Lucifer gently bent down, letting Ravenna down from his arms. "Well, my dear, from William Reed's essence and memories, this is the closest I can get you to your home."
Ravenna's feet landed in the soft grass. She looked around; she was near the old Reed mill, not far from her home. It was late evening, and with Samuel and William both deceased, the mill was eerily quiet. She shuddered; she was excited to be back near her home, but the haunting calm outside the Reed mill made her uneasy. –Will there be the same silence in my own home with Grandmother gone?–
"Th-thank you, Lucifer. I can make it home from he-"
"I won't hear of it. Besides, don't you think it is important for me to know where to find you and Michael? I will make sure you get home. I promised Michael you would be kept safe, and I intend to see that through." Lucifer adjusted his jacket. "Which way from here?"
Ravenna gestured toward her home. "My home is this way." She gestured toward Canden, the village a soft glow of lantern light in the distance. "The village lies in that direction. The Reeds and I both lived on the outskirts of Canden, but in different directions. I would prefer to avoid the village just yet, I am not ready for so many questions about where I've been. I just want to go home and have a day to myself before I see the villagers again."
Lucifer looked upward, and noticed the gathering black clouds. "We best hurry. The night is approaching, and those clouds look like there is going to be a storm tonight."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The rain began to pour steadily as Ravenna and Lucifer approached the Hawthorne cottage. A lightning strike illuminated the sky, highlighting the infirmary to the young woman. As the cottage came more into view, the more Ravenna recalled Henry Yarrow's words during his confession in the UnderKingdom; that he had lit the Hawthorne infirmary ablaze as part of his alcohol-deprived mind's demands for revenge against her. –But how is it here? How is my home still standing, if Henry's words are true?–
Ravenna opened the thick wooden door to her home, taking in all the changes to her home. The potters had replaced the medicine jars that lined the shelves on the wall, and there was new furniture arranged in the rooms. The young healer observed the kitchen, seeing the new oven and cabinets that had replaced her old and shabby ones. –Whoever repaired my home did such a wonderful job, I cannot wait to thank them.–
A loud rumble of thunder interrupted Ravenna's thoughts. Lucifer looked out the window, watching lightning crackle across the sky. The wind whipped through the trees, and some branches began to litter the ground. The storm grew more violent, and the thunder grew more imposing and sonorous. Worry crossed Ravenna's face as she looked at the Fallen man by her window. "The storm sounds awfully dangerous out there."
A flash of lightning lit the sky, illuminating the lamentation in Lucifer's green eyes. "I have not seen a storm this violent since my own Fall. I believe we will be seeing Michael again soon, my dear."
Dread crept into Ravenna's chest as the impact of Lucifer's words weighed on her. The Fallen man seemed convinced that the storm had something to do with the occurrences in the Kingdom, and may be a sign of the Ruler's rage. Ravenna moved to stand next to Lucifer, watching the storm with him through the window.
Lucifer put his hand on Ravenna's shoulder. "My dear, I know we have a complex relationship. But I truly am sorry about the news regarding your grandmother and your friend. I did not mention anything at the time, as we were busy with the Judgements in the UnderKingdom, but I know you struggled with the news of their death. Is there anything I can do before I return to my realm?"
Ravenna's eyes began to water. She had hoped to have some time alone to process the news of her grandmother's death, but Lucifer had brought up the murders of Samuel and Anne. "Thank you. I…I think I will be okay." She sniffled, her tears threatening to spill over. "I just need some time."
"I understand. But remember, wherever Michael Falls, in your realm or mine, we will find him, and we will heal him. That is my promise to you." Lucifer kissed Ravenna's hand, gave her a sad smile, and disappeared, leaving the young woman truly alone for the first time since Peter Jones had kidnapped her.
Ravenna explored her home, examining the things that had been changed. She ran her fingers along the shelves that held now-empty pots that waited for her herbs and plants; traced her hands along the countertops where she and Anne used to prepare medicines. Her tears glistened as they rolled down her freckled cheeks before she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
–Grandmother would not want me to cry. She would want me to be strong, and to carry on in her memory. She would want me to rebuild the infirmary better than it was before. I must be strong for Grandmother.–
Ravenna continued to explore her home, and opened the door to the infirmary room. Four new beds were in the room, just as there had been before Henry had burned the cottage to the ground. The room had been well stocked with blankets and linens, and Ravenna suspected Teresa had been behind that part of the rebuilding. –Maybe Teresa has more answers for me, about who else has helped rebuild my home? I will have to find her and ask.–
Thunder crashed again, jolting Ravenna from her thoughts about the infirmary, back to the storm. She looked out the window to see a large tree fall, its expansive roots becoming upturned and exposed. Lightning coursed across the sky, highlighting the roots of the fallen tree.
As she watched the tree fall, Ravenna recalled the promise Lucifer made.
–Wherever Michael Falls, in your realm or mine, we will find him.–