Kain slipped out of the throne room, his departure soundless.
As he stepped into the halls, a sense of calm washed over him, though the residual tension of earlier still hung in the air. Servants scurried past, urgency in their movements, their heads bowed to avoid drawing attention. Kain paid them no mind and retraced his steps.
He entered Kanis' chambers, finding the room far from empty. Kanis was pacing, his boots thudding against the floor in sharp, jagged rhythms.
"…idiot… that absolute idiot…"
Frustration laced his voice, each word spat out as if it carried a bitter taste.
"He thinks he's clever, sitting there as if he already has the crown. What an idiot…"
Kain lingered in the shadows for a moment, observing his brother's agitation. Then, with a gentle shift, he hovered onto the bed and allowed his invisibility to dissipate, casually seating himself with one leg crossed over the other and a playful smile gracing his lips.
Kanis turned abruptly, stumbling back and landing hard on the floor.
"For the love of—" he gasped, clutching his chest while glaring at Kain. "Stop doing that!"
Kain tilted his head, a straight expression settling on his face.
"Doing what?"
Kanis regarded him with a mix of disbelief and irritation.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Kain held his gaze for a moment before bursting into laughter, the sound light and amused.
"Relax," he said, rising from the bed. "You'll get used to it."
Kanis remained unconvinced, his frown deepening as Kain stepped closer. The playful smile faded, replaced by a more serious look.
"So," Kain began, his voice steady, "which brother are we killing first?"
Kanis blinked, the surprise evident in his expression. "What?"
"Which brother are we killing first," Kain repeated. "And how?"
Kanis looked away, his brow furrowing. He exhaled slowly, letting his eyes close momentarily as he collected himself.
"…I'm not sure," he finally confessed.
That admission made Kain pause. When Kanis opened his eyes again, clarity surfaced.
"Marcus," he declared after a beat. "He's the biggest threat."
Kain's demeanor changed, just slightly. A faint frown tugged at his lips.
"…no."
Kanis narrowed his eyes. "No?"
Kain shook his head firmly. "Your brother Marcus is not someone you send me after right now."
Kanis frowned deeper. "Why not?"
Kain met his gaze with unwavering determination. "He carries divine energy."
The weight of Kain's words settled between them, thickening the air. Kanis' expression shifted, irritation mingling with confusion.
"Divine… what does that even mean?"
"It means," Kain replied, stepping closer, "that he is not just another man with a title."
He leaned in a fraction more, his tone turning serious. "It means he has something backing him. Something that won't take kindly to me."
Kanis' frown deepened. "And?"
And," Kain continued, his tone sharpening, "I'm not at my peak."
Kanis' eyes narrowed, skepticism lining his features.
"Peak?"
Kain let out a small, almost amused breath. "You really don't know anything, do you?"
Kanis remained silent, and Kain turned his gaze away, taking a few steps before stopping.
"My strength right now," he explained, "is incomplete. I can fight, yes. I can kill without hesitation. But someone like Marcus…" He glanced back. "…that requires more."
Kanis crossed his arms, his expression challenging. "And what do you need?"
Kain's smile returned, softer now.
"Blood."
The word rolled off his tongue gently.
"But not just a little. A lot." He tapped his chest lightly. "And souls."
Kanis watched him intently.
"Lots of them."
A heavy silence enveloped them before Kanis broke it.
"I can help with that."
Kain blinked, then he chuckled softly, but with distinct amusement. "You're a strange one," he remarked. "Why would you want a stronger demon roaming free in your kingdom?"
Kanis smiled slowly, a controlled expression that barely masked his intent.
"Because that demon is bound to me."
Kain held his gaze for a moment before waving a dismissive hand.
"…it doesn't matter. I've already set things in motion."
Interest flickered in Kanis's eyes, but before he could speak, Kain continued.
"Your other brother, though…"
He turned back, his smile brightening again.
"Lorna."
Kanis' expression shifted, curiosity piqued.
Kain's eyes gleamed with promise. "He'll do nicely."
Kanis' lips curled upward in a lingering smile. "…you think so?"
Kain nodded once. "He lacks the same… irritation as Marcus," he said. "He'll be easier to deal with."
Kanis let out a quiet breath, his smile growing wider.
"In that case…" he stepped closer, enthusiasm edging into his tone. "I have the perfect plan."
Kain's smile remained intact. "Let's hear it."
Without hesitation, Kanis dived into the details.
"Lorna is predictable," he stated, his voice dropping as he leaned in.
"He spends most nights in the whorehouses, engaging in the same habits over and over."
"Disgusting," he muttered under his breath.
Kain listened intently, arms resting loosely at his sides, his expression calm and focused. Kanis' satisfaction began to seep into his tone.
"If we strike there, nobody will question it. We could stage it as a poisoning. We could slip something into his drink, or perhaps involve the girl he chooses…and frame him for something brutal." He shrugged nonchalantly. "By the time anyone realizes, it will already be done."
As he paced now with more control, Kain's lips curved with interest.
"The investigators will bicker among themselves," Kanis mused, "debating whether it was a jealous noble, a rival faction supporting either me or my brother, or perhaps a scorned girl allied with the one Lorna chooses. Suspicion will disperse in all directions."
Kain's smile widened as he leaned in. "And you walk away clean," he affirmed.
Kanis turned to meet his gaze, satisfaction evident in his eyes.
"Exactly."
A brief silence lingered before Kain chuckled, low and appreciative. "You're the real demon here," he remarked, a glint of amusement in his narrow eyes. "Not me."
Kanis held his gaze for a brief moment before offering a sharp, calculated smile. They stood together, the air thickening with an unspoken understanding.
Kain released another quiet laugh. "Alright," he said, with a sense of purpose. "Then let us poison a prince."