The Return of the Order: Act 30

Undertaker swung his scythe in time to the tune he whistled as he made his way through the manor and up to Margaret's room. His position, even in retirement, provided him with a modicum of foresight, something, not even the other reapers were aware of, and not a power he had abused, well not in a long time anyway. Undertaker smiled as he passed the twins’ rooms, everything there was at least finally going to plan. However, he knew the fates to be tricky, especially when love was involved, and there was no guarantee that the next part would go according to the path he had foreseen.

He entered Margaret’s room. Louisa and Sebastian sat by her bedside, the looks on their faces told him that she was yet to waken. Sebastian scowled as he came nearer, warning him he was in no mood for his tricks and riddles. Removing his hat and brushing his hair from his eyes, Undertaker finally spoke. “There is still a way to save her. But as with before, she must choose it, which means she must wake, understand, and take the first action by herself.”

Louisa looked from Sebastian to Undertaker, hardly daring to believe what she had heard. “If she wakes, you can gift her the life of a reaper?”

“If she chooses it, yes. Can you live with a third reaper in your little family?”

Louisa’s brow furrowed as she contemplated his meaning, her eyes flashing their demon black when she realised who the other two reapers were that he was referring to. “Time and the fates will decide whether the first two become family. We have decided not to interfere any more than our children’s safety requires. As to Margaret, she will always be Margaret, regardless of the blood that runs through her veins.”

Undertaker grinned. "The right answer well-considered as always, my dear. Your mother would be so proud of the line you walk between your human and demon sides. If you accept, then let us wake her and let her choose."

“Are you sure you can do this; would it not be better for one of the current reapers….”

Sebastian took her hand in his before moving his attention to the mad old reaper. “Of course he can, my dear, after all, it is a small matter for death himself, am I right?”

Undertaker giggled, “such a smart demon, how long have you known?”

"I have suspected for many years, back as far as my time with Ciel. The death mark in the records and your knowledge were clues. However, the fact that you remain free despite your many experiments and mistakes. Who else could you be!"

“Hehehehe, yes, many mistakes, but the reaper companies remain my finest creation. Unwanted souls with nowhere to go, given a choice that removed human concepts of judgement on their actions.”

"Yet, you taught them to hate us, who only provide those souls we take with another choice. Who have had to adapt our existence because of human interference in realms that do not concern them."

"Hate is a strong word, Sebastian. I did not teach them to hate demons. Many came to that conclusion themselves, based on their desire of human order against the chaos that your kind bring."

Louisa grew increasingly agitated as the exchange continued. “Stop, both of you. Now is not the time for this, should we survive the threat we face, you will have the rest of eternity to determine who is responsible for the animosity between the realms. Now, please, if we can save Margaret, then wake her and give her the choice.”

Undertaker nodded and moved over to Margaret. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered words that were too softly spoken for even the demons to hear. As he spoke, Margaret's eyelids fluttered and opened, she gasped, and her eyes searched the room, unsure of her surroundings. As her gaze fell on Louisa, she calmed, recognising her face.

“Grell?” Margaret whispered.

“He is alive, my Margaret, you did it.”

Margaret gave a faint nod. "Then, my work is complete."

“Not quite,” said Undertaker, “I can give you the chance to see this, and the next generation, and many after, but you must choose now before it is too late.”

Margaret turned to face Undertaker, “you brought me back for the space between to offer me the same choice that you offered Jayne?”

“Yes, she chose her own fate, to free her spirit and let her bond with Typhon guide her back in a new life.”

“You broke the rules and told her he lived?”

“Yes, and now I break them again. You will find your own bond with another, but only if you choose to join us. There is no other way for you.”

“Because of the contract?”

“Yes, my dear Margaret, because of the contract.”

Silence hung between the parties in the room, no one knowing what to say. Louisa contemplated Undertaker's words about her mother. Had he really sent her soul on to rest and be returned? If he was truly the head reaper, then it was a power that only he possessed, but why in all the years Undertaker had known her had he never said anything. It was Margaret that broke the silence.

"Then, I chose to continue my role as protector of the family and to live."

Undertaker grinned manically, slid a knife from out of his coat and placed it on the bed next to Margaret. He looked up at Louisa and Sebastian. “You cannot be here for this. You will know when it is done.”

Louisa opened her mouth to argue, but Sebastian’s grip tightened on her hand. Pulling her up from the chair, he wrapped his arm around her and lead her from the room.

****

Louisa and Sebastian walked slightly down the hallway away from Margaret's room. As they reached the top of the stairs, Louisa turned and faced Sebastian. "Did you know? Did you know what he was capable of?"

“No, my love, not for sure. Undertaker has always been something of an enigma to me. That he was once powerful was always beyond questioning. It was not until I saw him pause and add to the cinematic records that I realised just how powerful he was, and what that meant.”

“But why did he wait, why not tell us this was possible before rather than putting us through this pain?”

Sebastian contemplated for a moment, then looking at the doors behind them, those belonging to their twins, he smiled before turning back to Louisa, “I think we needed to learn a lesson in acceptance first, my love.”

Louisa’s brow furrowed for a moment, before the realisation hit her, “letting go of our animosities before they imposed on our children’s potential happiness.”

“Yes, my love.”

“You told Grell to tell Raven the truth so that he could see the person behind the mask Grell wears.”

“And you allowed Lilith to find the truth for herself, to choose to be who she is and to see William for who he is.”

Sebastian held Louisa close, "whoever thought parenting would be this difficult."

"At least they are almost of age now, we have done all we can to prepare them. It is Raven and Lilith's turn to make their mark on the world."

“Yes, my love. And when all this is over, we can finally return home.”