Chapter 3 – Fall of the First Born

Azrael was one of the last to arrive in the council room. It was a small room, made smaller by the crowd of officers gathered around a square table in the center. Flaming torches illuminated the center table but plunged the surrounding area into darkness. The Razielim paid no attention to the first born as he took his place where Raziel had once stood.

The last of the lieutenants entered and took his place among the subordinates. Only then did Azrael open his mouth to speak, a hush descending over the highest members of the clan. Azrael paused and looked around. He could feel every one of them glaring at him, all of them insanely jealous of his position, the resentment intensifying as his eyes traveled up the ranks. He sighed, not one of them knew why it was he who summoned them instead of their sire. He opened his mouth once more but was interrupted.

"Where is Raziel? Does he still sleep?" an irritated lieutenant, by the name of Thorne, demanded. Azrael glared at him. He hadn't been made by Azrael and yet was still high ranking, being the third born of Raziel's lieutenants. Still, an outburst such as that was inexcusable. "Don't interrupt me," he said, dangerously calm. Thorne faltered, he shuffled nervously but fell silent. Azrael addressed the council once more, "Razielim," he began. He bowed his head, "Lord Raziel is dead." He waited for his words to sink into the silence that followed. He couldn't say anymore, though he knew he would have to soon. "No..." Thorne whispered, "You lie!" he shouted, the officer beside him touched his arm, urging him to wait for the explanation he expected to come. The lieutenant beside Azrael, one of his own, Jade spoke in a bare whisper, "How could lord Raziel be dead?" he asked, "He is the first born...he stands at Kain's right hand. No one would be foolish enough to harm Raziel." The other Razielim nodded silently in agreement. Azrael sighed, "It was Kain who had him killed..." there were audible gasps from every direction. Some of outrage, most of disbelief. Once more it was Thorne to be the first to voice his thoughts. "Kain?! Why would Kain kill the lord?!" he shouted, "There's more chance..."

"Thorne!" the stern voice of Maret, the second born, rang out, "Enough!" Thorne fell silent again. Maret looked across at his maker and asked in a calmer voice than Thorne's, "Why would Kain kill the lord?" Azrael stared at the map that was kept constantly on the council table. "Our lord rose from the state of change yesterday. The change had granted him with wings. When he presented them to lord Kain, he tore them from his back and had him cast into the abyss." Azrael let the full horror of this sink in for a moment before he continued. "Lord Raziel told me we were to stay loyal to Kain, however..."

"How can we remain loyal to Kain?" Jade asked, interrupting Azrael, "He has killed our lord." Azrael cut his final words across before the others could begin to protest, "However, the Turelim are marching against us under Kain's banner." Azrael leaned backwards slightly, as if allowing the outburst of comments wash over him. The wave of angry cries mingled together to form an incoherent uproar. Eventually the din died down.

"Well then," one of the lieutenants, spoke, over the rambling mutterings of the subordinates, "we fight." Many of the Razielim nodded and voiced their agreements. Azrael stood up properly once more and scanned the table. To his horror they were serious. The majority of the lieutenants were prepared to fight the Turelim. Azrael was about to protest when a soft voice spoke from the shadows behind him. "Don't be stupid," it said, quietly, "If they march under Kain's colours, it is obvious the order has come from Kain himself."

"Mioko," Thorne growled, "You are not permitted here, get out." Azrael looked up at Thorne angrily, "and since when do you decide who is permitted here?" he hissed. Thorne raised his eyebrows at the first born, "since when do you begin to defend her?" Jade had to duck, hastily as Azrael's fist cut through the air. It caught Thorne across his cheek and knocked him backwards. He drew himself to his full height over the defeated third born, "How dare you speak to me that way," he whispered, dangerously quiet. Thorne stood, shakily to his feet and returned to his place. Azrael's angered eyes scanned the table, they had never been this brazen before, never in his master's presence at least.

"Mioko is right," he said finally, "we cannot fight."

"Are you suggesting we run?" another lieutenant challenged from the opposite side of the table. Azrael sighed, he was fighting a losing battle. They were all against him, they would never follow him, even if he was the first born. "Alright," he announced, "We fight the Turelim, then what? We fight the Dumahim? The Rahabim? Zephon? Melchiah? And when we have defeated every vampire in Nosgoth we destroy Kain as well?" he looked around the table. They had fallen into an angered silence.

"What other choice do we have?" Maret asked after the long silence had drawn out. Azrael hesitated, he didn't know. Fortunately for him, Mioko spoke once more from her place in the shadows, "Raziel spoke of the forgotten lands." All eyes flickered in her direction. She continued, "the lands where the humans we didn't capture fled. A wasteland that was of no use to the empire. The humans fled there to escape us." Maret sighed, "The forgotten lands are just a myth, Mioko. Do you actually believe such a place exists?"

"Raziel did," Mioko whispered, sadly. Maret shook his head,

"Enough of this," he said firmly, "Azrael! We must prepare for battle. If we are to end here let us make an end worth remembering!" The surrounding subordinates cheered, roused and ready for battle. Azrael glanced at his first son, "Raziel, did not want us to go to our deaths," he muttered, Raziel's words echoing in his mind.

"Raziel did not want to go to his own death," Thorne growled, "If you will not lead us, we will follow Maret, to our deaths if need be...at least he cares for Razielim honor."

"What use is honor if you're dead?" Mioko whispered, though no one heard her over the battle cries of the lieutenants. Maret looked over at the lone first born, "Sire," he said, "If you are not with us..." Azrael was staring at the map in utter disbelief. Despite being Raziel's first born and their commander, they had all opted to ignore him and fight. He held no power over them now. He looked up, slowly at his once loyal son, "I will not discard the lord's wishes," he announced. Maret shook his head sadly,

"Then there is no place for you here," he sighed, "If you would have us flee then I suggest you do so," he paused, "the rest of us fight."

"No, Maret," Azrael sighed, "the rest of you die."

TBC