Tenebrae Immortalis

By Arcadia, Kain's Queen and Kain, Lord of Nosgoth

Disclaimer - Raziel and Kain are © Eidos and Crystal Dynamics, everyone else is © AKQ.

Summary - Never mind. You'll see.

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Chapter Two - Dangerous Revelations

'Oh.. shit..' was the thought that ran through her mind as she stared upwards at him. It was him.. Arcadia couldn't explain how she knew.. She just.. did. Slowly, feeling the eyes of the guests upon her, waiting to see if she was going to reject their hosts offer, the woman lifted one arm and placed her hand in his own extended one. As the thief felt those long, lean fingers of his coil about hers, she felt as though her own death sentence had been pronounced. Arcadia felt her heart begin to pound, the pulse at the base of her throat fluttering wildly, making the chain wrapping about her neck rise and fall. All but her and him would think it was nervous excitement when in reality it was fear. Her eyes were trapped with his own brilliant golden orbs, mouth dry even as she was swept out onto the dance floor that had been cleared as soon as the words requesting she dance with him had left his mouth. Even so, some part of her noticed his grace and Arcadia danced with him as she had never danced before.

Sebastian stared in awe, stroking the beard covering his chin thoughtfully. Never had he seen his girl dance so beautifully and somehow, he knew it came from the duke. Something about the man made his spine crawl with fear. As if Arcadia were in some mortal danger. And so, the man stared intently at the pair, watching them move with some supernatural beauty. But at least etiquette demanded that a woman would share no more then three dances with the same man and that was a small comfort in of itself to the Marquis.

Out on the dance floor, Arcadia was awed. Even with her fear, she had to notice the handsome features of the duke's face. But still.. she was dancing with the man who had caught her stealing from him. And said stolen item was hanging about her neck. As soon as the music ended, she murmured a swift thanks and fled from the dancing floor, moving to retire out on a patio. Lifting her head, she stared up at the stars, sipping at some punch she had picked up.. Damn, she was in trouble, wasn't she..?

For a fleeting moment a dark shadow crossed his features as he watched her leave. He had seen the chain about her neck and also felt a profound sense of longing in the back of his mind, as of some part of him trying to return to him. He knew with an instinctive certainty that she carried on her person his ring. With a polite bow to his guests, Kain excused himself, calmly following after the young woman he had just danced with.

As he stepped out onto the patio and into the pale moonlight a distinct change came over the lord. His pleasant smile was gone as he came up beside her, gaze turned upwards for a moment. The presence of the dark lord sent a chill through the girl, he was no longer pretending to be a kind noble, but allowed his darker nature to surface. "You have something that belongs to me, girl.." he said in a low tone. Turning his gaze down on her the deathly caste of his face became apparent. Though he still retained the guise of a mortal, those gleaming yellow eyes shone in the light from the moon. Pale eyelids slid partly over them as a deep frown crept across his lips. There was no escape for her this time, there would be no fantastic escapes, she was cornered by this man, no, not a man, this beast.

Arcadia felt the pounding of her heart increase in strength, forcing her breathing to remain calm and swallowed again before speaking, lips trembling ever so slightly even as she presented him with a seemingly calm facade, looking up at him and feeling like she was trapped like a rabbit in front of a wolf.. With him being the wolf.

"I.. I don't know what you are talking about, my lord.."

Dammit.. He knew.. He knew who she was..! One hand fisted in the velvet of her skirt, twisting it out of shape. Her throat bobbed again and she took a step back, feeling the cold marble of the railing pressing into her back through the dress. Sipping at the punch again, she stared up at him, eyes wide behind the mask. Both times now, they had come face to face with her being masked, features hidden from him. Well, upper features. Then, the girl made herself turn around and stare out at his garden, the grass and bushes black in the night..

His patience was wearing thin, for two weeks she had held onto his ring, more than that, a part of him. Something that had never happened to him, another coming to possess a part of him. He would not so lightly allow her to keep possession of his ring. And so with but a thought a flurry of sensations crashed over the girl, phantom caresses, ghostly touches, all of which designed by Kain to evoke aroused responses from her. And all the while he simply glared down at her through narrowed eyes, the frown on his lips deepening even as barely visible tips of ivory slowly pushed out from beneath his upper lip. "You lie, girl. You have my ring, now return it to me." His voice was little more than a soft hiss compelling her to do as he commanded. Slowly he raised a hand, palm open as he awaited the return of his signet ring, continuing his torturous assault upon her without so much as laying a finger on the girl.

Arcadia whirled about, gasping even as a flush touched her skin, bosom heaving as she panted slightly, taking in air. Lips, rosy and soft looking parted and she stared up at Kain with wide eyes, arms crossing over her chest protectively even as they refused to comprehend what she saw. But the woman was able to read and write, do levels of math that her father couldn't.. And she was no weakling either. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed again before she spoke, knowing it was no use hiding it now..

"And.. if.. I don't give it to you..? What do I have.. to know that you wouldn't kill me.. Kain..?"

His name came out a contemptuous hiss of sound before she pulled back from him; form shivering even as those dark blue eyes darkened, almost to black. But the woman refused to give up her prize so easily, one hand moving to curl about the signet ring tightly. The girl had need for her stolen artifacts.. But before anything else could happen, Sebastian strolled out onto the patio. Moving, pushing Kain aside, he pulled his daughter close, the two conversing swiftly in Gaelic before the tall Scot turned his head, frowning at the vampyre.

"Have you no thought for my daughter's reputation, my lord..? She could land a fine marriage if you don't ruin it..!" he hissed quietly. "By the rules of propriety, I could demand that you marry her to keep it.."

Turning his gaze to him, Kain's eyes narrowed further even as he assumed a more human appearance, putting on the facade he wore once again. "You will do no such thing if you know what is best for you. I would hate that you become my enemy." He uttered the last sentence in a low, venomous hiss. Everyone knew that Kain didn't have enemies for very long as they all mysteriously vanished after entering the Duke's estate. Kain's gaze fell back upon the girl, his yellow eyes flashing dangerously even as he spoke without words or voice. 'You will return it to me, girl. Or I will haunt your every waking moment as well as your dreams till the day you die.' With that parting shot came one more flash to the girl, his face, pale as death and mouth wide open, within two sharp points of ivory, crimson liquid staining them and running down his chin in small streaks. And then he left, returning to his ball and guests.

A shudder shook the skilled thief before she returned to the ballroom with her father. Eventually, he left her alone; after the girl had assured him that she was fine and sipped at her drink. Those blue eyes cast about and then, silent as a whisper of night air, the woman slipped down through a door, hunting for the bathroom. Entering a room, she looked about it, sensing the darkness before the door was even opened. But before the noblewoman could shut the door and leave, she was yanked forward into the darkness. A rough kiss was forced upon her, hands groping at her figure and a wild sense of a fight rose within the girl. A man who wanted a woman was forcing himself upon her and thus, elicited a wild response from Arcadia. But it was no use. She was trapped. A silent scream echoed in the confines of her skull..

An imperceptible tilt of his head was given as he heard an unvoiced scream reverberating within his mind. There was only one possible source, that girl who held his ring. Tapping into the link he had with the item he received a vague impression of what was occurring. Hurriedly the Duke excused himself, making his way through the halls of his manor, following the woman's scent until he found a door standing ajar. As quickly as darkness chasing light he entered, his vampyric senses discerning the woman's assailant and was upon him with a feral growl. He held himself back, for killing this man would only arouse suspicion of himself. As quickly as it was started her attacker had been subdued.. but now there was a deeper, more sinister urge within him.. The scuffle had aroused his lust for blood, but he could not sate himself. Not with so many guests in his estate, he would have to wait, suffering.. hungry..

As it was always with the ton, curious as children, they followed the duke. Shouts came from them as they saw the disheveled form of Arcadia, dress torn at the bust, exposing more skin then should be seen, skirt ripped slightly, hair falling out of the neat bun and a frightened look upon her face even as her father bellowed in anger and stared at the drunk man pinned beneath Kain. Draping his overcoat about Arcadia's shoulders, Sebastian swallowed before speaking, voice gruff.

"My thanks, duke Kain, for saving my daughter.. But tell me.. what compensation can you offer for her ruined reputation..?"

Arcadia was staring at Kain, wondering why he had even come to save her, if at that. His signet ring stood out against her pale skin, face and lips bloodless, her eyes the only color in the delicate visage. Now that the mask was gone, he was allowed a clear view of her face, unhindered. A delicate, oval visage, two luxurious black brows arching over her eyes while a long, aquiline nose ran down, twin sapphire pools on either side of it. Her lips were a soft rose in hue, the lower slightly fuller then the upper, giving her a sultry look. But none of this was truly apparent at the moment for she just trembled and shook; scared even more of that man who'd attacked her then she was of Kain.

Kain didn't hear the words of the woman's father for a few moments, for he was struggling to maintain the ever so delicate control over his baser instincts. Kain was thankful that his back was to the crowd that had followed him else they might see the snarl on his lips and the hunger in his eyes. After he had acquired a modicum of control over himself he rose, hauling the drunkard with him before turning and starting out of the bathroom, easily carrying the man away.. almost too easily. He had forgotten himself and quickly found one of his guards, giving him instructions to escort the drunk out of his estate and off his property. Now that was taken care of he turned his attention to the woman and her father, mainly her father. As he spoke his voice had a supernatural quality, as if he was a figure to be adored and waited on.

"Compensation for your daughter's ruined reputation? Though I had not planned on having to make this known here and now, let alone under these circumstances. I suppose the time has come for me to make known why I invited you all to this masquerade. I have decided that it is time for me to take a wife, and I found your daughter to be a most wonderful woman. Even though we only shared one dance."

He hadn't wanted to do this, but she had left him no choice with her refusal to return his signet ring. And so, he had announced the 'reason' for this ball of his when in fact he had planned on making it known that he was leaving the city and stepping down. He had grown weary of this place and the petty politics of late, but now, because of this thief of a woman he would stay. He would make certain that his displeasure was known, but only to her.

Her eyes widened and she sputtered, trying to find something, anything at all to say that would let her protest but Sebastian laid a firm, heavy hand upon her shoulder. The girl knew her father well enough to know that he was telling her to be quiet. And Arcadia fell silent, staring at him before shaking her head in a silent denial. But the significance of being related to the most powerful man within the British Empire would simply be too much of a treat for her father to turn down. Besides.. no one would dare anger him.. No one at all. The brunette sank her teeth into her lower lip as she heard her father's rumble of a voice echo through the air.

"I.. See.. I would be.. Most honored, my lord, by your proposal to her.. And I know Arcadia would.. And is.. Too.. Isn't that right, my dear..?"

The Scot tried to keep his words and demeanor calm even when every paternal instinct screamed for him to get his daughter and flee this place, this man. Yet something compelled him to stay and accept while Arcadia simply seemed to be immune to the qualities of his voice. She just stared at the man.. No.. not.. not a man.. he was anything but a man...! Yet, who would believe her..? The woman let her fingers curl tightly about the ring and she let out a faint sound that could have been a 'No', yet it was impossible to tell. Some thing told Arcadia that she shouldn't.. couldn't let him marry her.. but who would dare cross him..? But.. He would marry her..? All to get the blasted ring back? The child told herself she would flee, leave Britain, escape from him.. But some strange instinct told her that no matter where she fled, no matter what guise she took, he would always find her. Shivering, she drew back, away from him, moving closer to her father now.

"Then.. I accept your creed, lord Kain.. You are given my permission, freely, to wed my daughter.." Sebastian said, voice rough. If this monster did a single thing to his little girl, he didn't care if the man was the most powerful being in the Old World. He would rip him apart with his bare hands.

A loud squeak escaped Arcadia before she just stared blindly at Kain. Marry him..? Him..? No way.. She wouldn't.. Never..!

A pleasant enough smile came to the lord's lips as he bowed to the Marquis; the outer facade belied the raging storm of emotion within the vampyre. He was at once angry, furious even that such a thing had happened on his estate, as well that his ring was in his grasp but just out of reach. Hunger gnawed at him with each passing moment, all these people around him and none of them he could feed off of. As he rose to his full height he turned his attention to the young woman he had just received permission to take as his wife.

"I am looking forward to our getting to know one another, dear. Perhaps you would start by telling me your name?"

His voice retained that same quality, making him seem like a person of great importance to those who heard it, someone to be loved and protected at all costs. He had everyone present enthralled; save for this girl and he knew it.

The enthralled crowd tittered and Arcadia swallowed, staring up at him.. She knew he wasn't human.. Not at all.. Not.. at all.. Those gold wolf eyes of his burned into her own sapphire orbs, sending trembling shivers down the now betrothed woman's spine. As she spoke, her voice cracked ever so faintly.

"I.. I'm.. Arcadia.."

The girl pulled back from him mentally, if not physically.. She wanted to go.. To leave.. Now.. Arcadia began to tremble, scared.. Just.. scared.. She was now going to be married to a man who most certainly wasn't human. To a man who could kill her easily without a second thought. It was too horrible.. But the members of the ton finally just tittered again and began to disperse for some part, a few lingering to see what else would happen while others simply went back to their dancing and drinking..

Bowing to her, he took her hand in his own, curling his fingers about if slowly as he brought it to his lips in a soft kiss. The kiss sent a thrill through the girl as well as a shiver of stark terror. She would swear that she felt something other than his lips against the back of her hand, something hard with sharp points, but she would never be able to prove it as when Kain rose he appeared completely normal, human, save for those eyes.

"Arcadia, a lovely name for a lovely woman." He needn't tell her his name; she was familiar with it already. Turning his eyes onto her father once again, he addressed him. "Your daughter is a beautiful young woman, and I honored that you have allowed me to wed her. But, please, let us not mingle here with my future wife in such a condition. If you would like, please, return home. I'll not be offended."

There was something about the way he said it that compelled the Marquis to bring his daughter the following night, after the masquerade. Turning his gaze onto Arcadia again, his eyes narrowed slightly, his voice echoing silently in her mind. 'Such is the fate you chose by your refusal, girl.'

Arcadia's eyes grew even wider as she heard him speak without actually moving his mouth. Yanking her hand out of his, she clutched at it with the unkissed hand. She had done no such thing. But Sebastian merely took her arm and led the girl out of the room and the mansion, leading her home. Once there, the girl ripped the dress off, keeping no mind to its delicate material. Shivering, clad only in a brassiere and gartered stockings, the woman swiftly dressed in a nightgown, hair hanging down her back and over her shoulders. Fingers wrapped about her arms as she shuddered at the thought of going back to that mansion tomorrow night.

"I can't.. I can't do it.. I can't go back there.."

Not to that.. Monster.

That's what he was.. A monster..! The woman looked down at the back of her right hand, chest heaving as she shuddered and gasped, panting for breath through the fear that refused to recede.. Wonderful.. she was scared of him.. But.. Oh, she just didn't know what to do.. But sleep didn't come to her until dawn, leaving her to sleep late into the afternoon. To stave off her fate.. A fate she was ill-inclined to accept..

As daylight chased darkness, Kain returned to the lowest level of his manor, to the soil of his crypt, which provided him respite. As he slumbered, he became aware of the mind of another that slumbered as well. That of the woman, Arcadia. She had foolishly chosen to sleep when he did, a mistake on her part..

Her dreams were haunted by visions of him, his voice, as well as the ever chilling and arousing touches that had plagued her for two weeks now. He knew just how much it disconcerted and upset her. He flooded her dreams with crimson nightmares, of things and beings horrible and bloody. The central figure in all of this was, of course, him. With that deathly pale skin, those golden wolfish eyes, and those sharp ivory points in his mouth. The dream became violent as he began clawing and tearing at her skin, loosing torrents of her life's blood with his claws before finally, amidst the cacophony of screams, came cruel laughter from him then the sharp pain of his fangs penetrating her neck. Then she awoke, leaving the slumbering vampyre with a satisfied smirk on his lips.. he would awake when she arrived..