The Return of the Order—Act 3

The weeks and months passed almost in a haze. The children practised their skills and developed their ever-growing powers. Lilith had developed abilities similar to her mother; she had control of fire and ice and could burn and freeze at will. She found controlling the air more challenging and had created more than one localised storm as she struggled for control. The powers over the earth evaded her, regardless of how hard she tried, she could not grow even the smallest seed or share her senses with the natural world around her. Much to Raven's annoyance, she could, however, transmute matter, albeit only slightly and with great concentration.

Raven's powers came later than Lilith's, he, like his father, had great speed and the power to work with matter, transforming one thing into another. He showed none of his mother's abilities and his hurt him greatly, despite his mother's soothing words and constant reassurance that his powers were not fixed, and time could see more appear. Rather than leading to sullenness, his disappoint led to him training harder with weapons. Louisa had passed on to both children the skills she had learned when she was held captive by the Order. It enabled them to defend themselves against over-enthusiastic humans and attacks where their powers were not needed or advisable.

It was during one such training session that the family received an unwelcome visitor. Lilith was at under a tree reading, Louisa and Raven were practising, the chime of metal hitting metal reverberated around them, punctured only by Louisa's occasional words of encouragement or reminders to Raven to watch his stance. They were so engrossed in the session that they did not hear the carriage until it almost drew level with them. As it came to a halt, the window was pulled down, and an older gentleman with greying whiskers leaned out.

“You, there, where is the mistress of the house.”

“That depends on who is asking,” replied Louise, not caring for his boorish tone.

“Insolence. I cannot abide insolence from mere staff, call your mistress now.”

Louisa handed her sword to Raven and stepped towards the carriage.

"You would do well to watch your tone, Sir.” Louisa continued towards the carriage, watching the man closely, his face was becoming redder with every step she took. She smiled sweetly as she approached the window.

"I will not ask you again, woman. Where is your mistress?"

“I am under no obligation to tell you anything, sir, now if you would kindly leave now, you can leave with your dignity and your face intact.”

His eyes bulged, and for a moment, he was lost for words. He had never been spoken to in that manner by anyone, let alone by a woman, a servant.

“Peter, deal with this woman now before I strike her myself.”

Hearing the threat, Lilith and Raven both moved towards their mother. Louisa simply stood her ground, still smiling sweetly. The driver of the coach stepped down and walked round to where Louisa stood. Louisa's head snapped to face him as she heard his feet touch the ground. He was young, possibly in his early twenties and dressed in the garb of a butler. While there was nothing remarkable about his appearance, Louisa sensed there was more to him than she could see.

Peter’s senses were screaming at him. He knew caution was needed, and that sense was only heightened by the approaching figures that were moving, not hurrying, to join the woman at the coach.

"My Lord, I believe you are already addressing the lady of the house. Isn't that right, Miss?"

"Don't be absurd, what sort of gentlewoman would be handling a weapon, its poor form enough that a woman is teaching the boy."

Ignoring his master’s bluster, Peter continued, “Maybe we should start again from the beginning. This is my master, Lord Dax. He has just purchased the manor and the surrounding estate and is currently touring his grounds and tenants.”

"Then Lord Dax has had a wasted trip. This land does not form part of his estate; rather, it belongs to Margaret Delaney; it was bequeathed to her by my family, many years ago. My children and I are simply visiting the family home."

“Ah, I see, hence the confusion as to who is mistress here. Please accept my master’s sincerest apologies.”

“I would rather hear them directly from him.” Louisa turned her attention back to the coach, given the stench of moral corruption that wafted from the gentleman within it was unlikely that what she sensed was demonic, he would make a poor feast for any demon. Yet, the look that passed between butler and master was not lost on her, the power lay with Peter and not with Lord Dax.

"Yes, yes, my apologies, Miss, I am an old man with old fashioned views and expectations. We shall trouble you no longer." He disappeared back into the confines of the carriage, muttering about the woes of youth.

Louisa glanced back at Peter and realised that his full attention at that moment was focused on her daughter. At sixteen, Lilith already attracted attention wherever she went. This has led to one unfortunate incident already, unfortunate for the boy anyway. More worryingly, she realised that her daughter's gaze was similarly fixed on the young butler.

“I believe your master is ready to leave,” she said lightly.

Snapping out of his gaze, Peter turned back to her. “Yes, of course, my master will be hosting several events over the coming months. If you are going to be in town, I’m sure he would like to invite you, and your family, as an apology for this misunderstanding. May I take your name, so I can ensure the invitations are properly written.”

Louisa smirked, he was clever, he had put her in a position where she could not politely refuse to give her name, yet, she could not give her true family name for fear that it would be recognised.

"I am Mrs Louisa Michaelis; these are my children, Raven and Lilith."

“And, may I ask after Mr Michaelis?”

"He is on business upcountry; we are simply waiting for his business to conclude before we can join him and return home." She hoped that the detail would stop any further enquiry. While questions still seemed to sit behind Peter's eyes, his voice remained silent, he simply bowed, and returned to the driver's seat in the carriage.

The trio stood and watched silently as the carriage disappeared from view. It was Raven who spoke first as they turned and walked back to the house.

"How did you think of that name, mother?"

Louisa smiled, “It was the family name your father used when he was bound to Ciel. It seemed like the most logical choice.”

Raven smiled, "how much longer will father be? I thought it would all be done by now."

"So, did I, my love, so did I, unfortunately, when the end draws close, humans begin to realise the seriousness of the contracts they have formed and will do anything they can to draw out the inevitable."

“I miss him,” said Lilith.

"As do I, my darling, but it is how we must live, keeping us away is how your father protects us during his contract."

Louisa saw the sadness in her children’s eyes, she smiled, “I know what will cheer you up, why don’t we work on calling your demon forms tonight.”

Lilith and Raven brightened immediately, chorusing, “You said we had to wait for father.”

“I know, but I think it would be a nice surprise for him and we cannot have your demon forms popping out unannounced around humans because I have not taught you control, can we?”

They both hugged their mother tightly. They knew that their father's prolonged absence was weighing heavily on her too. They had heard her screams in the night and knew that the once diminishing nightmares were again growing in force and regularity.

The rest of the afternoon was taken up with dancing lessons, the one area, other than weapons training, where Raven greatly exceeded his sister. He danced with poise, timing, and grace. Lilith unfortunately danced with the same grace as Ciel.

"Why must I learn to dance? If I must take on the role of a servant when in a contract, I see no reason to learn."

Louisa couldn’t help but laugh. “If you want me to accept the invitations to the manor where that young butler works, then you will persevere and learn to dance.”

Lilith glared at her mother, her cheeks reddening at the mention of the butler.

“Do you think I didn’t see how you returned his gaze. While I advise caution around him until we know more, if you want to socialise, you must seem human, and I’m afraid human girls of good families can dance.”

Lilith pouted but resumed dancing with her brother, taking greater care to avoid his toes as they moved through the steps. Louisa watched them with joy; it would be good for them to socialise again, to gain a greater understanding of how humans operated. She hated such gatherings, but they had proved useful in the past. It would allow her to observe Lord Dax and Peter, and to determine whether she was being overly cautious or whether they posed a threat to her family.