Chapter 8: reconciliation
Raven ran into the mansion and ran into her room. She fell down sideways onto her bed, feeling angry and helpless. Why did no one ever understand what she was feeling? Was it her fault? Was she the stupid one because she fell in love with a demon? Was there something wrong with her that she just couldn't see? She did want her soul taken by Ciel so that she could live happily inside him, or become a demon so she could live with him forever. She didn't want to go to heaven or say goodbye to Ciel. What would she do now that he was so angry with her? Would he end their contract? She hadn't meant it when she told him to break the contract. She would rather die than never see Ciel again.
A bright light shone from the window.
"You don't have to be sad." A voice said. Raven looked up as the window opened on its own. The angel was sitting on the windowsill, a sad and knowing smile on her face, her purple dress neatly folded, her wings still sticking out the window.
"An angel?" Raven stood up, straining to see the woman in the light she was giving off.
"You poor girl. You've been led on by those demons. The truth is that Ciel never loved you. Since he was human, his heart belonged to Lily's younger cousin Elizabeth."
"It did?" Raven asked.
"He's going to take your soul for nothing. He'll help you get your revenge, but that's it. Demons can't care about humans. They are disgusting impure soulless creatures who cannot love. You shouldn't have expected more. Your soul can't end here, Raven. You have such a beautiful soul, clean and pure as snow. Don't let it get stained by darkness and death and those demons.
"You want them to be your family, but the truth is they can never be your family. I can be, though. Let me send you on into heaven, with the soul they want to take so much. It won't hurt at all. You'll be with your real family, after all. Your parents can't wait to see you again. Don't separate yourself from them by allowing the contract to progress. Did you know you once had an older brother, Raven? He died two months before you were born. He really wants to see you. All of your family is in heaven. Don't be separated from them any longer, and come join them in endless happiness." Raven's blue eyes were wide and confused.
"I don't understand…"
"Your parents say they love you no matter what, but they don't want you down the wrong path. Your brother can't wait to see what you look like, the beauty of the sister he was supposed to have. Let your perfect family be reunited again." A small tear slid down Raven's cheek.
"I want to… but I can't die here. I have to help them win…"
"You don't have to. You don't have to do anything. A war between demons has nothing to do with the human world, and nothing to do with you. You can't help them anyway. You'll die if you put on demon gold, and you can't cast any spells without it. You can't do anything for them, and even if you do, they won't be able to give anything back to you."
The angel slid off the windowsill and walked towards Raven.
"Don't you want to see your family again? Don't you want to see your older brother?"
"Don't listen to her!" Ciel yelled as he burst into the room. He ran towards Raven. "Are you all right?" Raven nodded.
"You… how dare you interrupt the cleansing of a soul?"
"Cleanse her soul? The way you tried to cleanse mine when I was human? I don't think so. She belongs to me."
"Suit yourself, but both of you will die." The angel spread out her huge wings and several hundred razor sharp feathers fired themselves at Raven. Ciel jumped in front of her and several shot themselves into his chest. He kept his arms wide in front of her.
"This angel is working with Eric, the ifrit who wants to destroy all of us here."
"He lies! He's a demon! You can't trust him!" The angel cried, and fired more feathers. Ciel let more of them sink into his chest.
"To me, your life is worth a thousand of mine, my lady. I'll never take your soul. That's the truth. If you want, I'll be your servant for as long as you live and I'll do it gladly. I'll even make you a demon if you want, but I won't take your soul." Ciel said, ignoring the angel and ripping out some of the feathers. He sent them flying straight back towards the demon. Raven ducked under the bed and grabbed the gun. She pressed it into Ciel's hand. He fired several times. Only one hit the angel, in one of her pretty wings. He kept aiming for her wings. She backed up towards the window. This was his chance.
He moved faster than a blur and kicked the angel out the window. She fell down five stories and landed on the pavement with a crack. She glared at him, folded her wings into her dress and walked away, as she could not fly back up to the window, and she couldn't break in because there were people outside. Ciel watched as she walked away, his eyes glowing red.
"Serves her right." He turned back and saw Raven crying.
"I'm so sorry, Ciel." She said quietly.
"You have nothing to apologize for, my lady. Now stop crying. You're starting to make me sad." He wiped away one of her tears and smiled at her. She returned the smile, her eyes still slightly red.
"Raven… it's Raven, not 'my lady'. I still see you as an equal." She said.
"Very well. I care about you very much, Raven. Demons can love, actually. Lily was still human when Sebastian fell in love with her. He made her into a demon, and they are happy together. They were bonded since they first met. I think we are too."
"What about that Elizabeth girl?"
"Don't you mind about her. I loved Elizabeth as a human, and there is a part of me that will always care about her, but we weren't meant to be together. I saw her before I left to make a contract with you. We had nothing special. I will never see Elizabeth again. She'll probably think I'm dead soon, and its better off that way. She will spend her life happily with someone else. I would like to spend what's left of my life happily with you. I don't care about anyone else, and don't believe anyone who says otherwise." Ciel said, taking Raven's hands in his. "I'm sure we can find another way that you can help. I don't want you doing anything that will get you hurt."
"Sure."
"Shall we go back, now? The others are waiting for us."
"You're all bloody, though. It will scare people if you walk outside like that."
"I'm wearing all black anyway. It won't show." Ciel was wearing the same outfit that they left the Phantomhive manor in. Lily walked in, and noticed them holding hands. Lily laughed.
"Aw, how cute. Little lovebirds…" Ciel jumped away from Raven and blushed.
"We are not lovebirds!" He said angrily, his face almost completely red. Raven was laughing.
"Say what you want" Lily said as she smiled. She and Raven exchanged knowing smiles. "I still know everything. Now you two lovebirds better get going. Ash and Sebastian are wondering where you two went."
"We're not lovebirds!" Ciel yelled and raced after Lily, who ran out of the manor yelling; "Lovebirds, lovebirds!" She laughed. Raven followed them, laughing to herself. Lily stood on the fountain and stuck her tongue out at Ciel.
"I swear I'll make you fall in." He said angrily as she made a face. Sometimes Lily was just as much of a kid as they were. She certainly loved to make fun of people.
"It doesn't matter, I'll still be dry. Besides, this is just a maid's outfit. It's not like I'm wearing a ball gown." She said as she jumped down from the fountain and walked to stand beside Ciel. He aimed a kick at her, which she dodged. "Now go and stand beside lady Raven like a proper butler. You're not doing yourself much dignity."
"Fine." He went to stand beside Raven and they held hands while they walked back to Lily's manor.
"You still haven't told me if you want me to make you a demon." He said to Raven.
"I do want to be a demon, but not just yet. Let's wait until after all this is over."
"Fine by me."
He took one of the angel's feathers out of his pocket and ripped it savagely in half.
"I'll end it myself personally"
