A/N:: I've fallen in love with a show and its name is Yami No Matsuei. I've finally finished the TV show and I'm reading the manga and all I can say is first thing to get me excited in a long time. But enough with the chatter, I'm really hyper for whatever reason, so I decided to write so this will probably be somewhat incoherent with ideas sprouting from the dark recesses of my mind. Special thanks to Hatori Soma for explaining to me what the difference between a Count and an Earl. So now I can be more correct in my story. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Cain Saga, Count Cain Godchild, or a single character in each or any other idea that is not my own. These are all the original creations and properties of Kaori Yuki. New ideas present however are mine such as plots, characters, etc.
Chapter Two:: Lucy Locket (Part 1)
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Not a penny was there in it,
Only ribbon 'round it.
"Master Cain, based on the recent information that Lord Crehador has provided us with, I think you should take a look at this information I recently uncovered upon looking into the various locations fitting Delilah's targets," Riff coolly stated, handing the young Earl, who was lazily lounging in the sitting room, a thin stack of papers. Cain raised an eyebrow as he casually read through the papers.
"Brothel?"
"Upon examining the map projecting Delilah's targets for their purchases, I noticed this small establishment was one of their possible targets, and it's next in line if the pattern continues as it seems to be. Although on the outside it appears to be merely an inn, apparently the place is all a scam, getting their clients intoxicated and then charging them for both a room and the 'services' that the women working their supply. Most men leave the place near broke and the inn does impressive business compared to most."
"An interesting story, perhaps we should investigate this inn, at least before father manages to secure it for his own purposes. These sort of places always have a dark story to them."
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"Well Miss Mary Weather sure seemed rather upset that you left yet again," Riff chuckled slightly, not donning his usual servant apparel, but instead regular clothes of the merchant class.
"Yes, I don't suppose Mary has been very happy with me lately for taking off so often like this, but the darker sides of London are certainly not a place that she should see," Cain replied, also dressed in merchant class clothing to disguise his status from the lower class clientele. The two entered a rather dark and dingy inn with a weathered sign creaking eerily in the wind advertising the name of the inn, 'The Crow's Eye,' a rather morbid name for such an inhospitable inn.
"Welcome t' the Crow's Oiye, wot can I do fo' you foine gentlemen?" a shrill older woman with a thick cockney accent greeted the moment the two walked in. Her frizzy brown hair was barely held in a bun, which was barely maintained with a generous amount of pins, and the old wrinkled face was coated in enough makeup to satisfy the whole of her 'employees.'
"We're in need of a couple of rooms for the night. We've just arrived in London and are interested to uncover a bit more about it."
"Ah, then you've come t' the roight place, though I can't promise ye'll still be here in the morning," the owner broke into a large grin, revealing crooked yellow teeth.
"What do you mean by that?" Cain asked, signing the guest book under the false name of Maxwell Barnett.
"Well, between you n' me mos' of our guests check out the next moinin' baily able t' pay wot they owe on their rooms. Lately we've even had a couple o' genlmen 'ho din't even check out n' 'aven' been seen since they checked in," the hostess whispered.
"Hmm, an interesting story," Cain smiled, taking the room key from the woman and pretending as though he didn't believe a word she said. "But I don't think I'll meet that same fate."
"Oh, I dunno, all the men I tell says the same thing n' then-."
"You filthy lil 'ussie!" A young woman yelled, as she slapped another young woman across the face, knocking her to the ground.
"But I heard you tell Madame Bradshaw that you were done with him since he was broke," the girl replied, her voice wavering from tears.
"'Oo caies, you can't jus' take someun' else's cloient jus' because they say they'ie done wif dem, get yer own men n' stop pinchin' off of the ones I already satisfoied." With that the girl stomped off.
"Are you quite alright Miss?" Cain asked, walking over in intrigue from the scene, but before she could reply the owner had her up on her feet and was inspecting her.
"Hoinestly, Eva, 'ow you expect t' eva get any suitas if you go around makin' Helene mad like that, you was only askin' foi trouble n' now it'll prolly bruise n' you won't get any clients fo' a week. But I won' continue to jus' sit back when you n' Helene 'ave you lil tiffs," Miss Bradshaw reprimanded, straightening Eva's dress and fixing her hair.
"I could care less about how many clients I please," Eva huffed, holding her arm and staring at the floor.
"I ain't too pleased wif the arrangement eitha' but rememba woiy you 'ave to work n' then it should be just a bit easia' deia," Miss Bradshaw smiled.
"Excuse me, Madame, but my dear friend and I would be happy to take care of this young lady tonight so that her work isn't hindered too much," Cain smiled, making a move as though to reach for his money.
"Oh, tha's a deia, now Eva, show 'em theia money's woith n' I'll add a special discount t' yer bill," the old woman smiled, pleased and began to show them to their room. "Heia's weia you'll be stayin' jus' let Eva know if the'll be anythin' you need," with that she shut the door behind them and the three were left in the room. Immediately Eva made a move to take her dress off, although Riff quickly stopped her.
"That's quite alright Miss, there's no need to take those off."
"Now, now, my good friend, why don't we get our money's worth?" Cain jested, though not making any sort of move towards the young lady.
"You're a sick man," Eva snapped, misery etched into her face.
"Relax, I have no desire to see your body. I merely invited you here to learn a little bit about this fine establishment and I was curious as to what's going on with all the people around here," Cain replied, clearly amused by the girl's outright attitude.
Eva sighed, shouldering the sleeves of her dress, "I suppose it couldn't hurt much if I told you a little bit of what's going on, at least so that you won't find yourself in the same trouble. You probably wonder why I don't talk like all the rest of the employees here with a thick cockney accent. I probably would if I had been from here, but you see I was originally from a higher class family. My father had taste for indulgences however and stayed at this inn one night. The only thing we found out was that he had lost everything and I was sold into prostitution to cover his debt. I was angry about having to work at such a filthy establishment but I deeply love my father and Madame Bradshaw has always protected me like I was a mother, ever since I was nine and arrived here.'
"Things went okay, I was young and inexperienced and received little business, but slowly I worked to repay the huge debt my father owed and he would come back and rack up more every time he got a cent. There was this other girl who worked here, I got along well with most of the girls here, but for some reason she really seemed to hate me. You saw her earlier, her name is Helene. Helene more or less ignored me when I first arrived and I soon learned how she worked. She would take the richest clients and pleasure them for the night and then they would leave the next morning completely broke and she would kick them out. But I discovered they still had a bit of money and pitied them, being reminded of my father, and soon I would take to pleasuring the men Helene threw out at an extreme discount of what she charged.'
"At first things appeared fine and we continued with our business. But then one day out of the blue Helene came up to me and attacked me yelling at me for stealing her clients. I was so scared I backed off and went on with my business, though highly reduced and everything was fine again, although there was now a hatred building in Helene's eyes every time we crossed paths. I thought she forgot eventually however so I picked business back up as before, my father kept falling deeper and deeper into debt so I really had no choice. And you saw what happened tonight. That was more or less a picture into what Helene makes me suffer most every day. I hide it from Madame Bradshaw, but when she's not around Helene beats me like a wild woman.'
"That's not the weirdest part of the whole situation. It used to be that Helene's clients would leave without a penny to their name, never coming back until fortune struck them again. However, recently men check into the inn and then in the morning their gone, skipping out on the bill and everything although Helene's pockets remain full."
"Thank you very much for the information," Riff replied, though Cain sat, pondering what Eva had just told them.
"Sorry I couldn't been of more help," Eva said, heading towards the door.
"Miss," Cain finally spoke.
"Hm?"
"Watch yourself."
"Thank you," Eva smiled, exiting the room with a soft click of the door.
"Something doesn't feel right about her story, why would this Helene girl get so upset about her clients finding a more financially pleasing service?" Cain questioned, as Riff began to help him take off the heavy jacket covering his frail body so he'd look like he did at least a bit of work. Cain reached up, gently brushed against Riff's strong jaw, causing the older man to shiver slightly.
"Am Oi intaruptin' somethin' genlemen?" A young woman with much too much makeup caked on her face and chestnut hair curled in tight ringlets walked in, her corset pushing her small chest so tight that her breasts were pushed up.
"No, Mr. Bartlett was just feeling a tad ill so I was going to help him to bed," Riff smiled, setting down the jacket in his hand.
"Oh, that's quoite a shame now isn't i'?" The young woman smiled, revealing her grayish teeth. "I 'ope it isn't anything too bad now."
"Uh no, I was just telling my associate here I was feeling a bit better when you came in Miss?" Cain answered.
"Oh deia, 'ow rude of me. I'm Helene, one of the otha girls heia, I saw Eva leave heia n wanted to make sure that she was satisfactory. You know that our reputation 'angs on 'ow well the girls do n' I'm the oldest n' most experienced heia so I 'ave to make sure that everything runs smoothly fo' the Madame," Helene smiled again.
"Oh yes, Eva was a most satisfactory girl as you call them, if that's all," Cain got up to begin pushing the woman out the door.
"Now, are you sure that she was yer money's worth?" Helene moved closer, pressing against Cain and brushing her lips against his jawbone, "oi are you sure you don't want a moie experienced girl?"
"What's that on your top there?" Cain asked, pointing to a small crimson stain covering some lace fringing the top of Helene's corset.
"Oh tha'? I don' roighly know," Helene stared at the stain with a puzzled look on her face, "probably jus' lipstick from one of moi otha clients. On tha' note I betta' get goin' the boys don' like me t' keep 'em waitin'," Helene flashed one more of her grey smiles before heading towards the door. On the way out she grasped the door frame, her face completely serious, "if I were you two genlemen I would be a bit careful 'round heia, lately somethin' that in't good's been goin' on n' I'd 'ate fo' a priy face like tha' t' be 'armed." And with that she left the room.
"Something doesn't seem quite right here Riff, first that Eva girl tells us to watch out for Helene and now that Helene girl comes in and doesn't even attempt to do anything and then warns us about something suspicious."
"It's the same story altered," Riff replied.
"Yes, and the odd part is that Helene didn't name who she suspected, just that something was going on, but Eva was quick to point out that Helene is up to something. Of course Helene won't come out and admit that she's been doing everything but it is a bit strange that she didn't blame anyone," Cain pondered, hand to his chin, "and then there was that spot on her shirt, it didn't seem like lipstick."
"Nothing we can do now Master, please, let's retire for the evening and then in the morning we can investigate these two girls," Riff answered, yawning, but looking as though he was just as eager to do some digging.
"I guess you're right Riff," Cain got up, heading over to the bed.
"Goodnight my lord," Riff said, heading towards the couch.
"Yes, goodnight," Cain said, falling into the bed.
The moonlight streamed into the room around half an hour after the two had gone to sleep, the steady rising and falling of breathing was the only noise heard in the room, although drunks still loudly bustled around outside. The door creaked slightly and light footsteps danced across the floor, stopping at Cain's bed. The silver of a blade glinted in the moonlight as someone raised the knife, striking down with a sickening noise as it hit.
[End Part 1]
Hopefully that wasn't too bad, it took a bit longer than planned. The romance isn't very fast, but I'm trying to take the time period into account, as this is the Victorian age homosexual love is a private affair so I'm trying to subtly add things, building up. But yeah, Happy New Year to all, hopefully 2009 will be better than 2008!