Disclaimer: I do not own Count Cain and made no money writing this.
Title: The Lucky White Fox; Chap.2: Shadow Play
Author: Kreuz Swords
Note: Jezebel is not Alexis's son. Oscar is self-appointed boyfriend to Merryweather. If you want to know more about Cain, visit my site at http://ccmysteries.myerk.com// Lady Gwen Lawena is my character and also the plot. Please e-mail me at csunicorns@yahoo.com if you want to use my fic.
The early morning sun was shining over a small meadow in the woods near the country mansion. A black haired woman with dark eyes in a blue-gray dress, leaned against a tree waiting for someone. She did not have to wait long. The person she was appointed to meet came out of the shadowy woods into the meadow with the sunlight reflecting off his long silvery hair. He strolled across the tall grass to the woman.
"Well Jill, how is the experiment coming along," said the man emotionlessly.
"It is playing out as planned, Dr. Jezebel. I have complete control over the subject and will carry out what I commanded with no more instructions. But, Count Cain is there. What shall I do if he interferes?"
"Eh? How very odd of you, Cain?" pondered Jezebel. "He normally does not go to very public social gatherings. Why would he be here?"
"He was invited as a guest by this eccentric Lady Lawena," supplied Jill.
"Humm…This lady is mostly unknown to our interests. I want you to watch this Lady Lawena closely and do not show yourself to Cain at all. Do you understand."
"Yes doctor."
"I shall report this new occurrence, and I will meet with you in two days. You are dismissed."
Jill bowed her head and walked away. Jezebel waited until she left the meadow and meandered back to his coach.
*****
When Jill was some distance away into the woods following a game trail, a shadow detached itself from a tree and silently stalked her from behind. The black veiled person weaved in and out of the shadows. Jill abruptly stopped when a few pheasants flew out of a bush over the game trail. Then the stalker made its move. A sword went out and cleanly sliced Jill's head off before she could respond to the sound of sliding metal behind her. The black veiled figure calmly cleaned the sword before sheathing it away on its back.
"Oh my, I guess Jill did came tumbling after Jack. Some people should not play with other people's minds or they might get caught like a butterfly on a spider's web," said the veiled figure and slipped back into the shadows.
*****
Meanwhile, Jezebel arrived at his coach. Cashian was tending the pair of horses.
"How is the plan going?" asked Cashian.
"There are some new factors in the plan now. Cain has appeared into the game."
"Oh, I thought Cain had no taste for horse hunts?"
"Yes, strange indeed, and an odd Lady that we had no knowledge of being a friend to Cain. No matter, she will not last long." Jezebel opened the black coach door and stepped in. He noticed on the seat that there were two tarot cards and five white marble chess pieces spread out on it. "Cashian!"
"Yes sir," and Cashian appeared at the door window.
"Have you left the coach alone at any moment?"
"No sir, why?"
"Please check on Miss Jill. She is on the game trail. I fear that some misfortune may have happened to her."
"I will go at once sir."
Close to an hour later, Cashian returned. He had on a distressed expression upon his face. "Jezebel, I found Miss Jill. But, she was, umm…"
"Decapitated?" said Jezebel with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes sir, and there were no marks of the attacker."
"This will definitely setback the game a bit. You better remove her body then."
"I will sir," and Cashian left with a tarp to retrieve the body with. When he came back again, he placed the wrapped body into the baggage compartment. Cashian went up to the driver seat and picked up the reins and unlocked the brake. He drove the coach back to their hideout.
Once there, Jezebel entered the partially dark room where Cain's father, Alexis sat in a chair with his eyes closed. "Father, I have something for you," and he held out the cards and chess pieces.
Alexis slowly opened his eyes and reached out to take the objects from Jezebel.
"Miss Jill met the same fate as the first one had," added the doctor.
"We seem to have a pest out there. A few other members have been found dead with their heads cut off or silver gilded arrows into their hearts. But, messages are only given to you. Strangely, our seers cannot see who it is or when it will strike. Only the presence of death is felt around this unknown force. So, pest is not right word then. A stalker of murderers is more like it."
"The hunter becomes the hunted as saying goes," mused Jezebel.
Alexis looked at the tarot cards and chess pieces. "The Tower and the Page of Swords. Humm…A sudden change in exposing what is hidden with truth directly righting a wrong."
"Or, a troublesome challenge," said Jezebel with a frown.
"As for the white chess pieces, there are two knights and rooks, and a queen. I am guessing that the knights mean my son, and Riff while the rooks are Merryweather and Oscar. But, who is the queen?" said Alexis.
"Cain has a new lady friend by the name of Lady Lawena," supplied Jezebel.
"Oh, does he now. She will soon leave him like all the others and my son will feel the pain of loss once again," and Alexis grinned. "So, the queen is this woman then." He placed the chess pieces onto a large table displaying a miniature city of London that had black chess pieces scattered about on it. "One thing that bothers me is how did this shadow hunter know about my little game I am playing?"
"I have no clue," said Jezebel with displeasure.