Chapter 13 – The Immaturity of Raziel
Raziel felt Mioko's arms tighten around his leg as they wandered deeper into Zephonim. There were vampires everywhere. Raziel looked around with a frown; it seemed his brother valued quantity over quality when it came to making subjects. From the look on Kain's face he was thinking along the same lines. Zephon however looked pleased that he had more vampires than any two of his brothers.
They followed Zephon to the chambers he had prepared for them, where he announced he had prepared a tour for them when they were ready. He waited for Kain to retire before he turned to Raziel,
"What do you do with her while you are inspecting? I doubt the master allows you to take her with you?" Raziel lifted Mioko up as she reached up for him,
"I expect to leave her in capable hands, Zephon," he said, "One of yours should suffice." Zephon looked surprised for a moment, "do you really trust us that much?" he asked curiously. Raziel glared at him,
"I don't trust you or any of your brood, Zephon. I do however trust the fact that you know better than to mistreat her," with a final distasteful look at his brother, Raziel swept into the chamber with Mioko, who looked terrified at the thought of being left with a Zephonim vampire.
"Daddy, do you have to leave me?" she asked, quietly. Raziel sat down with Mioko on his lap,
"You'll be safe, no one will hurt you," he assured her. Mioko smiled up at him,
"Why not?" she asked. Raziel smirked,
"Because you've got me to look after you." Mioko frowned and shoved Chibi Kain under her father's nose,
"And Uncie Kain!" she cried, "Uncie Kain'll protect me!" Raziel looked uncomfortable and decided against giving an answer, "and I know you'll protect me, daddy," she said, affectionately, letting her head rest against his chest. Raziel smiled and stroked her head,
"But who will protect you from me?" he asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Kain stood on his balcony, overlooking the small city of Zephonim. The vampires all lived in the palace with their master, leaving only the humans to live outside in their own homes. As Zephon had made almost every human he came across into a vampire, there were only a few houses outside for the few human slaves Zephin had taken on. He was admiring the picture-esque village at his feet when he heard screams from the chamber beside him, Raziel's chamber.
"No! No!" Mioko was screaming, "Daddy, stop!" There was a loud crash as the sound of something heavy falling reverberated around Kain's chamber for a moment. Kain was slightly alarmed at the sounds of more screaming and so resolved to look in on his son. There was another loud crash followed by more screaming.
Zephon was still outside Raziel's chamber looking at the door with amusement, "Well, what do you know?" he murmured, "she's made him snap," he chuckled. He saw Kain approaching and fell back, as the master knocked politely on the door. There was no answer, the knock being met with more screams. Kain opened the door and looked in, surprised at the scene of destruction before him.
Both of the couches had been overturned, as had the only table in the room. Around the toppled furniture, Raziel was chasing Mioko around the room; he caught up with her and tackled her, bringing her down. Kain watched in a mixture of confusion and horror as his son brought his claws down on her. Mioko screamed again and laughed as her father tickled her mercilessly. She tried to escape his clutches but he refused to let her go. Eventually she gave up and just collapsed, laughing as he continued his relentless assault. She kicked him off and launching herself at the vampire she managed to pin him down and she returned the attack. To the observing vampires' surprise, Raziel burst out laughing. It appeared that the strongest and most feared of Kain's brood, the firstborn son was ticklish.
A cough from the door in Zephon's direction made Raziel and Mioko both snap their heads over to look at the door.
"My lord!" Raziel cried, scrambling to his feet, frantically. Mioko followed suit and they both stood next to each other, before the master. Raziel raised his claws and tried to flatten his severely disheveled hair. Mioko, however, seemed to wallow in the fact that she was untidy and she looked up at the vampires with her eyes tightly shut and a wide grin. Kain shook his head, turned and left. Zephon tutted and looked at his brother with disgust. Mioko frowned and poked her tongue out at the vampire, she looked up at Raziel. To her utter delight, Raziel was doing the same. Zephon snarled at the firstborn before sweeping away. Kain was still standing in the halls, waiting to see how the younger brother would react. Zephon walked past without a passing glance at the master, he didn't need to look up to know the master was laughing.
Raziel looked down on Mioko as Mioko looked up at him. They both smiled before Raziel dived back down on her and tickled her again. Mioko laughed and rolled onto his chest, tickling the firstborn back.
Kain was still chuckling, merrily as he stood, watching the scene before him. He stepped into the room, slightly and closed the door, even though it did nothing to muffle the sounds of laughing within.
TBC