It has been awhile MAN!
I have returned from my Christmas transition and I needed time to recuperate. It took a lot out of me and the stress has not been helping. Thanks to the stress I had some pretty bad writers block and had even considered only focusing on Atoned to make it easier for me, BUT NAY NAY! I shall continue writing this tale, as Cain has demanded that I continue writing his story as per our agreement- I mean hey! New chapter guys! Wahoo!
Enjoy!
"What… are those?" Isabel asked as she kneeled down to examine the tiny balls of hatched fur that surrounded Issac. Cain had escorted her through the dark woods with no explanation, but none was needed after the demon had stated they had found a lead. As of late, conversation between the two had become minimal as both were lost to their own thoughts and at the rate it was going, even eye contact for the lady was difficult. When she looked into Cain's deep maroon eyes, she recalled that night in perfect clarity and her body in reflex would avoid the memory as she didn't have time to be a blushing ninny. So when she saw the odd twitching forms surrounding the necromancer, she was ecstatic for a distraction.
"These are my 'scouts', handy little creatures they are and so easy to rise…" Issac reached out to one and brought it closer to her. Isabel yipped in surprise and fell to her butt in order to distance herself from the unnatural rat in his hands. It had empty eye sockets in which odd patches of fur clung too and the jaw of the creature swung in detachment. Bones poked free of the patches of fur that still remained on the rat and when it rose to stand on its two back feet one of the paws from the front set fell free.
"Burn it! Burn it Cain!" Isabel's quivering tone commanded the demon, whom promptly picked her up and rose a hand to the undead rat. His fingers turned skyward and with a simple motion, he snapped. The odd creature made no sound of distress as its body perished in the orange flame and turned to dust.
Issac grimaced as the ash trickled through his fingers and he raised a brow in annoyance at the demon "must you do everything she says?"
Cain smirked and entwined his fingers with Isabel's to bring up their contracted hands that burned radiantly in the dark "but of course, as we are bound by matters much deeper then your simple human mind can fathom."
The intoxicating scent that was purely Cain wafted against Isabel's cheek as the demon spoke and she found herself pushing the demon away out of pure embarrassment. She envied the demon, that such acts were nothing but whimsical entertainment. Here she was shying away from the demon's gaze and avoiding any sort of physical contact all because she was heart fluttering mess and she detested it. In apparent frustration, she broke their hands and stalked over to Issac to begin lecturing him about the disgusting vermin he called 'scouts'.
The demon tilted his head in confusion, but allowed his mistress to break free of his arms without argument. Crimson glazed eyes watched the woman walk away rigidly and the demon's smile fell from his face. It was frustrating to watch his mistress avoid him and every time she did, it made the demon regret his decision.
I think I might be in love with a demon. How tragic…
Cain smirked and shook his indecision away like it was stagnant water clinging to his face. He moved to join the two and took his rightful place beside Isabel.
"Tell her what your bundles of death reported" Cain motioned to the rats and cringed as one began eating another. A poke to his side made the demon glance down at the woman beside him and found her pointing at the cannibal. A smirk and he snapped his fingers and all of them went up in flame. Isabel smiled and the demon felt satisfied regardless of the sigh of annoyance that broke their intimate silence.
"Those take energy to create, most wasteful…" Issac combed a hand through his silver mane and stood to face Isabel "I have heard that the mercenaries will be returning to their captain due to Mordecai's absence. They leave at dawn, what will you do my lady?"
Isabel narrowed her eyes considering her options and as she was reminded of her purpose on this errand. If the men were headed back to whoever employed them then that would take the three to who sought her out through this elaborate scheme, but the question was… did it matter anymore? She was almost certain whoever was behind this was some rich noble annoyed that she had encroached on Mr. Botley's trade route. Part of her just wanted to send Cain to eradicate them all and it was then that her stomach flipped. Where had her drive gone?
She turned from the men and walked a few steps away in order to gaze up at the moon. The bright moonlight helped relax her senses as she considered her goal. The king, she planned to overthrow him and throw city into anarchy. Once a burning desire now crackled low in her mind as the flame began to die. Her infernal hatred felt so dull in comparison as she recalled the demon's fingers trailing down her skin and those blazing passionate orbs watching. Eyes closing, she brings a hand to her heart and bites her lip as she feels a large portion of resolve start to shatter.
A hand circles her waist and pulls her to face the demon now standing intimately close "what has you troubled, Isabel? I can feel your emotions battling each other, perhaps I could-" Cain is cut short when Isabel lashes out and smacks him with enough force to push his face sideways. Heat colored the abused skin and the demon turned his head to narrow his eyes at her "might I ask what that was for?"
"I thought you promised me you would only touch me when I asked it, and yet here you are fondling me like you own me." Isabel hissed, her defenses rising in an act to wall off her rapid beating heart. "Release me, demon."
Cain continued to hold her while the two glared at each other. It was difficult to understand this woman if he compared her to normal mortal women because if it were any other female, after a night in his chamber they would not be able to resist him. Then there was Isabel, who was more snide and ruthless since that passionate night. He sighed and released the woman with a bow for extra credit "my apologies, Mistress. I will not make it again." Cain looked up expecting to see a smug smile, but when the absolute opposite sat on her features, the demon's hand itched yet again to touch her, soothe her, anything to make that distressful expression vanish. He clenched his fists and turned to walk away to allow her privacy to whatever she was struggling over regardless of his own desires.
"Cain…" Isabel's tone was low, uncertain and the demon paused to glance over his shoulder at her.
"I have to finish my goal, and in order to do that I need to be focused. I am sure you understand." Isabel's face appeared sincere as her eyes shined in the moonlight. A gust of wind brought her hair up in a wave in order to ride the current and Cain's heart clenched. He turned to face her and went down to one knee in order to bow deeply.
"I understand, my lady. Your orders?"
Blue flame lit up the stone chamber as a couple tumbled into bed in a mix of passion and lust. Nude limbs glistened from the odd light as it caught the sheen of their sweat driven desire. The female rolled the male beneath her and their matching scarlet orbs locked on each other. The man reached up and ran black polished fingers through the woman's platinum curly mane.
"How dare he mutilate such a lovely woman… I shall not sit idly by while he beats you with such detached hostility." The man curls his fingertips around the nape of the woman's neck and brings her closer so she would lie on his chest. Warm slick skin meets his and the demon's blood boils, singing its desire to lose himself in her again. A smile frames his mouth as he drags his fingers through her hair, satisfied he finally bedded the demoness. How he had desired her for years, but she had always stood faithfully behind that damned shadow and always refused his offers, most of the times violently; however, this time she had come to him. She had done so with only quarts of blood still within her system and near death, yet still her eyes burned fierce and lovely.
"He has lost himself…" The woman's soft voice caressed his skin and again his body demanded he engage in another round of passion, but instead he looked down at the top of her head.
"Lost? I cannot imagine Cain being driven from his throne, after only obtaining it."
The woman's head rose and she propped her chin on stippled fingers, looking up at him "he has become weak and now is not the time to be questioning the opportunity. Will you assist me or not, Lucian?" The women's ice blue eyes returned as she nailed the expression of a hopeless woman.
The man smiled an impish expression and he cupped her chin, pulling her up to him "I am sure you can convince me, Lara."
"As soon as we find their hideout I demand you burn the entire establishment, Cain." Isabel groaned as she stretched her arms above her out of boredom, glancing over her shoulder at the demon seated behind her. "Stop smiling or you'll share a saddle with Issac."
Cain chuckled and moved in order to allow her to stretch with ease "I would just walk, silly mortal. However…" the demon's eyes lowered to where the curve of Isabel's bottom nestled against his groin and he smiled "if you continue to squirm I may be forced restrain you."
Isabel made an irritated noise and jumped from the horse. The demon stopped the steed and scolded his lady for being reckless, but she didn't care as she walked over to Issac mounted atop their other stead. The group had found that traveling with their cart would blow their cover so they had purchased saddles for the large draft horses in order to track and follow the fleeing mercenaries. Isabel had left Cain in charge of parking the carriage and he had bowed with a smirk "It shall be done."
Issac tilted his head and stopped his horse "have you tired of your spawn?"
Isabel reached out a hand with an annoyed expression "just let me on." Issac smiled and reached down to grab her hand and Isabel was shocked by how cold his hand was. He lifted her with ease and set her before him, having curtesy to scoot back enough so they weren't completely meshed against one another. She looked back at him with a concerned expression.
"Your hand is as cold as ice..." Isabel touched her forehead with one of her hands and reached up to compare his to hers, but he reached up to stop her.
"I wish to continue living, so please stop my lady." Issac's eyes glittered as he watched Cain lead his horse over to them. He returned his gaze and squeezed the lady's hand beneath his fingers "rest assured; it is a natural side effect from meddling with the undead. The cold does not bother me and hasn't for some time now."
"Interesting…" Isabel said, fascinated. There was still so much she did not understand about the universe and she felt every answer to the unknown to be intoxicating. She leaned into Issac entranced by his knowledge but stopped when his eyes hardened.
"We have company." Cain said, dismounting his horse and moving beside the two. He pulled Isabel from Issac in order to lift her onto his vacant saddle. His eyes locked with hers and the seriousness on his face demanded she kept quiet and listen "the mercenaries approach, what are your orders?"
Isabel bit her lip as she now could hear the sound of encroaching hoofs. She cursed and glared at the thicket of the forest. "Do you believe we can obtain the information we seek through torture?"
Cain's eyes surveyed the perimeter of the overgrown foliage and frowned "There is not much to these men and I don't believe subjecting them physical abuse will hold any effect. Perhaps psychological, but that would take time for me to find what makes each cower from the light of day." The demon's eyes returned to his mistress and he smirked "what shall we do indeed?"
"Hands up, unless you wish for us to kill ya'" A man upon a chestnut Arabian emerged from the forest and several others speckled all other possible paths of escape.
Isabel sighed and whispered before lifting her hands into the air "play along, do not fight, and await further orders." Once her hands reached skyward she began blubbering and cowering in her saddle.
"Oh please! Don't slaughter us! We are but simple travelers!" Isabel's voice quivered as she addressed the man aiming an arrow at her and she felt anxious as Cain turned to watch the man, arms remaining at his side. She felt like an idiot and when she heard Issac trying his best to suppress his laughter she felt her eye twitch, however the twit did raise his arms up near his head.
The bow men narrowed his eyes at Isabel and gestured the arrow at Cain instead. "Hands up buddy, or I'll pierce that lovely wife of yours."
"I challenge you to-" Cain winced when Isabel kicked him in the middle of his spine and he brought his hands above his head, sneaking a glare to his mistress, who returned the gesture.
The bow men smirked and gestured to his men to approach the three. Several men dismounted with swords and moved first toward Isabel. Cain growled in warning and the men laughed.
"He is growling!"
"Like a hound he is!"
"Be a good boy and play dead!" One of the men brought the hilt of his sword up and slammed it into Cain's back. The demon fell to his knees and leaves began to stir from unnatural winds. Crimson glowing eyes peeked beneath his choppy white mane as he looked up at his Mistress seated upon her saddle and watched as her expression changed.
"That's a good hound, now roll over!" A swift kick sent Cain rolling and the demon landed a few feet away, his eyes dull as he stared at the setting sun. Isabel blinked, her heart clenching from watching her prideful demon accept a beating. She hated it.
The men laughed as a few of the men surrounded the pacifistic demon and one drew its blade "look at his pure white hair, let's cut it."
Isabel withdrew her dagger and slammed it into the nearest mercenary's neck. She didn't falter as she hit the ground at a run, pulling the bloody dagger free to charge the circlet of men.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Violets blazing, she ran at the men, rage driving her and blinding her. A man emerged from a blind spot and landed a fierce punch to her sternum.
It hurts… A terrified voice echoed within her head, doubling her pain. She cried out and fell to her knees, tears stinging her eyes. Never had she felt pain as intense as she had from that man's punch. She couldn't breathe and soon she found herself falling to the floor to curl herself around the sensitive area. She was unsure how long she lay there, but she was roused from her pain when Cain gripped her face.
"Order me to kill them, Isabel. I cannot act unless you allow me to-" A group of men detained the demon and he roared in rage at them as they pulled him away from his wheezing mistress. The world spun as she watched them take her demon away and soon even the colors of the world faded into darkness.
To be continued!
Not sure how often I will update this story as I kinda of want to finish one so I can focus on one or the other. We shall see. Lemme know :D
See you next chapter!