Sun, Surf, and Demons (insaney)

It was so warm and cozy... she didn't want to open her eyes. She couldn't remember the couch and rug alone being this warm... but if she could just stay nestled here now, in this snug little spot, she thought somewhere in her sleepy head, she would be perfectly happy. The woman snuggled closer to the warm figure on her side, and let herself drift off again, into comfortable bliss.

It felt like hours later when she finally awoke, and the sounds of rain pattering down on the roof outside had stopped. A single sunbeam stole into the room through the curtains, into her eyes, and she yawned softly, stretching a little under the fuzzy softness she now recognized as the blanket. The ray of light was as bright and gentle as the small smile that crossed her lips when she realized that Rain had come down at some point to sleep next to her. His head was still resting on her shoulder, his eyes closed in sleep, one of his arms wrapped around her that she just used to pull him a little closer to hug him softly. Her fingers stroked his hair a little but let him stay there, leaning on her, the only sounds left in the room that of the crackling fire and their calm, restful breathing.

I think... I could really be happy just lying here next to him all day, holding him... He's even "cute" when he's sleeping.

Rain clung to his love softly by the chest. His hand had risen up during his sleep and rested there, curling his fingers into the cloth. His eyes were half open, now, and they were looking at his hand. As he was awake, he found himself using lots of strength just to cling to her. The events before had drained him more than he had expected. His complexion was paler than usual, so much so that he looked almost like a dead person with his eyes open.

I feel so frail, he moved his legs about a bit; at least he felt enough strength in them to stand up. But he won’t do that yet… Softly, he lifted himself up more on her. As he moved, Cadenza looked at him and parted her lips to say something; but Rain didn’t feel like talking about anything just yet. Quickly and gently, he ran his fingers through the length of her hair and pressed his lips against hers. This first kiss was followed by another, and then another; soft, loving, repeated kisses against her lips. She tensed at first, but when Rain leaned more into her, she gave in.

Moments later, her back was against the ground, and Rain was over her, both locked in a loving embrace, sharing soft kisses and smiles, and loving gazes into each other’s eyes.

For some time later, the floor of the level above shook overhead where Galliard and Algretta sat in the basement, tinkering with some unfinished inventions. There were noises that grew louder and louder, and made Algretta’s cheeks turn a crimson red before she just had to put her work down and plug her ears altogether.

“Disgusting, just disgusting!” she muttered.

Galliard couldn’t help but laugh at her. “Sounds like the fire’s still burning pretty hot up there!”

His older daughter just plugged her ears tighter, shutting her eyes like it would help, muttering under her breath, “I can’t believe it… I thought they were tired! How disgusting…”

And Galliard’s chuckles went on.

A while afterward, back upstairs, clothes were strewn about the parlor along the floor and rugs, and the sounds of soft kissing and tired breathing filled the room as Cadenza and Rain laid in one another’s arms, cuddling tenderly underneath the blanket. The fire still roared quietly in the fireplace before them, but its crackles and flickering light was lost on them, when all they were focused on was their warm little spot under the blanket, and each other. Cadenza was busily tracing her fingers over Rain’s pale cheek, flushed pink now, and a little sweaty, thinking of how much she loved that perfect little smile he was wearing right this moment, and every other part of him. She leaned forward a little to kiss those lips again, smiling back softly at him.

Before she could say anything though, the phone started to ring. The smile slowly faded from the gypsy’s face before she let out a small groan, hesitating to get up and answer it.

“Algretta or Pai can answer it…” she assured Rain, nuzzling into his neck again.

‘Algretta or Pai’…? At that moment, even though he lacked a lot of blood, Rain’s face turned an amazing beet red colour and he stared at her. They did…it… in her father’s house! And he was home, too, along with her sister! What if they had heard? What if one of them had walked in while they were in the middle of… of… He couldn’t think anymore, her eyes had captured his as she looked up at him.

The phone had stopped ringing, now, and Rain heard Galliard mumbling somewhere away from them—he probably answered it. Rain smiled; this was good. That probably meant that her father knew that his daughter and her angel were a little busy at the moment. Gently, he pulled the blanket more over them both, over their heads; just to block out the outside world a little. He had this tiny inkling in the back of his mind that the outside world was about to poke its nose in, but he wanted this moment to last as long as it could have.

The Grim Angel wrapped his arms around Cadenza, hugging her tightly against his chest. His lips pressed kisses into her hair as he closed his eyes.

Let this last as long as it can… I’m… willing to stay here, for you.

As much as she tried not to, in the back of her mind, she was just counting down the minutes until her dad came to interrupt them with some sort of news. Of all times, why now? she kept asking, almost wishing she had thought ahead to unplug the phone when they'd come into the house. It would have been bad at any time... it could have woken Rain up while he was resting, or intruded on their time like it was surely about to now...

But until then, there were a few fleeting, lovely moments, and she took those moments to press kisses into Rain's chest, around his heart, as she traced along her path with a gentle finger. That was where she wanted to be, she thought, in his heart, around his love, with him... things had moved quicker than she'd expected, but she couldn't be happier than in his arms, now. When she had first... seen him, back on the ship, when he was showering... there'd been thoughts that popped up unwanted in her head of moments like what they'd been doing before... but now, over time, they were different. There was love behind them. The fantasy didn't just end after... that, but instead, with her cuddling him, held lovingly in his arms. She closed her eyes, but the hint of a smile that was on her lips faded when she heard footsteps start to come up the stairs.

"Hija...?" Galliard's voice came, more concerned and apologetic than she could remember it being much before, "I don't mean to interrupt your... ah, you two, but it's an emergency..."

Cadenza didn't move, hoped it would go away if she ignored it long enough.

But the call just came back, "Hija, are you awake...?"

The gypsy winced. There was going to be no ignoring this, apparently. She gave Rain one last, tight hug, and a soft kiss, mouthing "I'm sorry," against his lips, before she reached for the shirt he'd been wearing, and sat up reluctantly to begin putting it on. She found she had to look away... had to focus on the buttons as she did up each one because if she looked at him... saw him gazing up at her, she'd never be able to pull herself away. Her cheeks flushed a little as she stood amongst the blanket's folds and the other clothes, pulling down the shirt modestly to cover down to her mid-thighs. After she found her undergarments to cover her bottom a little more laying on the rug, she slipped those on and padded towards the stairs, glancing back longingly over her shoulder at the shape of her love under the woolen blanket.

"...You said it was an emergency, Pai?" she called down, fidgeting with the overly-long sleeves of her shirt that covered her slender hands.

The man had come up the stairs enough to be able to hear her, but not see her, his silhouette bending from around the corner on the landing where the staircase changed direction. "An emergency at the Valentia house, hija--he only called because he didn't know who else to turn to! He knew you were rarely here but tried all the same since he doesn't have any of your other numbers--the man seems desperate. He mentioned a demon, and one of his sisters, but he was speaking so quickly it was hard to figure out quite what he meant."

There was a silent moment, that felt a little longer than it really was. Cadenza had stopped fidgeting with her shirt sleeve, was staring now thoughtfully at her toes.

"Demon, he said? And one of his sisters...?" she sighed, "I owe them my help, then. In a way... it'd be my fault that the demon even got to her..."

Galliard hadn't been free from prison at the time when Cadenza had first opened the door to the Dome. The vampires, werewolves, and other creatures that had entered through that door since then, given passage thanks to her opening of it, were still news to him. He couldn't follow how this was his daughter's fault, but from her tone of voice he could see she was planning on going.

"What will you tell..." his voice dropped a little lower, took on a hushed tone, "...your boyfriend?"

The thought just made Cadenza's face turn redder. She wasn't ready to tell him about her former husband, was she? There was no telling how he'd take it... whether it'd scare him away, or simply make him wonder what went wrong and if she was responsible for it...

But still, even if she didn't want to tell yet, she knew she would need his help to go deal with this demon. The woman was at a loss for what to say. "We'll... figure it out," is all she left her dad with as she quietly paced back to Rain, not able to hide the frown that came to her face.

"...There's an emergency with a demon," she said, biting her lip a little nervously as she waited to see what he would say.

“A demon?” Rain sat up, obviously worried by the frown his girlfriend had on her face. He began to push aside the blanket, slowly at first, looking away from her eyes and at the ground. This wasn’t his world, but it was his job, wasn’t it? Feelings, and the look on her face aside, he wasn’t going to hesitate—but something nudged the back of his mind, telling him to prepare for a little…something.

He gripped the cloth and tossed it aside, scrambling for his trousers, not taking notice if she was looking at him or not until after he had got them on. He looked at her, a silly smile on his face; “Ahm… You’ve got my shirt,” Rain spoke softly, his cheeks flushing pink, “maybe you should get a new change of clothes?”

It would be odd if he had to walk around without a shirt—and Cadenza had on the only one he was allowed to wear at this time. He’d have to buy a new suit of clothes specifically for himself on the way there; but she didn’t know that he was coming, did she?

“And…I’m coming with you,” he smiled wider, “I’m still a little weak to fight if anything should happen, but I’m sure I can offer some sort of assistance… I am still your mentor, after all.”

“I’m still a little weak to fight if anything should happen, but I’m sure I can offer some sort of assistance… I am still your mentor, after all.”

The woman slipped one of her hands into his, squeezing it a little, her frown fading away to a small smile, "...and you're much more than that too," she said, giving his hand another little squeeze. She began to lean forward, as if to kiss his cheek, but her hand slid out of his too. She giggled softly when he looked down and realized she was unbuttoning the shirt and he turned pinker, and she pressed one soft kiss onto his flushed cheek as the cloth fell off her shoulders to around her waist and elbows.

Cadenza simply smiled, her cheeks reddish too, and handed it up to him, before strolling over to the stairs, picking up her other clothes on the way, with the sunlight from behind the drapes playing softly off the curves of her smooth, tan back. "I'll be ready in a moment..." she called down, arms crossed over her chest, as she ascended the staircase to the bedrooms upstairs, wondering if he was watching.

It was when she was out of his sight and back in her old room, staring at the suit of mythril armor and assortment of weapons on the bed that she was reminded of the reality of the situation. They were going to her ex-husband's house, to help the little girl who had once been her sister-in-law. This would be her first exorcism, it seemed, from the little information her dad had given her--and it would be on someone she cared about, and who... indirectly at least, had been possessed because she had let demons into their world. And out of all of this, Rain only knew that they were going to a house to take care of a demon. She was going to have to explain the rest, and much more, at some point or another...

Cadenza gave a heavy sigh, and began to get dressed.

A few minutes later, she was coming back down the stairs, clothed in her armor once again, and the usual attire she wore around Rubato; leggings, shorts, blouse, vest, and all. She was just pinning the last of the peacock feathers into her hair when she noticed Rain waiting for her, folding up the woolen blanket.

"...Ready to go, carino? It's a long walk to Blancwood..."

In the back of his mind, the words ‘Stop staring!’ resounded, echoed into nothingness as he stood there, his lips parted, his eyes slightly wide as Cadenza moved up the stairs. He heard her say something, but he only became caught up with the way her voice sounded and how the sunlight somehow flowed around her tan curves.

And as she disappeared, only then did he feel the cloth of his shirt in his hands. He slipped it on and looked around the room a little. But his mind was on Cadenza—mostly her frown from before. It wasn’t an expression that said “our time together is ruined”, but it was something…a little deeper than that. Something was wrong—perhaps it was a demon that did something to someone close? Something to bring up some memories or worries or… His fingers ran over the blanket they had slept under; he took the cloth into his hands and began to fold it, and at the same time, Cadenza had come down the stairs.
"...Ready to go, carino? It's a long walk to Blancwood..."

“Blancwood?” Rain looked up at her as she nodded.

“Alright,” he moved closer to her, chuckling softly, “but…I’ll probably have to buy some clothes for myself on the way there.”

She took his hand into hers, and they were on their way, out the door, onto the streets.

Rain was looking around, taking in the sights of the sandy city now covered in mud and trickling streams off rooftops after the rain. Every now and then Cadenza would point something of interest out to him, and tell him a little story about it, or some funny experience she'd had there. But at the back of her mind, she was still remembering.

She'd been to Blancwood when the king had pardoned her and her dad, but... it'd been nearly four years since she saw either of the little Valentia sisters. And then... it had been at Paris' funeral; if she thought back, she could see the rows of chairs now, filled with people she'd scarcely noticed. Her own sisters had been there, and Paris' dad and stepmother had been there, but no one had the courage to step up and say a word to the sobbing widow with the handkerchief and veil of black. That's when she'd felt two little warm presences around her; one around her arm, the other so small it only reached her leg even when sitting. She'd put aside her veil, wiped her mascara-stained face, looked upon them with wide, watery blue eyes... and there had been Makayla and Gabriela Valentia, just two little girls who barely understood what had happened, where their brother was... and they were hugging her, comforting her. They were the only two who did. When she saw their little smiling faces, heard their chorus of "Don't cry, 'denzie!" she could only break down into more tears, but somewhere underneath them, there was the faintest hint of a smile. She'd hugged them closer, nuzzled into their hair and wept...

She hadn't seen the little girls since. It hurt too much to visit, while they still believed Paris was gone. And when they knew otherwise... her heart belonged somewhere else, and it hurt too much to know he'd kept it a secret and hadn't told her sooner. It left her with questions... had her sisters known who he was while he was working with them? Did Vivace know that the "Anton" with her then wasn't really Anton, or did Paris lead her on? There were so many issues of trust.

Cadenza shook her head a little, trying to clear away that complicated web of thoughts. What was important right now was going to help whichever of the two little girls that was in trouble. As for Paris... maybe she'd get a chance to ask her questions, but... those didn't matter so much anymore. Her love had been gone for quite some time now, after all the confusion and mistrust and years of suffering... her heart now belonged to someone else. Someone she felt would take better care of it...

She leaned a little closer to Rain, resting against his shoulder and hugging his arm gently as they approached a street vendor by the outskirts of town. I want to... get this visit with my past over with, make sure the girl's okay... so that we can focus on the present together...

Rain smiled at her, gently pulling her closer to press a kiss into her hair. He looked at her face from his height, and she seemed so… down. Not because she was shorter than him—and he was way taller—but because…there was a sort of sadness that clung to the corner of her lips to bring them down. She hugged his arm tighter as they approached a…familiar looking cart of a familiar looking street vendor.

“You…” the vendor looked at him, grinding his teeth, “you’re the one who swindled me!”

“Ahh…” A silly smile crossed Rain’s lips as the man walked up, not paying attention to the person who was next to the Grim Angel.

“Are you here to swindle me again?!” The vendor walked so close, that Rain had to look down into his flaring eyes.

The man suddenly pushed his hands against Rain’s chest, shoving him backward, making him stumble back, Cadenza losing her grip on him for a moment. The man made a move forward, but as soon as he did, a fist connected hard with his nose, making a loud cracking sound before his back hit the dusty ground.

“What’s your problem?”

And just a few feet away, Rain was standing there, holding up the man’s wallet again. He was hoping to blackmail the person into a giving him a new suit of clothes. But…. looking at the man on the ground, that didn’t need to be done anymore.

Swiftly, Rain picked up a more expensive, nicer looking suit of clothes. A light gold kurta with intricate designs of vines only running vertically on the front, left side, and a long, slim black pair of trousers that sort of reflected the sunlight like a dull, black piece of metal. At that moment, the Grim Angel took of Galliard’s shirt and slipped on the new one right there. But he didn’t put on the pants; instead, he draped it over his forearm.

“I’ll pay you back, don’t worry.” He said to the man, who was still holding his bloodied nose, groaning and squirming on the ground. Rain looked up at Cadenza, whose cheeks were slightly pink, and she was just looking right back at him, “…after we get back from Blancwood.”

The vendor was just gaping up at Cadenza with a mix of terror and recognition as he nursed his broken nose. She stepped over him, reaching for a pair of new, casual black shoes from his cart, telling him before he could protest, "Why don't you throw in an extra pair of shoes for the man too? ...these don't squeak, right?"

She dangled the new shoes over him, and he could tell that the request wasn't really that, but more of a command. His head nodded obediently of its own accord, thoughts too frightened to arrange themselves to be voiced.

"Y-yes," he finally sputtered as she was handing Rain the pair of shoes, "Signora Valentia, I-I... I didn't know how I didn't recognize it was you sooner!" If he gulped any more nervously, he was in danger of choking on his tongue.

And he might have been better off, because Cadenza was giving him a look that said she was thinking of much more painful ways for him to die for what he'd just unknowingly let slip out.

"I think you have the wrong woman," she said slowly, raising a threatening fist at the vendor that, with her back turned to Rain, only he could see. Again, this was a statement and not a question, that was very obvious from her tone and her glare. The vendor began to sweat profusely, stammering to correct his words.

But it was too late--Rain had already heard the name he'd called her. And it was the truth... she couldn't hide that from him.

Valentia…?

Rain slipped on his shiny new pair of shoes, putting the other one he had worn in the vendor’s cart. He watched as Cadenza insisted that the vendor ‘had the wrong woman’. When she had turned away from him and looked at Rain, she saw a puzzled look on his face.

Valentia.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“I thought your name was Madrigal?”

“Rain…”

This just confirmed that she was keeping something from him, he wanted to know what, but half his heart was scared that it might endanger their relationship somehow. Rain leaned back on the cart, not looking at her, but at everything else, his mind began to drown in thought.

“Valentia,” Rain spoke again, “… Signora Valentia… Does that name have anything to do with who we’re going to see…?”

It was a small hunch he had ever since he saw that frown on her face when she came back from the conversation with Galliard back at the Madrigal household.

Her usual approach was to lie about anything. To spin whatever tale she could to slither out of any situation she didn't want to get caught in, just to save herself. But... if they went to the Valentia house, and Paris said anything that showed Rain things were different from what she said... she didn't want to think what might happen. How he might feel.

And when she looked up at him, at his eyes narrowed at her, she knew she couldn't lie to him. Even if her heart felt like it was ready to sink and maybe mope in the shadows when she'd finished explaining this.

"The girl... the girl we're going to help, she... used to be my sister-in-law," her eyes were focused on her feet as the words left her lips, and she could see that her hands were trembling a little. But at least, looking down, she wouldn't have to watch Rain's expressions...

"Used to...?" he said.

The gypsy gave a little nod. At least... he seemed nothing but thoughtful and curious so far... the way he'd looked at her before had made her heart flutter with panic. "Her brother... the man I was married to... he was thought to be dead for nearly four years. I... haven't seen either of his little sisters since the funeral. And... when I saw him again... let's say he was completely different from the man I'd remembered. I'd suffered for all those years, and he could have prevented that all by just finding me and telling me the truth of what happened to him, but... he didn't trust I'd believe him enough to do that. He only admitted things to me when he was about to die if he didn't..."

OoC: Very blah post, but there it is. <____< I can't wriiiite~

Rain listened intently to her summary of things. As she went on, his expression retained some of its normalcy. He leaned his weight more onto the cart, his hand sliding over his face as his eyes began to close. A small smile lingered on the corner of his lips as his fingers spread apart a little, showing a bit of his closed eyelids.

Cadenza was still looking down at her feet by the time she finished, only glancing up for a moment to see him leaning on the cart.

“Is that…all…?” He asked calmly, most of the words muffled by his hand covering his face. It was easy to understand; and the truth was that he felt bad for sort of…overreacting. Doing something he shouldn’t have, but for now, he couldn’t help that soft chuckle escaping his lips.

I don’t know what I thought it was, but… this is not bad at all. She was married before—and that was all.

“I’m sorry, Latina, for overreacting,” he offered her a smile; but behind it, something else tugged at his heart and asked the question: “What are you doing?!” She was human, wasn’t she…? Rain had lived more than ten lifetimes; he’s seen it all come and go.

And…even if this… between them… Even if it was true; it would come to an end, wouldn’t it? She was human, her life was limited. And Rain was… Rain was…

“Ah,” his thoughts had caught up with his expression, and he quickly raised a hand to wipe his eyes. His gaze avoided hers now, looking at the man who was now calmly lying on the ground, still with his hand over his nose, but he was listening intently, just as Rain was a few moments ago.

“I’m sorry…” Rain let out a soft sigh, accompanying the words, “Let’s continue on, Cadenza.”

And he wouldn’t look at her for the rest of the way.

They passed through the ring of beech trees and white poplars, the "white woods" that gave Blancwood its name, and assimilated into the hustle and bustle of the sunny capital city. As they walked by glittering fountains, and big stores, and mosaics of gold, and red, and yellow, the nation's colors, that covered whole walls, Cadenza tried to get Rain to look at her again... to get his attention, but he seemed bogged down by his thoughts... she wished she knew what was resting so heavily on his mind.

"A zecca for your thoughts?" she asked, plucking a coin from a blue, bubbling fountain. She tried giving him a smile as she held it under his nose, but that only seemed to make him droop more. The gypsy sighed a little in defeat, and flicked the coin back in, wondering if stolen coins still counted for wishes.

She lead the way quietly for a while after, stealing small glances back at Rain as they weaved through the city square crowds towards the rows of houses on the far side. He'd apologized before... but she couldn't help feeling like she was the one who should have. She should have explained things earlier, she kept telling herself, instead of just letting some merchant drop it on him like that...

When things were quiet again as they exited the square, and she could hear herself think once more, she couldn't keep her worries in any longer. Her heart was thumping rapidly in her ears.

"Carino..." she said softly, turning to face him, watching to see how he reacted to the name this time, "...we're... okay, aren't we...? You don't... think of me any differently, right?"

"Carino..." she said softly, turning to face him, watching to see how he reacted to the name this time, "...we're... okay, aren't we...? You don't... think of me any differently, right?"

Rain stopped in his tracks and looked into her eyes for the first time since they left the man on the road. Did he think of her differently…? No, he didn’t; and that wasn’t what was weighing on his mind at the moment. Perhaps it weighed on hers; not knowing if he thought of her differently or not. Perhaps he should let her know that she didn’t change in his eyes and that…for the first time in a long time, he was cursing his immortality.

“You haven’t—I don’t think of you any differently, Latina,” he forced a smile and began moving closer to her, so that no one around could hear.

“You know what I am… I’m not human… and… I don’t know what that means for us.”

He…did know what it meant, but he just didn’t want to admit it to himself.

“You know what I am… I’m not human… and… I don’t know what that means for us.”

"Rain..." She reached up to caress his cheek a little, gently pulling back down the corners of his lips from that fake smile... the one he was just trying to give to show her not to worry. A little kiss was planted on each corner, before she pulled away again, looking into his eyes, standing on her tippy-toes just to reach him.

In a soft, sincere whisper, she told him, as her thumb continued to stroke his cheek, "They say that... life's kind of like the night sky--dark, with only scattered specks of light, small moments of happiness between all the blackness. Well... if that's true... I want... this... between us... to be like one of those streaks of light a comet leaves, or the sun... a very bright spot... a bigger spot... for you." She let one of her hands slip into his, to squeeze it comfortingly, before adding, "...I don't want you to worry about what comes after... okay?"

Times like these were precious, the gypsy knew all too well. A lot of the happier moments in her life had been fleeting... her dad that she had been so close to had been taken away from her, she'd lost Paris, and Johnny, and... it seemed just about every time things were working out, karma or something would strike and make things turn sour again. Now that... now that she had gotten another chance, even found someone who would accept her past problems... she didn't want to let him go, or spend their time worrying. She wanted to be able to share that joy, for however long, together... and that showed in her eyes and in her smile as she looked up at Rain.

Did she understand? She seemed to understand; and…she knew what he was, and she was willing to continue.

A small smile spread on his lips, it was forced at first, and then his eyes lit up as they looked into hers. His arms moved up slowly, and gently wrapped themselves around her. What she said was beautiful yes, and he loved her, truly. But… part of him couldn’t help feeling that he was just using her, or leading her on; for just a lifetime of happiness with her.

And the other part just wanted it, more than anything. To be with her for just that lifetime—and maybe it’ll outshine all the rest to come. A never-dying light in the sky.

Rain’s lips pressed against hers softly; for now, he would keep those feelings as far as away as he can, and let himself enjoy what his life was, now.

“Let’s…go help the girl,” he whispered, smiling more; even with that nagging feeling at the back of his mind, the flashing of coffins and funerals, and specific people in them. It will haunt him, and he will continue to curse his immortality.

When he smiled, she smiled. He warmed her heart, and it was as simple as that. She couldn't remember her feelings ever being so pure or so plain ever before. The woman reached out to take his hand again, squeezing it a little as the familiar, tall white house came into view, wishing something as simple as a smile could put to ease all of her boyfriend's worries.

Even if he did have lingering concerns at the back of his mind, though, he was here for her now. There were screams coming from a second-story window of the house, terrible screams that seemed so out of place in that big, pleasant home with its sky-blue shutters and cheery little tropical flowers lining the path to the door. Cadenza led Rain past the garden and up onto the white stone steps, exhaling a little to brace herself before she knocked on the door.

The screams upstairs came to an end with a blood-curdling wail that scared birds from their roost on the roof. There was then silence in the house, and finally, quick footsteps making their way for the door.

"Here we go..." Cadenza murmured a little nervously.

The sky blue door swung open, and there was Paris Valentia, in much worse condition than she could ever remember seeing him before. Concern and grief had taken over his usually calm features, and it showed in the tired look of his blue-gray eyes. Still, he managed a smile when he first saw his former wife.

"Cadenza... you came. Gracias... thank you so very much, really. Please, come in," he spared Rain a brief, slightly puzzled look before stepping aside and letting the two step in.

"Upstairs..." he said a little softly, with a glance towards the stairs, "upstairs... those were Makayla's screams you were probably hearing... all night, she screamed... Gabriela's terrified of the screams." His head drooped a little, his gaze seeming to fall for a moment on the cross charm around his neck faithfully before his eyes rose again, back to the sight of Cadenza with Rain. "Ah... if there's anything I can do to help you and... your friend before you go upstairs to see her, please let me know."

Rain shook his head as they gradually walked through the doorway into the house. “Don’t worry,” he smiled a little at Paris, “it will be okay—Cadenza’s here.” Rain’s smile widened a little as the man looked up at him.

“Could you… show us the room, please?” the Grim Angel asked kindly.

As they moved on, Paris in front, Cadenza behind him, and Rain behind her, the Grim Angel caught a glance of a small girl through an open door. She looked at him, and in the split second that he had passed in front of the door, he waved a little, and flashed a friendly smile.

But that smile faded as soon as Valentia opened the door to Makayla’s room. The screaming was now very up close, and extremely piercing. Cadenza and Paris entered the room first, then Rain went in, and closed the door behind them.