Gaide's Reign

Book Three

Chapter 21:

Karmagan; one of many underground places that existed in Gaide. Many would consider these places safe havens for those who were banished from the daylight. Others would call them complete hellholes; in both the literal and figurative sense.

Nonetheless, Kaine hated being there.

He mumbled to himself, shifting from one side of the sidewalk to the other, absently staring up into the gravel sky. Bugs twitched as they hit the lampost lights. Kaine watched them fall to the ground, having quite a lot on his mind.

"It's right this way, ma'am."

Kaine's head flicked up as he saw a familiar face lead a group of humans down into the underground.


"Um, are you sure this is right?" the father asked, sniffing the air.

A little girl clutched close to her mother, gripping onto her pant leg.

The blonde man leading them smiled charmingly. Kaine could see the mother waver a bit at his inhumane charm.

It was more than obvious that they were unaware that he was, in fact, inhumane.

"Yes," he reassured,"There are underground passageways like this all over the city. People still use them today because ot gets them to work faster."

Another tourist took a picture of the road, and of Kaine watching them idly by a lamppost, and smiled brightly.

"Now, now, this way to the hotel." The blonde led them through another passageway, and they all followed suite.

The child looked back at Kaine once more, eyes wide and alive. Kaine flinched for a bit, then turned away as soon as he could.

He heard a door shut, then about 5 seconds of ear bending, unbearable screaming.

As a final blood curdling howl ceased, he exhaled loudly, because he held his breath the entire time. Kaine wasn't suprised in the least bit; humans oblivious to the war & to mythical creatures still existed in many areas of the world. They get led down and killed everyday. Good hunting strategy for them.

Yet no matter how many times he's seen it, Kaine would always find himself cringing. He promised himself he'd never do that.

After he was sure that the guide was done sucking blood, he started walking again. From the drunken blood came assurance that he wouldn't be tempted to take down any one of them that was still alive.

"Kaine, why do you listen to that?" Morgan approached Kaine, blinking slightly at the dust and dirt in the air. She looked rather uncharacteristic, bundled in a very large cotton sweater, covering her endowments intentionally. She watched him carfully for a moment, before turning her gaze in the direction of the sounds of torture. "It might be easier to not... surround yourself."

He was slightly started. Once recognition settled in, Kaine smiled, always enjoying her company,"Hey." He walked beside her and leaned slightly away from where the noise still wavered,"Heh, I'm fine. You think I'd be used to it by now..." he sounded as if he was in pain; almost vulnerable. Kaine shrugged it off and grinned madly at her again,"Well, don't you look cozy?"

"I am," she smiled at him, a smile that actually met her tone, and pulled at the article of clothing. "I'm off for the next couple of days. My first break in weeks, so I'm taking the oppurtunity to not dress like I'm on the job." Indeed she wasn't, her face was devoid of make-up, and her usually tight jeans were replaced with sweats.

"Oh," Kaine stood in front of her. His smile rained down on her face, his sweet breath against her skin,"Does that mean I have you to myself now?" No matter how disturbed he previously seemed, his charm hid it well.

She stopped, tapping her toe slightly; she crossed her arms, indicating light annoyance. "Kaine," she started calmly "Do you think of anything else?" there was both mockery and seriousness in her voice, and she felt a little bad for the mixed message.

Kaine paused, and he felt his face crumble, pressure running up against it,"...no, Morgan, that's not what I meant." he said, chuckling lightly. He brought his hand up and stroked her hair back,"Not saying that I don't enjoy that sort of company either."

She allowed a small giggle to escape her lips, continuing to walk, stepping on a bug as she went. "Me neither... But I've had enough of it for a while..." she looked at him, a weight coming over her tone "How are you holding up?"

Kaine pursed his lips, beginning to pace along her side,"I'm getting by," he started, sounding distant. His hand made it's way up to his neck. Several scars exposed themselves, descending from the jaw line almost to his jugular,"Kuroi wasn't very happy with me though..."

She eyed the scars from the corner of her eye, frowning inwardly. "What did you do?" she asked, repulsion and hate working thier way into her voice at the thought of the hellish being.

His eyes shut, and he smiled. It was nearly crooked and eerie, almost as if he was wallowing happily in the memory,"Bastard always finds out nearly everything I do," Kaine sighed,"Every curse, every flip out, every encounter, and any kind of release I might make." He swallowed, looking up into the dirt again,"Hell, he probably will end up hearing this too." his eyes traveled back to his feet, kicking stones along the sidewalk,"...I guess he smelt her on me."

Morgan grimaced, shoving her hand in her jean pockets, suddenly aware of eveything around her. She shivered, looking at him again. "Going too far, Kaine, too far..."

"Heh, maybe...but," Kaine's smile was oddly warm. He pet her soft hair back, and kissed her forehead,"I don't care if he can see me or not...no one, not even him can change what's going on inside of me. I watch you, looking scared now... but don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you."

She snaked her arm around his waist, leaning her head on his shoulder "My hero," she mumbled, more seriously than not.

His smile softened, and he led her again. Kaine blinked once, and looked up towards the grounded-air. A soft pitter-patter hit the ceiling. Kaine sighed, turning back up to a stairway,"It's raining. Let's get some real air."

"Thank goodness," she said, wanting so badly to be out of the cave beforehand, but also very aware of Kaine's predicament. She hadn't wanted to seem inconsiderate. Smiling, she could smell the fresh rain, temporarily washing away the evil.

Kaine walked her up a flight of stairs and past a doorway. He winced a bit at the sudden brightness, but his odd, lively coloured eyes adjusted suite. It wasn't exactly a downpour of water, more like a light drizzle that his hit forehead. A smile grew,

"I haven't seen this much colour in a while," he noted, ears ringing to the pitter patter on the pavement.

Morgan raised a hand to her face, wiping in annoyance at the smeared mascara down her cheeks. Sighing, she pulled her sleeve acorss her palm and wiped her face clean, a black patch remaining under each eye. "Yeah, it's nice to see something pretty for once."

The sudden change of environment made her senses a little hazy, trying to differentiate between the blood stench behind her, and the freshness before her. She took a few steps forward, looking around.

"I see something pretty almost everyday." Kaine looked to her and winked. His pace quickened, and he just kept looking around smiling, as if he was satisfied.

"Anyways...let's go find a street sign or something. Sorry, hun, I have no clue where we are..."

Morgan nodded, scanning her eyes around at the wet building, taking Kaine's hand and walking down their left "This way looks less bleak," she mentioned, smiling slightly to herself.

Kaine followed Morgan's lead, pleased at the warmth of her hand,"That's always a good way to go about things." he said cheerfully. As she wandered ahead, his grasp on her hand tightened and loosened several times. He'd been stuck in his own dark world for so long, that he almost forgot what a companion's company felt like; he never wanted to lose grip on it again. His face creased awkwardly at the thought.

Morgan glanced at him over her shoulder at the gain and relase of pressure on her hand "Kaine, what's wrong?" she asked quietly, her concern only thickened by the look etched in his face.

So wrapped up in her prescence, he almost forgot her voice existed,"Oh. Heh." He lessened his grip again, and gave her an apologetic look,"Sorry," Kaine started, eyes shifting from her, towards the ground,"I guess I just kinda...missed this."

She smiled warmly, bearing rows of gleaming teeth despite the fiflth they had recently come in contact with. "Me too, it's nice to see you at least a little stress free."

"A little? That's an understatement." Kaine chuckled lowly, closing his eyes in reminiscence,"This is the calmest I've been in a long time."

A tinge of sadness hit her smile, but it remained "Have things been easier with the big guy?"

He eased the two of them down to a bench, and sighed, staring up at the grey sky. Drops of rain hit his forehead,"Hardly." Kaine started, blunt,"Actually, he's been getting tougher on me. He really creeps me out sometimes..."

Morgan brought a hand up to her forehead, sparing her eyes the stab of raindrops. "I would ask but..." she glanced at him through her bangs "I'm not even sure it'd make me feel any better."

"Heh, doubt it. It's probably because we're 'So close to winning,'" His voice deepened, almost mockingly, as he quotes his master,"I'm not even all that sure of what that even means..." There was a hint of uncertainty in Kaine's voice.

Morgan wrinkled her nose, looking forward again "It looks like we've been winning for a long time. I haven't been anywhere that hasn't been raided or seiged or conquered in all honesty. Heaven hasn't exactly been putting up a big threat. But what do I know?" she smiled at him, trying to be reassurring.

"Hmm." He looked to her and smiled,"Thanks for trying." Kaine said, very grateful. He looked again to the grey, as the rain began to cease, and a long period of overcast began,"It may seem that way, but you know what they say; 'God is everywhere.' "

"That's a lie." she growled cynically.

Kaine chuckled, and tapped his fingers against the bench absently,"Well let them believe what they want to... no matter how much we deny it, love," he took an awkward pause,"...we're the same."

She side-glanced him, frowning at her straightened hair which began to frizz "How so?" she asked, clawing through it unhappily.

"They fear God," he started, staring absently at the dirt crumbling beneath his feet,"We have Satan to worry about...as if Kuroi isn't bad enough."

"I like to think..." she licked her dry lips, sighing slightly at the asinine idea she was announcing "Maybe... Satan...isn't all bad..." she cringed outwardly at the sentence, continuing on before the stupidity set in "I mean... he was in Heaven once."

"Mmm, you see, that's how they feel about the big guy up there. And I mean...if he fed up God then I guess we should be scared of him." Kaine laughed, as if it was some light-hearted joke. This almost disturbed him.

Morgan pushed him in the shoulder "Shut up." she looked around again, as if expecting some hellish entity aside from themselves to appear before her. "I guess we don't have a choice then."

"Yeah," His oddly content expression only brightened. Kaine threw an arm across Morgan's shoulder, and smiled, leaning in towards her ear,"Quit worrying hun, I won't let any god-forbidden thing hurt you."

She allowed a smile to grace her face, her ear twitching against Kaine's cheek. "I can take very good care of myself..." she poked him in the chin playfully.

"Hmm," His face took another seriously turn. He pressed his nose against the top of her hair, burying himself in her warm scent,"You're the closest thing I have to being alive. Just be careful, okay? I wouldn't be able to forgive myself...if I lost you. Or anymore of what I have."

She sighed agin, curling up against him. His clothes were wet from the rain and they squished half-heartedly under her weight. "I'll be careful, hun. I've gotten this far."

"'This far'," Kaine sighed, as if he was unsatisfied,"Morgan, I hate to break it to you, but all we've been doing is 'getting by', having to settle for 'this far'." He suddenly become stern, and he started throwing words around in some state of panic, completely out of character,"Aren't you ever worried about what could happen if our borderline state goes off the wrong side?! What if something horrible happens? What'll happen then 'this far' won't be good enough, what the fuck would you expect me to do about it?!"

He took a long awkward pause, and came to realise what a ludicrous outburst he just had. If he had a working heart, it would've had such an infectuous beat that would've compelled him to keep going on and on-- but the silence that only his voice was filling scared himself, and he realised how much of an idiot he must've sounded like to Morgan. This odd feeling of embrassment overwhelmed him, and he was afraid he had frightened her. The last thing he wanted to do was drag her into the odd mess he was in; he'd rather keep her oblivious.

"...sorry," He apologised abruptly, embarassed beyond all belief.

Her muscles had tensed during his outburst, and her brows had come together. She relaxed when he stopped, and sat up straight. "Kaine. 'This far', is all that's good enough. Do you even know how insignificant we are? I'm not even an insect on the spectrum of this war. The affect of my death or people like me is nothing. And it's all I can do to get by. So Kaine, don't assume it can get any better than it already is, in terms of safety." she said all this gentley, not looking to hurt him, but trying to be honest.

Kaine still looked apologetic. He drew back and twiddled his thumbs together,

"Sorry...again. Heh, I must sound kind of pathetic right now." He smiled again to himself,"You're right...I dunno Morgan, it was weird. I'm not sure, but I guess I thought some hope was left. Maybe I'm just over-worrying," Kaine turned to face her again, and tussled her hair,"Just...don't ever say your death would mean nothing...because that's not true. To me, at least."

"Well...I knew that." she leaned forward and pecked him lightly.

He drew back and smiled, nudging his nose against her,"...don't go dying before I do, okay?"

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good."

---

  "I was a wreck. Completely.
  Kuroi came in everyday to make my life miserable. I know I was of almost no importance to him. But he made it seem so.
  A sickly smile so blunt but cruel, hurt more than any God-foridden torture that he had put me through. And he did it well.
  My arms ached. My back throbbed. My blood boiled to the brink.
  And I wanted to die. I already felt dead.
  A familiar voice disturbed my comatose.
  Kaine didn't say anything.
  He unlocked the door, and left faster than I had come to.
  And here I am.
  ...so remind me again why the hell you left?!"

The sudden turn in Dalamir's voice startled Rayan.

He turned red, and shook his head,

"As if that matters now!" Rayan said, still clinging onto his brother for dear life.

Skylar rolled his eyes, and handed Dalamir some hot tea,

"Well we're sorry..."

Dimitri watching Dalamir with rare sympathy etched in his features "Did he even say why he did all those things to you?" he asked tentatively, feeling slightly sick at the recital.

Dalamir shifted slightly on Skylar's couch, finding comfort in the familar scene of his house,"No. Not that I can recall...but he said he got the wrong one. I think he was planning to have you guys come and get me." He grew a tired and worn smile,"I couldn't let that happen, right?"

Dimitri frowned, feeling stupid and angry that all of this had happened and Dalamir had been hurt, and they were just mere pawns to Kuroi throughout the whole thing. "It's not like we would've known where to look anyways..." he said lowly.

"Mmmm, true. But I'm guessing he wouldn't sent out some eminent sign or something of the sort." Dalamir sighed, and cracked his neck,"But I guess it doesn't matter now, I'm back here with you guys." An uncharacteristic relief was in his voice.

Nodding, and scratching at his face, Dimitri gave a half smile. He toed off his shoes, pulled up his legs and crossed them under himself on the couch. "Do you feel any better?"

"Definitely." Dalamir shifted over to give the brother that was clinging onto him pathetically a noogie,"Of course I'd feel better here than there!"

Auden smiled at such a friendly scene,"Well that's good to hear."

Dimitri, too, cracked a smile at the pair. As he did so, something akin to envy grew inside him. He hid it easily though, with a grin and a wink "Well, we like to think of ourselves as friendlier then your average hellion."

"Thank God."

Rayan giggled happily like some ridiculous lovestruck school-girl, and settled back into the head of the couch. He watched the back of his brother's head with a large sense of thankfulness; he'd have no clue what to do if he had lost him.

Skylar leaned against his counter, and downed a glass of water. He looked towards the grey of the afternoon sky,"Well that's one down..."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow at the sound of Rayan's obnoxious giggling, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "No clue where to find the other one." he grumbled.

Rayan scratched his chest absently, from oogling laughter to some sudden lack-of type of feeling,"I hope she's okay."

"If she can survive escaping a mental institution, I'm sure she'll manage a couple days in the woods," he said somewhat frimly, looking over to Rayan. "I'm sure she's not dead."

"Good." There was this lump in his throat, probably still from the epic return of his brother,"I dunno how she managed that either; or how she really got in...she's a little loony but she doesn't seem that impaired."

Dimitri shrugged "I suppose, since she always took her meds we had nothing to worry about." he offerred half-heartedly, not really knowing. "You're right, she wasn't that off the wall."

Skylar sighed, already tired of this conversation,"Whatever the case, let's just hope she finds her way to us soon. Not to sound blunt or anything, but if she's alone, then there's more of a chance that Kuroi could find her...there's some sort of blood-tie there with her."

He wrinkled his nose, all too aware of that. He settled to stare gloomily at the wound in Dalamir's arm, filled with disdain.

Auden's face darkened, and he looked uselessly to the ground,"Well let's be positive... she'll probably find her way back here!"

Skylar nodded, and glanced to the window again. He tilted his head at a single white flake that landed by his window,"...it's gonna snow soon. I can already tell she probably isn't very fond of the cold and Kuroi apparently doesn't like going out either."

Rayan's face lightened suddenly,"Snow?! Oh!!" he clapped giddily, "Well she'll probably come back for warmth!"

Dimitri couldn't help but smile at the elf radiating glee. "There you go. That's true." he looked to the window as well, trying his best to keep from grimacing at the imminent snow. He refrained from mentioning the chances of her getting lost in a storm and freezing to death.

He looked back at the radiant elf to stifle the images. "She won't let herself get too cold." he agreed with Skylar.

Rayan looked over to Dimitri, eyes full of questions, like some ridiculous whining puppy,"Hey, don't you like snow?"

Dimitri actually grimaced this time "No."

Rayan frowned at him playfully, his eyebrows still arched in a playful manner,"Well, well, well, I thought you liked plainess."

Dimitri crossed his arms in an indignant manner, frowning at Rayan without mirth "Rayan, you know what the worst sensation in the world is? When you come into a warm building after being in the snow and your socks are wet." he shuddered visibly at the thought. "Honestly, I don't understand why children have this overwhelming need to shower themselves in it."

Rayan's giddyness literally dropped to the floor, and he gave Dimitri this gloomy look, overexagerrated,"Sorry, Mr. Scrooge..."

Dimitri pulled an appropriate, Scrooge-like face in response, sinking a little lower in his seat. "Well what do you find so fascinating about it, hmm?"

"Well," Rayan started, tapping his chin absently,"It just reminds me of some happy feelings. It's fluffy and changes all the time, and reminds me of mistletoe and the people waiting at home for me. And the earthy smell of my house!"

Dimitri's expression softened slightly at this. He sighed, feeling his argument diminish "Well... there's that, yeah..."

Dalamir smiled, staring of into the distance, reminiscing in the thought of his old house, looking rather radiant,"Sounds good to me..."

"You guys are such fluffballs," Skylar laughed, as a light layer of snow covered the outdoors.

Rayan glowed.

Dimitri rolled his eyes obnoxiously, eyes landing on the window. He felt himself frown at the pretty scene. He rubbed his eyes with his palms, feeling tired after the long day of walking. "Hey Skylar, got any food?"

"Mmm, yes!" Skylar turned over to the cabinets, and took out a jar of cookies,"I made these some time ago... but this jar keeps them pretty fresh!" He walked back towards them and handed Dimitri the jar.

Dimitri blinked at the cookie jar, something like undying hunger in his face. "Thank-you..." He twirled off the lid and leaned to sniff the contents, which were, as Skylar said, pretty fresh. He reached in and took one which disappeared in a instant into his stomach. He did the same with three more, before looking up again, apparently happier than before, and held out the jar. "Anyone want some?" he asked, licking a crumb off his lip.

They all looked to him with a startled expression. Auden was the first to laugh to break the awkward silence, and reached in for one,"Thank you!"

"Yumm!" Rayan attacked the pastries.

Dimitri snuck another one, leaning back against the couch and looked very content with himself.

Skylar beamed triumphantly with pride, perfectly content that his creation was appreciated,"Bahaha, I knew you'd like them."

Rayan smiled, finding comfort in the baked goods.

Dimitri licked crumbs off his fingers, vaguely wishing he knew how to cook, or even had a a house to cook in. He turned again to Skylar, looking very childlike "...Milk?"

"What a kid!" Skylar poured a glass of milk, glancing out the window, humming happily to hismelf. He started walked over while glancing outside "I think I should make cookies more often, I don't care how un-manly all the other military dogs think--" the glass crashed to the ground, milk spilling everywhere.

Rayan jumped, startled.

Skylar stood stoic and still, and without a word raced out the door.

Dimitri jerked back, startled. He watched Skylar dissapear "...?" he turned to Rayan "What was that?"

Rayan shrugged, and watched to door as it closed. His paranoia grew as seconds passed without a word or sound.

Dalamir yawned and stretched, looking passive as if the glass never broke in the first place,"Rayan, be a dera and clean that up, it's bugging me." He demanded in a joking sort of toned. His smirk was wide and charming.

Rayan rolled his eyes, and smiled,"Yes, o' mighty master." It would keep him from looking like a coward again.

Auden offered to help, and scurried along to the kitchen to find a rag.

Rayan grabbed a broom leaning against the wall, and swept the glass shards into a bowl found on the counter. He hummed to himself while walking over to throw them in the garbage. Out of curiousity, he looked out the window. The humming stopped abruptly.

Like Skylar, he stood still for a few seconds, and dropped all his stuff in the sink and ran out the door.

Dalamir's eyes followed him, from bright and confident to this grumpy and irritated,"This is really stupid."

Dimitri growled something incoherently, wishing very much he was in good enough physical shape to leap up and dash out the door like those two. He tapped his fingers impatiently on his knee, glancing to Dalamir "Well? Aren't you going to follow them and see what's going on?" he asked grouchily.

Dalamir laughed, sounding hollow,"Uhh, I just got home."

Auden gave an aggrivated grunt, seeming out of character,"I'll go.."

Dimitri watched him go, then made a similar sound, pulling at his shoelaces in annoyance.

Auden looked to the door before he was ready to walk out to follow them.

"I don't really think this is nessecary, Skylar..."

"Oh, but it is!!" Rayan's voice squeaked.

"You want a grand entrance, dont you?" You could almost hear a smirk in his voice.

"For Christ's sake just put me down!"

Rayan opened the door.

Melody's eyes flew to Dimitri.