by Unknown
"I'm sure Ulrick will see to it."
His eyebrows raised. "I'll take my chances with the old servant. I dinna think Ulrick likes me too much."
Gwen smiled and Grimmly kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight, daughter."
"Goodnight, da."
Gwen slowly walked into the darkened room, shutting the door behind her. Candle light and firelight flickered and danced across the walls. She could make out the still form of Cain as he continued to sleep in the enormous bed. She quietly walked over and felt his forehead. Cool to the touch. Perhaps, his condition improved. Gwen slowly pushed back the covers and crawled in bed next to Cain. She smoothed her skirts down and pulled the covers up and over them. Turning on her side to face him, she placed her head gently down on his chest. The very faint thump, thump, thump of his heart lulled her to sleep.
The last thought that passed through her mind, before succumbing to sleep, was that she, a small lamb, slept with the lion.
* * * * *
Gwen languidly opened her eyes when a slight pressure covered her mouth. She abruptly sucked in air and pushed at the man leaning overtop her.
"If ye dinna want my touch, than why are ye in my bed?" a husky voice mumbled close to her mouth.
Gwen froze. "C-Cain?" she barely spoke. She licked her lips as Cain's exotic scent enveloped her. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart raced as her mind thought maybe this was the old Cain. As she ran her hands down his strong, sinew arms, it sure felt like her Cain. She opened her eyes. Black eyes gazed down at her. She turned her head as he bent down to capture her mouth again.
"What's wrong, Gwen?" he asked.
"I-It's not you," she said sadly.
Cain gently placed his hand on the side of her face and turned her chin toward him. "Trust me, Gwen. 'Tis me right now. I dinna ken how long, but please...."
Gwen traced a finger along his cheek as she bravely stared into his dark gaze. "But your eyes...."
"Close them," he said quickly.
"What?"
"Close your eyes. Just feel me. In your mind ye can picture the man ye used to ken." In her hesitation, Cain quickly added. "This may be our last time together...forever."
Gwen shook her head as her heart crumbled to pieces. "No, I won't let it."
Cain brushed his hand over Gwen's eyes. She kept them closed. He brought his head down and placed the most gentle, soft kiss on her lips. "See, 'tis me." His kiss became harder when Gwen returned the caress with fervor.
She squeezed her eyes closed and within seconds could clearly picture Cain with pure skin, not a tattoo to be seen, blond hair brushing against the nape of his neck, and the bluest, clearest eyes she'd ever seen.
Her hand went up behind his neck and played with his thick, soft hair. Gwen moaned as Cain untied her bodice and pushed it down, exposing her heaving breasts. His mouth greedily covered one. He tugged and pulled at the hard nipple with his teeth. Gwen cried out in a mixture of agony and bliss.
At that moment, Cain felt more like his old self than he had in a long time. There was no magic making her want him. No bitter feelings lingering over them to ruin the moment. No, at that moment, it was only two bodies, two souls, and two lovers coming together. Nothing else could be felt, except what the two did to each other.
Thinking and feeling all of that made his arousal ache and throb. The only thing that could free him from his pain now, was Gwendolyn. With frantic movements, he tugged at her gown, and with Gwen's help, he pulled it off, discarding it to the floor. Cain sat back on his heels.
He looked down at Gwen. So beautiful. Her long, wavy, black hair lay framed out around her. Her clear pale skin made his mouth water. His gaze traveled down her body from her face, over her breasts, past her slender stomach, and stopped abruptly at the new tattoo on her side. He rubbed his thumb over the mark.
He glanced back up at her face, her eyes still shut, her mouth open in the throes of passion. His mouth thinned. The sooner he was out of her life, the better. With him around her, it seemed she kept dabbling in black magic. He wouldn't let her make the same mistake he had. Bending down, he kissed the tattoo and then drifted across her stomach, placing kisses as he went.
He leaned up, taking her all in. For so long, hell, every single day of his life, he had thought of her. So much time wasted. As of the moment, he promised himself he'd pretend it was ten years ago when they had a lot less worries.
Cain wanted to rush kisses down her stomach and cover her mound with his mouth, but her shut eyes told him he'd have to go slow. She was scared of him, of the man he had become.
"Is something wrong?" she asked softly.
Cain cleared his throat, realizing he straddled her naked body and just watched her, not moving. Perhaps, he knew to get as many images of her in his mind as he could, so he'd have a chance at remembering her when he was no longer himself. This moment was where he'd want to return to.
"I'm admiring how beautiful ye are." Even though it was dark, Cain knew she blushed. He lowered his head and began kissing her soft lips once more. He began slow and gentle, but Gwen quickened the pace. He felt the moment her fear vanished. Her hand crept down between their bodies and she grasped hold of his engorged flesh. A strangled noise choked out of him. How she could un-man him with one touch. Her caress made him all the more hard. Gwen began stroking him as he kissed down her throat. As he inched his way lower on her body, his erection slipped out of her hand. He could've sworn she sighed a sigh of disappointment.
His hands rubbed her thighs as he placed wet, urgent kisses across her stomach. Inching down with his mouth, he finally came to the sweet spot he had dreamt of. He paused as his hands kneaded her thighs. He glanced up. Gwen stared at him, a look of pure shock on her face. He was about to say something, but she spoke first.
"Your eyes...they're clear blue," she said, leaning up on her elbows. She brought one hand out and followed the curve of his face. "You're turning back to yourself," she said excitedly.
Cain's brow furrowed. He didn't have the heart to tell her that on the inside, he still felt the same...dark, dirty, untrusting...evil. He gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes and continued back down to the sweet spot teasing him inches below his mouth. He would say nothing. He didn't know why his eyes were changing, but he wouldn't ruin this moment by telling her he felt the end was near, the change almost complete.
As soon as Gwen saw the blue eyes, something ignited inside her. She couldn't get close enough to him. Arching her body up to his mouth, he plunged his tongue deep inside her warm, damp entrance. His hands clenched her hips and held her to him. She grabbed his head and cried out as his tongue swirled and spun, creating waves of passion with each lick.
Her body arched up one last time as she put her fist up to her mouth. Her cries were still heard, which made Cain harden and grow even more. He kissed his way back up her body to her mouth and kissed her, her essence overpowering the kiss, making him crazy to taste her mouth.
Cain rode atop her, still not entering. He wanted to make this moment last as long as he could, but the cries from her second orgasm made his own lust topple over the edge. He plunged inside of her. In one, hard thrust, he filled her. The tightness of her encasing him made him gasp out. How could it have never felt like this before?
Her body continued to pull him inside her, begging for a taste of him. He thrust hard and fast, over and over. Sweat covered their bodies, slick to the touch. Sex filled the air, only to make the atmosphere more charged with passion and lust. She scratched her nails down his back as he moved deep within her. For every thrust he made, she arched, unifying the movement.
Gwen's hands stilled and she gripped his back in a tight hold. Throwing her head back, she wrapped her leg around his waist and bucked into his thrusts.
Cain growled. He couldn't stop himself, now. In one final, glorious moment, he exploded inside her, shaking violently. She pulled his mouth down to hers and captured his groans of sexual euphoria.
They laid for
a few moments, neither one able to move, nor wanting to. Cain lay overtop her with his head on her shoulder and her hand rubbing up and down the length of his back.
"It should always be like this," he said groggily, his voice husky.
"Then it will," she said, no doubt sounding in her voice.
Cain smiled and lightly rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. He shifted and slowly kissed her mouth. A sound of pure contentment came from her.
Gwen lightly let her hands flow over his bare back. She was so happy that things were finally beginning to change for the better. Cain moved his mouth expertly over hers and she kissed him back. Without warning, he nipped her lip.
"Ouch!" Gwen said, pulling back. She reached up and touched her lip. Blood covered the tip of her finger. "What was that fo-." Her words died in her throat as she glanced up and found her worst nightmare, atop her.
* * * * *
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Unable to move, Gwen stared at the beast above her. Cain's tattooed skin had turned entirely black as night, which felt slick and rubbery. His hair had metamorphosed into jet black locks, which now harmonized with his obsidian eyes. An evil smirk covered his face. He licked his lips.
"C-Cain?" Gwen whispered.
Before her eyes, he transformed into a black blur of smoke flying around the room. Stopping at the end of the bed, a glorious male form in its entirety, he reached out and grasped each corner of the poster bed.
Gwen's heart thumped rapidly as Cain smiled a nefarious grin upon her. Without another thought, Gwen bounded from the bed and sprinted to the door. An agonizing growl sounded and a gust of air blew across her naked back. She spun around. The room was empty.
Abruptly, the bed chamber door swung open. Gwen jumped around, only to find Ulrick staring at her nakedness.
"Gwen," he choked out, "is everything all right?" Ulrick's gaze darted around the room.
Gwen's chest quickly rose as she also glanced around the room, oblivious to her nakedness, until a warm shawl was draped over her shoulders. She looked back at Ulrick. "He's gone," she whispered, wrapping the material tightly around her.
Ulrick cleared his throat and took a step back from Gwen. "What happened? I heard ye screaming."
"I-." Gwen's brow furrowed. She didn't remember screaming, but then again everything had happened so fast. One moment she had been the most relaxed and in utter splendor...and the next, complete terror and total loss. Gwen walked over to the bed and closed her eyes. She sunk down, sitting on the edge. Ulrick walked over to her. Gwen glanced up to him. "You were right," she said with tears, "we should have ended him when we had the chance. Now, he's...he's-. I'm so sorry," she cried.
Ulrick sat down next to her and placed his arm around her. "I hate to say this, but if I ever see him again, as a friend, I will have to order my men to slay him. He's a monster now...an enemy." Gwen nodded, unable to speak. "Come, ye can stay in Grimmly's chamber, unless...there's another chamber you'd like to go to?"
Gwen slowly brought her gaze over from the open window that Cain had fled through. "I don't think I can sleep. Could I go to your library?"
"Of course. I'll have a fire made and some hot tea brought down for ye."
Gwen placed her hand on Ulrick's arm when he was about to rise. "Ulrick, I need Cain's spell books. The ones that I had in a satchel when we arrived."
Ulrick's mouth tightened. He slowly turned her palm up, so he could see the tattoo on her wrist. "I dinna think that's a good idea."
"I know you are worried, Ulrick, and I cherish our friendship, but I need to do this. I might have one last chance to save Cain. Those are my books," she said gently, "please hand them over."
Ulrick dropped her hand to her lap. "Even if I agreed with your irrationality, I still couldn't help ye." Ulrick rose. "I burnt them when I discovered what you carried with ye."
Gwen jumped up from the bed. "How could you!"
"I didna want to take the chance of Cain using them, or ye."
Gwen closed her eyes and then abruptly opened them. She grabbed the sleeve of Ulrick's tunic. "You have books!" she said excitedly. "Julianna said every witch or warlock has spell books and you said that you had practiced black magic," she rushed out.
"I wouldn't ken the first place to look for them."
"I'll help you tear this castle apart for them. Julianna had told me that there was one way that possibly might work to bring Cain back," Gwen continued. "She said the most powerful spell lay hidden deep within the most sacred book."
Ulrick stood, shaking his head. "Now, wait one moment, Gwendolyn. This wouldn't work on all kinds of levels. First, I dinna even ken if that spell is in there. No one kens if 'tis real. Secondly, 'tis verra difficult to find the spell you're looking for. The pages change on their own accord. And thirdly, I'm the only one that can cast spells from my books, and I'm not willing to exchange my soul for Cain's. No, Gwendolyn, let him go. The Cain ye knew no longer exists."
Gwen's lips thinned and a determined look crossed her face. "I know you said you wouldn't exchange your soul...but I will."
"It willna work!" he yelled. Ulrick ran his hands over his face and sighed. "I told ye, I'm the only one that can read from my books. I can't even translate the incantation for ye. The book kens who casts the spells."
"I don't need you to read or translate the spell."
"What-."
Gwen stared up at him with a serious look. "Trust me, Ulrick." She squeezed his hand. "Find me the book."
Ulrick's brow creased. "Ye-." He swallowed. "Ye can read from the sacred book," he whispered in awe. "Not just mine, but any, am I right?" Gwen nodded. "And the spells," he said more loudly and more excited, "the real spell appears to ye?"
"Yes," Gwen said softly. She reached out to him. "So, will you help me?"
"Sweet Jesu," he whispered. "When ye told me ye received the tattoos from reading Cain's books, I just assumed it was from one of his universal magic books that anyone can use, that mayhap, he had filled that book with evil, but.... No wonder the tome branded ye!"
"Please?" she pleaded.
Ulrick nodded reluctantly. Gwen stood on tiptoes and hugged him, smiling. "Thank you." She walked to the door. Ulrick reached out, stopping her. "Lass, I think ye should put some clothes on." Gwen glimpsed down at the shawl wrapped around her body. Her cheeks blushed. "I'll wait outside," Ulrick added. "Yell, if by chance Cain returns, and ye need my help."
* * * * *
Gwen thumbed through Ulrick's sacred book. Her tattoos burned as she glanced at the pages, waiting a moment for the real spell to appear before moving on. She glanced up at Ulrick who stood across the room with his arms crossed over his chest. "Why do you still have these books if you don't practice black magic?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I guess one never truly kens when they might need them again."
"Have you used them lately?"
He narrowed his eyes at Gwen. "Nay," he said tightly, "that's why I'm no touching one single page. I dinna trust myself to just flip through them and not use them. The few tattoos I received when I was young have finally disappeared. It has taken two decades for them to vanish and that's with me embracing supreme magic and meditating nightly." He eyed Gwen. "Those are not games in there, Gwendolyn. They can change your life...and not for the better." Ulrick shook his head and stormed over. "This was a bad idea. I should have burnt that long ago."
Gwen slammed her hand down on the book. "No!" she said, narrowing her eyes up at him. "I'm doing this." Ulrick stared. Gwen briefly closed her eyes. "If the spell doesn't work, then I'll burn this book myself, after I've at least tried." Ulrick's jaw ticked, but he receded and sat in an armchair by the fire.
"Dinna say I didna warn ye."
Gwen slowly glanced back down at the spell book. The massive tome looked identical to Cain's. She slowly flipped through the pages. Page after page, she turned, until she stopped and sucked in a breath. "I found it," she whispered.
Ulrick swung his head around and quick
ly rose. "Put a bookmark in the page and shut the book! Dinna even begin to recite the spell in your head!" Gwen quickly stuck a piece of parchment in the page and slammed the cover closed. "Now what?"
Ulrick sighed. "The hard part. We need to get Cain to come back here."
"How do we do that?" Ulrick shrugged. Gwen sighed and stared down at the book in her hands. Too bad she couldn't lure him back. She didn't think he'd come back for her. Her finger brushed the edge of a torn piece of parchment. Gwen gasped.
"What!" Ulrick said, scrambling over to her as if she was in trouble.
"Ulrick, that's it!" she said excitedly, as she wrapped her hand around the locket she wore. "I have the one spell that I think man or beast would want!"
"I'm afraid to ask."
"The spell of Immortality. This whole thing started when he fell through my roof, trying to find that spell. I have it here," she said, grasping her locket. "All I have to do is open the locket and I will have the page."
Ulrick chewed on his lip before he answered. "We have to have a plan, Gwendolyn. This is verra foolish and dangerous bringing him back here. Innocent people could get hurt or killed, and-." Gwen looked up questioningly. "And are ye really prepared to die for him? It might not even work, but ye most definitely will die if ye recite that spell. Are ye sure you're ready to leave your new found father so quickly?"
Gwen studied the green leather book in her hands. Was she ready to die for Cain? Could she leave her father after just discovering him? Grimmly didn't even know what she planned. How could she break his heart, the one man that had cared for her from the beginning.
"Ah," Ulrick said gently, "I see ye didna think of that. Friend to friend," he said leaning toward her, "your father's in the stable brushing down the horses."
Gwen smiled up to Ulrick, and then quickly gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're a good friend, Ulrick." Gwen placed the book back into a secret chamber behind one of the library book shelves and Ulrick closed the panel behind her.
