Hello! This story is back! I hope you all are as excited as I am to continue this story! :D
Thanks for the reviews for this story, especially those of you that desire for this story to continue! It made transitioning back to this story fairly easy for me, knowing that there are people out there that want this to continue.
Atoned is complete, so those of you that read it, go finish it ;D Now I can give this story my undivided attention.
Now it is time to get buried in this story, and to get Cain to stop breathing down my neck. Such an impatient demon.
Here is your chapter! Enjoy!
Cold air brushed against Isabel's senses as color began to paint her vision. It was dark out, but the overhang of trees thinned above her allowing rich moonlight to light the clearing she was being escorted through. Warmth lined her back as someone held her close to them, and she could guess she was on horseback by the gentle sway of the travel.
"...what happened?" Isabel asked, not bothering to look back at the person restraining her. She could feel the cold hands at her stomach, so a part of her guessed who sat behind her.
"Your spawn disobeyed you and asked that I escort you home." Issac explained, leaning in to speak next to her ear "your creature tore them limb from limb until only one stood. Quite the monster you have under retainer."
She turned to glare at Issac, but stopped when pain knotted in her abdomen, causing her to stop. She brought a hand to the area, brushing chilled fingertips against her stomach. Her eye brows furrowed, confused as to why the pain remained. She had been hit may times before and never once had the blow caused her such pain, but then again those that hit her before had attempted to not blemish her nor had they been trying to kill her. The hand on her stomach gave her mild relief, so she chose to leave it there and returned her focus to the road now in front of her.
"Did Cain tell you anything else?"
"I see, so you accustomed to his malice" The man sat back, allowing the woman room to curl around her stomach "not even a flinch."
Silence passed between the two and even the crickets had stopped their senseless humming.
"Is your stomach still tender?" It was Issac that finally broke the prolonged silence "you may have swelling, the area is quite hot. I can examine you when we arrive if you wish."
"Playing doctor are you?" Isabel's bored tone replied, her hand still glued to her abdomen "you didn't answer me. Did Cain say anything else?"
The woman was quite confused by the last image she had seen compared to what the necromancer reported and that wasn't the only complicated part. Before she lost sight she recalled that the demon demanded that she order him to kill them, and yet he had regardless. Why ask then? She shook her head, it didn't make sense. However, this was hardly the first time that Cain had stepped out of line when it came to her orders and this had her wondering how much control she really had over the demon. Gooseflesh broke out under her covered arms and she rubbed at them self-consciously.
"-believe he stated the process would take about a week, but he assured me no longer." Isabel perked up at the tail end of the man's conversation and with a jolt at his words, she looked back at Issac.
"Cain said he would be gone for a week?! How would resolving such a small matter take so long?" Isabel cursed as the pain flared and she winced, returning straight "blasted fragile body."
Issac was quiet, but Isabel knew the man was examining her from behind "at this rate it will take us a week to return, I am going to quicken the pace. Brace yourself." Issac caused the saddle to rock as he jostled the horse into motion and the large beast whinnied its understanding. Rearing up, the horse shot forward and carried the two rather roughly through the night.
"Welcome home, Mistress." Kaile bowed as she swung the door open and stood against it so the two could enter. "I hope your travels were pleasurable?"
"If I could remain home for years, I would not complain" Isabel shrugged out of the ragged coat she wore and the maid made easy work taking it. "Kaile, dear, please run me a bath as the woods were rather grimy."
"Right away, Mistress" Kaile bowed and then turned to the man "may I take your coat Sir?"
"So very kind of you, it must be awful to serve this woman" Issac grinned when Isabel shot a glare his direction and proceeded to take off his coat. He handed the maid the material and stretched, giving the room a once over "I don't recall there being such an establishment in this part of the woods."
"Yes, yes, in the rubbish bin, put it in there." Issac sighed as Isabel directed her servant to toss his coat. The Mistress turned and looked at him shocked "Oh heavens were you speaking? My apologies" she dipped her chin in mock apology.
Issac shook his head and gestured for Isabel to lead the way "take me where I can examine you, abdominal pain should not persist after a couple of days, especially when provoked by trauma."
Kaile's form trotted out of earshot as she went to fulfill her lady's orders "are you a doctor or taxidermist?"
"Neither, I am beginning to wonder if you listen to me at all" a hand pushed up against Isabel's lower back and pushed her forward "onwards, or I shall strip you here."
Isabel choked on the laugh that bubbled in her throat "I beg your pardon!"
The hand at her back curled and clenched the material there "if you insist on undressing here, then so be it." He tugged in warning.
Isabel sighed and moved to climb the stairs "your mad if you think I would allow you to undress me."
"Your egotistical if you believe I am doing so only to witness your naked body. At least attempt to be professional, Miss Crane."
Violets burned as they glared over at Issac and the man shrugged with a smile.
The two remained silent as they climbed the floors and finally after several minutes they approached Isabel's room. When they stepped onto the floor, Kaile was exiting and she bowed politely, turning to her Mistress.
"I have prepared your bath and supplied a cloth for you to dry with. I have not seen Cain return yet, so will you be needing assistance with your bath?"
A giggle sounded behind Isabel "a creature of destruction forced to give a girl a bath..." A hand went to his mouth and he bit his lip so he didn't burst "limitless power being reduced to controlling the temperature of the tub..." An elbow shot back and dug into the man's rips, and exuberant laughter was his reply.
"Yes, please stay to help me undress. The woods has me quite sore as of late." Isabel walked into the room and Kaile soon followed. Issac wiped the tears away and moved towards the opening, but once he drew near, the door slammed shut. The wood grazed his nose in passing and then he was left alone in the hall.
"Heh." Issac turned and leaned against the door, appearing unperturbed as he began to whistle a cheery tune.
"Was your trip a success?" Kaile asked. The girl moved behind her lady and began unfastening buttons.
"I'm not quite sure, to be perfectly honest." Isabel sighed in pleasure as the restriction at her stomach and chest reduced. She reached back and pulled her hair in a bun high on her head and left a hand to hold it. Kaile noticed and made quick work of tying a bow around the tangled mane.
"Is that why Cain has not returned?"
Isabel nodded, but allowed no further explanation, mostly because she didn't have one. It was as simple as that. Cain had sent her home so he could tie up the loose ends of this case. He was acting upon his own desires and had disobeyed her orders. She looked down at the the gloved hand that held her seal and brought her other hand over to cover it, applying pressure to the quivering hand.
"Are you worried Mistress?" Kaile moved to begin unfastening the front buttons now, and looked up with concern filled eyes "he will return, do not fret."
"I am not concerned of his safety, he can do as he pleases." A hand cupped Isabel's face, and the sudden warmth had her surprised.
"Nevertheless, he will return to you." The girl smiled as she watched color fill her lady's cheeks. Satisfied, she returned her hands to the lace at her lady's stomach. "Now then, this is all that's left" with quick fingers she released the knot and the gown fell almost instantly. Kaile gasped and brought her hands to her mouth, taking a few steps away from her naked Mistress. "W-what is t-that?"
"What is what?" Isabel looked down at her flesh. Kaile had already witnessed her scars so if it was enough to frighten the girl, then it must be new. Fear laced into the woman's mind as she scanned her skin, tracing the lines of abuse that marked her, but then something dark caught her attention. She bowed her back so she could see the odd marking on her stomach better.
A symbol, much like the one on her hand, branded her stomach. It was large and took up most of her abdomen in its circular shape. Inside was much like the pattern that Cain had branded her with, but this symbol was much simpler as it only had lines and not swords. She watched as her hand moved to touch the pattern, regardless of the heat that radiated off of it. The printed area was beyond hot and burned as hot as a kettle, but a different sensation compelled her finger to continue tracing the heat. Beneath her skin she felt as if another finger traced the symbol with her.
"So it was nothing but faithful servants of the previous lord. Such a bore." Cain tossed the corpse he held into the pile he had made within the small manor. A small satchel hung on his shoulder as he gave the manor a final once over. "My Mistress will be quite disappointed, but at least I could collect other useful routes from you wonderful men. I thank thee." Cain bowed to the mutilated body's and raised a hand to stifle the nausea that stirred in his stomach.
"You are all repulsive." Cain waved a hand and the pile of corpses combusted into a roaring fire. He moved out of the small house as the flame began to spread and looked up at the sunrise, glowering. "This took longer then I expected. I shall return home and start catching up-" Power crackled through the air, making the demon instantly aware and leaping away from where he once stood.
A large staff tipped with a serrated spade impacted the area and soon a man dressed in fine clothes landed beside the large weapon. He pulled the staff from earth and brought the tip to point at the sky, slamming the hilt into the ground.
"Greetings Cain, may I first congratulate you on acquiring the throne of the sixth lord of hell. From a personal stand point, I believe you deserved recognition, but alas that is not why I am here." From the man's other hand a book appeared and he began reciting something from within. "Cain, you have violated the terms of your Faustian Contract and have to be reprimanded. Would you like me to recite your violations?"
"Please do" Cain smirked and gestured for the man to continue.
"Very well. First, you have consumed almost every soul that you have killed."
"I wouldn't wish the repulsive souls on my kind, so I did them all a favor and consumed the toxic. Do not hesitate to compliment me on my selflessness."
"I believe you are quite aware of how that violates the contract on your hand" The man tilted his head, confusion glazing his eyes "I am actually impressed you are able to disobey, normally demons are rendered useless when they disobey their master's. Unless-" The man pointed his weapon at the demon, defensive.
"Unless you aren't under contract."
Cain chuckled then and brought up the hand that blazed violet, contract burning. The symbol quivered then and receded into the demon, leaving the pale flawless skin behind. "Quite observant aren't you? An impressive characteristic from a puppet of heaven. What is your name, Death God?"
"I have been sent to silence you demon, so do us both a favor and accept punishment." The man slipped into a crouch with a smile "you may call me Alexander, demon, and I have in fact been told that I am great."
To be continued!
Please review if you can!
See you all next chapter!
NOT RELATED TO CHAPTER: For those of you that heard about my dog from Atoned, Bella is making amazing progress. She will be returning home tomorrow and we are all so happy to be getting her back home. Thank you all for your caring words and support, we have such a wonderful community here on ffic and you all continue to make that possible.
With love,
Lovemedead18