By Joel Walle
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The Soul Reaver hummed in ecstasy as it devoured the putrid souls of Azimuth’s two demon sentries. My eagerness to end this duel grew to gargantuan proportions, for the demons that crawled about Avernus yielded poisoned blood. I was famished, thus I charged toward Azimuth, in order to sate the thirst of the Reaver, as well as mine own. Though Azimuth lacked skills in combat, she was disturbingly collected. The witch leered as she emanated with magical energy. My pace quickened, hoping to strike before the spell was cast. However, Azimuth released her energy and I became enveloped in the discharge. My surroundings warped and bent, until the scene of Avernus Cathedral dissipated and I soon knew the environment of an alien forest. The vegetation was unlike the plant life I had ever beheld within Nosgoth; thus I deduced that Azimuth thrust me into another dimension. The sky above me shrouded itself in darkness with rain clouds. I dashed along the path I found myself upon during my arrival in this foreign land, desperately seeking shelter. The pangs of thirst escalated, making it apparent that unless I should be fortunate enough to find prey soon, I would die. The first drops of rain descended, scalding my flesh upon contact. My muscles exploded with pain as I strained harder to escape this gruesome demise. As I dashed over the crest of a hill, I discovered a house of great size. Hopefully I could acquire nourishment and information about my location from the residents of the house. The distance between safety and myself closed, only to be dismayed by the strange door before me. I quickly discovered that to open the door required sliding the door to the side. I did so and entered, making a point to shut the door to prevent anymore of the rain from burning my corporeal shell. My eyes darted in all directions, with increasing desperation as the thirst burned within. "Who resides here," I bellowed throughout the house. I stood still as I listened with great care. All I could here was a strange chattering which I could not understand, though it was unmistakably human. A girl entered the room, tensed with fright and screamed with mortal terror. I was initially taken aback at the sight of her, for her appearance was unlike anything I was accustomed to. Her clothes, for instance, were unlike anything I have seen on Nosgoth’s peasantry or nobility. Further more, her hair was deep saffron and her eyes were an enticing shade of red. The girl sputtered in her alien tongue. I grimaced upon the realization that I could not procure any knowledge from the locals. My disappointment was silenced by the pang of thirst, which almost fell me to the floor. I rose and lunged toward the young woman. A boy entered as I made my move, and dashed between my prey and myself. I swung hard with the Soul Reaver, but the boy blocked the Reaver with a blade of energy that originated from some sort of mystical twig. The girl fled, screaming her nonsense as the boy and I clashed. The boy was unnaturally apt with the blade, though I was at a slight advantage. Then from the air it appeared a woman, who not only floated freely but was also endowed with an ape-like tail. She roared in rage as she drew a sword formed by her own energy and attempted to thrust her weapon into my heart. I evaded the attack, and as I did such, I used the Incapacitate technique upon the boy. I had not the time to remove my armor, however I required speed to defeat the woman. Fortunately, I had the magical energy to shift into my lupine form. I parried with the woman and the battle continued with increasing ferocity. The stalemate broke when my back burned with the acidic touch of boiling water. I collapsed and reverted to my original form, too weak to maintain my magic shell. As I lay on the ground, about to tilt over the precipice and plunge to death, I saw who had dealt the deathblow was little more than a child. In the girl’s hands was a pot, the instrument of my demise. Several other young women entered, including the one who fled, as the boy regained movement. They chattered as my eyes flashed with images of the abyss I once knew. One woman, with hair that made her head resemble a crab, spoke to me. From my dying lips came, "And so I must die yet again." The woman’s eyes brightened and then said unto me," Would you care to explain why you attacked Ayeka?" "I am on the verge of oblivion. If I do not drink blood I am doomed to die." "If I get you blood, do you promise not to attack anyone?" "Yes." What choice had I? The flying woman was intent on ending my unlife in the same manner that my life ended. The crab woman tied her arm with some sort of chord. She then approached me and cradled my head, offering her wrist. I bit into the vein and drank deeply and my strength was restored quickly, as the acidic burn healed. My eye turned to the woman and I discerned from the expression on her face that she and Vorador were kindred spirits. I withdrew and the woman covered the wound. She spoke to the child, who then left with some task in mind. She then asked of me, "What’s your name?" "Kain." She spoke with the others, as I became increasingly aware of the power that lay either dormant or hidden within this woman. I was alarmed by this almost omnipotent entity before me. The crab woman turned to me with a jovial glance, and then she pointed to each of the residents and dispensed their names. "The one you attacked is Ayeka, behind you is my foolish daughter Ryoko, the young man you were fighting with is Tenchi." "That blonde woman over there strikes me as particularly stupid." "As a matter of fact, Mihoshi is as dumb as they come. The little girl is Ayeka’s little sister, Sasami and I am Washu." "What is this place?" "A house a meager distance from Okiyama." "Where?" "Japan." I was puzzled by these names as the girl identified as Sasami protruded her head and called to the others. Washu stated, "You can explain where you come from while we have some dinner. Are you hungry?" I explained to her that the vampire has no need of food. Once seated at the low-set table, Washu ate with a predicted avarice, for she lost a good portion of blood. After a series of questions from my host and hostesses, I divulged my tale, via Washu, leaving no detail; from the foul deed of my murder, to the Pillars, to my quest, to Vorador; undisclosed. My grimace turned to a leer as Ayeka clutched her sibling during my recollection. As more details were disclosed, the tighter she gripped her sister, and my cruel smile widened. Upon the moment my tale was suspended to this point, Ryoko placed her hand on Tenchi and spoke to him as the hand wandered. Ayeka misplaced her mortal terror of me, turned as red as her eyes and shouted at Ryoko. The pair competed in a vocal duel; thus the others carried on with their meal. The supper ended and Washu lead me into her abode. She requested samples of me in return for her aid in finding a means of returning me to Nosgoth, thus I consented. I was bemused by her wish for a blood sample, due to the fact she would only acquire her own blood. However, Washu made one indecent proposal. The last time I received such a base offer it had originated from a prostitute in Steinchroe. "Absolutely not," I rebuked, "I shall not participate in such a fowl act." "What’s the matter? It’s strictly medical." "I care not." "Do you have E.D.?" I inquired regarding the condition she spoke of. Upon discovery, I found her implication repugnant. I still refused her; thus she deployed a squid-like automation which denuded me. Washu approached me with a decadent smile upon her face, as Sasami reared her head. The child spoke; thus Washu froze with shame, for it was then she realized the child was present. Washu’s lips soon parted, "Sasami wants to talk with you." "Redress me and I shall do so." I retorted. My armor was reciprocated onto me and I donned it. The child approached, embraced, and spoke to me. Washu translated, "What happened to you was terrible." "Why do you concern yourself with my condition?" "Because she was dead once." replied Washu. I soon learned that the female residents were of other worlds, though in the same dimension. My mind reeled with the implication of other worlds beside Nosgoth within my former dimension. Bear in mind that Washu mediated the conversation between the child and myself. I inquired, "Even if you were once a shade, why bother with this empathy for one such as I?" "You’re not bad." "I’ve slain hundreds of humans." "But you’re honest." "Hmph." "Honesty is the most important thing there is..." I arched my brow as I faced the child’s effusive face. "...and you believe that too." My eyes widened with the fear that I was so transparent to even this tiny human. I sneered and turned away as Washu giggled with a sadistic glee that convinced me that she and Vorador were undeniably related. Sasami bid me good night, however in my irritant state I did not return the courtesy. She did not seem disappointed and left in a rather jovial mood. Washu called from the other side of the room, "I’m going to sleep, so don’t sneak into my bed for a midnight snack...without waking me up first." I gripped hard the Reaver as she left the room. What disturbed me most about her was the power that resonated from her, for it exceeded the strength I have beheld in any adversary. I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and rested. The grains of sand slowly slipped to the bottom of the glass before the sun raised to the horizon and my strength slowly sapped from my body. Washu soon entered the room, yawned, and looked to me. I stated, "I suppose I should greet the others this morning." She stared upon me for several moments before croaking; "Won’t the sun kill you?" "The sun’s rays weaken the vampire, but bring not death." She shrugged while I exited the room and entered the hall. I glanced to Ayeka, who was descending the stairs. Her eyes fell upon me, she shrieked, and dashed up the stairs. I paused before realizing that I still had the Soul Reaver in hand. I then placed the Reaver in the corner to reduce the probability of the others fleeing on sight. In a matter of moments the humans flooded the room. I then beheld a bizarre creature that had the features of both a cat and a hare. I noticed the creature earlier, but did not fully take note of it in my famished stupor. The animal leapt, and upon landing on my forearm, dashed up my arm and perched itself on my shoulder. Sasami giggled at the sight and outstretched her arm to pet the animal, however her sister seized her and dragged her to the table. The others were not as suspicious, but were not overly hospitable. As the humans ate, an explosion of sound cracked the glass windows. Thus I seized the Soul Reaver, and then I dashed outside with the humans closely following. I found the sun’s rays eclipsed by a ship that floated in the sky. A pillar of light descended and a figure emerged, quite human yet otherworldly. This stranger was male, with a coxcomb manner of dress. The dandy glanced about then set his eyes upon me. "I am Katsuhiko and I seek the Soul Reaver." was the stranger’s brazen introduction. "How do you know of the Soul Reaver?" I inquired. "I spoke to a diviner who informed me that the Reaver is the most powerful weapon in the universe." "And if I refuse to relinquish the blade?" "Then I shall relieve your corpse of it." I could not help but bellow with laughter at this fop’s ignorance. I then inquired, "Now who, pray tell, was this soothsayer that delivered this intelligence?" "Azimuth." Of course, marooning me in this other world was not enough, the witch found it necessary to send an ambitious fool to obstruct my return. "You were misled, whelp. Leave now and I shall spare your life." Katsuhiko approached me and spoke, "What gives you the notion that you may talk down to me as if I were a neophyte?" I grinned and bared my fangs. The dandy forgot his courage and backed away. A strange slime surged from the ground under my feet. Though I was in a weakened state, I was able to leap away. The slime lunged at me, only to be cut into two impotent globs by the Reaver. The effeminate fool smirked and snapped his fingers. A scream clubbed me from behind, so I turned to find Sasami enveloped in the slime. She and the slime then oozed over to the pillar of light and vanished. "Give me the Soul Reaver or I shall kill the girl." boasted the fop. "Kill her then." "What?" Both Washu and Katsuhiko were surprised by my command. Washu tried to convince me otherwise, as Katsuhiko broke into laughter, "Demon, you lie in your throat. Very well, monster, if you will not decide now I shall take leave and wait for your final choice." The coward dashed to the pillar of light as I rushed to strike the fool. However, my feet were not quick enough to catch my quarry. The flying ship took off into the clouds until it became no more. The humans expressed a wish to pursue the abductor and for myself to aid them. I consented to the task, in order to reprimand the fool. Thus, the bizarre animal leaped into the air and shifted to an air-ship of a different sort. The others changed their clothing for reasons I know not, for they wore not armor, but mere strips of cloth. We boarded the vessel and Ryoko steered the ship through a sea of stars, as massive crystalline structures whirled about us in our pursuit. Washu approached me and inquired, "Are you going to need anymore blood soon?" "Perhaps, I feel a mild pang." "Then you should drink from me again before you face Katsuhiko." "Indeed." Washu unbandaged her wrist and gave me her hand. As I sated my thirst, Washu grasped my hand in some act of affection. My eye turned to her and she glowed as she watched me. "I know you were bluffing." "Believe what you wish." "Don’t worry, I’ll still help you get back." The captor’s ship grew as we closed the distance, thus a massive door opened, greeting us. We docked in the vessel and poured out. Another door opened, apparently to make a means of passage to the kidnapper. We raced along the corridor, until we came across a figure standing by a door and a strange control panel. The figure pressed one button and a transparent barrier slid before us, obstructing our path. Another button was pressed and a flood of arachnid automations passed through ventilation shafts. The others faced the mechanical travesties as I focused my energies and used the Control Mind spell upon the human sentry. My presence soon consumed the mortal’s mind and I eyed the panel in the hopes that a means of removing the barrier could be found. However, I first pressed the button that deployed the machines, and immediately the aberrations ceased to function. I then tested Dame Fortune and pressed the button that brought the barrier and won that gamble. While still in the lackey’s corporeal shell I asked Washu if she had any notion of how to open the iron gate. She pointed to a strange band of light and instructed me to place my victim’s eyes in front of the lights. She then placed my hand on an unusual surface and some red ray of light temporally blinded my eyes. A voice spoke from the device, "Password please." "Argh." was my less than eloquent response. "Password not authorized." The machine shut down and the floor shook beneath us. Washu explained that this section of the ship was separating and just may detonate. The vacuum of the sea of stars pulled upon us, and yet with an instant the phenomenon ceased. I looked about to discover Tenchi shielding us with a sort of energy as three massive blades hovered before him. We floated to the door, which opened, and we swam into the second corridor and upon the moment we all entered the door closed and sealed it, thus we continued unfettered. We finally found ourselves in the main chamber with the hostage sealed in a massive vial and the kidnapper at the center. I stepped forth then turned to the humans who motioned their advance. I then instructed Washu, "Tell them that I will kill the mortal and if a single one of them interferes, I shall kill them myself." Katsuhiko laughed while Washu relayed the message. He declared, "You’re either a demigod or an imbecile." "I am simply the instrument of your retribution." "I see now, you’re a creature who sustains its life through taking life." "Vae Victus." Katsuhiko sneered and forged an energy blade in the same manner Ryoko did. The dandy lunged toward me and I blocked the attack with ease. The blood of Washu flowed and vitalized me. Though it was the hour of day, my power exceeded my strength during night ten fold. I slashed and shattered the blade of energy then cut the coxcomb to ribbons with the Soul Reaver. I looked to Washu for an explanation of the surge of power; she merely winked to me. Ayeka rushed to release her sister from her pen, only for Sasami to rush to me. She embraced me, cried, and spoke through Washu. "I said you weren’t bad." "He insulted me in front of the humans." I know not why, but I dried the child’s eyes though it scalded my finger. She faced me and smiled while Washu informed me that the humans expressed thanks for the assistance. In an instant, the animal that shifted into a vessel pierced the ceiling of the ship and we were transported into the vessel. We made our exit and landed upon the sphere we launched our operation from. Days passed and eventually Washu discovered a means of returning me to Nosgoth. This procedure involved the soul devouring entity held captive within the Reaver and the point in which I entered this world. Washu pierced the passage with the Reaver and a circle of light opened as she formed the circumference. She handed me the Reaver and bid me farewell. "I still don’t understand why you didn’t want everyone to see you off." "I care not for effusive partings." "Anyway, see ya’. Don’t worry about Azimuth pulling the same trick on you, you’ll like where you find yourself." I passed the gateway and once again my surroundings were warped and bent until I found myself in Avernus Cathedral. I looked about to find myself behind the witch, thus I grinned in delight as I raised the Reaver and with one fell swoop decapitated Azimuth. I relieved her of her third eye and I found it a worthy trophy for the restoration of her pillar. After I relieved her of her blood I continued my quest for the remaining members of the Circle of the Nine. |
*Proofread by Tenaya