Seeing is Easier for Those Who Can't

❝ My dear, do you recall how I warned you of strangers entering our midst whilst we still remain in London? ❞ He mentioned and glanced to see her pallor face, her cheery smiles disguising her truly atrocious and malicious intent. ❝  They have arrived, in droves and flocks. It will not be long until reapers and angels alike are guarding every street corner. We depart tomorrow at Sunrise, it is not safe here, not for you or myself.❞

His words made her smile disappear with a quickness. She turned solemn and silent, her blind gaze turning to the outside. Aya frowned as she took note of the auras, looking considerably more and more confused. “They’re.. Well, some are blending with the reds. They’re… Camouflaging themselves… I don’t like it. I can’t tell them as easy as before my. I can tell them still apart, but it’s harder…”

❝  You do not need to marry, a woman such as yourself can hold much power being a unmarried maiden as you would be a married wife.❞  He replied smoothly and touched her shoulder.  ❝ Until the time comes when you find yourself a man whom you wish to fully control, let us not think of marriage.❞

The maiden closed her eyes and let her mind wander. Even if she could be cold-hearted and cruel, some part of her heart was still human in nature. Her mind envisioned a grand ball with a male she described, tall and handsome, who was her equal. He was just as quick and sly as she, as much a human-turned-demon as she, while still being human.

He chuckled and nodded, holding her close before she rushed around like that of an excited kitten, ready to play, explore and discover their own reflection. ❝  A celebration you say? Goodness, that is an interesting concept, while I am more than happy to enjoy the life you have with you, a small part of my believes that you simply wish to attract a new pet.❞  He teased and kissed the top of her head,  ❝ I know you’ve been watching the Viscount’s eldest son…❞ 

“It’ll be fun! You can decorate here or rent out some other place for the night, and I know you can make it perfect within an hour to celebrate a new year. I wonder how old I’ll be turning, though? I never gave much thought to that…”

❝ What do you think about a new year’s gala?❞

“It’s certainly be easier for a young man to get drunk and lost there than at a dance. He would probably slip out during the show to relieve himself, and maybe slip on ice or trip on an untied lace, and then fall into some dark and dismal cage to never be seen from again!” More laughter pealed from her slender throat, and she offered a warm smile to him. “What do you say, Father?”

❝  A young an could very well get drunk and wander off, but we must have the public believe there it truly no possibility of survival, to do so, we must set up a decoy…❞    He mused and touched her shoulder,❝  a carriage accident a few miles from our hosted party should do, the lantern would burn any remains of him, we will throw his clothes into the fire to prove his death.❞

"A New Year's gala it shall be! I think also we can decide New Year's to be my birthday, as well? It'd make it easier to track my age, since I don't know my actual birthday, and if you do, you haven't said it. Hm.. Bugger, I'm nearing the marrying age. I don't want to do that," she said, wrinkling her nose. "Ah.. I'll focus on parties and fun for now."

❝ I cannot definitively say,❞  the demon replied slowly, deciding it best to keep her in the dark regarding such a fact.❝ Where one is placed can depend on any number of factors, as well if they are turned to a reaper, angel or demon. It is best you do not know, perhaps another time, when you are older.❞  

❝ You always loved pearls, may I ask why, my dear?❞ He paused, already having an inkling as to why she so often wore the underwater jewels.  ❝ They suit you,❞ he teased and touched her curls. 

“I like pearls because of the way they feel, for the most part, but also I enjoy the irony in wearing them. Those who wear pearls are beautiful of soul and pure of heart, but me? Hah! I’m the apprentice and daughter of none other than Lord Sebastian Michealis, which makes me near the opposite of such a meaning.” She smiled at the touch to her hair, enjoying the feeling of his silken gloves through her curly locks.

❝ It does, but you are as graceful and elegant as a pearl. Your smile is purer than any other I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. Your laugh is like twinkling diamonds or star in a night sky, shining far above the world, past where we shall ever reach.❞  He paused and her shoulder, then her cheek, a smile on his face as he leaned down to kiss the crown of her head. ❝ My most beautiful child, more than I could have ever wished for.❞

His latter words made her brow raise in a graceful arc, and she chuckled softly. "One could almost say your words have another meaning, Father. Do I have some unknown siblings out in the world or down in Hell?" He was infinitely older than her, and because of it she knew it wasn't unlikely. It made her curious, but not enough to venture far down the forbidden paths of her father's secretive past.

❝ I cannot definitively say,❞  the demon replied slowly, deciding it best to keep her in the dark regarding such a fact.❝ Where one is placed can depend on any number of factors, as well if they are turned to a reaper, angel or demon. It is best you do not know, perhaps another time, when you are older.❞  

❝ You always loved pearls, may I ask why, my dear?❞ He paused, already having an inkling as to why she so often wore the underwater jewels.  ❝ They suit you,❞ he teased and touched her curls. 

"I like pearls because of the way they feel, for the most part, but also I enjoy the irony in wearing them. Those who wear pearls are beautiful of soul and pure of heart, but me? Hah! I'm the apprentice and daughter of none other than Lord Sebastian Michealis, which makes me near the opposite of such a meaning." She smiled at the touch to her hair, enjoying the feeling of his silken gloves through her curly locks.

He chuckled and nodded, holding her close before she rushed around like that of an excited kitten, ready to play, explore and discover their own reflection. ❝  A celebration you say? Goodness, that is an interesting concept, while I am more than happy to enjoy the life you have with you, a small part of my believes that you simply wish to attract a new pet.❞  He teased and kissed the top of her head,  ❝ I know you’ve been watching the Viscount’s eldest son…❞ 

“It’ll be fun! You can decorate here or rent out some other place for the night, and I know you can make it perfect within an hour to celebrate a new year. I wonder how old I’ll be turning, though? I never gave much thought to that…”

❝ What do you think about a new year’s gala?❞

"It's certainly be easier for a young man to get drunk and lost there than at a dance. He would probably slip out during the show to relieve himself, and maybe slip on ice or trip on an untied lace, and then fall into some dark and dismal cage to never be seen from again!" More laughter pealed from her slender throat, and she offered a warm smile to him. "What do you say, Father?"

He chuckled and nodded, holding her close before she rushed around like that of an excited kitten, ready to play, explore and discover their own reflection. ❝  A celebration you say? Goodness, that is an interesting concept, while I am more than happy to enjoy the life you have with you, a small part of my believes that you simply wish to attract a new pet.❞  He teased and kissed the top of her head,  ❝ I know you’ve been watching the Viscount’s eldest son…❞ 

"It'll be fun! You can decorate here or rent out some other place for the night, and I know you can make it perfect within an hour to celebrate a new year. I wonder how old I'll be turning, though? I never gave much thought to that..."

❝ I cannot definitively say,❞  the demon replied slowly, deciding it best to keep her in the dark regarding such a fact.❝ Where one is placed can depend on any number of factors, as well if they are turned to a reaper, angel or demon. It is best you do not know, perhaps another time, when you are older.❞  

After an hour or two of napping, the child woke again, a soft yawn coming from her. Her hand tightened about the thin cord that held the wooden beads, and before she even opened her blind eyes beneath the fabric of her blindfold, she wound the trinket about her wrist. Aya shifted and sat up, gathering the now-warm coat up and pulling it over her own dirty self, a much-too-big robe on her. It could have been cute, a like a little child playing grown-up, if it wasn’t for the filth that was always on her.

“Of course, Mr Oblivion.”

"Thanks for letting me nap. I feel a bit better now that I've slept, but my eye's itchy. I don't much like it when it itches... Can you lead me to a bathroom so I can clean it out?"

Thinking on that, the child got up and toddled over to the closest corner she could feel. She sat down there and nestled herself in the nook, then yawned and closed her good eye to nap. It wasn’t too long before she was out like a light. Like nearly everyone she knew, though, she would wake at a whisper of possible trouble, or her name.

It was once he was already digging into the paperwork he had stacked up for the day that he noticed Aya asleep in the corner, and the corner of his mouth twitched in something resembling a very brief smile. He rose once again from his chair and took his suit jacket off, draping it over her. It wasn’t like he kept a blanket in his office or anything, but that would at least keep her warm for now.

After an hour or two of napping, the child woke again, a soft yawn coming from her. Her hand tightened about the thin cord that held the wooden beads, and before she even opened her blind eyes beneath the fabric of her blindfold, she wound the trinket about her wrist. Aya shifted and sat up, gathering the now-warm coat up and pulling it over her own dirty self, a much-too-big robe on her. It could have been cute, a like a little child playing grown-up, if it wasn't for the filth that was always on her.

“I doubt we’ll need to change our names,” he mused and looked at her. “As for my true name, I suppose I may tell you, when the time comes, but not for many years. As my daughter, it is my aesthetic to keep you safe, and giving you my name would put you in an infinite amount of danger.” 

“I keep forgetting there’s others of your kind. They’re so very rare, aren’t they? I have seen one or two, but they’re much less common than even the reapers.” She turned her gaze to the wall of black that was on the other side of the carriage. “Why is it that you’re here, Father? Not here as in London, but as in here, on Earth. Don’t you have to be summoned? And if so, should you not have a master to be tending to?” Now that she opened the door to all the questions, and that they had a long journey ahead of them, the blind girl wanted to see what answers she could get from the demon.

“I cam here on my own accord, if that is what you’re asking. I am more than powerful enough to do so.” 

Aya shook her head, silver curls bouncing about her cheeks. The rosy girl reached up to adjust the pearls in her hair, then looked out to the auras again. “Do you think that we will encounter more angels in America? Maybe when I’m older and stronger, I might be able to defeat one without collapse…” Inwardly, she shuddered, the angel’s screams echoing in her mind and ears. “I can only hope that I’ll become stronger, in time.”

“But for now, do not dwell on such things.” 

"Father? Is there life after death? I know that the Reapers claim the lives of those who are meant to die, but what happens to the souls of those claimed? Do they go to Heaven and Hell, do they become demons or angels or reapers?"

“I saw great potential in your abilities,” he replied smoothly, “why else would I take you in? Now, why I let you stay… That’s a bit more complicated.”

“Either way… I don’t know where to go. It isn’t like I can just go there, and if I decide I’d rather be here, come back. The Nightside doesn’t work that way. It’s fickle and bratty and doesn’t do what anyone wants, unless you’re one of those people who went to the school…”

“And trust me. I’m not exactly in a position to judge people for having maggots living in them.”

Thinking on that, the child got up and toddled over to the closest corner she could feel. She sat down there and nestled herself in the nook, then yawned and closed her good eye to nap. It wasn't too long before she was out like a light. Like nearly everyone she knew, though, she would wake at a whisper of possible trouble, or her name.

“I saw great potential in your abilities,” he replied smoothly, “why else would I take you in? Now, why I let you stay… That’s a bit more complicated.”

“I doubt we’ll need to change our names,” he mused and looked at her. “As for my true name, I suppose I may tell you, when the time comes, but not for many years. As my daughter, it is my aesthetic to keep you safe, and giving you my name would put you in an infinite amount of danger.” 

“I keep forgetting there’s others of your kind. They’re so very rare, aren’t they? I have seen one or two, but they’re much less common than even the reapers.” She turned her gaze to the wall of black that was on the other side of the carriage. “Why is it that you’re here, Father? Not here as in London, but as in here, on Earth. Don’t you have to be summoned? And if so, should you not have a master to be tending to?” Now that she opened the door to all the questions, and that they had a long journey ahead of them, the blind girl wanted to see what answers she could get from the demon.

“I cam here on my own accord, if that is what you’re asking. I am more than powerful enough to do so.” 

Aya shook her head, silver curls bouncing about her cheeks. The rosy girl reached up to adjust the pearls in her hair, then looked out to the auras again. "Do you think that we will encounter more angels in America? Maybe when I'm older and stronger, I might be able to defeat one without collapse..." Inwardly, she shuddered, the angel's screams echoing in her mind and ears. "I can only hope that I'll become stronger, in time."