Title: Cantata Noctis

Author: Razielim Vampiress

Rating: PG - 13

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: The Legacy of Kain series in its entirety belongs to Eidos and Crystal Dynamics. I own nothing but the plot of this story and any original characters herein. I am making no profit whatsoever in this.

Beta: The lovely HealerAriel. Thanks so much for causing this to (hopefully) NOT make people want to gouge their eyes out lol. Wonderful woman, folks. GO READ HER STORIES!

Summary: I am Raina, last daughter of the Lord Raziel. I was raised into a world that many mortals may not, nor want, to understand. In this quintessential Kingdom of Death in which our Dark Gods reign, I was chosen to serve the Emperor's first though the time of the Great War and beyond into eternity. This is not the chronicle of a vampire princess, nor of some great lady-in-waiting. It is the story, like so many others, of a soldier amongst the Legions of the Undead.

Darkness.

Cold.

Alone.

Silence.

And a profound sense of...nothing.

Who am I? What am I? It seems that I am as immaterial as the empty void in which I find myself floating. Thoughts swirl into my head, coming and going, all meaningless as they whirl around me in endless succession before quickly becoming forgotten and lost. Is this a sudden feeling of despair? Do I even remember how to feel?

Suddenly, the inky blackness seems to...shift. A strange warmth slowly ebbs into my being, seducing me and spiriting me away from this black hole. It seems to promise me nothing but safe harbor from this emptiness, so with a kind of eagerness, I embrace this alien warmth. And in doing so, opening myself to an engulfing, nerve-searing pain! All at once, I'm aware of my convulsing body, its limbs alight with flames of anguish. Was I betrayed by that alluring presence?

The overwhelming silence is broken by a harsh gasp, a deep, rasping intake of oxygen into deflated and deprived lungs. Without warning, so much darkness is shattered. The shards fall away and reveal a menagerie of colors, blurred and horrifically distorted to my half-formed eyes. What air I had taken in is released in a rising banshee's scream as the pain intensifies, twisting within the core of my being and raging throughout like some angry caged beast. This torture, this hunger... I can't stand it!

As the ragged scream fell from my dry mouth, a faintly metallic smell registered into my consciousness, a sweet odor that made me light-headed. The pain seemed to recognize the scent, for it unexpectedly calmed in response to it. I felt something hot and wet drip tantalizingly onto my cracked lips and I automatically lunged forward to grasp whatever it was that leaked this honeyed elixir. Closing my eyes in the bliss of it all, I drank deep from that life-giving spring, drinking until the flow of the substance gradually thinned to a trickle before ceasing completely. I felt the pain-the hunger, finally subside. I felt myself smile gratefully, and I opened my eyes. My vision was no longer warped, but impeccably clear.

While the room I found myself in was scarcely illuminated, my newfound sight was able to penetrate the darkest of shadows. I was even able to make out the tiny particles of dust dancing through the air. With wide eyes, I observed my surroundings. The chamber seemed to be more of an old crypt, spacious with a low arched ceiling. The walls were as grey and bereft as the stone floor, its even brickwork beginning to crumble slightly. There was but one door, and that was far off on the other side of the room. Finally, my gaze rested on the only other being in the crypt with me. A man, with ghostly white skin and raven hair. His thin, dark lips were set in a small smile, a look of intensity burning in his golden eyes, slightly dulled by fatigue. I remained silent, simply cocking my head to the side as I took in the sight of him, kneeling on the floor beside the sarcophagus I lay on top of. I felt such a strong bond with this man, a sharp metaphysical pull between he and I. A sense of longing, I suppose.

"...Father?" I started slightly, momentarily awed at the unfamiliar sound of my own voice.

He nodded briefly, "I am Raziel," His words were soft-spoken and soothing, his voice melodious and aristocratic while mine was hoarse and broken; an appealing difference to the unending silence that I had previously endured, "Tell me, little one, do you remember your name?"

A tattered shred of memory flashed through my mind, and before I knew what I was saying, I replied, "Raina."

He smiled in approval. This pleased me and made me smile as well. Raziel stood slowly, shakily. The reason became somewhat clear to me as I caught a glimpse of his left wrist. The color I suddenly recognized as crimson contrasted wonderfully with his pale skin. 'Blood', my mind registered, 'His blood. Blood is what I had drank.' Oddly enough, the thought slightly disturbed me, and promptly sent a short-lived cold chill down my spine. I became puzzled as I reflected upon the euphoria that I had experienced. Its taste was so satisfying, so natural. Why was I subject to this seemingly misplaced feeling of dread? I then felt a comforting presence touch my mind. A strange sensation, but it was most certainly welcome. 'Calm yourself, little girl,' it whispered, 'Have no fear.'

Raziel raised his left hand and lightly caressed my cheek, showing surprising gentleness with powerful talons that could easily tear my face off in one swipe. I leaned into that hand, my eyes fluttering closed as I placed a small kiss upon his wrist, licking delicately at the coagulating blood. I was intrigued to find that there was no wound, not even a scar. This minute interest was pushed to the back of my mind as my sire spoke once more, "You were mortal once, but no longer. Now you are vampire, and you will need regular blood sacrifices to thrive in this world. It is a small matter you will grow accustomed to in time."

I nodded my head as I took this in. This did not repulse me as I thought it might have. Instead, I found the thought quite appealing, and I felt a dull want for more.

Raziel pulled back and offered me his hand in gesture that I should get up. While I gave a small appreciative smile, I did not take his hand and instead opted to rise on my own. I gingerly swung my legs over the edge of the coverstone (I discovered that I was rather short, as my toes barely grazed the floor) and slid downwards off it. I used the stone casket as a counterbalance, resting most of my weight against it as I slowly gained my footing. It was a bit difficult, as my muscles felt stiff and weak. After what felt like ages, I finally stood on my own, and grinned up at my sire. An amused smirk graced his handsome features, "I can see you're going to be quite the independent one," Raziel turned and made his way across the chamber, speaking over his shoulder as he unbarred the door, "Come. You have much to see."

Close on his heels, I followed him out into the unknown, anxious to see the world that my master had brought me in to.

Raven: WHOO! I'm still alive after all!

Plushie Raziel: Amazing, isn't it?

Raven: Very. I hope you liked the beginning of this, dear reader. I know I have issues with my tenses while in First-Person, but I've cleaned it up a bit. Or as best I could without too much hacking and slashing. I've got the second chapter already underway and should be posted in no time. Mid February at the latest, seeing as how Life keeps trying to kill my creative spirit...

Plushie Raziel: (has a sudden flashback of himself in a dark corner of the basement, curled into a fetal position and laying on his side in a pool of his own blood) OO

Raven: (le sigh) Poor battered little muse... But you're up and running again for now, so we should be fine!

Plushie Raziel: (scowls) Your keywords being 'for now'.

Raven: Anyways folks, I won't know if you want me to post the next chapter unless you review and tell me! HINTHINT And as a last note, some of you may be wondering as to why I would title this story 'Cantata Noctis' (Latin for 'Chant of Night', I believe). Well, I have an idea that I'm still playing around with, but the title may change if I decide to scrap said idea completely, so those interested have been forwarned. Now, go review, little ones! Shoo, shoo!