amedia

Title: Heart and Soul 5/10
Author: Amedia
Summary: An attack on Glitch draws Cain, Raw, and the members of the royal household into a mystery with magical overtones.
Rating: PG for implied violence and mild slash.
Warning: Slash. Cain/Glitch.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Imagiquest Entertainment. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Note: I need to give a shout-out to my very hard-working beta reader, who commented on three drafts with precision and insight.
Also posted here on

glitch_wyatt and here on

tin_and_straw.

Part One may be found here.
Part Two may be found here.
Part Three may be found here.
Part Four may be found here.

The room fell silent.

Finally the Tutor said, "If we can compel Cain's body to return, I know where to find the counterspell to remove the usurper."

It was DG who spoke next, in that flat voice she used when she was trying to cope with strange and frightening situations. "Then we just need to get him back here, right?"

Ahamo nodded. "And to find the real Cain."

"If he's still alive," the Tutor said softly.

"What do you mean, Toto?" asked DG.

"Rarely does a soul thus expelled remain long among the living," said the Tutor, his voice grave. "Unless there is something close by to keep it here."

"Something like a duty?" the Queen asked.

The Tutor shook his head. "Usually it's more like a person, Your Majesty. Someone he loves, or for whom he feels intense personal loyalty. If his wife, or the Mystic Man, were alive ... "

"But they're not," DG said.

"Then it's possible he's joined them already."

"What about Cain's son?" asked Ahamo. "He's alive."

"Too far away," replied the Tutor. "It would have to be someone nearby, preferably right here in the palace."

"He hasn't really been here long enough to form any attachments," mused the Queen.

DG and Raw exchanged glances. "Oh, I don't know about that," said DG.

The Tutor shook his head. "Even if he has remained, he could survive in this condition for only a short while. We would have to find him quickly."

Cain was no longer paying attention to the voices from the other side of the room. The mention of the loved ones he had lost had reminded him of that familiar, sick feeling he'd had when he found Glitch. "I don't want to lose you, too," he said softly.

To his surprise, Glitch smiled. "I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice cracked and faint, but matter-of-fact, as if they were merely in the middle of a conversation. "What … makes you think I would?"

"We almost lost you," Cain told him, hearing his own voice break despite his attempt at control.

Glitch opened his eyes and looked right at Cain. "That's right," he said. "I forgot." He was breathing hard, as if talking was hard work, but he kept doggedly on. "Something terrible happened." He closed his eyes again, then scrunched them up, as if to keep the memory from returning. "I ... I think I remember now ... no!" He flung up his arm as if to protect himself and cried out in pain at the sudden movement.

"Hush," said Cain. "You're safe now. It's all right."

Glitch's outcry wasn't very loud, but the others heard it. Raw looked up. "Excuse me," he said. "My patient's awake."

DG followed him over to Glitch's bed. Glitch was pale, and his breathing sounded raspy, but he was clearly awake, and talking to someone they couldn't see.

"Glitch," asked DG, "who are you talking to?"

"Cain, of course," said Glitch. "Who else?"

There were relieved smiles all around. DG stared at Raw. "How come you can't see him?" she asked him.

"I wasn't sure," said Raw. "I kept thinking I saw something. Out of the corner of my eye. But I'd look again—nothing there."

"He's right here," said Glitch, looking at the others with puzzlement. "Clear as day."

"Are you sure?" asked the Tutor.

Glitch smiled, a faint blush tingeing his ashen cheeks. "Well, I should know!" he said, and began coughing. After a moment, he got his voice back and added, "He's holding my hand."

Cain rolled his eyes. "There goes my reputation for stoicism," he muttered.

"Tell Cain we're going to get him back," DG ordered. She looked at the Tutor. "We will, won't we?"

"If there's a way to do it, we will," the Tutor said firmly. "There are some spells I need to prepare. I will let you all know as soon as I am ready."

Part Six