Author's Note: The muse of writing has seen fit to grant me the inspiration of churning out another chapter. (I knew she owed me after all those school papers) Without further ado, here it is!

Somewhere in a dimly lit room, Liliana opened her eyes and woke up with a start, desperately trying to remember when she fell asleep.

"Are you frightened, my dear?" A male voice chuckled. "You certainly have every right to be."

Lily squinted her eyes and saw the outline of a man standing in front of the closed doorway. He stepped toward the couch she was lying on, and when she gazed up into his wide smile and bright eyes, the young girl felt like she was looking at the devil himself.

"My, my, my—your beauty is quite exquisite. Now I know why Jizabel insisted that I see you for myself . . . and why our beloved Cain decided to plant his seed within you."

Alexis began circling her as if she were a trophy on display. Lily had never seen him before in her life, but somehow she knew that he was very powerful and very dangerous.

"Who are you? And how do you know that I . . . that I carry his child?"

"Does that really matter now at this point in time?" He asked as he sat down next to her, grasping a lock of blonde hair, and bringing it to his lips, letting her sweet, gentle fragrance infiltrate his olfactory senses.

Lily's breathing came at a faster rate. She was practically frozen to the spot.

"Card Master, if I may, the young lady has been through a series of trying events. I recommend letting her rest now—large amounts of stress aren't good for someone in her condition."

Alexis looked to the door where Jizabel was now standing, his piercing gray eyes submissive yet imploring.

"Best to follow the doctor's orders, my dear. I look forward to seeing you again." He left her with a gentleman's kiss on her petite hand, and walked out the door without another word.

"Here—drink this tonic. It will calm your nerves at the very least."

Jizabel handed her a small glass full of a translucent blue liquid. She stared at it for a moment before she took a small sip.

"It's not poisoned—you're far too valuable for us to get rid of you like that."

"The being growing inside of me is the only thing that makes me valuable."

"How very observant of you . . . you'll make a fine subject indeed."

The tall, lean physician bowed to the now solemn-faced girl, and left the room, making sure to lock the door behind him.

~*~

Later that evening in the Hargreaves' mansion, Lord Cain was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace in his drawing room, furious that his efforts were getting him nowhere.

"My lord, the hour grows late. Perhaps a good night's rest will clear your head and give us a fresh start tomorrow morning."

Cain turned to face his beloved manservant.

"No, Riff; not until I find the reason why Lily was kidnapped. Unfortunately, we don't have any good leads on DELILAH's recent activities, so God only knows what sick, demented rituals or experiments they want her for!"

The Earl's golden green eyes reflected the eerie firelight, manifesting his growing passion and anxiety as if he were a madman.

"Is it possible that he cares for this girl more than he realizes," Riff mused to himself. Before he could voice his thoughts aloud though, Cain stopped pacing and simply stared into the pile of glowing embers left in the fireplace. When he turned to speak, his eyes were gentle and calm, and his hair shone like beautifully cut obsidian. The blonde manservant was absolutely mesmerized.

"You're probably wondering why I feel so strongly about saving Liliana. You think I'm in love with her, don't you?"

"I won't believe anything you don't tell me yourself, sir."

"That's a safe answer, Riff," the Earl chuckled. "I wouldn't blame you for reaching that conclusion. What gentleman in his right mind wouldn't want to risk life and limb for such a fair maiden, especially when she's more than capable of stealing a heart or two? But there's more to it than that, Riff . . . this has become a very personal matter to me."

Cain moved to sit in an armchair close to the dying fire, and Riff instantly came to stand behind it.

"You're afraid of losing her, sir, just like the others."

The young noble flinched from the bluntness of his butler's statement, but he knew that it was true.

"Yes, you're right. I've made a commitment to stop my father's organization, and if I can prove him wrong by saving at least one person . . . then maybe, quite possibly . . . I can save myself."

He reached for Riff's hand, and brought it to his forehead, closing his eyes and stroking the tips of the other man's fingers in silence.