Chapter Text
Wanted To - 1422 words
Black heels clambered across the cart’s creaking wooden floors, the owner making no indication of silence being their goal. They continued down the trail of carts, eyes glancing upwards as they passed by before reaching the conductor’s personal car. Stopping for a moment, raising their knuckles to the door before nails brushed against the door. After the third knock, they opened the door themselves. The deer they had seen at the station a few times and a tall demon’s heads shot up before the conductor could say anything. They were all sat huddled on top of the bed in the room.
“Mr. Sherwood, I have a request for a new destination.”
Aaron stood quickly clumsily, obviously surprised by the request. He brushed off his pants before responding.
“Teivel, apologies you’ve caught me at a bad time. I will look into it after my personal hours are over, I have–”
“It's urgent, it simply cannot wait much longer if we are to make it in time.”
Sighing, Aaron moved towards his closet to rid himself of evident sleepwear.
“Ok…Give me five minutes, I shall meet you in the conductor's car.”
The deer gave an exasperated sigh and a side eye, most likely upset their alone time was interrupted. However, as Teivel looked around, the other demon was nowhere to be seen. Interesting.
Teivel started to leave the conductor's car. If xey had five minutes, they could grab a cup of water from the bar. As they stepped into the bar, three things were immediately obvious. There was a seemingly sour mood. If they had a guess, it most likely had to do with one of the staff seemingly losing their mind and running away. Teivel had been expecting it, that soul had been fragmented and corrupted since they had stepped onto the train. The usual pianist was nowhere to be seen, which was unfortunate. The music was almost calming and was familiar. The second thing was, despite the bar being busy (per usual), they had all immediately quieted when they had arrived. Probably due to the demon’s reputation of barely appearing or knowing one even being aware they were around. The third was that the angel, Prim if they recalled correctly, was working. Distaste rose in Teivel’s throat, immediately wondering if they should just leave in order to avoid confrontation with the woman. After blinking in place for a moment, Teivel turned and left, it wasn't worth dealing with. Especially since Prim would most likely try to get a reaction out of the demon which would most likely go over the five minute mark.
Before stepping out of the car, the girl with the cat ears, who once stumbled into their office approached. She looked rather nervous and was obviously frightened by the demon approaching hesitantly. She stood for a moment before Teivel raised an eyebrow to which she responded with a deep breath and gulp.
“Uh—um… If you aren't busy at the moment I really need your help and need to tal-”
Her response was immediately silenced as Teivel cut in with “I am currently occupied with pressing matters. However, do come and see me in a week. I shall hear you out.”
Mia, the girl, quickly nodded and left in a rush, brushing past the demon before they could even turn. Having enough socialization, minus that conversation they needed to have, they followed the direction the girl went, and rambled towards the conductor's car. As they opened the door to the car, Aaron was sitting in a chair, clearly a bit tired. Teivel cleared their throat to gain the attention of the dazed conductor who turned and looked up at the demon.
“Alright Teivel, where do we need to go?”
“Novgorod, Russia”
“Oh, interesting, any particular reason why?”
“What do you think? The same as usual”, Teivel shrugged,”I have a strong calling to a place there. It is as dire as the time I brought the first Ei sibling here.”
With a sigh, Aaron nodded and turned back to the thing that controlled the train, Teivel never bothered learning what they were or what the point of each object was capable of. A moment passed before Teivel turned to leave and stepped out into the hallway. Back to their office they go.
A few days later
“Attention all passengers! We have arrived in Novgorod, Russia. Feel free to wander around the city for a bit, we will be here for a couple hours.”
The brash announcement awoke Teivel from their trance of reading. A pity– it was shaping to be a good read for once. Teivel looked up and watched as snow fell outside the window. Standing, Teivel stopped in front of the window, studying the outside. The modernization was new and was certainly not the place it had once been. However, it was still relatively the same. Still the same place they grew up, the same place they would walk home from school, the same place they met Blai-.
Blaire.
The reason they had requested to visit Novgorod in the first place. It was December 23, to most it would mean Christmas was soon. To Teivel, it was a birthday celebration for their only friend. To the left, Teivel watched as the train members slowly began to file out of the train. A person in purple with dark hair was throwing snowballs at a woman with pink hair who was clearly unamused. The tiny coal demon was burying itself in the snow while a brown colored dog was trying to dig the creature out. At least the train seemed to be enjoying themselves. Checking the clock, it was half past 17:00, meaning the sun would soon set. Sure enough, a couple hours later, the moon hovered overhead, as white as the snow below it. Teivel scrambled out of the car, and quickly set their heel into the white powder.
Striding down the pathways that had been cleared, they eventually reached a place long abandoned. The graveyard showed signs of decay, the once perfectly built castle surrounding the premise was beginning to be overwhelmed and crumble. However the snow that covered it made it feel as if it was an ethereal wasteland. Eventually beginning to move again, Teivel found themself in front of a tombstone covered in the white powder, kneeling, Teivel brushed it aside with their hand, they found themselves tracing the engraving of the stone.
Here lies Blaire Luxx
923-942
Died by hands of a monster
A shaky hand traced over the word “monster”, a shallow breath whistled in the wind. Concentrating, Teivel reached their free hand over the stone, reaching for any energy that may have been lingering. When a soul called out to them, they had been surprised to learn it was reaching towards Novgorod. The soul was in horrible condition, almost as if it had been rotting for centuries. Eventually, a golden orb began to appear in Teivel’s grasp. A silent breath was made as Teivel realized Blaire’s soul was still intact, despite the body having long decomposed.
“I- huh?” A shake of the head and Teivel pocketed the orb into their coat, they would determine how it had survived all this time later. Before leaving, Teivel pulled one more thing from their pocket.
“I realize it has been a while, I do hope you are well wherever you may be, Blaire.” A sigh. “May we meet soon and allow me to redeem myself to you. Oh- and happy birthday.”
Silently placing a gemstone onto the grave, Teivel stood once more and slowly moved from the grave. The walk back to the train was bittersweet, a home that never truly got to become a home. Eventually reaching the train, Teivel noticed a figure patiently sitting on the steps to the car. As Teivel approached, the figure became more distinct.
“Oh, you are finally back. Come, Aaron has been waiting for you to get back so we can move on”.
Nodding, Teivel clambered on alongside Ren.
“Weren’t you here for a soul? Why is no one with you?” Ren questioned.
“It is…a long story. Maybe one day I will explain it. Regardless, my work here is done. It's been a while since you've come to my office. Come. I have snacks.”
With that, the two shut the door to the cart and walked to Teivel’s office. Something was coming, different even. However, Teivel had stories to listen to and poetry to adore. It could wait.
But in the end
I failed in so many plans
Wanted to be sure
I care and I want some more
Little things in life
And some pleasures that I was denied
I feel satisfied
That I left all my past behind