Hello all!

Can you please let me know if your lost, I'm not sure if I'm omitting too much because in my head I know whats going on. I want to make sure you all aren't lost.

Lemme know!

Enjoy!

The three sat at a table towards the back of the inn and they all turned to watch the barmaid approaching with yet more food for their table. It seems their new recruit thought his employer would have no problem paying for his third serving that evening.

"Question for you Issac; do you only eat when someone pays? Or am I just that special?" Isabel hissed before the woman arrived.

"Of course your special, my lady. Why else would fate drive us together? I would hardly spend my time assisting someone I didn't consider worth my time or services." Issac winked at her and she responded with a roll of her eye. The barmaid finally closed the distance and reached over to place the food before him.

She granted them a large smile "my boss appreciates your business! Please, if you need anything else, just let me know!" She bowed as an afterthought and then bounded back to the bar. Issac reached over for the food with greed filled eyes, but Isabel smacked his hand, stopping him.

"Assist me then, sponge."

"Oh, another pet name? I'm honored" Issac chuckled and sat straight, his eyes watching the food as if it may vanish "I would ask that you direct your attention to the northeastern side of this inn, and pay close attention to the men seated there. There is in fact-"

"I have noticed." Cain's voice cut him off; surprising the two as the entire evening he had remained silent. "I am unsure of their intention, but one has remained focused upon my Mistress and I do not care for it." Cain then shifted his eyes to look at Isabel with a conflicted expression.

Isabel turned to look at the man gazing at her and immediately felt raw terror. She averted her eyes and looked straight forward once more, her heart racing. Instinct demanded she flee but rationality was too confused to listen. A demon sat beside her and yet that man's stare had terrified her more so then Cain ever had. She couldn't explain the terror she felt when she witnessed the man, but she felt it was compared to when children feared the dark or that of monsters. It did not help that her memory screamed she knew him, but she dare not take another glance.

"Isabel?" Cain's head tilted, considering her "what is it?" It was then that Isabel scooted closer to Cain and placed herself in the nook of his arm. She laid her head on his chest and sighed.

"He is just another swine, nothing more. Perhaps we should continue our disguises and it'll discourage him, hmm?" regardless of her small hesitation, she was able to appear confident once more. "What of them, Petrarch?"

"As I was saying, they are the mercenaries that typically get hired for the travels. However, my sources tell me that they are not truly what they seem." Issac continued, daring the demon to interrupt him again, but the threat was wasted as Cain sat absolutely still, staring down at his clinging Mistress.

How cruel you are, my lady. I cannot keep up with what you are thinking, but if it has you clinging to me then I can hardly complain. However… Cain turns his head to look at the man, his eyes narrowing. To startle my Mistress so much she resorts to quivering pathetically… The demon brings his lips to the woman's ear and spoke only to her "I will protect you, Ib. Do not fret."

Below the table, Isabel grabs Cain's hand and the pressure she exerts acts as a silent promise between the two.

Her violets opened again, seeming empowered "your sources?"

A coy smile crosses Issac's face "information from the mouths of my scouts."

"The undead, you mean" Cain said more so to clarify for his mistress.

"Correct."

"Cain, listen to his report. I am going to talk with the group that I believe manage the caravan trip." She stood then, but didn't get far with the demon still holding her hand. She halted her movement forward to turn to look back and raised a brow at Cain in question.

No words were spoken, but she was convinced the demon was very intent on her whereabouts and would be keeping watch. She smirked and pointed at his hand holding hers "possessive much?"

"Indeed." It was the demon's turn to smile and how genuine it was. A part of Isabel felt restored after witnessing the expression as she had felt conflicted about their earlier exchange. With a stir of her hair, Isabel departed the table.

"Cain, just kill every one of them." Isabel gripped as a swarm of women headed their way.

"My my, Mistress. How very cruel of you-"

His mockery was cut off instantly as Isabel grabs his collar to yank him close "I am NOT cooking."

"Oh? Are you not capable of such a simple task?" Issac emerged from his tent dressed in tight leathers as opposed to his normal attire which consisted of loose fitting clothes and a cloak. He was in the process of tying up his unruly hair, but paused to giggle "perhaps it would be best then to kill them before her cooking does."

"MISS ISABEL! COME WE MUST GET STARTED! THE MEN ARE VERY HUNGRY!" One of the taller women within the gaggle yelled over to her, as it was her job to condemn her to hell.

"Go, wife." Cain smirked and patted her cheek "I will miss you terribly."

Isabel cursed and tried very hard not to stomp like an immature child on her way to the women, but of course Cain wasn't finished.

"I fully expect a massage later, as your husband will be quite busy with such laborious tasks." He stood then, revealing his own tight fitting leather uniform and sent her a wink.

The woman squealed from such a sight and it took every amount of endurance for Isabel to not bury the demon alive.

I'll kill him.

Today was day two on the trip and they had settled in for the evening. What was supposed to be an easy infiltration was becoming an absolute nightmare as the spoiled Mistress had been introduced to the aspect of teamwork. Women were condemned to prepare breakfast, lunch and supper whereas the men were tasked to set up camp, hunt, and anything in between. However, the women worked much longer then the men did due to the surplus of them and it was maddening.

Isabel was grinding her teeth harder than the mill in her hands when she felt she was being watched. She looked up fully expecting Cain to be taunting her and for once she wished it was.

The eerie man from the tavern was leaning against a tree and it was obvious he was watching her, almost studying.

"Miss Ib, your dropping spices…" one of the shyer girls said, reaching over to touch Isabel's hand to steady her. The girl followed the stare upon the disturbed woman, and noticed the man staring at them.

"He looks at you as if you are food… You must tell your husband, Ib."

"Tell me what?" Cain appeared, as if called and moved to stand behind his Mistress. He brought his hands out and blocked her sight, the man vanishing behind the bare palms of her fictitious husband. The emblem glittered in front of her eyes and she looked up to meet his gaze. "Hello, love."

Pain stirred within the center of her chest and she averted her gaze, but Cain continued to move his hands to cover her eyes, hovering only centimeters before her irises. It was then that Isabel noticed that Cain had yet to touch her. He had been playing along as their roles dictated, but he had stayed true to his promise. Every time he would appear to grab her, there was air between those caresses, affections, and embraces. She was disgusted by the disappointment she felt with each failed touch.

"Well, as much as I would love to stay and play, I must return. We are going to scout. Footprints were found close by." Isabel looked up and Cain nodded to her, silently inferring a deeper message.

"Who will be going?" She asked in an attempt to confirm what she suspected.

"The hired hand and most of the men; however, some will stay to continue working." Cain appeared serious "please be careful." He leaned down then and appears to kiss her cheek, but it was only an excuse to whisper a word into her ear.

"Now."

Isabel stumbled to her tent, looking ill. She had told the swarm that she felt faint and apologized in order to excuse herself. She narrowed her eyes and saw that there were only two tents when there should have been three. With curiosity she peaked into one of them and glowered when she found Issac wrapped up in his bed roll.

"I thought Cain said you were all going to scout the perimeter."

"I have already done my part in this little charade this evening. It is mine that walks in which they chase… Such a spell requires payment…" Issac yawns, eyes droopy "now, unless you wish to join me, shoo."

Isabel makes a disgusted noise and slaps the tent entrance to enter the other hut. She takes two steps in but freezes when she realizes two bed rolls within.

What the hell is he thinking?!

"I don't have time for this…" She quickly changed into an outfit Cain had obtained when they spoke of this plan. It was relatively simple, the two would create a distraction and she would scout the mercenaries' tents. The demon had flat out refused at first, but Issac had seen reason. It would seem strange for a man to stay at camp in any ideal situation, and they were trying very hard as to not arouse suspicion. After much debate, Cain had agreed regardless of his dislike of the plan.

She slipped out of the tent in her midnight leathers and at the speed of an encroaching lioness, she approached the tents. She chose the closest and slipped inside gently closing the flaps behind her.

The tents were standard. Bed rolls, clothes, spare weapons, and knick knacks unique to the current tenant. She was getting anxious as time passed, worried they would return so her search became more frantic. Clothes flew past her ears as she tossed them without much remorse and because of this she found an envelope. It had been hidden and she silently praised herself for her animalistic behavior. She slipped a finger in to withdraw the parchment, but narrowed her eyes as she attempted to read the note in the darkness. She moved closer to where the moonlight hit the tent the brightest and strained her eyes to see.

"This mission should be simple.

Interrogate merchants and learn of their whereabouts.

If they are headed to these areas"

Isabel's eyes widened as she saw the route they were taking listed next, in exact words. She continued reading, her heart racing in excitement upon finally finding evidence.

"Collect them and their merchandise. Further interrogate them to learn if they are puppets or he who holds the strings.

If it is the puppeteer, then bring them to us.

In the case that it isn't

Exterminate them."

"Well well well… What have we here?"

A chill like none other ran up Isabel's spine and she froze in place, her stomach flipping. That voice… She knew that voice. It couldn't be him, there was no possible way it could have been him. Her body painfully turned her head so she could look at the male crawling into the tent behind her.

"I've missed you little one. I was most distraught when you escaped, as I don't 'member setting you free. Now show me my markings, it has been so long since I touched 'em."

To be continued!

Poor Isabel, she just can't catch a break.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you all next chapter!