
****
Ryna awoke, it has been some time, her father standing next to her in the hospital ward, holding her hands tightly but asleep, he must have been like that for the last few hours. She looked at the clock, it is 10pm at night, the night sky is pervalent, raindrops dripped the scaled window. She gently shakes her hands, careful not to shock her father out of his sleep, just wanting him to realize that she is awake.
Ryna's father is Daniel Linsell Jr., sharing the same name as his father once did, he is the second one in the family to carry that name. Strong shoulders coupled with big hands, he was born to the world of hardwork, their family was poor, and he had to work day and night to make it to this day, now they are quite well to do, but still far away from the easy life. Ryna always thanks him for that, for his hard work and contributions to the family and as a caring father.
He slowly opened his eyes, sensing the slight movements applied to his hands, first thing he did was smile, at his daughter as his tears flowed down from his eyes, obviously happiness in them, his daughter is alive, and he thanks god for that, he has never felt so relieved before in his life, that she will still be smiling back for him.
"Dad...don't cry, i am okay!"
"oh....you won't understand how worried i was....i heard about the quake, i was there in as soon as i can, i wanted to find you, then they called me that you are here, half an hour after i went searching in the rubble..."
"Dad....you went there....?"
"Yes....i saw...i saw....Simon and Sharon....I am sorry...."
"Dad....they are dead...aren't they, the doctors...did they try...?"
"No...they are dead for thirteen hours, it was already that time when i heard the news, i phoned them and they told me...."
"they only managed to dig them up after all that time?"
"Yes....unfortunately, the entrance crushed down afterwards..."
"I see...i am okay now...i really am..."
Sniffing up his tears, Daniel let loose of his hands and poised them on his ironed pants, gladly letting go, now that he is near.
"i am glad...so glad....i think Azriel, that silent boy is dead too....they still couldn't find him in the rubble, he may be buried..."
Just then, Ryna realized the events yesterday night...she was saved by Azriel, or at least what claims to be him, that monster without pupils in his eyes, blue rot covering his skin like dead corpse with the smell of one, foul but speaks just as Azriel does....
"they didn't find him...?"
"No...so far, there is no news, if you want, i can phone the authorities and ask..."
"Please....do so...i am feeling that he may still be alive...."
"They say a special person saved you, you have details?"
Ryna couldn't return the answer, she must not....Azriel...that was him, he saved her, she can't reveal this, a monster saved her...
"No...I....I was....already fainted...and then i am here..."
"...yes, i should thanks this person..."
"Dad...i am hungry....i want some food..."
"of course you are...."
Pulling aside his seat, he reached for the sandwick he brought along, hopefully she will be awake and she will be able to eat it. He gave her the sandwich, and Ryna ate with a thanking nod and happy smile. One that her father is always happy to see, more so now than ever. He thanked God again.
****
Azriel felt hungry...as he ponders over and over again how is he going to eat without his lower jaws as he pushed the piece into his pocket. What is surprising now is that he felt weak and slowly, he is feeling an urge, he doesn;t know what, but he knows is a type of hunger, and it;s not just for food, there is something else telling him he needs more than a big plate of something, it is something that he has never tasted before.
He panics a bit every now and then when his hunger strikes.
He realized as well that he now gains a set of extra sharp fangs, like those of a mythical creature. the vampire. He wonders is he meant to suck blood...
He grabbed a rag to cover his face, carefully like a bandanna, covering the empty space left behind and dragging it across his head, making sure he is safe from the prying eyes. He has gained some of his smelling senses, and he can tell that now, his body no longer smelled as bad as he was, he smells human, perhaps a blessing, so that he does not loathe himself that much.
He still looked at the ceilings around him as he witnessed the city below. Checking the distance between him and perhaps an end to his life. He wanted to die at first, but he has always feel the fear of dying and now he is very confused where to go, life or death from the loathed shape of his.
He saw a familiar street sign below and climbed down slowly from the side stairs, carefully not to lose his grip as he climbed down.
along the way, he grabbed a shirt hanging on the laundry line, careful not to alert the owner who is watching TV. he dressed his shirt on the sides of the railings, his newly gained three fingers fumbling a bit until he got used to it.
He went down, and walked the streets among the people, careful to put his hands into his pockets and concealing his face best that he could, he was lucky that this street is not very busy, he might have been noticed.
Moving as unsuspiciously as he could he headed for the sign he noticed earlier, he was sure that is the one that aims for his home, his parents must be worried sick, the least he could do now is to give a visit and see how things go.
****
He arrived to his house, the Norren Household, he has never missed this place as much. feeling fo relieved as he set foot into the yard, the lights of the window clearly lit, making him feel like he wants to go in, but he must not, at least not until he can make himself clear...
He stealthily hid himself among the bushes and trees, walking side to side, hiding and sliding to avoid detection, and tries to catch hold of the shifting shadows of the trees billowed by the wind.
He arrives at the window, peeking a little so that he can see.
There was nobody at the den, perhaps they are at the kitchen he thought to himself. He repeated what he did and shifted himself to the kitchen windows. Slowly sure of himself that he has gained a unique ability to be very silent as he no longer breaths, his steps are so much more stable now.
He peeked again into the window, carefully scanning the surrounding.
his parents are inside, his mother still with tears inside her eyes, sliding her eyes with her hands, and his father, carefully touching her shoulders, consoling her in a slow motion way. Speaking to her in very soothing matter.
He made up his mind as he saw this, he knew he must make an introduction and tell them that he is alright.
He carefully plans his step towards the backdoor, carefully not alerting them.
He stood at the door and knocked twice, as he always would with a matter only unique to the family.
"Who is it?" answered the father out of curiousity as he approached the door.
"DAD! DON"T OPEN THE DOOR!" Azriel shouted from behind the door.
"Azriel...is it you...?" her mother already in hysterics of happiness as she wipes away her tears, replacing a smile best as she could, she never could show people she is sad.
"Son, come in, the door is not locked, i want....we want to see you....thank God you are still alive...."
"No....I can't do that not now...I need an answer from the both of you first..."
"Alright...shoot..." his mother still in tears...
"I look different now......i want the both of you not to panic when you see me...don't call the police...don't panic...can you two promise that....?"
"......"
"can you?!" Azriel returned the question again.
"Yes!" answered his father.
"promise?"
"Yes of course....now come in my son....we were worried sick..."
"alright...please don't frighten..."
"we won't..." his father's unsure voice plagued a dose of fear into him.
Azriel hesistated as she touched the handle of the door, hesistating whether to go in, terribly confused at the arrangement of things he must tell them, things that he only know questions to, not answers. Slowly, he pushed the door open, from a peek, his parents are standing at the table side, his mother with still flowing tears of happiness or sadness standing now, looking at his direction. The door fully opened, Azriel was bare to his parents eyes.
First, a look of awe, and then a shudder from his mother, then a shift of footsteps and foot hold of his father, obviously shocked...
"You are not Azriel, who the hell are you!" Screamed the father in anger and confusion.
"No...Dad...It is me...i am your son, i am your flesh and blood....i told you i look different...."
"Not possible! My son looks nothing like you, what is that blueish skin of yours?!"
"Calm down....dad....remember this....?"
Azriel reached into his pockets, pulling out a string of gold chain, at the center is a locket, inside a picture of him and his parents, taken together with their faces a briming warm smile.
"this you gave me when i was 14, you told me to take it around with me at all times..."
"........where did you get that....?" his still suspicious father questioned.
"from you, 26 October, Velder Hills, Holiday resort By The Hills, taken at the strawberry park..."
Azriel was glad that he remembered all the details. He looked at his mom, now shuddering in fear but is calming down. he still haven't shown them his jaw...he knows that is going to cause more of such.
"Azriel, if you are really him, tell me, what is my middle name, that i never told anyone other than my lawfully wedded wife and rightful son, the name that carried my origin of the family!"
"Brian Adrian Sorenz Norren...named after your fatherland, the Sorenzo Heights! And my name is constructed by arranging the characters in your name with the L being a the only letter taken from my mother's maiden name Lyshia Adreaton!"
A moment of silence followed as they stared at each other, still hardly believeing their son, who stands now, at the door, with a piece of rag covering his face, his eyes white and empty, staring at them, perhaps with a mean and scary stare, but remains neutral.
"Azriel....Azriel.....it is really you...." his mother was the first to answer as she pushed herself away from the table, eager to give her son a hug.
Azriel opened his arms willingly, revealing his three fingers but his mother did not worry and jumped into his embrace.
"Mom....mom....i am alright....i am still alive....but something happened, i am no longer the old me...."
"I know....thank God you are alive...." tears of happiness flowed from her eyes.
"Mom....I missed you, i could only come here today....I am sorry i didn't call...."
"i know....I understand...."
His father still stood there, as he took a few steps forward, carefully observing Azriel's mutation.
he reached out and gave an equal hug, though uncertain, but very much in a familiar and family way. "My son, you are back..." an uncertain voice of his father.
"I am....I am....I am sorry...."
"don't be....I should be sorry....i was not sure....."
"I have changed...i know, please let me in this house, i will tell you everything you two needed to know and all that i know..."
"alright, you better go take a shower and get a change of clothes..."
"i will..."
Azriel let go his father, and mother letting go of him as he turned and walked away from them and up the stairs, eager to take a long awaited shower.
****
There was silence in the house as Azriel takes his bath instead of a shower, somehow, the shooting of the water sprays hurts his skin, like a coarse scale would.
the bath is far better, the cold waters running his skin smooth, he felt alive, but he seemed dead cause he is not breathing anymore. He never felt such sensations before.
He realized now he has two pieces of extra skin attached to his back, like a set of flaps, made of very coarse skin, but very light and flexible, he wondered if he could fly. His toes are gone as well, replaced by two pieces of flesh like toes, big and bulky but it enable him to move very stealthily, like an animal of the night.
His skin is blue, but it has stopped rotting, more like at a stage of decay and decadence, but stopped at that, he touches his missing jaw, and he could feel his upper jaw, again, he had never thought of feeling such sensations.
His genitalia lay there, like dead and limp, he was positive when he tested earlier, that he no longer finds the need to use it to excrete. He no longer is able to eat or drink as he feels no such urge to, but a feeling of hunger chases him around, it gets harder and harder for him to control himself as his thought shifted to the hunger every now and then.
He is sure he is now sterile, at least for this time being a monster, until he can find a cure, he will be that way. His muscles are well developed, though dead, visible and straight tendons and veins are visible underneath, refelecting a well toned body much unlike his old flabby self.
He ponders now on the question, what has turned him this way and how does he explain to his parents later. He washes and washes again his skin, carefully scrubbing the skin.
****
With a change of fresh clothing, he proceeded downwards to the stairs. Eager now to talk to his parents. His parents sat waiting at the kitchen table, he made sure his face is wrapped right to avoid the shock until the time is right.
"Dad...Mom....I am ready....lets start...."
"very well, my son" his dad spoke as he pulled out the chair.
"thanks"
"I don't know how to say, but by the time i woke up yesterday from the rubble, i am already this way."
Azriel proceeded to go through the details, carefully sure that he does not miss any to prevent confusion. Every now and then he stops to rethink what he is about to say out loud.
****
"So....you have become this way because of that green tile?"
"apparently so....there is no other way to explain it, last i know, the green light is the final thing that came in contact with me physically..."
His dad did all the questioning of the two, carefully not to miss out not one detail.
"you were turned this way because of it...."
Azriel could see that they are at a loss for words. They no longer know what to say, unsure that whether there are anything left for him to say.
" I may have changed but one thing for sure, i am still me. i will always be..."
"we know you are...."
"but i have one more thing to say, i believe this is something meant to happen, i have changed so dramatically, and i am sure this is no conincidence that it happened, i am sure there must be a reason, i just haven't found it..."
Azriel tried to sound mature about it, but in there, he knew he cannot define it.
A moment of silence again as they looked at each other, his father constantly staring at his white eyes, without the pupil, so unsure of where it's looking.
Azriel suddenly felt the hunger feeling again, this time it is so violent that it pounds on his head.
Azriel tried to fight it as he felt it always, wishing it to go away, he has got to figure how out what he must feast on, obviously he is a lot different now.
as he fought back the feeling, he felt something telling him words that he could hear only so faintly..."soul....s....."
Azriel is unsure of how to speak out of the feeling, and it is getting stronger instead of weaker, the feeling of hunger plagued him as he loses his grip. He held on to the table and pushed himself away from the chair and turned his head to fac the window. Looking at his faint reflection on the window showing him his ugly looks.
As he looks on and tries to fight back, he finds that he is losing the grip....
"Azriel, What is wrong.....what is happening....? Are you okay?"
His father clearly worrying as his mother repeated the same question onto him, but he is not able to answer, feeling as if he needed to puke as he leaned down to the sink. Holding and griping to tight to the wet counter that his hand prints can be seen carving into the metal.
He could not face up, something tells him that if he does, his parents may be dead for good. "Don't Look! Get away from me now....!"
"What is wrong, tell us, we will help....." His mother asked in worrisome matter.
"No....you can't stay here....move away from me now, go as far as you can.....something.....something........arrr(...) unable to continue his words as the hunger feeling and a whirl of sharp pain hurted his body. Azriel held still and continued looking down, careful to avoid the vision of his parents.
However, his parents did not respond to his please and continued pestering him.
"Tell us what is happening....we can help you...."
Just then, Azriel could no longer hold back, a sense of anger and pain pulled at him till he could no longer retain his humanity. He screamed and punched at the counter, scaring his parents to move away a few steps back.
His eyes are in pain and the body shot over with a terrible feeling of twisted pain.
there is nothing but pain and agony as he writhed.
He turned onto them.
Just as an animal would, he stared at them with a ferocity of unlike no other, an animal behind those white and empty eyes, scaring his parents.
"Azriel...please....what is wrong tell us....are you in pain...?'
he could not answer, he has lost his sense of speech...the hunger has taken over him...
In an instant, he pulled off the rag that covered his lost jaw. And thus, revealed the ugly part to his parents, who are visibly scared by the sudden revelation.
"Azriel! Your jaw.....it is.....it is gone.....!"
"YES!" was all Azriel could sound. No more words would come out as he lost his conciousness and control. The hunger controlled him, there was pain and agony and at the moment's notice, he aimed his jaw at the two of them, relentless of Azriel's fight to control, his body has moved and aimed at his loving parents.
For the first time, Azriel screamed again, this time in a feeling of not pain but of anger, so powerful and strong that it was shaking him, but there was no sound, nothing can be heard, it was only a scream inside him.
For the first time again, he saw fear in his father's eyes, so deep like the sea, a fear that dwelled the unknown, to fear them and to be afraid of what they could do. In that moment, the room they are in is filled with bright blue and eerie light.
It was coming from him, his throat produced the light, a strong twisted light that would have blinded people if looked at directly.
Azriel looked on without control as he still fights back, he knew something is wrong and something bad will happen if he does not stop himself.
The light absorbed something into him, Azriel could feel it.
At that moment, his parents screamed as if in such great pain, but it was instantly over, they were silent....and they lay limp, falling onto the floor beneath them.
like ragged dolls, they lay there. Azriel screamed in himself again and on the corner of his eyes, he saw two moving shapes.
To his amazement and surprise, it carries the faces of both his parents. They are seemingly at peace, there was nothing but peace on those faces. Azriel could not understand why but the voice that spoke to him in his head earlier "souls...." very much confirmed his fears.
those are his parents' souls. The floating apparitions just slowly flowed into the mouth of his uncontrollable body, sucked by the blue light that was emmited.
It was cruel as Azriel continued his futile struggle to control hid body.
****
He awoke, once again, fainted by the happening.
he immediately went to the two limp figures of his parents praying that the worst has not happen.
He shaked them, and then he realized, they no longer breath....they are dead....lifeless....their vessels empty, the soul has been consumed....by their son, whom they would have given anything to save, anything....and he betrayed them.
Regret so powerful and painful that Azriel felt it like a sword, impaled into him, twisting and turning in him, like a sharp blade carving away at his heart.
he has killed his parents.......
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO(...) loud scream so loud it would have awakened the entire neighbourhood. Azriel cried for the first time as he looked at the two of them in his arms, laying limp and dead, breathless, painless.
He cried and for the first time true tears flowed from his empty eyes, the sadness teared into him. There is just no words to describe his pain. He has committed a sin, one that he vowed never to commit, one that is the act of a demon.
He is a demon, he is not worthy of being their son, their son would not murder them, their son is human....he could not even console himself. He could only cry as silent sniffs now followed by the pain that still teared at him.
He cried and cried..."no....no.....no......nononono......not the two of you.....no.....no......please, God....spare them....please.....no....."
in his heart he knew, God cannot spare them, only he could, he has taken their ticket to His kingdom, he has taken their lives....
he cried on as the neighbourhood awoke, by the sound of his screams. He knows they are alerted, all he really wants to do now is to die. He wanted to let them go, he knows not how it might work, he just wanted to die and maybe their consumed souls can be released. He cried still....
"Nooooo.............NOOOOOOO!" Tears flowed like as it would, a stream of sadness and pain. His grip growing stronger as he held close the body, waiting for the his tears to stop, hoping they will come back alive and tell him it's all a joke. He waited for the police, or whatever, would come here and kill him.
****
End of Chapter 2: The Family Affair
People, this is the second chapter and it has ended. Tell me what you think ok!

[prime91]

Cool, I like it. Although maybe you should try to avoid the ..... it gets kinda annoying.

[_Ink]

Nope, I did not try to copy Trinity Blood, in fact, I never watched the show.
This is entirely original

as for the kitchen yes, I need more details...

[Daeruke]

devil.. he need some allies..n friends. n y did u copy from Trinity BLood ? but the story needs more details on the background area. u should try to describe the kitchen.

[_Ink]

No, I never copied nothing, it is all original, based on the backset of the game Legacy of kain.
most characters are new, the old ones are so far mentioned as "legends" and so on.

[_Ink]

After a long time, here is another chapter.

CHAPTER 3: A MYTH OF MY OWN

Azriel stood in silence.
below his feet is a grave, his parents grave.
he dug them with his bare hands, leaving scars across his arms, feet and his tired torso full of mud and grass.
he no longer sheds his tears, they are dry once more, the hollow eyes of his, seeing the engravement on the stone.
"Norren, and his beloved wife and Mother of an unfillial son,Lyndreaton" and below it a phrase "Lest we forget to remember the unknown truth of their deaths"

In this desolated range, where the souls of hundreds floated around, Azriel closed his eyes, praying to an unfair God, one he would have trusted him his life, but he has failed. he has decended into the oblivion, the oblivion of truth, and there is no saviour who will come to save him.

He is the evil that plagued himself. He is the murderer of his own parents. There is no more to be said.

He has nothing now, no more that he can lose, his best friend is dead, he killed his parents, he other friends would most definitely treat him as a monster.

He opened his eyes to the silence of the trees that surrounded him, he looked here and there, at the trees, recalling what happen since last night.

****
Last Night,

Azriel was standing at the kitchen, now barely lit, he has switched off the lights as he could not continue to bear the sight of the lifeless bodies of his parents that lay on the floor, unmoving...

His ears heard the neighbours standing out their house, discussing at the small unlit house, now silent in extreme contrast to the earlier scream that would have driven the dead mad and awake from their eternal sleep.

He could only so much as hope that someone will come to save them, but he knows, they are dead, no technology, whatever will save his two parents, for their soul is taken.

He wished there was a manual of usage, for this body, like all equipments come with a booklet, at least he would look for the part where he must consume souls. At least, he could have prevented this. His tears are dried after half an hour of crying as he sobbed in silence for he no longer breaths, even his tears don't seem to be wet, but just droplets of his liquid from his half dead body.

He wiped his eyes again, he feels that he is calm now, but this is no faithful calm, it is the calmness experienced by a murderer, one who takes lives and swallow them whole.

He knew now what he must do, though he wished so much to die, he knew it was a selfish way out, he must live.

In his heart he knew, he must live to see the day, he must do one more thing, search for the answers to his mystery. But first, he must find a proper burial place for his parents.

He stood up and headed to the curtains, he knew his mother must have replaced them, she said so some three days ago, just before he went out with Simon. He teared at the cloth, making a hankerchief sized cut.

Kneeling down again beside the lifeless bodies, he used the cloth to cover their faces, and with the towels he picked from the cabinet afterwards, he sealed their faces away from his eyes, and away from the world's eyes.

"Mom, Dad....I am sorry, but this is the least I can do...." Azriel whispered to himself, and the bodies.

With his strong arms, he lifted both of them and carried them over his shoulders, he could not think of a better way, but he knew, he is stronger than when he was human, he could do this easily.

He slowly opened the door, careful not to make any more noise, he sneaked out with the bodies in hand. Careful to make sure they are held tight, he jumped onto the roof silently with his newly gained powers of stealth. He ran, and ran as fast as he could, getting onto the dark alleyways of the city, careful not to leave a trace of his movements for all to see, but he knew, he can be seen, the homeless of the alleyways are looking his way, but he is careful and continued going without a care. He must not make them suspicious.

He ran for three hours, longer than any human being could, he still could hardly feel tired, though his legs are slightly used, he knows if he wants to, there is no stopping him, a part of his abilities he is cartainly proud of, but the price of it, he loathes.

He thought to himself silently as he lay down his parents on the ground, on a wide field before him, clearly empty, nothing but grass and stones formed naturally lay before him. He knows not where this place is, he has simply ran, but he knew he is far away from the city now.

He chose a rock, and with his undead fingers, dug at the surface, carving the words that he wished to be used on his parents' grave.
He must be sure that they are marked here, so that they will eternally know that they are remembered and him in return will know that he must never lose his way for they pay the price for him, he must repay them with his every bit of strength that he can have.

****
The grave is 6 feet deep, deep enough to cover his body whole, Azriel has spent the last 2 hours digging it, making sure he is in it to the full before his stops, how he wished he is the one dead.

He layered them with the soil he has dugged up. He gives a silent prayer, clasping his hands as he would in church, and prayed for his parents' deliverance to His Kingdom. But he knew, they can't, he has taken them.

He picked up his shirt, where he hanged by the trees, and looked back at the silent grave, before he turned his back, with a vow he made before the grave, that he will find his true path and return to who he was, or at least, trade himself for his parents' eternal rest.

He feels the breath of fresh winds without the smell of polution washed his dead skin, he is eager for another bath now, but he knew, he must not return to that house that he called home.

*****

The clock ticked loudly, driving Daniel awake from his dreadful sleep, still holding close to his daughter's hands as he moved his head to look at the sterile rooms of the hospital. He must not awake her, but he wanted to take a walk around, before his legs give in to the numbness for sitting so long.

He silently let go of his daughter's hand, still asleep now, after she took her meal, he knew there is something that might be plaguing her, but he shrugged that off as being post incidental fear. He knew at least for now, she is safe within his care, he hopes this will last.

He walked out to the garden at the front of his daughter's room, open-air place where he looked at the stars above him. Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep puff, and exhaled with the smoke twirling around in front of him. He wondered where did the nice boy that he knew went to, that Norren boy that he thought would have been better than that Simon, who is a disrespectful kid, he wished Ryna would have gone out with this one instead.

"First thing in the morning, i must call to check....i hope the kiddo is still alive..."

****

Silence was his only partner as Azriel walked into the night, there was only the sound of wind billowing. He is calm now, but confused at where should he start to look for answers.

He walked back into the city, approaching in the back direction, careful not to make any attention. His blue skin is carefully concealed under the night and his scarf, which he picked up somewhere before he knew it, probably from the house, but he could not remember when.

There were sounds everywhere now, people talking and chatting, none aware that yet again, a monster walks amongst them.

he continued silently, concealing his hands in his pockets.

There in front of him, as he walked into an alleyway, trying to avoid the main road is a man, or at least shaped like one, dressed in a raincoat, covered as well as the night itself.

"must be a homeless, if only i got some change...." cursing himself for not able to help as he passed the man, weirdly still standing behind him unmoving.
Azriel wondered what he was doing as he continued ingnoring him, threading into the dark alleyways further.

"You are the Reaver?" the voice came from Azriel's back.

Surprised, Azriel turned his head to the man, who still did not turn behind to face him, a meekly "what....?" escaped the empty jaws of Azriel behind the closed scarf.

"Are you the one who carries the mark of the Reaver. The soul of the sword?"
sounded the man in commanding order and voice.

"Are you talking to me, old man?" asked Azriel, confused and beginning to wonder who is this man who speaks of a Reaver....?

"Then you know, that the time has arrived again, as phropezised." said the old man still standing there.

"What are you talking about old man....?"
"You...obviously, the walking corpse...."
Azriel knew this old man may be the answer to his questions, he felt it...
"then you know me...what i am now...why?"
"Simple, you are reincarnated....or should i say you were the chosen vessel."
"what? what are you saying...?"
"follow me....we shall talk where no eyes shall pierce our conversations..."

And thus, faster than Azriel could see, the old man moved swiftly to his back in the blink of an eye, now already a 100 meters in front of him, Azriel was thinking to himself, this is no ordinary man.

He promptly followed, trying to keep up and keep his head cool, questions are poring into his mind like a stream of question marks, who is he, or rather why does he know...?

****

They arrived 15 minutes later on the top of a building, though this old man has climbed 50 floors of stairs, he is visibly not tired, not to mention how fast he was. Azriel was having problems even with his newly gained speed of which he discovered as he ran up the stairs, silent and faster than he thought.

"Now, tell me, who are you, who sent you and why has all this happen?" Asked Azriel demandingly while trying to look around for any suspicious figure, he felt that there may be people up here.

"Easy now, young one, allow me to take my cloak off."

Slowly, he took away his raincoat, uncovering his eyes, bloodshot with white pupils from underneath, he is indeed no human being as his skin is white, whiter than the purest porcelain, smooth and untouched by the years. Azriel thought he was an old man because of the deep voice.

"Greetings....I am Devos Fevnor, last chosen survivor of the "Order of Nosgoth", I am 1785 years older than you...."
"You are not human...." replied Azriel, unsure of what to say.
"Obviously, any human would have died climbing that many stairs...., now, i have come to show you the reason, and a choice of paths, which inevitably leads to same outcome, but you can change that, it is a matter of choice."
"......" looking at him with his white eyes, he took off his scarf that covered the lost jaw.

"You are the reaver. One of many kind of vampires...the soul eating kind that has a unique way of creation, you are born with the essence."
"go on....."
"your life is piece of lie, made to believe that you are human, simply because the wheel and hands that decide the fate of the reaver have not been decided."
"My life is a lie...?" Azriel felt some anger at this point, knowing that he has murdered his true parents, which this Devos undoubtedy knows.
"Of course i do....your parents are consumed by your "first hunger" I am sure you must few the second one coming now..."

True to his words, Azriel felt the same thing, that feeling is back...and he dreads that he may kill more people.

"You are foolish...you should have never went back to that house, where the only two possible sources of "food" is your parents...you should stayed away and perhaps you may have something less to regret with...but i guess its good, gives you a one way ticket to see what you are in reality..."

"What the hell is all this, why....? You have not answered my question!" Asked Azriel in an impatient tone, clearly raising his voice now as he harbored hostile thoughts.

"thinking of killing me won't help very much...don't you agree, i am far stronger than you, and you will be nothing but a bug because you are only a newborn..."

"want to try....?" Azriel challenged him without an ounce of fear as he realized too late that this person can read his thoughts.

"that was late....i thought you knew i could read your mind...all the more reason why you must not fight me..."

"I itch to get the answers out of you before i lose my patience....!"

"then do so....come on, kill me if you can..." Devos' face of confidence did not change, so sure of himself. He lifted his hands at Azriel, waiting for him to come.

Azriel did not hesistate and lunged at him, keeping in mind his former studies in karate and hoping to give this fellow a nice beat-up. He has never felt as violent as this before.

Azriel with inhuman speed raised his right leg to swipe at him before Devos could move, or rather not move...

With two fingers, he caught hold of Azriel's toes, and with a breath of silence, twisted and flung him with mighty force into a wall, breaking Azriel into the wall, a big hole remained in that wall as Azriel, bewildered by that move, looked at Devos from his defeated position.

"How the hell....?"

"I told you it was futile...I am perhaps the oldest vampire since the dawn of the New Nosgoth, when Kain decided to stay in eternal sleep for he has raised this world to his standards. That is after he defeated the Hylden and conquered his destiny..."

"Kain?....Hylden? What is this nonsense...?"

"Kain is the father of this world, the pillars at the Nosgoth Mall, they are the very original artifacts from 2000 years or more ago, they are the artifacts left down from the dawn of vampirism."

"Father...? He created the earth?"

"No....he built his kingdom here, a kingdom where vampires ruled surpreme and humans slaves to the world which when he retired, he left to rot, he is sure he is no longer interested."

"And...what part do i play in this grandiose story?"

" You are a reaver as i have said. Your kind, exists only to serve one purpose, as a weapon, a soul for a weapon that you will come to see. I will show you the weapon when its time."

"me as a weapon....?" Azriel asked as he confuses himself.

"Your kind is not bloodsuckers, your kind directly consumes the soul of all beings, demons, vampires, humans, little wasted ethereal beasts around you when you are dead...you can physically absorb their souls to nourish yours, hence, your body is dead, the only thing moving it is the engine within, which is your rotten soul..."

"Continue...."

"Your kind comes every 2 millenia as decided and cursed with to establish a balance to the pillars of Nosgoth, you must unite the spirits within them and channel your power and continue the balance of time and the unity within this world..."

"This world....? You mean earth's time is not balanced...?"

"According to human science, yes, but not to the astral date set by our first vampiric ancestors, the winger ones who are now long dead and extinct."

"Then what is it that i do...can i choose not to?"

"Listen slowly and you will know...I am a messenger, i came to deliver this message to you, the one i speak now. Your fate as a reaver is to embrace the said weapon, and merge with it, you must then as the weapon, sacrifice your soul to the pillars, where your being will no longer exists and then becoming a piece of the balance..."

taking a breath and continued, Devos eyes stared into the eyes of Azriel.

"The balance i talked about is simple: this world goes by everyday in this realm of existence, and as you already know, there is many alternate realms with two being the most important, the world as we know it now, and the one from which all life originates..."The Spectral World" from which your soul comes from...."

"Alright....so what of them....?"

"There is a balance, a clock that must be set to coordinate all life as an aspect of continuity. Your existence is to forge that clock. There will be many "people" who will stop you, and they will inevidently try all ways to prevent the clock from being reset."

"why must i do it?"

"This clock is the central of time, and space, imagine if you will what happens when you break an egg, the yolk and the white will flow out am i correct?"

"yeah...."

"Now, the clock is that time, in order to coordinate how many lives are here in this realm and the other, there must be a system, every two millenia or so, the system needs new "batteries" to function, and so the wheel of fate will not dispense too many unused souls onto this world and cause an unbalance which could flux space and time, and also the world will suffer earthquakes, freak weather from this and over a period of a week if left that way, will inevidently wipe out humankind as we know it."

"That sounds far fetch...."

"What isn't...? You think i was believing in Vampirism when i was born? I was a poor peasant who was chosen because i had the minds of a scientist...or philosopher in my time..."

"Continue....what is it that i must do....?"

"As i have said, when the blade is shown to you, you must merge with it, as the phropecy have said so, then you will become the key to reset the clock, of which Kain, the legendary one will use to defeat the ultimate force that goes against this system. And then, you will receive the a new life after this has been done..."

"So all i had to do is too make some kind of merge with a blade....?"

"Not that simple, in order to meet the blade you must go deep, you must go and search out the rune that is lost to your kind, thanks to relentless exposure human kind have, we now have an issue that we must hide ourselves from humans...which was never the case before."

"I thought Vampires always do that...."

"No...eons ago, we were the superior species and humans are only our slaves worthy of being pawns...nothing more than stray dogs acting all smart."

"Alright....I guess now i have to ask...how do i get this hunger out of me...i don't want to kill anymore..."

"You can't....it is your nature, as with why humans must sleep and vampires must suck blood, although i no longer needed too...i have grown out of sucking blood, nowadays i only drink blood from ready available packets from my hospital..."

"You own a hospital?"

"Of course...how else did you think they found the vaccine for Polio? I was doing the work....! I credited someone else so that i may receive the privacy to keep away from people knowing what vampires really are."

"Why...?" Azriel only wanted to ask about himself, but slowly, he develops an interest for this person...

"If humans, in the worst case, die out of pathetic diseases like this, it will be a headache for the vampires, we have our own underground society, i am sure you will know that it is not the first time you heard of people abducted and never found...."

"I see...now, back to my hunger...if i can't get rid of it, what can i do...?"

"look around you, what do you see...?"

"people and buildings...."

"look closer, like when you opened your mouth the last time, now open your cloth and seal..."

Azriel did so without thinking twice, eager to see what happens if he could just drive away this hunger.
Instantly, his eyes could see again, the spectral beings that floated in the air, plainly with human features. All seemed in peace, making no move, wandering in confusion and a harmony of their own.

Azriel asked in confusion," What are these....?"

"Souls....lost beings of humankind, those who have forgotten the path to the wheel of fate, and left to wander for all eternity until you come to become the being of which to restore balance...."

"So that makes me....?" A soul jumped into Azriel's mouth as he absorbed, he knew at least these are lost souls now, he would take them just as he picks up coins on the streets.

"A vacuum cleaner of sorts....plainly said, your work is simple, harvest as many souls as you can, eat them and consume them, turn them into nothingness and when the time arrives, you will reset the clock and all those who are still in loss will be guided back to the wheel, where the eternal spin shall begin again, and thus, a new beginning for all."

A point hearing this, Azriel felt a sudden jolt of fear, he asked," So....i will never be able to release my parents again...?"

"Unfortunately, i do not have that answer...i can only tell you that you have taken forcibly from them, that would make you the destroyer of their souls, perhaps when the time comes, they will meet you again in the next life...but you probably will not remember it..."

"No....I have taken them away...."

"No, you simply do what you must...now, finish up and i will show you how to turn spectral for your kind."

****

Azriel pondered alone now as he stared down the busy streets with his new found friend, the old man sounding vampire, who looks no older than 23 years of age, impossibly white hair covered his head with blood red eyes and whiter than white pupils and fair skin.

"something plaguing your mind, Reaver?"

"call me Az...most of my friends call me that..."

"well then "Az", i suppose you have resisted my goodwill to help you for a reason....?"

"Yes....i will find out what i am by myself, this spectral thing seems a whole lot more painful than i thought...."

"funny thoughts....you should embrace the pain...it is the only thing that proves you are not dead yet..."

"What do i do now...i have no place to stay....i want to do something else...i no longer feel the urge to sleep as well..." Azriel rubbed his eyes.

"You shouldn't need to worry, humans spend one half of their lives sleeping, now you should embrace life to the fullest..."

"easy for you to say, at least you retained human form and i such a form of montrosity..." Azriel looked at his blue hands as he said this.

"you are only lonely now...one day...you will understand that only eternal loneliness in the key to happiness, but i guess you won't that long would you...i am guessing that you want to finish this as soon as possible...?"

"Yes...where can i see this sword, how, when, i wish you will tell me now..."

"No, not yet....too soon, you must first fight and defeat those who oppose you, they will come, and you must learn to accept first who you are, cause this merge is no easy task...Your ancestor, Raziel never gave up on himself, his identity as a Seraphan Knight, and he became both friend, foe with Kain and in the end, together as one merged with the sword, they slayed the tyrant lord of the Wheel of Fate. At least, legends say it took Kain 5 centuries to do that."

"wonder why all this history is deleted...?"

"simple, you think humans would even believe they are once owned by a society of vampires?"

"No....i guess not....but i guess i will never know the truth will i...?"

"Slowly but surely it will be revealed to you in detail..."

They stood there, letting the strong winds blow at them, looking below at those "pawns" that they so much owned them. The humans, who make the society, those who have power and those who don't.

Azriel felt that he must do this, perhaps not from this imposed obligation, but a drive to do something with all this power he has, he asked Devos:

"Why aren't you reading my mind any longer?"

"There is no need to, spoils the fun of having a conversation don't you agree?"

"I must do this....this merging and the reset...but i wonder, why me...?"

"Az...i want you to stop pondering over this and follow me, we will go to my mansion on my private helicopter..."

"Your mansion?" Azriel is surprised by his sudden gesture of friendliness.

Devos lifted his phone earlier, perhaps he already did the arrangements.
the helicopter already stealthily arrived in front of them as Azriel was caught of guard. Devos invited him up the craft before he stepped in and sealed the door shut as they ride high into the night.

****
The flight was euphoric, Azriel felt like a kid with candy and he pondered over what he should do, while the amused Devos laughed to himself at the new Reaver, who in the heart is nothing more than a kid, much less to say the fierce being he once worshipped when he was young, the first Reaver, Raziel, who by fate perhaps, shares the same name as the new one, just a matter of words arranged differently.

They landed smoothly in an outlying mansion, the garden huge beyond words, beyond anything an ego maniac millionaire would have had, there was enough space for an entire international football field and more.

On the circle where they landed, more vampires, certainly younger than Devos, came out to greet him, perhaps he owns them, Azriel wondered as he followed closely, careful not to make any sudden moves.

"Don't worry, these are my disciples, some of them my servants, they would not hurt you, and they can't, they must serve you until you are ready to fulfill the prophecy..." Devos answered as he felt the anxiety in Azriel's mind.

The walkway was well lit, with the blast caused by the helicopter dying down, Azriel followed closely and being led into the mansion, a 18th century English building, with statues that graced the top of the pillars, each with the similiar designs he saw at the mall, he knew there must be something here.

"Yes, they are fabricated to match my agenda here, they are the same ones in design, but carries no power of such, but i have invested into them the power to manipulate the elements if there is ever a need to use them."

"manipulate elements?" asked Azriel.

"the sword has many powers, each with a different power, once you have opened your sword from your hands, you will realize that it can change the powers within. Good for you, those elements have been collected and gathered here, all you have to do is accept them when you are ready..."

"so....." unable to understand what Devos said, Azriel declined to question further, but is very sure that he wanted to know, but for now, all he wants is a quiet and peace.

****
Inside, there is a grand hall, bigger than an arena with tall ceilings carved with wonderful sculpting technique, all around them, murals of great winged beings conquered other beings in some sort of battle, perhaps the vampires Devos mentioned earlier.

Azriel mind is focused on the platinum layered staircase that lay infront of him, with other servants, all vampires who stay close to Devos lay their knees down, each one kneeling by the sides that lead to the grand staircase as Devos walked uncaring for his servants, each one bowing their heads to the floor.

Azriel could feel the pressure of the respect shown, perhaps he is the oldest vampire here, undoubtedly the most respected.

"Yes...I am indeed, since the silencing of Kain, i was to become his successor, he passed me the Soul Reaver and i was to be the keeper." Reading his mind once again, Devos answered swiftly and proudly.

Azriel could only hope he does not do that all the time, he is still not used to it yet. Azriel still walked behind him, climbing the grand stairs and entered into a room on the top.

"Welcome to my mansion's most grand guestroom, the Rihalla Suite, i made this using nothing but the best materials available to humans..."

Azriel was surprised again, there is nothing but truth to what he says, the floor is thick most polished marble made from the finest of stones, on the counters are thick redwood made surfaces, pictures of great work of art lay hanged by the walls, nothing that he could describe because of his lack of exposure to the world of the rich.

Azriel looked in awe and Devos tapped his shoulders, making him aware there is another presence in the room as the vampiric servant retreated out to the hallways.

"This is James, my most trusted butler, you should know that he is human."
devos gestured to the man, in his 50's or so as he stepped up, bowing before Azriel, signalling his position.

"Human? How does he stay alive in here...?"

"My servants cannot touch him, or else i will kill them personally, and he is protected by the talisman of Vorador, the ring of one of the oldest and first blood vampires who lived many eons before at the time of Kain."

James lifted his ring, carved in gold, with carvings of words of unknown language on the sides, Azriel could feel the ring has powers vested in it, there is a sense of protection for this man.

"Yes, very true, with this ring, no vampire, not even you will find an easy way to kill him or touch him in anyway, he is my most trusted butler and as of today, he will serve your needs here in this mansion."

"I see....erm....thanks i think...." Azriel is still in awe that he will stay in this place.

"Sir Azriel Norren, Lord Reaver which shall i adress you, My lord?" asked James in a more than formal matter.

"just call me....Az....that is more than enough..." Azriel was again unable to answer.

"My lord, you know i can't do that, i am to serve you, please allow me to adress you as the Lord Reaver at least." replied again the humble butler.

"Alright, whatever...."

Devos looked at Azriel and spoke to him as he handed him a piece of paper, on top a number, " Azriel, meet me here in the morning, James will show you where..."

"Morning...i thought vampires only awake at night...?"

"Again, foolish human perceptions and comical misconceptions. Tomorrow at 10 am. I will be waiting."

Devos left the room, closing the door is his servant who bowed to Azriel before he did so.

Azriel walked to the balcony, looking below at the grand gardens as James said to him, "Lord Reaver, the bath is ready, if you wish to have anything else, please do not hesistate to summon me, telepathically, or otherwise with this device." he handed Azriel a remote control like thing.

Azriel simply nodded as James turned around and entered a small room by the side of the grand room he is in. He simply looked back down again at the beautiful gardens, relaxing his mind.

He thought to himself, perhaps he can have something good out of this as well, he felt relieved as he went to the bathroom, eager to wash his dirt from the fight and the digging earlier.

****____________________

[_Ink]

hmm.... no one seems interested to read...



CHAPTER 4: PAST AND BEGINNING

The alley is dark, there is nobody there, he could sense them, but there are sounds, and they are not from his head, it is surrounding him one by one.

It is only noise, but inside each sentence, a pause, a word and then another pause. it is saying something, something that he finds dread in hearing. Azriel was beginning to feel the panic, he wanted to ask why, and what.

"Killer...murderer...parents...." he could only make out these...but he knew more than enough what the message wants him to hear...every word is filled with pain and agony.

he wanted to run, as far away as he could, he knew it is wrong, but only if it wasn't. The walls closed in, he is alone, he screamed to the emptiness as the noises gathered, becoming in a form of white noise. The sound clamoring in his head, a writhing pain and agony spread through his body, as if wounds are being broken open after they are sealed by merciless hands.

"No....." his small and faint voice could only be heard as a whisper...the walls close in and sealed him, marking his fate...


****

Azriel awoke in fear. His pure white eyes stared at the beautiful English cupboard of his dresser at the front of his suite. He no longer sweats, but how he wishes he can, the fear still plaguing from his nightmare. He could feel a sense of disorganization in him. He calmed himself as he stood up from the bed, a luxurious bed made of the finest cotton, so fine that the moment one lays his head down, there is a chance that one will die in sleep, too comfortable.

He walked in a wobbly way to the washroom, as he laid his blue hands to the counter, looking at his deformed face in the mirror. A corpse looking at himself, who would have looked like that given a chance in a lifetime.

the dream is almost carved into his head, the fear is real cause he knew it was real. there is only pain and agony. The first night on a proper bed, and he couldn't even sleep, he cursed at himself.

Washing his face with warm water, he felt cooled down, there was a moment of silence and peace, he felt a sense of calm now as the silence around him calmed down his fear, making him feel comforted by the sights of the warm lights.

"Lord Reaver is everything alright?" asked James as he walked in, startled Azriel as he asked.

"Oh...you startled me there...yeah, I am alright....just a nightmare..."

"Your parents...?" asked in firmness as he handed him a towel made of white wool and cotton, engraved on top D in capital old English text for the master's name.

"Yeah...how did you know...?" Azriel wiped his face with the towel, no longer hiding his lost jaw.

"The master has spoken to all of us, regarding your recent grievance...as for being a Soul Reaver, most vampires will know of this legend except the young ones who are made carelessly accepting the dark fate...."

"Devos said you have been serving him very long, why doesn't he make you his vampire servant...?"

"The master sees no need to, and he loves me too much to curse me with eternity...as least he has not yet done that, but i would have wished to serve his side for all times, one can hardly find a master and a close friend."

"Friends...huh....sounds like such a word is long missing from me...i killed them..."

"No...My lord, you did not, they die as the consequence of the quake, and you have no responsibility in that..."

"Who touched the green tile then? it was me!" the angered Azriel raised his tone.

"No...it is meant to happen, there fate is the only thing you can't change, you have been chosen, and some will die, some will live, the girl never died didn't she...?" untouched by the voice.

"She....you mean Ryna?" asked as he cooled himself down.

"yes...the girl is alive, sources have confirmed that, her father is taking care of her now, clearly she knew about you, but the smart child has not yet revealed you, should she do, there will be a mess, and vampires will hunt you down if not humans beginning their own stupid quests to find this mysterious being..."

"do you think she will speak of me...? And did you think those humans would even bother with this farce?"

"No...But no doubt one such as the Tyrenor Society will unveil you..."

"Who are they?"

"a renegade gang of humans who have massive hold over certain myths and legends, they are the main supporter behind the move to eliminate vampires, and they are said to be descendants of the Seraphan which lose their original cause, but they see no fear in vampires, already many young ones have fallen because of them..."

"I see...why would they do that....?"

"As i said, my lord, they are renegades, not taking sides, not judging, and will be extreme in making choices to kill vampires unhesitant of their kind; they will bring an end to all of us with their weapons. Plus...consider how well they have mastered the art of killing vampires; I suggest you look out for yourself as well."

"I will...." said Azriel as he handed over the towel.

"Do you need to eat my lord?"

"And if I do, I would have swallowed you...won't i...?"

"No, by now, the master has prepared some transport for you that works twenty four seven, we ca take you to the nearest graveyard, where all lost souls usually gather...."

"No...Not now...i should go back and read a book perhaps..."

"Then at least let me take you to the library, you will find the most important things there in the ancient texts, they will answer your origin, i will show you to the scroll left by the first Reaver..."

Feeling interested, Azriel nodded his head in agreement as he could not sleep anyway. He followed James to the library. For the first time, he noticed how this human being can be so well loved by his master, perhaps the most responsible person and mature one he has ever met.


The library is full of books, mostly ancient, some are relatively new, but most of them texts of describing vampirism, some fiction, some are more realistic in depth investigation and researches. Azriel was amazed to find that there is such a collection of books into this field.

James showed him the ancient scroll as he headed to a room, separated from the rest of the large library the size of the opera house made for hundreds of people, only difference is it is seated by books, of various depths. The room they went into is something like a small study, a shack as compared to elegant layout of the library in fashion, with only a reading desk and cupboard full of scrolls, ancient as Azriel looked at how much of a poor shape they are.

"some of these texts can be dated up to a few hundred years, from the time before the deletion of the history of the vampires. My lord, this is the one you must read..."

Azriel picked out from where he pointed at a scroll, colored with maroon, a kind of wooden skin, carefully crafted to maintain the shape and well stored as well to prevent the damage of time. The text, as he unveiled the cover to see, is written in white ink, a rare type of ink made from the purified amber of trees, colored by the most crafted men in arts, much like the canvas paint of white used nowadays, but much different in texture. Azriel could tell how much there is a difference, this writing ink is no technology or innovation from its time, but the texts and writing is, the ink is created by a specialist of its time, perhaps some other vampire, obviously smart and well versed in the art of science. The title on top scribbled with care says, ..."The Misery of Eternity"which sounds like a song to Azriel, as he looked at it.

"My lord, please sit there, there is more light there, and I shall depart you and allow your reading, I shall remind you when its time to meet the master." Said James as he left the room, carefully closing the door and bowing before he left.

Azriel sat down and looked at the scroll he now holds, carefully examining its texture, still amazed by it, he was surprised by how well its kept, considering this must have been a few hundred years old. He read it, the first part as he silenced himself, letting the atmosphere of the small study encompass him into a moment of peace and serenity, to be surrounded by the books of ancient times, carefully eating up every word written by his ancestor, the first Reaver.

****

I am Raziel, the knight of the Seraphan, order that is the only stand between the vampires and humans, who have long been oppressed by the vampires, living as shadows of slavery under the defiling beasts, eternal in life perhaps, yet a disease that spreads through time and ages past, a foul species that is unpure, disgusting and relies on the species of the living, those that thrive in the light.

By the time I have completed this writing, I am already dead as the knight once known as the light of the scorned darkness, the god among humans that fear the darkness, I have been defiled by the beast, Kain, the once nobleman of a rich family, one of those who embraced the path of darkness, and the one to bring chaos into the world, yet is the fulcrum of balance.

I have long seem to lose my path perhaps, but by this time, as a Reaver, I write in order to record my legacy, an eternal length of no order will never destroy this text, and may the one who shall keep this piece be thanked for his or her kindness, for keeping me and my existence alive once more through every time in history and the future to come.

The Reaver, is an accursed being, I am the only, the one among perhaps my kind, the rarest of vampires, cursed from death and only by selected blood. I was touched by the curse of Kain, the deadly being who defiled my grave because of his fancy for me. His fearless and regardless behavior has taken my peace of eternal slumber, and raped me of my mind, into becoming another part of the pillars.

In the years of 216-217, there was a great war, which razed the land, where there rose the strongest of the Seraphan ever to come, long after our lord, the legendary Seraphan lord, some say to be human, but I know through my journeys that he is not as well, have died or should I say sent to another dimension through the use of demon magic used by Janos Audron, the last of the most powerful and true blood vampires, and the master of my most defiled enemy, Vorador, the first blood vampire known as the father of the defiled species. I know not to make the person who may read this scroll be annoyed by my words, but if you kindness may perceive, I am only explaining my role on this world, and those that caused me my life, as a Seraphan knight.

The times were dark, war raged as the first among many revolts that is the largest ever recorded once again led the defeating of the vampire forces, carefully slaughtering every last and vile creature made to harm the light. There powers no longer were a fear for us, as our powers finally matched theirs, blessed by light and protection, using the magic against them, and finally we pushed them into suppression.

Indeed, they are strong, many have died, many more sacrificed valiantly, among them my friends of the Seraphan Knighthood, a hood of knights of twelve riders of the elite, blessed with wings of faith, more skilled, influenced by the magic of protection, we are invincible to vampires, in our leadership and reign, we drove Nosgoth to the direction of the light, in my time alone, 300 or more vampires have died and disappeared, mostly the powerful ones, those that passed the test of time, and endured eternity under darkness, in our wars, we drove them to hell from where they come from.

I wished to thank my comrades here for giving me hope, and enduring my pride and letting me join the knighthood, and for making the change of the path to a powerful one, one that will be recorded here. May your souls be rested, in eternal silence, even though I must slain you once again for your ugly transformations, Turel, my closest friend, I regret now as I mentioned your name, that I must yet once again carry your corpse to the grave from which you should have rightfully stayed, to be defiled by vampires once more. You could have been like me, I guess we did not share the same fate, instead you were transformed into an ugly beast, something like me only in essence, but though you have been, I have slain you once and again, just like that time when you were trying to protect me in the last war, your body is pierced with the sword, and with your soul be released.

Your transformation to Turel, the damned has since bee revered, but I have ended your eternal pain and agony. May your soul rest forever.

Now, let me continue, I was dead on year 217, day of eternal light, when the vampires finally subdued our forces, with a major die out of our forces as the Seraphan Knighthood, one by one slain by the massing army of darkness, still stronger in their form even though we have the power of the light, but they of course, did not win, the war was stopped, but we have won over with great force, only the Seraphan has lost their guides, the Knights have all died including me and my eleven other comrades.

The Seraphan order was still strong, and they endured the pain of losing and gathered more and more power, soon, we have won, and the powers of the vampire army lost the war, and paid the price of approaching extinction. Only the father, Vorador, Kain the Noble, certain smaller figures, some of the few scattered forces remain, the Seraphan did not let loose these few and soon, we drove them into a corner, begging for death. I would have pitied them, but I did not, and thus, I was laid to rest when my heart was pierced in my arrogance against these vile beasts, and thus I have finally died on that day, it was never recorded in the date, but I was given a grave, the Seraphan Circle of Pride, and I laid there, with my corpse standing, facing the rest of my Knighthood comrades, died and praised for their deeds. I was in eternal sleep but never noticing the danger that appeared and what fate has in store for me.

On that fateful day, months passed perhaps I have died, Kain, the vile one among them all, gave the Knighthood a visit, and defiled all with his blood, carefully slaying all in the castle along with his partner, Vorador making the slay and making all the Seraphan die out in the castle that held our corpses.

He injected his blood, carefully with his unique ability he chopped off his fingers and pushed into the corpses, each he pulled out from our sarcophagus made of pure stone.

He carried me away, injecting me with a new life, and by the time I was awake and revealed to my new life, I was angered and almost killed him, but he subdued me and pastored me, allowing me to finally gain a new life, and he named me a Reaver, why he chose me, I know not, but it was after when I realized the terror of time to come, when the most unexpected things to come, that of Janos, the last of the true blood has come back, and thus breaking a balance of all things arranged in fate.

What role he plays I know not as well, but he was the only vampire who only was later revealed to me as the fulcrum of the Soul Reaver, a sword bestowed upon Kain, and only he is able to use it. Of which eons ago, he killed the Seraphan lord, and sent him back to his place. Kain slain him with pride and thus earned the ownership of Nosgoth, before the war eventually drove the vampires to extinction.

I have only learned that I was the soul of the sword, which is the key to restore the balance of life. What was true is this, though the Seraphan was made to destroy vampires, of which I valiantly joined, has another agenda, that is to kill all vampires and instate their ruling, one of the most vile which is just as bad.

According to Janos, ages and ages before, when his god-like vampires species walked the earth, those with wings just as he and those who are not afraid of the light and the sun, there was a species that was equal in power, and they are bent on destroying the vampires in the fight to destroy the power that held Nosgoth.

The species, known as the Hylden, a magnificent other worldly species that have just as much powers soon erased the true bloods, leaving only the last Janos Audron, the last and oldest vampire alive and well. The Hylden are merciless, and with a strike, they have won over many vampires, even those who are of the pure and powerful. I have only met them in controlled amounts in my time, manisfesting as little demons with powerful souls.

But undoubtedly, they are powerful, these Hylden beasts are perhaps almost just as strong, I dread to know how strong they must have been in the war that Kain fought against. This I must respect him for bringing the end to this species once more in the second war eons after they have been sealed.

Now, I proceed to the sealed part. In the midst of war, a powerful magic power was built, with more than enough power to seal the entire species to another place. I know not the details, but it was Janos, and the few of the last of the more powerful true bloods made a pact of their lives and sealed them to the ends of another dimension. Most probably like the ethereal realm from which I cam from, a place where the wheel of fate and time cannot touch, and forever is only a term, where forever has no meaning because time does not happen in that world.

But before that, the Hylden has cursed the vampires to fear the light and sterile. They have cursed them to never be able to have any children and forever wander in the darkness. This is perhaps the most angering curse, and thus, perhaps what drove Janos and the others to use the last straw to eliminate them.

Very long after, The Seraphan rose to power, unbeknownst to the vampires, it was them who came back, bend on taking revenge. They used the first chance and made the Seraphan powerful, the tool is of course the widely abundant and rebellious humans, who were pawns and they offered them a way out, which is giving them the power to fight vampires. And very soon, the Seraphan, destroyed the first rulership, bringing an incredible war.

Since the vampires of this age was made, they are night creatures, and had a potential weakness, soon after, they are defeated.

This is the time that Kain came into play, a nobleman, and a sword master, was given the curse some time before the Seraphan rose, and he made a name as the rebel, the vampire who slays vampires for his own rule. In his leadership, he gathered a force of powerful vampires and again, another war.

In this war, he was defeated for the first time, and being the only one to carry the Soul Reaver, he fought the Seraphan Lord hand to hand, and was defeated. This defeat is of course no mistake, he was a leader that I knew him to be, he did all was right, but his reputation only made it worse for him as many envy what he does and betrayed him. The army he took was an army of such people. Mostly were fools, who followed him blindly, but his closest comrades and advisors arranged for him to be killed and defeated by the Seraphan lord.

This defeat landed him in eternal silence for a while, after 200 years he awoke once more and finally landed his rule, with the Seraphan lord defeated this time, he made me.

This is my story from here on, the Knighthood was born long after 50 years have passed and in the war, after I have died, he came and gave me the gift, which changed me into this.

The Reaver he named me, and he used me as his closest foe and friend, he loved me, like a friend, and through all the hardships, he came to let me understand the hands of fate and the cruelty of it. I was appalled, knowing that vampires are supposed to be vile and sadistic beasts bent on destroying human kind. I never knew that there was one as him.

Soon, I followed him, and became his most treasured soldier. I willingly sacrificed my powers to help him. I was soon driven with a desire to worship him. For once in my new life, I feel that I also wanted to serve him forever.

This lasted a good many years, until my powers grew immensely, he betrayed me for the fear that I will take over his crown. Of which, I defended myself, but was no match, and thus, he stabbed me, and he sent me to the Ethereal world, where I first knew of my existence as I served a new lord. The tyrant lord of the Wheel of Fate.

The ethereal world is not visible to the eye, but I came to realize I have a bigger purpose. I was supposed to restore balance, which was told to me by a prophet who is a servant of this master that I served. Of course, in order to do so, Kain's sword, the Soul Reaver must be injected with my soul, once the power of all elements are gathered, it will become complete, and I was not the first to come, but there was no such need for my existence before until the time and age.

Long before, it was the true blood vampires who handled this task, what has happened since there was no more of them; I was chosen and made with the task in hand. I came then to realize, that the tyrant lord wanted me not to do the task. He wishes to hold the wheel of fate and feed upon the endless souls until the end of time. And from there, build his own empire.

I was not the least bit wanting to serve him, but I had limited abilities.

Soon, in my journeys I have met Kain again, this time to have him defeated, I gathered many powers along the way, and I was finally able to kill him, making sure he was dead. I tear out his heart, and keeping it with me as his death embraced me with a sense of satisfaction.

I was glad that perhaps I did then, but then I realized that I could not escape the fate as everything has already planned for me. Kain did not die, he was a true blood for one reason, Janos used his heart to create him, which was a time difference, I first so thought.

What was later revealed to me was that before Janos ever lay to sleep, he gave his most precious thing to his child, Vorador and ask him to make Kain into a vampire. Then, Kain was not even born yet, the confused Vorador only followed his instructions and hid his lord's lifeless vampire body in a place he chosen as his home deep inside the forests near to the pillars of Nosgoth.

When the nobleman Kain became a vampire, he was replaced with a heart, one that meant he is a different being with different powers, hence why only he could give the dark fate of vampirism to a corpse which is me.

It was then, when I realized my fate, I once again began my journey, and searched for an alternative path, through many times, I have failed, and again, and yet again, I failed. The time then came, when at last after I realized I could not defeat what Fate repeated plans for me, I went back to the ethereal world, and told the tyrant master once more that one day I will defeat him. And then, I came back here, into the real world, and wrote this.

I know that this scroll is nothing more than my lamentations, of all the things, nothing but a poor story written by a thing that was no more vampire nor man, just a story. Perhaps when the time comes, one may realize that what a pathetic person I am as I now again, lay down this scroll here, and I shall begin my journey once more.

Then again, perhaps whoever may read this when I am finally dead, or perhaps somewhere else in the ethereal world, treat this as no more than a story, written poorly by a man who has spent his life fighting for all the wrong things, trusting all the wrong sides, and loved all the wrong people.

A man who is mad, no more logical than a wanderer, who writes fictions of himself as an alter ego, or perhaps just a poor read, something to past time, or perhaps a lovely chapter of a story that has never ended nor began.

Raziel.

It was already morning by the time Azriel has finished reading the scroll, 5 hours must have passed, with him reading by every word, and finally summarizing the scroll, carefully not missing a detail.

This Raziel is no poet obviously, Azriel thought to himself, he is almost an idiot perhaps, leaving out all the details when what he wished to transcribe is his life, instead, he explains the history of the times, perhaps he is not such a great person after all, assuming he is not a person of words, he has written poorly in laymen terms as well.

Azriel lifted himself from his seat, knowing it must be time to meet Devos, he lay the scroll on the table, wondering still how much he could have known that such things are meant to happen. He wondered how little has he uncovered, beside the fact that somehow, he was dead and infected with true vampire blood in order to rise from his death, he knows he has skipped that, how did he became this he wonders still.

He opened the door, and out he went out the corridor, James already awaiting him outside, ready to take him to the place said by Devos.

****

The room is brightly lit by sunlight, almost blinding, cutleries lay across the table, made of the finest metal, carved with insignias and full of value it seemed, reflecting the light with its metal surfaces, making the room full of shining reflections from them. Devos was at the far end, his side of the table empty, obviously not eating, the master chair he sat was elegantly decorated with stones of sapphire, beautiful without a doubt, with enough value to perhaps make his family look poor as Azriel admired the beauty of the craftsmanship put unto a chair.

Devos welcomed him with a gesture asking him to sit in front of him; Azriel was beginning to wonder if he should be up to standard as least by wearing something more presentable than a plain buttoned shirt to hide his disgraceful body and a pair of long pants. Devos did not mind as he poured water into the glass, carefully cleaning the tip with a napkin on the table after he did so. He must have felt honored having me as his guest; normally this is something for the workers to do. But, Azriel cannot drink; at least he does not do so anymore.

"Have you had a good sleep? I suppose the dreams have already started...the dream of your parents..."

"How did you know...?" asked the bewildered Azriel, who knows that he could read minds.

"I sense disturbance in you as you walked into the room, it is a disturbance I have not found yesterday, you are troubled, I can tell..."

"Yes....it has begun, I dreamt that I was being shut away in an alley, and my screams were not heard no matter how hard, the sounds of people whispering I have killed my parents drove me to the brink of insanity..."

"Pity you...but don't fear...it is only temporary, once your mind is occupied with more important things, I am sure you will begin to understand. I assume that James has already shown you the scroll by Raziel? I sense as well that you were up early and had some fun in my library of ancient books....?

"As again, you are right, at least now I found out that he was no more poet than anyone great, in fact, aside from the fact that we both share the same outlook, I am sure I even write better than him..."

'You must understand, he is born to a world of poor, where he was only human, educated to respect and worship vampires when in heart, they are taught to hate them, you must admire his courage though, one daring to defend themselves is not something usual nor easy...."

"So it seems. I suppose he did do a lot to get through all this, compare to my relatively easy life as another college student, no more than another ordinary man born to society."

"You, are different, you are born to a lucky world, vampires no longer exist, the Hylden are left as little demons that cannot even harm vampires on a major level, Kain is no longer ruling Nosgoth, humans own the world and live in the fake history the created....what more could you have wanted?"

"Nothing, aside from perhaps, normality...? Though, I have always wished for something extra, like maybe become some hero, or whatever, but I sure as hell didn't wish to become a beast of this form....? answered Azriel as he studied the works invested onto the silver platter that lay in front of him.

"Like my place? It is built by the human hands, much represented by my wealth, I just had to spend it somewhere, so I invested in this place, though I do not eat, you will never know when a guest might decide to drop in."

"As if you have any...?"

"Oh yes, you will be surprised how many reporters and TV show hosts would come along and investigate this place, how vast it is, I must have had them here for several times, some of them even know the owner, which I put James as the one, is a very rich man."

"You put your butler as the owner? Why?"

"Simple isn't it, just imagine if they found out one of the top richest tycoon is a non-human, what would happen...? Anyway,onto more important things, I call you here for one thing, are you ready to accept the explanation I am about to provide?"

"I suppose I am, what more can I expect from the unexpected?"

"you ask the question...and you can expect this, that very soon, your life will take a turn for you to train very hard with your newly gained speed and stamina, you will be expected to perform that sacrifice I have told you, and like what Raziel has done, you are expected to do the same."

"I have read something called the Seraphan....will they hinder what I do?"

"Out of the topic but yes, they are now the Tyrennor Society, owned by perhaps the last few Seraphan people, I have my reason to believe they are behind the times, but last I heard, they have grown quite well as a business organization, but they channel a major lot into the paranormal investigation area, which I am more than sure you know where it goes....also, I suspect a Hylden is running the show..."

"What? I thought that Janos guy has sealed them into some kind of wormhole....or whatever modern science call it..."

"True....but it doesn't mean they have die out, right before Raziel has last encountered his ultimate fight against the possessed Janos Audron, he called him the Vessel...nobody ever knew why....but I myself have uncovered some facts, it is them, they have used the heartless true blood vampire, and spreaded slowly into many places. They are still struggling to comeback, but once you have restored the balance, they will be casted out....?"

"Explains why they have grown so big.....I suppose I am the enemy they must hunt and kill?"

"Quite precisely yes, you will encounter them, and they will stop you, also the reason why you must train now, at least to a point where you can match me in equal....?"

"Isn't this Janos unbeatable then, is he still alive?"

"No...last I heard, he is dead....truly extinct now, making Kain the only true blood vampire left. Our species has been left in the dark nowadays, we are so oppressed in a sense, but I guess every empire must fall someday, though true we have fallen numerous times before, but one day, even the strongest must fall completely..."

"I suppose I must find this Kain and merge with his sword?"

"No....I have explained very wrongly last night, what you must do now is to go to the sword, Kain is asleep....you must do the job on your own....?"

"What? Wake him up then!"

"Lord Kain would maim us all....and he would install his empire with rage and fury and vengeance once he is awaken....we cannot risk the balance of the world....at least not now...."

"You are all so afraid of this vampire....? How strong can he be....?"

"Very strong mind you....he has defeated me easily....with just a stroke of his blade, he can slay a hundred man, vampires will be hindered by his authority, there are the old ones who worship him and will bear the costs to support him in awakening for a new empire....counting by his stubbornness as well, your former species would die off into slavery in a few given years once he had conquered the strongest countries...."

"That powerful seemed far fetch....but I guess it means something as well..."

"I suppose you have already read about the Wheel of Fate...?"

"Yes....something about a tyrant lord as well and how he is the master of Raziel...?"

"Old news....that was many eons ago, Raziel and Kain together as the blade and wielder defeated him...and thus, why we have this peace for a good 2000 years...."

"It said of the year 217, a war happened....how it could be so long ago....?"asked the confused Azriel as he looked at his host.

"It is simple....the times recorded in the scroll was the dark era. A time when the Seraphan was at its height, they recorded the days of the moon that passed the earth, stars as their guide, they chartered the years that passed with that with 217 recorded passes of the same stars, a therefore, not recorded once the new world has came to be..."

"One other thing....why are you not afraid of the light...?"

"I am a Cevianthor, a league of vampires that are made with magic....I was born in the most timed conditions, monitored by the most advent scientists of the vampire race and magicians together, cast a spell onto the birth circle upon the 11 month of my birth and given an injection of some liquid that protects my skin against sunlight, hence, you see, I am whiter than most of my servants, the spell was a powerful one that limits the toughness of the spell laid by the Hylden. I am still easily defeated if I am exposed to the sun for long hours...."

"I see....are there more like you...?"

"Yes...5 more....those who held the last keys of the pillars and pieces of Janos's heart of darkness, once feared by the Seraphan...'

"Let me guess...I am to go and get them and return here...."

"No...they will be delivered here once the time is done, once the time is right, you will fight for it however, to prove your worthiness..."

"Now that you mentioned, it appears that all your servants are gone...sleeping I assume...."

"Yes....that is why it is the best time of the day...later I will show you the training room, there I will show you how to battle...and in turn, how to battle in the modern era...."

"I have more questions....am I to fight the Tyrennor Society as well...? I mean, yeah I should but who are they...?where can I find them...?"

"Don't worry....they will come when they know...for now, this mansion is protected, they won't dare to come without too much preparation, lest they wished to die meaninglessly and face against the real me....who is bounded by magic as well...to prevent the ultimate power from using it too often and killing meaninglessly....''

At this point, Azriel has uncovered the fact that his host is no fool, he is well prepared for him, perhaps that is why he is chosen by the Kain that is so feared upon, he must be someone of a whole different level compared to the others, plus he seemed so old, maybe that enhances his abilities.

"Are you perhaps the strongest among all vampires now...?"

"Yes...in a sense....aside from the 5 Cevianthors, who all have different abilities and transformations at the most heightened levels..."

"Then...one more question....you mentioned a sword on my hand....where....?"

"Call its name.....you will see....Soul Reaver....call out Reaver...or think of it as your hand, think of how you want a weapon now...and you will see..."

James backed away several meters, as Azriel stood from his seat and aimed at the wall, carefully not to be pointing the hands at anyone. He did what he was told, and then slowly but faintly, he feels a force of energy surrounding his arms.

The energy is visible by the eyes, it can be seen, like a seep of light that travels through the skin and above it, snaking down his arms like energy, like an aura of sorts. This energy condensed slowly at the tip of his hands, shaping into a sharp end, slowly but surely becoming longer, he held that thought and invested his attention, and soon the sword was full, the energy bursting from it across th