Zephon opened his eyes slowly; the slight action pained him incredibly so. The first thing he saw was the ceiling of his chambers, muted light streaming onto the stone floor from the windows above. He was in his bed, the covers pulled up to his chest and the pillows propping his head up slightly for the Clan lord to see what was happening before him, which was nothing at the moment. The Lieutenant looked down at his chest where the sword's tip had cruelly pierced his flesh and found bandages wrapped expertly about him. Dried blood stained the white linen, but there was no bleeding save for a slight pain. But Zephon could bear it easily enough; he had had wounds that had been the same as this one and still survived. A comforting silence filled the room. Zephon heard a slight sound from his right and turned his head to look at the disruptor, a reprimand ready to fly. Instead a smile crossed his black lips.

Zarina was curled up in a chair at the bed's edge with a blanket wrapped around her body, head against the backrest, eyes closed and snoring ever so slightly. The sorceress looked exhausted and Zephon was content just to let her sleep and watch her for the moment.

Had she been looking after him all this time?

How long had it been since the battle?

The Clan lord must of made some noise, for Zarina's eyes snapped open and she literally threw herself from the chair, standing over the bed and looking at Zephon. "Oh, you are finally awake. How do you feel, my lord?"

"Well, I suppose. Not too much pain from the wound inflicted upon me in battle." Zephon looked up into Zarina's concerned eyes, a hesitant smile on her face. Was she truly that glad that he had not been killed? "Have you been taking care of me all this time?"

"I could not leave it up to the servants, my lord. And your officers are very busy, trying to rebuilt the fortifications that have been damaged and tallying up the body count."

"So what happened after I collapsed, Zarina?" Zephon pulled himself upright, making a face from the pain shooting through his chest and brushing aside the hand Zarina offered.

"I had ordered the gates opened when I saw you charging through the Sarafan ranks. The force inside the Cathedral was howling for blood and received it. The vampire hunters could not stand against your army and the reserve force; they were crushed and quite literally. No one was left standing; I gave that order." She brushed aside a lock of hair and gave a small smile; pride filled Zarina as she remembered how the Zephoniem vampires had trusted her judgment and how she had led them through to the end. "We rushed you back to your chambers and managed to take the blade out of you. For a while, the blood you were losing made me…us all fear for your life. I had to cast a cure spell on you, then stitch up the wound and bandage it. The regenerative powers of your kind are remarkable, Zephon, and I am sure that tomorrow the stitches can come out and you will be up and walking again soon."

"How long have I been here, lying in this bed?"

"Only three days. You were tossing and turning for quite a while; Natarek ordered that I sleep since I hadn't in a day and a half. But then I believe he hasn't slept much either. The final body count is one hundred and fifteen of your children, Zephon."

The Lieutenant closed his eyes and flexed his talons. "That is to be expected, but we destroyed the Sarafan forces easily enough. I thought that it would have been much worse."

"Are you hungry?"

Zephon quirked an eyebrow and gave a half-smile. "Starved. I haven't fed in three days."

"Would my blood suffice?" Zarina's face was composed and serious, she actually meant what she said as she held out the palm of her hand.

"I do not think that would be such a good idea. It would be better to get a slave, one of the ones that Rahab breeds." Zephon had been tempted with Zarina's offer, but once a vampire began draining the blood from their victim it became impossible for them to stop.

"Then I will have one sent up. Siglar and Natarek also wish to speak to you, if you are feeling strong enough, that is."

"Yes, I believe I am."

"Then rest until they come, my lord." Zarina pressed her lips to Zephon's forehead; checking him for a fever, she said.

* * *

Zephon drifted in and out of consciousness. He remembered speaking to his officers briefly, then falling back into sleep, only to wake up again to feed on the hapless human cowering before him. Then sleep overtook him again, until someone rudely poked Zephon in the chest where he wound was. Sitting up faster than he should of, Zephon looked at his brothers standing around his bed.

"You finally woke up, dear brother," Rahab said solemnly. A look of such genuineness clouded his features. "For a moment I thought that you were truly dead."

"How are you feeling?" Raziel sat down on the mattress and gave a wide grin.

"Good enough until someone poked my wound," Zephon sneered back. Raziel nodded and pointed to Turel, obviously the culprit.

"Well sorry, but I had to make sure that you really weren't dead," the second eldest winked at his younger sibling. "You're consort wasn't about to let us in until she was sure you were strong enough to talk to us. You are so lucky, Zephon."

"The battle, what was it like." Dumah leaned forwards, his face practically inches from Zephon and arms crossed over his chest. "Tell us all about it, every single detail since we were denied the chance to fight alongside you."

Melchiah cleared his throat and looked at the proud warrior. "I do not think that Zephon is up to speaking about his latest military campaign, Dumah. He just woke up."

"Exactly," Zephon spoke, for once in his life agreeing with his weakling brother. "In a few days I will tell you the whole tale, but until then I do not think I am up to speaking about it."

"Does the wound hurt much," Raziel pointed to the bandages and the small stain of dark blood that smeared the pure white.

"Only when someone touches it. As I am told, I was quite lucky that the sword's blade broke when it did or else I would have had the metal coming out of my back. But I can say that the Sarafan commander if off worse than I am." Dumah laughed and clapped Zephon on the back, propelling him forwards and causing more pain to blaze. "Do that again, brother, and you will have a wound similar to mine."

Turel tisked and leaned against one of the bed's posts. "Lady Zarina, she is quite the human. She held the Cathedral walls and retaliated with her own magic. From what I have heard, it was quite the explosion. How I would of given anything to see that."

"Turel, for once in your life will you stop talking about Zarina. You're making Zephon very jealous," Raziel pointed at the vampire, whose eyes had a deadly look in them as he stared at Turel.

"I am just simply stating the obvious. Can you not even take a compliment?"

Before an argument could start, Rahab, always the peacemaker, changed the subject. "How long until you can move about again?"

"I am confined here until my consort takes out the stitches and thinks that I am well enough, which I believe I already am. But it would do no good to argue with her."

"She has you on a short leash, dear brother."

"Shut up, Melchiah before I sew your mouth up and burn your eyes out. Where is father; why is he not here?"

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. Zephon looked at each of his brothers in turn, waiting for an answer. Raziel, always the one with the answers, spoke. "He has been busy; the Clans have not seen him for some time. But then Kain always leaves for a while, only to reappear when needed. We have no need to worry for the Master's safety. And I think we have worn you out from all this conversation, Zephon." It was true Zephon did feel slightly wasted from all the questions and answers. "I think it is best that we all take our leave."

The five brothers walked out of the room, Raziel the last to leave. He simply patted Zephon's shoulder, gave a hearty smile and a wink, and then was gone as if he had never been there to begin with.

* * *

"Congratulations, the wound has healed and you can move about now like it never happened. Not even a scar." Zarina pulled the last of the thread from Zephon's chest and stood, packing away the medical supplies. The vampire swung his legs over the side of his bed and stood only to collapse on the bed again.

"And I am as weak as a babe. Just give me a few moments for the feeling to come back into them, and then I will walk about."

"Well, I hope so, my lord." Zarina gave a smile at Zephon. "Because tonight your children have decided to hold a party. You are, of course, expected to attend even if I have to order Natarek to bring you down to the hall."

"Damn you, wench." A sarcastic tone filled Zephon's voice. "There's no way out of that, I guess."

"None at all. Your vampires have been waiting for you to get well and now that you have, that is one good reason to celebrate. Another reason for such good cheer is because they were able to drive back the Sarafan and just show the rest of the Clans that they are still battle ready and do not need the help of others." She sat down beside Zephon. "Unless you want me to call the celebration off."

Zephon rose once again to his feet, took a few steps forwards and grabbed onto the wall for support. "Why would I have you do such a thing? The party will go forward, I will attend it with you by my side." Zephon turned to stare at the sorceress as he crossed the room, a triumphant expression on his face. "I am able enough, and there hasn't been a party here for some time. Will my brothers be attending?"

"No, but should I send our invitations now?"

"Not at all." Zephon crossed his chamber, touched upon the far wall, then came back to the bed and sat down beside his consort, taking her hands in his. "It is a victory for the Zephoniem and no one else. Besides, I want to see how you dance. My children truly do love you now, even if you are not a vampire."

"And I have accepted this Cathedral as my home now, and you as my lord. It is as simple as that."

"Then let us get ready for the party."