Whoa! I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry for the long absence!! I was on holiday, and there was no internet access, so I couldn't post this up. Sorry!!! Please don't ignore me!!
Note: I know Cain can be called both Count AND Earl, but I like to stick with Count, because I've been reading off sakura-cisis.net and they call him Count. Sorry to the people who are screaming:
"It's EARL!!!" to their computer screens. ^_^;; besides, is there a difference? *smirk*
Disclaimer: Riff, Jezebel, Merryweather and Cain all belong to Kaori Yuki (who rules).
Lady of the Rain
Chapter 4
By Birdie
One the day of the wedding, it was raining harder than ever before in history. The girl sat, staring out the window. A tear silent drifted down her face. She turned back to the full-length mirror in front of her. Her body looked beautiful in the traditional white silk wedding gown, but her expression was not beautiful at all. She sighed and dried the tear.
She could hear the church bells ringing. It was almost time. So she opened the door and went out, her head bent low so no one could see her face.
Minutes seemed like hours when the celebrations began. The young bride sat at the table, looking over the feast that was being served. The food looked delicious, but she did not want to eat. Her new family tried to offer her food, but she would not accept it. The sound of the beating rain made her quite sick.
Suddenly, a servant ran it. "The banks have flooded!" he cried in fear and astonishment. "The water is coming towards the palace!!"
The guests started to panic and the hall went catastrophic. The waters came in and entire palace was filled with wet, wet liquid.
Everyone in the palace swam for their lives. No one cared about the girl anymore.
~*~
Evangeline came out of her operation all in one piece, much to Cain's relief. She was very pale, but Jezebel told him she was going to be fine. Cain decided to believe him…just this once. But as he sat on the platform of the window, he still couldn't help but have a dark feeling about that doctor…
"I still think Jezebel's suspicious…" Cain muttered darkly to Riff, who was sitting on the chair nearest the window.
"You always think Doctor Jezebel is suspicious, master Cain." Riff said quietly.
Eva coughed in her sleep, rolled over and continued sleeping peacefully. Riff started fidgeting very strangely. It wasn't like him at all.
"Riff?" Cain asked, frowning. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Riff said quickly, trying to stop fidgeting.
"Are you bored?" the count asked, highly amused. It was very unusual to see Riff NOT in his calm, sophisticated manner, and it was quite funny for our dark-haired count.
There was a momentary silence. Then a weak little: "Yes, I'm very bored…"
Cain laughed: Riff was acting like Merryweather and it was hilarious. "Riff, come here." Cain patted the empty space next to him on the platform. Riff walked quickly over and sat down. He stared at Cain, his face covered with a 'so, what's next?' look.
Cain stared back at Riff, a little smirk on his face. "Riff…" he said. "Have you ever kissed before?"
Riff's eyes widened. "Come…come again?" he asked, sweat-dropping slightly.
"Have you ever kissed before?" Cain repeated calmly, savouring Riff's look as if it was the last spoonful of ice-cream on a summer day.
Slowly, Riff nodded his head up and down. "Yes, I've kissed before." He muttered.
"How many times?" the dark-haired young man pressed on.
Riff blushed. He stuttered and turned away. "Once or twice, I only kiss the people I really like." He said shyly.
"Did you enjoy it?" Cain leaned closer, his breath was now tickling against Riff's skin.
Riff gulp. "It's alright…I…" before he could finish, warm lips were pressed against his mouth.
Cain was kissing him and it completely took Riff's breath away. It wasn't something he expected to happen, but he couldn't deny that he wished it would.
Cain deepened the kissed by pushing his tongue into his butler's mouth. Riff returned the kiss and met Cain's tongue with his own. They ran over each other like two snakes, before Cain dominated the situation by leaving Riff's tongue and exploring his mouth instead.
The two men parted when oxygen was getting short. They were both panting from lust and surprise. Cain stared into Riff's eyes and Riff stared back.
"Did you enjoy that?" the count asked, a sexily smile playing on his face.
Riff nodded, smiling. "Yes, I enjoyed it very much."
The brunette pressed on. "You let me kiss you," he said. "Does that mean you really like me?"
His butler nodded. "I like you very, very much, master Cain." He said seriously, leaning in to kiss Cain again. Cain's face fluttered into a sleepy expression; his eyes half-closed and the two kissed again.
Suddenly, a weak little voice piped up: "Do you like me too?"
Cain and Riff jumped in surprise, turning to the voice. It was Evangeline, who was grinning away in her bed, looking pale, thin but full mischief and excitement.
A/N: I bet she's a slash/yaoi/shounen-ai fan…
Cain sweat-dropped slightly. "I like you a lot too, Eva…" he said sheepishly. He nudged Riff, who was also sweat-dropping. Cain stared at him with a 'say something!' look. Riff smiled and repeated what Cain said.
Eva was still grinning. She looked at Cain and said: "Did you find anything suspicious?" she asked. Cain figured it had something to do with the operation.
The count shook his head. "No, there was nothing out of the ordinary…"
Eva sighed in disappointment. Her grin faded and she looked like a little lost kitten. It seriously depressed Riff, so he spoke up, even though he had no idea what they were talking about:
"I think that chloroform is pretty suspicious…"
There was a pause in the room. Cain stared at him. "Why do you think that, Riff?"
Riff stopped. He thought for a moment: well, if he was to say he just said it to make Eva happy, it would seem rude; if he was to make up something straight off the top of his head, it would seem stupid. But he took a shot in the dark and said:
"It may not be chloroform," the blonde said, trying to sound like he knew EXACTLY what he was talking about. "Solvents, as you may have heard, can cause unconsciousness when given in large doses."
Cain stared at him. Eva stared at him. Riff sweat-dropped again.
/Ah crap…/ he thought. /I've probably made a complete fool of myself…/
"Riff…you're a genius…" Cain whispered at last. "That's brilliant…"
/Huh?/
Cain stood up, with the excitement and happiness that is only possibly found in the wonderful world of Anime.
"Why didn't I think of this before!" the count shouted triumphantly. "That chloroform is actually a drug, and is addictive. That's why those children follow the smell and lead a horrible death in the river!!"
Cain stopped. "But Ina is a doctor, surely she'd know that the medicine she was giving was harmful."
"Maybe she really wanted to kill off all those kids." Riff said, hoping to be important and/or smart again.
(a/n: poor Riff, he never gets any terribly important and/or clever lines in the manga)
"I very much doubt it," Evangeline piped up. "She would never kill Oliver, at least. She was really close to him. And if she was to really kill her patients, then her clinic would be used in dark rumours."
/It already is full of dark rumours/ Cain thought to himself. Making up a swift decision in less than 10 seconds, he grabbed his coat and marched straight to the door.
"Master Cain?" Riff asked, standing up, as if to follow his master. "Where are you going?"
Cain turned to Riff and smiled (it made Riff and Evangeline go a bit weak in the legs). He put on his hat and said: "I'm going to find out about the drug! Wish me luck!"
"Good luck Mister Cain!" Eva beamed, the heart-mark in her speech was almost visible. Riff nodded the statement, smiling warmly.
Cain pulled the hat over his eyes, he twisted the golden doorknob, and left for his mission.
~*~
Ina jumped to the knocking on her office door; no one has bothered her for the past…5 hours. She sat in a tiny office, trying to sigh death certificates and sort of medicine.
The pale doctor was also a bit angry to this sudden intrusion. She stormed out of her chair and pulled open the door. Cain was standing outside, his left hand positioned to knock again, his right hand was behind his back.
"Count," Ina said sourly, glaring at him. "Didn't read the notice on the door?"
Cain stared at her blankly. "A notice, Doctor Carter?" he asked in confusion.
Ina turned the oak door around, and stared at it in surprise, or suspicion. "Strange…" she frowned. "I put a notice on the door a few hours ago…"
Cain stroked the door, as if stroking for clues. "What notice was that, doctor?" he asked, turning from the door back to Ina.
Ina had an 'oh well' look on her face. "It said: 'Do Not Disturb', but I guess someone stole it." she sighed, then: "Nothing good lasts forever, does it?" she asked, smiled sadly at Cain.
Cain shook his head to that question. "Unfortunately, no." he answered truthfully.
(A/N: probably thinking of the time he kissed Riff…)
Ina gestured to her office. "Well, come inside, and tell me what you want." She then went inside and started to sort out a space free from papers and files.
Cain watched her for a moment, before throwing aside the object in his right hand and walking into the office, shutting the door behind him.
Jezebel heard the object drop, so he walked over to see what it was. He picked it up from the floor and said quietly to himself: "Hmmm…a 'Do Not Disturb' sign? Wonder why Cain would need something like that…"
~*~
Cain was very surprised that Ina had tea in her office. He sipped it, put it on a stack of paper, before turning his attention back to Ina.
Ina held her hot tea tightly in her hand, staring at the brown liquid as if she was seeing the future in it. Cain made a little coughing noise, and she snapped out of her trance.
"Huh?" she asked, looking around confused. She suddenly realised and blushed. "Umm…yes, well, say what you want to say…"
Cain stared at her with his piecing gold/green eyes. "Doctor, did you prescribe the chloroform to your patients?"
There was blank on the doctor's face. "Chloroform…count?" Ina was utterly confused.
"That's the medicine that the patients are given to 'help them' after the operation." Cain explained.
Ina realised. "Oh!" she said. "Oh THAT!" she giggled at her confusion. "No, Mary prescribed that."
"And you trust her?"
"Oh yes," the blonde woman answered firmly. "I trust Mary with my life: I've known her for a long, long time and she's totally harmless."
Just out of curiosity, Cain asked: "How long have you known Mary?"
Ina stared at Cain, she thought for a moment and then used her fingers to count. "Umm…well, she started working in this hospital when my husband was treating me, and Oliver was 14 then, so it was about 5 years ago!" she said, triumphant with her calculations.
"Why did she start working here?" Cain decided if he started to ask, he might as well continue asking.
The doctor he was facing shrugged. "She never really talks about it, but I don't think it's a happy time in her life."
"I see." Cain stood up and walked out the door. "Thank you for you're time, Doctor Carter."
Ina nodded. "My pleasure, Count." She turned her chair around to face the desk, and continued working.
~*~
A few days later, Evangeline was fit enough to go home. But she said she'd rather stay in hospital. Cain asked her why as she sat on the bed, swinging her legs from the side.
"Because," she answered, worry in her eyes. "If I go home, the Lady of the Rain will get me."
Cain laughed out loud. "Don't worry about that!" he told her. "Me and Riff have an Alpha Plan for her. Right, Riff?" he turned to his butler.
Riff nodded. "Yes, master Cain and I plan to catch the Lady when you go home. When you're walking to the scent, me and master Cain will be hiding in the bushes nearby and we'll get her then!"
Eva stared at them. She looked around to see if was anyone else, before turning back to Cain. "Okay!" she exclaimed. "So that's settled!" she smiled. "I wish us all luck!!"
~*~
A few days later, Riff and Cain sat in their hotel room, doing what they usually do. To go into details, Cain was idly drinking tea and reading. Riff, on the other hand, was standing there, waiting for something to happen. It was very quiet in the room.
/Almost to quiet…/ Riff thought to himself, fiddling about with edge of the tablecloth.
"Tonight's the night." Cain said suddenly, causing Riff to jump a meter in the air in shock. Cain smirked at Riff's behaviour.
The butler clutched his chest, breathing heavily. "The night of what…?" he was so scared he could hardly speak.
Cain turned back to his little book as he said: "I feel that Eva should be getting killed around this time. Perhaps we should check up on her…"
Riff nodded, straightening himself as he turned to Cain. "It would be rude just to turn up at Miss Evangeline's door, don't you think?"
Cain thought for a moment. "We're Eva's friends, so I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
He turned to the window. Like always, it was pouring with rain. It has been raining for 3 days without stopping. Rhythmic beating on the glass and windowpane, non-stop, forever going. Cain felt a strange urge in his heart, but once he turned back to Riff, it was gone.
"Anyway," the count continued, standing up. "We should go soon, before the rain gets any heavier."
Riff nodded. "Alright, master." He help Cain put his coat on and they went out to catch a passing carriage.
~*~
The cloud-covered sun rose to noon, then set to evening. It was still raining, and it covered the night scenery like a veil.
Evangeline sat under a big tree with Cain and Riff. The girl decided to pretended to argue with her mother, and pretended to run out. It was the beginning to the Alpha Plan. Now all the three had to do, was wait.
Cain sighed, brushing rain off his face. He turned to Eva, and frowned. "Eva, are you okay?"
Eva's nose twitched. "I smell…that smell…" she said, standing up slowly. When she was standing in full height, she turned to her companions. "I think we should begin."
The two men nodded. "Go, we'll be in front." Cain told her, and went around.
Eva lifted her long lilac dress above her ankles and walked carefully through the grass. Hearing the beating of the rain in water, she knew she was very near the river.
/I must be careful…/ she thought to herself. She carried on walking to the smell though, but her eyes darted right to left, keeping a look-out for any suspicious beings.
Riff and Cain treaded carefully along the bank. "Master Cain," Riff whispered. "If the Lady is luring children into the river, shouldn't she be at the other side?"
Cain stared at him. "You're right." He waved his hand for Riff to follow him, before whispered. "Come with me."
They walked over a big broken tree, and passed through a small bog. Cain frowned, slowly pushing away bushes to easier his access. Riff tapped his shoulder.
"Master."
"What?" was the almost urgent reply.
"Look?" Riff pointed and Cain looked in that direction:
A creature was hiding in the shadows, but it could be seen spraying the air with the solvent. Cain gasped. "That's Her!"
The creature was oblivious to the two men that were creeping before it. It was concentrating on Evangeline, who was coming ever-closer this way.
Suddenly, a gun was pressed hard against the creature's head. It heard a *click*.
"Move, and I'll shoot," it was the voice of Count Cain, and the tone was very serious. The creature gulp. "Turn around." He ordered.
The creature turned around slowly, and it was soon staring at gun. Riff lit an oil lamp, and put it to the creature's face to see who it was.
The two men gasped at the murderer.
"It's…it's YOU!!!" Cain cried.
To Be Continued…
GAARRGH!!! Cliff-hanger!!! So, guess who the murder is. Please review, because I'm seriously depressed that no one has reviewed me yet. :P
Thank you, Rei Bianca, for reviewing so loyally. I'm full of gratitude.
--Birdie