A/n: Sorry this is a long time coming, but I just have so little drive to continue my writing these days. I'll continue for my fans though, whether there is one (probably closer to the truth) or a hundred of you. If someone can take some joy out of my stories then I will see them through to the end. My n key isn't working which really sucks so to write this I'm having to copy and paste the n, so hopefully I get a new keyboard soon. Anyway, sorry that was long winded and 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 Five::Roses Are Red Part II
Before I begin, I feel that I should put this warning, this is an extremely graphic chapter with some sensitive materials that might offend some readers. Read on with caution. If you still want to read but avoid the darker materials, I will post a warning for where you might want to skip, it should not impair the story for you too terribly.
Cain closed the door to this room for the evening. The room was gaudily decorated in demure crimsons with a fireplace casting a haunting glow over the room. Beast heads were posed to snarl on the wall, more than likely trophies of the previous owner.
"Any bets on the likelihood that we will have a murder mystery on our hands tonight?" Cain joked to Riff who had rejoined him after the meal. Cain reclined lazily in an overstuffed burgundy armchair located near the fireplace. "This place is a perfect cliché, the gaudy dark décor, the insane hostess who is so unknown, the dark and stormy night, and our complete isolation."
"Milord, it seems rather distasteful to joke about people's lives," Riff chided.
"Always the proper gentleman, Riff. Please forgive my roguish mannerisms, I am simply not the outstanding citizen you are," Cain sourly answered.
Riff blushed, "milord, I merely a-."
"No need Riff, it is not that big of an issue," Cain leaned forward in his chair. "Now would you care to continue our little episode of scandal that was rudely interrupted earlier?"
Before Riff could answer there was a heavy knock on the door.
"Blast! These harpies are constantly working to ruin my efforts!" Cain cursed. Riff just shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Don't think that innocent look will excuse you, this will be continued when I can get a damn moment of peace."
The knocking continued, "Master Cain, are you in there?"
"I do apologize, you may come in now, I was not previously decent," Cain replied and the door opened.
"I apologize for disturbing you, but I was wondering if you would care to accompany me for a spot of tea in my private tearoom?" Lilith smiled, walking into the room.
"How could I turn down a lovely lady such as you?" Cain replied, kissing her hand.
Lilith blushed, "follow me then if it pleases you. I will show you the way, your manservant may accompany us if you so wish, I am not like my mother, I do not put myself shoulders above the working class, I know where I came from. We have not always been noble."
Cain followed her to a small room, even more darkly decorated than the rest of the house. There were strange symbols all over the wall, looking to be demonic in origin, similar to some of the symbols Cain had glimpsed in one of the books in the library. There were black candles set about various locations and macabre artifacts lined the walls.
"I know this room is horribly unpleasant, it is to my human sensibilities as well, but the room seems to calm the demon's wrath slightly, so I forced mother to give me this room as my own private quarters where I can get away from everything. This used to be my grandfather's study. We knew little about him as mother was thrown out when she was just a girl and got pregnant, but the servants say that later in life he became obsessed with the dark arts and attempting to stave off death, perhaps where my mother got her fancies from. No one will bother us here; mother has made this corner of the house inaccessible to anyone to avoid scandal."
"Your mother has certainly changed from the rebellious youth who attempted making deals with demons and the waif that has taken every aspect of nobility to heart," Cain commented, as a tea cup was placed before him by a servant.
"She has always had these delusions of grandeur, she only became involved with demons to better herself. She was a working class lady with an upper class attitude which always leads to trouble. No one much cared for my mother and I think as cruel as it was that she would receive wealth when she so little deserved it, people were mostly glad because it meant that the upper echelon, who are all too familiar and accepting of such an attitude, would have her and they'd never have to seriously deal with her again." Lilith sipped her tea, staring intently at Cain.
"You speak so ill of your mother, surely you cannot completely despise her," Cain spoke. Lilith slammed her tea cup on the table, getting very red in the face.
"Would you bear anything but complete hatred for someone who tried to destroy your existence and proudly proclaimed it at every moment? Would you be understanding of someone who turned you into a monster and kept you shut in while showing nothing but contempt for you every moment of your miserable life? How can you forgive that?"
"It will be alright Lilith, my father too attempted to dispose of me when I was young, he never showed me real love either. But I found someone who finally pulled me out of that abysmal hole that I had fallen into and who helped to show me the light. I am sure you too will find such an individual," Cain explained.
Lilith began to laugh, starting as a gentle giggle before escalating into that haunting cackle that she had produced earlier. Her gold eye glinted in the candlelight, revealed when her bang fell from her face when she threw her head back in uproarious laughter. "My mother didn't tell you why I was committed did she? I used to have the very person that you are talking about. He was so gentle, so kind, he was going to take me away from my horrible existence with her. He saw the demon and he accepted it. He loved me wholly. And my mother couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand that I was getting away while she was trapped because of me, that I was loved while she was alone.'
-Those readers who are interested in skipping extremely dark section, it begins here-
"I soon discovered that I was with child, his. I told him the great news, but feared at the same time the stigma that comes from being unwed. My mother refused to give me to him for marriage, though we still continually met in secret. He wanted to take me away so we could raise our child in peace but I knew it was futile. Without my mother's permission I was stuck here. So I suffered, continually doing all the hard tasks my mother threw at me while suffering from the pains of pregnancy. Samuel, his name was, did everything in his power to ease my burden, showering love on me and our unborn child.'
"And of course as time passed I started to grow, and it got harder and harder to hide my condition. My mother initially thought that I was gaining weight rapidly and panicked, for what is more unsightly than an overweight daughter, she cannot be married away. My food was severely cut back to the point that if Samuel had not given me food my child and I would've both perished. I continued to grow and my mother became furious. I was not aware, but she followed me one night on my rendezvous with Samuel. She quickly discovered what was going on. I do not remember much after I got home that night, my next memory was lying strapped to a table in excruciating pain. I tried to scream but the wench had gagged me to avoid neighbors discovering what mad medical practices she was up to. I looked between my legs and there was my mother, carelessly pulling my child, our child, from my womb. The symbol of our love was killed by this insane woman.'
"I cried, both in pain from her ruthless excavation of my womb and from heartbreak at the loss of my child. The only thing that gave me heart was that I still had Samuel, and that perhaps we could try again someday, once the loss of our beautiful child had finally abated somewhat. I would never get that chance however, my heartless mother was not done tormenting me. She removed the gag from my mouth before she walked over to a table in the corner of the room where a single bowl was sitting. 'Now demon, you told me that blood collected from the womb would promote eternal youth, being the blood that brings forth life after all.' 'That is correct.' I began to speak, but it was not me who was speaking, but rather the demon. The tone of my voice was changed, rather otherworldly and breathless. A pleased look crossed that bitch's face as she put the tips of her finger into the bowl and began to rub whatever was inside all over her skin. I quickly realized that it was my blood. She was bathing in my blood like it was water. The sick hag even began to drink some of it, as I was dying on a table she was drinking my lifeblood as though my life meant nothing. I was sick, unable to bear the sight of such an atrocity, yet at the same time the demon forced me to look. I cried as I vomited again and again, dry heaving once there was nothing left in my stomach.'
"'Now you will see my true fury you worthless tramp,' my mother coldly said, spitting in my face. 'I have not fed your master in a while.' And she laughed while she positioned me, still bound to the table to see my beloved bound in a circle. I cried and screamed, all to no avail, knowing exactly what she was planning. The demon was talking to me the whole time, in delight over its sacrifice, getting excited to feast on his flesh. I cried, I wouldn't let him, I would not allow my Samuel to be ingested, and certainly not by myself. Samuel was looking at me in horror, crying himself over the horror that he had just witnessed. 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!' I cried telling him over and over. 'It's not your fault Lilith, I just wish that I could've protected you better.' Samuel replied, laying his head down in defeat. My mother took her ceremonial dagger over to him and cut his stomach open. He let out a wet cough, blood pouring from his mouth as my mother started to pull out his entrails. He gave me one last loving glance before his eyes were dead, like the rest of him. I let out an unreal scream and my mother slapped me across the face, before walking back to the body and reciting the incantation to set the demon free.
"I was then inside myself so to speak looking out as the demon guided my body over to my beloved Samuel and began eating. I fought and fought for control, unable to stand it. I finally won out and proceeded to retch, vomiting out all of his flesh that I had consumed. I ran away, blood pouring from between my legs. I was lightheaded from blood loss but I made it to the river, where I cast myself in. I thought I had done myself in, but someone pulled me out and brought me to an asylum for attempting to take my own life. I had nothing to live for anymore though, how could they know that it was my only escape? My mother told the doctors that I had been raped one night and discovered I was pregnant with his child. I had originally intended to have the child, but had been overcome with depression and dug into myself until I had removed the baby and proceeded to kill him before trying to end myself.'
"I tried to explain to the doctors what had really happened, but who would believe such a fantastic story? I sounded insane just telling it. I stayed there for months before I realized if I didn't lie I would remain there forever. I didn't want to go back to that horrible woman, I just wanted to escape, but they believed that I was still a danger and released me into her custody. I have known what you speak of, but I ask you, after hearing my tale can you honestly expect me to hold anything other than contempt and hatred for that monster?"
-If you chose to skip the above section you may start reading again—
"You have led a truly dark life milady," Cain finally spoke, his face betraying none of his feelings.
"But you'll protect me and make things all better won't you milord? You can give me a child to fill this womb that has been empty and my child can have the second chance that it was previously denied. You'll do that for me won't you milord? I am not as old as my mother, we are the same age," Lilith began to giggle slightly and sat on Cain's lap, rubbing his crotch and forcing herself onto his lips. She kissed him furiously and began to slip the top of her dress off. She unlaced her corset and let it fall to the floor, exposing her white breasts. She took Cain's hand and attempted to put it onto her breast but he sharply pulled back and gently pushed her off of him. He stood up, straightening his suit.
"Milady, you have expressed grievous events in your life, truly, but it is not my place to take advantage of you in such a state. We do not know each other, I assure you it would be a great mistake to get entangled with me," Cain replied, attempting to be as polite as he could.
Lilith reared her head, cackling, still half dressed. "The demon demands this child Cain. It was furious with my mother for denying its child, the child who will bring about the end of days! I will have my child Cain, and no one could be a more fitting father for this child than the lord of misfortune himself!" Lilith continued to cackle as Cain left the room, shutting the door behind him and jammed a chair underneath the knob, keeping her in there. She began to bang on the door.
"Cain! Open this door this instant! You will father this child Cain; together we will bring about the end of days!" Lilith screamed.
"Milord, she is clearly extremely mentally disturbed, but you cannot leave her trapped in there," Riff finally spoke, shocked at the events that had just taken place.
"She will eventually be released, but I believe that it is better for us all if she remains locked away until she regains some semblance of the tiny sliver of sanity that she still possesses," Cain sighed, walking away. "So what do you make of her story with your medical knowledge?"
"I believe that girl is deeply disturbed, as is her mother if you can accept her story as fact. She has experienced a great tragedy in her life after constantly being fed nonsense about a demon possessing her and I believe that that has resulted in her developing split personalities. I think however that these personalities can communicate, at least somewhat, and that the demon personality that she has created is slowly becoming the dominate personality, and will eventually completely take over. This is from a purely scientific standpoint however," Riff explained.
"So you're saying that there's a possibility that a demon is really possessing this girl?" Cain raised an eyebrow, "I never took you for the foolish superstitious type."
"I am hardly inclined to believe in the possibility milord, the chances of that being the case are astronomical, in total likelihood she is a deranged girl with a deranged mother and they both put way too much stock in the supernatural," Riff replied.
"At any rate, I think we should get as far away from this wing of the house as feasible, I am certain Lilith has not given up her attempts in the slightest," Cain replied.
"Do you think that we should leave milord?" Riff asked.
"It is almost impossible in this weather, plus I always like to see a mystery through to the end." Cain stared intently at Riff, "at any rate I have complete confidence that you will protect me should anything too devious arise."
"I will protect you with my life milord," Riff bowed slightly.
Cain scoffed, "really Riff, still so formal with me even if we are now to be lovers."
"I am sorry mil- er Cain, it will take some getting used to to address you without my usual formality," Riff replied.
"Well I hope you can get over your aversion soon, I quite enjoy it when you refer to me by my name."
Cain sat in the study from earlier, skimming over some of the books in mild interest. "Amazing the atrocities these people will perform for a belief with absolutely no basis in reality." He set the book down and looked at Riff who was deep in thought. He walked across the room and perched himself lightly in the older man's lap, gently stroking his brow as he looked into Riff's grey eyes. He gently kissed him on the lips, shaking the other man from his reverie.
"What are you so deep in thought about?" Cain asked, lightly kissing the man's lips again and moving down his neck. Riff shivered slightly in pleasure.
"I'm just wondering about the events, this truly seems beyond our usual scope of usual detective work. These are people with extreme mental issues and I'm thinking that this is too dangerous, I believe at our earliest convenience we should leave this twisted manor and never call on these people again, perhaps even get the authorities to look into them." Riff embraced the Earl gently, causing feelings to well up in Cain of his youth when the man would continually comfort him in his despair over his father.
"You lack the detective soul, same as ever Riff. But something doesn't sit right with me about the whole situation. Dark arts, sorcery, does it happen to raise any suspicion?"
"You don't possibly mean that you believe Delilah is somehow connected with these two?" Riff asked.
"With their deadly dolls it honestly doesn't seem like much of a stretch to assume that they would aid in the demonic," Cain responded.
"Do you believe that Disraeli is here as well?" Riff asked.
"I wouldn't doubt it, something of this scope seems right up his alley, and the fact that I was invited only goes to further my suspicions given his vendetta against me," Cain replied, snuggling into the man's chest.
"What do you propose we should do then?" Riff asked. Before Cain could reply a shrill cry echoed across the house. Cain and Riff bolted up, running into a small sitting room. Lying sprawled on the floor was one of the guests of the night, the portly gentleman who had sat next to the Baroness at dinner. His eyes were opened wide in surprise and a small trail of blood ran down the side of his mouth. His stomach was cut open and his entrails were thrown all over the floor. The scream had come from one of the servants who had come into the room.
"I told you Riff, it is the perfect scene for a murder."