Author's Note: This is sort of a side story to Upon the Wind. It mostly explores Alden and Ezra's past and how they became vampires. They're addictive to write about. This is rather Original Character oriented, but a few of the LoK Characters will show up. Eventually.

Disclaimer: Legacy of Kain belongs to CrystalD and Edios Interactive, the story and original characters belong to me. You know the drill.

The blade had cut into the flesh with ease, drawing a thin line of red as it was pulled away in the darkness. It was the third of the marks marring his pale skin. The crimson substance had always fascinated him to some point. How it flowed from a breech in the fragile, yet strong, covering of skin and then sealed the wound, giving it time to heal. It was a morbid fascination, he knew, but it never got out of hand, having being to cautious for his good some days. The feeling of the cold steel blade effortlessly pierce his smooth skin was almost indescribable. It was like a release of the emotions he didn't let himself show to the world, and a verification of the fact that he was alive, the pain reminding him of that.

Light from the opening of the door made him instinctively flinch, having been used to the cool glow of the stars and moon radiating from the open window. A figure walked in, not breaking the silence with his voice, only shutting the door so they were bathed in the shadows. The momentary flash of light had little effect on his vision, however, and it was quite easy to pick out the glint of blue in the other's eyes. Those dark blue eyes held muted concern for him, but also an unwavering faith.

Such trust. It soothed his own worries for the moment.

Quiet footsteps echoed in the room, and the other crouched before him, and gently took his arm, examining the self inflicted injury. Wordlessly, he gently cleaned the still bleeding wounds, wiping away the drops of blood. The incoherent murmurs of a spell were cast, and the gashes healed with the magical speediness that it possessed. Lighter blue eyes watched on again with that same raptness as the skin bore no mark or scars in the wake of the magic. The brush of finger tips over the place where he had split his skin brought him back to here and now, to reality. He looked up at the other man, both of them gazing at each other neutrally, wondering who would speak first.

The razor sharp dagger slipped from his other hand, the sound seeming louder in their ears then it should in the silence. "Your daggers weren't meant to be used in this sort of manner." The voice was soft, sounding almost amused, but also held a hint of understanding towards him. That was the it was between them, they usually never asked for an explanation unless they thought it was completely necessary, having been together so long that they both had almost a clear perception of each other's actions.

"I don't do it that often. I just..." A pause. Their mutually blue hued eyes met, and he saw no inquiring observance, just the soft gaze of dark blue eyes. "I suppose I just needed to."

Dark unbound hair fell over his face as he bowed his head, but not in shame. He just felt weary at the moment, and rest would be most welcomed at the moment. "As you wish, but next time, warn me. I felt a bit of that pain and wondered what was going on. I like not having to seek you out because I thought that someone was going to do some slow torture on you. Now you should probably get some sleep, Alden. You look like you desperately need it."

He gave a slow nod, not even bother to look up at him. "I will. On both accounts. Only if you don't go and drown yourself in alcohol enough that you cause a drunken ruckus."

A hearty chuckle met his ears as he felt himself being lifted from the floor and helped onto the soft covers of the bed. "Agreed. Now get some rest, and I won't go and drink myself silly."

A mumbled "Good night Ezra" was the only response as Alden lied down, fully intending to get some well needed sleep. He clutched and snuggled into the pillow, feeling the insistent tug of the oblivion of rest upon him. The low noise of something being set on the bed side table deterred him not in the least as he slipped into the world of dreams. A grin graced Ezra's lips as he paused to glance at his younger twin brother before closing the wooden door behind him.

Torches, candles, and occasionally some magic lit the hallways as he escended the stairs, entering the more open area of the saloon. He did say that he wouldn't drink himself into a stupor, and would, of course, hold to that, but the assassin was going to enjoy himself at least. The usual late night customers where mingling, drinking, some playing cards.

There was a sense of uneasiness that had grasping as the barkeep set the tankard in front of him. No one would be able to tell that he felt disquieted, other then the subtle tensing of the muscles in his shoulders. Ezra always made sure he was aware of his surroundings, and anything that might be of any signifigance. The moments passed, until the tankard was almost completely drained. A glint of metal caught the corner of his eye, before the sound of a blade whistling in the air, thrown from some unknown assilant made him react.

There was a blur of movement as Ezra knocked over his stool, and grabbed the dagger in mid air, the blade cutting through the black leather glove, and into the soft flesh of his hand. He gave a bit of a wince as pain shot through his arm, and he felt blood being to ooze from the wound. The assassin grabbed the weapon on his unmarred hand, examining it as a few droplets of blood dropped to the wooden floor. A few patrons looked at him awe, or shock, but Ezra didn't notice them. The barkeep give a low sound of amazement and watched him stalk outside, the dagger in hand.

"Sir, wait!"

"I'll take care of my tab in the morning. I just remembered I have something to take care of." The barkeep just gapped as the door slammed behind Ezra, betraying some of the anger the assassin must have felt.

Dark blue eyes narrowed as they scanned the area for any sign of the wielder of the dagger that was now clutched in his hand. Crimson drops continued to fall from his injured hand, ignore the throbs of pain that he felt. "Cadryrn! Cadryrn, come out from the shadows and where I can see you!" Ezra muttered a few curses as soft laughter met his ear, the only response in the moonlight other then the low chirping of the crickets.

"Demanding, aren't we young one? Or perhaps blinded by anger to see what is right in front of you." Ezra's grip tighted minutely on the handle of the dagger, as he forced the almost instinctive reaction to spurt a few choice insults at the hidden Cadryrn. The older man had a fondness for testing either his patience, or how his skills were coming along. Usually both.

The sound of something rustling in the bushes caught his attention, but Ezra knew that it was dilberate. He cocked his head slightly towards the bushes, as if he trying to catch the sound again, but at the same time knowing that Cadryrn wouldn't let his position be known again in that way. Ezra's senses were all on alert, ready to react to anything that might be of some threat to him, and expecting something to happen any moment now.

Seconds passed, and Ezra could feel his blood rush through his veins, the adrenaline making him percieve things at a much higher rate. He knew that Cadryrn was around, but where, he could not figure out. The older man had been teaching the twins what he knew, and still gave them the slip whenever he wanted. Cadryrn was more of a teacher to them, then a caretaker for the past few years, not wanting to become their babysitter in some sense.
It was probably for the best, the twins didn't want a babysitter either, their sense of independence growing as they matured. Would the older man leave them once they could be left on their own? Who knew? Only the here and now mattered to them.

In the span of a heart beat, another object was thrown at him at a faster speed then the dagger had been. Again, reacting Ezra caught the object before it came into contact with his head and winced as it hit against the open wound. "Cadryrn... If you're trying to kill me, try throwing another dagger."

Cadryrn appeared behind Ezra, moving silently as he could, which was almost on par with a vampire fledgling's stealth, which was impressive to say the least. Ezra flicked the dagger over his shoulder, his teacher catching it by the blade with ease. "Please, I'm not trying to kill you. You just react far to easily for your own good Occasus."

"Hell, I could have told you that and spared you the trouble." The younger man tossed to the apple in the air, catching it with his unmarred hand, still irritated with Cadryrn. The older man, who had watched over him, still was an annoying bastard in his opinion, despite all that he taught and could still teach him. "And don't call me Occasus. It's not my name anymore, and I heard that sigh."

"Regardless, it's still your name. Even if it isn't used anymore."

"What good is a name if it can't be used? That just the mention of it can send 'them' scuttling after me, desperate to see my blood on their blades. Such a wonderful thing to have happen, ne?" Ezra scowled as he took a bite into the apple, not at all pleased with his teacher over the simple, and yet complex issue of his name. He had been going by the name Ezra for years now, it was stupid to go back to being called Occasus now.

"We can continue to debate until sunrise if you like, but we're leaving for Willendorf then, so it's not the best of ideas to go along with. Better go get some rest, I don't fancy travelling with someone who already doesn't have the best of attitudes when they get up in the morning." Cadryrn turned away from Ezra, and moved to go down the empty street lit up by the soft light of lanterns. Running a hand through his short dark hair, Ezra stared after his teacher, almost bemused at the location they were going to be travelling to in the morning. Thoughts on that place would have to wait until later, when he had more time to think. Leaving Cadryrn to the night, Ezra slowly reentered the tavern, cricket chirps becoming only sound that could be heard.

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