Review Responses:
Tom T. Thomson: Thanks again! Glad you're still liking my story! Yours is good too.
Varewolf: I haven't really thought that far ahead. But, Raziel probably will make another appearance…
Smoke: Nope, this is definitely not the end. :) Thanks for you review!
Agent-G: I'm going to take it at least to Soul Reaver. Although, taking it to Defiance would be an interesting development. Glad you liked the story.
bahamut: Sounds like a good crossover. Rip the Disney characters to shreds! Appreciate you're still keeping up with the story!
Shiva: Nope, still here! Glad you like the conversations in the fic, and that you don't find them boring. (I thought they might be.) Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Kain and I had grown closer in the weeks to follow. Slowly, the whispers and furtive glances abated. And Kain reigned supreme once more. Raziel was all but forgotten. While this could appear traitorous to some or disrespectful, I personally felt it was time to move on. Of course, not many shared my philosophy on the conscious level. Me; who fraternized with the enemy. In the eyes of the Dumahim and the Zephonim, I was a clod of dirt that somehow managed to attach itself to Kain's royal boot. As for the Razielim; they outright hated me. I couldn't blame them actually. Their future was up in the air and could be struck down at any moment like a hunted dove.
This left Melchiah and Rahab, whom like me, for whatever purpose, decided to remain loyal to their sovereign. Rahab the scholar and Melchiah the outcast. At least, they hadn't thought me a usurper. The only way to describe the remaining lieutenant, Turel, was that he was neutral. Detached even. Turel became short-tempered and elusive, not only to us, but to his own children. The Turelim were left to their own devices most days. Strangely enough, Turel himself seemed to be the most relaxed with me. If only he knew that I was guilty as he.
It was on such a cold night that the parched ground glittered with frost and the stars resembled those same chips of ice that the message came. Dumah and Zephon weren't in Kain's favor anymore and as a result, they had decided to rebel. A war was brewing. This time, it was dissention in our own ranks: vampire against vampire. No longer a full-scale conflict against humanity; it became a civil conflict amongst our kin.
Thankfully, the Razielim remained neutral and uninspired. They wouldn't even choose a new leader. Still, they were wracked with grief for their father, Raziel. Raziel's loss completely crippled the clan. I'm sure they longed for the simpler days. I did too. No one wanted to think on a complete invasion. Personally, I think we would annihilate ourselves.
"Hopefully, it will not come to that." Rahab whispered to me in a rather confident tone.
Rahab was a diplomat at heart, but quite an able-bodied warrior as well. Rahab wished for peace, and his children shared his philosophy. The Rahabim were the levelheaded determined ones; formulating strategies to age-old problems, always vying for the impossible. Such as healing these sorry state of affairs in this empire.
Rahab and I talked outside the Sanctuary of the Clans. Milling around us were more of Rahab's descendents. They rode on cars, dragging wagons full of goods behind them. The Rahabim were the only vampires brave enough to sail upon the lakes and rivers of Nosgoth and trade with the other Clans. It was a cloudy, humid night with a dangerous mist in the air and thunderheads up above. When the wind blew, it carried the scent of moisture. Traveling vampires be wary. Woe to the one of our blood who could not find shelter. Perhaps, that was why the Rahabim edged around the gates of Sanctuary so fearfully. Then again, fear itself was a disease in this land.
"Zephon wants to make trouble again, you know," spoke Rahab, not quite yet breaking me from my reverie. "Dumah too. However, Turel has promised to stand with us. That is some small comfort, don't you agree, Marina?"
I was still lost in thought. "It might rain."
Rahab stiffened for a moment in confusion, then relaxed, his voice traced with wryness. "Yes. It does seem to be inevitable."
"The humans will celebrate. They will sleep safely tonight."
Rahab leaned back against the stone wall of Sanctuary. "Ah, yes. There will be parties in the streets on the Human Citadel."
"The Human Citadel? Where's that?" I asked curiously.
At once, Rahab grew uncomfortable. "It's…located where the Abyss is. A tunnel that cuts through the emerald waters."
Emerald waters? How eloquent, I thought. Of course, they had since been stained with blood.
I immediately wished I had not brought it up. "Well, to my understanding, we have enough forces on our side to defeat our—"
"Enemies," Rahab finished for me. "My brood and Turel's both possess telekinetic power. Like yourself, Marina."
"What of Melchiah? Will he stand with us?"
"Of that I am not certain. His children are worried. It is reported that all he does is brood. The incident may have very well broken him."
So. This was how it was to be referred to. The "incident." No one dared speak the word "execution," much less the one who had been involved. It was just as well. Thinking about it could only air out bitter things and fears that lingered about like a winter chill. This theory proved true by the way the others threw speculative glances on their neighbors, openly considering who might be next.
As luck would have it, Melchiah wandered into view, his ocher cape crumpled, swishing behind him as he moved erratically through the crowds. Melchiah gave the impression that he was being hunted; as if there were a pack of wild beasts behind him, waiting to erase his existence if he made the slightest wrong move. It occurred to me that Melchiah might be trying to remain unseen. Rahab, however, did not oblige.
"Little brother! Come here and join us away from the damp winds."
Melchiah appeared reluctant as he haltingly marched towards us. He looked to paler than usual as if he had not been feeding properly. His eyes were incredibly sad. Haunted. Like he had lost something terribly important. And, indeed he had. I hadn't realized how close Melchiah really was to Raziel until this moment.
"My brother? Are you ill? You look unwell." Rahab sounded alarmed.
Melchiah's clouded gaze swept first over the Rahabim leader, his elder sibling, and then at me. At first, I thought Melchiah did not comprehend. Finally, he spoke. "Alas, I have not been sleeping. Nightmares have plagued me."
"They will pass in time. Naturally after any traumatic moment…"
"Traumatic moment? It's the end! The end of us all!" Melchiah exploded. "Wait. Wait and see. Perhaps this is our Maker's plan. To keep us alive until such a time He can rid himself of our presence before we can become more powerful than Him."
"I'm sure Raziel's fate will not become our own," I put in quickly, intentionally using the being in question's name. The less intrigue the better. This was intended to soothe Melchiah, but instead it seemed to have the adverse effect.
"That's what you say now! But you too must evolve, Marina. We are all alike. When that evening comes, in all probability it will become our last."
I was speechless. Melchiah was visibly upset, not to mention irrational. Warning surged through me. I had to return Melchiah's senses, and I knew a sure method to do it.
"Do you hate Kain for what he's done?" My voice trembled with emotion, yet I stood with unwavering conviction. I wanted to discover Melchiah's concerns. At the moment, his countenance was frightful. I wished to prevent Melchiah from doing or saying something he might end up regretting. On the other hand, I was truly curious. Would Kain ever be forgiven for his misdeeds? More importantly, could he forgive himself?
Melchiah, once so accommodating and friendly, now so hostile and paranoid looked back at me. Really looked at me. Slowly, I saw realization descend. I could only hope that it wasn't so obvious to everyone else. As if to punctuate this, Kain himself strode out from the gates of Sanctuary. Kain's always commanding, always vigilant demeanor came off as menacing as he stalked through the ranks of his descendants. These descendants were mostly Rahab's offspring and instead of being awed by his presence; they seemed questioning. Kain ignored their anxious glances whilst gliding in the direction of our gathering. Truly, he held himself like a god among men. If this was Kain's goal, it worked. Melchiah's verge of jumping out of his skin was testament to this.
With purpose glittering in his eyes, Kain situated himself in front of us and to the most unnerved. "Hello, Melchiah. You have been keeping to yourself, have you not? I have not seen you in many a week."
Melchiah was frozen, akin to a trapped rat. "I…I have been fortifying my defenses, my lord," he stammered.
"Against me?" Kain leaned in closer.
There was a noticeable bulge in the Melchahim leader's throat. I felt embarrassed and at the same time sympathetic for him. "No, my lord. Against the wiles of Zephon."
"Why would Zephon wish to harm you?" Kain asked innocently. Oh, yes. Kain was playing a game. Trying to catch his youngest off-guard in an effort to decide if he was a real threat.
"Because of my…location. He may hope to conquer me."
"You still have not answered my original question," Kain purred. At Melchiah's hesitation, Kain continued. "Terrible things happen to those that do know whose side they are on. I'd want to make sure I am not one of them."
In his mind, Melchiah was on the edge of the Abyss. He decided to choose the lesser of two evils. You could actually witness him making this decision. "That is exactly what I meant. My location in regards to you. I meant my loyalties to the Sanctuary of the Clans, sire."
Kain wasn't visibly impressed at Melchiah's sycophanic attitude, but the suspicion cleared from his features, at least. Kain then moved onto Rahab. "What of you? What brings you to Sanctuary tonight?"
"Overseeing my children and the wares they have brought," Rahab replied smoothly.
Kain smiled and put his arm around Rahab's shoulders. At once, the younger vampire was uneasy. Anyone could see that. But, he wisely chose to relax and remain inconspicuous. "That's what I like about you Rahab. Your integrity coupled with your responsibility. Not to mention your common sense. You'll go further than most of your brothers."
Kain was digging for something. Either he was checking for any plot that would overthrow him, or he was weeding out the weak. I hated to think thus, but perhaps Melchiah was right. Partly.
Kain's golden orbs finally rested on me. I had no idea what to expect. "And Marina. How pleasant to see you again."
"As it is to see you, my lord." I answered respectfully.
A teasing yet dangerous glint surfaced in Kain's eyes. "No need to be so formal, Marina. You can say my name as I can say yours."
"You seem in better spirits, my lord," Melchiah blurted out. Why did he have to say that?
"Yes, I am in a better mood. Time has healed me," Kain's eyes flicked in my direction. Was I missing something here? Although, being vulnerable was not a sound idea when Kain was near.
"I agree, Kain." My voice spoke his name distinctly.
Kain grinned at me merrily. "It's good to see that your spirit hasn't been lacking. Oh, and Marina, when you have time, come up to Sanctuary and see me. I have a gift for you. You know in what room." Kain might have well as winked. A look of understanding passed between Rahab and Melchiah. Great. Not only Zephon and Dumah, now they're catching on too. They'll be labeling me as a whore before the rainy season was out.
"Well now. I shall leave you to your conversation." With that, Kain turned his back and headed back to his palace.
I was left awkwardly standing with my "friends". "Friend" was such a novel term. Everything was divided into military definitions—ally or enemy.
Melchiah made some small sound. "I think it's time for me to go back. Good journey." Melchiah was embarrassed. From his lack of courage where Kain was concerned or with my relationship with the ruler himself, I knew not.
"I must be getting along as well," Rahab said with false gaiety.
Suddenly, a thought came to me. It made my heart turn to ice. Such as the ice in the Oracle's caves…
"Where will you go, Rahab?"
"To my Clan territory. To my Abbey."
I smirked in spite of myself. "An abbey? You share something with Zephon. You both seem to take delight in converting holy places."
"What better place for an unholy vampire to make a nest?" Rahab joked.
The light moment passed, and once again I felt fear thread its way through me once more. "So …you'll be gone. All the lieutenants will."
Rahab got my meaning. "You will be fine. Mark my words. Should something happen…" he trailed off.
Yes. The Rahabim Stronghold would be the safest, but I hadn't the slightest idea how to get there and everyone else was hostile. Truth in point, I was ensnared.
Rahab smiled politely. "You'll find shelter if you need it. Goodbye for now, Marina."
Wordlessly, I watched as Rahab ushered his children back to the elusive ships that were anchored somewhere off the beaten path. My only escape route.
Resigned, I started for Sanctuary. Alone. The others had a home to go to. Except me. For the first time, save for the guards and the servants, it would just be Kain and I. And at the worst possible time too.
I steeled myself and propelled myself through the archway of Sanctuary. Kain did not like to be kept waiting.