Ribbons Red Chapter 19 Salvation

After I had settled into one of the captain's chairs, Einya began recanting her tale.

“As hard as this maybe to believe, Issadora and I used to be the very best of friends. We grew up in the same small town with our houses side-by-side. We played together often and as we grow older we studied together. At first both studied healing but she soon became bored with it. She was the first to explore the dark arts.

Even though we were very different, as you can imagine, in many ways, we still got along well. I guess you could say we balanced each other out. In our teenage years we were inseparable. That was until Issadora's focus shifted from her studies to boys, a subject I had very little time for.

Issadora met and promptly fell in love with a very nice man by the name of Job. I dated his brother Eli for a time but my studies came between us and the relationship with short-lived. However, Issadora and Job, even though they had only known each other for a few months, decided to settle down, get married, and start a family.

It wasn't long, to Issadora's delight, before she was excitedly telling me they were expecting their first child. Her pregnancy was short but difficult. Two months before the babe was even supposed to be born, I was summoned to their house with urgency. I tried to save her baby but by the time she had called for me, it was too late. I tried to explain it all to them but they were to grief stricken to hear me. That was in the relationship began its decline.

I heard nothing from them for months, then one night in the wee hours of the morning, I was awoken by a strange sound. Not knowing what it was, I remained still and feigned sleep. When I heard yet another sound, my eyes flew open and that was when I saw him. It was Job! He had snuck into my house and into my room and was now standing above me with a dagger poised above my heart.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins and I react without thinking, a spell leaping forth from my lips. In my haste to defend myself, I accidentally wounded him grievously. It was a wound from which he never recovered. After suffering for but a few months, he too passed away.

Issadora wasted no time going to the elders and letting her blindly grieved soul tell her story. When the elders heard her version of what had happened, they exiled me to Upsilon. There I remained, nursing my own wounded heart, for a half a century until Issadora tracked me down under the guise of rekindling the friendship. Eager to see this thing between us set aside, I returned to her home with her and fell into the trap she had laid for me. It turned out she had never forgiven me for the loss of her son and her husband. Instead, she had spent the past fifty years creating a spell to trap me inside of my beloved Lucifer...” she said her voice trailing off quietly; after a pause she added, “I think you know the rest of the story from there.”

I nodded, indicating that I was indeed knowledgeable as to the rest of her plight. My words escaped me for a time, growing heavy in my heart as I tried to absorb everything that she had told me.  I couldn't begin to imagine how awful it all must have been for her nor did I wish to. After a short time lost in my thoughts, I found my voice again.

“I'm so sorry that after all this time things are still not right between you.”

“In the decade it's been since then, I have decided it is no longer a matter on which I can waste my time on. There was a time that I held hope for our friendship but those days are long since past. I suppose sharing a mind with a creature as carefree, independent and somewhat vindictive as Lucifer has brought that about in me.”

“It still seems sad,” I replied.

“It is what it is,” she replied as she stood to her feet and began to walk around the desk towards me, “perhaps not all relationships are meant to be in the end. But the loss of one makes room for another,” she said stopping before me and smiling, “I am hoping that perhaps that shall be the case with you and I.”
Smiling I stood to face her and said, “I would like that very much.”

We were supposed to head directly back to Silas when our mission had completed but at Einya's insistence we made a detour to Upsilon to visit Loren. Once we had docked Levi, Einya, Lucifer and I all disembarked together and made our way through the town to the familiar grungy door. Once inside we made our way down a poorly lit corridor. About half way down, Ekans slithered up to meet us. He seemed taken aback by the presence of Einya and Lucifer but, to my surprise, wasn't upset by their presence. Turning to slither back down the corridor, Ekans bid us all to follow him.

Once we arrived in the main hall we were all asked to partake in the evening meal while Ekans went on ahead to inform Loren that we were here. I was only half way through my meal when Loren burst into the main hall. When his eyes fell on Einya he stopped midway through his step. Their eyes held each others for a long time before a smile began to curve onto Einya's face.

“Hello again,” she greeted the handsome, wide eyed male.

“Hello indeed,” he said with a wide grin spreading across his features, “my beloved, where have you been? It has been ten year; why did you not return to me sooner?”

If she had not been such a proper lady I am sure Einya's eyes would have rolled about in their sockets, instead she merely gave a small, quiet chuckle.

“Don't be so dramatic, my dearest Loren,” she chided him teasingly, “I got myself into a bit of a predicament for that time but this young lady and her fellow have seen me free of it. Now I am yours once again.”

“My thanks to you will never be enough,” he said turning his gaze to Levi and I.

“It was our pleasure,” I reassured him.

Despite our protests, Loren insisted we attend the party he was throwing in honor of his favorite witch's safe return. And what a party it was! Truth be told, had I not heard Einya claim to have had such a general indifference towards the males of the species in her story, I would never have believed it. The way she clung to Loren's side and blushed at his dotting brought a lightness and a brightness to my heart once again. All the worries of the past several months seem to melt away in the light of the love those two so clearly shared.

The party was beautiful and wondrous. When it started, it seemed as if it might go on forever but finally, in the wee hours of the morning, it began to slow. As Levi and I were becoming tired and sobering up, Einya quietly broke away from Loren's side and approached us. As she approached she greeted Levi with a smile and then gently took my hands into hers.

“Reveri, I cannot begin to thank you enough for bringing me back home to Loren. I know I did not mention him in my story but that is because I was not sure how he would react when he finally saw me again. You see, ten years ago, before Lucifer and I were joined, he was the one who had helped to heal my broken heart when I first arrived her in Upsilon. Soon, despite myself we were in love. However, in my haste to repair things with Issadora, I neglected to tell him where I was going. I cannot imagine what these past ten years have been like for him but now that I am home. Now that I am human again, I finally get to show him just what he means to me.

And upon realizing that, I wanted to thank you for what you've become to me. It is hard to believe that in such a short amount of time that we have become such close friends. I will always value our friendship.”

“And I yours,” I told her, giving her delicate fingers an affectionate squeeze.

She smiled as she continued, “it pains me to say this, my friend, but I am afraid that I will not be able to return to Silas with you as promised. As you can see, my place is here with Loren. However, even though I do not journey with you, I ask that you carry my thanks back to Silas for me.”

“Of course,” I responded, “it would be our pleasure.”

And when we finally returned home to Garrison that is exactly what we did. After we had recounted our tale to Silas we held our breaths and waited quietly for his reaction.

“Well, I am disappointed that she did not accompany you back,” he said with a small pause, “but after hearing her tale, I can certainly understand why. It is no surprise that such a strong willed creature as herself got home with such swiftness and didn't waste time bringing her thanks in person. It would have been nice to finally met the real Einya but I suppose that is a small price to pay to know that, come what may, we have made two very powerful friends indeed,” clearing his throat and turning his attention squarely to me he said, “I guess that brings us to our final order of business, Rain Dancer.”

“What is that?” I asked, glancing towards Levi to see if he could offer up any clues; my companion just shrugged as Silas continued.

“It seems that, against all odds young lady, that you have managed to prove yourself back into my good graces,” I didn't bother to hide the smile that spread across my face as he continued, “and in light of that development I have decided the following,” there was a pregnant pause, “your next assignment is on my desk. It is one that needs to be carried out with the utmost discretion and swiftness. This assignment is yours and yours alone. Levi may accompany you if he desires but whether or not he does so is up to you.”

In light of Silas' s announcement I was speechless. Was he saying what he thought he was saying? After what seemed like an eternity of being babysat was Silas finding giving me my freedom and his trust again?

    "I trust that it will be well handled in your hands?" Silas asked, fishing for some sort of acknowledgment.

     "You can count of me!" I reassured him with enthusiasm once I had found my voice again. As I followed him over to the desk my smile slowly faded. As Silas began to hand me the sheet, I stopped short and turned back to Levi.

“If it's all the same to you, Silas,” I said, my heart quickening in anticipation of the answer I might receive, “I think I'll keep Levi around just a little longer.”

“What makes you think I want to be stuck with you any longer?” Levi questioned, his features unreadable as he crossed his arms across his chest.

“I... well... I..." I stammered. As I stared at him I saw his lips quiver and then, unable contain himself any longer, Levi threw his head back in a hearty laugh.
 
  "Reveri, you couldn't get rid of me if you tried. Silas may have decided to trust you again but I know that you will always need someone to look after you and, "he said as he gave a mock sigh and continued, "since no one else is wise to all your tricks looks like that someone will have to be me."

     For a moment I just stood there blinking at him, unsure what to say. Behind me I heard a muffled snicker which soon turned into a hearty laugh.
   
"Such a short time and you know her so we lad," Silas remarked through his laughter. As I looked between the two of them I couldn't help but smile and begin to chuckle myself. I couldn't deny the truth of it after all. So instead of taking offense I chose to enjoy the warmth of their love and laughter. Truth be told, after what felt like being surrounded but alone so long, I was happy to merely have the company.

As I enjoyed the warmth of their presence my mind drifted back over the past year. It had been trying and difficult but also wonderful. It was hard to believe just how much everything had changed for me in such a short time. Unable to think of anything else to do, I took it all in with a happy smile and a content heart. The luminous moon shone back at me as I watched it glow from Silas's window. As I watched it, I earnestly hoped that Einya had found just as much happiness as me. In the midst of that wish I remembered the love I had seen radiating between Einya and Loren and as I did I felt a warmth rise from deep in my soul. In that moment, without a doubt, I knew happiness had found her too. After so many years of wandering, both of us had finally found where we belonged.