The Return of the Order: Act 20

The next day began much like the day before; Lilith and Raven soon finished the tasks they had been set. Louisa and Sebastian spent much of the day pouring through the books written by Lord Birch's wife. Sebastian had been through them countless times, but he hoped that Louisa's fresh eyes might see something that he had missed. Something that would provide a clue to the identity of Birch's wife and her connection to the demon realm. There were no clues to her demon identity in the books she had written or in the likenesses of her that Lord Birch kept. Similarly, neither held any clues as to her reasons for choosing to live a human life.

As they left the library to aid the twins in making dinner, Louisa rubbed her temples. “There must be something, something that marked her out as a target.”

“Unless there is something that allows the reapers to identify anyone of demon blood by their cinematic record?”

“William did say that mine, the children’s, and some others had been removed from the library to protect our identities, but our demon and human identities are widely known, it would seem Lady Birch went to great lengths to wipe out any knowledge of who she once was.”

“Maybe William has some more answers, as my contract, protecting my family, and the dangers to the demon races in this realm are connected, he may feel like sharing.”

Louisa nodded, at that moment, William was their best chance of finding answers.

By the time dinner was over and the dishes were cleared, there was nothing else to be done. Lilith changed from her maid’s dress and waited patiently for William to call.

By midnight she had given up all hope that he would come. He father found her sat at the bottom of the stairs, she looked at him, anger burning in her eyes, her voice laced with venom, "You scared him away, didn't you?"

“No, you heard me agree to him calling on you, would I do that and then frighten him away?”

“What did you say to him after I left, you must have said something that made him stay away.”

Lilith shook, tears welling in her eyes, Sebastian embraced his daughter, ignoring the punches that she landed on his chest. “Lilith, I do not believe that anything I could have said would have kept him away from you. There are many reasons why he may not make it tonight.”

Lilith broke down into exhausted sobs in her father's arms. As Louisa surveyed the sight of her sobbing daughter, there was a knock at the front door. Lilith immediately brightened as Louisa moved to answer the door.

Standing on the other side was Grell.

“Oh BASSY,” he began moving forward to enter the house.

“We have no time for your games now,” growled Sebastian as Louisa blocked Grell’s path.

“Why must you always think the worst of me,” pouted Grell.

“Experience.”

“Well, I’m hurt, wounded deeply, but I am not here for me, I’m here about Will.”

Hearing the unusual seriousness in his voice, Louisa stepped aside and ushered him into the house. “Where is he, Grell?” she asked.

"That's the problem, no one has seen him since yesterday. He is missing, and Will is never missing. It is just not in his nature."

"He has done other things that are not in his nature recently," retorted Sebastian, looking at his red-eyed daughter as she clung to his arm. "However, disappearing without a word is one step too far for it to be a choice."

“Exactly, Sebby, see I knew you would understand. It is chaos in the library without him, and not the fun kind of chaos either.”

“Father, you need to find him, please,” begged Lilith, “something is wrong, I just know it, he would have come here otherwise.”

Sebastian nodded, as much as it pained him to admit it, William was a man of his word and would have at least sent a message to Lilith if his work had kept him away. "I agree; however, I cannot go searching for a missing reaper without the command of my master, and if the search leads back to the library, I will not be able to follow."

“I’ll go,” said Lilith resolutely.

“No,” her parents stated in unison. Taking a breath, Louisa continued, “It is too dangerous, we do not know where he is or why he is gone. Having you out there could put him in greater danger. If you are captured, it could lead to difficult choices that put everyone in danger.”

Lilith sobbed quietly against her father’s chest again; she knew her mother spoke from experience, but she couldn’t bear the thought of William being taken and her not trying to find him.

Louisa broke the building tension. "I will go, Margaret will not object." Seeing the concerned look on Sebastian's face, she continued, "I will take Raven with me. Grell, you will accompany us at least to Undertaker. We will gather whatever information we need there, and should it be needed, we can gain access to the library through him. Wait here while I wake Raven."

As she spoke there was a soft thud behind Sebastian; straightening his jacket, Raven appeared. “No need mother, I’m already here; although I assumed from Lilith’s pain that I would be punishing the reaper rather than finding him.”

Grell’s eyes widened at the sight of the tall, blue-haired, young man. He had seen the resemblance to Sebastian in Undertakers shop, but the full extent of it had been hidden in the dimness. He had been forced to leave before he could get closer to the boy. He moved towards him, wanting to feel the smoothness of his face, the face that reminded him so much of his Bassy. He found his path blocked by Louisa. "If you so much as lay one finger on my son the last thing you will see will be your still-beating heart as I rip it from your chest, do you understand, Grell?”

“Oh, you really are no fun, I don’t know how you keep my Bassy so entertained when you are so boring.”