Chapter 20
DG slowly opened her eyes to find her room shrouded in darkness. Night had come after her incessant tears had lulled her to sleep. Lifting her head, she waited until the haze of sleep dissipated before reaching over and turning on her bedside lamp. A slumped figure in a nearby chair came into view as the light went on, and DG immediately pounced up to her knees, her hands illuminating with magic, fear lumping in her throat.
But as her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized who that figure was, and it's all too familiar fedora perched atop its head. Lowering her hands and absorbing her magic back into herself, DG sat back on her bed and looked at Cain, asleep in her chair, his duster missing, but his hat pulled down over his eyes. He rested his head on his hand like he was deep in thought, but the faint snoring alerted DG to his present state of sleep.
Rising, she quietly crept towards his sleeping form and knelt down before him. She let her eyes trail up his legs, her hands itching to do the same but remaining still at her side for fear of waking him just yet. Her eyes drank in every inch of him, his muscular thighs evident beneath those pants she always appreciated were a bit snug on him. His right hand rested on his holster, and DG had to smile. His trusty sidekick.
Cain's shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and DG could see the muscles in his left forearm twitching as they supported the weight of his head. Her eyes moved over his face, his nose, chin and lips the only parts she could see as his eyes were shielded by his hat. His chest rose steadily with his breathing.
He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
DG felt her heart swell as she studied him. She momentarily wondered when he had snuck into her room, and how long she had been asleep. There were things that needed to be done, but she was grateful for the break and the rest to calm her nerves.
If I could stop time, I would, DG thought to herself. Just to sit here a bit longer and watch you sleep.
"Now that's a trick I'd pay to see," Cain said, his voice gravelly.
DG gasped. Cain lifted his head as his left hand pushed his hat back on his head, but the rest of him remained still. His blue eyes met hers, and in them she read worry and concern, yet a hint of amusement.
"I really need to watch my thoughts around you, Tin Man," DG said, smiling softly. "I thought you were asleep."
"You underestimate my keen sense of hearing, princess," Cain replied. "I could hear you drooling."
DG raised her eyebrows. "I wasn't drooling! You think too highly of yourself, Wyatt Cain."
Cain chuckled before reaching his hand out to her. DG placed her small hand in his, and he gently rubbed his thumb against her palm. The contact instantly calmed DG, and she closed her eyes.
"I would you know…stop time," DG said, her eyes still closed. "If it meant staying here with you in this room forever, shutting out the rest of the world, good and evil alike…I would do it."
Cain sighed. "If you could also restore the Tin Man Academy, train and graduate its recruits, stop this shadow thing and save the OZ from a future of darkness while time is stopped, I'd say go for it."
DG opened her eyes and frowned up at him. Cain leaned forward and pulled her towards him. DG scooted onto his lap and he sat back, DG resting her head on his shoulder. His warmth enveloped her like a cozy blanket, his arms wrapped around her securely. She had never felt so safe.
"I know I can't run away from this thing," DG said finally. "We need to figure out what's going on and how to stop it…so I can get on with my life."
She felt Cain smile against her forehead.
"While you were sleeping Tutor, your mother and Azkadellia talked. Things were figured out, plans were made…they have much to tell you, but wanted to wait until you were ready. They wanted to give you some time to…calm down," Cain said gently.
DG lifted her head and looked at him.
"Sorry for my little hissy fit…ok maybe it wasn't so little," DG apologized. "I just couldn't hear any more of it, and I really hate when I don't know what's going on."
Cain lifted his finger and traced it along her cheek. DG shivered a bit.
"You don't have to apologize. You're allowed the occasional…hissy fit…if that's what you call it. You're only human. But we need to go see them, so you can hear the whole story," Cain replied. "You need to hear what exactly is happening…or at least what they think is happening."
DG nodded slowly. "So much for a happy homecoming, huh? I'd rather thought we'd be naked and sweaty under the sheets by now."
She made a move to stand, but Cain wrapped his arms tightly around her, preventing her from moving. DG turned to protest, but his lips captured hers before she could speak.
DG whimpered in pleasure as his lips hungrily devoured her own, his hands moving to her face to pull her impossibly closer. His kiss was ignited with passion and need, and DG eagerly responded.
Something inside her stirred violently, bringing forth a heat so intense she had to part her thighs for some release, but it only intensified. Her core ached with a need to be filled. Turning, she spread her legs and straddled him, pressing her hips down. She could feel his desire for her, his hardness straining to be freed from its confines to satisfy his need to be one with her.
Rolling her hips, she sank deeper on him, and Cain moaned loudly into her mouth. His hands gripped her hips and pushed her against him again. DG's fingers moved quickly to his shirt, hastily undoing the buttons until she could feel his exposed chest, his skin hot to the touch. She splayed her fingers over his chest, the feel of his rapid heartbeat beneath her palm, beating in time with her own.
They were already one.
"Gods, DG, I want you so badly," Cain whispered breathlessly against her lips. His words only fueled her desire more.
"Then why are we wearing so many clothes," DG replied, her hands forcefully pushing his shirt down his arms until it was all the way off.
Cain's fingers moved to the bodice of her dress, impatiently pulling at the ribbons that held it closed. DG's hands were busy with his pants, fumbling for the button and zipper. Cain managed to loosen her bodice as his lips trailed down to her jaw, continuing down to her neck. He trailed his tongue along her collar bone. DG threw her head back, her hands forgetting what they were doing to his pants as they instinctively moved to grip his shoulders for support.
Cain's hands slid the sleeves of her dress down her shoulders, leaving feather light kisses in their wake. DG panted heavily, her body nearly forgetting how to breathe as he performed his sweet torture. Her nails dug into his skin and Cain growled quietly, nipping at her shoulder. His right hand moved up to slip beneath her bodice and cup her breast, and DG cried out. Her hips rolled again of their own accord.
His free hand moved to her thigh and trailed upwards, lifting her skirt as it did.
"Wyatt…" DG whimpered.
Suddenly DG felt a tightness in her chest, and her eyes flew open. A chill swept over her, replacing the heat of desire that had encompassed her. She began to shiver, like she was back in the frozen fields outside the Northern Palace.
Something was definitely not right.
"DG?" Cain asked, ceasing his ministrations, his breathing still heavy and ragged. "Are you all right?"
But DG couldn't seem to speak. All she could do was shake her head.
"Why are you shivering…and your skin is…so cold…" Cain pushed her back on his lap so he could get a good look at her. "What is it, baby? What's going on?"
A single tear slid from DG's eye and immediately froze on her cheek. Cain gasped. Lifting a finger, he pulled the frozen tear from her face before crushing it between his fingers.
In a flash Cain stood with DG in his arms and laid her on her bed, wrapping her in as many blankets as possible. He ran to the fireplace and threw more logs in the fire, stoking it with the poker. Running to the cupboard, he threw open the doors and retrieved additional blankets before returning to DG and layering them on top of her.
"DG, what's going on…talk to me, please," he said earnestly.
Out of the corner of her eye, DG saw a shadow hovering in the corner. Her eyes widened in fear. She tried to scream, tried to fight. Stilling her mind, she called to her magic, focused on her light, but she was so cold that it was hard to concentrate.
But then she remembered, she could reach Cain another way.
He's here, she thought, hoping like hell her magic was working well enough for their connection to come alive.
Cain's eyes widened and he whipped around, his eyes darting around the room. Moving to the chair, he grabbed his gun and pointed it around the room.
Where, DG? Where is he?
In the corner above the door…
Cain aimed his gun and fired a shot.
You can't shoot a shadow. You can't kill him.
Cain ran back to DG's side and knelt by her side.
"What is he doing to you…your lips are blue, you're freezing…" Cain said, his throat tightening.
Need Az…need magic…
DG's eyes returned to the corner of the room. The Shadow Man flew down quickly in time for Wyatt to look up and see it coming toward him. He screamed out in pain as DG watched in horror, unable to move or help in any way. Three thin red lines formed on Cain's chest, minute droplets of blood welling to the surface before trailing down his chest.
Cain hunched forward, his hand moving to his chest.
DG tried to say something to him, tried to cry out in her mind for him to leave, to save himself, but she couldn't. Their connection had been severed. DG felt her limbs go numb despite the mountain of blankets piled on top of her. Her entire insides seemed to freeze up as the cold overtook her.
Cain turned and aimed his gun at the window, firing three consecutive shots that shattered the glass. If he couldn't kill this thing with his gun, he could at least get the guards to come running and get DG out of here and away from it.
Sure enough the sound of footsteps running full speed down the hall were soon heard, followed by bangs on the door and attempts to turn the knob. Cain cursed out loud, forgetting he had locked it earlier.
"Break it down," he managed to shout. Turning his attention back to DG, he looked at her face framed by the blankets. He felt his own heart freeze.
Her eyes stared blankly up at the ceiling, her pupils dilated. Her lips had gone completely blue, and her usual rosy cheeks were as pale as the rest of her face. She had frost on her hair, and Cain soon realized that she was not breathing.
"No!" he shouted.
In the distance, DG could hear Cain scream, but he seemed so far away. She was surrounded by darkness, entombed within the cold…but not alone.
You are mine, princess. He will never have you, never take that precious gift that belongs to me, and me alone. Come away with me princess…come away with me into the darkness.