Page 50 of The Secret of Pain

"Who was it? Did you know him?" She eyes me, like she can sense I'm holding back details, important details.

"Do you really want to know?" I sigh, knowing that once she knows, she can't not know, and I don't want her to put herself in a shitty situation because of me.

"Oh, shut your face. I'm your best friend, if you're in a pile of shit, of course I'm going to wade in and be in it with you. Goddess only knows how your family would react, but me, I'm Switzerland, baby. I'm not going to judge." She pats her black curls, and I wonder if she has any idea, but I know she doesn't. She can't.

"Does the name Kain mean anything to you?" I ask her, and she stares at me, mouth opening and then closing, eyes wide. She looks like a Japanese Koi at feeding time and I almost laugh at the sight, almost. This shit’s too serious to actually laugh right now.

"I… Kain… Surely… Holy shit," she mumbles and then starts pacing the floor in front of the windows of my apartment.

I sit silently and let her process. Apparently, she knows more than I do about who he is, and I just dropped another bombshell on her. The guilt gnaws at my stomach, but I swallow down the sick feeling that floods me, a small weight lifted from my shoulders knowing I'm not alone and that Fallon will never betray me.

She slides down the wall, sitting on the floor, and Sushi jumps into her lap, purring as she strokes him.

"What did he look like? Because it can't be…"

"He was… beautiful, in a strange way. He had dark hair, longer on top so it kind of fell in his eyes, which were the brightest blue I've ever seen, even with the amber ring. He was tall, definitely well over six feet and broad, though not like Creek, but definitely lean beneath the black shirt and pants he wore. There was just something about him. Like a confidence in every word, in every action." I look back at her and she's practically gawking at me.

"Did he have a ring? A silver ring with a black stone? Did you see any markings on his skin?" she asks, and I shake my head.

"I didn't have time, it was so quick." I contemplate telling her about my sword, about the dagger, but I hold it back, something telling me that she's not really ready to know the whole story yet.

"Okay, well holy shit. I think that was Kain Michaels," she says, and I nod, recognizing the name from my dream.

"Who is he?" I ask, and her gaze snaps back to mine.

"Wow, your memories really aren't back yet. I’m surprised your brothers haven't given you the low down. You should really ask them for a history lesson, because holy shit man." She runs her hands through her hair, and I notice the slight tremor. Her words barely more than whisper. "Kain Michaels is the last known living Dracul of the old times. Back when the factions were at peace, the Dracul were ruled by three royal families. Rumor has it, the rest have been killed or are in hiding, but Kain, he is a man of legend.

“He fought in wars that are merely myths now. He has destroyed entire empires and brought down kings and dictators. He is a force.

“The King of the Dracul is what they call him now. The last hope of the Dracul to bring peace back to their kind. To bring back the old ways, and supposedly let the other royals out of hiding. The story goes that he was always the general of the Dracul, his father was a great mind, but no one would plan, strategize, and execute like Kain, and so he became the protector of the Dracul. The other royals looked after politics, keeping the relationships up with the other factions, keeping their people fed, keeping them in line. Kain was the one who went to war with our factions, up against humans, alongside humans, to make the world a better place."

"Sounds like you like yourself a bit of Kain." I wink at her, tamping down the jealousy that flickers in my heart, and she barks out a laugh.

"The things I've read about him… It’s hard to see him as the monster everyone wants to make him out to be, but then, I've never met the guy. I only have secondhand stories. But knowing what I do about the Dracul and the Lycans, compared to the stories the Hunters give, I kind of admire him a little. Giving up everything for his kind. Rumor has it that he had a love once, and the Hunters killed her. That’s what sparked the war between the two factions and what spiraled down to the world as we know it today, but there's no firsthand stories of it in the journals, so it could just be nothing more than a story. But the romantic in me likes to believe it’s true." She shrugs, a bit more relaxed.

"If it is him though, Remy… You have to be careful. I have no idea why he would help you. Even less of an idea as to why he would help you help me."

"I will. It’s not like I'm going to go out hunting for him. Well, I mean, you know what I mean." I laugh, hating that I'm not going to tell her about his note, about my dream, but something inside me urges me to guard those secrets with my life, and I'm going to trust that instinct.

"Well, that is a relief! Now then, enough talk about magic and monsters. You need to dish about Creek! But first, I need something stronger than this soda." She stands and shakes her head.

"Help yourself." I wave to the kitchen, and she puts her hands on her hips.

"I know you are not going to make me drink alone, Remington Bennett." She eyes me, her eyebrow raised, and I can't help but laugh.

"Fine, but I'm only having one. I'm training with Bauer again tomorrow, apparently getting my ass handed to me this week means I need to step up my training."

"And so it should! Now then, whiskey or tequila?" she asks as she opens the door to my freezer.

"Dealer’s choice." I smile at her as she moves around my kitchen like it’s her own, and I feel lighter, even if a little disturbed at the new knowledge about the man in my dreams. What I still don't understand is who the other man in my dream was all those weeks ago. His voice… I can still hear it as if it were yesterday, and that voice doesn't belong to anyone I know.

I shake off the thought, because Fates knows I have enough to deal with right now as it is, and Fallon hands me a glass before sitting opposite me on the couch again.

"Spill…" she says with a wide grin, and I sigh, ready to spill my guts about the one thing I know I can tell her everything about.

"So, we started off as we always have, except for me still being pissed at him for leaving. I know, I know he had a good reason, but you tell that to my stupid girl hormones. Anyway, things started to get better, and then there was this moment and I thought he was going to kiss me, but Colt happened."

"Fucking Colt," she grumbles.

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