In a snowy forest mountain, a woman lay unconscious.  She flinched as the snowflakes fell gently upon her pale face.  Her eyelids flutter open: a set of deep cerulean eyes, stare blankly up into the pearly-white clouds that covered the night sky.  Where?… What?… How?…  As she tries to recall, a rush of memories like a tidal wave overwhelm her…

(Nosgoth’s unrecorded history)
Far in time, in a distant land, untouched by Kain’s fledgling empire, stood a kingdom of immense proportions.  Built with white stones and mortar, it was nestled upon the lofty mountains where the sun would still shine.  A peaceful ambiance was gained from beholding it, yet within its walls, a battle rages.  Tios Kletwen, a sorcerer who had been denied the hand of the princess, became furious.  “You’re a foolish king, Ulrich!” he accused, “Even with the threat of calamity against your realm, you refuse me?”  “My daughter and kingdom will not be made your slaves” the king responded by drawing his sword “neither by marriage nor by force.”  He signaled for his guards to seize the wizard but before they could, he vanished into thin air.  His malicious voice echoed within the palace walls as he pronounced a curse upon the kingdom and its people.  “Find him!”  The king ordered, “Quickly, before it’s too late”  “Oh, but it is…” the wizard chuckled, still hidden from their sights.  The guards and the king left the princess’ side as they went in search of Tios.  But he, seeing this chance, rematerialized behind the princess and took hold of her.  “Farewell thee well, father!” he taunted
“Father, h – ” her plea for help unfinished as the sorcerer disappeared once again.  Aleiah… – NO!  A cold shiver washed over king Ulrich’s back and his stomach was in knots.  He knew where the wizard had taken his daughter.  “To the castle’s foundation!”  He commanded.  He ran as fast as he could.  Tios’ disembodied chanting still reverberating in his ears.  Staircase after staircase, hall after hall, his armor becoming heavier and heavier upon him, but he ran, trusting the hope that he could somehow get there in time.

“Unhand her you diabolical beast!”  They stormed through the barricaded doors only to find the rouge wizard’s sneering face as he finished his incantation.  Behind him: the helpless princess lay; unconscious amongst archaic markings on the floor, like a thrown rag doll.  In that instant, the clouds darkened and the winds howled through the pine forests.  The blizzard Tios threatened to summon struck like lightning, instantly freezing everything in and around the surrounding village, animals and people alike.  The princess coming to, found herself unable to escape as a whirlwind surrounded her and began to close in all around.  Hopelessness cut through her fear like a sharp sword as she realized: there was no one that could help her.  It was then amid the flood of despair that drowned her, she began to cry.  Please, no - it can’t end like this!  She closed her eyes in hopeful prayer.  Someone, please, help… An evil grin spread across the wizard’s face as he watched the king and his men look on, paralyzed with horror and grief as ice began to cover the princess’ body.  It spread across the room in all directions from the whirlwind.  They were too late.  As the whirlwind dissipated, a towering pillar of ice stood in its place and within it, the princess.  “If anyone tries to free her,” The wizard said, shaking his finger towards the king and his men “they, along with the princess will perish!” He cackled and disappeared in a blinding light, leaving the king on his knees, wailing for his doomed daughter and kingdom…

(Eons later)

A vampire fledgling awakens in a darkened room along with five others, who still slept.  Newly born, his whole body ached as it tried to cope with heightened senses a human body could not handle.  But he didn’t know this.  Only the one responsible for such an act knew.  “Raziel, my son.  I see you have awakened” this was such who spoke to him.  “I am Kain, your master and father.”  Stepping into a stream of moonlight from a small window above, Kain made himself known “Come,” he said handing him a chalice filled with blood “strengthen yourself.”  Raziel took the cup hesitantly and looked at Kain questioningly.  “You know what you are – ” his voice dropped down to a growl in response “I need not tell you.”  With that, Raziel pinched his eyes shut and took a gulp.  A sneer crept across Kain’s face as he watched the fledgling discover his taste for blood.  His yellow piercing eyes opened wide as he found the taste invigorating and guzzled down what was left.  “I must have more.”  Kain chuckled at the fledgling.  He expected this and gestured for him to follow.  “Don’t worry about the others, they will wake soon enough.”  Raziel zealously followed his master until they stood atop a rocky outcrop over looking the vampire citadel, which Kain had deemed the Sanctuary of the Clans.  “Your territory is to the West of those cliffs,” he said turning his gaze towards the North “but a populace stands in your way.  Do what you must and spare none alive.”  Kain instructed his first-born  “Serve me well” “Yes master” Raziel replied, kneeling before him and with that the two parted company. 

It wasn’t long after, Kain stood upon the watch tower of his citadel when blood curdling screams went up from the city he had left his first born to toy with.  A satisfied smile came upon Kain’s lips as he listened. It’s like music to my ears.   Soon, the rest of his brood will wake from their slumber and he will send them out to their own territories, decimating the miserable humans who stood in their ways.  They will eventually subdue them and someday compel them to create for his kind a world without the sun.  But in the mean time, he thought to enjoy the moment.  He closed his eyes, letting the gentle breeze softly caress his long dark hair, the smile not fading from his face.

THE STORY BEGINS
(1,000 years later)

No longer a fledgling, Raziel curiously investigates a human citadel under the cover of night and hooded cloak.  Aimlessly striding through the alleys, watching and listening, he took in what had been left of their lives when night came.  Though one of the last human citadels, he will, under Kain’s orders destroy the damned masses. However, that time had not yet come.  At times, I wonder why Kain reviles them so much, he pondered as he walked passed a window of a happy family huddled together by the fire, but other times, I know why.  His eyes narrowed as he watched two men trying to take a woman by force.  Her screams for help unaided.  Moving quickly, he found a niche above their heads.  Then, grabbing each man in turn, he sated his growing hunger. 

Somehow amused at his fortune of getting such a quick, easy meal, he went on his way and found himself in the town’s tavern.  Where, from his experience, people told very interesting tales and soldiers discussed war tactics.  He glided through the crowd unnoticed and sat alone at the darkest corner.  He carefully scanned the room for a fascinating conversation, but found none.  With disappointment he rose up from his chair and began to walk out.  As he did, he got caught in a conversation between two gentlemen who had just walked in:
“And then what happened?”  The younger one said
“The wizard turned her into ice” The old man replied, eyes wide with excitement
“That’s a load of hogwash!”
“No!” He insisted.  “The highest peak fifty leagues from here – she’s still there!”
“Trenor, I think you’ve had too many”
“But we just got here!”  Trenor protested as he sat himself in a table, “If you don’t believe me, why don’t you go see for yourself?”
“You’ve had twelve” the young man refused to sit with him, “and you’re just saying that because you know I won’t go up there.” 
“But – ”
“I’ve got better things to do than to listen to hogwash – I’m going home!”  And with that, Trenor’s companion barreled out of the tavern with Raziel following closely behind.  “You believe me don’t you?”  Trenor grabbed Raziel’s arm as he walked passed his table.  “Tread carefully old man.”  Raziel hissed.  “I’m not one to trifle with.”  But the old man didn’t seem to care.  Desperate to tell his tale, he grasped Raziel’s arm even tighter, begging him to listen.  “Kill me if you must,” he sobbed “I know what you are - but please,” he pleaded “please, listen.”  His tears began to seep through Raziel’s cloak.  The vampire cringed as it burned his skin.  “Very well old man – ” Raziel, not wanting to cause a scene, relented and sat across Trenor.  His yellow eyes glaring at his newfound ‘companion’ beneath the shadow of his cloak “ – What drunken lunacy are you so eager to impart?” 

Trenor was ecstatic.  “Thank you kind sir!” he sang excitedly.  He quickly wiped off his tears and sculled dry his cup of ale.  Then, locking his soft blue eyes against Raziel’s piercing glare, he leaned forward, and dropped his voice down to a whisper as if telling a secret. “You see, long ago, there was this beautiful kingdom, right up the into the peaks of Mount Ishcar.  Great kings ruled there for eons and its people flourished.  But all great sovereignties come to an end, one way or the other: either by outsiders or treachery from within.  The last of these beloved rulers was none other than the great king Ulrich himself.  Like the others before him, he was noble man, kind and just.  But the sorcerer who sat at his right hand was cruel and manipulative.  Envious of the king’s position and lusting after power, he attempted to deceive the king into forfeiting the kingdom by marrying the princess.  But the king saw right through his evil plot and refused.  Even after the sorcerer had threatened to forever desolate his realm by taking his heir and cursing the land with endless winter.  And he did.  Now, Ishcar’s princess sleeps an endless sleep, frozen in a pillar that holds the castle’s form.  I have very little faith that Ishcar’s glory will ever be restored but, if the princess can be saved, then that’s enough for us: who failed to protect her.” 
“That’s impossible,” Raziel shook his head in disbelief “for all the time I’ve existed, Mount Ishcar has always been of ice and snow.”
“Your years are long – yes,” the old man reasoned, “but even you didn’t exist at the very beginning.”
“Then how is it that you know of it and I do not?” Raziel asked suspiciously.  Though deep inside, his curiosity began to rouse.  “I am of the king’s servants: one of those who witnessed the fall of Ishcar that day and saw the look of indescribable grief on the king’s face.  For ceaseless generations, we vowed to impart the story of our accursed kingdom in the hope that one day, someone capable of rescuing the princess will come forth and put at ease our beloved king’s grief, though he’s long been dead, that we ourselves may also rest in peace.”
“How do you know your princess isn’t beyond redemption?”
“Tios was a cruel man.”  Trenor said lowering his head.  “He could have slain the princess.  But instead, he chose to display her as the trophy of his victory.”  He looked up at Raziel, his face twisted in deep sadness.  Raziel sat in silence and resting his chin upon closed fists, he furrowed his eyebrows.  Although he couldn’t decipher whether the old drunkard’s story was myth or truly tangible, he was convinced that Trenor believed he was telling the truth.  Deluded old fool!  He mused.  Yet he had to admit, he felt a pinch of pity for the drunkard.  He was at once moved to warn him of the impending danger: “Leave this place old man – and do it quickly.” He said rising up from his seat.  Though the tale did fascinate him, morning was fast approaching and his clan members will know of his absence.  “Tell no one of our encounter and forget your princess, she’s lost to oblivion.”
“No, please, don’t leave!” Trenor quickly stumbled after the vampire as he breezed through the tavern’s doors “– you are our only hope.”
“I grow weary of your bothersome prattle old man!”  Raziel had grasped the old man’s neck with his taloned hand and heaved him up to his face “Leave me be…” he growled, baring his fangs.  He had listened patiently up to that point but was exasperated by Trenor’s persistence.  The old man had brought too much attention to his presence and it made him uneasy.  If Kain were to hear of his secret visit, there would be a punishment laid out for him far worse than death.  He lowered the dazed old man to his feet and looking left to right vanished, into the night, hoping no one else had taken any notice of him.  Little to his knowledge however, a pair of sympathetic eyes watched him from a distance.  “If only you knew what will happen to you.”  It kept watch as Raziel made his escape from the human citadel then also disappeared into the night with a flutter of wings.

*****

A few weeks later, Kain gave the order to destroy that same citadel where Raziel had heard the tale of the ice maiden: an act of vengeance for refusing his reign, Kain sentenced its inhabitants with annihilation.  As a result, no one was left alive and the whole place was turned into a smoldering ruin.  Arms crossed against his chest and his crimson mantle waving in the breeze, Raziel watched afar off from a high vantage point as the smoke from the city rose up to the twilight sky.  To his right, something caught his eye:  Fifty leagues, at the highest peak.  He recalled.  But where exactly if indeed it’s true.  It seems Trenor took this knowledge to the grave with him.  He didn’t know if the old man had made it out of the city but there was no way of knowing.  He shook his head in regret.  Why didn’t I linger just a little longer to find out?  “My liege,” one of his subordinates interrupted his thoughts “all of your orders have been carried out.  What would you have us do now?”  A little aggravated by his question and stating the obvious, the still preoccupied Raziel dismissed the fledgling with an order to move out and return to his capital.  “I will report to lord Kain personally.”  He added.  His eyes still fixed to the North.  “Then what keeps you?”  An authoritive voice of a nobleman shook Raziel from his reverie.  It belonged to Kain.  His once dark hair now white with age and his once human form gave way to resemble that of his ancestors.  “Master.”  Acknowledging Kain’s presence, Raziel knelt before his superior.  He watched through the curtain of his long dark hair as Kain strolled past.  There was something different about his master he couldn’t quite put a claw on.  “Ah, yes, the realm of Ishcar” Kain sighed, standing at the edge of the cliff.  “Many eons have passed since I’ve gazed upon its peaks.”  Admiring the vista before him, he gestured for Raziel to accompany him. 
“It wasn’t always so…desolate”
So it is true!  “What do you know of it, father?”  Raziel asked intently as he joined Kain. 
“You wish to seek its whereabouts?” 
Raziel nodded. 
“Your curiosity besiege you my son, yet do not waste your time,” Kain counseled, “all you’ll find there is the dilapidated remnants of a once great kingdom.”  Raziel glanced at Kain with astonishment.  Truth be told, there was something different about him Raziel couldn’t put a finger on, but what he said was even more unusual.  The master called this human kingdom great?  He pondered.  I’ve never heard him ever refer to anything of human origins as ‘great’  “…Unless” Kain deduced, “it isn’t the ruins of its former glory you’ve purposed to see” Raziel shifted uncomfortably “The ice maiden…” Kain turned to look at his lieutenant, his piercing yellow eyes locked against his.  “Though you have my blessings, bear in mind, Raziel: what world she will see with her waking eyes.  The beauty she once knew is no more.  Her father and everything that she holds dear – all are gone.”
“She and the whole kingdom are under a curse are they not?”  Raziel reasoned.  “If I were to end the curse – ”
“She’s human.”  Kain cut his lieutenant short.  Raziel, taken aback, looked away to his side.  His master was right.  A resounding silence rested upon the two like a heavy blanket.  Finally breaking this silence, as he turned to leave, Kain spoke: “Consider this also,” he said, as they stood back to back, a few paces apart, “even if you were to successfully rescue Ishcar’s princess from her prison of ice, to take her as your bride you’ll have to kill her.”  Then, with the fluttering wings of a thousand bats, Kain left the melancholy Raziel on his own.  It wasn’t long after that, that Raziel hesitantly decided he would leave the ice maiden to her fate.

*****

Raziel languished in his chamber bed, arms folded behind his head.  He stared up at the ceiling awaiting the proclamation of Melchiah’s banquet halls.  (His brother had just recently brought a gory end upon a large sect of vampire hunters and now, there was a celebration).  For many moons he had tried to disregard the ice maiden, but the thought of her kept creeping in.  And now, alone with this notion, there was no escape.  Annoyed, he recalled his days as a fledgling whereby he spent nights and days recovering from water burns because he just had to see what was beyond that creek. How his brothers were too afraid to visit because they had laughed at him earlier.  He burned with shame to remember the look of amusement in Kain’s eyes when he found out what had happened. That’s where curiosity leads you.  He grunted.  Suddenly, the eerie sound of Melchiah’s horn filled the distant air, saving him from his maddening thoughts.  At last!  Raziel thought.  He dragged himself off his bed, and a human slave came to equip him his armor.  Then, taking the finest of his offsprings, he halfheartedly made his way to Melchiah’s realm.

The banquet hall fell silent, taking in the stunning sight as Raziel and his offsprings marched in.  The crowd parted as they traversed across the room to Melchiah, who himself remained motionless in admiration.  His eyes alight, honored to have the greatest of his brothers attend his humble feast.  “Welcome: my brother!”  Melchiah announced.  Raziel bowed his head in acceptance and the room erupted once again with music and dancing.  Soon, everyone became intoxicated with blood and merry with dancing – all but two.  Dumah, having been Raziel’s sparring partner in their fledgling days, had sensed the restlessness in his brother’s behavior since his arrival and remained sober to seize a moment with him.  When chance came, he followed Raziel outside. 
“Raziel – ”
“What is it?!?” Raziel snarled defensively but Dumah shrugged it off.  “Something troubles you,” he said seating himself beside his brother “what is it?”  Raziel glanced at his sibling “Don’t concern yourself, brother,” he sighed “its just something foolish.”  But Dumah knew better.  It’s a female!  He quickly suspected.  But which one?  He avoided his brother’s penetrating glare trying to fend off an oncoming smirk.  Raziel, feeling uncomfortable under Dumah’s spotlight, decided to go back into the banquet hall.  The sound of music and dancing appealed to him more than facing a moment’s weakness.  “Wait!”  Dumah caught up to him, “Don’t try to find the answer when there is no question.” He said putting a hand on his sibling’s shoulder.  His titanic figure towered over his older sibling as they stood face to face.  “Brother, let your heart be wounded and give no mercy to your fears.”  Raziel grimaced.  How did he know?  “I’m your brother,” Dumah replied as if reading his mind “what did you expect?”  Raziel smiled revealing a set of gorgeous dimples.  It was a very rare sight – for everyone, even Dumah.  But as quickly as it came, Raziel’s smile faded.  He thanked Dumah for his wise counsel and taking up his scythe, left hastily.  His mind was set.  He will indulge his curiosity and search out this lost kingdom – wherever it may be.

With one purpose, Raziel blazed through Nosgoth’s rugged landscape. I haven’t felt this way since I first tasted blood!  A grin escaped his solemn countenance as Dumah’s words came to remembrance. My brother: a formidable warrior and a poet as well.  He thought proudly.

Raziel slowed his pace.  His whole body tingled with a strange sensation as snow fell gently upon his skin and his feet crunched down on the thick blanket of it on the ground.  Suddenly surrounded by tall pine trees (a beautiful yet unfamiliar sight), he was caught in rapture.  The mid afternoon light has passed and the sun was well on its way to setting.  He admired the vision before him: To catch sight of Nosgoth bathing in golden light…Though this world is dying, I can almost believe I’m beholding heaven.  He set out to for a better position in which to admire the vista but as he did, a growl of pain and incredulity escaped his throat.  The sunlight he knew to be rendered harmless by the smoke factories pierced his skin and he found himself diving for cover.  How ironic!  He thought, almost with resentment.  The very things that keep Nosgoth alive are the very things that will kill my kind and I…yet, we find them so dazzling and are drawn to them. He shook his head as he thought of the irony…like moths to a flame.  He made himself comfortable.  He would now have to wait for the cover of night to travel. 

*****

Raziel gingerly peeked from the inner wall of the hollowed tree he’d ducked into.  Night had finally come, and it masked his dying world with silver light.  He crept out of his hiding place and headed toward the top of the summit.  The once magnificent castle of Ishcar towered above the trees.  A glimmering light from its highest tower served as a beacon to guide me out of this forest…

As Raziel emerged from Ischar’s woodlands, he came into a clearing where the villagers once lived.  The buildings, although deserted were still in tack.  It gave the impression that people were just sleeping within them.  But as he progressed through the town, he was faced with an alarming discovery:  Moving steadily past clumps of frozen bodies, I could only gape at the look of frozen horror etched upon their skeletal remains as they ran from an unseen foe.  A sickening feeling formed at the pit of my stomach as I began to speculate if the princess also suffered the same fate.  Tios was a cruel man indeed.  Not even the master would leave a town in limbo…

…The palace walls soon rose to meet me.  Its gargantuan gates torn open and decrepit were rendered useless by the powerful, cataclysmic force that ravaged and destroyed the whole kingdom.  The large wooden gates collapse as Raziel walks through, yet he is unphased.  Something else of greater significance implored his attention.  Dark clouds had gathered, plunging him in darkness without warning.  A menacing wind howled against the pines well behind him.  It could only mean one thing: it was about to rain.  There was only one place of escape.  With more determination than before, he bolted for the safety of the palace, trying to outrun the ominous storm.  But he didn’t get far.  Rain began pouring down almost instantly, pelting his vampiric body like a barrage of fiery arrows.  “ARRH!!!”  The crippling pain brought Raziel to his knees.  But he knew he must not stop; if he did, it would mean his doom.  “It wont be far from here”.  He groaned.  So, under the deafening roar of thunder and blinding flashes of light from the electrified sky, he fought on…