Disclaimer – Don't own any reference to LOK, Mioko and Azrael are my own little Razielim.
Chapter 1 – Last Goodbyes
Azrael sat, on the edge of his balcony, watching the sun rise over the clan of Raziel. It truly was a beautiful sight, even if it was obscured by the thick layer of clouds which blanketed the sky. The dark grey haze was highlighted with the colour of the sun behind. The edges of the clouds seemed to almost glow, first pink, then orange, then finally fiery yellow. Azrael sighed as the colour began to fade. The furnaces had been lit, fuelling more clouds into the sky, shielding Nosgoth from any sign of the sun.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" a low voice whispered behind him. Azrael nodded, transfixed on the sight of the sky. He then realized who it was who had spoken and he swung himself around and off the ledge, landing neatly bowed on one knee, head inclined to the floor.
"My lord," he gasped, "I wasn't told you'd awoken." A hand was pressed to his shoulder, "You may rise, Azrael." Azrael obediently rose to his feet and gazed upon his lord and sire. "Raziel!" he breathed. He had not been in the state of change long and now, here he was with two bat-like wings protruding from his back.
"How long was I asleep?" Raziel asked. Azrael thought for a moment,
"A month," he replied, his eyes inexorably drawn to his master's new gift. Raziel sighed and walked past his first born, he rested his claws on the edge of the balcony and surveyed his land. Azrael was still staring at his wings. Raziel chuckled, "You can close your mouth now, Azrael," he muttered. This brought Azrael back to reality and he joined his sire. "But...the master doesn't have wings," he stuttered. Raziel sighed,
"Thank you for reminding me." There was a long silence as Azrael tried to take in what had happened. His sire, Raziel had evolved before Kain. Even though such a thing had never happened, it was still considered the utmost betrayal. Azrael looked over at his sire, the same thoughts were obviously in his mind. His face was a mixture of confusion and anxiety. Eventually Azrael spoke, in little more than a timid whisper, "What do you think will happen?" Raziel almost shrugged,
"I honestly don't know," he sighed, "Kain isn't exactly renowned for his predictability," he paused, "the punishment may be death."
"Death?!" the words escaped Azrael before he could control them, "But, my lord...you are the first born." Raziel looked at Azrael, a sad smile was crossing his black lips, "I doubt I'll hold the same favour now." They returned to the sad silence that had fallen over them just moments ago. This time it was Raziel to break it, "We must think of death as a possibility," he began, "But I cannot even begin to predict what will happen here." There was a pause as Raziel considered this, "If death is my punishment..." Raziel broke off, considering the outcome of his demise, "the clan will fall to you, Azrael." Azrael looked startled, "But, my lord," he began to protest but Raziel cut across him,
"You are my first born. The clan will follow you and you are to remain loyal to Kain, even if I should be killed." Azrael looked indignant,
"How could we remain loyal to him if that be the case?" he demanded. Raziel glared at his lieutenant, "Because I command it," he hissed. Azrael drew himself back down and nodded, reluctantly. Raziel added, "however, many of my clan will think of revenge. It will fall to you to prevent the uprisings." Azrael almost laughed aloud, such a thing was impossible. Raziel continued, "The clan will remain even if I do not," he said finally with more conviction than he felt. Azrael was about to speak when there was a faint knock at his chamber door. Azrael left his sire and opened the door a crack.
A young, female vampire bowed her head to him slightly, "I bring word from the sanctuary," she told him. Azrael nodded and held the door open for her. She stepped in, "Lord Kain has summoned the brethren to council," she looked at him, "while Raziel sleeps..."
"I have asked you repeatedly to address him as my lord," Azrael growled, irritably. The female just stared at him, "While Raziel sleeps it falls to you to go to the sanctuary."
"That won't be necessary, Mioko," Raziel's soft voice came from the balcony, as he too stepped into the room. A smile spread over the young vampire's face and she ran to embrace her sire. Azrael looked on her with disapproval as she wrapped her arms around his back and buried her face in his neck, "Welcome back," she whispered. She drew back and saw the new gift. She didn't seem especially surprised and she moved behind Raziel, running her claws over the wings. They felt like leather, though they were thin as paper and even one as young as she felt she could easily tear them. "But..." she began, but she stopped. Azrael could see the thoughts he and Raziel had already discussed crossing her mind and she drew back, shaking her head, a hand covering her open mouth.
"I will go to council," Raziel announced. Azrael nodded sadly,
"No!" Mioko cried, "you can't!"
"Mioko!" Azrael shouted, "It is not your place to question the lord!" He caught Raziel's disapproving look. He hated it when he shouted at her. Mioko glared at Azrael, "Alright," she snapped, "You do it." Raziel came between them as he had done on many occasions,
"Enough," he commanded, "I am going to council." He gave his first born a last glance. He stepped toward him and they embraced briefly. "I could not have chosen a better person to be my first born...or my friend." Raziel then turned to Mioko, "Mioko," he raised her chin up with his claw, "I need you to support Azrael." She glanced over at his first born and nodded. Raziel planted a small kiss on her forehead and turned to the door. He opened the door and without looking back said, "and try not to kill each other in my absence."
TBC