Chapter 1 – Megara

Raziel pulled his sword from the dead vampire; sliding it easily from its bloody chest. The warrior stepped aside and let his kinsman, Turel impale the defeated parasite upon the spear. With Raziel's help they drove the spear into the ground and left the vampire to suspend there, amongst the other corpses that lined the country roads.

"Lord Moebius will be pleased," Turel muttered as they stepped back, watching the vampire slip down the spear, his life ebbing slowly and painfully away from him. Raziel removed his helmet and scanned the line of fresh bodies among the many of old, an approving smile escaped him and he stepped back with his brother.

"Come," Raziel invited, "We have done enough today." He clapped his brother-in-arms on his armoured shoulder and led the way back to the main Sarafan stronghold.

Their fellow comrades Dumah and Melchiah were waiting for them at the entrance.

"Good hunting?" Dumah asked, running a finger, leisurely over the edge of his own blade. Raziel and Turel nodded in unison,

"You would have enjoyed it, Dumah," Turel told him, "Another nest destroyed. There won't be many left along that road now." Dumah and Melchiah nodded their approval,

"Where is Rahab?" Raziel inquired. Dumah sighed,

"Called to Vasserbunde again I shouldn't wonder, they are having a lot of trouble lately." Melchiah nodded in agreement,

"Maybe we should send another unit, Raziel?" Turel suggested, Raziel, however shook his head,

"Not unless Rahab feels they need it. We must..."

"Raziel! Raziel!" The Sarafan priest was cut short by shouts from the interior. The warrior Zephon was hurrying towards them, his face contorted with concern, "Raziel, I've been looking for you!" Raziel frowned upon his comrade,

"What is it?" he asked. Zephon paused to take a few panting breaths,

"It's the lady Miyai," he said urgently. All of the fellow hunters fell silent as their leader looked up at Zephon, quickly,

"What about her?" he asked, dangerously quiet. Zephon's face broke into a smile,

"She has had the baby, Raziel." Raziel took a sharp intake of breath as his brother reassured him his words were true. Raziel took off at almost a sprint, sweeping through the keep up to the halls where he and the other highest order of Sarafan priests resided.

Outside of his bedchamber was a small gathering of maids and some lesser warriors. They all parted as Raziel approached, most of them nodding happily at him, others gazing at him with contented smiles, some murmuring words of comfort in a hushed reverence as their leader pushed past them and entered the room.

The main focus of attention was the large bed that occupied a significant portion of the room. Maids surrounded it, shielding the occupant from view until Raziel pushed his way through them and laid his eyes on the sight before him.

A young woman was sitting up in bed, her lower body covered by the silk sheets. Her long, brown hair was loose and tangled, laced with sweat, hanging over one shoulder. She kept her eyes half closed as she looked down upon the bundle of blankets she cradled in her arms; she was humming a soft song, under her breath, rocking her new born baby to sleep.

She looked up at Raziel and her light eyes flashed with happiness and excitement, "Raziel!" she said, happily, "We have a daughter!"

Raziel looked at the pair in disbelief, collapsing onto the bed beside his wife as the surrounding maids made pleasant, muttering comments about the newborn. Miyai held out the baby to her husband and settled her in his arms.

Raziel looked down at the child. "She looks just like you, lord Raziel," one of the maids said, warmly. Raziel could only smile, rendered speechless by the sheer magnitude of the moment he found himself in.

The girl was so perfect. She resembled Raziel greatly; hair, eyes, features, everything about her told the world who her father was. The baby stirred and opened her tiny eyes, looking straight up at the warrior priest. He beamed down on her as she just stared,

"Hello," he managed to whisper, his voice choking with emotion, "I'm your father." The girl shifted and closed her eyes, sleeping once again, "Welcome to the world," he continued, even though the child slept, "Megara."

TBC