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"My lady, we have arrived." Cain's voice was low and dripping with sin as he stirred his Mistress awake. She refused at first and clenched a handful of material at his stomach to pull herself closer, but then as if recalling where she slept, she sighed sadly and sat up straight. A lazy yawn escaped her lips and tears collected at the corners of her eyes from drowsiness. She brought her hands up next to begin rubbing at the weary lids.
"It's about time. I dislike traveling, so the sooner we solve this problem the better. I definitely do not want to leave your lover alone watching over my estate any longer then I must." Isabel brought her hands above her head and began to stretch towards the sky.
Cain's eyes slid to consider his Mistress "Lara is hardly my lover, Ib. I haven't the time to commit myself to another, nor do I have any particular interest in such sport."
"Sport?!" Isabel's head jerked, looking at him incredulously "come again?!"
Cain look thoughtful "perhaps I have used the wrong words, but the meaning is all the same. I have much else to do with my time then to spend it courting some lass or demoness. I shall reconsider when the time seems appropriate."
Isabel appeared bored "I didn't ask of your relationship status, demon."
"I thought human's enjoyed small talk." Cain explained with a devious smile.
Isabel sighed in annoyance and returned her gaze to the passing forestry "my maids will be ecstatic when I inform them of this information I have collected while exchanging small talk with a demon."
Cain laughed then, surprising Isabel by how natural it sounded. Normally when the demon partook in laughter it was the most disturbing sensation; however, that might be because the demon typically would be cackling at his prey as he tore them limb from limb.
Shivering, Isabel shook her head and returned to the present as she noticed several guards at the gates leading into their destination.
"It shall go exactly like I said. You must do all of the talking as I don't wish for us to stand out which we would as a female trader with a servant. Instead, like we rehearsed" Isabel groaned, not overly fond with her own plans "we shall be stereotypical and portray ourselves as husband and wife."
Cain in response slid his hand around her side and pulled her tight against him "our names for this charade?"
Isabel's face flushed and she cursed "I didn't think of aliases-"
One of the guards held out a hand, cutting off their hushed conversation "who might you be and what is your business?"
"Greetings! May I introduce myself. I am Cain and this is my wife Ib. We are traveling traders that wish to spend some time doing business within the city for I have heard the market is of good standing." Cain's voice was a bit higher pitched and had a slight accent to it that might suggest he was a field worker in the past.
Isabel smiled at the guards and laid her head on Cain's arm looking like the infatuated wife and hissed in a pitch almost inaudible "Cain and Ib was your best, truly?"
Cain watched as the guards began to go through their cart to make sure they were telling the truth and to judge if what they were selling could be sold in town. The guards collected the small fee merchants had to pay to enter and waved them off on their way. Once they were out of earshot Cain murmured into Isabel's ear "I enjoy speaking your pet name, Mistress. Besides, no one will ever make connections that a merchant's wife by the name of 'Ib' would in fact be one of the most successful tailors of this day and age." His eyes then sparkled as the demon noticed an opportunity to toy with her "I will admit out of all the acts and chores you have ordered me to carry out, this by far shall be the most entertaining and enjoyable."
Isabel grabbed the demon's face and pushed it away "you will stop this nonsense at once, Cain."
The demon grinned against the soft skin of her palm and chuckled "if that is what you wish, my wife."
Once the two arrived at the market, the demon was surprised by the fact that Isabel went straight into merchant mode. She started displaying the gowns and linens and was soon cupping her hands to amplify her already strong voice. Soon he found himself following suit in utter confusion, but Isabel wasn't Isabel if she wasn't keeping the demon on his toes.
They spent hours selling and trading and only the sun sinking behind the horizon was their reminder that the day was coming to a close. Suddenly Isabel dropped her act and leaned into Cain appearing weary.
"I am going to get the word of town now that we fit in. Stay here and tend to our wares, I don't wish for another cart of my merchandise to slip away yet again." She then pushed away and smiled with her best impression of a love sick wife "I will be back, my darling! I shall get us some food while you tend to cleaning up."
Cain's eye twitched as he watched his Mistress flee, once again leaving him to tidy up.
"I should have brought Kaile to tend to this" the demon sighed and turned his attention to the mess which was their cart. With a quick glance to make sure no human was watched, Cain waved a hand and the cart tidied itself all upon its own. The demon coughed out a haughty laugh, "as if a demon lord would clean. Now then, to find my Mistress" Cain made simple work with hiding the cart by opening a portal in order to push the cart into the void. Once the nuisance had vanished into the unknown, Cain clapped his hands twice and laughed in amusement, and none is the wiser, heh.
Isabel had roamed to several shops now asking about a cart much like her own and the only thing she found was an increasing amount of frustration. She realized she had done so well this evening that no commoner could recall a cart in comparison. Pinching her nose, she decides to approach a group of guardsmen as a last resort, desperate for answers.
Upon approaching, the men looked up and nodded at her and one of them addressed her "how did you and your husband fair?"
"Well, my thanks" Isabel smiled politely to all of them and returned her attention to the one speaking "might I ask a question, as we are looking for our comrades as well in this journey."
The guard nods and gestures for her to sit down, she complies.
"We are looking for another man with a cart such as our own. He went missing a couple weeks ago and we are becoming quite worried for his safety."
"I thought I recognized the cloth, but I thought you had traded with the gentlemen." One of the guards from earlier at the gates then spoke up, Isabel now recognizing him. "The man you speak of was in fact here, but he left with a group of merchants as the roads have been rumored to be unsafe as of late." The guard looked grim then and walked over to her to rest a hand on her shoulder "if he has not returned… you may be out of luck Miss."
"What group of merchants?" Isabel asked, trying to hide her excitement when in fact in character she should be worried.
"There are two groups, one that heads south and one that heads north. I believe your man was heading north if I recall. If you wish to speak with them they usually meet at the tavern in the center of town." Another guard said, trying to be helpful. "We can show you there, if you would like."
"No, I thank you. You have all been most helpful this evening" Isabel stands then and curtsies to them.
"Give you husband our regards" one of them said, nodding to her.
"Yes, please tell him he is fortunate to have such a lovely wife" another said with a grin, and for once Isabel laughed with genuine amusement.
She took her leave then and decided to take a less nosy route back to the cart in order to report back to Cain. She was few minutes from the guard post before she became aware of someone following her. Her skin prickled with awareness and she suddenly turned down an alley. If the figure followed her down the random corner then she would know for a fact that it was following her. Goosebumps littered her skin as she heard the stalker turn the corner with her and fear spiked when the sound of laughter filled the alleyway.
"So you did live after all. I had thought the worst when I later returned to find the estate in ashes."
Isabel turned in disbelief and gawked as she saw the man dressed in dark robes from that night "the chicken!"
The figure stopped moving and barked in humor "I have been called many things, but I must say I have never been addressed as a 'Chicken'."
Isabel ground her teeth and suddenly darted at the man "those that abandon those less fortunate do not deserve to continue their existence!" Silver shined in the moonlight as Isabel withdrew a dagger from beneath her robes "DIE RAT!"
The form widened his stance and brought his hands up to ready himself for impact, but no such force came. Instead wind with unfathomable speed blew the man from his feet as it pushed past him, flinging him into one of the alley's parallel walls. The woman was then lifted from the force and flung into the air in protesting screams. Shadows from all directions collected and caught Isabel midair in order to place her upon the rooftop.
Isabel growled and attempted to detangle herself from her counterpart "Cain, release-"
"Silence" Cain ordered from somewhere in the coagulated darkness, causing Isabel to shut her lip.
After a moment the demon reformed himself and glared at her "Stay. Here." After which he leaped off the rooftop and landed in the alley below.
Isabel glowered and promised herself she would torment the demon later for commanding her, but she could at least watch the exchange beneath.
He better not kill him. Isabel crawled with care in order to not fall from such a height and peeked her head over to watch Cain approaching the man.
"My my, I never thought I would see one of your kin here, devil." The cloaked man stood with help from the wall and roughly spat blood upon the floor. "I suppose it would make since that the prestigious 'Isabel Crane' would meddle with the likes of you."
Cain's expression darkened "I would advise you to hold your tongue if you wish for your death to be quick. I believe you are aware what my kin are capable of, mortal." Cain's eyes flashed red in the darkness and the shadows surrounding them began to quiver in anticipation.
The man stumbled and the hood slipped revealing the features beneath. Silver hair of shoulder length spilled from beneath and piercing emerald eyes glared at the demon in front of him. "I am aware. Therefore, I shall take my leave with such useful information as a mortal of my statue wouldn't last a minute against the fallen. At least… not yet" the man smiled and muttered something causing the demon to jolt forward, the shadows pointed like razors.
"DO NOT KILL HIM CAIN!" Isabel screamed, reaching out from the rooftop.
The demon abruptly stopped, his shadows dissipating from the sudden order and the man laughed as he suddenly fell to the ground with a clatter. The demon cursed and stalked over to the heap to grab the cloak with rage. He tore it away and bones scattered the ground.
"The hell?!" Isabel asked in disbelief. "Where did he go?"
"He teleported" Cain explained kneeling down to the glare at the bones. "Why did you stop me, Isabel?"
"He is my kill, not yours." She retorted and felt the extinguished fire within her rekindle.
"You could not kill him and you are a fool for stopping me." The demon stood once more and turned to land his glare on her instead "a necromancer cannot be killed by the likes of humans and now he has fled with our secret."
To be continued!
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