Faith

DarkCrusnikMagician: I know, I hate seeing Abel sad too, makes me wanna cry *Sniff* Sorry, I kinda had like chapter upload diarrhea followed by chapter upload constipation >_< Thanks for the praise, I thought Healing Isaac kinda sucked, but I always think that. I always feel that my love scenes are like cheesy crappy soap opera scenes where it kinda happens for no reason, you know? LOL and sorry about inducing a panic episode for you, but school kept me bogged down and I had teh writing constipation >_<

Darkephoenix: thanks for the praise, though I don't ever agree with it :'/ I suppose I'm annoying that way. Yeah, I liked the idea of the leaders having their children. Seth has Methuselah, Cain has his coven, and Cardinal Sforza has her AX members. I was nervous about writing the Dietrich and Isaac pairing, because they're both so fucking smug I didn't know who would be who and I not nearly witty enough to write truly decent dialogue for either, so I was like...yeah... this is gonna suck, but people seem to want it, and it fits, so yeah.

Caranril: yesh, I am the queen of smut and angst. *blows on Abel in a plutonic way but only until the lurvs dries* LOL! *buys you much more chocolate and writes PWP between Isaac and Dietrich since they're such a smash* LOL sorry, I was blocked and I needed inspiration, but it didn't come until tonight.

winterfrau: *squeals like a pig* NO!!!!! His ass is too pretty for that! GOD, when kira takenouchi hinted at that in Taming Riki, I thought I was going to die. yeah, I wanted to show the various groups ties between members. yeah, the more fucked up the pairing, the better it is I suppose and those two are about as twisted as any individuals can get.

Astharoshe_lunastars alter ego: thanks for the praise and I'm glad you liked the pairing. As I've said, I was a little worried.

KaieAithne: LOL thanks and yes, I agree. poor Cain, nobody loves him. And ask and ye shall receive, read on!

Retro Lamb: lol thanks for tuning in and don't worry, mine gets bitchy too, but I love her anyways :">

Min: A NEW REVIEWER! Lol welcome and thanks so much for the praise! yesh, naughty readers, but not really, you guys are awesome! And see, I am merciful, I have graced you with a long chappie to make up for the long silence.

M-chan: LOL don't worry, I know school's a drag, that's why my chappie was so late :"( and thank you, thank you *bows* LOL I should be ashamed of myself. I'm 22 and all I can do with my free time is write about sex >_< UGH! What am I doing with my life? If only I could get paid to do this. At least you guys have as much fun reading as I do writing. HUGUE-STYLE BITCHES!!!!! Yeah....

Chapter 31: Cast Into the Light

It had been three weeks since she’d been brought to Cain, but without the rise and fall of the sun to announce the passing of time, Alex could no longer tell how long she’d been held captive. Cain had treated her every bit like the queen, showering her with affection and praise, filling even the smallest request perfectly. He had filled his closet with expensive corsets and elegant skirts for her to wear, insisting that she abandon the leather pants she was fond of. Everyday he would bathe with her before leaving to attend to matters of the coven, and return to make love to her before bed. Some nights he was slow and amorous, others he was heated and almost rough. He never left her physically wanting, but she still couldn’t get Abel out of her mind. Thinking about him during the day when Cain was gone made her feel like she was being disloyal over a fantasy. Abel felt like an angel that she’d met only in her dreams, and she began to wonder if she’d even met him. Whenever she looked into Cain’s face, or heard his comforting chuckle, her mind whispered Abel’s name. After all her thoughts ran out of steam, all Alex could feel was guilt toward both brothers, for harboring affections for the other.

The last few nights, Cain had been gentle with her, practically begging her to speak to him when they’d finished. He had pulled her back flush against his chest, running his fingers over her abdomen, whispering to her about his love for her. She had been so shocked the first time he’d told her he loved her, and she had yet to return the sentiment. He seemed undeterred by her unwillingness to admit she loved him, still lavishing her with affection. He had developed an endearing habit of drawing absentmindedly on her belly, humming a little tune as he covered her neck and shoulder in kisses.

This day had started differently for Alex and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Cain had gotten the bath ready and come back to wake her, just as usual. They got in and bathed, and though Cain was quiet, it wasn’t strained or awkward silence. He dried her, planting soft kisses along her collar bone. She’d threaded her fingers into his gorgeous hair and held him. He seemed so contented when he’d dressed and left that Alex was unsure why anything felt different to her. She sighed and stared around the room. Cain had allowed her to leave his chambers provided she was escorted around the compound with Dietrich. The boy made her skin crawl. He had such a high opinion of himself that his brimming confidence overflowed and rolled off him in waves. She felt like punching him. She couldn’t really complain though, because he did what he was asked to do without complaint and he rarely spoke unless asked a question. Alex had the distinct feeling that he knew way too much about her, every embarrassing detail of her miserable life, whenever he smiled at her with that greasy smile of his.

Alex hadn’t felt like dealing with Dietrich today. She had the feeling he would know what felt different when she herself didn’t know, and the smug expression on his face might drive her to slap the snot out of him. Pacing the room, she’d dressed in an old shirt of Cain’s and her leather pants. The look was not the most fashionable, but she didn’t feel like bothering with a corset. She was steadily going stir crazy and there was nothing in the room for her to do. Sighing in irritation, she opened the chamber door to find Dietrich standing dutifully outside. He immediately graced her with that oily grin.

“Do you require something, My Lady?” Dietrich took in her odd state of dress with a curious look.

“Yes. Bring me a cello.” Dietrich’s smile widened and he looked at her as he would a child who needed something simple explained to them very slowly.

“You want a cello, My Lady?”

“Yes.” Dietrich opened his mouth to say something further, but the door was promptly closed in his face. He fumed silently for a moment before disappearing to delegate the job to someone else and return to his station beside the Master’s door. About an hour later, Dietrich was approached by the same young Methuselah that looked him up and down, his gaze openly lusting. Dietrich smiled and took the proffered item, sending a flirtatious grin at the young man before knocking and entering his Master’s chambers.

“Thank you Dietrich. Set it beside the bed.” Alex commanded him easily and it made him squirm inside to have to take those commands. He set down the cello gently, righting himself.

“Do you require anything else, My Lady?”

“No, Dietrich. You may go.” Dietrich gave a slight bow and left. Alex came around to the hard plastic case, lifting it onto the bed and opening it. The cello in the case was old, well used, but it perfect condition. The wood remained well polished and the strings were fairly fresh. The bow had been well conditioned as well and Alex ran her fingers over the bow strings carefully. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Alex took the cello from its case, positioning the it between her thighs, and began to tune the instrument.

Isaac stood, an unreadable, cold, expression on his face as Cain entered his small room. Isaac bowed slightly, his eyes never leaving his Master’s face. Cain took the quiet anger in stride, smiling gently at his long time servant.

“Isaac you don’t have to maintain formalities when we are alone, you know that.”

“No, Mein Herr, I thought I knew what I was afforded, but I was apparently wildly mistaken.” Isaac’s tone was cold and clipped.

“Isaac, stop this nonsense. You know I have to sacrifice to get close to her.”

“No, Cain, you have miscalculated. You sleep with her nightly, you hold her close and whisper comfortingly to her. You have refused to look at me since her brutal beating. You have fallen for her.”

“What rubbish is this? Fallen for her. You sound like a soap opera star, Isaac, really. I have not fallen for her. I’ve told you before, she is merely a pawn.” Cain glanced around the room in an attempt to hide the lie he knew was displayed in his eyes. Isaac was not so easily deceived.

“You have not fallen for her, yet you continue to profess your love for her even when she refuses to profess the same to you?” Isaac knew he’d crossed the line utterly in so thoroughly questioning his Master. He steadied himself for punishment as Cain approached him, a deadly smile painting his lips.

“So, you have been watching again, my little fly on the wall.” Cain raised a pale hand, brushing the back of his fingers over Isaac’s cheek. “And here I thought you were too busy abusing Dietrich to even notice what was going on around you.” Isaac didn’t visibly flush, but Cain could hear his blood rush beneath his skin.

“So, we’ve reduced ourselves to spying on one another.” Isaac’s tone seemed suddenly sad and far away and it tugged at Cain. Though he knew he should feel the same as Isaac for the drastic change in their relationship, but he found that he was nowhere near as devastated as he should be. He’d wrapped himself utterly around Alex and her joy became his. The only sadness he felt was in her unrelenting devotion to his brother.

“Isaac, you know you are my greatest servant, my greatest asset. You are a necessity. You are a desire. Apologizing for your punishment will not undo the damage it caused, so I won’t waste my words. I have fallen in over my head with Alex, but the plan is still working, isn’t it? If you’ve truly been in the room, then you have noticed the change as surely as I have.” Cain put on the most endearing expression he could, leaving his last statement to hang as a half question. Isaac regarded him stoically.

“Yes, Mein Herr, I have noticed the change in her.”

“Then don’t pull away from me, Isaac. Not when we are so close to succeeding.” Cain closed the space between them and took a lock of raven hair in his fingers, glad to see it had grown back to its full length. Cain leaned in and Isaac pulled away.

“What about the Terran bitch?” Isaac glared at Cain like a petulant child and refused to budge. Cain felt like slapping him for referring to Alex in such a manner, but knew that the way he handled this situation could very well make or break his relationship with Isaac.

“What do you mean, Isaac?”

“Don’t you think she’d overstayed her welcome? She has been here far longer than we planned and the AX are bound to grow close to the hold again. I can’t keep moving the coven, Cain. Even my power has limits.”

“What do you propose I do with her, just kick her out and leave her in the street?” Cain chuckled at the ridiculousness of this thought. Isaac stared at him, refusing to respond. “You can’t be serious, Isaac!”

“I’m perfectly serious, Cain! She will be the death of us all if you do not make her leave. Abel is ruthless when it comes to her. Look at what he did to you the last time you took his woman.” Cain had Isaac slammed against the wall before he even finished his last sentence. Isaac stared hard at the Crusnik before him, his fangs elongated in rage.

“She is no longer his! She is mine and I will not just cast her aside!”

“So you truly love her then.” Isaac turned his face to the side, ignoring his Master’s flaming anger even as it scorched him.

“Isaac.” Cain, though he couldn’t deny the validity of his statement, was nevertheless taken in by Isaac’s dismay. He lowered the Methuselah and watched as he stayed slumped against the wall, refusing to acknowledge Cain. “Look at me, Isaac.” The Methuselah refused to turn his face back to Cain’s and Cain pulled the collar of his shirt down to expose his pale throat.

“Leave me.” It wasn’t a command, it wasn’t even angry, it was pleading and it tore at Cain’s heart. He had never seen Isaac so raw and exposed and it made him hate himself for bringing about the change in the proud Methuselah.

“I will not leave you, Isaac, as you must never leave me.”

“Me leave you? You forgot me utterly for that little pawn of yours. You even forgot she was a pawn. Who has been more loyal to you than I? I, who brought you back into the world of the flesh. You enjoy her fleshly charms only because I delivered you back into this body! Do you even know that he stills haunts her thoughts even as you are inside her?” Isaac’s voice was raw and aching and Cain couldn’t even bring himself to be mad at his vulgarity.

“Isaac.” Cain closed the gap, circling his arms around the Methuselah, nuzzling into his neck. He sank his fangs into Isaac’s throat gently, sucking gently from him. Isaac groaned quietly, his fingers gripping the front of Cain’s uniform shirt. Cain sighed against his cool flesh as Isaac melted into his chest, relenting. Cain held tight to him for some minutes, drinking tenderly from his most treasured follower. Isaac finally pulled away, his mind clouded in heady fog, his body responding immediately to his Master’s prodding tongue. Cain gazed at Isaac with half lidded eyes, aching for more to drink and more touch.

“Get rid of her, Mein Herr. Before she drags us into hell.”

“Isaac, don’t ask this of me.”

“She will destroy us and you know it. Does the coven mean nothing to you? They are your children, your devoted followers. They look to you for guidance and yet you act as though they mean nothing next to her.” Isaac tottered away from his Master, looking Cain up and down like a delusional thing and settled his tortured gaze again on Cain’s beautiful face. “Do I no longer mean anything to you?”

“Isaac, don’t say such a thing.” Cain reached for the Methuselah once again, meaning to draw him in and comfort him, but Isaac dodged his advance, shaking his head.

“It is true. None of us mean anything to you anymore.” Isaac righted himself, pulling his collar straight as he made for the door. Cain caught him, wrapping his arms around Isaac’s trim waist, hooking his chin over his shoulder.

“Isaac, don’t leave me. You sustain me.”

“Then do what I ask you. I have never once questioned your plans, never once asked you for anything.” Cain gritted his teeth, but knew deep down that Isaac was right. It was only going to make it more difficult to let her go. His plan had worked; he’d succeeded mostly because of Isaac’s help. He knew that if it came down to Isaac or Alex, Isaac would win always. His love for Alex may have burned more passionately, it may have even grown stronger than his love for Isaac, but Isaac was loyal beyond all others, and Cain knew Isaac would help him hobble his way into Hell were such a thing necessary.

“Isaac. If you truly want her to go, then I will do as you ask just this once. Don’t think of me as needlessly cruel. That’s all anyone has ever thought of me. I repay your loyalty here and now, by sending away my heart. You will forever have a forgiving loyal Master, Isaac.”

Without another word, Cain left the room and Isaac released a sigh of relief, his emotions welling in his chest. All the while they’d been arguing, Isaac wondered if Cain held him in higher esteem than Alex, and knowing the truth filled him with an immense warm feeling. For the first time in countless years, Isaac felt like crying.

As Cain approached his bedchambers, he could hear the unmistakable sound of a cello. His curiosity peaked, he slowed his pace and listened intently. The playing was beautifully executed and the melody was quiet and haunting. Cain swallowed, wondering at the irony of the sad piece. He wondered if Alex could sense the end of her captivity or if she was praying for it. He opened the massive door to his chambers as quietly as possible, sliding in to watch Alex as she played. Dietrich slipped away unnoticed. She sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes closed as she played. The song ended and she opened her eyes, starting when she saw him standing there watching her.

“Master, you’ve come back early.” Cain didn’t say anything for several minutes, but merely watched her until she began to fidget in obvious discomfort.

“Yes, I wanted to spend time with you.”

“You sleep next to me every night, we make love every night, and we rise together every morning. You must be positively sick of me by now.”

“Never, Alexandra.” She was taken aback by the hurt tone in his voice and the stricken look on his face.

He approached her and she put the cello away, setting it in a corner, out of the way. She returned to the bed and sat beside Cain, smiling at him warmly, waiting for him to give her some explanation. It never came and again she began to fidget. Without another word, Cain cupped her face in his hands, kissing her tenderly. She melted immediately into his grasp, whimpering into his kiss. He moved over her cheek and down her neck, warming a familiar path along her throat to her collar bone. She laid back, opening herself to him and he quickly covered her body with his own, a heat radiating off him in waves. He was tender, but there was an underlying desperation that stunned her. Alex remained quiet, unquestioning, as he pulled the clothes from both of them, his fingers roaming over every inch of her exposed skin. Her back arched and her body rose up to meet his searching fingers, his heat penetrating her skin and settling low in her belly. She was amazed, somewhere in the back of her mind, that after so much sex she could still respond so quickly to his touch.

Cain lavished her throat as his fingers circled ever closer to her sex, her soft panting stirring his passions. He wanted her desperately and was tempted to take her roughly, but knew that he wanted their parting to be sweet, memorable in a positive light. He teased her until her mewling became steady pleading, his voice leaving her lips in a breathless cascade. He moved down her body and ran his tongue over her damp folds without any pause, her gasp sending exquisite thrills down his spine. He ran the flat of his tongue against her clit slowly, two long fingers pushing into her warmth slowly. Alex groaned and arched her back, squirming away from him and towards him at the same time.

Cain teased her until her mewling escalated into breathy moans and her walls began tightening around his fingers. He slipped his fingers from her and moved his body up over hers, kissing her tenderly, coaxing her mouth open. She opened to him and wrapped one arm around his neck, reaching the other between them to guide his sex to hers. He slid in without resistance and groaned once he was fully seated within her. She whimpered and let her head fall to the side, the two of them fitting together like lock and key. She sighed blissfully as he began a gentle rhythm, wrapping his arms around her as he moved. They were silent except for their breathing, coming in heavy pants and quiet gasps. Cain moved to kiss her neck again and she felt a sudden rush of pulsing heat rocket to her belly, tearing a moan from her throat. His rhythm intensified and so did her cries, her ecstasy rising quickly.

Alex’s orgasm his her rather sooner than she expected, her cries filling the chamber as her sex clamped rhythmically around Cain’s. He groaned loudly into her neck, pulling away from her throat to hold her tighter.

“Alexandra, I love you.” His confession was tangled with his last moan as he laid softly against her. She was breathless and she found herself clinging to him, her fingers running through his long golden hair.

“I love you too, Cain.” The words had left her mouth before she could even think about her true feelings, and she blushed when she realized they were her true feelings. At once, she was conflicted, loathing herself for confessing to him and betraying Abel, and relieved at the same time to have said it. Her arms began to feel leaden and as he pulled away from her she realized that she was hard pressed to move her limbs.

“Cain...” Her voice came out as a rasp and she felt panic flood her mind and body. He looked down at her, a pained expression marring his handsome features, his lips red with the flush of her blood. She knew he’d drained her and now knew where the intensity of her orgasm was rooted. Her mind began to frantically search for a way out of the situation, but she realized with dismay that she’d finally let him win. He looked fit to cry and she merely looked up at him, hoping he would have a change of heart.

“Alexandra, you must listen carefully. I know it’s hard for you to move right now, but I haven’t gotten you so close to death as you imagine. I know it will be painful, but you must be as strong as I know you can be. Please, Alex, please forgive me.” Without further comment, Cain took one of her beloved silver daggers from the bedside table, where he’d locked them away, and sliced across his wrist, opening a gaping wound. He pressed the wound to her lips, and she was horrified as the first coppery drops of his blood fell onto her tongue. She felt like being sick as the metallic tang of his blood flooded her senses, but within moments, she was overcome with the desire to seek more of the life sustaining fluid. Gaining strength back in her limbs, she found herself latching onto his wrist, suckling greedily from him. She felt his blood, like liquid fire, raging through her body, burning a path through every blood vessel.

When Cain pulled away from her, his face looked drawn and paler than usual. He clutched his wrist and she could see teeth marks around the cut where she’d torn into his skin with her dull teeth. The room was spinning and she laid back, clutching her head as it throbbed. He rose onto his knees and sat her up, his face fixed with concern as her head fall back limply. He shook her gently, calling to her.

“Alexandra. Alexandra. I know you are disoriented, but it will pass and your strength will return before the pain comes. I need you to stay strong for me, Alexandra. The pain will be awful, unlike anything you’ve experienced, but any Methuselah fledgling can endure it. You must endure, do you understand? You must endure and listen to the advice of everyone around you. Stray from the light from now on and you will be fine. Tune your senses and you will find yourself capable of marvelous things.” Cain brushed a lock of hair from her damp forehead.

“But why...” Alex found her throat mercilessly parched and the rest of her question would not form.

“Because it must be so. I can’t explain it fully. Alexandra, never question that I love you.” Cain’s cheeks were stained and she reached up to wipe away his blood tears, the smell flooding her senses, making her body ache. She groaned and he lifted her, dressing her in the outfit she’d been wearing the night they captured her. He dressed her lovingly, her half limp body struggling to follow her mind’s orders to cooperate. He picked her up bridal style and left the room, walking down a long hallway she’d seen many times before. He followed a path he obviously knew well and came across a heavy metal door that she’d seen before but never really questioned. He set her on her feet and she leaned against the wall while he threw the door wide open.

Picking her up again, Cain left the hold, the door slamming ominously behind them. Alex shivered in the cold of pre-dawn, looking up to see the grey bleeding into the sky above them. Cain took to the air, his wings flapping quietly as he carried her over the city. He was silent and Alex closed her eyes tightly, willing her head to stop throbbing and the dull ache in her muscles to relent. She felt tired and sore as though she was suddenly stricken with an awful flu. Cain touched down gently some minutes later, setting her on her feet again. She looked up into his face, her vision a little fuzzy from her ordeal. He smiled sadly at her, twin trails of blood staining his porcelain cheeks. He turned her away from him, her back pressed to his chest as he leaned down to whisper in her ear once more.

“Alexandra, we are less than a mile from the Vatican. If you continue down this bending street you will come to the courtyard out front and once you are there you will be safe. You have less than an hour before sunrise, and should you fail to reach the Vatican before then, you will be destroyed by its rays. Once your transformation is complete, you will be like me and Abel, you will be able to withstand the sun, but while your body is transforming you are still vulnerable to it. Your pain will be worse than any others, Abel and I can attest to this. Once the machines in your body are finished fusing with your blood you will be an angel, just like us. You must be strong in these harrowing times, my love. Be strong for me, be strong for Abel, and be strong for our future.” Cain stopped to place his palm on her stomach, nuzzling into her hair. “No matter what anyone tells you, never doubt that I love you, Alexandra. You long for Abel, I can feel it in your heart. I love you so much, that I will no longer suffer you to be my captive. I release you and send you into the future with my son and Abel’s. Take good care of them, Alexandra. Be strong for us all.”

Cain abruptly took to the air and the sudden lack of support left Alex on her knees on the cobblestones. She looked to the sky to see Cain’s white wings in sharp relief against the grey dawn.

“Don’t...leave...” Alex’s voice was once again lost, unable to escape from the lump in her throat. She watched as Cain’s figure grew smaller and smaller, finally disappearing into the clouds. She heard thunder rumble in the distance, and her limbs began to tremble in her terror and fatigue. Her muscles ached in protest of being used and as she struggled to walk, her chest ached as though she’d already run a marathon. She stumbled along, propping herself up against walls, her breath torn from her in ragged pants. Alex felt terrified, by Cain’s words, his sudden abandonment, and the storm clouds that grew overhead. She prayed for rain harder than she ever had before. Her flesh burned, her blood boiled, and she prayed for a piercing cold rain unlike any other.

Thunder continued to rumble, and the tops of the very tallest roofs were alight with subdued pinks and purples of the coming dawn beyond the clouds. Alex’s panic level rose and she stumbled along faster. Looking up, she could make out the courtyard and the end of the street as the first drops of cold beautiful rain prickled her skin. She let out a loud raw sob of relief, fumbling forward. The closer she came to the courtyard, the harder the rain fell and as she fell across the perimeter of the Vatican’s main courtyard, drenched by the merciful rain, the members of the AX, headed by Abel, flooded into the Courtyard.

“Alexandra!” Abel ran towards her as she fell to her knees. She could feel the sun approaching her like the shadow of a monster coming to devour her, though the light was hidden behind the storm. When the first weak rays of dawn fell upon her back, her face twisted in pain, as Abel gathered her in his arms.

“I’m so glad to see you, Abel. I can die happy as long as you give me the rights.” Alex’s vision blurred, a pitiful moan escaping her lips as the sun burned into her skin. She could feel the fever pitch rise in her body and Abel’s face contorted into the most horrified expression as smoke tendrils rose from her body. She winced and screamed out as her skin began to redden and peel away. Abel ripped off his cloak, wrapping it around her, hiding her from the light. She sighed softly, relieved though the fabric grated her tortured skin. She could hear muffled shouting, and knew she was being lifted, but not by whom or to where. Once they were in the shade of a corridor, Alex could feel it with her very bones and was relieved to have the cloak pulled down from her face. She basked in the soft scent of Abel as she was jostled down a hallway.

“Abel, don’t forget the last rights.” His tears spilled onto her face, soothing the burned flesh as Alexandra’s world dissolved into cold blackness.




That's all she wrote... oh wait, no, we've still got more story, and then the sequel that's brewing in my head, but for NOW...that's all she wrote