Into The Depths of Despair
A/N: So I am back with a fiery vengeance, but this time I return not with my usually SasuxIta story, but instead I present you with a new tale of Count Cain Hargreaves from my favourite manga of them all, The Cain Saga and its continuation, Count Cain Godchild. I write this in hopes that I can sort out my ideas for where I will go next in my SasuxIta story and also in hopes that you might enjoy it and read the series if you have not already. So enjoy, and there will be some CainxRiff, but what kind of story would it be without that. Also know that this takes place before the final showdown with Delilah and is pretty much separate from all that.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Cain Saga, Count Cain Godchild, or a single character in each or any other idea that is not my own. These are all the original creations and properties of Kaori Yuki. New ideas present however are mine such as plots, characters, etc.
Chapter One:Fate
"So as I was saying, the other day I recently purchased a-." An older Englishman of considerable wealth stopped, clutching his chest and coughing slightly, as he dropped to one knee, grimacing.
"Lord Graham!" One of the many young women who had previously been fawning and doting over him cried while they all stared down at him in horror.
"Don't worry he will not die, at least not anytime soon at least. I only added enough of my collection to merely subdue you," a young man smirked, walking in dressed in a fine black suit. "However Lord Graham, perhaps you should be telling these ladies the tale of what happened to your previous wife."
"What are you referring to?" the man replied, breathing heavily.
"I speak of none other than the matter revolving around the shady disappearance of your late wife only weeks ago. As it turns out the body was found not too long ago with a shot to the head from a certain gun in your possession."
"Lies!" Lord Graham yelled, and then slowly took out a revolver, "do you happen to be referring to this gun? I'll kill you and everyone here to save my reputation!" Some of the women shrieked in terror at the news. He raised the gun so it was pointed directly at the young man's head.
"Master Cain!" a young man in his late twenties cried, rushing in attempt to stop the shooting. Suddenly the gun dropped out of Lord Graham's hand and he crumpled to the ground, convulsing and clutching his throat. The young man walked over, staring down at the murderer.
"So you are in fact Count Cain Hargreaves of that accursed family. So what they say of you and your fascination with poisons is indeed true," Lord Graham smirked.
"Come Riff," Cain announced, turning away from the man and walking towards the door. "I think we have wrecked enough havoc on this party."
"But Master Cain, what of Lord Graham?" Riff, the young man who had tried to save Cain asked, closely following his young master.
"There is no need to stay, I am sure one of the gentleman of the evening are sending for a police officer as we speak." They both exited the estate and climbed into a waiting carriage.
"You certainly have a taste for causing quite a bit of trouble and mischief my Lord," Riff sighed as the carriage jostled into motion.
"Yes, but when such vermin get away with such terrible crimes unnoticed it leaves such a bad taste in my mouth," Cain answered, the golden green eyes focused intensely on Riff.
"If you say so," Riff replied, not at all convinced with his logic as this was certainly not the first or strangest case his master had ever entangled himself in. Cain stared bored out the carriage, resting his elbow on the side and his head onto this hand. The carriage stopped in front of the Hargreaves estate and they both left the carriage, walking into the house.
"Brother, you're back!" a young girl cheerfully announced, embracing her older brother.
"Hello Mary," Cain smiled, hugging her back and handing her a stuffed bear.
"Brother, I already have so many of these," she sighed. "Besides it doesn't make up for the fact that you left to go do something dangerous yet again or even worse, you probably went to go see some woman at some harem."
Cain gave a surprised look, "what do you mean? What kind of a life do you think I lead Mary?"
"Knowing you not a very normal one." Cain kissed her gently on the head.
"Yes, but the Hargreaves have never been quite the normal family have they?" He hung up his coat on the hanger. "Mary, Riff and I will be heading to a social gathering tonight headed by a relative of the Duke known as Madame Worthington. So you will have to bear with the company of that sufferable fool Oscar once more."
"Brother, you're always running off and leaving me with him. Why can't I come along too?" Mary protested.
"No, it's much too dangerous for such a pretty young girl to attend such events where black rituals are to be held."
"What are you talking about brother?" Mary harrumphed in annoyance.
"Sorry Mary, but I must prepare, the party will begin in only an hour." Cain answered, walking up the stairs with Riff close at his heels.
"My lord, what exactly is happening at this party that has you so interested?" Riff questioned as they walked into his room.
"It would appear that the hostess of the evening a Madame Worthington who was entirely unknown until her relations with a cousin of the Duke has decided to host a party with a medium attending. Usually this is not suspicious except for the fact that her husband died just a few days ago and there is word that she is planning to hold some ritual to resurrect him," Cain explained with a smirk.
"So, you are thinking that this might pertain to Delilah?" Riff exclaimed, clearly surprised at the circumstances.
"Doesn't hurt to investigate the possibilities, plus I hear an old friend is going to be attending the party," Cain smirked.
"So you are going to get yourself into more trouble and incite Mary Weather's wrath yet again," Riff sighed. Cain stopped, getting so close to Riff that his lips slightly tickled his servant's neck.
"We are about to descend deeper into hell, do not tell me you're getting cold feet?" Cain raised an eyebrow.
Riff put a hand onto Cain's shoulder, "of course not my lord, I told you I'd accompany you to hell and every word I spoke was true."
"Excellent," Cain smiled, "well I suppose we better get ready then."
--
"Ah, Count Hargreaves, how nice to see you!" Lady Worthington immediately greeted Cain upon his entrance into her mansion. It was brightly lit with crystal chandeliers and it appeared that the party was occurring in the foyer, elegantly done with marble floors that reflected the gleam of the lights causing all the guests to shine with an extra luminance.
"And you as well Lady Worthington. I was shocked to hear that your husband passed away," Cain smiled, offering fake condolences.
"Yes, life is such a short thing," Lady Worthington continued to shine her fake smile, "but if you will excuse me, I do believe that another guest has just arrived."
"My lord, perhaps you should be a bit more careful of what you bring up," Riff reprimanded in Cain's ear.
"Yes Riff, you're always so responsible. Why don't you go look for that cursed brother of mine while I try to find some information of tonight's events," Cain snapped, hating when Riff tried to impose the rules of society onto him, much like his Uncle Neil did, although he did love him, it was nothing more than an annoyance. Riff looked taken aback by this statement before straightening.
"Very well Lord Cain," he left Cain's side to go look, causing Cain a twinge of guilt that he had sharpened his tongue with Riff and yet again caused him a bit of personal grief.
"Ah, so the damned Count has arrived here, I suppose it is to be expected," Cain turned around to see a young man dressed sharply with light brown hair.
"I expected to see you here as well Crehador, why don't we take a seat over here and have a drink?" The two went over and sat at some tables, neither taking a drink although one was offered to the both of them.
"Where is that manservant of yours, Riff?" Crehador asked.
"I sent him to go find someone for me. But enough small talk, tell me what you know about tonight's 'special' performance," Cain replied, resting his elbows on the table, folding his hands, and then resting his head on top of them as he gazed at Crehador in interest.
"Straight to the point as usually Count," the medium smirked, "I think you have a rough idea of what is going to happen later tonight after most of the guests thin out." The brunet nodded. "Well something interesting is going to happen, just wait." Crehador stood up, getting ready to walk away, "and if I may offer just one piece of advice, I wouldn't suggest drinking anything." The medium left, going to socialize with one of his female companions no doubt, leaving Cain to consider his words. Don't drink anything? Everyone stood around laughing and sipping wine out of thin glasses. As of right now everything was nothing more than a total mystery.
--
Riff had long since left the party and was now strolling casually through the hallways of the Worthington estate while pretending to be, 'searching for the bathroom.' In truth however he knew that there would be no chance that the doctor would be out with the public if he was at the house and therefore the search would have to go to him. Riff knew that in truth this was more of job that Cain had given him on a whim in a touch of spite, but it was crucial to understanding Delilah's involvement by the characters involved. He was just ready to turn the corner and walk down another long corridor when he felt someone loop their arm around his. He turned to see that it was none other than the host of the evening Madame Worthington.
"I noticed you'd left the company of the Count a while ago," she giggled slightly, "but the fun is about to begin so soon that I would hate for you to miss it." It was clear she was trying to lure him away from whatever awaited around that next hallway and he had no choice but to oblige. A well played move.
"Yes, sorry, I was just returning from the bathroom and I lost my way," Riff answered.
"Well I would be happy to escort you back. It's really a confusing layout, but those with wealth love to flout it," she giggled again, clearly making the remark purely for his benefit and led him away from the mysterious hall.
--
Cain continued to sit bored at the same time, wondering where Riff had gotten to, not thinking that it took this long to investigate.
"Count, I thought perhaps you may be looking for your servant," Madame Worthington announced, walking over, her arm still linked with Riff's. "He got a bit lost on the way back from the bathroom."
The young noble looked up at the two in half interest, "very well. Thank you." He gently kissed her hand in a thank you gesture which got his hostess a bit flustered and she went off without another word.
"There is certainly something quite odd going on here," Riff whispered to Cain, sitting down beside him. "I was approaching this hallway when she came and redirected me here to try and hide something."
"That is a bit puzzling," Cain replied and was about to share the information Crehador had told him when the room seemed to bustle, though not with the same intensity or feeling of earlier. He stood up to see what was going on and noticed that people were collapsing one by one and the ones around them were getting a bit nervous. A person near him began to clutch his forehead.
"I'm starting to feel a bit dizzy," the gentleman announced before stumbling and crumpling to the ground unconscious.
"Walter, Walter?" his young female companion addressed, kneeling down beside him before seeming to become dizzy and collapsing as well. Soon the whole hall was on the ground except for Cain and Riff who seemed unaffected from whatever the mysterious culprit was. Someone was clapping.
"Splendid Cain, yet again you have managed to put the one hitch into my plans," a serene voice announced. Looking up into the balcony Cain saw that it was Jezebel, his older half brother staring down at the two of them with malicious intent. Beside him stood Lady Worthington.
"And what is it you have planned this time?"
"I think it should be obvious dear Cain," Jezebel replied, putting his mouth close to the hostess's neck, "I am making this woman's dreams come true. Our organization has created a deadly doll, but the problem is it takes quite a bit of blood to supply our dolls. So a social gala is the perfect way to obtain raw material." He laughed.
"What a twisted way to justify your bloodlust. I know you have no intention of helping this woman or anyone else who would ask of your assistance."
"Then how would you explain this?" Through the door walked a gentleman with a striking resemblance to Sir Worthington. His wife began to sob and rushed over to embrace him.
"Oh John, I knew it couldn't be true, that you would be dead and taken away from me forever." She started to scream. "What are you doing, John, John?" The doll began to bite into the pale exposed flesh of her neck, blood trickling down his face as he began to consume his elated wife. Blood poured from an open wound in her throat as she started thrashing to break free and finally fell limp, dead. He continued to consume his wife, having to human qualities whatsoever, nothing more than a soulless zombie possessing only the most primal instinct of feeding. A shot rang through the room and a bullet hole opened in the man's head, causing him to slump to the ground dead yet again.
"What a pity, yet another failed experiment. But that woman was a fool don't you agree Cain? Thinking that her love would come back and rescue her after she was willing to kill so many people. One life is not equivalent to so many, no matter who that one life is. Her fate was fitting. But what a pity that this evening had to end in murder, I looked forward to plucking those beautiful eyes from that fair face of yours Cain. But I suggest you leave as well, these people will be coming to soon and this murder is not going to bode well." The doctor laughed and was gone.
"Wait," Cain futilely called after Jezebel.
"Come Master Cain, the carriage is waiting," Riff said, leading Cain away.
"I won't continue to let my father play with lives so carelessly. No matter how far into hell I have to go I'll end his reign of terror."
--
A Few After Notes: I have seen two variations of Cain's title, Count and Earl, however I first knew him as Count and therefore that is what I refer to him as. I have also seen multiple spellings of Jezebel, however this is the spelling I am using. And finally there are some characters that I have not seen coloured pictures of and I have seen variations of the colouring etc. so I will just base them on what they appear to be to me or what I know them as. If I get any of this wrong and you wish to correct me please do so because I hate to get details wrong and make people think I don't know what I'm talking about! Thank you for reading this!
A/N: I hope that that wasn't too terrible. I had no clue how to end it to which I apologize. But I hoped you enjoyed and I will get an update on one of my stories as soon as I can.