Chapter 4

Raziel started along the courtyard road that ran from his personnel abode, to his provincial throne, which was roughly central, and out onto the convergence atop the Abyss. Walking along his claw like toe nails clicking as he stepped he noticed without surprise that nothing lurked about him within the grounds. His clan was unusually small considering he was the first-born. It was odd, his brethren had many hundreds of fledglings, where as he had barely a seventy, his brothers having at least as many elders able to walk in the daylight, especially now that Kain had begun the process of purging the sunlight from the land.

He passed his thrown, stopping to admire the monument. After he had indulged in his own vanity he turned back to the road pausing mid stride, he brought a leathery wing out then folded it into his face. He had only recently been gifted with the ability to fly a month ago, give or take, and today was his unveilment to the coven, his brothers…. And Kain. He let the wing return to its folded position on his back, and continued to walk.

Only once he had left the province borders and stepped onto Abyss did he stop. Kneeling down he became mesmerized by the swirl of blue, green and white below, many a vampire had met their traitoress fate within its murky depths.

"Hmm, wonder how he'll react?" Raziel pondered, prying his eyes from the body of water beneath. Standing back up he folded his wings beneath his cloak and, with a deep breath, "whispered, ironically "Showtime!" as he stepped in the direction of the black cathedral.

He approached the ornate mahogany door and with a clenched fist bashed the door open (he was always the dramatic type). The sound echoed throughout within, as every inhuman eye turned to watch as he slowly approached he however only allowed his eyes to fall upon his father and Kain in return watched as his first born dominated the stage.

As Raziel came within a few feet he slowed to a stop and stood silently until the silence was broken by Ruhab.

"Well first born, why are we here? What possible purpose requires us all!" he sneered at Raziel.

"Quiet brother, I wish to show Kain my new gift,"

"WHAT!" Kain growled out from behind clenched teeth.

"Kain, father, the dark gods have blessed me with a new transformation, flight, father I have received wings." Raziel said as he splayed and tipped his wings from the sheath.

Kain's eyes widened and his eyes grew bright and fiery, then lifted himself from his chair and he stepped past Raz, then he turned back placing a gnarled green hand on the brim of each wing and then began tracing the edge with his fingers.

The whole display lasted no more than a minute but to all present it felt like an eternity. But too eternity must end, and Raziel new as his did. Kain grabbed hard at the outer bone and tore it from the skin; poor Raz could do no more that scream at the instant of pain and fall, unconscious onto the cold stone of the floor.

"What do we do with him?" Dumah Questioned with a hint of fear in his voice.

"Kill him! Into the Abyss and let it be a lesson to you, I will not take kindly to treason, and neither will I hesitate to kill you for it." Kain barked at a tone just below a shout.

Malek and Ruhab grabbed each an arm and proceeded to drag him out to the convergence atop the Abyss Kain trailing after they were out the doors.

"THROW!" Kain ordered once he had come within an orders distance.

"One…two…" Ruhab counted as the swung his limp body back and forth from the edge, but before they threw him, Malek leaned close and whispered into his ear

"Forgive me my friend, the choice was not mine."

"Three!"

And they threw his rag doll body down, hissing as it hit the water below.