Time couldn’t pass fast enough for them to get to the district building to rest
and wash themselves. They had to set up things at the alley and then could they go
home, rest for the next ten days and see what has been done by then. As soon as
they had set out they already arrived at the alley manor. Gabriel was patiently waiting
outside, and two rows of ten soldiers each were waiting behind him, in formation, in
battle gear. A smile appeared on Kane’s face and he felt proud and happy at the
same time.
‘’At ease’’ Kane said loudly. The group’s tension faded slightly and they started
chatting.
‘’My lord, what happened?’’ Gabriel said as he saw both Kane and Alpha,
clotted in blood from head to toe and the fair maiden he was dragging behind him.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed on Kane, as if demanding an explanation. Kane had felt it
and stared the man down, which wasn’t as hard to do. Gabriel dropped his gaze to
the ground and awaited for a response.
‘’Men, i am glad that you chose to come here. Stand at ease. You will be
brought something to drink and eat as soon as possible. Gabriel, follow me inside’’
Kane said and walked towards the door, dragging Rasiela behind him.
‘’What is with the lady, sir?’’ he asked.
‘’Long story. We will talk about it later. All you need to know is, she is
dangerous, so keep your distance’’ Kane said and walked into the manor. From the
outside it was just a large brick building, no decoration whatsoever. But from the
inside, it was another story. Golden chandeliers, golden picture frames, golden pots
and what not were all over the main room. A large table with a lot of seats around it,
on the other side a big fireplace and chimney, made out of marble. The room was
separated with half a wall and at the other side there was some kind of kitchen. Kane
walked over and saw food being prepared, probably for them. What the hell was it
with these royals and showing off wealth. Kane got sick to his stomach. All of this had
to go, the gold and the luxuries will be distributed to the poor people.
‘’Is the woman there already?’’ Kane asked Gabriel, who was standing behind
him.
‘’Yes sir, she is. Please just go through that door’’ he said pointing to the far
end of the room. Above the room was a head of a monster, a small greptodont. How
ugly, Kane thought as he proceeded into the room. The room was lavishly furnished.
A big, oval polished cherry table was in the middle of the room, ending in a square at
the far end where an expensive looking chair was standing. Around the round part
there were six other chairs, similarly in design. Large gold framed paintings adorned
the walls and expensive looking curtains the far window. This had to go, as soon as
possible as well, except the big table, which would be useful. The other things he
noticed beside all of the riches, was a young woman, sitting near the far end of the
table. She stood up hurriedly and walked towards them.
‘’Sir, this is Kayla’’ Gabriel said as he introduced her to Kane. ‘’Kayla, this is sir
Kane. The man i told you about’’ She held her hand out which Kane took and kissed
it, getting a groan from Rasiela and a chuckle from Alpha. Kayla bowed deep,
showing off her immense cleavage.
‘’Nice to meet you, Kayla’’ It must have startled her as her mouth was open
for a few moments, no a sound coming out of it.
‘’Why yes, sir Kane. The pleasure is all mine’’ she said with a pleasant smile.
The young woman was absolutely stunning. Kane had a hard time focusing on her
eyes, or generally the last days. Janine at home, his sister behind him or this dark
skinned beauty. She had dark, long and curly hair, just beneath her shoulders. Heavy
mascara traces were all over her face, intricate patterns on her right cheek. The
oriental look she gave off was just loveable. The necklace she wore had a large gem
in its middle, which ended just above her breasts. She noticed he was looking at
them so she squeezed them a little with her arms, making them bounce slightly. It
was all Kane could do to hold himself together. If he did something to this poor
woman, Janine would fry him and then feed him to a monster. She had a long dark
red dress on, which hid more than it revealed so he took comfort in the fact that all he
could see was just a small part of her, telling himself it wasn’t enough to get him
aroused. Somehow he managed himself to look at her face again, and at her dark
brown eyes. It was as if they were soaking him in, a pure gaze of lust.
‘’Sir?’’ Gabriel said as he broke the silence and the awkward moment.
‘’Gabriel, please take a seat next to miss Kayla. Rasiela, you come sit with me,
please’’ Kane said as he turned around and walked towards the other side of the
table. They all sat down and just at that moment the servants came in, bringing food
and drinks. The group waited until the servants were outside to continue the
conversation.
‘’So, Kayla, i will cut right to the point. I am rich, i am strong beyond measure
and i just saved the king’s life half an hour ago. My plan is to take over the kingdom,
peacefully, as to opposed to other factions’’ at which moment Kane’s eyes traced
over Rasiela. She flinched at his gaze and dropped her gaze to the table. Gabriel and
Kayla didn’t seem to notice, which was just fine as well. ‘’What i want to do, firstly, is
restore the alley to a resemblance of a healthy environment. I want to see to it that
the people can earn for a living, that they have enough food, shelter, health care,
clothes on their back. All i have seen so far in here is death, corruption and poverty. It
has to change, and it has to change rapidly’’ Kane said firmly. ‘’I am willing to invest
my personal gold, as well as whatever the district manor has available to get the
district up on its feet in the fastest way possible’’
Kane waited for a response, and he had to wait quite a while. She was staring
at him, mouth wide open, looking confused.
‘’Are you serious?’’ she blurted out. ‘’Why in the seven hells would you do
that? The people of the alley are nothing more than mere ants compared to you. You
stand to gain nothing by helping us?’’ she said bewildered. ‘’Please, tell me why?
What motives have you, for helping us?’’
‘’What motives you say?’’ Kane asked earnestly. ‘’None other then the
following. It is all i can do but to fall into despair and darkness. I have lost a part of
my soul, to probably never get it back. The bad part was left inside of me, whilst the
good was torn out of me. I need this, if for nothing else, then for myself. Redemption
often comes at a high price, and i think this is mine. At least for now, as for later, who
knows what the future will bring’’
‘’Death and nothing else’’ Rasiela murmured.
‘’Hush, sister dear. Dont scare the pretty lady by saying unwanted things’’
Again, if looks could kill. Women sure knew how to stare men to submission. Luckily
for Kane, he was beyond normal, so he withstood it to a certain degree. Kayla just
gave her a strange, wondering look.
‘’Anyway, Kayla. First organize yourself. Get a group of trusted people to work
with you, but not too many. Move into the manor. The left wing will be used to house
your guards, the men outside. They are under my payroll, so do not get any strange
ideas. If everything goes well, within a few weeks this should be thriving. Sell all the
expensive things from the manor to help fund our project. Donate to the public
kitchens, to doctors to take care of patients for free who can’t pay and so on. I do not
have to explain everything, as i heard you were doing a lot of these things by
yourself. But now, you have someone standing behind your actions. I will be back
within ten days to check on the progress. I will take Gabriel with me and the rest of
the guards will protect you and the manor’’ Suddenly Alpha yawned and groaned,
drawing everyone’s attention.
‘’What?’’ he said with a i don’t give a damn attitude. It provoked a chuckle in
Kane and he had to laugh, the rest of the group laughing with him.
‘’Nothing my brother, nothing at all. You hungry? Here, dig in’’ Kane said as he
took the largest steak from the big plate in front of them and threw it his way. He
caught it in mid air, chewing it violently. ‘’You want more?’’
‘’No thanks. I don’t need much food, this was enough for now’’ he said and laid
down on the floor, dozing off.
‘’What is up with that dog of yours?’’ Rasiela asked. Kane gave her an angry
look.
‘’Thad dog, as you phrased, is my brother. You should do well not to insult
him. And drop that attitude of yours Rasiela, or i will send your head back to our
parents!’’ Kane yelled. Her mouth dropped wide open, her expression that of real
fear.
‘’Nice move loverboy’’ Egeryon said. ‘’You put the fear of God into Uheryon. Of
course, my mental image i projected into their mind helped a bit, as well’’ he said and
laughed.
‘’Sometimes you are actually useful’’ Kane said and winked at him, leaving his
presence behind.
‘’Now, go outside with Gabriel and stay there until i am outside as well’’ Kane
said. They both stood up and left the room. Alpha got the meaning as well and joined
them. Kayla didnt seem to understand and she shot him questioning look.
‘’Something the matter, Kayla?’’ Kane asked and smiled very eerily.
‘’Why are we alone if the meeting has finished, my lord?’’ she asked, almost
afraid, as if knowing what is coming. Kane looked her over slowly until she figured
out what he wanted. Slowly she took the top of her dress and pulled it up to her neck,
as if hiding herself.
‘’Please do not do this. You just said yourself that you seek redemption,
please do not cause me pain’’ she said almost crying. Kane was in turmoil. He
wanted her so badly but he did not know how to proceed. If Janine found out, she
would kick his ass, but, if he didn’t have this woman, he would cut himself until he
died, or something like that.
‘’Would you give yourself to me willingly?’’ Kane asked calmly, even though he
was in a turmoil. He didn’t know what was happening inside of him. Something was
jerking and twisting and rending at his gut, as if needing her touch to heal him. He
looked into her eyes, they were trembling. It looked more like anticipation than fear to
him, but what did he know.
‘’If… i have to. If not… please spare me. I am barely twenty two. And still a
virgin!’’ she yelled out suddenly.
‘’What would you do for the alley to become a nice place to live again?’’ She
looked up at Kane, angrily, but with a fierce determination in her eyes. She stood up
and walked towards him, taking her dress off as she walked, slowly. The dress fell
down her ankles and she got out of it, with intent. At that moment, Kane knew he
would regret this day. Unless Janine forgave him, if she found out, which seemed
highly unlikely. Kane tried shaking her out of his thoughts at that moment and
succeeded, somehow. The last bit of undergarments were dropping to the floor as
Kayla reached him and went through her knees.
A good hour later they were laying on the table, naked, exhausted, sweaty.
She layed on her side, her head on his chest, breathing heavily. She aroused him as
much as Janine did, and he was afraid how this was going to work out. She must
have felt his thoughts, or his emotions, somehow and turned away from him.
Suddenly the door burst open and Gabriel came barging in.
‘’Sir, the wolf and the lady are going at it. I am afraid something will happen
unless you do something quick!’’ he almost yelled out. Kane just gave in at that
moment, lost his patience and ran out naked, without even putting anything on. he
ran up to them and stopped a meter in front of them.
‘’This better had have a good reason, as i was having the time of my life in
there’’ he barked, angrily. ‘’Who started this and why!’’
‘’I can clearly see you were enjoying yourself, idiot. Janine will gut you when
she finds out’’ Alpha said.
‘’Al, i am not in the mood. Why are you two going at it’’ Kane said with
clenched teeth. Al looked at him and sighed.
‘’This woman said that she will grill me like a pig and make you watch as she
violates Anya and Janine, sitting on Thanis’s gutted corpse’’ he said, angrily. Kane
didn’t even bother asking if it was true, as he knew she was perfectly capable of
doing it, given the chance. He just glared at her furiously, summoning a storm of
blades, even bigger as usual. There were thousands, floating all around them, every
one glowing with a violent red colour. Her eyes went big and her mouth dropped
open, fear apparent in her face. Kane made the blades float even closer to her,
spinning. The thousands of blades almost drew her in like a vacuum, but not quite,
just grazing her skin, drawing blood. He could feel Uheryon trying to neutralize the
force the blades exerted over her, but it seemed he was a lot weaker and she had far
less control over his power.
Kane just smirked and dispelled the blades. She fell through her knees to the
ground and a small puddle formed under her. She just looked away, hiding her face
in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. At that moment Kayla came running out, barely
clothed. She clung to Kane’s arm and looked at him, afraid and confused at the same
time.
‘’What… happened?’’ she asked softly.
‘’I taught my sister a lesson she won’t forget so easily. Please, do me a favour
and take her inside. You can wash up with her together and give her some clothes,
please. I will pay for the expenses’’
She looked at him as if he just insulted her, glared at him and turned around
towards Rasiela, walked over, helped her stand up and escorted her inside. Kane
walked over to Alpha and patted him on his back, getting a growl back.
‘’Men’’ Kane yelled, turning towards the two dozen me. ‘’Showing mercy to one
weaker than yourself is a noble gesture. Showing mercy to someone stronger than
yourself is a stupid gesture. They will return the favour by gutting you like a pig, or
sometimes, eating you. Do not show mercy to a monster, it will show you none. Show
mercy to those who you are to protect. All of you here, excluding Gabriel, will be
guarding the alley manor and miss Kayla, with your lifes of course. You will train
every day to exhaustion, you will build strength, stamina, endurance. In ten days we
will be back and i will test you as a group. Learn to work together, and be disciplined.
Choose someone amongst yourself who you respect the most, and who ever it turns
out to be, they will be leading you from then on. You will be sleeping in the west wing.
Kayla will organise some carpenters to rearrange the west wing to a living space
suited for you’’ Kane said and turned around, walking towards the manor entrance.
He stopped, turning around again.
‘’Any questions?’’
‘’Sir, no sir!’’ the group said in unison. Kane smiled inwardly. Somehow he
knew this bunch would turn out alright. He turned towards the door again and went
in, asked a maid where the bathing room was and let her lead him inside. Unknown
to her, to their surprise, both Kayla and Rasiela were inside, naked, their front turned
towards Kane as he had entered. They both turned red within a mere second, Kayla
probably of embarrassment and Rasiela out of anger. Kane acted like it was the most
normal thing to do and just entered, naked as well. The room was well lit and
spacious, giving enough room for half a dozen of people to clean themselves at
once. It was all done in marble slabs with a drain at the middle of the room, which
was only available to the richest of people. Six big basins were arrayed at the sides
of the walls, full of steaming water and a bigger pool in the middle, enough for
multiple people to sit in. Kane walked over to a basin and sat in it, imagining all kinds
of scenes in his head after seeing the two of them just now. He sensed them turning
around and going back to their business, as if nothing happened. The only difference
was, the chatter died out.
‘’We leave in twenty minutes, be sure to finish by then and get dressed’’ Kane
said to no one in particular, whilst pouring hot water over his body. He sighed deeply,
he just couldn’t help it.
‘’It doesn’t have to be this way, sister. I can really protect you. There is no
equal to me in this whole kingdom. Not that it is big in particular, but, you know what i
mean. I have managed to master my demons powers, to a certain degree, and there
is no one who can even come close to me. With you by my side, sister, we could
move mountains. I will help you get control over Uheryon and teach you how to draw
on his power. We will own the whole world one day together. Not like our parents
wanted, through fear and death, but through respect and love’’.
‘’That is the problem. I do not wish to rule anything. I just want to be left in
peace and live my own life!’’ she yelled and turned to Kane, storming over. ‘’Look me
in the eyes, brother, and tell me you can give me that!’’ she yelled again. The pain in
her voice obvious. Maybe he had misinterpreted her.
‘’I can’’ he said calmly. ‘’If you let me and you stay by my side, i will give you
what you desire. I have longed for nothing more in this wretched existence, than for
family. I found a woman who loves me and now i have a sister i didn’t know existed.
Let me make it work, please’’ Kane said, looking her into her eyes. She just burst out
in tears, embracing Kane and putting her head in his neck, sobbing.
‘’And what about me?’’ Kayla asked, standing with her arms crossed, facing
us. ‘’Am i just an in between your wife?’’ she asked angrily.
‘’Umm, can we talk about that another time? Pretty please?’’ Kane begged
her.
‘’So you are going to leave me like this, do me and drop me until i am
needed?’’ she asked viciously. A few long moments passed and then she burst out
laughing. ‘’Just kidding, loverboy. I will be here when you return. You will take me as
your second wife and we all will be happy, right?’’ she said staring holes in Kane’s
eyes. Women, they are worse than any demon or monster. They can kill with words.
‘’Umm, if Janine doesn’t kill me, i will see what we can do, all right?’’ he said
sheepishly. ‘’Now let us finish and get dressed. We are needed elsewhere’’ Rasiela
moved off him and walked over to Kayla, sitting down where she had been sitting
earlier. Kayla walked over to her and helped her finish so Kane did the same.
Half an hour later they were on the road again, this time riding two fine horses
from the manor stables and Alpha running beside them. Not much was said, except
some light talk. Rasiela was still afraid of Kane he guessed and he didn’t want to
push it, not yet at least. They rode slower than he did whilst alone on Alpha, but it
was more pleasant. The landscape was magnificent. Grassland all around them,
trees planted along the chiseled road, plants and flowers growing all around them.
Birds chirping, wild animals roaming around, even monster herds. Well, herds of non
dangerous monsters. They were more aching to cattle, hunted for meat and their
hides which made good winter clothing.
‘’So pretty’’ she said. ‘’I have never seen such beauty and had the time to
appreciate. Kane just looked at her, amazed how calm she seemed to be. The
scenes that played out earlier must have helped. The red dress that Kayla had
picked out for her was gracing her in particular and he saw her in a whole new light.
What bathing and new clothes can do for a woman.
‘’Yes it is, and i have found countless opportunities to appreciate it. The good
and the bad. I prefer the bad but, the good is also nice’’ Kane said and laughed out.
A smile appeared on her face, a small one, but bigger than anything until now. The
rest of the trip proceeded with light chatter and groans and moans from Alpha, who
was annoyed with the slow pace, so he kept running in circles around them. In about
two hours ride, they arrived at the inn only to be shocked. As they pulled up closer,
they could make out that Janine was facing off a monster, with the help of…
something. A pitch black golem was fighting a regnolak, and Janine was hurling
fireballs from her palms. Too stunned Kane could just stare and do nothing. The
regnolak was just a few meters in height, standing on four feet. It had a long spiked
tail and a head near its back. The frontal legs were covered in what it looked like
armour and stumps at the end, used to crush opponents. The back part was just
covered in dense fur, and was aflame after all of the fireballs.
Alpha didn’t find it as amusing and rushed into the fray to help Janine out. In
mid air he summoned his soul forge which crashed down on the regnolak, sending it
sprawling to the ground. He ripped at the meaty parts, neglecting the flames and the
stench. At that moment Beta and Gamma came rushing in, but the regnolak was like
a mountain, and it was hard to do anything to it, beside hit it and be damaged in
return. Janine yelled for them to let her be and do it her own way, so the trio backed
off.
The black golem propelled itself off the ground, jumping up a few meters into
the air, but just enough to land on the regnolak, bringing it down with its massive
weight. The golem kept punching the regnolak into the soil, with every hit of its
massive, black stone fists, the regnolak’s body was bashed in, organs crushed inside
of him and as the golem had landed on top of it, it got off and sat on it, grabbing its
head with its massive hands. Three times twisting and prodding and he ripped off the
regnolak’s head, throwing it towards where Kane was standing.
On mere instinct, Kane’s thousand blades summoned around him, flew into
the head, shredding it to pieces. Every single drop was absorbed by egeryon, not
even a drop spilling. Gabriel’s and Rasiela’s mouths were open wide, eyes big.
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