The Return of the Order: Act 36

“You did not think it would be that easy, did you, Ronald?”

“Damn you, Undertaker, you have no right to keep such secrets from the reapers.”

“Oh, I have every right, the secrets of the books are mine, and mine alone.”

“Then you shall die for your secrets and your love of demons.”

Undertaker readied his scythe. "You think you are the first to try and end me, Ronald. I bear the scars proudly of every attempt, and yet I am still here, which is more than I can say for you once the family find out that you betrayed them."

Ronald laughed, raising his scythe and closing the space between him and Undertaker. “They will all be dead soon enough. I have enough reapers and weapons to defeat you all several times over. Their weapons are nothing compared to the enchanted scythes of the reapers.”

Undertaker grinned, his emerald eyes shining bright in the darkness. “You know, the biggest problem with you young reapers is that you are always in a hurry and never read until the end.”

Confusion spread across Ronald’s face. Undertaker took advantage of the moment and swung his scythe aiming for Ronald’s legs. Ronald snapped out of his thoughts just in time to block the strike as he was knocked back by its force. Undertaker rounded on him again, bringing in the weapon from the side, backing Ronald further into a corner. Ronald blocked each blow, but the speed of Undertaker’s movements left him no time to strike himself. Undertaker giggled, “my dear boy, you are a disgrace, and only a promise made by Typhon will see you live out the night.”

Ronald lifted his scythe to block another blow, “Demon promises are worthless, Undertaker. When will you learn that? The world is better off without them.”

Sensing the others at the door, Undertaker laughed, “So young and stupid. A demon promise is one of the most powerful things in all the realms. It is why they are so feared, why the humans went to such great lengths to cast them as purely evil.”

Ronald panted as he parried each of Undertakers blows. “They are evil. They destroy souls. They change fate and take away what only the creators have the right to determine.”

Undertaker pressed Ronald back once more and shook his head. “Who do you think planted the idea that the soul could be exchanged in such a way? There are other races constantly vying for the attention of the humans.” Undertaker paused, watching as Ronald’s certainty shifted and confusion once again clouded his eyes. “And, now, you begin to see, but it is too late for they have already seen you for what you are.”

Ronald raised his gaze to the door seeing Margaret, Typhon, Sebastian, and Louisa in the doorway, each armed and baring their teeth. Only then did he see the sword in Louisa’s hand.

“How, how is that possible? How did I not see that in the book?”

Undertaker grinned, swiped the handle of his scythe across the back of Ronald's legs, taking them out from under him, and leaving him to land in an undignified heap on the floor. Ronald released his weapon as he fell. Undertaker kicked it over to Louisa, nodding as he did. Acting on instinct, Louisa brought the tip of the sword down hard on the centre of Ronald's scythe, causing it to splinter and break apart. Ronald cried out as he watched each piece disappear, the colours of the enchantment dissipating into the air around them.

"You did not see what was not ready to be seen. Always in a hurry, wanting the end before the story is finished." With that Undertaker brought the handle of the scythe down across Ronald's head, knocking him out. "I suggest that you tie him up tight, and then maybe we can all get some rest tonight." Undertaker swept past the group assembled at the door, grasping Margaret's hand as he passed. She smiled at Louisa and allowed the mad old reaper to lead her from the room.

“Well, I guess we will get no more answers from the mad man tonight.” Laughed Typhon, “let’s deal with this, he will make an excellent gift to the hoards once the fighting starts, but I have a few questions for him myself first, once he wakes.”

Louisa waited as Typhon and Sebastian secured Ronald, her mind focused on all that had just passed, especially between Margaret and Undertaker. She smiled to herself as she recalled how much younger and happier Margaret looked. The cares she had carried all her life, the burden of protecting Louisa’s family, the unrequited love she had carried for Typhon, all seemed to have lifted from her shoulders. Louisa could only guess that Undertaker had more than a little to do with that change.

****

“I seem to have missed all the fun,” exclaimed Ciel as Typhon updated him on the events of the evening.

Clapping him on the back, Typhon laughed, "there will be plenty more to be had, boy. Now, what of your little mission. I guess it confirms what we now know?"

“Yes, Ronald is leading the reaper rebellion. He met with one called Peter, the one that attacked Lilith and then William I’m assuming. They intend to bring this to an end tomorrow night.”

“They had no knowledge that you were there?”

“No, I took my animal form and hid in the trees, just as you taught me.”

“Good, now we have more than one advantage.”

“Should we not tell the others?”

"No, Ronald is disarmed. Without his scythe, he is nothing. Let them be for tonight. Despite our strong position, there is always a risk when you go into battle." Typhon sat quietly for a moment before turning back to Ciel. "I have one more task for you once the battle starts."

“Yes, Lord Typhon, whatever you require.”

"You will remain in the study with Lord Birch, you will protect him, and if I can get her to agree, Margaret too. I will leave the hounds to support you in this endeavour."

Ciel's eyes widened, "of course, Lord Typhon, but why? I understand protecting Margaret, but Lord Birch will meet his end as soon as this is done, why not let him fight?"

“Because he will meet his fate at Malphas' hands and not at the end of a reaper scythe. His desire to protect Louisa above his own life is honourable, but it does not change the fact that he tempted the fates by binding Malphas in the first place.”

“As you wish, Lord Typhon.” Ciel could not help but think there was more behind the order, but he was not about to push his luck by questioning him further, not when he had just begun to gain the demon lord’s respect.