They had spent years hunting the vile creature, renowned as the oldest and most powerful of all vampires. One of their garrisons stationed near Uschtenheim had reported seeing another being scouring around the nearby area. Very little information on this creature had returned as he had vanished before the Sarafan troops could get a better look at him. All that was known was that he was tall with the typical vampire claws and oddly, blue skin. Raziel had assumed that it was one of the offspring of their quarry, Janos Audron. The vile beast Janos Audron was known to have a lair nearby but no way had been found to infiltrate his hideout. They had placed the impaled corpses of other vampires within view of his hideout in order to flush him out into the open, but to no avail. That was until the other creature had been seen nearby. The Sarafan warriors had pursued him across the frozen lake until he had disappeared suddenly. They had called for reinforcements and he had been personally dispatched by Malek, who had received the order from the Time Streamer Moebius himself. As they made their final preparations to leave, the Time Streamer had approached them.

“Take heed Raziel, Janos Audron is a powerful foe. Conventional weapons will not harm him. Take my staff in order to disable him, so that you can cut his black heart from his body.”

Raziel had reluctantly taken the staff. There was something about the Time Streamer that made him uneasy. He did not completely trust him. He wasn’t sure why exactly. Still he was a guardian of the circle and the circle had to be obeyed. They had begun this purge of the unholy vampire menace. As he made to leave to gather his troops, Moebius had turned to him again. 

“Remember to retrieve the Reaver, Raziel. Without their precious weapon the vampires will be no match for the Sarafan armies.”

The Reaver was a legendary weapon possessed by the great evil himself, Janos Audron. It was rumoured to be ancient, older than even the pillars. It was said that one touch of the Reaver would drain a man of his blood entirely. Most dismissed it as a myth, except for the members of the circle, who were wise enough to see the truth behind such a legend. To capture it would strike a great blow against the ability of the vampire menace to resist.

“What of Lord Malek?” asked Raziel. “Will he be accompanying us on this kill?”

“No, he has more important duties here guarding the Circle. Now go, your destiny awaits you. There will be songs sung in your honour once you have slain the great beast. You will be regarded as a saint! I guarantee it.”

With that the Time Streamer had disappeared. Raziel stalked off in search of his troops. Something about the Time Streamers words had disturbed him. 

By the time he had arrived with two of his most trusted Sarafan brethren, Dumah and Turel, and a squad of Sarafan, most of the garrison nearby were dead, reportedly killed by the blue demon. More martyrs, their names would live on in song and prayer long after the vampire scourge had been wiped from the face of Nosgoth. The creature had somehow opened a hole in the rock leading into the sanctuary of Janos Audron. A snow lined passage lay on the other side of the opening, footprints that were unmistakably vampiric in nature led into the sanctuary. After all their waiting, they finally had him. With him destroyed it would not be long before the rest of the vampire race would topple into extinction. The inquisitor had gathered his troops around him. 

“Dumah, scout ahead, make sure that the area is safe. Turel check the perimeter.”

Dumah motioned some swordsmen to follow him and set off along the passage into the aerie. Turel ordered his soldiers to spread out around the perimeter of the fortress. A few moments later Raziel could hear Dumah’s voice, followed by that of Turel.

“All clear.” they had both shouted

Raziel and the rest of the troops had followed. Once inside he was shocked by the scale of the sanctuary. The sanctuary was a hollowed out mountain. He had never expected the creatures hideout to be this vast! Still he had not let it faze him. Their target was near and soon a great evil would be banished from Nosgoth. He ran towards the ramp leading along a network of passages, to a doorway at the top. Along the way they had encountered a few thralls, little more than animated corpses, and these were dealt with quickly and efficiently. He was certain that the doorway led to Janos Audron. Once at the doorway, he had paused to listen. He could hear voices. One was unmistakably that of Janos Audron, but the other sounded familiar also. He was certain he heard his name mentioned and something about the Reaver. Perhaps Janos Audron and that other vile fiend Vorador were planning to assassinate the leaders of the Sarafan using the Reaver. Without the Sarafan, the circle would have no trustworthy guardians and would be left open to assault from the vampire menace. He almost screamed in anger. The arrogance of these creatures! It would give him great pleasure to rip out the heart of Janos Audron and present it as a trophy to the Circle. Moebius was right, he would be considered a saint! 

He had called for the rest of his troops to break down the door. He did not care if he was heard or not. Righteous fury energized him. How dare these vile creatures taint Nosgoth with their existence. He would wipe their unholy race out, down to the very last fledgeling. None would be spared his blade. With a loud battle cry, he had charged at the door, smashing it open. 

In front of him stood their prey, Janos Audron. Even Raziel had to admire the strange beauty of the creature before him. He stood tall, with blue skin and most magnificently of all a large pair of feathered black wings. There was something almost godlike about the creature. He reminded Raziel of drawings he had seen in the caves throughout Nosgoth as a child. He would not let this fool him though. No matter his appearance, this was still the great beast Janos Audron, who was the father of the vampire scourge that infected Nosgoth. But it was the other creature that stood beside Janos Audron, that caught his attention.

He was undoubtedly the other voice they had heard. Compared to Janos Audron he was a monstrosity. While he also had blue skin, he had a wasted, destroyed appearance. He gave the impression of a corpse recently resurrected. Their seemed barely any flesh on his bones. He wore an ancient looking shawl around the lower part of his face and what seemed some sort of tattered cloak on his back. There was something else about him though, a gnawing sense of recognition. As soon as this creature had seen them, he let out a scream of rage and charged at them. Janos Audron had restrained him though and laid his hands on this wasted being. He spoke something and then the other creature had vanished, leaving only Janos Audron at their mercy. Although the other creature had not looked capable of putting up much of a fight, it would have been only right to impale him on a spear and display him with the rest of the vanquished vampire scourge in the swamps. Still, at least they had the one they had come for. He would not elude them this time!

The other Sarafan had rushed forward to hold the creature still while Raziel cut out his heart. Even weakened by the energy of the staff, the vampire still put up a struggle. He tried beating his wings to escape from the fortress and when this failed he began kicking and pushing at the surrounding Sarafan. He managed to knock a few of his tormentors away from him and made a grab for the Reaver blade that lay open in a decorated box nearby. It was of no avail however.

“Hold him!” ordered Raziel.

He had stood above the weakened creature and smiled at the sight of the fear in it’s eyes. What he was about to do would be remembered throughout history. He would be proclaimed as saviour of Nosgoth. Him and his fellow Sarafan brethren would be guaranteed Sainthood. He paused a few more seconds to savour this moment. Then without another seconds delay he brought his weapon down and ripped open the chest of Janos Audron. He reached in and tore out the creatures still beating heart. He raised it in the air for the other Sarafan to see. He could see the pride in their eyes. He considered tearing the creatures wings from it’s back and parading it’s broken body throughout Nosgoth.

“Look at his black heart, how it still beats!” shouted Turel unable to hide the amazement in his voice.

At that moment Raziel had noticed something out of the corner of his eye and looked up. There in front of him was the other demonic creature again. It just stared at him, ready to leap into battle but frozen by something. Raziel had felt the same. Something about this creature transfixed him and rooted him to the spot. There was an awful sense of familiarity about it. At this moment, a tremor rocked through the structure!

“The fiend intends to bury us alive!” shouted someone, possibly Dumah.

All that had mattered for Raziel at that moment was this strange abomination facing him. He could not explain what had held him to that spot, instead of slaying this foul beast as he had Janos Audron. It must have been magic! And yet it had not felt like magic. It was something far more powerful. He was roused from his trance by Dumah.

“Raziel, we must get out of here!”

Still unable to tear his eyes away from the demonic creature in front of him, he commanded the Sarafan:

“Remember the sword!”

He had seen Dumah pick up the Reaver. He had felt the still beating heart of Janos Audron in his hand. He gestured to the other Sarafan and they had rushed out of the chamber, back out onto the ice. They did not wait around to watch the structure collapse. They made haste to return to the Sarafan Stronghold and proudly display their spoils of victory to the Circle. Surely they would become saints for this great deed.

On his return to the Sarafan Stronghold he had informed Malek of the victory over the great beast Janos Audron and also of the encounter with the blue skinned demon. Malek had listened intently and had been about to report to the circle when Moebius had approached.

“I do not think that the other members of the circle should be disturbed by this information at this precise moment in time. However, I will make them aware of these circumstances when the time is appropriate.” the Time Steamer had informed them.

“For the moment” he had continued “it would be prudent to make sure that we are protected from any possible revenge attack from Janos Audron’s demonic spawn. Lord Raziel, I will leave the arrangements to you. Malek, you will accompany me! We must make sure that the Reaver and the black heart of Janos Audron are well protected from any attempts to reclaim them.”

As Moebius and Malek had left, Raziel turned to the gathered Sarafan. Among them were Turel and Dumah, as well as Melchiah, Zephon and Rahab. Each were loyal Sarafan who would gladly give up their lives to protect the circle. Raziel thought for a few moments before speaking:

“Melchiah and Zephon, I want you to proceed to the cloister and ensure that any invaders who reach there do not proceed further. Rahab and Dumah, you will guard the main sanctuary. Turel will guard the choir of the sanctuary. I will guard the Chapter House. We must ensure that the Circle is protected at all costs. To your positions my brothers!”

That had been hours ago. Now he prayed and waited. If the foul demon ever managed to get this far, they had a surprise waiting for him. He would not escape this time. He had heard sounds of battle outside and the screams of the Sarafan warriors as they fell. They would be remembered as martyrs who died trying to protect the circle. He did not know what Moebius was planning but it was not his position to ask. He had been told to protect the circle and he would do this, even if it meant his death.

Most troubling were the other screams he had heard. Those that cried out for Malek, those belonging to the Circle of nine. He did not know what disaster had befallen them and for a moment was torn between rushing to their aid or holding his current position. Then he heard the laughter and that voice that echoed throughout the Sarafan stronghold:

“Call your dogs - they can feast on your corpses!”

It was unmistakably that of a vampire. There was only one being who could possibly be powerful enough to get that close to the circle, the vampire Vorador. Raziel had often heard tales of him but had never faced him in battle. To kill such a creature would be a great honour indeed. But where was Malek? He had sworn to protect the circle. That was his duty. Raziel wondered briefly what had become of the protector of the circle. Had he been killed? Had he been detained somewhere else? Or had he simply stood by paralysed with fear as the circle were attacked? Perhaps Raziel should go to their aid. If the circle were to fall to such a vile being such as Vorador, then who could protect Nosgoth against the vampire plague and halt the rising tide of corruption that was sweeping the land? The Sarafan were strong but Raziel knew that if the Circle of Nine was destroyed, then the Sarafan would be severely weakened until new guardians were chosen. Raziel was preparing to make his way towards the circle when he heard nearby sounds of battle coming from the cloister. Had Vorador turned towards them? Was he seeking vengeance for the destruction of Janos Audron? How glorious it would be for Raziel to kill two of the greatest demons in Nosgoths history on the same day. Perhaps it was the blue demon come seeking vengeance and not Vorador? Whichever one it was, he would enjoy executing them and displaying the creatures corpse on a stake in the swamps with all the others. 

He heard a short scream followed by another. The voices were unmistakable. Melchiah and Zephon had fallen to the intruder. He prayed for their souls and readied himself for battle. Although the remaining three were capable warriors, he could not take the chance of the invader penetrating any further into the Stronghold. More sounds of battle, closer this time,
coming from the main sanctuary. Two more screams. Rahab and Dumah had fought valiantly but to no avail, they would be honoured as saints. Would Turel be able to stop the creature? If not he would be ready! He would prevent this creature from going any further! Righteousness flowed through him. He would do whatever it took to kill this creature, even if it meant sacrificing his own life in the process. He heard a scream coming from the choir of the sanctuary, Turels, and the voice of the creature gloating. He recognized that voice from Janos Audrons sanctuary. So the blue demon had come seeking vengeance. Raziel would make sure he suffered the same fate as the vile winged one had.

The door opened and Raziel watched as the blue demon stepped across the threshold. As he did the portcullis slammed down. Raziel wondered briefly who was meant to be trapped here. Had Moebius planned this for him all along? Were he and his brethren merely a diversion, while Moebius and the circle dealt with Vorador? He abandoned these thoughts. He had no time for pointless speculation. All that mattered was the threat now facing him. With hate burning inside him for the wasted creature now approaching him. Behind all that hate though, gnawing at the back of his mind was the same strange sense of recognition and familiarity that had plagued him the last time he had encountered the creature. He put it aside and addressed the demonic figure before him:

“So, vampire here we are. You've destroyed my brethren and now you've come 
for me? You'll find I am not such easy prey.”

The creature stared at him with those seemingly empty yellow eyes and spoke:

“I don't want to kill you, but I will if I must. Return the heart to me, and 
we can end this now.”

The creatures response surprised the Sarafan Inquisitor. These blasphemous creatures were never reasonable or reluctant to kill. He knew the vampire must be trying to trick him into letting him pass. It would not work. He was not fooled by these empty words. He spoke scornfully to the vampire:

“So you've come to avenge that filthy parasite, and reclaim his foul heart? You're a righteous fiend, aren't you?”

“Apparently I am” replied the fiend.

There it was again. That same strange sense of recognition, yet he was certain he did not know this creature. Possibly he was a former Sarafan who had been cursed by the vampiric plague or someone from the same village as he. Those were unlikely possibilities. No Sarafan warrior would willingly allow himself to be turned and any who were infected were hunted down and executed immediately. As for the second possibility... No, he had wiped his home village clear of vampires and vampire sympathizers upon becoming an inquisitor. What was with these strange thoughts? The fiend must be using some strange power to cloud his mind. Anger rose up inside him and he was possessed of a cold righteous fury.

“No, vampire. This is where it ends, but you won't be leaving this room. Now, 
let's finish this - I'll make it mercifully quick.” he replied. He wanted this to be over, for this creature to be dead, so the confusion and uncertainty would pass.

“As you did for Janos?” responded the blue skinned creature.

Raziel thought of the removal of that creatures black heart and laughed. He would savour that memory for as long as he lived.

“No. That beast had eluded us for far too long. It would have been a shame to end him too quickly.” 

He looked for any reaction from the fiend before continuing:

“It's ironic, really - the 'great Janos Audron' turned out to be no challenge 
at all... thanks to you. Did you hear his cowardly screams when I tore that 
black heart out of his carcass?” 

The blue fiend could not contain his rage any more. Raising the Reaver he charged at the Sarafan Inquisitor. Raziel dodged and managed to parry the blow. He attempted to slash with his own sword but the creature was too fast. It simply leapt out of the way of the blade and attempted to slash at him with the Reaver. Raziel barely dodged in time and received a gash along the edge of his chest armour. He would have to be more careful. Despite it’s wasted appearance, this creature was a skilled combatant. It attempted another slash and Raziel managed to spin out of the way at the last second, the creatures momentum carrying it past him leaving it’s back exposed. Raziel was slightly surprised to see that what he had originally taken for a cloak were instead two flaps of skin which may at one stage have been wings. Seizing the opportunity he delivered a devastating blow to the creatures back. It screamed in frustration and fell forwards flat on it’s face, yet it did not drop the Reaver.

Raziel prepared to deliver a crippling blow which would leave the creature open for the kill. He edged in closure and readied his sword. As he brought the sword down, the creature rolled backwards and kicked at him, temporarily disorienting him. Impossible! Such a blow should have at least stunned his opponent but it reacted as if it had barely felt the blow. He regained his balance and leapt forward, intending to impale the creature with his sword. It leapt backwards against a nearby pillar. Raziel lunged at it, slashing wildly, in the hope of dealing a mortal wound to the creature. Much to his surprise the creature merely leapt up against the pillar and clung to it for a few seconds before jumping off over Raziel to land behind him. Raziel turned too quickly and momentarily lost his balance. This was enough for his opponent, for as he turned around to face it, he felt the Reaver impale him. It was a strange sensation, completely unlike other sword injuries he had sustained over the years during combat with other vampire fiends. 

He watched as the blood from his wound flowed along the Reaver as it fed from him. He raised his head to regard the wasted demon, it had to be a demon, for no Vampire could have bested him so easily. He held it’s gaze for what seemed almost an eternity. That vague recognition began to grow and gain momentum. As he studied his opponents features part of him began to form a vague understanding. He could feel the darkness around him which he knew would overwhelm him shortly, if only he could piece together this strange understanding that was beginning to form. His train of thought was interrupted by the creature as it spoke:

“I renounce you!” it said with finality. Raziel tried to understand what it meant. He wanted to speak but could only gasp. He was so close to a realization but he could feel the darkness closing in and knew that it was too late. Unconsciousness overtook him and he knew death was near. The last sensation he had was of the blade being withdrawn from him and of falling. The darkness enveloped him and he felt nothing anymore. There was only darkness.......