Chapter 20 – Playtime
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"RAHAB!" Kain thundered. Rahab stopped abruptly, Dumah however, came sprinting round the corner and crashed straight into the fourth born. Rahab, Dumah and Mioko all fell to the floor in a heap. Rahab and Dumah looked up as the master strode, angrily towards them.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded. Rahab and Dumah looked uncomfortable as they tried to untangle themselves from each other and the child.
"We're playing, Uncie Kain," Mioo said, happily. Kain looked down on her, "I sit on Rahab's shoulders and Dumah has to catch us...do you want to play?"
"The sanctuary of the clans is not for playing," he spat, glaring at his sons. Rahab and Dumah hung their heads and muttered apologies, "Do not disturb me again," he warned. The vampires and Mioko watched Kain retreat back into his chambers before a wide grin spread over their faces.
"Swap?" Rahab suggested. Mioko laughed and climbed up onto Dumah's shoulders. She had just balanced herself when Dumah took off at a sprint. Rahab waited for a moment before sprinting after them, though somewhat quieter as they passed the master's chamber.
"So you have had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Mioko?" Turel asked his brother, Zephon. Zephon snarled at the mention of her name,
"Yes," he hissed, "Wyatt is dead because of her." Turel chuckled,
"I heard there was a disagreement." Zephon glared at his brother,
"First Raziel, then Kain..." he growled under his breath, "and we can't touch..."
"NO!" Dumah came skidding around the corner as Rahab reached out and tapped his shoulder,
"Tag!" Rahab laughed loudly. Mioko jumped into Rahab's arms as he ran past his siblings closely followed by Dumah. Zephon and Turel watched his brothers vanish down the hall and then turned to eachother,
"Did...did that just happen?" Turel asked, confused. Zephon nodded mutely, his lips slightly parted in surprise, "Now Dumah and Rahab have fallen for her...it'll be Melchiah next." Zephon sighed, almost happily,
"Ah yes...poor Melchiah, he's having more trouble with that settlement to the North. The humans are attacking and liberating the slaves. He's running short I believe."
"Well he's not having any of my slaves," Turel said, firmly, "Look what happened last time I gave one of mine away," he added, looking down the hall where Mioko had passed. Zephon laughed,
"I heard Raziel took her from you, there was no giving involved," he smirked. Turel glared at Zephon and swept past him,
"Turel?!" Dumah shouted. Turel had stepped into their path causing Dumah and Mioko to crash into him, knocking all of them to the floor. Rahab managed to skid to a halt behind them and he helped Dumah to his feet. Mioko, who had landed on Turel's chest was laughing, loudly.
"Get off me!" Turel snapped, pushing Mioko off his torso. In an instant Dumah's hand was grasped harshly around Turel's neck, pinning him to the floor, as Turel struggled to breathe.
"Don't touch her," he hissed, his fangs bared in a feral snarl. Mioko stood up and walked, slowly toward the vampire. She tapped Dumah's shoulder lightly,
"Tag!" she laughed, taking off down the hall. Dumah looked after her in disbelief, then he laughed and all thoughts of his brother forgotten; he released Turel and chased after her.
Turel got up, sending a deadly look after his brothers, "You know something?" he asked his brother, "I would do anything to get that bitch out of Nosgoth...I'd love to see the look on Raziel's face too," he added, menacingly. Zephon smirked,
"Now you know how I feel."
Mioko was running from the third and fourth born as they tried to catch her. With their improved speed they could have caught the child easily...but where was the fun in that? As she rounded a corner, she forced herself to stop abruptly as a vampire blocked her path.
"Hello Mioko," Melchiah said, gently, kneeling down to her, "What are you doing?" Dumah and Rahab appeared behind her and tried to stop but not fall at the same time.
"We're playing," Dumah said, childishly innocently. Melchiah's face brightened,
"Can..."
"Run away!" Mioko cried, turning around and running from the last of Kain's children. Dumah and Rahab shrugged at their sibling, before turning and running after her. Melchiah hung his head and slowly, trudged back to his chambers, alone.
TBC