This chapter was most amusing.

Enjoy

Cain approached the nearest tavern he could locate and walked to the door, but suddenly stopped when the dull light from within highlighted his mistress's skin. He recalled she was bathed in blood and her appearance would most likely cause a scene. There was always the option to kill the inn keeper, but the demon was full at the moment. There had been many to exterminate earlier, so killing the keeper would be troublesome. He backed away from the door and glared down at Isabel. No money, so I shall have to obtain it, but first… Cain slipped into a nearby alley and kneeled down to cradle the woman in his lap. By doing so he was able to maneuver the blanket she had messily wrapped about herself. He tasked himself with cocooning his mistress so that only her face peeked from beneath. Cain stifled a laugh at how ridiculous this made the woman look and decided she would stay like that for the remainder of the evening. This should teach her to not conveniently fall asleep in the future.

He stood then, content with his work and pondered how he would acquire money. He considered back tracking and searching the pockets of the men who would be ash by now, but he was interrupted from his thoughts as a man was suddenly thrown from a neighboring door to the inn.

"Aw' ta hell wif ya'!" The man drunkenly stood back up and swayed back and forth towards the tavern Cain had almost entered. "get me ah' ch'age of clothes an' 'm off to tee next one…" The drunkard stopped before entering to wearily fish around his clothing looking for something amongst his pockets.

"Pardon me, sir. Might you be searching for this?" Cain stood behind the man and leaned over the drunkard's shoulder with a silver key in his outstretched hand. His eyes glowed in the swirling darkness that was now surrounding the two. The man took one look at the demon's face and his lip began to quiver in terror.

"…yes" the man managed to squeak, but then froze petrified as the human skin upon the demon's face melted into shadows, leaving only the fierce red orbs to continue their unending stare.

"I too seek this key. Give it to me and I shall not harm thee." Unnatural whispers spoke from origins unknown and the demon had no mouth in which to speak. It was then that the man's eyes rolled back into his skull and he promptly fell over as his sanity could take no more. The shadows vanished instantly as Cain returned to his human image and jumped from the man in disgust. "It wet itself, repulsive." The demon pocketed the key and groaned as he realized he would have to hide the man if he was to take homage at this particular inn. "Such a nuisance…" he reached down grabbing the man by the back of his collar and began to drag him into the alleyway. Once there he picked the man up and hastily threw him in the garbage, but as the can wasn't large enough for the drunkard the result was not ideal. The man looked as if he had dived into the garbage, but the fat of his sides resisted the small opening causing the man to only make it half way. In result, his legs now stood erect from the trash heap looking like the most unnatural trash effigy. Cain's eyes flashed in irritation and fire began to glow upon his free hand as his patience was reaching its limit. The faint tinkle of women's laughter stopped the demon from setting fire to the rubbish.

"Those men simply love to gamble don't they?" one richly female voice purred to her companion.

"Aye, but can't complain when they tip us so well can we?" another female voice replied mid laughter. He watched as the two women walked past the alley without a care in the world. An idea dawned.

Cain's eyes returned to his victim who was on the verge of becoming conscious as the legs began to twitch in discomfort. Grinning, the demon began to loot then man's pockets and successfully acquired a handful of coins. "I am content with your misery, human. Farewell." A moan of pain was the reply the demon received.

Cain rounded the corner and entered the inn with his mistress cradled in his arms. Upon the door opening the man standing behind the desk looked up and nodded in greeting.

"A room for the both of you?" the inn keeper questioned, pulling out a tome to promptly begin flipping through his registry.

"I have one already I believe. I won this key in a wager this evening" Cain lifted the key to show the man who replied with a roll of his eyes.

"Idiot… let me show you to the room then. Come with me" the man left his desk to proceed up the stairs and Cain followed suit.

Moments later, Cain had shut the door of the room once inside and leaned against it with a sigh. Next time, I shall simply kill the inn keeper. He strode across the room and set the woman upon the cot to rest. It was incredible she was still so deep in slumber, but the demon could understand why. He knew not of this woman's past but believed no human had endured as much pain as the woman lying before him. Call it a hunch if you will, but the demon had lived for eons and in respect he had observed the creatures in their entirety. Thus humans had ceased to surprise or even enthrall the demon which is why he had retired from Faustian Contracts, so why now did he wear his ancient symbol?

Isabel began to struggle from beneath her cocoon and murmured in sleepy frustration. Cain watched in interest as she squirmed in her mission of freedom from the cloth. He smirked knowing fully well that she would not be able to escape, as he had woven her within. His amusement shattered when the woman before him began to thrash violently all of a sudden.

"LET ME GO!" Her eyes shot open but were glazed over as she was recalling a nightmarish memory. Chains, cells, whips, and blood… Hands, so many hands… The door of a cage opened and screamed in metallic malice as blood began to pool from within…

"Isabel, it is time to wake up." Cain leaned over her and held her chin firmly. The woman rapidly blinked her eyes as she escaped her nightmare and was forever grateful to be awake, until she noticed her circumstances. The demon had shredded the cloth that covered her and she now lay nude beneath him. He held her chin and was looming over her with an unreadable expression. Her brows knitted together as anger surfaced at full force.

"Cain, GET. OFF." Venom dripped from her growl as she glared up at the demon.

"Ah, I see you have finally woken up." Cain straightened and sat beside the splayed out woman. "I am most curious what you were dreaming about."

"I order you to look away and allow me some blasted privacy." Isabel brushed off the question and dug her nails into the blanket beneath her. She pulls the cloth over her in an attempt to cover some of her flesh, but as the demon sat upon the sheet the task was futile. "Could you move?"

Out of obligation Cain turns his head away from his lady to focus on nothing in particular but remained seated beside her. He could compromise, see?

"I find it hard to believe that you would be shy, mistress." The demon said, crossing a leg in an attempt at comfort.

"I am not shy. I am simply tired of you loathsome predators gazing upon what is not yours. As of today I will not reveal my body to any of those unworthy." She rose from the bed and walked over to the wash closet. "Now then, be a dear and go downstairs to fetch me some water as I wish to cleanse myself of this dreadful past."

Cain stood then and vanished into the hallway on his mission. Isabel watched the demon go and once he was gone she slipped into the wash room. It was small, but definitely better than anything she had at home. She leaned against the ancient tub and soon found herself lost in thought. This was not the first time she had dreamt of those darker times and it would not be her last. She shook her head as she fought off the terror which lurked beneath her eye lids. How long would these visions continue? They will continue until I become stronger and now I shall with Cain… the demon Cain. She never thought anything after the life she had suffered would terrify her, but then he existed.

"Mistress, your water" Cain shouldered the door open as he carried two large buckets. Once inside the cramped room he set them upon the ground in front of the tub and when he straightened his eye were shut. "If you would like, I could assist you-"

"Your eyes are closed…" Isabel thought aloud and the demon sighed in exasperation.

"Yes, because you ordered me to allow you privacy unless you are permitting me to look now…"

"No, no. I was just surprised" the woman grinned as she considered his offer. "How shall you assist me if you cannot see?"

It was Cain's turn to smile and he did so wickedly. Isabel was grateful the demon's eyes were shut for a completely different reason now. "Permit me to do so and I shall show you, my lady."

Several minutes later Cain sighed for the tenth time in annoyance. "When I said I would assist you I did not mean be your damned water brat."

"Hush, you're a wonderful waterfall if you keep quiet." Isabel purred from within the tub as she scrubbed every surface of herself.

"You looked lovely in red earlier, Mistress. Perhaps I could paint you with your own." Cain threatened as he poured the thirteenth bucket upon her spoiled head.

"Ib, call me Ib." She suddenly said, causing the demon to blink from the tangent.

"Come again?" Cain asked, mildly annoyed his threat had held no effect.

"You have called me many titles and all seem unworthy as of the present. I wish for you to call me Ib. Once I have achieved the status of a Lady or Mistress, you may call me them at that time. For now, just Ib will suffice." Isabel stood then and turned to face the demon who still held his eye lids shut.

"May I suggest a compromise then as you are a lady regardless of status and thus I shall call you Lady Ib." He offered a hand blindly, but it was damned near perfect placement.

Isabel smiled and took the demon's hand who helped her exit the tub and handed her a fresh linen in which she took to begin drying herself. "I find that most agreeable, Cain."

"Excellent, then may I ask Lady Ib, what are orders?" Cain leaned against the wall of the wash room and even with his eyes closed the woman felt the demon watching her.

"First clothing, as I have none. Then we shall see about acquiring a place of operations."

Cain nodded and slipped past her into the room. He soon returned with a small bag that jingled when he set it upon the small vanity before her. "I assumed a wardrobe would be our first course of action so during one of the trips to fetch water I journeyed back to the brothel. Mostly ash remains, but I was able to find some valuables." The demon then reached for his hood and brought it over his head. "I leave the chore of the clothing to you and in the meantime I shall arrange a most immaculate castle." With that he turned and headed for the door.

"Wait! I have nothing to wear." Isabel panicked as she watched him walk away looking as he had when she had met him.

I shall simply take my leave.

Cain stopped then, cowl over his eyes, but Isabel noticed a grin beneath the ragged cloth "I shall return, Isabel." The demon then gestured to the small bag which had gone unnoticed this entire time. "There is some clothing in there from the previous owner and…" His smile turned playful "Might I suggest wearing a belt."

To be continued.

Woo! Chapter three! Loving this!

Thank you all for reading, and I shall see you next chapter!