Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Chapter Text
When you were doing your morning rituals you didn’t expect to see two demonologists at your door this morning.
Two Christian demonologists at the door of your Occult practice.
And yet here you are, sharing a table with Ed and Lorraine.
“I’m sure this may come across as strange to you.” Ed started slowly.
“I’m trying to figure out whether you are planning to kill me or not,” you said bluntly. Huffing softly Ed shook his head.
“It’s the opposite actually. We were looking to - we wanted to see - we need your help,” he managed, Looking to Lorraine.
“Ed and I are working on a case that we are finding quite difficult to decipher even for us.”
“So you’re coming to me as opposed to a Priest? Isn’t that what you pe- christians normally do?” You asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
“We have been at odds due to some differences in belief.” Ed said, “We don’t think you’re evil-”
“I’m not,”
“- but the church does, and refuses to offer aid to those who don’t agree with their statutes.”
“Typical. I’m going to be honest here, I’m not sure what to think here. I, a witch and a pagan at that, had a christian couple-”
“Partners,” Lorraine clarified.
“- partners show up on my doorstep who are notorious for renouncing the devil and anything that opposes the christian god, which would include me. What’s your motive?”
“It might be sacrilegious for me to even say this but the christian belief system is fairly outdated and unethical. The both of us know that you’re experienced in dealing with the supernatural, and we could really use your help.”
You scrutinized the two of them, looking for any signs of dishonesty, or hidden motives.
“What’s in it for me?”
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Meeting with Ed and Lorraine had taken up the rest of your day, with brief interruptions from regular clients who were more than willing to reschedule at your request. They stayed late into the evening, going over the case they were working on at the moment. The facts of the case clearly pointed to some sort of supernatural involvement, though you couldn’t be quite sure.
“Lorraine, you’re clairvoyant correct?” You asked slowly, eyes trailing from the paper to look up to her. She gave you a nod. “Can you sense anything here?” She focused for a moment, brows furrowing slightly.
“I can’t pick up on anything here,”
“You shouldn’t be able to, I’ve set up barriers and wards to keep out unwanted eyes or beings here which means,” you began, brushing curls away from your face, “you’re dealing with a witch. That’s why you have trouble picking up on the beings around you sometimes. Because whoever is involved in this doesn’t want you to,” you said, eyes glancing at the clock. It was dark by now, and not safe for them to drive their separate ways with the oncoming storm. “It’s getting late, and it’s supposed to storm, it’s not safe for either of you to drive. I have a guest bedroom that the two of you can share if that’s alright?” The pair looked at each other sharing a fond smile between the two of them.
“I take the floor, I’m sure your husband wouldn’t approve of you sharing a bed with any man,” he said with a soft chuckle.
“Oh I have another room, it’s not exactly up to guest bedroom status but I just assumed the two of you were involved,” you said, cleaning up the various articles, photos and papers that littered your table.
“Most everyone does, but we're just really good friends, have been for years.” Lorraine said softly.
“Well before the two of you turn in for the night, at least eat something,” you said, getting up to check what you could make in the kitchen.
“We interrupted your day, the least we could do is make something so you can relax a little bit,” Ed said softly. “If that’s alright,” he added gently.
“Sure, the kitchen is yours, just try not to make too much of a mess,” you said, crossing your arms over your chest. Turning his back to you he began to rummage through your cabinets to get familiar with what you had. You took this as your cue to leave, moving through your dining room where the three of you had convened to your living room turned office space. Walking through the portiere of crystals that acted as a barrier between your living space and work space you took a breath, shivering from the feeling of being watched. “Did you have a question?” you asked, turning to Lorraine, an arm parting the crystals hanging from your doorway to allow her in if she wanted.
“I do actually, if that’s alright.”
“Sure, have a seat,” you said, taking a seat at the leather chair that sat across from Lorraine.
“I don’t worship satan, nor do I believe in the existence of satan,” you said unprompted.
“How?”
“I’m gifted as you are, although I wouldn’t limit it to just clairvoyance. I can see behind the veil that separates the physical and the spiritual world in more ways than one, sometimes unintentionally. Call it a sixth sense, or strong intuition but I also find people very easy to read. I am a witch, yes, I am not the sacrificing newborn babies, dancing naked in the woods under the full moon witch. Witchcraft is my practice, not my religion. I’m not religious but I am spiritual.”
“What do you mean by that?” Lorraine asked softly.
“There are no rules, or initiation rituals to be a witch. I don’t go to church, I don’t have a priest or priestess that I look too. There is no organized, or previously constructed way to practice witchcraft. It’s a way of life, and a state of being. It may sound taboo, but there are christian witches.”
“What makes someone a witch?”
“That’s an awfully broad question. I can’t answer for every witch but for me in specific I use the term witch as my title that best encompasses the way I see my practice. I use the energy around me, my own energy and intuition, the facts and laws of the universe and the world around me to essentially manifest what I want and desire into being, to put it simply. The same thing goes for the work I do for my clients, whether it be for better sleep, or fertility, or a protection sigil, it's the manipulation of energy to achieve a desired goal.” She nodded in understanding, letting your words sink in. “You’re taking this awfully well for someone who is religious.”
“Ed and I are rather open minded, or secular according to the church, christians. We recognize that christianity is a path that people take, but isn’t necessarily the only correct way.”
“I’m sure that went over well with some people,” you said with a soft laugh.
“We’re not called kooks for nothing,” she said with a smile. The sound of Ed clearing his throat interrupted the conversation, the two of you looking to him.
“Food’s ready,” he said softly.
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Ed had made a simple but hearty stew that thoroughly warmed and filled you.
“That was great Ed, I’ll have to make you cook for Andrew and I when you come to visit.”
“I have to agree with Lorraine, that was delicious, thank you.” You said, clearing the table, beginning to clean their dishes.
“Are you sure we can’t help in any way?” Lorraine asked softly.
“No, that's quite alright, although let me show the two of you where you’ll be sleeping,” you said, grabbing a towel to dry your damp hands. Leading the two of them upstairs, you opened the guest bedroom door, looking to the two of them.
“You can have the guest bedroom,” Ed said to Lorraine.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s no problem.” Turning from Lorraine you led Ed to the room next to the guest bedroom.
“It’s a little bare, so I apologize. Had I known the two of you would’ve been here I would’ve at least tried to make it a bit more homey.”
“It’s fine y/n, we didn’t mean to overstay our welcome.” Ed said with a soft smile. “We really do appreciate your generosity, we’ll be out of your hair for a bit tomorrow.”
“About that, I think it might be best if you stay close. I don’t know enough about it at this point but I don’t think it’s safe for the two of you to be away from the protection that I can provide,” you said, looking up at him slightly.
“I appreciate the concern but-”
“Ed, Lorraine couldn’t pick up on anything, it’s not safe,” you said softly. “I know that this is your thing but I can tell you first hand, pissing off a witch is the last thing you want to do. At least until we know more, I help people for a living, I couldn’t bear to let the two of you leave yet,” you said, hand unconsciously touching his forearm. “At least until we know more,” you said, pulling your hand away quickly with a slight blush.
“We’ll talk with Lorraine tomorrow,” he said with a nod. Nodding in agreement you turned to leave before turning back to him.
“Do you think you’ll need extra blankets? It gets a little cold sometimes.”
“I think I’ll be fine, I run pretty hot,” he said with a lopsided grin. Giving him another nod you left the room, shutting the door behind you, offering a soft ‘good night’ before walking back downstairs to finish the dishes.
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Drying the last few dishes you chuckled softly, shaking your head, “I do not find him attractive,” you said softly to yourself, even though you knew you were lying.
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You woke up the next morning at sunrise, making sure to quietly make your way outside after your morning rituals. A family client of yours was running low on a saulve you had made her, and your herbs were ready to be picked. After veiling and getting dressed you made your way outside to your garden, beginning the tedious project of harvesting the herbs, flowers and plants you would need for your clients. The sun had risen enough to warm your back when you heard your front door open and close as your turned, resting on your knees from your squatting position.
“Good morning, I hope you slept well?” You asked as soon as Ed was close enough that you didn’t have to yell.
“Like a baby, haven’t slept that well in a while actually.”
“That would be the lavender, helps relax the body and mind,” you said. “Is Lorraine awake?”
“Not yet, although I’m sure she’ll be asleep for a little bit, she’s not an early riser.”
“For just being friends the two of you sure act like a married couple,” you joked softly.
“We get that alot, kind’ve come with always being in the news together. I think it’s a trick of hers to keep me safe from the fangirls,” he chuckled.
“Well you’re quite the eligible bachelor, you should thank her for keeping the crazies away.” He laughed at that, a hand rubbing his neck gently.
“Eligible bachelor huh?”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” He laughed again, hand falling from his neck to his chest, shaking his head.
“Did you need any help?” He asked once he regained composure, hands in his front pockets.
“I’m actually done, I have more than I need,” you said softly, losing your balance slightly as you moved to stand up. Reaching out a hand to grasp your wrist Ed caught you before you fell back, hands warm against your arm and shoulder, your own hand clasping onto the fabric of his button up. “Thanks,” you said quietly, once again reminded of the height difference as you looked up at him.
“Don't mention it,” he said softly. You could’ve sworn you felt his grip tighten slightly against you before he stepped back, clearing his throat. He reached down to pick up the basket you had brought out, filled with various plants from your garden. “After you,” he said, following you inside.
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Summary:
Following the meeting with Ed and Lorraine, Y/N finally gets the chance to meet the Perron’s and discovers insight on who - or what - they’re dealing with.
Notes:
So sorry this took so long. All my work disappeared on google and I was a little upset - I’m working my way through the script, adding pieces, taking away some pieces - keeping bits that didn’t make it in the movie. It’s not canon but I’m connecting all the movies (as it is canonically) but it’s a fanfic so it’s not gonna be realistic to the movies. I had the vision in italics but it didn’t cross over here so I separated the text a little.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Text
After making breakfast for Ed and Lorraine you poured yourself a cup of coffee, sitting down with them, looking over the papers Ed had retrieved from the car while Lorraine was washing up. Peering at what she was reading Lorraine pulled a few worn papers from the folder, laying them out before her, showing you a photo;
“That’s the original farmhouse. It was built in 1863 by Judson Sherman, who married Bathsheba when she was nineteen. She was a direct descendant of Mary Esty - she was the first witch hung in Salem during the trials.”
Both Ed and Lorraine looked to you, not saying anything for a moment.
“It’s fine, the two of you weren’t there,” you said with a chuckle, continuing to look over the map of the land, “what else?”
“After she and Judson were married, they had a baby, and when it was seven days old, Judson found it sacrificed -- in front of the fireplace. I’m assuming with knitting needles. Apparently -- she ran out to the barn, climbed into the rafters, proclaimed her love to Satan, cursed anyone who tried to take her land, then hung herself. She hung herself at five fifteen in the morning.”
“Jesus, it’s no wonder they’re going through so much,” you said quietly. “But that doesn't explain all of the disturbances they’ve been dealing with,” you said. “I feel like there’s more to this,” you added, mostly to yourself. Getting up you walked into your office/altar space, grabbing the tarot deck nearest to you. “Show me what we’re missing,” you breathed, spreading your cards after shuffling briefly; the moon reversed didn’t surprise you, but seemed to mock you a bit. The Tower also didn’t surprise you, you knew the Perron’s were going through something terrible, maybe even disastrous. The final card, The Devil seemed heavy in your hand, the Baphomet-esque creature staring back at you cruelly. “Show me what we’re missing,” you said again, taking a deep breath as your eyes fell shut.
•
Opening your eyes you were no longer in your office at your altar. You didn’t know where you were but it was damp, dark and cold. There was a young woman kneeling a few feet ahead of you. Her hands trembled as she recited prayers. She knelt towards a dark corridor, a corridor you could feel was cold, was evil. She must have noticed your presence, her glassy eyes full of unshed tears meeting yours.
“It hides among us, but she’s - it’s not one of us. It’s something unholy, it takes on different forms to deceive us and prey on our weaknesses,” she spoke quickly, as if she was afraid she didn’t have a lot of time. “It appears as a nun so it can hide amongst us to corrupt us all, I am one of the last one’s left,” she breathed, voice shaking. A harsh foul smelling wind swept through the corridor, pulling a harsh shiver from the woman, followed by a deafening heavy silence.
“Hic finitur deus”
You didn’t know what the phrase meant, but the woman seemed to be familiar. Frantically she wrapped her rosary around her clasped hands, and began reciting the lord's prayer.
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done-” her words halted, eyes widening as she struggled, fingers reaching toward her throat. Something was choking her, the entity that seemed to occupy the corridor, the entity she feared. She met your eyes one final time, a single tear trailing down her cheek before she was dragged into the darkness, a curdling scream following - and then nothing. You didn’t need much information to know what had happened to the girl. Whatever being was stalking them had gotten to her. A shadow began to appear out of the darkness, moving closer. Unable to move you had no choice but to stare, chest tightening at the mere feeling of the evil that seemed to encompass the surrounding space, suffocating everything in its path. The shadow became a silhouette, the silhouette, a person - or what looked like a person. Inhuman sunken yellow eyes met yours, pale skin and blackened lips covered in blood that dripped from its jagged teeth. Donning a nun’s robes, the woman's broken rosary hung between its fingers. It seemed to pause for a moment before releasing what could only be described as a deafening roar.
•
Rearing back you stumbled from your altar, a hand clutching your chest, heart racing. The Devil card still clutched in your hand with the words ‘hic finitur deus’ scrawled onto the card. Dropping the card you took a few steps back, hitting the opposite wall of your office. your breath came harshly as you blinked, trying to make sense of anything you had just seen.
“Y/N?” Ed’s voice interrupted your thoughts, reminding you of why you came in here in the first place. Taking a few slower breaths you slowly returned back to the table, looking to them.
“I saw something, I think it has to do with the Perron’s,” you said softly. Recounting the vision you had you looked to Ed, “It said ‘hic finitur deus’”
“God ends here,” he murmured softly.
“I think it’s about time you met the Perron’s.” Lorraine said softly.
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Ed had offered to drive, the sky still dreary from the storm the night before. Once the three of you were presentable you started the trek from your home to the Perron’s. the drive was a little over an hour and a half, but you didn’t mind, the Rhode Island scenery was comforting, even with the slight fog.
Once you arrived Ed walked around to open your door, offering a hand, the ground still soft.
“Thank you,” you breathed, brushing a stray curl from your eyes as he offered a gentle smile. You felt your blush, looking away slightly, he was far too handsome for his own good. Walking up to the house you felt uneasy. Even without knowing the situation you still wouldn’t want to go inside. You wondered what would drive someone to buy a house this unwelcoming. Lorraine knocked, peering inside before stepping back, a young girl coming to the door followed by an older woman who you assumed to be her mother.
“Thank god you’re here,” she said with a smile, hugging Lorraine tightly.
“We brought someone to help,” Ed said, a hand falling to the small of your back as he walked alongside you.
“Carolyn,” she said, offering a hand out to you.
“Y/n,” you said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as you shook it. Carolyn led the three of you inside, turning to face you. “My husband Roger is away for work at the moment, so it’s just me and the girls.”
“Who’s she mommy?!” The young girl who answered the door asked.
“My name is y/n,” you said looking to the five girls that flooded in one after another, “and who are these beautiful young women?”
“This is Andrea, the oldest, Nancy, Cindy, Christine, and April,” Carolyn said, “girls, you remember Lorraine Moran and Ed Warren, they brought someone else to help us.”
“Are you going to make the bad things stop happening?” April asked as she walked closer to you. Squatting down to look at her directly you smiled,
“I am going to help Ed and Lorraine make the bad things stop happening okay?” You said with a nod. Carolyn began to speak to Ed and Lorraine as April continued to look at you.
“Do you want to meet Rory?” The girls seemed to have lost interest for the moment, April’s question only being noticed by you.
“Rory?”
“My friend, he only shows up when I play his music box.” Raising a brow slightly you nodded.
“I’d love to meet Rory,” you said, allowing her to lead you out of the main room. April walked you into a room with a small table and two chairs, you assumed it was her room.
“Sit here,” she said, grabbing an old music box and bringing it to you after you sat down. “You have to turn the key and when the song finishes he’ll show up behind you.’ April said. Doing as she said you turned the key of the music box and watched as the painted circle in the mirror spun. A clown slowly popped up and down from inside the music box. You angled the box slightly to see behind you over your shoulder as the song slowly came to an end. Angling it to your right you saw nothing, moving it to your left a young boy stared back at you. you blinked slowly before looking over your shoulder, eyes returning back to the mirror and seeing nothing.
“Rory doesn’t like your friends.” April said softly. “He says they’re going to make him go away.” she added. Setting the box down on the table in front of you you looked at April.
“Does that make you sad?” you asked softly. Shaking her head she looked at you,
“Rory is one of the bad things.”
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April led you back to the girls, Lorraine looking at you,
“I have to go into town, there’s a few more documents we can look over. Will you be alright staying here with Ed?” she asked.
“I think we’ll be just fine,” you said briefly looking at Ed before looking back at Lorraine. She gave you a knowing grin before nodding,
“I’ll be back in a few hours.” Giving her a hug Lorraine waved to the girls before leaving, the door closing behind her.
“I have to make a phone call, we need to get as much proof of the activity as we can.” Ed said, hands resting on his hips. “Carolyn insists on making food for us,” he added with a laugh.
“I guess that means I can keep you girls occupied then huh?” You asked looking back at them briefly.
“You let me know if you need anything okay?” Ed said, a hand brushing along your arm, “anything at all,” he said, meeting your eyes with a nod.
“Of course, go make that phone call,” you said with a smile, “we’ll be fine.”
“Let’s play hide and clap!” Cindy said happily. The girls soon agreed, a flurry of excited voices talking over one another.
“Play hide and clap with us y/n!”
“Not it!”
“You’re never it Andrea!”
“Too slow, slowpoke.”
“Be careful girls, you don’t know the house very well yet!” Carolyn added.
“Okay, okay, how do you play hide and clap?” you asked.
“We blind fold you and spin you around three time. Then we hide and you count to ten. You have to find us! But you can only ask for three claps! And if you don’t find us you lose!”
April explained happily.
“Okay, how about we go upstairs, that makes it a little easier on me,” you laughed, letting Christine lead you upstairs with the other girls. Andrea met you with a scarf, standing on her toes to tie it over your eyes. They spun you around three times as they giggled, the sound of feet dispersing in different directions. You counted to ten before saying “ready or not here I come,” Holding your hands out in front of you you walked forward, “first clap!” Several claps followed, all of them coming from different directions.
You continued to walk forwards, hip hitting the corner of furniture, pulling a harsh “shit” from you as you rubbed the offended area. Reaching out to find the railing you used to continue guiding you. “Second clap!” you smiled at the clap that was closest to you, turning towards the sound, reaching your hands out again you felt for the doorway, walking forward when you were sure you weren’t walking into a wall. You smiled softly at the sound of someone breathing. “I can hear you, give me the third clap,” you said softly, smiling at the following hesitant clap. keeping your hands in front of you you continued forward toward the sound of the clap. Your hands met clothing, they must’ve been hiding in a closet or wardrobe, smile falling as you met wood. stepping back you pulled the blindfold off, looking around quickly to see that you were alone. Or at least none of the girls were in the room with you, but something was.
“You weren’t even close y/n!” April said with a grin, startling you. Turning to look at her you began to say something, jumping as the door slammed closed. “April, go downstairs with your sisters!” you yelled through the door, jiggling the doorknob.
“But-” you didn’t hear the rest of her sentence that followed.
“Downstairs. Now!” You said firmly, turning around to face the wardrobe, and the woman that stood in front of it. Swallowing harshly, you asked, “Who are you?” When no response was given you reached back to try the doorknob again. You felt something restrict your throat, slowly cutting off your airways. This was the witch, this was Bathsheeba. “I know who you are - you’re Bathsheeba,” you struggled, reaching up to attempt to loosen whatever was around your throat. “Leave this family alone,” you whispered, unable to breath at this point.
“Y/N!” Ed yelled from the other side of the door. You couldn’t have responded if you tried, vision blurring slightly. She said nothing as she watched you lose consciousness, the sound of Ed trying to get into the room comforting you slightly. Vision, almost entirely black Bathsheeba, vanished before your eyes, the door opening quickly as Ed caught you before you hit the ground, coughing as you took quick deep breaths. “You’re okay, I’m here,” he said softly, holding you close as you calmed down. Clinging to him you wiped your eyes, unsure when you began to cry. Thumbs wiping your tears Ed looked down at you, “I won’t let anything hurt you,” he said softly. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,”
“She was here,” you said softly, “Bathsheeba, she was here,” He nodded, eyes falling down to your throat, faint bruises beginning to show. Thumb grazing the skin gently he looked to you,
“Are you hurt?” shaking your head you couldn’t help the heat that flooded your cheeks, moving his hand from your throat, intertwining your fingers with his.
“I might be out of my depth a little,” you admitted, voice still a little scratchy.
“That’s why I’m here,” he said, other thumb brushing along your jaw. “I wouldn’t let you walk into this alone.”
“Getting awfully close aren’t you?” you breathed, eyes falling shut briefly as you moved to kiss the palm of his hand gently, looking to him to see if you had overstepped.
“It doesn’t seem like you mind,” he said gently, thumb running along your lips.
“I’m sure I’m the exact girl your parents told you to stay away from,”
“To a tee and yet I don’t mind,” he said with a grin. Helping you stand up he continued to hold your hand, other hand falling to your hip.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“She didn’t hurt me, I think she just wanted to scare me.” You said, “thank you for checking though,” you said, smoothing out his shirt before looking up at him. He met your gaze for a moment, glancing down at your lips before looking at you again. “There’s kids here Ed,” you said with a soft laugh, not stopping him as he leaned down to kiss you gently.
“They’re downstairs,” he said, wrapping his arms around you to pull you closer as he kissed you again. Wrapping your arms around his neck you allowed him to hold you close, sighing as he kissed gently down your neck, lips moving over the faint bruises. “I won’t let her touch you again,” he said gently, his tone pulling an obvious shiver from you. He raised a brow slightly at that, kissing you again quickly. “Noted,” he chuckled, squeezing your waist before stepping away.
“Is that how you treat all the women you save, Ed?” You asked softly.
“Just you, and for the record, you’re the only woman I’ve saved, as you so kindly put it,” he said jokingly.
“Is this going to be a one time thing?” You questioned.
“I’d hope not, I can’t seem to stay away from you,” he said. “I’d like to be able to call you mine if you’d allow it?”
“Not that this is the best place, but I’d be more than happy to allow it, as much as it baffles me with how attractive I find you.”
“You find me attractive?”
“The eligible bachelor comment didn’t do it for you?” You asked, amused. “Yes, Edward, I find you attractive.”
“Gonna call me Edward for now on?” He asked with a laugh. “I kind've like it.”
“Noted” you repeated, “the girls are probably worried, you can swoon later.”
“I’m the swooning one?” He asked with a laugh, arm wrapping around your waist to pull you close. “I’ll have you swooning in no time sweetheart, just because I’m a man of god doesn’t mean I’m innocent.” You weren’t sure if it was the statement itself, or what was implied by the statement, but it had its intended effect. Ed laughed as he began to go back down the stairs. “Are you coming?”
“You can’t just say that!” You said following behind him with a shy smile.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Summary:
Following the appearance of Bathsheeba you comfort April and have a talk with Lorraine.
Notes:
Another short chapter - the next chapter is going to be very involved and I needed to get this out in order to really focus on the next chapter.
Chapter Text
Carolyn had doted over you, insisting that she make you a cup of tea, sitting you down on the couch in the living room. The girls had sat in the living room with you, occupying themselves with a game of cards, April sitting dejected next to your feet. Ed was soothing Carolyn, who felt terrible, while she waited for the water to boil.
“April, are you alright?” You asked quietly, resting your elbows on your knees as you leaned forward.
“It’s my fault,” she said so quietly you almost didn’t catch it.
“What’s your fault?” You asked, allowing her to take her time answering your question.
“What happened,” She said softly, adding “to you.” Shaking your head you reached down to grasp her hand.
“Do you wanna sit up here April?” She didn’t respond right away before sitting up on the couch with you. “What happened is not your fault, you didn’t know. I didn’t know. We were just playing a game.” you said, smoothing her curls, attempting to comfort her slightly. With watery eyes she looked at you, trying hard to blink back her tears.
“B-but if I didn’t ask you to play hide and clap this wouldn’t have happened,” she said, sniffling slightly from the oncoming tears.
“April, sweetheart, can you look at me, take a big breath for me okay?” You said, breathing with her repeatedly as she wiped her eyes.
“Nothing that happened, or has happened is your fault. Nothing that has happened is anyone’s fault. I’m not mad, and I’m okay.” you said, rubbing her back gently. “Don’t you worry about a thing,” you added. “Now can I have a hug?” giving a small smile April nearly threw herself at you to give you a hug, arms squeezing tightly around your neck. You laughed at her eagerness, continuing to rub her back as she settled into your side, watching her sisters play cards. You felt her body calm, and before you knew it she was asleep. Arranging a pillow on the other side of the couch you laid her down before standing up to get some air, walking out to the front porch.
The air was stale here, lifeless, stagnant. You felt like you couldn’t breath, the presence here was suffocating. You heard the door open and close behind you, arms wrapping around you tightly.
“Are you alright?” Ed asked softly, resting his chin on your shoulder.
“I can’t help but feel that I am not at all prepared for this, I have no idea what I’m doing Ed,” you said softly.
“Join the club,” he chuckled softly. Letting you go for a moment, he came back behind you, offering you a cup of tea. “It’ll make you feel better,” he said, kissing your shoulder gently. The sun had begun to set, casting a golden light through the trees, making the scenery seem a bit more inviting. You sipped the tea slowly, savoring the taste and the warmth of the mug. “You’ll have to let Carolyn know you like it, she felt terrible.”
“It’s not her fault.”
“She still feels bad,” he said, holding you closer. “Are you sure your okay?”
“I’ll be okay if you keep holding me,” you said softly, leaning into his embrace slightly.
“I can do that,” he said with a grin, kissing your shoulder again, lips traveling up your neck softly, to let you know he was there.
Lorraine returned as you finished your tea, the two of you just about ready to go back inside. Ed sighed, smiling into your shoulder. “She’s gonna be insufferable,” he said fondly.
“You think she knew?”
“Absolutely, she saw how I looked at you.” Ed seemed to be right as she got out of the car, papers tucked under her arm. Unwrapping his arms from around you, his hand settled low on your waist as she approached the two of you. “Don’t say a thing,” he chuckled, Lorraine laughing at his statement.
“I was just going to say that the two of you look really cute together,” she said, offering you a playful wink. you smiled at the action, happy that they felt comfortable enough to be friendly with you. Her smile waivered as her eyes moved down to your throat, “What happened?” She asked, gesturing to your neck.
“It’s getting late, we should probably head inside before we have this conversation.” Ed suggested, leading you inside as he followed Lorraine.
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“Are you sure you’re alright?” Lorraine asked after the two of you recounted the events.
“It just threw me for a loop, that’s all, I’m not hurt if that's what you’re concerned about. I’m a bit out of my depth if I’m being honest,” You said sheepishly, a slight blush laying over your nose. “April was really torn up about it. She thought it was her fault, because she wanted to play a game.”
“Bathsheba knows what she’s doing. Emotionally vulnerable people are the most susceptible to possession.” Lorraine said softly looking at you, eyes traveling over the faint bruises along your throat.
“You think….this might end in possession?” You asked carefully.
“If it didn’t I’d be very surprised. I got a lot of information about the land and it’s history today, we can go over it tomorrow,” she said. “For now I think it’s best for you to get some rest, your body and soul need it.” You smiled softly at the statement, a hesitant hand reaching out to grasp hers gently.
“I want you to know Lorraine, I consider you a friend, I’m very thankful for how considerate you’ve been this whole time.”
“If anything it should be thanking you,” she said, shaking her head. “We’re both grateful for your help, although I’m sure Ed’s grateful for some other reasons,” she said with a soft laugh. “Speaking of Ed,”
“I think you were right, I should be getting some rest,” you said, a faint blush covering your cheeks. Lorraine looked at you knowing a lot but not pushing any further.
“Rest up, we’ve got a lot to go over tomorrow.”
Geometrictrickster567 on Chapter 1 Thu 10 Feb 2022 05:07PM UTC
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setsuna1415 on Chapter 2 Mon 28 Feb 2022 09:32PM UTC
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tortured_pilot on Chapter 2 Tue 01 Mar 2022 02:29AM UTC
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MissBlueZ on Chapter 2 Wed 20 Apr 2022 09:29AM UTC
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