-BitterSweet-

Cain stared as if hypnotized into the cup of hot chocolate. It was the rage now; high society people drank it all the time. Cain's lip twitched in what might have been derision, remembering a story he'd read about a bishop who had died drinking a cup of hot chocolate.

"Arsenic most likely. It was the only kind that was readily available to refined ladies' maids who used it to kill rats."

Cain hadn't realized he'd spoken the words out loud until he saw Merry stare at him from across the room. She had been having a tea party with the assortment of stuffed rabbits and bears that Cain had steadily acquired; one for every time he committed some sort of unpardonable faux pas. (Usually involving women.)

Now she looked at him, her green eyes shimmering with an unnamed emotion. She got up slowly, silently walking up to him like she had done many times before.

Climbing into his lap and resting her head against his chest she tried to offer some sort of comfort from the demons that possessed the young Count. Merry bit back tears, frustrated that there wasn't anything more she could do for her big brother than smile and try to be there for him.

Cain stiffened slightly but relaxed as Merry settled in her position. Cain set the cup down, chocolate and poison forgotten as he was lulled by the sound of Merry's heartbeat and the way her soft breathing tickled his throat.

The two stayed there for some time. Merry hadn't realized how long until she heard the clock on the mantle chime the hour. She sat up slowly, trying not to wake her brother if she could help it. Cain opened his eyes despite her efforts and languorously stretched, attempting to un-kink his neck and wake up his arm that had fallen asleep.

As Merry climbed down, she noticed the forgotten cup of chocolate, now cold and congealed around the top of the porcelain. It didn't look like her brother had taken but a sip of it Merry thought ruefully. 'Because of me he didn't get to drink the rest of it.' Her thoughts finished. She regarded the cup with a curious air; big brother never let her try any. He said she wouldn't like it. Merry's eyes immediately turned mischievous. Before Cain could do more than blink Merry had raised the cup to her lips, about to take a sip…

"No!" And suddenly the cup had been knocked out of her hands only to shatter on the marble floors…and big brother…big brother was holding onto her so tight Merry almost couldn't breathe…

For one split second Cain had forgotten that he had previously taken a sip of the chocolate with no ill effects, that it indeed was a harmless beverage made by Riff himself. All Cain could think about was that bishop who had been poisoned…how he had taken but one sip of the seductive liquid only to fall silent forever. Cain didn't understand why such a simple story could affect him so. All he knew was that Merry would never drink chocolate, not as long as he could make sure of it. If anything happened to Merry…

Cain dimly realized that Merry was crying after the fact. Gradually loosening his desperate hold on the girl he brought her face up in order to have her look at him. Her little white face stared back, fear and love shining in her eyes. She knew that big brother wouldn't do anything without reason, and in this she had faith. Merry tried to smile reassuringly but it was rather strained as she frantically tried to calm down from the shock Cain's actions had caused.

Meanwhile the Count was taking some calming breaths himself. It was almost too much to have known that he'd scared her so. Cursing himself and his inner nightmares silently,

he gently cradled Merry's face in his hands. It made his heart clench when he saw her try to smile at him and reassure him that everything was fine. It was then he noticed.

On the corner of Merry's lip was a single drop of chocolate. It seemed that when he had knocked the cup out of her grasp that a drop had spilled out, staining her otherwise perfect mouth. Cain's eyes darkened at the thought of anything dark and bitter touching his angel. Slowly he brought himself closer to her…and then, he leaned over her mouth and gently licked away the drop of chocolate from her lip. Along with the bitter sensation of the chocolate was the sugar sweet taste of Merry mixed in. Gently pulling away after placing a kiss on her moist lips, Cain gazed at Merry; his cockiness and arrogance back in place as he smirked at her dumbfounded expression.

"Some things my dear, are better than chocolate."