In Another World

The moment that Gavin disappeared the atmosphere between Caine and Riley became awkward. Neither of them knew how to interact with the other. Gavin had been their mediary up to that point.

"He'll come back, right?"

"Of course. I have a few things to do then I'll be working in my office. You're welcome to come with me."

Caine was mostly certain that Gavin would come back. Ninety percent certain. What will I do if he doesn't come back?

"Ok."

Riley still felt some fear while around Caine, or any of the demons. So far he has mostly isolated himself and only spent time with Gavin. He told himself that he would do his best while Gavin was gone. He didn't want to stop Gavin in any way from seeing his family, now or in the future.

Riley followed Caine around. He was a silent shadow behind Caine everywhere he went. Caine was relieved when he finished up everything and went to his office. Riley found a book and sat in a far corner to read while Caine worked through a pile of papers.

Every now and then a soldier would come in and report on various progresses made throughout the city. One of the reports confirmed that no armies had been sighted. They knew it was coming, the wait was just annoying.

Caine already had a plan laid out in his head. He had discussed it several times with Xanthe and Gavin. They had unanimously decided that it was the best strategy for when they were attacked. No one doubted that the king would retaliate. Dreymore was in a good location and Edicia wouldn't give that up.

At lunch time Xanthe joined them and the three ate together. It was during lunch that Caine realized how different everyone was when Gavin was there. The silence during lunch was deafening. If Gavin had been there it would have been a livelier occasion with lots of talking.

When did he become such an important part of our lives? Gavin hadn't been gone for more than a few hours and Caine was already missing him.

"Riley, would you like to visit with your sister today?"

Both Riley and Xanthe looked up when Caine spoke.

"Yes, if that's ok?"

"Xanthe, can you set it up? Say, right after dinner?"

"Of course, if that's your wish."

Xanthe smiled as she glanced at Caine and Riley then moved her attention to finishing her food. Once they were done eating Xanthe excused herself and Caine returned to his work.

Later that day Caine took Riley to the opposite wing where they were staying. He went halfway down the hall and knocked on the door. Xanthe came out and gave Riley a warm smile.

"Go on in, she knows you're coming."

"Thank you."

Riley gave a quick bow in Xanthe's direction and walked into the bedroom. Xanthe and Caine moved to the adjoining room.

Joelle was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, an open book laying across her lap. She didn't look up until Riley was standing in front of her.

"Joelle, how are you doing?"

When she looked up at him her eyes were dark and sunken, as if she hadn't been sleeping well. She looked paler than normal, but otherwise looked like her usual self. Except for the eyes. There was a dark emotion within her eyes that Riley knew well, it had just never been directed at him with such intensity.

"Not as well as you, from what I've heard. Are you enjoying being a traitor?"

Riley felt as if he had fallen into a frozen lake. Words refused to form after the sting of her words. He didn't view himself as a traitor. Most would view his relationship with Gavin as a means of survival. After spending so much time with Gavin he didn't see where the demons were in the wrong. Dreymore used to belong to them after all.

"Can't even say anything to defend yourself? Or are you quiet because it's true? Gods, I can't believe that mother died to give you life. You're just a waste."

Riley turned and ran out of the room. He couldn't stay there, couldn't handle it anymore. Why does she hate me so much? I didn't want my mother to die. If I had a choice I would trade places with mother. Everyone loved her.

When Caine found him a few minutes later Riley was in bed. Riley was curled up into a ball, silently crying. Caine moved to sit beside him on the bed. He felt awkward and didn't know how to handle Riley crying. Strong emotions are a foreign concept for Caine.

After a moment Caine reached out and laid a hand on Rileys arm. Riley let out a sob and turned to Caine. Clinging to Caine was as close to having Gavin there as he was going to get. Riley might have had reasons to fear Caine, but when compared to his sister Caine was a safe harbor.

"What happened?"

Caine waited until Riley was in a calm state before inquiring. Riley had ended up sitting in Caine's lap, arms around Caine's waist and legs tucked in.

"I'm useless. It's my fault my mother died and everyone hates me for killing her. Joelle most of all."

Looking down at the vulnerable aura that surrounded Riley Caine felt the urge to hide him away from the world. Is this why Gavin always keeps him close and within the castle? Caine wouldn't mind hurting the sister, but didn't know if it would cause more harm to the kid or not. Instead he held Riley and tried his best to comfort him.

"I've killed a lot of people in my life, more than I can count. So, this comes from a place of experience when I say that you didn't kill your mother. This world is harsh and it's the harshest on a woman giving birth.

"What you should think about instead is how your mother would want you to live. I've heard the story of your birth, I know that your mother held out until you were born. A mother doesn't endure like that for a child she doesn't want to exist."

Caine brushed the hair from Riley's face and gave him a gentle smile.

"To endure like she did means that your mother loved you very much."

Tears welled up in Rileys eyes, "That still doesn't change the fact that Joelle hates me. She tells me all the time that I should have traded places with mother."

"I think it's best if you don't see her again. Consider this an order. Someone who can say that to another person doesn't deserve the consideration that you've given her."

Riley closed his eyes and tried to suppress the sobs that threatened to consume him. He couldn't handle the look on Caine's face, as if he was ready to kill someone. Riley knew that that look was directed at his sister so he was afraid, at least not for himself. He didn't dare go against Caine's orders and he honestly wasn't certain if he wanted to.

The time he had spent away from his sister and with Gavin had been like a fairytale. Gavin cared about him, saw him as someone worth caring about, and made certain he knew it.

It wasn't long before Riley calmed down, it was also about then that Caine noticed he had fallen asleep. Crazy kid. It has to be exhausting letting other people's opinions bother you so deeply. Caine felt sympathy for Riley. No one had ever said anything like that to him growing up, but his parents had always been too busy to deal with him. His father was the only one that made time for him and that was only to train him when he was older.

Caine laid Riley down and pulled the cover up to tuck around him. He stood at the door watching Riley sleep for far too long before he left the door. He went directly to Xanthe's room and knocked on the door.

"Where is she?"

"I sent her to the dungeon."

Xanthe didn't even bother asking who he was talking about. They had both been there when the door had slammed shut and Riley could be seen running away. She had been around the princess enough to understand that she had said something.

"She wouldn't say what happened, but I know that she did something."

Caine leaned against the wall just inside the room. He didn't particularly want to be in Xanthe's personal space.

"Riley's mother was sick through the pregnancy and died while giving birth. Apparently his sister blames him for their mother's death. I don't know all the details, just enough to know that he's convinced he killed his mother. Riley's sister told him that he should be dead instead of their mother."

"I've never seen someone so full of hate for no good reason."

"I've told him to stay away from her. It's best that they never come into contact."

Xanthe nods her head in agreement, "As you wish. When the circumstances change, I will gladly be the one that kills her."

"If she continues this type of behavior it'll be sooner rather than later."

The smile that appeared on his face was neither pleasant nor comforting, it was the look of death.

"I'll leave you now. Have a good night, Xanthe."

"Good night, Lord Caine."

Xanthe bowed as she spoke.

Caine returned to his room, deciding that it wasn't worth it to do anything else considering the late hour. At some point in the middle of the night Riley cried out and sat up. He had a particularly bad dream that left him covered in sweat, heart beating madly. Caine was only half awake when he reached out to touch Riley.

Riley turned to look at Caine and laid back down. Caine expected him to simply lay down and go back to sleep, instead Riley curled up next to him. What is he doing? Caine was too tired to argue and simply let his arm lay down across Riley and fell back to sleep.

When Caine woke up that morning Riley was laying with his head on Caine's chest and an arm across the waist. Caine wasn't certain what to do. He and Gavin had never slept this close, and until recently Riley had stayed away from him. He found that Riley raised a handful of emotions that he was uncertain about.

He didn't desire Riley, not in the same way he does Gavin. It's more that he understands why Gavin is so protective of Riley. Riley looks so small and vulnerable as he lays there, Caine feels the urge to protect him. I'm definitely growing weak in my old age. He waits another ten minutes before he wakes up Riley.

"What are you dreaming about when you have your nightmares?"

Caine asks over breakfast.

"I don't know. I've had them for as long as I can remember but I don't actually remember what I dream about. I just know that horrible things happen in my dreams, things I don't want to happen." Riley shrugs and looks down at his food. "It almost feels as if I'm searching for the right dream."

"Do you think it'll stop if you find the right one?"

"I don't know." Maybe it'll all end and I won't be anymore. Riley was surprised at the thought that appeared in his mind. He forcefully pushed the thought away and finished his food.

When they were done eating Riley joined Caine on his morning rounds then they returned to the office. Caine was always surprised at how much paperwork there was no matter where he went.

At lunch time Xanthe came to the office, bringing lunch with her. She paused in the doorway, shocked at what she was seeing. Caine was sitting on his chair behind the desk and Riley was sitting on his lap. Both of them were looking over a blueprint and Caine was making notes.

Xanthe knocked on the door jam and walked in. Caine and Riley looked up when she knocked.

"Perfect timing, Riley was just talking about being hungry."

"What are you working on?"

Riley got up and grabbed some food from the tray and sat down on a chair opposite of Caine. Xanthe sat down next to Riley. Caine made a few more notes then put the papers aside.

"Riley was telling me about all the secret passageways he knows about in Kael. We won't have the same element of surprise as we did here, but having access to the castle will make things easier."

"We could send some men inside while we launch an attack from the outside. Will they have access like that to Dreymore when they come?"

"No, but that's only because the elders have the walls so warded up that without demon blood they can't even touch the stone that the wall is made out of."

Xanthe didn't stay long, using the excuse that she had something to do. She smiled as she left. She couldn't help but think that it was a cute scene that she had walked in on. Not that she dared to say that to Caine, but no one could stop her from thinking it.

Riley stayed with Caine all day, never once leaving his side. Unknowingly, they had been forced to grow closer with Gavin gone. Without that buffer they didn't have an excuse for avoiding each other or not interacting. That night Riley laid down next to Caine and wrapped an arm around his waist. He didn't hesitate to get close to Caine, his fears were gone.

Because most of his life Riley was sick and stuck in bed he isn't capable of having negative feelings or thoughts about others. That's why he didn't hate his sister even after all the horrible things she's said to him.

It was late morning the next day that they got the news. Caine and Riley hadn't been in the office for more than a few minutes when a soldier came in.

"Lord Caine, I've been sent to tell you that General Gavin is returning."