Chapter 7 - Reunited
Mioko let out a shrill, over exaggurated cry of pain as she hit the cold dungeon floor. Elizabeth smirked as she closed the heavy dungeon door, plunging the child into darkness. Mioko pushed herself up off the damp floor and looked around the dark cell. She had seen the dungeon cells in Kain's empire many times. As a blood slave she frequented them, but they looked like palace rooms in comparison to the pit into which she had been flung.
Water seeped over the floor from somewhere, the cell itself was wet and cold. She shivered and curled up into the corner of the room, trying to leech off her own body heat. The sound of her chattering teeth ecoed around the room despite her efforts to control them. She glanced down at her arms wondering where Chibi Kain was. At the same time she made a silent prayer, hoping that soon Kain or even better Raziel would come to her aid.
She didn't know it but her prayer had been answered.
A few hours after Mioko had been thrown into her prison, Kain dismounted just outside the gates of Vorador's mansion. He glared up at the mansion with a deep loathing of the master within. A few curious females had already gathered to see who had wandered to their abode. Most of them were most impressed when they saw just what prestigious guest had arrived. Murmers of excitement and seductive whispers passed between the gathered group.
Kain gave them a hateful look as he swept past them, on his way up to the mansion. Stepping inside he glanced around, Vorador had obviously not heard the lord of Nosgoth had paid him a visit as he hadn't bothered to greet him, but then Kain had hardly exected a warm welcome. Kain had no time to traverse the mansion in search of the ancient vampire and so he settled for grabbing the nearest whore and placing a tight grasp around her neck ordered her to take him to her master. The female choked and gasped for breath before she was released. She fell to her knees gulping down precious air, before she turned and stumbled to lead her aggressor. A few females who had witnessed the event glared at Kain, partly with disdain, partly of fear but he paid them no heed as he continued after the whore.
Vorador was sitting in his chamber, turning the child's dagger over in his hands, still enraged that she had dared to attack him in such a way.
"What?!" he snapped as a frantic knocking met his ears. One of his harem staggered in and began muttering incoherently. Vorador's eyes narrowed, "What are you babbling about?" he thundered. The whore didn't have time to warn her sire, Kain kicked the door open further, he stepped into the room and fixed Vorador with a menacing stare. Vorador barely had time to react as Kain caught sight of the dagger in his talons. The vampire overlord closed the gap between them in a swift movement and within seconds of his entry he had Vorador pinned by the throat against the chair.
"Where is she?" Kain snarled. He snatched the dagger from Vorador's claws and thrust it before him, "The owner of this dagger, where is she?"
"Release me and I shall tell you," Vorador growled, however his plea had the adverse effect. Rather than release him, Kain's grip tightened,
"Where is she?" he repeated, his tone even more dangerous than before. He flung Vorador, harshly aside, "Take me to her," he commanded, "Now!"
Inside the cell, Mioko sat back, her head resting limply against the harsh, stony wall behind her. Her little body was so cold, she could hardly feel it. The water had seeped into her skin, taking away her shivers as it numbed every muscle in her body. Still, her weak voice tried to cry out for her father, barely gasping from her frozen throat.
In the distance she could hear voices shouting, but she couldn't distinguish just where they were coming from. The voices stopped abruptly as the heavy cell door was swung open, furiously. Mioko lowered her head to look at the door, finding it took more effort than she would have liked, draining her of what little strength she had left. Kain lingered in the doorway for barely a second before he inexplicably appeared at her side. Was it vampiric ability or just speed? It didn't matter, he knelt beside her and lifted her up, out of the chamber, ignoring the burns that formed where the hissing water touched his skin.
He said nothing, taking her instead straight to the nearest chamber. Of course Vorador was dead against the idea but already somewhat fearing for his life he choose not to argue. Kain wasn't especially particular which chamber she was taken too, he choose the first one they came to, barging in, paying no heed to the two female occupants and set the child down by the roaring fire.
Vorador hung in the background as he saw for the first time in his vampiric life a flicker of worry on Kain's face.
Kain sat with Mioko, gently whispering her name, trying to call her back from whatever world she had taken refuge in. She was frozen, her eyes stared blankly ahead, too cold to realize that she had just been rescued.
"Mioko?" Kain whispered, "Mioko?" his tone became more pleading as he almost begged the child to say something.
"Uncie Kain?" she whimpered as the fire brought her back to her senses. She looked up at the vampire as a relieved smile spread over his lips and she fell against him, unable to lift her arms to embrace him.
The vampire wrapped his arms around her, a first attempt to nurse her back to health. He looked up at Vorador, the anger blazing behind his eyes causing Vorador to take a small step back should he need to make a hasty exit.
"Let me see," Kain muttered, prising the child away from him slightly so he could examine the extent of her ordeal. To his relief apart from almost freezing to death there was little injury on the child. She cocked her head up to look at him and gave a sheepish, childish smile of thanks to her saviour. Kain returned the smile, but it faded abruptly when he noticed a large bruise forming on the under side of her neck, trailing up to her lower cheek.
She winced as Kain placed a claw beneath her chin so he could examine the bruise further.
"Who did this?" he demanded quietly, his eyes flickering to where Vorador stood.
"Lizabef," Mioko shivered. Kain didn't inquire further, deciding that bidding her to the sanctuary would prove a better course of action.
Rising, he wrapped the child in a blanket from the chamber and scooped her into his arms. He left Vorador's mansion with the ancient vampire trailing behind him, common courtesy demanded he saw his visitor out, regardless of the nature of that visit.
Kain ensured that Mioko was safely secured on his stallion before turning to the vampire,
"You will regret this," he warned, "Did she not tell you who she was?" he asked curiously, wondering if Vorador had knowingly imprisoned the vampire overlord's 'grandchild.' Vorador made no answer, luckily for him, Kain was more concerned with returning the child to the sanctuary than pursuing matters with the ancient. As Kain turned to saddle his horse, Vorador likewise turned and hurried into his home, only too glad to escape the vampiric overlord's wrath. Kain had just pulled himself up when Mioko said, innocently, pointing at where Vorador had just vacated,
"That's Lizabef." Kain lowered himself from the horse, his eyes fixed menacingly on the eldest female within the group that had gathered to see them off. Some of the females scarpered when they saw the look in Kain's eyes and others when he placed his clawed hand on the hilt of the Reaver and drew.
TBC