Another Day, Another Life

Chapter 4: Forgotten Juliet

by YaoiKitten

"Do you like Shakespeare?"

Riff cracked open one eye to look at his friend. He was lying on his back on one of the black leather coaches in Cain's room. Riff felt tired from this morning's early wake-up call. He looked at Cain. The boy had a cute expression on his face as he looked thoughtfully at the back of a DVD in his hand. Riff had closed his eyes not only because he was tired, but also because the sight of Cain in his black vinyl pants, barefoot, and a white blouse with sheer sleeves buttoned casually and thus partially was more than Riff could handle at the moment. Riff closed his eye again, not being able to look at his friend for too long. "Of course."

"How about Romeo and Juliet?" Cain asked. He looked down at Riff. Cain was having problems of his own seeing the usually uptight older man with his shirt untucked, sleeves rolled up, some buttons undone and also barefoot. Cain tried to take his eyes off him. "Have you seen it before? It is quite good. A modern rendition, but it still uses Shakespeare's script."

"Is that the one with Leonardo DiCaprio?" Riff asked, clearly amused.

Cain blushed. "Yes… He is attractive, is he not?"

"He is." Riff agreed. He opened his eyes and looked at Cain. "Is that your type?" he inquired teasingly.

Cain put the DVD into the player and turned to face Riff. He cocked his head to one side and thought about it. "I don't think I would say he is quite my type, he is just a pretty guy."

Riff arched his eyebrow. "And what is your type?"

Cain stretched out like a cat on the back of the couch Riff was laying on. He let his hand drop to the older man's chest, fingering the buttons there. Riff looked into his half-lidded eyes, meeting the boy's intense yet soft gaze. "You're my type, my dear Riff."

Riff reached up and ran his fingertips along the boy's cheek. Cain leaned into the caress, letting his eyes slide closed as Riff caressed his lips with soft fingertips. "Come here," Riff commanded as he reached up and pulled the smaller boy off the back of the couch and on top of him.

Cain gazed at him with wide eyes while he situated himself on top of the man. Riff liked the feel of the boy's body pressed flush against his own, the way his fingertips traveled up and down Riff's sides, and the way that the boy's thigh rubbed up against Riff's most sensitive spot. Cain leaned forward and touched noses momentarily before kissing Riff lightly. Romeo and Juliet began playing, completely forgotten

Riff captured the boy's lower lip, sucking on it gently. Cain squirmed against him as Riff ran his nails up the boy's sides. He kissed Cain lightly, sweetly, before deepening the kiss and wrapping his arms around the boy. Cain moved slowly, intentionally rubbing his body up against Riff's with maddening connotations. Riff couldn't help but moan at Cain's movements combined with the thoughts that they eluded to. He wanted to own the boy completely, and he wanted Cain to own him too.

Cain yelped when Riff bit into his lower lip lightly. His eyes widened as Riff kissed him deeply and passionately, running his hands under Cain's blouse and teasing Cain's sides with his perfectly manicured nails. He whimpered as Riff let his hands wander around the waistband of Cain's pants, dipping his hands under his boxers and slowly raking nails along his hips and pelvic bone. Cain relaxed into Riff's touches, enjoying the sensation of having the other man tease and excite him. Riff ran his nails up Cain's back.

Cain jumped up, out of the man's arms. Riff looked up at him with confused blue eyes. "What are…"

"Never mind." Cain commanded as he went to rise from his position of currently straddling Riff.

Riff reached up and grabbed the boy's arms, not letting him escape. "Cain…" he tried to look at the boy, but Cain would only look down at the arms that held him in place. "What is on your back?"

Cain flinched at the words. "It's nothing." Cain tried to break away from Riff.

"I felt something," Riff said gently.

"You didn't feel a-anything." Cain stammered.

"Yes, I did. I felt something." Riff searched the boy's green-gold eyes.

"T-They're scars." Cain looked down at the floor. "You can't see them."

"Why not?" Riff inquired calmly.

"B-Because you can't!" Cain cried out, struggling out of Riff's grasp and standing up on his feet. He turned his back to Riff.

Riff got up too, effortlessly scooping Cain up into his arms and carrying him to the bed. The boy protested, pushing against Riff's chest, but Riff carried the light-weight boy as if he were a new bride crossing the threshold. He dumped Cain onto the bed and crawled on top of him. Cain opened his mouth to protest, but Riff simply kissed him, toying with the boy until he was breathless. Riff leaned into Cain's ear, breathing softly and nibbling at his lobe. "I plan on having you completely naked at some point," Cain shuddered at Riff's words as a bright blush rose to his cheeks, "so you might as well show me now."

"Riff…" Cain began as Riff started to unbutton his shirt. Riff ran his fingertips across the boy's perfect ivory skin, down his chest and over his smooth stomach. Riff nuzzled Cain's neck. "I don't want you to see…" Cain whimpered as Riff suckled at his throat, bringing his hand up to plait into the man's pale hair.

"It's OK," Riff replied, pushing the shirt down and off the blushing boy's shoulders. He turned Cain over, despite the boy's protests. Cain quieted considerably once he was on his stomach and hid his face in his hands. Riff leaned away and looked at Cain's back. Large, red welts covered the boy's back. What startled Riff the most was that some of them were new. They kind of reminded Riff of the scars that Cain had in his dream, but these scars were much larger, much broader than the red stripes in the dream. Riff leaned forward and kissed the back of Cain's neck tenderly. "It's all right."

"No it's not." Cain's choked voice came out from under his hands. "A-Aren't they ugly?"

"They don't bother me." Riff reassured him, kissing his way down Cain's spine and over the scars.

"They don't bother you?" Cain asked incredulously.

"No, they don't," Riff explained patiently as he ran his fingertips over the wounds, "You're beautiful, Master Cain. Your face, your body, your personality… all of them please me. I like you because you're you, not because you have an unblemished back. That's not what is important to me. As long as you're here and with me, that is all that matters."

Cain sat up on his elbows and turned to face Riff. Riff cusped the boy's face in his hands and gazed into the boy's teary eyes. He leaned forward and kissed the boy's lips lightly. "Thank you," Cain whispered.

Riff laid a firm hand between the boy's shoulder blades and pressed down. Cain went back on his stomach and rested his head on his crossed forearms. Riff kissed the boy's shoulder, making him giggle and squirm. "Riff…" Riff kissed his way down the boy's scarred back until he came to the small of his back. Riff kissed and traced small circles with his tongue onto Cain's lower back. "Nnn…."

These aren't new wounds! He is being whipped every night… Riff thought as he continued his ministrations, making the boy moan.

"It's… It's my fault." Cain managed to get out. "I wasn't allowed to go out!"

Riff stopped what he was doing. "Master Cain!"

"Don't misunderstand. The truth is my father loves me very much!" Cain brought his arms under him and turned to look at Riff. Somehow, the boy looked so much younger as he laid there wearing nothing but the scars on his back and his vinyl pants. Cain looked at Riff over his shoulder, lowering his eyelids and assuming that haughty expression he always wore at school. "He is so hard on me because he wants me to receive God's blessing."

Riff climbed to the end of the bed and sat down, holding his head in his hand. "Your Dad is a flagellant? That's twisted. It's illegal too."

"I've never thought about it. He isn't a self-flagellant, he just likes to flagellate others. Is flagellate a word?"

Riff couldn't help but smile. "I don't think it is, sir."

"Oh." Cain stood up and reached for his shirt to put it on. Riff stood and helped him into it. "I'm a sinner…so my father does that because he wants me to have God's favor."

Riff sighed. "What sins have you committed that deserve such punishment?"

Cain frowned as he thought about it. "I don't always listen to him."

"All that means is that you're a free-thinking human being."

"I give the servants a hard time, can't keep a tutor…" Cain persisted.

"You can't keep a tutor?" Riff questioned. "What do you need a tutor for?"

"It is a tutor for one-on-one education, not one to help with any problems. The last one was teaching me British Literature or something. He was sent away though. I don't know why, but he said that 'eyes cannot change into gold, or it comes from an incestuous relationship.'"

"Your eyes do look golden." Riff looked at Cain seriously. "What else?"

"Well, girls like me, but I either don't like them or when I do find one that I like something always happens and they go away. Then there is you… I… I'm…" Cain stammered and stopped.

"Gay?" Riff offered gently.

"I am not!" Cain stopped and thought for a moment. "Am I, Riff?"

Riff's reply was to pull Cain close to him and thoroughly kiss the younger boy. Cain pulled away, looking dazed. Riff pushed him toward the bed, his knees buckled when they came into contact with the edge and Cain slumped onto the bed. He looked up at Riff with wide eyes. "You tell me." Riff told him coldly.

"Riff… I didn't mean…" Cain began.

"What did you mean then?" Riff asked, annoyance creeping into his voice.

"I just never thought about it. I don't think I am gay, because I am still attracted to girls. However, I can't deny that I am attracted to you as well. But I like you because you are you, not because you're a guy. I guess, that when it comes to you, I don't care that you're a man. I feel that what we are doing, how we are, is the way that things should be. For once in my life the world is spinning in the right direction." Cain smiled a little at his friend.

Riff slumped onto the bed next to Cain. "Yeah, I guess I can say I feel the same way too." Cain placed his hand over the older boy's and smiled. "You're the first guy I have ever really had feelings for."

"Good. I don't want you to feel this way about anyone else, ever." Cain said possessively. Riff smiled a little. "Oh look, the movie is on!"

"You are just now noticing?" Riff asked incredulously.

"Well, I was kind of… distracted." Cain explained, looking shifty-eyed.

"Come on, we can go restart it." Riff offered. He stood up and offered his hand to his friend. "Shall we go watch it, sir?"

Cain smiled and grabbed Riff's hand. "Yes, let's."

*******

Riff wasn't very happy. He didn't trust himself to not kill Alexis Hargreaves the next time he saw him. How can the man beat his own son? How can anyone beat a child with a belt like that and still claim to love them? Riff had a suspicion, an inkling, that Alexis did not really like his son at all. Riff's entire being told him that the man was inherently evil and that he did not want his son to ever be happy.

As Riff laid in bed, waiting for Cain to get done getting ready for bed, Riff wondered why the same words kept repeating in his head, a curse given to the boy long ago to ensure his suffering for all of eternity.

Don't forget, Cain… you will never be happy…you will never find love in your life. You will die all alone…

Cain laid down next to Riff, turning a trusting and innocent smile to his older friend. Riff pulled the boy close, smoothing his hair and whispering in his ear. "I will make you happy, Master Cain. I will love you, if you'll have me, and I will die with you,"

Cain's eyes grew wide at Riff's words, "I promise you."

A moment of silence passed as Riff's words sank in. "I promise to let you," Cain whispered softly.

The deal was sealed. With those words a contract was drawn, just as it was over a century ago, sealing two souls together for life and death. The two boys lay there, snuggled together under the covers, completely unaware of curses, promises, betrayal, and the workings of fate.

*******

Cain was making his way home through a wooded path, deep in thought over his latest mystery. "You did that very swiftly!" Cain looked up to see Dr. Allen leaning against a tree and smoking a pipe. The blonde, long-haired doctor continued on with a smug expression, "However, you should not have focused on her face so much, Count. It is not worth it if you don't focus on her body as well!"

Cain turned on his heel and headed in a direction away from the doctor. "Dr. Allen, don't tell…" Cain paused, cutting himself off before he could say 'Riff', "…Merryweather."

The doctor's eyes widened with realization. "Ha, how interesting. So Merryweather is your secret lover!" the doctor jabbed at Cain, knowing full well that Merry was not the one Cain was concerned about knowing. The doctor had a sense for these kind of things.

"Quiet!" Cain yelled over his shoulder, more than a little annoyed with the doctor. Cain shrugged into his overcoat and noticed the doctor looking toward a clearing.

"Hm?" the doctor asked rhetorically as he looked into the woods. Cain followed his gaze.

Riff? What is he doing in these secluded woods? Cain saw the man standing before a blazing bonfire, poking it with a stick. That is the hat that I bought… Merryweather's favorite hat…? Cain eyed the flowered hat in Riff's hand before trying to read the man's face. Cain watched in horror as Riff tossed the hat into the bonfire, letting it burn to ashes. Riff…? you…

"Count!" the doctor called out as Cain turned to leave abruptly. "Ah!"

Cain ran far into the woods until he couldn't run anymore. He slumped to the ground and tried to catch his breath. "Riff?" he asked the air out loud. Cain couldn't believe that Riff would do such a terrible thing. He knew the man better than he knew anyone else. The man had been with him for the last five years, guiding him, protecting him, teaching him, and Cain had only just noticed how much the man loved him. Cain also knew the feeling was mutual.

Cain finally arose and made his way back to the house, formulating a plan in his mind. He knew Riff. The man had to have some reason to do what he did. When Cain reached the house he was greeted with the glaring face of a very young and very blonde girl. "I…I'm back Merryweather…"

"Next time you go out you are going to have to bring me too!" The little girl gritted her teeth and pounced on her brother, grabbing onto his lapels. "Brother's body smells like perfume!"

"Dr. Allen!" Cain yelled at the doctor, who sat there calmly sipping tea and reading a newspaper, seemingly innocent.

"If you want to go, you have to bring me too!" Merryweather ordered her brother.

"Understood. It is time for you to sleep!" Cain told her, shooing her away.

"Miss Merryweather, I will take you to your room!" the doctor offered as he pushed the girl out the door. He had just seen Riff come into the room and wanted to get himself and the girl out of the way.

"Why can't I find my favorite hat?" Merryweather whined.

Cain suddenly remembered the occurrence in the woods. He looked at Riff, who had his back turned to him at the moment. "Master Cain, what is it?" Riff asked as he approached the boy, instantly picking up on the uneasy mood.

Cain ran his fingers through his hair. "This!" Cain motioned to his untied shoe. Riff bent down in front of the his master, placing Cain's foot on his knee and began tying the offending shoelace. Cain lowered his eyes and stared at his valet's lovely ,stoic face. "Riff! If you betray me…I will go and die!" Cain rose quickly from the chair and walked briskly toward the door. Riff stared after his master as he walked through the door.

"'I will go and die!' Is that so?" Cain turned to face the doctor standing just outside the doorway, trying to look inconspicuous behind a newspaper. "My dear, people threaten each other by saying 'I will kill you.' But you still say 'I will go and die!' Count Cain!"

"Dr. Allen. The next time you eaves drop, I will kill you!"

Cain awoke from his dream slowly, calmly as always. He felt warm and safe in his bed with Riff's arm draped around his waist. Why are my dreams almost linear? They seem to be telling a story… Was that Jez? Cain turned and looked at Riff, the same face he had seen in his dream, only a bit younger. That same lovely, stoic face.

*******

"Miss Merryweather, would you like to drink some apple juice?" Riff asked the little girl coloring as she was spread out onto the floor.

"Thank you, Riff." she beamed at him, her smile lighting up her whole face.

"I will leave it here!" Riff told her as he set down the cup. Try as he might, he could not stop his hand from shaking. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, one that was going to be quite hard on both him and his master. Riff heard the door slam and turned to face Master Cain.

"Oh! Brother!" Merryweather called out, smiling and waving at Cain and the doctor behind him.

"That smells very good…Merryweather, I am thirsty. Can I have your apple juice?" Cain approached the table cautiously.

"Sure you can!" the little girl told him happily.

"No!" Riff called to his master as Cain took a seat at the table. "Master Cain, I will pour a new cup for you!"

"This cup is fine," Cain stated calmly.

Riff could feel his heart beating wildly inside his chest. He watched his precious master bring the cup to his lips. "No!" Riff's hand shot out before he knew it and knocked the cup onto the floor, smashing it into pieces.

Cain looked at him calmly. His cool half-lidded expression turned from Riff to the smashed cup on the floor, the liquid revealing a white pasty substance inside the cup. Riff followed his gaze. "Is it because this is a cup of apple juice with poison in it?" the doctor asked calmly as he slid one arm around Riff's shoulder and the other into his pocket where he kept a vial of powerful sleeping pills.

"Why…?" Cain began, looking at Riff with the cold expression that he only saves for those he does not like. Riff's heart plummeted to the bottom of his shoes to see that look turned toward him, the same expression that excited him so when it was turned onto someone else. "Why do you want to kill Merry… and why did you burn the hat that I gave Merry… secretly meeting with Julianne…and…the man who bit me and drank my blood…was it you?" Cain leveled his gaze at Riff. "The one who poisoned me in London… was it also you?"

Riff lowered his head with each accusation. He stared at his master's shoes, the same fine Italian shoes he tied for him every morning and removed every night. Riff wet his lips, trying to find his voice. "…right now…" he choked out, "Master Cain, I cannot say anything right now…"

"YOU…!" Cain roared as he grabbed his valet by the tie and raised his other hand as if to strike him. Riff had never heard Cain use that tone of voice before. He averted his eyes, unable to look at his master. He knew the pain he would find in those beautiful gold-green cat eyes, he knew that with one look he would feel the need to sweep the boy up into his arms and then the whole plan would be futile. He looked away, not daring to look at his master. "You…You are the only one who knows everything about me…" Cain continued on, his voice rising in anger. "Amongst everyone that I have ever known, only you and Merry are the closest to me…"

"That is correct!" Riff bit out, looking anywhere but at Cain. He felt the boy lower the hand raised to strike him and felt him lay it on his other lapel. "Only me… I have always thought this as well. But…it is not like that anymore…" Riff steeled himself and looked at his master directly. He brought his hands up and covered his master's with his own. "Yes, because is it too fragile, so it has all shattered to pieces. Master Cain… I do not have the qualification to stay by your side anymore." Riff wanted to cry, but instead he gave his master a small smile.

"Riff…?! Are you saying the truth?" Cain's voice quieted as he stared at Riff with wide, hurt eyes. "You have not said even one word in your defense…"

Riff smiled a false smile as he spoke. "Sorry to cause you trouble, but please…" Riff pried Cain's hands off of himself, "Please take care." Riff stepped away once free of his master's grip and let go of his master's hands. "Please…"

Riff watched the hurt look on his master's face. He recognized an expression he had not seen in five years. "Ri…ff…?" Riff turned and left quickly, grabbing the tray that he had brought Merry's apple juice in on. "If you leave…DON'T EVER COME BACK!" Riff could hear his master scream behind him. Riff almost stopped. "Do you understand?" Riff forced himself to walk away. "RIFF!" No one else but Riff heard the tears in the boy's voice.

Riff retreated to his quarters quickly and packed a bag for a few days. His whole body shook as he threw his coat on before hurrying toward the front door. "Wait! Riff! You just have to wait for a sec and apologize to brother!"

Riff turned and faced the little blonde girl. "No…Miss Merryweather…" he looked into the little girls face warmly, "I have… what Master Cain does not have… a mother and a father… without the use of words, you and I both are able to understand this type of environment." Riff looked toward the ceiling, thinking of his young master. "But, now he has you…he has what he wished for most, 'someone who can return his love'…" Riff thought about how no matter how much he and Cain loved each other, nothing would ever come of it since they were both men. "Even though I have been by his side for all these years, it cannot surpass relatives of the same flesh and blood… Once I realized this…I did not know what to do…what was my entire existence for…? When I think of this…I cannot conceal this madness…this pain." Riff moved toward the door. He placed his hand on the door frame and leaned against it like a jilted lover. "Last time, he said I was like the air… he said this…"

"Riff!" the little girl cried out. "Then what about me? You said that the only ones that he cares about are his own relatives and nothing more, right? He is afraid that I will break, that I will stain, so he dresses me up and locks me away." Merry lowered her eyes to the floor as her voice softened, "I'm not a doll in a glass case… stupid brother…"

Riff smiled at the young girl and wondered why her brother and the doctor would leave her alone with him. Riff got down on one knee and brought the girls hand to his lips. "Miss Merryweather… please take care of him…" Riff smiled sadly as he rose to leave. "Please let him leave all his sorrow behind. Because… I cannot be by his side to protect him any more…"

Riff was out the door quickly. The cool night air hit him hard as he just barely heard the little girl call his name behind him. Riff walked down the drive, making his way toward the street. He turned back once to look at the house, he saw Cain and the doctor standing on a balcony. Riff noted the hand that doctor had on Cain's neck and shoulder with jealousy. Riff looked into Cain's dark eyes before turning to leave. The next time he turned around for one last glance at his beloved master, Cain was gone.

Riff awoke slowly. He cracked an eye open and was rewarded with the sight of Cain's beautiful face illuminated softly in the moonlight. He sighed as he pulled the boy closer to him, not being able to get enough of his warmth and his scent. Riff thought on his dream, or perhaps it was a nightmare, as he held the sleeping boy in the dark. Was that Jez?

*******

"Rise and…" Clarice's voice trailed off as she opened the door to Cain's bedroom. Cain was standing just inside the door, his arms crossed and a very angry look on his face. "Master Cain!"

"Clarice…" Cain began, his eyebrow twitching with annoyance, "It is 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday. Riff and I have to get up that early during the week to go to school. The least you could do is let us sleep in on the weekends. Besides, it is Sunday. Today is your day off. I expect you take this opportunity to rejuvenate yourself after all your hard work this week, and in doing so Riff and I will have the chance to do the same."

"There are no servants that work on Sunday! You want me to leave you alone all day with that man?" Clarice shrieked as she pointed to Riff, still sleeping in the bed.

Cain flashed her his most charming smile. "Yes, I do."

"I will not!" Clarice protested. "It is sinful, your nature is, and I will not allow it to happen!"

"It is your day off Clarice. If you do not take it, I will have to give you a much more lengthy, permanent vacation for your own good." Cain bit out, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the woman. "So go home. Go and worry about your own son's sexual orientation for once."

"Master Cain!" Clarice protested as Cain pushed her out the door. The door closed behind her and she could hear the lock click. "You brat!" she yelled before she stormed off down the hall.

Cain smiled to himself as he walked back to bed. He quickly peeled off his black tank and lounge pants before climbing back into bed and snuggling up to the still-sleeping Riff. He wanted to give the man a little surprise when he awoke.

*******

Cain stood rigidly, his whole body tingling with fear, anticipation, and adrenaline. The sharp pain on his back narrowed his existence down to the stripe of red and the blood slowly trickling down his back. The sensation brought back such strong, vivid memories he could barely focus on his opponent before him. "Why do you want to kill me?" Cain demanded, grasping his ripped shirt in an attempt to cover his scarred back.

Dr. Jezebel Disraeli looked at Cain with a cold stare, "Because I hate you," he said calmly as he brandished his whip at the boy. Cain swallowed, his eyes widening at the concept of someone who treated him so kindly, so caringly, could possibly truly hate him. "Die, Count!" the doctor looked down at the boy, "Your existence… has caused me endless suffering…" The blonde doctor cracked open a small metal box and removed a syringe filled with liquid. "If I break the rules of the organization and kill you before it is time to do so, I will receive severe punishment. However, I want your eyes." Cain could not hide the startled, frightened look that crossed his face. The doctor approached quickly, lowering his face close to the smaller boy's. "You hate them very much, don't you? Those cursed green eyes… Do not worry. While you are sleeping, everything will be resolved. If I take out your eyes, what will your remaining self look like?" The doctor raised the syringe. "I will place them in a beautiful glass bottle… and take care of them well…"

Cain backed into the desk behind him. His hand fell on a letter opener, and in one swift motion he slashed across the doctor's face. Red blood spewed into the air and clotted in the doctor's long blonde locks. The doctor stumbled back, his hand rising to his injured cheek. "This…" the doctor raised the syringe, ready to bring it down into the boy's flesh, but suddenly it was knocked from his hand. "Ah!" He looked down at the projectile on the floor that had knocked the syringe from his grasp. "What… This… is my pen?" The doctor looked toward the door, the direction the offending pen had come from, and saw the tall man standing in the doorway. He was wearing a hat and coat, and his hand was reaching into an inner pocket. "Riff?! Why… are you here?"

"Do not move!" Riff commanded as he pulled a gun from his coat. He took off his hat and tossed it to the side. "I am not as learned in using guns as Master Cain is," he explained in a calm voice not matching his fierce blue eyes, "If I am not careful, I may accidentally fire it. I took a fingerprint reading from you pen. Doctor, You can have it back now." The doctor looked at Riff with the expression of a child knowing he got caught doing something he shouldn't. "Master Cain suspected you from the very start… I used my resignation as an excuse to return to the mansion to investigate on your true origins.

"WHAT?" the doctor yelled.

Riff looked at the doctor with a cool gaze. "The real Dr. Allen's corpse was found in the Thames River by some person. His face had been beaten unrecognizable, but his teeth were identified. The maid whom you bribed to poison Master Cain… committed suicide There was poison found in her teeth."

Cain leaned against the desk, resting one elbow on the desk with his chin in his hand and the other hand resting on his hip. His cocky pose infuriated the doctor. "Doctor, your entire plot was perfect. Sending me to this place while I was still confused…It was all part of your plan." Cain smiled a small smile. It was amazing how all traces of fear he had previously were overshadowed by the cocky attitude Riff's presence brought to the boy. "But, Riff would never betray me."

The doctor recoiled from the boy's haughty gaze. "Then… the girl he was with… that day… it was not Julianne, so who was it…"

"Oh, that…" Cain stood up and crossed his hands over his chest as Riff approached him. Riff took off his coat and laid it over his master's shoulders, covering the scars and bringing warmth to his master. "You were right that time." Cain tilted his head down and looked up at the doctor as a small smile played over his lips. "Didn't you say it was a demon?"

The doctor gasped, realization hitting him quickly as his memory clearly showed the face of the 'girl' that had been seducing Riff. "Huh… Ha Ha… How can this… be happening to me…"

Cain removed the gun from Riff's hand. "Doctor, no matter what you say I will not forgive you…" Cain fixed his cold expression onto the doctor. "This is for those tragic siblings…"

"Ha." A smiled crossed the doctor's lips. "Have you forgotten? What that guy said to you?" The doctor pointed a finger at Cain. "'Look! You cannot kill me!'" The doctor bit down on seemingly nothing before he collapsed to the floor.

"Damn it!" Cain yelled out as he rushed forward to check to doctor. "Just like that maid…"

The doctor looked up calmly at the boy, blood dribbling from his mouth. "Ha Ha Ha. Even up until now, that guy… still loves the most the one who is blood related to him… still curses him at this very moment…" Cain could not, even with the help of Riff's presence, hide his shock at the doctor's words. " This man… is the cruel founder of 'Delilah,' and also has the most authority there. He chose me and provided for me. So, when I found out about your existence… I hated you… hated …you…"

Father is still alive? Cain thought wildly, his eyes widening with the realization. "Master Cain…" Riff began.

"Riff… please take care of the rest." Cain backed away from the doctor's lifeless body and settled onto the floor. Riff came to stand next to his master as he looked over at Riff's shoes. "I do not want to play this game anymore." Cain explained as he leaned against the man's leg and put his head in his hands. "I cannot handle it." Cain barely heard his servants confirmation. Right now… Father is still somewhere, hating me… Cain's eyes widened as he felt Riff settle down on the floor next to him. Riff grabbed Cain's shoulders and pulled the boy into his embrace. Cain's body went rigid for a moment before he relaxed into Riff's arms. He leaned his head into the man's neck and sighed, trying to let all the tension of the past few days leak out. He felt small and vulnerable leaning against the larger man like that, and he decided that he didn't mind it. Cain scrambled into the man's lap, seeking the comfort he knew only Riff could give. "It's all right, Master Cain. I am here now, and I will never betray you…" Riff whispered into his hair as he cradled the boy against his chest like a child, the cold, lifeless corpse of the doctor forgotten in the moment.

Cain's eyes fluttered open and he looked at the clock. It was almost noon and Riff was still asleep. "Hey, how long are you going to sleep?" Cain asked him, slapping at his chest lightly to wake the man.

Riff stirred next to him, vaguely becoming aware of the body next to his. He pretended to still be asleep just to annoy the boy. "Riff, wake up." Riff felt Cain push him onto his back and crawl on top of him. He knew that if he opened his eyes he would probably be staring directly into Cain's. "Fine. I'll just have to wake you up then."

Riff tried to keep himself from smiling as he felt the boy move around on top of him. Cain unbuttoned Riff's pajama top and slid his fingertips over the man's bare chest. Riff fought the urge to squirm. Riff then noticed that Cain's bare chest was pressing against his own, skin to skin. Riff's breath hitched in his throat as Cain leaned up and nibbled lightly at his ear. "Good Morning," Cain breathed softly into his ear.

Riff couldn't help but open his eyes then, he wanted to see the beautiful boy. "Good morning." Riff whispered back as he took in the large gold-green cat eyes, rumpled hair, and smooth, white delicate shoulders. He reached up one arm and pulled the boy close to him, giving him a good morning kiss. Riff went to trail his other hand up Cain's thigh, and was quite surprised to find bare flesh instead of cotton pants. Riff's eyes widened as he continued his caress upward, almost relieved when he felt the cotton of Cain's boxer shorts. He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding as Cain snuggled into his neck. "At what point last night did your clothes come off?" Riff asked, seemingly uninterested.

"At some point this morning, after I scared Clarice off. It is just you and me today Riff, all the servants have Sunday off." Cain explained, tracing a fingertip along Riff's collar bone.

"I see." Riff swallowed. "So what are we going to do today?"

"We're going to spend the day in bed."

Riff tried to swallow again, only to find that his mouth was suddenly very dry. "Can I… umm… shower first?" Riff asked, trying to get a hold of himself and not show the younger boy the effect he was having on him. "I feel kind of… eww."

"Go ahead." Cain nodded and threw the covers off the both of them. Riff moved to get up but was stopped short by the sight of Cain in nothing but a pair of black cotton boxers. Cain raised an eyebrow at the man. "Do you want me to join you?"

"I-It will be a cold shower." Riff explained as he forced himself to get up. He looked back at the boy sprawled out on the bed behind him. "A very, very cold shower."

"A lot of good it will do you." Cain joked with the man. "Hurry back, love."

"Yes, sir."