There was no sound in heaven, hell, or the world in between that could match Raziana's scream. Kain dropped Raziana and put his hands up to his ears.  Raziana tried to madly scramble away, but Kain grabbed her by the foot and
yanked her back. He took a spear and put the tip to Raziana's throat.
       "Now... Perhaps you will reconsider your answer..."
       Raziana smoothed her shirt and pulled her eyes directly to where she was looking into Kain's eyes.
       "I'm a vampire with no other vampire or human associates..." Raziana gulped.  "Does that answer your question?"
       "What's your name?"
       "Raziana..."
       Kain smirked.  "You're unfortunate to have that name...."
       Raziana decided that playing dumb was her best tactic that she could use.  "Why?"
       "Your name slightly sounds like the general I had executed..."
       "You-you mean Raziel?"
       Kain narrowed his eyes.  "Yes... How did you know?"
       Raziana inwardly cursed herself for being so stupid.  "News spreads fast...."
       Kain then asked the question that Raziana had been dreading.  "What clan are you from?"
       Raziana tried to focus her power towards Kain, but Malek was preventing any mental attacks on Kain.  "One that was extinct..."
       Unfortunately, Kain was smarter than Raziana had thought. He immediately knew. His eyes widened slightly.
"So..... I didn't extinguish all of Raziel's clan.... How unfortunate...  Oddly enough, though, you seem to be the only one who didn't change over the years.... Hmmm.... Too bad I have to kill you.. Too bad for you, that is... For me, some quick amusement.... But perhaps I can prolong your death...."  Kain paused. Then it clicked. "'Was'? What do you mean by 'was'? Did you come through the portal too?"
       "Yes...."
       "Something must have happened though, for I wasn't supposed to be here..."  Kain quickly studied Raziana.  "Did you have anything to do with this?"
       "Yes..."
       "What?! What did you do to my plans?!" Kain paused, then continued his harsh questions. "What's that on your back?"
       Raziana unfurled her wings meekly.
       Kain actually seemed surprised and didn't try to hide it. He stepped back slightly, his eyes widened with surprise. "How is that possible!?"
       A voice that Raziana recognized as Malek's drifted around them.
       She is the daughter of Raziel....
       Kain turned his stare to Raziana.  "No... It can't be true.... Raziel had a wife and a child?!"
       Yes.... Raziel had only one offspring, though....
       Kain's grip on the spear faltered. He whipped around and paced around Raziana thoughtfully.
       "What is the name of your mother?" he asked while still pacing.
       "Uh.... A-Ailoryana........."
        Kain continued to interrogate Raziana.  "Did you ever see your father?"
       "He came once.... It was immediately after he had grown wings and I was born...."
       Kain seemed amused.  "So.... He did not come to me immediately, eh? Well, for him, the later he came, the better off he was...."
       Raziana stood up. She cautiously folded her wings.
       "You look like him, too....," chuckled Kain, not even looking at Raziana as he spoke. "Same hair, same eyes," Kain paused, then scowled. "Same wings..."
       Raziana shrugged and muttered.  "It wasn't my choice...."
       Kain picked up the spear again.  "Yes... And I'm sure it wasn't your father's choice, either..."
       Raziana cautiously moved back. She and Kain circled around each other, waiting for the other to make some foolish move. Neither of them were stupid, though... They kept their gazes locked, watching and waiting.  Raziana knew that she was at a disadvantage, nevertheless, even with Kain wielding the spear skillfully, Raziana never budged or faltered.
       Kain inwardly prepared himself if this newcomer were to try and fly away. He was guessing that perhaps he could knock her out of the air with the spear, then end her existence on this world with a magical blast.
       "So.... You're smarter than I thought...," growled Kain. "Unlike your father, you do not automatically attack.... Well, then it appears I must make the first move..."
       Kain disappeared. Raziana looked puzzled, but then her puzzlement turned into horror as she quickly whipped around and saw Kain powering up a magical blast.

       NOW!!! screamed Ariel's voice.  Raziana threw her wings open. Kain slowly lowered the magic blast. He wanted
to see what this small little girl had up her sleeve.
       A dagger that suddenly appeared on a nearby table started to slowly spin.  Kain turned his gaze to the blade. So did Raziana. The weapon spun faster and faster until it looked like a silver and black plate. Both vampires watched the scene until it made them dizzy.  Raziana then threw her thoughts towards Kain. The dagger flew forward. It grazed across Kain's face as he ducked out of the way.  Raziana flew up and hurtled towards Kain. She slammed into him brutally, but blindly. They both crashed to the ground.
       Kain grabbed the spear that he had let drop and tried to thrust the point of it into Raziana's face. But she managed to grab the spear. She and Kain rolled around, both trying to get the weapon from the other. They managed to get up and then they were tripping and staggering around, their hands seemingly locked onto the spear..
       Raziana was flung about by Kain's superior strength, but she held on for dear life. Kain knew that neither of them could hold on forever, but if he were to give up first, that would be his demise.
       When Raziana tried to yank back again, Kain jerked the spear around and managed to catch Raziana off guard. The bar of the spear caught Raziana on the throat as she was pushed up against Kain.
       "Well, well...," sneered Kain. "Seems that you lost..."
       Raziana knew that any other struggles would be in vain, so she gave up, wings drooping in defeat.
       "So...," she said. "Now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me? Kill me?"
       Kain's dark chuckle sent a chill down Raziana's spine.  "Do you actually think that I'd be that stupid? To release my grip on you?  You'd escape..."
       Raziana mentally screamed a few curses.  "Maybe I would... But I can't fly out..."
       Kain hesitated, but then quickly said, "Why is that?"
       "You'd either use a magical blast or the spear and take the life outta me real quick..."
       Kain laughed again, but it was still a malicious and cold laughter.  "Quite right... You're smarter than I thought..."
       Raziana turned her thoughts to the dagger.
       Hit Kain.... she thought.. Hit Kain!
       The dagger flew up and tore into Kain's right shoulder.  Kain roared in pain and released Raziana, who quickly ran for the door.
       You're not leaving yet.... rumbled Malek.
       Raziana felt a force slam into her chest and blast her back into one of the pillars. Bright colors flashed in front of her eyes when her head slammed into the solid rock. She collapsed down as though she was no more than a rag doll.
It took all her strength for Raziana to lift herself up.  "What did you do that for, Malek?!?!" she cried out hoarsely.
Kain's attention was quickly averted from the spear to Raziana.
       "Malek?!"
       Raziana turned her head, which was throbbing, and saw Kain slowly pull out the dagger. His blood dripped from the blade and splattered onto the floor.
       "Nice move with the blessed dagger.... I am unable to quickly heal myself..."
       Raziana couldn't get her mind to take in the words. Her head was spinning faster than the dagger had been spinning. She knew she couldn't allow herself to fall, but standing on her own two feet was now proving to be a challenge. With every bit of mental energy she could muster, Raziana hurled the dagger again at Kain.
       Kain tried to move out of the way, but he wasn't quick enough. The dagger sheared across the left side of his rib cage. Kain howled in pain and fury, dropping to his knees. He instinctively put a hand to the bleeding and large laceration. Now his blood stained the floor like somebody had dropped a bucket of red paint.
       Raziana also fell to her knees, but from a different injury. Malek hadn't considered that Raziana was already weak from the struggle, so a full-powered blast had weakened Raziana to the state of a near comatose.

       Kain managed to grab the spear and haul himself up, using the spear as a crutch. His pride gave him extra energy to stride up to Raziana, who was barely holding the upper part of her body up off the floor.
       "I win... Any last words?"
       Raziana stared at Kain. Her body started to melt and mold into that of a black panther's. Kain threw the spear with all his might. The spear ripped through the sleek creature's right shoulder, but Raziana managed to knock Kain down and get a fair way away before she couldn't keep up her panther form.
       "Now can I get back to the Spectral Realm?"
       Yes!! Please do! Ariel cried.
       Raziana waved one hand weakly. Nothing....
       "ARIEL!!!"
       Kain jerked his attention again to Raziana.
       Malek is still refusing to let you return to the Spectral Realm... He says that he's having fun watching... I'll try to get him to allow you to get to the Spectral Realm, but in the mean time, keep yourself as far away from Kain as you can!!

       Raziana staggered backward. Her body was beginning to feel numb, one of the after-effects of the supernatural blast.
       Kain lifted the spear and hurled it with his some of his quickly fading strength. The spear flew forward and struck Raziana in the back. But Kain had thrown the spear so the blunt end hit Raziana. So she was merely knocked
down onto the ground.
       Kain struggled to pull himself up, but he managed to do it. Quickly realizing that he might lose if he were to try and attack this vampire again, Kain disappeared, leaving Raziana on the floor, the Pillars of Nosgoth looming nearby.
*
       Raziana awoke in the Spectral Realm. She slowly got up, moving out the aches and pains. Her black hair was in a mess. When she opened her wings, it sounded like somebody taking a plastic bag and crinkling it. Only that sound
was deeper by about three or four octaves.
       "YEOW!!!" screamed Raziana. The sound was from her wings due to the fact that they were still growing and forming.
       Malek appeared. His dark eyes glared hotly at Raziana's now weak form. He picked up a sword that he made magically appear and walked up to Raziana as though he had power over her.
       "You pathetic little creature! You couldn't even kill Kain when you had the chance!"
       Raziana leaped up.  "Damn you!! Because of you, I was unable to kill Kain! It's not my fault that Kain's still alive!"
       Malek laughed darkly.  "And how was it my fault?"
       Mortanius appeared out of the darkness.
       "Isn't it obvious? Raziana's too weak to withstand any of your blasts.."
       "Kain had already weakened me, you idiots! Malek's blast nearly knocked me into a coma!" Raziana spat vehemently.
       "Ohhhh.... Poor baby... Do we need to call daddy for the little girl?" Malek crooned sarcastically.
       Raziana screamed and grabbed fistfuls of her hair. "You guys drive me crazy!!"
       The Elder's voice rumbled through the air.
       "Your purpose now is to assassinate Kain.... If Kain can be killed, then you can create another time portal and take both Raziel and yourself to the time that you should be alive..."
       Raziana collapsed to her knees, shaking her head. "I don't even know if I'm supposed to be alive in the time that Raziel is...."
       Ariel appeared out of the blue.
       "If we had not intervened, your death would have been unavoidable... You would have died the instant that your small body hit the waters of the Lake of the Dead..."
       Raziana looked at Ariel, slightly glaring at her.  "Thanks... I needed that encouragement..."
       Moebius, who had been off in a corner, spoke up.  "Well, there is nothing we can do now... The powers that we gave you have been permanently embedded in your very soul... Thanks to History..."
       Raziana rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, yeah... I know, I know..."
       Malek twirled a huge broad sword that he was wielding.  "Why not go to the Physical Realm where Melchiah's territory is?"
       Raziana wanted to understand why, but knew better than to ask. She automatically transported herself outside, right by the lake. Once there, Raziana froze the lake and began to ice-skate around.
       "Laaah lah lah lah laaah! Lah lah lah laah lah lah lah, lah lah!!" she sang as she skated around with expertise.
       Why don't you go after your father, Raziana? asked Ariel.
       "Hah! You think I'd go after him?! Raziel didn't care diddlysquat about me or mom!!"
       Ariel was slightly taken aback by Raziana's rude remark.
       Are you sure that is what you want to do?
       Raziana nodded. "Yes... Of course it is! Why else would I think differently?"
       Malek was the next one to talk.
       Before, it was the very thought of seeing Raziel that drove you to master your powers...
       Raziana shrugged.
       "Yeah, so? Why in the name of Nosgoth would I want to find him now?"
       Because he is your father...., replied Ariel.
       "Hah! Sure, daddy... I know as much about him as I know about Kain! In fact, I think I know more about Kain than Raziel!"
       That makes no difference, does it? asked Ariel.
       Raziana shifted her feet as she skated the pond.
       "Yes it does... He left me and Ailoryana, I mean, mom, for dead... He left us for Kain to do whatever he wanted to Raziel's clan..."
       Raziel had no control over that, you fool!!! snapped Moebius.
       "Yeah, but he could have done something to help me!! I know it sounds childish, but there have been a couple of times when I really needed help!"
       In what, thinking? ridiculed Malek.
       "Hardy har har...," sassed Raziana. "Very funny... Actually, I'd be surrounded by some of these darned vampires and be getting ganged up on!!"
       Are you that weak? So weak that you cannot repel some feeble attack from a poorly mutated vampire!!?? accused Malek, his voice hard steel.
       Raziana was about to spit out another obscenity when Ariel intervened. 
       Right now, Raziana, it would be in your best interests to join forces with Raziel to defeat Kain... Even if you do not want to consider him your father, you may want to consider him an ally...
       Raziana loathed the thought of even speaking to Raziel, but she nodded her head.
       "All right... Do you know where he is?"
*
       Raziana flew through the sky easily, scanning the ground for her father.
       Father-Phooey! thought Raziana. He's more of a stranger than a father....
       Even though Raziana acted hostile, there was a deep, yearning feeling for her father. Raziana missed him, but she chose to ignore that. She didn't wish to allow such a weak feeling to show.  Raziana nearly missed Raziel because she was so deep in thought. Raziana had to make a steep dive downwards, but in her haste, Raziana's dive was poorly
executed and she slammed into Raziel, but she didn't realize what had happened to her father.

       Raziel didn't know how to react to the sudden "attack." He wheeled around, readying Soul Reaver. At the sight of Raziana, though, Raziel slightly relaxed. This vampire was different. It wasn't hideously transformed, there was no apparent bloodlust, and it was female.
       "Who are you?" asked Raziel, making sure that his voice wasn't too threatening or harsh.
       Raziana jerked her throbbing head around. She hurt her throat slightly suppressing a wild scream.
       "Who-who are you?!" cried Raziana, scrambling back madly.
       Raziel took a step back, trying to show that he was not a foe.
       "Do not fear, I will not harm you... Unless you try to fight me, I am no threat to you..."
       Raziana shakily stood up, never taking her eyes from Raziel's glowing ones.
       "You have wings?" asked Raziel.
       Raziana didn't know whether or not to reply, but she managed a shaky answer. "Y-yes..."
       Raziel marveled at the wings and hope leaped up in his soul. Had at least one small soul from his clan survived?
       "Which clan are you from?"
       Raziana dusted herself off.  "Look, I'll tell you later, but I'm looking for this guy named Raziel, know him?"
       Raziel felt hurt. Am I such a monstrosity that my own children don't recognize me?! he thought, alarmed.
       "I am him..."
       Raziana choked. She couldn't believe what had happened to her once handsome father. Now he was horribly burned, his wings destroyed, and so skinny that he was probably the envy of all the ladies.
       "B-but how? I-I knew Raziel! He-he-he-"
       Raziel spread out his arms a little bit.  "He was not this ugly and repulsive?"
       Raziana's thoughts whirled around wildly.  "Well, I wouldn't put it that way...but he did look different..."
       Raziel shook his head.  "Kain's attempt to execute me by throwing me into the Lake of the Dead turned me into this...monster if you wish to call it that..."
       Raziana could no longer conceal her curiosity. "Why do you hide half of your face?"
       Raziel slowly removed the cloth. This time, Raziana couldn't suppress the scream. It tore out of her throat with painful strength. Raziana quickly regained her composure and stopped screaming.  "Sorry...," she mumbled. "That was rude..."
       Raziel shrugged as he put the cloth back around his face.  "It is not your fault... Now for you to answer my question, which clan are you from?"
       Raziana decided to play a little game.  "Do you remember a vampiress named Ailoryana?"
       Raziel felt a wave of longing go through his body. His wife... She had been so beautiful... Her dark eyes could be soft or sharp.. Her thick, luxurious brownish-black hair had been all the down to her waist. Ailoryana had been so kind to both Raziel and their daughter, Raziana..  But time has passed, thought Raziel. Both of them are dead...never to be
seen again.... 
       "Yes... I remember..."
       "She was really nice, huh?"
       Raziel cocked his head to one side. "Why? Why do you ask? Did you know her?"
       Raziana drew in a breath. She prepared herself for either Raziel's shock or anger.  "She was my mother..."
       Raziel stopped dead. Was this-no, it couldn't be! Could this actually be his small, precious daughter Raziana?!
"Raziana?!"
       Raziana nodded, her lips starting to form into a tiny smile. "Hi, dad..."
       Raziel didn't know whether or not to embrace his only child. Here she was, after who knows how long, and he didn't know what to do!
       "You're alive?! But how?! I thought that Kain had extinguished everybody of my clan, how did you survive?!?!"
       Raziana paused, then answered.  "Ailoryana and I fled for our lives..."
       Raziel tightly clenched his claws into a fist. "I will make sure that Kain burns forever in the bowels of the Abyss he
threw me into for this...."
       Raziana shrugged off-handedly.
       "Yeah, that's cool...whatever... You can go kick Kain's butt so hard that he'll be knocked beyond the Spec-I mean, the Abyss..."
       Raziel had already caught Raziana's mistake, though. He quickly inquired his daughter.
       "How do you know about the Spectral Realm?"
       Her mind whizzed around wildly.
       I'd take anything over this! ANYTHING!!!
       Unfortunately, Raziana quickly learned to be careful what you wish for.

       There was a sound of flapping wings and three jet-black horses flew into view. Their feathered, raven wings flapped easily and kept them aloft. All of them snorted and slightly shook their heads, which had thick, yellow, bull-like horns right in front of the ears. Their jet eyes glinted in the dull sunlight. The riders, two men, and one boy, laughed and snickered at the two vampires.
       "Well, well... Jonathon, what do you think? What should we do? It is your training day..."
       Fury pumped wildly through Raziana's mind and soul.
       "Yeah right, you stinking idiot!! You and all your kind should be damned to hell!! Wait a minute, how-how did you get here?" Raziana's voice was so fearful that Raziel moved closer to his daughter.
       The man on the horse in the middle pulled back his hood. His attire consisted of black pants, a black shirt, and a dark gray, hooded cloak.
       "Raziana... Dear little Raziana-"
       "SHUT UP!!!!" cried Raziana, covering her ears.
       "I am more powerful than you can ever comprehend.... I came through the time portal that you created so easily....you wouldn't believe it...."
       Raziana slowly uncovered her ears.
       "You-you loathsome little bug... I hate you... I hate you... I hate you..."
       The man only seemed pleased by Raziana's anger.
       "Dear little vampire, you couldn't have stopped your mother's-"
       "AAAAARGH!!!!!" screamed Raziana as she hurled a fairly big rock at the still grinning man.
       The man gently tapped the horse's neck. The horse easily moved out of the way and the rock passed away harmlessly. The man beside the boy named Jonathon snickered. As the horse floated down back into the position it had
been in before, the man slowly began to talk again.
       "Raziana.... You have been kind enough to lead me to the lord of all vampires and his first raised lieutenant... So I guess it's not a total loss, for me that is!"
       Raziel had heard enough. "Who are you? Why do you hunt vampires down like ravenous dogs?"
       The man laughed unpleasantly.
       "Nicely put, Raziel, almost poetic... Oh yes... You wouldn't remember me, would you? Of course not, Kain never told you and neither did Dumah, or any of your brothers for that matter.... I'm surprised that your daughter hasn't told you... Raziana, did you just meet him?"
       Raziana nodded meekly.
       "Oh, I see... Didn't have the quality time, huh? Well, anyways, back to your question, Raziel... My name is Kristaufer Halastia and this is my son, Jonathon.... The other man with me is my best colonel, Keevian Tithso... As for the second question, we do care for a complete genocide, with only one exception... We are only a group of excelled vampire hunters....."
       "You're demented scientists!!" screamed Raziana.
       Kristaufer glared at her outburst.  "Yes, if one wishes to be pessimistic, we could be considered demented scientists..."
       Raziel narrowed his eyes.  "How did you know about Ailoryana?"
       "Your wife? Why, Raziel, I have her head at home right now...and her body, too...."
       "You beheaded her?!?!" cried Raziel in repulsion.
       "She was already dead, but yes, I did behead her..." Kristaufer laughed darkly.
       Raziel roared in fury and anguish as he fired a telekinetic blast from Soul Reaver. The horse once more easily and quickly moved out of the way, saving Kristaufer from becoming barbecued.
       "Well... What do you say, Jonathon? Should we leave these two to stew in their own guilt?"
       Jonathon grinned wickedly.  "Sure... Why not?"
       With a sharp whistle from Kristaufer, the three pitch-black horses whinnied shrilly and flew off, their wings flapping slowly, but keeping good altitude.
       When the trio was gone, Raziel turned to Raziana.  "Ailoryana's dead?"
       Raziana nodded sullenly.  "Yes... But not from Kristaufer..."
       "Who?"
       Raziana felt her insides start to melt like ice in a desert.  "Can we save that for later? Right now I'm supposed to team up with you...  Kain's on the loose and we gotta stop him, right?"
       Raziel nodded.  "Yes... But I have no idea where he is?"
       Raziana shrugged.   I saw Kain at the Pillars of Nosgoth, but other than that, I haven't seen him since...."
       Raziel looked around.  "The only way that we'll get to him is to find him..."
       The Elder's voice rumbled through the air.
       Raziel.... Kain is wounded... Now would be the perfect time to attack...
       Raziel jerked around.
       "Elder? How is it possible that you can still speak to me? You said that once I passed through that portal, you could no longer influence me..."
       There was a slight pause, as though the Elder was trying to think of something to say without giving a big secret.
Raziana.... She has a part in this entire thing... She is a main key... But Kain didn't realize this.... Neither did you...
Raziel turned to Raziana.
       "How are you a key in all this? And how did you get here?"
Raziana bit her lip for a few seconds.  "I saw what happened when you fought Kain... I followed you into the
portal.... I don't know how I'm a key in this, I just know I am...."
       Raziel believed his daughter.
       "All right... Do you have any idea where Kain may be?"
       Raziana shrugged.  "Beats me... You know him better than I do...."
       Raziel taxed his mind, trying to think of where Kain might be.
       "Hey!" cried Raziana. "Think he'd be back at the Pillars? Just to throw us off?"
       Raziel nodded.
       "That could be a possibility... Right now we're very near the seat of his empire... It shouldn't take us long to get there..."
*

       Kain's claws clicked loudly on the right armrest of his throne. He was silently thinking things over in his mind. Who was this new vampire? How had she escaped transforming like Melchiah, Rahab, and the others? Was she from the Razelim clan? She had to be, she bore wings.... How had she wound up in this time era? Most importantly, though, was she a threat?
       Kain didn't have time to answer his own questions, because just at that time, Raziel slowly yet confidently walked in.
       "Raziel.... I was wondering how long it would take you....," Kain said smoothly. "You sometimes disappoint me, yet I can still find some faith in you..."
       Raziel stopped.
       "Yes, Kain.... You did say that you have faith in me.... You also failed to mention something else...."
       Kain paused. He hadn't been expecting this.
       "What..? What did I forget to tell you that you think is so important?"
       Raziel narrowed his white eyes.  "One of my clan escaped your bloody wrath...."
       Kain inwardly groaned with anger. Not her again....  "I see you've found her..."
       Raziel made a slicing move with his left hand.  "Cut it out, Kain.... You knew she survived, didn't you?"
       Kain smiled coolly.  "Actually, no, I did not know of this small survivor....your daughter...."
       Raziel would have smiled if had been able.  "Yes... She is my daughter.... She also told me that she could have defeated you....had Malek not interfered...."
       Kain snorted slightly, but disdainfully.  "That pathetic little vampire could never have hoped to defeat me!"
       "Hey!!" came a voice from above. "I could have whooped you big time! Any day!!"
       Kain jerked his head up and saw Raziana sitting atop the Pillar of Balance.
       She smiled widely and waved at Kain.  "Hiya! Miss me?!"
       Kain glared hotly at Raziana.  "No...! I did not...."
       Raziana's smile slightly faltered. She shrugged.  "Oh... Hmmm... Okay.... Good... I didn't miss you either!"
       Raziel readied Soul Reaver.  "Tell me, Kain! Who is this Kristaufer Halastia?!"
       Kain stopped. His eyes widened and he shifted back.  "He's alive?!" Kain cried.
       "Yep," said Raziana. "And he's in this time period too! In other words, WE'RE IN TROUBLE!!!!"
       Kain stood up suddenly. He turned to Raziana.  "You've met him?"
       Raziana nodded.  "Yes.... He hunted Ailoryana and I down to the very end of Ailoryana's life and my near death......."
       Raziel hacked Soul Reaver through the air with a single, yet strong swipe.  "Enough of this! Who is he?"
       Kain turned his harsh glare to Raziel. Raziel was surprised, though, to see pain and anguish in Kain's angry stare.
"Kristaufer..... He is a demented scientist......."
 
 

       Raziana hopped up and down.  "See! See! Even Kain says that they're demented scientists!"
       Raziel turned to his daughter.  "Be quiet for now!!"
       Raziana shrugged.  "Okay.... Jeez... I'm sorry...."
       Raziel felt a twang of remorse go through his badly burned corpse, but he decided to save his apologies for later.
       "Demented scientists?" he asked Kain.
       Kain nodded.  "Yes... They call themselves....." Kain frowned. "What were they called..?"
       Raziana perked up.  "Illuminations...."
       Kain nodded.  "Yes.... Thank you.... They are called the Illuminations.... Kristaufer is their leader...."
       "Their?" asked Raziel.
       Kain sighed with disgust.  "I quickly grow tired of your interruptions, Raziel... If you wish to know, then be quiet....."
       Raziana jumped down silently, using her wings as parachutes. Kain paid no heed.
       "The scientists are also vampire hunters.... But they have extreme knowledge in science and are very able in inducing science experiments on vampires and humans alike....." Kain paused to breathe in. He soon continued. "The last time I ever encountered the Illuminations, they were a small force, unworthy of any attention.... Unfortunately, I misjudged their forces and they grew to a very large threat....."
       Raziana tapped Kain on the shoulder.  "Umm.... May I interfere?"
       Kain jerked his head around.  "What could you possibly know about the Illuminations?!"
       Raziana's face darkened quickly.  "Trust me... I know.... And you don't want to know how I know...."
       Kain seemed skeptical, but he allowed Raziana to speak.  "Go ahead....," he replied.
       Raziana nodded.  "Okay... Well... Kristaufer mutates some of his own men into their animal armies..."
       Raziel seemed both amused and sickened.  "Animals?"
       Raziana shrugged.  "Well.... Animals in a way.. But these animals are just as smart as any vampire or human.... Unfortunately, they have all the lightning like reflexes of the animal they are turned into and those reflexes are enhanced...."
       Kain turned to Raziana.  "What do you mean?"
       Raziana looked grimly at Kain.  "Okay.... Do you know about those horse-like creatures they've got?"
       Kain nodded.
       "All right... Those horse's vision, smell, and hearing is enhanced by a thousand...from a normal vampire's senses..."
       Both Kain and Raziel gaped in disbelief.
       "What?" asked Raziel.
       "You heard me right...," said Raziana. "Also, those things can cruise at fifty miles per hour for five hours.... Not to mention the fact that they can keep up that speed even when traveling on an incline or decline...."
       Kain stared at Raziana with disbelief.  "No.. That's impossible...," he muttered.
       Raziana shook her head.  "No it's not....," she said lowly. "I've been chased down by those things before.... I quickly found out that they can keep up that speed....."
       Raziel stared at Raziana. His eyes studied her up and down.  "How did you survive, then?"
       Raziana lowered her gaze.  "I managed to climb around and make enough jerky moves to throw them off.... Either that or they got flat out tired of me, so they decided to go after somebody else..."
       Kain glanced at both Raziel and Raziana.  "Raziana..... I have only seen those horses.... Are there any more creatures?" asked Kain, his tone hinting that he didn't like the fact that Raziana knew something that he didn't.
       Raziana nodded.  "Yes.... There are more.."
       "Like what?" asked Raziel.
       "There are wolf creatures, these huge, heavily spiked creatures that slightly resemble Melchiah, raven birds crossed with falcons, and big cats with enormous fangs...."
       Kain rolled his eyes.  "Is that all?" he asked sarcastically.
       Raziana shrugged.  "Uh... I really don't know if that's it or not... That's just the ones that I've seen.... The Illuminations could have already made another, new creature....or more for that matter...."
       Kain took a step back.  "And what does this have to do with me?" he asked sharply.
       Raziana looked at Raziel, then Kain, then Raziel again, then finally back to Kain.
       "Uhhh," she stammered. "I have no clue... Raziel was the one who wanted to find you, but I'm guessing he's looking for a fight... Want me to leave?"
       Before either of the vampires could answer, a loud voice echoed through the room.
       "Unfortunately, his Majesty has given me direct orders to kidnap you three and bring you to him..."
       The trio whirled around and saw Keevian riding one of those black horses with wings. The horse kept aloft with just a few powerful flaps of it's wings every now and then. The man smoothed a lock of his chocolate-brown hair back with a gloved hand. His attire was completely black, except for a white, satin cloth that was tied around his waist. Through his scraggly and thick hair, two blue-green eyes glared threatening at Raziana, Raziel, and Kain.
       Kain let out a haughty laugh.  "You expect me to fall to some insane mortal's feet?! You're worse than I thought..."
       Keevian never let up his glare.  "I will not fail his Majesty...."
       Raziel took a few steps forward.  "You're very unwise.... You're attacking three vampires... The odds are against you.."
       Keevian chuckled sourly.  "You wish... The entire place is surrounded by some of his Majesty's best men.... There is no escape...."
       Kain picked up a nearby spear.  "I will sooner die than be forced to see your leader's ugly face...."
       Keevian yawned and snapped his fingers. Two men from out of nowhere appeared and grabbed Raziana roughly. One stabbed a dagger at Raziana's throat. The tip dug into her pale throat and drew a teardrop of blood. Keevian snickered.
       "Don't make me have to kill her... You wouldn't want the entire fate of this world as we know it to be destroyed, would you?"
       Raziel shook his head.  "Kain has already damned the world..."
       Keevian smiled evilly.  "Yes..... I know..... But if Raziana is killed, the world will be destroyed much, much quicker.... As in thirty minutes after her death..."
       Kain and Raziel stared at Raziana with disbelief. Raziana shrugged.
       "So," asked Keevian. "Are you willing to come with us? Or do we need to draw more of this pathetic vampire's blood?"
       Raziana squealed in pain as the man dug his dagger in deeper. Both Kain and Raziel glanced at each other. Raziel gave Kain an almost pleading look.
       Keevian smiled as both Kain and Raziel held up their hands in surrender.