Statues in the human cities were reduced to rubble, Temples of worship to the Sarafan and the Circle were desecrated , Murals of the Sarafan priests were torn to shreds and the human worsipers stood and watched in awestruck horror as to what seemed to their eyes a Demon who plauged their city with chaos. They feared that he would kill for his own plight to spite their Protectors. Although Vorador hated humans with a passion, he would never unjustly kill to satisfy his prejudice.It was against the vampire code.

"We only kill in order to feed on the blood that gives us life.' Janos once told him when Vorador was a fledgling vampire. " It is by means for our survival. Never kill a mortal unless you intend to drink his blood. To kill for pleasure is to be no better than the humans themselves, my young friend."

Although he hated to admit it Vorador knew that Janos was right, despite all of the enraged emotions that he had against human kind. Reflecting on the knowledge his mentor had given him, Vorador continued to walk through the peaceful forest terrain . At least this place is better than home, He thought to himself. Peace and quiet is what I need to relax and enjoy what the night has to offer. He looked up into the starlit sky and for once a gentle smile crept up upon his face.

He remembered centuries ago When Janos took him to Nosgoth's mountain region when he was younger to look at the stars.It was there that Jaunos explainded to him the history of the Winged Gaurdians. He also spoke with great detail the battle between the Winged race and of the Demon race known as the Hylden for controll over Nosgoth and the world. " The Hlyden wanted nothing but the destruction of the land so tht they might shape the world to their whim.

If that happened all life in this planet would cease to exist. That is why our kind fought for many aeons to protect Nosgoth. We constructed the Pillars of Nosgoth. Nine members of our race in a heroic act of Courage used a part of their own life energies to bind the nine pillars,each with it's own purpose and power to the land. Thus they were the first gaurdians of the pillars."

"However during that time the gaurdians knew that even the pillars couldn't withstand the Hylden's destructive forces. In order to protect the pillars and themselves, the Guardians had a unatural ,yet powerful weapon forged by vampiric energy to drain the enemies' blood from their bodies. It was also meant to serve as the key to unlock the pillars magical lore and release it upon the Hylden. Do you know what I am talking about, young Vorador? Vorador's eyes widened with suprise" Soul Reaver!?, Vorador said with disbelief. " But master Janos I thought the Reaver was nothing but a myth." "No my friend ' Exclaimed Janos Audron, his expression turned seriously cold." The Soul Reaver is as real as you and I standing upon this cliff. Its primary pupose was to drain the life's blood of its victims as it grew an imense power. When the war was won and the Hylden were sealed into another demention the gaurdians had me place the Reaver into a hidden location and proclaimed me the Tenth gaurdian."

"To ensure it's saftey and to make sure that the Reaver wouldn't be placed into the wrong hands, I always kept it at my side." Janos pulled out the Legendary weapon from his cloak and Allows Vorador to examine it. Voador, amazed that his master would allow him to even see such a powerful weapon extends his clawed hand to touch the Reaver's blade. It was cold as death and he felt a strange emptiness within himself looking upon the blade. The white skull, that was fused into the hilt shone in the light of the moon with an ominous glow, yet Vorador could strangley feel its undeniable power. Then Janos removed the Reaver from his sight and slid it back within his cloak.

" However,' Janos began once again focusing back to his story. "The Demon race, in order to punish us for their defeat put a curse upon our kind for all eternity, that we would never be able to see the light of day again. We were given the thirst for the blood or the living as a reminder of our fate. It wasn't long before the humans turned against us and overthrew the vampiric circle who gaurded the pillars generation after generation. In a sense the Hylden had won the battle somewhat, for the curse reduced us to paracites. Never again would our kind enjoy the pleasures of the light, but remain in darkness."

"Such is the price for our existance. Human sorcerers now serve the pillars protect thier kind, while blinding others to their ignorance."

" Yes. They now claim that vampires are the plauge of the land and that we must be destroyed at all costs", replied young Vorador,disgusted of the very thought. Do you hate them Master?  for what they are doing?" No, Vorador" Janos replied sadly. " I do not hate them. Humans fear what they do not understand and they hate what they fear. It's in their nature. You were once human as well, remember?"

Vorador cringed thinking that he was once one of them. "Yes I remember vaguely, though i'm not anymore since you found me and brought me back from the brink of oblivion."

" Indeed". Replied Janos chuckling. I believe it is time to go my young friend. Dawn is coming soon and it is best that we head back to the Retreat, unless you desire a secound death?"

' I think not master Janos', said Vorador. Besides we must head back anyway to feed."

A tear ran down Vorador's cold marble green skin remembering that night. Things will never change old friend. Humans will always fear and hate us for what we are no matter how hard our kind has tried to coexist with them. In the end it's either us or the humans that remain. His catlike eyes were burning now, the tears running down the side of his face. To his other vampire comrades, Vorador never showed any sign of emotion as he thought and considered it a weakness, but here in the forest he was able to be at ease and comfortable with what he was feeling. It was the only time he could truly be himself, of course that feeling did not last long.

From what it seemed to be out of nowhere, Vorador could faintly detect the scent of Vampire blood. Then he heard a scream coming from nearby. Being at ease was no longer a luxury he could afford since he knew that danger was approaching his way. With quick accuracy and tremendous speed he accended atop one of the trees, eagarly he watched in the distance as a young woman was running and what seemed to be a small bundle she was carring close to her chest. His first instict was to kill her and take her blood , however, Vorador remained where he was and watched in uttermost facination as three armed sarafan guards were chasing after this woman as she ran closer towards his direction. The scent of vampire blood was getting stronger and he realized that it was coming from the woman whose dress was covered in it.

Alas, when she could no longer out run the sarafan guards and she collapsed upon the ground directly below Vorador who was sitting in a sturdy tree branch, watching in awe to the events that were about to take place on this night.

Finaly the Sarafan had caught up to the tired woman and drew their weapons. "You have ran far enough, wench." said the first guard. The woman held the bundle against her chest tightly but carefully, hatred gazed over here eyes to her captors. "We have come in the name of master Moebius." replied the third guard " He requests that we capture you and the child alive. Of course he only desires mainly the child." said the first guard. gripping his sword tighter now, ready to strike at any given moment. Vorador watched in amazement as the woman stood her ground, not surrendering to the guards requests. She was a true beauty, her hair dark brown, matted down with dry blood. She was a frail creature to the look, nevertheless, from what he sensed from her was a burning determination to protect her child, willingly accepting her death, which was to say inevitable.

She looked up into the sky staring into the stars, then a dark figure caught her eye from within the trees. Vorador saw her look up at him and smile, her dark green eyes burning within his own apostate soul. Her elbony face scarred forever in his memory. No human had ever look at him the way she did. Most of them either ran away in fear or tried to kill him. He knew that this woman was different. She put her head down staring at here attackers. She knew that Vampire was reading her thoughts. Take care of my child, my vampire friend. She said telepathically.  He was shocked at first to hear her ask him, a vampire, to take care of a child of course then he understood.

"So what is your answer, Vampire lover?' said the second guard with an angry tone." Give us the child or die in the wilderness, where the wild beasts will feast upon your corpse!" Shouted the first guard." First you kill my beloved, then you want my child. What makes you think I will give HIM to YOU!? You will NEVER have my child. You'll have to pry him away from my cold dead fingers!" Shouted the angry woman. Enraged and tired of the woman's defiance the first guard raised his sword and beheaded her all right in front of Vorador himself. Filled with a rage and hatred he could not subdue he jumped from his perch within the tree and lunged at the guard. "MURDERER!!!" Vorador screamed as he grabbed the frightened guard by the throat, tearing out his heart and then hurling the body at the remaining two guards. The vampire's eyes changed from bright yellow to blood red in a matter of seconds. his fangs grew larger their normal size, his talon like claws became longer and sharper than any known blade. His body grew twice the size it was before. This was the monster within Vorador that so many of his victims saw before their deaths. Now he would claim two more by means of revenge for unjustly killing an innocent mother protecting her child and a fellow vampire.

The two remaining Sarafan guards, frightened for their lives still had their weapons drawn and waited for their chance to attack to what was seen in their eyes, an evil monstrosity.

"Have you come for your death as well, Bloodsucker?" Said the third guard "We shall tear you to peices in the name of the Sarafan!" replied the second guard. Vorador stood his ground, ignoring the both of them. He could bearley contain his rage now." Killing my kind in the name of righteousness,while being masked over by your blood lust is one thing, though it turns my stomach, however, murdering a mother protecting her child is something I will not stand for, no matter who she was or what crime she committed. Now you will pay for what you've done! The only one who will be tearing your carcasses to shreds will be ME!"

Finaly the second guard raised his sword and lunged for Vorador's chest. "Die, you vile Demon!" were the last words form his mouth before Vorador slashed open his throat while tearing the guards arms form his body and throwing them to the ground. The third guard, seeing that there was no possible way to defeat such a creature he saw before him began to run,however, he didn't go very far for Vorador conjured up a ball of destructive energy and hurled it at the horrified mortal, flaying him alive as he screamed in agony until he died.

Upon feeding on all three of the dead guards he heard the short cries of the defensless child. that was wrapped in wolve's skin stained with his mother's blood.

As he picked up the baby with his own clawed hands, he saw that he had the same distinct features as his mother. Dark brown hair and small green eyes. The wilderness is no place for you, my young friend. I will take care and protect you like I promised your mother I would.

As if reading Vorador's thoughts the child smiled at him, extenting his small arm gently stroking Vorador's face. The old Vampire held his small hand within his claw.After all, you are part vampiric and I would never turn my back upon my own kind." Well that is Very admirable of you my friend". Vorador turned in time to see Janos Audron standing before him.

" Master Janos!," Exclaimed Vorador in Supprise." So it unfolds at last. The child is found..." Janos paused for a moment. "I don't understand, my Lord." Replied Vorador puzzled. "Do you remember when I explained to you the Keeper of the Reaver?' Asked Jaunos." The one destined to save our world." " But you don't mean..." Janos finished what Vorador was thinking in a reply. " Yes, my friend. That child is the one chosen by fate to unlock the magic of the pillars. And we must do all that we can to prepare him for his destiny. This night, us being here... it was all preordained and foretold long ago.

At first Vorador couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had just rescued a child from the Sarafan's hands not knowing that this was the one destined to become the key to Nosgoth's salvation, however, now as he stood there with the child in his arms it all came to full circle in his mind. The Timestreamer, Moebius knew that this child was chosen and had his" dogs" retreive the child so that he might have the chance to raise him upon a lie, of course what the old man didn't forsee was Vorador being there to foil his sick plan. So the old fool wants the child? Well he shall not have him I will see to it that he will never bring harm upon this innocent creature. Janos never steered me wrong before so I will trust him now.

" Bring me the child, Vorador." Janos commanded. He obeyed and brought the sleeping baby to his Master. Janos Audron used his sharp claw to cut open his wrist. A dark liquid oozed out slowly as he submerged his claws in his own blood. Extending out to the sleeping child's fore head, Janos marked him with the blood and chanted in the anchient vampiric tounge,his eyes closed as Vorador watched in bewilderment. When he was finished, Janos opened his eyes and smiled gently at the small child. "In the ways of the Vampire and all things sacred to our race I hereby give you the name.....Raziel. Destined to save us all."

He then turned to Vorador. " This child is to be under your care. Look after him and raise him as he were your own son. Teach him and guide him to the history of our kind and our ways. Protect him with your own life if you have to. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, my lord,' Vorador said and nodded in understanding, looking at the sleeping baby.. " It will be an honor."

"This will not be an easy task my friend. Darker forces are at work here. If the Circle attempted to take him the first time and failed, then they will try again,' said Janos in assurance. "Now leave this place at once."

Vorador obeyed and in a blink of an eye he dissapeared Leaving Janos Audron alone to his thoughts. Forgive me, Vorador. If I were to tell you that he was meant to kill me you would of protested in defiance and eventually kill him. This is the way fate has written our paths and I'm sorry to say that The Sarafan will eventually claim him as one of their own. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Janos Sadly looked into the sky as tears of his own blood streaked down his face. It has begun. History authors a paradox...

Within the Oracles cave, far into Nosgoth's frozen wasteland, Moebius, who has just finished watching the events unfold from his cauldron watches Janos Audron as he remains alone.

A sinister smile came upon the Timestreamer's face as he reflects of all he has foreseen.

You are not wrong, my demon friend. You cannot expect that old excuse for a Vampire to protect him for very long. I have foreseen all that will come to pass, including your death by your unholy messiah's hands. How ironic. the very child you have sworn to protect in the end will be the one with your accursed blood on his hands...

Moebius used his staff to summon the event of Janos Audrons death within the cauldron. While his future incarnation watches in Horror... It reveals the child, Raziel, now fully grown and a member of the Sarafan Order, plunging a cruel looking bladed staff into Janos' chest ripping it open as Janos screams in agony and then removing his heart. From the other side of the room is Raziel's future self, more demonic and vampiric looking than his former Sarafan inquisitor. His skin blue, with cloven hands and feet. A cloak covering the bottom of his face, while he stares with his glowing white eyes in horror. The vision in the cauldron faded away, as Moebius stood and chuckled to himself maniacally. All things must come to an end for the wheel of fate demands it. All in time....