"So the meeting is adjourned, " Kain spoke. He stood from his throne, the Soul Reaver held in his hands, and left the room. His Lieutenants filed out after him with, Zephon noted, Raziel walking beside his father. Dumah and Turel were deep in conversation over something that the third-born was obviously upset about and as Zephon looked behind him, Rahab and Melchiah were talking as well. So many conversations that he was not invited to participate in, but as always that did not matter to him. Zephon always found out what was happening with the other Clans, even within the Sanctuary itself.
He slowed down so he could walk in step beside Rahab and Melchiah, the weakling that he was. "May I join in," Zephon gave a benign smile. Melchiah flinched slightly at the sound of his older brother's voice, but Rahab nodded to Zephon.
"Very well. We are all equals here, Zephon." The three walked down the long halls of the Sanctuary, passing by fledglings that bowed respectfully to the Chosen of Kain and moved out of their way. "We were just discussing the latest raid against the humans to the south of the Citadel. Melchiah managed to reap a good portion, taking over about…how many humans did you manage to capture?"
"Over fifty; 30 males and 20 females. They have already been-"
"It doesn't matter how many you captured unless they are of good stock to be bred. And judging from you, Melchiah, I find it dubious that any are of good breeding," Zephon quipped. Melchiah's eyes, a few moments before shining with pride, dropped to the ground and he fell silent.
"I believe that I am in charge of the breeding, Zephon, and it would be wise for you to keep your views to yourself. Unless," Rahab gave him a cold look, "you would like to take this up with father and you feel you are better suited for the my work."
Zephon stopped and fixed his Clan flag while giving both of his younger brothers the most arrogant look possible. "Of course not. I am just concerned of the quality of the humans; they after all are food for us and it would do no good for any of the Clans should they have weak stock in their ranks. Our high blood must be maintained at all costs."
Rahab folded his arms and stood in front of Melchiah protectively, or at least Zephon thought. "Then I suggest, dear brother, that you leave my work to me and Melchiah's to him. You are in charge of surveillance over the humans and from the fledglings we have been losing, I would think that you were slipping." Zephon silently bristled at the insult made towards him, but all he did was narrow his eyes and give a condescending smile.
"And where did you hear such things, brother Rahab?"
"Like you, I have my own sources, Zephon. I bid good day to you." Rahab nodded his head, turned and then left. Melchiah followed without even looking at Zephon. The Clan lord hissed between his clenched teeth and grinded a fist in his palm. How dare Rahab do that to him? Thankfully there had been no one else nearby to see that embarrassment, but still it ate at Zephon. His spying network, failing in their task giving to them personally by Lord Kain? Zephon would look into the supposed problem and receive answers.
Footsteps behind Zephon made him turn and a fledgling nearly bowled over the Lieutenant.
"Watch where you are running, you insignificant idiot! Give me one very good reason why I should not slit your throat where you stand right now!"
Zephon's hand closed over the hilt of the dagger he carried with him and drew it in rage at the fledgling that was from the Melchahim Clan shook slightly as he bowed to the Lieutenant standing in front of him. Even if the young vampire was from another Clan, Zephon had every right to destroy the thing.
"Milord, I was sent to escort you to the Great Lord Kain. He demanded that you come immediately to the dungeons." Sheathing his dagger, Zephon made his face impassive as he followed the young vampire through the halls of the Sanctuary, still angry at the fledgling. Soon that anger was forgotten as the tactician's mind began to work, why had Kain summoned him? What had he done now that was so important to the Lord? Perhaps Rahab or that sniveling Melchiah had run to Kain and told him of the recent conversation; Zephon would not of put it past them. Oh, how they would pay if they had done anything like that.
Zephon finally descended into the dungeons and the Melchahim vampire led him to a part of the cells that had barely ever seen captives. The screams and the moaning of human prisoners felt like music to the Clan lord's ears; how Zephon reveled in pain. After taking one last corner, the fledgling left him and fled back up to the higher levels of the Sanctuary. Weakling, Zephon sneered at the retreating vampire. At the end of the stone hall, looking into one cell stood Kain. The Master beckoned for his son to come closer and with a smile on his face, Zephon came.
"You called for me, father?"
"Yes. Zephon, your Clan has shown such unswerving loyalty to me over the decades and centuries. I am pleased by it, as I should be." The son smiled, filled with pride that he was finally being noticed over Raziel. "And such loyalty does not go unrewarded. I have arranged a gift for you, Zephon."
This is it; this is finally it, Zephon thought. I will either receive more land, which I am of course entitled to, or I will have more vampires made for my Clan. "Father, I am honoured."
Kain smiled and extended a talon towards the cell. "Good. Your gift is inside. I knew you would be pleased by it as I chose it myself. I will see you later, Zephon." Kain vanished in thin air, the magic he had learned being so great that he could do that. Zephon suppressed an excited giggle, rubbed his hands together and moved closer to the cell to see inside.
What he did see made his step back in shock that soon turned to overwhelming anger.
He slowed down so he could walk in step beside Rahab and Melchiah, the weakling that he was. "May I join in," Zephon gave a benign smile. Melchiah flinched slightly at the sound of his older brother's voice, but Rahab nodded to Zephon.
"Very well. We are all equals here, Zephon." The three walked down the long halls of the Sanctuary, passing by fledglings that bowed respectfully to the Chosen of Kain and moved out of their way. "We were just discussing the latest raid against the humans to the south of the Citadel. Melchiah managed to reap a good portion, taking over about…how many humans did you manage to capture?"
"Over fifty; 30 males and 20 females. They have already been-"
"It doesn't matter how many you captured unless they are of good stock to be bred. And judging from you, Melchiah, I find it dubious that any are of good breeding," Zephon quipped. Melchiah's eyes, a few moments before shining with pride, dropped to the ground and he fell silent.
"I believe that I am in charge of the breeding, Zephon, and it would be wise for you to keep your views to yourself. Unless," Rahab gave him a cold look, "you would like to take this up with father and you feel you are better suited for the my work."
Zephon stopped and fixed his Clan flag while giving both of his younger brothers the most arrogant look possible. "Of course not. I am just concerned of the quality of the humans; they after all are food for us and it would do no good for any of the Clans should they have weak stock in their ranks. Our high blood must be maintained at all costs."
Rahab folded his arms and stood in front of Melchiah protectively, or at least Zephon thought. "Then I suggest, dear brother, that you leave my work to me and Melchiah's to him. You are in charge of surveillance over the humans and from the fledglings we have been losing, I would think that you were slipping." Zephon silently bristled at the insult made towards him, but all he did was narrow his eyes and give a condescending smile.
"And where did you hear such things, brother Rahab?"
"Like you, I have my own sources, Zephon. I bid good day to you." Rahab nodded his head, turned and then left. Melchiah followed without even looking at Zephon. The Clan lord hissed between his clenched teeth and grinded a fist in his palm. How dare Rahab do that to him? Thankfully there had been no one else nearby to see that embarrassment, but still it ate at Zephon. His spying network, failing in their task giving to them personally by Lord Kain? Zephon would look into the supposed problem and receive answers.
Footsteps behind Zephon made him turn and a fledgling nearly bowled over the Lieutenant.
"Watch where you are running, you insignificant idiot! Give me one very good reason why I should not slit your throat where you stand right now!"
Zephon's hand closed over the hilt of the dagger he carried with him and drew it in rage at the fledgling that was from the Melchahim Clan shook slightly as he bowed to the Lieutenant standing in front of him. Even if the young vampire was from another Clan, Zephon had every right to destroy the thing.
"Milord, I was sent to escort you to the Great Lord Kain. He demanded that you come immediately to the dungeons." Sheathing his dagger, Zephon made his face impassive as he followed the young vampire through the halls of the Sanctuary, still angry at the fledgling. Soon that anger was forgotten as the tactician's mind began to work, why had Kain summoned him? What had he done now that was so important to the Lord? Perhaps Rahab or that sniveling Melchiah had run to Kain and told him of the recent conversation; Zephon would not of put it past them. Oh, how they would pay if they had done anything like that.
Zephon finally descended into the dungeons and the Melchahim vampire led him to a part of the cells that had barely ever seen captives. The screams and the moaning of human prisoners felt like music to the Clan lord's ears; how Zephon reveled in pain. After taking one last corner, the fledgling left him and fled back up to the higher levels of the Sanctuary. Weakling, Zephon sneered at the retreating vampire. At the end of the stone hall, looking into one cell stood Kain. The Master beckoned for his son to come closer and with a smile on his face, Zephon came.
"You called for me, father?"
"Yes. Zephon, your Clan has shown such unswerving loyalty to me over the decades and centuries. I am pleased by it, as I should be." The son smiled, filled with pride that he was finally being noticed over Raziel. "And such loyalty does not go unrewarded. I have arranged a gift for you, Zephon."
This is it; this is finally it, Zephon thought. I will either receive more land, which I am of course entitled to, or I will have more vampires made for my Clan. "Father, I am honoured."
Kain smiled and extended a talon towards the cell. "Good. Your gift is inside. I knew you would be pleased by it as I chose it myself. I will see you later, Zephon." Kain vanished in thin air, the magic he had learned being so great that he could do that. Zephon suppressed an excited giggle, rubbed his hands together and moved closer to the cell to see inside.
What he did see made his step back in shock that soon turned to overwhelming anger.