“Father....why are we here?” Turel asked, using the whisper from where he crouched, looking in the direction to where Kain stood, out in the open at the edge of a roof top. His silver, white hair brushed about his face in the gentle wind, standing statuesque.

Kain looked to each place where one of his childer hid, five places total, two in one particular spot. “I lead all of you here for a reason,” Kain whispered back. “This is going to be your first unguided hunt in more difficult territory. You will work together and lean to function as a group. I want no more arguing from any of you. You will hunt, you will feed yourselves and return home. All of you, or I do not want to see any of you at all.”

“F-father?” came Rahab’s unsure voice. The fourth born was meek at times, but he definitely jumped to complete orders given.

“I mean what I say, child,” Kain responded. “Now, all of you, this alley is safe. That I made sure of so you may have a place to plan and organize from. Now go. I expect you all home before sunrise.”

They all turned to him, to where he stood their expressions varied. Some were shocked, others confused. They watched as he turned, crouching and jumping to a higher rooftop and away, off to hunt on his own in a different area. Raziel looked around at each of his brothers, waving them over.

“What do we do?” Melchiah asked, not having strayed too far from Turel.

“We do as he commanded. We hunt,” Raziel replied. “But first we need a plan. We can’t just run about and make fools of ourselves.”

“We need to catch several humans. The allies in the outer areas of the cities are good places to hunt,” Turel said.

“Yes, but he lead us here to learn to hunt better than before. Those allies were good and easy because nothing there had will. They were too weak to rest us even in out weakest days. He raised us a year ago and it is time we moved on to more difficult prey.”

“So says you,” Zephon added, his arms folded over his chest. “You’re his pet, not us.”

“He is our sire,” Melchiah said from next to Turel. “If it wasn’t for him, there wouldn’t be us.”

“He wouldn’t want us weak and dependent all of our lives,” Turel added.

“You speak to defend the weakling, brother. Our father had to nurse him for weeks before he could stand,” Zephon said.

“I recall you being not much better yourself and unlike him, you hid yourself for those same weeks,” Raziel said, anger creeping into his voice. “We haven’t all night to stand her and argue. It may be just dusk, but it may take us most of the night to achieve this.”

“Where do you suggest we start?” Dumah asked. Heavily built, lacking in sense but always thirsty for more, Turel and Raziel had to stop him before from rushing into a group of humans and getting himself killed.

“I am keeping you with me,” Raziel said. “I’d like to be able to go home thank you. We should split up and contact one another when we find a group of humans that look like we can separate them from the rest and feed.”

Turel spoke up, “I will take Melchiah with me.”

Zephon turned and just short of glared at Rahab. “I guess I am stuck with you.”

Rahab raised an eyebrow, keeping his cool expression. “I like to think of that the other way around.”

“Stop bickering,” Raziel said sternly. “Now let’s get searching.”

Each of the three groups went in a direction to hunt.....

“Hey...this place is open...” Dumah paused, looking at the lights behind the shutters of one particular place. “What is this place called?”

Raziel looked up at the sign over the door. “It says ‘Boar’s Head Tavern.’”

“What’s a Tavern?”

“I‘m not certain. From the sounds of it, it could be trouble. They sound very...rowdy..”

“Sounds like my kind of people...”

“All right. We can go in, but don’t attack anything before we access the place first,” Raziel said. “Wait ummm...”

“Wait what?” Dumah asked.

“Our ears...and we don’t look living either...we can’t go in because we don’t blend in...”

Dumah walked over and peered in a crack. “They don’t seem to be too aware...”

“Let me see...” Raziel pushed his way in. and looked. “You’re right...they seem...besotted...”

“Yes...perhaps enough so we will be safe...”

Raziel looked up at his massive, but younger brother. “I hope your right. For once we’re even in the lack of knowledge.” Bravely, the both of them cautiously strode in, to be welcomed by a few heavily inebriated humans.

“So...have you heard anything yet?”

“Not a thing,” Turel said, watching Melchiah kick around a rock with his foot. “I guess we went in a bad direction.”

Melchiah shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve only been out a few times.”

“I know. Things will get better for you. You only have up to go.”

“And I struggle every step of the way...I feel like I’m climbing the mountains I read about that are north while the rest of you just speed along...”

“I’ve watched you struggle. I know it hurts you.” Turel said, watching Melchiah as he looked at the claws that had finally grown in but a week ago. Claws amongst other things that had caused him a great deal of pain.

“Why...?”

“What?”

“Why...why did father wake me to this...?”

“He didn’t end it on you because I’m guessing while we’re swiftly growing up on our own, he will always have to to care for. Perhaps he wants one of us to stay around while. I’m sure we’re all not going to live in the swamp forever.”

“I don’t want that...”

Turel shrugged. “I hear something...”

“What is it?”

Turel frowned, trying to zone in on the sound. “Sounds like....our brothers running...” He looked in a direction. Soon, Dumah and Raziel came running like bats out of hell, screeching to a halt.

“You have to run now!” Raziel said quickly, panting. “Their after us...It’s all his fault” He snarled, turning to Dumah.

“You agreed with me!”

“Bah! Come on, we can argue this over later...come on now!”

“What is after you?” Turel asked.

“Humans! A mob of them! They mean to kill us!” Raziel said. “This idiot gave away what we were!”

Dumah growled and took a step closer as Turel’s head twisted to the side, suddenly alarmed. “Their coming. We have to get going now...”

“Let’s go...” Raziel started off, running again.

“I can’t run that fast...” Melchiah said.

Raziel paused mid stride, turning back. “Then I will carry you. Come on.”

Melchiah strode over to Raziel, the elder vampire carefully picking him up, carrying him piggy back and starting off running again along with the other two. Turel twisted his head again, eyes going wide. “Their gaining on us...”

“Damnit!” Raziel cursed. “If we had a chance to feed we wouldn’t be slowing down now...”

“I think tonight we’re going to have to go without...” Dumah said as he ran.

Raziel screamed out suddenly in pain. His knees buckled under him and he fell to the ground. Melchiah quickly slid away and tried to help him up. “You’re bleeding...”

“Unnn...hurts....” Raziel said weakly, unsure what hit him. He pushed himself up, looking at Melchiah. “Run brother...run...leave me...”

“I won’t and father said...”

Dumah and turel came running back, Dumah quickly grabbing Melchiah and running back, not pausing over Raziel like Turel was. “Raziel...?” the tone of his voice sounded hurt. “Raziel get up please...”

“I can’t...my legs have given out...I can’t get up...”

Turel looked up, seeing humans turn the corner. “No! Please!”

Raziel reached up and grasped Turel’s wrist, the hand that hovered close to his head. “Go brother...leave me and save yourself...if they capture me maybe they’ll leave the rest of you alone...”

“Raziel...I can’t” Hurt shown in his golden eyes.

“GO! Please...say goodbye for me....” He collapsed back to the ground heavily.

Turel, tore himself away, running as fast as he could, just as the humans were upon the eldest. He kept running more tears forming. His first friend and brother was left behind him...He ran straight past his brothers whom were hiding in the alley they had left from, and tripped over some derbis. Turel went flying into a wall and slumped to the ground.

“Turel? Are you all right?” Rahab asked, walking over to him, a concerned expression on his face.

“Where is Raziel?” Melchiah asked, jumping up and quickly going over to Turel. he backed off a little, seeing Turel’s shoulders shake the way were. “Turel?”

“Take your time,” Rahab said, moving closer and setting a hand on his shoulder. “Tell us if you can.”

“R-raziel....he stayed...to distract them from us....they got him...” Turel said slowly, leaning towards the fourth born.

Rahab looked up and at the other three, all of them shocked at the news. “Father said...or don’t return at all....”

Zephon folded his arms. “He dotes on him and Melchiah both. The rest of us stand more of a chance without him.”

”That is no way to speak!” Dumah growled. “If Turel speaks true, he sacrificed for us. You should be grateful.”

“Oh shut up you windbag! If it wasn’t for your big mouth we’d be eating by now. not cowering in some dark alley fearing our father and less one sibling!” Zephon said, pointing a clawed finger at the much larger Dumah.

Dumah growled and took a step closer to Zephon. “Say it again and we shall return with two less brothers, you dishonorable little-”

“Stop!” Melchiah interjected. “I don’t care what father said. We at least have to return home long enough to tell him what happened. He deserves that much. If we have to rest in the swamp until we find another home, fine, but at least he deserves as much.”

“He is right,” Dumah said. “So it was indeed my fault. Kain does deserve to know.”

Rahab looked down at Turel, his hand stroking his shoulder. “Let’s go...” he turned to his elder brother. “Do you need help?”

“I can...manage....” Turel said, his voice quiet, pushing himself up.
 

Kain had been pacing about in front of the front entrance of Vorador’s swamp mansion. Vorador stood in the doorway, leaning on the jam, watching him. The ancient vampire shook his head. “You’re making me tired pacing like that.”

“I’m worried. Their returning, but something is wrong...I can’t count all of them...” Kain paused in his pacing, looking off, down the eerie, torch lit, path that lead to the huge house.

“Tiring yourself isn’t going to make it any better. If there is something wrong, then sit down and rest a bit. They’ll need you when they return,” Vorador said calmly. Truthfully, on the inside he was laughing his pants off. The mighty Kain, now pacing and acting like an every worried parent, waiting as his childer returned home from being out. From tyrant to normal parent. Oh the wonders children had done for Kain...

They came into view. Vorador could hear then far down the path and spent time trying to count them, frowning as he could only pick up five of them. Of course, too amused with Kain he could be mistaken as well with the distracting way Kain bounded about, trying to catch view of them then ran down the path. The ancient vampire frowned again, seeing Kain pause halfway to them. He watched as the second one, Turel ran to Kain and fell at his knees, soon hugging his legs.

His ears perked, trying to listen to what they were saying....

“How could this have happened?” Kain demanded, far from pleased. Inside, he was breaking up over the possibility that it would be too late for his dear eldest.

“It was Dumah’s fault,” Zephon said, again folding his arms and glaring at the third born.

“Sire, we didn’t know. Both myself and Raziel didn’t know. We went into a tavern thing that was open. They gave us drinks and the humans started it as well. We didn’t know what they were giving us and drank any ways. Our minds muddied from whatever it was and...” Dumah hung his head in shame. “I gave away what we were. Hunters were there as well and overheard. Next thing we knew, they stirred a mob and chased us though the streets.”

Kain hissed. “You are now forbidden to go in such places. All of you. No more taverns or pubs for any of you. I won’t have this happening again.”

“We’ll go now,” Rahab said, turning. “I’ve seen a tomb just beyond the swamp where we can stay. We came back only to let you know.”

“We owed you that much at least,” Melchiah said, bending to lift a little at Turel’s shoulder.

From far behind Vorador shouted, “No, you boys come inside.”

Kain turned and growled at the older vampire. “And what will they have learned from this? That it’s all right to throw one of their siblings to the humans? We are the predators, not the prey.”

“If anything, they’ve learned that they still have a lot of learning to do and that humans should never be taken lightly. Tossing them to the world won’t accomplish anything. If you throw them out, then fine, I will take them in and toss you out instead,” Vorador said as he walked closer.

“You can’t do that...”

“I can and I will. If you want to be so cold, then fine, so I can be. You can either let them stay, go see if you can retrieve Raziel and stay yourself, or you can toss them out and loose everything. Waste the last year you spent taking care of them,” Vorador said, folding his arms and glaring at Kain sternly.

For a few minutes, they stood at a stand off. Both senior vampires staring at one another, neither backing down. “You’re wasting time,” Vorador finally said.

Kain sighed, his shoulders slumping some. “I hate you...” he murmured, then said, “Fine. Take them inside. I will go and see if I can save him.”

Turel looked up at Kain, his eyes glistening, shaking now from joy. He re-newed his grip on Kain’s legs, nearly off balencing him. “Thank you father!”

Kain’s eyes went wide as he nearly fell down onto the soft ground, limbs flailing to keep his balance. “I won’t be able to go anywhere if you don’t let go...”

“Sorry..” Turel retreated, still looking up at him.

“Enough with the mush,” Kain said, then pointed to the mansion. “Get inside, all of you. I shall return before long.”

The remaining five nodded enthusiastically, then ran towards the building, past Vorador, whom was chuckling. As they reached the front steps and filed inside, Vorador walked over to him, one arm stretching out and an object appearing in his hand. “Take this with you,” he said, holding a vial of some strange greenish fluid. “It will help keep him alive enough so you can bring him back here.”

Kain took it, looking at it. “What is it?”

“You have no time to question. Get going now while there’s still hope.”

The bleach pale vampire nodded, pocketing the vial and started off on a dead run, desperation making him drive faster and faster towards the village to the east. Vorador watched for a minute. I hope, for your sake Kain, that he is all right, he thought as he turned and started back to his home. Along the path, he stumbled, having to quickly grasp a lantern post and brace himself there while his other clawed at his chest a little. Panting, he drew himself upright and shook it off. Another attack, he thought, their getting worse...

He looked back again at where Kain had run. “I also hope for your sake whatever you’re planning comes to fruition soon...” he said quietly, then carefully walked back inside.

In the village, Kain has slipper thought it, heading towards the source of all the noise. From the rooftop near the village jail he could see easily the crowd that had amassed outside. A shouting angry mob of humans, all wanting to see vampire blood spilled. He shivered at a thought. Raziel had been with Dumah...they knew there were more vampires. And they would want to know where they hid so that they could join him.

His poor, dear Raziel...alone in there and most likely in great pain...

He shook the thoughts form his mind, knowing he needed a clear head in order to succeed in breaking him free of his imprisonment. He jumped over to the top of the jail house’s roof and began searching. Hope flared up a little as he found a back entrance. He jumped down, opening his senses and found it unguarded on the other side. Using his claws, he tore the door apart carefully, breaking inside and started searching.

The usual prisoners were in the mid to upper levels, largely unguarded this time of night and all of them resting. Dregs, he thought with contempt, useless. He turned and went below, to the older and dirtier levels of the jail house. Below the walls were dirt, carved from the ground and stained with blood, the smell of rot clinging to the air. He hurried though, ignoring the skeletal, badly starved, begging humans who asked for him to free them. The real dregs...low even for humans. But in his eyes, they stood above those who now held his precious child.

In the distance, perhaps around a few more corners, he heard a scream. The voice was familiar. Raziel....He turned, instantly following it, the sounds of other voices, harsh laughs, jests and insults that were spat at his childe. He growled, coming to a heavy set of doors. The stench of rot and blood was more intense from that room, mingled with the smell of a fledgling vampire’s blood. From inside he heard Raziel scream again, the sounds of leather cracking, a whip being used on him. Raziel cried for them to stop, whimpering in pain.

Kain growled, and with a more feral bellow he tore the doors clean from their moorings. In the next few moments, his rage was so blinding that after words, covered in blood and panting, he did not remember slaughtering them, or how. He glanced about at torn bodies. None had escaped his wrath and rightfully so. He looked up where Raziel hung, bound by his wrists to his sides in the middle of the room, bleeding streadily from various wounds.

“Raziel...” Kain’s hand shook as he reached to him, gently lifting his head. “Raziel?”

The soft sounds of his struggling to breathe, even quieter sobs came from him. Kain stepped closer, cradling him to him. “Raziel...” An arm carefully wrapped around him, the other holding him around him to him, “my child...I’ve got to get you out of here.” He tilted his head back, looking into blank eyes, lips parted, some blood running from his lip. Kain gently tried to wipe his face of blood, but his own were too drenched to make a difference. He looked down and pulled the vial from his pocket, using his teeth to uncork it. He pressed it to Raziel's lips, gently poring in into his mouth. His other hand closed the fledglings’s mouth. “Swallow...” he could feel muscles struggle to move, his hand running with them, trying to help him until all of it went down.

“Raziel?”

The fledgling groaned, “Ffffff...”

“Shhhh....don’t speak. Save your energy.” Kain pulled him closer again, cradling his head to his shoulder. “Shhh....rest. I’ll take care of you. I’m here little one. Shhh...” Raziel shook some as Kain cradled him, trying to soothe him. “Shhhh. Calm down so I can carry you home.”

Slowly, Raziel calmed down, hiccuping some, then slowly starting to rest. Kain let go of him, letting him sag some and ripped the chains off his manacles. He could take care of that later, for now, freed, he had to get Raziel home before someone discovered he had escaped.

Holding one very pale hand, Vorador carefully salved it. Vampire yes, but a severely weak one. In such weakness, the injured fledgling was equal to a human and just as prone to infection or worse. He gently spread the salve around the deep cuts, carefully popping a dislodged bone back into place and then wrapping it with fresh linen strips. He set the hand down, then carefully worked and wrapped the other. He looked the youngling over, checking over the bound strips of linen. The poor thing was mostly covered in wrappings, sleeping peacefully now thanks to a few more herbs. His ears turned some, hearing soft sounds behind him.

“Is he going to be all right....?”

“He’ll be fine. He needs a lot of rest and to be fed frequently to recover well,” Vorador said, sitting next to the fallen fledgling. “They beat him quite badly but...he will recover.”

Kain sat down finally, carefully, trying not to jostle the resting fledgling. his hand slowly went to the other’s looking him over, going from group of bandages, to group of bandages. Most of his torso was wrapped in linens, them disappearing below the sheets. Up to his hands were wrapped as well, the manacles having cut deep gouges into his wrists. Kain took hold of one wrapped hand, reaching to brush some stray hairs back being a delicately pointed ear.

“How badly was he hurt?” Kain asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Vorador answered.

“Please?”

“No. It’s best you don’t know.”

“Why?

“Because I said,” Vorador said sternly, turning his head to look at Kain. His ears drooped some at the hurt expression Kain’s face. “You should rest as well. He won’t recover any faster if you stress yourself worrying over him. He will be fine.”

Kain’s eyes shifted, his head following, looking at his peaceful looking childe. “Is-”

“Shh!” Vorador shushed suddenly. “Stop asking.”

“But-”

Deep green hands reached over and latched onto Kain’s shoulders. Vorador pulled Kain over in an awkward position to rest against him, one hand stroking long strands of silver/white back. “Calm down. I know it’s frightening but things will be all right. He is very lucky he was not hurt worse.” Slowly, Kain relaxed against him, unwilful to resist. “Now I want you to rest. I am going to go and do the same. The rest of your children have gone to do the same.”

“Can...I stay here with him?”

“You may, but try not to disturb him too much.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’ve done the same for you and I’m certain i’ll continue to do so until I meet the usual violent end our kind must endure.”

“No...No I’m sick of seeing this happen to us...”

“We’ve always been hunted in return, Kain, you know that. Everyone who has fallen to the vampries hunters have all met gruesome and painful endings. There’s little a fellow vampire can do for one who has been captured because they risk death themselves. I’m surprised that you were not caught as well. Again, I’m surprised with you.”

“You thought I would die there and yet you pressured me to go?” Kain asked, agitation edging on his voice.

“I did not know. You were always very successful to whatever you put your mind to and I hoped for once, they would not get away with hurting one of our kind.”

“They did not. I don’t even remember killing them, but I had.”

“Then let’s hope it will be a lesson to them. One that is lasting enough to let them know not to at least not mess with your children.”

“What about yours?”

“ I haven’t created another vampire in years. I no longer posses the energy to take care of them.”

“And you’re loosing the ability to help with mine...”

“You’re only one person and they are six. It will be at least a century or more before their up to taking care of themselves on their own. Most of them seem to not be like you, not as powerful a fledgling as you were.”

“I should repay you for this...you’ve helped me a great deal over the years...and I have been a fool to not give anything in return....”

“I require nothing, Kain. I have all I need. I’d die happy knowing that our legacy will go on from this point onwards.”

“What?” Kain pulled away from the other. “Are you all right?”

Vorador shook his head. “No. It’s getting worse. The land is dying slowly and it’s taking me with it. You...and your progeny seem immune to it. It will only be time before my childer and myself are gone from this world.”

“You can’t....”

“Don’t think about that now. You have enough on your mind. Rest well.”

“Yes....thank you...”
 

“Kain?”

........................

“Kain? Wake up.”

“Nuooo....sleeep....” Kain snuggled closer to Raziel, one arm laid over him to keep himself pulled close, as if he could protect him even in his sleep.

“Kain...get up. I want to show you something.”

“Wuuh...?” Kain moved a little, twisting to blearily see who was talking to him.

“You didn’t rest when I left I see.”

“N-nooo...sstayed up with him....”

Vorador shook his head. “I want you up any ways. Your fledglings are fed and are taken care of. i’ve told them how to watch over their brother while we’re gone.”

“Where we going?”

“Out. I need to show you something and it has to be tonight. Hurry.”

“Nnnn...hold on...give few minutes...” Slowly, Kain wormed his way away from Raziel, leaning up over him and gently kissing his forehead, then pulling away to get dressed.

“Where are we?” Kain asked, looking up at a high cliff. On the cliff itself, just under a ledge full of collapsed stone, was a massive carving of an angelic being, its arms outstretched as if to welcome visitors. The carving was high, high above the mucky lake, the area dotted with shallow caves and large unstable looking rocks in the water.

“This place was so much more once...so much more beautiful....” Vorador said, more to himself. He turned to Kain, “I’ve brought you to the truth. To our origins.”

“Vampires originated here?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. Come. Inside is what I want to show you and what I want you to know.”

“Are you sure you can make it?” Kain asked, his concern growing by the minute as he watched the elder walk slowly, as if deeply pained now. As if age was catching up with him.

“I will be fine. Soon enough I will. Come...”

Inside, Kain was nothing but amazed. The place was ruined, stone structures collapsed everywhere, galleys and balconies possessing sizable holes and piles of rubble. Over across the way he could see a largely undisturbed corner, how the place might have looked. unpolished, dusty, but he could see. The stone beheld a bizarre pattern, one he thought no natural stone could posses, and yet it looked like it should be that way.

“We go up.”

“Up? Are you sure you can jump?”

“I doubt it. I’ll need your help. Teleporting here...” He then projected the image of a balcony to Kain’s mind, letting him know where. They appeared in that location. “In here. Here is one thing I must show you.”

Vorador walked to a large set of carved double doors, pushing heavily against it and opening it. The large hinges creaked, sounding though the chamber. He paused resting against the door, raising a hand and dusty old torches lit, lending ot the air a temporary smell of burnt dirt, the fires crackling and settling. Inside the room, was surprisingly large. Stacks of books, ancient crumbling things that looked like they would collapse to dust if one touched them.

“Vorador, you know I cannot-”

“Shh. We’re not here for that kind of story time. Over here,” Vorador waved him over, deeper into the room. “This is it.”

Kain looked up and around at a massive tapestry that was hung against a wall. All over it was depiction's of beings, nearly angels, blue skinned with raven’s wings. With them, in places, they fought demonic beings. As he moved, looking it over, they went from peaceful beings, depiction's of their daily lives and possibly pieces of legends and old stories form gods to paupers. Over more, he seen several pictures with the pillars in them, all though out them, one particular being being depicted over and over again, his dress changing, but it was the same being. More to the right there were the demon creatures, then fighting the angels. He moved over more, seeing some rain of blood and many of the angels falling after they seemed to have banished the demons. Then, the tapestry's work ended, a large area of cloth still hanging to the side, unfinished, colorful strands of thread hanging, as if the work on it was ordered to an end.

He looked over at Vorador. “What is it?”

“Yes. This, this is the history of a race long gone from this world. From the beginning ot the end of it. The Ancients were a peaceful race who were brought into a war against another race. The other race turned the Ancients into vampires in an act of revenge. Their numbers dwindled until there was one left. You can see the short version of their history here...and where it ended.” He waved his hand at the unfinished portion.

Vorador stepped back, handing Kain a torch. Kain took it and stood for a time, looking from depiction to depiction. “Do you understand?”

“Vaguely. Who took care of this place if they are all gone?”

“Come and you shall see. We haven’t a lot of time. I wish I had more time to teach you our heritage. Though you were strong, I didn’t think you would make it this far. It is my mistake now. This is a brief lesson in history. Now, we must go. Here...” He projected another image and they teleported higher in the place. This new room, was someone’s bedchamber. The place was orderly, a few books net to the bed as if it were still used. The thick layer of dust told otherwise. Vorador walked over to the bed, his ears drooping. His hand went to a rotted figure on the bed. Feathers poked out from under the stiff old sheets, matching those of the ones Kain had seen just before.

“This...was that last one. I didn’t tell you all of that story when I first met you.”

“About killing the circle? I took it as you being angry with humanity. Angry at them for killing your children.”

“That is part of the reason. The true reason...lies here. This is Janos Audron. I know you’ve heard of him. He was my sire. He lived here for many, many millennia, waiting for a single moment. And with him, hope left this place.”

Kain’s eyes went wide with shock. Suddenly he wondered just how old Vorador was. “Janos?”

“Yes. The famed source of the heart of darkness. None of those old legends about him were ever true. Amongst us, he was the gentlest and wisest being in the land. He was murdered. I was resting when I felt his distress and when I arrived here all those centuries ago, he was barely alive. They threw him over a table and tore his heart out, gutting him like an animal. His kind never died easily. The only correct thing about the old legends with him is that he did suffer all those days. After I seen him here, I knew who was responsible. I slaughtered them like sheep and returned here. I wasn’t going to let him die alone. He spent enough of his life alone...his last days...”

“They said he screamed those days...four score days and nights...” Kain looked up, seeing Vorador start to have difficulty in standing, tottering a little.

“Eighty days of suffering...” His head tilted more to the floor, his eyes shifting down, shoulders dipping, wholly, the proud ancient vampire looked defeated. “I know...I was here with him. I still hear his screams sometimes in my sleep. I couldn’t help him along and end his suffering sooner. The best I could do was just be there for him...attempt to take care of him...”

Kain looked down at the bed, tenatively walking a step closer. He looked over at Vorador, seeing the elder shaking some. He quickly stepped around the bed and came to his side. one pale hand reached out to rest on the ancient vampire’s shoulder, his expression a mixture of confusion and sympathy.

“H-he was the only one who cared...you wouldn’t have known this, but I was little more than a street rat. Something you taught your fledglings to kill, used as practice. If it wasn’t for him, that one particularly bad winter I could have easily starved or froze to death. I was very lucky...”

“I’m sorry...”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault. You were far from alive then...”

Kain’s eyes shifted to the floor. “So this is the other side of our penance...and they call us unmerciful...” he said quietly. “The call us murderers, plagues and all other forms of insults and yet they do not see their own actions...they slaughter each other indiscriminately...”

“We do not murder, steal from, rape or harm another of our own kind save for when it is deserved or have been driven past our limits and into insanity. We are family.”

“No...like I’ve told my children, they are little more than brutish cattle, ours for the taking.”

“Teach them to be wary of them as well, as they have just harshly learned...” Vorador started to lean against Kain, his breathing growing harsher.

“Sit down...please...you’ve tired yourself enough...”

“No...not yet. There are a few more things you must know.”

“Tell me then, then sit. We can return home when you’re ready...” Kain stepped closer still, trying to support the weight of Vorador’s larger frame.

Vorador smiled weakly. “Always beware of the humans. You’ve seen what they do to us in return. You may and will eventually loose children to them. It’s hard to deal with, but you must. The rest...the rest is here...” Vorador raised a hand, the wrist pointing outwards, towards Kain.

“You’re too weak, I refuse to make it worse...”

“Drink...it’s the fastest way...time is shorter than I realized...”

Tenatively, Kain’s head dipped, his dark lips meeting deep green skin. He opened his mouth, bared the long points of his teeth and slipped them beneath the skin. He drank until the felt sharp claws dig into his skin, then he forced himself away. He licked the dark blood from his lips, looking up at the elder, then blowed over, the familiar pain in the gut as the gift settled in. When he straightened, He looked, seeing Vorador leaning on the bed, having fallen to his knees.

“Vorador?”

“I”m not going back, Kain. I can’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“In your sleep tonight, what I gave you will truly settle in. Those memories and information will be there for you if you need to know something.”

“Vorador, this is madness, you are coming back with me. You can’t stay here amongst the dust, rot and rubble.”

“Kain...get down here...now...”

Unsure, a single thought burning bright in his mind, all about what was happening. He had missed the deaths of his parents, of friends and everyone he had known in life. Truthfully, he had never truly faced this, never this close. And now, the proud young vampries mind was about to shatter...

Kain walked over to kneel in front of Vorador, just short of looking childish as he sat, watching the elder. “Listen to me and listen well. With what I gave you I gave you basically the key to my home, it’s layout and how to get into all of the locked rooms.” His hand raised, the backs of his fingers brushing against Kain’s cheek, sliding into his hair, around to the back of his head, he pulled the younger vampire a little closer. “I’m sorry...sorry that I can’t be more to you like I had been with my children in the past. Times are changing and I am not going to be apart of it.”

“No...” Kain said, his voice small.

“I want you to do something for me now. When I go, I want you to gather the ashes and put them in one of the containers from the chambers below. Put it on the stand. I promised him that though we’re apart, I would always be there for him. And you will always know where to find me.”

“Please no...”

Vorador’s hand stroked though Kain’s hair. “I have to.”

“Why...?”

“My kind of vampire is tied to the land. It has grown too corrupt in the past years that it no longer sustains me. In the times of the Ancients the land thrived. It was healthy, and so were they. That link did not break when Janos was murdered. It has been sapping away at what strength I had acquired over my life and now it is nearly gone.”

“Isn’t there a way to break it?”

“No. Their sorcery, their lives were so much more than our kind would have ever been. Don’t worry about it now.” Vorador pulled Kain over to him, to rest his head against his shoulder. “You’re a brave one and strong. You will make it in this dying place. Maybe one day you will be able to see Nosgoth for what it was, not this decay it is now. I hope you are fortunate enough to because this land really was quite beautiful.”

Kain nussled into his shoulder, giving a shaking sigh. “Need you to stay...still need your help...” he said, muffled a little. “Vorador?” He turned his head, looking up in time to see the other sag more. “Vorador, please no!” His arms went up, wrapping around the other’s shoulders as if that alone could save him. Soon after, he had an arm load of ashes, which he stared at like a child who had just seen their beloved pet that had been killed by a wolf, the look of shock and utter disbelief.

He sat there for several minutes, his mind unable to believe that this had happened until he finally moved, his arms going from outstretched to bury his face in his hands and lean against the dusty old bed. His skin met stiff sheets and hard bed beneath. He poked at it a few times, hand shaking as he did so. From the smell, the bed had been soaked at one time in blood. So faint, but it was there. His eyes went back to the pile of ashes, then to the figure on the bed. Slowly he looked around the room, mind gone numb, picking up weird details he otherwise wouldn’t bother with.

He blinked, pausing, his eyes catching a small mirror. He could have sworn he heard something, but at the same time, he pushed it away, thinking it was his imagination. Then he heard it again. Kain drew back, scrambling back towards the stand like a righted child.

~~:Do not be afraid child:~~

“What? Who? Who’s there...” He withdrew further, coiling into a tight ball.

~~:I’m glad he brought you here, before he left...:~~

The soft click of what sounded like the same cloven feet Vorador had, when he went without his boots, walked around the room. He stiffened more when he seen new footprints in the dust on the floor, ones that had belonged to neither of them.

~~:It is all right child. I won’t harm you.:~~

“W-who are you?” He had a distinct feeling that something was in front of him. “A-are you another ghost?”

~~:I know I am appearing to you in a bad time. Yes. In a manner of speaking. I came to guide him.:~~

“Guide who?” Kain relaxed, just a little, his defenses still up and still curled up tightly against the stand.

~~:Vorador of course. He is waiting for me. Even now I still do what I can for him.:~~
~~: Listen to me now, child for I haven’t long that I can speak to you:~~

Kain nodded, a jerky movement of his head.

~~:I know you are one of the pillars. Unfortunately I haven’t the time or ability to teach the history of them to you. I also know you have the Reaver. Guard it well. I want you to watch over it. You will meet the next guardian over time and you will give it to him. Preserve what you can from this place. Much is already crumbling and lost to time. I hope you can glean something from it that will help you save our world. That, I leave up to you.:~~

Kain stared straight ahead, his mind absorbing those words like a sponge. He soon sighed, his head moving to rest upon his knees.

~~:Do not grieve child. We will watch you. Everyone is watching over you. We rest our hope upon you to save this land.:~~

“It means i have to die...”

~~:It does not. There is a way for everything to be righted, but you must find it for yourself. I cannot help you. No one can except yourself.:~~

“I don’t think I can...”

~~:One step at a time child.

You have found and will find the Tenth. He has always been by your side since you ascended. Remember the Unspoken and know him as an enemy, but remember his words which you learned in your decent. And know he had a willing serpentine the pillars, use his tools to find the answers.

Go and be well child...we rest out faith in you.:~~

The chill in the room left, and again, Kain was alone. Alone in a mountain, a pile of ashes that once was a friend and mentor, next to him the most ancient and tragic of them all. He looked at the pile of ashes, then his head thunked back on the edge of the stand. “You were our champion for so long. I don’t think I can handle it all alone. It’s a large burden for anyone to bear.” He looked at the ashes again. “I will miss you friend. No matter how much I said or did otherwise. I will miss you.”
 
 

A short while later, after searching the ancient structure, having discovered a plethora of things he could barely begin to grasp, before finding the room Vorador had spoken about.
Amongst many of the pottery there, he chose one piece he liked, looking it over first. He didn’t know much of the quality of pottery much less selecting it. He liked the design on it however and thought it appropriate. He took it back to the room, having also found along his way some parchment and a small broom.

Soon after that he has swept all the ashen dust from the floor, using the parchment as a kind of scoop and poured it all in the clay jar. He then set it aside, on the undisturbed stand on the other side of the bed. He stood by it for a time, then slowly left.

“Father!”

“He’s back?”

“Yes! He’s here!”

From the front door or the mansion, three fledglings came running and Kain was nearly dog piled by his own offspring. Instead, he was nearly flattened by Dumah along, much less the other two who had come running.

“Father, we were frightened.”

“We’re glad you’re back.”

“That’s great,” Kain said, strained, still locked up in a pair of thickly muscled arms. “Why were you frightened? I was coming back...”

“Where is Vorador? He went with you...”

“He...won’t be coming back,” Kain said slowly.

“Why?”

“It is difficult to explain...I’m not sure I understand it right now. What did you mean when you said you were frightened?”

“There were humans here!” Rahab said, nervous, he nearly started hopping about, more so than he was already doing.

“They searched the grounds and tested the door,” Turel said, looking much more calm than Rahab did. “I believe they will be back.”

“They can’t get in, that I know. I’ve watched as humans have tried before. Vorador’s home is too well built for someone to just walk in.”

“That’s the thing,” Turel said. “I believe they did more than simply prod the doors.”

“We should go inside and talk this over more then. I am anxious to see how Raziel is.”

“I heard something from them about returning later. I fear they might and mean business this time.” Turel drew closer to Kain, his manor showing he was very worried.

“It’s all right, Turel. I will do my best for all of you.” Kain’s hand reached up and brushed the young vampire’s cheek. “Let’s go inside and go at this a little at a time.”
 

“Has he gotten any better?”

“He fed a little from one of the humans in the pantry,” Rahab said, pointing to am empty, but used goblet. “He seems thirsty but too tired to really feed like he should.”

“It’s understandable,” Kain said, moving around the bed and sitting by his eldest’s side and pushing wayward black strands back out of his face to where they belonged. “Perhaps we have to feed him another way somehow. We will have to figure something out for him.”

“Where is Vorador?” Melchiah asked. The ancient vampire had been very good to him in the end, having seen some sort of charm in him; so good in fact he had given him a little knowledge on how to help other vampires who were ill or injured. To him, it seemed the elder had decided to give him a little purpose to his life.

Kain turned to him, and again repeated in the same bleak tone, “He won’t be coming back.”

Red welled up in Melchiah’s eyes and he turned, bolting down the hallway. The others watched, staring at the empty doorway then to their sire. “I’ll go to him,” Turel said, knowingly.

“Go ahead.”

Rahab nodded, himself having been rather taken to Vorador’s library, having been given permission to attempt to straighten it after so many centuries of fledgling and adult vampires alike using it but never quite putting things back where they belong. He was nearly done with it, the next step to go and finally start to read though it, which was his intention in the first place. “What will we do now?”

Kain didn’t answer right away. when he did, he answered slowly. “First, I believe we need rest. The most important thing now is for all of you to grow stronger, into better hunters and develop skills you need to survive. It takes time, which I hope we have plenty of.” He turned, twisting around. “If you have all fed, go and rest. Turel, take care of your brother.”

“I will.”

The three younger vampires filed out of the room, heading off to their rooms. Kain looked back at Raziel, whom had curled on his side, sleeping peacefully still. He stood, undressing before sliding into the bed as well. He pulled Raziel over to him and soon fell asleep as well.
 

Late into the night, Raziel awoke, warm and content feeling despite the numerous aches and pains from his injuries, the rest of him did not want to move. However he was. He felt as if he were gently being rocked by another. Behind him, he could hear troubled breathing. Sobs more likely, quiet ones that were half there, as if straining though some barrier. He also felt something warm and wet, it dripped onto his neck. It took him a minute for the connection to what was going on.

With those connections made, he then knew. He was being cradled by his sire, his partially open eyes seeing flesh so pale ot could only be him. The wetness, the shaking breathing, evidence of tears and restrained distress. His sire loved him that much. His other brothers had been hurt, minor injuries from clumsiness and from learning to use the few dark gifts they had. Kain otherwise showed little emotion beyond his version of caring, and anger, mostly anger. His heart warmed to the whole idea, the very concept that he was the one their sire was caring for so in the end. He soon fell back asleep, warm thoughts filling his mind.

Kain’s eyes snapped open. In an instant he was up, dressed and running downstairs, using his ability to blend in with the darkness to slip though the shadows of the old mansion to a window. He peered out it, carefully, into the night. His eyes narrowed at the sight of the fires. Ones unlike those of on the path to the house, those were orange red, not eerie green.

Humans.

He growled quietly, twisting and running back to his sons’ rooms. Rahab had been right. They were here and were coming back. He paused in the hallways, halfway up a set of stairs, staring between the upper and lower landing. His parental instincts said to get his children away and to safety. His fighting ones said stay, listen and observe what he could before he made his move. He growled, then an idea popped into his head.

There was a hidden room upstairs, hidden behind a wall that was a safe room. It had a tunnel that went outside if the need arose for it and from there, he would be able to hear the humans should they break into the old mansion. He stared at the lower landing, growling. He had a bad feeling; no matter what he knew or could do now he was helpless so long as he had the six fledglings to care for. There was no way him, a single adult vampire could do to protect a half a dozen fledglings from a mob of humans.

They rally fast and foolishly, Kain thought as he finally chose, running up the stairs. There is no way they could have amassed so quickly and been here. The path to here is not easy but then, their not vampires either. He paused mid thought, turning and staring in the direction of the sound of a loud thud. Then it hit again.

Their trying to break down the doors, his mind screamed. Nearly panicking now, he ran from room to room, waking and tossing them from their beds and directing them away to the safe room. Turel held Melchiah, ducking inside and choosing a corner to sit, half cradling the youngest to him. Dumah held Raziel, carrying the eldest with him and setting him carefully upon the single piece of furniture in the safe room; a small couch that was poorly padded, but better than nothing in such circumstances. With the last of them inside, Kain followed finally, shutting and sealing the door before the sound of running feet and angry shouting swept down the hallway.

“Father?”

“SHH!” Kain shushed harshly. “I don’t know if they can hear us from here so I do not want to hear a single sound out of any of you!”

They nodded, knowing the graveness of the situation they sat in. Kain sat by the door, listening, watching, Turel also listening as well since he seemed to have slightly unusually good hearing.

Time passed, the hidden few cringing, their sympathy going out to those few years older fledglings that lived in the mansion as well. The last of Vorador’s children bring rooted out like rats and dragged to a horrible fate. What Kain guessed as the last one was dragged by, a young fledgling he had seen but a couple times, cried out for the house’s former master, struggling weakly. The fledgling was the last of Vorador’s children in every sense. The last he turned, and looked at the others.

The a sound nearby. They all jumped, staring as a set of stones moved aside. Kain bared his fangs, and rearing up to attack whomever it was. Though soon it, she, showed her face.
“Gaila...” Kain moved over closer to the older vampries, the one whom had lived so long keeping Vorador’s household in order.

“Lord Kain...you have to run now, get your children out of here!”

“What? This room is safe...”

“They plan on burning the mansion after their done killing the fledglings. They don’t know about these rooms. You’ll cook alive in here,” she said. “Go!” She pointed to the escape tunnel.

“What about you?”

“Follow me I’ll see that you get outside, then you must run.”

“Where? There isn’t another sanctuary...”

“There is a place, north, northeast from here. Vorador visited there every now and then and he always said that place, should here fall, was safe.”

Kain frowned, remembering now where. He didn’t want to go back there again, not wanting to see that place of old ghosts and death so soon. There was enough right where he was. “Hurry,” Gaila said, beckoning them though.

Kain paused, then waved the fledglings over, “Follow her, quickly!” Obedient and afraid, they did so with all due haste, not wanting to be caught in any sort of fire. Kain went though after Zephon, following them though the tunnels to the outside. Outside, they dashed to the underbrush and into the forrest, rounding the mansion and heading in the direction Gaila spoke of.

Running though the tunnel Kain remembered so well, hours later and after much running though the land on foot, they were finally safe for the moment. Going into the retreat, Kain also remembered the dusty sitting room and headed everyone to there to rest. The furniture in the room was in shambles, like so many other things there, thus they chose a warm seeming corner of the room. Using what they could salvage, the brethren moved close together, for once co-operating in such an unsettling time.

On Kain’s lap, Raziel's head rested, coiled to him but was too tired still to be as frightened as his brothers. Kain sat, wide awake, one hand busy softly running though Raziel's hair. He looked around the room, looking at their expressions, how his children gathered. Gaila had little choice but to be sandwiched between Rahab and Dumah, oddly content looking where she lie. Though even resting, his children looked troubled. A burning rage ignighted in Kain’s mind, hot and bright.

He loosed a soft hiss. “The time where our kind run like rats from a sinking ship from the humans has ended,” he said quietly, his words acidic with anger. “The time has come when we will rule this pathetic place and finally be able to live our lives without fear. Without fear of pain or suffering for being merely what we are. This I promise all of you. I will change things, starting now.”

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