Chapter four : The forgotten garden
The young light of the rising sun was blinding me. The shades were opened and dawn was burning through my eyes. A long and bitter sleep was over and the sun came out on the horizon as it always does. I blinked with a heavy head, feeling like I had too much to drink last night. My clothing was on the floor beside the bed. All of it. I tried to remember what happened. I came here , …my room,…and he was there, and… with my palms I cowered my eyes. He made love to me. It was a foggy memory, but it was there. And my body liked his warm touch. I was feeling so used and cheap, and so desecrated, I wanted to scream. But something inside wasn't letting me cry. I knew I should, but I couldn't force my self.
I looked at my dark dungeon. In the fresh light of the morning it didn't seem so unfriendly. There was a breakfast waiting for me on the desk before the bed. Cheese, tomatoes, bread and milk; just as I like it. I wondered how could they've known that. I put my cloth back on, and after my meal, walked out of my room with great caution. The keep seemed dark still, and somehow deserted. I had just taught that the guards were gone when I found one around the corner, almost scaring me to death. He looked at me with an obvious displeasure of my presence, but he stayed calm just like Dalbur did. He asked :
" Is there anything I can do for you princess ?"
" Is… is there, perhaps a garden here somewhere ?"
"Yes. Down the stairs and straight on to the left. "; he said, with his grim eyes fixed on me.
I turned and walked to the stairs, trying to avoid his gaze that followed me until I went around the corner. But even then I felt like some eyes were watching my walk through the dark corridors. It was a felling I couldn't shake of my mind. I was heading left, when I came to a brighter hallway. There was light up ahead. I walked that way, when suddenly I saw a large wooden red door on the left side of the hallway. Clearly, this was the place Kain said I shouldn't go to. It seamed sinister and unfriendly. But if he didn't want me there, perhaps it held the solution for this imprisonment of mine. In that moment I would have given anything to go home and see my father again. And so I boldly reached for the knob and stepped in the tunnels before me.
It was a dark tunnel stretching before me, even though the torches were lit. In the distance I heard some talk. I followed the voices until I came to a line of dungeons on each wall. I was in a prison. In the distance I saw an opened door, trough which light struggled to flee out. Voices were coming from the chamber inside. And suddenly a scream came from there. My legs wanted me to go but even than I was focused on getting out of here and I would have grabbed the smallest chance.
I stepped through and found my self on the top of a large deep circular room. It stood before me like a well. On the walls hanged threatening torturing devices of wood and iron and in the depths I saw the torturer and his subject, that was shackled to the wall. I couldn't see very clearly, but it seemed to me like the torturers skin was very pale. This sight made my breakfast came back to me, turning in my stomach. The torturer said :
" It all could end. All you need to tell me is where your last forces are. "
" …I…don't (ugh) know… "
" I know you do. You were left behind, after they ran. You just aren't motivated enough. "
" No…please…lord Rahab, I…ROOAAAAAAAGH !"
I turned away, trying to hold my scream and than I met my lord Kain's, penetrating eyes :
" I warned you not to come here princess. "; he said with chill that paralyzed me :" Was it curiosity or defiance that made you wander to these dungeons ?"
A man screamed again in the hole behind me and I just had to get out. I passed beside him and paced back to the tunnel. Grabbing for the torch holder, I stooped panting. Kain came behind me :
" Tell me now, after this because I'm curious ; what do you think of me ?"
I turned looking him with an expression of grief and disgust. I felt like I could tell him anything in this moment :
" You…are a…a…monster ! A horrible monster ! I am horrified by your…sadistic selfishness and beastly actions. I… I can't believe that you… took my body …"
I had no more words. I just turned away, but it seemed like he was smiling. I heard his laughter behind me :
" I like your honesty princess. It is so …refreshing. "; I looked at him with grief and he became serious :" This experience has left a mark on you, diminishing your beauties. Fortunately, such scars can heal. "
" I don't think these scars will heal. "; I said with a tone of defiance.
His mouth became thin and he placed his fingers on the sides of his head. Instantly I felt a bright flash in the back of my head, so powerful it almost knocked me down. I felt like it was happening to me again, but I couldn't remember when it happened to me before. It came again almost invading my thoughts. I was weak and tired and the next time it easily overcame me. Everything became white….a laughter echoed in my mind…I was calm.
I was walking down the brighter corridor of the keep, when I came to a large wooden red door on the left side of the hallway. Clearly, this was the place Kain said I shouldn't go to. It seamed sinister and unfriendly. I would have entered, but I decided not to. I better don't try anything that would upset my lord and give him the reason to attack my home.
" I heard that you were asking about a garden. "; Kain said behind me
He again appeared out of nowhere, startling me. But as I saw his wicked face, I suddenly felt great fear and loathing for him and I didn't know where it was coming from. My heart bit like insane, wrapped in a chilled fillings that almost overwhelmed me. I stepped back, overtaken and surprised by this sudden explosion of cold emotions :
" Is there something wrong princess ?"; he asked
" N…no my lord. Just …some strange chill took me… "
He seemed like he was displeased somehow, and said :
" Come with me. "
He led me to an opened dour at the end of the corridor. All this time I was behind him, unable to stop my self from being afraid. I couldn't remember what was it that made me so terrified all of the sudden. But as I stepped out of the darkness of the keep, I found my self in a huge and colorful garden. I could barely see the distant wall on the other side. Suddenly, that fear was gone, chased away by the brightness of the day.
The garden was not decorated or planted, and seemed like nobody was there for years. But the nature it self took care of it, and it was so untouched by man that it was beautiful. I could recognize many rear herbs and roots there and the wild trees of fruit grew scattered all over in planted order. The grass and plants weren't trimmed, but they were short and pretty.
I was almost blinded by the light of the day. My lord, staid in the shadows of the keep, but I walked out to enjoy the sun. On the left side, over the distant wall I saw another keep in the horizon. It was a large bright castle, decorated with flags that bore the crests of Kain and six others amongst which I recognized the ones that Raziel and Turel had when I met them.
" My lord…"; I asked :" What is that ? "
" It is the sanctuary of the clans. I and my sons are gathering there on occasion to discuss certain things. "
" Why do you not live there than ? I mean, why do you have this dark and gloomy place, next to such a pretty castle ?"
" I have a purpose for all of my things. "; he said with slightly angry determination, as if he was demonstrating his superiority: " Such is this garden for instance; I call it the " forgotten garden " because here I can forget the rest of the world. Human hands haven't touched it and their eyes haven't seen it for a long time. And yet, it took care of it self. It remained innocent and pure… Like you. "
As he said these last words, I felt his eyes on me, like I was a part of this garden, a plant or a flower, and once more I felt like a prisoner. I tried not to expose it, for I was also in his mercy and I prayed that it lasts.
And than I saw a large fountain, hidden amongst the thick bushes. It was made of ancient white marble, neatly and deeply carved by some indescribable symbols that almost seemed like a language. I stepped closer to observe it better. In the center of its large pool was a statue of a small boy, poring from his ewer water over the stones. It was placed on a plate that made a smaller pool on a disk shape pedestal above the main pool. What I taught were symbols on its wall, were now clearly images of wealthy people, sorted in chronological order like a family.
I turned to my lord. He was in the light behind me, and seemed not too happy about it. Like it was bothering him. His eyes were half closed and his strong face was now colored with a sour expression. I collected my self and asked :
" Who are these people on the fountain ?"
He stood silent for a moment, watching the carving :
" An ancient line of nobles that ended four hundred years ago. "
It seemed that it held some deeper meaning for him, but I didn't wish to intrude
" Why is it not working ?"
" It could work… If you'd want it to. "
" Yeas. I want to. "
He walked to the bushes with a steady walk, trying to make his nuisance unnoticeable, but I still saw that something was bothering him. He reviled a rusty wheal amidst the leaves, and with a fast strong turn he brought life back to the fountain. It was an act that gave me a certain amount of calmness, but for him it did quite the opposite. He stepped back and walked away from the sprinkling water :
" This garden is now your responsibility. Take care of it for me. "
" But…my lord… What am I suppose to do ? "
He stepped closer and looked in my eyes with almost fatherly warmness :
" Whatever you think is right. "
With these words, he left me walking the same steady pace back to the keep. I was left alone in a garden where everything, it seemed was left to be forgotten.
Raziel entered Kain's quarters. The big room, decorated with purple tapestries and curtains with very little furniture. Kain was on the edge of a big fenceless balcony, which was more a lift platform for his bat form. The curtains were opened and he was in the sunlight, with the reaver beneath his palm and floor. He was watching the horizon. Raziel was a little blinded by the sun, but he entered :
" Father I am here as you asked. "
" I sense an amount of displeasure amongst the others. I hoped that you shall settle it. "
" I can't father, because it is caused by unusual source. "
" Is my will questioned ?"; he asked calmly. Raziel boldly answered :
" Father ; we have almost broke all of the resistance. Almost every region is ours. People fear you and obey. And yet the lands of Willendorf stand untouched, like a boil on the face of your empire. "; and than he got calm :" I respect your will, but I feel uncomfortable knowing that a low human shares your home, and the others share my feelings. "
Kain laughed silently :
" You always know what to say. Come here. "; said he gently, as if teaching
Raziel stepped closer to the light, but not to close. It still bothered him. Kain was immune, but it was uncomfortable for him to be in the golden light of the sun, that was blinding his sharp eyes, and scratched his skin.
" Family Raziel, is the most important thing. And it was a low human that knew that and was willing as to give her life for hers. We all value our freedom above all, and she gave hers up for the safety of her home. Humans don't come like that often. That is what lacks Nosgoth to be cleansed of its flaws. Besides, we need them, Raziel. Even in our dark divinity we need humans to feed up on. Come; relies your senses to the air and follow mine to the city.
Raziel obeyed, and together their astral bodies flied through the clouds, across the rivers and planes, to the city of Willendorf.
" What do you sense ?"; Kain asked, like teacher asks his student.
" Humans…their blood flowing through their wanes. Ignorance… stupidity… chaos infests their minds. They don't even know we're watching them. "
" And in that ignorance is their blessing. They don't realize they're just cattle being bread. Let them bread, Raziel. Let them bread. It all comes back to us in the end. "
Their spirits returned to the room and Kain closed the curtains of the balcony :
" Time is on our side. "; he said, despite the fact that he wanted all of Nosgoth under his rule. Raziel saw that he decided to wait until the deal is broken and said :
" My illusions won't hide us forever. Ultimately she will see through them. "
" Soon we wont need your powers Raziel. "; Kain said, and placed his fingers on the side of his head.
Raziel sensed Sellinna in the garden shockingly standing up, swaying and than walking inside.
" Every time I poses her mind, "; Kain continued :" she surrenders more willingly. In a while I shall have her will, and in her eyes we shall all be… low humans. "
Raziel smiled and dispelled the magic that shrouded him and Kain from Sellinna's eyes. In that moment she opened the door, pacing in with mechanical steps and glassy empty eyes. Kain released her and she asked gently like a confused child :
" Is there anything you need my lord ?"
" Do you notice anything different about us ?"; he asked
" No my lord. But you do seem pleased with something. "
" I am pleased by your servility. Go back to the garden, princess. There is nothing for you here. "
She bowed and left with a little insure path. Raziel felt small envy for Kain's powers after this display. He was still a young vampire, less than 20 years old, and next to his father, he was just a child. Kain saw that and placed his hand on his shoulder, as if a father was telling his son that he to will grow up one day. And Raziel placed his hand on Kain's with a face full of loyalty and a fade satisfied smile :
" One day father, all of Nosgoth shall be like her. If that is your wish, than I shall provide it for you. "
" You and I Raziel, shall do great things for this world. I know it. "
Suddenly, Raziel tethered and was about to fall grabbing for his chest. Kain smiled with a sense of pride :
" It is time father. I sense the power growing within me. I must leave you now. "
" Go to your quarters my son. You won't be disturbed. "
Raziel bowed, and left with ill pace, and Kain was left in satisfaction that all parents have when their children are growing up.