Chapter Eight - Mindwarp

By Sayori

Groggy, Shido shook his head a couple of times to clear out the thick cobwebs. He groaned from the pain those small movements caused. His head hurt, his chest hurt, and he felt void, empty even. Alarmed as his memory brought the vivid image of the stabbing back to him, he searched for their mental link. He cried out in desperation when he couldn't find it.

"He can't help you, Shido."

That voice, he knew that voice. It was the voice that turned his blood to ice water, that made him tremble at night. When he looked up, the blonde he had hoped to never see again was seated a few feet away from him. Shido realized he had been dumped in front of Cain's chair, like a chastised dog. He growled, fear eclipsed by a smoldering anger.

"You must have a really big set of brass ones to have done this. When he wakes up-"

"He's not going to wake up, little one. Ever. And you know how large my 'set' is."

Blushing scarlet, the younger vampire snarled furiously. "How dare you!"

Cain disappeared from his chair right in front of Shido's eyes. By the time he realized the cur had moved he was hauled to his feet by his shirt front once again. They were face to face, their noses barely a centimeter apart.

"I dare because you're mine. I made you, I own you." The words were growled rather than spoken, and the long fangs flashed in the light.

Shido's stomach bottomed out. He almost whimpered, but the angry part of him wouldn't let him show fear. He growled in response, and lunged his head forward to bite the smug look off of Cain's face. His teeth closed on empty air, the snap ringing through the space between them. A half second later he felt himself rise a little higher. Before he had a chance to wonder at that motion, a solid, heavy blow connected to the side of his face. His shirt was let go at that same moment, so that he plummeted to the floor with the momentum of the slap carrying him down.

"Don't push me, copil. You'll regret it."

Romanian. That used to be the language Cain spoke to him out of love. Half-awake, their limbs wrapped around each other, exhausted from love, Cain would speak to him in that beautiful language. He had loved the sound of it, so eloquent and so graceful.

Banishing any soft thoughts about Cain from his mind, he sat up and thumbed away the blood that spilled from his split lip, which healed automatically thanks to Cyric's aged blood. He glared at the blonde, angry. He could hardly believe this was happening. A few hours ago he had been so happy.

Again he was hauled up off the floor by his shirtfront. "Don't think about him!" Cain was so angry he was shaking. After all he had done for his copil, after all he had let him get away with, and this was how he was repaid. Not by his little one's return, no, by his total submission to another! Intolerable! He had never felt so enraged. He had never been so out of control before, either. To attack another sire in the open, in broad daylight of all things. He regretted it somewhat, yes, but Shido was back where he belonged, and that made it worth it.

Stunned by the force of Cain's emotions and his shout, Shido didn't say a word. He was a little afraid to say anything. The blonde had never been so blatantly emotional, not even when he spoke of love those many decades ago. It was just a little bit intimidating.

"It would be in your best interest to remember who made you what you are, and act accordingly," Cain ground out through clenched teeth, setting Shido on his feet. Love, when it went unreturned, was painful beyond imagination. There was a time when Shido had loved him. What had happened? They had been so happy; feasting, loving, living in paradise. One day Shido had just balked at their lifestyle, horrified at the pain he thought he was causing. Silly child. Pain? They were eating, surviving. It was a matter of their nature. Nothing cruel or horrible about it.

"In my best interest? Oh please." Shido's anger and hostility was getting the best of him. The little voice that told him what was potentially hazardous to his health to say was being ignored. "What more could you possibly do to wreck my life? You've already taken away the only person I love!" He cared for a good number of the others, but Cyric- Cyric he loved.

A snarl and the narrowing of those blue eyes was the warning Shido should have headed. But he was blinded by anger, so much so he took a step forward, closer to his hated enemy.

"What are you going to do, huh? Spank me? Nothing you could do could make my life any worse."

"I wouldn't bet on that," came the cold reply. Cain's eyes were so icy; Shido could not help but shudder. "I could make you nothing but a blank canvas, so don't tempt me."

Shido gaped at him in horror. "You wouldn't." He wasn't so sure Cain wouldn't. Hadn't he before?

Cain's posture straightened a little, and he backed away, returning to his seat. He spoke once he was settled comfortably. "Don't be naïve, frumos." He smirked a bit. "It doesn't look good on you."

"My looks are none of your concern, Fiu de curva." At Cain's shocked look, he smiled bitterly and added, "Thought I didn't remember the words, did you? I haven't managed to banish all memories of you yet."

The elder smirked at his child's gall, to call him a bastard. "And you never will. I am as much a part of you as the blood in your veins."

"No!" Shido snapped viciously. "The blood in my veins has Cyric's imprint, not yours. You are not a part of me any longer." He was so angry with Cain. How could he have done this? Why couldn't he just let go, for god's sake?

The Elder's eyes narrowed. He was close to smacking his copil again. The light-haired vampire had always been delightfully witty, but he was not pleased that the sharp wit was being directed at him.

What was he to do with him now? He had him here, but things weren't exactly going as well as he had imagined they would. Shido was insolent, angry, bitter even. There needed to be an attitude adjustment, immediately.

Shido grew increasingly uncomfortable under the weight of Cain's appraising stare. He felt like he was being sized up for auction.

"What!" He finally exploded, unable to bear the stare anymore.

A perfectly groomed blonde eyebrow raised a notch, but there was no reply. Extremely uncomfortable, Shido had to move. He couldn't just stand there like an idiot and let Cain stare at him like that. He went over to one of the windows and looked out. There was nothing but trees. An entire forest was in his view. Where were they? He didn't remember a log cabin in any of his outings with Cain. He touched the heavy hunter green drapes. The fabric was very thick, thick enough to block the sunlight, surely.

Shido felt his heart sink. He had no idea where he was, how he was going to get out, or what was in store for him. Had he been weaker, he would have cried in hopelessness. The only thought keeping him from breaking apart, from giving up, was the knowledge that Cain had harmed the one he loved. That he couldn't let that go unpunished. He would get revenge somehow. If it killed the both of them, there was no harm in it. With Cyric gone, there was nothing to look forward to. Except Hysteria's baby.. and his nightly walks with the Nordic Sai.. and his chess games with Guni.. and archery with gentle Fehru and his bonded.. Alright, so he had to find a way to kill Cain without harming himself. That made things much more difficult.

Cain couldn't abide the broken look on Shido's face. His child, his copil, was in mourning. It tore at his heart. He rose silently from the armchair, his carefully tailored suit making barely a whisper as he moved. Once behind Shido, he bent his head down a little to breathe in the light scent of the younger vampire. Lavender, honey, and maybe a hint of rose. It was all he could do to keep from purring. Oh, the memories that brought back! In front of the fireplace, rose petals, bare flesh, the air thick with the smell of them.. Oh, god.

Only Cain's smell gave him away. Musk and clove; it invaded Shido's despondent thoughts, startling him. He whirled around, but was unable to escape the arms that crushed him up against Cain's chest. His nose was pushed against the wool lapel of the dark suit, so the odor was unavoidable. Had it belonged to anyone else, it would have been pleasant to breathe, but it was Cain's, and that knowledge ruined the smell, turning it sour and bitter.

Don't! His mind pleaded, afraid of what the elder might do to him.

Cain was looking at him with soft eyes, his expression loving. Though his grip was strong and unyielding, it was gentle. The lilac-haired vampire was confused. Moments ago they had been sniping at each other, with him getting smacked more often than not. What the hell was going on?

"Oh Shido," the blonde purred. He relinquished an arm to the desire he had to touch his little one. He only needed one arm to keep his copil from moving, after all. He caressed the soft cheek with the pad of his thumb. The barely tanned skin was as soft as he remembered. Emotion surged, creating a lump in his throat that definitely should not be there.

Shido's eyes were wide with shock and confusion. Cain loved the deep oceanic colors. His favorite colors happened when Shido got very thirsty, when the blues and golds melded and slid around one another, mimicking the noon sun on a rippling lake.

My little one, my little frumos, you can never leave me again. I shan't be able to bear it. I simply can't see it happen again. Cain's thoughts pushed past the remaining white barriers, so weak were they he hardly noticed them. A flood of green overran the tenuous strands of white like they were strings off a spider's web. Even the lavender was too weak to stand up against him. Locking eyes with his copil, Cain focused on placing many layered blocks against the white and most of the lavender.

Shido would only remember what Cain wanted him too. He couldn't erase the memories without sharing a great quantity of his blood with Shido, and he needed every drop of it just in case Cyric's children somehow tracked him down. Impossible. Not a single one of his children had known about this place. And nobody knew he was here. Isolated in a dense forest. It was a perfect spot.

Shido's thoughts fought valiantly against the control that was being exerted over them, but it was a useless struggle. He wore himself out, and with just the lightest command from Cain, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When the lilac-haired vampire went limp against him, Cain swept him up and carried him to their bedroom. He smiled at the perfect picture of Shido asleep on his bed, amongst so many rich hues of green. It was about time he saw this. For a brief moment, he despaired that he had to manipulate Shido's mind to get him to love him once again, but he had no other choice. All other attempts had failed. Eventually, the little vampire would see what folly it was that he be with any other than his maker. Eventually, everything would be as it should be. Eventually..

Sayori's note:

Okay, I've given you guys two chapters. Let's see some reviews!

I wrote the entirety of this chapter. So, if it's awful and you hate it, let me know.