Chapter 2 – Orphan
The majestic Razielim city came into view after a long, hard journey for Raziel and his first born. "We're here," Raziel whispered, gently nudging the sleeping child snuggled in front of him. She woke up and her eyes widened as she saw the beauty of the marble town. "Wow!" she breathed as they began their descent to the main gate.
"Who goes there?" one of the watchmen shouted down to them, from his high position on the gate.
"Our lord!" Azrael replied, irritably, "Open the gate!" The shout resonated around the gate for a moment before it obediently groaned open, allowing the party entrance to the city.
The residents of Razielim filed into the city to welcome their lord after his short excursion. Raziel smiled as Mioko, frightened by the noise and commotion, buried herself in the first born's chest, hiding from the crowds. From the other horse Azrael glared at her. He couldn't understand why Raziel had taken it upon himself to free Turelim slaves, especially one of no use to him in his own kingdom. Azrael was counting on the belief that his sire had no interest in the child, he just took her to get at his younger brother. Azrael snarled at the girl, he hated her and the incessant questions like, "Are we there yet?" that plagued the already difficult journey.
The second and third born of the clan, Maret and Thorne greeted their masters at the foot of the steps leading up to the Razielim palace. They both bowed low as the two vampires dismounted. "Welcome back, my lord," Maret said, happily, "I trust your journey went well?" Again, Azrael glared at the child that Raziel was lifting off the horse, "Very well," Raziel said, placing Mioko on the ground next to him and ignoring the strange looks she was receiving from the surrounding vampires. Mioko clung to Raziel's leg in the company of so many unfamiliar faces. He smirked and continued, "Anything interesting happen in my absence?" he inquired, both the vampires shook their heads. Raziel nodded in approval, "Very well," he took Mioko's hand and led her up the steps to the palace.
Maret and Thorne turned to Azrael, eyebrows raised expecting an answer. When Azrael made no comment, Thorne prompted, "Was that a human?" he asked, in surprise. Azrael nodded, "Don't ask," he muttered, sweeping up the stairs after his master.
Raziel showed Mioko to his main chamber and sat her on the comfortable sofa therein. "Azrael?" he called. Moments later, his faithful first born arrived. He bowed for his sire, "Sir?" Raziel glanced over at Mioko who was looking around the chamber in awe, she had never seen such a fine chamber, she had never been permitted to enter the grander halls of Turelim. "Azrael," the first born said, "I want you to go into the slave quarter, find a slave who will look after Mioko." Azrael nodded but when the command had sunk in he looked up at his master in shock, "but, my lord, why don't you just order one of the slaves to look after her?" he asked. Raziel glared at his son, as if the answer to his question was the simplest thing in the world, "You can't order people to be good parents," he told him, "Find a slave who wants to look after her, someone to give her a good home." Azrael nodded, keeping his questions about why his sire cared so much about the girl's welfare to himself, and left to fulfil his master's command.
Raziel turned back to the girl who was sitting rigid in such pristine surroundings. He knelt down in front of her, "Azrael's going to find you someone to look after you," he told her, "do you want anything?" he asked. Mioko nodded, "hungry," she murmured, rubbing her stomach. Raziel jumped, they had been travelling for almost an entire day and he hadn't stopped to consider whether she needed nourishment or not. As vampires they could last longer without needing blood, but the child had a human appetite and required food often. He went to the door and called his servant to him. The female servant entered and bowed low. She was the highest ranking human in all of Razielim, Raziel's personal slave, demonstrated by the magnificence of her clothes and the mark of her master permanently engraved on her upper arm. "My lord?" she asked, fixing her eyes on the first born and ignoring the child. Raziel beckoned for her to come nearer to the child, the slave's eyes lit up when she saw the girl and she knelt down in front of her, "Hello there," she smiled, "What's your name?" she asked.
"Mioko," the girl whispered, nervously. Lonni smiled encouragingly at the child,
"Mioko? That's a pretty name, my name's Lonni." Mioko whispered a word of greeting as the slave stood and turned to her master, awaiting his order. "Mioko is hungry," Raziel muttered, "Will you fetch her something to eat?" he asked. Lonni smiled and gave a short but polite curtsy, "Yes, my lord," she said, turning on her heel and leaving.
The time between Lonni's departure and return seemed to drag as the first-born and the child sunk into an awkward silence. Raziel sat at a table, littered with reports from his kin and began reading through them as the child remained on the sofa in silence. Lonni finally returned with a plate of food Raziel did not recognise, as well as a small bag over her shoulder. Lonni went straight to the child and gave her the food, which Mioko wolfed down as soon as it was set before her. Raziel felt a tinge of guilt as he realized just how hungry the child was. Lonni rummaged through the bag and produced a small pile of blank papers and a handful of coloured wax sticks. She set them on the small table in front of the sofa and an eager grin spread over the child's face. "Are they for me?" she asked, turning one of the sticks over in her hands. Lonni nodded and smiled as the child began to, happily, draw on the paper. Razel looked down on the items and picked up one of the sticks, "What are they?" he asked Lonni. Lonni laughed, "Crayons, my lord." Raziel dropped the stick in front of Mioko and glared at his servant, "Really?" he asked sarcastically, "I know that, I meant what are they in as in..."
"I know what you meant, she interrupted him, laughing, "They're Jade's," she paused, "or at least they used to be, he doesn't use them anymore."
Raziel nodded in realization, "And how is your son?" he asked, curiously. Lonni shrugged, "Jade is...Jade, he's got his heart set on becoming a vampire warrior." Raziel laughed, "Give him another ten years and maybe he can. He has to grow up first." Lonni smiled, "Yes, my lord," she bowed herself from the room.
Now that Mioko had her own task to occupy herself with, the silence that took the room when Raziel returned to his business was not as strained and awkward as it had been. The hours passed like minutes and there was a polite knock at the door as Azrael returned from his assignment. "Well?" Raziel asked, rising to greet his son. Azrael nodded happily, "There is a couple in the slave quarter who are more than happy to have the girl," he announced, "they are both blood slaves in the barracks." Raziel nodded and turned to the child. She looked up at him with a grateful smile.
"Mioko," he said, "We've found someone to look after you," he told her. The smile faded from her face, "I'm not staying here with you?" she asked, sadly. Raziel shook his head, "Oh," she hung her head. "Azrael will take you to your new home," he said, helping Mioko up off the chair. Mioko nodded and picked up the picture she had poured all her attention into. She put it in Raziel's hands and went to Azrael's side.
Raziel looked down at the crudely drawn picture and smiled. He could make out himself, standing on the steps of what looked like the Razielim palace but in green. Next to him was something that looked like it could have been Azrael, waving to the viewer. In-between them, holding both their hands was Mioko with a beaming smile on her face. For some reason everyone was smiling, even the mass of squiggly vampires that had gathered to greet Raziel.
"Azrael, wait!" Raziel called as the first born opened the door and beckoned the girl out of it. Raziel glanced up from the picture, "Tell the slaves their assistance is no longer necessary," he walked to the door and lifted the child into his arms, "Mioko stays with me."
TBC