Chapter 2 – Presents
Kain and Dumah took Mioko outside, leaving Raziel standing in the doorway feeling totally ashamed and disgusted with himself. Azrael placed a hand on his sire's shoulder,
"Did you really forget...or was it just to surprise her? I heard Lonni does the same thing with Jade..." Raziel cut his son off with a sad shaking of his head,
"I really forgot," he muttered. Azrael winced,
"How could you forget?" he asked, "she's been excited about it for weeks, even I got her a little some...th...ing?" Raziel glared at him, cutting him off.
"Surprisingly, you're not making me feel any better."
Kain and Dumah took their bags from their horses and took them into the palace. They followed Azrael up to the guest quarters. Mioko trotted aside them, holding both Kain and Dumah's hands. She didn't even give a passing glance at her father as they left him in the entrance hall, making him feel even more dejected than he already did.
Mioko followed Kain into his prepared chamber, he set his bag on the bed and sat down next to it. He looked down on the child, she smiled up at him, but she seemed to be sad behind it.
"Mioko?" he asked, "What is it, child?" Mioko sniffed and looked down onto the floor,
"Daddy forgot my birthday," she whimpered and started crying. Kain sighed and lifted her up onto his knee, stroking away her tears, ignoring the burning sensation he felt as the tears streaked across his finger.
"Mioko," he said, trying to comfort her, "Look," he reached into his bag and pulled out a pendant. It was a gold chain with a cut gemstone attached to it. "Look," he repeated, moving the child's chin upwards. He placed the chain around her neck and she examined the blood red gemstone,
"Wow," she breathed.
"Whenever you need me," he said, "if you're ever in trouble just call me and I'll find you," he told her, tightening his arm around her shoulders. Mioko smiled, weakly,
"Does it work when daddy's mean to me?" she asked. Kain frowned,
"What do you mean, he's mean to you?" he asked, sternly.
"He forgot my birthday," she murmured. Kain wrapped his arms around her and hugged her,
"It's alright, child," he said, "I'm sure daddy said sorry?" Mioko shook her head, Kain's frown deepened, "He didn't say sorry," he sighed heavily, "Raziel loves you," he assured her. Mioko sniffed and brushed her own tears away,
"But he forgot my birthday." There was a knock at the door and Azrael entered followed by Dumah, both of them carrying small boxes wrapped in brightly coloured paper. They dropped the presents on Kain's bed and for a moment she looked like she wasn't sad anymore.
Dumah handed her a slim package and ruffled her hair, "Happy birthday, darling," he smiled. Mioko looked up, sheepishly from beneath her tousled hair. She unwrapped the present revealing a sleek dagger. Kain glared at his son,
"You gave a seven year old a knife?" he asked.
"It's alright," Dumah said, cheerfully, "I'll teach her how to use it." Kain shook his head and tried to take the knife from her but she held onto it with unyielding force. Eventually the vampire gave up and let her keep the knife, muttering incoherently under his breath. Azrael gave her his own present, "Happy birthday, brat," he whispered as she started opening the box. Inside was another Chibi' Chibi Raziel. She held it in silence for a moment before she started crying again, running from the room. The vampires watched her go before Kain broke their silence by rising. He left Dumah and Azrael and made his way to Raziel's chamber.
Raziel was indeed inside, wrapping something in paper. He turned and bowed to his father when he entered.
"Is she ok?" Raziel asked, urgently. Kain shook his head,
"No." Raziel sighed,
"I didn't forget her birthday," he heaved, "I just forgot it was today..." he broke off and looked down on the present, "Some father I am," he muttered.
"She doesn't think you're a bad father," Kain told him, "she's just upset that you forgot her birthday. Go and see her, Raziel." Kain told him. Raziel nodded and with a word of thank you to his sire, he sought his daughter.
He knocked gently and opened her door, "My love?" he whispered. She was crying onto her pillow,
"Go away!" she sobbed. Raziel refused and sitting beside her, wrapped her in his arms,
"My love, I'm sorry," he sighed, keeping her in a tight embrace, "Here," he said, gently, holding out her package. She sniffed and opened it, revealing a little cape with Raziel's symbol emblazoned on it, "I didn't forget," he murmured, as her face lit up when she saw it.
"Thank you, daddy," she smiled, throwing her little arms around his neck and hugging him. She kissed his cheek and grinned up at him.
"Look!" she cried, holding Chibi Raziel out to him, "It's you!" Raziel smiled and kissed her forehead,
"So it is," he got up, satisfied his daughter was happy and he made for the door,
"At least he won't forget my birthday."
TBC