Omg... I am SOOO sorry it took me this long to get this chapter out. I DID NOT forget about this story... I am working on a fanfic from another fandom and got caught up there. I had some sudden inspiration for this chapter the other night and I pushed this baby out in a day.
I hope you like it! Now that my block is over, I should be able to update more regularly.
The Dark Side of Me: Chapter 6
Azkadellia led Cain through the palace to a more private location. Ambrose had taken his leave of them to make sure that the supplies and luggage made it to the proper rooms. Now, as they walked in silence down the hall, Cain had a feeling that there was something much deeper going on than just a plain old assassination attempt.
They came to the end of the long hallway they had stridden through. Az pushed open a plain enough looking door and motioned for Cain to enter. As he did he noticed that they were in a small informal library. Books lined the shelves from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. More books were stacked up in piles on the desks and next to chairs. One entire wall was a window that looked out over the lakes. It was here that Az took her place in one of the plush sofa chairs, and motioned for Cain to take a seat in the chair in front of her.
He did so, taking off his hat and placing it in his lap. He noticed that Azkadellia seemed that she was trying to figure out how to start the conversation. She stared down at her hands, flicking imaginary lint off her white skirt.
"Princess?" Cain started for her.
"Sorry..." She shook herself from her thoughts and smiled gently at Cain, "I am glad you are here Mr. Cain... DG needs you, whether she wants to admit it or not."
Cain nodded, "I am not leaving her again..." He replied softly yet firm. His emotions betrayed his voice and Az was surprised when she noted the true meaning of the words. She knew that Cain had feelings for her little sister, hell, anyone within a mile could see the "tension" between the two, but she never realized how deep it went. Cain was a broken man, and he needed DG just as much as DG needed him.
She knew she could trust him, so she went on, "Cain, DG is in trouble."
Cain shook his head, "When isn't she in trouble?"
Az nodded, "Yes, well, unfortunately this trouble lies more within than from outside..." She replied cryptically.
"I'm sorry, I am not following you." He was growing impatient. He was not one for riddles and such, he wanted the facts. He needed to know what the situation was so he can go out and solve it, immediately.
Az sighed and decided to get straight to the point, "DG is a danger to herself as well as everyone around her. Something is changing within her, and if not brought under control, she is going to hurt a lot of people, including herself."
Cain was about to ask for more details, but Az continued, "You know the prophesy. Two princesses, one drawn to light and one towards darkness..." Cain nodded, "DG has more of an inclination towards darkness, and it has always been that way... It is not that she is evil, however, darkness tends to be more easily corrupted, even by the internal struggle of the user."
Az chewed on her lip, but Cain waiting for her to continue. It was obvious that she was having a hard time with this, "Dg is powerful, more powerful than even she realizes. She inherited our mother's light and holds within herself her very own raw, arcane magic. She is doing her best to control it, but there have been... incidents..."
"Like the one outside there?" Cain raised an eyebrow.
Az nodded, "Yes like that... She hasn't ever hurt anyone, but it seems that her magic is more closely tied to her emotions. It's almost as if it takes her over and it is the one who controls her... but I believe that DG is actually the one who gives up control to her magic, and it carries out her wishes as if a trained attack dog"
"This is insane... " Cain mumbled, he had never been 100% comfortable around mages, magic was too unpredictable, "when did this all start?"
Az hesitated, and Cain knew the answer.
"When I left..." He answered his own question.
"Yes, but I do not believe that is the whole issue. DG is having trouble coping with palace life, she feels trapped. She does not remember who she was. Her memories of her childhood here in the OZ have not returned. This is creating tension between her and our parents. She cannot escape her birthright, and she hates it..."
"But I thought you were next in line..." Cain stopped her.
"Do you honestly the OZ would accept the witch as their new Queen?"
"The witch is dead..." Cain replied.
"To you maybe, but there are others who do not share your feelings, in fact, the majority would like to see me burned at the stake..." Az said ruefully.
Cain sighed, "So, if I understand correctly, there haven't really been any assassination attempts... "
"Correct... These were stories fabricated by my mother and father to publically excuse the princesses from being present at any court functions until we have this situation resolved... DG of course does not know this... and we have been hesitant to try and speak with her about her situation. Knowing DG, if we told her that she were a danger to those around her, she would run. The OZ needs her... If something were to happen to her..." Az trailed off and sighed.
"She isn't going to be happy when she finds out she has been lied to." Cain stated.
"DG must remain ignorant for the time being... " Az urged, "If for nothing than her own sake"
A comfortable silence fell between them. Cain stared out the window into the beautiful countryside that made Finaqua. His mind was racing, and he couldn't help but feel that this is more his fault than Az was letting on. He should have been there... He knew what it felt like to be trapped, hell that was partially the reason he left in the first place, but he left his princess behind, and he left her alone... She trusted him, now he had lost that trust...
"Any ideas on how to get DG to forgive me..."
"Just you being here is already affecting her. She is conflicted. On one hand she is happy to see you, but the other; she wants to stay mad at you. Her magic reacts to you..." Az wasn't sure if she should divulge anymore. It wasn't her place to give Cain the details of DGs heart...
"Yeah I have seen how her magic reacts to me... It knocked my ass in the dirt."
Az laughed, "A crime of passion..." She thought a moment and then smiled at him coyly, "You already have her heart TinMan, you just have to give her yours... She needs you to be her rock, something to hold onto so she does not lose herself..." Az said wistfully, her eyes twinkling, "but you know how stubborn Deeg can be... This won't be easy for either of you..."
Cain sighed. Obviously Az wasn't going to be any help.
DG awoke from her dead sleep sometime after midnight. She was still in her clothing from earlier and feet hanging off the bed. She didn't remember going from the couch to the bed, but she did remember someone, probably Az, trying to wake her up for dinner.
It was the first time in a long time she had slept that well. Her dreams were silent, and she thanked the higher powers especially that there wasn't a repeat of her earlier dreams about a certain former Tin Man. It was at this thought of him that DG covered her face with her pillow and groaned.
The fact was, now that she had calmed down, and gotten over the initial shock of his return, she was embarrassed at her overreaction. She couldn't seem to help it though, between the dream and the feeling of betrayal from his initial departure, she, well rather, her magic, lashed out. It was so easy for her to just give control over to the only sure thing in her life, so easy to just to give into her desires...
It did concern her however. It was becoming more and more frequent that her magic seemed to get the best of her. It seemed like she was always either blowing something up, or making something from the other side appear with the slightest thought or strong emotion. She had mostly kept herself in check in front of her parents and Az, but she knew they knew something was up.
She threw the pillow off her face onto the floor and stood up. Her stomach grumbled as soon as she did so, and she knew that she would have to seek out leftovers from dinner, if there were any.
Before she went in search for food, she decided that changing into something more comfortable would be acceptable at this time of night. There would be very few people awake, besides a stray guard or two. It's not like she would go out in her unmentionables.
With the flick of her wrist her clothes changed into a pair of black cotton shorts and a red wife beater style tank top. Her feet were bare, but that's how she preferred to be most of the time. Convinced that she was modest enough she began her trek down to the kitchen.
Her bare feet slapping against marble floor echoed down the halls. The coolness of the marble felt good on her feet, that had been in shoes for the last 7 hours while she slept. When she reached the stairs, she took them two at a time, hoping gracefully from one to the other. The sleep had done her well and she felt better than she had in a long while.
As she reached the back side of the kitchens where the staffs dining area was located, she could see the dim glow of yellow illuminating the halls. She heard voices, and assumed it to be some of the guards on break. As she rounded the corner into the mess, she stopped abruptly. There were two guards... and of course, Wyatt Cain. She could recognize the back of that man's head anywhere.
She was about to turn to leave, quickly deciding that hunger was much easier to deal with than facing him, but the two guards facing DG spotted her and stood up abruptly and bowed. DG groaned at their sense of propriety, as it now gave away her presence.
"You're Highness!" They both said with practiced unison.
Cain turned to see what they did, and DG suddenly felt very naked. His eyes almost literally popped out of his head. DG didn't meet his eyes and waved her hand in dismissal at the two guards, "Please don't do that... " She said to them, "Please sit back down, I'm just looking for something to eat" She continued, still ignoring Cain.
The guards looked at each other, one smiled coyly and the other nodded, "Appreciate it Princess, but we were just on our way out..." One of them said, "Yeah time to make the rounds, ya'know?" said the other. Guard number one picked up his sword and handed number two his as well. Meanwhile Cain's eyes had not left her.
DG clenched her jaw doing her best not to make eye contact, "Well, goodnight then..." She said turning towards the kitchen and taking her leave quickly. Cain watched her go, his mouth dry and face red. What the hell was that girl thinking prancing around here half naked in the middle of the night?
He turned back around to address the guards, and finally noticed they had left. He sat there a moment contemplating his next move. His heart was racing. He knew that if he followed her, there would be a fight, which could be detrimental to his health... On the other hand... DG was in there alone at night, scantily clad... and whether she liked it or not, it was inappropriate, and he was planning on letting her know so. Never mind the fact that deep down, he just wanted to be close to her.
Upon entering the kitchen DG stood there trying to collect her thoughts. She knew that Cain would regain his wits about him and follow her, but she needed to mentally prepare herself. If she didn't know what would happen... She was going to either kiss him or kill him... Maybe both, in that order of course.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She decided that going about her original business would be the best way to keep her mind occupied. If she focused more on the task at hand, then she would be able to better ignore him. She started rummaging around in the cupboards for some bread or dried meats to sate her hunger.
She felt Cain before she saw him. Her magic reached out towards him, and it took everything within her not to turn around. Cain on the other hand was not amused. He could feel the electricity in the air, and he knew that she knew he was there. He waited a moment for her to acknowledge him, but she didn't.
Instead she stretched up on her toes grabbing a basket off a high shelf, the shorts she was wearing riding dangerously high up on her thighs. Cain groaned internally, he should just walk away, but like DG, he could be stubborn too... and by god, she was GOING to talk to him.
He cleared his throat, and DG finally turned to look at him, her face completely devoid of all interest and emotion except for annoyance, "What?!" She snapped.
"It's late, and you are indecent princess..." He said firmly, "You should know better..."
DG rolled her eyes, "Oh, and I suppose you think you can just stroll right in here and tell me what I can and can't do?"
"You're damn right I can!" He said with a little more anger than he would have liked. She was baiting him and he was playing right into it...
"Oh really? And what gives you the right, Mr. Cain?" She said crossing her arms and leaning on the counter behind her.
"Your parents..." He returned.
DG rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah?" She pushed herself off the counter and walked towards Cain, hips swaying. She stopped in front of him hands on her hips, she looked up at him, smiling defiantly, "and what are you gonna do if I don't listen, give me a spanking?" She said before she could stop herself. She had NO idea why she said that, it just came out...
Cain, however, didn't miss a beat, "If I have to..." he said quietly, meeting her glare.
DG's stomach fluttered at his words and the sudden thought of being bent over his lap... She let a rush of air out her nose and turned on her heel and walked back over to the counter where she had gathered the supplies for her sandwich.
Cain could see the change in her eyes at his response. He could see the internal struggle Az has spoken of earlier that evening; he decided to use it in his favor. He watched her for a moment, her movements heated and angered. He walked up behind her placing his hands on her shoulders. Her skin was hot and he could feel her magic dancing up his hands, along his skin till it reached his chest; it wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling. DG jumped from the contact, her heart leaping into her throat. He turned her pressing her back against the counter.
"DG, please... We need to talk..." He pleaded, his hands still gripping her shoulders.
DG's heart was racing. She could feel his as well. His heart racing, the amusement in the way her magic danced along his skin. She could feel his guilt and his sorrow, but also something darker... it was raw and powerful. This was what her magic reacted to the most... The lust. Images of the earlier dream flashed in her mind.
Without a second thought, and to Cain's surprise, DG's arms flew around his neck and she pulled his lips to her own in a heated kiss. Cain reacted instantly and moved his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. She moaned into the kiss and Cain pushed her harder into the counter behind her.
The kiss was a struggle for dominance. Cain's hands trailed up her sides underneath her shirt, coming to rest with his thumbs just under her breasts. She gasped at the contact and nipped his bottom lip. Cain groaned and in a blur lifted her up on the counter and pressed himself into her core. She moaned, she could feel him, nothing but a few layers of clothing separating them from ecstasy. She grinded her hips into his and wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him tightly against her.
Cain broke the kiss and moved his lips to her neck. This was so wrong... it wasn't supposed to be this way... They were supposed to be talking... Not making out on the counters in the kitchen.
DG felt his sudden apprehension and quickly came back to reality. She pushed him away knocking Cain back to consciousness as well... He braced himself on the opposite counter, not meeting her eye.
"Dg what the fuck was that?" He asked hoarsely. He had never been so out of control of his own actions in his life. Was this what Az had been talking about as far as her magic controlling her, why was it doing the same to him?
DG didn't meet his eye. God what the hell was wrong with her!? She was supposed to be mad at him! He affected her, her magic wanted him... hell, who was she kidding, SHE wanted him and her magic was trying to give that to her. She jumped down from the counter and made a break for the door. She needed to think about this.
"Wait!" Cain said. He reached out grabbing her wrist, but immediately pulled back as a sudden shock burned his hand. He hissed, but she didn't stop to make sure he was okay. She had to get away from him.
So It was long...
I hope you liked it...
More to come soon... Sooner with reviews!