Another for the Piety.
"I need to go back to the orphanage."
Chrono rumbled with aversion. He did not enjoy being there. The overpowering stench of faith and holy water was a burn to his sensitive nose.
Nevertheless, Rosette was a stubborn child. "I have to! I need to tell them I'm going to search for Joshua! If I'm to find any clues of his whereabouts, it'll be there." She pauses, picks at the raggedy hems of her worn dress. Mumbles, "...and, I need to apologize. Thank them."
"Human fetterings." He growled. But she doesn't stand down, blazing blue eyes staring obstinately into his own golden ones. Finally he turns away stiffly, not in the mood to argue. "...Fine. I refuse to enter the premise, however. If they do not let you leave, I shall not save you."
Rosette brightens though, and soon, they are wheeling in the air above her old home.
"Ok, stay there, I won't be long!" Chrono sinks down into the soft grass and watches her run into the large building. He'll give her but half an hour.
"Sister Dahlia! I'm back! Hey, I'm back!"
At first the newcomer is met with confusion, but quickly, her boisterous blond hair, blue eyes and attitude are recognized. Shocked gasps echo around the dining hall, utensils clatter into wooden bowls.
"...Rosette?" The only adult gasps into her hands, ashen to her roots. "I...we thought..."
Rosette walks up to her and gives her a fierce hug. Trembling, it is returned. She steps back. "I just came back to say..." Her audience stare, Rosette blushes. She never was a good public speaker. Relentless, though. "Just to say...I'm sorry. Fer the trouble I caused, not doing work and all. And that big ruckus I kicked up when Joshua went. And I wanna say thanks for looking after me and him for so long." She grins at Dahlia, who blinks, as if only just noticing something.
"Your sickness, what happened to your sickness?" Whispers echoed around the hall, and everyone turned and leaned in expectantly.
"That's...a little awkward see." Rosette wondered whether she should say something so blasphemous as making a pact with a Devil and turning her back on the Almighty in his own establishment. Her lips wriggled like worms as she tried to stall for time. "Uhm...there was...someone...who helped me, and now...I'm not...sick?"
Silence. Then, a loud stomp as one of the children rose to their feet. Rosette had a sour feeling she knew who it would be even before she heard the loud complaint.
"I bet'cha were only pretending to be sick! I bet'cha jus' didn't wanna work like the rest of us! Hussy!"
"Kevin! Profanity!" The matron berated, but didn't deny.
Rosette marched up to him, anger snapping her stride. "Don't you call me names Kevin, I ain't too weak now to give you a proper beating!"
He scoffs, pushing her. Rosette shoves back. Before the Matron could even open her mouth in protest, a brawl erupted between the two.
But Rosette was wrong. She was still weak, at least against a young boy who had toiled daily in fields, strengthening muscles. She is quickly pushed to the ground, but she fights on like a wild terrier, her nails nipping into freckled skin, pulling hair, kicking wildly. Plates and bowls bounced to the floor as children leap out of their way to form a ring around the wrestlers. Kevin snarls, fist bunched and digging into her cheekbones.
"Ya loot! Even against a girl!"
"Stop this! Stop this at once!"
The woman's raised voice mixes, unheard, against the crows and jeers of the other orphans.
"Stop! Sto—"
A table booms and splinters as it is overturned. The voices die and even the two fighters stop to stare at the doorway. A large shadow, one clawed hand raised, stands by the entrance. Dust from the fallen table beside him rose in great clouds of white. He steps aside the collapsed chairs, entering the silent hall. His hard leather boots made soundless footsteps on the firm stone. The crowd shrinks back as he approaches, until it is just the two brawlers that face him. The matron seems to realise this is not the time to be frozen.
"D-Devil! You are not welcome here!" grasping her rosary, she runs to stand between him and the children. "Be gone!"
The Devil wrinkles his nose at her then peers around the Matron's seemingly tiny form at the two on the ground.
Kevin finds himself the subject of the Devil's steady, if a little unnerving, gaze. He looks down at the girl he's pinned to the floor, bruised and spittled with blood. Quickly, frantically, he pushes himself off, stumbling backwards into the huddle of orphans. Chrono beckons with one raised hand.
"It is time to leave."
The matron glances back, wide-eyed, at Rosette.
"This...T-this...is your helper? A Devil? Rosette, please say I am wrong!"
Rosette says nothing. Instead she picks herself off the ground, wiping dust and blood off with her sleeve. She barely suppresses a hiss as she passes carefully over bruises, cuts.
"Rosette..." the Matron murmurs weakly. "No...you didn't..."
"Sorry Mam. I made a deal with a Devil." She gives a little lop-sided smile through her injuries and walks around her to Chrono, who turns to leave. "Sorry." She whispers, looking half-back and not really wanting to – she doesn't want to see those condemning eyes, those shocked and horrified stares. Even a human dislikes being accused.
"Rosette. You've turned your back on your salvation. Take all your things and leave here, and do not return." Sister Dahlia's voice is shaky as she still grasps her rosary. She tries to ignore the dawning sun lighting the doorway, highlighting the poor child's form. It only makes it more bitter, more ironic.
Rosette doesn't think it is good timing, but she needs to ask. "Do you know where...Joshua is gone?"
Sister Dahlia's lips twist into a half-frown. Wonders momentarily whether she should just let the child leave without knowing. But her heart whispers of the child's innocence, and the Devil let's one eye trail back to her, so she speaks.
"Joshua was taken by the Magdalene Order."
Rosette stares at all her belongings, bundled together into one little bag. They had left the orphanage, Chrono being loath to stay any longer than necessary. She becomes conscious of the fact that she truly was an orphan, despite living in a home which had made her feel like she was part of a family. Unbidden, tears rose and fell from her eyes. She wiped them away angrily, but more came to replace. She would never see them again. She wouldn't be welcome, of course. What she was doing was, essentially, betraying her own people, fraternizing with the enemy, all for her own selfish desires. So she could be healthy. So she could find her brother.
And she couldn't even find Joshua's belongings. Had they planned his departure? Had his things been distributed out to the other children? She sniffed, pulling up bits of grass in her distraction. A whole chunk is soon unearthed, spraying dirt everywhere.
Chrono sighs, batting her hand away. She glares at him, but pulls her arms into her hunched form. The day is warm, and Chrono sits to rest for a moment. Ever the fiddler, Rosette begins to hum and rock instead.
"Will you stay still? Why don't you nap or go play somewhere else?" He grumbles snappishly at her from his resting site underneath a large oak tree. She huffs and flops onto her back, arms spread.
"When will we go?" her voice is almost, just almost whiny. Chrono grinds his jaw, wondering whether a fresh source of astral was really worth the hassle.
"Soon. My wings need recuperation and rest before flying long distances."
She waves a hand lethargically in the air. "New York, I suppose. I mean, Magdalene Order, sounds pretty poncy. We'd definitely find something in New York City." She lifted her head slightly, grinning. "Happy?" Chrono ignores her by closing his eyes and leaning back into the trunk of the tree. A soft wind blows across his face and he closes his eyes in rest.
A sudden jab in his side causes him to jerk up, his whole body almost falling to the side. "Argh!" he roars, hand clasping the offending area. Rosette roars too, with laughter.
"Child! Do not rile my temper! Be warned, or these claws will gout your intestines."
Her bright gaze, sparkling with mirth and ease seemed to sink placidly into the Devil, stilling the anger until he simply growled in exasperation and turned away. Children. It was no wonder they made the best prey for Devils. Naive, trusting. Guileless. Soft. Not at all fleshy and fraudulent like the older humans. The memory of skin like the exquisitely fine petals of a flower brushing past his fangs caused a tremor, the gritting of sharp teeth. He remembered the roaring of blood. An amused, almost scornful voice.
It is to be expected, considering it all... Worry not, brother. Such human emotions are a burden that you only need to keep hidden. Remember, they are our prey, satiating life now as their ancestors did to ours eons ago. As mice to the raptors of the night. There is no shame to lusting after their astral.
A dark smile, intense eyes.
Nevertheless, killing them outright is a rather messy and inefficient method of absorbing life. I will show you a way. A way to drain them...diplomatically. Won't you join me, Keeper? Come with me, and never shall you be want of astral again.
A/N: So, this is the last little bit of what I had written. To be honest, I had written this on a whim and have no real, solid clue as to where it will lead, which is probably why I hadn't put this up sooner. But no matter! Maybe one of you brilliant writers out there will take up the idea and develop it into something amazing, hm? Well, um, I'm off to exams, see you in a few months!
