When he had returned, the thick smell of blood had yet to totally fade from the room, but at least now it had dispursed some. He walked into the bedroom to see Melchiah still awake, somewhat curled upon himself, his posture and espression sad. He sat down next to the young vampire. “Don’t worry,” Kain said gently. “Worry about yourself for now. I will pay Janos back for doing this.”

Melchiah looked up at him, alarmed. “Don’t...please...”

“Don’t worry about me either. In my payback, I will get what you need to heal faster. Then you can finally do what we talked about before. Rest now.” Melchiah nodded. He knew well how his father was, how he would get his vengence no matter the cost. It worried himand comforted him knowing such deeds would now to unpunished. He moved down inn the bed, and closed his eyes. He didn’t feel Kain move for sometime, and didn’t knwo when he left for he had fallen asleep soon after.

Kain smiled, seeing to his youngest’s well being. He walked off into the main room. He looked sadly at the saved couch, touching its cool, restored surface. The nest few days would be hard on Vorador, but he would survive now. He always had survived, and would still. He chose one of the chairs instead. He would be stiff when he awoke, but there was a chill now where there had been warmth and he didn’t want to bask in it, let it distract him from his goals.
 

In another area of the Sanctuary....

Janos smiled, watching the blood drip down the sweet, pale flesh of the young woman, onto the floor. She had been like this for the past day, pinned where she was and forced allive still. He reched out, caught a bit of the blood on his finger and licked it off, smling, watching her. He laughed again.

“Ah, you have been a good little servant. And you will be again, here now, for my pleasure as I see fit.”

She stirred a little, her mind long gone, lost in the endless sea of pain that had come to her without provication. “..Nnn..Mua...?”

“Shhh, child. It will be oevr soon enough.” He ripped free a shread of flesh and slurped it down and walked away, laughing.
 

Down the hallway, alone, Raziel spoke up. <<If she was such a good servant, why did you do that? Why do you do anything anymore?>> Raziel's voice and attitude had changed from before. Now he sounded more like the voice of reason, like a parent, rather than a young, angry wraith.

Janos laughed. “The same reason I said to Vorador what I had said. Because it amuses me.”

<<He is you son. Your child. Don't you care about anyone anymore?>>

“And how is it you, the young wraith, come to berate me as my own father would when I am old enough to be your father many, many times over?” Janos asked, annoyed at Raziel’s words.

<<You made me how I am. I am beginning to see now. See everything you locked in here with me. See past your demented mind. You time is drawing to a close. I only wish to try and save you from yourself.>>

“I can’t even save myself so why should I care?” Janos spat, angry now.

<<You made me how I am. I am beginning to see now. See everything you locked in here with me. See past your demented mind. You time is drawing to a close. I only wish to try and save you from yourself.>>

“You try my patience young one. Perhaps I should decorate Kain’s wonderful posterior with your presence for all time. Then he shall have a reason for his arrogant attitude for he will have something jammed up his ass for real,” Janos suggested.

If Raziel could he would have shuddered at the thought of dwelling in such a place. <<I am merely doing what you have set me up for, no more. Like I said your time draws to an end and so does my imprisonment. Kain will succeed and there's nothing you can do about it.>>

“Oh I know he will and so will you. It’s my destiny now. To die more than once, just like you. If he does that is. If he ever figures anything out,” Janos smiled cruley. “Your brother, Turel, does a nice job when he returns to his chambers on erasing Kain’s mind and taking away his notes. Keeps him in the game, not letting him solve it.”

<<Then I ask you again, why do what you did last night? You've broken him so over the centuries, hurt him, punished him for no reason. It's amazing he still thinks of you as he does. Why hurt your own child like that?>>

Janos stopped walking. He considered this for a minute, a touch of his former mind crying out, barely a whisper really. He shoved it away. "No... those times are long past for me. I can no longer care in the slightest about any one. What becomes of Vorador is his own doing. If he lives or dies, I do not care anymore. It will entice Kain either way. It will make him come to me, in anger, wanting to destroy me. He won't succeed. That is certain, but it will be entertaining once again to see him so pent up andboiling over in his own rage."

<<Come now,>> Raziel said, his voice turning gentle.<<There is still hope. Tear that rot piece of flesh of a heart from yourself and set yourself free. You can be /something/ again. You may loose a some of your power, but it's a fair price for your salvation.>>

Rage filled Janos’ mind, his dark heart taking over again in full strent from it’s lul in control. “NO! I will NOT! Must NOT! Argh! Why do I put up with you, you little wretch! Why hsould I even keep you at my throat as I do?”

<<Because...."one should keep their friends close....and their enemies even closer">>

Janos nodded, a insane smile spreading on his face, “Yes. Yes...I know. Because you are my greatest enamy. You will be nothing without Kain’s help. I plan on seeing that he never does.” He laughed, louder than earlier. “Oh I must plan...see that he never does free you....” He teleported himsel away, to a place where he sotred something. Something he would need....for kicks....
 
 

The next morning, he awoke, stiff as he figured he would be. He slowly streached, easing taunt muscles. When he felt ready, he stood and looked around. He expected to see Loranne in the room, dusting perhaps, making things just a hare more straightened, or fussing over the leftoevr stains in the rug. He didn’t find her though. The young servant woman wasn’t anywhere to be found. He had asked her to come here for six days and watch the two in case his journey back took longer than he expected.

He frowned, wondering how this oculd have been so with such a good servant? They were rare, and very hard to find in any given age and thus very valuable and he always had rewared a good servant well for their efforts, in his own effort to keep them alive longer in hopes that they would train others to be as useful. Those efforts paid off half of the time and thus was one practive he kept though time.

Frusterated, and not wanting to rouse Melchiah, he left the chambers, and went to the slave’s quarters, searching for her. There, he found no answer except she had disappeared two days ago now. She had been asked to come to Janos’ chambers, to clean some mess up perhaps, and not returned since. Kain growled upon hearing this, his guess as to her fate bringin up such anger. the though alone of wasteing such good help was mre than enough to make him angry. The fact she had always attended to his and Vorador’s needs was yet another annoyance, pratically made her their servant, not Janos’.

He stormed out of the slave’s quarters, anger seething. One insult right after another. He growled, his mind going into a rage, oh so familiar to him, and frightening to every other creature he had ever known. He walked angrly to the pillars, hoping to find the degenerate there. His patience was lost, for he threw lightening from his hands, a new skill granted by Turel, at the guards and tore down the heavy stone door.

Inside, Janos was indeed there, sitting upon his throne. He looked at Kain and laughed, high with insanity with taunting tones. Kain bared his teeth, long fangs showing beneath his dark lips, and stalked forward. “Myopic fool! What gives you the right do do any fo this?”” He bit out, more demanding than asking.

Janos laughed again. “I do as I please. You would have too if your conscience wasn’t in the way.”

Kain’s mind struggled to shout more at the Anchient, but words failed him. He was too angry at all of this madness. The legends of Janos, long ago told to him by his caretakers, for both bedtime stories and put fears in hsi mind to keep him in line when he repeatively disobeyed. This..thing was those nightmares come true. No respect for him at all. Vorador had killed, he had killed, his sonds had killed...but all for a reason. Survival. be it for fresh food orfighting back against hunters, it was all justified. Just pure survival. This...this madness...it had to stop. Janos had to be stopped. He was the poison that rotted the land now, not him. Not his refusal to kill simelf for the pillars. It was Janos....

He roared, and lept at the Anchient. Surprisingly, the Anchient didn’t even flinch, or move. Kain landed near him and grabbed him, picking him out of his stone seat and slamming him up against the back of the seat and balence pillar. He snarled as Janos laughed at him, taking htis as some sick game. Kain threw him across the base. because he didn’t weigh much, Janos flew father than a normal being would, and slammed into another pillar, still laughing. Kain heard a distinct crunch of bone, but that hadn’t stopped the madman very much.

Janos righted himself. He looked at a limp wing, the bones shattered and laughed. He moved it back into place, something that surely would have hurt, and it healed as so. He grinned, looked at Kain and mocking ly said, “Is that all the better you can do?”

“No, is /that/ all the better you can do fool?” Kain growled. He raised his hands, calling automatically upon one of hte many spells Turel had given him and unleased a strong burst of power. It knocked Janos over, flays coming out soon afterwords, cutting thought the Anchient’s flesh, though not having the same effect it did on humans. Bleeding on the ground, Janos laughed still, apparently beyond feeling physical pain. He dragged himself up, his body healing rapidly, blood pouring from gaping wounds and leaning on more shattered bones. “Hah...heh...he he...that was fun dear Kain....is there more, or is that it?”

“Plenty more for you,” Kain siad, walking over, standing over the fallen Anchient, looming over him dangerously, his face still hsowing anger and disgust. Kain reached down and picked him up by the throat, holding him off of the ground. “I will make you pay for every secind you have spent torturing those who have done nothign to deserve such fates. You will scream, long, loud and for a very, very long time,” Kain said though clenched teeth, his anger sated none.

His eyes shot wide, Janos’ image dropping away. In his clawed hands, was Loranne, bloodied and deathly pale. “Mu..master....why..?” Kain shook hsi head, taking away his shock. He lowered her, and held her frail, dying body in his arms. “I....I am sorry....forgive me...,” he said quietly. “I thought....”

“It...isn’t your fault, mster,” she said weakly. “Srry...can’t serve you....t’day...” She gasped and went limp in his arms, dead. Kain set her down gently, and closed her eyes.

“It’s quite allright Loranne. You’re safe from this place now,” Kain closed his eyes, his anger turned to himself for not seeing thought this...for making him kill someone who hadn’t deserved it.

The laugh.

The same, taunting, insane laugh. Kain bared his teeth, and stood, searching visciously for its source.

Janos...

He made him do this...

He will pay dearely...

“Come out now, little winged god that ISN’T” Kain said, trying to provoke the madman.

“You’re doing fine as a entertainer. Here...,” Janos appeared, and grabbed Kain, holding him as he would a woman and proceeded to dance across the floor with him, dragging Kain along, “shall we dance, dear Kain?”

Kain struggled free of the Anchient’s grip. “No. You shall DIE!” He loosed another jolt of power, like the one before. At such close range, this had to hurt Janos some. Just a little. Hopefully....

Janos laughed, like the illusian did, as he was knocked away. When the blast ended, he was less hurt than the illusion had been. He laughed all the same. “Oh, hah! That tickled! Dear, dear little Kain, what is it you are trying to do?” Janos lept up, in less than an eyeblink, he had ahold of Kain, this time the younger vmapire dangled off of his feet. “Can’t you see? Haven’t you always seen? I am th estrongest one there is?”

Kain growled and struggled out his words, “If you are..so strong...then why did you...change...? Weakling!”

“HAH! Weakling indeed! Do you think you could have done anything greater than I?” He tossed Kain aside, into something he had put near the pillars earlier. The thing closed around Kain, grasping his limps and pulling him painfully spread eagled. It held his strong limbs like cords of steel, arround his midsection, his throat. He was trapped in some odd creature’s grasp. He glared at Janos anyways, not letting this little setback distract him from his goal.

Janos walked towards him, smiling warmly this time. “I am actually glad you have finally come this far. I have been waiting for you to figure these things out for centuries. Time repeating over and over and yet you kept looking past everything that was right in front of you to help you. erhapse you may walk away from these hellish times with a few memories to learn from. If not, it’s your loss.”

Kain glared still, sneering, baring his fangs. What was this madman talking about? Hadn’t he just figured it out? There was no times like this before, he would have known this.
“Oh, there were plenty of times before. In this little loop. I have always been corrupted at the same moment. I have always taken over as I have. I have always abused you. Hurt my dear son deeply. Hurt your sons. It matters little now for the first time, we meet here finally, on the threshold of Nosgoth’s salvation. Or at least part of it. I do dearly hope you are smart beyond this time and place to finish it, lest my past life be a totl waste.”

“What do you mean degenerate?”

“It is really quite simple Kain.” Janos pulled soemthing from a hidden pocket in his robe. "This is time," he showed Kain the deck. He drew six cards and showed them to Kain The first was a man crowned with a horizontal infinty sign baring a staff. It looked a bit like Moibius or a magican of some sort. The second was an insect at the top crawling down between to pillars, the moon below--The card was upside down kain realized. The third...It was apprent enough, a skeleton weilding a scyth atop a horse that looked dead. The next was...of some sort of horned demon head, and chains inextrcably binding two figures and the head. The fifth was A woman, one of Janos's race, the card was upsidedown, but Kain thought it looked as if she were patently pouring water from one pitcher to another. Sixth...A creature of Jano's race, blue skin, but near dead. He seemed to be doing something, and the dead, whole as the living rose from their graves."This is history. Or was."

He discarded the last and picked up the next, ten swords were painted upon it.

"Reach out to your pillar, Kain."

Kain reached out to his pillar, touching it with his mind, sensing. He feels it not recognize him, but his own guardianship call to it. He is not the balance guardian, the pillars were never corrupted and thus he is not either, but he died. And there is another in his place while he still remains the guardian due to his time jumping

"History reshuffles, cards are drawn and discarded, but they do not cease to be."

"The question is, Kain," Janos smiled, "Are we here," he held up the six cards, "Where you can do something about it, or are we here?" he held up the deck

Janos laughed as he put away the cards and walked over to his throne and got something. He spoke with a gleeful smile, as if all he just told Kain was but a joke. “All little bits for you to think on dear Kain.” He looked at the piece in his hand, then back to Kain. “It’s about time I gave this to you, dear Kain. Winged god that isn’t indeed. How about yourself? The fallen king of the vampires? Shouldn’t you have a crown for that?”

Crown? He basically evolved one oddly enough. The ridges of bone about his head was often thought as his ‘crown,’ approperate for one who had the former position. As if fate knew he would pretty much be the king of the vampires. He glared at Janos, all of everything suddenlu becoming very confusing. “What do you mean?”

Janos grinned, and held out a shaped peice of gold. “I’m going to give you a little preasent. Hold still so I can see if it will fit...” He held the piece of up to Kain’s head. The shape fit well enough against those ridges, but was too a little too tight. “This won’t do...” Janos grinned. “Guess this skin has to go.”

Ever so delicately, Janos used his claws to cut away the skin from those bony ridges. Blood dripped free, as Kain snarled, angry and in pain now. Janos took his sweet time pulling the skin away, shearing it from bone. Only though sorcery, did the lost skin not grow back. Janos became slower, with more delicateness as he removed the bit over Kain’s eyes, more blood dripping free. Janos tossed aside the bit of skin for now and pressed the piece of gold there again. “Ahh...much better.” Then, he pulled form his pocket a small bok. One of the creatures tentacles came out to hold it for Janos as he pulled form it tiny nails and a small hammer. With uncanny precision, he nailed it into place, fixing it permanently to Kain’s skull.

When he was done, Janos stepped back, admiring his handiwork. “Wonderful. I deem thee king,” he said with a grin. “It needs something though..”

Kain glared at him, wishing he sould whipe the blood out of his eyes. He had a rather nasty headache to add to the list of greivences he was very quickly compiling aganst Janos. “Are you dont’ finally so I may kill your sorry ass?”

“Oh no, sorry I need all of me. However, yes, this will do...” He unlatched the silver necklace about his throat, and pulled the red gem from it. He grinned, looking at it. He prought it up to Kain’s forehead. “Yes...that will do nicely....” He manipulated the gold, heating it with a spell, making Kain scream out in pain, and molded it to hold he gem. He kept it warn, taking another small tool from the small box. He drew small designs into the gold, heating more of it, and drawing more. The graceful designs contrasted greatly with Kain’s rough personality.

His mind reeled from the pain. Kain weakly glared at Janos,certain that the bone under the gold was now scorched for the smell. “Lovely...just lovely. It is a simple crrown....but deffienetly one the likes you you would appreciate....”

Kain frowened, hearing him emphazise the word appreciate. He knew now that Janos kept Raziel with him, on that chain. Now he was in the middle of his forehead. What the bloody hell was Janos doing? Just simply handing over the means to destroy him? Was he so mad he didn’t care? Or was he suffering to die? Vae Victus the either way....and
Kain would give it to him gladly....

He bared his teeth, keeping all these thoughts in his mind, not letting it show that little victory there. “Enjoy my preasent, dear little Kain,” Janos said, griinning still, giving him a pat on the cheek. Janos moved closer, into Kain’s face and spoke again, “And remember Kain, I will always be stronger than you. You cannot defeat me. Ever. Now begone!” He backhanded Kain hard, and teleported him away.

Kain reappeared in Vorador’s former chambers. He stood, tottering, the pain in his skull dizzying. He opened his mouth some, muttering a few uninteigable words, as he stumbled heavily forward, determined to make it to a place where he could rest. He got as far as to the bed room, and collapsed next to the bed heavily. His head bounced on the stone floor, making him groan in yet more pain. His forehead, temple and jaw hurt like nothing he’d felt before, the pain agaonizing. He reached up slowly with one hand and tried, weakly, to pull himself up onto the bed. He half succeded, at least now sitting up, leaning against the bed. He looked over at Melchiah, who was alarmed, panicking at the state of his sire. He didn’t feel the young vampire try to pull him up, passed out form his effort finally.

Melchiah tuggged in vain to get Kain up onto th bed. His still broken arm didn’t help any lest he may have succeded. Instead, he moved to sit by him, find out more of what happened. He whiped the blood from Kain’s face with a corner of a sheet and studied the new embelishment. He knew Kain wasn’t so vain, so arogent to do something to himself. He seriously wished he could do more, but he wasn’t a healer. He couldn’t heal himself much less anyone else.

<<Melchiah?>>

He jumped, shocked, not having heard that voice in so long. Tears came to his eyes. “Raziel...? H-how?...Where are you?”

<<I am here Melchiah,>> Raziel said, his voice soothing.

Melchiah looked all aorund the room, unable to see his eldest brother anywhere. “Where?”

<<Down here, the gem...>>

Melchiah looked at the gem in the middle of Kain’s forehead, seeing now it glowed softly with an inner light. “R-raziel?”

<<Shhh,>> Raziel said, still as gently. <<Everything will be fine. Tell me, how are you these days?>>

Melchiah opened hsi mouth to speak, closed itm then finally spoke. “N...not well brother. Time has treated me unfairly but I fare best out of al our brethern.”

<<Not really, dear brother. I can see you, and how ill you appear, those splints you wear. I can help you. come closer, so that I may...>>

Melchiah tilted his head, curiously, then struggled over closer to Kain. “Like...llike this?”

<<Yes dear brother. Brace yourself.>>

From the gem came a burst of light, that shined upon Melchiah, focusing on him. It washed over him, healing and restoring him. Melchiah fell over limply, gasping at the stress it put him though. He brought a hand up, touching his face and smiled. For now, his skin was smooth and not peeling. He got up, peeling the splint from him, feeling the bone healed.he losened the other one and moved around some more, dragging Kain up onto the bed. He tilted Kains; head towards him, runnign his clawed hand lightly over the gold there, looking sad. How it must have hurt....

<<Melchiah...?>>

The young vampire jumped, remembering. “T-thank you Raziel...”

<<No need little brother. Where am I? How did I come here?>>

“You’re here with me and our father. Janos...did something ot him and you’re einbedded in the middle of it.” Melchiah runs his hand tenderly over the metal again, wishing he could soothe the pain Kain must have been feeling.

<<No need. He will wake soon enough. I will help him.>>

“How did you learn this? Not even Turel knows how to heal...”

<<I think I was locked here amidst much of Janos’ former knowledge. Somehow, I recently tapped into it and embraced it. I feel...less a child against everyone else, and more....mature...because of this.>>

Melchiah tilted his head, unable to fathom what it mean, at what Raziel would be able to do now. Kain stirred, coming aware into a world of searing pain. He gasped, and a small whine came from his throat, the soft pillow his head lie on giving him no comfort.

<<He needs something cool for this,>> Raziel sugested. Again, the glow came from the gem, this time softer, and encompasing the area of metal around Kain’s forehead. Frost appeared, then a thin sheet of ice. Raziel maintained it for a couple minutes, trying to soothe his sire’s pain. When Kain took less pain stressed breaths, Raziel let the ice sheen fade. Kain moved with a little more ease, looking around at his surroundings.

“Whu...”

“Shhh,” Melchiah said. “You passed out. What happened? Is Janos...?”

“That bastard is still alive. And gave me more pain in return.” Kain’s hand came up, softly touching the metal. he asked, uncertain, “Raziel?”

<<I am here father,>> Raziel answered.

“Are you...?”

<<I'm quite fine now. You should rest, let me heal you from this. I know you probably plan vengeance still. You can do that when you are well again.>>

“No...must...”

“Must what?” Melchiah asked.

Kain looked up at his youngest, his eyes going wide. “You’re well...how?”

Melchiah smiled. “Raziel helped me. I can help you better than I would have been able to do so before.”

“Yes, but you wouldn’t be able to do much against Janos. I barely proved strong enough,” He closed his eyes, in defeat.

“No! Don’t give up!” Melchiah said, alarmed, his hand shooting out to touch Kain’s chest, pressing against it. “You taught us to never give up, even in the face of doom!”
Kain didn’t move, he stayed still where he was, breathing slowly. “Kain, please?”

Kain sighed. <<Father?>> Raziel asked. <<Please, listen to us. You're so close to achieving your goal. You cannot give up now.>>

“I’m ten steps further away now,” Kain said finally.

<<No, you're not. Nosgoth's salvation lies in your and my hands. Together, as before, and now, it's salvation was ours. We will save Nosgoth together.>>

Kain’s eyes opened up, rolling up and trying to look at his eldest son. “What do you mean before? There was no before. There was no good before this. There was fighting, you being tossed and then hell. No good times to go back to.”

<<Ahh...I see now. You don't remember do you? History has changed your memories. Before you and I were fighting to save Nosgoth. In my youthful arrogance, I disobeyed you. I took Janos' heart back to him. You tried to stop me but it was too late. I hadaccomplished this and thus, doomed Nosgoth to this place we know now. I seen my mistake long ago. I am sorry for the grief I have caused you for this. Now, I only wish to right this now.>>

Kain shook his head sadly. “So that is why....everything went to hell.....why?”

<<I saw is as a great wrong as my former self and brothers charged in and stole Janos' heart from him. I know, or knew people like him. Gentle minded and harmless unless absolutely necessary. He was weakened by that damned staff of Moebius' and slaughtered like an animal. And I had a hand in it. I was the one who had done the deed itself. I sought to redeem myself and hopefully get some answers as well.>>

Kain closed his eyes and did not speak for a minute. Self hatred burned in his mind now. “It was my fault then....for all of this, not you....I whould have been more open and straight with you rather than what I had been doing up until then.”

<<It matters little now. It is the past. We both have seen our mistakes and will hopefully learn from them. It's what we do /now/ that really matters.>>

Kain shook his head again. “Nothing matters now...”

Melchiah bared his fangs,anger rising, so out of place within his gentle personality. He raised a hand and backhanded Kain across the jaw, something he wouldn’t have thought of once or dared to do in the past. “You cease with that now!” Kain’s eyes went wide, his headache coming back as bad as before, making him coil up in pain, shocked from the young vampire’s actions. Melchiah growled as he spoke, “Listen, if I gave up like this while I lived in the sewers I wouldn’t have survived for a decade much less this past millenia. If I can uphold hope for that long you can now for a few more days until you solve this.”

Kain stared at Melchiah, almost frightened of him even. “M..Melchiah...?”

Melchiah’s manner softened. “Father please....seeing you give up so easily after having had seen you decimate human strongholds is heartbreaking. You can do this.”

<<I remember those cards Janos showed you. I can help you when you are ready. Those cards seemed to be a key to this.>>

“When I am ready yes...” Kain said, rubbing what he could of his forehead and jaw.

“Sorry...” Melchiah started.

“Don’t be....I needed it...” Kain said, lying heavily now, limp.

“Rest,” Melchiah said.

Kain noded, agreeing. He smiled a little at the thought of how far his sons had come over time. How nobles and kings alike had fallen, how far teh humble nigh on vampire god had fallen....and thought it all how his sons had pulled together the means to save everything with out his help. The finally has set aside tehir differences, their petty squabling, and pulled together for the good of all despite the heavy cost to themselves. Pride swelled within him. He really had taught them well....

Melchiah smiled, seeing Kain had drifted asleep, a gentle smile upon his face. He pulled the covers up over him, and got up to leave him to rest. <<Please stay...,>> Raziel said quietly before Melchiah had the chance to leave the room. Melchiah turned, a soft smile of his own on his face. He sat down again, careful of jostling his father.

“Yes Raziel?”

<<Stay strong little brother. Things that are coming are not going to be easy.>>

“I realize this. I will do all that I can.”

<<No. Worse than you know....,>> Raziel said sadly.

“I’ve braved those risks before. I will do so again. If my sacrefice will help any, I will go on happy,” Melchiah said, somberly.

If Raziel could, he would have given his brother a reasurring look, possibly more, but he couldn’t really, in his current state. He had a bad feeling about what was was yet to happen. That few would escape it alive to go back and heal history so that the future maybe brighter. First, he wanted to be free, then save Janos from himself before repairing the past. He was sure they oculd do it without having to kill the Anchient, but it was very likely they would have to anyways. He had the power to see all that stood beneath him, and any attempt on their part would be no different.

<<You should perhaps rest as well, or at least ready yourself,>> Raziel suggested.

“There is little more I can do really.” Melchiah looked off, a sad yet happy glint in his pale yellow eyes. “You know....he discovered it finally....not too long ago...”

<<Discovered what?>>

“The talent I was so worried of showing him...”

<<The one that Zephon was so jealous of...you were quite good. I am no judge, but you are.>>

Melchiah smiled gently. “Yes....and I was afraid all that time for nothing....”

Raziel would have smiled. <<I told you that you had nothing to fear. That he would understand. If he didn't why do you think he would have kept you alive when he had executed so many weaklings? Because although he is very critical, he is still our father.>>

“I know. You were right all along.”

<<You really should rest or get ready,> > Raziel said.

Melchiah nodded. “You’re right. Is there anything I can get you before I do so?”

<<I'd say a drink, but that's not quite possible.>>

Melciah smiled and laughed quietly. “Yes...how do you plan to free yourself from there?”

<<Kain will manage to do so...I will tell him when he wakens. Thanks to Turel again for giving him the power to do so.>>

“Turel? How? When? He’s little more than a mindless slave....”

<<I've seen what Janos has seen. In Kain's journey to Zephon's caves he found a message out brothers left there for him along with the means to save Nosgoth.>>

“Does this mean that Janos is watching us...even now?”

>

“What hope do we have to do anything if he is watching our moves?”

<<Not necessarily. He did so only when it amused him.>>

Melchiah nodded his head slowly, sadly. “I should go now. I have something I want to do before I rest.”

<<He will find us either way. A confrontation will happen no matter what and he will have to die. Again. It is sad that we must do so, but he is far, far beyond salvation. What is left of the man I met once before is gone.>>

Melchiah nodded his head slowly, sadly. "I should go now. I have something I want to do before I rest."

<<Alright. Don't be too long.>>

Melchiah got up from the bed, and walked out the dor, slipping into the shadows. He slipped to the lower levels after he grabbed one slave. He crept into the area of the small shack he lived in once. He quietly walked up to the unstable wooden/metal structure and crept inside. He drew back in shock, seeing that Vorador wasn’t there. He looked about the place quickly, fear striking his mind. What if he wasn’t strong nough when Kain left him, if he has passed on in his sleep...

He looked for distinctive ashes, or any evidence of the elder vampire and found none. In the surrounding area there was nothing to lead him to believe that Vorador had wandered off much less if something had killed him or carried him off. He panicked, and started off. then turned, remembering hte human. With a clawed hand, he killed teh human and left him, then ran off back to the upper levels.

He burst into the room, panting, and ran into the bedroom. He looked around panicking still. “Kain!” Melchiah jumped to th bed and shook his father.

<<What is it Melchiah? Why wake him? He should rest....>>

“It’s Vorador....he’s gone! Kain, please wake up!”

Kain stirred, grumbling angerly due to his headache. “Whaaaat?”

“Vorador is missing! I went to check on him and he wasn’t there!”

Kain sat up, alarmed, then fell back, half curling up, groaning and clutching his head. “Nooo....argh!” He groaned and straightened, the gem that held Raziel glowing it’s healing light again. “Thank you....” He sat up again, this time not in so much pain. “What do you mean he is missing?”

“He wasn’t there. It didn’t look like he got up, died or if somehting killed or ran off with him. I can’t explain it,” Melchiah said.

Kain moved, pulling himself up. “How...?” he asked, mroe to himself than to anyone else.

<<It must have been Janos,>> Raziel said.

“No! That bastard!” Kains said, jumping out of bed and angerly ehading to the door.

<<No! Kain stop! It's what Janos wants!>> Raziel yelled, trying to reason with Kain's angry mind.

Kain growled as he froze before hte door, hearing Raziel’s call. He roared, and threw a chair across the room, shattering it on the floor. He clenched his fists and growled. “You’re right,” He said finally. “Where could he be?”

Raziel sighed, relieved. <<I do not know. I fear for his life though.>>

Kain nodded gravely. He started to pace the room, trying to htink of what to do, how to rescue Vorador....

<<Might I suggest you free me?>> Raziel said.

“How? I have no idea how....?” Kain said.

<<Rahab might know....>>

“I haven’t time to try and talk to him again!”

<<Then give me a minute. I"m sure Janos left something here to guide me out.>> Raziel went quiet after that, searching his mind. <<Wait...Turel...we need his help...>>

“Need I remind you of your brother’s current state of mind?” Kain said, annoyed.

<<No, we can awaken his mind. Janos did it to him and I have Janos' power. I can reverse it.>>

“What needs to be done? We may not have much time, perhaps I can do it...” Kain said.

<<I literally need to be pulled from this. I can imagine yanking something from your own head as not being easy.>>

“Nothing I’ve ever done in my life has been easy,”Kain said. He reached up, willing it, he grasped the gem in his forehead and tried to focus on somethingt o grap ahold of. slowly it worked. It felt like he had grasped a small hand and arm. As he pulled, it grew larger, mroe life like than doll like. Melchiah stood across the room, confused, but he comes over and helps his sire pull his brother free. Now, started free, Melchiah had enough strenth to yank his elder brother free from his prision. Kain fell one way, while his other two sons fellt he other way.

Kain shook his head, dizzy fromt his. He looked over at his two sons, eldest and youngest, heaped in a pile near the couch, trying to untangle their limbs. His eyes went wide at the appearence of his eldest. So changed noe from what he had been, and the withered thing he had become later. He looked now like one of those beings from the paintings in the Anchient’s ruins all over Nosgoth. his dark wings spread ans streched, glinting vibrently with almost unseen colors in the light. His hair was the same, a mixture of shorter hair framing his handsom face, the rest drawn back and fastened. He wore similar clothing to that of the Anchients that only served to accentuate his well built form.

Melchiah sat on the floor, under the new form of his eldest brother, awstruck, mouth gaping. Raziel smiled warmly to him and offered a hand to help him up. Melchiah allowed hismelf to be pulled up and steadied by him. Raziel smiled still, then took him into his arms in a full hug. “I missed you dear brother,” Raziel said. Melchiah held onto him tightly, shaking some. Raziel had to pry him away, but did not win that ‘fight’ for Kain quickly grapped him and embraced him as well. Raziel struggled in the stronger grasp and had to fight Kain away from himself.

Panting, “We must go. We have to save Vorador still. We can have a happy reunion later,” Raziel said. Kain nodded, pushing aside this bit of happiness os as to bring about more later.

“Where do we go? Where would Janos hide Vorador?”

Raziel closed his eyes, using his new found powers to search the building. He picked up his targets. “We must go below and outside. Vorador is below. Janos is outside, waiting. I will deal with him. You should go to Vorador...”

Kain gave Raziel a worried look athis suggestiona nd how he said it. Kain hissed and tosses horrafying thoughts aside. “Where below?”

Raziel looked at him, into his pale yellow eyes, and Kain noddedm picking up the map RAziel’s mind just sent him. “Melchiah, you stay here no matter what happens. I think you would be safest here,” Raziel suggested.

Melchiah nodded and watched as the two left the room, dashing down the hallway to their destanies. He had a bad feeling though. That not everything was going to be so simple as throught. A couple minutes after they left, he went to sit down, but paused half way. His eyes glazed over and he started to walk stiffly in the other direction, towards the door, then was teleported away.

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