Note: Thank you very much for the reviews people it means an awful lot. So much, that I wrote the next chapter at school in my frees. This sort of moves it in a bit more…oh and I know everyone is out of character but to be honest, it only works this way.

Earl Cain/Godchild are Kaori Yuki's and all rights are hers. The lyrics at the end belong to Lacrimas Profundere. I know Cain wouldn't have heard it, it being the 19th century but I don't care They inspired me and so I want you all to see them.

Sorry for excessively long note XD You'll get used to it. Feedback love.

Cain pushed open the door to Mary's room slowly and the wondered why. He was planning on waking her anyway, so why be careful?

Once the hinges had stopped creaking, he took one step into the darkened chamber and lowered his gaze to Mary's sleeping form. She would have been a perfect sleeping beauty; he golden curls were spread out over the linen, and one arm was over the covers to leave her hand resting by her face which was-

Her eyes were open. She was awake.

"Mary?" Cain whispered, to ensure she really was awake. She nodded and moved so that she was sitting up in bed instead of lying down. Without saying a word, Cain went and sat beside her. He didn't notice her tucking a small scrap of paper under her pillow. "Why are you not sleeping, Mary?"

She shook her head silently and Cain was surprised to see something like anger mixed in with the worry on her face.

"What did you say to Riff to make him leave?" Cain gaped, not knowing what to say so she continued. "He told me that it was his fault but I don't believe him. What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything." Cain said quietly, smiling weakly at Mary to let her know he wasn't trying to argue with her. "That's the whole point. He wouldn't let me say anything."

Mary scooted over the bed to stop next to her brother. She wrapped her small arms around his waist.

"Don't be sad." She said carefully. "He said he'll try and come back."

As if waking up from a dream, Cain suddenly snapped his head around to look at his sister. "Wait, he told you that? That means you've spoken to him doesn't it?"

Mary nodded and clutched at her covers a little tighter. It wouldn't do to let Cain see her cry.

"Do you know where he's gone?" Cain asked eagerly. It seemed to him that she hesitated a moment and then shook her head.

"No. I'm sorry. But I have a message from him for you."

"Yes?"

"He said that he doesn't want to break his promise and that he doesn't want to hurt us so that's why he's leaving. Oh, and that he's sorry."

"Damn." Cain murmured. "He doesn't have to be sorry for anything."

They lapsed into unhappy silence. Cain had no idea what was on Mary's mind but all he could think of was Riff. Where would he go? Surely he wouldn't leave London…if Cain was quick, he might be able to find him before he found lodgings somewhere. It wasn't that late at night.

"If you were Riff," he said slowly. "Where is the first place you would go upon leaving here?"

Mary thought for a moment and her answer made it clear she had been thinking along the same lines. "I would go somewhere to think, somewhere to compose myself before trying to find somewhere to stay. Riff would never want to make a bad fist impression."

Cain nodded. "That's what I thought. So…he wouldn't go into a bar, not this late on his own. Although he can take care of himself, he wouldn't take that risk. S where…"

"A park?" Mary suggested brightly. "It's a warm night after all, and he's less likely to be disturbed there."

"Of course!" Cain jumped up and began to leave the room.

"Wait!" Mary cried. "You can't go alone…"

"I'll be fine." He insisted. "You stay here, go and talk to the servants for a while. I'm sure Riff said goodbye to them too, so they'll understand. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Mary didn't have a chance to say anything else as Cain left, grabbing his jacket from the stand beside the door and rushing out into the night.

There wasn't much time…

-

As Riff watched a young couple wandering aimlessly among the trees, all he could see was his reflection in Cain's catlike eyes. The couple were clearly looking for a shadow deep enough to hide acts of a scandalous nature. For a moment, he was jealous and then pushed that feeling down inside. It was wrong. It was sick.

He knew it was a sin to fall for another man, let alone a man much younger than you who's also your master. He knew that revealing it to anyone could result in his death. This didn't change a thing. He could deny it all he wanted but inside, it felt right to want Cain the way he did. Just admitting the feeling to himself felt like some splendid homecoming, like finding out who he really was.

This also didn't change anything. Cain would never understand, should never have to understand. It was better this way, better for everyone.

Yet he still couldn't stop seeing those golden eyes.

Riff focussed on his surroundings for a moment. The field was oval shaped and quite small, hemmed by a thick lining of oak trees. The couple had long vanished from sight and their footsteps could be traced by the breaks in the dew forming on the grass from the night mist. Riff fought the sudden urge to simply fall to the floor and let the water cover him entirely, so that his flesh felt as cold as he did inside.

He may have ruined Cain's life. He knew how important he was to his master and only wished he could have been satisfied with that. As long as he felt this way, he would never be happy. At least Cain had a chance of happiness left.

He thought about getting up and walking the short distance to his next destination but decided not to. He could sit here for a while longer. Perhaps the mist would invade his mind and cover all of these sinful thoughts, cover up the pain, cover up the guilt and leave whatever of Riff might remain.

He had an awful feeling that there wouldn't be much of him left.

-

Cain plunged into the trees and let the darkness envelop him.

The park was close to the mansion and had always been a favourite place to take Mary. During the day, nobody went there; the temptation of St James' was too much to overcome and Mary, Cain and Riff would have it to themselves. At night, it was the perfect place for secret activities. Riff laid his hand on the butt of his gun under his jacket, just in case.

A sudden noise made him spin around in surprise, but it was only to see a young couple leaning up against a tree, wrapped around each other. He rolled his eyes at them; they hadn't even noticed him approach. He went to warn them to be more careful but then realised that this would be hypocritical; he had almost stumbled into them himself. It must be his nerves. If Riff was as nervous as Cain was….he would he be able to protect himself?

Although this was almost an irrational thought, it spurred Cain into movement and he urged forward, clearing the trees in a few minutes. The field spread out before him, a low mist hovering over the grass. The moonlight shone down through the clouds and illuminated a line of benches near the end of the oval. Cain gasped, not actually believing Mary had been right.

Riff.

He was sitting on one of the benches, holding his head in his hands with his elbows resting on his knees. It hurt Cain to see him that way, all for something that shouldn't be painful at all. Secret, maybe. Scandalous, definitely. But wrong? Of course not.

Keeping to the tree line, Cain edged his way towards the bench, managing to get behind it without Riff noticing. Cain watched him for a moment. He seemed t be shaking and his pale hair was ruffled although he had been running his hands through it carelessly. This contrasted with the suit he still wore and made it somehow all the more sorrowful. Cain suddenly heard a snatch of a memory, Riff's deep laughter at something he could no longer remember. It hurt more than he would have believed to think he would never hear that laugh again.

He took a step forward and laid his hand softly on his valet's shoulder. Riff jumped and fell onto the wet grass ungracefully, crying out ever so slightly. Cain cursed and vaulted over the bench, coming to land beside him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaking more than he wanted it to. He reached out a hand towards Riff but he scooted away desperately.

"Why did you come looking for me?" He asked, his voice still level. Cain supposed it was extremely difficult to get Riff to act panicked.

"I guess it's too late to tell you I was just taking a walk." Cain smiled and was relieved when Riff managed a weak one back. The smile vanished completely when Cain reached out and took Riff's hand in his.

"You didn't let me speak before." He said quickly, gripping onto Riff's hand as though it was keeping him anchored to the earth. "You don't have to leave."

"Yes, I do." The certainty in his eyes was painful to see.

"No." Cain shuffled forward so that he was kneeling next to Riff who was propping himself up on his elbows. "The last thing you should be doing is leaving me."

Summoning up courage he didn't know he possessed, Cain moved forward with the intention of kissing Riff, and making it last, letting him know it wasn't wrong. He was shocked when Riff stood up and backed away.

"No. You don't have to do anything to make me stay. Nothing you can do will make me stay. I want you to stay innocent."

"Me? Innocent?"

"Yes." Riff smiled. "I could never love someone tainted by the world."

Cain just sat in the grass as Riff left, not quite running but too fast for regular walking. If he had said anything else, Cain would have chased him. As it was, he could do nothing but stare into the darkness and think.

Riff loved him. So why on earth was he still leaving? Did he think Cain was only kissing him as a ploy?

Cain sighed and slowly got to his feet at least ten minutes later. Now he not only had to find Riff, he had to convince him that his feelings were true…and convince him that his weren't evil. He walked back into the trees disconsolately, Riff's words echoing in his mind.

At that moment, he still thought he would find Riff, and soon. He still thought that Riff would believe him once he heard the words. And he still thought that neither of them would fall into a new realm of suffering.

As he walked, a snatch of a song he had once heard played through his head. The melancholy ntoes followed him home.

I cannot leave your eyes

Or think that it's over

You shouldn't hold me back

Please understand what you did

And go away later

I swear I will hold on