Turel was the first to visit.
Melchiah suspected as much; Turel was always the cautious one, the one who would hang back until he was sure of his course of action and had seen the mistakes caused by others, making sure not to repeat them. Melchiah had just changed Clara's diaper and was sitting with her on his sprawling veranda, now in constant use that he was with her, watching the pale sun as it tried to make itself known through the clouds. Matron ushered in the Clan lord personally, bowed, then left and at the same time tried to conceal a smile. She expected that these visits would happen frequently from now on.
"Guess who has arrived!" Turel boomed, quickly stepping out onto the veranda while holding something between his hands. "Melchiah, good to see you again. And this must be your much talked about child, the little Clara!"
Clara, who had been happily watching the sun and clouds go by while playing with her rag doll, began to bawl at the sound of Turel's voice, not to mention the way he had literally pressed his face in front of her's. There is only so much that a twelve-week-old infant could take. Melchiah stood up quickly and held Clara to his chest, making shushing noises while looking over at Turel who was now grinning sheepishly.
"Sorry," was all Turel said as he sat down in one of the marble chairs.
"I guess I know the nature of this visit," Melchiah spoke, but keeping his attention on Clara the whole time. She had finally settled back down somewhat, resting her head against Melchiah's chest and making that cooing noise to show that she was relaxed. The youngest of the Lieutenants sat back down and looked over at Turel, who was grinning from ear to ear. "What?"
"Raziel was right, that child has had an effect on you. Before Melchiah you use to never come out on this veranda but now here you are, sitting almost in the sun. You have indeed changed."
"Clara needs the fresh air and sunlight to help her. Any father would know that." Melchiah spoke with the air of someone who finally knew a little more than his brothers, something that they could possibly never know. "What's that?" He pointed towards the item Turel held, a simple box wrapped with a green ribbon about it.
Turel smiled. "This? A present for my niece of course! I can call her that, right? My niece? Can I be an uncle like Raziel or is that position already taken?"
Melchiah nodded. "If you want to, Turel, for I hold no objections if you are willing. I suppose in a way you are her uncle as you are my brother. Isn't that right Clara, now you have two uncles." Melchiah lifted Clara up so she could see Turel sitting across from her. "That's uncle Turel, daddy's second eldest brother and the practically jokester in the family."
Clara gave a high-pitched squeal of delight, waving her doll about. "Ha, she approves of me already Melchiah. I won't let you down, being an uncle for her. Here Clara, uncle Turel brought you a present just for you." Melchiah took the offered box from Turel and opened it gingerly, wondering exactly what his brother could of gotten for his daughter. Hopefully not something dangerous, something that could easily cut her tender flesh or poke an eye out.
At the same moment Turel plucked Clara out of Melchiah's grasp and, as he had seen his youngest brother do, held her in the similar cradling fashion. All the baby did was wave her doll in the air and look up at the new face peering down at her. "Do not worry, I will be careful with her," was all Turel said as he leaned back in his chair and made nonsense noises at his niece.
"Turel, this gift is rather…extravagant," Melchiah said as he held up a complete mirror and brush set of burnished gold and looked it over. On the back of the mirror, engraved in fine script, was Clara's name. "She will not be able to use this for a while yet."
"Like it matters. It is the thought that counts, dear brother, and nothing is too good for Clara, isn't that right?" Turel twisted his left hand about and a moment later a flower appeared where there had been none before. Clara giggled and made that same high-pitched squeal to show she was delighted. Always trust Turel and his magic, Melchiah thought sourly.
"Raziel gave her a jade necklace from his own personally treasury, which she won't be able to wear until she is at least six years-"
"Time, fleeting moments for us, Melchiah," Turel interjected as he stood and gently handed Clara back to her father. "Clara will come to enjoy these gifts in time but of course mine will always remain the best. Is that not right, Clara?"
Melchiah coughed. "It seems to me that if I am not careful, you will spoil her rotten."
"Why not; I am her uncle! Now I understand what Raziel was going on about." A serious tone entered Turel's voice and he turned to look away towards Nosgoth's mountain range in the distance. "I take it no other siblings have arrived yet."
"No," Melchiah shook his head. "More than anything else, I am worried over Dumah's reaction. I…do not think I would trust him to be around Clara. Zephon and him both. But then I will let them come and see her, only I will be present all the time and never allow her out of my sight."
Turel patted Melchiah on the back. "Come on, one look at Clara and if they had any bad intentions, they'll evaporate just like that." He snapped his talons together, at the same time producing a small dove that hopped off his hand and flew away. "Ah, so that was where that little bird went to."
"Do you think so," Melchiah asked worriedly.
"I know so. And if anything were to happen," Turel made a cutting motion with his hand across his throat. "I am Clara's uncle, nay, her guardian now and I will let nothing ill happen to her, Melchiah. You can be sure about that."
* * *
Dumah was the next to arrive, unannounced and walking down Melchiah's palace halls as if he owned the place. His visage was one of anger, as it always was, and from the youngest fledgling to the most veteran of vampires quickly let him pass. They had seen what Lord Dumah was capable of when angered and he looked to be in that mood already. Even Matron, who backed down from no one, could not help quail in fear at the massive vampire who towered over her by a good four feet, all lean muscle and pure strength. Dumah walked sullenly into one of the smaller kitchens of Melchiah's Clan holdings as the new father was trying to get Clara to eat some food. Already, as the wet nurse had informed Melchiah, she was beginning to teeth and needed to be weaned off milk.
"So this is the little infant that everyone is muttering about," Dumah spoke. Melchiah whirled around quickly, standing protectively in front of Clara. The leader of Clan Dumahim gave something of a sarcastic smile at Melchiah. "I have arrived here and in less than five minutes you believe I would hurt your child, Melchiah. Do you think that badly of me?"
"I have seen worse happen, Dumah," Melchiah spoke forcefully, not backing down. "I have seen what you have done to children and whole families with your warriors."
"As have you. Step aside twerp, I want to see this brat." Dumah made a move to shove Melchiah out of his way, and was more than surprised when he found that he had been shoved back instead. Melchiah, the youngest of Kain's children, the weakest of the Lieutenants, stood over his brother who was now laid out on the ground. The look that Dumah received from Melchiah made him almost fear for his life…almost. Clara watched all of this silently while running her chubby hands through the bowl of mashed carrots, then smearing the food over her face.
"She is not a brat, Dumah. She is my child and her name is Clara. You will remember that from now on or else I will make sure not only to throw you to the floor again, but on a pike hanging from the wall. Do you understand?"
Dumah bared his fangs at Melchiah but nodded. He raised himself to his feet quickly and looked over at Clara, who had now dumped the whole bowl over her head and was bashing her spoon around on the table. "Is this behavior normal for human children?"
"As I have been told, Dumah." Melchiah plucked the bowl off of his child's head and took the spoon from her. "And she has always managed to cause a mess every time I try and get her to eat."
"Is it really worth it?"
Melchiah nodded. "Every moment, brother. Every single moment spent with her." Dumah turned his head to the side thoughtfully as he watched Melchiah try and clean up Clara's face as best as he could while the baby decided that drooling on her father's shoulder was a new past time she enjoyed. "Do you want to hold her?"
Dumah blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Melchiah to offer such a thing; if anything Dumah expected him to rush out of the room with his baby and call the guards on his older brother. But Dumah was a warrior and warriors were never afraid of trying out new things, even if it meant holding a human baby with mashed carrots covering her face. "Very well." Melchiah showed Dumah how to hold Clara properly then gave her over. Gingerly Dumah held the baby, thinking that he might hurt her if he held her just the wrong way ever so slightly. The sullen look was soon gone and replaced with a ghost of smile on Dumah's black lips as he bounced Clara around in his arms.
"Ha, this does not seem so difficult as I was led to believe, Melchiah. Why even I could-" Dumah was cut off in mid-sentence as Clara, stomach unhappy with the jostling around, decided to heave most of her food onto Dumah's Clan banner and his chest. Dumah silently handed Clara back over to her father and sat down with as much dignity as he could maintain, cleaning himself off with a rag. Clara burbled something and gave a laugh; Melchiah waited for the inevitable explosion that was sure to come from his strongest brother.
It never came.
Instead, much to his surprise, Dumah began to laugh. "Well, I suppose I had that coming, didn't I Melchiah? That child has to hold in her food better or else I will never be able to teach her to ride a warhorse."
"Excuse me?" Melchiah looked at Dumah as his brother wiped off the last of the mess on his banner.
"Teach her how to ride a warhorse, sibling. Clara will need to learn that when she is older, as well as weapons training which I will provide since I am the most capable out of all the brethren. Nowadays one must protect themselves and I would be the best teacher for Clara. That is, unless you do not want my aid in her upbringing. Why do you seem so shocked?"
Melchiah stammered something quickly. "I-I just did not think that you…you cared or wanted to be associated with her in any way, Dumah. Turel and Raziel both believe that you do not have what it takes to be a, how should one put this delicately, a caregiver."
"Turel and Raziel thought that, huh?" Dumah's features contorted into something like rage and his talons balled into fists; with an obvious effort of will he calmed himself and looked at Clara. "She has a weak father who would not be able to tell her the difference between a sword and a spear. I, on the other hand, will be able to train her in hand-to-hand combat, riding, archery and anything else that might be needed in this day and age for one to properly protect themselves. But if you do not approve Melchiah, then I will be on my way."
Dumah stood to leave; Melchiah jumped to his feet and blocked the door. He looked at Dumah and Dumah looked back at him impassively. Why is he offering me this, Melchiah wondered. He has come here and openly insulted me, but that is nothing new when it's Dumah. Now he is offering, in his own twisted sense, a form of protection for my child who not three minutes ago decided that throwing up her lunch at him was the best thing in the whole world. Squaring his shoulders and looking up at his brother's strong form, Melchiah nodded. "If you want to train her when she is older Dumah, then you have my permission."
"Good, I was hoping that you would say that and that I have not made a wasted visit. Here, give this to Clara. She is still too young to use it properly, but that will all change within a few years." Unclipping an ivory dagger from his belt, Dumah handed it over to Melchiah and brushed past him roughly. He turned around quickly as he exited the kitchen, the sullen look now dominating his features again as he spoke. "I suppose this makes me an uncle to her now, am I right?"
All Melchiah could do was nod.
"Excellent," the older and more powerful Lieutenant said to himself more than to Melchiah. He was soon gone, leaving the Clan Lord weak-kneed. Sitting back down in his chair, the father looked over at Clara who had somehow managed to recover the spoon taken from her and tapping out a rhythm on the table.
"You are so much trouble, Clara," Melchiah spoke happily. "So much trouble."
* * *
Rahab held Clara in his lap and bounced her on his knee while he looked over at Melchiah, who was leafing through the massive book of pressed flowers Rahab had given to his daughter as a present. "So when she does need a tutor, I will happily apply for the position, dear brother. I can teach Clara everything, music to history, mathematics and even the archaic sciences. She already has quite a mind for detail, as I have seen, and that should not go wasted. And I made that book all by myself as well, a veritable encyclopedia of Nosgoth's flowers, alphabetically placed and with both their original and vampire names underneath."
Melchiah closed the massive tome and looked over at his brother. "You know that I would always come to you first and foremost for Clara's education, Rahab. You need not try and convince me when I already am. You will make a fine teacher for her when she is old enough, as well as an uncle."
The leader of Clan Rahabim nodded and gave a smile, then tried to pull his hair out of Clara's strong grasp. "So there was no doubt in your mind. Tell me, how many uncles does little Clara have now?"
"Raziel, Turel, Dumah and now you, Rahab. Frankly I am rather happy that she will have so many looking out for her well-being, should the need ever arise. Even Clara approves of you all. But it seems to me that I must be careful or else I will have no daughter to speak of soon; you will all of spoiled her and carted her away to your Clan holdings."
Rahab gave a mock look of surprise. "Me? Never Melchiah. She was placed at your doorstep for a reason, what that may be we will never know, but she is your daughter. But she is my only niece and I promise by the Soul Reaver and the Wheel of Nosgoth that I will look after her."
"I know you will, Rahab," Melchiah replied gently. "You all will…save Zephon."
"What has made you bring him into the conversation, brother?"
Melchiah sighed and shook his head, looking at Clara contemplatively. "It has been over three weeks, but he has not come by at all. Not that I truly expected him to, but then again I thought that Zephon being Zephon he would want to see Clara."
Rahab snorted. "Zephon and his Clan keep to themselves. We can go for weeks and months at a time without seeing him and then he will just show up out of the blue. You know how he is, Melchiah. Frankly, I believe he is jealous of Clara."
"How can he be envious of her? My daughter is only a mere baby, completely harmless to him."
"Well, here is the deal. You, dear younger brother, are taking care of a child and now no longer have the time to be scared of Zephon and what he might do to you. He now believes that all because of Clara, you might be developing the proverbial backbone that was, no offense, not there before Melchiah. It is that or perhaps he is just waiting for the proper moment to introduce himself to Clara, that and finding or making the perfect gift to give to her."
Both Rahab and Melchiah laughed; Clara joined in even if she did not understand one word of the conversation. "Well, I hope he is working on a gift of some sort Rahab, I really do. Even I am beginning to miss him, even if I never thought I would hear myself say that."
"I have to leave now," Rahab handed Clara back to Melchiah as he stood. "But I am glad to know that you have placed your trust in me with your daughter's well-being, and it is a trust that will not be lost. That I can assure you, Melchiah."
Melchiah stood and followed his brother to the main entrance of his palace; Rahab like Melchiah came out during the nighttime, the touch of sunlight on his sensitive skin hurting nearly as much as it did for his young brother. Both embraced warmly, Clara grabbing onto Rahab's hair again and making him laugh as she gave a sad look when he departed. She waved to him, copying her father's gesture as her newest uncle disappeared into the night.
* * *
"There you are," Zephon's voice came from above Melchiah as he strolled through his gardens with Clara in his arms. The vampire lord looked up and spied Zephon sitting down on one of the many marble statues that littered the garden labyrinth; Clara's face was filled with surprise as, from her point of view, the strange being jumped down easily to the ground in front of them. "Well, well. I have been looking all over for you, Melchiah, and let me tell you for once it had not been easy."
"What do you want," Melchiah spoke softly, instantly on the defensive. He transferred Clara from his right arm to his left and flexed his claw slightly. The movement was not lost to Zephon, who's thin but powerful form was framed by the moonlight.
"What else, Melchiah? To see Clara, which I have heard so much about from the rest of my brothers. They have all been taken in by her quite easily, even Dumah. If such a thing could be done, then this child must be something indeed. And here I am to pay my respects to a new father and his infant." Zephon gave a tiny wave to Clara, who was unnaturally quiet. "And I have brought a gift to, in the hopes that perhaps I can be an uncle to her as well."
Zephon produced from his tunic a simple diary, covered in red silk and handed it over to Melchiah. The clasp was made of silver and carved in the form of a unicorn. "A diary for Clara, so that when she is older she can record her innermost thoughts and dreams. A human thing, I know, but it seems to fitting for her. I made it myself."
"And how fitting that someone like you would make such a thing."
"Oh, I am hurt, dear brother. So, do I get the position?" Zephon eyed Melchiah expectantly as both stood in the gardens. Melchiah looked at his daughter's expression; he had learned that Clara at even at this young age was a good judge of character. Clara reached out a chubby hand that Zephon touched slightly, and then he in turn gave a smile of sorts as Clara grabbed onto his hand and squeezed it. She looked at her father and cooed happily while she settled back into the crook of his arm.
"It seems that Clara likes you already and if your motives are pure," Melchiah trailed off as he narrowed his eyes and looked at Zephon. "But I do not know if I can trust you."
"What do you mean by that? I know you and everyone else expect me to hurt Clara but I would do no such thing, just as you would not, Melchiah. Your own words as I recall. I want to be part of this 'uncle' thing one-way or the other and I will find a way. Look, I know we have never been close and for many reasons, but I want to…" Zephon flicked a hand through his spiked hair as he searched for the correct word. "I want to help raise Clara, if you want and will accept my help. I think that if you have made Dumah an uncle to her then I at least deserve half a chance, even if she is a human baby."
Melchiah considered what Zephon had just said. For once in his life, he could decide something that Zephon had no power over; Melchiah held all the cards in his hands. He was tempted to say no, that Zephon should leave and never return to bother him and Clara, but something else told Melchiah that he would regret it and that Clara would lose someone who actually seemed for the first time in his life to care about someone. With a short nod of his head, Melchiah spoke.
"Yes, you can be Clara's uncle. I trust you." The smile that came over Zephon's dark features even made Melchiah feel good in the depths of his soul.
"You will not regret this, Melchiah," Zephon spoke excitedly. Then he realized the way he was beginning to act was like Raziel and calmed down, trying to remain dignified. He looked over at Clara. "And I will teach you everything that I know Clara, from climbing walls to hanging upside down from ceilings, if your father will allow me."
"Time will be the judge of that, Zephon. Either way, it is Clara's bedtime so we must be leaving you." Melchiah turned to leave, but not before Zephon stepped in front of him and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. The Clan lord was becoming annoyed ever so slightly. "What?"
"You have told father, right?"
"No, but I am sure that he already knows Zephon. Clara will come with me when the Clans have to meet once again at the Sanctuary. There I will officially introduce her to Kain and officially announce her as my daughter just in case any vampire has missed it the first time. Surprisingly I am not worried in the slightest."
Zephon nodded. "And there will be five brothers standing beside you all the way, Melchiah. Until next time." Zephon took his leave of Melchiah, climbing up one of the hedgerows with ease and dashing along the stonewall back to his own Clan holdings. Clara burbled something up at her father as she pointed at Zephon's retreating form.
"Yes, he is a little weird, Clara. But give him half a chance and I am sure he will be a good uncle. And now it is time for you to sleep." Melchiah gave her a fond kiss on the forehead as they headed back to the palace.
* * *
Yes, Melchiah reflected, he had been unafraid when he had presented Clara to Kain, the emperor of all of Nosgoth. He had been aware that Kain could have easily crushed her and Melchiah could of done nothing at all, but Kain's reaction had been unexpected to say the least. Placing the items back into the basket, Melchiah shoved it under the bed and looked around the room, wiping another tear from his eye. So many memories in this one room for one lifetime. He walked over to the bureau and opened one of the drawers, pulling out with the greatest of care a bunch of papers rolled up tightly and tied with a yellow cord.
Clara's drawings.
Melchiah unrolled them one by one and looked them over, smiling all the while. Yes, he could recall the very day that he had taken Clara for the first time to the Sanctuary of the Clans, when Kain had summoned all of his sons to see how their respective parts in his empire were moving along, how they were managing their roles and time. In fact, one of these drawings tied into that special day, if only Melchiah could find it…
Melchiah suspected as much; Turel was always the cautious one, the one who would hang back until he was sure of his course of action and had seen the mistakes caused by others, making sure not to repeat them. Melchiah had just changed Clara's diaper and was sitting with her on his sprawling veranda, now in constant use that he was with her, watching the pale sun as it tried to make itself known through the clouds. Matron ushered in the Clan lord personally, bowed, then left and at the same time tried to conceal a smile. She expected that these visits would happen frequently from now on.
"Guess who has arrived!" Turel boomed, quickly stepping out onto the veranda while holding something between his hands. "Melchiah, good to see you again. And this must be your much talked about child, the little Clara!"
Clara, who had been happily watching the sun and clouds go by while playing with her rag doll, began to bawl at the sound of Turel's voice, not to mention the way he had literally pressed his face in front of her's. There is only so much that a twelve-week-old infant could take. Melchiah stood up quickly and held Clara to his chest, making shushing noises while looking over at Turel who was now grinning sheepishly.
"Sorry," was all Turel said as he sat down in one of the marble chairs.
"I guess I know the nature of this visit," Melchiah spoke, but keeping his attention on Clara the whole time. She had finally settled back down somewhat, resting her head against Melchiah's chest and making that cooing noise to show that she was relaxed. The youngest of the Lieutenants sat back down and looked over at Turel, who was grinning from ear to ear. "What?"
"Raziel was right, that child has had an effect on you. Before Melchiah you use to never come out on this veranda but now here you are, sitting almost in the sun. You have indeed changed."
"Clara needs the fresh air and sunlight to help her. Any father would know that." Melchiah spoke with the air of someone who finally knew a little more than his brothers, something that they could possibly never know. "What's that?" He pointed towards the item Turel held, a simple box wrapped with a green ribbon about it.
Turel smiled. "This? A present for my niece of course! I can call her that, right? My niece? Can I be an uncle like Raziel or is that position already taken?"
Melchiah nodded. "If you want to, Turel, for I hold no objections if you are willing. I suppose in a way you are her uncle as you are my brother. Isn't that right Clara, now you have two uncles." Melchiah lifted Clara up so she could see Turel sitting across from her. "That's uncle Turel, daddy's second eldest brother and the practically jokester in the family."
Clara gave a high-pitched squeal of delight, waving her doll about. "Ha, she approves of me already Melchiah. I won't let you down, being an uncle for her. Here Clara, uncle Turel brought you a present just for you." Melchiah took the offered box from Turel and opened it gingerly, wondering exactly what his brother could of gotten for his daughter. Hopefully not something dangerous, something that could easily cut her tender flesh or poke an eye out.
At the same moment Turel plucked Clara out of Melchiah's grasp and, as he had seen his youngest brother do, held her in the similar cradling fashion. All the baby did was wave her doll in the air and look up at the new face peering down at her. "Do not worry, I will be careful with her," was all Turel said as he leaned back in his chair and made nonsense noises at his niece.
"Turel, this gift is rather…extravagant," Melchiah said as he held up a complete mirror and brush set of burnished gold and looked it over. On the back of the mirror, engraved in fine script, was Clara's name. "She will not be able to use this for a while yet."
"Like it matters. It is the thought that counts, dear brother, and nothing is too good for Clara, isn't that right?" Turel twisted his left hand about and a moment later a flower appeared where there had been none before. Clara giggled and made that same high-pitched squeal to show she was delighted. Always trust Turel and his magic, Melchiah thought sourly.
"Raziel gave her a jade necklace from his own personally treasury, which she won't be able to wear until she is at least six years-"
"Time, fleeting moments for us, Melchiah," Turel interjected as he stood and gently handed Clara back to her father. "Clara will come to enjoy these gifts in time but of course mine will always remain the best. Is that not right, Clara?"
Melchiah coughed. "It seems to me that if I am not careful, you will spoil her rotten."
"Why not; I am her uncle! Now I understand what Raziel was going on about." A serious tone entered Turel's voice and he turned to look away towards Nosgoth's mountain range in the distance. "I take it no other siblings have arrived yet."
"No," Melchiah shook his head. "More than anything else, I am worried over Dumah's reaction. I…do not think I would trust him to be around Clara. Zephon and him both. But then I will let them come and see her, only I will be present all the time and never allow her out of my sight."
Turel patted Melchiah on the back. "Come on, one look at Clara and if they had any bad intentions, they'll evaporate just like that." He snapped his talons together, at the same time producing a small dove that hopped off his hand and flew away. "Ah, so that was where that little bird went to."
"Do you think so," Melchiah asked worriedly.
"I know so. And if anything were to happen," Turel made a cutting motion with his hand across his throat. "I am Clara's uncle, nay, her guardian now and I will let nothing ill happen to her, Melchiah. You can be sure about that."
* * *
Dumah was the next to arrive, unannounced and walking down Melchiah's palace halls as if he owned the place. His visage was one of anger, as it always was, and from the youngest fledgling to the most veteran of vampires quickly let him pass. They had seen what Lord Dumah was capable of when angered and he looked to be in that mood already. Even Matron, who backed down from no one, could not help quail in fear at the massive vampire who towered over her by a good four feet, all lean muscle and pure strength. Dumah walked sullenly into one of the smaller kitchens of Melchiah's Clan holdings as the new father was trying to get Clara to eat some food. Already, as the wet nurse had informed Melchiah, she was beginning to teeth and needed to be weaned off milk.
"So this is the little infant that everyone is muttering about," Dumah spoke. Melchiah whirled around quickly, standing protectively in front of Clara. The leader of Clan Dumahim gave something of a sarcastic smile at Melchiah. "I have arrived here and in less than five minutes you believe I would hurt your child, Melchiah. Do you think that badly of me?"
"I have seen worse happen, Dumah," Melchiah spoke forcefully, not backing down. "I have seen what you have done to children and whole families with your warriors."
"As have you. Step aside twerp, I want to see this brat." Dumah made a move to shove Melchiah out of his way, and was more than surprised when he found that he had been shoved back instead. Melchiah, the youngest of Kain's children, the weakest of the Lieutenants, stood over his brother who was now laid out on the ground. The look that Dumah received from Melchiah made him almost fear for his life…almost. Clara watched all of this silently while running her chubby hands through the bowl of mashed carrots, then smearing the food over her face.
"She is not a brat, Dumah. She is my child and her name is Clara. You will remember that from now on or else I will make sure not only to throw you to the floor again, but on a pike hanging from the wall. Do you understand?"
Dumah bared his fangs at Melchiah but nodded. He raised himself to his feet quickly and looked over at Clara, who had now dumped the whole bowl over her head and was bashing her spoon around on the table. "Is this behavior normal for human children?"
"As I have been told, Dumah." Melchiah plucked the bowl off of his child's head and took the spoon from her. "And she has always managed to cause a mess every time I try and get her to eat."
"Is it really worth it?"
Melchiah nodded. "Every moment, brother. Every single moment spent with her." Dumah turned his head to the side thoughtfully as he watched Melchiah try and clean up Clara's face as best as he could while the baby decided that drooling on her father's shoulder was a new past time she enjoyed. "Do you want to hold her?"
Dumah blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Melchiah to offer such a thing; if anything Dumah expected him to rush out of the room with his baby and call the guards on his older brother. But Dumah was a warrior and warriors were never afraid of trying out new things, even if it meant holding a human baby with mashed carrots covering her face. "Very well." Melchiah showed Dumah how to hold Clara properly then gave her over. Gingerly Dumah held the baby, thinking that he might hurt her if he held her just the wrong way ever so slightly. The sullen look was soon gone and replaced with a ghost of smile on Dumah's black lips as he bounced Clara around in his arms.
"Ha, this does not seem so difficult as I was led to believe, Melchiah. Why even I could-" Dumah was cut off in mid-sentence as Clara, stomach unhappy with the jostling around, decided to heave most of her food onto Dumah's Clan banner and his chest. Dumah silently handed Clara back over to her father and sat down with as much dignity as he could maintain, cleaning himself off with a rag. Clara burbled something and gave a laugh; Melchiah waited for the inevitable explosion that was sure to come from his strongest brother.
It never came.
Instead, much to his surprise, Dumah began to laugh. "Well, I suppose I had that coming, didn't I Melchiah? That child has to hold in her food better or else I will never be able to teach her to ride a warhorse."
"Excuse me?" Melchiah looked at Dumah as his brother wiped off the last of the mess on his banner.
"Teach her how to ride a warhorse, sibling. Clara will need to learn that when she is older, as well as weapons training which I will provide since I am the most capable out of all the brethren. Nowadays one must protect themselves and I would be the best teacher for Clara. That is, unless you do not want my aid in her upbringing. Why do you seem so shocked?"
Melchiah stammered something quickly. "I-I just did not think that you…you cared or wanted to be associated with her in any way, Dumah. Turel and Raziel both believe that you do not have what it takes to be a, how should one put this delicately, a caregiver."
"Turel and Raziel thought that, huh?" Dumah's features contorted into something like rage and his talons balled into fists; with an obvious effort of will he calmed himself and looked at Clara. "She has a weak father who would not be able to tell her the difference between a sword and a spear. I, on the other hand, will be able to train her in hand-to-hand combat, riding, archery and anything else that might be needed in this day and age for one to properly protect themselves. But if you do not approve Melchiah, then I will be on my way."
Dumah stood to leave; Melchiah jumped to his feet and blocked the door. He looked at Dumah and Dumah looked back at him impassively. Why is he offering me this, Melchiah wondered. He has come here and openly insulted me, but that is nothing new when it's Dumah. Now he is offering, in his own twisted sense, a form of protection for my child who not three minutes ago decided that throwing up her lunch at him was the best thing in the whole world. Squaring his shoulders and looking up at his brother's strong form, Melchiah nodded. "If you want to train her when she is older Dumah, then you have my permission."
"Good, I was hoping that you would say that and that I have not made a wasted visit. Here, give this to Clara. She is still too young to use it properly, but that will all change within a few years." Unclipping an ivory dagger from his belt, Dumah handed it over to Melchiah and brushed past him roughly. He turned around quickly as he exited the kitchen, the sullen look now dominating his features again as he spoke. "I suppose this makes me an uncle to her now, am I right?"
All Melchiah could do was nod.
"Excellent," the older and more powerful Lieutenant said to himself more than to Melchiah. He was soon gone, leaving the Clan Lord weak-kneed. Sitting back down in his chair, the father looked over at Clara who had somehow managed to recover the spoon taken from her and tapping out a rhythm on the table.
"You are so much trouble, Clara," Melchiah spoke happily. "So much trouble."
* * *
Rahab held Clara in his lap and bounced her on his knee while he looked over at Melchiah, who was leafing through the massive book of pressed flowers Rahab had given to his daughter as a present. "So when she does need a tutor, I will happily apply for the position, dear brother. I can teach Clara everything, music to history, mathematics and even the archaic sciences. She already has quite a mind for detail, as I have seen, and that should not go wasted. And I made that book all by myself as well, a veritable encyclopedia of Nosgoth's flowers, alphabetically placed and with both their original and vampire names underneath."
Melchiah closed the massive tome and looked over at his brother. "You know that I would always come to you first and foremost for Clara's education, Rahab. You need not try and convince me when I already am. You will make a fine teacher for her when she is old enough, as well as an uncle."
The leader of Clan Rahabim nodded and gave a smile, then tried to pull his hair out of Clara's strong grasp. "So there was no doubt in your mind. Tell me, how many uncles does little Clara have now?"
"Raziel, Turel, Dumah and now you, Rahab. Frankly I am rather happy that she will have so many looking out for her well-being, should the need ever arise. Even Clara approves of you all. But it seems to me that I must be careful or else I will have no daughter to speak of soon; you will all of spoiled her and carted her away to your Clan holdings."
Rahab gave a mock look of surprise. "Me? Never Melchiah. She was placed at your doorstep for a reason, what that may be we will never know, but she is your daughter. But she is my only niece and I promise by the Soul Reaver and the Wheel of Nosgoth that I will look after her."
"I know you will, Rahab," Melchiah replied gently. "You all will…save Zephon."
"What has made you bring him into the conversation, brother?"
Melchiah sighed and shook his head, looking at Clara contemplatively. "It has been over three weeks, but he has not come by at all. Not that I truly expected him to, but then again I thought that Zephon being Zephon he would want to see Clara."
Rahab snorted. "Zephon and his Clan keep to themselves. We can go for weeks and months at a time without seeing him and then he will just show up out of the blue. You know how he is, Melchiah. Frankly, I believe he is jealous of Clara."
"How can he be envious of her? My daughter is only a mere baby, completely harmless to him."
"Well, here is the deal. You, dear younger brother, are taking care of a child and now no longer have the time to be scared of Zephon and what he might do to you. He now believes that all because of Clara, you might be developing the proverbial backbone that was, no offense, not there before Melchiah. It is that or perhaps he is just waiting for the proper moment to introduce himself to Clara, that and finding or making the perfect gift to give to her."
Both Rahab and Melchiah laughed; Clara joined in even if she did not understand one word of the conversation. "Well, I hope he is working on a gift of some sort Rahab, I really do. Even I am beginning to miss him, even if I never thought I would hear myself say that."
"I have to leave now," Rahab handed Clara back to Melchiah as he stood. "But I am glad to know that you have placed your trust in me with your daughter's well-being, and it is a trust that will not be lost. That I can assure you, Melchiah."
Melchiah stood and followed his brother to the main entrance of his palace; Rahab like Melchiah came out during the nighttime, the touch of sunlight on his sensitive skin hurting nearly as much as it did for his young brother. Both embraced warmly, Clara grabbing onto Rahab's hair again and making him laugh as she gave a sad look when he departed. She waved to him, copying her father's gesture as her newest uncle disappeared into the night.
* * *
"There you are," Zephon's voice came from above Melchiah as he strolled through his gardens with Clara in his arms. The vampire lord looked up and spied Zephon sitting down on one of the many marble statues that littered the garden labyrinth; Clara's face was filled with surprise as, from her point of view, the strange being jumped down easily to the ground in front of them. "Well, well. I have been looking all over for you, Melchiah, and let me tell you for once it had not been easy."
"What do you want," Melchiah spoke softly, instantly on the defensive. He transferred Clara from his right arm to his left and flexed his claw slightly. The movement was not lost to Zephon, who's thin but powerful form was framed by the moonlight.
"What else, Melchiah? To see Clara, which I have heard so much about from the rest of my brothers. They have all been taken in by her quite easily, even Dumah. If such a thing could be done, then this child must be something indeed. And here I am to pay my respects to a new father and his infant." Zephon gave a tiny wave to Clara, who was unnaturally quiet. "And I have brought a gift to, in the hopes that perhaps I can be an uncle to her as well."
Zephon produced from his tunic a simple diary, covered in red silk and handed it over to Melchiah. The clasp was made of silver and carved in the form of a unicorn. "A diary for Clara, so that when she is older she can record her innermost thoughts and dreams. A human thing, I know, but it seems to fitting for her. I made it myself."
"And how fitting that someone like you would make such a thing."
"Oh, I am hurt, dear brother. So, do I get the position?" Zephon eyed Melchiah expectantly as both stood in the gardens. Melchiah looked at his daughter's expression; he had learned that Clara at even at this young age was a good judge of character. Clara reached out a chubby hand that Zephon touched slightly, and then he in turn gave a smile of sorts as Clara grabbed onto his hand and squeezed it. She looked at her father and cooed happily while she settled back into the crook of his arm.
"It seems that Clara likes you already and if your motives are pure," Melchiah trailed off as he narrowed his eyes and looked at Zephon. "But I do not know if I can trust you."
"What do you mean by that? I know you and everyone else expect me to hurt Clara but I would do no such thing, just as you would not, Melchiah. Your own words as I recall. I want to be part of this 'uncle' thing one-way or the other and I will find a way. Look, I know we have never been close and for many reasons, but I want to…" Zephon flicked a hand through his spiked hair as he searched for the correct word. "I want to help raise Clara, if you want and will accept my help. I think that if you have made Dumah an uncle to her then I at least deserve half a chance, even if she is a human baby."
Melchiah considered what Zephon had just said. For once in his life, he could decide something that Zephon had no power over; Melchiah held all the cards in his hands. He was tempted to say no, that Zephon should leave and never return to bother him and Clara, but something else told Melchiah that he would regret it and that Clara would lose someone who actually seemed for the first time in his life to care about someone. With a short nod of his head, Melchiah spoke.
"Yes, you can be Clara's uncle. I trust you." The smile that came over Zephon's dark features even made Melchiah feel good in the depths of his soul.
"You will not regret this, Melchiah," Zephon spoke excitedly. Then he realized the way he was beginning to act was like Raziel and calmed down, trying to remain dignified. He looked over at Clara. "And I will teach you everything that I know Clara, from climbing walls to hanging upside down from ceilings, if your father will allow me."
"Time will be the judge of that, Zephon. Either way, it is Clara's bedtime so we must be leaving you." Melchiah turned to leave, but not before Zephon stepped in front of him and placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. The Clan lord was becoming annoyed ever so slightly. "What?"
"You have told father, right?"
"No, but I am sure that he already knows Zephon. Clara will come with me when the Clans have to meet once again at the Sanctuary. There I will officially introduce her to Kain and officially announce her as my daughter just in case any vampire has missed it the first time. Surprisingly I am not worried in the slightest."
Zephon nodded. "And there will be five brothers standing beside you all the way, Melchiah. Until next time." Zephon took his leave of Melchiah, climbing up one of the hedgerows with ease and dashing along the stonewall back to his own Clan holdings. Clara burbled something up at her father as she pointed at Zephon's retreating form.
"Yes, he is a little weird, Clara. But give him half a chance and I am sure he will be a good uncle. And now it is time for you to sleep." Melchiah gave her a fond kiss on the forehead as they headed back to the palace.
* * *
Yes, Melchiah reflected, he had been unafraid when he had presented Clara to Kain, the emperor of all of Nosgoth. He had been aware that Kain could have easily crushed her and Melchiah could of done nothing at all, but Kain's reaction had been unexpected to say the least. Placing the items back into the basket, Melchiah shoved it under the bed and looked around the room, wiping another tear from his eye. So many memories in this one room for one lifetime. He walked over to the bureau and opened one of the drawers, pulling out with the greatest of care a bunch of papers rolled up tightly and tied with a yellow cord.
Clara's drawings.
Melchiah unrolled them one by one and looked them over, smiling all the while. Yes, he could recall the very day that he had taken Clara for the first time to the Sanctuary of the Clans, when Kain had summoned all of his sons to see how their respective parts in his empire were moving along, how they were managing their roles and time. In fact, one of these drawings tied into that special day, if only Melchiah could find it…
