The reminder of his shame made him walk even faster.  He had passed on his vulnerability to sunlight onto his descendants.  Even in the most heavily overcast days, Rahab and his children couldn't withstand daylight.  How he had resented Kain for forcing him onto the precipice of those ghastly cliffs six decades ago, just to see poor Raziel thrown into the abyss.  He'd walked away from that dawn with more than just sunburns.  Even now he trembled at the unbelievable agony of one's body disintegrating in acidic water.

     As he entered his abbey, members of his Clan nodded to him.  A few offered him part of their meals, no doubt to curry favor.  Still, he felt more of them eying him with suspicion.  He ignored them.  Daily now, he noticed slight changes in his body.  His arched brows had grown upwards into a cobra-like cowl, and his claws had begun to web together.  He knew they had all observed it.  He had seen these changes start in his chieftains, his own first generation.  What did it mean?  What were they all evolving towards?
     He suspected Kain knew.  Kain had declared after Raziel's execution that all of his sons would receive special gifts.  He had promised to tell more, but then had remained silent on the matter ever since.
     Raziel had grown wings and presumably he was meant to fly.  Turel had uncanny strength, size, hearing, and a telekinetic projectile.  Dumah had a telekinetic constriction ability.  Nobody knew for sure what was going on with Zephon but his couriers had begun to display insectoid features.  And Melchiah still skinned his victims for the sustaining flesh, just as he always had.
     'So what did I receive?  What 'special gift' am I to develop?'

     He sent his entourage away, and descended towards the cellars.  He would meditate there, as he always did, for the coolness of the vault and the steady drip of moisture comforted him.  He felt the sun rise above and his kin settle into the darker cloisters.
     He stepped into the deepest chamber of the abbey, his cloven hooves making impressions in the sludge of the moist and crumbling brickwork.  He looked at the water, deepening by the day, ruining his sanctuary.  All of the vampires of Nosgoth were scalded by water.  But he enjoyed listening to it drip into his home from behind the walls.  He closed his eyes and concentrated on this simple sound.
     He would have to find a new home for his Clan, he knew.  Perhaps he could lead an expedition to conquer this human citadel.  Perhaps Kain was aware of the abbey's flooding, perhaps he intended for there to be another crusade on the humans.  What if the bored trio of Kain, Turel, and Dumah were deliberately prodding him into an assault on the humans?  He laughed at this, he didn't think the three of them could cooperate long enough to do such a thing.

     As Rahab fell into a deeper meditation, an earthquake struck.  It only lasted twenty seconds or so, but part of the saturated wall caved in and a torrent of water followed.  The Clan Leader opened his eyes too late.  The pressure pulled his feet out from under him.  He howled in fear.  Soon, he thought, I will know only a fraction of what Raziel felt.  He felt himself go under and he thrashed and clawed for leverage to no avail.  The water cascaded over his body and retreated.
     He felt coolness and relief, but no pain.
     No pain!
     He opened his eyes, underwater, and looked about at his body, his untainted, whole flesh!  He couldn't feel the sun at all anymore.  His skin relaxed as it only did during night!  Laying there, it all added up: the aerodynamic cowl on his head, the webbed claws, and his ease in cool, damp places.

     He stood and howled in triumph!  He yelled for his chieftains.
     Soon they came bounding down the stairwell.  They stared at him astonished, wide eyed, as he stepped directly under the still running tide of water filling the room.  One ran back upwards shouting for every clan member to gather.
     Cautiously, Dagon, his firstborn chieftain, dipped his arm into the water.  The lord of the waters smiled and threw his head back in laughter as it emerged unscathed.  His ears rang with the cries of exultation and victory.

     Every single member of his Clan, all of them, had complete invulnerability to water.  Ironically, the fledglings felt the most at ease.  They said it was the only place they didn't feel hot.  He had always known that the day had been terrible for them, it had been so for himself.
     At sunset, reluctant messengers were sent to the Sanctuary of the Clans to inform Kain.  Rahab never contemplated going himself.  He knew they would be back quickly, everyone being so excited at this novelty of swimming.  What Rahab did not anticipate was Kain accompanying them!
     Hurriedly, he arranged a reception worthy of the Master of the Realm.  Kain barely acknowledged the bowed heads and offered sustenance.  He steered Rahab into his reception hall beside the belltower.
     Rahab had seen no point in building himself a throne.  Mortals require sitting and resting.  The undead do not.

     In the tall circular chamber, Kain and Rahab convened alone, behind closed doors.  The Clan Leader realized it was the first occasion he had ever been alone with his creator.  At first, he had been wary, but was soon relaxed by information.
     Kain told him of the Chonoplast and the visions into the future.  He spoke of Turel's disappearance, Dumah being incapacitated for centuries, Raziel's return and Rahab's own destruction at his hands!  He explained his plan and the reasons for it.
     As his brothers had shown evidence of their gifts, Kain had given them this speech.  Now Rahab understood why Turel, Dumah, and Zephon had all changed.  It wasn't the execution that did it, it was the true reasons for it!  Kain concluded that proof would present itself in the ensuing centuries; and stressed he would not allow Rahab to impair his plan.

     Kain left at sunrise, closing the nave doors behind him.

     His enthusiasm for his triumph embittered, Rahab sat at the steps leading up to the belltower.  He decided to meet his eldest brother as prescribed.  If his pride and indignation were so great as to destroy his brethren, then let him face the consequences.
     He would find a way to flood the entire abbey, as a reward to his loyal children -- and an impediment to Raziel's progress.
     Even if the future cannot be changed, the Rahabim will enjoy the nights they have.