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The Scourge of the Demon Hunters—Act 28

Act Twenty Eight: Swords, Moors, and Midwives

By Lorelei_SandsPublished 5 years ago 8 min read
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Aided by Louisa’s control over the winds, the journey took little time, and the trio approached their destination a little before dawn. Ciel had fallen asleep shortly after they had begun, and remained sleeping soundly in Sebastian’s arms as Louisa began to recognise her surroundings.

“There is a cottage close to the site of my old home. The woman that lives there is a friend,” Said Louisa.

“A friend?” queried Sebastian.

“She aided me when I was here last. I could not pace her then, but now with my memories fully restored,” Louisa stopped and hovered, “we are here.”

They descended slowly and quietly. As they landed, a woman appeared in the doorway of the cottage.

“Welcome, daughter of Typhon,” She said reverently.

“Margaret, I am just Louisa.”

“My dear, there has never been anything ‘just’ about you; now, as you stand in all your glory, you are magnificent,” Margaret replied.

As Louisa walked forward and embraced her, Sebastian smiled, reveling in the adoration that his beloved had received. As Margaret was released from the embrace, she turned to Sebastian.

“Malphas; welcome protector and mate of Typhon’s daughter.”

“Margaret; your perception has not waned I see. I did not realise you had stayed with the family.”

Louisa looked from one to the other. Sebastian saw her confusion.

“You were far too young to remember my last visit to your family. Margaret had not long delivered you into this world, and your father had not yet moved to this location.”

Margaret spotted the bundle in Sebastian’s arms, “Bring the child inside before he catches a chill.”

Louisa and Sebastian returned to their human forms and followed Margaret into the cottage. Sebastian laid the still sleeping Ciel on the bed while Margaret found clothing for Louisa. As she helped Louisa dress, Margaret asked Sebastian about the child that laid on her bed.

“Your current master, I assume?”

“Yes, and Louisa’s cousin.”

“He is the Earl’s son?”

“Was, he is the Earl Phantomhive now. He called on me after the death of his parents.”

“He has given his consent to the two of you?” Asked Margaret, clearly wary of the son as she was the father.

“He has his struggles with us, but yes, he is not his father.”

“Good,” She replied, clearly relieved. “Assuming you have come for the sword, and to fulfill your promise to Typhon, he would be safer if he remained here with me. I can keep him hidden, as I have hidden this place these last years.”

Ciel, who had woken during the conversation, sat up, and spoke sternly, “I will not be left anywhere, this is as much my responsibility as it is theirs.” As he contemplated the conversation that had preceded his response, confusion crept into his voice, “if the place is hidden now, why was it not hidden when Louisa and her family lived here?”

Margaret smiled; she liked his directness and curiosity, “I simply did not know how back then. I was just a healer, a midwife, with greater perception than most humans.”

“A witch,” Stated Ciel. There was no judgement in his voice, and Margaret responded, “yes, if you like, a witch. It allowed Typhon to find me when they realised that Jayne, Louisa’s mother, was with child. I stayed to help care for mother and child, and became part of their family.”

Margaret stopped and caught her breath. The memory of the day the Order came for the family was still fresh in her mind. If she had not been held up with that difficult delivery, if she hadn’t stopped to collect herbs on the way back, then all might have been different. She wiped away a tear and continued, “it was the reaper that came for Jayne’s soul, he told me how to protect the site. He said that people needed to believe the place was cursed, that doing so would be important when you finally made your way home. It is why Jayne’s body was never buried. Over time the story spread, and I was able to cast the spell he gave me to hide the place completely.”

“It is unlike a reaper to be helpful,” Said Sebastian.

“He was like no reaper I have ever encountered. By the time I returned, he had pulled Jayne from the fire, and sat with her as she took her final breaths. I swear he cried as he reaped her soul. When it was done, he gave me the spell, said only those connected by blood to the family would be able to see the place once it was cast. When I asked why, he said that it was part of a promise, and that the price had already been paid.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, but chose to say nothing; he was still trying to work out how he had been able to see the cottage when Louisa pointed it out. It was Louisa that finally broke the silence.

“The sun is up; we need to leave here and collect the sword.”

“Yes, my love, you are right. We should remove it from here before trying to destroy it. We have no idea what the enchantments on it may do to the spell that protects this place.”

Louisa nodded her agreement and Sebastian turned to Ciel, “my Lord if you are well-rested?”

Ciel groaned, “please tell me there is no more flying.”

“No, my Lord, we will need to find horses for the rest of the journey.”

Ciel groaned again; he hated being on horseback, maybe flying wasn’t so bad after all.

Margaret moved around in the kitchen, placing provisions into sacks that she had ready on the side. “I have horses ready in the stable; I felt your presences before you arrived. There are enough provisions for a few days for the young Earl and you Louisa. Remember child, you are still part human, and will need your strength.”

They gathered everything and settled an uncertain Ciel onto his horse. Louisa said her goodbyes to Margaret, and headed for the horses. Sebastian held back just a moment longer. Looking at Margaret, he said, “I don’t understand. How could I see the cottage?”

“The contract with the boy, perhaps?” she suggested.

“No blood, not ours at least, was involved in the contract.”

“Louisa bears your mark, and you hers?”

“Yes,” he replied, still uncertain.

“Then I guess that must be it,” said Margaret, struggling to keep her amusement out of her voice.

Sebastian bowed and left to join the others. Margaret smiled and shook her head. For an intelligent and crafty demon, Malphas could be extremely stupid at times. Maybe he had played the role of Sebastian for too long, and it was dulling his senses. Regardless it was not her news to break; that knowledge could change everything.

Louisa and Sebastian walked the horses and the unsteady Ciel over to Louisa’s childhood home. Louisa took Sebastian around to her mother’s grave where the sword laid in her keeping. Sebastian looked at Louisa who simply nodded. He knelt and began to dig. He soon uncovered the wrapped sword laying across Jayne’s skeleton. Muttering an apology for disturbing her, he removed the sword, and carefully recovered the grave.

They rode for hours through desolate moorland before spying a wooded copse that provided them with some cover. They dismounted, aided a very sore Ciel from his saddle, and tied up the horses. Sebastian laid the sword on the ground, and carefully uncovered it, ensuring that he did not come in direct contact with it.

“What now?” Asked Ciel.

“We know we cannot break the magic, but if Undertaker is right, then I can break the metal and render the enchantments useless.”

“But you would need extreme heat and cold to achieve that,” said Ciel, his tone slowly changing to one of understanding as he completed the sentence.

“Exactly why it needs to be me,” replied Louisa, “now stand back.”

Ciel and Sebastian moved back, and Louisa’s features shifted as she channelled her powers. She placed her hands over the sword. The air shimmered with heat, and the sword began to change colour, shining orange, then red. As the whole blade began to glow brightly, she switched and sent a torrent of frigid water over its length. As the water hit the blade it hissed; steam rose, and microfractures began to appear in the metal. As the fractures grew, Louisa focused a stream of cold air at the blade. The pressure blew apart the fractures, sending shards of the blade in all directions. Seeing what was happening, Sebastian threw himself in front of Ciel. Two shards that were heading for the boy impaled themselves into Sebastian’s right shoulder. Most of the rest were flung harmlessly into the surrounding trees. The final piece bounced off one of the now stationary pieces and headed back towards Louisa. Pushing Ciel to the ground, the injured Sebastian leapt towards Louisa, gathered her in his arms and took the final piece in his lower back. The piece sliced deep into his flesh, and he slumped to the floor.

fan fiction
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About the Creator

Lorelei_Sands

Professional copywriter and mother during the day. Poet, dabbler in fanfiction and erotica at night. I've been living with a long term chronic condition for over 20 years and I'm not ready to give up the fight yet. Glory or Valhalla.

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