That is all I ever knew.

I, Raziel, looked at my clan with great pride. However, something is missing inside of me. Maybe it was the question of what would happen after this final conflict with the humans.  Or maybe it was something deeper, more than feeling.

Kain had ordered his three strongest sons to attack the last human city and army. Turel, Dumah, and myself stood next to each other on the battlefield.  We watched the humans twitch in their ignorance of what was about to unfold.

Yes, this is how it would end.

In truth, I did not want to die, but if it were needed to be victorious in this battle, I would do so.
The humans began their slow, pitiful marching. I never did hate humans as much as my brother Zephon did. I had a special place in my heart for them, since I was indeed a human before a vampire. One thing I pondered about always as what my life was before I was awakened by my father, Kain. Why had Kain chosen us? I thought as I looked to see
Dumah and Turel preparing for battle.

I had almost forgotten what I was doing. I readied my armor and cape and drew my sword.  The sword was my favorite weapon. Though similar in style to Kain's Soul Reaver, the sword was far from it in power.  There was noise amongst the three clans, until finally I razed my sword, pointing toward the sky. Dumah did the same with his axe and Turel with his glaive. The noise stopped.  The vampire armies stood silent as the humans continued their "holy" walk. I was surprised the humans chose to fight here, since they were at a disadvantage because of the trees.

Funny, I don't even see any water tanks to pour on the field...  The tactic had only recently been applied by a human general named Agravi Duneraio, one of the generals I had killed.  I remember impaling him with his own "holy" staff that he tried to kill me with...

The human's pace seemed to quicken. I made sure my army was ready, and I pointed my sword at the enemy. "CHARGE!!!" I screamed, which was followed by other war cries from his clan.

All I could remember after that was the humans hitting my army like a tsunami of "righteousness". I had killed 10 men by the time the first wave hit them.  One human had a torch and tried to inflame me. Simply wanting to scare the man, I grabbed the flame and said "I'm Immune!!!".  I laughed as one of my fledglings bit into the foolish man's neck.

Two men with polearms then came at me. I cut through one's chest then quickly cleaved the other's heart.  Both died instantaneously. I only wished I could make them suffer more for opposing my power.

I heard another war call from behind him.  It was Turel. My tactician brother, my best friend, always a great leader.  Turel and I had planned out the entire strategy to the battle. My clan would charge, Dumah would be clean up (if there were humans left) and Turel would flank the humans I had encountered.

The power of the battle changed dramatically to our side as Turel's forces hit the left and right sides of the army I was fighting.  The whole war was over in less than a day.

Vampires were victorious. We had won. But I did not feel right. Something in the darkness of my thoughts knew that what I had just done would lead to bitter and merciless destruction of myself.

After we had defeated the humans, we truly began our empire. We built giant furnaces to create smog to block out the sun for our "weaker" fledglings. We built the Sanctuary of the Clans around the pillars of Nosgoth and Kain's Throne on the Pillar of Balance. Our empire stood unopposed for centuries.
 

The first "evolution" as Kain called it was very exhilarating.

Kain had taken a slight time of hibernation, while I took over Nosgoth in his absence. I had never sat in His throne, and I didn't plan to. Besides, there was nothing to do as emperor, no armies to fight, nothing to conquer, nothing.

On the subject, though, Kain came from his resting place after two or three decades and Kain emerged with two gifts. First, Kain had grown a slightly stronger physique and his face had changed in a way I can not explain. But perhaps the most noticeable trait was Kain's claws. He had three claws where his hands would have been and where his feet
were, now stood two claws. It was amazing.

We celebrated each time one of us became more, "Divine" as I like to call it. After Kain, I grew claws and was faster than before. Turel changed next, and he grew claws as well and became more intelligent. Dumah was third, developing claws and stronger arms. Rahab grew claws and, what I had noticed when I was talking to him one day, a rigid flap
underneath his jaw. Zephon grew claws and could climb very fast. And finally, my little brother Melchiah evolved last with claws and an ability to burrow underground.

Kain told us we would all evolve more, and so would our clans. Within a month, Kain was right, all my fledglings, adults and ancients inherited my gift.

When Kain entered yet another period of evolution, I had to take over the throne again.

This period was interesting, since I stumbled upon a great cathedral one day on a tour of our territory. I was soon disappointed, however, because I found out it was inhabited by humans. They thought it was their "weapon" against our empire. Fools.

"I have a slight interest in that cathedral you found," Zephon said to me, "if you don't mind, I'll send my clan to cleanse it for you, Raziel."  "Zephon, you may do so, but remember, we are not to change territories when He is sleeping."
"Of course, Raziel. But remember, it is the Zephonim that is going to dispatch those humans." Zephon said accusingly.
I simply replied, "I know Zephon, and I shall tell Kain that when he awakens."

Zephon conquered the cathedral that very day. His clan's climbing abilities were remarkable, as I had heard, for they climbed the walls of the cathedral and attacked from above.

I got very suspicious one day when I saw (or at least I thought I saw) Kain walking towards the hinterlands from the Abyss when I was going to my clan territory.  Strange. Why would Kain be awake right now? Has he evolved?    Curiosity should have died with my human self, but I followed the figure I saw.

In the hinterlands, I had forgotten about Dumah's fortress he was starting to build. The human slaves were sleeping right now and i could see all they did was the outer-courtyard.  I finally saw the figure go into a cave. I couldn't go in since the doors closed right after him.  I sat atop I high peak to view the exit of the stranger.  He never came out.  Not even after a week.  I had given up after the third day, but I checked in every day after that, looking for trails or marks or something.  Nothing.

Where could the stranger have gone into that darkness? I didn't know what was behind those doors, but I had to find out.

Kain returned a month after that. However, we did not see a physical change in him.

Kain had evolved a total of 20 times, each one increasing his strength or another trait, but he seemed the same as before now.

After that, my brothers and I evolved at a quicker pace than ever.  We grew even faster, stronger and more intelligent.  We were Gods.  We feasted on humans only once a decade now.  Once again, we lived in peace for centuries.

Until it finally happened.

My brothers and I were almost always in great contact and loved each other very much.  Until Zephon secluded himself in his Cathedral, Melchiah stopped showing up at Clan meetings and Turel was not seen by anyone. Dumah then  became a hermit in his fortress finished years before and Rahab stayed at his Abbey more often than anyone
else. I did not know why he preferred the Abbey, since many of his fledglings were killed each day by the rain that flooded only the outside of the Abbey.

Kain had not evolved since that time I had stalked that stranger, but I soon became worried when I began to evolve before him. I talked to him personally, and He had said "Do not worry Raziel, I am still evolving as we speak, I simply do not need to hibernate."  With his comforting, I rested in my private chamber, waiting for my evolution to take place.
 

No, they are not Gods.  I am a God.

I awoke after two decades to find two pale wings on my back.  I smiled. My wings made up for the fact that I was weaker than Kain. Now, however, I was stronger than Kain.

I put my cape over my back and walked outside. I told one of my fledglings to tell Kain I had awakened.  Kain called an Assembly of the Clans that very day. I knew Kain was awaiting me, but my brothers weren't.  But they were.

All my brothers were assembled, Turel, Dumah, Rahab, Zephon, and Melchiah. All of which I had not seen in ages.

I pulled of my cloak before I walked in and gave it to my second-in-command, Gabriel. He gawked at my wings as I walked into the Sanctuary of the Clans.

I walked with no expression towards Kain's throne. My brothers seemed to be eyeing the wings I had folded up on my back. I kneeled before my Lord, Father, and God.

I stretched out my wings, feeling how comfortable it was, into a posing position. Kain had a sudden stroke of anger and jealousy cross his face. At that moment, I worried. But then I reassured myself.

No, no. Not his first born, not his favorite son.

Kain rose from his throne, without the Soul Reaver, which was a good sign. He looked at my wings with admiration, and moved behind me to get a better look.

I was proud. I was more powerful than Kain. I was a God.

-And then my dignity was crushed, as were my wings. Blood rushed down my back and I fell on my knees. Kain had broken my wings...on purpose...

Those thoughts were taken from my mind as I heard Kain say, "Take him to the Lake of the Dead, Turel and Dumah."

"NO!!! It can not be!!! Kain!!! I am your son!!!" I screamed with what little effort I had. He did not reply.

I blacked out.

I woke up just in time to see the glowing vortex below me, and to hear the expressionless words from Kain, "Cast him in."  I struggled at first, but it was no use, my brother's strength tossed me into the Abyss. I saw a look of amusement on Dumah's face, while Turel had no expression.

I soon was engulfed with pain, my thoughts had left me. All I had was the agony and pain I felt as I plummeted towards no end.

I had a deepening hatred for Kain and all of life as I fell...into the Darkness.