Cain stood by DG's balcony window, watching the suns set. He was taken back by the Princess's actions and still replaying the last twenty minutes in his head. He hadn't stopped her and rather matched her gentle kiss. Neither had gone further nor has they said a word.
DG was resting somewhat peacefully after eating dinner finally. Cain had to promise not to leave before she would take a bite or rest. Turning, he watched her chest rise and fall as her eyes danced behind closed lids. DG's breath hitched as she rolled to her side, away from Cain.
Sighing, he walked quietly over to the bed and sat next to her. Cain watched and listened carefully as DG's dream seeped from her sleeping form. Her hands twitched as they closed into fists and her breaths came in short rasps.
He pulled her shoulder, laying her onto her back and was shocked. Her moans had turned into growls and her face was now contorted into rage. The ex-Tin man knew her simple dream was turning into another nightmare. Cain grabbed her shoulders, shaking her lightly at first.
"DG, you need to wake up." Cain called, "Come on, Kiddo, it's just a dream." He tapped her face a few times and that wasn't working either. Cain racked his brain for ideas, about ready to pour ice water on the princess when she jolted awake.
Cain was quick to grab her forearms, but that seemed to provoke DG more. She thrashed and growled at Cain, making the man sit on top of her to hold her down. He couldn't tell whether she was 'sleepwalking' as it were or in a trance.
"DG calm down! It's me, Cain." He tried again; leaning close to her, "Snap out of it, Kid!"
With one force-driven lunge, DG had Cain off her and flying to the floor. His quick thinking enabled him to roll backwards and into a standing position. DG rose from her bed, sizing Cain before attacking again.
"No more, I won't let you hurt me!" DG yelled as their bodies collided. Though Cain captured her in a bear hug, pinning her arms to her sides. She still thrashed, trying to kick Cain's legs and hitting him a few times. Cain didn't let that deter him, as he held tighter.
Looking around, Cain settled on the bed again. It was the safety place to let DG thrashed about without seriously hurting either of them. Cain nearly slammed DG onto the mattress, buying him a few seconds of time. He was able to adjust himself so that he could hold down all her extremities. DG's thrashing was hard and Cain resented to lying on top of her.
He felt heat radiating off the Princess and thought the reason for DG's actions were the result of withdrawal of the Vapors. Combined with the recent events, Cain could only guess this would be one episode of many. The sound of her angry cries turning into sobs made the man ease back into a kneeling position over the Princess.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking into the pillows though she still thrashed about. Cain guessed her body was giving out, but her mind was still at full speed. DG opened her eyes and looked dead into his.
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" DG asked, "I don't know what you want, please stop hurting me."
"DG… It's Cain." He replied, cupping one cheek as he leaned over her face, "You're not well and I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"How can you be sorry… you're dead Cain. You left me and now the Longcoats are regrouping." DG sobbed, "Zero can't help anymore, I have no one."
"That's not true and you know it." Cain stated, "DG think! You were in Longcoat custody, Zero did rescue you and with Jen and myself, brought you home."
Cain was pleading by the end, hoping something would register within her. He watched as her thrashing turned into shaking and though her head quit moving, her eyes were still wild. As if her eyes were following a bug flying around her room.
Taking a chance, Cain slowly eased off DG before rushing to her bathroom. He soaked a washcloth in cool water and headed back to DG's side. She hadn't moved, even her eyes has ceased moving and seemed to have dulled. Moving carefully, Cain wiped across her face, around her neck, around her shoulders and moved back up, repeating.
Cain wasn't sure how long he sat there, but the suns had set, casting the room in orange and red. DG was completely still, though still awake and staring through the ceiling, or so it seemed. Taking a deep breath, Cain laid the folded cloth on her forehead and went to light a fire. DG's room had a decent fireplace and he hoped it would be enough for warmth and light.
It took a few tries, but Cain finally had a fire lit and watched as it slowly grew to life. Cain just knelt and watched as the fire soon roared and crackled to life, not taking long to warm the small room up. The man stood and stretched before turning back to aid his friend and all the heat disappeared.
DG stood in the middle of her room, facing her balcony. The washcloth discarded on the floor near her bed, her sheets in disarray. She seemed to ignore Cain as she walked towards the balcony, never slowly as she grabbed her bench and reached the rail.
Cain knew all to quickly what DG had in mind and shook himself from his shock. Racing to the balcony, he saw her step onto the bench and time seemed to slow for the ex-Tin Man. He urged his limbs on as DG never faltered, never hesitated as she stood on the rail and let herself fall forward.
Cain nearly jumped over the rail himself as DG disappeared from sight, but luckily his legs twisted around the rail first. Reaching out, Cain's hands wrapped around flesh, but it was slipping through his fingers. Gripping fast, he was able to get a hold of DG's wrist.
The woman dangled helplessly, but turned to face Cain. The look she gave him made his heart stop. DG seemed so dead already, her eyes were lifeless and the lack of expression on her face didn't help. Cain glanced around and thought of a way to get both of them back onto the balcony before anyone saw.
To his dismay and relief, another pair of hands grabbed his sides as another reached around him to get a better grip on DG. Cain turned to see Glitch next to him and guessed Jeb and Raw were behind both of them. The two men carefully hauled DG passing her to the others before pushing lifting themselves back onto the solid granite of the balcony.
Cain doubled over, trying to catch his breath and holding his bruised ribs. He felt the fury hand of Raw and the pain in his chest eased and nodded his thanks. Cain stood to inventory who all was in DG's room and no surprises there. Jeb, Glitch, Raw, who were by his side and Azkadellia, who was huddled over DG's still form.
"Get her on that bed." Cain stated, "Find something to strap her down. Once DG is… secured then we can talk."
Azkadellia nodded before she and Jeb left the room. Cain, with help from Glitch, placed DG back onto her bed and readied for anything she might do. Raw followed, ready to heal DG, but Cain grabbed his hand before he got close.
"Don't Raw. DG is really sick and I'll explain once Jeb and Az get back." Cain said, but saw the hurt in the Viewer's eyes, "Trust me on this."
"Raw trust Cain, but feel bad Raw can't help." Raw replied, walking to the fireplace.
"I'm not sure I want to know what DG was doing…" Glitch admitted, looking over her form.
"I was here and I can't believe it…" Cain admitted, running a hand over his scalp. He turned when the door opened, revealing Jeb and Az with straps and a water basin.
Jeb handed his father and Glitch each a strap. Cain went over DG's chest, Glitch her midsection and Jeb was securing a strap over her thighs, just above the knees. Cain inspected each to make sure DG couldn't free herself and nodded. Glitch then pulled the covers up to DG's chest then made his way next to Raw on the couch. Azkadellia knelt next to her sister's bed, finding the discarded rag and rinsed it out.
"So dad, you gonna tell us what happened?" Jeb asked from the chair once Cain stood near the fireplace.
Cain looked to each face staring at him before turning to the fireplace, "DG told me lightly what did happen to her. The Longcoats are still using Vapors and they used them on her along with beating her."
"But for how long?" Az asked, "How many times…"
"Three times a day for three days." Cain replied, not turning to face the elder Princess, "She said that the combination of the Vapors, her getting abused, the idea I was dead, and the fear the Longcoats were coming for you all next… broke her."
"So… what happened tonight, father?" Jeb asked again, "Why were you and DG dangling from her balcony?"
"After we talked, she ate some dinner and was sleeping while I started a fire. Once the fire was going… I turned and she was in the middle of the room. Never ran, never stopped, but walked out onto the balcony, grabbed the bench and walked off her balcony. I was just lucky to get what holding I could on her." Cain admitted, turning to face the others.
"So what is going to happen to Doll tonight?" Glitch asked, turning to Azkadellia and DG, "What do we need to do?"
"We can't have her out of our sights. I'll stay tonight and watch her. In the morning, one or more of you can get her and I can get a few hours rest." Cain shrugged, rubbing his face.
"Glitch and I will." Az stated as she stood, "We can take her to breakfast then Jeb can come get her and take her to Raw."
"Yeah, now wouldn't be good for Raw to help her. In the morning, after she's rested…" Glitch added, losing his thoughts.
"Raw help DG face demons?" Raw asked, looking to Cain.
"Yeah, but it might be a good idea if Jeb stays until more of us are there. In case something happens again." Cain nodded.
"Well leave you tonight then, Mr. Cain. If you need something, a guard will be posted outside to come and get me." Azkadellia smiled as she left the room.
"Don't hesitate to call any of us, Cain." Glitch added, following Azkadellia. Jeb and Raw were close behind, nodding as they left. Soon Cain was alone with DG again and added a few more logs onto the fire.
Moving one of the armchairs over, fatigue ate at his consciousness and he relaxed into the chair. He knew once DG awoke and saw her predicament, she would not be happy. Cain let his mind wander on how to help DG.
Cain expected silence, but once again he underestimated DG, "What if I don't want to be helped, Cain? Maybe I just want this sickness to end… I saw how the Mystic Man was…"
Cain edged himself next to the bed, knelling on the floor as Azkadellia had, "So what, you can make sure I am okay… alive and well? Then have the audacity to go and jump off your balcony?"
"I hurt Cain… Feels like there is a fire inside of me that is eating at me." DG cried, but no tears fell. She turned to Cain for some comfort, some answer to her dilemma. Cain stayed silent as he again used the washcloth to wash over her face.
Sorry this took so long. Too many ideas of how this chapter should have gone... Hopefully this is a good one... leave a review for next time?