BLOOD OMEN 2

FIVE: The Sarafan's Keep

I emerged via a secret tunnel expertly hidden in the wall, into the compound of the Sarafans keep. According to the Bishop, it had been made as an emergency escape route should the keep ever come under attack. But the Sarafan, confident in their safety had long forgotten about it and left it unguarded. Luckily, before he joined the order, the Bishop had been a mason and had worked for the descendant of the one who had built the tunnel thus learnt all about it. 

Thanking me for my help and wishing me luck, he retreated, no doubt to find a way to cover up the incident at his mansion and regain his office. In truth, with Marcus dead, his relationship with the Cabal was still a secret. The attack on his mansion could easily be covered up and told to be a search for vampires who had attempted to kidnap him. Though he had said no such thing, my new gift had allowed me to see into his mind. The cunning of old humans never ceased to amaze me. 

No sooner had I stepped into the keep than Voradors voice whispered in my head. "Well done, Kain. You have entered the Sarafan Keep at last." 

"Not without difficulty" I replied as I looked around. "I encountered an old friend on the way; Marcus." 

There was no surprise in his voice when he replied. "I see. Then may I assume that another of the Sarafan Lord's guardians has fallen?" 

"You may." I replied with pride in my voice. 

"Many times I attempted to persuade Marcus to join us, but he would not heed me." 

With a smile, I said. "My arguments were more convincing." 

A brief silence followed before he spoke again. "I sense that Umah is being held in the uppermost reaches of the Keep. You must hurry; she is to be executed soon." 

Despite the fact that time was of the essence I found myself thinking of only one thing. "Where is Griffon? Is he here?" 

"I do not know. His presence is masked from my senses, but you are no match for him yet, Kain. If you encounter him, hide. If he sees you- run!" 

It took every effort of mine not to shout in anger. "Run!? Hide!? Vorador you do not know me!"  

"Your task is to find Umah quickly. Let nothing distract you." He stated strongly. "The information she obtained from the Industrial Quarter may allow us to destroy the Sarafan Lord at last. Do not destroy our only chance with hasty action." 

How sickened I had become with weary admonitions of safety and care. How I longed to rend the flesh of my one true enemy. How I thirsted for the taste of his life's blood on my lips. 

"Go Kain, quickly! I will be watching." 

I approached the rear of the keep cautiously as there were axe guards all over the grounds and my experience at the Bishops library had taught me that they were no pushovers. Dodging around them, I found myself at a back entrance but the door was locked from within. Forcing it would be easy enough but I could not risk my presence been known before reaching Umah. Luckily I saw a servant through the window attending to his duties. Perhaps it was time to test out my newly acquired gift. 

Concentrating, I willed myself at the servant. At first a sensation similar to that of looking through a big pipe filled my mind. I channeled it, focusing it on the servant then released myself. Instantly I felt catapulted till I was standing inside the kitchen. 

It was a disturbing occurrence to say the least. I was staring at the fragile hands of a human and looked about through his eyes. It was like wadding through a dream, one in which I actually had control over. But I could feel the force of the other mind there too, struggling to take back control. Concentrating, I enforced my will, silencing the human. Pushing, I forced the body to moved towards the door and unlock it. Then I released my hold on him.