Chapter 11 – Makeover
"Meeko!" a scream went up as Raziel, his firstborn and of course, his beloved daughter dismounted outside the palace of Razielim. The crowd of vampires and humans alike who had gathered to meet their sire after his long time at war, parted to allow another child to run forward and throw his arms around the girl.
A chorus of 'Awww' went up among the crowd as Jade and Mioko were reunited after her excursion to the sanctuary. Azrael looked around in amazement at all the smiling faces and soppy comments made as the two children stood in each other's embrace on the steps. To the firstborn's absolute horror Raziel was one of those who had smiled upon the two and for some reason joined in with the sickening chorus of cuteness. Was Azrael the only one who saw nothing important in the embrace of tow childhood friends and didn't find the scene adorable? Apparently so.
Mioko accompanied Jade into the palace with Raziel and his son at a distance behind.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Raziel muttered, "Look how happy they are together," he said, turning to his firstborn smiling. Azrael raised his eyebrows before looking back at the children,
"Oh yes," he tried to sound enthusiastic, "So wonderful…yes." Raziel laughed loudly,
"Don't ever change, Azrael." Azrael looked after his lord, in complete confusion from the few events of the morning. He was only too happy to retire to his chambers and escape the madness that had descended upon the Razielim.
However, all to soon, he was summoned to his sire's chamber. Raziel was watching Mioko and Jade play on the floor with Mioko's chibis. He looked rather uncomfortable as Chibi Kain stabbed Chibi Raziel with the Chibi Reaver repeatedly. Azrael couldn't help but chuckle at the scene before him, but stopped abruptly when Mioko looked up at him, angrily. She only kept eye contact for a brief moment before she returned her attention to poking her father's image.
Raziel watched the scene for a moment longer nefore turning to his son and opening his mouth to speak. Before he could get the words out, Lonni entered, ready to greet her masters after their absence.
"Welcome home, my lords," she said, attempting to bow, but Raziel stopped her. Both vampires were staring at her incredulously.
"Lonni!" Mioko shouted, discarding Chibi Kain and running to hug the servant, but she too stopped in her tracks, "Lonni, you got fat," Mioko said, frowning. Raziel clamped his claws over her mouth to shut her up. Lonni however, just laughed,
"I'm going to have a baby, Mioko," she said, then looking up at Raziel, with a sheepish grin, "I'm with child, my lord."
Raziel nodded slowly, "Yes I can see, Lonni," he said, the pregnancy of his favourite servant catching him by surprise.
"I'm going to have a baby brother!" Jade shouted, happily. Mioko tried to respond, but Raziel's claws were still clamped over her lips. He had completely forgotten he was holding the child in the first place, but a painful hiss as she ran her tongue over the claws reminded him.
"Mioko!" Raziel snapped, nursing his injured claws. Mioko poked her tongue out before climbing onto her father's bed and talking to Lonni.
Azrael took this opportunity to question his master about his summons. "Ah yes," Raziel said, suddenly, remembering why he had called his son to him, "Maret has a matter he wishes to discuss with me. Stay here and watch Mioko for me."
Azrael's heart sunk and Raziel chuckled at the fallen expression, written across his son's face. It was common knowledge that the firstborn hated babysitting with a passion, but there was no one else who Raziel trusted with his daughter's life. Lonni, maybe but she was in no fit state to care for two mad children.
Azrael watched his sire go before casting his gaze to the child. She was looking up at him with an evil smile spread over her lips. Azrael groaned and dropped into the chair, opposite her. He thanked the stars that Lonni was here to talk to her, for the moment at least he was safe.
"What's this?" Mioko asked, running her little finger across Lonni's bottom lip and examining the red colour that came with it.
"That's the paint that mummy uses on her face. It makes her look pretty," Jade answered, climbing up onto the bed behind them. Mioko examined the colour on her finger,
"Why doesn't daddy have paint for his face?" she asked, innocently. Lonni chuckled,
"Only women put paint on their faces." Mioko rubbed the paint on her finger onto her lips and examined the results in the mirror. Seemingly pleased she looked up at Lonni,
"I want some," she demanded. Lonni smiled and looked up at Azrael,
"With your permission my lord, I would take Mioko and Jade back to my home." Azrael smiled for a moment, Lonni was going to take Mioko from him and look after her. He was free! Then it dawned on him that Raziel had left Mioko with him for a reason.
Reluctantly he nodded and rose at the same time, "I shall accompany you," he sighed. Lonni gave a sympathetic smile and led the way to her home in the Razielim city.
Raziel was only slightly concerned when he returned to his chamber much later, to find no sign of his son or his daughter. Even Chibi Kain and Raziel had gone. He went to the window and looked out at the sunset over his city.
Of course the sun was hidden behind the thick blanket of clouds, but the smog was lined with the glowing, orange light of the dying sun behind them. The lights were coming on in Razielim, the windows of the houses were illuminated against the dusky backdrop of the approaching night. The palace was sinking into a quiet stillness as the servants retired for the night and the few night servants entered the palace to perform their duties in silence.
The silence was broken suddenly by Azrael dragging a screaming child into Raziel's chambers and dropping her on the bed. Raziel turned in surprise to see his daughter wrestling with the vampire, she kicked and screamed, demanding to be taken back somewhere. She was obviously distraught, Azrael, however looked livid.
Raziel came between them as he so often had and demanded that they were silent. "Mioko?" he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Want to stay with Jade!" she screamed, making her father jump in mild surprise at the intensity her childlike voice could reach.
"But it's almost time for bed," he muttered, softly, "You can see Jade tomorrow." Mioko muttered incoherently under her breath, but knew from experience it was pointless to argue with her father. She chose instead to slide off the bed, still muttering as she made for the adjacent chamber.
Raziel sighed and looked up at his firstborn, "Azrael?" he asked, in surprise, "What happened to your face?"
The firstborn looked as though colour had attacked him. One cheek was a mixture of bright orange and red, with a blue taint, tracing the line of his scar. The other cheek was almost purple, lined with pink. Two black lines traced under his eyes, with a vibrant hue of yellow above. His lips, no longer black were now a bright, shade of scarlet.
"Brat!" Azrael scorned, "That's what happened to me. Lonni took Mioko and Jade to her house and showed Mioko how to put make up on. Mioko thought I would look good in it, so she attacked me, then she attacked the Chibis." Azrael gestured to the dolls, lying on the bed, also looking as if they had fallen into a pool of colour.
As if on cue Mioko returned, still glaring at the vampires and snatched the Chibis from the bed, before storming back to her chamber. Raziel caught sight of her before she left. Her cheeks had more colour to them, a faint hint of pink lingered there, a brush of lilac above the eyes and a mild red across the lips. In stark contrast to the vibrant hues that scarred Azrael.
"Lonni did hers," Azrael muttered, seeing the master's confused look. "Now, if you'll excuse me my lord, I take my leave for the night." Without waiting for an answer, he turned and made for the door.
"Good night, Azrael," Raziel called softly, and unable to resist the temptation added, "it looks good on you."
TBC