CONTAINS SPOILERS: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ UP TO VOLUME 6 OF THE MANGA THEN DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. ALSO, THE LYRICS ARE FROM THE SONG WHAT HAVE YOU DONE BY WITHIN TEMPTATION. I THOUGHT THIS SONG FIT THE MANGA SO PERFECTLY.

Would you mind if I hurt you
Understand that I need to
Wish that I had other choices
Than to hurt the one I love

What have you done
What have you done now
What have you done
What have you done now

Would you mind if I killed you?
Would you mind if I tried to?

Cause you have turned into my worst enemy
You carry hate that I don't feel
It's over now
What have you done?

'It's over now, Riff. You have crossed the line between what I will tolerate and what requires a punishment. I have the perfect punishment for you and though it pains me to do this, it goes without saying that I must take the upper hand and destroy you once and for all. You belong to me, Riff, and as long as there is breath in my body I will strive to keep you at my side whether you want to be or not.'

Cain gazed at the glittering pistol in his hand. Could he truly destroy the one man that had made life tolerable? Yes, yes he could and he had to. He was going to be seen as a mockery if he let this continue. He loved him, he hated him, and each moment that passed only made the pain stronger. 'I'm a selfish man, Riff. I desire you and only you. I am your master. I am the shepherd and you are the stray sheep that must be returned to the flock lest you be eaten by the wolves. And you are amongst wolves now.' Cain smiled darkly at that and loaded the gun with satisfaction. 'Will you beg me, cry to me, scream for me to take you back once this bullet pierces your flesh or will you continue to be the stubborn child? Either way it is over. I will end this once and for all.'

"Cain?" Marywether's voice broke through his moment of silence. She looked at him questioningly, her innocent eyes full of confusion. "Why do you have that gun? Where are you going?"

"Not for you to worry, Mary Wether," Cain replied more sharply than he intended to. "Just go to bed."

"When is Riff coming back?"

"Soon, very soon. Now go on." He threw his cloak over his shoulders and walked to the door with purpose. Yes, it would all end that night and he only hoped he would not be haunted by what he knew he had to do.

Riff sensed him before he saw him. A chill ran down his spine as the cool metal of the gun pressed against the back of his neck.

"Hello, Riff," Cain said in a calm voice; deadly calm. "It is time you and I had a little chat." Riff turned quickly, prepared to deal with Cain as he had been instructed but was silenced by a rough blow to his abdomen from Cain's knee and a sharp prick in the side of his neck. "Does that hurt, Riff? I wish that I could say that I am sorry but, as you can see, the time for forgiveness has passed. It is time you receive your punishment; I do not tolerate ingratitude or betrayal." Riff coughed and glared up at Cain but his vision was wavering. His eyes widened when he saw a needle and syringe filled with a dark liquid.

"What…what is that?"

"A new poison I have been working on. You're my guinea pig." Cain smiled but his eyes gleamed with a sadistic joy.

"You…you truly are the slayer of Abel…your father named you aptly." Cain shrugged and examined his gun carelessly.

"It's a shame that I have not created a proper antidote yet. I haven't gotten that far. It will be interesting to see how well it works." Riff felt a burning sensation rushing through him; like the flames of Hell. Blood spilled from his mouth and he coughed up a puddle in a few short minutes. "Well, Riff, it looks as if I will not need this gun after all. My poison works well enough." Cain turned his back on Riff for the final time to hide the tear rolling down his cheek. "Goodnight, Riff." And as the snow fell down around them, Cain had slain Abel once again.

End