Cain stormed into the palace, his heavy footsteps echoed down the hollow halls. Jeb watched from behind as his father threw open doors, jerking his head in and out of the empty rooms.
"DG!" Cain yelled his voiced boomed back to him. As he approached DG's bed room he noticed two armed guards standing on either side of the door. His heart lurched as he made his way into her room. Her objects and possessions were scattered everywhere. The queen sat on a settee, grasping a sweater of DG's. Azkadellia sat next to her mother, trying to comfort the distraught women. She leapt to her feet when she noticed Cain walk in.
"Oh, Cain, you're here." She sighed in relief as she walked over to him. "DG's missing." Her eyes were red and puffy, ready to burst with tears at any moment. "We arrived home earlier this morning. We thought we'd finish early and surprise DG, but when we got here she was missing." She looked over her shoulder towards her mother. The queen raised her heavy eyes to meet the two people in front of her. "
"I have a feeling Zero has her." Cain said in a stern tone. Azkadellia's eyes grew large and she took a step back.
"Where do you think he took her?" She asked. Cain shook his head.
"I don't know. Anywhere." He ran a hand through his hair and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the kingdom.
"Don't worry. We have all of our men out looking of her. We'll find her." Azkadellia said. She stood in the doorway looking out towards him. Her arms were crossed tightly at her chest. Cain kept his eyes out towards the horizon.
"If anything happens . . . I don't think . . . I can't. . . "Cain clinched his jaw, preventing his eyes from crying. "If anything happens to her I can't do anything but blame myself."
"We'll find her Cain." Azkadellia said again as she walked over to Cain, placing hand on his arm.
"And what if we don't? Who knows what he's done—" he stopped and clinched his jaw. He swallowed and Azkadellia watched as his hands turned into fists. "You know things with me and Adora weren't perfect and I knew something was up with her the minute it seemed she stopped missing me. The moment she stopped getting excited when I came home from assignments. It was almost as if she dreaded me being there. I knew my marriage was in trouble yet I continued to push it, to try and to make it work." He turned to Azkadellia. "And it seems that's all I ever did with DG. I pushed something, I pushed the engagement." Azkadellia could see his eyes soften.
"Don't think you pushed her. DG wanted this just as much as you did. If anything, mother and I are guilty for putting so much stress on this whole wedding extravaganza."
"What if we don't find her?" His voice cracked. "What if out last conversation was that of a fight?"
"I have complete faith in that you will find her. We'll . . . you'll, do everything in your power to do so. You have to stop being so negative. If you keep it up-"
"Then what?" Cain turned towards Azkadellia, his eyes red. "Then she's most certainly gone?" His hands gripped the banister, his knuckles turned white. "You know what he's capable of Azkadellia. Hell, you practically trained him to be this way." Azkadellia pulled her hand away; her face looked as if Cain had slapped her. Cain loosened his grip and turned towards her.
"I'm sorry," He began. Azkadellia put a hand up.
"Just find her." She backed away slowly and made her way into the room of her sister. She sat down next to her mother, trying to maintain some composure. Cain stood on the balcony cursing himself. Obviously this wasn't Azkadellia's fault but he still felt like part of who Zero became was partly the workings of Azkadellia, possessed or not. The room inside was silent, everyone on edge. Azkadellia jumped when a guard suddenly entered the room. Cain walked briskly back inside, standing a few feet from the women.
"Your Majesty," A guard said from the door way. The queen turned around and looked towards the guard. "We found an intruder lurking around the grounds." He said slowly. He looked from the queen to Cain. "It's Zero."
The queen raised her eyes towards Cain.
"Your highness," Cain started. "I'd like your permission to view the prisoner." The queen with the violet eyes stood slowly, allowing her daughter to help her up. She took a step towards Cain, resting a hand on his arm.
"I am the queen of the kingdom and I am sworn to uphold all laws. That means giving all who disrupt peace in the kingdom a fair trail." Cain nodded, fully understanding the laws that govern the realm. "However, I have been known to turn a blind eye towards those who do not seem fit to even merit a consideration of fairness." She eyed Cain carefully, making sure he understood. Cain nodded and walked towards the doorway. He walked briskly down the hallway towards the stairs.
Cain ran down the stairs towards the prison, his hands clenching into fists. He didn't know how he would handle the situation, but he knew he'd have to be quick about it. He didn't know how much time DG had. He arrived in the dark, dank dungeon and walked down the corridor towards Zero's cell. The armed guard eyed the man and stepped aside.
"Leave us alone." Cain said. The guard nodded and walked quickly down the corridor and up the stairs. Everyone know Cain could take care of himself, there wasn't a need to be there. Cain stood for a second trying to gain composure and then walked in towards the cell. Zero looked up and sneer spread across his twisted face.
"Well, well, if it isn't the O.Z's knight in shining armor. Wow, they really just give those titles away nowadays, don't they? I remember when we were young men you actually had to work for them. Now. . ." Zero trailed off as he looked Cain up and down.
"Where is she?" Cain asked.
"Here, there, everywhere." Zero said with a shrug. Cain walked over and lifted Zero up off the stool he sat on and pinned him against the wall by his throat. "Yes, that's it. Choke me to death and then I'll tell you where she is." Cain slowly let go and Zero slid down the wall with his back. Cain swung his arm back and slugged Zero across his face.
"Where is she?" Cain asked once more, his voice getting even more tense and angry.
"You'll never find her in time." Zero said simply. His chains rattled as he lifted a hand to wipe away the blood from his now broken nose. Cain pulled his fist back again and hit Zero again, bringing him to the ground with a heavy groan.
"Not the question I asked." Cain said looking down at his once best friend. "Where is DG?" His voice was rising. Zero remained silent, staring up at Cain as if he were really enjoying this. Cain pulled him up by his hair and looked him in the face. "Where the fuck is she?" Zero spit back in his old friend's face. Cain rolled his eyes and landed his knee in Zero's cut. Cain let go of his hair as Zero doubled over.
"I really don't want to kill you." Cain said reluctantly. It was true, he didn't want to kill the man. That would be too simple, too quick. This man needed to feel what his victims felt, something slow and painful. Cain watched as Zero smiled as he propped himself up against the stool. He groaned in pain, but still looked cheerful.
"And I really don't want to tell you where she is." He said simply. Cain closed his eyes tightly and gripped his fists. He opened his eyes and looked over towards his son as he Jeb walked into the door way. He stood there watching his father, the man he'd looked up to all his life. He knew his father was holding back, trying not to become the man that Zero was. He knew it was difficult and he knew he was part of the reason. He met his father's eyes, two spheres filled with so much pain and hurt. With a small nod of acknowledgement, Jeb took a couple steps back out of the cell and into the hallway. Cain took a deep breath and turned back his attention towards Zero.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Cain boomed. Zero spit blood out of the side of his mouth and laughed up at Cain. Cain pulled back his foot and kicked Zero in the stomach. Zero let out a sickening groan. "TELL ME!" Cain yelled.
"You were so close and you left. She heard your voice and you left her." Zero looked up at Cain. He watched as Cain's face filled with thought, the gears twisting and churning. "You should have seen her face. The agony and despair of you leaving her alone, with me was almost too good to be true. Of all of my victims, she was by far the best. I'd say even better than Adora."
Cain's head suddenly sprang up. His house. That's it. He backed away from Zero, nearly tripping over his own feet. How stupid could he have been? As he ran down the hall he could hear the sickening sound of Zero's laughs as they bounced off the walls of his newly appointed cell. Everything around Cain blurred as he raced up the stairs, taking the stairs three at a time. He was going so fast he hardly had time to stop before he plowed into his son.
"Father, what is it?" Jeb asked. He grabbed his father's arms and braced him. Cain shook his head, gasping for breath. Jeb shook his head, trying to read his father's face.
"House." Cain muttered, trying to get a breath. "Our House." He placed his hands on his son's shoulders. He gulped in more air then stood up straight. "He took her there." Jeb nodded instantly as it clicked.
"I'll alert the queen. I'll meet you in the stables." He said with authority. He patted his father on the back. "Don't worry. We'll get to her in time." Jeb waited for his father to nod before running down the hall. Cain watched his son leave, hoping his son was right.
"DG!" Cain screamed after he kicked down the door. The house was empty and quiet. He ran through the house frantically scrambling to find her. The house smelled old and looked like it would fall down any moment. As he searched the rooms he tried not to worry about the memories that surrounded him. He kept his focus on finding DG.
He entered his bed room that he had shared with Adora and looked around. The tiny room was exactly as he remembered it except for the fact that the bed linens were messed up. Like someone had tossed and turned on them. He looked on the ground and saw something glimmer in the light of the setting sun. He walked over and picked up a tiny ring, the same ring he'd given to DG. Realization hit him like train and he let out a sound he didn't know existed. It was like a cry mixed with a sob and it scared him that it came out of himself. He couldn't even fathom what went on in here, and he pushed away any thoughts until he found her. He stood up and placed the ring in his pocket, carefully tucked away. He heard his son approach the bedroom.
"What? Did you find her?" Jeb asked. Jeb also noticed the disheveled room. He had worked enough cases like these through his training as a tin man to know what may have gone on. He looked down at his feet, unable to find the words to comfort his father.
"She's not here!" Azkadellia said breathlessly as the two men re-entered the room. She noticed Cain's face and immediately froze. "What happened?" She asked. Her hand flew to her heart. "Did you find her?"
"She's not here." Cain said sternly. How could he have been wrong? This is the only place he could have thought of. He looked around the house, unable to give up fully.
"Is there any other place she could be? Do you have a trap door under the floor boards? Or do you have a secret place?" Azkadellia asked. She knew all about people building secret rooms to hide from her men throughout her rampage. Cain's old house could easily have something like that. Cain shook his head, he was certain he'd never installed something like that.
"Wait?" Jeb said with a sudden realization. Everyone looked over at him. "Come to think of it, mother had something put in shortly before the longcoats came." He looked over at his father. "Mother was worried that something would happen and you wouldn't be around." He sadly looked down at his feet at the mention of the departed mother.
Everyone looked around the room for the spot, looking for a hidden door. Cain noticed a heavy chest pushed up against the wall. Again, something obviously was out of place. The thing was always too heavy to move, so it sat near the door. Now that it was on the other side of the room he knew something was wrong. He noticed the outline of a door behind the chest and his heart sank. He knew of DG's fear of small places and couldn't imagine her lasting in something that small. He pushed the heavy chest out of the way, a sickening scratching down filled the air as it scrapped along the wooden floors. Cain's fingers searched the wall for a way to open the door and found a hidden handle. He looked over at Jeb before pulling the door open. He took a deep breath and the door opened with a creak. Cain felt a lump rise in his throat as he looked down at the woman he loved.
Bruised and battered, DG was slumped in the corner against the wall. Her color was very pale and for a moment Cain honestly thought he'd been too late. Her tiny hands were balled up into tiny fists, ready to attack if need be. His entire body tensed as he noticed her jeans were undone and halfway off of her.
Cain bent down, reaching his hand out to stroke DG's face. She looked so peaceful through all the pain. As he brushed her hair out of her eyes they flew open. Blocked by the harsh light of the setting sun, DG could only make out the outline of a tall man. Fearing Zero was back she began to panic. She screamed and swatted Cain's hands away. Using whatever strength she could manage she tried to push her self up and against the wall.
"DG, shhhh, it's me." Cain said softly. He reached for her arm and she yanked it away, banging it into the wall. "It's me, Wyatt." As DG's eyes adjusted to the light she relaxed a tiny bit, just enough to fall into Cain's welcoming arms. Her body felt tense and ridged as Cain reached down and pulled her towards him. DG grabbed him by his shirt and pulled her towards him, relieved to see him. She threw her arms around the back of his neck and cried gently into his shoulder.
"Shhh, it's ok. I'm here." He scooped her up into his arms and carefully lifted her up. He carefully cradled her head with his hand. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out as slowly as possible. He felt DG's hands tighten around his shirt, hanging on for everything she was worth. "I'm here. I'm not going to leave you ever again." He held her tight and carried her across his old house towards the door.
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