Kaya De Crystalline: Thanks! And those lieutenants certainly are gorgeous!
Syvia: I nitpick for details too! I think they make the story more interesting. Marina is about 200 hundred years old. I guess Kain would be a good 800-1000 years older than her. (Now, that's an age difference!)
Sylvanon the wolf gurl: Glad to hear it!
I entered Kain's exquisite throne room. It was a resplendent place indeed, with rose and gold marble. In the center of the room, a mosaic of some sort was on the floor. Gold symbols were engraved on the deep, green circular area. I knew not what they meant.
At the back of the room, was a huge, white marble throne for Kain himself, no doubt. And behind the throne were the Pillars of Nosgoth. Cracked, misshapen, and misaligned. Corrupted even from before my time.
Standing in the middle of the throne room were six vampires. These must have been Kain's infamous lieutenants. They were all handsome, black-haired, and golden-eyed like me. It was like looking into a mirror and seeing a masculine version of myself.
I followed Kain as he led me to his sons. They all regarded me with curiousity, some more curious than most. Maybe, even with some hostility.
Kain pointed at his first vampire son. "This is Raziel, my eldest."
Raziel looked at me and smiled. Genuine warmth brimmed in his eyes. I couldn't help feeling just a little bit—enchanted. I had the impression that Raziel got that reaction from many women.
Raziel was wearing a red cape flung over one shoulder. Embossed across the front was a white symbol. His hair was tied back into a ponytail.
Kain gestured to the next brother. "This is Turel."
Turel had a huge frame with noticeably pointed ears. He gazed at me steadily, not welcoming me, yet not rejecting me. He wore a green cape with a white symbol on it, in the same fashion as Raziel's. However, it was not the same design.
Kain went on through the line. "This is Dumah."
Dumah grinned at me, flashing his fangs. If I was not mistaken, it was an engaging grin. I had the impulse that he would wink at me, if his lord wasn't watching. His hair was pulled back like the others and he wore a purple cape with his own white symbol.
Kain slid one arm around my shoulders and steered me to the next youngest brother. "This is Rahab."
Rahab had the serene gaze of a scholar. He nodded to me politely. He wasn't quite as handsome as the other brothers, but it didn't diminish him in the least. His cape was a teal blue with its own white symbol across the front.
"This is Zephon," Kain continued in that same authoritive tone.
Unlike his brothers, Zephon wasn't as muscular, but more wiry. He looked to be agile. Zephon's composure was arrogant. As soon as I looked into his eyes, I was met with hot opposition. Which was just as well. Something about Zephon, I did not like. He reminded me of my now dead sire, Lucius. Zepon's cape was brown with its own white symbol.
Gratefully, Kain moved me on to the next lieutenant. "And this is Melchiah."
Melchiah was the shortest brother and I noticed for the first time that Melchiah was bald. No matter. I could see that Melchiah had a friendly personality. He smiled almost shyly at me. He wore an orange cape over his shoulder and his individual white symbol was embellished on it.
"This is Marina," Kain announced. "She will be staying with us from now on."
"What?" a voice hissed. It came from Zephon. "Why?"
"I don't have to explain my reasons to you, Zephon!" Kain snapped. "She's homeless now, and she's an exceptional warrior as well."
Zephon scowled but said nothing more.
"Raziel, take Marina to her chambers."
Raziel bowed. "Yes, sire."
* * *
Raziel was kind and sympathetic towards me. I told him about my sire, Lucius, and Brianna as well.
"Well, I'm happy you're here," confessed Raziel. "We need all the help we can get out on the battlefield. The vampire hunters are getting intolerable."
"Not everyone is happy to see me," I pointed out.
Raziel grimaced. "Zephon acts that way to anyone new. He's extremely antagonistic, even to us. Don't take anything he says or does personally."
"What about the others?" I asked.
"Turel's distant and rather unemotional, but he never lies. He likes to be alone," Raziel added. "Rahab's the studious sort and is pretty much quiet most of the time. Dumah is a bit overconfident, but he's a good ally to have in a crisis. As for Melchiah, he's very nice. You won't have to worry about him.
"What about you?" I inquired.
"I hang on to my humanity. Unlike some vampires. It gives me a sense of balance. I like to think myself as amiable," Raziel replied.
I felt like I could relax around Raziel. Already, I could feel a friendship blossoming. He seemed like a good friend to have. It occurred to me that that's all we'd ever be. Friends. That was fine with me. I wasn't interested in Raziel that way or with anyone else as a matter of fact. As for Kain--.
Raziel turned a corner in the immense marble corridor that was shining dimly in the torchlight. Raziel stopped in front of a huge wooden door.
"These will be your chambers, my lady," Raziel said graciously.
"Thank you, Raziel." My eyes shifted to that white symbol on Raziel's cape. What's that symbol mean?"
Raziel looked surprised. "It's my clan symbol. Each of us bear one. We all have our own clan and our own territories as well. I thought every vampire knew."
"I was sheltered by my sire. I knew little of life outside," I explained almost apologeticly.
"Forgive me. I jut assumed that everyone knew about us. The mortals curse our name and that of our brethren."
Suddenly, I heard a step in the hallway. Raziel and I both turned. It was Dumah.
"What are you two doing out here? Having a private meeting?"
"No," Raziel replied stiffly. "I'm showing Marina her room. Don't you have your own to get to?"
"I just wanted to talk to our new lieutenant personally," Dumah said, grinning.
"I am by no means a lieutenant yet." I looked from Raziel's face to Dumah's.
"But you will be. Mark my words. Our lord knows talent and to tell you the truth, I see it too." Just as I suspected, Dumah winked at me.
Had I been human, I would have blushed. As a vampire, I was merely taken aback. Then, I heard another pair of footsteps in the hallway and I knew who it was this time.
"Dumah, what are you doing here?" Kain demanded.
Dumah bowed respectfully. "Sire, I just wanted to speak to Marina."
"That can wait," Kain growled. "Day is breaking and it's time to retire. And I believe your chambers are on the other side of the mansion."
Dumah bowed once more and strutted away.
Kain looked at me and I couldn't help but see his anger had softened. "Rest now Marina. You've had a hard enough night. You too, Raziel."
Kain strode past us. A moment later I heard the click of a door.
"Kain's chambers are up there?" I asked dumbfounded.
Raziel nodded. "I sleep in this wing as well along with Rahab and Melchiah. Turel, Dumah, and Zephon's own chambers are in the other wing in the other side of the mansion."
Raziel turned away and proceeded to walk down the hallway. Then, he hesitated and looked my way. "The door locks in case you wanted to know."
"It's all right, Raziel. I'll be safe here. I can defend myself."
Raziel nodded and made his way down the glittering corridor.
Finally, I opened the door before me that led to my "chambers" and stepped inside. It wasn't the same bedroom, I was in last time. In fact, this room was even more wonderous. A stone fireplace was positioned across the room. Dark, wooden furniture that looked like mahogany lent the room an elegant touch. The bed was expansive and covered with blue velvet sheets. The same blue material made up the drapes that hid the windows from view. This bedroom felt like—mine. As if it had been designed to fit my specific tastes. For the first time in decades, I felt like I was truly home.
But what about the others? Kain had accepted me but would his lieutenants? Kain's lieutenants had known each other for centuries. They probably didn't take very kindly to my presence at all. I wondered if I would always be this lonely.
* * *
Zephon was having problems of his own to deal with. Zephon couldn't talk about it to Raziel because he had already taken a shine to her as had Dumah. And talking to either Rahab or Melchiah was absolutely worthless, so Zephon had settled on Turel.
"I didn't know we were babysitting fledglings now," Zephon complained.
"Kain's word is law. He says she must stay."
But, she's an intruder!" roared Zephon. "And she's a female. The reason there are hardly any female vampires left in Nosgoth—useful ones anyway—is because they're weak."
Turel shrugged. "I don't feel threatened in the least. She's but a waif. Soon, Kain will tire of her and she'll be on her way again."
And just like that, Turel turned his back and began to walk back to his own rooms.
"Must you be so damned dutiful all the time!" exclaimed Zephon, but Turel did not reply.
Zephon frowned. Then, just as quickly he smiled. No. He wouldn't let her ruin his good spirits or his position. For he had just came up with a thought that would get rid of Marina forever. And not only would it get Marina expelled from the mansion, it would make her get expelled from earth as well.