Review Responses:
Tom T. Thomson: It certainly is! The tension will be released in this chapter.
Varewolf: It's always fun to theorize plot holes. Hope you continue to like the story!
Agent-G: 200 chapters? Then I have nothing to worry about here; I don't see this going over 50. I'm pretty much going to write this a few centuries at a time and will show how the lieutenants de-evolved over time.
bahamut: That sounds like a good idea! I'll let you know. For now, I'm trying to get this story finished. I have off and on writer's block, hence the slow updates.
Shiwolf: I'll be looking forward to the story then!
Gold Seraph: I'm glad you enjoy my story! The journey angle was what I was going for.
Shiva: No, you should not! Not unless you want fang marks in your neck…
Eventually, my despair lifted. Gradually, bit by bit. What was past was past. Raziel and his Clan may be gone, and I well knew the part I had played in that little scenario, but other matters were staring me in the face. My survival for one. And naturally, the other five Clans that were becoming stronger and more hostile of their neighbors by the day. Kain was a different matter altogether. He was discreet, keeping his distance, while being absently polite with me the whole time. Almost as if he didn't have a care in the realm! I was beginning to get frustrated. Hanging around Sanctuary, whilst watching the world fall around our ears was taking its toll on me. Thankfully, my prayers were answered soon enough. For better and worse.
One evening, Kain sent a messenger to inform me to meet me in his Receiving Room. His throne, in other words. I was genuinely surprised to see Turel there at the appointed hour. The remaining lieutenants seemed to avoiding this place like a disease. Turel was more like his old self. He was in much better shape than I had seen him last. As devastating as the loss of his brother was, Turel obviously was starting to bask in the glow of being Kain's right hand. Raziel's former position. Had the Razielim truly brought their destruction on themselves? I wondered. By not choosing someone among themselves to rule in his place? If they had done so, the Razielim might still be in control now, instead of the Turelim. "Might" was the key word here.
Turel wore a new cape that was even finer and richly decorated than his first. The emerald green silk of it once represented the envy Turel had felt for his elder sibling. Now, it signified prosperity, profit, and pride. Turel also donned new armor that appeared to be especially crafted for him. I was getting the impression that great care had been taken to maintain Turel's new status. Perhaps he too had extra servants and a mistress or two to help him dress. After all, it was his right.
I stood there in the doorway, ramrod straight, waiting until I was summoned. The sound of Kain and Turel's shared laughter floated towards me. Obviously, the two were discussing something very amusing, although the former's gaiety was more forced. Kain's always scanning eye suddenly fell on me. "Marina! Do not lurk in the shadows. Come up here with Turel."
Obediently, I marched to the spot in question. My demeanor may have seemed harsh, but it served to disguise the prickling nervousness with me. Ever since certain events transpired, no sane vampire enjoyed being sent this room.
"Marina, I have called you here to discuss an urgent subject that must be dealt with immediately."
I waited. I braced myself…
"It might be to your advantage to accompany Turel to the Zephonim lands post haste."
Well, here was something different to say the least. I looked to Turel for clarification, but all he gave me was a reckless grin in answer. The arrogance behind it was enough for me to bristle in disdain. However, I sensed that beneath the highly decorated surface, he was still the same person. Possibly.
"You see, the Zephonim have been sacking my lands. They make their way here, deface and plunder, and head homeward by dawn, now that there is little resistance to stop them," Kain explained. "My own guards can only do so much. I want you, Turel, to deliver this proclamation to the Zephonim leader. If they still choose to defy me, they will meet their fates according to my law." My eyes followed the roll of parchment as it was handed from emperor to lieutenant.
Turel turned to me. "So, Marina, will you do as our lord suggests and do me the honor of traversing with me? I promise it shall not be boring."
I glanced at Kain questionably and his golden eyes flashed knowingly like the sun's rays rising over the horizon line. He had somehow caught wind of how bored I was, and in his mind he was doing me an act of kindness. Or was it something else?
As if reading my thoughts, Kain replied promptly. "It's not a long journey, Marina. The entire experience will be good for you. It's not as if I'm trying to get rid of you," he chuckled.
"Fine. I shall go." The sharpness of my tone surprised even me, but I was determined not to let Kain get to me.
"With my army," Turel added boastfully.
"Your army?" Was there going to be another war on top of it?
"Of course; for protection. The Zephonim aren't exactly the friendliest race of vampires. Besides, they wouldn't dare challenge the best warriors of Nosgoth."
How sure he sounded. "Where are the Zephonim clan lands?" I inquired.
"I know the way. It's not very far."
"It would be for the best to leave as soon as you can," Kain broke in.
"We'll depart presently, my lord," Turel promised. He bowed and sauntered away in a manner that would put a prince to shame, leaving me to follow. With a sigh, I too bowed to my lord, and turned to walk away, until a hand grabbed my arm, gently pulling me back.
"We'll talk later about more pressing topics," Kain whispered. Clearly, I was more transparent than I had thought. My feelings for Turel and what had exactly led to his newfound prestige were blatant. I stared in Kain's eyes for confirmation but he simply playfully motioned over in the direction of the doors. "It's high time you saw more of this world, Marina. Go on. But, do be on your guard."
And then there was nothing really more to say.
( )
"How much further is it, Turel?" I asked; my voice lost in the strong gales of wind that had sprung up.
"Not much," Turel called back. "It's only half a day's journey from Sanctuary."
Behind me, the voices of the Turelim floated up to meet me. The Turelim were now a fair match for the Dumahim. They were just as arrogant. The affableness of their Clan had vanished along with their condemned brothers. Still, I knew the game. I couldn't afford to rouse any more enemies, so I pretended to be as pleasant as I could. I chose to believe there must be some good in the Clan left.
Before I could question Turel further, he continued. "Have you ever been to the Silenced Cathedral?"
"No. What is the history of it? I've heard it mentioned before."
"The Cathedral was once a place of worship and sacredness. It was populated and built by the Sarafan. Humans. It was humanity's master plan to destroy our race with one single deadly tune emanating from the tower. Of course, Zephon and his brood took over, and the Cathedral was "silenced," hence the name."
I took this without comment, taking in whatever scenery I could, whilst Turel talked on. "You've never been this far east, have you?"
"I haven't," I replied. "I've only seen your Clan territory and Dumah's." The other territory I had visited was better left unsaid.
"Zephon's territory is no more impressive than mine," Turel said with a shrug. "Yet, he does have a coveted spot. You can see the entirety of Nosgoth on top of the Cathedral. It's a great military base, and the Zephonim aren't lightweights in combat either. That's one of the reasons why I brought my entourage."
The muddy mountain road, damp from perilous evenings of rain—which could start again at any moment—winded downwards, becoming steeper and steeper. After another wide turn, there it was. A majestic imposing structure, that rose high above us akin to a sentry. The bottom was wide and the upper reaches spiraled into the misty clouds themselves. The Silenced Cathedral had many levels, marked by small windows that served the purpose of not only spying from a distance, but to attack from as well. Once, the structure had been painted gold…
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine it. The Cathedral's burnished gold must have sparkled in the sunlight, glittering all the more fiercely against the backdrop of a crisp blue sky. Sarafan in white tunics bearing halberds and claymores patrolled the area…and that's where the fantasy ended. The Sarafan were no more saints than we were monsters. I opened my eyes and took in the reality of the rusted bronze sheeting that flanked the presumably stone walls. The road led to a wooden drawbridge that was suspiciously laid out before us, connecting to the immense arched entrance.
"Marina, are you meditating? Let's go!" Turel shouted.
I glanced at Turel's concerned face, ignoring the scattered sniggers behind me. Instead of being embarrassed, I spoke truthfully. "I was only imagining what it must have been like over a thousand years ago."
"Not good, I expect. Especially if you were a vampire. However, the Sarafan might have been more accommodating than the Zephonim you are about to meet."
There were a few murmurs of agreement in the sea of Turelim behind me. Apparently, no one, not even Kain himself, enjoyed coming here. The Zephonim though were much lower in rank. Zephon wasn't equal to Turel or Dumah in battle and the same went for their offspring. How bad could they be?
Our company moved across the bridge, our weapons ready. We clustered around the great wooden doors as Turel pounded on them with his meaty fist. His loud knocking could wake the dead. A minute passed before the doors opened a crack. A sharp, pale face poked out. "Yes? Pray, why do you crowd around the our home like a pack of frightened mortals?"
Turel cleared his throat. "To give your leader an official proclamation that comes from the order of Kain himself."
"And he couldn't come here himself? Strange. Cowardly, if you ask me," the Zephonim smirked.
"I could have you executed for treason!" Turel hissed.
The Zephonim's smile grew wide. "Personally, I think Lord Kain had done enough killing. I don't need his new puppet Clan threatening me. But, if it pleases you, step this way."
A slight growl escaped the Turelim's lips. It was lucky for the Zephonim that he moved to throw open the doors, or Turel might have very well struck him. The Zephonim bowed to dramatically to show our retinue inside. As soon as we stepped within, another blast of cold wind blew against the weathered structure. The air echoed around the stone walls, blowing around the rickety wooden rafters above us. It was if the element were warning us away. In fact, it seemed as if it was always perpetually drafty here. The hollow echo from the air current was like an eternal presence, never dissipating.
"Well, now," the Zephonim went on. "My name is Thomas. Now let me introduce to the rest of the Clan."
As if on cue, a sea of vampires appeared from the shadows. They glided silently, whispering through the ledges above our heads, crawling along the walls, moving into view from every direction. Had they been here all along? They were silent killers; that much was certain. It appeared as if they had eluded Turel's senses also.
Turel's face was a mask of anger. "What is this? Are we about to be ambushed?"
"Not in the least. We will show you to our leader's chambers now. Me and this young lady will escort you."
Thomas made an elaborate gesture and a young woman emerged from the darkness. It shocked me that she was mortal. Her robe was of silk in an olive shade. Gold jewelry adorned her bare arms. The Zephonim Clan symbol was tattooed on her left shoulder like a cattle brand, yet she had not the semblance of a slave. Pearls decorated her fussy golden curls. She wasn't scared in the least of the vampires that surrounded her. Indeed, she had a haughty air about her, a behavior that could get one slain here.
"This is Samantha, one of the vampire worshippers that pays homage to our race. Not to mention, Zephon himself. Samantha is his favorite."
Samantha gave us a bored, arrogant glare and rolled her violet eyes. "Zephon will be so pleased to see his brother." Samantha's wandering gaze caught my eye. I could only imagine what I looked like next to this pampered girl. Also, my colors were not of the Turelim sort. I was definitely an outsider here. "Who is she?" Samantha jerked her chin in my direction with interest.
"She is none of your concern." Turel informed her coolly. "This general is an emissary sent from Kain himself."
Samantha gave me an incredulous leer and spun on her heel. "Come with me. The sooner you meet the master, the sooner you can return home." No, we were not welcome in this place. That much was lucid.
Still, we followed Samantha and Thomas through empty halls and corridors with unimpressive architecture. There was hardly any finery here. Just cold, gray, smooth stone and more ledges and secret passageways than the eye could discover. What did the Zephonim hope to hide here? One didn't choose such an isolated spot on location alone. Besides this, the heavy gloominess of this Cathedral oppressed us at every turn. This raised another question. Why did the Zephonim reject comfort and extravagance? Perhaps, it was a way of rejecting their former humanity further. If they employed vampire worshippers, they did not have much respect for human life as a civilization. These were more thoughts I had yet to put to voice. For now, I did what was commanded of me. I followed the mistress and the manservant, keenly aware that the others were sneaking around us like a pack of wolves tracking prey.
After walking up our third staircase, I was beginning to feel tired. "Does your master have his quarters on the moon?" I asked Samantha jokingly.
Samantha took this as a personal insult. She whirled on me. "Our lord has a penchant for protection. Especially when nameless riff-raff barge through his doors." My eyes of heated gold met the worshipper's cold violet.
"Easy now, Samantha. We warned you what that kind of attitude would lead to here," Thomas growled, apparently fed up with catty woman as the next vampire. This human did not realize how fragile her position really was.
"Zephon likes it," she replied dryly. "And here we are. Up that last stairway, you'll find Zephon's personal rooms. Now, I really must freshen up for this evening's entertainments." With a passing whiff of heavy perfume and flashing jewels, Zephon's mistress was gone. I silently gave thanks that I had been delivered from my life of passing luxuries and the company of conceited women.
"Five of you may enter," Thomas instructed us. "It wouldn't be proper if the whole regiment came barging in."
"Fine," Turel said smoothly. "Marina and my three best warriors may come." Evidently, Turel's "best warriors" knew who they were, because three men automatically joined their leader at the front. I recognized one of them. His name was Darien, and was one of the guards I had befriended at Sanctuary.
"Zephon will see you in, I expect. Try not to waste his time." His job done, Thomas quickly disappeared; his hands behind his back, slouching into a stalking gait.
Without even a customary knock, Turel threw the doors open and I expect it wasn't from eagerness to see his brother. Zephon was completely aware that we had been milling around outside. He stood in the center in the room; a chilling sneer on his face that was a cruel parody of a "welcoming" smile. "My brother. I knew you were coming." Then, Zephon's eyes unfortunately drifted to me. "Ah, Marina. It's been a long time."
"Not long enough," I mumbled. I casually scrutinized Zephon, from his elegant russet fur-lined cape to the tips of his shiny leather boots.
"I share your sentiments perfectly, my dear," the Zephonim leader jeered. "But, I expect you haven't come to chat. What news do you bring, brother?"
"To give you this." Turel reached into his cape and pulled out the roll of parchment and unceremoniously tossed it to Zephon, who caught it with the quick reflexes like a cat. No, more like an insect…
Zephon unrolled it carefully and turned to the side so the torchlight would illuminate the parchment. It was nearly too dim for anything to be read in here. As I watched him, a painful thought sprang into my mind. He looks like his brother. Of all the lieutenants, Zephon resembled Raziel the most. All the more reason why the Zephonim leader turned against his sire.
Finally, Zephon turned to us. "This is rather dire news, isn't it?"
"Kain orders you to retreat from his lands or suffer the consequences," Turel said stiffly.
"I think I myself came to that conclusion," Zephon sniffed. "Tell Kain that I was not aware of these…raids. I will deal with the disobedient fledglings myself. This is a Zephonim matter."
"And that's it? That's the end?" Turel questioned, plainly disappointed he had not received a larger reaction from his sibling.
"No. This is." Without warning, Zephon crumpled up the paper and carelessly threw it on the flames of a nearby brazier. "Notify your emperor that I no longer wish to serve him. I will keep off his territory so long as he keeps off mine. Should this be a problem, the Dumahim are always ready to negotiate."
Here it was; the situation full circle. You could have knocked Turel over with a feather. Dumah would join forces with Zephon to rally against the "tyrant" to preserve their freedom if we pursued them. There could be no further doubts. I recovered from this proclamation first. "We understand, Zephon. It would seem that loyalty is not a popular virtue these days."
"Kain should know it," Zephon hissed. "Someone who would advance a whore yet slay his own creation."
It took me great restraint not to grab my rapier right then and there, but it would not be a sane idea with so many witnesses. "Magnificent word play, Zephon. Tell me, when did this intense hatred start?"
"Everything was fine before you came here." Zephon had a murderous look on his face and took a threatening step towards me, and I took a step back.
"It was destiny. Nothing stays the same, even for immortals. And I'd venture that your destiny is about to become grim very soon, as soon as we deliver your message to Kain." It was a vain effort to preserve my dignity, but it worked nonetheless.
"Someone should teach that girl some manners," Zephon growled. "I'm her elder."
"But you're not mine," Turel pointed out. "You have shown your true colors. Rest assured, we will deliver your message. Since, our business is done, we shall return home."
"Home?" scoffed Zephon. "You call Sanctuary your home? It's a prison. But I refuse to be a prisoner any longer."
"Let's go." Turel motioned to open the door that led to freedom.
"Oh, and here's something else to remember. If any vampire dares trespass on our territory again, they'll be eliminated immediately." That mocking voice could drive a pin into your heart. None of us answered. None of us turned back. Only one thought pervaded our minds. It repeated over and over. Get out while you can…