Chapter 1 – Blood Slave
"...And so the master; Kain, established his mighty empire. He began with his six sons, Raziel, Turel, Dumah, Rahab, Zephon and Melchiah. After they had served their purpose helping him establish the base of his empire, the crown jewel; the sanctuary of the clans, they were each sent into the world to expand under his name. After fifty years..."
"The clans began to take hold, the number of humans decreased as the number of vampires increased and now the only major human threat lies to the north of Melchiam, I know, Azrael," Raziel snapped at his first born, cutting his story short. Azrael sighed and closed the book he was reading, placing it beside him. Raziel continued, "Why, in the name of Kain, does Dumah have these books? He hates reading!" Azrael shrugged and looked out the window, he, like his sire was bored, bored enough to even read the heavy volume entitled, 'The History of the Clans,' incomplete of course so Rahab, the fourth born had to distribute a new edition every decade or so, updating his brothers with knowledge of which they were already aware.
Raziel joined his son by the window and looked out across the Turelim city. "Remind me why we're here, Azrael?" he moaned. Azrael sighed,
"Because Turel had a problem that required Kain's attention. Kain could not attend so it fell to you..."
"Kain could not be bothered, you mean," Raziel muttered, "It's at times like this, I really hate being the first born."
"Dumah came too," Azrael protested, but trailed off, "but...got bored so he went home...leaving behind his wonderful books..." he added. Raziel dropped his forehead against the window and something within him snapped. "Azrael," he commanded, drawing himself up, "We are going home," he announced grandly, "take a message to my dear, little brother and tell him if he has a problem with his slaves he should take care of the matter himself."
"Uh...my lord?" Azrael muttered, "It's a disease...that's why he can't handle it himself." A grin spread across Raziel's face.
"And what am I supposed to do about it? Am I a physician, I think not. You have your orders, I am going to get someone to eat," he announced, backing away through the door and leaving the comfort of Turel's higher halls.
As he descended to the common halls of the Turelim, he noticed the slaves did indeed look sickly. They all wandered, performing their daily tasks, moaning and sniffing in pain. Raziel viewed them with disgust as he attempted to find his way to a feeding chamber.
"You expect us to drink this?!" a shout came from a hall at Raziel's right. He recognised the voice and stepped into the corridor. Turel and two of his higher officers all stood with goblets in their hands, all of them glaring at the slave that had brought them. "It's cold," Turel informed her, throwing the blood over the slave, Raziel was surprised to see that the slave was just a child. A young, human girl of about six years. The vampire beside Turel sipped his own goblet and when he too had been dissatisfied, he backhanded the girl across the face. She whimpered and fell to the floor.
Disgusted with his brother's behaviour, Raziel stepped forward, she may have been a human slave but she was still just a child, "I would have thought that with the diminishing numbers of your slaves, Turel you would be inclined to treat the healthy ones a little better." Turel glared at the elder,
"Keep out of this," he warned. Raziel gave a smug smile,
"What exactly is this girl's crime?" he wondered aloud. The girl whimpered behind him, "Please, my lord," she whispered, "I didn't bring the blood on time." Raziel looked down at the pitiful child, her cheek was bleeding where she had been struck, "Maybe you could be of better use to me?" he asked her, "Where is the feeding chamber?" he asked. The girl looked from Raziel to her master, he was glaring at her as if daring her to answer. "Where is the feeding chamber?" Raziel asked again. Turel interrupted before she could answer, "I have no time for this. Girl, go and get us some fresh blood." The girl nodded and turned to leave. Raziel stood in her path,
"I believe I asked you a question?" he addressed the slave directly.
"Her loyalty and first duty is to me, Raziel," Turel growled.
"Please, my lord?" the girl whispered, "I have to go to the feeding chamber...I can take you, if you want." Raziel smiled on the slave,
"I would like that," he said, gently. Turel glared at them both as they left the second born behind.
Raziel followed the girl through the halls of the Turelim palace. Soon, they arrived in the main feeding chamber. The girl showed Raziel where the prisoners were kept, ready to be drained for their vampire masters. He studied the different humans and his eyes settled on a young male who was attempting to break his bonds. After Raziel had drained him sufficiently, he turned his attention to the little girl who was waiting for something. Raziel kneeled beside her and wiped her cheek, which was still bleeding. She winced and backed away as he extended his claw to her cheek, "It's alright, he said, gently, "I won't hurt you." She stopped backing away and let him wipe her cut, "There," he announced after her cheek had been cleaned. The door to the feeding chamber opened and an aged slave entered. He was obviously one of Turel's highest as he wore grand clothes, in comparison to the rags that most slaves were forced to wear. He displayed no sign of sickness, he must have lived in the palace rather than the slave quarter. He frowned on the child, "the master has complained about you again," he growled. The girl whimpered and tried to hide behind Raziel. The slave dragged her off the first born, "Forgive me, my lord," the slave said, dragging the girl away. "Where are you taking her?" Raziel inquired. The slave raised his eyebrows in surprise, "She is to be punished, my lord, she took master Turel's blood cold, again." The girl looked up at Raziel, her eyes begging him to help her. "Where are her parents?" he asked.
"Dead, my lord," the slave replied, "they died of the plague a month ago."
"Who is responsible for the child, then?" Raziel asked, getting impatient. The slave shook his head, "No-one, my lord, we slaves must fend for ourselves."
Azrael finished packing the last of his sire's things into the bag before him. He heard the door opening behind him, indicating his master's return. "The horses are ready to go, my lord," he announced turning, "Turel...my lord?" he broke off when he saw a little girl clinging to the first born's leg.
"Azrael, this is Mioko," Raziel introduced, "she will be accompanying us to Razielim."
TBC