"You've been a worthy opponent Angel, and a worthy ally, I hate to have to kill you."

        "You sure you don't want to back out?"

        "When I died I was the most powerful being in the world, I will re-attain that status. Are you sure you won't defer to me?"

        "You're still a murderer Kain, our policies would collide."

        "Very well then, Have At You!"

        This fight progressed better, they started by circling each other, getting a feel for each other's stances. Angel had his axe again. Kain borrowed a steel sword from Angel, he considered the Soul Reaver to be cheating. The mood was odd, both had proved their value to the other, so they would be at a loss if either one died. But they would still fight, and by the end of the night, one would be dead. Clang! Their blades met again and again, but without the mindless fury of the last confrontation, each move was thought out and planned, strike, deflect, retaliate. 

        "Getting tired yet Angelus?"

        The blades ground against each other.

        "The night is young! And for God's sake, stop calling me Angelus! My name is Angel!"

        A blow was struck, a blow deflected.

        Kain smiled, "Do I look like someone who cares what God thinks?"

        Clang! 

        "That is quite enough."

        Both figures stopped and looked in the new voice's direction.

        "Who's there?" Angel demanded of the shadows.

        "I know that voice." Kain said flatly.

        "Indeed you do, Kain."

        A figure stepped out from the shadows, his flesh gnarled, almost as though it was bone pretending to be flesh. His eyes black and empty. He wore long robes of black and red.

        "Who are you?"

        "His name is Mortanius, guardian of the Pillar of Death."

        "I am glad the millennia have not dulled your memory."

        "What do you want here, necromancer? We have a duel to complete, and we need none of your deceptions and trickery to interfere."
        
        "That is why I am here, Kain. You're efforts, and that of Angel's, have averted a catastrophe. You have both done well."

        "Then what do you want here?" Angel spoke out.

        "I am here to bring an end to this tale, and to begin the next. Did you not wonder to yourself, Kain? Why am I here? How did I come to return here? It was by my power that you are once again given flesh, Kain. By mine that you were drawn to Wolfram and Hart. That you were allied with Angel. You were triumphant in fulfilling the pillars, but one task still remains for you. As the guardian of the Pillar of Balance, you must appoint your successor."

                "Why do I need a successor? I am not yet dead."

        "Don't be foolish, Kain, you are indeed dead, you're heart no longer beats, you're flesh carries the visage of death in it. All that remains is for you to take your place amongst the dead. And in doing so, bring rise to the next Guardian of Balance, who will again raise the pillars and defend the world from the darkness."

        "And who would this new guardian be, Mortanius?"

        "Angel, you are the next pillar"

        "What?"

        "Do not be so surprised, your destiny was decided the day Kain fell on his blade."

        "You want me to take Kain's place?"

        "You must be joking, Mortanius."

        "I assure you I am not. You're time is ended, Kain. You have served your destiny well. It is time for an end to your reign. It is a new world, and a new guardian must take your place. You must turn over your title to Angel."

        A wrathful look had taken a place on Kain's face, as though he was fed up with something. "Again, Mortanius, you place a choice before me. Again, you raised me from death only to have me die again. Have you no decency!? Have you nothing better to do with your time than torment me? My life was taken from me before it had even truly begun! You lured me back with the promise of revenge, only to reveal at the end that my life was still required of me. And now, again, you place this burden upon my shoulders. I am sick of it Mortanius, so sick I could vomit." Kain drew the Soul Reaver. "Give me one good reason why I should not simply destroy Angel with this and live as I have never been allowed!?"

        Mortanius' expression was an unwavering calm. "Look into my eyes, Kain."

        Not knowing why, Kain did.

        Mortanius' eyes were dark pits, eyes without love or hate, remorse or wrath. Eyes like death. All were equal in those eyes. Kain looked deep, his very consciousness was drawn into them. He looked through them, nothing but darkness, nothing. Wait, something else there, Kain could make out a pair of eyes staring right back at him. Too close. Kain moved back. He could make out a face now. It was his! But not as he was now. The face was gnarled and hard, as though carved from stone. He moved back further. He saw the man's hands, no longer hands, but talons, the same for his feet. Further back he went, his view becoming clearer the further he stepped. A room, he was in a room. His alter ego stood in the center. The Pillars of Nosgoth surrounded him, but not as they were when he died. They were all fallen and toppled, struck down, corrupted till they could no longer stand. A throne of human bone was built around the ruins of the pillar of Balance, his Pillar. He drew back further. Six men stood around himself, vampires, all of them. All changed as Kain was. And still changing, he could feel it in them. But he drew back further. Now he saw the land around it. A massive fortress, with flags waving on the walls. Kain recognized the symbols. They were the same as worn by the six vampires, and by Kain's alter ego himself. He saw vampires roaming about the area outside, guarding it, feeding on human slaves from time to time. Kain took one more step backwards to see everything in total. Everything. Nosgoth lay spread out before him. Not as the land he left. Corrupted to the core, practically falling apart under it's own weight. Dead, the land was dead. Not dying as it was in his time, but truly dead. As were its denizens, dead, dying, if not in body than certainly in spirit, or undead, as vampires and other ungodly beasts. Kain could bear the sight no more, and fled out of this world, and out of Mortanius' eyes. But before he left, he saw his own eyes once more. They too, were dead. As though anything that might have once been vibrant and beautiful had been chipped and worn by time until only a stubborn, unyielding, and dead center remained. Dead.

        Kain stared at Mortanius for another moment, at first he wasn't sure that he was truly out. It took time to collect his thoughts, to start breathing again. 

        "That Kain, was the world, as it could have been. Your sacrifice, millennia ago, destroyed that world before it could have even begun. But the threat of its arrival is not done yet. It can still be true, if you choose it. Yes, the burden is again on your shoulders, but this is the last time. Even my time is now over, for the first time, a new Guardian of Death will rise. I came back, brought you back, as a favor to the Elder. A favor to repay the one he gave me. It is now my time to rest. As it is yours."

        Kain took the dark man's words in stride. He looked down at his hands, as though seeing them for the first time, it had never occurred to him before as to how beautiful they were, capable of moving into an infinite number of positions. Accomplishing an infinite number of tasks. But he could not ignore what else he saw. That they were slightly rotten, and would rot further if he did not kill soon and replenish the healing blood within him. Kain looked around at the world, at the glimmering lights, the streets which seemed to be miles down. So much to see, he had had so little time to explore it, to know it. Why not just kill Angel? Take the world as his own, certainly this place was worthy of him? But another thought entered his mind. Eyes, my eyes, destroyed by time and strain. Kain did not want to end up that way. He would never allow that to be. 

        Kain took the soul reaver and pointed it at Angel. Both Mortanius and Angel looked up in surprise. But he made no move to strike. Kain stroked the blade again. It's marvels never ceased to amaze him. He then tossed it, clattering, to Angel's feet. 

        "Every pillar gives a gift to it's Guardian, an item which he or she will use to accomplish it's mission. The gift is not given directly to the bearer, though it will be given back directly, for the item is different for each user. The pillar used fate to hand this blade down to me, and I used it to destroy the mad Guardians and restore balance. It may or may not be your gift. Nevertheless, guard it well. It must never fall into the wrong hands. Farewell, Angel, Mortanius, I will see you in the abyss."

        Angel picked up the black sword, a miniature skull was embedded in its hilt. Angel could feel the power surging through it, and through him. He knew what to do, whether he wanted to do it or not. Angel spun, swung the dark blade high, and lopped off Kain's head. 

        Kain's body stood a moment, then fell to the ground. The face on the head had a look of peace on it. The eyes no longer held any life in them. But they held a serene peace within. Angel looked at Mortanius. 

        "Now what? What am I supposed to do? I have no power as Kain did, even with this. How am I supposed to restore balance to the world?"

        "You will know what to do Angel. It is the way of the pillars. You must seek out the other guardians. The Pillars will stand again."

        "How will I know them?’

        "They will come to you, through fate and chance. The task has already begun. Three of them stand with you now."

        "What? Who?"

        "I do not know their names, only who they are. You have already found the pillars of Mind, Conflict, and Dimension. The others will come to you soon enough."

        Angel looked at Mortanius with disappointment in his voice. "I know who you're talking about. I've already cut any hope of them joining me. My mission has already failed."

        "Then you must regain their trust. You are the Pillar of Balance, and you will find a way, when the time comes. Have faith in yourself. Kain would not have left this to you if he did not think you worthy."

        With that, Mortanius vanished, the shadows seeming to swallow him up and consume him. 

        I am the Pillar of Balance? That is why all this shit's been thrown at me? What am I supposed to do now? Angel looked down at the Soul Reaver. Who knew how many had done this? Simply marveled at it. It was power. Dark power. It draws on evil for it's strength, but it was the weapon that saved the world from certain destruction. Angel considered the considerable strength he held in his hand. How does it work? When I killed Kain, he simply died. When Kain killed Dorn, his body exploded with dark energy. What power lies within? Angel didn't have time to ponder this. He had a purpose again. He had answers. It was time to step back into the light. Angel stood on the edge of the building. His eyes gazed over the city of angels. Wrought with disease and corruption. But still, home to sparks of hope, allies. And out there, somewhere, were eight others like him, with a mission and a purpose. He would find them. He would slay the evil that festers in this city--no, the world--and Balance would be restored. As Kain before him.

        With that, Angel raised the Soul Reaver towards the heavens, his eyes filled with anticipation, fear, and hope. He roared a battle cry which had not been heard in over a thousand years. It is said that the day Angel let out this cry, all the evil of the world looked over their shoulders, certain that they had heard something, as though someone was dancing on their graves.

"Vae Victus!"