Cain woke up hours later in disorientation. He remembered having a dream and standing by the window, so how did he get into his bed? It took a moment to register that Jeb has 'escorted' his father bad to bed. Cain breathed deeply a few times to calm his racing heart.
Speaking of Jeb, where was his son? Looking out the window, Cain guessed it was only early morning. The suns were barely breaking the horizon, casting an orange hue across the land. He stretched before leaving the bed and heading to the bathroom.
A warm, maybe hot shower would do Cain some good… he hoped. The dream was still haunting him, but the evidence was clear. He cared for both women and both had been hurt. Fortunately, DG was at least improving… for the time being.
Cain let the memories of yesterday and the dream wash down the drain with the water. He would need a clear head for today for he planned of finding the body and answers. Cain mainly needed to know if the shooter was alone or not and possible some motive. Though that could be a number of outcomes…
The last thing he needed was to worry about DG. Even as wrong as that statement was, Cain didn't want to be distracted by his emotions. Throughout his shower, Cain slow grew colder, meaner, and almost emotionless. Nearly the way he was before DG.
After his shower, Cain dried and dressed quickly and nearly missed Jeb. That is, he would have never acknowledged Jeb if his son hadn't called out, "Father? Come and eat, I've got breakfast." Jeb called just as Cain was about to leave, "You should have something."
Cain thought for a moment, but part of his supposed frozen heart melted for his son. Jeb wasn't helpless and therefore, gave Cain no reason to fear for his safety, "Sure, thanks son."
"Where are you off in such a hurry?" Jeb asked once his father sat down. Cain stayed quiet as he grabbed himself a bowl. Jeb seemed to accept his father's silence as they ate, not wanting to push anything.
"I'm going to investigate the body," Cain finally stated.
"It's still out there." Jeb nodded, "Want me to go with you?"
"If you want, but you have to do one thing." Cain replied, staring at his son, "If you plan on doing this, you cannot think of DG or anyone here as friends. Think of this incident as another event of the war against the witch."
"How the hell can you say that?" Jeb asked, nearly spilling his food.
"Think of this Jeb. If you believe that you are after DG's attacker, if you go hunting for those responsible, you will screw up." Cain said, not wavering, "You'll make mistakes that can be costly. That can tip your hand especially since we are in the dark here."
"But you really are worried?" Jeb asked hesitantly, "You care about DG?"
"Yes and I want that man back alive so I can rip his head off." Cain replied, taking a few bites of food, "I'm leaving after breakfast."
"Two pairs of eyes are better than one." Jeb said as he and Cain engulf the rest of their food. Jeb had left for the kitchen, taking the tray of food as Cain went to speak to the Queen. She had a right to know, being her daughter and Kingdom. Unfortunately, Queen Lavender was still sleeping, but the guards informed Cain that Ahamo was awake.
"He is down getting breakfast, sir." The guard whispered.
Cain just nodded his thanks, tipping his hat and made his way to the first floor. As he entered the kitchen, Jeb was already talking with Ahamo, though Jeb was doing the talking. Cain walked up to the two men and stood next to his son.
"Alight, you may check the grounds." Ahamo said once Jeb was finished, "Any place beyond the palace grounds, you must come to get me. I plan on knowing what is going on." He added, grabbing a tray and leaving.
The Cain men bowed their heads in acknowledgement as Ahamo left and looked to one another. Taking their leave, Cain led his son down the path, passing the gazebo and to the far side of the palace grounds.
The smell of something rotting told them they were close. Jeb kept glancing to his father, amazed by how stoned-faced he stayed. Was his father really going to sacrifice his friendships to keep them all safe?
Sure, he understood the idea of not letting his emotions blind him, but Jeb also knew that emotions might be the thing that saved a person. Cain had no idea the problems he was digging for himself. Well, if that was the case then Jeb would.
"Here he is…" Cain said, pulling Jeb from his thoughts.
Jeb slowly walked next to his father and looked at the dead man sprawled in the weeds, "Looks like one of the witch's henchmen." Jeb noted, seeing the bald-man with the metallic and black suit.
"Meaning Longcoats." Cain said, nudging the man over, "Shot himself right in the head."
Jeb was going to respond to his father, but a sound behind them caught their attention, "You need to get your butts back to the palace." Glitch said, running up to them, "It's DG."
"What happened?" Jeb asked, looking from his father to Glitch.
"I'm not sure, just told by Azkadellia to get you two." Glitch replied, trying to catch his breath.
"Let's go." Cain said as he took off towards the palace. Jeb and Glitch followed shortly behind. As they closed in, Azkadellia could be seen in the doorway.
"What's wrong, Princess?" Cain asked as they all stood in front of her.
"If only I could tell you. Raw just asked for all of us." Az replied, leading the man back into the palace, "I heard you went to see the shooter?"
"Yeah, looked liked one of the Witch's henchmen. The bald ones…" Jeb answered, "Though we didn't get beyond that."
"Well, my father plans on going out later. I'm guessing you both will be with him." Azkadellia nodded, walking up the door to the Healer Wing. She knocked a few times and stepped back, waiting for someone.
Within moments, Queen Lavender and Ahamo walked out and looked to the group. The Queen had tears in her eyes and barely said anything before walking away. Ahamo nodded to them and whispered for Cain and Jeb to meet him by the gazebo afterwards.
A dreaded feeling in their stomachs made the group rush into the Wing, but stopped by Raw. Putting a finger to his lips, me made sure to keep them quiet as he led them back to DG's bed.
"You know, I swear mother overreacts." DG said as they walked to her bed. She was smiling to each of them, sitting up against the headboard, "Please tell me you agree Az."
"Trust me, Deeg. You have yet to see her full wrath." Az laughed, coming over to hug her sister before sitting on the bed, "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, I am. Hey guys." DG replied, nodded to the men, "What, do I have cooties or something?"
"No, just surprised, Doll." Glitch said as he hugged her.
Jeb followed suit, hugging DG and rubbing her back, "Dad's acting up again." He warned, smiling at her.
DG just nodded and looked to Cain, pretending Jeb hadn't told that Cain was acting like a Tin Man again, "Thank you all. Though I am about ready to go back to my own room."
"That will cause mom to really overreact." Az laughed.
"But it would uplift the palace." Glitch countered.
"Come on Jeb. Ahamo needed to talk to us." Cain said, "Princess." He tipped his fedora and walked out, not waiting for Jeb.
"Nice to see you're better DG." Jeb said, "We'll talk later."
Jeb rushed out, leaving Azkadellia, Glitch, Raw and DG. Where as DG wasn't surprised by Cain's actions, the others were.
"The hell is up in his ass?" Glitch said, staring at the shutting door, "He hasn't acted like that since the little adventure."
"Think about it Glitch. Raw told me what happened and then see if the way Cain's acting is bad."
"It may not be, little sister, but he doesn't have to act like that." Az replied, "He didn't even say anything to you."
"I give him a few days before I'll do something." DG promised, "Now, how about helping me up to my room?"
"Raw, is that okay?" Glitch asked, looking to his friend.
"DG get better, help if in own room…" Raw shrugged, moving to help DG stand, "Just careful."
"Trust me, I'll try." DG smiled, carefully standing on unsteady legs.
"Come on, DG. You won't make it." Glitch said, coming up behind her. Without a word, he picked DG up bridal style and carried her out. Az and Raw helped by moving objects and opening the doors, all the while laughing at the site.
DG was enjoying herself as well, seeing how Glitch was pretending to act like Cain. Though Cain would never look close to Clint Eastwood as Glitch was now, which made DG laugh harder.
As the group ascended the stairs, DG's eyes locked with Wyatt Cain's. Though Cain saw a recovering Princess that he would need to protect, DG understood what Jeb was talking about. Even the way Cain looked at her, it was if he was looking through her.
Well then, whenever they got back, she would make sure she talked to the man and got a few things straight… again. Cain couldn't help, but slip into cold Tin Man mode and DG tried her best to help him.
Smiling broader, she watched as Ahamo, Cain and Jeb left the palace without so much as a good-bye. DG suddenly felt a pit inside of her, as if everyone was hiding something.
"You okay, DG? You just suddenly blanked out." Glitch said, placing her on the floor, "You're at your room at least."
"Thanks Glitch. Sorry, just thinking." She assured the others, "Az, can I talk to you?"
"Oh no, girl talk. Run Raw run! Let us run to get… lunch." Glitch acted dramatically, pretending to run. Raw could only laugh, following Glitch down the hall.
Azkadellia and DG entered her room and immediately the mood changed, "What wrong DG?" Az asked, sitting on the little couch.
DG followed and sat next to her sister, "I don't know, you tell me. I got shot yesterday and now everyone is acting, overreacting weird."
"You scared the hell out of us. The others are just worried because there may be more shooters out there." Az replied, stroking her sister's hair, "I think you were right to give them a few days."