His suprise only grew when Moebius had revealed his plan - he had manipulated another Vampire into seeking entrance into Audron's lair, one who had the means to blaze a path that the Sarafan could follow to Janos himself. Judging by the faces of his friends, they were no less suprised at this tactic.
"Let me get this straight, Lord Moebius." Raziel said slowly. "This strange, "foreign" Vampire you have described will infiltrate Audron's retreat, leaving a route accessible to us, which we will follow to the foul beast and slaughter him."
"You are correct."
"Yet from your description of this Vampire, I can hardly believe he could cross a plain meadow safely, forget a bizzarely-guarded fortress. You say that he had wings which have been torn off from his body? A missing jaw? Barely enough skin to hold a body together? It sounds like you describe a Vampire dying in the flame rather than a worthy warrior."
"This one has a determined spirit, as willful and determined as your own, Raziel. Heh, the two of you have quite a bit in common."
Raziel's eyes flashed. "I have nothing in common with such a monster!"
Moebius chuckled evilly, as if at some strange private joke. It was at times like these that Malek really didn't like being around the Time Guardian. He couldn't help but distrust him, though why he'd feel like this was beyond him.
Moebius became serious again. "Once you have reached Janos Audron, kill him, tear out his heart, and return it here. You must also retrieve an artifact in his possession. A black-bladed sword with a skull adorning the hilt. In my possession, it would be a powerful weapon against the Vampires. Raziel, I will give you my staff in order to subdue Audron as you kill him."
Raziel nodded. "And the other Vampire?"
Moebius shook his head. "I have looked into the Time-streams. Audron will use his evil magic to send the other Vampire out of your reach before you are upon him. But do not concern yourself. I daresay that you will all meet him soon enough."
Moebius gave his staff to Raziel, and the Sarafan started to file out. But Moebius held Malek back.
"Not you, Malek."
"Lord Moebius?"
"I have foreseen that there will be a revenge strike on the Circle when Janos falls. We will need the Conflict Guardian here to protect the Circle."
"But what if I am needed to defeat Audron..?"
"Be still, Malek. Your friends can take the monster down. You have a role to fulfill here."
Malek sighed, and nodded. He left the hall, not noticing a malicious grin on Moebius' face...
***
Malek knew it would take quite a while for the Sarafan war party to reach and return from Uschtenheim. He knew how he intended to fill the time. He made his way to the residential block of the Stronghold, to the private chambers he shared with two special people.
MeLoom lounged on their bed, clad in a white gown that identified her as one of the highly-ranked sorceresses of the Sarafan order. Normally she avoided wearing uniform where possible, but at the moment, her usual tight-fitting leather clothes were impossible to wear, due to the growing bulge in her abdomen.
MeLoom brightened up as Malek entered, throwing the book she had been reading onto the bed. "Just what the apothecary ordered!"
Malek grinned. "How are my two favourite people in the world today?"
"I'm perfectly fine." MeLoom rubbed the bulge. "The little one seems over excited."
"A wild one, just like their mother." Malek kissed MeLoom fondly. "What is this..? 'Etiquette and Proper Behaviour'? This doesn't seem like your type of book!"
"A gift from Neve, to while away the days until the little one greets the world." MeLoom groaned. "You can tell how truly bored I am if I'm reading it. But now you are here, you could entertain me by letting me know what that meeting was all about."
"Moebius has come up with a plan to finally eliminate Janos Audron. I say 'plan', it was more like the most unreliable and hare-brained schemes that we will be probably inflicting on our child when we tell it fairy-stories about wolves failing to eat chickens and sheep."
MeLoom laughed. "You really don't like fairy stories, do you? But in any case, when is this glorious quest going to take place."
"Now. Raziel and the others have already left."
"Oh? Then why are you not with them?"
Malek sighed. "Moebius told me I was needed here. To guard the Circle from revenge attacks."
"You are joking, aren't you?" MeLoom sat up. "As great as you are, Malek, there is an entire order of Sarafan in these walls, and the Circle are hardly defenceless themselves!"
Malek shrugged. "I'm trying to look on the bright side. While the others are all toiling and sweating while in battle with Audron, I will be here with my beautiful princess!"
MeLoom fluttered her eyelids and laughed. "Oh, my hero! You always know the right thing to say!"
***
A few hours passed. Malek and MeLoom were in the middle of a friendly pillow fight when a messenger knocked on their door.
"Malek, sir?" the messenger said, trying to ignore the feathers in Malek's hair and the giggles from MeLoom. "Lord Moebius wishes you to don your armour and meet with him in the central hall."
"Fine." Malek went back into his room and started gathering his armour. "That was fast, MeLoom. The others must really be racing back. I hope nothing has gone wrong."
"You worry too much, Malek. Moebius would have forseen any major problems."
Malek nodded, still uncomfortable. "Probably. I will see you in a few hours."
The couple kissed, and Malek left.
***
A short while later, there was another knock on MeLoom's door. MeLoom grunted, pulling herself to her feet, and opened the door to a flustered Neve.
"MeLoom?"
"Neve? What's wrong?"
"I had a terrible dream. I dreamed that we were all killed. You, me, Lania, the boys, everyone!"
MeLoom signalled for her friend to sit down. "It was only a dream, Neve."
"No, I think it was more than that. The whole place seems to be on edge. There are warriors being posted everywhere, and even Lania has been called up!"
This got MeLoom's attention. "Lania? She's the Head Sorceress! What could warrant her personal attention?"
"I do not know."
MeLoom sighed. "Alright. Come on. We'll go and see Mortanius. I'm sure if anyone knows what is..."
"Mortanius is not here, MeLoom. He had some business at the Pillars themselves, I gather."
"Oh. Well, let us see the rest of the Circle. One of them has to know. You can't just have all this uproar without them knowing why."
Neve bit her lip. "Are you sure you're up to it?"
MeLoom laughed. "I'm pregnant, not dying."
***
Malek watched as his recently-returned comrades ran off to the positions Moebius had given them. He turned to the Time Guardian. "Lord Moebius, why...?"
Moebius shook his head. "There is no time to explain, Malek. All will become clear, in time."
"But after going to such pains to gain this Reaver, why would you put it directly in the intruder's grasp?"
"There is more than one way to wield a weapon, Malek. As the Guardian of Conflict, I would expect you to understand that."
Malek bit back a retort, and followed Moebius out of the room. A minute or so later, a door in the opposite wall opened, and Neve and MeLoom entered.
"Noone here..."
Neve frowned. "Just what is happening here? How is it that this room is empty? There's always been someone here in a crisis!"
"No time to wonder. Let's carry on."
The two sorceresses continued out of the room and down the corridor, but choosing the opposite direction to that that Moebius and Malek had taken. They made their way past two corners before running into another figure. But the figure was not a friend. Neve swore under her breath, possibly the first unladylike thing she'd done in her life. MeLoom, for her part, simply whispered a name.
"Vorador..."
Vorador's eyes had widened, suprised at running into two old enemies. Quickly, though, he regained his composure and chuckled. "Well. What a suprise running into the two of you. We haven't seen each other in...almost two years."
MeLoom growled. "And we beat you then, Vorador."
"No, my dear MeLoom. You and the rest of your little clique fought me off. All I see before me are a pregnant woman and a healer. Not worthy opponents, and to be honest, I'm in a hurry to meet with the Circle - they'll pay for my maker's death!"
Neve narrowed her eyes. "Your maker was a monster. He had no right to..."
Neve never got a chance to finish her sentance. Vorador had brought his sword straight into her gut.
"NO!!" MeLoom shrieked. In rage, she launched at Vorador, but her pregnant state not only slowed her physically, but drained her spiritually, rendering her magic essentially inactive. Vorador easily caught her by the throat and slammed her into the wall so hard that the stones cracked.
"I'm not into the habit of slaughtering expectant mothers-to-be, but knowing who you are, and who the father is, I'm afraid I must make an exception in your case." Vorador slashed his sowrd, cutting open MeLoom's gown...and her body. "I'll pass your regards to Malek."
Vorador laughed as he made his exit. MeLoom felt numb and distant. The world around her seemed to grow fuzzy and indistinct. For a moment, she felt herself slipping, until a face came into her view.
"...Neve..?"
Neve spoke painfully, coughing up blood. "S-stay still...MeLoom. I'm g-going...to try..."
"Neve...don't..." Even in her dying state, MeLoom could tell that Neve was in no condition to try and heal her.
"It's...alright. Have to try...save you...your child...you and M-malek...save the family..."
Neve screwed up her eyes and chanted. Her hands glowed, and the horrible gash in MeLoom's torso started to close. But then Neve sighed and collapsed. MeLoom, a little more aware of herself, whispered her friend's name sadly. Neve had given up her life, but it still wasn't enough. MeLoom had a few more minutes left, but she had no illusions to her chances.
She was going to die.
***
Malek had never felt so horrified. He and Moebius had almost reached the room where Moebius had deposited the Reaver when he had heard Lania's voice yell "Seize him!" There were sounds of battle, but in the half-minute it had taken him to reach the room, the battle had been ended. Lania, for all her power and ability, had been slaughtered easily, along with the two warriors under her command. Malek had no time to mourn, though, as he followed Moebius into the next room, where the murderer was reaching for the Reaver...
Moebius spoke sharply, causing the Vampire to spin around. Malek's eyes blinked uncertainly under his helmet. Raziel had been right - this creature did look on the verge of dropping dead, yet his senses told him that he was a lot more deadly than most of the Vampires he had faced in his life. And the strange glowing sword that he had emitting from one arm...
Moebius sneered. "So, Raziel, here we are finally."
For the second time, Malek flinched. This Vampire shared a name with Raziel? Was it coincidence?
Moebius continued, activating his staff. Strangely, Malek noted, the creature seemed unaffected by its power, though the glowing weapon seemed to dissapate in the staff's glow. "You have no choice but to confront me now - and I am not so foolish as I've let you believe. We have business to conclude.
The Vampire Raziel spoke back, sounding angrier than anyone Malek had ever known. "You knew I would lead the Sarafan to Janos, you vile bastard! You've been orchestrating my every move!"
Moebius laughed, enraging Raziel further. "My destiny is an amusement to you?"
Moebius shrugged. "It was fun, while it lasted."
Raziel growled, and took a step towards the Time Guardian. Malek sensed the intended attack, and stepped between the two, brandishing his polearm. Moebius nodded. "I think not, Raziel. Malek,do not let this creature leave. He poses a danger to the Circle."
Malek gripped his weapon tightly. So this was the revenge attack Moebius had mentioned? One single Vampire? Although he had killed Lania, no mean feat. Malek growled at the memory of his friend's corpse.
Meanwhile, Moebius continued taunting the monster. "Poor, deluded Raziel... did you somehow imagine you had the guile to change history on me? I'm the Time-Streamer - I knew your every intention before you did, you imbecile."
Suddenly, a scream floated down the corridors into the room. A chorus of voices, the Circle, screaming a name.
"MALEK!!!!!"
Malek took a step back, suprised at the scream. Before he could collect his thoughts, another voice was heard, not one of the Circle, but a voice Malek recognised all too well.
"Ha! Call your dogs! They can feast on your corpses!"
'Vorador!' Malek realised. He span to face Moebius. "Lord Moebius, there is trouble within. The Circle is under attack..."
"Hold fast, Malek. This one is the real danger to us."
Malek stared at Moebius in disbelief. The Circle was obviously in peril, or they wouldn't have been screaming for him. Yet...
Raziel spoke again. "What are you trying to concoct here, Moebius?"
"You toxic creature. Did you imagine I'd simply allow you to run loose, corrupting everything you encounter?"
Malek was suprised at this. He'd never seen Moebius so hatefully full of rage before.
Raziel backed up to the stand where the Reaver lay. "I admit that I've underestimated you to this point, Moebius - but it's a mistake I won't repeat."
Malek gasped as Raziel grabbed the Reaver and flourished it, but Moebius seemed unconcerned.
"Wrong again, Raziel. Now Malek - bolt the door!"
The Guardians quickly slammed and bloted the door on Raziel. Malek started to say something, but Moebius cut him off. "I think it is time you went to the Circle's aid."
Malek growled and charged down the corridors. But when he finally entered the Circle's sanctum, all he found was a pile of corpses. His shoulders sagged at the tragedy...and then his head rang with stars as someone slammed a weapon onto his helmet.
Malek staggered, but managed to block the second blow. He span round, and found himself facing Vorador. Already on edge, Malek had lost all patience, and launched into an attack. But his barrage of blows were all blocked by the powerful Vampire, and in his haste to avenge the Circle, he failed to see Vorador summon a bolt of magical energy until it was too late. He sank to one knee, clutching his agonised chest. But Vorador didn't finish him off. A sadistic smile crept along his face, and he turned into mist to make his escape.
Malek got back to his feet, confused. The look on Vorador's face...it was as if Vorador thought that remaining alive was a worse punishment for Malek than death. Confused and demoralised by his failure to protect the Circle, Vorador staggered out of the sanctum. He started for Moebius' chamber - the Time Guardian had some explaining to do!
But before he could reach it, he came across the corpse of Neve, and the mortally wounded MeLoom...
"What...? No! MeLoom!!"
MeLoom's eyes opened, barely. "Malek...?"
"No! No, this can't...stay with me! I'll, I'll get you help, I'll find..."
MeLoom coughed up blood, which added to the crimson-soaked gown she wore. "Too late...I'm dying...I'm sorry, Malek..."
Malek tore off his helmet and kissed MeLoom. "No! Don't! You'll be alright, somehow, you've got to be..."
"Don't cry...Malek. Just...hold me. I have...have to tell you one...more time...I love you..."
MeLoom's body slumped in Malek's arms. Malek hugged her tighter, shaking his head and crying harder than he'd ever wept before. He no longer cared about Moebius, the Circle, or that monster called Raziel. All he cared about was his lost love.
From a corner nearby, Moebius watched. He nodded in satisfaction - in his traumatised state, Malek would be unable to defend his position against Mortanius when the Death Guardian returned. The perfect scapegoat...