Oh my…thank you for the reviews! I'm real excited that many people are enjoying the story. And with that said…I'm dreadfully sorry I haven't updated sooner, but school just started for me and it's been killing me. But here's the third chapter, enjoy everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Godchild. Kaori Yuki has that honour. All rights are reserved to her. I only claim ownership of bar grammar, spelling and punctuation and the storyline, but nothing more.
Chapter 3: Dread
Oh what Riff would not do to just die at that moment. Yes death seemed indeed rather pleasant, what was there to worry about once you were no longer part of the world of the living? However bitter-sweet the dreadful idea seemed he could think of one thing along to contradict him: Cain. The young earl still needed him and Riff was aware he was ignoring his promise.
Riff's heart was heavy as that of pure lead, he could image his heart sinking to the bottom of his stomach and disintegrating in the acids of the stomach. The mere thought of his vital organ melting was enough to make him want to regurgitate the blood that clogged his sore throat.
That was another thing that was beginning to sicken him more: blood. He turned his attention away from his blood and tried to avoid looking into Jezebel's cynical eyes, but at last he had nothing more to stare at when he met the doctor's eyes.
Riff paused, wondering betwixt the two of them, just who was more sinister and cynical? Was it Jezebel or him? It was a rather complicated question, but Riff did not know, or perhaps it was the fact that his mind was beginning to haze over and he could not conjure up a logical answer without it sounding rather dense.
Jezebel gaped at Riff, placidly. At last after a few moments of having a glaring contest with the frustrated butler, Jezebel said coldly, "I see you do not wish to talk Riffael. Why must you be such a recalcitrant creature? With your lack of talk it makes matters ponderous." He sighed dramatically and stood up. His arms were crossed and he looked out the small window overlooking the lifeless street beneath them.
Riff followed him and wished he could have but a glimpse of the ink stained night sky and its' infinite stars covering the lonely sky. Just as the sky was melancholy, his heart was the same. It had been preciously ten or so hours since he had lasted seen Cain and Merry-Weather.
He was unaware if they had eaten at all, if they had managed staying out of trouble that day, or if they were out looking for him at that precise moment. There was no way he could tell, and his questions would no sooner be answered by Jezebel then there was a chance of not dying in the next hours to come.
"Are not two confessions sufficient enough Doctor? I cannot comprehend why you wish in the first place to know what I felt for those women. Why should it be any interest to you when it would be unprofitable for you and your schemes?" Riff chocked out, spitting up chucks of blood as he spoke. His eyes closed to keep the room from spinning. He wasn't sure how long he could hold out before everything went black again and that would not do in the least.
Cassian almost felt sorry for Riff as he watched him nearly gag on his own red fluids, but after the way life had treated him he was not going to waste his time with such petty sentiments, well in the least not on a total stranger who was declared the enemy. The only one he would feel anything in such a way would be for Jezebel and none other.
That was one thing Riff and Cassian both shared to their ignorance. They were more then willing to die for the only person they cared for, yet that concern boarded dangerously to the edge of love. Would there ever come a time when Riff would cross that line and love his master in that sense? Riff would not deny he loved for Cain, but he would never in whatever remained of his life admit his forbidden sentiments for the young earl.
There were three essential reasons why Riff subsided from admitting anything to Cain. The first was the most obvious: it was against the law for two men to be together in such an intimate fashion. The second was he would look like a pedophile considering their age differences and still if one put those two aside, there was still a much grave concern that held him back. Riff did not know if confessing his love would be a good thing to do.
He was scared; no he was absolutely terrified at the mere thought of seeing sheer disgust writtten all over Cain's delicate countenance, when the exotic words left his lips. Rejection…that was what he feared the most: rejection. Riff had entertained the thought of suicide if Cain refused him and ordered (or ejaculated) him to leave his sight at once.
But the question remained: would he go through with suicide in the end?
"You're thinking about suicide are you not my darling Riffael? Pray don't try to conceal it. I have studied the human race for quite some time now my love and I can tell when a person muses over suicide." Jezebel's soft, yet imperative voice cut through Riff's thoughts. Riff blinked, then stared rudely at the doctor for reading his thoughts.
Jezebel merely waved Riff's futile attempt of a death glare asides and minutely nodded his head understanding very well. He leaned against the window and implied crisply, "So you have my dear. But you do not have enough courage to go through with it. You are too much of a coward to end your miserable existence." Jezebel paused, glaring at Riff with unreadable eyes before pressing on.
"If only you knew the truth Riffael Raffit, if only you know who or rather what you really are behind that stern, well composed countenance of yours. Then you would reconsider your lack of audacity and perhaps you could end it all before it proceeds any further and you remorse everything…" he trailed off only to finish his point with the callous words, "And perhaps you could spare Cain from a lifetime of misery and heartache."
Misery…heartache? Riff was at a lost here. Just what in the devil was Jezebel trying to say? But it was his tone and the manner in which he stared into Riff's eyes that told the young butler silently that it was a warning that he had best heed if he did not wish to see harm befall Cain, and this time it would not be Jezebel or Alexis or Delilah who would inflict pain…but rather—
Jezebel smirked nonchalantly, he stayed leaning against the dirty window and said severely, "You have indeed taxed my patience Riffael. Now if you would be so kind as to tell me about Miss Justine and your drastic sentiments for her."
Riff said nothing for a short period of time before answering by force when he saw Jezebel fingering a new scalpel that was meant to persuade him if he refused to talk. With a chocked swallow, he forced himself to speak.
"She was…I needn't use many words when only three simple words can describe her perfectly: a cock chafer. She was nothing but a bloody cock chafer who slept with her father, brother and tried to taint my lord with her impurities." Riff snarled, just remembering the hell he went through those few days when they had traveled to the country-side of England for Cain to get away from the hectic city life for his health.
Jezebel smiled, nodding his head and said, "Of course I remember that day, that was the first time we ever met." The doctor sighed thoughtfully, and added, "It seems so long ago when I had come so close to killing Cain, but you had to show up out of the blue and intervene."
Riff smiled despite himself when he could tell Jezebel was frustrated just remembering how close he had come to murdering his master, but because of his unexpected return he had foiled his attempt.
"I'm dreadfully sorry doctor that I disrupted your plans that day so many months ago, but really did you think I would stray too long from my master's side? You would be utterly foolish to believe such a theory." Riff remarked, darkly, still smiling slightly. Jezebel smirked devilishly and narrowed his eyes onto the smug manservant.
"Yes I should have presumed you would most likely make an unanticipated recurrence that day, but my zealousness did not allow me to think of that possibility." Jezebel brushed the matter away with a way of his hand and questioned Riff once more.
"You hated Justine—but give me details. What did you plan to do to her if she had not perished in the fire that night Riffael? Surely you had something diabolical set in mind to execute on her." Jezebel questioned with curiosity, though he was starting from the beginning, he was saving the best people for last that he knew would literally kill Riff from the pain.
Ah, life was truly good—in certain aspects though. Riff sighed frustrated, and muttered bluntly, "Details you say good doctor? Well I should simply say if the fire had not consumed her that night because of her damnation, I would have seen to it that she hung for all her wicked deeds. I would have slit her throat, then suspended her from the ankles and dangled her from a sturdy tree branch whilst a pack of rabid dogs fought to claim her as their dinner. And at the last second when she presumed she was safe—" Riff paused, and smiled mostly to himself, but then frowned and whispered softly, "I would then have slashed the rope suspending her and allowed the dogs to dine on her malevolent corsage1."
Jezebel stared at Riff with an unreadable expression that was an oddity for the young doctor, even Cassian was taken aback at Riff's confession. They had asked for the details and Riff had complied and enlightened them. Now if they took shock to what he said, that was an entirely different matter. It took a moment for Jezebel to procession the information; he cleared his throat trying to dissipate the sudden animosity in the room.
He was at a lost for the corret words to say, not knowing just what to say or in the least think. Perhaps Riff's alternate-ego was beginning to somehow slowly resurface and was consuming the benevolent Riff. It was most likely; Jezebel for some time had been expecting the other authentic side of Riff's true nature, to make his presences known sooner or later and it would seem the real Riffael Raffit was coming sooner then he had anticipated.
Riff waited patiently for the doctor to speak, he wasn't going to be the one to break the silence that was for sure. His grim blue eyes traveled to the filth covered window, looking past Jezebel and straining to see the outside world. The only thing he could clearly see was the infinite ink stained sky stretching on with no end in sight. He sighed softly; it was the only pleasant thing he had laid eyes on that day.
"You are…changing Riff. Something inside you is making you change and I can guess you as well have noticed this, but you ignore it throughout the day dismissing it as a mere headache or stress, but no matter how many aspirins you take it never dissipates. You dare not inform Cain because you think it'll make him worry. And that is the least thing you want for him to do is fuss over you. So instead you keep your agony and angst to yourself, hiding a twitch of pain as discomfort and smiling it off so no one gets suspicious." Jezebel mused, confirming everything when the little colour in Riff's countenance drained completely.
"How—how did you know Jezebel?" Riff said quietly, almost afraid the stone walls incasing them were listening and threatening to tell the entire city. Jezebel smiled impassively and simply shrugged.
"Yes how did I know? But it's true, is it not?" He asked and Riff nodded in response.
"I can see it in your eyes Riff; your own majestic blue eyes betray you and when you look into them with the use of a vanity or any shiny surface, it is as if another person, a stranger, is staring back at you with malevolence." Jezebel was talking mostly to himself, rather then addressing Riff and Cassian. He tapped the scalpel on his chin thoughtfully, completely lost in thought. No one said a word for a good eternal seven minutes, each person immerse in their own world of contemplation, dismissing reality for a few seconds.
For years Riff had felt this other unnamed presences inside him, but he did not know who or what the hell it was. He lived with it, but not without questioning its intentions and its wants. Riff strained to focus on the world beyond him outside the window, but he was not looking outside into the darkness, but rather he was looking beyond what was there…
Far off in another room, a clock ticked gloomily away the seconds until it struck the time, whatever the time was. When the clock struck the hour, all three occupants of the bare room returned to reality and stared at each other. Riff grunted and abased himself and inquired, "Just what are you not telling me doctor? You know something, if not all, about this critical matter of me, and yet you remain silent? Tell me please, I have the right to know damn it if I am going to die!" Riff's calm voice escalated to exasperation. The least thing Jezebel could do for a soon-to-be-dead man was to tell him his disease and let him die knowing the cause of his troubles.
"You are not going to die Riff, not yet." Jezebel implied austerely, giving Riff a hostile look earning him a soft gasp from the young butler. Slowly Jezebel was becoming frustrated within himself. For so many years he had studied the man that now went by 'Riff', and could not figure him out in the least. Jezebel rubbed his temples, trying to ward away the migraine he felt coming on.
"Enough of this fruitless topic, we have more important things to discuss." Jezebel finally warned, no longer wishing to discuss something that would surely keep him up all night in obscure thought. Riff sighed internally; thankful Jezebel had changed the topic of conversation. He was not comfortable musing about the idea that there was indeed something wrong with him.
"What else do you wish to inquire about doctor?' Riff said sarcastically.
"Cain's late fiancé, Emeline Lauderdale." Jezebel simply asked. No further instructions were necessary for Riff to answer. A sad look crossed Riff's countenance, it remained as he spoke.
"She…she was the only girl I can say I bared nothing drastic, let us say, towards her. At times she could prove to be temperamental, reckless and maddening, but she was nothing like that awful woman, your creation doctor, Meridiana. Now that reanimated corpse got on my nerves." Riff growled, his eyes growing dangerous as the past came back to his attention.
"Meridiana…hm, yes she was quite a handful to deal with. She was most uncooperative and disobedient, that is why it was necessary to dispose of her. She was nothing but a comely face, and a dysfunctional corsage1." Jezebel agreed with Riff, not knowing at all that he was mindlessly agreeing to Riff's comment. Riff arched a brow in astonishment and said gingerly, "My thoughts exactly doctor."
Just then there was a loud crash coming from outside the door located somewhere hidden within the darkness. Cassian was the first to look towards the concealed door in question. Jezebel's eyes grew wild and he stalked past the fettered Riff and went to the door. Whatever was going on, it seemed serious. Cassian hurried after him and they exchanged a few hushed words and the youthful looking boy left the room.
Riff struggled to look behind him where Jezebel stood stiffly, straining to hear any other sounds. Jezebel surprised his antagonist when he silently hissed, "Stay silent Riff, we have guests." Guests, but whom the hell could it be? Riff was about to inquire just who was coming when Cassian returned wearing a hard and weary look. He looked directly into Jezebel's eyes and informed tensely, "He's coming Jezebel, the Card master's already on his way to inspect the interrogation. Someone, perhaps that bastard of Cassandra rated us out about this whole scheme! Bastard, I'll be sure to get him back for this—"
"No, I will deal with Cassandra the next time I see him. You are not to confront him, is that understood Cassian? Promise me you will not be foolish enough as to confront him without my saying so?" Jezebel commanded callously. Cassian swore under his breath and muttered incoherently that he would do as told, no matter how alluring the thought of impaling his knives into Cassandra's body was.
"Fine, but if he so much as does any else like this, I'm going to fix him up real good." Cassian promised. Jezebel nodded and then faced Riff. Jezebel's face was a ghasty pale colour, he looked gaunt all of the sudden, but his youthful beauty returned in mere seconds. It was as if he had not just a second ago shown his exhaustion to Riff. This bemused Riff, but he remained silent.
"It seems our time together was so ephemeral, but as Cassian has already clarified: we have been discovered and I cannot hide you from my Father." Jezebel frowned, and leisurely walked to Riff. He stopped, knelt besides him and muttered softly right next to his ear, "But before I am forced to turn you over to my father's vile hands, answer me one thing Riff: do you love Cain?"
The footfalls of the former head of the Hargreaves family were coming nearer. Cassian visibly showed his anxiety. Jezebel was not fazed in the least; let his father come he challenged brazenly, by the time he presented himself, Jezebel would hopefully already have his answer. He stared long and hard into Riff's blue eyes waiting impatiently for an answer. Riff went rigid at once, from both the mortifying question and the doctor's intimacy. He could practically feel Jezebel's warm breath on his damn neck!
"Love? Whatever would posses you to ask such a question doctor! How can you even think I would love my master in such a—forbidden manner?" Riff stuttered, his cheeks burning red from abashment. Jezebel chuckled tenderly and insisted, "Why would you not love Cain in such a manner Riff? You practically have had ever opportunity to fall in love with him, have you not?" Jezebel stood up straight, waiting for the door to their makeshift interrogation room to be brutally thrown open and Lord Alexis storm in, wearing that notorious smile of his.
Jezebel clasped his hand onto Riff's stiff shoulder and reassured surprisingly, "Do not show any signs that you are intimidated my dear Riffael. Alexis enjoys seeing people's angst, especially when that person is you Riff. Just keep that in mind." Just as Jezebel finished his sentence, there not-so-anticipated guest of honor entered the room that moment. Jezebel removed his hand from Riff's shoulder and took a step forward; glowering at once when he realized it was indeed Cassandra who had told his father. It was all as means of vengeance for not wishing to have anything to do with him...in an intimate relationship to be exact.
'Damn that dog of Cassandra! I will make him pay for telling my father about this event! But for now, I will have to abase myself and stand his vexing presences the next time I see him..then I will get him!' Jezebel thought bitterly, already faking he was not effected by this unexpected turn of events. Riff on the other hand, did not hide his bafflement as he looked on in question.
'What in God's name is going on? Why is Lord Cain's father here? And why is the doctor so up key about his appearance? Am I not supposed to be here— well of course I am not supposed to be here, but did Jezebel go behind Lord Alexis's back and bring me here without his knowing?' Riff glared unceremoniously at Alexis and greeted mockingly with a not so polite smile that errand poor Riff a good smack across the face.
He flinched at the harsh impact, but did not ejaculated in pain. He merely looked on, spitting out the blood from his mouth and aimed at Alexis's feet. He quirked a brow and pressed on, "I'm curious to know my Lord, why I am here and to what avail? Besides the obvious fact that I am the manservant you hired for your son. What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Alexis asked, momentarily surprised at Riff's sudden brazenness, he stared at his son and said angrily, "You went against my authority Jezebel and brought Riffael here after I told you not to do so! Now Cain will no doubt come looking for his flithy pet. But perhaps I can use this to my benefit." He mused, walking over to the self-possessed Riff Raffit.
All fear, pain, and intimidation dissipated from Riff's bloody countenance and all that was left was an impassive and fierce expression that made Alexis smile pleasantly. Whatever had escalated Riff's nerves was amusing to see.
Jezebel languidly met his father's threatening eyes and it was all he could do but sigh exasperatedly. The doctor stood besides Cassian, pausing to answer his father's bafflement. He shrugged and said curtly, "I am sorry I went against your wishes Card Master, but I could not help myself to such an exquisite opportunity as to having Riff be inquired."
Alexis was not pleased with his son's behavior, and response he might add, but he would deal with him once this incident was over. But for now, he wanted to make use of Riff's presences and know what his son Cain was up to nowadays.
"It is fairly good you see you again Riffael, I'm honored you would join us so soon!" Alexis ejaculated zealously, whilst presuming to wear his ominous smile. Riff glared at him and answered dryly and hatefully, "I sadly cannot say the same thing Lord Alexis." Jezebel could not help be smile at Riff's remark, it was indeed the truth. Alexis on the other hand was not amused and Riff was reacquainted with the oh so familiar texture of pain.
Ah, would the hell and torture never end?
Cain paused at the base of an empty alleyway for breath. He had not ceased running since he had fled the mansion, his mind keen on finding Riff before the night slipped away to a new day. The minute hands of his pocket watch had ticked passed him, now telling him it was nearing nine o' clock at night.
An entire day without Riff hovering about him, serving him his tea, tying his shoes, reprimanding the young earl about his manners and lastly, be there to comfort him. How he had managed to survive a day without his manservant was beyond his understanding, he just simply knew he had. Cain ran his fingers through his black locks from his countenance and sighed dejectedly. He terribly missed Riff's beguiling presences there besides him, but with him not there Cain was incomplete.
There was emptiness within his fragile heart that needed Riff, carved him and with no said person there, all desires to live dissolved. Cain buried his face in his hands for a moment, musing where to look next. He had searched the entire north and west sides of London, but found nothing. So his options minimized to the east and south end of the city. But scrutinizing aimlessly was getting him no where. He needed to formulate a damn plan to go by.
But being alone made matters further difficult to oblige with in his search. There was one on he could rely on to help him with his critical trouble; he would not have Mary-Weather in the line of danger. Oscar…he was better off tending to Mary-Weather and making sure she was safe. Crehador could be of some assistance, but Cain did not have time to seek his help. And truth be told, he wasn't sure if Crehador would be willing enough to aid anyways.
So that basically meant Cain was alone on this search and rescue expedition that had only to outcomes: one he found Riff, saved him and they left home or there was the much anticipated results of death lurking around the corner. Either option in its own ways had its comforts and dejection. Cain straight up and continued down the isolated street he was walking.
'I've looked nearly everywhere for Riff, but I can't find him. Damn Jezebel, he's hidden him fairly well that not even I can manage to track him down. But they must reside in the city; they would not leave with him out to the countryside. It would be too much of an inconvenience to do so. But where, where can they have him hidden? Underground or aboveground…the absence of light would allow them to go unnoticed and carry out their schemes will much ease, but aboveground would give them more liberty to travel quicker.' Cain pondered as he walked around a corner, not really paying attention to what was in front of him. He blindly walked straight into a well dressed man and both fell to the moist sidewalk, groaning from momentarily pain. Cain rubbed his head and sat up, his attention automatically going to the other man he had accidentally knocked down.
"I'm terribly sorry, I was not—Crehador! What are you doing here?" Cain cried, leaping to his feet and glaring down at the other man, bemused completely at this odd accoutering at such an ungodly hour at night. Crehador held his head and gawked surprisingly at Cain, as much confused as Cain was to see him.
"Earl? Is that you? Fancy meeting you here, this would have been the last place I would have ever considered meeting you again." Crehador moaned, he stood up still dazed from the fall, but soon recovered and faced the earl. He looked Cain thoroughly over, seeing the exhaustion, misery, remorse, and frustration on his pale complexion.
He grasped inaudibility and asked straightforward, "What has happened to you Cain? You look as if you have lost your head or something. I've never seen you like this before."
Cain smiled weakly and nodded. "I have lost something, but it's not my head obviously. It's something far more important then I; it's Riff who I've lost. He has been kidnapped by Jezebel and my damn father." Cain growled intensely, as if wishing for them to materialize out of thin air so he could kill them.
"I see, so that would explain why you are out at such a late hour of night, roaming the streets when there is danger and murder lurking about. How conscious of you Cain." Crehador stated dryly, seeing the stupidity of Cain's actions.
"I have no one to ask for help Crehador, that's why I'm looking for him by myself." Cain muttered, vexed.
"And you wouldn't be getting no where if you don't ask for it Cain. With twain people as least looking for the same cause, can succeed in finding what is lost." Crehador implied, frankly. Cain said nothing to this; he just stood there looking up into the vast night sky. He knew Crehador had a point, though he was not willing to accept it openly, but he knew he was right. With someone else helping him, they could find Riff quicker.
Cain narrowed his eyes and said abruptly, "I've never asked you for anything Crehador, but I ask now because I am in desperate need of someone to help me find Riff." He hesitated then asked sadly, "Will you help me Crehador…please?" the medium said nothing, too shocked at Cain's request.
When no response came from the medium, Cain felt his heart sink and he laughed bitterly. "I should have known from the start I would have to search on my own. This is my problem after all. Why should you even care? You don't even like me." His words were acid, and the expression on his face was disturbing. He gathered his spilled hat and cane and continued on with his quest, when a firm, yet gentle hand stopped him.
He looked round and saw Crehador's hand was resting on his shoulder, stopping him from taking another step. His expression was hard and strangely understanding. Cain arched a brow and snarled, "What is it? Do you wish to mock me more?"
Crehador ignored his comment and said solidly, "You miss interpret my silences for an unvoiced response. If I can lend my assistance to you Earl, then if you will accept it, I will aid you."
Cain gasped reluctantly, he hadn't much hope for the medium to abet him, but this was proof that perhaps his ill-luck was gradually changing; whether it was changing for the better of for the worst were oblivious to him. A meek smirk spread across Cain's face.
"Thank you Crehador." Cain whispered.
"You can thank me later once we find that manservant of yours. Just pray tell, where have you looked at exactly? They as sure as hell can't be in the decent parts of the city so that would only leave us with the option of East End to search." Crehador mused, jumping straight into their investigation.
Cain snorted and replied, "That much was clear enough to me, but I have to admit, could they be underground or aboveground?"
Crehador thought for a moment, thinking the matter carefully. "They could have begun with their schemes above ground, but by this time they must have fled to seek refuge underneath the city."
"Then we'll look underneath the city until we come across Delilah and Riff…even if it takes us all night."
A/N: I'm a bit timid about this chapter; something tells me it's not fine at all. Please tell me what you think, if it is indeed bad, let me know and I'll do something about it. Thanks again to all those who reviewed and read! And please pardon if this chapter sucked.
1. Corsage: no not the flower decoration girls wear, but the obsolete meaning of the word 'corsage' as in 'body' back in the 1400's.