Chapter 19 – The Brethren
"Rahab!" Mioko squealed happily, throwing herself into the fourth born's arms. Rahab smiled and lifted her into the air, spinning her around. Kain watched from the doorway to the throne room, he was trying to determine which of the two was happier. Mioko hugged Rahab and he let her climb up onto his shoulder, "Missed you!" she said, sincerely. Rahab smirked and looked up at her,
"I missed you too," he told her. Mioko smiled and looked up at Kain, thoroughly content with sitting on the fourth born's shoulder. Rahab slipped Mioko off his shoulder and placed her on the floor. He whispered for her to wait for him while he approached his master,
"My lord," Rahab, began uncertainly, "May I...look after her for a while?" he asked, choosing his words carefully. Kain stopped himself from smiling and nodded. He turned back into his throne room and closed the door, falling against them when they had slammed shut; at last he was free.
"Where's Raziel?" Rahab asked, curiously as he carried the child down to the entrance hall.
"Daddy's sleeping," she sighed, "I miss daddy," she added. Rahab let out an 'ah' of realization, he'd been wondering where his brother was and why Mioko was here alone. "Where are we going?" Mioko asked, curiously.
"I thought you might like to see the brethren arrive," he told her, "Kain called us all to council."
"What's council?" she asked. Rahab paused,
"It's where my brothers and I discuss clan matters with Kain," he said. Mioko frowned,
"Sounds boring," she whined, "will I have to go?" Rahab laughed, trying to imagine his master's and his brothers' reaction if the child was invited to sit in on council. He shook his head,
"I don't think so," he said, then agreed with her, "it's only boring when Turel starts talking, he goes on and on and on," he groaned, realizing that soon he would have to put up with his brother's endless speeches.
"I hate Turel," Mioko growled. Rahab looked up at her, surprised at her sudden aggressive tone, "he hit me," she said. Rahab took her off his shoulder and carried her in his arms,
"When?" he demanded. Mioko shrugged,
"It was ages ago...that was when I met daddy." Rahab frowned, then noticed two scars on the side of Mioko's neck.
"Did he bite you as well?" Rahab asked, tracing her scar with a finger, though he didn't recall seeing the marks there before. Mioko shook her head,
"No...Wyatt did that." Rahab looked down, quickly and angrily,
"Wyatt?!" he snapped, "Zephon's first born?" Mioko nodded,
"It's alright, daddy killed him." Rahab looked down on her, triumphant,
"I'm glad. It saved me the trouble of killing him myself," he broke off when he saw Mioko laughing, loudly,
"That's what Uncie Kain said." Rahab froze for a moment, trying to imagine his master being caring towards the child. He didn't think Kain would be sympathetic or especially loving towards her but then, if Raziel was in the state of change and Mioko was still in the sanctuary, Kain must care for her, a little.
They arrived in the entrance hall where another vampire was waiting for them.
"Dumah!" Mioko shouted, leaping from Rahab's arms and running towards the third born. Dumah knelt down and let her run into his arms with such force he was knocked backwards.
"Ow," he groaned as his head bounced off the floor. Mioko laughed and started jumping on the third born's stomach,
"Hi!" she smiled. Dumah sat up, quickly, catapulting her off his stomach, Rahab stepped forward and caught her.
"Sorry," Dumah apologized quickly to the child. Mioko just laughed and pressed herself against the vampire's chest,
"Dumah," she smiled, warmly. With Rahab's help, Dumah managed to rise with minimal injury to the child.
"How do you always arrive here before me?" Dumah demanded, seeing the fourth born, the first of Kain's lieutenants to arrive. Rahab shrugged,
"I leave earlier?" he suggested. Mioko stood in the main doorway and looked out,
"Who else is coming?" she asked. Rahab counted his brothers off his fingers,
"Turel, Zephon, Melchiah and I assume Azrael for Razielim." Mioko smled and started jumping up and down,
"Yay! Azrael!" she squealed.
"Maybe you'll be going home with him?" Dumah thought aloud. Mioko stopped dancing and glared at the third born as if he were stupid,
"What?" she cried, "leave Uncie Kain all alone? If I go who'll keep Uncie Kain company?" she asked. Rahab and Dumah exchanged bemused glances, "I have to look after Uncie Kain," she said. Rahab and Dumah struggled to contain their laughter, knowing that their master could be lurking around any corner.
"Here comes Azrael," Dumah announced, as Azrael entered the hall.
"AZRAEL!" Mioko screamed, lunging at the vampire and knocking him off balance, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Argh!" Azrael let out a small yell as she showered his face with kisses,
"I missed you, Azzy!" she cried, kissing him again. Rahab and Dumah glanced at eachother, 'Azzy?'
"Get off me," Azrael said, shielding his face from her affectionate onslaught, "Mioko!" he shouted, "Get off!"
Mioko obediently backed off and let the vampire rise to his feet. He ignored the child and gave a short bow of his head to his elders, "Lord Dumah, lord Rahab," he said, humbly. Dumah and Rahab returned the courtesy with greetings.
"Ow!" Azrael cursed as Mioko kicked his ankle, aggressively,
"You didn't say hello," she said, putting on her pouting face. Azrael looked down on her in disbelief,
"By Kain!" he shouted, "how does he put up with you, how?! I've only been here two minutes and you've already driven me mad!"
"Aww," Rahab said, putting his hands on Mioko's shoulders, "I think she's lovely."
"Lovely?" Azrael shouted, disbelievingly, "That? She's a demon! I swear she's a demon!"
"I don't think Azrael likes you, darling," Rahab gave a fake sigh of sadness. Mioko shrugged and poked her tongue out at Azrael. Azrael looked from Dumah to Rahab and with a frustrated yell, swept from the chamber, leaving the two vampires laughing.
"I don't see what's so funny," came the greasy voice of Zephon. Dumah and Rahab stopped laughing abruptly and wrinkled their noses at the sight of their younger brother,
"Oh it's you," Dumah snarled. Rahab stepped in front of Dumah lest he had to prevent the warrior from attacking the fifth born.
"Yes," Zephon said, calmly, "me."
"I'm surprised you have the gall to show yourself, brother," Dumah scorned, "rest assured when I have spoken with the master, you will know to keep your brood away from my borders." Zephon continued to stare calmly at his elder,
"and what makes you think the master will be favourable to your suggestions?"
"because Uncie Kain's still mad at you for letting Wyatt biting me," Mioko said from the ground. All three vampires dropped their eyes to look at her as she stared up, defiantly at Zephon. Zephon's lips curled into a snarl when he saw her, making Dumah and Rahab immediately move to protect her.
Zephon cast his eyes between his brothers before deciding against confrontation and leaving them. Dumah and Rahab kept a steel stare on their brother, making sure he left before they turned to back to eachother.
"He's getting too cocky," Dumah growled. Rahab looked down the hall Zephon had just crossed and shook his head,
"No...he's just the same as always," he sighed.
"I hate him!" Mioko shouted. Dumah laughed and sat beside the child,
"Don't worry darling, so do I."
"Can't say I especially like him either," Rahab sighed, sitting on the other side of Mioko.
When Turel arrived, he said nothing, just kept his eyes fixed, suspiciously on the row of vampire-child-vampire sitting against the far wall. They said nothing either, just stared at him, wide eyed, trying to freak the second born out. It worked and his steps quickened as he made haste to leave the hall.
Melchiah, was as always the last to arrive, "Mioko," he said, gently when he saw the child, "hello my dear." Mioko flattened herself against the wall as far as she could go. Melchiah hung his head and tried to conceal his upset from his brothers, when Mioko whispered something into Dumah's ear,
"No darling," he whispered back, "he's not evil...he's just ugly."
Melchiah left them rather quickly considering he had originally seemed so happy to see them.
"Well that's everyone," Rahab announced, "What shall we do now?"
Dumah, Rahab and Mioko exchanged mischievous glances,
"Play?"
TBC