Edie

Edie

SasatheShy

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Chapter Twelve: Her Story, His Approval

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Each and every Cretchen stood back as Verity stormed down the hallway. She looked mad as a bull as she stomped her way towards Cain’s quarters. Once there, she forced the door open as she stepped inside, finding Cain standing before his mirror, fixing himself up.

The sight made Verity gap, for Cain was not wearing his certified uniform. Instead, he wore a simple brown shirt and some dressy black pants. He had on boots, and wore a brown, leathery buckle at his side with a dagger resting neatly on a sheath.

“Cain?” she gaped. “What the hell are you wearing? Peasants’ clothes?”

Sighing, Cain looked at Verity from within his mirror. He combed at his pale hair before facing her. “I am going out of town for only a day or two, not that it’s any of your concern, Verity.”

“Not my concern?” she gaped. Growling, she stepped up to him. “Cain, I am growing tired of hearing such -- crude comments. I am your fiancée, am I not? Besides, I’ve gathered information that you were at that fucking, stinky inn a night ago…”

“So?” he interrupted, wondering exactly how Verity discovered he had been there. He fixed his brown shirt as he gathered up a long satchel holding some coins in it. He put this over his shoulder. “I do own the inn, and my men are pleased with its prostitutes. I merely go to give Tonisha coins.”

“Do you also go to entertain women, yourself?” Verity growled. “Do you enjoy young women? Perhaps women with brown hair?”

“What on earth are you talking about?” he asked calmly. He fixed the strings on his shirt.

“The other night,” she glared. “The night you were supposed to be having over your personal guest! Just how personal was this guest, Cain? And why were you at that inn for part of the night?”

Verity held her ground even as Cain glared up at her. He placed both hands at his sides as he trailed around his desk. He didn’t even bother with touching her. He only glared as he headed for the exit.

“Cain!” Verity shrieked. “Answer me!”

“I’ll be back by this evening or tomorrow,” Cain said. He looked over at her. “By that time, I expect you to show your future husband more respect. There are some things I do that is just not any of your damn business, Verity. Stay the fuck out of it.”

At times, his fiancée reminded Cain of a python. She was always ready to strike, whether she was wrong or right. To his disliking, she was correct this time. He did not know how she had figured him out, but no matter. Cain would not allow that vile woman to come between him and Edie. Now, more than ever, Cain was willing to discover more from what he had learned when he had had dinner with Edie. As he left his mansion, leaving Verity in a huff, and Mark in charge, Cain got into a waiting carriage as he ordered the driver to take him to the town of Inkton.

There, Cain hoped to find more answers.

--

Cain stepped out of the carriage as he looked around. The town of Inkton seemed smaller than Forter. It was less filthy, however. That gave something for Cain to look into when he returned to Forter. For now, he turned in the snow, causing crunching under his boots as he walked up to the town’s only poor house.

This had to be it.

Fixing the brown glove covering his hand, Cain made a well fist and knocked on the door. He stood patiently, eager to meet the one named Kelli. He put on his greatest smile as the door opened wide.

An elderly woman greeted him. She wore a dirty dress with stains and had her messy hair up in a poorly done bun. She eyed him up and down, then gave him a gentle smile. “Can I help you?”

“Yes,” he said cheerfully. “My name is Aden. I am looking for Kelli.”

The lady raised a brow. She continued to eye this strange man. “What business do you have with Miss Kelli?”

“Well, it just so happens that I’ve heard about her from a girl I am in love with,” he grinned. “The girl I know is named Edie.”

“Edie?” gasped the woman. She placed a hand on Cain’s arm. “You know Edie?” she asked.

“I do,” he smiled. “May I come in, Miss Kelli?”

Kelli went red. She nodded at him. “Of course, please come in. You must be freezing.”

Cain entered the foster home. He looked around and took the place in. Loose flooring, ugly walls, and a foul stench greeted his nose. Well, he assumed it was the stench of poor folk. He turned to Kelli. She seemed fair enough, for a woman that ran the place, anyway.

“Thank you,” he said as she led him into the main dining area.

The place was crowded. Elderly rested on the floors, children ran about playing games, and people sat all around, conversing. Cain’s never seen such a sight. He followed Kelli through many different ways before being led to a door that he guessed led into her office. And he had guessed right.

It was small, yet homey. There was a tiny, clean desk with a quill, papers, and ink pad. There was a straw bed and a nice dresser.

“Help yourself to a seat,” Kelli told him as she pointed at one of two chairs.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he grinned. He sat down and looked up at her as she offered him tea. He accepted this, and waited as she went to get the tea.

While Kelli was gone, Cain took this time to remove his gloves and get to know his surroundings. It was difficult for him to believe that Edie had lived at such a place for seven years. Then again, it wasn’t. He was more interested on how she had even gotten to such a town as Inkton, and to this foster home.

Shortly, he turned to see Kelli return. She smiled at him as she placed a small tray down on a little table resting in her room. She helped herself to the other chair as she eyed Cain. “Please help yourself.”

Nodding, Cain poured himself some tea.

“So,” Kelli began. “You know Edie?”

“Indeed, I do,” Cain smiled. “I met her in Forter. She’s a fine young woman.”

“That she is,” giggled Kelli. She offered Cain a piece of bread as she sighed. “I just am so thankful she got there, and -- well, how is she? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Not at all,” Cain said. He took a whiff of the tea before taking a sip. It tasted lemony. “Mm… Delicious.”

“Thank you,” Kelli smiled.

“So,“ Cain began. “Of course, she is a mysterious girl. I came here wondering if I could ask you a few questions. We could -- how shall I say, share stories?”

“Sounds fine,” said Kelli. She blew on her tea.

“Very good,” grinned Cain. “Edie is a beautiful girl. She’s also an amazing cook. Did you teach her?”

Kelli put a hand to her heart, surprised by such a compliment. She smiled at the gentleman as she shook her head. “Heaven’s, no. Edie was gifted. I’d say from her parents, since she talked about them most of the time.”

“Really?” Cain asked. “Well, she’s fantastic. I especially love her stew.”

“Oh yes,” Kelli chuckled. She smiled. It sounded like Edie was doing well. This made Kelli feel so thankful. She had been scared for the girl, what with what she had gone through. But now -- now it seemed as if Edie had managed to turn her life around. She was truly living her dream, now. “What did you say your name was, again?”

“Aden,” Cain lied. “I met Edie when I visited Pig’s Thigh Inn. Ordered a broth she made, and Tonisha’s a close friend of mine. She introduced me to Edie, and -- well -- I have a heart for that woman.”

“That sounds so sweet,” Kelli sighed. She smiled. “Edie is wonderful, isn’t she?”

“She is something,” Cain smiled. He looked down at his tea briefly. “Well, I would love to learn more about her. I -- I heard that she suffered when she was young… She hadn’t really told me much of anything, except that she was -- well, raped, but I figured since she told me about you and this place that -- well… Forgive me if I sound rude, Miss Kelli, but I was wondering if you know what happened to her?”

Kelli blinked. She looked away for a moment before sighing. “Edie -- is a tough woman. She -- suffered greatly, yet she somehow managed to fight onward.”

“I see,” Cain whispered, eager to know exactly how Edie had managed to fight off the damage he had caused. He was that disturbed.. Perhaps he was that much in love, as well. “Please, Miss Kelli, how did she get to such a wonderful woman as yourself?”

Smiling, Kelli looked over at Cain. She held her tea in her palms as she took a moment to take in his question. “After -- she lost everything important to her, this man she told me about -- his name slips my mind right now… I don’t even think she told me, but -- but after he had raped her, she found herself alone. Her home was burned to the ground, and -- that’s all I know of that…” she paused as she looked up at Cain. She smiled softly. “I -- had found her while passing the roads between here and Elberry.”

Cain gaped. That, from Edie’s village, had to be at least a four hour walk. He was astonished.

“She had blistery feet,” Kelli continued. “And she was so cold. She had nothing. I thought for sure that she was dead, but when I got a closer look, she was breathing. I carried her on board and brought her into town. I had a doctor look her over, and -- that’s when I found out about --” she paused again. She shook her head. “She was so young…”

“Amazing,” Cain whispered, causing Kelli to look up at him in confusion.

“Excuse me?” she gaped.

“I’m sorry,” Cain shook his head. “What I meant was that it was amazing she was strong enough to -- overcome what she had.”

Agreeing with this, Kelli set down her cup of tea. “Yes, it surprised me. I mean -- she had not even gotten sick. She was healthy, besides -- what had happened. I took her in, and she became the cook, here. She wanted to help out, so I -- let her.”

Cain shook his head, taking this all in. He was now sure that this had to be destiny. Edie had survived. She had did as he said, and she had taken a first step to her future. He could hardly believe it.

“It’s simply…” he began. He looked over at Kelli. “I -- I am stunned to hear this.”

“Her story is special,” Kelli nodded.

“Special,” Cain said softly. “Yes. It really is.”

Kelli sighed. She smiled at Cain. “Well, I am grateful she is doing well. She hasn’t really been on my mind lately. I’ve been terribly busy, but -- Aden?”

“Yes?

“When you return, could you tell her that I am proud of her?” Kelli asked.

Chuckling, Cain nodded his head. “Of course. And believe me, I think she already knows.”

--

The Captain now knew how Edie had urged on. As he got back into the carriage, he thought of her remarkable story. He felt proud of himself. If not for him, she would still be living in that poor village, serving none but her parents such delicious stew. Instead, she now served it to many, and she was making a profit off of it.

And it was all thanks to Cain.

“I saved her,” he whispered. “If not for me, she would never have become as powerful as she now is. If not for me, she never would have walked the land.” As Cain sat there, a large, dark grin spread over his lips. “Before me, she was useless. She really should thank me…” he paused. He looked out his window as the carriage drove him out of Inkton. He took notice of two young ladies wearing rags, and soot on their cheeks. They reminded Cain of the first time he saw Edie.. She had looked just as miserable. Now, she wore a clean, beautiful, pink face. A face that made Cain groan with excitement.

“Now then,” he whispered, closing his eyes. “When I return to Forter, Edie and I shall have a little talk… And I will make her fall in love with me.”

--

On her hands and knees, Aleah bent over as she cried. Her dress had been lowered. She leaned forward, feeling as if she could vomit as she revealed many bruises on her bare back. She struggled to stop her oncoming tears, which brought hiccups along with them. Aleah shook her head back and forth as Verity hovered over her. The woman held a buckle in her hand. One that belonged to Cain. She stared down at her pathetic sister and sighed.

“Get up,” she ordered.

Sniffling, Aleah slowly sat up straight. She rose to her feet as blood trickled her back. Her hair was loose, falling to her uncovered bosom. She put her arms over her round breasts, covering them as Verity faced her.

“I hate punishing you like this,” cooed Verity. She shook her head at Aleah as she cupped her sister’s cheek. “You know I do, sister.”

Aleah said nothing. She shook from her sister’s unwelcome touch.

“However,” Verity went on. “I am not pleased when you lie to me, sister. You told me you saw Cain with a woman…”

“I d -- did,” Aleah sniffed. “T -- they went into the -- inn.. I saw t -- them…”

“And I believe you,” Verity chuckled. “But I want to know why you decided to go into the inn.”

“T -- to find her for y -- you,” Aleah gasped.

“Her?” Verity asked. She smiled as she rubbed her sister’s cheek. “That is kind of you, sister. Perhaps you still can do that -- you just have to be my eyes for me. Tonisha knows me. She hates me. If I were to step into that inn, she’d have a cow… You, on the other hand, she does not know. You could find all the information I need, sister.”

‘That is all for today. Lift up you dress. I think while Cain is gone, you and I shall take this opportunity to find out what exactly is going on at Pig’s Thigh Inn.”

Wincing, Aleah pulled her dress back up, covering her wounds. She groaned as she got it up all the way. She looked up just as Verity stepped inches in front of her. Verity leaned down.

“My sister,” she whispered. “It is time for you to act as a little spy.”

Sniffing, Aleah nodded her head. “I -- I will for you…”

Verity grinned wickedly. She pulled away from her sister and sighed. “Now then, go take a bath. You reek.”

Looking down, Aleah bowed before turning and taking her leave.

Once alone, Verity turned to stare out her window. She looked out over the town of Forter, grinning. She could make out just a bit of the inn far in the distance. Scratching her nails against the window, she leaned against it sensually as she sighed.

“Cain cannot hide anything from me,” she moaned as she licked her bottom lip. “I will find this mysterious beauty, and I will punish her greatly. No one steals my captain away from me…” she glared as she pushed a vase to the floor, causing it to shatter into millions of small pieces.

“No one,” she hissed.