by Unknown
They easily gained entry into the castle, as the gates were wide open for all peddlers and visitors from the village below. Cain's body still hummed with bloodlust, even though the fight had been hours ago. He had discovered that a willing wench was the best way to become grounded again after battle.
As they trotted through the hustle and bustle of the filled bailey, Cain caught the attention of many fishwives and wenches who would more than fit the part. Just as he was about to trot over to a buxom lass showing him her upper thigh, he caught sight of a jade gown flutter around a nearby corner of the keep.
Intrigued, Cain slid down his stolen horse and led it around the wall, leaving Ulrick to bed the wench. As he reached the corner, the jade gown and the woman wearing it was nowhere in sight. A flitter of laughter caught his attention through the crowd. He glanced over to a set of stone steps, leading up to a side entrance of the main stronghold. Upon those steps, a beautiful lass with long, black, wavy hair, bright eyes, and the jade gown laughed as she bent down and gave a small child a handful of daisies.
Cain quickly tied his horse to a post and ran through the crowd, eager to catch up to the lass in green. As he reached the bottom of the steps, she had just entered through a large wood door at the top. Cain ran up the stone steps, two-by-two, and burst through the door, barely missing a collision with a servant carrying a tray of bread. Realizing he stood in the kitchens, he dodged and shuffled around cooks and servants, receiving odd looks and scowls as he passed.
Cain pushed his way through the kitchen and entered a corridor. Glancing down the hallway, left and right, he found no sign of the lass. What made him turn right, he didn't know, but he crashed into her as she exited a storage room. The bag of barley in her arms dropped to the floor, spilling out into a pile.
"Och!" she cried. "Look what ye've done!" The flustered lass quickly bent down to pick up the spilled barley as best she could.
Cain, awestruck of how much more beautiful she was close up, stood speechless, watching her clean up the mess. Shaking his head, he joined her and bent down to help. "Forgive me," he said, accidentally brushing his hand against hers as he scooped up the fallen grain.
That one touch had stirred something inside him so deeply, that he knew at that moment an ordinary wench wouldn't sate his needs. No, he needed this lass. He glanced over at her face as they both huddled close to the ground, she scooping up the last of the mess. He caught her make a fleeting glance his way, out of the corner of her large, moss green eyes.
With a quick perusal of her body, catching the soft nap of the velvet jade dress, the golden hilt at her waist, and a simple silver necklace, he knew she was no ordinary lass. They both stood and he immediately bowed. "My lady, my name is Cain. I'm sorry to have fashed ye."
She eyed him, perhaps wondering if he was a criminal. After a moment, she curtsied. "I am lady Gwendolyn, daughter of the widowed Lady Julianna." Gwendolyn stepped back. Lovely creases marred her forehead. "I have not seen ye before. Where did ye say ye're from?"
Cain cleared his throat. Telling her he was a homeless Immortal was the last thing he wanted to explain. "I'm from up North, from the Highlands."
"Are ye friends with Lady Julianna, then?" she asked studying him.
From the look in her eye, Cain knew she waited to catch him in a lie. "Nay, just passing through with my friend. Perhaps we could trouble the lady of the house for a room and a bite to eat for the night? I've come from battle as ye can see," he said gesturing down to his soiled tunic and blood spattered leather boots.
"Come," was all she said. Cain hurried after her as she strode down a maze of corridors, only to end up in a small room with a simple wooden desk and two "simpler" looking chairs. "Sit," she commanded before turning and disappearing out of the room.
All thoughts of having a wench flew from his mind as he waited for, who knew what, in the tiny chamber. The only visions filling his mind were of lady Gwendolyn now. He made a promise to himself at that moment that he wasn't leaving the castle until he made his way into her heart.
At that time, in walked lady Julianna, with Gwendolyn following, the sack of barley gone from her arms. After introductions, he and Julianna had immediately been taken with each other, a friendship formed from the start. The one night he had planned to stay, had quickly turned into two years and he, Gwen, and Ulrick had been close friends ever since...or until the day she vanished and Cain blamed Ulrick and himself for her disappearance.
Cain glanced over his shoulder at Gwen who still stood at the end of the bed. Sadness filled her features. Cain clenched his jaw. So many memories he had forgotten. It had been ages since he had thought about that day with Gwen. How many more recollections would show themselves? Half a lifetime he had lost. Would every lost detail return?
Hearing the swoosh of Gwen's gown, he looked up. Gwen slowly made her way over to him with her head down. Staring at the floor, she said, "I'm sorry it took so long for me to tell you that I was Ramsay's daughter, but it had been a promise I vowed to Julianna when I first went to live with her. Julianna is my mother's sister and when I was in my sixth year, she took me to Castle Knightly so she could teach me how to become a proper young lady. But trouble arose, and many wanted my father dead. No one remembered he still had a daughter. He hadn't had much to do with me before when I lived with him, and no one seemed to remember my dead mother's sister. I was safe with Julianna in her home...acting as her daughter."
Cain's mouth thinned. As Gwen spoke, he realized why she hadn't seemed to "fit" in the twenty-first century. Here, in the thirteenth century, she glowed. This was where she was always meant to be. The scraps of cloth they had called clothes in the twenty-first century hadn't done her justice.
The soft yellow dress she now wore had a low cut neckline and a white lien underneath, showing at the sleeves. Her hair was braided back in a bun with a gold net adorned with tiny white pearls. She represented an angel.
Gwen smoothed down the gown as she walked over to him. "Grimmly gave me a change of clothes. Ye've been unconscious for a good time," Gwen continued after Cain said nothing. "I know ye willna believe me, but I still love ye. There was never another...not even after I disappeared." Gwen slowly held out her wrist, showing the tattoo she had received after saving his life on the deserted road. "I would cover my entire body in these if it meant keeping ye alive. I would consume every evil for ye." After Cain made no move, Gwen released a shaky breath and turned to leave.
A light touch brushed across her finger tips. Gwen glanced down at her hand. Cain rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. She glanced up.
"I've dreamt of ye every night of my life, even if I never remembered your face. I willna lose ye again." Before Gwen could respond, Cain pulled her into his arms. He lightly ran his thumb down her cheek. Leaning forward, he softly placed his mouth on hers. Her tender lips made him want to jump upon her, ravish her, but he would savor the moment.
She wasn't under a spell. He wasn't a beast. They had waited so long.
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cain pulled back, leaving his hands on each side of her head, his thumbs rubbing her temples. "We're locked in here?"
Gwen nodded. She had an idea of what he wanted to do to pass the time. Gwen had spent so many years of wanting and of being terrified that Rowena would swoop down from the heavens and take the one man she loved from her. But now, locked up in her father's tower, not knowing if death faced them on the morrow, she had him back, if only for a short time. She would have him like she had always dreamt she would. Cain was hers.
Cain glimpsed her large, terrified eyes. "What's wrong lass? We've done this before."
A blush crept across her cheeks. She glanced down at the floor. "I know you took my maidenhead all those years ago, but I was a young lass, and now...we're different."
"What about in Ulrick's library?"
"While I was under the spell, it felt more like a dream than reality. What if-." Gwen released a long sigh, not meeting
his gaze. "What if I'm not good? The spell made me do things I've never done before. What if I can't repeat them?
Cain bent down an inch away from her mouth. "Then let me remind ye." He placed a kiss on her chin, and then her nose, and back down to her mouth. Moving his lips lazily over hers, he knew the exact moment all of Gwen's inhibitions floated away. Her body sunk into his, using him for support.
Cain wrapped an arm around her lower back and held her tightly to him in a perfect fit as he kissed her. His tongue swirled and caressed the inside of her mouth as Gwen moaned, growing braver and seeking out his tongue with hers.
As the kiss deepened, transforming into a hot, passionate caress of need, Cain growled, lifted her up, and strode over to the bed with her slippered feet dangling off the floor. He stopped at the edge of the crude mattress when the backs of her legs hit the edge and buckled, causing both to fall to the bed. Cain gently toppled over her.
Gwen ran her hands through his hair, over his broad, muscular back, and down his arms. Cain abruptly flinched, pulling back. "What's wrong?" Gwen asked.
"'Tis nothing," he said, trying to shake off the evils that wanted to ravish her hard and fast. "I want to see ye. 'Tis been so long," he rasped out.
A shy smile crossed Gwen's mouth as she sat up. Shimmying one shoulder, then the other, the bodice of her gown slid to her waist, exposing her chest.
Cain licked his lips as he stared at the one lass in the entire world just for him. She sat in a pool of fabric, her ivory skin looking so soft and succulent. His gaze traveled over her perky breasts and down her flat stomach to where the dress bunched up at her waist. Bending down, he placed his hands on the pillow, caging her in on the bed. Slowly, he kissed her, once, twice.... Gwen's hands ran through his hair, moving down to the nape of his neck. This was home, he thought. This was what he had been searching for his entire life. He felt so right in her arms.
Power. Wealth. Control. The evils echoed inside. She is none of these. We are all of them. A spasm of pain stabbed him in his head. Reeling back on his haunches, he grabbed his head with both hands. Cain knew his time with Gwen was diminishing. He came close to switching over. The blackness ran cold through his veins, the uncontrollable lust rising from the deep.
"Cain?" Gwen sat up, reaching for his hands to pull them away from his head.
"No!" Cain roared. "Dinna touch me!"
Gwen slowly sank back, gathering her dress, holding it over her bare chest. Her chin trembled as she regarded the man she loved suffer unbearable pain, and all she could do was sit and watch. She wanted to help him, but at the same time, she was terrified of coming face to face with the monster within. His black eyes were haunting enough. She didn't think she could stand to see what else he hid.
At that moment, the door burst open and Grimmly stuck his head in. Upon seeing Gwen's half-naked form with Cain atop her, he quickly avoided the couple's gaze. "Gwendolyn," Grimmly said tightly with the door between him and the scene on the bed.
Cain took the interruption as a small reprieve and hastily rolled off the bed. He moved languidly over to the window to try and contain the beast in the pit of his mind.
Gwen desperately grabbed at her gown and any covers, concealing all nakedness. After collecting himself as much as he could, Cain stormed over to Grimmly. "What is it?"
Grimmly eyed him in disgust. "Cain is it?" he gritted out. "Laird Ramsay's witch has requested ye on her deathbed. She has asked to see the 'prisoner'."
"He's not a prisoner," Gwen cried out, running over, her dress now pulled up over her shoulders.
Grimmly glanced over to Gwen. "Lass, do I have to remind ye that he killed some of your father's men ten years ago, along with stealing from their dead bodies? Laird Ramsay doesna take too kindly to men that take from him. And he never forgets. He knows you're here in the tower tending to his wounds. How would he feel, I wonder, if he found out what was really going on? He nodded toward Cain. "You're to go to the dungeons after his witch sees ye."
Gwen glanced frantically back and forth from Cain to Grimmly. She shook her head. "No! He'll repay my father. Whatever he stole all those years ago, he'll pay back!"
Grimmly glared at Cain as he answered Gwen. "A mon doesna forget how to wield a sword, nor be a thief. We both know he'd kill your father if he was freed. Come, the witch is fading fast and she said 'tis important." Grimmly glanced displeasingly at Gwen. "I will give ye a moment to become decent. I'm sure your father would like to see ye." Grimmly shut the door and waited outside.
Cain glanced around the room, realizing Ramsey had taken his sword and belongings. He walked up to Gwen, and silently laced the front of her dress up.
Gwen numbly regarded Cain as he laced her. What had happened? After all the little mentions of evils and horrible things inside him, Gwen still couldn't believe that he would, or could succumb to them. For the most part, he showed compassion and still did small things to show he was human. She couldn't accept what he said he'd become. In her heart, he was still the man she couldn't live without.
* * * * *
Cain and Gwen followed Grimmly through the winding corridors down into the bowels of the castle. Gwen shivered. She had only been down in the dungeons once when she had been five or six. Her father had caught her and had roared at her to never go down again, scaring her soundly.
They walked past the prison cells, some filled with men dressed in nothing but torn, threadbare breeches.
"'Tis best if ye look straight ahead," Grimmly said softly, next to Gwen's ear as he led them past the cells.
They reached an old, wooden, arched door at the end of the dungeon. The hinges squeaked and moaned horribly when Grimmly opened it. Following Grimmly down another set of steps, these circular and dark, with only a few torches lighting their way, they ventured deeper and deeper.
"Watch your step," Grimmly said, looking over his shoulder as the two followed.
Cain tightened his hold on Gwen's hand, leading her carefully down the dangerous crumbled stone steps. After descending for what seemed like three stories, they reached the bottom. Low, arched ceilings, with walls and walls of corridors and shadows flickering across them from the lights of torches filled their view. A foul, putrid moat ran next to the narrow stone edge they traveled upon.
Grimmly guided them along the edge for at least a hayfield's length, before coming upon a large opening in the wall. Gwen dropped her hand from covering her nose as she stared in awe at the large shadowy room. Hundreds of flames flickered from candles setup on the floor, tables, and shelves lining the edge of the chamber. Shelves and tables covered with vials, and flasks, and what-knots filled the room, along with a large canopy bed, covered in gray gauzy bedding.
In the middle of the bed lay a still form. Grimmly stopped at the opening and extended his arm. "The witch awaits ye."
Cain gently pulled Gwen along with him, passing Grimmly whose jaw ticked. Cain and Gwen approached the bed. Gwen made out a small pale face with long, oily, grey hair pooling around it. She and Cain both kneeled along the edge of the bed, waiting. The witch's eyes were closed with dark circles underneath. Her cheek bones protruded in her gaunt skin. Gwen noticed burn marks encroaching upon her neck, the rest hidden under a mess of covers.
Without warning, a frail, bony hand lifted from the sea of covers and opened, waiting for someone to grasp it. Cain reached out. "Ye tried to kill me," he said tightly.
A cackle filled the room and echoed down through the maze of the underground area. Her laugh quickly turned into a cough. "I knew I wouldn't harm ye." She opened her eyes and turned her head. Jaundiced eyes filled with cataracts stared up at Gwen. "I knew ye would come." The witch smiled. "I've watched ye since ye were a wee lass. Ye've grown up into quite a beauty."
The witch turned to Cain, her frail hand falling to the bed. "I told Ramsey I must speak with ye. He wants yer head on a spike," the witch said, looking at Cain. "I told Ramsey that if he wants to stay alive, he willna kill ye."
"And did he li
sten?" Cain asked coldly.
The witch cackled again. "Mayhap-." Quickly, her eyes darted over to Gwen. "Lass, would ye be a lamb and go fetch me the jar of rat tails over on the far table. If ye canna find it, keep looking." Gwen hesitantly rose, and went to complete the witch's bidding. The witch's gaze laid back upon Cain. Her expression turned serious. "Remember who's side ye're on, Immortal."
"I'm no Immortal," Cain said bitterly.
"Ah, but ye will be…or mayhap not. It depends on your decision…your trust in her."
"Who's? Gwendolyn's?" he asked, steeling a glance back at Gwen who continued shifting through jars and small boxes at the far end of the room.
The witch shifted, groaning as she adjusted her weak bones. "I'm afraid I canna help ye much longer," she rasped out. "The torque ye wear is verra powerful. It wants my power, too." The witch let out a long sigh before continuing. The evils in ye two are growing restless. I can feel them."
Cain furrowed his brow. "Two?"
"Aye. There are only two that embrace the black magic power. Ye, and one other."
"Julianna?" Cain quickly cut in. Had she dabbled in black magic, even though she had pleaded with him to stop at every turn? "Is she here? Is she alive? Do ye ken?" he rushed out.
The witch cackled again. "I know everything. She is safe. As safe as she can be." The witch's hand raised once more, but this time, it clutched the front of Cain's tunic. Her cloudy eyes peered into Cain's. "Dinna let the evil find her. It will mean the end for all."
"Who?" he gritted out, losing patience with her cryptic words. "Julianna?" Cain urged on.
The witch's eyes shifted and glanced past Cain's shoulder. "Have ye found the tails, lass?"
"N-no," Gwen said over her shoulder from across the room.
"'Tis right in front of ye!" the witch snapped.
A sound of surprise came from across the room and a moment later Gwen quickly rushed over with a glass jar filled with gray rat tails. Gwen held it out at arm's length. "Here," she said handing it over. "Is it for a special spell, then?" Gwen asked.