Chapter 4 – Runaway
"Envoy from Melchium!" a shout rang through the sanctuary of the clans. Kain's eyes twitched in his sleep as he began his silent countdown, '3,2,1'
"Daddy!" Right on cue Mioko's shout could be heard from her chamber beside Kain's as she leaped from her own bed, in the vain hope that the envoy might possibly be her father.
Kain left the comfort of his bed, changed in the side chamber and returned to his main room to find Mioko, cradling Chibi Raziel on his bed.
"It wasn't daddy," she spat, bitterly, "It never is." Kain sighed and sat beside the child.
"Raziel is helping Melchiah, Mioko," he said, gently. Mioko nodded,
"I know, daddy won't be back for ages," her pitiful eyes looked up at the vampire, "but...it's been so long," she whimpered, "I'd do anything to see daddy again." Kain sighed, the long separation from her father was taking its toll on the child. With every passing day she missed him more and it became more apparent. Long had it been since Kain saw her laugh or smile even. Her thoughts and dreams were filled with the notion of being reunited with Raziel.
He left her for a moment to greet the envoy, "Meg?" he asked, in disbelief. Megara gave a false smile,
"Oh thanks," she muttered. She gave Kain a report, "The humans are still holding. Melchium is safe and we've driven them back. We're trying to make the city fall...but it's proving harder than we thought and we're running low on resources. Give it another few weeks and we'll have to withdraw."
"It's been two months already," Kain growled, then after skimming the report, "Summon Rahab to help you...and tell Raziel that Mioko misses him." Meg smiled and handed Kain another letter,
"To Mioko from Raziel," she said, cheerfully. She kissed her sire on the cheek and poking her head past his chamber door, called, "Bye Mioko," before she set off to join the battle once more.
Kain returned to his chamber and gave the letter to Mioko. "From daddy," he told her, smiling as her little face lit up and she snatched the letter from him. She opened it eagerly but her face fell when she saw it.
"What is it?" he asked, concerned. Mioko sighed,
"Can't read," she muttered. Kain frowned,
"I thought Raziel taught you?" he asked. She nodded frantically,
"He did, but..." she turned the paper around so Kain could see his son's untidy scrawl, "can't read," she repeated.
Kain picked up the paper and tried to decipher his son's impossible handwriting. He could distinguish the words, 'love,' 'Mioko,' and 'miss,' but that was about it. Kain snarled at the letter,
"I will be having words with him when he returns." Mioko looked up, eagerly,
"Daddy's coming back?" she asked, quickly. Kain sighed,
"Not yet...now come on, breakfast."
Kain took Mioko down to the dining room and sat beside her, as the servants placed a fruit bowl before her. She stared at the fruit, unimpressed before looking up at the master, equally unimpressed.
"What?" he asked, curiously, scanning the fruit for imperfections though he could find none.
"I don't like fruit," she told him. Kain raised his eyebrows,
"You had fruit yesterday...I used to give you fruit all the time," he told her, she nodded,
"I know, that's why I don't like it."
Kain groaned but obediently summoned for different food. It seemed Mioko was determined not to eat. Everything that was put in front of her she refused until eventually Kain forced bread down her throat and after along battle allowed her to go and play.
Mioko went to her room and began to play with Chibis Raziel and Kain, but her heart wasn't in it. She played, absentmindedly for a while longer before she wandered out in search of the vampire overlord.
Kain was in his throne room talking with a vampire messenger.
"How fare's lords Raziel and Melchiah?" the messenger asked.
"Not well," Kain replied, wearily, "It seems they may be occupied for another few months yet." Mioko hid herself outside the door so she could hear what was being said, and she had to stop herself protesting when she heard of her father's fate.
"Is there nothing that can be done?" the messenger asked curiously. Kain nodded,
"Go to Rahabim and summon Rahab to the battle, they need all the help they can get." The messenger nodded and bowed, leaving the chamber. Mioko ran and hid herself so the messenger couldn't see her. After long consideration she went back to her room and sat on her bed.
'They need all the help they can get.'
Mioko looked down on the knife Dumah had given her, "Don't worry daddy," she muttered, "I'm coming."
TBC