Return of Time

7 of ?

AN: We're still in Chicago people, but don't worry the transfer back to NY is coming soon. As is the fateful first meeting of Chrno and the reborn Rosette. For now I thought I'd give you a dream and a different meeting, one that in the end will not have been for the best.

For disclaimer see chapter 1.
Quotes used during dream sequence appear courtesy of Astral Contract.

Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table,
No one can find the rewind button boys
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe
Anna Nalick - Breathe (2AM)

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A warm sun and a cool breeze. The scents of rock, horse, and river permeated the air, as did a woman's soft humming.

I opened an eye to watch her. She was an oddity even among her own kind. Her holy visions and purity of soul set her apart from everything I had ever known before. Even knowing that I could kill her in a heartbeat she still came here to this canyon with me. Whispering secrets of the future to me as we spoke. The holy maiden whom I had stolen, was trying to steal me with her kindness. "Why are you fixing it anyways… I already said I didn't really care."

The small needle flashed in her hand as she repaired a tear in my poncho.

"No. I won't let it be so worn out." She smiled that irritatingly secretive smile of hers, as she laughed. "You'll never be popular with women, no matter how wonderful you are."

Time passes, I know and let it. Her words to me, more important than the missing piece of that day.

"You are swaying, between your role and yourself."

The mirror shattered as she pointed to it, revealing the crying eyes of my contractor's soul. Her body laid out before me, crucified by my pain and anger. Magdalene's words echo in my mind, even as I cry out my love's name.

"The one thing you lost… The one thing you kept that disappeared… You've changed that into the thousands of sorrows… That you created!"

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Chrno's anguished cry woke Julian from her own dreams. Looking at the bed across from hers, she gasped. Chrno had thrown off her covers and was curled around her pillow, sobbing in her sleep. Pulling her own blanket with her, she padded across the room to the other girl's bed. Crawling into the bed, she wrapped herself and her blanket around the smaller girl. She rocked Chrno and whispered softly to her, as she had done for her younger partner when she had been a child.

Feeling the bed dip she smiled. Kathleen had joined them, situating herself between Chrno and the wall, her arms wrapping around them both. "It's alright Chrno. We're here. Everything's alright."

Reaching up Kathleen plucked Chrno's pocket watch from its place on the bedpost. Placing it near the half-demon's ear, she whispered, "It's still ticking. Your Rosette's still okay."

After a few more minutes of reassurance, Chrno calmed. Her sobs turned into hiccups and her breathing evened out.

"Why are you comforting me?"

Julian tightened her hold just as her partner did. "Because you're our friend and we care about you."

"That's why we're here. So no arguments about this." Kathleen's voice held a gentle ferocity. Her devotion to her friend plainly told by her tone. "We're not going anywhere Chrno."

"We've already made arrangements with Sister Azmaria and Sister Margaret. When you transfer back to New York, so do we."

Chrno shook her head. "You don't have to."

"We made a promise didn't we. Julian and I are going to help you find Rosette. No matter what."

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"...but, when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again."

"Sister Mary how can a girl fit down a rabbit hole?"

Chrno smiled at the eight year old boy in the reading and writing group that she taught in the St. Mary's orphanage library. "Because Billy, Lewis Carroll, the author could see Alice doing it in his imagination. And that is the most important part of writing. Being able to dream up things that can't happen in real life."

"You mean things like dragons, fairies, and demon's?"

Chrno laughed slightly. "Some things like that Chelsea. Dragon's and fairies are imaginary. But some things that are written about in fantasy stories are real. Like demons."

"Demon's aren't real." The little blond girl stuck her nose up as though she were an expert on the subject.

The petite nun laughed. "They are real. I should know. I'm half-demon."

"Prove it."

Chrno pulled her hair back and cupped her ears with her hands in order to show off the points. "Alright everyone, I want you to do this and tell me what you hear."

Billy quickly shouted out his answer. "I can hear everyone breathing."

Chelsea tisked. "I can hear my own heart."

Several others called out various things that they heard their classmates do.

After a moment Chrno shushed them. "I tell you what I can hear." Covering her right ear she listened to the library and outer hall for a minute. "I can hear all of your heartbeats and breathing. I can also hear two people talking as they walk this way out in the hall. It's Ms. Candace and a guest."

"I don't believe you."

"Why don't we wait and see then."

A moment later the children heard the footsteps and voices of the two in the hall.

"… And of course our library, which you have so generously funded Mr. Anthony. Right now there is a reading and writing group meeting." Ms. Candace was practically gushing.

"What are they working on right now?" Mr. Anthony's voice carried a deep honey tone that gave nothing of him away.

"Lewis Carroll. Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass."

Chrno waved her hand at the door, an airy smile gracing her lips. "Alright everyone, back to our book." She picked up her copy of Alice in Wonderland again. Clearing her throat she began to read again. "… The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly…"

A knock on the door interrupted her. It opened to reveal Ms. Candace's smiling face. "Can we interrupt for a moment?"

Chrno waved them in. "Come in. The more the merrier."

The door opened further to reveal the plump matron and the orphanage's benefactor. Mr. Anthony was tall, pale haired, and very handsome. Stylish rectangular box frames highlighted his cat-like gold eyes.

"This is Mr. Anthony. He's one of the primary contributors to the orphanage."

Chrno put her book down on her desk and stood. Moving forward she extended a hand. Her inner voice telling her to be careful with her words around the man before her. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mister Anthony. I'm Sister Mary Raphael."

Mr. Anthony took her hand a brushed a kiss over her knuckles. "A pleasure as always Sister. It's been years."

Chrno carefully extracted her hand from his tightening grip. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean. I think I'd remember someone as, charming, as you."

Mr. Anthony's eyes narrowed on the petite half-demon. "Well perhaps I can jog your memory sometime, Chrno."

Chrno backed away, picking up her book and holding it to her chest like a shield. All of her demonic senses were telling her that the man before her was dangerous, while her human side said nearly the opposite. "I think it's time for me to get back to teaching my class Mister Anthony. Good day."

Mister Anthony tipped his head in mocking courtesy. "We'll meet again."

"I'm sure we will." Chrno did not release her hold on her book until Mr. Anthony and Ms. Candace were both gone from her hearing. Heaving a deep sigh, she shuddered. She had no idea why she had reacted so strongly to the man, but she was sure that it was the right reaction. That man was one to be avoided. Turning she smiled softly at her worried looking class. "Why don't we get back to our reading."

Little Chelsea raised her hand and asked a question in a subdued voice. "He scared me. What was he?"

Chrno paled. "He's a demon." She waited for the class to hush before she continued. "He's a full blood, unlike me. I'm only a half-demon. He's dangerous. I suggest we all stay away from him."

"I think that's a good idea Sister Mary."

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Thanks to my darling husband Ambrose for helping me figure out part of this chapter and suggesting Alice and the White Rabbit.