Edward appeared in the shadows of the small cottage. His master's words replayed in his mind, what Lucifer had told him the time he had shown him where to go.
–This is Ravenna's home. She showed me once, and now I am showing you. I don't expect you to need to know it, but it's better you know it in case something ever happens.–
The small home was cozy-looking, and reminded Edward of the home he had with his family before his father abandoned them. Longing tugged at his heart, but was quickly replaced with his determination to help.
He peered in the window, and seeing a destination, he stepped between the realms, appearing in the parlor. His steps made no sound, but his ears picked up the sound of soft sobbing in the distance. Edward's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, and his red eyes rolled back with the intoxicating scent of extreme emotions. His mouth watered, and he allowed himself to enjoy the aroma of human blood for just a moment, the smell made sweeter by heightened emotion. He shook his head, focusing on his task.
Following the provocative scent of the blood, Edward made his way to a bedchamber at the back of the home. He saw the door was half-closed, and approached it. His shadow crossed the doorway, and he reached out to knock. A pillow flew at his arm, and he quickly withdrew.
"I told you to go away, Michael!"
Edward called out to his attacker, letting her know it was safe. "Pardon me, Miss, it's Edward. May I come in?"
"I-I'd prefer it if you didn't…"
The demon remained outside the bedchamber, waiting for permission. "It is entirely up to you, Miss, but Michael has returned to my home realm. I know everything that happened. Please, if you would let me in, I will fix your nightdress." He heard her heartbeat accelerate, knowing she was making her choice.
"...but, Edward…" Ravenna's voice was heavy with uncertainty.
"Do not worry, Miss. I have ah, seen everything during the Essence Fires. If you hold your dress up, I can fix it quickly."
"...okay. You can come in."
Edward crossed the threshold of the bedchamber, and saw Ravenna sitting on her bed, holding her dress in place on her chest. Her face was puffy and red from crying, and her hands trembled. "Don't cry, Miss. Things are going to be alright." He pulled a spool of black thread from his pocket, a needle tucked in the threads. "I'm sorry the colors won't match, Master Lucifer doesn't typically wear many other colors."
Ravenna sniffled. "It's fine."
He threaded the needle, cutting the string with his sharp teeth. "I'll need you to move your hand, but I'll grab the dress swiftly. You can trust me." Edward grasped the broken strap the second that Ravenna let go, protecting her modesty from his eyes. He had seen her bare chest in Peter Jones' Essence Fire, but that didn't mean he had to see her in such a state again. The needle pierced the strap, the new stitches bringing the break in the dress to a close. He knotted the thread, his work on the first side done. "Pardon my intrusion." He pulled a knife from a holster on his thigh, cutting the thread neatly.
"How did you know how to find me, Edward?"
"Master Lucifer showed me your home one night in case there was ever an emergency." He tied a new knot in the thread, preparing to repair the other side of Ravenna's dress.
"That's kind of intrusive, but I'm glad that he did it. You said Michael went back to your realm - what did he say when he got there? You knew I was here and that my dress was ruined." Ravenna made room for the demon on her other side, so he could reach her left side.
"He was rather distraught. He had been instructed to stay in the UnderKingdom after we broke his powers free, but he succumbed to the Sins that had unleashed his powers. Master Lucifer had told me that he disappeared not long after he had said he missed you. He then told us that he had pushed you too far, not realizing what he had done; Lust had taken over. Michael did not come back to us with any sort of dignity, he simply collapsed on his knees, screaming for us to take the powers back."
"Did Lucifer do it?" Ravenna held the dress strap in place, allowing Edward to work.
"It can't be done. He must learn to harness the power, take control of himself." The needle slid through the garment with ease, the demon working swiftly. "But I came to make sure you were okay as well. I know he is hurting from the aftereffects of the powers, but you matter too."
"Thank you, Edward. I told him not to come back until I could trust him, but you've told me it's not his fault…now I feel terrible that I sent him away while he was vulnerable…" Ravenna wrung her hands together, fidgeting.
"Pardon my intrusion one last time," Edward cut the thread from the garment, his repairs finished. He sat back, giving Ravenna her space. "I'm sure he will understand, you have always come first to him since he discovered you." He slid the knife back into its holster, and gave the woman a reassuring look.
"I…I just want to forget about it all."
"How about you get some rest, we can go speak with him in the morning? I'll stay outside of the room and keep watch, make sure you're safe." Edward stood, and grabbed the pillow that Ravenna had tossed at him. "I've got a good weapon for my night guard, you will be well protected."
Ravenna giggled, and thanked the demon. Edward bowed, pillow in hand, and shut the bedchamber door, taking his place as guard for the rest of the night.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Miss, please, you need to wake up. There's someone at the door. I'd get it myself but... this is not my realm and I am aware of how I look." Edward's voice cut through Ravenna's deep sleep, rousing her from her rest.
"Oh! Yes, thank you! I'll be right there!" She flung her robe over her repaired nightdress, and rushed past the demon, the pillow still in his hand. He followed, keeping a wary distance.
Ravenna blinked away the last of her sleep and came to her senses just before tossing open the curtains. –Edward doesn't belong here! You need to hide him! Michael passes for human now, but Edward can't!– She grabbed the demon's arm and pushed him into the infirmary room, instructing him to lie on one of the beds as she covered him completely with a blanket.
"I can just go home..." Edward began, before the blanket muffled his words.
"No! I want to go with you, but I need to see who needs me here first! Just... be asleep!"
"Yes, Miss."
Her heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath. –I need to look like I just woke up, not like I just tried to hide a demon...yawn, stretch, anything!–
Stretching, Ravenna opened the door. Her mind instantly settled seeing Teresa waiting with Annie in her basket. "Good morning! How have you been? Please, come in!"
Teresa smiled, and handed her friend her child as she bent to untie her shoes. "Good morning, I didn't wake you, I hope?"
"Oh, no, of course not, I was just getting ready for the day. I'm glad you and Annie stopped by though, it's a nice treat."
"Where's Michael? Is he still in bed?" Teresa nudged her shoes from her feet, before looking up to see Ravenna looking rather upset. "... Ravenna?"
"I... he... we sort of argued a little last night... he went to the UnderKingdom after I told him to go away... I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Have a seat in the parlor, I'll get us some drinks before I burden you with the story," Ravenna picked at the sleeves of her robe, trying to make a decision. "Actually, if you don't mind... Edward, you can come out... Teresa is safe, she knows about Michael, about everything."
Teresa clutched onto her daughter tightly as a figure stirred in the infirmary room. Ravenna wouldn't put her in danger, but the fact that someone was hidden in the house made her uneasy. A very pale man emerged from the infirmary, his red eyes seeming to stare through her very being. "Ravenna...?"
"This is Edward, Teresa. He's…well, he used to be just like us. He became a demon…how long ago, Edward?"
"About a thousand years ago." The demon bowed, his snowy hair falling forward. "Greetings, Miss. I am a friend of Ravenna's, I hope you will find my company acceptable."
Uncomfortable by the piercing ruby eyes, Teresa stuttered. "I…it's…it's nice to m-meet you…"
Edward smelled the fear in the young mother, the stress that made her blood's aroma so much more inviting. He could tell he was making her tense, and he rocked back on his heels. He turned to Ravenna, his left hand rubbing his right elbow awkwardly as he looked at his boots. "Ravenna, I think I will return to my master for a while. I will have him return for you later to bring you to Michael."
Ravenna gave Edward a sympathetic look. –I feel bad for him, he had come to help me last night, and now he looks so uncomfortable knowing that his presence makes Teresa uneasy.– "That sounds wonderful, Edward. I'm sure Lucifer has wondered where you have gone. That will give me time to visit with Teresa and her daughter before I go back to your home realm this evening."
"Understood. I will return with Master Lucifer this evening. Have a wonderful day, ladies." Edward disappeared in his cloud of smoke, and Teresa let out a small yelp as the smoke dissipated.
"Oh my goodness, Ravenna, what was…who…how did he…?!" Teresa's eyes were wide, rocking Annie in her arms.
"It's okay, I promise! He's a good man!" Ravenna sat on the sofa across from Teresa. "He…he came here last night after Michael and I argued. Edward wanted to make sure I was alright after he found out about the…disagreement."
Teresa stopped rocking the infant, concern on her face. "You two argued? What happened? You always seemed so happy."
Embarrassment crept into Ravenna's cheeks. "Well, after Michael Fell, Lucifer promised to bring out some extra powers that the Ruler had hidden in him. Michael's back is mostly healed from having his wings ripped off, and Lucifer felt it was a good time. But the way they broke the powers free, it made him…unable to control himself." She crossed her legs, remembering the night. "Lucifer used the Seven Deadly Sins, and Lust took over. He came home so…intense, Teresa."
An amused smirk crossed Teresa's lips. "You experienced his love?"
"No! He went too far!" Ravenna's voice dropped to a whisper. "He…he broke the straps off my nightdress, and he was kissing me…," her hands brushed across her chest. "Everywhere."
"Ravenna, honey. He didn't do anything bad. All couples express their love physically. I'm sure Anne told you about that, didn't she? He just wants to show you how he feels about you. It's a little awkward at first, but if you love him the way he loves you, it's okay to lose yourself in the feeling. It's okay to admit if things he does feel good. I mean, I don't keep ending up pregnant by miracles!" Teresa laughed, poking her daughter's little button nose.
The embarrassed flush spread from Ravenna's cheeks to her ears. "You're right…it was…it did feel…oh! It's so hard to talk about! He promised to stop if I asked; he was the one that saved me from Peter and knows I'm still struggling with being touched…and when I wanted to stop, he didn't."
"Oh, that's different! Even if things do feel nice, it should only be when both of you want to do those things. But then you said he lost control because of the new powers? I know he cares about you, and if it weren't for those powers, I don't think he would have broken your boundaries like that. Don't be too harsh on him. Let him know it wasn't okay, certainly, but I don't think it was really him that did those things to you." The determination and consolation in Teresa's voice was soothing to her friend; Ravenna felt a motherly warmth she hadn't felt since her own mother had passed.
Ravenna crossed her arms, holding both her elbows. The more she listened to Teresa, the more she was convinced that her friend was right. "I feel bad for telling him to get out. The look on his face when he realized what he had done, it was…he looked so broken. I made him go back to Lucifer in the UnderKingdom. It wasn't long and Edward appeared, telling me he had heard everything, and he offered to repair my dress." Ravenna shrugged her robe off her shoulders, showing the demon's work. "He told me Michael went back, begging for the powers to be reversed, but it's impossible. Edward stood guard all night, making sure I felt safe. I know he's a little…much to get used to, but he really is a good man."
"He just…the way he looked was a little unnerving, but he was polite! I think I could get used to him! I felt terrible reacting that way once he left, he looked so sad about it." Teresa absently played with Annie's toes as the baby slept, trying to distract herself from her guilt toward Edward.
"Don't feel bad, Teresa. He will be around again, we can always explain later. He is a forgiving man. He understands, he knows what he is. I remember being a little scared of him at first too." Ravenna stood, and went into her kitchen. She lit the fire for the stove, and put the kettle on. Returning to the parlor, she picked up Annie and bounced her lightly. "I appreciate you making me feel better about my argument with Michael last night. I think I was entirely too hard on him; he wasn't himself. But you said all couples express their love like that…I should try to push past my fears."