It happens so quickly that I barely see the movement before Lillith is in front of me, hands on either side of my face, tilting my head and looking me over.

Rosemarie sits frozen in place on the arm of the chair, her cup and saucer in pieces on the floor.

From the corner of my eye I can see Devlin's eyes darting between the three of us, his body tensed.

Lillith pinches my face slightly, making me lock eyes with her. When our eyes are locked, I can feel a push against me, pushing from deep inside her, and trying to force its way into my mind. On instinct I push back, building a barrier, a wall between me and the intrusion.

Lillith's body flinches back completely letting me go. Her eyes are wide and her mouth hangs open.

"You have magic. You didn't have that yesterday." Lillith says voice filling with a mixture of awe and confusion.

"My yesterday and your yesterday are two very different dates." I say, keeping my eyes locked on her.

Lillith's eyes narrow before she speaks. "How different?"

"Yesterday for me was February 14th, 2017." I say, knowing they'll hear the truth in my words.

"You die in six months?" Lillith says, eyebrows scrunching together, "How'd you get here?"

"How'd it happen?" Rosemarie asks, her voice just barely a whisper.

"That is why we're here." I say, "Because of the reason I died."

My eyes dart to Devlin, who calmly sets his tea down before jumping into the explanation of events. And about the ritual, at least what the binding spell allows him to say. While he talks Lillith has narrowed eyes on him, and moves back to the chair. While Rosemarie moves towards me and squeezes my shoulder when Devlin reveals that I died in her place. As I listen to him recount everything once more, I feel the phantom blade shifting once more.

Will I live with a phantom blade buried in my chest for the rest of my life? Or do I need to do something to heal a psychic wound. 

I don't realize that I've zoned out until Lillith moves and has a knife pressed to Devlin's throat.

"Lillith don't," I say standing up.

Moving forward I place my hand on Lillith's shoulder, her shoulder that isn't connected to the hand holding the knife. She holds the knife steady as she slightly turns her head to look at me.

The look in her eyes I can read so clearly, permission to remove the one who killed me. The who was asking her sister to die, who I died for in a timeline that no longer exists.

"Lillith, you can't kill him. Besides he didn't tell you about what happened after I died." I say, darting my eyes to Devlin who sits very still.

"After Morgue's death, you got a very lucky and very pissed off burst of magic. Aimed straight for my chest." Devlin says, keeping his eyes on Lillith.

I watch as her eyes narrow as she turns her head back towards him.

"You killed me no more than thirty seconds after Morgue was stabbed. I have little doubt in my mind your willing to use the knife in your hand." Devlin says, "But Morgue wasn't the only one brought back. And if Death herself let me come back with Morgue, Death who views Morgue in some special way, do you think I will let her die again?"

"Knowing my sister she'll agree to your inane plan, and she had better come back. Or your special resurrection or not, I'll find a way to make sure you don't get another chance." Lillith says, voice filled with promise of violence. 

Sighing with relief I take a step back, but watching carefully as Lillith still holds the knife to Devlins throat.

"Understood," Devlin says.

With a sudden flash of movement, Lillith swipes her knife, cutting Devlin's cheek, deep enough it will either need magical healing or patched up and leave a scar. But that is all the she does to him, moving away from him. She stands beside Rosemarie, putting the knife back into the hidden spot on her belt.

I reach down and grab a tissue from the table and hand it to Devlin to press against his cheek. To hopefully stop the blood.

"As a reminder, not just for my sister, but Morgue as well. Either of them get hurt because of you, I will end you. Again." Lillith says, body going back to seeming relaxed.

But I know, she'll go back on the offence again, ready to protect what she views as hers. Rosemarie and Me. She's like a lion, protecting her herd.

"Fair enough," Devlin says, with a slight hiss as he presses the tissue to his cheek. "I'm not sure I'll be allowed to give access to all of you to look into the ritual. But if it will give you peace of mind, and know for yourselves, I'll reach out to see if the three of you might be given access to the material."

"If only one can look it over, make it Morgue." Rosemarie says, bouncing on her tip toes a little, "I trust her, and she'd tell me the truth."

"So you'll just go with being a ritual sacrifice as long as Morgue is able to look over the ritual and materials, just like that?" Devlin asks, his jaw dropping in confusion.

Rosemarie giggles and nods, still bouncing on her toes.

Devlin turns to look at me with a look that very much reads, What the fuck? 

"Told you all you had to do was ask," I say, allowing a broad smile to spread across my face.

"If you say I'll come back, and it will unlock some of my heritage, why not? It sounds fun!" Rosemarie says, before twirling away and heading back towards the front door. No doubt to unlock it and make sure the open sign is in place once more.

Glancing at Lillith, she moves to return to the back room, probably satisfied with her threat. I head to just behind the counter and retrieve the very well stocked first aid kit. When handling the materials at the shop and potions one can never be to prepared for something to go wrong. And We should at least make sure Devlins face won't keep bleeding.

I scoot the cups and tray over and sit on the coffee table directly in front of Devlin. He is still sitting there with a look of shock on his face.

But when he sees me with the first aid kit, he moves his hand that is pressing the tissue to his face.

"This might sting, hopefully no stitches needed, cause I'm not qaulified for that." I say, opening materials and putting on a pair of medical grade gloves. 

Disinfecting the cut and cleaning around the wound. It is too long for a regular bandage, probably just the medical glue will work. His face will sting for a while though, but unless he knows someone with healing magic this is the best I can do for him.

Devlin sighs when I finish patching him up, and he shakes his head before laughing.

"I guess we'll need to add a trip to an art store to the itinerary." Devlin laughs a little, shaking his head.

I clean up the materials and place them and the gloves into a small plastic bag that is meant for trash.

"I did tell you," I says, patting his uninjured cheek.

When my hand touches his face there is something that sparks through my hand, not like static shock, but more magical. Looking at my hand and then at Devlin, from the look on his face he felt whatever that was as well. It is also at this moment that I realize we've never even physically come into contact with each other, this was the first time.

"I'll look into it," Devlin says, voice quiet.

Blinking once, then twice, I nod.

Confused, I get up and put the first aid kit away. Rosemarie watches me as I move with a wide eyed look, her mouth opens several times like she want's to say something but then just closes her mouth. I do move towards her to ask her a few questions.

Whispering to her, I explain the feeling, and she says she'll have Lillith do some research. 

"Also, if I don't find somewhere else to stay, could I spend the night? At the house, or even here in the tiny bedroom? And just for a couple of days, just till I can find something better, I can't go back to the house." I ask, playing with my hands.

"Of course, mommy and daddy will be happy to let you stay. They adore you! And if you do find something else, please let us know, Lili and I will worry," Rosemarie says, pulling me into a hug.

"Of course," I whisper into the hug.

Straightening myself, I pull away from her and say my goodbyes. Returning to the couch and to a now standing Devlin, I grab my bag and choose not to question him as he is quickly typing on his phone. He follows me towards the door, he does a quick nod in a form of goodbye to Rosemarie befor ewe both exit the shop. He is headed towards his car and I to mine. He quickly stops and turns to join me at my car, his phone held out towards me.

"Here, put your number in. I'll message you so that we can contact each other." He says, "I need to go check in with the others I'm here with, and also try and get you access to the ritual material."

I take his phone and quickly type my number into the already open new contact. Also as a precaution add my email into the contact information. Just in case my phone number gets turned off. Then hand him the phone back.

"I'll be at the old library, possibly some research there, as well as Doris and Doloris might be able to point me towards some answers." I say, getting into my car.

Devlin nods at me saying good bye, while I start the car.

The Archive, my personal sanctuary for years.